Swan Oyster Depot
The Swan Oyster Depot was featured in the "San Francisco Chronicle's" Top 100 Restaurants for 2009. According to the article, the restaurant first opened in 1912 and changed ownership in 1946 when Sal Sancimino purchased it. The Sancimino family continues to run the restaurant today. The Swan Oyster Depot specializes in seafood and is a favorite of locals. The restaurant is a long, narrow space with a row of a dozen or so benches in front of a little counter butted up to the coolers and prep area, so don't bring a big group of people since you'll only be able to talk to those you are immediately seated next to. Swan Oyster Depot is only open until 5:30 p.m., so go there for lunch or a snack before a later dinner. The lines can be long, so unless you get there early, be prepared to wait.
Swan Oyster Depot
1517 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-1101
Street
Street, at Polk and Broadway, offers up New American cuisine like pork chops in spicy mustard with potatoes and risotto with white prawns in a truffle oil. According to the about section on Street's website, the restaurant is owned by Lynn Ramsey and John Lamkin, with Lamkin acting as chef. The duo says they have strong relationships with local vendors and try to source all their ingredients from local merchants and farmers markets. Street is only open for dinner, with cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m. and dinner service at 6:00. The bar stays open until 2 a.m. The space is rather intimate, so avoid bringing large groups. Street is closed on Mondays and does not take reservations, so plan accordingly.
Street
2141 Polk St.
(between Broadway & Vallejo)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 775-1055
streetonpolk.com
La Boulange
There are nine La Boulange locations in San Francisco, including the Nob Hill location at Polk and Green. La Boulange serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can stop in anytime and have your culinary needs met. According to La Boulange's About Us page on its website, the cafe and bakery aims to bring French tradition to the people of San Francisco. Founder Pascal Rigo opened the first La Boulangerie bakery in 1999, after spending years learning his art in Paris. Daily specials rotate, but brunch offerings include omelets and breakfast pizzas, and lunch and dinner consist of open-face sandwiches, burgers and salads. La Boulange has a casual atmosphere where customers order at the counter and seat themselves.
La Boulange
2310 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 345-1107
baybread.com
