Choosing from San Francisco’s unlimited restaurant options is an overwhelming task, especially when you’re trying to make a good first impression on your date. Don’t worry! The Ambiance Matchmaking team has selected San Francisco’s best restaurants for your date, based on the food and drink menu, location, and overall vibe.
JACKSON SQUARE
COTOGNA
Located in San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square, Cotogna (‘quince’ in Italian) is a popular, rustic-modern eatery serving spit-roasted or grilled meats and fish, wood-oven pizzas, and house-made pasta. Cotogna shares a deep partnership with Fresh Run Farm in Marin County. The farm grows dozens of varieties of heirloom produce exclusively for restaurants. Cotogna is a complement to the adjoining Quince Restaurant, Chef Michael Tusk’s celebrated fine dining establishment.
Address: 490 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
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CHINATOWN
MISTER JIU’S
Set in a restored historic space with high style, Mister Jiu’s offers high-end Chinese cuisine with a Californian accent. Although the cooking technique is Chinese, Mr Jiu’s takes the food to a whole new level by adding western influences in the dishes they serve.
Address: 28 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
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SOMA
MISS SAIGON VIETNAMESE
Miss Saigon falls in between hole-in-the-wall and ritzy fusion. Their long menu of classic, authentic Vietnamese will not disappoint, and their staff is so nice we want to hug them. The interior is filled with funky decor and the background music is perfect for easy conversing. Highly recommended.
Address: 100 6th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Menu
SAN MATEO
RAMEN PARLOR
Ramen Parlor is your go-to place for the best ramen in the city. Try the Spicy Garlic Lobster Pork dish and you won’t be disappointed. The lobster oil adds a new layer of depth to the broth without overpowering it.
Address: 901 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401
Menu
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
TADICH GRILL
Tadich Grill is an old, historic, narrow restaurant serving fresh seafood for over 166 years. Dark wood paneling with large mirrors covers the walls and Art Deco brass and milk-glass light fixtures hang from the fifteen-foot ceiling. You can’t go wrong with ordering last night’s catch broiled, sautéed, or grilled.
Address: 240 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
Website
CAFE BASTILLE
Visit Paris in San Francisco! Cafe Bastille has a great date night atmosphere with dimmed lights, candlelight, soft music, and one of the best outdoor terraces in downtown SF. This Parisian-style bistro is located on Belden Place, a tiny hidden alleyway which is a gem in itself.
Address: 22 Belden Pl, San Francisco, CA 94104
Website
PESCADERO
DUARTE’S TAVERN
Duarte’s Tavern is in Pescadero, a coastal farming community, so quiet in the morning you can hear the waves crash on the beach two miles away. The tavern is an American country cooking joint, combined with spiced by the Portuguese roots of the Duarte family. They offer local fish depending on the week’s catch and a tavern menu of simple dishes, nothing fancy. Almost all of their vegetables and fruits are from the restaurant garden or grown locally. Wines come from the Santa Cruz mountains, and you won’t be disappointed by their Bloody Mary.
Address: 202 Stage Rd, Pescadero, CA 94060
Website
MARINA / COW HOLLOW
BLACKWOOD THAI
Blackwood Thai offers two fireside communal tables out front that give way to an interior of pillow-equipped banquettes and marble table tops. Their menu features Thai staples, such as pad Thai, egg rolls, and tiger prawns, but expect to find some unique creations, such as the BW Burger, seasoned Wagyu with white cheddar, cilantro aioli, and sesame Thai salad on a brioche bun. YUM!
Address: 2150 Chestnut Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
Website
PACIFIC HEIGHTS
FRESCA PERUVIAN RESTAURANT
Julio Calvo-Perez and his wife Zoila arrived in California from Peru in 1978. Always imprinted in Julio’s mind are the enriched aromas of his grandmother’s kitchen back in his hometown of Lima. Gathering Peru’s exotic cuisine with San Francisco’s dining flare, Fresca has helped pave the way for the City’s Peruvian Restaurant Craze.
Address: Many locations – check the website.
Website
COLE VALLEY
PADRECITA
You can’t go wrong in this colorful Mexican restaurant serving excellent ceviche, tamales, mole poblano, and an assortment of cocktails. Choose from the many seating options, including a heated outdoor patio, the first come first serve bar area, the main dining room, or the second dining floor which is much more intimate. This seasonal restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients from their sister farm in Sonoma, Oak Hill Farm. All of their original, and sensational, dishes are made from scratch each day.
Address: 901 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
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