Visiting San Francisco for the first time

[KristyDarling]

Hmm, never heard of either. For good Italian, I''d suggest either Steps of Rome or Enrico''s...both are in the North Beach neighborhood which is a very fun, lively part of town. Both are reasonably priced.

 

[FireGoddess]

I'd go to The Stinking Rose (if you love garlic!) over The Steps of Rome...I always feel accosted at TSOR and the food is only so-so. But I'm Italian, so I have pretty strict standards.

http://www.thestinkingrose.com/

I also loooooooooooove Betelnut. Love love love it.

 

[KristyDarling]

OMG I forgot about that place!!! Yes, the Stinking Rose! Great food. But you may or may not leave feeling a little sick and woozy from the garlic overload. It''s INTENSE.

 

[codex57]

I''ve heard great things about the Stinking Rose. Again, it was the Beverly Hills one tho. Right across from Lawry''s (pretty much). Never managed to make it in cuz I''ll always choose a huge slab of beef over garlic.

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

Oooh ooooo I love this thread!

In no particular order:

Seafood: Farallon is near your hotel for a spendy night out - but we go there for lunch to get the great food without dinner prices

Scala''s Bistro for the best gnocci I have ever had

Slanted Door, yes!

Kokkari in the financial district (newar FCD actually) for excellent mediterranean upscale cuisine

Taylor''s Refresher in the ferry building if you want a grilled cheese and milkshake

Andalu in the Mission for lovely eclectic small plates

Dosa for fantastic south indian food in an uber hip atmosphere

Yank Sing downtown for famous dim sum

House of Nan King for fantastic chinese food w/ notoriously bossy waiters (you don''t want THAT! I''ll order something different for you."

Quintescential Northern CA cuisine with great wine, PlumpJack Cafe Cow Hollow/ Union Street area

Betelnut...yes yes yes...

Rose Pistola

RNM Restaurant in funky lower haight

have fun!

 

[bookworm21]

Hmm...I didn''t like the Stinking Rose when I went there the last time. I had the chicken, and it was extremely dry, not to mention overpriced. I ate no more than two bites. But my friend ordered a pasta, which was good, but not great. Loved the spread they provide for the bread though. We stunk for quite a while afterwards.

Also try Michaelangelo''s Cafe in North Beach, my bf loves the Vongole pasta there, it''s his favorite place for that particular dish. The other dishes, not so great.

 

[Mara]

oooh Andalu and Kokkari....YES! love those two as well. kokkari has a sister restaurant in PA called evvia...but i think kokkari is a little bit better.

mmmmm we should have a PS Bay get together where we just eat at fabulous places each time. hahaha. and maybe there''s a jewelry store or two to visit around?

we ate at the stinking rose once, it seemed best suited to bar food and bar ambiance...aka a big group of friends drinking and eating apps kinda thing. or maybe it just seemed best suited to that since that is what we were doing...hehe.

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

A few other thoughts: register with opentable.com (it''s free) and you can make reservations at most of these places. I couldn''t live without it!

Mara, have you ever had the signature castillian hot cocoa w/ and fresh hot powdered sugar doughnut holes at Andalu? Mmmm....you dip them and drink it and roll in it and ohh the happiness.

Also, Chez Nous on Fillmore is another small plates joint I loooooooove, slight mediterranean theme but not much, just hands down awesome food.

 

[dancingqueen]

Thanks again for all the fabulous ideas! I have a great list started.

What about quick lunch spots close to hotel? Any good soups/salads? Husband''s conference is being held in hotel, but I''d like to meet him for lunch most days.

 

[Mara]

When you get to the hotel I''d take a walk around! There are a ton of small places in that area that would be good for lunch, or you can walk over to Union Square and check out what is over there, again a ton of places. It might just be what you feel like eating that day for lunch kinda thing!

 

[Scintillating]

I haven't read the whole tread but...
My FI and I ate at a restaurant called Le Colonial in SF when we were on vacation a couple years ago. It's French-Vietnamese cuisine - and it was spectacular! It was by far one of the best meals I've ever had, and I like food.

Link to Le Colonial SF's website

There's also a sister restaurant in NYC.

Have a good time!

Scintillating...