San Francisco local favorites, part 1

OK, I know I'm missing a TON of stuff, but these are the highlights that first spring to mind.   

Favorite restaurants & food stops:

• Zuni Café - So freaking good.  Rezzie required - book asap.  I prefer to be on the ground floor or overlooking the bar - but upstairs in the back can be nice if you prefer quiet - ask for that when you book online.  The roast chicken is totally worth the wait - so go ahead, get some oysters first, then get the caesar salad.  For dessert, at least one person should order the gateau victoire. 

• Chez Panisse - dinner upstairs is prix fixe, formal and expensive.  The cafe is informal and less expensive.  Both are worth making reservations as soon as you know you're coming to San Francisco. 

• For steak or just a nice dinner especially after spending the day in wine country, Muir Woods or Point Reyes, the Buckeye Roadhouse in Mill Valley.  If you know which day you're going north, do make a rezzie asap for dinner at the Buckeye (upstairs gets noisy, so ask for the first floor, most preferably in a window booth table).  They do steak and cocktails right, and have smokehouse entrees.  Get the Oysters Bingo.

• Nopa - You'll need a rezzie, unless you get there right when they open up for dinner and grab a spot at the bar or community table for drinks and food.  Rustic, wood-fired foods is their claim to fame.  I can't tell you how good the pork chop is - you have to try it for yourself.  Apparently, many people are now skipping dessert to get in line for Bi-Rite's ice cream next door.  

• Bix - Located down a nondescript alley on the fringe of the Financial district.  A classy, well-heeled joint with a great bar, delicious food, excellent service - on the pricy end of the scale.  We've celebrated many birthdays/anniversaries here. 

• Chapeau - French.  Feels classier/fancier and more delicious than the price.  Not sure why, but parking requires a little extra time/walking in this neighborhood (Clement St/Inner Richmond). 

• Q - American comfort food with class.  Get their famous mac'n'tots for the table.  But then get other things - it's all good.  Good variety of tastes, prices and portions.  If there's a wait, go window shop - it's an interesting neighborhood.  For dessert, walk west on Clement to Toy Boat Cafe. 

• Hog Island Oysters.  Two options:
• Ferry Building, but do NOT try to go during the Farmers Market - the line is insane.  If the only time you can go is during the Farmers Market, don't bother with sitting down inside - go find the truck out back and buy some oysters to take home and shuck yourself.  
• On a sunny day, drive up to Point Reyes, walk out to the Elk Preserve or the Lighthouse, and then go get some oysters at Hog Island's homebase in Marshall. 

• If you're willing, take time to stand in line for Swan Oyster Depot.  There will never not be a line, so my advice is:  have your whole party show up, get in line, and then take turns holding your spot while the others go window shop (stroll north).

• Luna Park - noisy, dark, delicious.  Variety of tasty menu options, with s'mores for dessert.

• Plouf - French cafe famous for moules frites, but other tasty treats too.  If it's cold, be sure to request an indoor table for your reservations.  The outdoor tables have heat lamps, but indoor will be better.

• Saul’s Deli in Berkeley.  If you like Jewish deli food, the drive across the bridge to Saul's is totally worth it. 

• For ocean/sunset views, Cliff House - upstairs the Bistro has a bar and casual dining; for more formal dining downstairs, make a reservation online for Sutro's.  I've eaten at both - upstairs is fine, downstairs is pricey, but the food was very good from start to finish - so worth it, especially for the views.  Ben says the Park Chalet is not worth it, and I'd say given the choice, I prefer the Cliff House in terms of better food for the money, but some people like the beer options at the Park Chalet, which brews their own.  Not a beer drinker, so can't say.

• For sushi:  My favorite super amazing sushi place closed last year, so I'm in mourning and on the prowl for a new hero.  For now, I've always been happy with Ebisu on 9th & Irving, and I'm told that Yum Yum Sushi right in my hood makes good, reasonably priced sushi for pickup. 

• For dim sum, my favorite is:  Yank Sing, which has 2 locations (there's usually a line downtown, so make a reservation online if you can).  I prefer the Stevenson Street location - but it's not open on the weekends.  Or Ton Kiang in the Richmond

• For cheese, wine, nibbles and/or picnic sandwiches, Say Cheese in Cole Valley.

• For Italian: So of course there is North Beach, but I'll be honest, I don't go there very often due to parking/traffic - it's more of a place I go with guests - and I'm not totally up on what's great there.  So for what it's worth, when this 50% Italian is craving Italian, I go to:
• 54 Mint near Union Square off Market
• Bacco in Noe Valley
• Rose Pistola is my personal favorite in North Beach.  
• Bocce Caffe off Washington Square in North Beach.  Basics, not overpriced. Kid friendly.
• Michelangelo Cafe on Washington Square in North Beach.  Basics, not overpriced, sometimes a wait, but put your name in and walk around. 
• Haven't been, but pizza at Tomasso's is famous.

• Sorry, but ice cream requires a separate post.

• Fog City Diner.  Used to be a favorite, but then the food became unreliable.  Then it closed for a while and has re-opened with a totally new sign, interior and menu.  The food needed new life, but I'm a little sad about the sign and interior.  Haven't been yet, so I can't recommend it - this is more of a note for people who'd been/heard of it and wanted to go check it out.   

Neighborhoods to stroll/window shop:

• Chestnut Street

• Union Street

• Valencia/Mission Street

• Noe Valley

• North Beach

• Fillmore Street

• Hayes Valley

Outside the City:

• Muir Woods

• Hog Island Oysters

• Mt Tam

• Fairyland in Oakland for families with little kids.

• Seek and find Snoopy statues all over Santa Rosa

Feel like a movie?

• Movies at the Castro start with an organ that rises out of the floor and plays.  Plays lots of classics, sometimes with sing-a-longs or dressing up.

• Movies at the Kabuki include a $2 "green fee" on top of tickets, which makes it the most expensive place in the City to see first-run movies.  But, on the plus side, the higher price keeps rambunctious kids out; you can reserve your seat online (so you don't have to show up early to get a good seat); free parking with validation; and with 21+ seating, you can order a drink and food from the full bar (tater tots on weekend nights) and take it to your superwide seats with tables. 

Feel like singing?  Go to karaoke at the Mint.  Friday night, you get a lot of downtown workers blowing off steam - Saturday night you get the serious talent/afficionados.  Over in Japantown (Fillmore), there are private room karaoke places that are also fun.