January 16, 20241 yr Anyone have any good rec's for the South SF area? Heading out to Cal Club for a weekend golf trip on Saturday and need a place for dinner Sunday night. No food service on site Sunday and don't want to go all the way into the city if at all possible. Edited January 16, 20241 yr by DDD Dad
January 16, 20241 yr 1 hour ago, DDD Dad said: Anyone have any good rec's for the South SF area? Heading out to Cal Club for a weekend golf trip on Saturday and need a place for dinner Sunday night. No food service on site Sunday and don't want to go all the way into the city if at all possible. They don’t call it the Industrial City for nothing.
January 20, 20241 yr Anyone have any good rec's for the South SF area? Heading out to Cal Club for a weekend golf trip on Saturday and need a place for dinner Sunday night. No food service on site Sunday and don't want to go all the way into the city if at all possible.Nothing fancy, but there is a really good Jamaican place in South City called Flavas and a Pho place I like called Ben Tre.I recently attended a friend's birthday dinner at the Basque Cultural Center. I left impressed.
January 31, 20241 yr I know there is a scantily posted Monterey/Carmel thread, but I’m trolling for expert opinions that might not go there. I visit SF every 4-6 months to visit my adult daughter, her husband and growing family. They come in from the central region when we visit but this time she wanted us all to go to the Carmel area. I’ve never been. It will be 4 adults and a toddler. Any screaming recs on places to eat or see/do? Anything to avoid?
January 31, 20241 yr 2 hours ago, closetojumping said: I know there is a scantily posted Monterey/Carmel thread, but I’m trolling for expert opinions that might not go there. I visit SF every 4-6 months to visit my adult daughter, her husband and growing family. They come in from the central region when we visit but this time she wanted us all to go to the Carmel area. I’ve never been. It will be 4 adults and a toddler. Any screaming recs on places to eat or see/do? Anything to avoid? Not a big fan of Monterrey proper, but there’s the whole Aquarium/ Cannery Row thing for kids. Pacific Grove is great - I believe @Hefeweizenwould be your local guide, but I like Passionfish a lot for their wine list. We’ve stayed at the Gosby and liked it. We stay in Carmel, no favorite place in particular but we seem to end up at Vagabond and La Paya frequently. You’ve got Ocean Avenue and the beach for kids, but Carmel is quite literally an old money enclave. Lots of tasting rooms, boutiques and art galleries. We like Stationaery for brunch, Casanova for dinner (epic wine cellar) and Vesuvio for late night drinks (Barmel for late late night drinks). La Playa bar has a great sunset view. Chez Noir is the hot new spot with the James Beard nomination; have not been but have heard good things If you want to hit up a winery, Folktale is a great all-around experience just 15 or so minutes down Carmel Valley Road. Obviously, there’s tons of outdoors stuff. Point Lobos is just a few minutes south and, of course, there’s Big Sur. That can be a whole trip or a 1/2 day from Carmel if you just want to head down for some views and lunch.
