Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
555 Columbus Ave. (btw. Union and Gr een sts.).
&
415/362-7727.
Reservations not ac cepted. High-
chairs. M ain c ourses $12-$17. MC, V. M on-Sat 11:30am-9pm. Muni: P owell-Mason cable car or no .
30-Stockton bus to Union St.
129
Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store
ITALIAN This corner storefront could tr uthfully
be called M ario's Bohemian S hoebox, it's so small. G one are the days when y ou could
find a cigar on the premises, much less smoke one; instead, Mario's has been serving big,
warm focaccia sandwiches filled with meatballs or br eaded chicken cutlets, pizzas, salad,
and drinks for more than 20 years. Grab a seat at the funky wooden counter and watch
the waitress efficiently fill the drink or ders while the cook pr epares the food in a minia-
ture oven. Kids will lo ve the Torani Italian syrups used to make sodas. You can also get
the sandwiches to go, to enjo y them in Washington Park across the street.
566 Columbus Ave. (at Union St.).
&
415/362-0536.
Highchairs, boosters. Main courses $4.50-$8.50.
MC, V. Daily 11am-11pm. Muni: Powell-Mason cable car or no. 30-Stockton bus to Union St.
Naan-N-Curry
Value
INDIAN/P AKISTANI When S an F ranciscans want good,
inexpensive I ndian/Pakistani food, they come to N aan-N-Curry. F lavorful tandoori-
oven-baked meats, delightful curries, a gr eat selection of v egetarian options, and plenty
of naan breads are on offer here. Although some dishes can be too spicy for younger kids,
we've found a fe w items that ev en our y oung daughters lo ve, including chicken tikka
masala, which is cooked in a mild yogurt sauce, and vegetable biryani, or vegetables with
rice. With a casual atmosphere and hearty portions for just pennies, it's worth branching
out from pizza, noodles, and the other usual suspects.
533 Jackson St. (at Columbus Ave.).
&
415/693-0499.
Reservations not accepted. Highchairs, boosters.
Main courses $4-$10. MC, V. Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat noon-10pm. Muni: No. 15 bus to Jackson St. Also
at 690 Van Ness Ave. (at Turk St.)
&
415/775-1349.
8
FISHERMAN'S WHARF
5
EXPENSIVE
Ana Mandara
VIETNAMESE The moment y ou walk thr ough the doors of this
serene r estaurant, y ou ar e transpor ted to Vietnam—or at least a mo vie set of it. The
interior includes facades of a Vietnamese-style home and a F rench colonial building,
palm trees, and other I ndochinese artifacts. Yet the 18-foot-high black ceiling is dotted
with spotlights, as if to remind you that this is not Vietnam, but a replica of it. The food
seems to follow suit. Appetizers such as crispy rolls with crab, shrimp, and shiitake mush-
rooms and entrees such as tournedos of beef tenderloin with onions and pepper cress are
very tasty, but seem firmly gr ounded on this continent—which may be just as w ell for
the little ones among y ou. Although there is no children's menu, kids do enjo y the beef
tournedos, as well as the side of garlic noodles. There are a few truly exotic options, like
the luscious mango soup with durian sorbet, which is a must-ha e for dessert. The dinner
menu edges this restaurant into the expensive category, but lunch prices are more moder-
ate, with main courses starting at $14.
891 Beach St. (at Polk St.).
&
415/771-6800.
www.anamandara.com. High chairs, boosters. Reservations
recommended on weekends. Main courses lunch $14-$28, dinner $21-$40. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon-Fri
lunch 11:30am-2pm; Sun-Thurs dinner 5:30-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 5:30-10:30pm. Muni: No. 30-Stockton bus
to Polk St., and then walk 1 block nor th, or Powell-Hyde cable car t o Beach St., and then walk 2 blocks
west.
