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San Francisco, Califronia - Cheap Eats

You'll walk a lot in San Francisco, whether you intend to or not and those hills can make you hungry. Popular belief has it that if every San Franciscan went to sit down at a restaurant at the same time on any given night, there would be enough seats to accommodate all! (That's about 750,000, by the way.)

Reservations are recommended at most moderate and top-dollar places. Numerous cafes, pizza joints and taquerias provide low-budget sustenance with table service or to-go options.

Some of San Francisco's most colorful neighborhoods are also her most flavorful. Chinatown, of course, North Beach for cappuccino, desserts or pizza by the slice (try Golden Boy's Sicilian style; 542 Green St. at Columbus) and the Mission (Valencia St., starting at the corner of 16th St. down to 24th St.) for everything from burritos to Bombay ice cream, even a vegan restaurant, Herbivore (983 Valencia; 415-826-5657).

What's the Pint? Irish Pubs in San Francisco

There may be no Little Dublin Town per se in the City by the Bay, but a large ex-pat population and a new wave of students from the Emerald Isle join visiting Irish, Irish-Americans and Americans who love everything Irish in a thriving pub scene.

Pubs of all sorts - upscale, downscale and simply no scale - are scattered throughout the City. Look for a bright green shamrock and Guinness logo and you're in. While you'll be sure to get your pint, food fare ranges from typical American bar grub (burgers and nachos) and traditional Irish pub faves (always reasonably priced) to more eclectic offerings. Pool tables, darts and satellite TV (or at least ESPN-2) are standard.

O'Reilly's Irish Pub & Restaurant

622 Green St; 415-989-6222; open 7 days a week, 10am - 2am (opens 8am on weekends). $3 pints at Happy Hour, Monday - Friday (3pm. - 6:22pm (sharp).

An Irish oasis in the heart of Italian North Beach Bar, sidewalk tables and dining room offer a choice of atmosphere that runs the gamut from literary to slightly loony (the owner's 185-lb Irish wolfhound roams about freely). Those taking their Guinness outside may be treated to a dirge or two from the Green St. Mortuary Band across the street. Excellent pub food and traditional Irish dishes (including fish and twice fried chips, lamb stew, cottage pie) and Celtic brunch (featuring omelets in honor of Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett), can all be had for under $7-$12, with pint.

The Irish Bank

10 Mark Lane (at Bush); 415-788-7152; open 7 days a week, 11am - 2am.

Although the overcrowded Happy Hour scene and the strange mix of pricey California cuisine (wasabi creme fraiche!?) amid the Celtic can be a bit off-putting, hitting this place mid-afternoon or on a weekend before or after the exodus of Financial District commuters is worth your while. Previously known as the Bank of Ireland, the bar got into a bit of a legal wrangle when the Bank itself found out. The name's been changed, but the large Bank of Ireland sign indoors remains. Plenty of outdoor seating, too.

Original McCarthy's

2327 Mission St. (at 19th St.); 415-648-0504; open 7 days a week, 4pm - 2am. Food served 6pm - 11pm ('til 1am, Fridays and Saturdays).

There are two things original about McCarthy's, the first being the bar. Its high-backed swivel chairs mounted around its massive mahogany drinking edifice seats about 60 and has been a Mission District fixture for more than 90 years. The second original notion is the relatively new tenant in the kitchen - Cha Cha Cha, turning out a variety of Cuban small plates. Spicy seafood and vegetarian tapas like shrimp sautéed in Cajun spices and potatoes with pasilla chile aioli are the specialties (and priced between $4.95 and $9.95). The housemade Sangria (not recommended as a Guinness chaser) is excelente!


San Francisco Travel Guide

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