No doubt about it, San Francisco is a fabulous food city. In
fact, those in the know rate this as the restaurant capital of the
country. There are over 3,000 eateries to sample, some of them home
to the best chefs and finest ingredients in the land.
Local dishes are typically ingredient driven, incorporating farm
fresh produce and the best of regional wineries, dairies and
organic produce suppliers. No one cuisine dominates, there is
rather a wonderful variety to experience. Asian fusion food is well
represented, with a strong emphasis on fresh local seafood. For
Italian dishes head over to North Beach; for Chinese and other
Asian dishes, make a beeline for Chinatown. The Mission district is
home to a huge variety of Mexican and Latino restaurants.
Every January is declared "Dine About Town" month when you can
enjoy a fixed-price three-course meal at over 100 top restaurants
for $21.95 per person (lunch) and $31.95 per person for dinner.
Tips of 15 to 20% are expected for good service. Make
reservations well in advance as impromptu fine dining just doesn't
happen here.
Fleur de Lys |
$$$$$ | French |
Where else should one go in San Francisco but Nob Hill for some
fine French dining in a romantic atmosphere. Fleur de Lys is a
deluxe, rich, red chandeliered setting for gourmet dinners.
Owner/chef Hubert Keller offers contemporary French cuisine with a
Mediterranean touch and his fare covers caviar, meat, game,
seafood, vegetarian options and French cheeses. Open for dinner
Monday to Saturday. Reservations advisable.
Address: 777 Sutter Street
Telephone: (415) 673 7779
Diners are wowed by the masterful seafood cookery and dazzling
dish presentations served up at Aqua, all cooked with exquisite
care. Dishes such as the shellfish soufflés and ahi tuna
with foie gras are especially fine, and there is also a good-value
five-course tasting menu available. Aqua is quietly elegant and is
frequented by business clientele and a prestigious, gourmet crowd
who like to dine in style for a special occasion. Reservations
recommended. Dinner Monday to Saturday, and lunch Monday to
Friday.
Address: 252 California Street (Financial District)
Telephone: (415) 956 9662
Moose's is a true San Franciscan experience created by the
well-known Ed and Mary Etta Moose who offer a fun and lively
atmosphere with a buzzing bar, exceptionally good food and a
friendly greeting that keeps the regular crowd of politicians,
celebrities and media types coming back for more. The varied menu
offers everything from crab cakes to the sirloin Mooseburger, which
is regarded as the best in the city. There is an extremely popular
Sunday brunch menu and live piano playing nightly. Dinner daily;
lunch Thursday to Saturday. Reservations essential.
Address: 1652 Stockton Street, North Beach
Telephone: (415) 989 7800
Gary Danko |
$$$$$ | French |
Award-winning, top Californian chef Gary Danko has built up a
culinary name for himself by combining classical French cuisine
with Mediterranean and Californian cooking, incorporating major
culinary traditions from around the world into his work. His fine
dining restaurant is a very special experience, and not only for
the exquisite food; the service is impeccable and the atmosphere
quietly elegant with no hint of stuffiness. Perhaps the best way to
experience Danko's ingenuity is by way of a fixed-price seasonal
menu, which might include glazed oysters, guinea hen breast and
chocolate soufflé. Reservations essential. Dinner nightly.
Elegant dress attire requested.
Address: 800 North Point at Hyde Street (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Telephone: (415) 749 2060
One Market |
$$$$$ | American |
Winner of several national and local awards, One Market features
upscale American fare specialising in fresh meat and fish dishes.
There are remarkable views of the waterfront and historic Market
Street that can be enjoyed while dining on ahi tuna steak or the
daily roast. For a unique dining experience, the restaurant also
features a special 'Chef's Table' located inside the kitchen from
where the group is guided through the exquisite tasting menu served
by the chef himself. There is live jazz every evening. Closed
Sundays. Dinner Monday to Saturday and lunch on weekdays only.
Reservations essential.
