$50-75

The chic Fifth Floor restaurant acts as a culinary and visual bridge connecting the Bay area and executive chef Laurent Manrique’s native Southwestern France. The menu is both refreshingly modern and faultlessly traditional, with one dish having a provenance traced to King Henry IV’s table. Fifth Floor’s décor enhances the experience of regional pastiche, with a color scheme that evokes the landscape of both regions. Cool ocean blues mingle with sandy ochres and wine reds, colors that embody not only the surrounding Bay area, but simultaneously transport the diner to Southern France. An evening at Fifth Floor is an exploration …

Quietly tucked within the Hotel California, at the edge of San Francisco’s infamous Tenderloin district, Millennium presents a unique marriage of socially-conscious vegan food and the exacting standards of fine dining. Chef Eric Tucker brings to life a wide range of exceptional vegetarian dishes, relying on the natural vibrancy of his produce and a gift for innovation to make each morsel complete—in spite of a total absence of meat. A small but robust wine list, focusing on organic and biodynamic options, rounds out the mission of sustainability. Millennium is an ideal choice for vegetarian diners looking for something more, or …

Centrally located on Post Street just off of Union Square, Postrio is the sort of restaurant San Francisco is famous for. Innovative food that draws from a myriad of cultures, a wine list that has both breadth and depth, a well-designed interior adorned with the works of famous local artists, and an atmosphere at once refined and relaxed makes Postrio one of the finest restaurants in the Bay. Priced reasonably enough for regular fine dining, the restaurant also offers standout dishes to turn any occasion into a special one.

It may be surprising to find a fine dining restaurant that specializes in familiar flavors when so many chefs prefer the exotic, but Town Hall takes the good ol’ American meal to its highest peaks. A large dining room designed to feel like an old school house provides an ambiance as comforting as the food. Executive Chefs Mitchell and Steven Rosenthal along with partner and maitre d' Doug Washington, share their love for refined tradition with dishes like Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Peanut Tasso Crusted Pork Chop. Some diners may even forget the surrounding skyscrapers of SOMA, San Francisco.

Kuleto’s embodies the vintage charm and refined class of historic San Francisco. Lavish marble floors and cathedral-like vaulted ceilings greet diners and immediately plunge them into an atmosphere of sublime sophistication. A 40-foot-long carved wood bar is a highlight, transported from the Palace Hotel and steeped in a history that precedes the 1906 earthquake. While the atmosphere is almost regal in its ostentation, Kuleto’s Northern Italian-inspired menu embodies the satisfaction of a home-cooked meal, albeit with masterful execution. Kuleto’s is an exercise in true sensual gratification, an immensely pleasurable feast for the eyes and the taste buds.

Aziza’s decadent Moroccan food and interior design makes this restaurant a San Francisco favorite. The design of the restaurant is a modern Moroccan atmosphere with hand-carved tables and mosaic glass candleholders adorned in tangerine, royal blue, and saffron. The menu has Moroccan dishes with a Mediterranean and California influence. The dishes are organic and locally produced, with unique and modern twists. Also check out the bar because the drinks are innovative and change according to what’s in season.

Once you locate tiny Gold Street, one slender block in San Francisco’s Jackson Square area, you’ve won half the battle. Now just look for the neon sign pointing the way inside and you will be lavishly rewarded upon entering Bix. The surprisingly spacious interior is pure elegance, like the dining room of a luxury Ocean liner from the 30’s. The lighting is dim, the cocktails are chilled to perfection, and whether you are on a sexy date or a buttoned down business dinner, you’ll know without a doubt that you have made the right choice. A sumptuous dinner awaits all …

Named after one of the Basque region’s signature dishes, Piperade combines accomplished Chef Gerald Hirigoyen’s robust and unique native cuisine with the Bay Area’s fresh and bustling vibe. Nestled between Telegraph Hill and the Financial District, this warm, chic restaurant attracts a lively crowd. Piperade’s menu focuses on fresh, savory seafood and gourmet touches, and even offers daily prix fixe lunch specials. The Cold Poached Foie Gras with black pepper, sea salt and apple compote as well as the Piperade with sautéed serrano ham and poached egg are promising selections that make this menu stand apart. With an inviting outdoor …

As the self-proclaimed “modern American restaurant with a New Orleans accent,” The Elite Café offers Southern-inspired dishes in an Art Deco dining space. You may reminisce about being in the Big Easy while you enjoy the house-made Biscuits and Gravy, the Fried Oyster Po-Boy, or the Roasted Quail with Cornbread. A cocktail list with the likes of a Cajun Martini – made with jalapeno-infused Skyy Vodka and jalapeno-stuffed olives – might even inspire you with a Southern sense of hospitality too. And let’s not forget the 100-bottle wine list either. The Elite Café hopes it can draw out the Southern …

Red walls create a warm, welcoming interior inside of Dosa, a restaurant located in the Mission district in San Francisco that serves up traditional Indian food to a multitude of guests. This restaurant happens to be named after its specialty: a crepe-like dish that is made with rice and lentils and served with your choice of topping and filling. There are many other traditional South Indian plates served at Dosa, and patrons unfamiliar with this cuisine might benefit from the Seasonal Tasting Menu that offers three courses. Adventurous folks can order from the regular menu, that offers not only Dosa, …

