I absolutely love food, and I always make a point of trying as many new restaurants as possible. Living in San Francisco the last few years, I've been to tons of restaurants all around the city, at every price point. Yet I find myself coming to these 6 restaurants time after time. Here are my most reliable restaurants in SF:
1. Cotogna — Somewhat pricey Italian restaurant in Little Italy
Funnily enough, when Mehmet Can (my good friend and co-founder) visited me last summer in San Francisco this was the first restaurant I took him. Although Mehmet Can hasn't become a fan, I absolutely love this Italian restaurant in Jackson Square. They always have some of the best pasta dishes in the city and the ambiance is on point. If you're in the city in early summer make sure to try their morel garganelli, it is to die for.
2. The Bird — Affordable fried chicken sandwiches by FiDi
The Bird is my go-to restaurant every time I find myself in downtown. It serves one of the best fried chicken sandwiches I've had anywhere, and at $10.25 per chicken sandwich it is incredibly affordable by San Francisco standards. When you are in the mood for a great yet affordable dinner, this is the spot.
3. Blue Barn — Great sandwiches and salads by the Marina
One of my favorite summertime activities is a lazy picnic on Marina Green. And Blue Barn is my trusted sandwich supplier. They have a few spots in the city (and a new one opening soon on Carl Street, yay!) but the Steiner location on Chestnut and Steiner is my favorite. They have awesome hot sandwiches and salads (my favorite is the "Skirt Sandwich" and my mom adores the "Waldorf Salad with grilled shrimp"). The location is great to grab a sandwich to eat on the Marina Green or by the Palace of Fine Arts nearby.
4. Heritage Restaurant — Approachable 3-course menu in Richmond District
I love this American restaurant in the Richmond District (not to be confused with Richmond in North Bay). They have a seasonal 3-course tasting menu that always hits the spot, and at just under $50 is quite reasonable by our admittedly outrageous San Francisco standards. It's definitely one of my top spots in the Richmond area, and a great spot after a visit to GGP or the Presidio.
5. Taqueria El Farolito — Unassuming taqueria in the Mission
In the years when I lived in the Mission, and later in Potrero, this was my 2am taco and quesadilla spot. A lot of people have a lot of opinions on what the best tacos are in the city, and this is mine. I specifically like the super quesadilla here, and whenever I find myself craving late night Mexican this is still my go to.
6. Horsefeather — Bar & food on Divisadero
Speaking of restaurants that weren't good enough for Mehmet, here is another. Admittedly I only ever get the one dish here (two piece fried chicken), but it's the right dish to get. The cocktail selection is quite interesting, and all of the cocktails I tried were really good. The location on Divis is quite convenient too, you can stop here after seeing the painted ladies a couple blocks away, or get dinner before going out to one of the many bars lining Divisadero like Mini Bar or the Emporium.