Cheap fun, dinner near a park for a pre-dinner picnic?

[phatjack]

Have a somewhat specific request and hoping to find some help here :)

On Thursday night, will be having dinner at 7pm with my gf and her sister+fiance.

At 530pm, my gf and I will meet up with an old friend who will bring some sparkling "juice" and light light snack for a small picnic catch up.

I'd like to see the friend outside somewhere nice that is also close to a restaurant for the 7pm dinner.

So, anyone have ideas for a fun, cheap place (ideally sub $25/30 per pax) that is near a nice areas to sit outside? preference for either California typical cuisine or mexican but am indeed open.

Thanks!

[steve h.]

Modest thought: picnic at Levi Plaza Park (off the Embarcadero) and then walk the adjacent Greenwich Steps to North Beach for a good meal at either Ideale on Grant or Tony's Pizza Napoletana. Levi Park is a local treasure with fountains, running water and lovely green areas, perfect for a picnic, especially if you source your ingredients at the nearby Ferry Plaza. The steps (both Filbert and Greenwich) are very special.

[phatjack]

great recommendation - thanks to everyone here who replied. really appreciate it.

[Robert Lauriston]

They're predicting a high of 63 tomorrow, Dolores Park is probably a safer bet for a picnic than Levi Plaza, especially if the fog rolls in.

[steve h.]

Fog tonight at 5:30 p.m.? Highly unlikely.
http://www.sfgate.com/weather/fog/fog...

[Ruth Lafler]

One obvious location is the Mission/Dolores Park. There are lots of restaurants within a few blocks of the park, and it's one of the more reliably sunny places in the City.

[phatjack]

Thanka ruth. Ive been there before and had ice cream at bi rite. Any restauranta around there that you love?

[CarrieWas218]

I'm going to dissent on Dolores Park. The best restaurant nearby is Delfina which is a little out of your price range.

Instead, I would recommend Alta Plaza Park up on Jackson and Steiner. It is very near Fillmore Street which would give you walking access to a wider arrange of restaurants in your range: Jackson Fillmore, La Mediteranee, SPQR, Florio, Fresca, Ten-Ichi, Via Veneto...

[Ruth Lafler]

SPQR is cheap?

[mariacarmen]

well... I live a 15 minute walk from Dolores Park and between my house and the park (or thereabouts in the opposite direction but still in very close proximity) are at least a dozen pretty affordable restaurants...(a bunch of which others have listed here.)

[Ruth Lafler]

When I'm in the Mission I usually end up at El Delfin, although that's a bit of a walk from Dolores Park. Last time I had dinner in that neighborhood it was Pauline's Pizza, which is a lot closer. Limon Rotisserie might be another choice.

[Robert Lauriston]

Pauline's is great. Their wine bar next door is another option, sometimes you can sit right down when there's a line at the main place.

http://www.paulinespizza.com

Little Star's another great inexpensive place nearby.

http://littlestarpizza.com/splash2.html

[Robert Lauriston]

Inexpensive and near Dolores Park, Pakwan, Puerto Allegre, Valencia Pizza & Pasta ...

Alta Plaza's likely to be windy and cold that time of the evening. The Mission is sheltered from the wind by Twin Peaks.

[milklady]

In San Francisco? Oakland? Marin?

[phatjack]

Sorry about that - looking in SF. thanks!