Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
110
Belden Place—A Slice of Europe in San Francisco
If you want to have a nice meal with pr oper table ser vice downtown without
breaking the bank , come to Belden Plac e. This alley in the F inancial District,
bordered by Kearny, Montgomery, Pine, and Bush streets, is lined with moder-
ately priced restaurants cooking up French, Italian, Catalan, and other Mediter-
ranean far e. The lane is patr onized b y plent y of business people , but the
outdoor tables and colorful banners lend an informal feeling, so don't hesitate
to bring the kids. Stroll on over and take your pick from the following:
Starting at the P ine Street side of Belden Plac e is
Brindisi Cucina di Mare
(88 Belden Plac e;
&
415/593-8000
), specializing in I talian seaf ood. F rom
stuffed calamari and seafood risotto to plenty of kid-friendly pasta, most main
courses are less than $24.
Belden Taverna
(52 Belden Place;
&
415/986-8887
)
serves excessively rich g rilled meats and seaf ood, and a f ew pasta choic es as
well. Entrees range from $16 to $25.
Named for its address,
B44
(44 Belden Place;
&
415/986-6287
) is a Catalan-
style bistro, serving nine kinds of paella, including meat, seafood, and vegetar-
ian items at $17 to $21 each for lunch and $18 t o $24 for dinner. Salads, small
plates, and dishes such as r oasted salt c od or r oasted rabbit ar e also on the
menu. The tasty food could be too challenging for less adventurous kids. Just
next door,
Plouf
(40 Belden Place;
&
415/986-6491
) offers mussels prepared
seven different ways, as well as French-accented salads, sandwiches, fish, and
meats. All lunch items are less than $20, with fish and chips or a sirloin bur ger
being the most k id-friendly among them. Dinner entr ees range fr om $15 t o
$26.
A better choice for families is at 28 Belden Place:
Café Tiramisu
(
&
415/421-
7044;
w ww.cafetiramisu.com). K ids will appr eciate the I talian fare, including
pasta dishes—ranging from $14 t o $18 at lunch and $14 t o $21 at dinner—
which those with smaller appetites can easily share. Main courses such as
ciop-
pino,
Italian seafood stew, or veal scaloppini range from $17 to $23 (up to $34
at dinner). The most moderat ely pric ed pick of the bunch is P arisian-Bistro
inspired
Café Bastille
(22 Belden Place;
&
415/986-5673
). While parents savor
French onion soup , quiche, or g rilled steak and fries , kids can shar e a F rench
hot dog on a baguett e with cheese and fries . Most lunch and dinner choic es
are $9 to $18.50.
But perhaps you want something more traditional, and you've reached the
end of the alley . You're in luck . On the c orner at 374 Bush Str eet you'll find
Sam's Grill
(
&
415/421-0594
), one of the oldest r estaurants in San Francisco.
Grab a cozy wooden booth and order charcoal-broiled fish, roasted chicken, or
a simple pasta dish. Entrees range from $10.50 to $50. For more info, visit www.
belden-place.com.
5
704 Sutter St. (at Taylor St.).
&
415/771-0803.
www.sanraku.com. Highchairs, boosters. Reservations
accepted. Main courses $12-$38. AE, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Sat 11am-10pm; Sun 4-10pm. Muni: No. 2-Clem-
ent, no. 3-Jackson, no. 4-Sutter, or no. 27-Bryant to Taylor St.
