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Greatest dessert around. Not that overpriced $3 each just because they look pretty crap. Here, it's all handmade, rolled in cocoa powder, and unbelievably tasty. Are they pretty to look at? Not unless you're a chocoholic. But when they taste that good, who cares? And even the earl grey is good, which never fails to amaze me.
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xox Truffles
Cuisine: Dessert
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North Beach |
9/21/2006
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Fantastic cheese-steak! They've even got the truly authentic version: cheese whiz. I must admit that I go for other options, though. But they've also got the sweet & hot peppers. Good stuff! A reasonable beer selection too.
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Jake's Steaks
Cuisine: Cheese Steaks
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Marina |
9/21/2006
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The spicy chipotle sausage is fantastic! The fresh squeezed OJ was non-pulpy, and a little on the sour side, so sort of disappointing, and the bacon was of the thinner, less porky-flavored kinda ordinary variety, so also sort of disappointing. But it's generally pretty tasty stuff.
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Pork Store
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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Cheap enough that it ought to nearly scare you (really - 4 people, stuffed to bursting, for $9/person pre-tip), but really suprisingly tasty. Honey walnut prawns are great. They've also got a bunch of pre-set menus for groups of varying size, with larger groups just getting more & more pre-set items. Damn good deal.
Best Chinese I've had? No way. But just might be the cheapest.
ps - our plates were clean.
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Best Panda
Cuisine: Chinese
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Outer Richmond |
9/21/2006
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Kind of a hole in the wall, but interesting decorations inside - it's all quite made-up and painted to look rather like an exotic Indian palace or something.
The samosas were quite tasty, and came accompanied by a fantastic mint sauce - just the perfect combination of mint & peppers for spiciness.
I agree with Jared that this was the single oddest Chicken Tikka Masala I've ever sampled - wouldn't have come up with spaghetti-o's particularly, but it really does taste like about half the flavor comes from cheap canned tomato sauce. Very bland. The Aloo Gobi was pretty good and had a nice subtle spice to it, and the Lamb Vindaloo had nice, tender lamb with good vindaloo flavor, but was the least spicy vindaloo I've had - less spicy than the Aloo Gobi! Very odd that.
The naan was a bit too thin & dense for my liking - I prefer my naan to be fluffier and slightly crispier.
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Maharaja Indian Restaurant
Cuisine: Indian
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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Pricey, but creatively interesting Mexican food. The burrito has garbanzo beans for example. Chips were very tasty!
They make some damn, damn good fruity margaritas - mango, blueberry, and pineapple among others, all hand made, not blended, and with real fruit blends, not syrup crap. They ain't cheap, but they're worth it.
And on some nights, from 11-midnight, house margaritas are only $3!
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Velvet Cantina
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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Reasonably priced for the area, though with an ambiance which isn't suprising considering the price (not nasty or anything, just small & packed in and kind of fast-foodish feeling). Food was all reasonably good, though nothing to write home about. Tempura was over-battered (should be very light, not massively caked on), but it wasn't over fried which was good, and it had good flavor
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Dojima-An
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
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Downtown |
9/21/2006
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Only went for brunch, so this is a brunch review. Food was definately tasty, though the $9 average price tag makes it debatably worth it. Good OJ. Very friendly wait staff didn't rush us at all, but also didn't disappear. $3 build-your-own bloody mary bar was tempting. Great bacon!
Read my full review here.
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Home
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
9/21/2006
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Admittedly, we only got take out, but the size of the green curry tub (the a la carte option) must have been a full quart! Really quite absurd for only $9. $20 total got 2 people at least 2 LARGE meals.
My flavor issue? Mostly with the green curry - it was fine, but didn't have the depth or richness of flavor that I've come to appreciate in truly amazing green curry. Nice amount of spice though
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Thai House
Cuisine: Thai
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Castro |
9/21/2006
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Really not the $8 burger experience I was hoping for. The burger itself had too much of a charred/grilled flavor, to the point that I could hardly taste the deliciousness of Niman Ranch beef. To add insult to injury, the bun, while not horrible by any stretch, was merely ordinary. It's not the fancy, super-flavorful roll it ought to be to really compliment the burger. The toppings at least are fresh & tasty.
The shake was actually even more disappointing - they use Mitchell's ice cream, which made me quite excited at first, but their chocolate shake is thoroughly doused in Hershey's syrup. Whuah? I'm sorry, but if I wanted a shake that tasted like Hershey, I wouldn't bother using Mitchell's. What a waste. I couldn't even tell it was Mitchell's, there was so much syrup in it. Just use Mitchell's chocolate, and don't try and make it all fancy looking
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Burgermeister
Cuisine: Hamburgers, Niman Ranch beef
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Castro |
9/21/2006
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Tasty! We went during the world cup finale, so there wasn't much of a line, which was nice. The service was fun & friendly, the fresh grapefruit juice was wonderful, and the food was great. The plantain cake was fantastic - a bit sweet, with rich flavor, and the tamarind sour cream sauce on top was a great accompaniment. Good bacon too - just the right mix of salty/porky/charry. Too many tasty things to try, I'll have to be back.
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Boogaloos
Cuisine: Californian
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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Tasty Tasty! It's a very warm-seeming space (especially when it's 75 in SF) with all orange walls, but nicely done with neat hanging vertical lamps all through the back. Moderate size bar up front, serving wine, beer (of an interesting selection), and soju cocktails.
The food is wonderful. The onion pakora (Indian onion rings, essentially) are unique with the addition of curry leaves to the mix. The uttapam and dosas are all very good, and the dipping choices are, well, choice. The orange one is especially good and unique in flavor.
A word of warning: dinner is much more filling than it looks!
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Dosa
Cuisine: Indian
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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First note - this is only on the bar aspect, as I didn't eat there.
Nice scotch selection! 113 single malts, 30 blends (22 of which are scotch), and over 20 bourbons. Definately a nice problem to have to choose! The cheapest scotches are $9 which is definatley overpriced, but you're paying for the selection, the swank modern atmosphere, and the knowledgeable bar staff. Both girls behind the bar knew their scotch, and were happy to chat about it which was great fun.
The bar has a tres cool feel - lots of dark wood, funky exposed concrete pillars, and metal. A perfect mix of dark smoking lounge and modern swank.
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Nihon
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
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SoMa |
9/21/2006
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Bonus item #1: they're open late. When it's 10pm or later, and I got a craving for the tasty raw fishies, the pickings are pretty limited, so it's nice to have a few options, especially within walking distance.
