Be prepared to dine well: San Francisco has over 3,000 restaurants. Most range from tasty meals to exquisite six-course dinners. Expect a culinary emphasis on fresh ingredients - the hallmark of California cuisine. The restaurants in San Francisco are riding high with new additions, exciting menus and busy vibrant dining rooms. With this city being one of the world’s crossroads you will find an eclectic mix of dining options from Cajun to Columbian and Burmese, Cajun and Moroccan.
Seafood Cuisine
American Cuisine
French Cuisine
Italian Cuisine
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Tadich GrillThe Tadich is a long standing institution which started life 159 years ago as a coffee stand during the gold rush. Today the Tadich offers classic dishes from tasty salads such as sliced tomato with Dungeness crab or prawn Louis; meats and fish from the charcoal broiler; grilled items; and casseroles. Hot dishes include baked avocado with shrimp Diablo; baked casserole of stuffed turbot with crab and shrimp à la Newburg; charcoal-broiled steaks; and petrale sole with butter sauce, a local favorite. Plus, almost everyone orders a side of big, tasty french fries.
Address: 240 California Street
Swan Oyster DepotThis is a dining experience that shouldn’t be missed. Opened in 1912, this tiny hole-in-the-wall, run by the city's friendliest servers, is little more than a narrow fish market that decided to slap down some bar stools. There are only 20 or so seats here, jammed cheek-by-jowl along a long marble bar. Most visitors come for a quick cup of chowder or a plate of oysters on the half shell that arrive chilling on crushed ice. The menu is limited to fresh crab, shrimp, oyster, clam cocktails, a few types of smoked fish, Maine lobster, and Boston-style clam chowder, all of which are exceedingly fresh.
Address: 1517 Polk Street
A. Sabella’sA. Sabella's restaurant on the wharf has continuously served since 1920, catering heavily to the tourist trade. The menu offers something for everyone -- steak, lamb, seafood, chicken, and pasta, all made from scratch with fresh local ingredients. Where A. Sabella's really shines, however, is in the shellfish department. Its 1,000-gallon saltwater tank allows for fresh crab, abalone, and lobster year-round, which means no restaurant in the city can touch A. Sabella's when it comes to feasting on fresh Dungeness crab and abalone out of season.
Address: 2766 Taylor Street
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TablespoonIf you're looking to taste your way through an affordable meal surrounded by locals, this is one of the best places to do it. Like most hot spots these days, the menu highlights small plates (as well as entrees), but its selections are seasoned with uncommon flair, such as winter items like creamy white-bean soup with decadent duck croquettes, delicate ahi tuna carpaccio with fennel salad and Meyer lemon vinaigrette, and hearty roast duck breast and confit leg with braised red cabbage, root veggies, and spätzle.
Address: 2209 Polk Street
Michael MinaChef Michael Mina, who became a celebrity chef while overseeing Aqua, takes the small-plate dining concept to extremes at this sexy, swank spot. If the idea of sampling lots of styles and flavors appeals to you, this edible food-combination case study is likely to be a culinary wonder. Take diver scallops for example. One preparation is accented with lemon Osetra caviar while the other two pair them with yellow corn and summer truffles and smoked tomato and mail lobster -- not to mention three different "chilled salads" in tiny glasses. Some dishes hit, some miss, but in all cases it's a very swank affair with dark woods, light hues, an incredible wine list by Raj Parr, and a very "it-place-of-the-moment" vibe.
Address: 335 Powell Street
Mo’s Gourmet BurgersThis simple diner offers a straightforward but winning combination: big, thick, grilled patties of fresh-ground, best-quality, center-cut chuck; fresh french fries; and choice of cabbage slaw, sautéed garlic mushrooms, or beans and rice. Bargain-diners will appreciate prices, with burgers ranging from $5.95 for a classic to $8.75 for an "Alpine" burger with cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and fries.
Address: 1322 Grant Avenue
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FlorioIf you are in the mood for good food without the hoopla then head straight to Florio. The staff are friendly, its not a painful experience trying to get a table and they don’t rush you so they can squeeze someone else in before they close and above all the food is excellent. The chicken liver pâté, roasted chicken, steak frites, and virtually every other comfort dish that makes its way to the table is delicious.
Address: 1915 Fillmore Street
IsaLuke Sung, who trained with some of the best French chefs in the city, has captured many locals' hearts by creating the kind of menu many people dream of: a smattering of small dishes that allow you to try numerous items in one sitting. It's a good thing the menu, considered "French tapas," offers small portions at reasonable prices. After all, it's asking a lot to make a diner choose between mushroom ragout and seared foie gras with caramelized apples, potato-wrapped sea bass in brown butter, and rack of lamb. Adding to the allure is the warm boutique dining environment -- 50 seats scattered amid a small dining room in the front, and a large tented and heated patio out back that sets the mood with a warm yellow glow.
Address: 3324 Steiner Street
PiperadePiperade takes diners on a Basque adventure in this charming, small restaurant. Surrounded by a low wood-beam-lined ceiling, oak floors, and soft sconce lighting, it's a casual affair where diners huddle around white tablecloth-topped tables and indulge in small and large plates of superbly flavorful West Coast Basque cuisine. There's a community table for drop-in diners and front patio seating during warmer weather.
Address: 1015 Battery Street
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DelphinaUnpretentious warehouse-chic atmosphere, reasonable prices, and chef/co-owner Craig Stoll's ultrafresh seasonal Italian cuisine have made this family-owned restaurant one of the city's most cherished. Stoll, who was one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs in 2001, changes the menu daily and serves up some tantalizing treats.
Address: 3621 18th Street
L’Osteria del FornoL'Osteria del Forno might be only slightly larger than a walk-in closet, but it's one of the top three authentic Italian restaurants in North Beach. There's no pomp or circumstance here: Locals come strictly to eat. The menu features a variety of superb pizzas, salads, soups, and fresh pastas, plus a good selection of daily specials, which includes a roast of the day, pasta, and ravioli.
Address: 519 Columbus Avenue
Pasta PomodoroIf you're looking for a good, cheap meal in San Francisco then this chain can't be beat. There can be a short wait for a table, but after you're seated, you'll be surprised at how promptly you're served. Every dish is fresh and sizable and, best of all, costs a third of what you'd pay elsewhere. Winners include spaghetti frutti di mare made with calamari, mussels, scallops, tomato, garlic, and wine; and smoked rigatoni, with roast chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, cream, mushrooms, and Parmesan.
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