Meet For A Drink Restaurants

Amelie

Address: 1754 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Amelie
$$
In need of a short vacation, romantic rendezvous, or a hip hang out? Head over to Amelie Le Bar a Vin on San Francisco’s Polk Street. This wine bar has a wine list that is 125 bottles strong and representative of a trip around the world. Their list also changes regularly in an effort to keep things fresh and exciting, however, they still hold on to a grouping of favorites. Amelie serves contemporary French cuisine along with an inventive list of cocktails and beers. The bar’s atmosphere is buzzing with the city’s energy while retaining that “neighborhood bar” feeling since …

Yield Wine Bar

Address: 2490 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Yield Wine Bar
$$ New
Infused with the flavors and colors of the seasons, San Francisco’s Yield Wine Bar invites guests to come in and try something new. They believe in providing high quality dishes and wines that won’t break the bank. Yield’s cuisine is a contemporary American and Thai fusion. The menu is full of unique combinations and flavors sure to entice any palate and Yield’s knowledgeable staff is more than happy to recommend dishes and wine pairings. The ambiance is tranquil and romantic with a hint of excitement and complete with a chic decor. Yield is a great place to swing by for …

Palomino

Address: 345 Spear Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Palomino
$$
At Palomino, guests can feel like they’re visiting the happiest place on earth. With a menu boasting “The Everyday Happy Hour,” Palomino’s suggests pairing their all day $5 drink specials with a special brand of upscale bar snacks such as Prosciutto Flatbread, Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Potatoes Gorgonzola. Who can resist? Palomino serves up California style cuisine with a touch of something special. With selections for both lunch and dinner, patrons can drool over their signature entrée’s, steaks, pastas, and pizzas—more notably their Wild Mushroom, Cured Ham, and Goat Cheese Flatbread, a customer favorite. Located on San Francisco’s …

The Stinking Rose

Address: 325 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94113
The Stinking Rose
$$
Vampires beware! The Stinking Rose is known throughout San Francisco as being the number one restaurant for fans of garlic and excellent food. Located in North Beach, the restaurant goes through over 3,000 pounds of the garlic each month, and diners visit again and again to indulge in the Californian-Italian cuisine. The Stinking Rose is best known for its Dungeness Killer Crab: a fresh crab weighing over two pounds and roasted in a secret garlic sauce until succulent and juicy. The garlicky goodness extends to the rest of the restaurant’s menu, which includes seafood skillets, tureens, surf and turf, pastas, …

Cha Cha Cha

Address: 1801 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117
Cha Cha Cha
$$
Located in Haight-Asbury, San Francisco’s most colorful Historic district, lies a Tapas restaurant and bar that revolutionizes the marriage of healthy dining and intense flavor. Caribbean and Cajun flavors are staple of importance at Cha Cha Cha, a restaurant that can prove that eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat bland. Serving up spicy, hot dishes such as Lechon Asado (roast leg of pork), and Arroz Con Pollo (roasted chicken with spicy vegetables), guests can be introduced to new flavors as well as dine on classic flavors. With options for lunch and dinner as well as drinks and dessert, …

Grand Cafe

Address: 501 Geary Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Grand Cafe
$$$
For a taste of authentic French cuisine plated with a healthy side of Old World opulence and charm, the Grand Café Brasserie and Bar is the place to visit. The restaurant dining space draws the eyes up to the 30-foot high ceilings with regal architectural elements and impressive columns that hearken back to the days of Art Deco luxury. To complement the space and offer a welcomed balance of inviting fare, the Grand Café menu presents guests with a plush selection of classic French brasserie cuisine dishes firmly rooted in seasonal freshness and flavor. Linger over a delightful drink at …

The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar

Address: 950 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94108
The Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
$$
Exclusively located at the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco, The Tonga Room and Hurricane Bar is sure to let you get your tiki on island style. All platters from their extensive menu are served “family style” so they can be enjoyed by all in attendance. Specialty concoctions served in coconut glasses combined with their tropical décor and Pacific Rim cuisine amount to a unique experience as you are whisked away on a short tropical vacation right in the middle of San Francisco. Come join in the concept of ohana as you become a part of The Tonga Room and Hurricane …

