Going to San Francisco

Several restaraunts in the "Business District" or close by that I have enjoyed recently: Aqua, Tartare, Farallon, Michael Mina, Fifth Floor. All are close to your upper limit, and latter is probably above the stated range, but most of the others could be made to fit. All have excellent wine lists, though none is what I would consider inexpensive. With the vast number of great restaurants in that city, I'm sure you will get many good recommendations.

If you are in Honolulu, I'd recommend: La Mer (really above the upper end, but worth every $, or whatever), Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana, Alan Wong's (the original on King St), 3660 on the Rise (a bit out of Honolulu proper) and Bali by the Sea (great last trip, but not always so in the past). If you are in Kona-area of the Big Island, Alan Wong's at the four Seasons, Hualalai Grille, is great AND a deal. Their Pahuia restaurant is excellent, though a bit more pricey. Upcountry Big Island: Daniel Thiebaut in Kailua is worth the drive. In Kapaa, Kauai, Jean-Marie Josselin's A Pacific Cafe is not to be missed. Lahaina, Maui, has several: Pacifico's, David Paul's, Avalon and Gerard's are all worth the money. David Paul's has about the best wine list of the group, and was fairly priced, when I was last there.

Safe and enjoyable trip, Hunt

"TB" wrote in news:1116489756.154271.196410 @g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Depends on where you will be staying but if you are near Fisherman's wharf you might try Butterfly, we ate there a year ago and found it to be vey good (asian fusion)

Hi TB, You won't be able to get to any wineries without a car, but getting around San Francisco is very easy. Trolleys, cable cars, etc. will get you to most parts of the city. My knowledge of restaurants is very limited, but we did have a very enjoyable meal at the Tadish Grill in the Business District (not sure about their wine list), and breakfast at the Buena Vista on Fisherman's Wharf. San Franciscans are used to "queuing up", so be careful where you stand, people might start lining up behind you! :-)

Dick R.

I've always been pleasantly surprised how nice all of the restaurants in Belden Place are (it's in the shadow of the BofA building).

Dana

in article snipped-for-privacy@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, TB at snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.co.uk wrote on 5/19/05 1:02 AM:

Lots of good restaurant tips being given.

As to wineries......... if you feel like you really want to have the experience, Rosenblum Cellars has a facility in Alameda (near Oakland) that's a reasonable taxi distance from the city. If you close your eyes until you're inside the building you'll get the feel of wine country there ....... or at least can taste some of the better Zinfandels in California. Tours are given on weekends only, I think.

Otherwise, you're probably looking at using up the majority of a day to hire a car to reach wineries, even the closest ones, in Cupertino (down the SF Peninsula) about an hour's drive.

Maybe others can come up with a closer winery idea I've missed.

Is Buena Vista Cafe the place with the really good Irish coffee and eggs benedict? Man, I haven't been there in probably 15 years.

Don't miss out on Delancey Street Restaurant when you're in SF. Good food, reasonable prices, and all for a good cause to boot.

Max

I highly recommend XYZ restaurant at the W hotel, went there last year and was quite impressed. They have the best wine list I've ever seen, check them out at xyz-sf.com. I'm going back in a couple of weeks.

As was suggested, Rosenblum Cellars in Alameda is wonderful, and you can take a ferry across the Bay to get there. Call the number at

for directions.

The great wine regions of Sonoma--Russian River Valley, Dry Creek, Alexander Valley--are only about an hour north of the city, but you'd probably have to drive.

Excellent wine shops in San Francisco include K&L on Fourth Street and The Wine Club on Harrison near Fifth, both a short cab ride or longish walk from downtown. You can also take public transportation out to Noe Valley, a charming residential neighborhood, where you'll find another good wine shop, Plumpjack, and many restaurants.

The Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street has another excellent wine shop among food stalls. You can get fresh bread and good cheese and sip a flight at their counter.

TB wrote:

Hi Max, Yup, good Irish coffee and good bloody mary's. Didn't have the eggs benedict tho. We were there in 1998 and I wanna go back!

Dick R.

I second both K&L and Ferry Plaza Wine Shop. The restaurant in the Ferry Plaza Terminal Building, just up from the wine shop, has good breakfasts, but I don't know about the rest of the menu. Near K&L is Bacar Restaurant & Wine Bar

448 Brannan St. Great food and a really fun wine list. Not as extensive as some, but really, really fun, and well matched, at fair prices, to the menu. Also, in the China Basin area, Momo's used to be very good, but I have not eaten there, since the stadium was constructed.

Hunt

Dim Sum, the best East of Peking, I'm sure some one on this board know which is the best these days as well as The Hunan on Sansome Street if memory serves me. I also have dined at the Tadish Grill, Ernies and Jacks but I doubt if they are open.

There are a lot of Chinese in the Monterey Park area that would probably dispute SF's (or New York's) claims to the best Chinese food outside of China. :)

Dimitri

If you're in the northern part of San Francisco, consider A16. They specialize in Italian wines. Check out their menu online:

Make reservations. I tried it once. Everything was great, except my entree was so-so. I may have picked a bad one. My friend liked her food. There's a wine bar in San Francisco that features dozens of wine. You buy a card and get the cost of the wine deducted from the card. It's supposed to be modeled on one in Italy. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Have any wine nerds in this news group tried it?

Kermit Lynch is > Hi,

I normally stay in the Marina District and find that there are many restaurants that you will be happy with. There are a whole slew of nice places to eat on Chestnut Street and on the various sidestreets. You would also be just a short walk from Union Street where you will also many good places to eat.

Boy, am I overwhelmed!

Thank you very much all!

Cheers

THese are great wine shops. Avoid walking down 6th street. If I were to hit both, I'd walk down 4th, hit K&L near the Caltrain station, then go over to The Wine Club (no membership necessary :) and then walk back up 7th street or just take a cab home, as you're likely carrying heavy bottles.

K

Moose's cafe is fantastic for brunch and other meals. It's on Washington Square, caddy-corner from Peter & Paul's Cathedral.

For Thai, Thep Phanom on Filmore right near the Haight intersection is really good, as well. Small dining room, so I'd try to go a bit early.

so many places are great in the city, and you can't really go wrong with the other recommendations that have been given.

have fun, K

buy a card and get the cost of the wine deducted from the card. It's supposed to be modeled on one in Italy. Does this ring a bell with anyone? Have any wine nerds in this news group tried it?