Need help from the local Foodies (San Francisco, Orange: house, neighborhood, live)

[RadBrad]

My wife, son and I are coming up to San Francisco for the first time from Orange County. We will be staying in the Fisherman's Warf area of corse as all tourists do for 2 nights. The only thing is I do not want to be stuck at one of those tourist trap restaurants paying for overpriced crappy food. Can anyone recommend some good restaurants in the area? Nothing that is hoity toity or fancy schmancy. Just good food worth what you pay for. I do like good seafood especially crab. Also if you can suggest a great place for breakfast that would be awesome! Thank you in advance for your help!

[dennyduck81]

I will try to give you a range. I'll just give you a few of our favorites in your area.


Breakfast

$ Delancey Cafe
$$ Buena Vista cafe
$$ Town's End Resturaunt and Bakery
$ java house
$red's java house
$$

Another option is to grab some breads and cheeses/meats at the Ferry Building and eat on the pier.


I recommend Delancey Street Resteraunt for any meal. The food is exceptional, the service is impeciible, it's super clean and best of all super affordable.


For seafood...don't go to bubba gumps! Unless you have an obsession with forest gump the food is just too mediocre for the price.

Seafood
$$ hog island oyster co
$$ fog harbor fish house
$$ The Rockin Crawfish (Cajun style)
$$ R&G lounge (Chinese style. Anthony Bourdain was there!) lycée martini is great

Italian
$$$ la ciccia
$$ capo's
$$ cioppinos
$ south beach cafe

Pizza
- $ north beach pizza
$ Carmel pizza company
$tony's pizza napolentana


If I think of more I will update. Good luck!

And don't forget to try some of our famous sourdough from Boudin's. Also, I'm sure your son will love a stop at ghiradelli square for a nice sundae and your wife will love the chocolate.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I actually really enjoy going to Boudin's sourdough factory on the wharf. Yes, it's a tourist location. But, it smells like heaven if you love sourdough bread. And they give really fun free tours of the factory with the history, etc., and you can watch them make the bread. They have a gift shop and they serve clam chowder in sourdough bowls. A very SF food. A bit pricey, but not horrible. Very casual. If it's too crowded for you in their little restaurant/store, you can take your sourdough bowl outside to eat it. You can get a sourdough bowl in their gift shop/cafe, you don't have to eat in the main restaurant.

https://www.boudinbakery.com/index.cfm

Took me a minute to find the info on just eating in the cafe/gift shop. They don't list the prices, but you can eat inside or outside. They call that section Baker's Hall:

https://www.boudinbakery.com/index.cfm?page_id=71

[Ruth4Truth]

The wharf isn't far from North Beach. You can stroll up there to look for non-touristy restaurants. It's a cool neighborhood to explore.

[felinius]

When are you staying? If you're over on a Friday, you could do the Fort Mason Off the Grid ... lots of fun.

[04kL4nD]

1) Leave the Wharf
2) Get on Yelp!
3) Enjoy a nice meal

[NewbiePoster]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

The wharf isn't far from North Beach. You can stroll up there to look for non-touristy restaurants. It's a cool neighborhood to explore.

Originally Posted by O4KL4ND;

1) Leave the Wharf
2) Get on Yelp!
3) Enjoy a nice meal

This. For good food, avoid Fisherman's wharf. Google "North Beach restaurants". Another tip; for good Chinese food, don't go to Chinatown. There are a couple of Chinese restaurants downtown that are very good. The rest are out towards Golden Gate Park, around the Richmond District.

[mini_cute]

Off the Grid food truck event on Friday evenings at Fort Mason: Off the Grid Blog Archive » Fort Mason Center

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by mini_cute

Off the Grid food truck event on Friday evenings at Fort Mason: Off the Grid Blog Archive » Fort Mason Center

That looks so fun! Wish I was closer.

[ttocs99]

I find the Italian food in North Beach extremely overrated. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to have good Italian food in Walnut Creek (where I lived).

For breakfast, try Sears Fine Foods (Sutter and Powell). Very famous and GREAT breakfast. Try the Swedish silver dollar pancakes, truly a delicious breakfast.