San Francisco's Best Family-Friendly Dining 2008

From burgers to pasta, this Inner Sunset bistro offers comfort food at unbeatable prices.

Reviews:

• “Just Like Home”
• “Great food with great service”
• “Great Food, Worst Service”
• “Best Lunch Place”
• “Not “kid friendly”"

Tips: More Chow across town: If you’re near the Castro, check out the original Chow at Church and Market.

Park Chow

A Union Square trattoria known for its high-energy atmosphere and finger food.

Reviews:

• “great place”
• “Delightful dining experience”
• “great mussels”
• “TERRIBLE SERVICE AND BAD FOOD! "
• “TERRIBLE! Take your money elsewhere!!”

Tips: There’s a kids’ menu offering “puzghetti,” a make-your-own pizza, a kid-friendly guide to San Francisco and a lunch course that teaches kids “Table Manners Basics.”

Puccini & Pinetti or email Puccini & Pinetti

Breakfast and burgers at family-friendly prices at this cheerful Inner Sunset diner.

Reviews:

• “darla is the best!”
• “Burgers & Brews & Breakfast”
• “Darlas is delicious!”
• “NOT possibly the best burger in town”
• “three stars”

Tips: On Tuesdays, from 5pm to closing, up to two children under 12 can eat free with the purchase of one adult entree.

Darla’s or email Darla’s

Enormous beef, chicken and veggie burgers with inventive twists make this casual mini-chain a California favorite.

Reviews:

• “Disaster on 24th Street”
• “Decline in Burger and chicken sandwich quality lately”
• “Original not the best?”
• “Very, very good burger”
• “FUN PLACE….”

Tips: Alfresco dining is offered on the heated front patio.

Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers

Consistent food and upscale bistro ambience mark this local go-to for visitors and professionals.

Reviews:

• “An underrated spot”
• “WOW!”
• “Terrific food and service”
• “Disgusting Hole!!”
• “Worth a visit”

Tips: Happy hour from 4pm-7pm features $3 well drinks and drafts.

Annabelle’s

With its warm, festive atmosphere and traditional thin-crust pizza, this Inner Richmond eatery attracts a loyal following.

Reviews:

• “Traditional rustic pizza place.”
• “Great pizza and other Italian food”
• “Best Pizza”
• “best pizza in the city”
• “Way over hyped”

Tips: Free delivery is offered weekdays for large gatherings, such as office luncheons. Catering is also available. Call ahead and ask for the Party Menu or create a customized menu.

Giorgio’s Pizzeria

Modern Vietnamese cuisine served in comfortable, contemporary surroundings in the Sunset.

Reviews:

• “A great Valentine’s Day date”
• “Tasty food”
• “Tasty food and excellent service”
• “Awesome Service and Food!!”
• “Great vietnamese food & customer service”

Tips: Vietnamese brews like 33, Saigon and Hue are offered, but the real treat is the ultra-strong Vietnamese coffee.

Dragonfly Restaurant

Laurel Village cafe serving families comfort food with French and Italian influences.

Reviews:

• “nice ambiance, food presentation and quality was disappointing”
• “Good salads, skip the French Onion Soup”
• “Delicious”
• “Great customer service”
• “Great, Great,Great”

Tips: A kids’ menu features a handful of options, including a grilled cheese and burger.

Rigolo

This cartoon jungle is a child’s wonderland, with waterfalls, swinging monkeys and a canopy of faux flora and fauna.

Reviews:

• “Horrible Experience”
• “Fun environment, average fare”
• “For the Scenery”
• “Slow Service and Pricey!”
• “A little vacation right in the city!”

Rainforest Cafe

Big-flavored meats cooked low and slow and served down-home on Geary Street.

Reviews:

• “Impressed”
• “BBQ that ROCKS!!!!!”
• “Just not that interesting…”
• “If you see Roadside BBQ, then keep on driving.”
• “Solid and consistent”

Tips: Takeout and catering are available.

Roadside BBQ

A toy-themed sweet haven filled with tasty treats and cartoon collectibles.

Reviews:

• “Do it for the atmosphere”
• “LOVE!!”

Tips: If you don’t feel like having lunch or dinner there, order your Southwest chicken sandwich for pickup.

Toy Boat Dessert Cafe

Comfort food gets a touch of Southern flavor at cozy Glen Park eatery.

Reviews:

• “Great Neighborhood Spot”
• “great food, poor service”
• “I am hard to impress; and this place blew me away!”
• “I was very exicted about the “southern” menu… yet the resulting food was less than expected."
• “Great neighborhood restaurant!”

Tips: Every Tuesday is kids’ night, featuring a low-priced children’s menu and frequent-patron program, where with each visit, little ones earn stars on the big CP Kids Club board that can be used toward free desserts, T-shirts, hats and other merchandise.

Chenery Park or email Chenery Park

Piled-high sandwiches, gigantic desserts and singing waiters glamorize this souped-up deli in Opera Plaza.

Reviews:

• “Forgettable”
• “Horrendous service, and they nickle and dime you!”
• “Something For Everyone”
• “If you care about your arteries…”
• “They no longer have the Chinese Chicken Salad Lite”

Tips: Dine alone with ease. Rule #16 of “Max’s Laws” calls for a meal on the house if your host asks the dreaded question, “Just one?”

Max’s at the Opera

Friendly, easygoing establishment famous for its fried chicken and heaping plates of soul food.

Reviews:

• “Strange, disappointing dining experience with awful service”
• “GOOD FOOD, NICE CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, BUT SERVICE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT”
• “Terrible Customer service;OK food; kind of high priced for what they give you”
• “Powell’s Place – Don’t Believe the Hype”
• “Hold the salt, please!”

Tips: An affordable country breakfast is served daily Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 1pm.

Powell’s Place

Bay Area diner chain keeps the spirit of the 50s alive with rock-and-roll memorabilia and value-priced, all-American breakfasts, burgers and desserts.

Reviews:

• “Fun atmosphere!”
• “Large portions of tasteless fare”
• “#1 Lori’s Diner”
• “Salmon fillet. Yum.”
• “Breakfast Heaven”

Tips: Several vegetarian options are available, including three signature veggie sandwiches.

Lori’s Diner or email Lori’s Diner

Cole Valley’s go-to spot for upscale Italian is also an oft-overlooked—and wait-less—brunch option.

Reviews:

• “Great neighborhood restaurant”
• “rude service”
• “horrible service”
• “Wonderful Italian food year after year”
• “A wonderful place for a meal”

Tips: Bambino’s has a revolving list of lunch and dinner nightly specials, like the spinach fettuccine with bay scallops, shitake mushrooms, leeks and red bell peppers in a light creamy dill sauce, that are consistently worth trying.

Bambino’s Ristorante

Joseph Manzare and childhood buddy Eddie Maiello team up to open this old-school, New York-style Italian sauce house with classic pastas and meat dishes, like chicken parmesan and pork chops.

Tips: The wine list, designed by Manzare’s wife and partner Mary Klingbeil, has plenty of affordable options that are served in stemless glassware.

Joey & Eddie’s

Indulge your passion for poultry at this cheap, casual destination.

Reviews:

• “goood frikin eveerything!”
• “Awesome chicken”
• “average”
• “Tasty, Resonably Priced Mission Grub”

Tips: The large glass of fresh squeezed orange juice for $2.95 is a delicious deal.

Goood Frikin’ Chicken

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