San Francisco Restaurant Run-Down

There's a conversation going on over at Chowhound and participants are separating restaurants into several categories.  Here's my list, with a bit of a twist on the categories.  There is no priority within the category - the restaurants are just listed how they came out of my head.

Restaurants that I know to support local farmers are marked with an asterisk (*). 

You'll probably notice that I don't have a ton of super high-end restaurants on the lists.  I feel much more comfortable at the mid-level places, especially in San Francisco.

I'm not a meme girl, but if I were, this would be a fun one to pass around - dontcha think?

My creme de la creme:
*A16
*Coco500
*Zuni Cafe
Bodega Bistro
*Pizzetta 211
Absinthe   
Maki
Pesce
The Helmand
*SPQR

Favorite Hole in the Walls:
My Tofu House
Yummy Yummy
Darbar
San Tung
El Tonayense Taco Truck
La Palma Mexicatessen
Chavo's
La Corneta
*Primavera Stand at the FPFM

May be a favorite, but I need to go a few more times:
Alembic
*Delfina
*Pizzeria Delfina
*Kokkari
Cav
Ino
*Rubicon
*Canteen
Dosa
*Foreign Cinema
*Slanted Door
*Spruce
Koo
Sebo

Liked it better the second time
*Piccino
*Nopa

Underwhelmed by, but may retry given the overwhelmingly positive reports:
Bar Tartine
Maverick (I've gone for brunch only)
*Incanto (retried in 1/08.  No longer underwhelmed.)
*Nopa (moved up 12/2007)
Piccino (moved up 11/25/2007)

Underwhelmed by, and no plans to return:
*Bacar (pre Robbie Lewis)
Acquerello
Ozumo (pre Mike Yakura)
Cassis
Nua

Cannot wait to go to:
*SPQR (Moved up, 10/1/07 then moved up again 11/7/07)
Sebo (tried 02/08.  Moved up.)
*Quince

Haven't been, and want to go:
*Aziza
Ame
Ducca
Bar Crudo
Spork
Perbacco
Ritz Carlton Dining Room
Myth
*La Folie
Terzo
1550 Hyde
Zushi Puzzle
Nua (moved, 11/7/07)

Comments

[Hedonia]

Oh, how sad am I to see Acquerello on your no-go list? We share a few want-to-gos. Want to go?

[jen maiser]

That's exactly what I was hoping would happen -- that people would offer to go with me to the want-to-go's. :) Just say when ... now that I know you're alive!

Re Acquerello, it's the one that I debated about the most on the list. To me, it was just underwhelming and the atmosphere rather stuffy. Things are well executed, but nothing I've eaten there sticks out. At a different price point, it would probably go into the "willing to try again" category, but it's pricey.

[Jane]

Wanna go Bar Crudo or Perbacco?
Also, Sebo is a Need to Go for me too.
I went to Quince when it first opened and it is one of the most expensive restaurants I've ever been to. Very good, but best to go on someone else's tab.

[Clare]

We have a Helmand here in baltimore, Aghan food I believe. Supposed to be really good. Is that what yours is? How interesting, could it be the same owners.

[jen maiser]

Jane, YES. :)

Clare, Wikipedia says that the Baltimore Helmand is related. I knew there was a related one in Cambridge, but you should try the Baltimore one! The owner is the brother of Hamid Karzai ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamid_Karzai

[Sean]

Cool! Well I can say that Sebo, Terzo and Aziza are all on my fave list -- so maybe I'll let you try those with another newbie. On the mutual desirables list, I see SPQR (Maybe after the buzz dies down), Bar Crudo, Spork and Nua. Ritz Carlton is also on my to-do list, but that's gonna have to be like a birthday or anniversary or something. Perbacco I've only had tastings of, and would like to check out for a full meal, though I've gotten wildly discrepant reports on it. Also on my to-do list is a revisit to La Ciccia, Front Porch, Gialina, Mission Beach Cafe and Walzwerk -- in no particular order.

[sam]

don't let Sean have ALL the fun - you have a potential dining partner in me too. There are lots of goodies on your list.

[erin]

I know you wrote this ages ago, but now that my first grad school semester is over, I'm catching up on my foodblog reading! Your list makes me long for a trip to SF!! I loved my visits to Coco500 (though I REALLY hate the name for some reason), Pesce and Zuni Cafe. I hope by now you've had a chance to taste Bar Crudo or Aziza--also two of my favorites.

I know I should have nothing to complain about here in NY, and I don't, really, but your list makes me realize some of my absolute favorite meals have been in the Bay Area.