Food crawl in San Francisco
I had the opportunity to visit San Francisco two weeks ago and would just like to share some of the restaurant finds I chanced upon, in case you might find yourself there in the near future.
The first thing I appreciated was how tourist-friendly San Francisco is. We were lucky to have had perfect weather while we were there. It was like cold Baguio weather and we were able to just walk around without needing to worry about cab fare.
For first timers, Fisherman’s Wharf is still a great place to start. I highly recommend eating at Bubba Gump not just for the delicious seafood and the Forrest Gump feels, but because their floor to ceiling glass walls provide a magnificent view of the San Francisco Bay and even Alcatraz! Enjoy this with a bucket of peel-n-eat shrimp steamed in beer!At Fisherman’s Wharf, you can also find a branch of Bouchon by renowned Chef Thomas Keller. I had the pleasure of dining at Bouchon not at the wharf but in Napa Valley and it is an excellent bistro with beautifully executed creations. Keller is truly a master of his craft as there was not one dish in his menu that would not make you sing. From the bread that greets you at the table, which is warm, just crusty enough yet oh so soft inside; to the rich French onion soup that makes you feel like a million bucks; to the classic duck confit with its chicharon-like skin, glistening fat underneath and the most savory meat; and more! This restaurant is a godsend for regular people like us who have neither the time nor the inclination to splurge so much at The French Laundry.
A bit of a walk from Fisherman’s Wharf is Ghirardelli Square, where you can find their World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae. It’s the handmade thick hot fudge that makes this one stand out! Don’t miss it!
For a strawberry milkshake, try Lori’s Diner. This is on the same street as the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. It is an adorable diner with a 1950s vibe, complete with a turquoise Chevy in the middle of the diner, a pinball machine and a juke box.
San Francisco is also known for great Mexican food. An excellent Mexican restaurant—though you will need a car to get there as it is in Presidio, a park and former US Army post that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area—is Colibri. This is another restaurant where practically everything is delicious and big enough for sharing, so it’s fun to go as a group. They also have one of the best guacamoles ever.
If you have relatives with a car, another restaurant with a beautiful view of San Francisco Bay is Lara’s Fine Dining at Richmond’s Marina Bay waterfront (1900 Esplanade Drive). The restaurant was originally a sea captain’s house. Enjoy an eggs benedict while watching seagulls and the boats that are docked.San Francisco is really so beautiful. I wouldn’t leave my heart there—or anywhere—but I would definitely come back to Fog City over and over and over. The city is named after St. Francis, taking its name from Mission San Francisco de Asis, which in turn was named after St. Francis of Assisi. With its cool yet sunny weather, this city can certainly be a place where—as the Prayer of St Francis goes—hatred can turn to love, injury to pardon, doubt to faith, despair to hope, darkness to light and sadness to joy! Thank you, San Francisco! Hope to see you again, soon! INQ
