LukeRB

Since there will be people coming from SFO as well as south of SF, I would recommend meeting near 16th & Mission because it's easily accessible by BART. There are tons of great restaurants, cafes and coffee shops nearby that have great food/drinks and can accommodate a medium-to-large group.

If the group decides to meet near 16th Mission BART, here are a few places (separated by category) that come to mind:

Coffee/Tea/Pastries

1. Four Barrel Coffee — Great coffee+pastries, big open space, indoor and outdoor seating; Open until 8pm.
2. Stanza Coffee — Great coffee/tea+pastries, tables+chairs on outdoor area in front and patio in back; Open until 8pm.

Casual dinner and/or drinks

1. Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen — Delicious Venezuelan food served in a fast-casual environment with multiple tables that have chair and booth seating.
2. Curry Up Now — Indian street food and burritos served in a fast-casual atmosphere with lots of seating and big tables.
3. Giordano Bros. — Sports bar with huge sandwiches and outdoor tables.
4. West of Pecos — Upscale Mexican-inspired southwestern tapas with good drinks and high tables in bar area.

Sit-down dinner

1. Pauline's Pizza — Delicious pizza with waiter service and tables to accommodate large groups.

Dessert

1. Dandelion Chocolate — Makes their own chocolate in-house and has pastries+chocolate drinks (and coffee).
2. Bi-Rite Creamery —.Delicious ice cream, long line, outdoor seating along sidewalk.

jason8612

Very nice list!
Well my flight departs at 9:35PM so I would want to be at the airport by 8:30PM. Assume some time on the BART, I would probably want to leave the restaurant a tad after 7PM.
So by that logic and so we have time to talk I would say a 4PM or 5PM dinner would be good.

So I would vote for either:
Pauline's Pizza
Pica Pica Arepa Kitchen

mahasamatman

It's a bit far for us to come down, but I'd like to put in a recommendation for Tuba at 22nd and Guerrero (a short walk from 19th and Mission BART). It's an excellent Turkish restaurant.

KathyWdrf

"...because it's easily accessible by BART?"

16th & Mission isn't the only place in SF that is "easily accessible by BART."

squeakr

16th or 24th...

As an aside - mezzes at Tuba seem reasonable but entrees are pricey for a casual dinner. IMHO.

hapywandr

Since Jason mentioned seafood and needs to catch a flight, I suggest The Kitchen Restaurant in Millbrae. It's walking distance from Bart and opens at 5 pm for dinner. I can order from their Chinese menu for family-style dishes to keep the cost down.

LukeRB

24th/Mission, 16th/Mission, Civic Center, Powell, Montgomery and Embarcadero are all in SF and easily accessible by BART. 24th/Mission is closer to SFO by 1 stop; 16th/Mission has better (and nicer) options for a casual dinner.

Thanks! Your timing is solid, if not a little conservative (better that way than to be running late). If we meet near 16th/Mission, I'd say 5pm or 5:30 is a solid start time.

Pica Pica is more casual (order at the counter, they bring food to your table) than Pauline's (table+waiter service.only). It will be easier to occupy space for longer at Pauline's; If we go with Pica Pica, we can snag a few tables for about an hour and then move to the parklet outside Four Barrel to continue conversations. I'm fine with either place, so I'll let others decide where we ultimately end up going.

mahasamatman

Wow. Gone for 10 months and I'm already forgetting...

jason8612

Let's go for the pizza for 5PM.
Does that work with everyone?

2 1/2hrs is plenty of time for pizza

jason8612

Updated the location and time.
Who's in?

boxo

I'll be there.

LukeRB

I'll be there, likely around 5:30 due to my commute.

halcyon_journey

Count me in!

boxo

Pauline's answering machine recording says they only take reservations for 8 or more. Tomorrow, I start my trek to the city at 6am, so if by chance 3 more people join, could a local call in a reservation? Please and thank you. (415) 552-2050

LukeRB

I'll keep an eye on the thread and, if 3 or more people RSVP, I'll call in a reservation. That said, a party of 5–7 at Pauline's around 5pm on a Tuesday should have no issues at all (the place has plenty of tables and dinner rush is around 7 in the city, and unlikely on a Tuesday).