Carolyn Tillie

I have been on the hunt for the best $10 lunch and started a great thread over here on Yelp which might be helpful.

18 months ago -- very good.

You reminded me of Ichiban -- are they still in business? 20 years ago, I ate there once a week....

Sorry, I see your Nopa Burger and raise you the O Izakaya burger (also $$). Clearly blows Nopa out of the water in size, quality, and to-die-for fries accompaniment. Order it with the maitake mushrooms, charred negi onion, and cheese.

I totally agree that Koi Palace is killer (and probably my favorite, although it is not in the city). However, I would seriously doubt you could do a Saturday night there for 80 to 150 people for $50. I know of a number of private parties that have been held there and the price per person is more like $75 to $100. It is simply too desirable an establishment to charge that little for that large of a group.

Yes, they got new accolades under chef Joseph Humphrey who decamped to Murray Circle in Sausalito. Meadowood is now under the auspices of Christopher Kostow and our local San Francisco reviewer raved. My meal in July was pretty good.

If you love 'em both, than you are a lucky person. However, considering what else there is to eat in the city, it would be a pity to consume two meals that meat-wise, are remarkably similar. On A16's pasta, I am not particularly a fan and have stopped ordering any pasta-based dish at either this restaurant or it's sister establishment, SPQR.

Does he have a car? Because -- I am sad to say -- that Hotel Circle is not an area known for good eats. The restaurants in the area are mostly known to provide cheap, mediocre food for convention goers while the better food in the city is in Hillcrest, downtown, and near the beaches. There is really nothing in walking distance...

I am a big Canteen fan but tend to recommend it for lunch over dinner, whenever possible (it is the same menu). Much of your one-night choice might depend on where you are coming from; i.e., what don't you get where you live? This is a great town for seafood if you live in the mid-west, but I might not suggest a seafood restaurant to someone coming from Seattle or Maine. With that, here are general recs: Boulevard; for me, it tends to be staid and boring because I have eaten there way to much and I think it has lost its spark over the past decade. However, for first-timers, Boulevard has a great deal of charm because of its ambience and it also has the benefit of great kitchen-viewing bar seating for singles. Incanto; Probably one of the best restaurants in the city with highlight of Chef Cosentino's rising fame for fifth-quarter ingredients, the best house-made charcuteries and salumis in the city, and another great establishment for single diners because of their bar dining area. The detractor is the location; it is a bit of a cab ride. Can be better to dine there in groups so you can taste more food. SPQR; From the owners of A16, this small-plate Roman establishment has become a fast favorite in its first year. Also the advantage for the solo diner with a bar area that can be easier to find a seat considering they don't take reservations. My detractor for this restaurant is that too many of the dishes are (for me) too salty and the general quality has decreased a tad since they first opened (but a first-timer would never realize that). Anchor & Hope; My current favorite seafood restaurant in the city. Another with a bar (do we see a pattern? I dine alone quite often so this a crucial for me). I love the "fries with eyes" (fried smelt) and the sea urchin which is a must-order. Great oysters as well. Ame; Another fabulous place for seafood but my hands-down favorite for Asian fusion. I've had full tastings but am always happier when I just stick with the crudo offerings.

Canteen was on my list (and it's a short list)! Go there for lunch and not dinner? (Not sure when In N Out is happening. maybe breakfast?) I need to hit Alembic on the one night I have in town (Thurs) for cocktails. Any suggestions for dinner after cocktails? ← The only In-N-Out in the city is at the tourist-trap area known as Fisherman's Wharf and it is not a good enough reason to venture into that neighborhood. Further discussion continued over in this thread on one-nighters...

Sorry you'll be missing Coi. Consider Canteen for your lunch, though. What are some of your other dinner thoughts?

