Best San Francisco Restaurants in Marina, Mission, Hayes Valley, Cow Hollow, Castro, NOPA
These casual dining options are among San Francisco's Top 100 Restaurants, according to The Chronicle's Michael Bauer. Refined casual dining at its best!
Marina
Bistro Aix
This charming bistro serves simple Provencal dishes using a wood burning oven. The ambiance is busy but not too noisy.
Mamacita
Chef/Owner Sam Jose uses fresh produce from his family farm and unusual ingredients to create innovative but authentic Mexican dishes. Highly recommended are the margaritas, fish tacos and churros with hot chocolate.
Ristobar
A casual Italian restaurant serving pizza and pasta. The owner is an acclaimed pastry chef so save room for dessert! It's always busy at Ristobar, but there is a seating at the bar.
A16
A16 was named for a highway in Naples, so it makes sense that they have a great selection of Italian wines and make delicious Neopolitan pizza. The open kitchen, wood burning oven, and covered patio make this a great place to enjoy incredible Italian food.
Greens
Greens was opened 30 years ago at the San Francisco Zen Center. It's vegetarian menu, inspired by global cuisine, helped vegetarian cuisine become mainstream.
Mission
Marlowe
This is a great neighborhood bistro and butcher shop. It was named on of the Top 10 Best New Restaurants of 2010 and offers a variety of lesser known international wines.
COCO500
The perfect combination of lounge and restaurant, Coco500 offers handcrafted cocktails, pizza, and innovative dishes in a modern setting.
Flour + Water
This popular restaurant serves simple, authentic food that is moderately priced. Their wood-fired pizzas and pastas are created with Old World standards of care. The interior is welcoming and intricately detailed. This summer they are hosting a Wild Boar Dinner Series during the first Friday of each month.
Foreign Cinema
Located in a warehouse style space with outdoor seating in the heated patio. They play old movies and even have art gallery seating. They serve California and Mediterranean style food. They have a variety of oysters and other seafood, and home made pop tarts for brunch.
Delfina
Chef Craig Stoll has been named the best Chef of the Pacific by the James Beard Foundation. He creates simple, rustic dishes and handmade pastas. Delfina has been on the Top 100 Best Restaurants of San Francisco since 2002.
Range
Range is a charming restaurant decorated with second hand pieces, including a Depression Era cooler that now houses the restaurant's wine selection. The pork shoulder is their most famous dish.
Hayes Valley
Bar Jules
Bar Jules is an intimate, busy restaurant with a chalkboard menu that changes daily. There is a small open kitchen and a compact menu with vegetarian options. The recommended dish is the wood grilled mussels.
Absinthe
A great place to eat before a show. Try the French Onion Soup!
Zuni Cafe
Known as "San Francisco's Dining Room," Zuni Cafe has fed just about everyone in the city, from politicians to businessmen, socialites, celebrities and artists. After over 30 years, Zuni Cafe continues to create soulful food in its unique loft-like space.
The Castro
Frances
This cozy neighborhood restaurant is extremely popular with the locals. The menu changes nightly but often includes bacon beignets, crispy chick peak fritters, chicken with savory break pudding, and lumber jack cake. Sommelier Paul Enbund has created his own house blend which is sold for $1/oz.
Cow Hollow
Betelnut
This unique restaurant serves cuisine inspired by global street food from Asia. The interior is in the style of a 1920s Shanghai speakeasy. The interesting interior features electric palm fans at the bar, an open kitchen, and windows overlooking Union Street. Recommended dishes are the chef's "Happy Meal" - minced chicken in a lettuce cup with Szechuan string beans.
NOPA
NOPA
Go here for the vibrant bar scene, rustic menu, and great cocktails. The wood burning oven and communal tables add warmth to an already welcoming restaurant.
Nopalito
Great quality Mexican food, homemade masa and delicious quesadillas. The casual dining tables were made from one fell tree and there is covered outdoor seating and a takeout window.