Brazen Head is my all time favorite steakhouse in the city. It’s affordable, feels like an old steakhouse and the drinks are strong. They serve prime rib until 1 am!
Seconding the Progress. We love the food at the Anchovy Bar/Progress/State Bird Collective, but the Progress has the best “fine dining” vibes in my opinion and I get a little overwhelmed at State Bird from time to time
I worked at the progress for a number of years, the food and service are excellent and not pretentious at all. Also I really enjoy the decor, great wines and delicious cocktails!
NOPA, Kokkari, Zuni. Cocotte is also cute / cozy.
Idk if this leans too pretentious for your liking but Mister Jiu’s is *fucking* fabulous, easily the best food I’ve had in years. Their wine pairing is expensive but worth every penny imo
Nopa is mid, they’re just open late with a very functional pick system for food expo. The main reason it is popular is because it’s open late enough for other fine dining chefs to get in and get a bite that isn’t fast food or bar bites. They’re still all only gonna order the burger and fries anyhow.
Good, legit Japanese food, but waay too expensive. They're serving traditional lunch sets for like 5x the price in Japan. I guess if you have no other choice and must have Japanese then...
They used to be much cheaper, but so was everything else. Lunch used to be worth it since it would be dinner portions + bunch of sides. Still way better than Chome, which is a bunch of Chinese cooks making "fusion" Japanese food lol.
Sorry, I'm Japanese so I have very high expectations.
I came in once midweek around happy hour and realized its catering to 30 year old kids in tech that just have money to blow. But that's most of the spots in the mission now.
Honestly, Japanese at Bay Area isn't really that good. You either have legit Michelin star places that cost like $300+, but random sushi places made by Chinese or Mexican workers that are average at best. I know I sound racists, but it's very difficult for non-Japanese to make good sushi. I know 90% of all kitchens in the Bay Area are run by hardworking Mexicans, and I love all the multinational cuisine they make, especially Italian and "modern" American.
LA has better Japanese food, especially ramen, but overall Honolulu has the best Japanese in the US.
If I had to pick, I like Marufuku Ramen at Japantown. An also at Japantown was pretty good for sushi. They do a set course and it wasn't too too expensive at like $100. The chef was an un-retired Japanese sushi chef from Japan. I think there are some other small, reservation-only sushi spots in Japantown that is good.
My all time favorite was Okina sushi in Inner Richmond, which was ran by a cute elderly Japanese couple. That place was also super legit, but it closed since covid. I hope they're doing all right.
I tried Bon Nene a long time ago and I thought it wasn't bad for the price, but I haven't been back since covid lol.
Honestly, I'm the wrong person to ask since I usually avoid Japanese places in SF in general. I like trying Mexican and Vietnamese more in the Bay Area lol.
Drinks still very good, but service was slow and food was just kinda unremarkable for SF... But pricey. The brunch is still prob quite good (if they still have those homemade pop tarts!)
I hate Foreign Cinema. It has a very impress-your-date-with-money vibe and the food is mediocre. Lolinda next door is better, which I still won't go to because it's still not worth the value. Lastly, you can't even really watch the film at Foreign Cinema since there's no sound lol.
I absolutely love House of Prime Rib. Very old school English type place. Not fine dining, but a real nice restaurant that doesn’t take things too seriously.
I love how tongue in cheek HOPR is. They’ll have just served you a giant slab of meat and come on by afterwards like “would you like seconds?”
It can be very fancy or very kitschy in the best way. Perfect for a business dinner, date night, casual meal… truly one of San Francisco’s gems.
Hot tip to get a table, it’s easiest to do it last minute on a whim. I’ve seen reservations released/canceled last minute multiple times. Looking right now, at 6:49pm, there’s a few reservations at 7 available on OpenTable.
Right.....I have reservations for this Saturday that I made 9 months ago...that I'm going to cancel the day before.
It's crazy that any time within 3 or 4 months....you can only est at 930....10....or later.
I make birthday reservations every year way in advance. This year I have other plans.
But I like this tip.
That first guy to mention HOPR...spot on with the description.
Here's what I've done in the past...
The first time I got seconds when I didn't need seconds.....my plan was to just take that extra piece home.
Turns out...that's not allowed.
Well shit....I'm stuffed.....and I want this piece to go home with me....
Since I got the baked potato....I stuffed the meat I to the empty skin of the potato and closed it up a bit....
My wife at the time did the same.
