Soluna Cafe

location: 272 mcallister (at larkin), civic center

soluna cafe is right next door to hastings so it makes it pretty convenient to pop in here for lunch, even on a busy day there's enough time for a sit down meal. the menu has a variety of gourmet bar eats and is fresh and mostly local ingredients. they serve a variety of salads, sanwiches and hot entrees like mac 'n' cheese (which is fantastic). i've had the same sandwich both times i've been for lunch because i loved it so much the first time. it's a crispy chicken caeser sandwich served on a ciabatta roll. the chicken has been perfectly crispy yet moist both times i've had it and the lemon slices and caeser dressing help it maintain it's juiciness. accompanied by the truffle fries and a glass of homemade limeade and this is one of my favorite lunches. it's a little bit more expensive than what i would typically expect to spend on lunch in civic center but it's very good. they have some really great options on the dinner menu that i would like to check out. there's a full bar and a happy hour that goes until 7.

recommendation: if you're looking for somewhere to eat in civic center, look no further.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Pier Market

location: pier 39 (fisherman's wharf)

i recently marked pier market off of my list in my ongoing search for the best clam chowder in san francisco. if you can handle pier 39 on a freezing day in the summer at the height of tourist season, i suggest checking it out now. for those of you less interested in the spectacle that is pier 39, wait. i went with l on a thursday night trip to the wharf so it was pretty crowded but the restaurant was able to accommodate us with a really nice window seat inside, instead of under a worthless heat lamp. i already knew what i wanted when i got there so i didn't really peruse the menu, particularly because based on the prices listed i had no interest in over paying for something i guessed would be mediocre. the clam chowder & salad combo is probably the best deal they offer. at $10.95 it's the same price as some bowls of chowder down in that area and it comes with a nice side salad. it did not top my list, but i wasn't expecting it to. the chowder had a low potato ratio which is important to me, it tasted fresh and the sourdough bread bowl was the perfect size.

recommendation: if you're already at pier 39 i recommend. may not be worth travelling a far distance for.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Citrus Club

location: 1790 haight street (at shrader), the haight

c has been raving about citrus club for a while and i finally had a chance to check it out for dinner with her. from the outside it looks like it could be a run down little hole-in-the-wall but once you're inside it's spacious with low lights and wooden decor.
the food is mostly thai noodle and soup dishes. i had the shanghai noodles which came on a plate bigger than my head. the portions, most likely meant to be served family style, are large and inexpensive. the shanghai noodle dish included both beef and tofu with a mixture of veggies and a delicious sauce. i like any place where i can spend less than $10 and have enough food for two meals, in this case it was dinner and lunch the next day. i would like to go back with a bigger group and sample more from the menu. my experience this time was great. the wait staff was friendly and quick, the food was delicious and the company was great.

recommendation: take the family!

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!

Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store Cafe

location: 566 columbus avenue (at union), north beach

mario's is not a cigar store. it may have been at one point. it's kinda boho but it's mostly just amazing. this cafe on the corner of columbus and union has a spectacular view of washington square park and st. peter & paul church (my fave in sf). it's small, the people that work there are nice and they serve delicious hot foccacia sandwiches made with bread from liguria bakery, which is just around the corner.

i've been here a few times and i'm always waiting for my next trip back. i went with l & j and we split red & white house carafes and ordered sandwiches. i had the hot foccacia with turkey and melted pepper jack cheese. it also has onions and dijon mustard. just 4 simple ingredients that make up one of the best sandwiches i've ever had. and it's cheap.

the menu is mostly sandwiches, a few dinner entree options, and some salads. the service is quick and it's a great atmosphere while you're waiting. usually feels like it's mostly regulars sitting at the bar, most likely talking about yesteryear.

there is limited seating outside, which makes it perfect for a sunny north beach day. they serve food until about 9 or 10 and beer and wine even later.

recommendation: if you haven't been, go. now. bring me.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!

Weirdfish

location: 2193 mission street (at 18th), the mission

weirdfish is the perfect name for this mission eatery that is a seafood and vegetarian restaurant. not exactly two things i see being paired together, in my experience it's one or the other. but weirdfish does it right. almost every option on the menu is available with fish or a seitan substitute. it's small inside with a cozy, edgy, beachy decor. the napkins are black bandannas, if that paints a picture for you. they aim to be completely green and sustainable and everything about the place is or feels very fresh.

i went for dinner with m & j and the first thing we learned is that they won't seat you until you have your whole party. annoying but completely understandable. they also don't want you sitting around your table gabbing forever after you're finished and they politely have that printed on their menu. i appreciate that. there are a million bars in that neighborhood you can post at, taking up a table i might sit at is rude.

we started with the yo-yo's. what are yo-yo's you may be asking. they are deep fried pickles and they are amazing. they came with a vegan ranch sauce and a chipotle sauce. m & j were partial to the chipotle sauce, i liked the ranch. we loved the pickles. i could have eaten all 4 that came in the order. i had the butter-basted mahi mahi. it had a chili glaze on it that was a little overwhelming for me but it was very good. the rice and vegetables on the side were a perfect complement and after eating the entire plate i didn't feel super full, it was a perfect portion.

weirdfish is cheap, tasty, cute and serves beer and wine. i will say that the sangria was a bit disappointing. it was pretty much white wine with apples in it. but everything else was a hit.

recommendation: get over there with your entire party or you'll have to wait!

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: yay!

Blue Mermaid

471 jefferson street (at hyde), fisherman's wharf

touristy meets tasty at the blue mermaid chowder house, located in the lobby of the argonaut hotel. i had walked by a few times and thought it looked really cute inside and wanted to check out their chowder. t & h came to sf for dinner so i thought what better than to take them to a cheesy wharf restaurant to acquaint them with my new neighborhood.

the inside of this restaurant is festive in every nautical way possible. anchors, ropes, steering wheels, and waiters in stripes! the decor is cute, to say the least (the lobby of the argonaut hotel is also really nautically cute).

we settled into our table after a short wait at the bar where beers were less expensive than i was expecting. $6 for an anchor steam draft, i've paid more for a bottle down at the wharf.

the menu offers 4 different kinds of clam chowder! i went for the original chowder in a bread bowl and was surprised by the delicious taste of bacon! the other options had corn in them which i do not like (see my review of the buena vista, just up the block from the mermaid).

we shared a half crab which was overpriced and didn't taste as fresh as other crab i've had down there but it was still very satisfying soaked in melted butter. the popcorn shrimp and fish 'n' chips did not disappoint either.

i can't really think of a reason you'd jump out of your seat and hurry down to this restaurant but the food was really good. the service, although a little slow, was very friendly.

recommendation: take a visiting family member!

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: okay!