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 gourmet, you may already know that Oakland has just been named the #1 "Best Food City" in the U.S. by Conde Nast magazine (October 2024)...you can reach Oakland in 20 minutes or so by BART, then a Lyft to your superb culinary experience.

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

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
Mister Jiu's: James Beard award-winning...historic Chinatown
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 
Il Casaro: for lovers of cheese and pizza: 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.

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

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

"Soul" (southern American) Food...in Oakland/Berkeley & SF
Angelina's Louisiana Kitchen: downtown Berkeley
Brenda's Soul Food Cafe: Civic Center, Oakland, 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 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
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
Rooh: "progressive [innovative] Indian," most beautiful food you've ever seen...Palo Alto

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 atmosphere for children...pizza, sandwiches

...There are hundreds of exceptional eateries, so this list does not even begin to be comprehensive.