Restaurants

San Francisco Landmark Tadich Grill

Another “must see and eat at” for any San Francisco visitors or new residents, is Tadich Grill in the Financial District.  I read somewhere that Tadich was referred to once as, “It’s kind of like the Peter Luger’s of Seafood”. Having eaten at both The Palm Restaurant on Second Avenue in New York and Peter Luger in Brooklyn, I have to agree.

When you dine at Tadich Grill be prepared to be served large portions by sometimes grumpy but always no-nonsense waiters. This is not your trendy super-friendly chain restaurant, this is a piece of San Francisco history that has survived a hundred trends. If you close your eyes, the atmosphere is a little Nick and Nora in The Thin Man, especially if you hear a cable car clang its bell on the up/down California Street outside the restaurant.

Now for lunch but especially for dinner, you have got to try the Cioppino, white bib around your neck and all. Read More »

Home Plate Home Run!

A long time favorite breakfast destination of mine is Home Plate in San Francisco.  It is in the Marina area, on Lombard Street and has been serving the best free scone and jam forever.  Seriously, it has been about 20 years!  We used to walk here from our old apartment almost every weekend, or when I was home on a sick wellness day.  Recently the management repainted and cleaned the place up, which was very nice to see but I am  very happy to report that nothing has changed regarding their food. We came in for breakfast recently and the free scone was as hot and delicious as I remember it.  We had meter parking on the street, which works well since it is $2.00 for an hour.  We had plenty of time to enjoy our trip down memory lane.

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Glass of wine and neighborhood hospitality

San Francisco has quite a few original restaurants that have consistently been part of our “destination dining” experience for decades, like John’s Grill or the Buena Vista Cafe near Ghiradelli Square. Another wonderful place to share with you is the Pacific Cafe, a classic seafood restaurant near Lincoln Park and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.

This wonderful city original has been serving fresh fish every day for dinner since 1974. It is the perfect place for a family dinner or a nice date night out.

They have a large chalkboard on the wall above the kitchen with all the fish that they have for the day. They list the way each will be prepared: fried, grilled, poached or sauteed. Every dinner comes with soup and salad.

You also get a choice of classic dinner fries or baked potato but I often just a big piece of steamed broccoli instead – then steal a few fries off of my husband’s plate. They serve local ice cream from Mitchell’s and usually have other desserts like lemon tarts. You won’t go home hungry that is for sure.

Scallop Salmon Combo

What starts the whole dining experience off though is the service. They open at 5:00pm but because they do not take reservations over the phone, by 5:30pm a line forms inside and out. However, more often the reason for the line is that spending time waiting is half the fun. After you write your name down on the clipboard inside, a waiter comes up with full glasses of white wine – on the house!

They will refill your glass as long as you are waiting for your booth. A very nice touch. Street parking can be tricky but we almost always find space on Clement Street, one street over.

Cozy warm booths

7000 Geary Blvd
At 34th Avenue
(415) 387-7091

Mon-Fri 5:00-9:30pm
Sat-Sun 5:00-10:30pm