A Welsh View - Latest Comments in San Francisco Advice

Re: San Francisco Advice

Justin — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 02:28:54 -0000

Beers: Toronado in the lower haight is an absolute MUST. Magnolia Pub is great. Rogue Alehouse. La Trappe for Belgians. 21st Amendment has great beers and food.

Here's a beer guide:
http://beeradvocate.com/bee...

Re: San Francisco Advice

Synnamin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:47:48 -0000

For photography spots, I've always been partial to the Sutro ruins and the park just above it. Take the 38 Geary MUNI down to the end of Geary and it's right there. There are some wonderful sites around there.

I second the recommendations for Barney's, Burgermeister, and In-n-out for burgers. I'm rather fond of afternoon dim-sum, instead of American Chinese. Try the area around Clement and 5th streets for really good and cheap dim sum, or go one block up to Geary.

Re: San Francisco Advice

Neil — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:26:32 -0000

Zeitgeist and In and Out are both stupid. Zeitgeist is a bunch of people standing around trying to be seen and feel cool, but so are so many bars. Burgermeister has great burgers made from locally and humanly raised cows.

Re: San Francisco Advice

zav — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:26:59 -0000

It is before the crowds. There are a LOAD of great places to eat in SF. You can spend 75 dollars a plate or 7. It's all up to you.

Re: San Francisco Advice

Alison — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:48:17 -0000

Stinking Rose - touristy, but you have to go just for the garlic. As for burger type place, I think In and Out is place. There's one on Fisherman's Wharf. You should try Clam Chowder on Pier 39, if you want to do the tourist thing. I loved eating @ China town when I was there.

There's some food recommendations on Gridskipper.

Enjoy!

Re: San Francisco Advice

Kyt — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:51:06 -0000

Zeitgeist is definitely a good bar. I also recommend Ace Cafe which is often described as "what Zeitgeist use to be"

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:30:04 -0000

The reviews of Chef Jia's seem good and others say the same as you about walking past the line at Nanking.

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:28:07 -0000

That's a lot of great information. Thanks for taking the time.

Re: San Francisco Advice

edrabbit — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:04:16 -0000

As others have said, yelp.com is your best friend when it comes to finding a good restaurant in SF. My suggestions:
Papalote: the best burritos (2 locations)
Little Star Pizza: Delicious deep dish pizza (2 locations)
Lori's Diner is super close and has breakfast. Not exceptional, but good cheap standard diner food.
Squat & Gobble: A good breakfast place. I always go to the one on Haight St. If nothing else it has a funny name.
Absinthe: If you've got a bit of cash, Absinthe has excellent food, a huge drink menu, and of course absinthe.

As for beers:
21st Amendment: a tried and true lunch stop with a good selection on beer
Zeitgeist: Don't tell the other locals I've never been but I hear people constantly expressing their love for this dive bar.

Hit up an In-N-Out on your way to Monterey, as the only one in the city is up by tourist-trap Fisherman's Wharf.
In Monterey, don't miss the aquarium, it's great. It's also a great place for photos, just don't flash the octopus. If you can also time it right, find out when low-tide is and walk down onto the rocks and you can find some interesting things.

As far as places to take photos, there are the obvious ones, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate park, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, etc. Try to make it out to the Sutro Baths right around sundown.

Whew.. how's that for now? :)

Re: San Francisco Advice

Kyt — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:51:04 -0000

Chinese? I recommend Lichee Garden on Powell & Broadway

as for a deli? find any Lee's, there's a few throughout the financial dist. be sure to bring cash and don't get in line until you're ready to order (think the soup nazi from Seinfeld)

You didn't mention Pho but I recommend Turtle Tower in the Tenderloin (cash only) on Eddy and Larkin

Beers? there's a few spots, if your looking for a big selection head on over to Tommy's Joynt, it might cover your desire to see someplace quirky at the same time on Van Ness & Franklin otherwise, you can always go to Jade which has a kick ass happy hour with $2 beers on tap, the only problem the place gets PACKED so be there by 5pm (located on Gough and Ash)

as for Burger, if you want something that's supposed to be somewhat Gourmet I recommend "Barney's Gourmet Hamburger" at 24th and Castro

and finally, for breakfast head over to Sears Fine Foods in Union Square, it's a little touristy but they're known for their sliver dollar pancakes!

all these spots can be easily found on Yelp.com if you need more detail

hope you have a good time in The City

Re: San Francisco Advice

Claudia — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:49:43 -0000

If you go to the House of Nanking on Kearney, there will be a ridiculously long line of people waiting to get in. Right next door is a jewel of a restaurant well known by locals. It has awesome eats at a great price & is called Chef Jia's. It's at 925 Kearney. Damn, I will be so jealous if you get to eat there.

