San Francisco » Restaurants

• 1550 Hyde Café & Wine Bar 
•   Russian Hill  
• CALIFORNIAN, MEDITERRANEAN
•  $$$ 

Faro and corn-stuffed quail, polenta-almond cake, and a kickass wine list to boot.

• 2223 
•   The Castro  
• AMERICAN (NEW)
•  $$ 

Lively gay-straight mix loosens up with each martini and even rich queens love the $12 Buck Tuesday Menu.

• À Côté 
•   Oakland  
• MEDITERRANEAN
•  $$ 

Dark green scene and place to be seen eating mussels with Pernod from the wood oven.

• A16 
•   Marina  
• ITALIAN
•  $$ 

Blistered funghi pizza will put you off Domino’s for good, but prepare to wait.

• Absinthe 
•   Hayes Valley  
• FRENCH
•  $$$ 

Fin de siècle dining in Moulin Rouge setting.

• Ace Wasabi’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Sushi 
•   Marina  
• JAPANESE/SUSHI
•  $$ 

Marina sushi hotspot combining great rolls with harmless yuppie fun.

• Ajanta 
•   Berkeley  
• INDIAN
•  $$ 

You’ll never go back to all-you-can-eat buffets again.

• Alegrias Food From Spain 
•   Marina  
• SPANISH/TAPAS
•  $$ 

Slice of Spain serving small plates since before they were trendy and paella that's worth the 30-minute wait.

• Ana Mandara 
•   Fishermans Wharf  
• VIETNAMESE
•  $$$ 

Cordon Bleu-trained Chef Khai Duong makes this lavish Ghirardelli Sq. destination purr.

• Ananda Fuara 
•   Civic Center  
• VEGETARIAN/VEGAN
•  $ 

Students of spiritual teacher and poet Sri Chinmoy serve serenity for vegetarians on the cheap.

• Anchor Oyster Bar 
•   The Castro  
• SEAFOOD
•  $$ 

Swimmingly fresh bowls of Boston clam chowdah, fish stew, and Louis salads.

• Andalu 
•   Mission District  
• SPANISH/TAPAS
•  $$ 

Small plates of tapas start in Spain and wander the globe in search of new concept.

• Anzu 
•   Tenderloin  
• JAPANESE/SUSHI
•  $$$ 

Watch master chef Katsuhito Takahashi work his magic on creatures from the deep

• Aperto 
•   Potrero Hill  
• ITALIAN
•  $$ 

Small, lively, not-too-expensive trattoria that's still a neighborhood secret.

• Arlequin 
•   Hayes Valley  
• FRENCH
•  $ 

House-made everything (including the best potato chips ever) and secret garden seating.

• Armani Café 
•   Union Square  
• ITALIAN
•  $$ 

From Giorgio with love: Circular lunch counter amidst racks of dearly priced designer suits.

• Asia de Cuba 
•   Union Square  
• CHINESE, LATIN AMERICAN
•  $$$$ 

Twenty-five-foot ceilings, plush velvet drapery, and the hottest servers in the game.

• AsiaSF 
•   SoMa  
• PAN-ASIAN
•  $$$ 

Holy Asian gender bender! Not cheap, but the show (and your flirty waiter/waitress) are worth it.

• Asqew Grill 
•   The Haight  
• AMERICAN (NEW)
•  $ 

Hot, healthy, original combos of fresh ingredients on skewers to match anyone’s taste.

• Axum Café 
•   The Haight  
• AFRICAN/MORROCAN
•  $$ 

Spicy stew-like concoctions sopped up with addictive spongy bread.

• Azie 
•   SoMa  
• ASIAN, FRENCH
•  $$$ 

Nostalgia for 1999 running rampant, with or without Prince soundtrack.

• Aziza 
•   Richmond District  
• AFRICAN/MORROCAN
•  $$$ 

Moroccan gourmet showstopper, thanks to wunderkind chef/owner and Marrakech native Mourad Lahlou

• Bacar 
•   SoMa  
• MEDITERRANEAN
•  $$$ 

Tri-level pantheon of wine and Medi-influenced specials.

• Baker Street Bistro 
•   Cow Hollow  
• FRENCH
•  $$ 

Perfect for your “I know this great little French place” collection.

• Bambuddha Lounge 
•   Tenderloin  
• ASIAN (SOUTHEASTERN)
•  $$ 

Meet me in the cabana where I can feed you sensuously with my chopsticks.