Regina’s Condensed San Francisco Restaurant & City Guide
I started this list several years ago…when I had my Restaurant “Regina’s at the Regis” in San Francisco. I was getting tired of writing recommendations for my favorite places on cocktail napkins. I used to start off with recommending my place first but now you will have to come to Natchez and visit me at Twin Oaks…but if you chose San Francisco instead…here are some ideas.
Note that San Francisco changes Chefs and hot restaurants quite frequently. Always check SF Chronicle web site for the most up to date info. If you notice anything out of date on here…please email me and I will correct it. Regina
So What Are You In The Mood For ??????????????????????????????????
The Hottest Tickets in Town
Expensive but worth it…Michael Mina- in the St. Francis Hotel
My personal favorites- not so expensive and all such a great experience
Foreign Cinema – 2534 Mission Street 415-6487600
The coolest of concepts – out door dining with foreign films showing and first class food…
For adventurous diners who enjoy traditional old-world food,
Incanto – 1550 Church Street 415-641-4500
Incanto offers a unique "Fifth Quarter" tasting menu, featuring some of Chef Chris Cosentino's favorite dishes utilizing variety meats and offal. It is for the true epicurean.
Town Hall342 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 908-3900
Salt House 545 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-8900
These two Restaurants are owned and operated by the best restaurant team since Real Restaurant group…Doug Washington and brothers Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal.
Incredible Food and Service…just nice talented guys…so refreshing…
Town Hall has a total New Orleans feel to the menu and Salt House just got it right…all very good. You know it is good when you want everything on the menu.
The Deep Blue Sea…
What would San Francisco be…without Seafood
Aqua- 252 California (Front & Battery) 415-956-9662
Still one of my all time favorites, created by George Morone & his sous chef at the time Michael Mina(who The room is New York elegant…The Seafood prepared with the finesse of France all in the best city in the world…San Francisco.
Farallon- 450 Post (415) 956-6969
Designer Pat Kuleto designed an undersea fantasy even using a swimming pool floor. It is a wonderful restaurant visually and taste wise. Mark Franz another Bay Area shining star has created a coastal cuisine that features primarily Seafood with a bit of meat and game.
Parlez Vous Francais ??????????
After eating here you will think you speak French…
La Folie- 2316 Polk 415-776-5577
Brothers George and Roland Passot are my all time favorite in the Restaurant Business. We have been friends for a long time and La Folie remains top on my list when in SF. No one makes soups like Roland…no one does Fois Gras like Roland…I am hungry just thinking of La Folie. Trust his recommendations…every meal there has been memorable to me. No one knows wine like George.
It is also still the most romantic restaurant in SF.
Fleur de Lys- 777 Sutter 415-673-7779
Often thought of one of the best French Restaurants in the country…air force one has delivered guests here on one occasion…and one of the best practical jokes was played out here…ask about it when there. Hubert Keller has my total respect and admiration in the Kitchen and as one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Another great experience.
Maybe You Want To Come To The City and Get Dressed to the Nines.
Bix- Gold Alley (between Jackson & Pacific) 415-433-6300
A perfect combination of Deco Atmosphere, live Music, Martinis and great food…after your third Martini you will expect to see Nick & Nora Charles.
Harry Dentons at the top of the Sir Frances Drake- Sutter at Powell Street -still the place for dressing up.
Tommy Toys- 655 Montgomery (415) 397-4888
Chinese Haute Cuisine…this is an elegant dining experience where you want to wear your best. Tse Yang in Paris is the only place that compares to Tommy’s style and food.
(We just lost Tommy but I would think his restaurant lives on… it is truly an institution and he was such a fabulous man) March 2008
Mama Mia If You Just Have to Have Italian…
Bucca Giavani- 800 Greenwich at Columbus (415) 776-7766
This is the real thing in North Beach…all of us foodies love this place.
Rose Pistola – 532 Columbus (between Union and Green) (415) 415-399-0499
I lived in North Beach and it remains my favorite part of San Francisco. If this restaurant would have been open when I lived there I would have never left North Beach.
Café Sport- 574 Green at Columbus (415) 981-1251
A Classic …Always a wait, rude waiters, huge portions it is all that makes it a San Francisco tradition that you will love.