Bonus item #2: they're pretty cheap, as far as sushi goes. But unfortunately, this often leads to some negatives...
Minus item #1: the gyoza was barely lukewarm.
Minus item #2: the sushi's only OK. We had a mix of nigiri & rolls. The nigiri wasn't bad, but wasn't anything to write home about. The rolls were decidedly mixed. The Muy Caliente roll (or whatever it was called - it was on the specials menu) was damn good.
The spicy tuna was bland.
The deep-fried salmon roll was awful. There was twice as much batter/fried material as salmon roll, and it was fried so hard on the outside it was tough to bite through.
The tuna lover roll, made of albacore & regular tuna, with slices of fresh mango on top, was miraculous.
So basically, just don't get anything fried.
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Yoyo Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese, Tempura
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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An unusual slice house in that the slices are made individually, and cooked from scratch, which means that they take 10-15 minutes. This can be annoying if you're starving for pizza, and gotta wait.
They taste pretty good, though, which mostly makes up for it, but since each slice is sort of a miniature slice-shaped pizza, the crust:pie ratio can be a bit higher than you might like.
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Serrano's
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
9/21/2006
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Tasty! The salmon was cooked flawlessly and clearly quite fresh, the pork was a bit dry but remarkably tender, and the sweet potato/bacon hash (as reported elsewhere) was beyond glorious. Wines average $35/bottle and there's a reasonable one-page list. Appetizers were a bit more variable in quality - the duo of crab was unremarkable at best, while the mushroom risotto was pretty good.
Read my full review here...
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Soluna Cafe and Lounge
Cuisine: Californian
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Civic Center |
7/11/2006
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Authentic!
I love that they have East Coast Style - herbs, oil... that's what you put on a sub. None of this mayo & mustard crap. Good bread rolls, great meats. This place rocks. Now if only there were an authentic Philly-style sub place around here, that could do real Philly peppers...
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Gambino's New York Subs
Cuisine: Cheese Steaks, Deli
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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First, know that all they serve is chili. That's it. Second, know that their idea of spicy is clearly a joke. The most pepper indicators on the menu, and so far as I can tell it might have a faint hint of spice. Maybe.
The fresh lime & cilantro is nice, but the chili is bland bland bland. At least, the pork/tomatillo one is really bland. Not bad, just boring.
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Chili Up
Cuisine: Southwestern
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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It's cheap, which is nice for the FiDi, but I wasn't impressed with the food. The shawarma plate had all dark-meat chicken/turkey (which I'm just not a big fan of; I don't like the flavor) which was rather dry to boot, the hummus was bland and sort of runny, and it only came with 1 pita.
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Cafe Elena
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Vegetarian
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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It's a little hole-in-the-wall Colombian/Salvadorian spot where you order from a little window and sit at one of perhaps 12 tables. But the food is fantastic and dirt cheap. I've only had pupusas so far, but so tender and tasty! And thoroughly stuffed with whatever you choose. If only they were open late, this would be perfect drunk food.
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El Majahual
Cuisine: Central American
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Mission |
4/17/2006
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One of the better deals around for lunch, I think. You get a great helping of curry & rice (to go) for about $6.50, and the green curry is pleasantly tasty and has more fire than anything Chili-Up offers. I have a feeling I got the dregs of the batch by showing up at 2, since my curry only had chicken (all very tender white meat), carrots, bamboo shoots (I think) and one small piece of basil. I'll have to stop by earlier and see if there's more to it. A bit oily as Thai curry goes, but yummy, fast, and cheap
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Crepe & Curry
Cuisine: Thai, French,
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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Great beer selection (they even have hand-pump casks much of the time), nice back patio for that outdoor dining experience which is especially nice when it's loud & crowded inside, and the pizza while not fabulous is certainly tasty. I recommend the Heartstopper, with bacon and gorgonzola among its many toppings.
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Lanesplitter Pizza & Pub
Cuisine: Pizza, Italian
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Berkeley |
4/17/2006
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First, I was disappointed that they only offer pita, not lavash. The woman behind the register claimed that it was because lavash broke apart too easily. huh? Since when does anyting fall apart more easily than pita, especially when it's stuffed to overflowing? If it weren't for the paper it was wrapped in, I wouldn't have had a sandwich; I would have had a pile of food.
Second, perhaps this is just a matter of taste, but my "chicken shawarma" was nothing like any chicken shawarma I've ever encountered before. The sauce was strange (and very overly acidic and sour - quite off putting. It almost tasted like hollandaise sauce or something. Where's the tahini?), it was WAY over-spiced with the purple stuff (not sure quite what it is) to the point that I could hardly taste anything else, and the arrangement of ingredients was very poor - all spice and sauce at one end, chicken in the middle, and lettuce at the other, when it should be a mix all through. Not worth a return trip.
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Arabi
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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While it's a far cry from my beloved Sinbad's in San Mateo, it's a hell of a lot closer than San Mateo. The hot sauce is tasty, the ingredients in general look and taste good, but I have to warn away from the Kefta. It comes out of the fridge/freezer in creepy looking pre-formed rectangles that are vaguely green. That's just nasty, and not meat-looking at all. The chicken is much better, and the garlic sauce helps a bit, but it's still somewhat dry, and it's still stuck with only lettuce, tomato, and tahini, which really isn't as good as all the wonderment sinbads puts on theirs - like hummus, tabouli, etc.
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Oasis Grill
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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The paninis come hot, which is nice, but they're nothing to write home about. I'd love to see a bit more veggie on top to give it some crispness and perhaps an interesting texture. Flavor is not bad, given the garlic sauce (I got the turkey one), but could use some pepper. And while it's just barely enough to eat to get a whole sandwich, they aren't worth the $6.75.
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il Massimo Lounge
Cuisine: Italian, Cafe
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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Can't rate the butcher, cuz I haven't tried it. But the little sandwich shop on the promenade... oh dear. So I got the pulled pork. At first, you see the half-roll and think, gee, that looks kinda small for $6. Then you see them fill it to about double its previous size with luscious, tender, juicy, porky goodness. This ain't pork for the faint of heart - not judging by the quantity of luscious grease that dripped out while I was munching - and especially considering that there's nothing on that sandwich but bread, pork, and some tasty, tangy, almost fruity BBQ sauce.
This is not a healthy sandwich. In fact, it doesn't belong in the same room, perhaps not even the same building as the word healthy. But DAMN was it good.
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Golden Gate Meat Co
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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Can't review the food, because I haven't eaten there yet. But I can review the bar & the atmosphere, cuz a bunch of us started out bar hopping there on Saturday.
