I've had the buffet many times at the San Francisco location, and it's terrific. I am a buffet hater/snob usually, and this one is really good. I also enjoy the entrees when I go for dinner. I understand there are good Indian choices in the South Bay, but for San Francisco, Amber India is the best I've found.

-----
Amber India
Mission and Fourth, San Francisco, CA

For your Monday night dinner, either Aziza or Lafitte are unique, only-in-San Francisco, special places that are much better than Waterbar (which is a could-be-anywhere-despite-the-view, expense-account, soulless place). Lafitte has the view too, and idiosyncratic cooking. Not sure why you chose A16, as mentioned it's Italian, and not a destination restaurant imo, and a pain to get from that neighborhood to SFO.

-----
Aziza
5800 Geary Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94121

Lafitte
5 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

I confess that previous truck visits (51st State, Le Truc) have made me cool on the whole genre. Chairman Bao won me back. The steamed garlic tofu bun was delicious; the baked braised pork even better. Enough greenery with both to make me feel I had a BIT of vegetables with the carbs and fat (not what my doctor orders, but something). And so delicious I am going to be waiting for their return to Ritch Alley, near my office. In fact I'm only doing this writeup to help me bide the time for the next visit.

-----
Chairman Bao
San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

Cafe Jacqueline is a souffle restaurant. Very romantic and set in the middle of North Beach, which is a fun area for tourists to walk around. It is certainly unique. Not sure it's cool though. I really liked it, and you could definitely eat/have wine for $100.

-----
Cafe Jacqueline
1454 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133

Although I have been to earlier incarnations of this space dating back to Chez Michel, this was my first visit to Baker & Banker and I was blown away. My friend and I each had 2 glasses of wine, an appetizer, and main course, and the bill was $150, which I consider a bargain because the food was as good as any of the top San Francisco restaurants. We shared the smoked trout/celery root latke and pork belly/winter vegetable salad starters; then I had the duck breast and wasn't willing to share, nor did she want to part with her black cod. Everything was perfect, as was the service. (I think I insulted one of the owners by trying to tip her for my coat.) I would rank this food well above Quince and Spruce, for example, and it seemed like less money
.

-----
Baker & Banker
1701 Octavia Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

Agree. Quince to me is like Spruce: impeccable/unobjectionable, but for all that money, I want to be dazzled by the food not just the atmosphere. I like the chef to take some chances.

My list is new/changed in the last 5 years

Atelier Crenn
Lafitte
Aziza
And I agree with Canteen on mariacarmen's list. (I also love Sociale, but don't think it's on the Great list.)

-----
Sociale
3665 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94118

Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123

I recently saw La Rondalla on Valencia -- mainly known for its year-round Christmas decorations, but known by me as the first Mexican food I ever had, in the 70s -- had closed. The sign is still there.

I think Waterbar is soul-less and could be found (except for the view) in pretty much any US city. Haven't been to Farallon in a decade, but it's always been known more for decor than food.

I think Lafitte would be a great choice. It's on the water; seats around the counter of the open kitchen (I believe there is also a communal table, so you can be solo or meet neighbors). I like sitting at the counter and watching when I'm by myself. The menu varies but there is always seafood.

-----
Lafitte
5 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

The tasting menu is priced the same as, say, that of Quince, and I think the cooking is far more interesting and inventive. The two- and three-course menus also seem comparable in price but since I didn't try them (yet) I can't judge portion size.

Actually, Justin, we didn't do the pairings. But they pour generously enough that two glasses did me in! Enough so that I forgot to mention the dessert in my review. I'm not usually a dessert fan, and my friend is not usually a coconut fan, but there was some sort of bowl full (huge, really) of coconut foam, winter rhubarb, mint and other stuff TBD...we both stopped short of licking our plates, but just to appear refined.

I finally got to Atelier Crenn tonight, a couple weeks after it opened. It may sound strange to say that I felt Dominique Crenn was underrated, given her Michelin stars, Iron Chef appearances and Esquire Best Chef awards. But due to the Luce location, I felt she wasn't as recognized as she should be. This should change all that.

My friend and I had the Prelude to a Winter Night http://www.ateliercrenn.com/menus/Win.... In fact, the website (which doesn't reproduce the menu clearly) and the font size of the menu were my only criticisms. We couldn't read the menu clearly enough to see the prices.

I can't comment on each course but they were spectacular. Perfectly realized in almost every instance. The Truffle and Egg, for me, was perfection. My friend said that she would be content eating the Foie Gras, and nothing but the Foie Gras, for the rest of her life. The Walk in the Forest salad was spectacular and I usually eat salad as obligation instead of thrill.

Dumb Yelpers have complained about portion size. All I can say is, we both are completely full, satisfied but not sick. And the tastes will remain with me for a long time. I think this is cooking at an adventurous, yet earthy and authentic level. The atmosphere is lovely -- we could hear each other despite a full room -- and I plan to have a private party in the back room the next time I am celebrating something.

I have eaten at almost all the top restaurants in San Francisco, and there is no one cooking more interesting, personal and high-level food than this chef. I am thrilled to write the first Chowhound review, and if I'd had less wine perhaps I could give more details. :)

-----
Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123

I'd go to Lafitte. I took a friend from NYC who said there is nothing there like it. Russell Jackson's cooking is inventive, locavore but not precious like I find Chez P. Great views of the Bay/Bay Bridge.

I've been a fan of Dominique Crenn since I discovered her at Luce. National press seems to "get" her cooking better than locals, and Luce was not a great location for people to discover her. But her food was fantastic, second to none in San Francisco in my opinion.

