Courtney and Dan's Guide to the City
Our Favorites:
Bakery (cakes, pastries, sweets)
Bakery (breads, scones, sweets)
Thai Restaurant
Italian Restaurant
Chinese Restaurant
Mexican (sit-down) Restaurant
Burritos
Fish Tacos
Belgian Restaurant
Eritrean/Ethiopian Restaurant
Pizza
Japanese Restaurant
Creperie
Irish Pubs
Bars
Late Night Restaurant
American Restaurant
Ice Cream
Views
Favorite (cakes, pastries, sweets) Bakery
Stella Pasticceria e Caffé
446 Columbus Ave., 415-986-2914
Stella's is a pillar of San Francisco's historically Italian district, North Beach. Here you can find some of the finest Italian cookies, cakes, and pastries this side of Genova. Try on the Chocolate Fedora. Plus, they made our wedding cake!
Favorite (breads, scones, sweets) Bakery
Arizmendi Bakery
1331 9th Ave. (btwn Irving and Judah), 415-566-3117
This worker-owned cooperative serves fresh, indulgent, and relatively healthy baked goods everyday except Monday. Along with a seasonal selection of breads and scones, they also make excellent cookies and sell pizza by the slice.
Favorite Thai Restaurant
Marnee Thai
2225 Irving St. (btwn 23rd and 24th Ave.), 415-665-9500
The world-renowned Marnee Thai continues to serve quality Thai food at reasonable prices. Be prepared to wait for your table during peak hours, or order take-out. Recommended dishes include the amazing Chan Pad Poo noodles, the basil-laden Spicy Chicken, and Prig Khing with your choice of meats or tofu.
Siam Dish
757 Monterey Blvd., 415-585-0481
We've tried the whole menu. It's all good. But the pepper-garlic dish, with your choice of meat or tofu, is a standout, as is the Larb Gai. And try the brown rice, which is purple.
Favorite Italian Restaurant
Ristorante Gondola
15 Columbus Ave. (at Montgomery), 415-956-5528
If you think you've had good Italian food in San Francisco, but you haven't tried Gondola, you need to treat yourself. The menu changes, but the food is always amazing. The pastas are perfect, and the wine list is no afterthought. Our favorite dishes have included pumpkin ravioli in amaretto-crem sauce, and chicken stuffed with prosciutto, spinach, and goat cheese in an irresistible champagne sauce. I'm getting hungry just writing this.
Favorite Chinese Restaurant
Eric's
1500 Church St., 415-282-0919
If you've grown tired of cookie-cutter Chinese restaurant menus, grease-bathed chow mein, and cheap meats breaded beyond recognition, give Eric's a chance. Best: Szechuan Pork and Shanghai Tofu.
Favorite Mexican (sit-down) Restaurant
El Toreador
50 West Portal Ave., 415-566-2673
This place gets a big edge for being in my neighborhood, I have to admit, but it's no slouch. El Toreador welcomes its guests with its vibrant decor and an excellent beer selection. Don't miss the Molé Poblano and the Molé de Cacahuite plates. Prepare for large portions, plus soup, chips, and homemade salsa with every meal. There's better out there, sure, but you already know where to find it.
Favorite Burritos
La Corneta
2834 Diamond St., 415-469-8757; and 2731 Mission St. (btwn 23rd and 24th St.), 415-643-7001
At La Corneta, you can order everything you should want in your burrito. Starting with nine meat options (including four kinds of chicken), plus a couple vegetarian options, build the burrito of your dreams. For a special treat, order the Chorizo fried with fresh onions. Their tamales and enchiladas are superb as well.
Favorite Fish Tacos
Rubio's
San Francisco Centre lower level (865 Market at 5th St.), 415-957-1389
Sacrilege! Yeah, it's a chain, but they serve very tasty Fish Tacos accompanied by your selections from the salsa bar and a side of spiced beans. Cheap, fast, and downtown, this is a good alternative to more standard fast food options. Sacrilicious!
Nick's Crispy Tacos
1500 Broadway, 415-409-8226
Wade through the northside clientele to feast on ... crispy tacos. Chips and salsa for $1.
