PRICE:
Frommer's Highly Recommended

The Fog City Diner gets a lot of mixed reviews among locals for service and food, but I've always had a satisfying experience dining here. The restaurant looks like a genuine American metallic diner -- but only from the outside. Inside, dark polished woods, inspired lighting, and a well-stocked raw bar tell you this is no hash-slinger. Here dressed-up diner dishes include juicy gourmet burgers with house-made pickles, huge salads, "warm breads," soups, sandwiches, cioppino, macaroni and Gouda cheese, and pork chops. Fancier fish and meat meals include grilled catches of the day and thick-cut steaks. Light eaters can make a meal out of the long list of "small plates," which include crab cakes and quesadillas with asparagus and leek. They've recently opened for weekend brunch as well. The food is fine, but if your heart is set on coming here, do so at lunch or early evening cocktails and appetizers -- you'll be better off elsewhere if you want a special dinner.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's San Francisco 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»