this section is comprised of original capsule reviews i've written or compiled by other writers and previously published.

i've indicated places that i consider particularly "kid friendly," though many of those listed here are welcoming to children even if they don't provide crayons or have a dedicated children's menu.

i will be frequently refreshing this list, so please check back often! also, i'd love to hear about where you like to eat, so please drop me a line and let me know. — fm

African

Bissap Baobab
2323 Mission Street
826-9287
daily D; - $$; Kid Friendly

A funky, international café with a diverse clientele, serving West African fare and refreshing but potent cocktails made from homemade juice. Standout dishes include the spinach pastele pastry, the mafe with tofu in a peanut sauce, and the oniony chicken dibi with couscous.

American

Chow
215 Church Street
552-2469
daily B,L,D Sunday Br; - $$; Kid Friendly

For casual but well-prepared meals that will appeal to children and grown-ups, make your way to this popular place or their equally busy restaurant on 9th Avenue by Golden Gate Park. Terrific pizzas, salads, sandwiches, brick-oven roasted chicken, and daily specials at prices that’ll amaze.

Dottie's True Blue Café
522 Jones Street
885-2767
$; Kid Friendly

Open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Monday only. If you like a big breakfast featuring fresh baked goods, pancakes, omelets, and maybe a pork chop, get in line for one of the 11 tables packed into this tiny place. Lunch isn’t quite as crowded, but it’s equally good.

Eagle Café
Pier 39; - Fishermans Wharf
433-3689;
daily B,L and D; - $; Kid Friendly
A great alternative to overpriced Wharf restaurants, the Eagle is a lively institution known for large portions, hearty breakfasts, stiff cocktails and bay views.

Elite Café
2049 Fillmore Street
346-8668
daily D, Br Sat & Sun; - $$
This tried-and-true locals’ fave serves Cajun and Creole inspired seafood dishes in a cheery atmosphere. An excellent raw bar beckons and the Cajun brunch, with perfectly seasoned Bloody Marys, is worth getting up for.

Panchita's
3115 22nd Street
821-6660
daily L and D; - $$
Enjoy this mix of California and Salvadorian semi-fine dining. A great place for small groups or intimate, off-the-beaten path romantic dinners.

Park Chalet
1000 Great Highway
386-8469
daily B,L and D, Br Sat, Sun; - $$; Kid Friendly
Tucked behind the popular Beach Chalet, this newer and lesser-known sibling shares the same location but faces Golden Gate Park.  Food is simple and fun, including flatbread pizzas, fish & chips, burgers, soups and salads and a few more substantial entrees. For mom and dad there’s a full bar and a selection of beers brewed on the premises.

Park Chow
1238 9th Avenue
386-5758
daily L and D; - $$; Kid Friendly
Eclectic, casual dining after a day in Golden Gate Park. Excellent salads (try the Cobb), Asian noodle dishes, chops, mac 'n cheese, spaghetti and a mouthwatering flatiron steak. Very kid-friendly without being an overdone "family" restaurant.

Pork Store Café
1451 Haight Street
864-6981
daily B and L; - $
First opened in 1916 as a butcher shop, the Pork Store is now a classic diner, with a good lunch but an epic breakfast. Window seats provide amusing people-watching in the Haight; avoid the crowded weekends.

Rosamunde Sausage Grill
545 Haight Street
437-6851
daily L and D; - $
This tiny storefront grill just sells sausages – but what a variety! Wild boar, duck, chicken, smoked lamb – and even a spicy vegan sausage. A great alternative to pizza when pub-hopping  in the Lower Haight.

Taylor's Refresher
1 Ferry Building #6
328-3663
daily L and D; - $; Kid Friendly
High-end diner fare with a gourmet flourish. Taylor’s is famous for their burgers – patties are 1/3 lb. fresh ground, all-natural beef from Golden Gate Meats – as well as their decadent milkshakes, but you’ll also find mouthwatering grilled chicken sandwiches, uber-fresh salads, sweet potato fries and other diner faves.

Town Hall
342 Howard Street
908-3900
daily L and D; - $$$
Regional American classics like New Orleans-style smoked chicken gumbo are served up nicely in this remodeled, historic building in SoMa. Try the shrimp etouffée or the San Francisco favorite, cioppino (a type of fish stew).

Zuni Café
1658 Market Street
552-2522
daily L and D, Br Sun; - $$;
Make reservations and elbow your way past the crowded copper bar for the best roasted chicken and bread salad for two imaginable. The burger with shoestring potatoes has a cult following. Actually, everything on the California-cuisine based menu is going to be great.

