I prefer Blowfish and Naked Fish over Groove.

Some great stuff in this thread. I'll be down there in August for the first time, for a wedding in Napa. We're planning on staying in SF on Thursday night, then Napa for two nights, then back in SF on Sunday night.

There have been some good specific hotel recommendations, but I was hoping I could get some advice on which areas to search in Priceline.



I'll be checking betterbidding.com to get recs as well, but I was curious if there are areas to target/avoid since I don't know the Bay area at all.

Just went to Myth, some restaurant I shouldn't have gone to just because of the name. Food wasn't bad but not as good as I'd expect for $20-30 entrees, appetizers and dessert were mediocre. Would not recommend. Great vibe/scenery though.

About to go to flytrap restaurant near folsom/3rd, hope its as good as citysearch says. Then I'm gonna pick up my new bike at pacific bikes near folsom/4th. booyah.

Ja,

I actually like Myth quite a bit. I think the food is very good. My only complaint would be that I think their portions are sorta small for the price, but that's pretty standard at that style restaurant.

Flytrap is WAY overrated, imo. I don't think it's very good. Mehfil, the Indian place next door, is cheap and very good.

Let me know the next time you go to the bike store and we'll have lunch. I work right by there.

I tried Myth a couple months ago, and I agree with Ja's analysis.

I just had the steak, so its not like I ordered something exotic.

Whenever I'm in SF I always make sure to stop at Gordo's for a burrito. There are two locations in the city, one is at 9th and Lincoln, the other I'm not sure about. If you guys haven't tried this place I highly recommend it. The Carnitas Burrito is fantastic.

Didn't end up going to Flytrap. Did go to the bike shop though. And the whole foods right there is the best I've ever been to.

FWIW the braised short rib at Myth was awesome. Oysters funky-bad, sweetbread/bacon/quail egg OK. Walu boring (lol, why did my younger brother order this?). "strawberry soup" not actually soup or worth $9. Souffle was pretty good.

one's on Geary somewhere between 22-25th ave. and another one's on Clement around the high teens ave.
They're not bad, but I think other people already mentioned much better.

If one is gay, and familiar with Armistead Maupin's books...

....check out the Endup

taking my wife for her bday to sf, got lots of great suggestions here, anyone have any last minute suggestions for any particularly romantic things to do or places to get a drink?

my very rough current plan is:
- arrive thurs morning, check in, breakfast at one of the places mentioned probably the french bakery
- tour anchor steam, lunch at farolito or similar
- dinner at slanted door

saturday I'm planning for a farmer's market picnic on angel island. friday is pretty open, we've done alcatraz so maybe we'll just explore the city and I'll take her shopping.

any last minute suggestions?

turnip,

http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/

They have reservations for 2 available on Friday night for an upscale awesome vegetarian dinner.

Americano (across the street from the Ferry Building where Slanted Door is) is a nice semi-swanky place to grab a cocktail, especially out on the patio if it's a nice day. Pier 23 down the street is a more casual place to grab beers on a nice sunny day.

Plenty of other great bar suggestions in this thread. Gimme a call when you're here.

A lot of good information and I agree with a lot of it. My two cents...

Sushi Groove South was great, my friends brother in law (Demetrios) was the head sushi chef and he left, haven't been back since.

Tommy's is cool, Julio, the bartender has traveled throughout Mexico and has written books on tequila and seems to know just about everything about it.

Tradr Sams, right near Tommy's has good drinks, especially if you get to know anyone there, they will pour really stiff ones.

I agree on Gino and Carlo's- cool old bar.

Golden Boy Pizza on Green St. is the best for late night slice in that area.

Bocce Cafe nearby is pretty good but very reasonably priced.

House of Nanking (on Columbus?) is a hole in the wall with incredible food.

Frascati restaurant on Hyde St. cable car line is great- good date place.

Green Apple books on Clement in Inner Richmond is the best book store.

Gleneagles GC is a 9 hole course that will eat your lunch- just don't take a wrong turn- its right next to the projects. Kids will sometimes hop the fence to steal your ball. The first time I played there, this happened to me and I chased him down. A regular there told me never to do that unless you want to get shot. Lincoln Park GC is also cool, in lousy shape but incredible views of the city and GG Bridge.

