It’s a fact — most travelers know that San Francisco is the world’s favorite American city. For 17 years running, it has been ranked America’s #1 city to visit.
But did they also know that, along with the Golden Gate Bridge, and those little cable cars that climb halfway to the stars, one of San Francisco’s biggest attractions is its food?
Yes, it's true. At last count, in fact, San Francisco was home to no less than 3,489 restaurants. And there are many, many more on the outskirts of the City by the Bay.
But here’s a somewhat alarming fact: most travelers to San Francisco regularly miss out the best of its amazing restaurants - simply because they don’t know they’re there. What a shame to lose out on some of this city’s culinary masterpieces.
Fortunately, that problem has finally been solved and there's a guide to the best of them. Even better, it’s an iPhone App, so travelers can have it with them anywhere and at any time they need it.
The app is named, app-ropriately enough, San Francisco Restaurants. It costs 99 cents. And Apple iTunes has given it the rare honor of naming it a “Staff Favorite.”
So what’s the app’s app-eal? For starters, it was created by San Franciscans. Sutro Media commissioned it. Effin Older photographed it. And Jules Older wrote it. They all live and dine in San Francisco. And they all app-tly love great food.
Another app-eal is that San Francisco Restaurants avoids what Jules Older calls “the tourist traps and money flushers.” Instead, he says, “It focuses on the restaurants where San Franciscans, like us, eat.”
In researching the app, the Olders ate at every elegant eatery, every sushi joint, every pizza parlor and neighborhood Thai restaurant they reviewed. Things we writers have to endure for research purposes....
That’s about 75 eateries. They’re near the airport, near Golden Gate Park, near the ocean, near museums.
Two are in museums. Another is in AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Jules says it serves up some mean hot dogs. “Regular, Polish Sausage and Chicken-Apple — last time I was there, I ate ‘em all.”
The Olders also name their personal favorites. They include a venerable Thai restaurant, Little Thai; a great bargain of a Persian restaurant, Alborz; and a diner with the best view in the city, Louis', beside Golden Gate Park.
They also name the best restaurant in San Francisco. It’s one that most travelers have never heard of — a small and intimate Italian place called Capannina.
Capannina is on Union Street, where locals eat, not on Union Square, which is Tourist Central.
The Olders are themselves widely published travel journalists.
They’ve traveled to and written about food and restaurants from Italy to Iceland, Newfoundland to New Zealand.
And they've created a YouTube video about their app. They call it San Francisco Restaurants, The Movie.
San Francisco Restaurants, the app, is sold at the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch, and at the iTunes Store.
San Francisco Restaurants, The Movie is free here.
Don’t miss it; it’s a great little application every traveler (and even those who already live there) is definitely going to app-reciate having to hand.
Go HERE to check out this great iphone app from Sutro Media
Comments
Great article and links. I live in SF and learned a lot from article
Wow! As the Jules who wrote the app, all I can say is thanks. You've captured the feeling of the app perfectly. I do app-reciate it.
Good info. Like Eddie, I live in San Francisco too and find I don't know a lot of good eating. I do like the Mission - lower that is - for Mexican food, can't beat it as far as I'm concerned. Except for the one in The Castro - 18th and Collingwood. And, Liberty Cafe on Cortland for fine food in a out of the way neighborhood. Love Lovejoy's Tea Room on Church. The great part of eating in San Francisco is the neighborhood mostly restaurants hidden from tourists
OHHH, the food in SF- I miss that most of all!
Great resources, and good information.
Also, sf has the BEST fudge & chocolate dipped strawberries- I don't know the name of the place but its at the very end of fishermans wharf- I took a local there some years ago, he didn't know about the place- he now goes once a week to "stock up". from unique cuisine, to chocolate indulgence, and lets not forget, SF SOURDOUGH... (sigh) I miss SF...
I love the title!!
A few thoughts on your thoughts...
June, I agree about the Mission. Suggest you try Charanga for Caribbean food (and the best sangria north of Miami) and Dosa for South Indian.
Jennifer, I dunno the chocolate place (unless it's Ghiardelli), right with you on the sourdough. Some of the best comes from Boudin Bakery.
Hope this helps.
jules (of the app)
Thanks for linking me to this article -- great! I've never been to SF but hope to go sometime soon -- I've heard only good things. :)
It's almost lunchtime here in Dunlop, Ayrshire, Scotland - strawberries in fudge, now you are talking. Healthy eating with something for a Scottish sweet tooth! Restaurants sound terrific. Perhaps this is the year we travel to SF. Been meaning to for years.
Here's a place that we've recently added to the app: Tony's Pizza Napoletana in North Beach. It's now our fave for pizza in San Francisco.
Here's one that we panned and has now closed: AQUA. Way too expensive, not nearly enough quality.
And here's one that will be on the next version of the app: Umami, a popular sushi place in Cow Hollow.
Oh, and here's how to get the app: sutromedia.com/apps/sfdining
Enjoy.
jules
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