Top Tables: San Francisco’s Best Restaurants

Indagare is always scouting for the newest best restaurants, classic spots and neighborhood gems that feel like a special find. Though the restaurant scene changes often, here is our current list of top tables in San Francisco, for any occasion.

Owners Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson won the James Beard Award in 2008 for the best pastry chefs in America, and their classic bakery is one of the best in San Francisco. Be prepared for a line, but stick around; it moves quickly. Tartine Bakery also serves sandwiches for lunch. 600 Guerrero St.

A former US Army post, this light-filled restaurant with woven chairs and green walls is now a popular green space that satisfies cravings for pita, souvlaki and hummus. Dalida’s menu is best enjoyed family style and pulls from the best of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, specifically Istanbul and Greece.Dalida is also a good option for dinner. 101 Montgomery St, Suite 100

Serving up Neopolitan-style pies alongside a rotating menu of antipasti, Annie and Craig Stoll’s pizza-focused outpost is a bit more relaxed than their James Beard awarding-winning Delfina. Delfina Pizzeria is closed for lunch on Monday and Tuesday. 2406 California St

As the name suggests, Angler is a seafood-focused restaurant that employs a woodfired oven on the fresh catches of the day. Diners can opt for the tasting menu or dine à la carte at both lunch and dinner. 132 Embarcadero

Inside the Ferry Building (open seven days a week), there are more than twenty-five permanent tenants, including purveyors of chocolate, wine and bread, as well as take-out boutiques and restaurants, including Gott’s Roadside and Boulette’s Larder. 1 Ferry Building

Michael Tusk, the James Beard recognized master behind Quince, brings his magic to a more accessible, casual setting, specializing in rustic Italian fare. 490 Pacific Ave

Among the dozens of burrito options in the Mission, the original La Taqueria has been making meaty and hearty burritos since 1973. 2889 Mission St.

A San Francisco institution, Zuni’s simply prepared Mediterranean inspired dishes, centered on local, seasonal ingredients, have attracted a steadfast clientele since it opened in 1979. Zuni Cafe is also a good option for dinner. 1658 Market St.

This adorable pizza joint focuses on cuisine from the Italian region of Campania. The burrata and bucatini are ever-popular. 2355 Chestnut St.

With only 12 seats, this contemporary upscale ramen experience needs to be booked well in advance. Sake lovers should try the sake pairings with each dish. 4601 Geary Blvd

Set near the waterfront in an Art Nouveau space, Boulevard serves upscale Californian cuisine with the option of enjoying a tasting menu in the dining room or the à la carte menu in the bar, lounge and chef’s counter. 1 Mission St.

Chef and owner Brandon Jew wows diners with his creative take on the Cantonese food of his youth, using local, seasonal ingredients to create such inspirations as squid-ink blackened pork wontons and salt-baked trout with lotus leaf. 28 Waverly Pl.

Three-Michelin-starred Quince opened in San Francisco in 2003 and has been delivering upscale, seasonal cuisine since. 470 Pacific Ave

A gleaming open kitchen, table-side course preparations and the exacting beauty that comes with being a two-Michelin-starred restaurant transforms a meal at this legendary restaurant into high-stakes performance art. 178 Townsend St.

Chef Val Cantu earned Californios two Michelin stars for its extensive Mexican tasting menu, including such creations as butter poached lobster in a tiny blue corn tortilla. 355 11th St.

Flour + Water may have started out by following the trend of high-end pizzerias with communal dining, but the quality of the food and the lines out the door are a testament to the fact that this small Mission eatery has gone from trend piece to mainstay. 2401 Harrison St.

California whimsy meets delectable Italian pastas and wines at Penny Roma, which is split between an indoor and outdoor courtyard with abundant plants and an open kitchen concept. 3000 20th St

Intimate but not precious, foodie but not pretentious, this restaurant showcases a market-driven menu with touches from chef Melissa Perello’s world travels. 3870 17th St.

Mixing comforting flavors with a sophisticated touch, all crafted from locally-sourced ingredients, this cozy restaurant is designed to evoke the sense that you’re dining in the owners’ home. 199 Gough St.

For an individualized omakase experience with sake pairings, look no further than Robin, where the chefs customize a menu to your preferences. 620 Gough St.

The brainchild of Stuart Brioza and Nicole Krasinski, State Bird Provisions has a penchant for using less common fowl and game in its dishes, like guinea hen dumplings and grilled rabbit—although the inventive and ever-changing menu always has plenty of interesting fish and vegetable dishes as well. 1529 Fillmore St.

With exceptionally tall ceilings and massive windows, the historic, airy structure welcomes diners with delicious dishes crafted from local products sourced from a committed group of northern California ranchers, farmers, cheese makers and other culinary artisans. 560 Divisadero St.

Accredited with popularizing California cuisine, this farm-to-table institution from Alice Waters is a must for anyone in the Berkeley area, with both a more formal restaurant and a bistro-like café. Reservations are essential. 1517 Shattuck Ave.

Comstock Saloon offers live jazz, a 20-foot mahogany bar and period trappings that evokes another era as visitors sip cocktails or enjoy a pint. 155 Columbus Ave

Named to the World’s 50 Best list in 2022, ABV is an upscale neighborhood spot with tasty drinks and a small food menu served until midnight (a rarity in sleepy San Francisco). 3174 16th St

What could easily pass for the set of Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean is also regarded as one of the world’s best bars, with over 200 selections of rum and an extensive cocktail menu.