GLBT Travelers - San Francisco/Castro restaurant and bar suggestions needed

Will be visiting San Francisco with my other half in March and we would like to spend one evening in the Castro (or SoMa) area. Would anyone here have some up to date info (suggestions) about the dining and after dinner drink options in the area? We'll be in town from sunday to friday. As we'll miss weekend nights, what would be the best evening for dinner and a few drinks after that? Any suggestions appreciated.

If you are looking for upscale dining in the Castro, I would recommend Frances, Poesia, Catch, or L'Ardoise. You should make a reservation for any evening you choose.. I use opentable.com to check availability and to make a reservation. Yelp.com also provides reviews of restaurants. There are many bars in the Castro which cater to different tastes.. can you be more specific regarding the type of bar you want to visit?

I like Radius on Folsom Street for dinner. Fondue Cowboy is kind of fun too. Plenty of bars in the area but some might be slow on a week night.

In the Castro, 2223 Market was my standby for dinner, but it has closed. I'd be hard pressed to suggest any restaurant in the Castro, but Yelp will surely have the answers. On the other hand, the Castro bars are more likely have a larger week night crowd than those in SoMa, and if you don't like one you can quickly walk to another.

If you are looking for upscale dining in the Castro, I would recommend Frances, Poesia, Catch, or L'Ardoise. You should make a reservation for any evening you choose.. I use opentable.com to check availability and to make a reservation. Yelp.com also provides reviews of restaurants. There are many bars in the Castro which cater to different tastes.. can you be more specific regarding the type of bar you want to visit?

Thanks for your reply. Checked the restaurant web pages and all your suggestions looks intriguing. Difficult to decide...

About the bars... it does not have to be the trendiest of the neighbourhood, but would still prefer a lounge kind bar with nice wines or coctails and where you can hear yourself from the music. As we are not school boys ourselves anymore it would be nice if the bar had a little older crowd, 30+ or something (I thought I would never say that...:)).

About the bars... it does not have to be the trendiest of the neighbourhood, but would still prefer a lounge kind bar with nice wines or coctails and where you can hear yourself from the music. As we are not school boys ourselves anymore it would be nice if the bar had a little older crowd, 30+ or something (I thought I would never say that...:)).

My vote would be for Frances, if you want an exceptional dining experience.

The bar upstairs at Eureka Restaurant is a quieter setting than the other Castro bars, and the restaurant is decent. The Twin Peaks bar may have a bit "older" crowd than you would like, but it is also quieter. Othewise, you will be dealing with louder music at the remaining Castro bars. The Midnight Sun is a video bar and gets a good mix of younger and older guys, and the background noise is tolerable. Since the Castro is easily walked, you might just walk around and find a bar that suits your needs and mood.

Zuni Cafe, 1658 Market. Very crowded. Suggest reservations. Also good for lunch/brunch as is Cafe Bagdad.

FYI Cafe Bagdad is no more!

There is some kind of Creole Fusion Place there now. Have not tried it yet.

In SOMA I strongly recommend Oola. The kitchen in open until 1AM and the Sunday brunch is great.

In the Castro, 2223 Market was my standby for dinner, but it has closed.

Noooooo..... :(

How sad. I really liked that place.

Noooooo..... :(

How sad. I really liked that place.

Me too :(

There's a new place opening soon in the same space but it'll be hard to beat 2223 IMHO. Not the "best" restaurant in the Bay Area but one of the nicest.

In its absence, I'd probably second Frances if you can get a reservation at a time that works out

^ for CATCH on Market --has always been good food and service. Nice bar just for drinks if you want. They have a smaller bar menu also. Often busy - make a res. A bit of history also -- Harvey Milk signed a lease on the now CATCH location building and was going to move "Castro Camera" there just prior to his assasination. It's commenorated on the wall there with a plaque and picture.

I agree with the recomendations on Frances.

While not in the Castro, Martunis might be a bar you would enjoy if you are looking for a lounge type bar where you can hear yourselves talk. It's about 3/4 to 1 mile from Frances off Market inbetween the castro and union square. Nice piano bar with great martinis.

