Table for One: San Francisco It's easy to get excellent eats in this West Coast city, even if you're rolling alone. Jim Rendon, Portfolio.com: Business Travel, 1/7/2008 When it comes to eating, San Francisco has an embarrassment of riches: Fresh produce from the Central Valley, local seafood, an abundance of organic foodstuffs, and driven, creative chefs. But the dining culture has been even stronger since the dotcom bust-belt-tightening helped to weed out the mediocre places that sprouted up in the late 1990s, and the latest generation of internet wealth has allowed talented newcomers to flourish. Yet somehow, the city has managed to not be inundated with endless overhyped, overpriced startups (startup restaurants, at least). Food trumps flash here, and you can be wowed by everything from a humble burrito (Cancun on Market Street or El Toro, San Francisco Taqueria, or Poncho Villa in the Mission District) to highbrow crudo (raw fish). Plus, in this laid-back metropolis, dining alone rarely elicits any raised eyebrows. Many of San Francisco's best restaurants are happy to let you and your BlackBerry settle in for a long meal. South of Market (Soma): Bacar 448 Brannon Street 415-904-4100 In the shadow of Pac Bell Park, in the city's growing business district south of Market Street known as Soma, Bacar is a haven for wine lovers dining alone. The restaurant offers nearly 50 varieties by the glass, 250 ml or 500 ml decanter, or even tiny two-ounce flutes. Though the full menu, which ranges from standards like short ribs to the more exotic like bone marrow, is available at the bar, that area can get a bit loud when the after-work/pre-baseball-game crowd descends. Instead, ensconce yourself in one of the booths for two at the back of the restaurant, where you can take in the loftlike space. Dress: Suits to khakis Prices: Expensive Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar area Close to: W Hotel San Francisco Embarcadero: Slanted Door 1 Ferry Building, No. 3 415-861-8032 Reservations are tough to come by at this 12-year-old favorite. But if you are on your own, it's surprisingly easy to find a spot at the bar among the couples and lone diners grabbing a bite before heading home on the ferry. Try to sit near the dining room so you can watch the sailboats pass under the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as you sample chef Charles Phan's famed Vietnamese dishes. Half portions are available; the knowledgeable bartenders are happy to offer suggestions and let you try plenty of wines along the way. Dress: Casual to dressy Prices: Midrange Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar Close to: Hotel Vitale Mission: Range 842 Valencia Street 415-282-8283 Though it's still a bit rough around the edges, the Mission is home to some of this town's more inventive restaurants. The Slanted Door got its start here. Delfina enjoys a growing reputation. Foreign Cinema shows films with dinner. This neighborhood restaurant has top-notch food. The full menu is served at the bar, which, unlike the more formal restaurant, has a homey feel and caters to solo diners and couples out for a drink and a bite. The menu, which often features favorites like crispy roast chicken and braised pork, changes regularly to reflect seasonal ingredients. Dress: Jeans to jackets Prices: Midrange Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar Close to: Parc Fifty Five Hotel Nob Hill: Bar Crudo 630 Bush Street 415-956-0396 Though this tiny raw bar is just blocks from Union Square, it's no tourist joint. Locals in jeans and T-shirts gather at the zinc-topped bar, which wraps around the compact kitchen, to sample the inventive crudo and drink from a long list of Belgian ales. (The menu also includes cooked fish and hearty seafood soup.) A small upstairs dining room caters to a more businesslike crowd. Dress: Jeans to jackets Prices: Midrange Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar Close to: The Fairmont San Francisco Financial District: Perbacco 230 California Street 415-955-0663 Perbacco offers the solo diner everything he or she needs-a long, marble-topped bar; two dozen wines by the glass; and pasta dishes in half portions, so you can leave room for a salumi plate or the signature five-hour pork sugo. The after-work crowd is friendly, and conversations start up easily. If Perbacco is full, try the Tadich Grill, a San Francisco institution with bar dining right next door. Dress: Suits and business casual Prices: Expensive Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar Close to: Mandarin Oriental San Francisco Embarcadero: Piperade 1015 Battery Street 415-391-2555 Basque cuisine is known for its large communal meals, but Piperade takes a more individual approach, with lots of small dishes. The full menu is available at the long, curved bar, and there's also a large table at the center of the restaurant for sampling shared dishes. The grilled meats are charred on the outside, juicy and perfectly pink on the inside. While this neighborhood only blocks from the heart of North Beach is busy during the day, at night it's a bit empty. However, the bartender will be happy to call you a cab. Dress: Suits and business casual Prices: Midrange Reservations: Recommended for a table; not taken for bar Close to: Le Meridien San Francisco           Home | Business Travel | Demo Room | Reservations | Contact Us Travel Management Program | Groups & Meetings | Club Getaway ©1997-2008 Atlas Travel International. All rights reserved.