January 31, 20241 yr Thanks for the shout out… I’m starting to feel like a local after two years of carpet bagging. I’ll definitely share my opinions, in no particular order. First off, Carmel by the Sea is very different than the other side of the peninsula - PG and New Monterey. I have only eaten at a couple of Carmel restaurants in this whole time. Because of that, I’d go with @We’reTexas recommendations there, but I’ll list my thoughts. Tommy’s Wok behind Wells Fargo in downtown is just barely ok Chinese. I really like the Treehouse Cafe for its outdoor deck, every visitor I’ve taken there has really enjoyed it. In Monterey, I love Sea Harvest to buy my fish, but they also sell it prepared and it’s really good and reasonably priced. In PG, my favorite fish place is Wild Fish. It’s new, it’s expensive, and really excellent. Live jazz with dinner. Worth a visit no matter what. We’ve eaten at Passionfish and I must be one of the few who wasn’t impressed. Their wine list is great and pretty reasonably priced, but my entree and my wife’s weren’t any thing special. Folktale is really fun, and a short drive into the valley from Hwy 1. There is also a good little restaurant that direction named the Corkscrew Cafe, which several friends in the valley love. I’ve eaten there twice and definitely enjoyed it. For activities, it depends how physically capable everyone is but there are dozens of beautiful hikes: Jacks Peak (best view of the bay), Garland Park in Carmel Valley, any number in Big Sur from Pfeiffer to Garrapata to the previously mentioned Point Lobos. I’ll be a little contrarian and say Point Lobos, while beautiful and interesting, is not the best experience because it gets pretty packed in on weekends. If you want beaches, it’s not for swimsuits. You’re going to wear a jacket or a wetsuit. Surf spots are mainly Asilomar in PG (my favorite place in the world) and occasionally Carmel, but besides that you’re going to Santa Cruz. For walking beaches though, Carmel, Carmel River, and Julia Pfeiffer in Big Sur are probably the other highlights. We’re members of the aquarium and it deserves all the accolades it gets - really spectacular place for the whole family. The rest of Cannery Row is meh as is the Wharf in Monterey. The whale watching is awesome if you don’t get seasick. Ocean is flattest before noon, so take an early tour. It’s expensive though… Lovers Point in PG has kayak rentals and usually is easy to paddle out and see otters frolicking in the kelp. Moss Landing has calmer water and equal amounts of cool wildlife but is not nearly as beautiful a setting. Last, if you are looking for a Sunday brunch or a place to stay, Mission Ranch (Clint’s place) is so cool. Views of point lobos, sheep in the tidal river flat behind the hotel, and beautiful huge trees all around. I’ve probably forgotten something blindingly obvious so I may hop back in if it comes to me.
February 1, 20241 yr This article came out today about where to eat and drink in Monterey and Carmel. It’s an interactive article so wasn’t able to paste the contents.
February 2, 20241 yr not an expert, but was in carmel a few weeks ago. popped into Promesa, based on the google reviews. https://promesacarmel.com/menu spanish food. rustic, chill, kinda boho-bougie vibes. Hermanos Gutiérrez album playing softly in the background. food was good. esp the Valencia Paella. i remember looking ahead of time and being underwhelmed by the restaurant selection in Carmel. carmel is picturesque. imo, big sur is worth a trip. i would either drive ~15 mins south to around Soberanes point, or if you're up for it, (and it's worth it, imo) about 50 mins south to Coast Big Sur (which is a decent place to stop, grab a bite, and then turn around.)
February 2, 20241 yr On 1/30/2024 at 9:54 PM, closetojumping said: I know there is a scantily posted Monterey/Carmel thread, but I’m trolling for expert opinions that might not go there. I visit SF every 4-6 months to visit my adult daughter, her husband and growing family. They come in from the central region when we visit but this time she wanted us all to go to the Carmel area. I’ve never been. It will be 4 adults and a toddler. Any screaming recs on places to eat or see/do? Anything to avoid? Subscribed. We were in SF for a family event in December. Cannot see us taking the time to go there again. But we took a couple of days after that to see Monterey, PG, and Carmel. So great. I think I'd go back there just to eat grilled octopus! Flying in directly to Monterey looks like the way to go.
February 2, 20241 yr 8 hours ago, DalTxHornFan said: Flying in directly to Monterey looks like the way to go. That's a pretty small airport, so options are going to be limited, though it does appear that there's a daily AA flight from Dallas that goes there. Still, I think the San Jose airport is going to have more (and probably cheaper) flight options, and it's an easy 90 minute drive from that airport to Carmel down the 101 and the 1.
February 2, 20241 yr I'm just going to drop this here: The Palace Hotel is one of my favorite hotels in America. It's an historic hotel, but it's been updated and is really comfortable. The location is great with an F-train stop right out front. But the real winner for me is the bar across the street. House of Shields--the bartender makes the best martini I've ever had.
February 2, 20241 yr 4 hours ago, Carl Spackler said: That's a pretty small airport, so options are going to be limited, though it does appear that there's a daily AA flight from Dallas that goes there. Still, I think the San Jose airport is going to have more (and probably cheaper) flight options, and it's an easy 90 minute drive from that airport to Carmel down the 101 and the 1. That American flight is what attracted me. I'm getting tired of fighting through big airports if I don't absolutely have to.