If you are looking for upscale dining in the Castro, I would recommend Frances, Poesia, Catch, or L'Ardoise.

All great recommendations, except Catch, which is way overrated and coasts on its high-traffic location. Food is salty and heavy.

If you can get a reservation at Frances, definitely go there. But you probably won't, unless your trip is three months from now and you're willing to eat at 10PM.

I've had one lackluster meal at Poesia, but that's the only time I've been disappointed there. It's not a bad place at all.

My favorite is L'Ardoise, which is a fabulous place with great food and professional well-informed and attentive service. You can usually get a reservation, but if you don't, you can probably sit at the bar where the full menu is available, and watch the very handsome chef (who is, alas, straight) work miracles in the tiny kitchen.

I notice that no one has recommended Starbelly, which is on 16th at Market. When the food is good, it's off the charts. The service, though well-meaning, is atrocious. Courses arrive out of order, if at all; when the place was new, that was forgiveable, but it isn't now. Management seems to hire people for youth and enthusiasm (and consistent with the heterosexualization of the Castro, heterosexuality), and not for restaurant experience. No one on the wait staff seems to bat an eyelash if a server picks up a spoon or fork by the eating end and hands it to you. This matters because when a course arrives, it's usually without the appropriate utensil for eating it. Also, the place is outrageously loud. You won't be able to hear yourself think.

As for bars, if you're over 30 or have a BMI over 20, you'll probably want to go the 440, which is located at 440 Castro. It's friendly and crowded. The crowd skews a little older and heavier than twink, and towards facial hair. You'll see a fair amount of muscle, but nobody cares if you don't have a 30" waist or if you don't need a fake ID. On any given night at the 440, you'll find guys from the neighborhood, and in my experience, a handful of tourists from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. I have a personal hobby of finding those tourists and then guessing where they're from by their accents. Between that and the mirrored trench urinal, you can usually strike up a conversation with someone.

PS: The place that used to be the Bagdad Cafe is now Criolla Kitchen. The menu includes red beans and rice, po-boys, merliton (aka chayote), and fried chicken and waffles. Reservations aren't required. You're basically sitting in a glass box at 16th and Market, so you can watch the world go by at what is probably the second gayest intersection on the planet (the gayest being a block away at Market, Castro, and 17th). The scenery and food aren't good enough, however, to prevent you from having at least one meal at Frances, L'Ardoise, or Poesia. If you have only one night in SF, you can take in the street scenery as you're walking from your restaurant to the 440.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Would have like to try Frances, but is fully booked during our stay. L'Ardoise looks really nice, so maybe we'll try that one. On the other hand, I love seafood and what a better place to have great seafood than San Francisco. So Catch is still an option.

Beyond Castro and SoMa, Boulevard looks tempting. The food should be good (at least Michelin guide seems to like the place) and the place looks relaxed and casual. Any thoughts on that?

Bar suggestions have been plenty as well. I am sure we'll find a nice place for aperitif or digestive...

Beyond Castro and SoMa, Boulevard looks tempting. The food should be good (at least Michelin guide seems to like the place) and the place looks relaxed and casual. Any thoughts on that?


Boulevard is excellent. One of those old standbys in SF where you absolutely cannot go wrong. Food is astounding and service is excellent. If you go there in daylight hours, ask for a table near the windows, great views of the Embarcadero.

Enjoy

All great recommendations, except Catch, which is way overrated and coasts on its high-traffic location. Food is salty and heavy.

If you can get a reservation at Frances, definitely go there. But you probably won't, unless your trip is three months from now and you're willing to eat at 10PM.

I've had one lackluster meal at Poesia, but that's the only time I've been disappointed there. It's not a bad place at all.

My favorite is L'Ardoise, which is a fabulous place with great food and professional well-informed and attentive service. You can usually get a reservation, but if you don't, you can probably sit at the bar where the full menu is available, and watch the very handsome chef (who is, alas, straight) work miracles in the tiny kitchen.

