If you're going to be in the Haight, check out Rosemunde Sausage on Haight, about 2 blocks east of Divisidero. Gourmet sausages, everything from duck to lamb to much more exotic, depending on what they have on hand. Also, if you're a music fan, hit Amoeba records, at the west end of Haight where it hits the panhandle of GG Park. Biggest selection of pretty much every kind of music you could want.
There are a few good Thai restaurants--unassuming mom and pop places--on Post just west of Union Square--Ar Roi and Thai Ginger plus another that I forget the name of. Used to eat at these all the time after work and they never disappointed.
Ditto to the market in the old Ferry building. Cowgirl Creamery in there has excellent cheese.
If you're going to Napa, plan on picnic-ing. There's a spot called Oakdale Grocery on the way there from SF that is a foodie's wet dream. They have everything you'll need to build a delicious--though a little pricey--lunch. I'm a sucker for Coppola's winery, not a huge fan of the wine but he has a little museum upstairs with Duvall's surfboard from Apocalypse Now, Vito/Michael's desk from The Godfather movies, all of Coppola's Oscars and a lot more. Good place to take a movie fan who's not 100% into the idea of a winery trip. Also, in downtown Napa there's a food museum called COPIA that's nice. It won't blow your mind or anything, but it's an interesting visit. Lots of stuff on the history of food, Julia Child donated a lot of $$$ and the restaurant in the museum is called Julia's Kitchen. She donated the wall from her kitchen to them and it was re-installed there.
Sonoma is a good trip as well. It's less pricey, less touristy than Napa.
If you're going to Monterey, whale watching is great fun.
Ditto on North Beach, no need for a dinner reservation just walk up Columbus and pick a spot. Any of them will be fine, most of them will be very good.
Skip Starbucks and find Peet's coffee shops while you're there. They are based out of the Bay Area and are excellent roasters.
If there were one thing I would say is a must-have in SF, it's fish tacos at El Chachanilla at 21st/Harrison. You go up to a window in the side of a building and place your order. You get a piece of fried fish laid out on two very small white corn tortilla. (Don't worry, the fish is so lightly breaded you'll barely know it's fried.) Then you dress up your tacos with a selection of salsas, cilantro, onion. You take them inside, and enjoy. While you're down here, in the Mission, check out some of the murals and the churches, esp. the Mission Dolores on 16th, which is beautiful.
I used to work for Hyatt, and in my time with them worked at both the Hyatt Regency and the Grand Hyatt as revenue manager, which is the guy who decides how much you're paying for a hotel room on a given day. So if you have any questions about booking a hotel room in SF, feel free to PM me, I'd be happy to give you a little advice.
John  |