So apparently it's a small piece of the Marina that's been transplanted to the reasonably hardcore Mission (though it'd be way more impressive if it were up near 16th). It does look nice and reasonably swank inside - big space, 2 floors with the upper being more of a balcony around a large lower area. But far & away the best part is the roof deck bar, which has a fantastic view, and enough heat lamps (and a tent) to keep it passably warm for all the chicks in their 4" heels and skimpy outfits. But the drinks, while reasonably good, are overpriced, and the atmosphere is just a little too trendy. Oh, and it didn't help that the music on the roof repeated itself within the hour we were there. Needless to say, we moved on.
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Medjool
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Tapas, Small Plates
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Mission |
4/17/2006
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Is it authentic? Well, not being Vietnamese, I've no clue. But I can tell you that everything I've had there has been tasty, and in general the price is most definately right - pretty much everything that's not a special is less than $10. And in contrast to Cameo's review, the chicken in my coconut chicken was all nice tender white meat.
And as far as I'm concerned, something that's yummy and cheap is good enough for me when I'm hungry. Know what I mean, Vern?
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Saigon Saigon
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Mission |
4/17/2006
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The prices are the same as their other locations, which is great. The best deal by far is the baby burrito for less than $5, which is plenty of food, especially if you're a purist and don't want sour cream or other junk in your burrito. Their horchata is significantly sweeter than the norm, which is too bad, but perhaps that was just today. Their salsas, while of the same basic varieties as the other locations, seemed less thoroughly blended and thus more uneven in texture. Their flavor was also weaker than their other locations, though they were still reasonably hot.
I'd have to say it's probably the worst of the 3 Pancho Villa restaurants, but it's still a good burrito option in the FiDi.
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Pancho Villa Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Embarcadero |
4/17/2006
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Best burrito around? Not at all. But the one to get here is most definately the Manchamanteles Burrito - it's a red mole sauce, and is (a) messy, and (b) truly delicious. The construction is often a bit loose, and I fully agree with Bruce that it'd be soooo much better if they'd grill the tortillas instead of steaming them (plus that way you get the tasty grill grease/fat residue cooked in - extra tasty!) but it's a good standby. Their salsas have good flavor as well.
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Picante Cocina Mexicana
Cuisine: Mexican
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Berkeley |
4/17/2006
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A quaint little restaurant, really quite small actually. Nice dark furnishings with attractive art on the walls - a comfortable place to spend an evening. We both did the $25 early dinner 3-course prix fixe, which was a pretty good deal - pleasant fresh greens salad, absolutely marvelously grilled fish (Tilapia) for a main course, and the chocolate mousse dessert was quite good, though it had a bit too much whipped cream on top for my taste.
The only complaints were that some of the wine was a bit over marked-up, and once the space filled up it got rather loud, such that hearing my dining companion became a bit difficult at times. But these are small nits, and the friendliness of the staff and quality of hte food made up for them nicely.
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SUMI
Cuisine: Fusion
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Castro |
4/17/2006
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The porter and red were nice and tasty, but their selection of brews was pretty skimpy when last I visited, which is not so great for a brewpub, and many reported that some of the others were downright bad.
The food is reasonably good, though definately on the expensive side - think $9 for a plain burger, and an extra $1.50 to add bacon or avocado or anything else you might want. The space also tends to be very loud, very easily.
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21st Amendment
Cuisine: American (traditional), Pub Food
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
4/17/2006
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Sandwich was good, and quite large - lots & lots of tasty ham. Prices strike me as a bit high for it being a sandwich shop, and not a real deli with fresh-sliced meats & such, but the quality is good. I'll be interested to try the large selection of specialty sanwiches. Lots of them sound really good. Regular sandwiches are around $6, and specialties are $7.
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Working Girl's Cafe
Cuisine: Deli
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Embarcadero |
3/9/2006
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Really can't rate it that well, though the chocolate chunk scone was the best I've ever had, ever. Wonderfully cakey and not as overly buttery and sugary as they often are.
As for the sandwich (an Italian) , to my mind it was overly simplistic (only lettuce as a veggie topping?), and the sourdough baguette roll was too hard. I know, they often are tough, but the sandwich shouldn't be so tough it cuts up your mouth. I mean, really.
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Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe
Cuisine: Bakeries, Deli
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Embarcadero |
3/9/2006
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or truly authentic, indescribably wonderful Italian-style focaccia, there is none better in SF. From the soft, tender moistness of the middle to the perfect crispness of the crust, with the perfect dash of olive oil and light salt, it's amazing. And hugely filling. Have them cut it up for a wonderful snack food in nice stick-sized pieces. Be aware, they close when they sell out, and that's usually before 2pm.
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Liguria Bakery
Cuisine: Italian, Bakeries
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North Beach |
3/9/2006
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Great selection of salads & sandwich options, and I love the pizza ovens for toasting. The food is all healthy and wonderful, but I have to lodge one complaint: I know focaccia. Liguria Bakery in North Beach is focaccia. What they claim to be focaccia is not. Don't get me wrong - it's tasty in a tender, thoroughly herbed sort of way, but it's not focaccia. It's herb bread.
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Focaccia Cafe & Bakery
Cuisine: Deli, Bakeries,
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Embarcadero |
3/9/2006
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Nice bistro atmosphere with wood tables & lots of point lighting. Reasonably tasty burgers, cooked fresh to order (and to desired doneness) with plenty of options, and not bad prices for good beef with a hint of pepper - a cheeseburger comes to about $6
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Bistro Burger
Cuisine: American
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Downtown |
3/7/2006
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Very clean & shiny inside - it immediately made me think of Pancho Villa, both in cleanliness and in general layout. Large assortment of meats & selections. The mole chicken is reasonably tasty with a richly flavored sauce, but in my opinion the sauce is a bit thin. The chicken, however, was very good and high quality. The biggest disadvantage is that they don't seem to have a good salsa bar, and the 2 salsas they toss in with a take-out order leave a lot to be desired. They're rather bland.
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La Corneta Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
3/7/2006
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So I'd heard this place was supposed to have the closest thing to authentic Japanese curry in the area. Having sampled it, it's reasonably close, but doesn't have the richness I came to expect when I was in Japan. Also, it's really oily. They've got a great selection of tasty-looking croquettes though, including crab cream and such, that I'll have to try.
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DELICA rf-1
Cuisine: Japanese,Deli
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Embarcadero |
3/7/2006
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Cool atmosphere, nice looking bar. My g/f noticed the very artsy modern lighting hanging from the ceiling. Nicely divided up so that it's not too loud. Very helpful, friendly, chatty service was also wonderfully knowledgeable about their (significant) wine selection.
