Dining Alone Restaurants

If you’re looking for new age American style cuisine with a comfortable neighborhood vibe that will transport you to various cities around the world, search no further than San Francisco’s Street. The restaurant takes each diner on a world tour or keeps them in their native town with classic American fare and new daily changing desserts. Street is known for their local fan base and for using ingredients from nearby farmers’ markets. Street offers everything from soup, salad, and pate to seafood, sirloin, and panna cotta. They also have a nightly cocktail hour full of savory and sweet wines and …

If you’re interested in dining downtown while still escaping that engulfing city ambiance, look no further than Le Colonial. Serving up elegant French-Vietnamese cuisine made from the highest quality local farm-fresh ingredients, Chef Villanueva truly seems to have outdone himself in this latest undertaking. The décor— complete with exotic flora, a glass canopied walkway, and rattan chairs— is redolent of a 1920’s Asian colonial plantation. The food is no less striking and offers a wide variety of Vietnamese specialties that are sure to make your taste buds dance.

Nestled in one of San Francisco’s most distinguished luxury hotels, Big 4 restaurant embodies soft romanticism, rich history, and innovative cuisine. Named after the four top nineteenth century railroad tycoons, this mahogany-accented restaurant will transport you with its historical artifacts, live piano music, and forest green banquettes. Their contemporary American menu is carefully crafted to reflect the seasons by talented Executive Chef Gloria Ciccarone-Nehls, a previous recipient of the “Chef of the Year" award by the National Executive Chefs Association. Menu items include light temptations such as the Vietnamese Maine Lobster and Prawn Spring Rolls for the health-conscious, or Rack …

This gem of the San Mateo coast sparkles with the numerous honors and awards it has enjoyed throughout the years. Fresh, authentic, and intriguing Mediterranean fare is served up in an equally fresh and intriguing dining space. Rich earth tones bath the walls, and flowing panels drape down from the ceiling to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Similarly, the menu entices patrons with culinary delights that span the entire Mediterranean region. The Tunisian Kaskasu Bi’l Lahm is a slow-braised Victory Ranch lamb sholder, and the Manti is a Turkish dish of house-made dumplings. There is much to explore and …

Just south of San Francisco on the Pacific Ocean lies the city of Half Moon bay where agriculture and big wave surfing are the popular attractions in town. When it comes to food, Cetrella is the areas destination point. With French and Mediterranean undertones, Cetrella draws from local growers and purveyors to seasonally create dishes from land and sea. Freshly harvested Oysters on the Half Shell, Mussels, Grilled Octopus and the Beet Salad are light items that represent its closeness to the ocean and plentiful fields. Entrees like the Lamb Shank, Pork Chop, Duck Confit and Gnocchi Parisienne also allow …

Chef and Owner Wendy Brucker and Owner and General Manager Roscoe Skipper are the dynamic duo behind Rivoli, in Berkeley. They met, wed, and plunged into the world of restaurant success in 1994, with fresh and earthy fare that strikes a balance between unique combinations and traditional techniques. The “secret garden” lures patrons in, and the healthful and satisfying cuisine keeps them coming back. Dishes like the Saffron and Pimenton Risotto and the Pan Roast Chicken are quite memorable, but with a seasonal menu that changes every three weeks there is always something new to try, and love.

The Hotel Shattuck, in downtown Berkeley, is home to a sophisticated restaurant that incorporates all of the senses into the dining experience. Five is an elegantly spacious modern American bistro and bar defined by massive columns that rise up to support the intricately recessed ceiling, grandly lit chandeliers, and beaming floor-to-ceiling windows that cast everything in the glow of luxury. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus are similarly well-designed with refined dishes that are both sophisticated and welcoming. Executive Chef Howard Scott melds opulence with familiarity in dishes like the Deviled Surf and Turf Eggs and the Short Rib Pot …

Commis’ cuisine strives to combine the classic and traditional with the modern and refreshing. The restaurant’s seasonally changing menu achieves this goal by infusing balance and ambition into each of its dishes. Located in Oakland, Commis sits central to most areas of San Francisco, allowing a variety of clientele to experience this chef’s new avant-garde vision. Commis creates this distinctive perspective by combining ingredients that come together in an almost unexpected harmony.

Take a peek inside San Francisco’s historic Hotel Whitcomb and you will find a true gem: Florinda’s Market Street Grill. This restaurant serves modern cuisine that flows with the seasons. Each dish is prepared fresh with locally grown ingredients and completed with a Euro-Asian accent. The juxtaposition of this modern cuisine against the building’s history and class is part of what generates this restaurant’s yesteryear ambiance complete with Tiffany glass, vaulted ceilings, and wood paneling. Market Street Grill offers menus with variety, serving everything from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to dessert and wine. This restaurant also makes for a great …

Located only a short distance from San Francisco’s Union Square, Santorini is known for its Mediterranean cuisine showcasing dishes from the area’s various regions. The restaurant’s warm ambiance permeates every aspect of the dining experience. Santorini’s specialties include classic Mediterranean dishes that are created fresh daily. Whether the diner is looking for a quick appetizer of pita and hummus for a midday snack or a traditional Greek specialty like Mousaka, they will surely enjoy their trip around the world. Santorini also offers breakfast along with their regular lunch and dinner hours, catering services, and can be reserved for private events.