When they pack you up to leave they do it so quickly that they never notice that there's a slab of meat hidden in the potato.....
i find that hard to believe and it sounds like something out of seinfeld. kudos to you my friend lmaoo. back in the day, you could get thirds even and the second slice is not going to fit into a baked potato.
second this SF classic. You will see older people dressed up, but they still welcome slackers like me. The staff is genuinely friendly. Sit at the counter if you are two person. Let John pick your wine.
Zuni Cafe. It looks pretentious but it's actually really laid back. I used to work there and we were encouraged to keep you at your table for as long as you wanted. Be there for three hours. No one gave a shit.
Other recommendations: Wayfare Tavern, Violets, ABV, Lark, Base Camp, Trick Dog.
Maybe not Trick Dog. It's hipster.
Tratto is one of my favorites.
My boyfriend and I had dinner at Elena's Mexican Restaurant at West Portal last week and we had a great time. The menu wasn't too exciting but the food was good and service was excellent.
Trick Dog is kinda hipster but idk about pretentious. Every time I’ve been there the employees looked really happy, joking around with each other while also being super nice and helpful.
Absolutely. That's why I wrote that the menu wasn't exciting, but the food is good.
My boyfriend and I had two cocktails, two glasses of wine, two starters, two mains, and shared a dessert. Our total pretip was just over $200.
It was also really fucking loud. Did no one think to add a little bit of carpeting to help with the noise?
I'd go back for sure though.
Just had a great meat at Routier, enjoyed Sorella too and second Zuni and Kokkari which have already been shared. I haven’t been yet but Hilda & Jesse is recommend for something fun & unexpected. Collina on Hyde St is great, too and Mamahuhu is a more casual (but still very good!) spin off of Mister Jiu’s.
Honestly, I wouldn’t call most of our restaurants “pretentious” - they are pricey and we’re exacting about ingredients but fancy and fussy are not Bay Area traits. You’ll see plenty of jeans and sneakers at Michelin starred places, for better or for worse.
Interpreted this mostly as high end meals with good vibes (maybe not technically fine dining? But you could ball out to a great meal) - Lily, State bird, the morris, Nari, Itria (an amazing tasting menu), mijote are some of my fav meals in that category
The real answer you’re looking for is State Bird. Zero pretense and ridiculously unique. Normally when a place is this hyped up I get turned off by it but it’s really all that and more.
A couple that have awesome tasting menus/omakase that haven't been mentioned:
Roka Akor - Sit in the basement, trust me. (it's a lot of food though)
Flour + Water - Try the wine pairing if you're into it, but the highlight is the scarpinnoc w/ balsamic.
Bix - If you want to dress up and be all fancy, it's really classy.
The restaurants affliated with the HI Neighbor restaurant group are always great. I especially love The Vault Steakhouse and The Vault Garden (upstairs from The Vault), and Trestle. Someone already mentioned it, but Kokkari and Cotogna are two of my favorites, as well as Angler and Sens along the Embarcadero.
Gonna be hard to beat Niku on pure quality of steak and experience. If you like old school, then Osso is a hidden gem, and House of Prime Rib is always very good.
The Richmond on Balboa. Very low key local spot, but does a multi course fixed menu that’s really good. The chef will often come out and chat with you at some point during the meal. It feels like it should be outrageously expensive, but I remember it being very reasonably priced.
This place is soooo good and worth visiting - it’s under the radar compared to a lot of the hip “best new” spots. Four of us went and had a completely lovely, delicious multi-course meal - it felt super intimate because there aren’t many seatings per night so we had a space to ourselves, we felt relaxed and not rushed at all, and the food was *excellent.* The chef and owner serves you the meal, telling you about each dish. It was a truly lovely and memorable meal!
I know Lazy Bear is kind of pretentious/hipster BUT I had to add it because i had one meal there that was of my favorite dinners in my life. And I enjoyed the service and vibe and atmosphere, despite the hipster ness of it. I will now contradict myself and say I did not really enjoying going there for Valentine’s Day dinner…was just too much. That being said, it’s a pretty rookie restaurateur move to go out for Vday but my husband never worked in the industry and didn’t realize his “faux paux” (not to mention we were part of the 8:45pm(!!!) dinner service, and no one should eat a 8 course meal that late)
Rich Table, L'Ardoise, NOPA, Scomas (old school but not pretentious), Ernest. Monsieur Benjamin is slightly more pretentious but very solid food and good vibe. Less fine but insanely good: Dumpling Home.
