An Australian first time in SF, any recommendations?

[michaelconkey]

HI there, Just arrived last night fo spend 2 weeks here at SFBI. I am staying in South SF and realise there probably wont be too much in my neighbourhood. Would any of you have suggestions for places with reasonable prices I should try. I live in Thailand, so not terribly interested in Asian food, except perhaps Japanese. Just looking for what you would consider special Cal or local cuisine, esp seafood that will give me a feeling of your beautiful city. Weekends all day, and week days at night. Thank you. Michael

[pamf]

Welcome, South San Francisco does have a few restaurants for those times when you want to stay close to your hotel.

Here's a topic from another baker from last year:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/751562

For seafood head over to the coast. Search for Half Moon Bay, Princeton Harbor, El Granada and Montara.
La Costanera in Montara is right on the beach and has recently earned a Michelin star. The cuisine is Peruvian.

Saturday morning farmers' market at the San Francisco Ferry Building is a must do. There are several permanent restaurants (sound like you might like Hog Island Oysters) and also food vendors who set up just for the market. There are also lots of topics on the Ferry Building.

Try and see if there is a shuttle service that can take you to a BART station, this commuter train will quickly and cheaply get you into San Francisco. You can stop in the Mission District or go all they way to downtown (Embarcadero stop for the Ferry Building). That will save you the trouble of having to drive and park in the city. Even a cab from SSF to the BART will not cost very much. Have fun!

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La Costanera
8150 Cabrillo Highway, Montara, CA 94037

[Windy]

Costanera is especially good for happy hour, outside by the firepit.

My Australian friends were especially excited by Mexican food. I took them to Nopalito because they wanted drinks. But I also love Poc Chuc, Pastores, Taqueria San Jose, and many others.

There's been an explosion of ice cream, coffee, and pizza in recent years. Check out Mr and Mrs Miscellaneous and Delise Dessert Cafe (also delicious cookies). Blue Bottle is the standard for great coffee, but many other roasters and cafes worth a stop.

There are several recent bakery threads if you're doing research in addition to taking classes.

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Pastores Restaurant
3486 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Blue Bottle Cafe
66 Mint St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Robert Lauriston]

only-in-SF food: Aziza, Incanto, Bar Tartine, AQ

non-Asian seafood: Bar Crudo, Mochica, El Delfin, Plouf for moules-frites

hard-to-find cuisines: Poc-Chuc (Yucatecan), La Ciccia (Sardinian), Burmese Kitchen or Little Yangon

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La Ciccia
291 30th Street, San Francisco, CA 94131

Incanto Restaurant & Wine Bar
1550 Church St, San Francisco, CA 94131

Larkin Express Burmese Kitchen
452 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Mochica
937 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

Bar Crudo
655 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

El Delfin
3066 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Bar Tartine
561 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

Plouf
40 Belden Place, San Francisco, CA 94104

Poc Chuc
2886 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Little Yangon
6318 Mission St, Daly City, CA 94014

AQ
1085 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Robert Lauriston]

SFBI's in the middle of nowhere. Do you have a car?

[michaelconkey]

Ha ha...you are quite right it doesnt seem to be anywhere. But am getting a car for that reason. Had hoped to avoid it, but you I cant!