For BarBQ I like Dougs on 37th and San Pablo in Oakland/Emeryville (its also close to the Oaks Card Club) I don't like Everett and Jones BarBQ.

Soi Four Restaurant on College in Oakland has the best Thai I've ever had. Zachary's pizza is nearby if you like Chicago style.

On the outer limits of the Bay Area, I think Pt. Reyes has the best hiking and scenery. Tennessee Valley in Mill Valley is also cool for biking and hiking.

talcum,

Good post, agree w/ most everything.

"(Demetrios)" - whoa, that dude was awesome.

"House of Nanking" - way overrated, not worth the hassle. Yuet Lee around the corner a couple blocks up is much better hole in the wall Chinese imo.

All,
The gf and I are still planning a trip for next week July 2-6 (yeah last minute), anyway SF looks really good right now. Neither of us has been there. I will finish reading this thread (only got through 1.5 pages so far), but I'd like to know some details if I could.

How much does public transportation cost? Like if we want to ride over to Bay 101 Casino or whatever it's called. Or the GG Bridge...or Alcatraz...etc.all things we'd likely want to do.
Is it safe? Is it easy? Can you buy a week-pass or something?? etc...I'm in Houston so I'm not very versed in public transportation.
Should we think of renting a car for at least 1 day just to do a day-trip around the bay?

Any other inside info. for outsider morons would be greatly appreciated. So far the restaurant/club recommendations have been superb, now I just need to hear recommendations about how to actually "do San Francisco" for the first time.

Thanks!

BTW...we've found packages for airfare and 4 nights stay at Hilton in Union Square for $581/person. Also Westin St. Francis Union Square for $593/person. These rates are fantastic, right?? Is Union Square a great place for us to choose to stay? Thanks..

OK Just finished reading thread, it looks like Turnip had similar questions that got answered in terms of location (Union Square). THis sounds good for us first time tourists.

I'd still like to know more about the BART/trolleys...in terms of expense, if any. Total public transit newcomer here. Thanks guys.

Good places to find Basketball pick up games:

Park Merced (a.k.a San Francisco State University outdoor courts)

Sunset Recreation Center (a.k.a Lawton, located in the Sunset, lots of asians)

the giants game

oh and jack london's old house

Moscone Rec Outdoor Courts in the Marina (at Webster st. and Bay st.). Best pick-up basketball in the city if you want higher quality games.

For traveling within San Francisco, you play $1.50 and you can go on any bus, train, BART, etc.... just make sure you keep your receipt. Go to google and type SF Muni Planner. This site will plan your trip using public transportation.

If you want to go to Alcatraz just take the Muni to Embarcadero and walk over to Fisherman's Wharf. It's like 25 dollars a person. I thought the tour was pretty boring.

Without reading this whole thread - Sunset at Bolinas Ridge (up Highway 1 through Marin like you're headed to Stinson Beach, then you turn right up into the Mt. Tamalpais National Park) is pretty much my favorite place in the whole USA.

One good thing SF truly lacks - decent pick up hoops.

Marina is probably the best run, but you have to go with a solid squad so you can run a few games, otherwise, it's one and done due to an excrutiating wait.

The sunset rec games are hectic as the courts are about 45' end to end. Makes for a really bad game.

Haven't played at the State courts, but they didn't look too bad the one time I watched for a minute. Little tough to concentrate with the amount of coed eyecandy walking around tho.

So true. It's killing me inside man.

Eh... the public in general is never really any good.

I think you need to join leagues to find any real competition if you had a solid squad.

Another place I like to play at is Palega (Silver, it's uh... near San Bruno St.) and Chinatown Recreation Center (Although people complain that the people there are terrible.)

I play there because they're free, open gyms.

#1 Golden Boy Pizza, north beach

#2 Slanted Door, ferry building

#3 Rub and tug(and a little more) on stockton.

#4 Coyote Point

#5 Twin Peaks

#6 Bay 101, Lucky Chances

#7 Century shopping center, San Jose