Cookaholics Bulletin Board
http://cookaholics.org/

SF restaurants
http://cookaholics.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=1502		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  ivy [ Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  SF restaurants
I'm traveling to SF for a few days with my young adult children and hubby. I am hoping for a small list of good basic dining options, shying away from expensive haunts serving special architectural sculptural pretentious food. (sorry for the excess of adjectives) Would it be possible to weigh in on the following (I've collected these from non-foodie friends). Any help in pairing down the list would be great! TIA!

    Stinking Rose
    Tadich Hill
    North Beach Restaurant
    Belden Lane
    Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
    Le Petit Laurent (sounds special)
    Hang Ah Tearoom
    Lulu's
    Absinthe
    The Slanted Door
    Top of the Mark (for the view)
    Pauline's Pizza
    Kuleto's on Powell ST
    Green's
    Rose Pistola
    Fog City Diner
    Bouleverd
    Prospect
    Samovar (for tea)
    Atlier
    Delfina
    Plouf
    Sears Fine Food (for pancakes)
    Author:  phoenix [ Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:36 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    I'll let Fuzzy steer the way here. However, I've been to Lulu's and really liked it. A lot of people like the Slanted Door. I've only been there for lunch so I don't think I've had the full experience. Great fried spring rolls. When in SF you have to check out the Ferry Building. There's a lot of foodie stuff. I usually go to small hole in the wall places with my Aunt and Uncle who live in SF. One of their favorites is the Mandalay.
    Author:  Amy [ Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:42 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    I'll also let Josh take the lead here, and it's been a few years since I've been to SF, but I adore The Slanted Door.

    Amy
    Author:  gardnercook [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 9:36 am ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    Agreed, Fuzzy is the expert. It's been a few years for me, as well. Last time there I went to Fog City Diner (had wanted to go for years). It was good, but not great....just didn't meet my expectatiioins for a great SF restaurant.
    Hopefully the Fuz will give you the best info.
    ilene
    Author:  Tim [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:08 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    Hi,

    We are also fans of Slanted Door. Beldon Court has an excellent Basque restaurant (B44) and a good French Bistro. Nopa on Divisidero is also excellent and very hip.

    You should check out Eater.com-San Francisco and the San Francisco Chronicle restaurant reviews.

    Tim
    Author:  gardnercook [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 4:02 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    I would add Zuni Cafe to your list. The roast chicken and the gnocchi are well worth it.
    Author:  TheFuzzy [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:07 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    I should be able to give you the full rundown in a couple days. Places recommended by others in this thread are good; many of those recommended by your friends are tourist traps.
    Author:  phoenix [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:10 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    Expensive but really good: Gary Danko
    Author:  ivy [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 7:42 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    Thanks for the suggestions so far. Great point on reading reviews on Eater.com-San Francisco. Didn't know that existed.

    Fuzzy - thanks for the heads up about the tourist traps. I'll look forward to more comments when you have a chance.

    Ivy
    Author:  TheFuzzy [ Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:47 pm ]
    Post subject:  Re: SF restaurants
    Ivy,

    Some downtime tonight so I can update these. Here's my viewpoints on the list you have:

    Tourist Traps Serving Vile Food
    Stinking Rose
    North Beach Restaurant
    Kuleto's on Powell ST

    Places With Great Views But So-So Food
    Top of the Mark (for the view)
    Green's
    Cliff House

    Restaurants Which Used To Be Good, But Not Anymore
    Tadich Hill
    Rose Pistola

    Forgettable Restaurants
    Pauline's Pizza
    Fog City Diner

    Restaurants Which Are Good But Rather Pricey
    Absinthe (better for drinks than food)
    Lulu's
    Boulevard
    Delfina

    Just Good Restaurants
    Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
    The Slanted Door

    Special Cases
    The Belden Lane restaurants, especiall Plouf, B44 and Cafe Bastille, are excellent if there's good sunny weather and you can sit outside. They close off the alley and fill it with outside tables. If the weather is bad, though, I don't recommend doing Belden Alley.

    Samovar (for tea): yes. Excellent for tea.

    I Don't Know These
    Le Petit Laurent (sounds special)
    Hang Ah Tearoom
    Prospect
    Atlier
    Page 1 of 2 All times are UTC - 7 hours [ DST ]
    Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
    http://www.phpbb.com/