Good San Fran Restaurants?

[Stumptown]

Me and all my foodie friends make the Taqueria Can-cún their first stop when we hit town (Mission & Valencia). The Mexican food around here is really awful so you get to working up a craving for those excellent burritos.

[Phanuthier]

Faraloons (sp?) rathed 2nd best restraunt in the Bay Area this year I believe, and 2nd best restraunt in the USA a few years ago.

I like Joe's Crabshack too.

[valo403]

I'm not sure if it's crab season yet, I think it is, but the best food I had in SF was the cardboard containers filled with fresh steamed crab from the stands outside the restaurants down by fishermans wharf.

Drink at bar A, walk while hammering down crab, drink at bar B, repeat.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Can you get Rice-A-Roni in San Francisco?

[OBCT]

If you venture into the South Bay (San Jose area) at all and feel like Italian, Maggiano's is excellent. It's located in Santana Row, a nice shopping district close to lots of amenities (movie theaters, etc).

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by OBCT

If you venture into the South Bay (San Jose area) at all and feel like Italian, Maggiano's is excellent. It's located in Santana Row, a nice shopping district close to lots of amenities (movie theaters, etc).

I don't see any prices listed there, how are they?

[Muta]

Go to Kuledos (or Kuletos?) downtown. Fricking amazing.

[Pablothegreat]

For Thai food, try OSHA Thai on Geary & Leavenworth.
For Vietnamese Fusion, try Slanted Door at the Ferry Building (my favorite)
For fancy food, try Boulevard near the Ferry Building.
For clam chowder, try the San Francisco Soup Co - it's a franchise that should be plentiful in the downtown core.
For touristy italian food, try the Step of Rome in North Beach
For fast food burger, have to try In & Out.

I am green with envy that you are going. Have fun.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

I love North Beach and all the Italian Restaurants on Columbus St.

My favourite in this area is Tommaso's on Kearny Street in North Beach.

Absolutely amazing Italian food. Your best bet is to go after 9:00 unless you want to wait a long time for a table.

http://tommasos.com/

[OBCT]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I don't see any prices listed there, how are they?

Relatively speaking, quite reasonable. The portions are large (some would say enormous), but entirely satisfying. Even if you think you're hungry, it's easy to over order (and thusly, over indulge) here.

The only downside comes with the popularity, especially during the usual busy hours for dining. Even with reservations (highly recommended on the weekend), it's possible that you could wait a bit to get seated. It's often downright hopping, especially if you luck out on a night with live music.

Because of the crowds, I wouldn't recommend Maggiano's for "winding down" - it has the food of a fine dining establishment, but the noise/energy of a trendy spot or family joint at times. I've only received great service here, but many people dislike the "rushed" feeling that can come with the territory (to me, they're just trying to serve all their customers effectively).

Urbanspoon sums it up pretty well.

[Flames in 07]

the restaurant at the ground level of the st francis on powell, just north of union square is one of my favorites.

Best bar I found was near the wharf called the dirty martini.

[GoJetsGo]

One of my favorite spots when in San Fracisco:


The Stinking Rose A Garlic Restaurant has Californian-Italian cuisine with GARLIC as a major component in the dishes served. www.thestinkingrose.com/

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Just a word of advice, nobody there calls it "San Fran".

They also don't like it called Frisco. San Francisco has some of the best restaurants in the world. They're everywhere. Regarding the Wharf, it gets a bum rap but there are fun places there.

[Jordan!]

It's Frisco, or San Francisco that's it

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

They also don't like it called Frisco. San Francisco has some of the best restaurants in the world. They're everywhere. Regarding the Wharf, it gets a bum rap but there are fun places there.

I don't think anyone questions the fun / enjoyment factor. It's just astronomically over-priced.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Sidney Crosby's Hat

My favourite in this area is Tommaso's on Kearny Street in North Beach.

Absolutely amazing Italian food. Your best bet is to go after 9:00 unless you want to wait a long time for a table.

http://tommasos.com/

Is that a chain? I think I went to one in Eureka CA.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by troutman

Is that a chain? I think I went to one in Eureka CA.

They just have the one location as far as I know. Their website also only shows the one location.

Maybe they have another - much like Grimaldi's in New York now has.