Farallon or Aqua?

[sugarpiglet]

Hello. I am from Minneapolis and my husband and I will be spending two days and nights in San Francisco next weekend. We want to go out for one great seafood meal because terrific seafood is scarce in these here parts.

I've heard good and bad things about both Farallon and Aqua and I am not sure which one to choose. We'd like a relaxing meal and we don't care too much about wine because I don't drink and my husband drinks very little. Top-notch food is our first priority, but a romantic atmosphere is good, too. We generally prefer smallish, chef-driven restaurants and would be willing to entertain a third option for this dinner if someone has a rec other than Farallon or Aqua.

Thanks!

[Bond Girl]

Never been to Aqua but Farallon is definitely the most over rated restaurant in San Francisco.

[ludja]

Check out moosnsgrl recent review of Aqua on the high end SF dining thread: click

Aqua has a beautiful 'big city' ambience and more elegant attire is certainly not out of place.

I prefer both the style and menu offerings of Aqua over Farallon--it would certainly be worth your time to check out their respective menus. Farallon's is definately on-line. Farallon does have a very striking interior design that you may like and can probably get a hint of from their web site.

[barman paolo]

Try RNM in the lower Haight. Justine Miner's place that has big city flavor with neighborhood feel. It's small but classy. Miner was sous chef with Julia McClaskey @ Dine before branching out on her own. RNM are her father's initials. The Miner family also makes some great wines. The recently released Bordeaux style blend "The Oracle", the red wine drinkers white wine "Wild Yeast Chardonnay" and their perennially great summer release "Rosatto" a fun deeply rich rose of Sangiovese grapes from Mendocino are some of my favorites produced at the Oakville winery.

Edited July 22, 2005 by barman paolo (log)

[bilrus]

I've not been to Aqua, but I had a fine meal at Farallon a while back. I don't know if it is under or over rated, but I enjoyed the food and the setting.

[KarenS]

I'd go to Cortez- though I enjoyed Aqua the last time that I went.

[little ms foodie]

My husband and I went to Aqua last year for our anniversary. It was great- the food, the service, etc. It is big though and busy. We enjoyed that. All our seafood was superb, especially the tuna tartare!

[vinobiondo]

I am a big fan of Aqua. I had a fantastic meal (as did the other three people in my party) there is February. If you are looking for thoughtful, creative sauced fish dishes, I can't think of a better place. I don't consider it particularly romantic, however -- it's much more a "big city power restaurant."

[EdS]

I've never been impressed with the food at Farallon. I think the food is overrated just as others have stated. I don't know how to describe it. Generic seafood with no soul? I do think the interior is worth the price of admission at least once.

I had my 30th birthday dinner there several years ago. The waiter was a classic waiter-hoping-to-be-discovered. He thought he was Jack Nicholson or Christian Slater. Slater's already a copy. We don't need a copy of a copy. The girlfriend found the act amusing but I found the guy annoying as hell. He kept interrupting us for no good reason to tell us a joke or something. Attention-getting bastard. Nothing I hate more than being interrupted. Well, the girlfriend was a skinny redhead wearing a dress with a plunging neckline so maybe the guy couldn't help it but it was my birthday not his. I think it's the only time I've ever found it necessary to have a word with a waiter. I haven't gone back. I've heard many good things about Aqua over the years from friends I trust but strangely I've never made it there.

Edited July 28, 2005 by esvoboda (log)

[Exotic Mushroom]

I've only big to Aqua once, but my meal was excellent.

I've eaten at Farralon twice. The first time I thought the food was fine, although the service was abysmal. Not in the same league as Aqua, though. The second time, both the food and the service were terrible. My carrot soup had so much cream in it that I simply couldn't eat it without wanting to gag.

Go to Aqua. You'll enjoy it.

[syrah girl]

We had an offer to be treated to dinner Aqua in June, but I really wanted to try Farallon. We had a wonderful time. Great food, excellent service and really cool, funky dining room. Request a table in the main pool room there. Cheers!