San Francisco, California — Restaurants
Aqua
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.
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 252 California Street (Financial District)
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- aqua-sf.com
Gary Danko
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.
- Food Type
- French
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 800 North Point at Hyde Street (Fisherman's Wharf)
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.garydanko.com
One Market
Winner of several national and local awards, One Market features upscale American fare specializing 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.
- Food Type
- American
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 1 Market Street, Embarcadero
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.onemarket.com
Boulevard
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. Specialties include wood-roasted dishes like the rack of lamb, pork loin, or a variety of fish. Reservations essential. Dinner daily; lunch on weekdays only.
- Food Type
- American
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 1 Mission Street, Embarcadero, SoMa
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.boulevardrestaurant.com
Fifth Floor
With a palette of rich colors 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.
- Food Type
- French
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 12 Fourth Street, Hotel Palomar, SoMo
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.hotelpalomar.com
The Slanted Door
Chef Charles Phan prepares real Vietnamese home cooking at The Slanted Door and his food is so flavorful 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.
- Price
- 3
- Address
- 1 Ferry Building #3
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.slanteddoor.com
Zuni Café
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.
- Price
- 3
- Address
- 1658 Market Street, Civic Center, Hayes Valley
- City
- San Francisco
Greens
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.
- Price
- 3
- Address
- Building A, Fort Mason Center, Marina Boulevard, Marina
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.greensrestaurant.com
Delfina
Craig Stoll was one of Food and Wine'sBest 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 flavor. Reservations essential. Dinner daily.
- Food Type
- Italian
- Price
- 2
- Address
- 3621 18th Street (Mission District)
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.delfinasf.com
Brandy Ho's
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 specializing 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.
- Food Type
- Chinese
- Price
- 2
- Address
- 217 Columbus Avenue, Chinatown
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.brandyhoshunan.com
Dining in the Dark
Imagine eating a gourmet meal in total darkness, experiencing the food and your dining partners in a whole new way. That's the magic of Dining in the Dark, guaranteed to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable restaurant experiences of your life. The wait staff are all legally blind, but their service is impeccable, and highly skilled. They guide the dining guests to their tables, bring the food, orientate one to the table layout and cuisine, and generally serve as host and chaperone. The dishes, which guests select in the lighted lobby before being lead into the darkness, includes Ahi tuna tartar, beef tenderloin, and chocolate dessert cake. Expect to abandon your silverware around the main course when most diners report using their hands and loving every minute of it. At around $90 per person, it's not cheap but the overall experience is truly priceless.
- Food Type
- International
- Price
- 5
- Style
- Trendy
- City
- San Francisco
- Website
- www.darkdining.com
Historic John's Grill
This is perhaps the iconic San Francisco restaurant, filled with history and mystery, and famous since 1908 for its classic ambiance of wood panelled walls and dimly lit interior. Meat and fish are the specialties here, preferably grilled. The clam chowder is wonderful too, but the real stars of the show are the lamb chops and the steak, served with gratis vegetables, bread and sparkling water. This restaurant was featured in Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, a much loved crime classic. The fact is celebrated everywhere from the etching on the glassware to the falcon statues for sale in the souvenir cabinet. Located just off Union Square.
- Food Type
- Steakhouse
- Price
- 4
- Address
- 3 Ellis Street
- City
- San Francisco
