0 Followers
Best of Downtown
There's so much wonderful there, for those who are willing to explore!
- 674
- 127
19 Places
-
Megan’s 5-star review: Our favorite sushi place near home in Chinatown. The fish is exceptional, though the nigiri portions are not large. Rolls are delicious and a great value, and the secret standouts are Oshitashi appetizer and volcano roll. - Make a reservation (OpenTable or call them) - they frequently fill up completely - Everything is fresh and wonderful - Try the Walu both ways (seared and raw) - Sit at the bar, the chefs are adorable - Their wine list is my #1 source for newfound favs - Pull hard on the bathroom door to overcome the wind tunnel's effect. You'll see. -
Megan’s 4-star review: If you are here on business travel and your significant other visits you in the Financial District, this is a wonderful respite from the concrete of the rest of the downtown area and definitely has a magical European bistro feel. Walk down the alley and lovely staff members from each of the restaurants will attempt to woo you with specials and descriptions of Happy Hour. I've not found a great deal of consistency or variation between quality of any of the restaurants, so eat where the menu looks best and the prices are fair. Lovely date also for folks who live in the city but would enjoy seeing it in a new way. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Phenomenal choice for Dim Sum for the following reasons: - Takes reservations and always makes them, which means the ultimate dream: Waitless brunch. - Extremely clean and efficient; the opposite of your old hole-in-the-wall, rats-in-the-dumpling-wrappers place. White tablecloths, lazy susans for the big round tables, quiet chattable noise level, small enough to be sane but big enough for large table groups - Service is extremely polite, effective, and helpful. Staff speaks English well enough to easily explain dishes, including what's inside each dumpling - Not at all that expensive; surprisingly cheap based on ambiance and cleanliness (~17.00 including tax and tip to get completely stuffed and drink endless tea) Get: 1. SOUP DUMPLINGS!!!!!* 2. Pea shoot dumplings - standout 3. Shrimp dumplings, very solid 4. Shrimp noodles 5. Sesame chicken 6. Pork buns! YUM, even though they're small and baked instead of steamed 7. Peking duck 8. Broccoli rabe * For the uninitiated, soup dumplings, aka Xiao Long Bao (XLB for Chowhounds), are something which may be new to you that you don't want to miss. They're Shanghaiese reverse wontons, so there's soup on the inside and they're served in tiny pie tins. These aren't available many places so get them here, dream about them, go back soon. I recommend ordering at least two sets, waiting a few minutes for them to cool, biting a hole in the top, sipping out the soup, then eating the dumpling. A-mazing. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Yum! Golden Flower and Golden King are both reliable. Golden Flower's pho broth is a bit more oniony (rather than Golden King's, which tends to be on the saltier side). But, G-Flower is always busy with loyal clientele, service is friendly, and takeout orders are fast. A very safe choice. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Yum yum yum yum. Best Dim Sum in the area (based on price, quality, transparency, ease of getting a table, and plenty of selection). The BBQ pork buns are A+, as are the hot and sour soup (very hot) and mu shu vegetables. The price is oh so right, and though the lack of music in the restaurant makes it a little too quiet to avoid awkwardness, takeout is simple and it's open late. -
Megan’s 5-star review: A welcomed haven-like sanctuary from the world outside. The amazing staff of Restaurant Ducroix are genuinely excited to help you have a wonderful evening. The food is exceptional (try the salmon, pork roast, beef bourginon, and chef salad), and our server poured us free tastings of his three favorite wines before we decided on our free glass (!) from the Yelp special. Absolutely incredible with almost no wait to boot. But, don't go there! I want it to stay lovely, idyllic, quiet, and secret so there will always be a table waiting for me.
-
Megan’s 5-star review: A no-nonsense, down-to-earth neighborhood bar that makes SF feel like Chicago or Minneapolis. Bring your friends, stay for hours, get there early, go back every day next week. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Plenty of space on a Friday night to grab a glass of wine in a flight. It has the oversized, luxurious ambiance of a Napa living room, a great surprised tucked into a quiet, random alley! Mid-week (Wednesday or Thursday) it gets much busier, so go early or expect to get clever with seating. They do have small bites to munch on alongside the wine, which I'd love to go back and try. The downside about this place, which you'll need to prepare for, is the brusque to borderline hostile service. It's happened at least twice for me, and threatens the ambiance. If you don't mind, you'll love it here. If you do, you may still find the Hidden Vine an appealing last resort. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Speedy delivery with dependable, good food and especially-convenient online ordering interface. After two or three great experiences ordering delivery to a friend's apartment in SoMa, I noticed Mehfil's online interface allows for scheduling of future orders. This is a fantastic feature that - more than once now! - has allowed me to order online by iPhone on CalTrain, scheduling food to be delivered to my doorstep just minutes after I get home from work. Deliverers are consistently courteous and food is always hot! As for the food itself: the veggie entrees are trustworthy and comforting, chicken tikka masala sauce errs on the creamy side but with plenty of flavor to satisfy a hankering, and "medium" spice level brought exceptional warmth to all our dishes. Rice is included with entrees - portions are extremely generous - and the garlic naan is definitely worth a try. -
Megan’s 3-star review: Dancing, dancing, top 40s, Jaeger bombs, beers, dancing, and more beers. Be warned that the dance basement is not open on Thursdays and that the upstairs staff is not particularly excited about table dancing. But, it's a happenin' place for a few drinks if you're in the neighborhood. -