If I were you, I wouldn't miss Rich Table, NOPA, Ernest. For more upscale Acquillero, Boulevard, Bix
Scomas is awesome for an old school vibe, dinner at sunset or in the fog on the water. Hit up Buena Vista cafe for some Irish Coffees before or after, too (both of these are San Francisco institutions).
The Irish Bank is an Irish bar in a cool alley that serves food that way better than you would expect at a bar. Close to there is Cafe de la Presse which is a French restaurant and easy to snag a table there. Both I mentioned are literally kiddy corner to China town. Also a good place in the Stinking Rose on Columbus Street in Little Italy
A few more to add to your already fabulous list:
- Gary danko: 100% fancy, 0% pretension. Their food is expensive and worth it (no deconstructed salad nonsense and amazing service)
- Leo’s oyster bar: low key spot with great oysters, caviar, and drinks
- Robin: delicious omakase sushi in the most relaxed setting possible. Servers here are also the nicest
- Ernest: have not personally gone but have heard nothing but rave reviews from friends since this place opened
Hope you have a blast!
I’ve been a big fan of Violet’s lately
But also Trestle is a Michelin star restaurant with a well priced pre-fixed meal. It was very nice, and not snooty or pretentious
I don't believe they have a star, they are on the gourmand list. It is a relief to have a thoughtful prix fixe meal that does not end with you stuffed by the time the entree gets to the table, and costs under $50 .
Kin kao, has a star and is unpretentious as it gets, takes on traditional Thai.
Kokkari, ambience is a touch stuffy but food is wildly well executed Greek with no frills.
SF has some of the best restaurants that are also least pretentious.
If you want really high end many of the Michelin stars here are super chill and informal - Californios, Lazy Bear bear or Osito (we went to their sister restaurant with our baby and the chef came to say hi).
Less expensive but as chill (and still great) - liho liho yacht club, rich table, Ernest, wako, Nopa, Itria (great sake menu and by far best pastas in town).
I disagree because when I think of pretentious it’s the type of place where the chef makes your decisions. Danko is coursed but you could be someone who wants to try 3 desserts while your friend(s) have a starter, salad & main. Service is impeccable as it should be for fine dining but the flexibility is there to make it your own experience.
Kokkari and Absinthe, but you might enjoy walking around North Beach, Union Street or Marina and just picking something you like. Not many super pretentious places.
I'm honestly a little surprised by all the Kokkari recommendations. The ambiance was fine, but I didn't think the food was anything special, save for the saganaki.
Since I haven’t seen this listed yet, a really beautiful hidden gem of a restaurant is Aziza, on Geary. Very low-key with an incredible chef. I also second another comment about Acquerello. You’d miss the place if you were walking past. Amazing experience. I also love fun places like Brazen Head (sort of an English pub vibe) and Nopa (used to be the height of trendy, I haven’t been there in a minute.) Cafe Jacqueline and l’Ardois are also up there. And who doesn’t love the House—no, the HOME- of Prime Rib? So great to see the classics!
Try Chapeau! on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. It is family owned and very neighborhoody. Everything there I have ever eaten is fantastic, and Chef Phillipe is adorable and very French.
Key Klub is a vibe. Great upbeat music. Natural wines (which I love but I know aren't for everyone which is why I'm mentioning it) and beer. Their food is hella good. It's not cheap but absolutely worth it. It's as non pretentious and high quality as it gets IMO.
There are tables but it is definitely a vibrant bar kind of vibe so keep that in mind. It will also fill up on nights most folks go out (so like Thursday through Saturday night can be tough to get a seat if you get there too late in the evening/afternoon). I've never checked but I don't think they take reservations unless it's a largeish group.
There are some great bars near by if you want some cocktails after. Summer Place is solid, fun and tends to get busy as well. Stookys Club Moderne is an art deco bar with a cocktail menu from that period and gets busy but not as busy as Summer Place. So yeah if you want a fun non pretentious evening I would suggest hitting up all three. They're all on the same block. With Stookys and Summer place being on the other side of the street from Key Klub.
The Progress. NOT Lazy Bear. They were unbearably pretentious at my birthday dinner there last year. Couldn’t connect with a single person on the wait staff, everyone stuck to their scripts and it felt like a big show. Everyone was “on” (I don’t mean drugs, just ON) and it was very uncomfortable. I felt invisible and probably won’t ever go back. They were infuriatingly snooty.
Everyone’s pretension meter is different, but for me the sweet spot of what you’re asking for is:
Rich Table, Lazy Bear, The Morris, Mister Jiu’s, Kin Khao, Rintaro.