California

Bix
56 Gold Street
433-6300
daily D; - $$$
San Francisco’s renewed taste for martinis requires swank digs and upscale munchables. Bix is a revival of the 1920s supper club, with tasty bites and live jazz.

Foreign Cinema
2534 Mission Street
648-7600
daily D; - $$$; Kid Friendly
Dinner and a movie gets a new spin at this popular, industrial-chic eatery. Diners can choose to sit inside to enjoy the innovative California cuisine, or better yet, dine on the heated outdoor courtyard where films are screened nightly on a concrete wall in back.

McCormick & Kuleto's
900 North Point Street
929-1730
daily L and D; - $$$
Ghirardelli Square seafood spot popular for fabulous views, a huge variety of fresh, imaginative seafood dishes and other American fare.

XYZ
181 3rd Street
817-7836
daily B, L and D; - $$$$
A popular spot with directors, actors and wannabes. The excellent, creative dishes combine fine local and seasonal vegetables, plus meat and fish in modern Californian style. There’s also superb service and a wine list featuring over 500 different varieties.

Carribean

Cha Cha Cha
1801 Haight Street
386-5758
daily L and D; - $
Smack dab in the middle of Haight-Ashbury, Cha Cha Cha is a fun place for tapas, Caribbean- inspired entrees and sangria. The crowd is young, hip and noisy.

Chinese

Empress of China
838 Grant Avenue
434-1345
daily L and D; - $
The only restaurant in Chinatown with a truly spectacular view gives diners a very good perspective on the neighborhood. The cocktail lounge overlooks Grant Street, while the dining room towers above Portsmouth Square. If you don’t eat here, at least stop by for a drink and enjoy the ambiance.

Far East Café
631 Grant Avenue
982-3245
daily L and D; - $
Food is good but not amazing, with all the standards of a Chinese restaurant. But the atmosphere is one of the best in Chi-town, with private booths, and century-old chandeliers.

House of Nanking
919 Kearny Street
421-1429
daily L and D; - $
Grungy, crowded, the reason for the lengthy line at nearly all hours is because this wildly popular spot, a locals’ favorite, serves outstanding, inexpensive, adventurous Chinese food. The no-nonsense owners/staff will tell you what’s good tonight. Listen to them.

Kay Cheung
615 Jackson Street
989-6838
Open daily for dim sum, lunch and dinner
This small, pleasant dining room serves delicious Hong Kong-style Chinese dishes at a great price. Offers an interesting selection of fresh seafood (plucked live from tanks) and dim sum. If you end up sharing a table, take an opportunity to learn about dumplings from the Chinatown regulars who come here in between their shopping excursions.

Yank Sing
101 Spear Street
957-9300
M-F 11am-3pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm; - $$
Dim sum place using fresh ingredients in a sparkling clean interior. Perfect for first-timers.

R&G Lounge
631 Kearny Street
982-7877
$
Open for lunch and dinner daily. Downstairs you’ll find excellent Hong Kong Chinese food served in a drab setting by bored waiters. The upstairs dining room is much more comfortable with attentive servers who can help design your meal. No matter where they seat you, don’t pass up the live spot shrimp cooked two ways.

Classic San Franciscan

Big 4
1075 California Street
771-1140
daily B,L and D, Br Sat, Sun; - $$$
The Big 4 is a manly place, named after the four “robber baron” railroad tycoons whose photos and memorabilia line the walls. Dark wood paneling adds to the men’s-club ambiance and the menu is suitably heavy on meat and game — from filet mignon and rack of lamb to wild boar chops. Eat heartily and enjoy.

Buena Vista Café
2765 Hyde Street
474-5044
daily B, L and D; - $$;
A San Francisco institution and home of legendary Irish Coffee, a delicious elixir made with Irish whiskey, frothed cream and coffee.

Sam's Grill
374 Bush Street
421-0594;
L M-Fri; - $$$
Although the three-martini business lunch may be a thing of the past, this old-school grill is still going strong after 125 years. Choose either the high-ceiling dining room or a private booth, and enjoy American cuisine free from pretension and impervious to change.

Tadich Grill
240 California Street
391-1849
daily L and D; - $$$
Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Tadich is a venerable institution that has been around in various incarnations since the Gold Rush, with wooden booths, white linen, and waiters as crusty as the sourdough. The menu of classics, includes lobster Newburg, crab Louis, and sand dabs. The cognoscenti order whatever fresh fish is available, grilled. Sidle up to the original mahogany bar, order a gin fizz and soak in old school San Francisco ambiance.

