Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tax and Tipping
A sales tax of 9.5 percent is added
to all meal checks in San Fran-
cisco, although a service charge
is rarely included unless there are
six or more in your party. You are
expected to leave a tip, however.
About 15 percent of the total bill
is average, and most locals simply
double the tax, then round it up
or down. The tip can be left in
cash at the table, or added to the
total if you are using a credit card.
Restaurants in San Francisco are
also subject to regulation
requiring them to provide
healthcare to their staff. A Healthy
San Francisco surcharge may be
added to your bill, ranging from
$1-5 per table, or 1-5 percent per
bill. Check menus for details.
the city. Children are not allowed
in any bar. However, if food is
served on the premises, children
can accompany adults to eat.
Wheelchair Access
Since 1992, all restaurants in San
Francisco have been required by
law to be accessible to those
patrons who are wheelchair
bound. As a result, wide bath-
room doors and ramped
entrances to restaurants and
seating areas abound. It's always
best to call ahead to be sure, how
ever, as not all buildings have
been brought into compliance.
Diners ordering food at Greens (see p226)
Recommended
Restaurants
The restaurants on the following
pages have been chosen to
represent a cross section of the
city's diverse and excellent
dining options. From local hole-
in-the-wall places to fine-dining
musts, these choices offer
something for everyone, in
every neighbor-hood. In all
areas, you'll find a combination
of good food, and great value.
Our restaurants are divided
into eight geographical areas.
Chinatown, Union Square, Civic
Center and the Financial District
restaurants are all listed within
the Downtown area. Mission and
SoMa are adjacent neighbor-
hoods South of Market Street,
so these listings are grouped
together. Likewise, the Upper
and Lower sections of Haight
Street border the Castro, so these
have been combined. Other
areas include Fisherman's Wharf
and North Beach, Pacific Heights
and the Marina, and Golden Gate
Park and Land's End. Farther
Afield locations are close enough
for a meal while staying in the
city; Northern California options
are recommended stops on day-
trips outside of San Francisco.
Throughout our listings we've
marked recommended restau-
rants as DK Choice. We've chosen
these restaurants because they
offer a special experience - either
for the superb cuisine, for enjoy-
ing a uniquely San Francisco
night out, for the excellent value,
of a combination of these.
Smoking
Smoking indoors is prohibited
throughout California, unless
there is a separately ventilated
area reserved for smoking that
minimizes the risk of anyone
breathing in unwanted second-
hand smoke. These are often
located in bar areas or within
outdoor patios.
Dress Codes
As in most of California, restaurant
owners in San Francisco take a
fairly relaxed approach toward
dress, and most places will allow
you in wearing a T-shirt and a pair
of jeans. In the trendier estab-
lishments, a minimum of dark
denim and casual dresses are the
unofficial dress code. Formal
attire requirements are quite rare.
Children
All restaurants in the city are
happy to serve well-behaved
children, although you and your
youngsters may feel less comfort-
able at trendier spots. At the
more family-oriented establish-
ments, such as North Beach
Italian restaurants or a Chinatown
dim sum house on a Sunday
morning, children are welcomed.
Most places supply high chairs or
booster seats and offer children's
portions or alternative menus.
The minimum legal age of 21
for drinking beer and alcohol is
strictly enforced throughout
Reservations
It is always best to make a reser-
vation in advance. Popular
restaurants tend to be booked a
week or more ahead for Friday
and Saturday nights. Weekdays,
however, you should be able to
book a table if you phone only a
day in advance. If you don't have
a reservation, and sometimes
even if you do, you may have to
wait for a table. Pass the time
nursing a cocktail or sampling
one of the city's interesting beers.
The forecourt of Mel's Drive-In diner (see p227)
 
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