A good friend is in town for work all week, any suggestions of places to check out? Spicy is always wanted, but maybe best Sushi, or anything else that is good will work as well.

He is downtown, so anywhere in the area or within a reasonable range should work.

 

King of Thai Noodle House on 420 Geary near Macy's at Union Square is where I always go when I'm downtown shopping

 

chuckeats.com

our local TS food critic

 

Have him go to Cha Cha Cha on Mission. That place is happening all week long, they make good mojitos and their tapas are awesome. I especially like the arroz con pollo....

 

My experience with Cha Cha Cha on Mission last summer was actually terrible and I'll never go back - I used to enjoy going to the one on Haight 10-15 years ago but when I went and tried the one on Mission last summer for the first time I was actually incredibly unimpressed. I'm not sure if my tastes changed as I have gotten older (less focused on the females/scene than the food/drink), if they changed ownership or I was just there on the wrong day but I would definitely say to skip it based on my last meal. We tried 4 or 5 of the tapas plates and ordered a mojito, and it was the worst mojito I'd ever had and the tapas were nothing to get excited about. It's definitely a different scene than Cha Cha Cha but for tapas style food, I have had good experiences with Pres a Vi right inside the gates to the Presidio right near the Spielberg complex at the end of Chestnut Street.

 

Go to Cortez. It's on Geary near the Clift Hotel. It's the best Tapas restaurant I've ever been to. Also, I would check out Harris Restaurant, if you are in the mood for a good steak.

 

I've heard of Cortez, I'll have to check it out. The Cha Cha Cha on Haight is definitely better, but I've yet to have as bad a meal as you mentioned at tht one on Mission.

 

I'll check out Cortez next time I'm downtown and try Cha Cha Cha again next time I'm down in the mission - that last meal was definitely a downer but I really used to to enjoy the energy at the other one so it's probably worth another shot. Robert what are your recommendations for places down near Gilroy / Morgan Hill area? I'm usually North of Santa Clara on the peninsula side of the bay but occasionally pass through your area and would enjoy checking out some new places.

 

Cortez is decent (Union Square area) but sometimes full of tourists... Cha Cha Cha is awlays yummy, but is in the Mission or the Haight, not even close to downtown.

Some suggetions...

Mexico D.F. for some of SF's best upscale Mexican food...

Mexico DF San Francisco

For Italian, try Perbacco...

PERBACCO: San Francisco Ristorante + Bar

If you really want sushi, try Ozumo...

Ozumo - Contemporary Japanese Cuisine

For contemporary CA cuisine (and if you want to see where the GAP, Inc. gals hang out after work), try Americano inside the Hotel Vitale...

AMERICANO Restaurant & Bar

All of these are downtown in Financial District, and have good scene/eye candy.

 

there's nothing in downtown SF that would make it on my blog actually, i'm going to Aqua tomorrow b/c the broker is paying for it; hopefully it will be better than last time.

Boulevard is OK for lunch; but dinner is a waste of money; if it were a car, it would be an e320.

- chuck