Washington Square Bar and Grill
1707 Powell Street
982-8123
daily L and D, Br Sat, Sun; - $$$
On Washington Square, and celebrated in countless San Francisco Chronicle columns, “The Washbag,” has had a culinary revival lately to equal its legendary atmosphere. Jazz and good times nightly.

Sushi

Blowfish Sushi To Die For
2170 Bryant Street
285-3848
daily D, L M-F; - $$$
An unconventional sushi restaurant catering to a western palate, (you’ll find appetizers and rolls made with sirloin, in addition to the standard nigiri selections), Blowfish Sushi has tasty and whimsical sake cocktails served in a swank atmosphere. It’s loud, and fun. For fugu fans, the restaurant is licensed to serve the Northern Pufferfish.

Sushi on North Beach
745 Columbus Avenue
788-8050
daily L and D; - $$$
This family-run Asian establishment is a real find in the middle of Italian North Beach. Unique rolls, good-sized pieces of uber-fresh fish, and sushi chef Katsu sets it apart from the rest.

Korean

Seoul Garden
22 Peace Plaza (at Laguna)
563-7664
daily L and D; - $
Savory meats cooked right at your table, with successful but unobtrusive flair. The meat is tender and succulent, but the spiciness is up to you. Never tried Korean? This is the place to start.

European

Kokkari (Greek)
200 Jackson Street
981-0983
daily L and D; - $$$$
An Aristotle Onassis–sort of Greek taverna with beamed ceilings, a massive fireplace, Oriental carpets, and huge dishes of rich food. (Don’t expect to see anyone intentionally smash a plate.) The crowd exudes a robust sense of well-being.

O'Reilly's Irish Pub & Restaurant (Irish)
622 Green Street
989-6222
daily B, L and D; - $; Kid Friendly
This re-creation of an Irish pub is a cozy place for a hearty brunch or any other meal, either in the cool, stoneworked interior, or on the pleasant sidewalk tables. Be sure to try the Guinness-battered fish & chips.

Suppenkuche (German)
601 Hayes Street
252-9289
daily D, Br  Sun; - $
One of the few German restaurants in the city, updated German classics – spaetzle, shnitzel, potato pancakes and wonderful, hearty soups – are served to diners sitting family style on long spartan benches. Around 20 beers (mostly German) on tap. Huge portions.

Zarzuela (Spanish)
2000 Hyde Street
346-0800
daily D; - $$
A sophisticated Spanish restaurant on the top of Russian Hill along the cable car route. This is a great place to drink sangria and share tapas or steaming plates of flavorful paella with a group of hungry friends.

Thirsty Bear Brewing Company (Spanish)
661 Howard Street
974-0905
daily D, L M-Sat; - $$
Excellent house-made beers and outstanding Spanish food have made this spot a favorite. The fish cheeks are one of the great tapas offered, but other solid contenders include any of the paellas, empanadas or the refreshing ceviche.

French

Gamine
2223 Union Street
771-7771
daily L and D, Br Sun; - $$; Kid friendly
Gamine, in just two short years has become a favorite for locals, who love the simple, tasty, inexpensive cuisine.

Fleur de Lys
777 Sutter Street
673-7779
daily D; - $$$$
The premier traditional French restaurant, with an elegant dining room and superior service.

Le Charm
315 5th Street
546-6128
L Tues-Fri,  D Tues-Sun - $$;

French food’s greatest hits, reasonably priced. Ratatouille, escargot, duck confit, crème brûlée, and classic French onion soup all share this comfortable, unpretentious stage.French

Plouf
40 Belden Place
986-6491
L M-Fri, D M-Sat; - $$$
There are a number of good cafés with outdoor seating on Belden Place,  a charming, brick alley off Bush and Kearney streets. Plouf specializes in delicious seafood prepared with a French accent and the waiters also give the impression you’ve arrived in the Paris of the west.

French-California

Grand Café
501 Geary Street
292-0101
daily B, L and D; - $$
There’s always a buzz of activity inside this vast muralled restaurant that serves contemporary French-California cuisine in a renovated turn-of-the-century ballroom. It’s a destina¬tion for tourists as well as locals looking for a major meal or just an after-theater bite to eat. Roasts, fresh fish, brick-oven pizzas, big desserts – every plate receives careful attention from the kitchen.