Thanks, Leski -- I can understand not getting North Beach; it has become mostly a tourist trap filled with mediocre restaurants, crowds, and rudeness (akin to Fisherman's Wharf with only *slightly* better food). We have had an influx of homeless which is not helping the cleanliness of the city but having traveled extensively to more than a handful of European cities, I would challenge that we tend to be a bit more on the friendly side with pockets of delight that you have yet to experience. Drop me a PM during your next visit and I'll be happy to introduce you to some of the charms which I have discovered since living here in the past three years, including little-known eateries that stay off radar.

What a shame -- can I ask why? (As a resident, I'm curious if it is something we can rectify). BTW, I agree with you on Patterson but not on Mina... I would eat at Coi any day of the week but can't be encouraged to return to Michael Mina.

Looks as though I need to plan a trip back to the valley as well... Great report, Sam!

I think the biggest problem you are facing at the moment is that WITH this economy, it is a crap shoot that any restaurant you find right now might not even be open in eight months. I would check back in May and you will probably also get a lot more responses on Chowhound. I did a search there and there are a handful of threads about people having wedding receptions for the number of guests you have, but even then, several of the restaurants mentioned are no longer around. Here is one thread that might help you start your investigation. There are others...

Santa Monica is the more "trendy" side of L.A. and is less known for even having ethnic eateries. Also, it would help if you defined what you are looking for in "ethnic" -- South American, Asian, Outer Mongolian, etc... On Sawtelle in Culver City (close to SM) is a great empanadas place (called Empanadas Place) where I used to bring my own bottle. Does that count?

Now how cool is that???? Gosh, I miss you Chef Dishman!

As Craigslist started here in the Bay Area, it is essentially the most prevalent advertising site in the area. There are currently 120 positions listed when I searched for "cook" and 106 when I searched for "chef." Good luck on your job-hunt!

Of course you can go into any restaurant for just dessert, I'm just saying that it seems every pastry chef here is doing roughly the same thing; a version of a bread pudding/sticky toffee pudding, an apple crisp or some variation of the rustic galette, a chocolate pot de creme or flourless chocolate cake with garnish, and then there is always something sort of based on fruit, often served with a house-made sorbet. I'm not saying it is bad, I'm just saying it is not innovative. Seriously, make a list of the top ten restaurants in the city and look their dessert menus. I guarantee you will see reflections of everything I have listed above. What I *have* enjoyed in the way of desserts have been at Aziza, where a Middle Eastern/Moroccan bent is given to the sweets, Zare at the Fly Trap which does some interesting deconstructions, and Piperade because they have created what is unquestionably the finest beignets I have ever tasted. None of these places I have listed are doing the "haute" plated desserts that I have experienced in Washington D.C., Miami, or Los Angeles. I have been unable to find that in San Francisco.

I just returned from the East Coast and in Washington D.C., found a fabulous dessert place called Co.Co. It really hit home for me that San Francisco is sorely wanting of anything remotely close and as fabulous. I'm afraid I don't know of any of the Seattle restaurants of which you speak so making a comparison is lost on me. But the bottom line is that there is little here in the city for a late-night dessert of note. Nopa is known for having a late-night crowd, but their desserts are as pedestrian as every other place in the city with the standard bread pudding and chocolate pudding which fails to inspire. Bix is also open late and I have to admit to never having tried their desserts as I tend to finish up with cheese and Sauternes there. Sorry, but San Francisco isn't really a late-night town and most restaurants start closing up around 10:00ish with only a handful staying open later on Fridays or Saturdays. It is pretty pathetic actually.

This one is in my 'hood and is essentially ignored by locals; pastry cream that tastes like it is powdered and "French pastries" that seem as though they come from 1970s cookbooks. They are mediocre and soggy at best. Walk up the Fillmore hill a few blocks to Pine, turn left, and go into Bay Breads instead. No killer plated desserts in this town that I have found. My favorites remain at Aziza because of their innovative flavors, but it is not what most people think of when they want a "plated dessert."

The place above Virgin was a Citizen Cupcake and has been closed. By-and-large, Citizen Cake does not have a great reputation amongst locals; very dry cakes and cupcakes with too sweet/too much frosting. Unfortunately, as discussed at length in this thread, San Francisco is sadly wanting in good dessert and sweets. Tartine is probably the best, but Boulette's Larder, Miette, Bay Breads all have some things going for them.

