San Francisco's Top Restaurants
Casual / Mid-Priced
This section includes our own recommendations on places for
mid-priced casual eats. Unlike the other restaurant guides you've seen, these are
our opinions, not restaurants paying for a recommendation. The "sweet spot" for
dining in SF where you're at a nice place, but not the high end ones, is about
$30 per
person For that, you get cool atmosphere, usually in a not-so-fancy neighborhood with a
lot of atmosphere. A lot of places have some good music too. we like every restaurant on
this page, so pick one that sounds good & go for it!
Best New 2004 Recommendation -
The Last Supper Club
Best New 2003 Recommendation -
Luna Park
Best New 1999 Recommendation -
Universal Cafe
Top 1998
Recommendation (updated Spring 2000) -
Park Chow
1751 Social Club
- Nightclub in the Haight Street area -- dancing
nightspot with an auxiliary restaurant.
Thirsty
Bear- SOMA microbrewery
Left
at Albuquerque- trendy margarita Mexican restaurant bar
Gordon Biersch is a micro-brewery
and great restaurant. Watch out for the roar of yuppies on Friday's happy hour, but some
of the best beer in S.F. (also in Palo Alto). 2 Harrison 234-8356 ($45 for 2) Pub-type
food and roasted meats. Andy rating=B
Barney's Burger's is unsuprisingly,
a hamburger place and a damned good one. Sit-down dining in a pleasant atmosphere for
about $10 each. Located in the trendy Marina district, there's
tons of other cool places to check out. Trip over to 3344 Steiner @ Chestnut / 563-0307.
Also in Noe Valley at 4138 24th Street / 282-7770. Andy rating=B-
Cha Cha Cha -
Spanish Style Tapas - $25/person
Kan Zaman -
Middle Eastern - $25/person
 is a Bay Area casual
restaurant chain by a man who really knows good food. Excellent sandwiches like a New York
deli-- especially corned beef. Max also makes blue plate meat & potato's great. There
are a bunch of these ranging from an opera cafe where the waiters sing, to just sandwich
places. The diner one is at 311 Third Street / 546-6297 near Lower
SOMA nightclubs. Andy rating=B-
The Ramp is a waterfront restaurant
in an industrial part of S.F. It's pretty cool and they have live bar music at night and
food by day. By day, they serve hamburgers, sandwiches and casual stuff for around $12 per
person. They have an AWESOME Sunday brunch
with many omlettes and weekend barbques. If you want to eat on the waterfront, skip the
suck-o wharf and come to the ramp. 855 Chiina Basin @ Mariposa
621-2378 Andy rating=B+
Elite Cafe was a yuppie place that
served cajun and a lot of fish. Now its o.k., but the scene isn't the best. A few too many
stuffed shirts, but pretty good food for around $25 per person. A San Francisco
institution, it is often very busy. In a cool area on Fillmore Street -- 2049 Fillmore
@ California 346-8668 Andy rating=C+
Julie's Supper Club is one cool
place to eat in the lower part of SOMA's nightclub scene. For
around $20 per person, you get a great bar, home cooking, and fun atmosphere. Funky design
from the 1950's reminds you of old movies. The bar scene is very active for meeting other
travelers and "SFians". 1123 Folsome Street @ 7th Street 861-0707 Andy rating=B+
San Francisco
Brewing Company is a great brew-pub in North Beach near
the Financial District. Much less yuppie than Gordon Biersch
(see above), but maybe a little more touristy. Perfect for an excellent beer and good meal
in its key location near Montgomery and Columbus. C.H. enjoyed the brewery, "Paddy
the bartender was a trip (even posed for pictures)... and their food & beer was
great!"
The Beach Chalet has
unmatched views and good hearty food & beer at the end of your Golden Gate Park day...
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