Dining: Please your appetite in Bay City

Key Points

San Francisco has cuisine to satisfy many taste buds. From dim sum to gnocchi, use this guide to map out your dining tour of the city by the bay.

Note that price ranges for all restaurants are approximations based on dinner for one person plus beverage. Prices may be subject to change.

AMERICAN

Flora 1900 Telegraph Ave., 510/286-0100
Price: $$$
Specialties include grilled New York strip with house-made Worcestershire sauce, butternut squash souffle with mushroom cream sauce, and fish and chips.

CHINESE

Ton Kiang 5821 Geary Blvd., 415/752-4440
http://www.tonkiang.net/
Price: $
Ton Kiang holds the honor as top dim sum parlor in the city. Try the steamed dumplings and dim sum, salt-baked chicken, or crisp-skinned duck.

Shanghai 1930 133 Steuart St., 415/896-5600
Price: $$
The fragrance of freshly cooked seafood and steamed dumplings takes diners on a venture to China. Specialties include Shanghai dumplings (when available), shrimp with green tea essence, and firecracker chicken baked in chiles.

FRENCH

Jardiniere 300 Grove St., 415/861-5555
http://www.jardiniere.com/
Price: $$$$
This spot is near the opera and symphony. It specializes in seared scallops with truffled mashed potatoes and crispy duck confit salad.

La Folie
2316 Polk St., 415/776-5577
http://www.lafolie.com/
Price: $$$$
Sample the parsley and garlic soup with snails, roasted quail, and foie gras lollipops, or the braised beef short ribs.

INDIAN

Dosa 995 Valencia St., 415/642-3672
http://www.dosasf.com/
Price: $$
Indian food at this popular Mission District spot includes the dosa or thin crepes that are stuffed with various fillings.

ITALIAN

Bar Bambino 2931 16th St., 415/701-8466
http://www.barbambino.com/
Price: $$
There's an olive oil tasting on the menu, not to mention an impressive cheese room, in this Mission District restaurant. Specialties include meatballs with tomato and chard and cheese and salami service.

Delfina 3621 18th St., 415/552-4055
http://www.delfinasf.com/
Price: $$
The small, moderately priced restaurant features such entrees as Massachusetts dayboat scallops with Jerusalem artichoke puree and Pappardelle and pork sugo.

JAPANESE

O Izakaya 1625 Post St., 415/614-5431
http://www.jdvhotels.com/dining/sanfrancisco/oizakaya
Price: $$
In the newly refurbished and renamed Kabuki Hotel in Japantown, this restaurant resembles a Japanese pub. Small plates include braised pork belly on house-made kimchi, tempura mushrooms, seaweed salad, and sashimi.

Yoshi's San Francisco 1330 Fillmore St., 415/655-5600
http://www.sf.yoshis.com/
Price: $$$
Expect to discover some of the most innovative Japanese food in the Bay Area. Menu features dishes prepared from the robata grill and wood-burning oven. Specialties are sashimi, herb-roasted big-eye red snapper, and pork prime rib.

MEDITERRANEAN

Foreign Cinema 2534 Mission St., 415/648-7600
http://www.foreigncinema.com/
Price: $$$
Catch dinner and a movie at the same place. Food options include Northern halibut and artichoke and green bean salad.

Aqua 252 California St., 415/956-9662
http://www.aqua-sf.com/
Price: $$$$
Aqua continues to serve up some of the most inventive seafood in the United States. Such exquisite entrées include black mussel souffle or lobster pot pie.

SPANISH

Laiola 2031 Chestnut St., 415/346-5641
http://www.laiola.com/
Price: $$$
Spanish food in an airy California setting describes this Marina restaurant. Try crudo of Pacific lingcod with fennel, radish, and chopped egg, or steamed clams with chorizo.

Zarzuela 2000 Hyde St., 415/346-0800
Price: $$
The restaurant turns out tantalizing tapas at this Spanish-inspired restaurant on Hyde Street. It is known for its tortilla espanola. Other signature dishes include ham and cheese croquettes, roast duck leg in prune sauce, and grilled oysters in romesco sauce.

VEGETARIAN

Greens Restaurant Fort Mason Center,
Building A, 415/771-6222
http://www.greensrestaurant.com/
Price: $$$
Here the tofu tastes better than meat. But the real clincher is the extensive wine list. Sample the curries, tofu brochettes, and pizza.