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Coffee Shop · Northern Waterfront · 18 tips and reviews
heat: Opened with the local creative professionals in mind, this is a great place to get a delicious coffee and a healthy breakfast. For lunch try the Turkey Burger with corn salad & the Chicken Enchiladas.
633 Battery St (btwn Jackson & Pacific), San Francisco, CA
Café · North Beach · 39 tips and reviews
heat: Serving Blue Bottle Coffee and various breakfast and lunch items, this is a quiet place to have a quick catch up with your boss about how awesomely he/she treats you.
Pier 17 (btwn Embarcadero & Green), San Francisco, CA
Dessert Shop · Northern Waterfront · 62 tips and reviews
heat: This is a chocolate factory started by the minds behind Wired Magazine. They give tours twice daily, but the real reason to go is for a very good Mocha! Opens at 9:00 AM.
heat: Serving Blue Bottle Coffee, this is a new all-organic SF chain. They offer homemade granola and seasonal fruit atop an acai-based puree. Plant also has a sit- down restaurant for lunch and dinner.
520 The Embarcadero (near Broadway), San Francisco, CA
Pier · Northern Waterfront · 14 tips and reviews
heat: This is a long narrow pier that jets out into the Bay. Walk down for gorgeous views of the Bay Bridge and reverse views of the Transamerica Tower. Benches line the boardwalk.
Basque Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 54 tips and reviews
heat: Pre-made sandwiches and salads. The staff is always cheery, and the close proximity cannot be beat. I recommend the Mandarin Chicken Salad or Mr. Williams Sando.
heat: Numerous food trucks set up the LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH. Most are cash only, and the lines can be epic. But on a nice day, this is a cool place to go chill and catch up with our hip neighbors.
Hunan Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 20 tips and reviews
heat: This is a decent spot for group lunches, and one of the closest options to the office. Not the healthiest cuisine, but you can ask for your selections with low oil and no salt. Two words: Meat Pie!
Burrito Restaurant · North Beach · 22 tips and reviews
heat: If you’re craving some authentic cantina-style Mexican food, walk down to the truck and get a meat and bean burrito. No hassle, no frills, perfect!
298 Pacific Ave (at Battery St), San Francisco, CA
Pub · Northern Waterfront · 51 tips and reviews
heat: Good ole fashioned pub goodness served in a brick-walled space. It sits on the site of an “Old Ship” wreck from the mid-1800s. Teri says to get some chips with cheese and sausage or peppercorn gravy.
Sandwich Spot · North Beach · 109 tips and reviews
heat: An ever-changing menu keeps this lunch-only spot very attractive for our attention span. Get the best fried chicken sandwich in the city (actually, the world) here on Tuesdays - only. CLOSED MONDAYS.
heat: Typical deli/convenient store, with a twist. The staff are blunt and fast. Know your order before getting called, because it’s a whirlwind process. Grab an apple and Turkey Avocado on Dutch Crunch.
475 Sansome St (at Commercial St), San Francisco, CA
Salad Restaurant · Financial District · 39 tips and reviews
heat: The line will be long, but the concept is fun. An all organic salad bar, you can pick from pre-made combinations, or create your own unique salad. Try the Maui or the Bachelor.
525 Commercial St (at Sansome St), San Francisco, CA
Burrito Restaurant · Financial District · 64 tips and reviews
heat: Tlaloc offers fresh organic ingredients grown at their own farm in Sonoma County. The mole is the best in the area, and their seafood menu is a nice alternative to the heavy beef traditions.
373 Columbus Ave (at Vallejo St), San Francisco, CA
Deli · North Beach · 101 tips and reviews
heat: An old fashioned deli with jolly Italian staff. It gets crowded, and can take awhile, but their sandwiches hit the spot. Grab a number, and spark a conversation with the guy next to you in line.
1 Ferry Building (at Market & Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Mexican Restaurant · Financial District · 60 tips and reviews
heat: Beware of dive-bombing pigeons inside the restaurant (no lie), but the grub's worth the adventure. Every item is delicious: sopa de tortilla, fish tacos and chilaquiles. Get the carnitas tacos, spicy.
1 Ferry Building Ste 41 (The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Financial District · 102 tips and reviews
heat: The menus change constantly to keep up with the seasonal ingredients. Il Cane Rosso is inspired by old Italian meaty fare, with the rotisserie as a focal point. Order at the counter, and find a seat.
1 Ferry Building Ste 48 (The Embarcadero), San Francisco, CA
Breakfast Spot · Financial District · 60 tips and reviews
heat: We love these small food “store front” establishments. Some of our favorite meals have been served here. Boulette’s Larder is fresh and local, with a perfect salad or sando for any day of the week.
heat: The official bar of the ad ghetto. On a nice, summer night, the crowd spills into the street, and if you’re not careful the hours, and bartab, get away from you. A comparison to Cheers is eminent.
461 Pacific Ave (at Montgomery), San Francisco, CA
Wine Bar · Jackson Square · 30 tips and reviews
heat: One of the newest Jackson Square neighborhood additions, Barrique offers a unique wine-tasting experience. The bar acts as a communal table where the ‘tender pours wine straight from the barrels.
Pier 23 (btwn Battery St & Green St), San Francisco, CA
Seafood Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 147 tips and reviews
heat: Known for it’s prime outdoor deck, Pier 23 is a happy hour staple for the Northeast corner of SF. Get a bucket of Coronas and some apps. I like the Burrata Plate (not on the menu!) and the Sliders.
