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 there were over 4000 restaurants in San Francisco alone, more per capita than in any other city in the Western Hemisphere or Europe; however, the pandemic has taken its toll and fewer than half survive. We recommend that you check with any restaurant listed below for its current hours or restrictions as part of planning a meal there. 

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
Woodhouse Fish Company: take an historic trolley...Castro
Scoma's: an old standard...Fisherman's Wharf, & Sausalito
Hog Island Oyster Co.: in the Ferry Building & other locations 

Eclectic
Rich Table: new and exciting flavors...Pacific Heights

Chinese
Yank Sing: best dim sum...elegant ambience...Lunch only...downtown, 2 locations
Ton Kiang: excellent dim sum...Outer Richmond
Eight Tables: special occasion $$$$...advanced reservations recommended...Chinatown

Italian
Delfina: often rated best...Mission...take a taxi as parking on side streets not recommended
Sodini's Green Valley: 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...research Open Table, Zagat et. al.

French
Boulevard: exquisite Art Nouveau decor...across from the Ferry Building
Chapeau!: neighborhood gem...Inner Richmond District
Cocotte: also a neighborhood gem...Russian Hill...take the cable car
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

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
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

Peruvian/Mexican/South American
Piqueo: 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
Dosa by dosa: casual...Oakland
Amber India: elegant pan-Indian...mid-Market
Borobudur: good Indonesian...lower Nob Hill 

"Soul" (southern American) Food...in Oakland/Berkeley & SF
Magnolia Street Kitchen in the historic California Hotel: Oakland
Angelina's Louisiana Kitchen: downtown Berkeley
Lois the Pie Queen: Oakland
Brenda's Meat & Three: SF

Miscellaneous
Greens: one of the best all-vegetarian ...Fort Mason
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: superlative Greek...downtown
Garden Court: grandly beautiful! room w/crystal chandeliers...in the historic Palace Hotel...downtown

OUTSIDE San Francisco

​Grace's Table: magnificently affordable, delicious...downtown Napa
FinFine: Ethiopian...Berkeley
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
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...views of ocean ​
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

In Sausalito
The Spinnaker: good seafood w/panoramic view...short walk from the ferry dock
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 options and atmosphere for children