San Francisco Restaurant Tips by mydreamquest

Restaurant Name: Swensen's

The first time I came here, an Italian girl (who happened to be a neighbor to San Francisco's Poet Laureate: Lawrence Ferlinfhetti) who I had a crush on, took me here and treated me for Ice Cream in exchange for me doing her English Essays for a class she took at City College of San Francisco. Needless to say, she had me wrapped around her pretty little finger back then. The funnier part was that I wrote an essay in her english literature class on Allen Ginsberg's "The Howl" a poem that was written in Berkeley and inspired by him staring out of the window in his prison at the time, some apartment on Bush Street.

I've heard many anecdotes about this great ice cream place near the windy part of Lombard Street in San Francisco's Russian Hill.

Recently, I read an article of a newspaper interview of Red House Painter lead singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek who took a journalist here.

The next picture after this has the list of flavors. I took the chocolate chip. A single scoop on a cone will cost you $2.45.

As there are hills everywhere, you will burn off all the fat you will eat from any ice cream you purchase here.

Health Code Violations

Favorite Dish: Chocolate Chip Ice Cream on a sugar cone.

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Theme: Ice Cream
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 775-6818
Address: 1999 Hyde
Directions: Hyde and Union Street in the Russian Hill area above North Beach.

Restaurant Name: Swensen's

See previous. This is the menu behind the counter with the prices effective as of today, May 28, 2005.

Favorite Dish: Chocolate Chip on a sugar cone (costs $2.45).

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Theme: Ice Cream
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 775-6818
Address: 1999 Hyde
Directions: Hyde and Union Street on San Francisco's Russian Hill District up from North Beach and about a 5 minute walk from the upper part of the windy part of Lombard Street.

Restaurant Name: Golden Gate Bakery

I've lived in San Francisco all my life and have been to Chinatown numerous times. I have many local Chinese American friends and they all only go to this bakery to purchase snacks.

There are others that may be cheaper, but for the best, this is the place to go. There are always lines, such as this, outside.

Believe me, the wait will be worthwhile.

Don't you dare leave Golden Gate Bakery without having purchased at least 1 mini-custard tart.

There is no custard tart even 1/2 as good as the one made here.

Although I have never had problems eating here, it does have a very low rating from the SF Department of Health. I've eaten here at least 20 times and have never had any upset stomachs and have always felt great, however, it has an 85/100 rating from the SF Dept of Health:

Health Code Violations

Favorite Dish: Custard Tart

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Theme: Bakery
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 986-2550
Address: 1029 Grant Avenue
Directions: Grant Street about 2 blocks from Columbus in SF Chinatown.

Restaurant Name: Park Chow

Park Chow is located in a very fun restaurant area of the Lower Sunset District in San Francisco. Around the Lower Sunset, you'll find many restaurants and this casual local style cuisine is my favorite around here.

It has excellent beers and wines as well as unique style dishes. There's an eclectic mixture of Italian, Indian, Chinese, and even Thai in the various dishes. You can order the unique types of individual pizzas or some of the experimentally successful pastas.

Health Code Violations

Favorite Dish: You most try the "Smiling Noodle" if you love curry and chicken. It's my favorite dish here.

It's a fairly louder restaurant but there's a charm about this place.

Remember to tip the waiter and waitress at least 15% of the price of the food before tax. Be generous. They work really hard and will have to pay taxes on 15% of the cost even if you decide to be stingy and not tip them.

The service here is fast, dependable, and friendly. They do not take reservations here. It's first come, first served. If you have to wait, just grab a beer at the bar and relax.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 665-9912
Address: 1240 9th Avenue
Directions: Take the N Judah to Irving and 9th Avenue. It's on 9th Avenue between Lincoln and Irving.

Restaurant Name: Crepevine

This is one of my favorite breakfast places in San Francisco's Lower Sunset/Parnassus Districts. It's a very good place to have breakfast on Sundays as it is nearby Golden Gate Park and is a block away from the "49 Mile Scenic Drive."

This is a very popular hangout for college students and locals. This place does not take reservations. To order you first pick something from the chalk board arranged by "Savory Crepes"; "Omelettes"; "Benedictions" (or varieties of eggs benendicts); "Pancakes" and "Sweet Crepes."

Anything you order will taste out of this world. There is an eclectic style of cooking from Japanse Crepes to New Orleans style Eggs Benedict (with Crab Cakes..my mouth is salivating), Greek, Italian, Tuscany, etc. etc styles. The coffees excellent as well. Water is free just walk next to the counter and grab a glass.

Remember to be generous, and always tip the San Franciscan Waiters/Waitresses and even at the Counter. They work very hard for you and never make enough to live in this expensive City.

