Fun, lively, trendy and tasty near Union Sq?

[girlstar]

Looking for dinner recommendations for late 20 something Toronto Chowhounds visiting this Wednesday over the New Year's long weekend. We would like to walk to dinner around our hotel in the Union Sq area or a short can ride at best. Variety of cuisines, nothing specific though we tend to get a lot of Asian cuisines here so probably wouldn't go for it since we want to try new things. $15-30 entree range. Just don't want to end up at touristy places like the Cheesecake Factory! Thanks!

[girlstar]

Thank you all!

[Windy]

The city is very small. Step one is to get away from Union Square.

Search on SOMA, North Beach, Tenderloin, Mission for lots of options. You can be in the Mission on BART in 10 minutes.

[pamf]

Definitely, Gitane, even if you can't get a dinner reso (it's small, and likely to be busy over the holiday) at least stop in for a cocktail.

Another lively area not far from Union Square is Belden Place. it's a small side street with several restaurants all in a row (outside tables if the weather is nice).

If you search for Union Square on this board you will find lots of similar topics with great suggestions.

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Gitane Restaurant & Bar
6 Claude Lane, San Francisco, CA 94108

[mariacarmen]

I second Belden place, very lively, young feel to it, good choice of places to eat, festive. And if the weather is just cold (and i don't think we have rain predicted throughout the rest of the year), they have heatlamps.

http://www.belden-place.com/

And Windy is right about the ease of getting to the Mission District - another fun, lively, trendy area, little grungier, with a plethora of good food choices in all price ranges. and bars!