Address: 1 Market Street, Embarcadero
Telephone: (415) 777 5577
Boulevard |
$$$$$ | American |
Located in the Art Nouveau Audiffred Building near the
waterfront, the mosaic floor, central open kitchen and striking
decor perfectly complement the artistic dishes created by culinary
star Nancy Oakes. One of the city's best restaurants, Boulevard is
always packed and is ideal for a special occasion. Specialities
include wood-roasted dishes like the rack of lamb, pork loin, or a
variety of fish. Reservations essential. Dinner daily; lunch on
weekdays only.
Address: 1 Mission Street, Embarcadero, SoMa
E-mail: info@boulevardrestaurant.com
Telephone: (415) 543 6084
Fifth Floor |
$$$$$ | French |
With a palette of rich colours and luxurious furnishings, Fifth
Floor became an instant classic after opening in 1999. The modern
French cuisine produced by Laurent Gras remains original, visually
creative and sophisticated. Incredible attention to detail is paid
to dishes like the crab salad with a white truffle confit, the
slow-baked rack of lamb, or the velvet chocolate mousse cake with a
roasted banana sorbet. The wine list is prestigious and
professionally served. Breakfast daily. Dinner Monday to Saturday.
Reservations essential.
Address: 12 Fourth Street, Hotel Palomar, SoMo
E-mail: info@fifthfloorrestaurant.com
Telephone: (415) 348 1555 (reservations)
Chef Charles Phan prepares real Vietnamese home cooking at The
Slanted Door and his food is so flavourful and incredibly fresh
that even the likes of Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton have sought it
out. The establishment attempts to recreate the richness of
Vietnamese street food with Western style service. The menu
includes fresh spring rolls, green papaya salad, duck and grilled
ahi tuna, as well as delicious desserts such as vanilla bean
crème brûlée and a collection of Oriental teas.
Its new location overlooking San Francisco Bay also has a to-go
section of the restaurant. Lunch and dinner daily.
Address: 1 Ferry Building #3
Telephone: (415) 861 8032
Dining at this much-loved rustic restaurant is a quintessential
San Francisco experience. The eclectic Italian-Mediterranean fare
includes the legendary brick-oven roasted chicken with a
Tuscan-style bread salad, hamburger on grilled rosemary focaccia
bread, and the classic Caesar salad. The bustling copper-topped bar
serves drinks as well as the very freshest selection of oysters. It
is a great place for a pre- or post-Opera House drink and is always
crammed with an eclectic crowd. Reservations recommended. Closed
Monday.
Address: 1658 Market Street, Civic Center, Hayes Valley
Telephone: (415) 552 2522
With high ceilings and enormous windows overlooking the Golden
Gate Bridge and San Francisco Bay, Greens boasts one of the most
dramatic dining spaces in the city and offers outstanding, creative
meatless dishes that have earned it a place as one of the top
vegetarian restaurants in the country. Owned by the Zen Buddhist
Center, dishes use the finest organic ingredients and the delicious
meals attract non-vegetarians as well as vegetarians. Lunch Tuesday
to Saturday and dinner Monday to Friday. There is a special
fixed-price dinner on Saturdays. Brunch on Sundays.
Address: Building A, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard, Marina
Telephone: (415) 771 6222
Craig Stoll was one of
Food and Wine's Best New Chefs in
2001, and the ultra-fresh seasonal Italian cuisine, the reasonable
prices and warm atmosphere have made Delfina one of the most
popular restaurants in the city today, continuously abuzz with
happy diners. Dishes on the daily-changing menu are kept simple but
extraordinary and might include thick Tuscan soup, butternut panna
cotta or roasted chicken. The handmade pastas, braised meats and
fish dishes are all full of flavour. Reservations essential. Dinner
daily.
Address: 3621 18th Street (Mission District)
Telephone: (415) 552 4055
Brandy Ho’s |
$$$$$ | Chinese |
San Francisco's Chinatown district is world renowned for its
restaurants. One of the top choices is Brandy Ho's, run by three
brothers from Hong Kong and specialising in spicy Hunan (Southern
China) cuisine. A typical meal would be spicy eggplant; calamari
with black bean sauce, or chicken curry with garlic and hot sauce.
Lunch and dinner daily.
Address: 217 Columbus Avenue, Chinatown
E-mail: brandyhos@yahoo.com
Telephone: (415) 788 7527
