I went to San Francisco expecting a long weekend of good food and mild weather.
What I got was the best clam chowder of my life, a near-international incident involving a Yoda statue, and a cioppino that I am still thinking about weeks later.
This is the complete guide to everything I ate, drank, and experienced across 72 hours in San Francisco. Eight places. Multiple neighborhoods. One very full fat guy from Brooklyn.
Where to Stay: Hotel Emblem
Artsy boutique hotel in Union Square. Blue Bottle Coffee in the lobby solved the morning problem immediately. Walking distance to everything I wanted to eat.
Read the full Hotel Emblem San Francisco review
First Stop: Hamburguesa Bar
Landed, dropped my bags, walked fifteen minutes for duck fat fries. No regrets. The Hatch Chile Double Smashburger was loaded and well priced.
Read the full Hamburguesa Bar San Francisco review
The Napa Day Trip: Mustard Grill
Nobody told me Napa was ninety minutes from San Francisco. Mustard Grill has been open since 1983 with a tagline that does not lie: sorry, everything is delicious. The hanger steak cooked over open fire was the standout. Third best meal of the trip.
Read the full Mustard Grill Napa review
First Dinner: House of Prime Rib
My friends scored a reservation for four. The martini comes with a sidecar shaker, the spinning salad bowl is tableside, and the King Cut is enormous and 21 day aged perfection. Number two meal of the trip.
Read the full House of Prime Rib San Francisco review
Second Night: Osso Steakhouse
Tucked inside the Presidential building near the Performing Arts Center. The happy hour Philly cheesesteak stole the show.
Read the full Osso Steakhouse San Francisco review
Last Day Lunch: Billingsgate
I wanted pure seafood. Richard recommended Billingsgate in the Mission. The clam chowder was the best clam chowder I have ever had. I am still thinking about it.
Read the full Billingsgate San Francisco review
Last Meal Before the Airport: Goldenette
A modernized 1950s diner at its best. The fancy smash burger had perfect balance. Also I did not steal the Yoda statue. That is my final statement on the matter.
Read the full Goldenette San Francisco review
The Best Meal of the Trip: Sotto Mare
I hate lines. I tried three times to get into Sotto Mare. The best damn crab cioppino at $54.95 fed three people. Number one meal of the trip, not close.
Read the full Sotto Mare San Francisco review
The San Francisco Rankings
- Sotto Mare
- House of Prime Rib
- Mustard Grill Napa
- Billingsgate
- Hamburguesa Bar
- Goldenette
- Osso Steakhouse
- Hotel Emblem
Final Thoughts on San Francisco
San Francisco surprised me. The food is exceptional across the board and the proximity to Napa is something nobody warned me about.
Would I go back? Absolutely. I have a running list of places I did not get to that is already longer than the list I actually completed.
As always, what do I know? I am just a fat guy from Brooklyn trying to survive the week, one martini at a time.
Looking for more NYC restaurant reviews? Check out my Best Steakhouses in NYC, Best Burgers in NYC, and Best Restaurants in NYC lists.