recomendations for a solo diner
#1
Original Poster


Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,863
recomendations for a solo diner
How about some suggestions for a solo diner in San Francisco? Someplace I don't have to get dressed up for after walking around (cargo pants, polo shirt). And preferably not Asian or Mexican. any place I can get to by public transit is in.
Oh, and also I can't do Seafood.
Oh, and also I can't do Seafood.
#2
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues, Information Desk & San Francisco



Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,319
Kind of a goofy suggestion
I like the restaurant on the top floor of Nordstrom. Its in the Westfield Center, and theres lots of tables for two that solo diners use. If you snag one of the tables against the window you have a nice view not world-class but very pleasant. And the food is quite decent with a very good wine selection.
The other really more casual place is the market bar in the Twitter building. Theres a big fancy grocery store on the ground floor next to the Twitter entrance, and if you go all the way back to the bar, you can sit at a small table or at the counter and order from any number of the food purveyors there you said no tacos but theres decent pizza, burgers etc. More bar food kind of stuff. A good beer and wine list as well..
The other really more casual place is the market bar in the Twitter building. Theres a big fancy grocery store on the ground floor next to the Twitter entrance, and if you go all the way back to the bar, you can sit at a small table or at the counter and order from any number of the food purveyors there you said no tacos but theres decent pizza, burgers etc. More bar food kind of stuff. A good beer and wine list as well..
#4



Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Posts: 2,140
San Francisco is super casual about dress. You can wear pretty much anything you want anywhere. No one will turn you away. Cargo Pants and a Polo are going to mark you as a tourist, swap to jeans and a hoodie and they will just think you are a local.
Solo dining is not an issue at all. Its easy to get a seat at the counter of the in demand places. House of Prime Rib will have no issues for you. Just make a reservation for 1.
Try 5A5 steakhouse, Commonwealth. Anything that catches your eye on Valencia or Mission st.
Solo dining is not an issue at all. Its easy to get a seat at the counter of the in demand places. House of Prime Rib will have no issues for you. Just make a reservation for 1.
Try 5A5 steakhouse, Commonwealth. Anything that catches your eye on Valencia or Mission st.
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 42,599
I really like Barbacco (Financial District) and fortunately, SF (including this place) has many places with full dining available at the bar. If you are really into wine, you could check out the Barrel Room. Those are just the first two that come to mind.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA Plat, MM *G for life, AY Plat, BA Silver
Posts: 10,553
Down in the Marina, I very much enjoy both Bistro Aix and Isa, both of which have a bar where you can sit solo, along with appropriate tables for solo diners. More centrally, I like Sanraku (not sure if your dislikes extend to Japanese), again with a bar. In the design district, try Skool for excellent fish, also with a bar.
#7
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues, Information Desk & San Francisco



Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,319
Another vote for Barbacco.
another vote for Barbacco. Not so much for the marina restaurants Ive had a couple of really disappointing meals at Isa - its really crowded and very noisy and I wouldnt think would be much fun for solo diner.
#8




Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Location Location (San Francisco)
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, airline free agent
Posts: 739
If you're up for a 15-20 mins cab or BART ride, i'd recommend Locanda or Beretta in the Mission. Or, as mentioned above, just walk up/down Valencia St until you find something you like.
Nopa in North of Panhandle also has a communal table but a bit harder to get to via public transport
Nopa in North of Panhandle also has a communal table but a bit harder to get to via public transport
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,819
If you're up for a 15-20 mins cab or BART ride, i'd recommend Locanda or Beretta in the Mission. Or, as mentioned above, just walk up/down Valencia St until you find something you like.
Nopa in North of Panhandle also has a communal table but a bit harder to get to via public transport
Nopa in North of Panhandle also has a communal table but a bit harder to get to via public transport
As gaobest points out below, Hayes Valley has plenty of good eats. The 21 will get you there.
Last edited by KathyWdrf; Jan 14, 2018 at 2:35 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Francisco
Programs: GM on VX, UA, AA, HA, AS, SY; Budget Fastbreak; GM with hotels; Waymo; Honda crv; iOS
Posts: 36,701
Everywhere is fine for a solo diner - sounds like European, meat, chicken, and pork
hayes valley has RT chicken, rich table, suppenkuche, jardiniere, souvla, petit Crenn, absinthe, Dobbs ferry, Hayes St grill, Stacks, Zuni, 20th century, paxtis pizza, and Chez Maman ...
plus it's flat
also salt & straw, la Boulangerie, Johnny doughnuts, Hayes bakeworks, and smitten for dessert
plus Flight001 if you need anything for the airport
hayes valley has RT chicken, rich table, suppenkuche, jardiniere, souvla, petit Crenn, absinthe, Dobbs ferry, Hayes St grill, Stacks, Zuni, 20th century, paxtis pizza, and Chez Maman ...
plus it's flat
also salt & straw, la Boulangerie, Johnny doughnuts, Hayes bakeworks, and smitten for dessert
plus Flight001 if you need anything for the airport
#11

Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 7,359
Only downside is that, for some inexplicable reason, they no longer offer a ribeye, but do have prime rib.
PS - Morton's Happy Hour in the financial district is more convenient, if heading to SFO/OAK after dinner. In addition, Ruth's Chris probably has the best ribeye in SF, though it's only wet aged, but at least the chef there understands the nuance or "medium rare," as it pertains to ribeyes. However, I assume you've been to these chains, and wanted something unique to SF, hence Harris'/HOPR.
Last edited by Visconti; Jan 15, 2018 at 11:39 am Reason: Adding PS...
#12
Original Poster


Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,863
I totally did not make Dinner the other night. Was busying wandering around, was going to go to this Italian place I heard about but it was closed, then Barbacco had nothing I wanted, and Embarcadero market was closed, so I just snacked around. Next time I need ot plan my time better, I forgot how hard it is getting around San Francisco.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,819
I totally did not make Dinner the other night. Was busying wandering around, was going to go to this Italian place I heard about but it was closed, then Barbacco had nothing I wanted, and Embarcadero market was closed, so I just snacked around. Next time I need ot plan my time better, I forgot how hard it is getting around San Francisco.

You do need to research opening/closing hours in advance, perhaps even check some menus online in advance to make sure they offer some dishes you like.... This applies to pretty much every place, not just SF. (Only exception might be a tiny village with one street and a mere handful of places to eat.)
#14
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues, Information Desk & San Francisco



Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,319
Sorry we didnt know your date was coming up so soon
Sorry we didnt know your date was coming up so soon- we couldve made some specific suggestions or let you know about places you might need a reservation.
not sure where you were trying to get to, but its true that sometimes public transport sucks. Lyft and Uber are very common here and usually when I used to get around if I have limited time.
not sure where you were trying to get to, but its true that sometimes public transport sucks. Lyft and Uber are very common here and usually when I used to get around if I have limited time.
I totally did not make Dinner the other night. Was busying wandering around, was going to go to this Italian place I heard about but it was closed, then Barbacco had nothing I wanted, and Embarcadero market was closed, so I just snacked around. Next time I need ot plan my time better, I forgot how hard it is getting around San Francisco.
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Berkeley, CA USA
Programs: Piggly Wiggly "Shop the Pig!" Preferred Shopper
Posts: 60,726