Re: San Francisco Advice

Jorc — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:33:13 -0000

http://searsfinefood.com/
close to union square, this is the best place for Sourdough French Toast.
Best breakfast ever!!

Re: San Francisco Advice

hayshaker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:57:34 -0000

www.yelp.com has lots of good SF info as well...

Re: San Francisco Advice

Tom — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:11:02 -0000

One of the quintessential San Francisco treats is Sourdough Bread, and the Boudin Bakery right on Fisherman's Wharf has been making it since 1849 or so ... it's also a cafe/restaurant and their sandwiches and pizza are quite remarkable. It's definitely worth a visit for lunch if you're near the wharf.

http://www.boudinbakery.com

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:51:09 -0000

Thanks Marina. I've read about the Fog City Diner and that it's reasonably priced and has good food.

Re: San Francisco Advice

Marina H. — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:43:27 -0000

I love In-N-Out just as much as anyone else does...but I wouldn't waste your whole dinner in SF on that. Fast food is fast food. If anything, I'd stop at one on your way to Monterey or something. If you want a good burger, try the Fog City Diner on the Embarcadero. It's a fun, kind of classy burger joint. I've been there quite a few times. They have a good selection of beers as well. It's also pretty close to Peir 39 which is a fun tourist spot. You could also try Taylor's Refresher in the Ferry Building which is also on the Embarcadero. They're known for their burgers. If you go to the Ferry Building on a Saturday, they have a great farmer's market, with flowers, fruit, cheese, meat, and bread. It's lovely and right on the water! Enjoy your trip!!

Re: San Francisco Advice

Tom — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:08:43 -0000

I just visited Monterey last week. Dress Warm! The fog can linger all day, and the temperature may never get above 60F - even in August, we were cold.

There is a good pub in Monterey across from the Marriot that has a good selection of beer and some decent pub food for when you start feeling home sick.

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:49:06 -0000

Animal style does sound good. And the Anchor Steam Brewing Co. does seem like a must.

Re: San Francisco Advice

hayshaker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:49:02 -0000

You should try Mexican / Hispanic food when in San Francisco and the Mission district is the place to go for that. Le Taqueria on Mission at 24th is very good although fast food Mexican at Chipotle is very good (New Montgomery & Mission).

For off the beaten path places to go: Hayes Valley, Valencia street between 16th and 24th, Lower Haight. You could checkout Philz Coffee on 24th and Folsom, it's famous in SF (better than Blue Bottle).

Have Fun!

Re: San Francisco Advice

Eric — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:44:56 -0000

While I find In & Out just average I do recommend it as it is very Californian. As the others said get the double double with grilled onions. Also, ask for the fries animal style, note this is not on the menu but they will make it this way if you ask for it. Animal style is regular french fries covered with grilled onions, cheese, and thousand islands dressing. I know what your thinking it sounds sick but it's really good.

I also recommend see the Anchor Steam Brewing company.
http://www.anchorbrewing.co...
directions
http://www.anchorbrewing.co...

If you have time, you might want to check out a baseball game not because I think the SF Giants are great but because I believe the AT&T statuim is one the the best in all sports.
http://sanfrancisco.giants....

Don't forget Alcatraz & the Golden Gate Bridge.

Re: San Francisco Advice

hayshaker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:40:54 -0000

make sure to get it "animal style"

Re: San Francisco Advice

Billy Blanton — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:04:22 -0000

Hit up Alcatraz, different experience and might be good for photography

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:23:14 -0000

Okonomiyaki looks interesting.

Re: San Francisco Advice

Zuckervati — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:19:06 -0000

You have to go down to Japantown and try some okonomiyaki. Don't ask what it is, just get some.

And check out Isobune -- supposedly, it's the original sushi boat restaurant. They have a little moat that goes around the table, and little boats full of sushi travel around in it.

Re: San Francisco Advice

awv — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:56:00 -0000

The Gordon Biersch restaurant looks good.