romantic

Restaurant Website: http://www.cliffhouse.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1090+point+lobos+ave.+San+Francisco&sll=37.782638,-122.401836&sspn=0.009277,0.013304&ie=UTF8&ll=37.777516,-122.511914&spn=0.009277,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

From a wall of windows, diners at this sweeping restaurant set at the site of the historic Sutro Baths are treated to one of the most stunning ocean vistas in the city—a true amuse-bouche. A mix of diners (heavy on the tourists, but increasingly more locals) come for special occasions. Time your most romantic dinner reservation to coincide with the sunset. The view also comes cheaper at brunch.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Although Sutro’s has never cultivated the foodie set, the decision to place veteran chef George Morrone at the helm is changing that. Morrone, who famously started Aqua, has his delicious signature tartare on the menu, but you’ll also find “New American” dishes such as citrus-and-coriander cured Loche Duarte salmon with beets, crab bisque and a thick cut of veal prime rib with marsala sauce and roasted parsnips.</p>

Restaurant Website: http://www.gitanerestaurant.comGoogle Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=6+Claude+Ln.+San+Francisco&sll=37.579413,-95.712891&sspn=37.779043,54.492188&ie=UTF8&ll=37.790269,-122.404196&spn=0.009276,0.013304&z=16&iwloc=A

Like its sister restaurant, Café Claude, Gitane (French for “gypsy”) is hidden away in a downtown alley. But Café Claude’s modest French-bistro decor has nothing in common with opulent Gitane, wrapped up in a reflective stretch polymer ceiling, midcentury chandeliers, hand-printed wallpaper and loud music. The narrow bar, which occupies the first floor, is a fun place to meet for a drink after a day of shopping, but cozy tables line the second floor loft for a more secluded dinner.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The food at Gitane is inspired by the peripatetic wanderings of its namesake people. Broadly categorized as “Mediterranean,” the menu heavily favors the flavors of North Africa and Spain, with lusty, bold takes on tajine and bastilla, crab croquettes and pizzas loaded with piquillo peppers and Spanish chorizo.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3611+18th+St.,+San+Francisco&sll=37.793581,-122.399328&sspn=0.011836,0.019312&g=230+California+St.,+San+Francisco&ie=UTF8&z=16&iwloc=addr

The little sister to the ever-booked Delfina next door, this is where you’ll find some of SF’s top Italian-style pizza. Because it’s tiny and doesn’t take reservations, the best strategy is to go with no more than one friend, put your name on the chalkboard, order a glass of wine from the strictly Italian list and plant yourself under the heat lamp until your name is called. A second location, on California at Fillmore, is just as busy—weekday lunch is one way to beat the crowds.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Yes, there’s a clam pie and a salsiccia (fennel sausage) one, but it goes without saying that a margherita sets the pizza standard, and this one does not fail: The sauce is tangy and topped with creamy, house-pulled mozzarella, and the crust is chewy, crisp and blistered. One could live off of this alone, but the veggie antipasti are also worth trying, particularly the garlicky broccoli di ciccio or the green beans with pickled shallots.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Arancini (when they have them) and Meatballs</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=398+hayes+st.+san+francisco&ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ll=37.777058,-122.422993&spn=0.009396,0.016673&z=16&g=398+hayes+st.+san+francisco&iwloc=addr

2007 EAT + DRINK AWARD: Best Restaurant Cocktails

One of a select group of San Francisco restaurants that has passed the 10-year mark, this Hayes Valley anchor continues to bring brasserie style, superb cocktails and Cal-French food to the neighborhood.

 

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Since Jamie Lauren assumed the role of chef last year, the food at Absinthe has only gotten better. Though there are some stalwarts on the menu for the diehards (the croque monsieur and French onion soup, for example), Lauren has infused the menu with smart, satisfying dishes that expertly walk the line between rustic and refined. The menu changes seasonally, but fish dishes are particularly good here, and you can make a meal of larger-than-average “share” plates, such as the rich sautéed mushrooms topped with a poached duck egg.</p> <p>MUST ORDER: Anything with scallops</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=4+Mint+Plz,+San+Francisco,+CA+94103&sll=37.782739,-122.407898&sspn=0.006207,0.013454&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.787335,-122.407908&spn=0.012413,0.026908&z=15&iwloc=addr

The Maktub Group’s restaurants are familiar fixtures in the city’s dining scene (Chez Maman and Chez Papa Bistrot, as well as Couleur Café and Bossanova). With Chez Papa Resto, the first restaurant to open on the remodeled Mint Plaza, the team is up to its old tricks, serving food that’s Provençal in spirit, but in a loungey downtown location. A lovely outdoor patio is the best spot downtown for an alfresco lunch or dinner on the (rare) warm SF evening.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Longtime Maktub Group chef David Bazirgan heads up the kitchen, demonstrating a fine balance of classical training and think-outside-the-box preparation. You’ll see on the menu many of the ingredients you’d expect to discover in the South of France (lamb, olives and lavender among them), married with good French technique—the resulting dishes are expertly executed versions of such classics as lamb daube, bouillabaisse, steak frites and roasted chicken.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=151+Noe+St.,+sf&sll=37.789421,-122.406492&sspn=0.006478,0.013454&gl=us&g=150+Stockton+St.+sf&ie=UTF8&ll=37.768968,-122.433336&spn=0.006479,0.013454&z=16&iwloc=r0