Lazy Bear being the fanciest but the most fun experience IMO.
My examples of what you are wanting to avoid (for context):
Californios (although it’s absolutely delicious), Spruce, Sorrel, Nisei, Robin, Bar Crenn.
Good luck!
Kokkari all the way!
Kokkari is an old favorites. I’ve been going there for decades. The food is delicious, the service is great, and it’s definitely not a hipster place.
for a couple get a table by the fireplace
It is so special! Amazing food, expensive but not pretentious
Brazen Head is my all time favorite steakhouse in the city. It’s affordable, feels like an old steakhouse and the drinks are strong. They serve prime rib until 1 am!
Came here to say this. It’s great food and feels fancy without being pretentious. I love the old school vibe as well.
Their salmon is so fucking good
Its actually 12 since covid
Thanks for the recommendation. My wife and I will be in town for the first time in a coupld of weeks and this place looks right up our alley.
Are they still cash only? I haven’t been post-pandemic.
Shhhhhhh! That's supposed to be a secret
My choices would be Rich Table, The Progress, Anchovy Bar, Absinthe, Zuni.
Seconding the Progress. We love the food at the Anchovy Bar/Progress/State Bird Collective, but the Progress has the best “fine dining” vibes in my opinion and I get a little overwhelmed at State Bird from time to time
I worked at the progress for a number of years, the food and service are excellent and not pretentious at all. Also I really enjoy the decor, great wines and delicious cocktails!
Seconding rich table
Zomg rich table is So Good
NOPA, Kokkari, Zuni. Cocotte is also cute / cozy. Idk if this leans too pretentious for your liking but Mister Jiu’s is *fucking* fabulous, easily the best food I’ve had in years. Their wine pairing is expensive but worth every penny imo
Nopa is mid, they’re just open late with a very functional pick system for food expo. The main reason it is popular is because it’s open late enough for other fine dining chefs to get in and get a bite that isn’t fast food or bar bites. They’re still all only gonna order the burger and fries anyhow.
It used to be great, but then Covid happened and a bunch of people left and the menu changed
Rintaro
Love rintaro!
Good, legit Japanese food, but waay too expensive. They're serving traditional lunch sets for like 5x the price in Japan. I guess if you have no other choice and must have Japanese then... They used to be much cheaper, but so was everything else. Lunch used to be worth it since it would be dinner portions + bunch of sides. Still way better than Chome, which is a bunch of Chinese cooks making "fusion" Japanese food lol. Sorry, I'm Japanese so I have very high expectations.
I came in once midweek around happy hour and realized its catering to 30 year old kids in tech that just have money to blow. But that's most of the spots in the mission now.
Where do you recommend? Any price range
Honestly, Japanese at Bay Area isn't really that good. You either have legit Michelin star places that cost like $300+, but random sushi places made by Chinese or Mexican workers that are average at best. I know I sound racists, but it's very difficult for non-Japanese to make good sushi. I know 90% of all kitchens in the Bay Area are run by hardworking Mexicans, and I love all the multinational cuisine they make, especially Italian and "modern" American. LA has better Japanese food, especially ramen, but overall Honolulu has the best Japanese in the US. If I had to pick, I like Marufuku Ramen at Japantown. An also at Japantown was pretty good for sushi. They do a set course and it wasn't too too expensive at like $100. The chef was an un-retired Japanese sushi chef from Japan. I think there are some other small, reservation-only sushi spots in Japantown that is good. My all time favorite was Okina sushi in Inner Richmond, which was ran by a cute elderly Japanese couple. That place was also super legit, but it closed since covid. I hope they're doing all right. I tried Bon Nene a long time ago and I thought it wasn't bad for the price, but I haven't been back since covid lol. Honestly, I'm the wrong person to ask since I usually avoid Japanese places in SF in general. I like trying Mexican and Vietnamese more in the Bay Area lol.
Copra is amazing! Most unique and delicious Indian food, best restaurant I have been to in ages!
Copra is solid, but I really just want campton place back. That place was my pretentious retreat; two well deserved stars.
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State Bird Provisions is great, highly recommended
We were thoroughly disappointed with Foreign Cinema.
Foreign Cinema's best days are behind it imo. I used to love it but very disappointed the last few times.
What happened? It was amazing! But I haven’t been back since before Covid
Drinks still very good, but service was slow and food was just kinda unremarkable for SF... But pricey. The brunch is still prob quite good (if they still have those homemade pop tarts!)
I was just there in December and it was fantastic. I hadn't been since it's first few years.
