THE GREEN TORTOISE SITS on prime real estate in North Beach, a
neighborhood also known as “Little Italy.” For our guests this
translates into great food and dining of all sorts. So if on a day when
we aren’t serving our FREE dinners you can patronize one of North
Beach's many excellent restaurants. But if you're feeling a little
posher than usual, a little more bourgeoisie, a little more
aristocratic, then pull up a seat at one of North Beach's finest of
fine dining restaurants and spoil yourself silly.
THE STINKING ROSE
A restaurant brave enough to include the word “stinking” in its title is either crazy or brilliantly delicious. The Stinking Rose, which has been featured on the Food Network, is delicious. Their motto: “We Season Our Garlic with Food.” Everything they serve is garlic-centric so this means garlic martinis, garlic ice cream, forty clove garlic chicken (!), and much more deliciousness. Even their urinal cakes smell like garlic. This place is well on its way to becoming a San Francisco institution, and is garnering worldwide attention. Come check it out and feel like you’re on the cutting edge of fancy dining.
$11-30
325 Columbus Ave (415) 781-7673
JOE DIMAGGIO’S ITALIAN CHOPHOUSE
Joe DiMaggio was once considered to be the luckiest man alive. Not
because he was particularly adept at winning games of chance, but
because he was married of all people to Marilyn Monroe. They were
married at San Francisco City Hall. So this restaurant bearing the name
of a world-class baseball player/celebrity/Marilyn Monroe Lover… do you
think it’s fancy, expensive, and super delicious? Of course it is,
maybe more than you can even imagine. This is one of San Francisco’s
most well regarded dining spots. You may find yourself mingling with SF
elite and a celebrity or two. Just whatever you do, don’t badmouth
Sinatra, or you may find yourself swimming with the fishes. Capice?
$24-60
601 Union Street (415) 421-5633
TOMMASO RISTORANTE ITALIANO
This restaurant may not at first strike you as being a ‘fine dining
establishment’; it looks modest and a bit homely, but on a list about a
neighborhood that’s been designated “Little Italy” it’s necessary we
include a killer pizza joint. This is it. Their wood fired pizza and
generous portions guarantee a full, happy belly. A lot of care goes
into the pizza’s they make, the ingredients are all fresh and evenly
distributed across the pie’s surface. You might have a long wait in
store, but the pizza is well worth it. Their non-pizza menu is pretty
diverse too. Do yourself a favor and try the vinaigrette asparagus.
$11-30
1042 Kearny Street. (415) 398-9696
MOLINARI DELICATESSEN
Grab a number and wait is a bit of a far cry from most peoples’ idea of
fine dining, but this little market/deli serves the freshest
ingredients, like everything was just harvested that morning. Their
sandwiches are enormous creations of consummate joy, the lettuce is
crispy and the meat is juicy and the cherry tomatoes burst pleasantly.
Also worth noting is their collection of delicious Italian beers which
are priced pretty sensibly. If you are lucky enough to catch them when
the ciabatta is warm then you’ll find yourself feeling as lucky as ole
Joe Dimaggio.
$5-15
373 Columbus Ave 415-421-2337
ALBONA RISTORANTE ISTRIANO
A local’s favorite known as the first Istrian restaurant in San
Francisco. For the quality of the food and atmosphere (very dressy) the
price is very considerate. Their menu represents the geography of
Istria, a unique blend of traditional Italian, Croatian and Slovenian
dishes. So you can go with the familiar like their ravioli, which is
drenched in a delicious red sauce, or try something more adventurous
like the braised rabbit served with onions, juniper berries, and soft
polenta.
$31-60
545 Francisco Street 415-441-1040
DON'T DESPAIR, budget
conscious travelers! This is a list for those of us who like to feel
pretentious and regal once in a while. If you're looking for cheap eats
there's plenty of that too, and for even cheaper you can use our
refrigerators to store food you get at the grocers. But everyone once
in a while when the economy is despairing one must act responsibly by
acting rashly irresponsible, to treat oneself like a king though one
has the wallet of a jester! I think Winston Churchill said that.
