Waterfront dining options?
 

Hi, DH and I are heading to San Fran this weekend sans child. We're staying at the Hyatt Regency in the financial district. Can anyone recommend a nice waterfront restaurant?

We're also open to dining elsewhere in the city, if the waterfront restaurants are overpriced and not that great. :-)

Thanks!

Greens Restaurant. It's pricey, but not over the top. You can see what the views are like: http://www.greensrestaurant.com/

Even if you're not vegetarian, you'll love this place. Here's a NY Times review: http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/gui...rant%22&st=cse

You could try Scoma's out by fisherman's wharf (seafood).

The food on my last visit to Greens was surprisingly disappointing.

Also, they took my reservation but that did not give me a better table over walk-ins, all it did was shorten my wait (but not to zero). When you show up with a reservation, all it means is that you get ahead of SOME of the walk-ins and are then assigned the next table that comes open, whether it is a good one or not.

Rather a let-down given my previous experiences here. Hopefully it was just one-off, but I am not so sure.

P.S. Locals tend not to eat at Fisherman's Wharf restaurants, although if there is still a branch of Yet Wah on Pier 39, you will have the view and not be horribly ripped off. Not as good as the original Yet Wah on Clement St. though.

Waterfront almost always means overpriced and not that great. That said, Slanted Door can be good for Vietnamese, though it is hit or miss in terms of quality.

San Francisco's strength lies in its fantastic mid-range neighborhood restaurants. My favorites are currently Delfina, Zuni and Nopa. All of these places provide a great sampling of what Bay Area cuisine is all about. I also like L'ardiose because it feels like being on vacation in France. For a super romantic and somewhat unusual food experience I'd go to Chez Spencer.

My wife and I had our wedding reception at Greens in 1995, and we have returned there many times. Each dinner was a delight. However, it has been a few years since our last visit -- I hope your experience was indeed an aberration.

As for the Wharf, these restaurants tend to combine high prices with ordinary experiences. You (the OP) have come all the way across the country -- don't settle for a spot that could be in any tourist trap.

SF locals like to enjoy the views too!
My favorites:
Slanted door
Chaya Brasserie
Ozumo (you'll need a table near a window)
Carnelian Room (nice Sunday brunch)
La Terrase at the Presidio (if the weather is good, because most tables are outside)

also:
The Spinnaker in Sausalito
Sam's Cafe in Tiburon

Across the bay in Berkeley is Skates by the Bay. The food ranges from okay to very good (although, caveat, it's been about 5 years since I've been there) and if you can get a table next to the window at around sunset the views are simply stunning.

That's a decent option if one is already in the East Bay. I wouldn't make a special trip out here just for Skates, though.

If the OP is coming to Berkeley, I'd suggest skipping the waterfront idea and heading to Chez Panise.

That's very true, even for people like me that live near the wharf.

Despite a long coastline, SF doesn't have a huge number of waterfront restaurants.

It's at the wharf and part of a small chain, but McCormick & Kulettos in Ghiradelli Square provides reasonable seafood at sensible prices and has a nice view of Alcatraz and the bay.

I had a horrible meal at Skates - overpriced, poor service and cool (which should have been hot) food. The view isn't that great either - certainly wouldn't leave sf to go to Berkeley for this!

In the ferry building are Hog Island Oyster and Slanted Door (vietnamese - high end) - which have great/good views and good food - but not "high end" (eg white table cloth, quiet) ambiance. The ferry building also have some great shops for artisinal foods- fun to walk around and some samples (eg olive oil)

The food report doesn't surprise me; I've seen other reports of its being very inconsistent. And no, if one is in the city you wouldn't want to make a special trip given the number of really, really good restaurants there.

But I stand by my point of view that for someone who doesn't live in the Bay Area and see such views every day, the view at sunset, particularly, can be absolutely stunning.

epic roasthouse

butterfly

East view:
Epic Roasthouse
Waterbar
Slanted Door
Waterfront Restaurant
Butterfly

West View (for sunsets)
Cliff House
Beach Chalet


However great the scenery might be, the waterfront dining options are pricey and nowhere near the culinary accomplishments of other "inland" restaurants.

Here's a thought: if you want good waterfront experience in San Francisco, try out The Ramp for lunch, if it is sunny when you're in town.

I'll respectfully disagree, given how Greens is on the waterfront. I know not everyone agrees, but a lot of food critics have included it among The City's great restaurants.