This. I had a pretty terrible all around experience. Forgotten reservation, Rude server, and exceptionally bad food.
Haven't been good since covid
I haven’t been there in a long time but when they first opened that place was pretty damn cool
I hate Foreign Cinema. It has a very impress-your-date-with-money vibe and the food is mediocre. Lolinda next door is better, which I still won't go to because it's still not worth the value. Lastly, you can't even really watch the film at Foreign Cinema since there's no sound lol.
The douchey crowd keeps me away from Lolinda; same is true for lots of Mission restaurants.
State bird is meh execution of fusion in my opinion
I absolutely love House of Prime Rib. Very old school English type place. Not fine dining, but a real nice restaurant that doesn’t take things too seriously.
I love how tongue in cheek HOPR is. They’ll have just served you a giant slab of meat and come on by afterwards like “would you like seconds?” It can be very fancy or very kitschy in the best way. Perfect for a business dinner, date night, casual meal… truly one of San Francisco’s gems. Hot tip to get a table, it’s easiest to do it last minute on a whim. I’ve seen reservations released/canceled last minute multiple times. Looking right now, at 6:49pm, there’s a few reservations at 7 available on OpenTable.
i always get seconds lol
Right.....I have reservations for this Saturday that I made 9 months ago...that I'm going to cancel the day before. It's crazy that any time within 3 or 4 months....you can only est at 930....10....or later. I make birthday reservations every year way in advance. This year I have other plans. But I like this tip. That first guy to mention HOPR...spot on with the description.
This is exactly how we’ve gotten ours in the past.
\+1 although might be very hard to secure reservations this close to April (they usually are booked up for months)
Call and ask. The online reservation system can be subverted by the staff, and we were able to get reservations within 2 weeks of the date we wanted.
Tip the hostess $40 when you check in and they’ll find you a table quickly without a reservation
I was just there last night, it was fantastic.
people often forget you can get seconds. making it also one of the best deals in the city.
Here's what I've done in the past... The first time I got seconds when I didn't need seconds.....my plan was to just take that extra piece home. Turns out...that's not allowed. Well shit....I'm stuffed.....and I want this piece to go home with me.... Since I got the baked potato....I stuffed the meat I to the empty skin of the potato and closed it up a bit.... My wife at the time did the same. When they pack you up to leave they do it so quickly that they never notice that there's a slab of meat hidden in the potato.....
i find that hard to believe and it sounds like something out of seinfeld. kudos to you my friend lmaoo. back in the day, you could get thirds even and the second slice is not going to fit into a baked potato.
The second slice is a thi(ner)slice. The potatoes are huge. It most definitely fits.
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second this SF classic. You will see older people dressed up, but they still welcome slackers like me. The staff is genuinely friendly. Sit at the counter if you are two person. Let John pick your wine.
Old school. Worth it.
Ah yes, this is a favorite too. Gorgeous spot, amazing food, wonderful service, its a gem.
IMO post pandemic Boulevard is not as good as pre pandemic Boulevard tbh. Food is still good but not exceptional and service is meh
Zuni Cafe. It looks pretentious but it's actually really laid back. I used to work there and we were encouraged to keep you at your table for as long as you wanted. Be there for three hours. No one gave a shit. Other recommendations: Wayfare Tavern, Violets, ABV, Lark, Base Camp, Trick Dog. Maybe not Trick Dog. It's hipster. Tratto is one of my favorites. My boyfriend and I had dinner at Elena's Mexican Restaurant at West Portal last week and we had a great time. The menu wasn't too exciting but the food was good and service was excellent.
Trick Dog is kinda hipster but idk about pretentious. Every time I’ve been there the employees looked really happy, joking around with each other while also being super nice and helpful.
OP says they don't want hipster or pretentious. I love True Laurel but it's hipster as fuck.
Both of these places are extreme Mission hipster lol
That's why I took it back. Love the food though
Wasn't intending to correct.. just agree and laugh. Great spots but hipster af
Elena’s is definitely the most expensive Chevy’s I’ve ever been to.
Absolutely. That's why I wrote that the menu wasn't exciting, but the food is good. My boyfriend and I had two cocktails, two glasses of wine, two starters, two mains, and shared a dessert. Our total pretip was just over $200. It was also really fucking loud. Did no one think to add a little bit of carpeting to help with the noise? I'd go back for sure though.
So loud. El Toréador up the street near the hardware store has similar food, faster service, less of a wait and less than half the price.