French-Vietnamese

Le Colonial
20 Cosmo Place
931-3600
daily D; - $$$
Le Colonial offers flavorful French-Vietnamese food in the lush, romantic surroundings of a dining room that is replete with rattan, pressed tin, potted palms, and ceiling fans. The upstairs lounge and outside veranda area is a great place for a delicious tropical drink and an appetizer.

Fusion

Asia SF
201 9th Street
255-2743
daily D; - $$
Reservations are required for this nightclub and restaurant where the entertainment – “gender illusionists” – double as your waitstaff. This place is outrageous, only-in-SF fun for big groups and people who don’t mind a bit of gender bending with their Asian cuisine.

Betelnut
2030 Union Street
929-8855
Tues-Sun L and D; - $$; Kid friendly
A pan-Asian bar specializing in dumpings and noodle bowls with bold, exciting flavors.

Café Kati
1963 Sutter Street
775-7313
D Mon-Sat - $$$
Another outstanding neighborhood restaurant with a legion of loyal followers, this is well worth a cab ride out of Union Square. Kati uses fresh local ingredients and Asian spices.

Indian

Naan 'n' Curry
642 Irving Street
664-7225
and other locations citywide
daily L and D; - $
So much flavor for so little cash. The Inner Sunset location is one of several Indian/Pakistani eateries known for its delicious food and low prices. Short on decor but long on spiciness, the chicken vindaloo, tikka masala and tandoori all hit the mark.

Shalimar
532 Jones Street
928-0333;
daily L and D; - $
Consistently rated one of the best Indian restaurants in the city, this spot serves traditional and tasty Indian and Pakistani food every day for lunch and dinner. No alcohol. Cash only.

Italian

Albona
545 Francisco Street
441-1040

daily L and D; - $$

This Istrian restaurant serves Northern Italian dishes influenced by flavors of Central and Eastern Europe. Think pan-fried gnocchi in a cumin-spiced sirloin sauce. Owner Bruno makes you feel like you’re in his own private living room.

Alioto's
8 Fisherman's Wharf
673-0183

daily L and D; - $$; Kid friendly

The Alioto name stands for politics, feuds, family and fine food in San Francisco. For generations, this family-owned establishment has ruled the Wharf with fresh, local seafood dishes and Sicilian preparations.

Delfina
3621 18th Street 
552-4055
daily D; - $$-$$$
The kitchen in this noisy storefront restaurant turns out delicious Tuscan Italian food that provides a star turn for local, seasonal produce, fish, and meat. (If sea bass happens to be on the menu, catch it.) Reservations are essential as this is a favorite neighborhood pick among residents from all over the city.

Firenze by Night
1429 Stockton Street
392-8485
daily D; - $$
A traditional Northern Italian restaurant  in an off-the-beaten-path location in North Beach on the edge of Chinatown. Famous for the outstanding pillowy-soft gnocchi, tender calamari, and the pappardelle pasta Toscana with rabbit. Treat yourself to a glass of housemade limoncello with dessert.

Franchino's
347 Columbus Avenue
982-2157
Tues-Sun D; - $$
Family owned and operated, friendly Franchino’s serves huge portions of classic Italian dishes at reasonable prices.

Giorgio's
151 Clement Street
668-1266
daily L and D; - $; Kid Friendly
A San Francisco favorite for pizza and (outstanding) calzones. The laidback old-school Italian atmosphere includes a trellis with plastic grapes hanging from the ceiling, red-and-white checkered vinyl tablecloths and jukebox in the back. Staff is friendly and very accustomed to dealing with children.

Golden Boy Pizza
542 Green Street
982-9738
daily L and D; - $
Golden Boy’s Sicilian-style pan pizza is a favorite of North Beach bar-goers, and usually ordered by the slice. Look in the window and choose what whets the appetite.

L'Osteria del Forno
519 Columbus Avenue
982-1124
daily L and D; - $
For casual but satisfying Italian food including marvelous antipasti, thin-crusted pizzas, a daily pasta dish, and a fine roast pork loin simmered in a milky broth. Cash only.

Nob Hill Café
1152 Taylor Street
776-6500
daily L and D; - $$
A cozy bistro tucked in a quiet Nob Hill neighborhood featuring delicious Northern Italian cuisine. Loved by locals for great wine, ambiance and the ethereal tiramisu. No reservations, so get there early.

North Beach Restaurant
1512 Stockton Street
392-1700
daily L and D; - $$$
This venerable institution serves hearty Tuscan cuisine featuring homemade pastas, house-cured proscuitto and a dizzyingly comprehensive wine list.