I notice that no one has recommended Starbelly, which is on 16th at Market. When the food is good, it's off the charts. The service, though well-meaning, is atrocious. Courses arrive out of order, if at all; when the place was new, that was forgiveable, but it isn't now. Management seems to hire people for youth and enthusiasm (and consistent with the heterosexualization of the Castro, heterosexuality), and not for restaurant experience. No one on the wait staff seems to bat an eyelash if a server picks up a spoon or fork by the eating end and hands it to you. This matters because when a course arrives, it's usually without the appropriate utensil for eating it. Also, the place is outrageously loud. You won't be able to hear yourself think.

As for bars, if you're over 30 or have a BMI over 20, you'll probably want to go the 440, which is located at 440 Castro. It's friendly and crowded. The crowd skews a little older and heavier than twink, and towards facial hair. You'll see a fair amount of muscle, but nobody cares if you don't have a 30" waist or if you don't need a fake ID. On any given night at the 440, you'll find guys from the neighborhood, and in my experience, a handful of tourists from the UK, Australia, or New Zealand. I have a personal hobby of finding those tourists and then guessing where they're from by their accents. Between that and the mirrored trench urinal, you can usually strike up a conversation with someone.

Great summary of the dining in the Castro and I strongly agree re: Catch. It's a tourist joint and should be avoided. Frances is one of the best restaurants in the City, and IMHO, is the best in the City at the mid-range price point. It's a high end dining experience for a mid-range price. Of course, it's also impossible to get into, but I've had luck with same day late night reservations on Open Table (I also snagged an 8:30 pm same day two Fridays ago).

I have never had bad service at Starbelly, and one of the things that I really like about them is that they will add you to the wait list over the phone. I think it's a solid pseudo-Italian / California option in the Castro, and a nice addition. Criolla Kitchen is OK, but I'm not big on that style of food, anyway, so I'm probably not the best person to ask. And L'Ardoise is fantastic - my husband and I call it "mini-vacation" because it really feels like going to France for the evening.

10 years ago, there was not really anything good to eat in the Castro, except perhaps 2223. Frances really changed the dining scene in the 'hood.

If you love seafood and want to stay in the Castro, you can try Anchor Oyster Bar on Castro St.

Also, re: Catch. I didn't care for the restaurant when I ate there several years ago. However, I went back last fall and was pleasantly surprised. One of the best meals I have had in the Castro.

Thanks for the feedback on Catch. I have not been there for quite a long time, but the last time I was there, everything was great. I also agree with Anchor, but sometimes the wait can be long, given it's such a small place. I have yet to have a bad meal or bad service at Poesis, but YMMV. If venturing out of the Castro for Italian food, my favorite is Acquerello.

Also, re: Catch. I didn't care for the restaurant when I ate there several years ago. However, I went back last fall and was pleasantly surprised. One of the best meals I have had in the Castro.

Was surprised about the bad reviews of CATCH. Personally, only eat there 3-4 times a year when traveling for work or fun. And never experienced bad food or service. Friends who are life long SF natives -- love the place. I do a lot of business lunches and dinners in SF and there are so many incredible restaurants in this city. Is CATCH the best? -- no, but very respectable imho.

If you love seafood and want to stay in the Castro, you can try Anchor Oyster Bar on Castro St.

My thought, too. And dungeness crab is in season. I'd go for Anchor over Catch. Anchor happens to be next door to Harvey Milk's old camera shop (unfortunately now turned into a souvenir shop for Gay, Inc, in the form HRC, which uses your money to run tributes to Goldman Sachs. Harvey is spinning somewhere).

Anchor doesn't take reservations. You sign up on a mark-up board outside and wait. You can have a glass of wine outside while you wait. That's a Castro classic. You can't go wrong for seafood there. You can go wrong at Catch. Dreadfully, terribly wrong.