As Executive Chef and Owner Staffan Terje says, "You don’t choose who you fall in love with." To that same affect, diners may not have a choice but to swoon over the elegant experience a visit to Perbacco promises. A romantic ambiance is achieved through the restaurant’s showcase of exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and opulent accents of marble. Chef Terje’s menu delights the palate just as the décor treats the eyes, and presents a truly authentic selection of Italian dishes. For example, the Coniglio Al Civet, or Devil’s Gulch Rabbit, is rich and rustic in a spiced red wine …

Simplicity is bliss: local ingredients, fresh flavors, and charming surroundings, converge to offer a truly blissful experience at Spruce. This communal watering hole encourages diners to dine, socialize, and relax, with the help of a menu that highlights the very best of contemporary American cuisine. The in-house temperature controlled curing room caters to the impressive charcuterie selection, and up to 80% of the produce used at any time may come from the restaurant’s own private farm. Savory delights include the Hot and Cold Foie Gras, the Buttered Main Lobster, and the Charred Berkshire Pork Tenderloin.

Old World elegance woos modern sophistication at Scala’s Bistro through an ambience and menu that prizes classic presentation and quality. Rustic Northern Italian and Southern French influences converge in the restaurant’s traditional Parisian café setting, and Executive Chef Tim Nugent takes the opportunity to bring the European countryside to his patrons. Dishes like the Beef Carpaccio, Lemon Parsley Gnocchi, and the Seared ‘Loch Duart’ Salmon, hope to seduce you with their fresh and seasonal ingredients, while the 150 bottle wine list and classic cocktail menu compliment the cuisine and offer their own unique rewards.

Located on the second floor of the trendy Hotel Nikko, Anzu offers up a distinctive Euro-Japanese menu in an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Chef Barney Brown, a seasoned veteran of Asian cuisine, creates tasty and colorful sushi creations as well as a range of entrées from Miso Butter-Poached Lobster to Slow-Braised Boneless Beef Shortribs. Set in the heart of bustling downtown San Francisco, this fusion restaurant is a stylish retreat equally suited for a relaxed brunch with friends and family or a romantic evening with that special someone.

The Village Pub not only serves the appetite for food, but it also hopes to satisfy the entire being. Whether you’re looking to tread new ground, or you’re simply hoping to be greeted by the familiar, The Village Pub has the menu and character to keep you intrigued. Executive Chef Mark Sullivan constructs his contemporary American cuisine by drawing from classic French and Mediterranean traditions, and locally cultivated ingredients. The dinner menu highlights dishes like the Shaved Foie Gras Torchon, while the pub menu offers lighter fare – the Pork and Garlic Sausage is made in-house. The truly staggering wine …

Taste another side of Italy at La Ciccia, where the flavors of the island of Sardinia take center stage. Husband and wife team, Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan, introduce patrons to the tastes of their home land, and retain authentic cooking styles and ingredients. The Fregua cun Cozzasa e Zaffaranu is a fregula with mussels in a tomato sauce with San Gavino saffron, and the Pezza de Angioni cun Tuvara is a seared lamb tenderloin with mushrooms. Over a quarter of the Italian-centric wine list is devoted exclusively to Sardinia labels, and the earthy tones of the drink selections only …

Classic Roman Italian cuisine is balanced against the modern and sleek setting of Chiaroscuro Ristorante’s dining space, and reflects an artistic appreciation for contrasting visual elements that bring life to otherwise two-dimensional spaces. Chef Alessandro Campitelli ensures that his dishes are anything but flat by combining flavorful and fresh ingredients to compose specialties like the Tagliolini All’Amatriciana, homemade pasta mixed with caramelized onions, imported guanciale tomatoes, and romano cheese, and the Abbacchio Alla Griglia, grilled Australian lamb served with a polenta soufflé topped with a baked egg and gorgonzola cheese.

While traditional, classic, Italian cuisine has been a hit with diners all over the world for centuries, the owners and chefs at È Tutto Qua strive to infuse cutting edge recipes and techniques from Rome into their menu. Located in the heart of North Beach, È Tutto Qua does an excellent job keeping up with the latest trends in Italy, but the focus is always on quality ingredients and superb service. Meats and fish arrive fresh daily, pasta is made in-house from scratch, and many ingredients aren't added to your dish until right before it heads to your table. Knowing …

Revel in an evening of intimate and flavorful dining at Rue Lepic, in Nob Hill. Executive Chef and Owner Michiko Boccara has constructed a refined menu that showcases her aesthetic for Japanese artfulness and her knowledge of French technique. Two impressive variations of the “Chef’s Menu” offer five courses that give patrons the opportunity to experience Chef Boccara’s range. One menu has you begin with the Seafood Pasta; move on to the Soup of the Day; savor the Garden or Caesar Salad; delight in the Lobster Tail sautéed in a lemon butter sauce; then end on a high note with …

Located in the Hotel Majestic at 1500 Sutter Street, the Café Majestic is a romantic establishment that serves Italian-American cuisine. Chef Efrain Garcia creates magical dishes that are both colorful and flavorful. Favorite dishes that guest’s rave over are their Veal Picatta and Scaloppini, Eggplant Parmesan, and Chicken Cacciatore. Their establishment also includes the Butterfly Lounge, a majestic bar environment that serves classic cocktails and signature drinks. The Café Majestic offers great dishes in a magically environment.