Here are the restaurant recommendations I've compiled from places I've been to and from friends. Take a look at all their yelp reviews before you go and I hope you enjoy =) When in doubt, just fire up your Yelp! app in whatever neighborhood you're in and try something new!
Restaurants (mid-range)
The House (North Beach, 1230 Grant Ave)
This is one of my FAVORITE restaurant in SF. Asian influenced dishes. The Seabass is their most famous dish and what I get everytime. Also heard they have amazing Ahi Tuna Taretare and Pork Chop. A small place so make reservations. Saw Patrick Dempsey there once too!
Wayfare Tavern (Financial District, 558 Sacramento St)
Just ate here last Christmas break -- see my post here
Salt House (Financial District, 2 Shaw Ally)
"Organic American cuisine that is awesome. The place has a great drink list and again a really good raw oyster bar. Must get the Poutine as a starter. Really like the ambience, has some cool murals and easy lighting." -Nick C.
Marlowe (SoMA, 500 Brannan Street)
Took my mom here on her birthday and everything was super delicious and well made! Busy though so do make a reservation. Across the street from the Caltrain station.
Mission Beach Cafe (Mission, 198 Guerrero St)
BEST and most delicious brunch ever! They don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait. They do have a coffee bar you can grab a drink from while you're lounging around for your table. See my post for photos and food recs =)
Foreign Cinema (Mission, 2534 Mission St)
"French and Italian influenced organic foods. Great raw oysters but a bit over priced. They show a classic movie during dinner. Great ambiance." -Nick C.
Isa (Marina, 3324 Steiner St)
"Organic French small plates -- amazing food. Ask for a table in the back atrium / courtyard area." -Nick C.
Chapeau! (Inner Richmond, 126 Clement St)
Small French bistro in the Richmond district -- haven't been here in years, but LOVED it when I went! Great food, decent prices and very friendly staff.
Burma Superstar (Inner Richmond, 309 Clement St)
SF has a large Burmese population and many like to say that Burma Superstar made Burmese food cool. The line here is always ridiculously long, but if you call ahead, they can put your name on their list and then you show up closer to when your table will be ready. BStar is their other restaurant (same food I believe). I usually just go to other great Burmese restaurants in SF though like Mandalay and Burmese Kitchen (I'd rec Burmese Kitchen for lunch only b/c it's on the edge of the Tenderloin). Definitely get the tea leaf salad at any of these restaurants!
Local Cheap Eats
San Tung Chinese Restaurant (Inner Sunset, 1031 Irving Street)
Best dry-fried chicken wings in SF! They are sweet, savory, and sticky and OH SO DELICIOUS! So delicious that there's always a wait! PRO TIP: If you have a party of 6+, you can reserve a table. So even if your party isn't that big, just grab a couple people in line to join you when you arrive (I'm sure they wouldn't mind skipping the wait!).
Yummy Yummy next door is also good if the wait is too long and you're down for some vietnamese food / noodles. The family's kids opened a branch in SoMA called SO Kitchen, but definitely call ahead because that place is ALWAYS closed... once my friend made a res for a birthday dinner and they confirmed, but when we arrived, they were closed!
Photo from The Big Eat
Roam Burger (Pacific Heights and Cow Hollow locations)
Delicious burgers, love the one with an egg in it!
The following restaurants are all in one corner area in the Little Saigon neighborhood of SF – it's part of the Tenderloin so be prepared for some interesting smells and homelessness. That said, because of the neighborhood, most of them are not open for dinner and close around 5pm. I've noted that below.
Turtle Tower (Tenderloin, 645 Larkin St) - not open for dinner
This place is like a San Francisco institution. Ask any young person who lives in SF where they go on Saturday/Sunday mornings after a night out and I guarantee you that Turtle Tower will get lots of mentions. The pho here is a little different as it's Northern Vietnamese pho – most places in California serve Southern Vietnamese pho. Northern Vietnamese pho emphasizes chicken broth more than beef and some condiments are different (you'll see no Sriracha sauce here). If you come here, get #9, Pho Ga (chicken pho).
Hai Ky Mia Gai (Tenderloin, 707 Ellis St) - not open for dinner
Around the corner from Turtle Tower, this place has Chinese/Vietnamese noodle soups. Very delicious and inexpensive and they have nice service too! Most people love the braised duck leg noodles with soup on the side (you can specify dry). I like #7 the house egg noodle soup with thick noodles.
Ha Nam Ninh (Tenderloin, 701 Larkin St) - open for dinner!
This is the newest restaurant on the block near Turtle Tower and Hai Ky Mia Gai. It's been around since 1958 though, just in a much smaller location on Jones Street. Anyway, this place is famous for their dry pho noodles which is SO addictive and delicious! It's #25 and you can get it with the rice noodle or ask for half egg noodle, also +$1 for large and +$1 for fried egg on top. The only problem is that their service is super inconsistent and quite terrible. I think they are still working out the kinks of having a restaurant 5x the size of their old one... It's also kind of expensive compared to the other places (~$10-11 per bowl vs. $8 at Hai Ky Mia Gai).
Lers Ros (Tenderloin, 730 Larkin St) – open for dinner!
One of the most popular Thai restaurants in SF. They have many dishes beyond the typical Pad See Ew and Pad Thai – just ask them what's popular. My favorites are the Pork Shoulder appetizer, 5 Spice Duck, Crispy Pork Belly, and they also have this dry noodle that's very good. The normal things are super delicious too though (green curry chicken, pad see ew/pad thai, etc.).
Burmese Kitchen (Tenderloin, 452 Larkin St)
Delicious Burmese food at an affordable price!
Fine Dining
Recent 3 Michelin Star Winners: Saison and Benu – heard amazing things about both, though slightly better things about atmosphere at Saison
Gary Danko (Fisherman's Wharf, 800 North Point St) Yelp Reviews: Almost 5 * and 2,500+ reviews
Other Suggestions from my old coworker Nick C.
Terzo (Marina): 3012 Steiner St
Organic Italian influenced new American cuisine, great wine list.
Chaya (Downtown): 132 The Embarcadero
Asian and French influenced plates. Pricey but very classy and a great view of the bay.
Zuni Café (Civic Center): 1658 Market St
Organic, very popular but definitely one of the best restaurants in the city...If you have time (1 hour) get the chicken for two, it is amazing. Great bar, wine list and raw oyster bar.
Blue Plate (Castro): 3218 Mission St
Hidden gem, organic American cuisine. Must ask for a table in back courtyard area if possible. Very hip and cool place.
2223 (Castro): 2223 Market St
Delicious food and very fun atmosphere. Good wine and drink list and always good for "sightseeing" in the Castro for out of towners.
Sushi Bistro (Richmond): 445 Balboa St
Best sushi in the city...I started going here before that Apple commercial came out. Great place if the you like sushi but atmosphere is less romantic.
ChouChou (Twin Peaks): 400 Dewey Blvd
Owner Nick is very gracious and fun guy. The food is phenomenal and the environment is perfect for a date.