Oenophiles will love the creativity and diversity of their wine list.
The food was great - 2 plates/person + dessert turned out to be the perfect amount of food; just full enough without feeling burdened.
The molten chocolate peanut butter & banana cake & ice cream dessert was beyond sublime.
The only disappointment was the wild salmon dish - they use Scottish salmon, which is clearly either freshwater-only fish or not truly wild, because it was so mild in flavor as to be entirely overwhelmed by everything around it. When I order salmon, I want to taste some yummy salmon, and while the dish was still quite good, there was no salmon flavor to be found.
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Cortez
Cuisine: Tapas, Mediterranean
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Downtown |
2/2/2006
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Small, busy yet fairly intimate restaurant that appears to crowd up around the bar pretty often. Very French service - knowlegeable, efficient, but definately not chatty. Direct & to the point, reserved even.
Food was great - the lamb pot au feu was marvelous, possibly the best broth I've ever had. Just fantastically rich. Great selection of reasonably priced French wine as well. I recommend the Cahors - fantastic with food and a steal at $30!
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Fringale Restaurant
Cuisine: French, Basque
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SoMa |
1/27/2006
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Very good food, though the broccoli soup was unexciting. Pecan creme caramel dessert was astoundingly good. Great old-school fancy restaurant atmosphere including a piano-based jazz combo, big chandliers, etc. Very friendly, helpful waitstaff. Pork shoulder and bacon & potato-wrapped Hake were alo highlights
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Moose's
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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North Beach |
1/24/2006
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The only good things about this joint are the fact that it's cheap, there's some good beer on tap, and um, they toasted the bun? Yeah. Crummy burger. The bun was ok, and toasted which was nice, and the veggies were of passable freshness, but the 'meat' itself was cooked to dry cruddy death, and was gristly to boot. The mushrooms in hot wing sauce were disappointing - the shrooms were barely warm on the outside (much less the inside) and the "spicy" wing sauce was pretty lame. It had something of a wing sauce flavor, but not much going for it. Onion rings were way too much bread over way too little onion.
But then, that's what you get for a $3.5 burger, I guess.
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New Yorker's Buffalo Wings
Cuisine: American (Traditional), Hamburgers
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Mission |
1/19/2006
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Reasonable selection of German beer, though not especially extensive. Really good food, especially the stuffed chicken. Wow! Generally a lot of food on the plates as well. Definately one of the odder spaces I've been in - a random mix of different types of tables & chairs, some brick areas, one waiting lounge area covered in velvet... Certainly unique. But tasty.
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Walzwerk
Cuisine: German
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Mission |
12/15/2005
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It's passably good Indian food (though nothing to write home about), but you can get it with a huge selection on on-tap beer! Open late, too.
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Kennedy's Irish Pub and Curry House
Cuisine: Irish, Indian, pub food
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North Beach |
12/9/2005
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Wonderfully flavorful food, and a great selection of interesting (mostly fruity) mixed drinks. Cool atmosphere, usually busy.
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Bissap Baobab
Cuisine: African
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Mission |
12/9/2005
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I'll admit, I didn't actually 'eat' anything there, but the shakes are truly wonderful, and they've got a great, large, creative selection of them. And there's the 24 hour thing.
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Sparky's Diner
Cuisine: Diner
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Upper Market/Church Street |
12/7/2005
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Nice, very drinkable selection of largely Italian wines by the glass, priced a bit high, but all the wines I sampled were not only drinkable, but in nearly all cases very good. Pizza is wonderful in a very Italian sort of way, with suprisingly acidic tomato sauce. The Wild Boar Salami is a must. In fact, all the food was very good, and the seats in back on the counter along the kitchen are great fun, allowing you to watch the chefs work their magic. Get a reservation though - it's often crowded.
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A16
Cuisine: Italian, Wine Bar
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Marina |
12/6/2005
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Great, massive, tasty shawerma and falafel sandwiches, also with platter options. Simple menu, and while you can dine in, it's definately a Mediterranean fast-food sort of place. But damn good.
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Ali Baba's Cave
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
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Mission |
11/30/2005
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Great, massive, tasty shawerma and falafel sandwiches, also with platter options. Simple menu, and while it's a dine-in sort of place (including a small cushion seating area), it's definately a Mediterranean fast-food sort of place. But damn good.
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Ali Baba's Cave
Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
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Lower Haight |
11/30/2005
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Cosy little space (seating for maybe 40 at most) with a big brick wall along one side, 2 flat screens on the other, and a big pizza oven at the back. They do Chicago-style deep dish 'stuffed' pizza (similar to Zachary's) with a sweet, tangy tomato sauce, rich flaky crust (go for the whole wheat - trust me on this!), and really flavorful ingredients, especially their sausage. They do thin crust as well, but the stuffed is the specialty and the reason to go. They also offer salad, 4 beers on tap, and a nice selection of largely Italian wines. Don't go if you're in a rush, though - the stuffed pizza takes 30 minutes to cook.
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Patxi's Chicago Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza,
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Hayes Valley |
11/30/2005
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A comfortable sort of place, with a comfortable sort of menu. The spaghetti and meat balls was nothing to write home about, but certainly wasn't the horribly bland sort of stuff you occasionally find. My dining companion said the fish of the day was good, but it's notably more expensive than the regular menu items. Their buffalo wings were quite tasty.
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Chow
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Upper Market/Church Street |
10/5/2005
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This is actually a wine bar, only serving a selection of appetizers appropriate to their current wine list. But what a wine bar! Small, intimate, very romantic, with a mixture of small tables and comfy couches, with helpful, knowledgeable staff. Prices are reasonable, and pours are significant! They also have a rotating gallery of local art, featuring a new artist every month.
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Hotel Biron
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Hayes Valley |
9/14/2005
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Often a big line, but it moves quickly, and the mexican chocolate is fantastic! They also do all the cone details - chocolate dipping, etc. Yum!
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Mitchells Ice Cream
Cuisine: Ice Cream, Dessert
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Mission |
9/7/2005
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Lots of great, fancy cocktails. Good, large wine list (though there isn't much under $40), though the sommelier was suprisingly uninformed - he hadn't had 3 of the bottles I inquired about. Good, but not astounding food which realistically ought to have been better considering the price. All very well prepared, just didn't have that standout quality I associate with high-end food. But it was all quite good, and very swank - great upscale date atmosphere. In the future, I'll stick to the bar half.
