If you are visiting San Francisco here are a few places to eat and things to see that might not be in your guide book.

EAT:

IZZY'S STEAKS AND CHOPS.  3345 Steiner St. between Lombard and Chestnut, in the Marina.  Casual, no reservations. Might I suggest New York strip Au Poivre with creamed spinach and fries?  Fantastic steaks without the tourist prices.

E'ANGELO at 2234 Chesnut Street, also in the Marina.  Don't let the lack of ambience fool you, this place has wonderful home made pastas and if you are there when they are offering the asparagus appetizer, do not pass it up.  No reservations.

CAFE DE LA PRESS.  352 Grant Avenue, near Union Square.  The best Croque Madame and Frites outside Paris.  415/398-2680.

REX'S CAFE. 2323 Polk Street.  A local hang out off the beaten path.  Good, homestyle food, great place for a weekend brunch.  I had to buy my wife TWO bloody marys before she would hold the umbrella over me and my camera while a shot  the "Polk Street" image on this website.  Not a problem though, as I also had two.  415/441-2244.

MARA'S ITALIAN PASTRY, 503 Columbus Avenue, near Green St. in the heart of Northbeach.  Great pastries and coffee.  Open late for your trip home from the local bars.  Best cheese danish in town.  Gelato too!

 

SEE:

On weekend mornings in Washington Square Park, Columbus Ave. at Union St., you can join in the throngs of people doing Tai Chi and work off all the the artery clogging suggestions I just made above.  Or you can just watch.

 If you haven't spent an evening bar hopping in Northbeach, you haven't experienced San Francisco.  Limit one drink per bar so you can make the whole tour.

Fort Point.  The Civil War era structure below the Golden Gate Bridge on the city side.  Probably in your tour book, but still worth the time.

The Palace of Fine Arts.  In the Marina, this is the last remaining structure from the 1915 World's Fair,  quite a peaceful and awe inspiring place.....At least for me.  I'm a bit of a World's Fair nerd.

If you are here in the summer, grab a bottle of wine, your partner, and find a way up to Ridgeline Road on the top on Mount Tamalpias, in Marin.  Watching the sun set over the fog is a rare treat and though it sounds schmoopy, it's sure to soothe even the most calloused soul.

Great views of the Golden Gate Bridge can be had from The Headlands in Marin.  Going north on Hwy 101, exit on Alexander Ave, turn left under the Hwy and take the only right turn before you get back on the bridge.  In the summer,  nine time out of ten you will get fogged out.  In my experience, around Labor Day is the best time to see the bridge coming through the fog.  Also, Baker Beach on the city side has nice afternoon sun on the bridge.

Check me out.  I may be set up down at Justin Herman Plaza on the Embarcadero, accross from the Ferry Terminal, or doing a street fair while you are here.  See my show schedule on this website for Fairs or call me at 415.572-7742 to see if I am at the Embarcadero.