Things to do / Travel Guide
Dining on the central California coast is a true treat. For the most part, the areas from Morro Bay all the way up to the southern edge of San Francisco are known for their pseudo-country dining; in these parts food can range from the decidedly simple to the upscale and complex. Italian, Chinese, Japanese, and the all-embracing “California Cuisine” styles are very popular. Seafood is also a central coast favorite, especially with a glass of locally-produced wine. Dining in the smaller towns can be a really good deal, most of the cafés are not known for being ridiculously exclusive or expensive, and a family or party of four can eat for less than $50-$60.
Dining around Napa Valley and Sonoma County
Both Napa Valley and Sonoma County are filled with many fine dining establishments with generally an American, a Continental, an Italian, or a French twist to their menus. However, the towns across the Napa Valley and Sonoma County do not have enough restaurant tables to cater to every visitor who wishes to dine, so one thing you need to know about dining in Napa and Sonoma is that reservations are essential. One item that is “homegrown” right in Sonoma county is Sonoma Jack cheese, which is a sort of variation on Monterey Jack cheese but partially flavored with wine saplings.
Dining around San Francisco and the Bay Area
In San Francisco, it is recommended that you make reservations, especially if you're planning to dine in a popular restaurant, where, rumor has it, you might need to make reservations six to eight weeks in advance. If you arrive at a well-known and popular café or restaurant in San Francisco without a reservation and want to try to get seated quickly at a table, perhaps you might want to head for the bar, which can often turn out to be a faster dining option with prices somewhat cheaper than in the larger, more “proper,” dining room. Keep in mind that when dining in San Francisco in particular, finding decent parking in the city could turn into a mission, as parking spaces come at a premium in the city by the bay.
Seafood is very popular in San Francisco and the Bay Area, especially in restaurants around Fisherman's Wharf. One popular dish is the Surf and Turf selection, which usually combines seafood with steak. San Francisco is also known for its amazing Chinese food, so good in fact that people in places like LA and San Diego will describe a new Chinese restaurant in their area as “San Francisco-good.”
In San Francisco, the menus, depending on the restaurants, can include a galaxy of various culinary delights that originate in some obscure part of the world. Restaurants specializing in Afghan, Cajun, Burmese, Jewish, Moroccan, Persian, Cambodian, and vegan cuisines, for instance, are easy to come across. There truly is something for everyone in San Francisco and the Bay Area.
In the smaller towns and villages across the central coast of California, menus are generally simple, with a relative abundance of organic produce, seafood, free-range meats, and wine. For instance, the cozy seaside hamlet of Cambria has a large collection of fine restaurants and cafés which are considered “unexpected” given the town's small size. The best part about dining in Cambria is that the price for a fantastic meal is generally cheap; lunch at one of these fine restaurants can cost as little as $15, while dinner can run as low as $25-$30. You can also sit on the outdoor patios and wait for the whales to go by (during certain seasons).
The Nepenthe is a multilevel structure that Orson Welles bought for Rita Hayworth back in their heyday, but today is a well-known eatery in Big Sur. The Nepenthe was named after the “drug” that was popularly consumed in Homer's “The Odyssey,” and its biggest draw is the view of Big Sur. The menu here is as renowned as the view, but so are the prices.
San Francisco Bay Area, Carmel, Napa Valley, Central California Coast
Restaurants-Fine-Dining
|
|
|