San Francisco's Best Anniversary Restaurant 2008

Hotel guests and SF residents alike flock to this sophisticated spot, which focuses on modern-steakhouse fare and seafood—and excels at both.

Reviews:

• “Best Steak Restaurant in the City and a Chocolate Souffle to Die For "
• “Best Steak and Seafood”
• “Delicious Food, Great Ambiance…But Unfortunately Horrible and Unprofessional Service”
• “Personal service and wonderful enticing dishes and desserts!”
• “A must see”

Tips: Valet service with the hotel will set you back $30, but the restaurant validates $15 of that for lunch and dinner diners.

Seasons

A Hollywood-like setting and sophisticated Vietnamese fare converge in Ghirardelli Square.

Reviews:

• “Horrible service! "
• “Go here!”
• “Fabulous Wedding Venue”
• “tasty food, great price”
• “Crappy service!!”

Tips: Family-style portions are impressive—you’ll want to share.

Ana Mandara

The California-style Vietnamese cuisine and opulent French-Colonial setting make this a popular downtown destination.

Reviews:

• “TO DIE FOR MELT IN YOUR MOUTH YUMMY!”
• “Unbelievable food, impeccible service. "
• “Good Food, Very Bad Service”
• “Expected surprise!”
• “Definate recommendation”

Tips: During warmer weather, sit on the outdoor veranda, away from the rush inside.

Le Colonial or email Le Colonial

Chef Roland Passot’s venerable, festive shrine to nouvelle cuisine.

Reviews:

• “Francophile in Heaven!”
• “Generous portions, attentive staff”
• “Disappointment on Valentine’s Day”
• “SFO at its best”
• “An unhappy experience”

Tips: Wine pairing is available for $45-$55, depending on the prix-fixe selection.

La Folie or email La Folie

A celebrated under-the-sea setting and extravagant takes on seafood lure crowds to this pricey destination.

Reviews:

• “Great high end restaurant that you can go in casual clothing.”
• “Fantastic food and service”
• “San Francisco “has been”"
• “Great platter dish”
• “Good food, atmosphere and service.”

Tips: The Pool Room is where to see and be seen, but the balcony hidden at the top of the grand staircase is quieter and more intimate.

Farallon

The unrepentant luxury of this culinary landmark one-ups itself with the arrival of Iron Chef winner Ron Siegel.

Reviews:

• “Pricy but romantic”
• “Terrific!”
• “The BEST Fine Dining in the Bay Area, without a doubt.”
• “Save your money or go somewhere that’s worth it.”
• “Good place to part with your cash”

Tips: Parking is expensive at the garage and hard to find on the street; so try a cable car. The California and Powell-Hyde lines stop within a block of the hotel.

The Dining Room at The Ritz Carlton

Extragant, modern Gascon cuisine featuring the freshest local ingredients pleases the palates of an international clientele in the Hotel Palomar.

Reviews:

• “Very Romantic, Great for a dressed up Date”
• “A perfect evening!”
• “Excellent service but disappointing meal — please spend your money somewhere else, or regret it”
• “Run from Molly”
• “Wonderful, top notch splurge, tasty, conveinent.”

Tips: The restaurant’s new Honor Bar is a play on the honor principle: from 4pm to 9pm every evening, sommelier Emily Wines will be featuring six hand-picked wines that customers can order by paying what they please in a box on the bar.

Fifth Floor Restaurant or email Fifth Floor Restaurant

After a decade, this impressive destination still turns out exquisite seafood in a plush setting.

Reviews:

• “Disappointing”
• “Definitely Not Worth The Hype Or The Cost”
• “Avoid when it’s busy!”
• “Not at all worth the price”
• “Forced to either spend a minimum of $72 or $102”

Tips: Valet is $8. Or, try parking at the Embarcadero Center.

Aqua

A sophisticated, sparkling locale for high-end, well-crafted Cal-French cuisine.

Reviews:

• “I’m not sure what the fuss is about….”
• “Dining at Nordstrom’s during their semi-annual sale; terrible service and cold food!”
• “Stunning”
• “The Supper Club experience at its best”
• “Avoid valet, if possible”

Tips: The downstairs dining room can get noisy. Request an upstairs table for greatest dining enjoyment.

Jardiniere

Perfectly polished and incredibly delicious, the ultrasophisticated cuisine at this restaurant is worth the hype.

Reviews:

• “The Nordstrom of Restaurants”
• “yummy”
• “Nice. But not THAT nice”
• “Foie Gras Lover’s Heaven”
• “great luxury experience, but food was average”

Tips: If you can’t get a reservation, the full menu is also served at the 11-seat bar. Seats are available on a first come, first served basis.

Restaurant Gary Danko