500 Sacramento St (at Sansome St.), San Francisco, CA
Irish Pub · Financial District · 38 tips and reviews
heat: I’m including this as a sports bar solution that’s close by. Not that this is the best in the city, but if you’re looking to catch the end of the Giants game on the way home, this is convenient.
242 Columbus Ave (at Pacific Ave), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · North Beach · 118 tips and reviews
heat: This Art Deco bar is a cozy solution for the nightcap. A favorite to local celebs like Sean Penn, the drink specialty here is called the House Cappucino: Ghiradelli Chocolate, Steamed Milk, & Brandy.
12 William Saroyan Pl (Columbus Avenue), San Francisco, CA
Dive Bar · North Beach · 63 tips and reviews
heat: Right next to Tosca, this is truly opposite to that experience. A very low-frills, cash-only bar with an equally low-key atmosphere for getting away from the daily grind. Divey. Beaty. Grimy. Lovey.
1265 Battery St (btwn Filbert & Greenwich St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 37 tips and reviews
heat: I typically never recommend chain restaurants to anyone here in SF, but I will make exception for “Il Fo." Look, it’s close, it’s good, and doesn’t have to be expensive.
155 Columbus Ave (at Pacific Ave), San Francisco, CA
Cocktail Bar · Chinatown · 217 tips and reviews
heat: Old fashioned drinks are served with “traditional” saloon fare like Fried Rabbit Toast or Beef Shank & Bone Marrow Pot Pie. Esquire Magazine listed Comstock in its 2011 list of Best Bars in America.
Seafood Restaurant · Financial District · 20 tips and reviews
heat: One of the first sustainable seafood restaurants in town, George’s offers inexpensive GOOD food. Happy Hour offers select wines and beers for $5 and a list of bar bites that are all under $20.
1800 Montgomery St (btwn Bay St & Francisco St), San Francisco, CA
American Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 166 tips and reviews
heat: Right across the street from the original Heat offices, this place has history! This is a great place for 5-7 friends to catch up. Their specialty is RIBS! Don’t be afraid, they’re delicious.
220 California St (btwn Front St & Battery St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Financial District · 125 tips and reviews
heat: Bustling with the financial crowd, you can easily ignore their arrogance for a fun Italian experience. In the tapas sense, the menu is full of smaller plates that you can share with your company.
Mexican Restaurant · North Beach · 179 tips and reviews
heat: Mexican in North Beach? Yes. Their chips & salsa are some of the best in SF. The goal? A fancy approach to Mexican street food. Multiple taco varieties to choose from, all less than $10 for a pair.
heat: One of the most awarded pizza chefs in San Francisco (9-time world champion), Tony Gemignani only makes 73 of his famous Margherita each day, so get there early!
Basque Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 54 tips and reviews
heat: The influence is Basque, but the preparation is in the familiar simple California way. If you’re looking for a place to get a quick glass of wine with Stoney, bring him here.
American Restaurant · North Beach · 61 tips and reviews
heat: A true foody will appreciate Coi, with its very elegant dining rooms and pleasant, knowledgable waitstaff surrounding some of the best cuisine offered in SF.
470 Pacific Ave (at Montgomery St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Jackson Square · 78 tips and reviews
heat: We are very lucky to have Quince so close, as many need to travel across town to indulge this way. Make sure the expense is pre-approved. Or better yet, bring Elder.
490 Pacific Ave (at Montgomery St), San Francisco, CA
Italian Restaurant · Jackson Square · 235 tips and reviews
heat: Truly rustic Italian food from a 2011 James Beard awarded chef, this place has my heart. Like Delfina, Cotogna makes delicious simple pastas and pizzas.
244 Jackson St (btwn Battery & Front St), San Francisco, CA
Steakhouse · Northern Waterfront · 98 tips and reviews
heat: 5 = 5 Senses, and A5 = Wagyu marbled beef from Japan. This is a modern, lively steak lounge with a celebrated bar scene. A touch of Vegas high-rolling, if you will.
Greek Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 263 tips and reviews
heat: Should the agency and a client need a private dining experience, Kokkari has the perfect room, and cuisine that brings a group together. It’s all delicious, you can’t order wrong.
56 Gold St (btw Montgomery & Sansome), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Jackson Square · 111 tips and reviews
heat: Tucked down a quiet alley, Bix stands alone. Consistently on the Chronicle’s Top 100 Restaurant list, nothing in San Francisco means old glamour like this.
558 Sacramento St (at Leidesdorff St), San Francisco, CA
New American Restaurant · Financial District · 321 tips and reviews
heat: This is a keeper. The food? Amazing! Fresh popovers accompany the delicious house specialty: Fried Chicken! But there’s more: you must order the Mac-N-Cheese, Deviled Eggs, and Bacon-Wrapped Dates.
Peruvian Restaurant · Northern Waterfront · 232 tips and reviews
heat: Ceviche is from Peru, and it’s delicious. Drowned in citrus, raw seafood is combined with other fresh ingredients. There is a fun bar on the Embarcadero side, if you want to just sip some wine.
heat: Prices are high, I guess you pay for convenience. For lunch, there’s a great salad bar, and tons of panini sandwiches over in the deli. These are more moderately priced.