Prospect

Address: 300 Spear Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
Prospect
$$$
Prospect is the more casual concept in SoMa from the team behind San Francisco's acclaimed Boulevard. Partners Nancy Oakes, Pam Mazzola, and Kathy King, together with Executive Chef Ravi Kapur, have created a lively, seasonal menu that pays tribute to contemporary American cuisine. Whether it's a cocktail and a bite at the bar, a casual meal at the communal table, or a relaxed dinner in the main dining room, guests can enjoy the full menu and exceptional service. The loft-like space is warmed by earth tones, natural fibers, and reclaimed wood creating an open, inviting environment to enjoy your meal.

Buena Vista Cafe

Address: 2765 Hyde Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Buena Vista Cafe
$
Since 1916, The Buena Vista Café in Fisherman’s Warf has been a San Francisco landmark. In 1952, with aid from Pulitzer-Prize winning travel writer Stanton Delaplane, the then-owner of the Buena Vista perfected the recipe for their now legendary Irish Coffee. The drink is so popular, the Buena Vista serves up to 2,000 Irish Coffees a day. Should you choose to bypass the Café’s claim to fame, there is a full bar that features a long list of specialty drinks including the Akvavit w/ Beer Snit, the New Orleans Fizz, and the Nutty Irishman. The kitchen serves traditional American fare …

Gather

Address: 2200 Oxford Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
Gather
$$
Embracing the term “Local” and running with it, the folks at Gather excel in sourcing locally grown and raised ingredients for their menu that boasts it’s 50% vegetarian. Located in the David Brower center, the greenest building in the East Bay-- Gather possesses a casual yet elegant atmosphere to cater to just about anyone. The interior consists of mostly reclaimed materials from the surrounding area, accenting their open kitchen. Boasting an ever-changing seasonal menu, Gather offers everything from vegan “charcuterie” to a grilled half chicken. Open for brunch on the weekends and lunch and dinner nightly, Gather sources up good …

Soluna Cafe & Lounge

Address: 272 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Soluna Cafe & Lounge
$
Soluna Café and Lounge is located a short walk from the Golden Gate Theater and the Bill Graham Auditorium. Offering a weekday happy hour from 2:30pm until 9pm, there is plenty of bar fare and drinks on special. Lunch is available during the week, and the dinner menu, which expands upon the lunch offerings, is diverse with its selections from Organic Mixed Greens Salad and Mac & Cheese to Creekstone Farms All-Natural Center Cut Rib-Eye with House Steak Sauce. Soluna Café & Lounge utilizes organic, all-natural or sustainable ingredients in all of its dishes. If you are looking for a …

The Northstar Cafe

Address: 1560 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
The Northstar Cafe
$
Since 1882, The Northstar Café has served the thirsty of North Beach strong drinks and cold beer. One of the areas longest and latest Happy Hour specials runs Monday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. and features $3 beers and well drinks. Free popcorn provided to those looking for a light snack. Board games and free pool keep guests entertained. A local favorite, The Northstar Café is a great choice to grab a drink in a friendly and casual environment after work, or just whenever.

Trattoria Pinocchio

Address: 401 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
Trattoria Pinocchio
$$
Trattoria Pinocchio offers diners an authentic taste of Italy on one of the busiest corners in North Beach. Heated sidewalk seating allows patrons to enjoy open air dining, even when the weather is brisk. Should guests choose to be seated inside, floor-to-ceiling windows offer the opportunity to people watch while enjoying the chic Venetian interior and sounds of Italian music. Owner and Chef Giovanni Zocca, a native of Sicily, offers a menu featuring homemade pastas, pizza, veal, seafood, and cioppino. Trattoria Pinocchio has a full bar with signature cocktails and a variety of Californian and Italian wines, so it’s not …

La Mediterranee

Address: 2210 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115-2222
La Mediterranee
$$
If you’re looking for a taste of the Middle East, La Medeterranee is the place to go to satisfy that craving. This eclectic restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine influenced by the flavors of Armenia, Lebanon, Morocco, Greece, and others. Located in the charming Fillmore District area, La Meditarranee offers indoor and outdoor seating with copper-plated tables, friendly and efficient service, a clean environment, and a menu of unique dishes. Some entrees to consider are the Lebanese Kibbeh with fresh ground lamb or the chicken drumsticks marinated in a pomegranate sauce. If it’s something cold you’d prefer, why not try the …

