As a resident of San Francisco Bay Area for many years, I’ve tried a decent amount of restaurants. Over time, to facilitate sharing with friends and remembering my favorites, I compiled the list into a Google Doc spreadsheet. Below is the consolidation of my favorite restaurants / bars / etc. with cuisine, price, neighborhood, and some notes. I tried to order it loosely by most recommended at the top, but I would love to go back to any of these. I unfortunately did not include my least favorites list. FYI most of these places are very vegetarian friendly, unless otherwise noted. Yelp is a critical resource as well. Looking forward to doing the same thing in Boston. Enjoy!
Restaurants
| aziza | mediterranean | $$$ | outer richmond | must try basteeya, recommend chef’s tasting |
| benu | american | $$$$ | soma | most unique tasting menu in sf, japanese influence |
| kokkari | mediterranean | $$$$ | fidi | amazing lamb, good veg options |
| tataki | sushi | $$$ | russian hill | veg sushi menu |
| sushi zone | sushi | $$ | duboce triangle | mango sea bass, not veg friendly |
| zero zero | italian | $$$ | soma | must try bruschetta, make your own sundaes |
| saha | mediterranean | $$$ | union sq | amazing orange duck, veg friendly |
| burma superstar | burmese | $$$ | inner richmond | must get: rainbow salad, samosa soup, superstar noodles, nan pia dok |
| kiss seafood | sushi | $$$$ | japantown | omakase (pre-fixe), not veg friendly |
| gary danko | french | $$$$ | north beach | best french in sf, veg tasting menu |
| 1300 on fillmore | southern | $$$ | fillmore | best fried chicken, veg friendly, awesome drinks |
| perbacco | italian | $$$ | fidi | seafood |
| chez papa bistrot | french | $$ | potrero | semoule, veg ratatoille, lamb, trout |
| skool | seafood | $$$ | potrero | squid ink pasta is a must |
| beretta | italian | $$ | mission | |
| fino | italian | $$$ | union sq | best traditional italian restaurant |
| frascati | french | $$$ | russian hill | |
| le charm | french | $$$ | soma | |
| the house | asian fusion | $$ | north beach | |
| patxis | pizza | $$ | (multiple) | best deep dish |
| little star | pizza | $$ | (multiple) | second best deep dish |
| zushi puzzle | sushi | $$ | marina | |
| koh samui | thai | $$$ | soma | pumpkin curry |
| millenium | veg | $$$ | union sq | |
| mandalay | burmese | $$ | inner richmond | |
| koo | sushi | $$$ | inner richmond | |
| helmand | afghani | $$ | russian hill | pumpkin app dish |
| so | korean | $ | soma | |
| poesia | italian | $$ | castro | |
| amber | indian | $$$ | soma | |
| firefly | new american | $$$ | noe valley | fried chicken |
| source | vegetarian | $$ | potrero hill | best veggie burger, truffle mac and cheese, amazing fries |
| pizzeta 211 | pizza | $$ | outer richmond | great pizza |
| tommaso | italian | $$$ | north beach | |
| specchio | italian | $$ | mission | |
| cafe claude | italian | $$$ | fidi | |
| local | italian | $$ | soma | sunday night all you can eat pizza |
| cafe altano | italian | $$$ | russian hill | |
| delfina | italian | $$$ | mission | crowded |
| radius | american | $$$ | soma | good lunch cafe as well |
Sandwiches
| ike’s place | messy | $$ | castro | try: name of girl i’m dating, we’re just friends |
| deli board | messy | $$ | soma | |
| m&l | deli-style | $$ | mission | |
| the sentinel | regular | $$ | soma | |
| cafe algiers | deli-style | $ | soma | spicy turkey w/ avocado |
Desserts
| mitchell’s | ice cream | $ | mission | chocolate caramel crackle, grasshopper pie |
| anthony’s | cookies | $$ | mission | chocolate chip, cookies and cream |
| goody goodies | cookies | $$ | mission | chocolate chip cookie |
| tartine | baked goods | $$ | mission | almond croissant |
| mr and mrs miscellaneous | ice cream | $ | dogpatch | |
| bi-rite creamery | ice cream | $$ | mission | eclectic flavors |
| humphry slocombe | ice cream | $ | mission | |
| bob’s donuts | donuts | $ | russian hill | apple fritter made fresh late night |
| dynamo | donuts | $ | potrero hill |
Coffee
| philz | coffee | $$ | multiple | tesora is std, 49er |
| blue bottle | coffee | $$ | multiple | |
| sightglass | coffee | $$ | soma | |
| ritual coffee | coffee | $$ | mission |
Breakfast / Brunch
| mama’s | $$ | north beach | long line | |
| butler and chef | $$$ | soma | good french, eggs benedict | |
| zazie | $$ | cole valley | ||
| mission beach café | $$$ | mission | ||
| yank sing | $$$$ | soma | veg friendly dim sum | |
| savor | $$ | nob hill | ||
| foreign cinema | $$$ | mission | ||
| la boulangerie | $$ | multiple | ||
| pomelo | $$$ | multiple | ||
Bars
| toronado | $ | haight | good beer selection, next to rosamunde (sausages) | |
| rickhouse | $$$ | fidi | speakeasy | |
| bourbon and branch | $$$ | union sq | speakeasy | |
| monk’s kettle | $$ | mission | good beer, crowded | |
| 21st amendment | $$ | soma | decent happy hour spot | |
| elixir | $ | mission | speakeasy | |
| 83 proof | $$ | soma | speakeasy, great later in evening (my favorite bar) | |
| burritt room | $$ | union sq | speakeasy | |
| pedro’s cantina | $$ | soma | solid sports bar | |
Pizza
| zero zero | $ | soma | see above | |
| golden boy | $ | north beach | ||
| tony’s | $ | north beach | ||
| little star | $$ | mission | ||
| pizetta 211 | $ | outer richmond | ||
| arizmendi | $ | multiple | ||
| patxi | $$ | multiple | delivers | |
| pauline’s | $$ | mission | ||
| delfina | $$ | mission | ||
Rohit Gupta 