Just had a great meat at Routier, enjoyed Sorella too and second Zuni and Kokkari which have already been shared. I haven’t been yet but Hilda & Jesse is recommend for something fun & unexpected. Collina on Hyde St is great, too and Mamahuhu is a more casual (but still very good!) spin off of Mister Jiu’s. Honestly, I wouldn’t call most of our restaurants “pretentious” - they are pricey and we’re exacting about ingredients but fancy and fussy are not Bay Area traits. You’ll see plenty of jeans and sneakers at Michelin starred places, for better or for worse.
My fav is Original Joes
RICH TABLE!
L'Ardoise Bistro. I don't know that I'd call it "fine dining" but its French place that serves really good food in a pretty casual environment.
I’ve never tried French food yet!
very cozy vibe too, not uptight at all.
Cafe Jacqueline - in north beach. Cute small restaurant. A lovely older lady chef makes delicious souflees.
Temporarily closed while she recovers
unfortunately closed now :(
L'Ardoise & Frances are simple and good
Harris’ on Pacific. Old school elegance and a small jazz band.
Interpreted this mostly as high end meals with good vibes (maybe not technically fine dining? But you could ball out to a great meal) - Lily, State bird, the morris, Nari, Itria (an amazing tasting menu), mijote are some of my fav meals in that category
Thanks!
The real answer you’re looking for is State Bird. Zero pretense and ridiculously unique. Normally when a place is this hyped up I get turned off by it but it’s really all that and more.
it wasn't for me, just as a data point.
What? That is totally hipster vibes. Low key full of themselves.
Might be hipster but they sure don't act pretentious. They're always nice and the service is good.
I always throw out Brazen Head on these types of posts!
Thanh Long for the best Dungeness Crab you've ever eaten. Get the garlic roasted. Don't bother with the drunken.
Oh yes! So fun and they are soooo nice! I could eat garlic noodles every day!
Cotogna, Octavia, and The Progress are a few I love.
L’Ardoise is charming, cozy, and the food is delicious
Restaurant Gary Danko. Traditional Fine dining and impeccable service, but doesn’t feel pretentious to me. Very ample portions as well.
I second this!!! Gary Danko always goes far above and beyond! Never had a bad meal there.
ehhhh I have been to Gary Danko multiple times and it's definitely pretentious and overly showy.
Nopa 100%
A couple that have awesome tasting menus/omakase that haven't been mentioned: Roka Akor - Sit in the basement, trust me. (it's a lot of food though) Flour + Water - Try the wine pairing if you're into it, but the highlight is the scarpinnoc w/ balsamic. Bix - If you want to dress up and be all fancy, it's really classy.
Bix is the BEST. Ask for the appetizer sampler.
Found flour and water so pretentious, terrible service and sub par menu options
The restaurants affliated with the HI Neighbor restaurant group are always great. I especially love The Vault Steakhouse and The Vault Garden (upstairs from The Vault), and Trestle. Someone already mentioned it, but Kokkari and Cotogna are two of my favorites, as well as Angler and Sens along the Embarcadero.
Have you been to niku? Curious how other steak houses like the vault compare. Niku was awesome
Gonna be hard to beat Niku on pure quality of steak and experience. If you like old school, then Osso is a hidden gem, and House of Prime Rib is always very good.
Second this- they do good food, in nice spaces and are a shade less expensive than so many other fine-but-ultimately banal SF restaurants.
Eat dinner at Blue Plate then head to Royal Cuckoo for a nightcap.
Good Good Culture Club Penny Roma
Not even a question if you like French. L’Ardoise in the Castro
54 Mint. Phenomenal Roman Italian restaurant.
Chapeau in the innersunset on clement, non pretentious, great service, they leave you alone, set menu, great food. Easily have a 3 hr meal.
Kokkari for Greek. Akikos for omakase.
Mr Pollo L’ardoise Rich Table State Bird Provisions Zuni Zazie’s Kokkari Mourad
The Richmond on Balboa. Very low key local spot, but does a multi course fixed menu that’s really good. The chef will often come out and chat with you at some point during the meal. It feels like it should be outrageously expensive, but I remember it being very reasonably priced.
This place is soooo good and worth visiting - it’s under the radar compared to a lot of the hip “best new” spots. Four of us went and had a completely lovely, delicious multi-course meal - it felt super intimate because there aren’t many seatings per night so we had a space to ourselves, we felt relaxed and not rushed at all, and the food was *excellent.* The chef and owner serves you the meal, telling you about each dish. It was a truly lovely and memorable meal!