Sometimes it can get crowded here. I was here Sunday at 10:30am and felt lucky to get a seat and pretty fast service.

Health Code Violations

Favorite Dish: The New Orleans Benediction (Crab Cakes on an English Mufin with hollandaise sauce).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 681-5858
Address: 624 Irving Street
Directions: Take the N Judah from Downtown and get off at Irving and 7th Avenue.

Restaurant Name: Crepevine

The best place to have breakfast in San Francisco's Lower Sunset.

Favorite Dish: Here's a picture of it: "The New Orleans Benediction";

In this picture, there's a coffee and a bowl of fruit. This tasty dish cost me $16 (including tip).

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 681-5858
Address: 624 Irving Street
Directions: Take the N Judah MUNI Streetcar to Irving and 7th Avenue (about 30-40 minutes from Downtown's Embarcadero Stations). You'll be one block away from Golden Gate Park.

Restaurant Name: Costco

Costco is a large store that sells many bulk items cheaply. Anything from tires, to food, to cds, to clothes, to toilet paper.

Everyone says that San Francisco is an expensive place to eat. But here is one place for emergency food that is very cheap and will fill up your stomach.

For $1.50, you can purchase a polish sausage in a bun with everything and a drink with as many refills as you like.

The location of this place is South of Market Street on Harrison and 10th Street.

Another tip is that you can buy good quality books on San Francisco here as well as decent SF T-shirts.

Favorite Dish: My favorite "dish" though "paper plate" is probably the more accurate term, the combination pizza, which, with a drink costs $2.75.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Harrison and 10th Street
Directions: South of Market Street.

Restaurant Name: Le Cheval

Meaning "the horse" in French, the food at this Vietnamese restaurant is dependable and exotic. It has the typical Vietnamese Soup Noodle (Pho) and variations of other dishes from Lemon Grass Chicken to Various Sea Food Dishes.

The interior has a high ceiling classiness and the sounds of conversation flow freely in this dimly lit and exciting restaurant. A friend once saw Tony Larussa eating here with his family.

During Xmas time, there is this funky upside down xmas tree that is attached to the ceiling. At the entrance, there is a beautiful wooden carving of a dragon and phoenix.

It's a great place where many locals have lunch at during the work week and on Sunday's is a pretty lively place.

If you have to wait, go to the bar and ask the bar tender to show you the container of snakes which, if you are daring, can have a taste of the alcoholic beverage made from it. I tried it and it tastes like absynthe. If you believe in alternative health concepts, supposedly, a shot of that drink is good for you to prevent arthritus. I drank it just to act cool.

Favorite Dish: I highly recommend, if you are hungry and with a date to try the 7 Beef Course Dinner which is $50 and I think it comes with a carafe of red wine.

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: On Clay Street Between 10th and 11th.
Directions: 12th Street Oakland/City Center Bart Station. Exit 12th Street from Broadway and walk two blocks to Clay.

No reservations are taken. First come, first served.

Restaurant Name: Blondies Pizza

As you get off of Powell Street Bart Station. Walk past the Cable Car line up Powell Street. This is probably the best starting place to see San Francisco.

As you'll be walking a lot, it might be a good idea to grab a quick bite. If you want something affordable, quick, and tasty, try Blondie's Pizza. It's pretty good, and for $3.75, you can purchase a combination slice of pizza and a soft drink (soda, pop, etc.).

With the hills in front of you, be not concerned of the calories in the food you eat. With all the walking that you'll be doing, you'll need the carbo load.

Favorite Dish: The combination slice of pizza.

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Theme: Pizza
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 834-9100
Address: 63 Powell Street
Directions: On Powell Street about a block up from Market Street on the left hand side.

Restaurant Name: Fresca

In a friendly warm environment with a cute, shiny golden sun in the background Fresca is a Peruvian restaurant with unique, exotic, and very tasty dishes.

I ate here tonight and did not need reservations. I suggest you make them just to be safe, but you'll be ok after 8pm.

The staff is friendly courteous, efficient, polite, and responsive without being annoying, intruding or attention distracting.

Health Code Violations

Favorite Dish: I am a seafood fanatic. I also love spicy. If you are like me, try the Picante de Mariscos. Pictured here, it is a spicy seafood stew with fish, prawns, clams, mussels, calamari, and scallops. Ask for a side order of rice and drink a Cusquena Peruvian Beer with it.

Here's the picture of what I ate today, May 29, 2005. It was extremely good. The orange walls only add more ambience to this West Portal Neighborhood.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 759-8087
Address: 24 West Portal, SF, CA 94127
Directions: West Portal Muni Station (about 20-30 minutes from Embarcadero Muni Station).

Take the K, L, or M line to West Portal Station.