I'm heading out to SF in a couple weeks for work, and noticed that SF Dine About Town is going on. Would be cool to try out some places, but I really know very little SF and don't know any of these places...any recommendations, particularly convenient to Union Square?

1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar - Mediterranean
Andalu - Global
Anzu Restaurant - Japanese/Sushi
AsiaSF - Fusion/Eclectic
Azie - Fusion/Eclectic
aziza - Mediterranean
B44 - Latin/Spanish
Big 4 Restaurant - American
Bistro 1689 - French
Bistro Boudin - American
bushi - tei - French Nouvelle
Café Bastille - French
Café de la Presse - French
Cafe Maritime - Seafood
Chouchou - French
Circa - American
Circolo Restaurant - Latin/Spanish
Cortez Restaurant & Bar - Mediterranean
Côte Sud - French
Crustacean - Vietnamese
First Crush - American
Forbes Island - American
Frisson Restaurant - Californian
Garcon Restaurant - French
Hyde Street Bistro - French
Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana - Italian
Juni - Japanese
Le Colonial - Vietnamese
luella - Californian
Mangarosa Restaurant & Bar - Italian
Medjool Restaurant/Lounge - Mediterranean
Moose's Restaurant - American
Nectar Wine Lounge - Californian
Oola Restaurant & Lounge - American
Palio d'Asti - Italian
Pisces Restaurant - Californian
Plouf - French
RNM Restaurant - American
Roe - Fusion/Eclectic
Rubicon - Californian
Rue Saint Jacques - French
Ruth's Chris Steak House - Steakhouses
Scott Howard Restaurant - Californian
Seasons at Four Seasons Hotel - Californian
Soluna Cafe and Lounge - Californian
Tablespoon - Californian
The Public Resto-Lounge - Californian
Tokyo Go-Go - Japanese
Universal Cafe - American
Zingari Ristorante - Northern Italian

K4Z, Plouf and B44 are good downtown standbys on that list. Both are on Belden place, a charming small downtown alley and walking distance to Union Sq.

FWIW Plouf is my favorite, do try their special, muscles and chips. Don't be afraid to sit outside

IMO Zibbibo's has degraded in quality over the last several years, I do not think it is nearly worth the price tag it once was. I do not know if this is due to a change in the Chef or Management or anything, just reporting from various dinners.

I actually got a 2+2 account to ask about pick up hoops in the area. In Marin there is a long standing game in Sausalito (off bridgeway) at the outdoor courts. We usually run Sat afternoon (1-4) and sometimes sundays at the same time. Mondays at the MLK gym in Marin city (6pm til 8) also happens. I work in the city and would love to consistanly run after work, and would be down to play on a team.

Fear the beard, go Warriors

P.

sweet these both look like cool places. will check them both out.

KBZ,

B44 - Latin/Spanish
Café Bastille - French
Cortez Restaurant & Bar - Mediterranean
Le Colonial - Vietnamese
Plouf - French

Those are all right by union square. I've been to all except Cortez which generally gets pretty good reviews. All are solid. I like Le Colonial quite a bit.

Oola is my favorite place from the whole list.

Check out the regular menus as well. Moneywise Dine About Town is often basically just getting a free (or mostly free) dessert. Some restaurants have good entree selections, but others have pretty lame stuff and ordering from the DAT menu sucks, especially if you wouldn't normally order dessert anyway.

Bong Su is waaaaay better than Le Colonial if ur around Union Square.

Obv Slanted door is the best in San Fran and the REEEEEALY good viet food
is in San Jose at either Minh's, Vung Tao, or the one in Grand Century.

Finding a viet place that serves Bun Xeo is pretty much essential IMHO.

Indy

Indy,

Bong Su is not near Union Square, nor is it on the list of restaurants he posted, nor is it imo all that good, and it's way overpriced. Slanted Door obv rules.

Vung Tau in San Jose is very good, similar to food you would get at an upscale restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City and not expensive at all (like $12 entrees). It's kind of an unknown among non-Vietnamese people.

ya my wife is viet so i get around


there's a good one in mountain view called Xahn's taht i went to today...

Indy

(PS I thought Bong Su was pretty close enough to Union Square...I mean its not that far)

It's nowhere near Union Square, but by some distance the best restaurant on your list that I've been to is Aziza, which does great Cal-Moroccan food. Definitely worth considering, especially if you can combine it with Golden Gate Park, the de Young or something else in that direction.

Other places that have been added to DAT since your list that are closish to Union Square and worth thinking about are Lark Creek Steak (got good DAT reviews on Chowhound last year), One Market (which is really good at the moment) and Sens (good Mediterranean food with an outstanding view of the Ferry Building).

But El D is (as ever) wise to say that you can fixate too much on DAT given you don't always save that much. If you like seafood your should try Bar Crudo which is a couple of blocks from Union Square. Tiny place with great raw bar, crudo and a few salads and hot items. The arctic char with creme fraiche, wasabi spiked tobiko and dill is to die for, as is the creamy and rich chowder.

I live by Union Square. I could make some local recommendations if you're interested.

My 6-year old daughter has never seen snow before. Where is the closest place to the Bay Area where I can take her sledding?

anyone know any good places to go sake bombing around palo alto? I know miyake's in downtown PA is a big hit but wondering if anyone else has other suggestions... if they dont card then that's a plus

yeah, would appreciate it. I would love a good sushi place, I know Diablo mentioned a few, was also wondering if any of these places were good. I mainly stick to basic rolls/fish, so I'm not looking for anything hip, just high quality basic sushi.

Grandeho's Kamekyo
Kyoto Sushi
Sushi Rock
Tokyo Go Go

dude there's a pf changs right there at the stanford shopping ctr joking obv

Indy

I went to Heavenly in Tahoe, so you could start there. It's about a 3 and a half hour drive from SF.

Yeah, there are a bunch of places in Tahoe. I'm hoping there's a place closer to SF . . .

Bear Valley is the closest ski resort. Google says it's 3h24m from SF. A couple days a year there is snow on Mount Hamilton, east of San Jose. It's never good quality snow and melts quickly, but maybe enough for sledding.

K,

"just high quality basic sushi."

Grandeho's Kamekyo - dunno
Kyoto Sushi - no. but decent for very cheap sushi. their spicy sashimi salad is a super good deal. but this is not high quality stuff. and they have 99 cent beers!
Sushi Rock - sucks.
Tokyo Go Go - very good.

If you search the old archives for sushi, you should find a ton more info on SF sushi places.

This is the place for you near Union Square: http://www.sfsakana.com/ Not fancy, but reasonably priced basic high quality sushi.

Depending on the weather and what kind of car you drive, you'd probably be best of sticking to I-80. Boreal is about 3 hours from the Bay area and it's located just right off the highway. I think even there's a snow-tubing/sledding place a few miles before you hit Boreal, but i can't remember the name of it.

swede,

I feel like there's one right by Sugar Bowl. There's definitely one right at Truckee.

I found this on Sugar Bowl's website. Seems like a good sledding area.

Here's the link, http://www.sugarbowl.com/summitslide

I looked up at Mt Hamilton yesterday when the sun came out and there was snow. I'm sure it'll hold for quite awhile and it should be just fine for sledding. Plus, the views are amazing up there.