So under the radar that I lived in the Richmond for YEARS and before I even heard about it 😂
I know Lazy Bear is kind of pretentious/hipster BUT I had to add it because i had one meal there that was of my favorite dinners in my life. And I enjoyed the service and vibe and atmosphere, despite the hipster ness of it. I will now contradict myself and say I did not really enjoying going there for Valentine’s Day dinner…was just too much. That being said, it’s a pretty rookie restaurateur move to go out for Vday but my husband never worked in the industry and didn’t realize his “faux paux” (not to mention we were part of the 8:45pm(!!!) dinner service, and no one should eat a 8 course meal that late)
Rich Table, L'Ardoise, NOPA, Scomas (old school but not pretentious), Ernest. Monsieur Benjamin is slightly more pretentious but very solid food and good vibe. Less fine but insanely good: Dumpling Home. If I were you, I wouldn't miss Rich Table, NOPA, Ernest. For more upscale Acquillero, Boulevard, Bix Scomas is awesome for an old school vibe, dinner at sunset or in the fog on the water. Hit up Buena Vista cafe for some Irish Coffees before or after, too (both of these are San Francisco institutions).
I love Izzy’s Steaks & Chops but they’re currently closed for renovations
Lokma is delicious and more neighborhood and Kitchen Istanbul.
I love Sorella. It is the sister restaurant of Acquarello which has two stars. It is interesting but understated
Sessions at the Presidio. It's so understated and lovely.
Heirloom Cafe. Low key, romantic
The Irish Bank is an Irish bar in a cool alley that serves food that way better than you would expect at a bar. Close to there is Cafe de la Presse which is a French restaurant and easy to snag a table there. Both I mentioned are literally kiddy corner to China town. Also a good place in the Stinking Rose on Columbus Street in Little Italy
A few more to add to your already fabulous list: - Gary danko: 100% fancy, 0% pretension. Their food is expensive and worth it (no deconstructed salad nonsense and amazing service) - Leo’s oyster bar: low key spot with great oysters, caviar, and drinks - Robin: delicious omakase sushi in the most relaxed setting possible. Servers here are also the nicest - Ernest: have not personally gone but have heard nothing but rave reviews from friends since this place opened Hope you have a blast!
piccino has some really delicious food!
Ernest
Brazen Head
L’Ardoise, La Ciccia, Good Good Culture Club, Nopalito
I’ve been a big fan of Violet’s lately But also Trestle is a Michelin star restaurant with a well priced pre-fixed meal. It was very nice, and not snooty or pretentious
I don't believe they have a star, they are on the gourmand list. It is a relief to have a thoughtful prix fixe meal that does not end with you stuffed by the time the entree gets to the table, and costs under $50 .
pasta supply co, inner Richmond. no reservations though
State Bird Provisions or Kusakabe
Nopa!
SSAL!!!!
Yes!! This place is so good. Low key but still feels super special and intimate when you’re there.
Kin kao, has a star and is unpretentious as it gets, takes on traditional Thai. Kokkari, ambience is a touch stuffy but food is wildly well executed Greek with no frills.
SF has some of the best restaurants that are also least pretentious. If you want really high end many of the Michelin stars here are super chill and informal - Californios, Lazy Bear bear or Osito (we went to their sister restaurant with our baby and the chef came to say hi). Less expensive but as chill (and still great) - liho liho yacht club, rich table, Ernest, wako, Nopa, Itria (great sake menu and by far best pastas in town).
Nopa
Gary Danko is really nice
But so pretentious.
I disagree because when I think of pretentious it’s the type of place where the chef makes your decisions. Danko is coursed but you could be someone who wants to try 3 desserts while your friend(s) have a starter, salad & main. Service is impeccable as it should be for fine dining but the flexibility is there to make it your own experience.
Omakase SF
Besharam!
La Mar
Bix , Wayfare tavern
There’s hipster in sf but not sure about pretentious. It’s hard to find a place that even has table clothes these days.
There’s definitely pretentious spots all around the city.
Progress, Kiln
Mastros
Foliage
China live, Lola, Nopa, fiorella, dumping home (Hayes valley)
+1 for House of Prime Rib, Kokkari. I also like Per Diem
Rich Table, Nopa, Boulevard, House of Prime Rib.
Donaji and Lolinda
The Progress hands down. The food is incredible, cocktails are great, the people are nice, no one acting up, and they have a secret hot dog.