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Absinthe
Cuisine: French, Brasseries
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Hayes Valley |
9/7/2005
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Reservations or a list? Not so much. You wait in line at the door until there's space. Then someone takes your order while barely paying attention to you. Then this fantastically yummy food shows up. Seriously, this was some of the best Chinese food I've had. Great flavor, and not overpoweringly cloying sauces.
Skip the soup though - the wonton soup had the most bland, uninspired broth I've encountered. It might as well have been water with hot oil in it.
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House of Nanking
Cuisine: Chinese
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Chinatown |
8/31/2005
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Tasty if relatively unusually flavored sauce, accompanied by an overabundance of cheese, heavy crust, and lots of grease. Not bad drunk food. Big, filling slices.
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Cable Car Pizza
Cuisine: Italian, Pizza,
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Mission |
8/30/2005
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Deep fried items tend to be a little greasy and heavy on the batter, but the curries are quite good, and the 2 full dinner options, one vegetarian for $14 and one non for $16 are a great deal, with enough food for 2 meals - 2 appetizers, raita, mango chutney, 2 curries, rice, naan, dessert, and coffee/tea. They also deliver. The naan is light and crispy, and definately not the overly thick bready stuff you sometimes find. It's also not over buttered/gheed either, which is nice.
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Essence of India
Cuisine: Indian
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Mission |
8/26/2005
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Yet another dirt cheap Thai place downtown, with the usual selection of items, bright, clean, and open late. The green curry was a little on the greasy side, but the chicken appeared to be all of good quality, and was cut into very small little chunks (almost ground) which was interesting. Large Thai iced tea.
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Bangkok Noodles
Cuisine: Thai, Noodle Shops
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Downtown |
8/18/2005
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It's always a good sign when you walk into a Japanese restaurant or sushi bar, and the first thing you notice is that nearly all the customers are Japanese. That impression was proved correct. It's a little hole-in-the-wall space with a sushi bar and a few tables, and a menu that's half sushi, half basics (some noodles, tempura, that sort of thing). My first suggestion is that whatever the day's specials are, try them. Toro was listed as a special, and it ranked up there on par with the best I've ever had - the fish just melted in the mouth, and had a magnificently rich flavor halfway between tuna and butter. Prices are reasonable for sushi (most nigiri runs $4.25). My only complaint was that the tempura had too much batter. It was light and crisp, but there was a bit more on my veggie tempura appetizer, and on the spider roll crab, than there should have been. But it was neither greasy, nor thick and heavy.
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Sakana
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese
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Downtown |
8/18/2005
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It's an Italian market that also makes sandwiches. The sandwiches have fantastic meat, but don't ask for veggies - they ain't got any. Great selection of Italian food, though - sausages and ravioli and whatnot.
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Lucca Ravioli Co.
Cuisine: Deli, Italian
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Mission |
8/15/2005
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Very tasty! The decor is very, well, Castro I guess. Pink tinted front window, lots of pink lighting, and lots of shiny white plastic walls, ceiling, and furniture. But the food was all really good - it's tapas style, and quite reasonably priced. (The most expensive plates are $11) The food also comes out very quickly. The mojitos are not as good as those at Le Colonial, but they are tasty - just a bit heavy on the club soda.
Full review here.
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Lime
Cuisine: Californian, American (Traditional)
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Upper Market/Church Street |
8/10/2005
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The Niman Ranch beef is great, but the bun is just a basic large hamburger bun which is very disappointing. You also get stuck with fries with everything.
Full review here.
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Burger Joint
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Mission |
7/22/2005
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Worth a walk to get there, but best as take-out because it's a small and very popular place to try and sit. I recommend walking a couple blocks over to Dolores Park. The croissants are fantastic.
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Tartine Bakery
Cuisine: Bakeries
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Mission |
7/21/2005
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Simply outstanding. Great staff, rich, savory, wonderful food. Very reasonable prices. Small but interesting and well selected wine list with nothing more than $38. The ravioli is truly a brilliant start, and the salmon, contrary to other reports, is hardly overwhelming but in fact absurdly good. The only disadvantage to the aphrodisiac dessert is that you've probably eaten so much by then that you'll be unable to move from the couch for a good while afterward. I find this makes it rather less effective.
Full review here.
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YaYa
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Polk St./Van Ness |
7/18/2005
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Almost good enough for a positive, but not quite. Carne Asada burrito was tasty, and the steak was not at all fatty or gristly, which is rare and fantastic, but the small quantity of meat in the burrito was entirely overwhelmed by the comparatively large quantities of beans & rice. This was very disappointing. The salsa (of which I think they only have one kind) is fantastic though. Horchata was pretty good. Nicely toasted tortilla on the burrito. They also have a couple beers on tap.
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Papalote
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
7/7/2005
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Reasonable burgers, but at only 1/3lb, and formed reasonably wide to fill the large buns, they cook through too quickly and you can't get a real medium-rare patty. Buns are pretty cheap; they don't add anything to the burger, though aren't so white-bread as to detract. Onion rings were good. Shakes were of uneven consistency, and tended a bit on the runny side. Good flavor though.
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Bill's Place
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Outer Richmond |
7/7/2005
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Food was reasonably good, but not spectacular. Very small and unexceptional, though appropriate, wine list. Nifty ambiance though.
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Firecracker
Cuisine: Chinese
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Mission |
6/17/2005
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The burger was tasty, they've got beer on tap, and they've got sweet potato fries, and there's really nothing better in the french-fry world. So addictive!
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Taylor's Automatic Refresher
Cuisine: American (Traditional), Hamburgers
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Embarcadero |
5/25/2005
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Great beer selection, including most everything Rogue makes as well as a number of other local and foreign beers. Good pub food - on the upper end for pub food prices, but generally good. Great burgers, including hormone-free American 'Kobe' beef for a little extra. Open til midnight, and they serve food late.
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Rogue Ales Public House
Cuisine: Pub Food, Hamburgers
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North Beach |
5/25/2005
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Fantastically wonderful Italian food, and the portions are sized such that you actually can eat a 'real' Italian meal - appetizer, pasta course, and second course. Don't expect just one to be enough, unless you've a very small stomach. Also, the patio out back is much better than the restaurant - often somewhat quieter and more relaxed and intimate, unless there happens to be a huge party there. Great fresh seasonal ingredients.
Full review here.
