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Good Value & Under the Radar Dining Experiences in the Bay Area

Reasonable places you can expect to spend $50-$70 pp

People ask me where to eat. So here ya go.

Frances

Their menu changes every day and I could go everyday. I have been here 3x in the last 3 months. I think that says something

Mourad

They have one of the cocktail menus in Fidi and their bar menu is good value since you can order a la carte and they are Michelin starred. If you are already going to pay $15 for a cocktail, pay $15 for a great one here.

Sorrel

Good value for an intimate four course meal ($55). Had the chef and his team host a private party of 50+ people for my birthday and they were great. Young team of chill bros but they have good energy. They also let me bring in 18 bottles of Veuve Clicquot to serve to my guests and didn't charge me a corkage fee which was lovely budget-wise.  

Chez Panisse Cafe

Alice Waters pioneered Californian farm to table cuisine. Seriously love the salads and all the food here. Don't need to do the tasting menu to get a great taste of California.

Sushi Sho

This gem in El Cerrito has only 8 seats for every omakase seating and is run by a talented Japanese couple. $60 pp omakase. I had my birthday here two years ago and return at least once a year, usually reserving all the seats in the restaurant.

Restaurant Eiji

This small Japanese restaurant in the Castro has great tofu, sushi, and Strawberry mochi ice cream. Get the strawberry mochi ice cream.

Michael Mina's Test Kitchen

Have come here for every new restaurant experiment. Very generous portions served family style. Usually ($50-$60). Recently their BBQ pop up with Steph Curry's Wife was a smash success.

Bar at Gary Danko

Few people know you can just walk in and order a drink and a la carte for the menu. I have literally walked in to eat a steak and drink some champagne without doing a full tasting.

Piaj

Really great Scandinavian food. Farm to table meets elk and braised ox.

Commonwealth

Delicious, inventive and generous portions. Also one michelin star. My goto in the Mission. Great a la carte menu. But their tasting without wine is also only $80.