The Brick Yard

Address: 1787 Union Street, San Francisco, CA 94123
The Brick Yard
$$
Infusing a taste of California fusion with traditional American comfort food, The Brick Yard Restaurant in Cow Hollow offers patrons a lively environment in which to enjoy a delicious meal. Its menu utilizes ingredients sourced from local sustainable farms and growers, and all of its meats are organically farmed. With a full bar, it’s also a great choice for grabbing a refreshment while catching up with friends. Brick Yard specials include happy hour every weekday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., half-priced bottles of wine all night on Tuesdays, and weekend brunch including bottomless Mimosas starting at 9 a.m. Customers …

Farallon

Address: 450 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Farallon
$$
Step inside Farallon and feel yourself being whisked away to a mermaid’s paradise. Designer Pat Kuleto’s interior design is so stunning it looks like an art nouveau underwater palace, and may very well be a destination in its own right. Taking cues from the natural beauty of the underwater world, Kuleto fills the space with artful details like jellyfish lamps with graceful trailing tails, and conch-shaped rooms with booths that follow a natural spiral. While the décor is quintessential whimsy, the cuisine is very much rooted in reality, with the elegant, multifaceted creations of Chef and Owner Mark Franz. Franz’s …

Birk's Restaurant

Address: 3955 Freedom Circle, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Birk's Restaurant
$$
Hardwood grilled steaks, chops, and seafood have been the name of the game at Birk’s Restaurant since 1989. Lunch runs Monday through Friday from 11:15am to 2:30pm with a full menu. Starters include Buttermilk Onion Rings, Grilled Artichoke, and New England Clam Chowder. Salads like the Little Gem and Organic Baby Spinach complement main courses well, and Entrée Salads are available for a light lunch. The Barramundi Nicoise sandwich, Pulled Roast Chicken sandwich, and the Black and Blue Filet sandwich are available for patrons looking for something heartier. The Lunch Reserve List can satiate a craving for mid-day steak, chops, …

Loft Bar and Bistro

Address: 90 South 2nd Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Loft Bar and Bistro
$$
Loft Bar and Bistro in downtown San Jose is the hip spot to indulge in great drinks and fresh fare. Dining is three tiers with an upstairs and downstairs dining area and then a rooftop patio that is always bustling seven nights a week until 10:00p.m. Monday through Wednesday and until 11:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. The Loft has Italian hints on the carte du jour but falls more in line with contemporary American cuisine. Chicken Parmesan, Teriyaki Beef Short Ribs, and the Pork Picatta are meatier entrees. Fresh seafood peppers the appetizer section with fried Calamari, Smoked Salmon, Tuna …

Arcadia

Address: 100 West San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Arcadia
$$$
Located at the San Jose Marriott, Arcadia serves up a contemporary twist to classic staples of the modern American steakhouse. Breakfast specials consist of the Broken Yolk Fried Egg Sandwich, Arcadia French Toast and the Crispy Malted Waffle. Lunch features the Power Lunch, which offers diners a choice of salad or soup as well as an entrée for a low price. A la carte selections include Steak Frites, Truffle Risotto, Cobb Salad, as well as a number of burgers and sandwiches. Dinner finger foods such as the Lobster Corn Dogs, Truffled Popcorn, and Oysters Rockefeller will prime your appetite for …

Vim Dining & Desserts

Address: 2238 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Vim Dining & Desserts
$$ Recommended New Editor's Pick Outdoor Seating
Vim Dining & Desserts is a restaurant located in Santa Cruz, California, at 2238 Mission St. The establishment offers a variety of dishes, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, and desserts. They also serve a selection of craft beers and wines. The interior of Vim Dining & Desserts is modern and sleek, with a mix of booth and table seating available. The restaurant features an open kitchen concept, allowing diners to see their food being prepared. In addition to their food and drink offerings, Vim Dining & Desserts also hosts various events throughout the year, including wine tastings and live music performances.