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Delfina
Cuisine: Italian
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Mission |
5/19/2005
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Unique, very modern industrial space with appropriately modern, abstract art, complete with DJ spinning mellow techno. The wine list was the most disappointing element - it's very short and mostly French, and they clearly tried to keep the prices down (average bottle $25) to encourage diners to have wine, but the bottles could have been better for the same prices had they not gone overseas for them. The ravioli, halibut, and steak were all fantastic though the steak was slightly overcooked.
Full review here.
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Triptych
Cuisine: Fusion
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SoMa |
5/9/2005
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Very overpriced burritos that just aren't all that. If you want a burrito, go to the Mission.
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Zona Rosa
Cuisine: Mexican, Burritos
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
5/6/2005
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An authentic Irish pub, especially considering the bartenders. Live music on Wednesdays. Good, if not fantastic, pub food.
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The Liberties Bar & Restaurant
Cuisine: Irish, Eclectic
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Mission |
5/6/2005
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The food is quite good, though on the pricey end of bar food. The lamb chops are fantastic, but I guarantee you'll want more than they give you. Great burger. Good beer selection, and well poured.
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The Bell Tower
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Polk St./Van Ness |
5/6/2005
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Hearty, authentic German food what you're looking for? You'll get it here. Not an intimate atmosphere by any stretch, but more of a rollicking German sausage & ale house, and a great selection of German beer both on tap and in bottle. Try the smoke beer if they've still got some!
Full review here.
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Suppenkuche
Cuisine: German
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Hayes Valley |
5/4/2005
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Among the best of the chain fast food burger places, but you're in San Francisco. Why would you want to go to a fast food burger place when there's infinitely better food in any given direction, and probably within a block or two?
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In-n-out
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Fishermans Wharf |
4/7/2005
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Reasonably good (but not fantastic) sushi for reasonable prices, and open until passably late for a sushi place - usually 10 or 10:30.
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Sushi Rock
Cuisine: Japanese, Sushi
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/6/2005
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Way way overpriced for food that is only average at best. You're paying for the belly dancing entertainment, and given that there are a bunch of other Mediterranean restaurants in SF that have belly dancing with better food and better prices, there's no reason to waste your money on it here.
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Pasha's
Cuisine: Moroccan, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/6/2005
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Late night like no other in SF. Reasonably priced. And all the crazy greasy you're drunk and trying to avoid that hangover and just want GRUB type food you could ever ask for. And the food (especially the authentic Portugese stuff) is actually suprisingly good. Awesome, authentic crazy-ass diner atmosphere.
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Grub Stake
Cuisine: American, Portugese
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/6/2005
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Big crepes, but served like an ice cream cone which is a bit odd to me, and I've had better. The crepe itself is too thick, unlike at better creperies.
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Sophie's Crepes
Cuisine: Dessert, Crepes
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North Beach |
4/6/2005
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Fantastic food! Really great flavors, and very well made. They work well with large groups too.
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Maykedah
Cuisine: Persian
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North Beach |
4/6/2005
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Not the best Italian food in NB by any means, but they're open damn late, and the portions are huge. Actually, the open late bit is the only real reason they get a positive, just because there's so much better Italian food around there. It's also a tourist mecca.
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Calzone's Pizza Cucina
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
4/6/2005
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I've never eaten there, but they're one of the better bars in the area. Owned by a bunch of bartenders, they know how to make a drink right. Any tough cocktails you've always liked but are often afraid to order for fear the bar will blow it? Get 'em here. Crazy crowded on weekends.
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Amante
Cuisine: American
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North Beach |
4/6/2005
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It's biggest advantage is that you can get yourself full of sushi for only about $20-30, which is a great deal. The sushi, however, certainly isn't the greatest, freshest, or most flavorful. It's not actively bad, mind you, but it's certainly not fantastic either. But it is cheap.
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We Be Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi
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Mission |
4/6/2005
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Wonderful, wonderful food. Brilliant spicing, flawless cooking, and a very creative and inventive chef makes for a fantastic meal. Reasonably priced wine list also, with some very tasty selections. Very helpful and friendly wait staff.
Full review here.
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Saha
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Moroccan, Fusion
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Downtown |
4/6/2005
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Not the best crepes in the world, but they're LARGE for the price. It's no Ti Couz, indeed, but you'll spend 1/3 the money and be quite satisfied with the results.
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Crepevine
Cuisine: Crepes, Salad, American
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Inner Sunset |
3/10/2005
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Good for the view and atmosphere, and fun for the small dance floor. Reasonably good drinks, but not the best bartenders in the city.
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Starlight Room Harry Denton's
Cuisine: American, light fair
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Downtown |
3/10/2005
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A better bar than restaurant. Good selection of tequilas and margaritas, though a tad pricy. The food is pretty good, but there's better Tex/Mex out there.
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Left at Albuquerque
Cuisine: American (Traditional), Eclectic, International, Mexican, Seafood
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Cow Hollow |
2/25/2005
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A large space, so it's pretty good for groups, but the food is no better than average. Live jazz occasionally.
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Bocce Cafe
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
2/25/2005
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Fantastic food, great desserts, and an amazingly reasonably priced wine list - average around $25! Most definately worth it. Doesn't hurt that I live across the street, either.
Full review here.
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Tao Cafe
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Mission |
2/16/2005
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Basic burritos. No salsa selection. Very strongly flavored carnitas, which can be good or bad depending on what you're looking for.
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Taqueria Altena
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
2/10/2005
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Great shawerma! And when you ask for spicy, they give you spicy. Damn.
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Truly Mediterranean
Cuisine: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
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Mission |
2/10/2005
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I'm actually not the biggest fan of Ghirardelli chocolate, but the ice cream sundaes are truly enormous, and very tasty. I recommend splitting one.
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Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
Cuisine: Ice Cream
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Fishermans Wharf |
2/10/2005
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Lots of fantastic beer on tap, and a nice selection of cask conditioned ale which is hard to find in SF. The food is fine, but nothing to really write home about. Mesmerizing murals.
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Magnolia Pub & Brewery
Cuisine: Organic Pub Food
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
2/10/2005
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Very tasty food, though the portions are often truly 'small plates' tapas. Also some nice beers on tap.
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Ramblas
Cuisine: Spanish,Tapas
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Mission |
2/10/2005
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Unbelievably fresh oysters of wonderful quality and intriguing variety (some fun baked options). Also occasional specials such as seared scallops which are utterly fantastic. Great clam chowder as well (which is not full of potato starch like you might be used to, but full of clams instead), and the grilled cheese is something to behold.