It's been a 2-3 years, but I had a very good, rather expensive meal at Poesia with friends - one of the best I've had in The Castro. At a mid-range, if Zadin is still there, it's recommendable Vietnamese food (but there's better in other neighborhoods)

There's also a really good L'Ardoise in the 1eme Arrondissement in Paris on the rue de Mt. Thabor - the name just means "slate." so they're probably not related.

I love seafood and what a better place to have great seafood than San Francisco. So Catch is still an option.

Tiny and casual, my favorite seafood restaurant in San Francisco is the Anchor Oyster Bar (http://www.anchoroysterbar.com/). It's directly on Castro, a few stores away from the location of Harvey Milk's shop.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

Would have like to try Frances, but is fully booked during our stay. L'Ardoise looks really nice, so maybe we'll try that one. On the other hand, I love seafood and what a better place to have great seafood than San Francisco. So Catch is still an option.

Beyond Castro and SoMa, Boulevard looks tempting. The food should be good (at least Michelin guide seems to like the place) and the place looks relaxed and casual. Any thoughts on that?

Bar suggestions have been plenty as well. I am sure we'll find a nice place for aperitif or digestive...

L'Ardoise is a really lovely place. In the Castro itself, I second the recommendation for Anchor Oyster Bar. A shame about Frances (though you may want to check OpenTable as you get closer. I've often had luck with last minute reservations there).

Also take a look at sfeater.com and their "heat map" and 38 essential restaurants lists. If you are willing to explore other neighborhoods, you'll be richly rewarded with all the wonderful food we have here.

On the issue of bars and cocktails, while not in the Castro, I really like Orbit Room. A nice mixed crowd, good cocktails, and you can hear yourself over the din!

Excellent tips in this thread!

Catch is definitely hit or miss, I tend to actually like it, my partner abhors it. Not worth the risk.

Boulevard is my favorite restaurant in the city! I'd recommend going there for lunch, it'll be a much lower price point vs. dinner service and then you can go for dinner in the Castro and stay for the bars. At Boulevard, ask to be seated at one of the window tables overlooking the Embarcadero which afford an amazing view of the Bay Bridge.

L'Ardoise is fantastic, I'd highly recommend going there. I went to Poesia a couple of weeks ago and was very disappointed. This was the best Italian restaurant in the Castro when it opened several years ago, but it's slowly gone downhill, which is a shame.

440 is a fun bar and the description above hits it on the mark. I'd also recommend The Mix on 18th St. which has a large outdoor patio in the very back and skews slightly older than either the Midnight Sun or especially Badlands.

Have a great trip!

Thank you all for your replies. It has been great reading all your suggestions. We'll start our trip in a couple of days and I have now reservations for Boulevard and L'Ardoise. Definitely want to try the Anchor Oyster Bar as well.

Oh, I am so ready for a vacation. BA will whisk us to San Francisco (upper deck of course:)) Even the weather forecast looks promising.

teme, welcome to our city. It is raining as I type this but the weather for the weekend is supposed to be nice. Enjoy your stay.

Cafe Flore - For the Win!

We have just returned from San Francisco. Had a great time. Thanks to your suggestions, the trip was a success culinary wise as well.

We had dinner at Poesia and L'Ardoise. Wanted to have lunch at Anchor Oytser Bar, but were too hungry to wait it open and ended up in Catch. We had great meals in all of them. Catch had some negative reviews on this forum, but our lunch on a sunny sunday afternoon was delicious. Did not do bar hopping that much after all, but had a few beers in Moby Dick and Harvey's.

Beyond Castro, we dined at Zero Zero and Boulevard. Boulevard was excellent and probably the one we liked to most. Walked by a creek restaurant Kokkari during a lunch time and had a great lunch there as well.

All in all, Castro and San Francisco has plenty of wonderful restaurants. Have to go back some day to test a few more of them.

Cafe Flore - For the Win!

Or, as I call it, "Cafe Sysco."

Hehehe - yeah, I ducked in there with a friend on my trip to SF a month ago for a snack and people watching. It's relatively inexpensive diner food you order at the counter and the waiters bring to you but fine for what it is.