Help! Eating Up San Francisco
The husband and I are headed to San Francisco for a week this month. We’ll be staying in Union Square.
Unbelievably, I haven’t been to S.F. since 1992 when I had been accepted to Berkeley and wanted to check it out to decide if I’d attend. As it turned out, Berkeley wasn’t for me and I am a proud U.C.L.A. Bruin at heart (Boo Trojans!).
Prior to that college-oriented visit, I actually spent a good amount of time in the Bay Area as my dad worked temporarily at the Livermore National Laboratory. My mom, sister, and I joined him on our breaks from school and our weekends were full of road trips and explorations, and I feel like I saw everything there was to see in the city and the region.
But I was 13 then. And I wasn’t too concerned about food at the time. I’m sure that a hot dog and some M&Ms would have suited me just fine.
Right now, as a full-grown food blogger, all I can think about and plan for are the meals we’ll enjoy in S.F. But where to start? What are the “must-see” food destinations that I should consider and plan for? We’re not going to be dining very upscale this trip, but I’m not concerned because I think that there should be plenty of delicious eats that won’t cost a fortune. In fact, it should make the trip more interesting because we can’t just go for the big name, big budget spots.
So if you know food in San Francisco, will you please leave a comment with your suggestions? We particularly love Indian, sushi, Mexican, Italian, and chocolate! Oh yeah, and burgers, too. Thanks.
Here’s what I have on my radar already, from various sources over the last few weeks:
Burma Superstar
Recchiuti Confections
Coco 500
Terzo
Pizzeria Picco (in Larkspur)
Oliveto (in Oakland)
Thanks, in advance!
♥Beth
I read this blog religiously - http://www.meshsf.com/blogs/restaurantwhore.html
Tons of recommendations!
Comment by emily — June 5, 2006 @ 6:04 am
I could eat every meal at the Ferry Building - it’s a must visit! Cowgirl Creamery cheese, Hog Island Oysters, Scharffenberger chocolates. Boulette’s Larder is amazing for lunch and Taylor’s Refresher has the best ahi burgers. The Slanted Door is wonderful for drinks and appetizers.
Comment by Candice — June 5, 2006 @ 8:32 am
i LOVELOVELOVE the burritos at pancho villa in the Mission! so good and fresh and jumbo sized. they will for sure fuel a whole day of walking about. Il Pollaio is in North Beach and we always showed up too late at night & they were all sold out of their food, so go early.
Comment by jeannette — June 5, 2006 @ 11:07 am
Try Cha Cha Cha’s on Haight Street - Sangria y Tapas to die for! Walk around the Haight, go to GG Park down the street. Makes for a lovely delicious day! Enjoy your Vacay!
1801 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117 - (415) 386-5758
Comment by MsTammy — June 5, 2006 @ 1:35 pm
The Ferry Bldg for sure (Taylor’s Refresher has the greatest cheese burgers ever!) and try Piperade at 1015 Battery Street for Chef Gerald Hirigoyen’s wonderful Basque food.
Comment by Lianne — June 5, 2006 @ 1:58 pm
Oh my goodness - so many choices so little time! On my last trip I had a fantastic meal at Tallula www.tallulasf.com, an Indian/French fusion restaurant in the Castro. I highly recommend that. I can also second the recommendation of Oliveto in Rockridge. I used to love to eat in their downstairs casual cafe (upstairs was fancy and expensive) but I am not sure if they still have the same configuration. Attached to Oliveto is a fantastic marketplace - great for picking up picnic makings, stuff to take home, etc. You can easily take Bart over there from the Powell Station.
In the City, I would suggest Firefly, Swan Oyster Depot, Canteen and RNM. I also like Kuletos, which is very close to Union Square. The Ferry Building would also be a good stop because they have multiple shops. There is a cheese shop there that is an offshoot of the Cowgirl Creamery which is great. I also love Bay Bread on Fillmore (I think they have other branches) and Citizen Cake. I could literally fill a week with nonstop recommdations! If you want more or want to chat, shoot me an email. If you will have a car, I definitely have some suggestions in the North Bay and Napa Valley! - Alice (the new San Diego food blogger
Comment by Alice Q — June 5, 2006 @ 4:42 pm
If you want the full on Ferry Building experience, go during the Saturday Farmer’s Market (the Tuesday and Thursday ones don’t come close)
Make a free reservation for a tour of the Anchor Steam brewery (with free beer at the end!) It’s a fun local product and it’s cool to see how they make it.
