Need Some Options

[Caucus]

Will be in SF for a few days and need 2 lunch and 2 dinner spots that we should not miss. Open to all types of food.

[hyperbowler]

Look at the SF board or use the search feature--- in addition to two Chinese places mentioned above, there are 6 SF threads related to Chinese food that have been updated today ... and it's not even 2PM!

[Caucus]

How about Chinese for dinner?

[singleguychef]

How many people are you traveling with? I always feel Chinese food for dinner is only worth going if you have a party of four or six, that way you can order several dishes. With just two people, you can really end up ordering only three entrees before you get full.

I only go for Chinese when my mom is visiting. I find most of the Chinese food in San Francisco is pretty much the same, nothing that's really memorable. You can go to Hong Kong Lounge and should be happy with that.

I know most people will recommend Jai Yun because of his tasting menu and skills in chopping vegetables. It's a different experience and it starts off interesting but by the end they all taste the same.

[Robert Lauriston]

Jai Yun's good for small parties as you get a banquet-style menu without having to get a crowd together . Not everyone thinks the dishes all taste the same, or that chopping vegetables is the chef's most notable skill.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/864582

[dunstable]

If I were ever to move to NY and came back to SF to visit for two days, my two dinners would be Coi and the Quinto Quarto meal at Incanto. You're gonna get a million suggestions, probably all of them decent.

For lunch I like to do cheap eats, and frankly that stuff is more interesting here than the mid-range stuff anyway. I'd probably do Mexican at some point. A few tacos at La Taqueria, or a torta from Los Picudos or something like that. Burmese food might be the one Asian cuisine where SF has a clear edge over NYC; I personally prefer Mandalay over Burma Superstar, although Burmese Kitchen is good and Yamo is a fun hole-in-the-wall. Also deservedly popular are Angkor Borei for Cambodian food and Champa Garden for Laotian food (in Oakland) (not sure of their lunch hours though). Have Korean tacos come to New York yet? If not, I might head to John's to grab a Korean taco for a quick snack (but I would not get proper Korean food in SF if I were from NY). Burgers are also much better here than in NY, especially if your high-water mark is Shake Shack.

[singleguychef]

To echo everyone's comments, more information about where you're from, why you're here, etc., might help us narrow the choices instead of just throwing out random names. (If you want to know what's buzzing, just a quick glance of the board will show you what restaurants people are talking about.)

That said, if I came to San Francisco for just two days, this would be my choices. (But since you don't really know me, you won't know why I'm recommending these places ;-)

First day:
Lunch: Swan Oyster Depot
Dinner: Cotogna

Second day:
Lunch: Koi Palace (technically Daly City/Colma)
Dinner: Saison

[CarrieWas218]

Caucus, a little research and guidance might help in looking for suggestions:

Where are you staying? What is your budget? Where are you coming from?

[Caucus]

Staying at the Clift Hotel and no budget. loooking for where the locals eat for anytype of cuisine. Sorry for being general but trying get a wide range of selections to pick from.

[goldangl95]

Where are you from? For example, if you are from LA and NY I would say skip sushi if you are from Boise I'd say go to sushi.

Make sure to make reservations wherever possible.

Here are some recent reports from visitors for you to browse:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/866470
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/846318
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/859407

If you have no budget, and are not picky I would do a full tasting course dinner at either:
Atelier Crenn, Benu or Saison

A cal-italian dinner at:
Cotogna, Flour + Water, Incanto (if you'd like to try more exotic parts of an animal) or Locanda.

Perbacco and Barbacco are also options but I like the more neighborhood vibe of the others I listed over the financial district.

Then for lunches pick based on what you are doing at that time, and what other cuisines you want to try (Indian, Sichuan, Morrocan etc.) Dim Sum brunch time is a nice option at Yank Sing if you don't mind the higher prices (warning can get packed).

Make sure to check out the Ferry Building (esp. during the farmer's market on Sat. mornings) if you are in the area.

[CarrieWas218]

You are going to get really wide and diverse opinions with your vague responses. The town is known for its Italian, Chinese, and Seafood.

With no budget? I'd say Quince or Italian for Italian, Anchor & Hope or Bar Crudo for seafood, and Jai Yun for Chinese.

[Caucus]

NYC. Maybe to get more specific I've been on an Octopus kick lately. Where is SF do I go?

[goldangl95]

Incanto (I believe) had an octopus dish the other day. Call the day you are going to make sure they are still offering.

[cherie]

I vacationed in Northern California last month and was also always on the lookout for Octopus! In SF, the charred octopus starter at Quince was wonderful.

[Robert Lauriston]

I've had great octopus at B44, Pesce, Perbacco, Contigo, A16, and Cotogna.

[Civil Bear]

La Ciccia for octopus stew.

http://www.laciccia.com/index.php?opt...

[mlutsky]

current choices of mine would be...
lunch: pig and pie, deli board or marlowe
dinner: kokkari estario, park tavern or original joes

[smatbrat]

ave you seen anything listed on the other posts? something you might want clarification on? give us some options to choose from, there are over 4000 restaurants in SF

[Caucus]

Sorry to be so General but seafood, italian, chinese are all options.