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Hog Island Oyster Company
Cuisine: Oysters, Seafood,American (Traditional),
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Embarcadero |
1/31/2005
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It was reasonably tasty, and in a very attractive location, but far, far overpriced considering how simple and inexpensive the food would be to make.
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Greens
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Marina |
1/26/2005
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My God it was good. Fantastically, astoundingly, marvelously good. And the fact that you basically create your own tasting menu with as many dishes as you like is brilliant. Enormous wine list (that is, unfortunately, tilted toward more expensive wines, and with a very significant markup). But oh the food... So good. I only wish I could afford to eat there every month. Easily comparable to Masa's and the French Laundry.
Full review here.
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GARY DANKO
Cuisine: American (New)
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Fishermans Wharf |
1/26/2005
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A very quiet, middle-of-a-nice-hotel atmosphere, but the food was very very good. Flawlessly cooked salmon. Disappointing wine list, though.
Full review here.
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Pacific
Cuisine: Californian, French (New)
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Downtown |
1/26/2005
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It's good. Damn good. I can't say if it's better or worse than Zachary's or Patxi's, but it's good. Interestingly different from the others with a corn meal crust. The only downsides were that the wine by the glass we picked wasn't all that great, and it was REALLY LOUD, but that may have simply been due to the presence of a large party.
Full review here.
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Little Star Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Western Addition |
1/14/2005
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Funky atmosphere, fantastic food, and an intriguing and fairly reasonable wine list that's quite well matched to the food offerings. The pumpkin curry is wonderful.
Full review here.
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Osha Thai Noodle
Cuisine: Thai
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Mission |
1/4/2005
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Nice wine selection at fairly resonable prices, especially for an SF restaurant. Many by the glass, or half bottle, and some passable flights (though most of the wines in the flights are far from spectacular). The food was not much better than average, and not worth the price. They also had some really poorly chosen entree/veggie selections that detracted severely from the dishes.
Full review here.
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First Crush
Cuisine: American (New), French
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Downtown |
1/4/2005
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Very good food, especially the vegetable samosas, which didn't have the usual potato mash, but were stuffed with small chunks of vegetables instead. Also nearly half an entire page of naan types. They use an enormous amount of butter in some of the dishes, though, so beware. Very reasonably priced.
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Raja Cuisine of India
Cuisine: Indian, Pizza
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Lower Haight |
12/16/2004
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Way, way too much oil & grease. Not much meat on the bone either.
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Shalimar
Cuisine: Indian
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Polk St./Van Ness |
12/16/2004
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A plus because of all the really funky stuff you can get (the 4-mushroom pizza is quite good), but it is a bit overpriced for pizza. And being a chain in a city with so many other, vastly superior pizza joints... I just can't recommend it.
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California Pizza Kitchen
Cuisine: Californian, Pizza
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Civic Center |
12/16/2004
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It's fairly good NY-style pizza, though Marcello's on Castro is better. Handy when you're on Haight and want food though. Perhaps when waiting for a movie at the Red Vic.
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Escape From NY Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Castro |
12/16/2004
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It's not really Mexican, and the margaritas always seem watered down (aka, they don't seem to get you drunk). They give you a lot of food, but it's really only average at best. Chain restaurant - what do you expect?
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Chevy's Fresh Mex
Cuisine: Tex-mex, Mexican
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Embarcadero |
12/16/2004
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Reliably good. Though, last time I was there, they'd run out of duck. But there's plenty of other goodness to go around. Great curry.
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Siam Dish Thai Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Glen Park |
12/16/2004
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Sushi was good - very fresh! Toro was of perfect texture, but had less flavor than I'd hoped for. At the higher end of sushi prices in SF. Great crab cream croquettes. Ordinary miso soup.
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Juban
Cuisine: Japanese
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Japantown |
12/16/2004
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Yum! Great cheesesteaks with lots of options, and all Niman ranch beef. Reasonable prices. They also offer vegetarian versions of everything, which is cool.
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Jay's Cheese Steak
Cuisine: Cheese Steaks
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Mission |
11/16/2004
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Food is very overpriced for its average quality. Beer is good, but you might as well get it at any other bar.
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Gordon Biersch
Cuisine: Pub Food
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
11/16/2004
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Very good, very flavorful thin-crust pizza.
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Tommaso's
Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
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North Beach |
11/2/2004
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Generally good food, but a little uneven (on a plate of beef cubes, some were perfect, some were overcooked). Good wine list appropriate to the style of food. A bit loud, and a bit overpriced.
Full review here.
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Slanted Door, The
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Embarcadero |
11/2/2004
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Like other NBP places, too much cheese, but they're open until nearly 3 on weekends, which is a plus
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North Beach Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
11/2/2004
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Too much cheese - overwhelms the rest of the pie.
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North Beach Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
11/2/2004
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The gnocchi appetizer is the best in the city, bar none. The wine selection is entirely small Italian wineries, huge, and they know all the wines (and are perfectly happy to recommend the perfect one for your meal). Wonderfully romantic, and very small - get a reservation! A reputation for brusqueness, but if you're nice to them, they'll be nice to you. My favorite SF Italian.
Full review here.
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Da Flora
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
11/2/2004
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Food was very good. Mojitos were fantastic. Good service (though they recommend the most expensive items). Good rum selection.
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Le Colonial
Cuisine: French (New) ,Vietnamese
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Downtown |
10/6/2004
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Nice wine selection (though overpriced), very tasty food. Steak was fantastic. Medium-loud.
Full review here.
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Eos Restaurant & Wine Bar
Cuisine: Californian ,Asian Fusion
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/6/2004
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Carnitas good here too, though last time it was a bit disappointing. Enormous and cheap, though.
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El Farolito
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
10/6/2004
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Wow. No burrito quite like this in SF. No rice in these, but man is the meat good, and there's a lot of it. Get the carnitas. Agua frescas are all pretty bad, though.
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La Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
10/6/2004
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All about the focaccia sandwiches. So good! Can be really slow sometimes.
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Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
9/8/2004
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A better breakfast you won't find. Check out the bread varieties for the french toast.
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Mama's on Washington Square
Cuisine: Bakeries, Coffee Shops/Diners
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North Beach |
8/11/2004
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Tasty food, loud.
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Luna Park
Cuisine: Hamburgers, American (Traditional)
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Mission |
8/11/2004
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Dirt cheap, realiable Thai food until 2am.
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King of Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Inner Richmond |
8/11/2004
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Wine dinner is a fantastic deal. Food is quite good, and wine list is enormous.
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Indigo
Cuisine: American (New)
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Civic Center |
8/11/2004
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Fantastic food; amazing chocolate bread pudding; great wine list; really friendly & helpful staff.
