Dining recommendations for San Francisco

[hungryhun]

I am heading to SF next week and would like some good recommendations for restaurants. I am aware of the many franchises S. of the border so will be looking for places like PF Changs, but I am hoping for some unique experiences. Among our favourite cuisines are E.Indian, Vietnamese, Mexican, Sushi....Also would like to find a good breakfast place. Something along the lines of Red's or Belmont here in YYC. Oh...we are staying in Fisherman's Wharf area.

TIA!

[MRCboicgy]

Far away, but http://www.houseofbagels.com/

Get one with a schmear, then have the rest of the deli stuff for breakfast.

Don't forget to visit In N Out burger near the wharf.

[Clever_Iggy]

IMO:

Tapas: Bocadillos (Financial District/North Beach) or Zarzuela (Russian Hill).

Mexican: La Cumbre Taqueria (the Mission)

Sushi: Sushi Zone (the Mission) or Koo (near the Pan Handle)

Breakfast: Mamas near Washington Square Park in North Beach (but get there early!). In the alternative, try Cafe Divine in the same area.

Cool Places: La Trappe (single page menu but a beer menu that requires an index by country/type/alphabetical - North Beach); Zeitgeist (just burgers and simple food but a backyard beer garden in the Mission); Toranado (German sausages next door but an incredible beer selection); Giordanos - a couple of brothers brought out Pittsburgh roots and serve the French Fries IN the burger... plus, Mark Giordano strongly approves; just up the street from Giordanos is a place called Vesuvios - I sat 2 seats down from Johnny Depp one day and a friend of mine has had a beer with Owen Wilson & Kate Hudson (back in the day) - a neighborhood icon where the beatneck writers made home.

Italian: anywhere along Columbus St. in North Beach - Calzone's, Cafe DeLucchi, etc. - get there at a good hour and get a 2-seat table along the sidewalk, grab a bottle of wine, etc.

Pizza - it's not Chicago or New York, but there's a lot of transplants. Little Star has a pretty awesome quasi-Chicago pizza.

Honestly, Fisherman's Wharf is the last place you want to go for a good SF experience. But, just to give you some places close to where you're staying - Joe's Crab Shack (sounds like a joke, but good seafood, great beer and a pretty good time/price); places near Pier 39/41 have decent seafood, but you can do much better getting inland and out of the tourist trap.

Anything more specific - a specific genre - if you happen to be traveling out of SF or if you want other things to see/do/eat/drink, PM me.

SF is home and a wonderful home.

[hkstylez]

Ike's Place and San Francisco Creamery.

Try the Kitchen Sink Challenge.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by hkstylez

Ike's Place and San Francisco Creamery.

Try the Kitchen Sink Challenge.

You watched Man v. Food... didn't you?

Le Cumbre is the Mexican Restaurant he went to in that episode... but I was there first! Also, San Francisco Creamery is in Walnut Creek... about 25 minutes outside of SF... and the kitchen sink challenge is hilarious to watch.

[Deelow]

Breakfast...Sears Fine Food was awesome. It's been there since the 30's. http://www.searsfinefood.com/

[MaDMaN_26]

thought I read Diving. nm

[Phanuthier]

What C_I said. And what fotze said if you can, how do you know about French Laundry?

Don't go to PF Changs.

[scotty2hotty]

Naan n Curry .....any of them.

Cheap, dirty ....and delicious.

[Super_Jason]

As mentioned above, I recommend Sears Fine Foods for breakfast. It's beside the Westin St Francis Hotel in Union Square.

Sotto Mare is good for Italian food in the North Beach neighbourhood, Out The Door for Vietnamese, and IN & OUT BURGERS near Fisherman's Wharf.

Enjoy San Francisco!!

[driveway]

The Alembic up in the Haight Ashbury: http://www.alembicbar.com where I unhesitatingly recommend the Jerked Duck Hearts and the Bone Marrow.

Absinthe Brasserie: http://www.absinthe.com/ where everything is good, ESPECIALLY the cocktails.

And Chez Panisse: http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/ in Berkeley. Chez Panisse essentially invented the idea of five-star local cuisine back in the 70's and the food is seriously, seriously good. There wouldn't be a French Laundry if there hadn't been Chez Panisse.

[Bill Bumface]

In

N

Out

[bugsy]

for relaxed tasty mexican, really enjoyed the Little Chihuahua on Divisadero St. It's near the haight ashbury district as well.

bonus is a decent little comic book shop right across the street, and a games shop nearby, if a person is into such things

[blackgold]

Heres a second vote for Sears fine foods . They have a great breakfast.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by fotze

French Laundry

You think he could get a table for next week?

You mentioned mexican food. I LOVED Maya in Soma (South of Mission), really high quality ingredients, great mexican flair. Recommend the tampiquena.

[malcolmk14]

I'm also heading to SF next week and staying in the same area, and I'm a bit of a foodie. I'll post later with what I've found the last couple weeks.

[troutman]

Some say Chez Panisse (Berkley) is the best restaurant in the world. Try the Cafe, as the restaurant is booked months in advance.

http://www.chezpanisse.com/reservations/

Try a burrito in the Mission District at any taqueria.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Deelow

Breakfast...Sears Fine Food was awesome. It's been there since the 30's. http://www.searsfinefood.com/

Agreed. I was there on Saturday and make sure I go there at least once every trip, which is about once a month during ball season. Be prepared to wait. This trip I walked right in, but when I left there were over 50 people in line. The line moves fast as the servers are good and breakfast food is quick. I'll be back next month for sure.

John's Grill is a great steakhouse and it was the setting for the novel 'The Maltese Falcon'. www.johnsgrill.com.

If you are looking to drink wine and eat tapas, try The Press Club. www.pressclubsf.com.

For a value menu try California Pizza Kitchen. The service is usually outstanding, the food is decent and it's really cheap. www.cpk.com.

[Deelow]

You go to San Fran every month? That's awesome.
Not really food related but we stumbled upon this place on Grant last time I was there.


It is one of the oldest bars in America, a total dive and completely awesome!!!

[Locke]

^^ I was at that bar last year, it was pretty cool.

For breakfast you have to go to this diner that looks like its out of the 50s, I cant remember what its called for the life of me though.