Chestnut Street Diner

location: 1312 chestnut street (between van ness & franklin), the marina

chestnut street diner is around the corner from my apartment so i checked it out for breakfast on a lazy sunday with d. we recently learned that the same family of sisters owns the diner, the market on the corner of chestnut & van ness and the small cafe across the street. they're all very nice but i wouldn't recommend paying for breakfast at this diner that you could make better and faster at home.

the service at chestnut street diner was extremely slow although it wasn't packed and our waitress seemed annoyed when we asked for things like water and more coffee. it took her about 15 minutes from the time we sat down until she took our order. i wasn't expecting much out of my two eggs, sausage, hash browns and toast ($8) and i ate most of it. i think next time i'll save my time and make breakfast for the roomies at home.

tastiness: okay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: nay!

Pier 23

location: pier 23, embarcadero

pier 23 is a fun, random, music infused bar & restaurant overlooking the bay on the embarcadero. there is a live band playing almost every day of the week and a great canopied patio in the back of the restaurant for bay view dining. i went with L on a winter night so it was dark and cold but the patio was lit up with string lights and we could catch a glimpse of light reflecting on the water. i imagine this place is best when visited on a sunny summer day.

we started with the clam chowder ($4) which was served a little too cold. i don't expect my soup to be piping hot, but this was a little too cold for my liking. we shared the grilled fish tacos ($13.50) and the seared tuna sandwich ($15). both came in big portions and it was more than enough food for the two of us. the fish taco has been featured on tv as one of the best in sf and i thought it was pretty tasty. the seared tuna sandwich was a little heavy. the sauce was overwhelming and the rest of the sandwich was underwhelming. it was just a little boring.

the service was quick and helpful. they gave us their suggestions when asked. everything seemed a little chaotic due to a big business group that ordered a lot of food and was obnoxiously loud. pier 23 is a big tourist destination being on the waterfront and having been featured on tv and their prices reflect that. i think it's a little overpriced for the quality that you end up getting. it would definitely be a fun place to drink on a sunny afternoon but i don't know that i'll end up back there for dinner.

tastiness: okay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Garibaldi's

location: 347 presidio (between sacramento & clay), laurel heights

my dad works a couple blocks away from garibaldi's and treated me to lunch on a day off. i was hoping to see some elite san franciscan's as their website claims it's a "second home" to sf celebs but i didn't. i did see a lot of ladies who lunch and a couple of other father's taking their daughters (or mistresses) to lunch. it was a nice day in laurel heights and the big window at garibaldi's allows for a nice, sunny lunch atmosphere.

we both had the same thing, a chicken blt with salad. i had an anchor steam, d had a stella. it was a really great sandwich, but i can't really speak to the rest of the menu or what it might be like for a night out to dinner. i thought it was pretty expensive, i think the tab was about $40 for two beers and two sandwiches, and it seemed like we were paying more to be eating at garibaldi's than anything else.

our waitress was very friendly and the service was quick. i'd definitely have another lunch date with my dad at this restaurant. i don't know that i'd end up there for any other reason.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Pacific Catch

location: 2027 chestnut street (at fillmore), the marina

there are two pacific catch locations in san francisco. the one is in my neighborhood and the original is on 9th & lincoln. the marina location is tiny. as you can maybe tell in the picture i posted it probably holds about 15 people inside and 8 outside (weather permitting). when you dine at this location you're pretty much dining with the parties on either side of you, so it's not very romantic, if that's what you're looking for. it is however, really great. the menu is asian/island influenced seafood. the options are sandwiches, salads, various types of fish & chips, and various rice bowls.

i went for a dinner with d and we started with the shrimp ceviche, the portion was smaller than i expected, admittedly, but it was full of shrimp and and avocado. for dinner i had the california salmon sandwich. the salmon was served with avocado, tomato and a really fresh tasting citrus aioli that really brought the sandwich together, the fresh baked bread is great too. it was complimented by a light coleslaw and fries.

the have a decent wine list and a small bottled beer selection. i had a couple glasses of white to compliment the fish, a glass was $8, pretty typical in the marina.

the service here is fast and friendly, everyone seems to be happy even though they're working in such close quarters. the waiter gave us really nice pours on our wine and some recommendations for ordering from the menu. i ran into someone i knew on the way in and ended up at the table next to his party. we weren't there together but it really felt like it. it's definitely not the kind of restaurant you walk into to have any kind of private conversation.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: okay!

service: yay!

Parilla

location: 1760 polk street (at washington), nob hill

parilla is a really standard mexican food restaurant. when i say there's nothing particularly special about it, that's not a bad thing, but it's true. the food and service are good and the atmosphere is fun. i used to live around the corner so i've been for dinner a few times, it's definitely a place i go back to even though i no longer live in the 'hood. they have really great margaritas and really great queso. the menu is pretty much what you'd find at other semi traditional mexican restaurants in the city. burritos the size of your head, cheap tacos and entrées that come with too much food. i love their tortilla soup and on this outing i had the chicken quesadilla, which is impossible to screw up.

the last time i went we ended up being there on a trivia night (wednesdays, apparently) so we formed a team. m, d and i were the bay street gang, of course. and we actually ended up winning a round! the prize? a pitcher of our choice. that's a pretty good deal.

the service can really vary, as can the drinks. i guess it just depends on how many bodies are in the restaurant and who's behind the bar.

recommendation: go for the happy hour, stay for the trivia.

tastiness: okay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: okay/yay!

Bistro10 UN

location: the art institute, 1130 market street ( at 7th, un plaza), civic center

bistro10 un is the student run restaurant in the culinary program at the art institute in un plaza. the restaurant is open thursdays and fridays during lunch time, which is actually the class session time for the students in the program. the students seat you, take your orders, and make the food.

the menu changes every 6 weeks and is offered at either two items for $12 or three for $15. it's a really great deal, as their are a lot options and everything is seasonal and fresh. i opted for three courses because i thought it was such a great deal. i started with a chicken tortilla soup that was

really delicious. it was spicy but not overwhelming and was generous with the cilantro which i really like. for the main course i had the burger with caramelized onions on a brioche bun. the meat was cooked well done, per my request and to perfection. the wine soaked onions were great on the burger and the lettuce and tomato were kept to the side, which was nice presentation and always my preference. i shared the pear tart for my dessert because i was very full and satisfied by the end of the meal.

the students that run the program talked to us about their experience and answered our questions about the program and restaurants and even let me take a little tour of the kitchen. i was pretty much sold on culinary school after this meal.

the staff was friendly and accommodating. i went with a large party during a work lunch so it was slow meal. it took almost two hours from start to finish, not something i would normally expect from a lunch outing. but the students are learning so i was ok with the slow service.

tastiness: yay!

food vs. price: yay!

service: okay!

Coming Soon!

As you can see I took a break from posting about restaurants but I have not stopped going out. I've been distracted by other things happening in my life and I haven't found the time or motivation to sit down and write about all of the wonderful and not so wonderful meals I've had lately. My goal over the next few weeks is to finally review all of them. Be sure to check back for my thoughts on the following places:

Bistro10 UN

La Parilla

Pacific Catch

Garibaldi's

Pier 23

Chestnut Street Diner

Da Flora

Foreign Cinema

Giordano Bros.

La Fitte

The Brixton

Cha Cha Cha

Tacolicious

The Grove