There’s a bit of Rome right in the heart of San Francisco. 54 Mint presents bold flavors with imaginative pairings and infuses a bit of Italy into everything they prepare. This combination restaurant and wine bar is located downtown on the historic Mint Plaza and attracts locals and tourists alike with its charming décor and ambiance. 54 Mint has a comprehensive wine list and food menu as well as community seating in their wine cellar which can also be rented out for private events.

Infused with the flavors and colors of the seasons, San Francisco’s Yield Wine Bar invites guests to come in and try something new. They believe in providing high quality dishes and wines that won’t break the bank. Yield’s cuisine is a contemporary American and Thai fusion. The menu is full of unique combinations and flavors sure to entice any palate and Yield’s knowledgeable staff is more than happy to recommend dishes and wine pairings. The ambiance is tranquil and romantic with a hint of excitement and complete with a chic decor. Yield is a great place to swing by for …

At Palomino, guests can feel like they’re visiting the happiest place on earth. With a menu boasting “The Everyday Happy Hour,” Palomino’s suggests pairing their all day $5 drink specials with a special brand of upscale bar snacks such as Prosciutto Flatbread, Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Dip, and Potatoes Gorgonzola. Who can resist? Palomino serves up California style cuisine with a touch of something special. With selections for both lunch and dinner, patrons can drool over their signature entrée’s, steaks, pastas, and pizzas—more notably their Wild Mushroom, Cured Ham, and Goat Cheese Flatbread, a customer favorite. Located on San Francisco’s …

Vampires beware! The Stinking Rose is known throughout San Francisco as being the number one restaurant for fans of garlic and excellent food. Located in North Beach, the restaurant goes through over 3,000 pounds of the garlic each month, and diners visit again and again to indulge in the Californian-Italian cuisine. The Stinking Rose is best known for its Dungeness Killer Crab: a fresh crab weighing over two pounds and roasted in a secret garlic sauce until succulent and juicy. The garlicky goodness extends to the rest of the restaurant’s menu, which includes seafood skillets, tureens, surf and turf, pastas, …

Located in Haight-Asbury, San Francisco’s most colorful Historic district, lies a Tapas restaurant and bar that revolutionizes the marriage of healthy dining and intense flavor. Caribbean and Cajun flavors are staple of importance at Cha Cha Cha, a restaurant that can prove that eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to eat bland. Serving up spicy, hot dishes such as Lechon Asado (roast leg of pork), and Arroz Con Pollo (roasted chicken with spicy vegetables), guests can be introduced to new flavors as well as dine on classic flavors. With options for lunch and dinner as well as drinks and dessert, …

For over 25 years, Submarine Center has been crisply toasting diners’ sandwiches in their shop on the little corner of West Portal. This restaurant offers three sizes of sandwiches to enjoy, ranging from Mini to Super. Hungry sandwich-goers get to watch the assembly of their meal and choose the bread, meat, cheese, and toppings. The inside of Submarine Center proudly shows off the owners’ pride in the 49ers, with football memorabilia hung all around the shop. With the options of eating in or taking it to-go, this sandwich shop is the go-to place for lunch on-the-go.

Prospect is the more casual concept in SoMa from the team behind San Francisco's acclaimed Boulevard. Partners Nancy Oakes, Pam Mazzola, and Kathy King, together with Executive Chef Ravi Kapur, have created a lively, seasonal menu that pays tribute to contemporary American cuisine. Whether it's a cocktail and a bite at the bar, a casual meal at the communal table, or a relaxed dinner in the main dining room, guests can enjoy the full menu and exceptional service. The loft-like space is warmed by earth tones, natural fibers, and reclaimed wood creating an open, inviting environment to enjoy your meal.

Maykadeh restaurant of North Beach expertly uses Persian spices in their cuisine to give their food an authentic taste. From Kebabs to Soltani, Maykadeh stays true to its heritage, even offering diners traditional desserts such as Pallodeh and Bastani, a traditional Persian ice cream. Maykadeh also features a Halal menu just as varied as the regular one. Classic white tablecloths and flawless presentation characterize the interior of this restaurant, making Maykadeh the ideal place to take a date. In addition to dining in options, this restaurant offers two different catering menus to help serve at any special event.

Embracing the term “Local” and running with it, the folks at Gather excel in sourcing locally grown and raised ingredients for their menu that boasts it’s 50% vegetarian. Located in the David Brower center, the greenest building in the East Bay-- Gather possesses a casual yet elegant atmosphere to cater to just about anyone. The interior consists of mostly reclaimed materials from the surrounding area, accenting their open kitchen. Boasting an ever-changing seasonal menu, Gather offers everything from vegan “charcuterie” to a grilled half chicken. Open for brunch on the weekends and lunch and dinner nightly, Gather sources up good …

Making the most of a simple, rustic interior with strong influences of the bayou thrown in, Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen focuses on authentic Creole and Cajun eats. Seasonal crawfish boils make this East Bay eatery a must-do in terms of Louisiana cuisine. Chef Brandon Dubea brings a lifetime of Louisiana upbringing to the kitchen of this local establishment, located just a stone’s throw from the Berkeley Public Library. Make sure that after a big ol’ bowl of steaming gumbo, you save room for a New Orleans classic, Angeline’s award-winning beignets, cooked to order.