Darlin….Maybe You Want To Take A Walk On The Wild Side…..
Exotic Coffee -Blue Bottle Coffee- although it is a genuine treat to see the coffee made…even better to drink it.
Eritrean – New Etrea 907 Irving Street 415-681-1288
Burmese- Mandalay 434 California 415-386-3895
Thai – Manoras 1600 Folsom at 12th 415-861-6224
Brazilian – Terra Brazillis 602 Hayes St. 415- 241-1900
Hunan- Brandy Ho’s 217 Columbus at Pacific 415-788-7527
Sushi – Tokyo a Go Go 3174 16th 415-864-2288
Vietnamese – Pagolac 655 Larkin at Ellis St. 415-776-3234
Chinese Dim Sum- several good places in China Town served between 11 and 2
Mexican – Any Tacqueria in the Mission District or La Rondella 901 Valencia (open until 4 am) the best hangover food in SF.
Indian- Indian Oven 233 Fillmore 415-626-1628
If You Want It All…
Do a progressive dinner… appetizers at the bar of Bix …then cab it to Salt House for entrees… then dessert at Citizen Cake – make your own mix of places you want to try.
The Best of The Best…In Regina’s Book
The best "concept" restaurant is Foreign Cinema…love the innovative concept…(on Mission Street call for directions 415-648-7600)
The French Bakery - Tartine`600 Guerrero @18th
The Most Trendy Bar in the City is no doubt…The Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel…
The Best Bartender is right across the street (in my old restaurant) The Regis Hotel…Armin Webber who was there the entire time at Regina’s…
The Best Martini goes to Armin Webber and another wonderful one is at the Aub Zam Zam cocktail lounge on Haight and Belvedere.
The Best Art work in a bar…The Pied Piper at the Sheraton Palace. The most intimate bar…
The most intimate, romantic bar is the tiny hidden bar at The Majestic Hotel.
The Best Irish Coffee is still the Buena Vista at the wharf.
The Best Views are from Coit Tower and The Legion of Honor (view and Best Museum)
The Best BBQ Ribs-Brother in Laws BBQ-705 Divisadero
The Best Doughnuts-Krispy Kremes
The Best French Fries-Barneys Gourmet Burgers 4128 24th Street
The Best Hamburger- Zuni Café on Market Street
O.K. I started Biscuits and Blues but it is true
The Best Blues, Biscuits and Fried Chicken are still at Blues 401 Mason at Geary
The Best place for a wild large group for dinner and live music- Biscuits and Blues
The Best Wine Bar – First Crush 101 Cyril Magnin and O’Farrell
The Best Genuine Cafes are all in North Beach –Marios Bohemian Cigar Store (Union & Columbus) Focaccia Sandwiches and Capucino My Absolute Favorite Café is Tosca – the Best Juke Box and Best Ambiance another favorite is Savoy Tivoli (Grant & Union) try the White Nun…steamed milk with Brandy and Crème de Cacao. You will sleep well.
Want To Have Fun….
Day time…
Take a taxi to Coit Tower..then walk down the Filbert Steps and enjoy the secret gardens and have the sensation of feeling like your not in a city and…then have lunch at Fog City Diner.
Take a ferry from Pier 43 and go to Tiburon and have lunch right where the ferry lands…at Guaymus..The best Mexican Food…the best Margueritas…the best view of San Francisco.
The Dash Hammet walking tour…if it is still happening…Don Herron May thru Oct. use to meet on the steps of the library at noon on Saturdays. Try to find out.
Tour the Anchor Steam Brewery.
Do the Wine Country…Tour Domaine Chandon have Champagne and Cheese in the Garden…then lunch at Tra Vigne or Mustards then tour Markham Vineyards, Mondavi or Beaulieau. You can’t miss on Hwy 29 it is all good.
Night time…
Catch a Cable Car in front of the St. Francis Hotel…Get off at Union and Mason…go to Little City Antipasto Bar (or any North Beach Restaurant) Stop at Coit Liquors and buy a wonderful bottle of California Wine for later…then wander over to Toscas for a white nun and some Opera on the Juke box…go back to your hotel and open the wine and savor the fact that you are in San Francisco.
Enjoy the City-
Regina
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