Located on a quiet residential block of Noe Street in the Castro, this warm neighborhood bistro (the name means “chalkboard” in French) lures locals with its cozy, convivial dining room and menu of French favorites.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Chef-owner Thierry Clement (formerly of Fringale) presents classics—coq au vin, hangar steak with frites, beet salad and crème brûlée—at prices that make it possible to return weekly. Simply presented, well-executed dishes (along with a handful of daily specials) are complemented by an approachable wine list—sit at the bar if you want to watch the action in the kitchen.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bar+Jules+sf&sll=37.805715,-122.436275&sspn=0.052624,0.106087&gl=us&ie=UTF8&ll=37.781739,-122.426534&spn=0.01238,0.026522&z=15&iwloc=A

Next door to Suppenküche, Bar Jules is seriously diminutive, with only a handful of tables and a few seats at the bar, facing the open kitchen. Designed by the same team that created Boulettes Larder, the space has a cozy feel underscored by ochre-and-turquoise walls.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>Picky eaters needn’t apply. At Bar Jules, you’ll eat what hands-on chef/owner Jessica Boncutter tells you to eat. The brief menu changes daily (it’s posted on the website) and features only a handful of options—a starter of freshly picked Dungeness crab on garlic-rubbed toast, a rib-eye steak with wilted greens or a bowl of seafood stew. It’s all straightforward, simple and, of course, seasonal, with all the appeal (and the quirks) of dining in the home of a good friend who happens to be a terrific cook.</p>

Theatergoers and young professionals drop in to this sleek space for cocktails and small plates at the curvy bar outfitted with a tropical-fish tank. Orange and aqua-upholstered banquettes and nightclub-style tables with elegant bar stools are intimately arranged in the elevated dining area—a good choice for dates or larger groups seeking privacy behind the heavy, dramatic drapery. Eats:What's on your menu.: The eclectic Asian menu features such favorites as garlic naan with apricot-peach chutney and cucumber raita, as well as chicken spring rolls served with butter lettuce wrappers, fresh herbs and sweet chile sauce. The protein-focused entrees feature seasonal vegetables and regionally diverse ingredients, such as a Vietnamese seafood stew with lemongrass and tomatoes, and a roasted half chicken with seasonal veggies like shiitake mushrooms and Chinese longbeans.

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1512+Stockton+St.+sf&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=37.802562,-122.409046&spn=0.005595,0.008583&z=16&iwloc=addr

Tuxedoed waiters and valets delivering Lamborghinis will tip you off that this is a place for movers and shakers. More than a few celebrities and politicos—think Gavin Newsom and Mick Jagger—have come to this restaurant over the decades to drop a few C-notes on fine wine and Tuscan fare. The upstairs dining room’s cathedral ceilings and original Miro prints set the stage for dates and dealmakers, while dining in the gothic recesses of the restaurant is reserved for larger groups.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The menu is standard Tuscan, with an emphasis on familiarity rather than seasonality. Start with prosciutto and melon, made with house-cured salumi that hangs in the famed Prosciutto Room, then move on to a pasta dish like linguine with clams. High rollers will opt for the $75 plate of abalone with lemon-white wine sauce and pair it with one of 500-plus wines offered; the more moderate spenders will go for cioppino or one of nine veal preparations, like piccata or marsala.</p>

Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1000+Great+Hwy.+sf&sll=37.792321,-122.420526&sspn=0.012412,0.026908&gl=us&g=1217+Sutter+St.+sf&ie=UTF8&ll=37.773564,-122.510648&spn=0.012415,0.026908&z=15&iwloc=addr

Located on the edge of Golden Gate Park, Park Chalet’s glass-encased dining room and bar, downstairs from sister restaurant the Beach Chalet, have retractable doors offering grassy views (on cold days) and outdoor seating (when it’s warm); there’s ski-lodge-like fireside dining inside during more blustery weather.

Eats:What's on your menu.: <p>The small-plates-focused menu features California-style comfort food, such as truffled chicken and four-cheese macaroni bubbling with blue and sharp cheeses. Skewers of marinated hanger steak with tomato bread salad or a flatbread pizza go well with the house-made microbrews on tap; the Dungeness crab tamale or prosciutto-wrapped scallops over herb orzo are suitable choices, given the restaurant’s coastal locale.</p>