There are a bunch of new wine bars and small plate restaurants that would allow you to sample more of SF than you would with bigger meals. CAV and Hidden vine aren’t too far from downtown.
If you take BART to the Rockridge station for your Oliveto meal, it’s just down the block from A Cote, where you can get a pre-dinner cocktail and a bowl of their wood oven cooked mussels as an appetizer before making your way back down the street.
If you are in a car, you might want to make a stop on Forth Street in Berkeley before your Oakland dinner. You can have a light palate cleansing ice from Sketch, or a little lengua taco from Tacayuba, peruse the shops…or just have dinner at O Chame (which is delish and on the lighter side if you’ve had too many heavy meals.)
Comment by Chubby — June 6, 2006 @ 5:01 pm
Indian Oven on Fillmore (@ Haight) for great, reasonable indian food (i used to live right upstairs from it!)
Comment by lisa — June 7, 2006 @ 10:21 am
I loved Zuni.
(http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/863427)
I haven’t eaten at Foreign Cinema, but a friend recently recommended it.
(http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/11346086)
Steps of Rome Trattoria in North Beach.
(http://www.stepsofrome.com/)
Truly one of the most wonderful experiences I had in the bay area was actually up at the Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley. Somehow we had a vineyard meal prepared for us with a private tour. I couldn’t begin to tell you how great it was… but also have no idea how it had been arranged for a group of 4 of us. I guess I’d call the winery or maybe you know a wine rep who can help you out?
Good luck and I can’t wait to read all about it.
Comment by eryk — June 7, 2006 @ 11:56 am
I second, third and fourth the Ferry Building recommendations — especially during the Saturday farmers’ market. Yum.
And if you’re crossing the bay to Oakland/Rockridge, check out the Market Hall shopping center on your way to Olivetto. Another foodie mecca.
Enjoy your trip. And drop me a note — maybe we can meet up for lunch…
Comment by Dolores — June 8, 2006 @ 11:27 am
Try Barney’s Gourmet Burgers, Slanted Door, Foreign Cinema, Isa, Limon-there are so many great places!!! Enjoy!!!
Comment by Elle — June 8, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
I second the Ferry Building. It’s a MUST. Japantown is great but the one sushi place we went to was bad (don’t get sushi that floats on boats in water–it dries out). If you click on my January archives I list info for the great Italian place we went to..I think it’s called Tomasso’s. Have fun and share your good eats with us when you get back!
Comment by Kady — June 9, 2006 @ 2:08 pm
I only just got back from NY you see you are looking for recommendations. I would repeat what others have said above about the ferry buildingon a saturday where chances are you will find a lot of local food bloggers if you only know what they all look like!
My favourite places right now include
Coco500
Piperade
Delfina Pizzeria
Ti Couz
A16
Le Petit Robert
Oola
Garcon
Range
(all mid range not fancy)
Oh I could go on and on and on
oh and ALWAYS zuni
or townhall
(I think I have written up most of these on my blog)
emailme if you ahve any more detailed Questions.
Oh and btw - I am sorry to tell you Tallulah has closed down.
Oh NO! I forgot to mention Bar Crudo - great little place.
enjoy
sam
Comment by sam — June 9, 2006 @ 5:26 pm
ps - of course yes Reucheutti is a must as well. You will find it in the ferry building.
Comment by sam — June 9, 2006 @ 5:31 pm
Hi there, Absolutely go to Oliveto for a wonderful dining experience! I haven’t been to the pizzeria in Larkspur but I’ve heard good things!
Comment by Catherine — June 9, 2006 @ 8:10 pm
Hi Beth
We moved to S.F. about three months ago from S.D. so we don’t have all the great rec’s but I do love Pakwan in the mission on 16th. All the items are good that we have tried. the tandori chicken is always good. I don’t really like dark meat chicken so i always get the breast and it can be dry. but not here. We have eaten out most nights here so we can help with other cheaps eats. Or if you want fun drinking spots write back. Maybe my wife and I can meet up. r
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