Casanova Restaurant, Carmel-by-the-Sea

Where to EAT?  A few of the Best Places for Memorable Meals

     Here are some restaurants that our clients have appreciated and locals regularly enjoyed: they offer exciting food in beautiful (or at least interesting) settings, with professional service. Feel free to also consult Open Table (a website that makes it easy to book reservations and offers free bonuses with frequent use), Eater or Zagat for other opinions. In 2019 before the pandemic there were over 4000 restaurants in San Francisco alone, more per capita than in any other city in the Western Hemisphere or Europe. The pandemic took its toll but those that survived...and the hundreds of new openings...are out-standing!
     Of course if you're a gourmand, you may already know that Oakland...just across the Bay by ferry/bus/BART...was named the #1 "Best Food City" in the U.S. by Conde Nast magazine (October 2024). Oakland gets more than its share of negative publicity, but visitors may be surprised at the beauty of its lakes, foothills, the vibrancy of its commercial districts. Always newsworthy (and also quite beautiful) Berkeley is next door. You may want to reserve half or full day to experiences our tour: Oakland and Berkeley --Surprise! Surprise! 

     Food trucks have popped up all over the Bay Area. Don't overlook them...an order from a food truck could turn out to be the best thing you've tasted this week.

IN San Francisco

Seafood
Scoma's: an old standard...Fisherman's Wharf & Sausalito
Hog Island Oyster Co.: in the Ferry Building & other locations 
Fog Harbor Fish House...upstairs on Pier 39
Anchor Oyster Bar...Castro district

Vegetarian/Vegan
Wildseed: new...Marina District
Greens: pioneer veg'n, in Fort Mason w/view of GG Bridge
...Due to the ever growing popularity of vegan diets, realize that most restaurants offer delectable vegan/vegetarian dishes; check out their menus on-line. 

​Chinese
Yank Sing: best dim sum...elegant ambience...Lunch only...downtown, 2 locations
Ton Kiang: excellent dim sum...Outer Richmond
Mister Jiu's: James Beard award-winning...historic Chinatown

Italian
Delfina: often rated best...Mission District...take a taxi as parking on side streets not recommended
Sodini's Green Valley, a neighborhood gem: North Beach 
Trattoria Contadina: a piece of Old San Francisco, on Taylor St cable-car line...North Beach
Vega: neighborhood gem...Bernal Heights
Urban Putt: mini-golf plus pizza...Mission
...There are many! excellent Italian restaurants, so ask your concierge. Some are only open for dinner.

Classic French
Boulevard: exquisite Art Nouveau decor...across from the Ferry Building
Chapeau!: neighborhood gem...Inner Richmond District
Absinthe: so authentic you expect the staff to parler francais...near the Opera & Symphony

Steakhouse
Harris': Van Ness Avenue 
House of Prime Rib: Van Ness Av

Eastern European
Dacha: lower Nob Hill

Breakfast
(All have long lines so go before 8:30 or be prepared to hang out with a crowd.)
Brenda's French Soul Cafe: unbelievably good Cajun/Creole...hefty portions, so share
   ...Civic Center & Oakland
Mama's on Washington Square: tiny...popular!
Sears Fine Foods: famous for its Swedish pancakes and apple dumplings...Union Square
Pork Store Cafe: features Southern favorites...Haight St & The Mission
​Jasper's Corner Bar & Kitchen: downtown gastropub...also good for lunch & dinner...
     across from The Hilton

Peruvian/Mexican/South American
Piqueo's: Peruvian, neighborhood gem...Bernal Heights
La Mar Cebicheria: Peruvian w/seafood specialty...near Alcatraz Landing
La Cumbre: home of the original "Mission burrito"

Southeast Asian
Burma Superstar & Burma Love: spicy! popular!
    ...Mission & Inner Richmond Districts   ...also on Telegraph Avenue in Oakland
​Inle: Burmese...in The Sunset, near Golden Gate Park
Borobudur: good Indonesian...lower Nob Hill 

Indian
Dosa by dosa: casual...Oakland
Amber India: elegant pan-Indian...mid-Market St
Avatar...Sausalito away from downtown

"Soul" (African-American) ...in Oakland/Berkeley & SF
Burdell: Oakland...just ranked #1 of Top 100 restaurants in America by Food & Wine magazine
   $$$! ...use Open Table for reservation
Angelina's Louisiana Kitchen: downtown Berkeley
Minnie Bell's Soul Movement...Fillmore District 

Miscellaneous
NOPA: "urban rustic food"...Lower Haight
Zuni Cafe: locals in their natural habitat...Civic Center...near Opera House/Symphony Hall
The Big Four: game favored on menu...elegant railroad baron ambience...Nob Hill
Kokkari Estiatorio: one of best Greek in the country...downtown SF
Garden Court: grandly beautiful! room w/crystal chandeliers...in the historic Palace Hotel
    ...downtown SF

OUTSIDE  San Francisco

Bombera: innovative Mexican...Fruitvale/Dimond, Oakland...reservations recommended
​Grace's Table: magnificently affordable, delicious...downtown Napa
Dry Creek Grill: everything's scrumptious! especially the barbeque...dinner only
   ...worth the drive...SAN JOSE (oddly in a strip mall in Willow Glen neighborhood)
Casanova: quaint French-Italian w/excellent wine list...dinner only weekdays...Carmel
Mission Ranch: killer view...popular with locals...owned by Clint Eastwood...Carmel
Brigitte Bistro: French...worth the drive to Petaluma
Bottega: Chiarello's masterwork...Yountville in Napa Vly
Mustard's Grill: Cindy Pawlcyn's flagship (and a Valley favorite)...near Yountville
Farmstead: quintessential "farm to table" menu, beautiful setting...indoor/outdoor seating
   ...St. Helena, Napa Vly
Nepenthe: people stop here for its panoramic views...Big Sur; however, also consider--
   California Market at Pacific's Edge in the Hyatt Highland Inn...ocean vistas ​
Ristorante Avanti: excellent Italian in a strip mall...Santa Cruz
Chez Panisse: motherlode of "California cuisine"...Berkeley
Breads of India: excellent regional Indian...Oakland, Berkeley
Rooh: "progressive [innovative] Indian," most beautiful food you've ever seen...and delicious
   ...Palo Alto
 
In Sausalito, directly across from SF

​Sushi Ran: best sushi this side of Tokyo?
Angelino's: fresh Italian including excellent pizza
Copita Tequileria y Comida: outstanding authentic Mexican
Taste of Rome: good atmosphere for children...pizza, sandwiches

    There are hundreds of exceptional eateries...many recently opened...so any list cannot be comprehensive. Start here, and consult with your concierge as well. Unless you're walking to a restaurant near your hotel/evening activity, consider ordering a Waymo (self-driving car) or Lyft;
if you must drive, only park your car in a lighted, secure garage.