Restaurants in SF

[Penny Lane]

We are going to be in San Francisco this weekend and haven't made dinner reservations yet. I hope it is not too late. We will be staying near Ghirardelli Square. Does anyone have any recommendations for a couple of nice restaurants for dinner near the area? We will have a car and a GPS but would like to keep the driving to a minimum. We will also be lunching there as well so lunch recommendations would be welcome also.

I know this is a New Orleans food forum, but I am hoping the serious foodies here can offer some help. Thanks in advance.

[JonSmith]

A-16. Its out on the North End, but worth the trip! Casual but inspired Southeastern Italian food. Awesome place. Trust me.

[edible complex]

http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/
Farallon's on Post; even if you don't eat, go to the bar. this place is worth seeing.

http://www.garydanko.com/
Restaurant Gary Danko

http://incanto.biz/
Location
1550 Church Street,
on the southwest corner of Church and Duncan Streets in San Francisco's Noe Valley.
Incanto is open for dinner Wednesday through Monday, closed Tuesdays. For reservations, telephone us at 415-641-4500

http://www.restaurantlulu.com/LuLu_about.html
LuLu Restaurant and Bar

http://www.tommytoys.com/
Tommy Toy's Cuisine Chinoise

http://www.betelnutrestaurant.com/
Betelnut on Union; great for lunch if you are shopping Union St.

http://www.guaymasrestaurant.com/
Guaymas in Tiburon is just a ferry ride away; great views of SF; killer dish:
CHILE POBLANO EN NOGADA
Two large poblano chiles stuffed with chicken and raisins, topped with a
fresh walnut sauce and pomegranate seeds.

[Cocktailtime]

Two summers ago I went Ozumo's (sushi and more). It was very very good-upscale and fresh

[Jerry]

We spent a few days there about 4 years ago.
The Great Eastern in Chinatown was very good old school chinese...a wall of fish tanks full of all sorts of live everything!
It was so hot at that time and no one had A/C so we had to find al fresco dining at night.

[Penny Lane]

Thanks so much to everyone for the recommendations. We have reservations at A16, Guaymas and Betelnut. These restaurants will cover the Italian, Mexican and the Asian cuisines. For California cuisine we will be dining at Rubicon. In the wine country we have rezzies at Bistro Jeanty, Bistro Ralph in Healdsburg and the John Ashe restaurant in Santa Rosa.

I only need one more reservation for a special anniversary dinner on Sunday night near Yountville. If anyone has any suggestions for that night, please send them my way.

[JonSmith]

I only need one more reservation for a special anniversary dinner on Sunday night near Yountville. If anyone has any suggestions for that night, please send them my way.

Try Ad Hoc if they're open, if not Bouchon and Bistro Jeanty are great. Sit outside at Bistro Jeanty, traditional french bistro food. Amazing stuff.

In SF, If you have time for breakfast you should seek out Citizen Cake. Its worth the trip.

[JonSmith]

Thanks so much to everyone for the recommendations. We have reservations at A16........

Penny, nothing - I repeat NOTHING - is bad at A16, the squid ink pasta (Gramigna nera) is a little weird, but tastes great as does the grilled fennel bulb salad. The Funghi pizza is a thing of pure perfection. The gnocchi is like eating little fluffy pillows and if you're still hungy have the pork shoulder scaloppine with the serrano peppers.

When you go, ask for Shelley Lindgren and tell her you're from New Orleans and a wine guy in NOLA told you to go to A16. That and 50 cents will get you a Coke, but it never hurts to make a connection with one of the best wine buyers in the city. Her assistant sommelier until recently was from NOLA.

[edible complex]

try Martini House in Napa and sit outside if possible.
http://www.martinihouse.com/

[hungryone]

Try Quince...lovely room, michelin star, Tulane grad chef in the kitchen, his wife runs the dining room. City View restaurant on Commercial (in the Financial District) has great dim sum in a clean, well-run dining room. Get some fresh roasted coffee to take home as a souvenir from Graffeo's in North Beach. Oh, and if you want to try the storied In-n-Out Burger, there's a location right near Fisherman's Wharf.

Go to the Ferry Building farmer's market on Saturday AM; it's a food wonderland. I dream about the St. Benoit yogurt, and if the mobile chicken rotisserie truck is there, you'll wonder why no one in NOLA has invested in such a marvelous mobile kitchen.

[RouxTheDay]

Gary Danko still ranks as one of my top 5 all time greatest meals ever. -This wuold be a great place for a special meal. And you could walk there from Ghirardelli squaer-if you're not in heels and staying "down-hill" from the restaurant. (yep, we took a cab 3 blocks)

Slanted Door was pretty cool-not culinarily outstanding IMO (okay, it's officially a word now) but just cool.

If you can make it to the Pork Store Cafe in Haight Ashbury it's worth checking out. As I've posted before: It's Camellia Grill on acid.

Tra Vigne in St. Helena really knocked our socks off...we went twice on the same trip.

Have a great trip. Enjoy that weather! (bring a jacket if you plan to walk alot-I was there last month and it was pretty darn chilly at night)

[edible complex]

Have a great trip. Enjoy that weather! (bring a jacket if you plan to walk alot-I was there last month and it was pretty darn chilly at night)

oh yes, leather jacket in August but swimsuit in October for Indian Summer!