February 2, 20241 yr 6 hours ago, Ghost of LL said: I'm just going to drop this here: The Palace Hotel is one of my favorite hotels in America. It's an historic hotel, but it's been updated and is really comfortable. The location is great with an F-train stop right out front. But the real winner for me is the bar across the street. House of Shields--the bartender makes the best martini I've ever had. Appreciate the House of Shields rec. Always looking for a new cocktail bar when in town. We usually stay at the Chancellor Hotel off Union Square, so it's not too far of a walk.
November 15, 20241 yr Any brunch recs by the wharf? Staying at Westin St. Francis this weekend. Visiting some friends in Napa and hitting Santa Clara Sunday for Levi’s stadium since I’ve never been. So pretty packed time wise but Saturday morning I’m free
November 15, 20241 yr 45 minutes ago, Zepol87 said: Any brunch recs by the wharf? Staying at Westin St. Francis this weekend. Visiting some friends in Napa and hitting Santa Clara Sunday for Levi’s stadium since I’ve never been. So pretty packed time wise but Saturday morning I’m free Mama’s in North Beach is the famous spot. Otherwise Texas Exes meets at S.F. Brewing for the game.
March 18Mar 18 Just a beautiful, historic and amazingly unique city. Had an awesome time galavanting around Nob Hill and Tenderloin. I did see a drug deal on Geary and Leavenworth though. No city in the world like it. Highlights for me was visiting the Full House Victorian and the dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse in Union Square!
March 18Mar 18 1 hour ago, Vegas64 said: Had an awesome time galavanting around Nob Hill and Tenderloin. I did see a drug deal on Geary and Leavenworth though. You get some Mensho?
March 19Mar 19 2 hours ago, We’reTexas said: You get some Mensho? Is that the place the really cool and hip people were standing in the rain in a line like it was Franklin’s or something?
May 27May 27 Wife and I are going to San Francisco in late July for a couple days. Going to catch a game at Oracle Park, but looking for some recommendations on other things to do/see. Figure we'll check out the Golden Gate Bridge. Any good eating joints/bars around the stadium for a pre-game grub/drinks?
May 27May 27 38 minutes ago, Elmer_Fudd said: Any good eating joints/bars around the stadium for a pre-game grub/drinks? I like 21st Amendment before the game and the Hi Dive after the game.
May 27May 27 Agree on 21st Amendment. It's a little bit of a walk but I enjoyed Salesforce Park. It's a cool use of the space. mdleast and I walked from the Giants game/21st Amendment to there and then went over to Chinatown for dinner at House of Nanking. A cable car ride is always something I do when I go to SF. Yes, it's touristy but it's fun every time. SF MOMA is not that far away from the stadium. When you go to the Golden Gate Bridge, go to the Presidio. You can walk down to Crissy Field via a tunnel. Great views of the Golden Gate Bridge from down there. If you have a car, go to the Marin Headlands and Battery Spencer on the Northwest side of the bridge.
May 27May 27 You pregame Giants at Spark Social, a nearby food court, and at 58 Social, a bar/restaurant that's part of the stadium. You can enter the stadium directly from 58 Social and you can go in and out during the game, so the pro tip is to buy your tickets field level on the 1st base side so you can go back to 58 Social for beers during the game. There's a much better selection and they are like half price compared to inside the stadium.https://maps.app.goo.gl/4SMT5qDoA4ysqGUE8https://maps.app.goo.gl/3xpcMKeLWDFQx8Wd8
May 27May 27 Also, House of Nanking is a great rec and you can't go wrong there, but Yuet Lee Seafood is a few blocks away is my jam these days. The head on shrimp and roast duck are incredible. https://maps.app.goo.gl/2ncL2BRbHfS4LbHG9Go to Muir Woods if you have time and a car. Tony's Pizza, get the giant meatball with the cream sauce. Have some Mai Tais at Lipo LoungeCheck out the Tonga Room for dinner, or just drinks. They will likely have a band on a boat playing Yatch Rock. Always a good time. Alcatraz is a great tour. They did that incredibly well. SF is known for sourdough for some reason, but dutch crunch is the local favorite. Find a sandwich on Dutch crunch somewhere.