Full review here.
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Frascati
Cuisine: Californian ,Mediterranean
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Russian Hill |
8/11/2004
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Great food, good prices, wacky green atmosphere.
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Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
8/11/2004
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Way, way too much oil & grease. Not much meat on the bone either.
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Shalimar Gardens
Cuisine: Pakistani ,Indian
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Tenderloin |
8/11/2004
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The food is filling and very hearty; the booze is dirt cheap. Ain't what I'd call healthy, but it's suprisingly tasty. The bison stew is really good. Great for a pre-movie dinner.
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Tommy's Joynt
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
8/11/2004
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Loud. Very loud. Especially when the drunk crowd rolls in around 1 or 2am.
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Steps of Rome
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
6/9/2004
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Same as the rest - food is ok at best, and they market to big groups.
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Buca di Beppo
Cuisine: Italian
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SoMa |
6/9/2004
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Pretty tasty, I have to admit.
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Barney's Gourmet Hamburger
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Marina |
6/9/2004
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Perfect Sicilian-style pizza (focaccia crust), by the slice, and open LATE. Beer too.
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Golden Boy Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
6/9/2004
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Pizza ain't bad, but not fantastic either. Slices are good for the Coronet lines. Open late.
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Nizario's Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Inner Richmond |
6/9/2004
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Lots of tasty shareable dishes, and a fair wine selection. Huge, with nice ambiance.
Full review here.
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Kokkari Estiatorio
Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean
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Downtown |
6/9/2004
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Best salmon sushi I've possibly ever had.
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Ace Wasabi's
Cuisine: Japanese ,Sushi
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Marina |
5/6/2004
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The biscuits. Wow. And the live blues from a stage 20 feet away is great. Such great food.
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Biscuits and Blues
Cuisine: Southern
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Downtown |
5/6/2004
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Best NY-style pizza in SF; perfect sauce, right amount of cheese, oregano shakers, and open late!
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Marcello's
Cuisine: pizza
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Castro |
4/29/2004
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Yummy crepes, but overpriced.
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Ti Couz
Cuisine: French, Dessert
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Mission |
4/29/2004
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Really good food, but often very crowded.
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Thep Phanom Thai Cuisine
Cuisine: Thai
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Lower Haight |
4/29/2004
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Good sushi, and the rest of the menu is good too.
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Ten-Ichi
Cuisine: Japanese ,Sushi
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Pacific Heights |
4/29/2004
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Really good, unique Al Pastor. Everything else is average. Cheap.
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Taqueria Cancun
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
4/29/2004
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Pretty good sushi, but not the best. Nice late hours though - til 10:30.
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Sushi Groove
Cuisine: Sushi, Japanese
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Russian Hill |
4/29/2004
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best steak I've had in SF - hot buttered goodness. Good for big groups too.
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Ruth's Chris Steak House
Cuisine: Steakhouses
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/29/2004
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Fantastic Basque food, great (and VERY reasonable) wine list, good atmosphere. Great place.
Full review here.
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Piperade
Cuisine: Spanish
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Great food, cool trendy atmosphere, ok prices for Opera District, GREAT waiters.
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paul k
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Hayes Valley |
4/29/2004
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Really great burritos (and they come in a baby size, which is actually a reasonable size for a meal), a large selection of quality fresh ingredients, and the best salsa bar in the city.
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Pancho Villa Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
4/29/2004
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Really cheap, but food isn't that great. Plain spices, oily, low quality meats.
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani ,Indian
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North Beach |
4/29/2004
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Damn good burgers. Atmosphere of a burger joint.
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Mo's
Cuisine: Hamburgers, Coffee Shops/Diners
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North Beach |
4/29/2004
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Mostly noodles, but very inexpensive for Japanese, and quite good.
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Mifune
Cuisine: Japanese, Noodle Shops
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Japantown |
4/29/2004
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Best food I've had in SF (vs Aqua, Boulevard, Hawthorn), sauces are astounding, but crazy expensive.
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Masa's
Cuisine: French (New)
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Cool room, and really great food. Owner has an interestingly forceful personality.
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Marnee Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Outer Sunset |
4/29/2004
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My fave Mediterranean in SF - great food, great spiced wine, bellydancing, and all dirt cheap!
The best deal is if you have fewer than 6 people; once you've got 6 you get a different menu that isn't as cost-effective.
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Kan Zaman
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
4/29/2004
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Amazingly huge scotch selection - best in SF?
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Irish Bank, The
Cuisine: pub food, Irish
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Food is great with wonderful spices, but the naan is often disappointing - too thin, overdone, oily
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Indian Oven
Cuisine: Indian
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Lower Haight |
4/29/2004
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Generally very good food, great wine list (though by-the-glass is pricey), great romantic atmosphere.
Full review here.
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Iluna Basque
Cuisine: French, Spanish
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North Beach |
4/29/2004
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Nice ambiance, good steak, but Ruth's Chris is better, and very expensive.
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Harris' Restaurant
Cuisine: Steakhouses
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/29/2004
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Great scotch selection, good beers, and the fish & chips are the best I've had here.
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Edinburgh Castle Pub
Cuisine: pub food
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Tenderloin |
4/29/2004
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Big lines and no reservations, but 3 meals worth of food for the price of one, and it's tasty.
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Cheesecake Factory, The
Cuisine: American (Traditional), Dessert
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Food is ok, sangria isn't bad, and all the girls like it, but it's always overcrowded.
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Cha Cha Cha
Cuisine: Caribbean, Tapas
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Mission |
4/29/2004
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Food is ok, sangria isn't bad, and all the girls like it, but it's always overcrowded.
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Cha Cha Cha
Cuisine: Caribbean, Tapas
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
4/29/2004
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Food is generally pretty good, but not spectacular, and it's romantic, but you pay for the view.
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Carnelian Room
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Tasty, inexpensive Brazilian food, with dancing twice a week - fun atmosphere.
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Canto do Brasil
Cuisine: Brazilian
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Hayes Valley |
4/29/2004
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Wonderful. Great atmosphere, great food, reasonable prices for a very fancy SF restaurant.
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BOULEVARD
Cuisine: American (New)
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Embarcadero |
4/29/2004
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Food was great, and the bartender totally got the price wrong on a 30-year Scotch, which was cool.
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BIX
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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Amazingly fantastic, but definately for a price. Big wine markups too. Tasting menus are wonderful.
Full review here.
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AQUA
Cuisine: Californian, French, Basque, Seafood
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Downtown |
4/29/2004
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