Budget San Francisco: Dining, lodging and shopping bargains
— -- With the economy in the commode and the likelihood of early retirement evaporating as fast as your 401k, the search for a silver lining is not just a figure of speech. For travelers looking for a way to save some coin, San Francisco may not be the cheapest place you can visit, but it definitely offers some bargains if you know where to look.
Restaurants
Cav Wine Bar & KitchenThe cost of food and wine seems to be inversely proportional to the stock market these days, but one chic little wine bar has bucked convention by actually lowering their prices. Yes, you heard me right. Noting that "wine and food are two of life's greatest pleasures, and during stressful times, comforts," Cav Wine Bar & Kitchen (1666 Market St., 415-437-1770, cavwinebar.com), which was named one of the San Francisco Chronicle's Top 100 restaurants in 2008, now has no entrees over $20, and has added more small plates and inexpensive wines by the glass to its menu. Nibble on chilled poached shrimp or Kampachi crudo, foie gras or housemade charcuterie, or go large with sautéed Branzino or a grilled pork chop. It's hard to go wrong here, and the entire menu is designed to complement their wines, of which there are more than 250 selections.
Jack FalstaffDozens of restaurants, including high-end establishments, are trying to rijigger their menus these days with well-priced options. In the trendy SoMa district near the ballpark, Jack Falstaff (598 Second St., 415-836-9239, jackfalstaff.com) has come up with Happy Jack Hour Wednesdays–Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m., when you can get $5 cocktails and bar bites that include specialties such as ahi and crab ceviche and heirloom tomato salad. On Sundays, the typically young and eligible crowd goes family style for Sunday Night Supper, a four-course dinner featuring comfort favorites such as buttermilk fried chicken and mac and cheese, plus value-priced carafes of wine that are usually only offered by the bottle. Suppers are under $30 per person – which while not exactly cheap, is a bargain compared to the normal a la carte menu.
Mission Beach CaféChef Ryan Scott earned a following as the chef at Myth Café and a huge fan base as a contestant on TV's "Top Chef" last year. His latest venture is the down-home Mission Beach Café (198 Guerrero St., 415-861-0198, missionbeachcafesf.com), where he and pastry chef Alan Carter create stellar farmers-market-driven fare at neighborhood prices. His lunchtime truffled, grilled three-cheese sandwich ($10.50) is practically legendary, as are his soul-warming soups. For dinner, entrees run the gamut from grilled New York steak with caramelized gnocchi to sea scallops with roasted cauliflower, mustard greens, and pancetta ($25-$29). For dessert, don't miss the banana butterscotch cream pie or any of the berry pies, which can also be purchased whole for take-out. Budget watchers might want to opt for brunch, where you can dine on heavenly custard-battered brioche French toast at the earthly price of $12.