May 27May 27 11 minutes ago, AnotherUTFan said: SF is known for sourdough for some reason, but dutch crunch is the local favorite. Find a sandwich on Dutch crunch somewhere. Love me a good Dutch crunch sandwich. Boy, I gained some weight that first three months when I discovered that was a thing.
May 29May 29 On 5/27/2025 at 11:56 AM, AnotherUTFan said: SF is known for sourdough for some reason, but dutch crunch is the local favorite. Find a sandwich on Dutch crunch somewhere. Ted’s Market has great sandwiches https://maps.app.goo.gl/HHvQamjXhRWjYv8z7?g_st=ic
May 29May 29 29 minutes ago, HornPhD said: Ted’s Market has great sandwiches https://maps.app.goo.gl/HHvQamjXhRWjYv8z7?g_st=ic If you find yourself in that area, Deli Board is arguably the best sandwich spot in the city since Turner’s closed (and then GTFO unless you are there for a leather bar, fentanyl or jury duty).
July 9Jul 9 Awesome walk-off inside-the-park homer by the catcher last night (only 3 ever in MLB history).
July 9Jul 9 On 3/18/2025 at 2:04 PM, Vegas64 said: I did see a drug deal on Geary and Leavenworth though. How much did you pay for the drugs? Asking for a friend.
July 9Jul 9 39 minutes ago, Carl Spackler said: How much did you pay for the drugs? Asking for a friend. I will say, since several visitors have mentioned this to me, that the sketchy areas adjacent to Union Square and Moscone are night and day from what they were a few years ago. Yes it’s a performative push by the new mayor /no CR, but downtown is finally beginning to get some real momentum going.
July 9Jul 9 6 hours ago, EZ$ said: Awesome walk-off inside-the-park homer by the catcher last night (only 3 ever in MLB history). Great place to catch a game. Several years ago, my son and I went to the Texas-Cal game (shitty result -- thanks, Charlie), then stayed in Oakland and took the ferry the next day over to the ballpark for a Giants game. The boat docks right next to the stadium. It's an excellent way to get to the stadium if you're coming over from the East Bay -- no traffic, parking hassles, etc.
July 9Jul 9 5 hours ago, Carl Spackler said: How much did you pay for the drugs? Asking for a friend. You know how in Ottawa and Quebec you can buy a bag of milk? A bag of blood orange urine.
July 9Jul 9 5 hours ago, We’reTexas said: I will say, since several visitors have mentioned this to me, that the sketchy areas adjacent to Union Square and Moscone are night and day from what they were a few years ago. Yes it’s a performative push by the new mayor /no CR, but downtown is finally beginning to get some real momentum going. Weird, because I am in SF for one week a month, every month, usually on Market but sometimes on Mission near Union Square and Moscone and it definitely still feels gross and sketch (to me).
July 9Jul 9 24 minutes ago, Vegas64 said: Weird, because I am in SF for one week a month, every month, usually on Market but sometimes on Mission near Union Square and Moscone and it definitely still feels gross and sketch (to me). I’d say we are down to a 2019 sketch level.
July 9Jul 9 Just now, We’reTexas said: I’d say we are down to a 2019 sketch level. Fair. And I've seen more mental illness, homelessness and general sketch in downtown Houston (Fannin, Texas, Capitol) than SF this summer so far....
July 10Jul 10 In the past 10 years of visiting The City, I've never felt unsafe walking the streets or taking BART/Muni, but Market Street is definitely more sketch than before so we're on higher alert walking up Powell to our hotel at night. The really sad part and most noticeable to me, are the number of closed businesses, and the ghost town that is the Westfield Mall. However, during my last trip in December, I was pleased to see that Union Square was packed with people during the evening, giving me hope that The City is on the rebound. By the way, love that new T Line from Chinatown to the Chase Center!
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