Hi Julie, As 100 people what their favorite restaurants are and you will get 101 answers. Here are my favorites which I wrote up for a group I belong to. This is a few years old, so up the prices a bit, but the flavor of each is still yummy. Good luck in your journey to the good places. Let me know how you like any of these if you try them. Regards, Howard Siegel PFLAG EATS A Customized Listing of Where To Eat in San Francisco Compiled by Howard Siegel (PFLAG-SF) San Francisco is famous for its abundance of diverse and fabulous restaurants. The following selections are just a few of my favorite, fun places especially selected for our PFLAG Convention guests. Each and everyone of them is Gay friendly (but of course!). All restaurants are moderately priced (entrees about $10-15) unless otherwise noted. None require a dress code, and I have no idea how good their wine list is since I don't drink. Hope you get a chance to sample several of these restaurants during your visit to San Francisco, and make sure to visit the PFLAG Hospitality Suite for more dining ideas. BON APPETIT! VEGETARIAN Green's at Fort Mason, Buchanan at Marina Blvd. (Res. 771-6222). Located in Building A, Green's serves top quality, gourmet vegetarian food in a refurbished warehouse overlooking Golden Gate Bridge. On Friday and Saturday, only, they serve a special 5 course, fixed price dinner at $36. A bit pricey, but worth it. Open M-Sa, 11:30am-9:30pm for a la carte, Su 10-2 Brunch. Amazing Grace, 216 Church St. at Market (626-6411). This cafeteria style, local restaurant serves wholesome and reasonably priced food. Amazing Grace is only a few doors away from Just Desserts where you can top off your healthy meal with an espresso and decadent pastries. Open M-Sa, 11am-10pm. Harvest Ranch Market, 2285 Market St. at 16th St. (626-0805). Not a sit down restaurant, but included here because it has the greatest salad bar in the City (usually includes Sushi!). This health food store is great for browsing, then eating your salad on an outdoor bench while watching the world go by . Near Josie's Cabaret and Juice Joint. Open 7 days, 9am-11pm, F-Sa till midnite. ITALIAN Sausage Factory, 517 Castro at 19th St., (626-1250). Order anything from a complete italian dinner (Linguini with sausage is good) to a snack in this reasonably priced restaurant located in the heart of the Castro (Gay) District. I recommend sharing a large pizza and their Mama or Papa salad. You won't believe how BIG that salad is. The Sausage Factory is open late every night, and I prefer the front room to the back. Open 7 days, 11:30am-1am. Little Italy, 4109 24th St. at Castro, (Res. 821-1515). Located in Noe Valley, one of San Francisco's great neighborhoods, Little Italy is a popular place that serves delicious Italian specialties in a converted house with an open kitchen. I recommend Linguini with Clams, or Chicken, Olives, Onions and Anchovies (really!). Save room for fresh made Zabaglione, and then enjoy a stroll along 24th St. with its interesting shops. Open 7 days, 5-10pm. Marcello's, 420 Castro at Market, (863-3900). Is Pizza Italian? Who cares. Pick up a hot slice and sit at the window to see and be seen at this busy pizza parlor directly across from the Castro Theater. They deliver too. Open 7 days, 11am-1am, Fr-Sa till 3am. CONTINENTAL Val 21, 995 Valencia at 21rst St., (Res. 821-6622). What does continental mean anyway? If it means an imaginative menu of well prepared and high quality foods, then this is the place. I particularly liked their grilled eggplant. Remember the name is the address. Open 7 days, 5:30-11pm. MacArthur Park, 607 Front St. at Broadway, (398-5700). Specializes in Mesquite Grilled specialties such as ribs, but also offers chicken and fish. I always order Onion Strings as an appetizer. Located a short walk from the Hyatt Regency, this is a fun place to go. Crayons on each table are to color