Scala's Bistro
432 Powell Street 
395-8555
daily B, L and D; - $$-$$$
Next to the Sir Francis Drake hotel, this Italian restaurant has a broad menu, comfortable booths, and a warm, clubby atmosphere. Highlights include a terrific Caesar salad, creative pastas, well-prepared fish dishes, and an extensive wine list featuring Californian and Italian wines.

Scoma's
Pier 47
771-4383
daily L and D; - $$$
For a glimpse of the workingman’s Wharf, dine right on the pier at this old-school Italian that has been serving seafood, pasta and their acclaimed chowder for 40 years.

Japanese

Mifune
1737 Post Street 
922-0337
daily L and D; - $
The San Francisco branch of a famous Osaka restaurant proposes Japanese udon and soba in all their forms, often in steaming soups. This is the place for a quick lunch or dinner, and kids are very happy in the midst of all these noodles.

Middle Eastern

Al-Masri
4031 Balboa Street
876-2300
Thurs-Sunday D; - $$;
Dinner at Al-Masri is an all-evening affair of unique Egyptian dishes and belly dancers, all in a fantasy courtyard atmosphere.

Helmand Palace
2424 Van Ness Avenue
362-0641
daily D; - $$
Afghani cuisine bursting with flavor and spice. Try the bowlawni — pastry shells stuffed with potatoes and leeks.

Kan Zaman
1793 Haight Street
751-9656
daily D; - $; K
Kan Zaman is a perennial favorite with locals. Expect a loud and fun night with belly dancers (Thur–Sat) and hookahs filled with apple-scented treats to smoke at the tables, while sitting on floor cushions and sipping spiced wine.

Seafood

Hayes Street Grill
320 Hayes Street 
863-5545
daily D, L M-F; - $$$
Practically a local institution, this restaurant features fresh seafood prepared simply, with integrity, and served with terrific french fries. Non-fish items, such as a juicy hamburger, are also wonderful. Local politicians eat lunch here; the pre-symphony, opera, and ballet crowd fill the tables before 8pm.

Southeast Asian

Ana Mandara (French-Vietnamese)
891 Beach Street, Ghirardelli Square
771-8600;
daily L and D; - $$$;

French-Vietnamese inspired fare at this elegant, beautifully designed place, maybe a little upscale for Fisherman’s Wharf. Starters include crispy rolls with crab, striped bass ceviche, and seared lobster with ginger rice.

Angkor Wat (Cambodian)
4217 Geary Boulevard
221-7887;

daily L and D; - $$;

Beautiful carvings of the Buddha, and the waitstaff are truly gracious. Cambodian food in a clean and exotic atmosphere.

Khan Toke (Thai)
5937 Geary Boulevard
668-6654
daily D; - $

This restaurant is reminiscent of a Bangkok temple, with low tables and an orchid garden. Some of the best Thai food in the city is worth the trip to the Richmond.

The Slanted Door (Vietnamese)
1 Ferry Building #3 (The Embarcadero)
861-8032
daily L and D; - $$$; Kid friendly
When it  opened in the '90s,  this place instantly became one of the premier restaurants in the city serving wholesome, flavorful Vietnamese food. Make reservations long in advance.

Tu Lan (Vietnamese)
8 Sixth Street
626-0927
daily L and D; - $
This Vietnamese hot spot is known for its cramped, hot and sketchy location. It’s a hole in the wall, but people love it, waiting patiently for memorably tasty noodle dishes. The imperial noodle bowl is killer. Not for clean freaks.

Vegetarian

Ananda Fuara
1298 Market Street
621-1994
daily L and D; - $

Inexpensive and delicious, this is the perfect change of pace for non-carnivores tired of veggie burritos and Caesar salads. There is much to order here, from veggie “meatloaf” to mushroom ravioli.

Café Gratitude
2400 Harrison Street
824-4652

daily B, L and D; - $

Vegan, vegetarian and raw food is served here, including soups, salads, pizzas, smoothies and organic coffee made with the finest ingredients. The setting is comfortable and easy-going, though the staff seems a bit cultish. Occasional live music and a friendly staff make this off-the-beaten-path gem a perfect spot any time of the day.

Greens
Building A Fort Mason
771-6222
daily L and D, Sun Br.; - $$$
In a one-time army warehouse on the bay, an airy up-market vegetarian restaurant that even carnivores rave about. The Saturday evening prix fixe is a relative bargain and comes with lovely bay views. Reservations are essential.