Favorite Belgian Restaurant
Frjtz
579 Hayes St., 415-864-7654, and Ghiradelli Square, 415-928-3886
Beer + fries = Belgian. But seriously, though Frjtz also serves excellent salads, decent crepes, and sandwiches I have yet to try, beer and fries are the clear stars of the show here. This is the way fries were meant to be done ... and they offer you a few dozen ways to do it. Confused? Have a beer.
Favorite Eritrean/Ethiopian Restaurant
New Eritrea
907 Irving St. (btwn 9th and 10th Ave.), 415-681-1288
Assab
2845 Geary Blvd., 415-441-7083
Best experienced family-style, the menu at each of these places includes excellent meat, lentil, and vegetable dishes. Ziqni, Birsin, and Shiro are highly recommended, after starting off with a Lentil Sambusa. At New Eritrea, Anchor Steam's on tap for only $2.50.
Favorite Pizza
Escape From New York
1737 Haight St. (btwn Cole and Shrader), 415-668-5577
New York wishes it ever had pizza this good. Taste the difference quality ingredients, fresh preparation, and innovative combinations can make. Whether you order a standard Pepperoni or seek the adventure of a You Say Potato (sliced roasted potatoes and roasted garlic cloves over pesto sauce), you can't go wrong here.
Favorite Japanese Restaurant
Hotei
1290 9th Ave. (btwn Lincoln and Irving), 415-753-6045
We're not sushi fans, but this is Japanese cuisine with but a nod to the sushi side of things. Pick from a full assortment of noodle bowls, tempuras, and meat dishes. If sushi is your thing, Ebisu, under the same ownership, is directly across the street serving what is widely recognized as some of the best sushi in the city. Closed Tuesdays.
Favorite Creperie
The Crepevine
624 Irving St., 415-681-5858
It's not French, but it's great food. Fill your crepe with meats, vegetables, or tofu, or try the French Toast, burgers, and full dessert menu.
Favorite Irish Pubs
The Liberties
994 Guerrero St., 415-282-6789
The Phoenix
811 Valencia St., 415-695-1811
These establishments are also our pick for favorite fish 'n' chips, in addition to having a full lunch and dinner menu in the fine tradition of true Irish pubs. The Liberties may have an edge in doing a slightly better job making you forget its actually a bar, but either is a good choice for a meal with or without a drink.
Favorite Bars
15 Romolo
15 Romolo Place (off Broadway), 415-398-1359
Hockey Haven
3625 Balboa St., 415-752-4413
Trader Sam's
6150 Geary Blvd., 415-221-0773
Romolo, or the "Basque Hotel," as it's known, is a great North Beach bar, with the best jukebox we've found. Hockey Haven earns its selection with its comfortable atmosphere. Come here to relax. The drinks are no slouch. Trader Sam's specializes in fruity tropical drinks, some meant to be shared, some that will earn your love at first sip. Packed on weekends.
Favorite Late Night Restaurant
Bagdad Cafe
2295 Market, 415-621-4434
Sparky's Diner
242 Church St. at Market, 415-626-8666
Tommy's Joynt
Geary Blvd. at Van Ness Ave., 415-775-4216
The Bagdad would be a good restaurant no matter what its hours. The vegetables are always fresh and the pancakes are always fluffy. Sample the Desert Fries for a treat. Sparky's is just around the corner, mashing potatoes for you around the clock. Tommy's Joynt is open well past midnight, but not all night, in which case it would have won this category too. For more, see below.
Favorite American Restaurant
Tommy's Joynt
Geary Blvd. at Van Ness Ave., 415-775-4216
Tommy's is a San Francisco Institution. The menu has barely changed in over 50 years of service, and why should it? Buffalo anything is the specialty of the house, but dishes such as the Turkey Sloppy Joe could just as easily make a name for themselves. Don't be scared away by the fact that almost everything on the menu is some shade of brown. Tommy's also has a full bar whose bottled beer selection is unparalleled, with selections from across the globe.
Favorite Ice Cream
Mitchell's
688 San Jose Ave., 415-648-2300
The lines out the door speak for themselves.
Favorite Views
Turtle Hill (Grandview Park)
Mt. Davidson
Coit Tower
Sutro Heights Park