in your placemat. Open M-F, 11:30-3:30pm. Dinner 7 days, 5-10pm. MEXICAN La Cumbre, 515 Valencia at 16th St., (863-8205). Cafeteria style, local Taqueria serving fantastic burritos and other Mexican specialties. Located near San Francisco's Mission District. Open 7 days, 12-9pm. Closed Labor Day. Casa Aguila, 1240 Noriega at 19th Ave., (661-5593). My favorite Mexican restaurant serving very colorful, flavorful and large dinners. Get your burritos at La Cumbre, but your moderately priced specialties at Casa Aguila. I like their seafood combinations. Open 7 days, 10:30-3:30pm, 4:30-10pm. JAPANESE No Name Sushi, 314 Church St. at 15th St., (No name, no phone-really). A small, neighborhood Sushi restaurant with no name on the door. Join the locals who know it's there and line up to get in. Reasonable prices and good food. Open M-Sa, 12-10pm. Benihana, 1737 Post at Webster, (Res. 563-4844). The chef is the show at this Japantown eatery. Watch as he cooks at your table with flying knives and sometimes flying shrimp. Bring a party of 8-10 and you'll have the table for yourselves. Average dinner about $20. Open 7 day, 5-10pm. DELI s Max's Diner, 311 Third St. at Folsom, (546-6297). A fun recreation of a 50's diner located near the Moscone Center, Max's serves a great Corned Beef on Rye (enough to share); makes a decent Egg Cream, and gives Bazooka Bubble Gum with the check. Full dinners available, but as the sign on the door says "this is not a good place for a diet". Open 7 days, 11:30-10pm. CHINESE China Court, 599 Castro at 19th St., (626-5358). Pleasant bamboo decor coupled with sincerely friendly manager Way Sim make this one of my favorite restaurants. Particularly tasty are their Crispy Chicken and Tofu Family Style. Open 7 days, 5-10:30pm. MACEDONIAN Stoyanof's, 1240 9th Ave. at Irving, (664-3664). Specializing in Middle Eastern dishes, Stoyanof's is a beautifully decorated restaurant located near Golden Gate Park serving lunch cafeteria style, and dinner sit down style. Their seafood kabobs are yummy. I prefer seating in their back room, and then strolling Irving St. after dinner. I usually end up at Tart to Tart for coffee and pastries. Open M-Th, 10am-9:30pm, and F-Su, 5-10pm. INDONESIAN Java, 417 Clement at 5th Ave., (752-1541). I go here with friends for their Indonesian Rice Table. For about $10/person, you get a bazillion small courses. I like variety and diversity. Before or after dinner, explore Clement St. and see a virtual United Nations of restaurants. Open W-M, 11:30am-11pm. CREPERIE Ticouz, 3108 16th St. at Valencia, (252-7373). Located across the street from the Roxie Cinema, this Breton Restaurant features freshly made crepes and salads. Order a main dish and dessert crepe for a delicious (rich) meal. Be prepared to wait a while for a table. Open 7 days, 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat till 11pm. HAMBURGERS Hot 'n' Hunky, 4039 18th St. near Castro, (621-6365). As the name implies, this is a very casual place to get a delicious, dripping, fresh made burger when the mood strikes you. Maybe right after your Cruisin' the Castro Tour!. Open 7 days, 11am-12pm. THAI Khan Toke, 5937 Geary near 24th Ave., (668-6654). Beautifully decorated restaurant serving delicious Thai specialties. Their seafood dishes are excellent. If new to Thai food, ask for it mild. For an added treat, ask for a low table where your feet dangle in a well. Open 7 days, 5-10pm. VIEWS AND VIEWS Equinox, top of Hyatt Regency, (788-1234). Great place to milk one expensive drink while taking in the city skyline at San Francisco's only revolving restaurant/bar. Open 7 days, 4-12pm, Fr-Sa till 1:30am. Cityscape, top of Hilton Tower, 333 O'Farrell at Taylor, (776-0215). Very comfortable place to meet for drinks at sunset. Some say view is better than Equinox. Judge for yourselves. Open 7 days, 5:30-12:30am. Howard Siegel, July 1994
San Francisco, CA