Looking for fun, casual San Francisco restaurant?

Question

I am going to be staying in San Francisco with a work group and we're looking for a fun, casual place for dinner, either near our hotel, the Warwick Regis (Theatre District), or near Beach Blanket Babylon (North Beach). We range in age from 30 - 55 years old and again, it's work people so we can't go to anything like Asia SF. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

rainforest cafe on the wharf...chain, but food is good and prices are reasonable...also a walk thru lil italy will show you a number of casual eating restaurants...have fun!

Answer 2

Here's a few local favorites near the Theater District that would be fun for a group:

1. Borobudur on Post Street for an Indonesian Rijsttafel - lots of fun with a group

2. Thirsty Bear Brewing Co - a little bit south of Market, but not a bad walk. Microbrews and tapas.

3. Far East Cafe for a really good quality (not standard tourist fare) San Francisco Chinatown feast.

4. Slanted Door in the Ferry Building - about as authentic as San Francisco ethnic fusion cuisine gets, and the Ferry Building is a great place to wander around inside on a rainy evening.

5. Plouf, Cafe Claude, or any of the little French-style places in San Francisco's French Quarter.

I would advise not eating in any of the above places in North Beach or near Fisherman's Wharf- most of the places are just too touristy with typical marginal, high volume chain restaurant food -- it's like visiting Disneyland. Cracks me up when all the tourists log on here and start advising other tourists to hit all the worst tourist traps in town - sheesh!

Answer 3

Yikes! San Francisco is one of the best and most inventive restaurant cities in the world! Please do not go to one of these chain restaurants recommended. You need to find a restaurant that uses the best of California style (local produce, organically grown, independent farm raised meats), but that is not overly pretentious. It also needs to be an environment in which everyone will feel comfortable, sort of casual, but my guess would be still "fine dining". One of my favourite restaurants that fits this bill is Zuppa. It's in the SOMA, or South of Market area, which is convenient to downtown restaurants. It's rustic Italian food done really well. The service is high end, but the room is pretty casual and the energy of the place is great. If you are looking for something near beach blanket babylon, there are less options, but Mooses is pretty good.

Answer 4

Max's in the Maxwell hotel is a good casual restaurant.

In Northbeach The Stinking Rose [chain] or Steps of Rome for casual italian food.

For something casual and different try Henry's Hunan on Battery and Broadway in North Beach. Great Chinese food, which is always a good way to go with a group so you can all share! Don't miss Diana's Meat Pie, like nothing else on earth!

Enjoy!

Answer 5

Try Pasta Pomodoro, 655 Union St. in North Beach. I ate there when I was in San Francisco. The food is excellent, it's got an active hustle and bustle casual atmosphere, and the prices are great.

Answer 6

Pier 39...there are a ton of restaurants to choose from. Bubba Gumps, The Pier 39 market, The Crabhouse, Hard Rock Cafe, Hooters, Swiss Louies, Dantes.

Answer 7

It's not a "San Francisco" only restaurant, but when I was up there, a bunch of us went to Joe's Crab Shack. It's a seafood chain, but it's fun for a bunch of people to go to.

Answer 8

Town Hall. A fave of mines in SF! Casual, but still classy w/o being stuffy. Not a cheesy chain.

http://www.townhallsf.com/

For dessert.. Butterscotch Creme Pot .. to die for !

Answer 9

Steps of Rome Caffe in North Beach is fun and casual, they have a lively Italian (i.e. from Italy) waitstaff who often dance with patrons at night. Only downside is it's cash only.

http://www.stepsofrome.com/caffe/index.php

Answer 10

the new delhi resturany on ellis good food great bar phone ahead and speak with mr ranjan dey and order up a banquet very inexpensive