Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco: Bold Plates, Hidden Gems, and Global Flavors

Enjoy a modern take on traditional Izakaya-style dining at Pabu Izakaya, one of San Francisco’s most renowned Japanese sushi bars. In addition to Chef Ken Tominaga’s award-winning sushi and sashimi, the menu at Pabu Izakaya also features delicious dishes such as the Soy-Braised Lotus Root or the Monterey Squid Okonomiyaki. They also offer an Omakase menu and handcrafted cocktails such as the Ume Be Right. Chef Tominaga is a Tokyo native who also owns Hana Japanese Restaurant, so he has quite the impressive resume. He opened Pabu Izakaya with long-time friend and fellow restaurateur, Michael Mina. You’ll find them on 101 California Street, a popular destination in San Francisco’s Financial District.

Address: Pabu Izakaya, 101 California Street, San Francisco, California, Phone: 415-668-7228

Finding an interesting, innovative, and hot new restaurant in San Francisco’s Mission District is not difficult, but sometimes you’ll find one that stands out. Lolinda is an Argentinian steak house where Argentina’s world-famous beef-based cuisine receives an avantgarde California twist. The large two-story dining room with exposed brick and a high ceiling is beautifully decorated with select Argentinian antiques and massive chandeliers. There are several distinct dining spaces, from the large bar to the long communal tables. If you want a quiet dinner, ask for a table upstairs. Try not to miss anything, as eating at Lolinda is an experience. Start with fresh, spicy ceviche or hot croquetas and indulge in traditional Argentinian beef dishes such as matambra or tira. The delicious peanut mousse makes a perfect ending. The wine list is large and excellent and their cocktails are innovative and delicious. For some more fun, go up to the roof, where the El Techo bar serves great cocktails amidst fantastic views.

Address: Lolinda, 2518 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110, Phone: 415-550-6970

Enjoy a celebration of rustic cuisine at San Francisco’s Cotogna restaurant, where the Italian-inspired menu changes daily and is comprised of regionally sourced, spit-roasted or grilled meats and fish, house-made pastas, and wood-fired pizzas. You can try amazing dishes like Summer Squash & Front Porch Farm Polenta, Burrata with Plum Mostarda, or Wild Nettle & Chestnut Honey Tortelli. They also serve fabulous wines and cocktails. Chef and restaurateur Michael Tusk manages Cotogna, and he also owns Quince Restaurant, a local favorite in fine dining establishments. You’ll find Cotogna in historic Jackson Square.

Address: Cotogna, 490 Pacific Avenue, San Francisco, California, Phone: 415-775-8508

Kusakabe provides San Francisco with an unforgettable dining experience, serving a multi-course sushi dinner that is prepared using the principles of Japanese “Kaiseki” cuisine. This type of haute cuisine embraces four elements: five colors, five tastes, five sense, and five methods. Enjoy a dish from the nightly Omakase menu – the Miso-Glazed “Ohyo” Alaskan Halibut is particularly delicious. Otherwise, you can try something from the a la carte menu like Umimasu (Tasmanian ocean trout, lightly poached). Award-winning Executive Chef and owner Mitsunori Kusakabe opened the restaurant in 2014 and is extremely passionate about every meal he prepares. You can find Kusakabe in the Financial District.

Address: Kusakabe, 584 Washington Street, San Francisco, California, Phone: 415-757-0155

La Ciccia restaurant specializes in authentic Sardinian cuisine. You can enjoy dishes such as the Frega cun Amizzioni e Sumini (Fregola tomatoes, sea urchin, and smoked pancetta) or Pezza de Angioni a sa Saba (seared lamb tenderloin taliata drizzled with saba). They also boast an impressive wine list comprised of 180 labels. Husband-and-wife team Massimiliano Conti and Lorella Degan opened the restaurant in 2006 and continue to let their love and passion guide their approach to running their restaurant. La Ciccia is located on the edge of Noe Valley.

Address: La Ciccia, 291 30th Street, San Francisco, California, Phone: 415-550-8114

The Morris is a cool, modern neighborhood restaurant in Potrero Flats in San Francisco’s Mission District. With a glass-fronted wine cellar and a large map of the Bay Area as the only décor, the guests can focus on what really matters – fabulous food. The menu is sophisticated Californian with elevated comfort food, if you can call smoked duck aged for four days comfort food. There is also a tartine served with crusty bread baked at the neighborhood bakery, pork cracklings with Aleppo pepper and honey, and grilled squid drenched in chili and lime dressing. The wine list is extensive and excellent with regional and international wines.

Address: 2501 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA 94110, Phone: 415-612-8480

James Beard Award recipient State Bird Provisions is a contemporary American restaurant with an ever-changing menu consisting of dishes made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Stop in and try sophisticated dishes like the Padrons with Cumin-Goat Cheese Fondue, the Charred Octopus with Kampot Peppercorn and Tomato Sauce, or the California State Bird with Provisions (an incredible quail dish). What started as the creation of a recipe for California Valley Quail (the State Bird) eventually evolved into a restaurant, which Chef Stuart Brioza and Pastry Chef Nicole Krasinski opened in 2011. You’ll find this local favorite in San Francisco’s Western Addition neighborhood.

Address: State Bird Provisions, 1529 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, California, Phone: 415-795-1272