My first visit to Atelier Crenn is ten days away -- much to my chagrin. I know why I can't get there before then, but I am surprised to read nothing about it on Chowhound. And although early Yelpers are raving, I don't trust their judgment....anyone here planning a visit soon? It's in the old Plumpjack space...

-----
Atelier Crenn
3127 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94123

RN74 - Michael Minna's less formal restaurant.

-----
RN74
301 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

I liked the food much better than DezzerSF, but I agree about the service. I had a coat with me -- it was a rainy night -- and it kept slipping off the banquet (the booths are cozy and lovely but not spacious for 4) and no one offered to take it from me until our waitress almost stepped on it and offered, minutes before delivering our check. And we were engrossed in conversation, to be interrupted every time a course was delivered, by a waitperson who recited the ingredients we already knew about from the menu. Amateur hour indeed. But I loved the cauliflour creme brulee described above, will return to try more.

I'm with you, foodielass. We did go last night, and I'm thrilled I didn't get deterred by Bauer's review. The service was better than I experience at almost any SF restaurants -- friendly, knowledgeable. We LOVED our cold corn chowder starter, and steelhead with corn pudding (can't have too much corn for me) and a bearnaise that reinvented the sauce, and sturgeon with broccoli rabe for her. We ate in the outside-ish space (it's been called a tent, but we thought it was more like a porch), which in the weather we're having now is a bit of heaven. But I loved the look of the inside space and plan to go there on my own to eat at the counter. Maybe tonight. Russell Jackson is charming -- he came to our table because I dropped the name of a mutual friend, and he sent over a plate of "spam" ravioli which weren't on the menu but which were delish. But I promise you it takes more than a plate of ravioli to win my favor. I was won over by the inventive and well-executed food, the great setting, the reasonable prices, the uber-competent service, and the cute chef.

-----
Lafitte
5 The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA 94105

I have a res Saturday night (tomorrow) with a friend from NY. I wanted to show her something she wouldn't see there. Bauer's review gave me pause. I still really want to try it, but not to let my friend have a really bad meal on her one night in SF. Any thoughts?

We ate an early dinner at Farmstead. I second the praise of the service -- my friend is from NY and was stunned by the friendly reception :). Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the wine and steered me to a wonderful rose, not usually a choice for me but fabulous as she promised. One loser on the menu: the potted pork (and I think our waitress was steering us away from it, but we missed the signal). Covered in fat (and we both love eating fat), not that tasty. But the arugula salad was delicious, more than big enough for the two of us to share. And we each had the brick chicken -- again,one order would have been big enough to split. Fantastic: a bit spicy, perfect vegetables, as good a version of this dish as I have ever had. Will definitely be back.

-----
Farmstead Restaurant
738 Main St, St Helena, CA 94574

I completely disagree about Tony's not being destination-worthy. Their truffle pizza is incredible. (Most expensive thing on the menu.) And he is a pizza artist, worth talking to.

We've been there twice and had to have the same pizza both times: yes it's the most expensive thing on the menu ($38) but to have truffle pizza with lots of truffles, wild mushrooms, burrata....I am still dreaming about it. Plus a fantastic bartender who makes his own grenadine syrup (delish)....worth the wait. Best pizza in San Francisco, imo.

I'll accept pretension happily if the food is terrific. It wasn't.

I completely disagree on Camino. Underseasoned salad and main course. When you're only offering 3 choices per course, they should be special. None of ours (there were 3 of us so we tasted most of the menu) was worth writing up. The desserts were terrific. But I am put off by the too-precious attitude (c'mon, church chairs? not comfortable. My guest couldn't order a diet soda. What does it take to keep some beverage selection.) If this makes the top 100 I will be seriously shocked.

I like Flames' food better than Red's (but atmosphere nonexistent). 2nd Street, between Mission and Market. Fresh-ground burgers and hand-cut fries, great shakes.

Just to be clear, when our waitress finally arrived, she was fine, and attentive through the rest of the meal. It was the inept welcome that irritated me.

Myth was one of my favorite restaurants so I wanted to like Zinnia. I didn't.

First, I wanted a 7 PM res and opentable could only give me 6:30. I took it, but noted on the res that I wanted later if it became available. They called me at noon today to confirm and I wish I had asked again (my bad) but when I arrived at 6:30 there were only a handful of tables filled, and that was true when we left at 8:30.

Despite the empty restaurant (Tuesday night), they were inattentive. I had to wave a busboy down to get a waitress to take our drink order. Lots of staff, milling around, walking purposefully through the restaurant, but not making eye contact with the (few) actual guests.

We both had the mushroom soup -- very, very good. I had the short ribs and they were good. My friend had the black cod and didn't report on it. In short, good but not great food.

Good winelist and reasonably priced. But not enough to overcome poor service and inept reservation management.

I'm loving Amber India, I think it's the best Indian in San Francisco.

-----
Amber India Restaurant
25 Yerba Buena Lane, San Francisco, CA 94103

We took a demo class at the Santa Fe School of Cooking and it was a highlight of our two weeks in Santa Fe. Rocky Durham is an amazing showman and chef . We went to a demo class, which is not hands-on, but was entertaining and fun and inspiring, and ended with a lunch as good as any in Santa Fe, which is saying a lot. (We took the Traditional II class.) We had pork adovado, calabacitas, refried beans which was a new definition of that dish, tortillas (ditto), and finished with sopapillas better than we ever had. It inspired us to make our own Mexican meal a few days later, and that was a triumph. The School has more hands-on classes, and some for families.

-----
Santa Fe School of Cooking
116 W San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM

He chose a Radio-Couteau Pinot Noir but I don't remember the year/vineyard, just the markup (over 2X).