San Francisco Restaurant Tips by SteveOSF

Restaurant Name: Fringale

This is a nice French restaurant on 4th Street, in the South of Market area.

It is fairly small so reservations are a good idea.

Parking can be insane when there is a Giants game.

Favorite Dish: They prepare some wonderful steaks.

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Theme: French
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-543-0573
Address: 570 - 4th Street
Directions: SOuth of Market
Website: http://www.fringalesf.com/base_movie_content.html

Restaurant Name: Hotel Utah

This is a good old fashioned pub in the South of Market area. The aged wood structure retains the charm of generations past. It has burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other meals. It was built in 1908 and is a remnant of the Barbary Coast days. They have free wireless Internet. Best of all, it hosts live music. Come here to eat or drink!

Favorite Dish: The make a great burger.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-546-6300
Address: 500 - 4th Street
Directions: Corner of 4th and Bryant.
Website: http://www.thehotelutahsaloon.com/index.html

Restaurant Name: Jillian's

This sports-bar restaurant combination is well situated in the Metreon. If you are looking for a good place to hang out while waiting for a movie, Jillian's makes an excellent choice. They have a varied menu of entrees and individual pizzas.

Favorite Dish: I do like their individual pizzas.

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Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415.369.6100
Address: 101 4th Street, Suite 170
Directions: It is in the Metreon complete at 4th and Mission Streets.
Website: http://www.jilliansbilliards.com/club_detail_E.asp?club_id=41

Restaurant Name: Lefty O'Doul's

Francis “Lefty” O’Doul was a native San Franciscan and one of the great players of the game of baseball. He opened the restaurant and bar in the late 1950s and it has been a San Francisco "old school" classic ever since. They serve decent American food in generous portions in bit of a hoff brau style. The walls contain some nice woodwork and are decorated by old photographs. It's a great place to go for a meal, a drink, or both. Located just off Union Square, it is popular with the after work crowd.

They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Favorite Dish: Turkey dinner the is nice.

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Theme: American
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (415) 982-8900
Address: 333 Geary St., San Francisco, CA 94102
Directions: Just off Union Square
Website: http://www.leftyodouls.biz/

Restaurant Name: Greens Restaurant

This classy vegetarian restaurant is located in Fort Mason and enjoys great views of the Marina and the Golden Gate. The building is located on a harbor and was once used to disembark soldiers to war. Now it makes a nice setting for a fine restaurant. Their vegetarian fair is quite good. Greens maintains a relationship with the Zen Center at Green Gulch across the Bay in Marin. The Zen Center provides produce used in Greens menus. On Saturday evenings, they only serve a fixed price menu, and the price is fixed a bit high. I would recommend reservations.

Favorite Dish: Don't miss their desserts

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Theme: Vegan/Vegetarian
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: 415-771-6222
Address: Building A, Fort Mason Center
Directions: At Marina Blvd. and Buchanan St., turn into the Fort Mason Center.
Website: http://www.greensrestaurant.com/

Restaurant Name: Pancho Villa

If you are looking for an authentic taqueria try Pancho Villa in the Mission. Pancho Villa is an established restaurant that serves outstanding burritos. They do offer other traditional Mexican fare. An army of food preparers stands behind the counter to serve the patrons who line up to order their food. If you order a burrito, you will be faced will choices for types of beans, rice, and salsa etc. Freshly chopped meat is within view next to the other ready ingredients. Chips are complimentary. The burritos are pretty big, so don't feel wimpy if you want to order a "baby" burrito, which is big enough for most grown people.

Favorite Dish: My favorites are the steak or the vegetarian "special" burritos.

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Theme: Mexican
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: 3071 - 16th Street
Directions: It is located on 16th Street between Valencia and Mission Streets. From the 16th Street BART Station, you can walk the one short block.