Just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean you have to go hungry in San Francisco! There are great restaurants everywhere and in every price range; my favorite dinner spot and quick-lunch venues are both affordable and delicious.
Nob Hill Café
Located in San Francisco’s Nob Hill neighborhood – close to the Fairmont and Ritz hotels – the Nob Hill Café is a welcome escape from the bustling downtown and Union Square areas. The quaint, family-owned restaurant is instantly inviting and is a cheap eat with dinner entrees in the $15 range with lots of options around $10. While waiting for a table, it’s fun to work up an appetite while watching the chefs make pasta by hand. A short wait is worth it when you taste the pasta. We got the traditional Insalata Caprese, which really can’t be bad, but the showstopper was my gnocchi. I told the waitress, who had been working there for 10 years, that I was in the mood for pesto, but the gnocchi I saw on the way in looked delicious and – voila – Pesto a la gnocchi was born! The menu has a wide variety of home-style Italian goodness, and outdoor seating – perfect for people-watching – is available.
Bistro 69
Bistro 69 was my go-to lunch spot with friends while staying in the Union Square area of San Francisco. It’s down a small alley, but worth the search, especially if you are vegetarian. The bistro is part deli, part vegetarian oasis, but also has tons of omnivore options, all around $10, qualifying Bistro69 as a cheap eats in my book. I loved the Falafel sandwich and the Mediterranean wrap, plus lots of good salads; my counterparts preferred the burgers. They also have smoothies, Italian sodas or chai lattes for cold days. Even better, there is plenty of outdoor seating for sunny days. Plus, you can window shop at Tory Burch while you lunch.