Megan’s 4-star review: A great experience located close enough to BART and downtown to be immensely convenient! Try out the Laphroig Project and don't hesitate to ask for the whole menu, or to order a custom cocktail from the bartenders in the back. If the floor is crowded, sneak up the stairs on the left (past the main bar) and grab a table upstairs. It's a great snug and there's almost always seating room. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Fair rates and a very central location. Park in well-lit areas or near the agents to avoid reported theft. There's almost always room, and the garage runs Sunday specials which make it especially cheap (it's run by the city - fun fact!). Full rates: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/pgar/Sutter-StocktonGarageRates.htm -
Megan’s 4-star review: This place is one-of-a-kind.... a Cinderella's castle of tiki splendor all doctored up in the basement of a nonchalant hotel. Go before they desecrate its badass historical self. Facts: - It's just a must-do. Great place to start the night or to bring friends from out of town. - It may be closed certain nights of the week. Check hours before you walk up that huge hill. - Sometimes they charge a cover for entertainment, around $5. This depends on the day. If you are with people who are anti-cover at all costs, either prep them (with rumors about the polynesian ukulele band which plays on a mobile gazebo raft) or ditch them in advance. - As with any place I strongly recommend bringing only people who are extremely excited to go. If someone says they hate Disneyland or fun, get rid of them since the magic of this place is best enjoyed by positive groups who are ready for it. - The Scorpion volcano bowl is freaking strong and a solid way to get a group outing off to a great start. - Frozen drinks are in the neighborhood of $12, so not immensely cheap, but they are served in large hurricane glasses and will sugar you generously! - The pirate ship-deck themed dance floor (with rope ladder edging) is not only impressive, but a magnet for the most interesting hotel guests and aging San Francisco fascinati. Pick a table with a great view so you can properly peep the rhythmic mingling of old interesting people. - I visited to celebrate my 25th birthday, and left with a Tonga Room themed hurricane glass. I have never been so honored in my life. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Oh dear: This place is lovely (in a sexy, delicious way). Sit outside and drink a complicated cocktail, or outsmart the process and make reservations in advance to sit upstairs. The bar is beautiful and you could drink in the glam aesthetic for hours. Fave dishes: - sardines with green apple and hearts of palm salad (so crisp and refreshing) and - stuffed calamari (blew my mind - sticks to your ribs, completely different than your typical calamari). Great for a date or catchup with a few close friends. (Fun fact - Gitane is also the name of a French cigarette brand which heavily sponsored bike racing in the 1960s-80s, and the name Gitane means 'gypsy woman') -
Megan’s 4-star review: Tadich Grill, you fabulous classic. You're the original cold day restaurant because you were formerly named the Cold Day Restaurant. You claim to be the oldest restaurant in California and you might as well be - you pretty much deserve it. Tadich Grill is the place to go if you are craving some old men wearing lab coats in your life. Everyone's sassy grandfather works here and they nail the service aspect with plenty of banter and a good old fashioned scolding if you get out of line. The cioppino is a fabulous production for tourists who've never had it. The red clam chowder is my favorite recurring dish, and you can get it (with bread) to go on days when you just can't afford to wait. I'll also put in a good word for the bar - which serves only very classic martinis, but is a fantastic old-timey place to sit and reflect on the day that's passed (whether your day at work or your friends' day touring the city). To avoid the wait, go earlier in the week or of course earlier in the day. If you are a tourist and you can only go to one restaurant, this is a great contender. -
Megan’s 4-star review: Sotto Mare is an unbeatable place for cioppino in North Beach and serves great seafood no matter what you order. Split the cioppino between a group of you (even as many as 4) with another dish or a few appetizers on the side and you'll go home happy. Make reservations in advance and you'll be even happier. If you have a big group, never fear - there's overflow seating in the basement where the service is still friendly and the seafood bibs will keep it feeling kitschy and festive. We've had great success with the oyster shooters, smoked salmon, soups, and salads... but really the cioppino is what's memorable. If you don't make a reservation and do get stuck waiting, grab your lobster-shaped buzzing pager and head next door to Golden Boy Pizza for the best pre-appetizer on earth. And afterward hit up the candy shop on Columbus for a sweet treat - free caramel corn for the locals! -
Megan’s 4-star review: I love this place. Ryoko's is a hidden sushi basement in the heart of touristy Union Square... but just as easily could be a Tokyo hole-in-the-wall given the atmosphere, big menu with lots of variety and stylistic service. +1 for cheapish pitchers of Sapporo and for seating us before the third member of our party arrived! -
Megan’s 4-star review: I really enjoyed not only the burger, but the fries and dips and their milkshakes. Prices are reasonable and right and the ordering service was awesome. Booze is available. Be prepared to wait a bit but bring your appetite and have at! -
Megan’s 5-star review: This is the best place ever. Light, airy, clean, with beautiful wooden bars, Bicycle dark roast coffee, colossal sandwiches you can split with a friend, and friendly service. There's frequently a checkin deal that gets you a free drip coffee with your purchase of a bag of Bicycle beans. Wifi is fast and reliable, and if you'd like some extra quiet, head upstairs to the loft-mezzanine for some interesting mural art and a bird's eye view of the people. I love you Another Cafe. Almost enough to walk up a giant hill.
About
Discover
Languages
Countries
Copyright © 2004–2024 Yelp Inc. Yelp, 
, 
and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp.