A little help, dinner place in SF proper for business interview recommendations

[jbontario]

Hi, I feel bad doing this, but I have no time to do a preliminary investigation and ask specific questions.

Anyone have a recommendation for a suitable dinner place where I can take a potential candidate for a mid-level professional job for an informal interview? I'm in Chicago, so big steak houses are not where I'd like to go (though Michael Mina's place in Detroit is really good). When in the bay area i used to stop at Yank Sing and the House, but probably need somewhere where we'd (three of us) be comfortable still wearing suits.

Thanks so much for your help.

[jbontario]

Thanks all, had a nice dinner at Perbacco last night. This was a very tasty meal. I spend a lot of time in Manhattan and the meal was up there with Del Posto, not yet Babbo, but very very good.

-----
Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Ruth Lafler]

Thanks for reporting back! Good thing it was last night, because tonight there's a lot of "Occupy" activity in that area!

[wolfe]

A private booth at Sam's Grill.
http://insidescoopsf.sfgate.com/files...

[johnq]

Your example of an interview for a mid-level hire is Michael Mina's in Detroit? Last time I saw those kind of entertainment/recruiting budgets was back in the 90's.

It's difficult to answer this question without knowing more about what you're looking for. Is this the interview itself, or is it a social occasion after the interview? What kind of budget do you have? Are you looking to impress the candidate or for a place that has food you'll personally like? Do you want quiet and relatively private or something livelier? Will you be drinking? What neighborhood are you going to be in?

Personally, I love the food at Perbacco, but in my opinion it's a little noisy for an actual interview. It would work fine for after-interview socializing.

-----
Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Pei]

I agree: it depends on the job and your budget.

If you're going to be talking about the job, a quiet place like Piperade or Ame might be good. Spruce is popular with my boss, but I have never been and can't comment on volume.

If this happens to be a food-related job, you might be looking for a place that will offer you some talking points. Atelier Crenn, Saison, Benu...just some restaurants getting a lot of buzz these days.

I do love Perbacco, but ask for a table upstairs if you want quieter. That said, I don't find Yank Sing or House to be quiet; are you saying either of these would be fine and you just want new suggestions?

-----
Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Piperade
1015 Battery St., San Francisco, CA 94111

Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Saison
2124 Folsom St., San Francisco, CA 94110

Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123

[Robert Lauriston]

The Rincon Center Yank Sing is quiet, or at least the carpet and other elements dampen the noise. I've always found conversation very easy there even when it's full.

The Stevenson Street branch, not so much. I think it's all hard surfaces.

-----
Yank Sing Banquet & Catering
101 Spear St, San Francisco, CA 94105

[sugartoof]

I second Yank Sing as an easy place to have a conversation, and you're not locked into a 4 course meal, with potential drinking involved, or something which might feel inappropriate.

You can also look into Park Tavern.

I'm partial to business meetings at hotel restaurants. I don't know what's going on at Campton Palace these days, but that used to be perfect. You might also do a search for past suggestions of places with booths (not private rooms, you're not having an affair) where you can sit a while if need be, without being bothered.

-----
Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

Park Tavern
1652 Stockton St, SF, CA 94133

[JasmineG]

RN74 would work -- it's loud in the evening because of the busy bar, but whenever I walk by at lunchtime it looks pretty quiet, especially if you ask for a table on the far side of the restaurant.

-----
RN74
301 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

[Robert Lauriston]

Yank Sing's not open for dinner.

-----
Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

[bbulkow]

You want to make sure about the tasting menu places --- do you really want a 3.5 hr experience?

[jbontario]

Yes, I was just mentioning that I really like House and Yank Sing. I would never take an interview candidate to either.

-----
Yank Sing
49 Stevenson St Ste Stlv, San Francisco, CA 94105

[Robert Lauriston]

On weeknights, a high percentage of Perbacco's customers are wearing suits. The same is true of almost any higher-priced place in the Financial District.

-----
Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Calvinist]

One Market, Boulevard and Kokari all have a high percentage of business diners.

-----
One Market Restaurant
1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

[artemis]

Note that while One Market normally has a lovely bay/Ferry building view, it now has a prime view (and whiff) of Occupy SF. As my wedding reception will be there in a few weeks, I'm of course beyond thrilled.

-----
One Market Restaurant
1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

[Ruth Lafler]

Normally I'd recommend One Market, but that does give one pause. I'd go with Perbacco, then.

-----
Perbacco
230 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

One Market Restaurant
1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105