Food and Drink Recommendations

Dinner

Splurge

  • AQ (SOMA | Contemporary American): One of our favorite restaurants in the city. Their seasonal menu is small but very thoughtfully prepared. We have never had anything at AQ that we disliked. Reservations strongly recommended.
  • Boulevard (Financial District | American): A classic high-end San Francisco fare. With Boulevard’s extensive wine list and perfectly executed entrées, you will certainly leave satiated and satisfied. Reservations strongly recommended.
  • Greens Restaurant (Marina/Presidio | Vegetarian): Nestled in the middle of historic Fort Mason, this all-vegetarian restaurant features a beautiful space with stunning views and really exquisite cuisine. Even meat lovers (like us) enjoy this quintessentially San Francisco restaurant. Reservations recommended.
  • Quince (Financial District | Contemporary American): This is the pinnacle of fine dining in San Francisco. Their intimate dining room, attentive and friendly staff, and artistic culinary creations are truly a unique experience. Allow plenty of time to enjoy this one-of-a-kind prix fixe dinner. Reservations and proper attire required.

 

Enjoy

  • Anchor Oyster Bar (Castro | Seafood): The venue of our first date! One of San Francisco’s finest seafood restaurants, Anchor Oyster Bar is tiny, unassuming, and ridiculously good. They always have fresh fish specials, and everything they do is sheer perfection. No reservations accepted, so arrive early and expect to wait. Also a great lunch spot, and marginally easier to get a table.
  • L’Ardoise (Castro | French): If you want incredible, no-frills French food, this is the place to go. A neighborhood gem that you might easily overlook, L’Ardoise is truly like being in a restaurant in the French countryside (many Yelp and OpenTable reviewers concur). The service is impeccable, the food is to die for, and their wine list is concise but superbly crafted. The pan-seared filet mignon is exquisite. Reservations strongly recommended.
  • Eureka Restaurant and Lounge (Castro | Southern): Having grown up in Texas and Tennessee, we have strong opinions about fried chicken. However, Eureka has our favorite fried chicken in the entire city. This Castro staple has great drinks, authentic Southern cooking, and a really energetic and friendly atmosphere. Reservations are recommended, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Fable (Castro | American): This new-ish restaurant in the Castro just recently opened its back outdoor patio (complete with heat lamps for those cold San Francisco nights). Inside or out, Fable is cozy and fun, with simple yet consistently elegant dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Reservations not necessary, but recommended on Fridays and Saturdays.
  • Lers Ros Thai (Mission & Hayes Valley & Tenderloin | Thai): This is hands down the best Thai food in San Francisco, and possibly the best Thai food outside of Thailand. Your server won’t ask you how spicy you want your food; that is how spicy and delicious it is. We have actually never been, but they do an amazing delivery service. There are three locations, so be sure if you make a reservation that you show up at the right one.

 

Save

  • Little Star Pizza (Mission & Western Addition | Pizza): If you are craving really good pizza, Little Star should be your destination. Although there can be a bit of a wait for a table, depending on when you go (they don’t take reservations), their deep dish pizzas are well worth it. We hear the thin crust pizzas are good, too.
  • Pakwan Restaurant (Mission & Tenderloin | Pakistani/Indian): Authentic Pakistani/Indian cuisine, this restaurant makes no attempt to be romantic or luxurious. What it lacks in charm, however, it makes up for in outstanding curries, biryanies, and tandoori meats.
  • Super Duper Burgers (Financial District & Castro | Burgers): One of San Francisco’s favorite burger joints, Super Duper also serves milkshakes made with the famous Strauss ice cream. Very casual and very delicious. Also great for lunch.

 

Lunch

Splurge

  • The Rotunda (Union Square | Contemporary American): Conveniently located inside Neiman Marcus, you can stop here after (or before) shopping. If you dine here on a weekday, you will be surrounded by ladies who lunch. On a weekend, the crowd is much more diverse. This is a beautiful space with elegant drinks and food. Reservations recommended.
  • The Slanted Door (Financial District | Vietnamese): This is not your typical Vietnamese restaurant. Situated in the iconic Ferry Building, The Slanted Door boasts excellent and (largely) authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a sophisticated setting. If you can tolerate the throngs of tourists, this is a great place for a delicious lunch. Also try their white wines; they tend to be excellent. Reservations recommended.
  • Zuni Café (Hayes Valley | Modern European): Admittedly, Zuni is great for lunch or dinner, but we needed to come up with fewer suggestions for dinner and more suggestions for lunch. So here it is. Everything here is excellent: the drinks, the appetizers, the entrées, the desserts. Reservations recommended.

