San Francisco has a beautiful waterfront, quirky neighborhoods, and a food culture that fosters some of the best restaurants in America. Because of its rich cultural offerings, it’s not surprising that San Francisco was voted GoGoBot’s fourth-favorite city of 2013.
#1: Gary Danko
Gary Danko is an award-winning chef who is known for his unpretentious style and use of local and seasonal ingredients. His restaurant is on Fisherman’s Wharf and just inside the northeast corner of Russian Hill. The restaurant often receives high praise for its high level of service and consistently mouth-watering cuisine.
The menu is flexible, allowing customers to choose three, four, or five-course meals. Danko’s typical dishes include roast lobster, bacon-wrapped frog legs, and stuffed quail. Prices are higher, starting at $76 for a three-course meal.
#2: The Lazy Bear
Most people are not lucky enough to snag a seat at The Lazy Bear. The restaurant has over 1,000 people on a waiting list for a mere 120 seats. They were formerly an underground fine-dining restaurant and served their last meal on August 4th. Now they are moving to a new location and becoming legitimate through the help of some fans and investors.
The Lazy Bear is the highest-rated restaurant on Yelp for the San Francisco area. The menu generally consists of small plates with unrecognizable medleys and the same dish is never served twice. Costs range between $125-$250 a guest.
Peek in the kitchen (The chief is the one on the left)
Image via Flickr by Jeffrey Chiang
#3: The House
Located in Telegraph Hill, The House is an intimate restaurant that serves Asian fusion cuisine. Wasabi noodles with steak and various seafood dishes are very popular with the locals. The prices are in the higher mid-range with meals typically ranging from $30 and up.
Image via Flickr by Sonny Abesamis
Because of The House’s small venue and popularity, it is best to reserve a table in advance and show up on time. It does get quite warm inside, so make sure to layer your outfit appropriately before heading out.
Image via Flickr by Mandee Johnson
#4: Ike’s Place
The best sandwich shop in San Francisco could easily be Ike’s Place. The choices are overwhelming with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. The prices are reasonable, but not as cheap as fast food. Sandwiches generally cost over $10.
Ike’s Place doesn’t offer an eating area, so you’ll have to take your sandwich and walk a few blocks. The restaurant has a history of difficulty with its neighbors who don’t appreciate the large numbers of customers hanging around the area.
#5: The Codmother Fish and Chips
There’s no better place for fish and chips than The Codmother. The fish and chips are their signature fry. Long fingers of melt-in-your-mouth fish covered in smooth and crispy batter will please the most particular fish and chips connoisseur. The fish tacos and the shrimp are also very popular, but the french fries are notoriously lackluster, so just skip them.
The Codmother Fish and Chips and its friendly staff are on the northwest corner of North Beach in Fisherman’s Wharf. The restaurant closes often, so call them in advance if you’re taking guests.
Image via Flickr by Gary Stevens