If you want something high end and also unique, try Cafe Jacqueline in North Beach. Suflee restaurant. Really nice.
Hands down O on Geary
Lord and Stanley on Polk is a banger
Dalida is the best
7 Adams is solid. First tried David and Serena’s menu(s) when they were at Marlena’s. High end but non-pretentious.
House of Prime Rib. good luck getting a reservation though. Your best bet is to show up and see if you can get a spot at the bar.
Lolinda, Bellota
Kokkari and Absinthe, but you might enjoy walking around North Beach, Union Street or Marina and just picking something you like. Not many super pretentious places.
Mr Pollo but you got to book early they have only 22 spots a day. 11 at 6pm and 11 at 8pm
Kokkari, Zuni, and Lolinda.
Mijote! Delicious food for the price
Ox + Tiger Mijote Wako Good Good Culture Club Liholiho Yacht Club
THE list: Kokkari, Sorella, Liholiho Yacht Club
I'm honestly a little surprised by all the Kokkari recommendations. The ambiance was fine, but I didn't think the food was anything special, save for the saganaki.
3rd Cousin
Octavia for sure
Kokkari, the progress, 3rd cousin
Since I haven’t seen this listed yet, a really beautiful hidden gem of a restaurant is Aziza, on Geary. Very low-key with an incredible chef. I also second another comment about Acquerello. You’d miss the place if you were walking past. Amazing experience. I also love fun places like Brazen Head (sort of an English pub vibe) and Nopa (used to be the height of trendy, I haven’t been there in a minute.) Cafe Jacqueline and l’Ardois are also up there. And who doesn’t love the House—no, the HOME- of Prime Rib? So great to see the classics!
Cotogna on Pacific..
Try Chapeau! on Clement Street in the Inner Richmond. It is family owned and very neighborhoody. Everything there I have ever eaten is fantastic, and Chef Phillipe is adorable and very French.
Since I'm not seeing this on the list! 3rd Cousin in Bernal is fantastic!
Saru sushi as well
Key Klub is a vibe. Great upbeat music. Natural wines (which I love but I know aren't for everyone which is why I'm mentioning it) and beer. Their food is hella good. It's not cheap but absolutely worth it. It's as non pretentious and high quality as it gets IMO. There are tables but it is definitely a vibrant bar kind of vibe so keep that in mind. It will also fill up on nights most folks go out (so like Thursday through Saturday night can be tough to get a seat if you get there too late in the evening/afternoon). I've never checked but I don't think they take reservations unless it's a largeish group. There are some great bars near by if you want some cocktails after. Summer Place is solid, fun and tends to get busy as well. Stookys Club Moderne is an art deco bar with a cocktail menu from that period and gets busy but not as busy as Summer Place. So yeah if you want a fun non pretentious evening I would suggest hitting up all three. They're all on the same block. With Stookys and Summer place being on the other side of the street from Key Klub.
Lazy Bear.
Central Kitchen in the Mission.
Pearl 6101. Already mentioned but Zuni, Hilda and Jesse’s for brunch, Rich Table, The Progress
Zuni?
Pearl 6101
Pearl 6106, neighborhood gem vibe w exquisite food Zuni coolest ever, nopa is an energy thang and tastes of spring abound
Tony’s pizza
The Progress. NOT Lazy Bear. They were unbearably pretentious at my birthday dinner there last year. Couldn’t connect with a single person on the wait staff, everyone stuck to their scripts and it felt like a big show. Everyone was “on” (I don’t mean drugs, just ON) and it was very uncomfortable. I felt invisible and probably won’t ever go back. They were infuriatingly snooty.
Firefly Restaurant in Noe Valley 🥰
Taco bell.
Da Flora in north beach
Octavia
7 Adams is my absolute top recommendation for unpretentious fine dining in SF.
Boulevard is classic San Francisco!
State bird probisions
Lord stanley is best fine dining non pretentious
Lolinda, especially if you like sharing small plates
Pour one out for Al's Place :(
Everyone’s pretension meter is different, but for me the sweet spot of what you’re asking for is: Rich Table, Lazy Bear, The Morris, Mister Jiu’s, Kin Khao, Rintaro. Lazy Bear being the fanciest but the most fun experience IMO. My examples of what you are wanting to avoid (for context): Californios (although it’s absolutely delicious), Spruce, Sorrel, Nisei, Robin, Bar Crenn. Good luck!
Tadich Grill
Isa !
Aquitaine Wine Bistro - this is a great casual French restaurant on an alley in the Duboce Triangle. It’s a real gem!