 

Enjoy

  • Cafe Claude (Union Square | French): This delicious little French restaurant is tucked away in an alley off Union Square. Great spot for lunch, but reservations are recommended.
  • The Cavalier (Financial District | Contemporary European): The Cavalier features a great English-style brunch/lunch. This is the perfect place to dine after playing cricket or polo. Reservations recommended.
  • Ella’s (Presidio Heights | Contemporary American):
  • Hi Tops (Castro | Sports Bar): This may be a sports bar. A gay sports bar, even (also fondly known as a sports-themed gay bar). But it has phenomenal food. The nachos with pulled pork are out-of-this-world (and substantial enough for three hungry people to share). The ahi tuna burger is outstanding, and people travel from afar to have the fried chicken sandwich. The crafted cocktails and extensive beer list are excellent, the bartenders are friendly and efficient, and the boys are pretty to look at.
  • Park Tavern (North Beach | American): This casual but sophisticated tavern boasts a satisfying menu of seasonal, market-driven seafood and meat dishes for every palate. Reservations recommended.
  • Tadich Grill (Financial District | Seafood): This seafood restaurant is quintessentially San Francisco. The locally sourced seafood is excellent, but the sensation of having stepped into historic San Francisco is truly what makes the visit worthwhile. They don’t accept reservations, and they are closed on Sundays.

 

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  • Ike’s Place (Castro | Sandwiches): This is THE place to go on a warm Sunday afternoon before heading to Dolores Park. On nice days, there is usually a line winding around the sidewalk outside, but you can call in an order and jump the line when you arrive. Their sandwiches are not for the faint of heart.
  • Dinosaurs (Castro | Vietnamese/Sandwiches): Another hot destination on the weekend for lunches to take to Dolores Park. You can get a great Vietnamese sandwich (banh mi) here, but again, it’s highly recommended that you call ahead so you don’t have to wait in the (ridiculously long) line.
  • Red’s Java House (Embarcadero | Burgers): We have never been here personally, but several of our friends swear by it. A casual burger joint on the Embarcadero with no frills but really good burgers and sides.

Drinks

  • Bourbon & Branch (Tenderloin | Crafted Cocktails): Put on your skinny jeans and thick-rimmed glasses before you pull up at Bourbon & Branch. It’s definitely a hipster destination, but don’t let that deter you. The drinks are creative (but not too “out there,” as some drinks in San Francisco can be), and the atmosphere is dark and cozy.
  • Hi Tops (Castro | Gay Sports Bar): The only venue listed twice, and for good reason. As stated the first time, this is a gay sports bar with amazing food. Try the nachos with pulled pork, the ahi tuna burger, the Cobb salad, or the fried chicken sandwich; you won’t be disappointed with anything you choose. Great drinks with a lively crowd; standing room only when local teams are playing.
  • Press Club (Union Square | Wine Bar): Located adjacent to the Four Seasons hotel, this elegant wine bar and lounge feels sophisticated without being stuffy.
  • Magnolia (Haight | Pub/Microbrewery): People swear by their burgers, but pretty much everything on their menu is good. They don’t take reservations and can get quite crowded, so get there early or expect to wait for a table.

Other

For other food and drink ideas, the following resources are very helpful:

  • 7x7SF: The “insider’s” guide to San Francisco.
  • Eater SF: A fairly authoritative guide to eating and drinking in San Francisco. Be sure to check out the Eater 38. These guys are really good at what they do (tasting and reviewing).
  • OpenTable: Although it’s almost a must for making reservations these days, the restaurant reviews are also pretty accurate, by our tastes.
  • Yelp: Pretty much everyone knows about Yelp, but it’s still worth mentioning if you want dining suggestions.