Foodie SF

I have so many friends who visit SF and every one asks me for dining recommendations.  SF is such a town for eating, but I am the worst person to ask.  I love a fine meal, clearly, but am not even foodie-adjacent.  While I love a good meal I also treat it like fine wine—I truly enjoy it in the moment, but there is only such much that I enjoy it.  I'm the kind of guy that would rather spend the $150 dinner tap on new tech, hard drives or a super special edition DVD box set.  I prefer my indulgences to be durable (and am saving for a new car, home, etc), and so have a much lower price point for luxury consumables such as dinner and wine.  However, make it an event, and I am there.

So while I am often asked about best dining destinations in a context, my repertoire of recommendations is limited.  And once I really enjoy a place, I often forget all about it—that's just not a catalog I keep in my head.  I tried to make some recommendations once, which is where I generally refer casual friends who ask.

Actually, I suppose I am technically foodie adjacent as two of my best friends are total foodies.  They follow the blogs, they read the mags, and they explore the menus, destinations, carts, trucks, and festivals.

So I asked them for you.

Here are the best food-destination recommendations for visitors to SF from my Foodie Queen and King. My personal OMFG destinations are marked in bold, and combine an extraordinary culinary experience with an appropriate or even too reasonable price point.

From Foodie Queen:

Brunch:
Mama's
Zazie
Mission Beach Cafe
Brenda's Soul Food Kitchen (and I'm adding another OMFG)
Universal Cafe
The Polker (great burgers)

Off the Beaten Path:
Mission Street Chinese
Mr. Pollo
Club Deluxe Gone to crap since they ousted Giovani in a coup

Mexican (budget friendly)
Papalote
La Torta Gorda
Puerto Alegre (I say get the stewed burrito, or for brunch the grilled shrimp omelette)
Tacolicious

Cocktails
Rye
Tropisueno
Burritt Room
The Library
Bourbon & Branch (reservation/password required)

Dinner
Range
Bar Agricole
Gitane
Terzo (Beware, it's the Marina)
A16 (Also in the Marina)
Canteen

Places You Can't Get a Reservation, but Might Get a Seat if You Get There Early:
Frances
Flour+Water (The name derives from pasta, but I call it 'Paste.')
State Bird Provisions


From Foodie King:

• Cotogna – North Beach
• Mission Chinese Food - Mission
• Mr. Pollo – Mission (great 20 four course meal.  One of the best.  No reservations and they open at 6.  You can put your name down and they will call you.  Head across the street to Rosamundes for a beer.)
• Hog Island Oysters – Ferry Building
• Tartine -  Mission/Dolores
• Tacolicious – Mission
• Puerto Allegre – Mission
• Range – Mission
• State Bird Provisions – Fillmore
• Zazie – brunch, of course
• Alembic – Haight
• Magnolia – Haight
• Club Deluxe - Haight (a cool bar with crafted cocktails and ridic tasty artisan pizzas)

And finally, my recommendations:

• Mission Bowling Club—The foodies took me there for my birthday.  SO tasty, and very cool.  Excellent service.
• Globe—where chefs go to be impressed, but sort of hidden and not a scene at all.  YUM.
• Woodhouse Fish Co.—Surprising.  Tiny space, fresh seafood, and their simple crab sanwhich is just three ingredient awesomeness: fresh bread, butter, fresh crab and done right.  
• Jake's—in the 2223 Market space, and while a superior and inventive menu, it has my new favorite burger.  Excellent cocktails too.  
• And I'll Reiterate Puerto Allegre for fun Mexican in the Mission.  
• And Chow (or Park Chow) for good home cookin'!