Very cool, Sam - another reason to come up for a visit!

One of the things I love about living in the Fillmore Jazz District of San Francisco is the bounty of really fabulous restaurants within walking distance. I have often lamented the lack of a really good Indian restaurants (as well as the lack of a good Middle Eastern restaurant, so if anyone is listening...) Several months ago, the well-known Mission-based Dosa restaurant took over the vacated Goodwill store on Fillmore and Post and having walked past it on an almost daily basis, like many locals, we have had the great anticipation of the transformation of that elegant, old building. So it was with anxious anticipation that I was one of the first standing out front, waiting to get in on opening night. (Okay, I confess; I *was* the first customer and will gloat about that for a short while). Dining solo, I headed straight to the bar. Putting myself in the capable hands of a bartender named Kevin, I asked for his favorite Gin drink and a tasting menu comprised of his favorite dishes. My first cocktail was called the Bengal Gimlet, withTanqueray Rangpur, Kaffir lime juice, and I believe, some muddled curried-scented fruit. It was fabulous and while waiting, I was incredibly impressed to count 26 varieties of Gin. I will definitely be back on that regard... The first course to come out was a salad of mung sprouts with chopped tomatoes, ginger, coconut, a bit of chili and a very light dressing of mustard seeds and cumin. I was slightly foolish in cleaning my plate as I didn't realize how much more food was coming, but the salad was so bright and refreshing with an enticing, spicy bite. The second course was a serving of two Samosas; one from the North and one from the South; the Southern version was filled with an enticing compote of caramelized onions and vegetables while the NorthernSamosas was the one I am more familiar with, stuffed with spiced potatoes. Both were perfectly fried and two sauces were offered; my favored tamarind and a green, cilantro-based that I've never cared for (not being a cilantro lover). Finishing up my first cocktail, I asked for a different Gin-based drink and again, the server offered up a lighter, more refreshing offering of gin. I'm sorry I don't remember the exact ingredients, but it was served in tall glass with a bit of spritzer, ginger beer, and tea. This is a drink I could see consuming a lot of on a hot, summer afternoon. The third course was a giant Masala Uttapam, the thicker, pancake-like dosa stuffed with spinach, potatoes, and fresh herbs. This was served with two chutneys, tomato and coconut. There was also a side bowl ofsambar, a spicy vegetable stew. I loved the richness of the Uttapam and being a bit of an admitted spice wimp, preferred the cooler coconut chutney to either the tomato or sambar. I asked my server if I had any more savory courses coming as I wanted to make sure that in spite of his dinner suggestions, that I wanted to specify my dessert choice. However, either through a mix-up ormis -order, an additional course arrived consisting of vegetable curry. Tender potatoes, cauliflower, and fresh tomatoes were served in a creamy -- almost hedonistic -- saucealongside aromatic jasmine rice and a small bowl of raita. Being quite done in, I only had a single bite, knowing it would make a great lunch tomorrow. The dessert of choice for me is Gulab Jamin. I love a good Gulab Jamin and these did not disappoint. More dense than some I've had in the past, they were obviously fresh and perfectly warm. For a first night, the staff was a bit shaky in the first half hour but it quickly dissipated as the restaurant filled up quickly. The décor is inviting and elegantly edgy with Chihuly-like chandeliers in the windows, a giant multi-armed golden Buddha seemingly holding up the back wall, and dark wood juxtaposed against the rich, rust-colored walls. My biggest problem with the new Dosa? The fact that I don't make enough money to eat there every day. My tasting menu with two cocktails and tip (for one!) ran $80.00. But I hope to treat myself frequently on a single cocktail and single course now and then -- or at least until I have had the opportunity to eat through the entire menu... Pics on blog.

Did I miss it or did anyone mention the resource of The Food Museum.com?