From: viviana@igor.tamri.com (Vivian Aldridge)
Newsgroups: ba.motss
Subject: SUMMARY:Special restaurants
Date: 13 Nov 92 15:44:13 GMT
Distribution: ba
Organization: TOSHIBA America MRI, South San Francisco, CA

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The following is a summary of restaurants where gay people feel
comfortable.

Thanks to all of you who responded. I really appreciate it!
Vivian
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ORIGINAL POST:

Greetings all,

Can anyone recommend a nice restaurant in SF or Oakland
to take a special woman out for her birthday? I'd like
a place that caters to gay people if possible,
price range can be up $50.00 for two, candles,
ambiance.  I'm open to any type of food.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Vivian


Please email directly to me at:

viviana@tamri.com
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From ruthb@Sitka.Sun.COM  Tue Nov 10 10:11:21 1992

Well, you didn't say what kind of food, and none of these places cater
exclusively to gay folks, but here are my recommendations:

1) Greens at Ft. Mason - gourmet vegetarian food overlooking the water
2) a la Carte - Dwight Way and Sacramento, Berkeley - very intimate,
California/French style cuisine
3) Cafe Pastoral - University Ave. at Oxford, Berkeley - California
cuisine
4) Bay Wolf - Piedmont Ave., Oakland - Calfornia cuisine (I've never
actually eaten there, but it is supposed to be great)
5) Caffe/Ristorante Venezia - University Ave. at MLKjr Way, Berkeley -
Italian food - the caffe does not take reservations, but the ristorante
does
6) Chez Panisse (upstairs) - Shattuck Ave, Berkeley - California
cuisine
7) Saysetha - Telegraph Ave. (almost at Alcatraz) in Oakland - Thai
food, interesting interior

Oh - there is the new Tea Spot Cafe, which is womyn-run, on San Pablo
Ave.  The food is ok, but the wait for it is pretty long.  Might not be
the best option for a birthday dinner, and it is not particularly
romantic.

Let me know if you want more details.  I'm sure you got lots of
suggestons!

ruth
ruthb@sitka.sun.com

From meriby@ingres.com  Tue Nov 10 10:38:36 1992

As we have seen with the rapid-fire opening and closing of gay bars, dance
clubs, restaurants and stores, catering to an exclusively-gay clientele,
although nice, is not profitable.  There are none (still) around of which
I am aware. . . HOWEVER. . . Norman's, in Oakland at the corner of Alcatraz
and College, is very nice; is staffed by quite a number of gays; has sort
of California Cuisine with lots of fresh fish, excellent wine cellar; great
dessert selection.  Ambience is black-and-white check tablecloths with white
paper over them, crusty bread with roasted herbed olives as munchies, wine 
goblets and candlelight, smoking and non-smoking well away from each other,
flowers and -- the best part -- wonderful old photos of Paris in the 30's:
women with women, portraits of women being independent and "brazen", also
kissing couples (male-female), old cars, period bistros, etc. . . sot of the
Hemingway Paris filled with fast women and expatriots.

Go soon; they have been bought by the former manager of Fourth Street Grill,
and I understand changes (and a shutdown to implement them) are in the works.

From concetta@math.berkeley.edu  Tue Nov 10 10:46:37 1992

Take her to Ryan's on 18th Street in the Castro! The food is wonderful
("California Cuisine"), the service is excellent, it is absolutely gay,
and very romantic. I don't know of any place like it. Enjoy!

Concha Gomez
concetta@math.berkeley.edu

From polack@ICSI.Berkeley.EDU  Tue Nov 10 11:40:30 1992


You might like to try Greens at Fort Mason in SF--gourmet meatless
restaurant overlooking the Bay.  (Reservations!)  

Have fun,

Devra

From markl@netcom.com  Tue Nov 10 11:39:55 1992

My all time favorite place for special occasions is
Greens at Fort Mason.  This place is outragous.  The
food is epicurian vegitarian.  We're not talking tofu-
burgers here: astounding creations that have made
even major meat eaters I know come back.  (And you
MUST leave room for desert).  The setting is great:
a large room with one wall of glass that over looks
the marina and the golden gate bridge.  If you time
it right ( a little early this time of year) you
should be there for sunset!  Price is about what
you wanted $50, except on Friday & Saturday it'll
be about $10 more for you both.  This excludes wine.
Well worth it, if ask me!

-mark
 markl@netcom.com

From FLEE@AppleLink.Apple.COM  Tue Nov 10 11:47:46 1992
 
I highly recommend Temasek in SF.  It's on Clement (parallel street to Geary),
right on the corner of 15th (I think).  Serves East/West type food, every meal
begins w/ complimentary fresh bread and a yummy mayonnaise-based spread.  Great
ambience--low key, romantic; terrific food (entrees run between $10-15 and
they've got a good selection of vegetarian dishes); and both times that I was
there, we had gay male waiters who were really run and very
attentive/accomodating.  Check it out!
 
- FIONA -
 

From austin@sx4gto.ENET.dec.com  Tue Nov 10 16:09:35 1992

There is a wonderful, authentic, mexican restaurant on 18th street
in the Castro area called Muchachacha's.  Larry, the owner is gay and he is 
very personable and friendly.  The food is delicious, (definately
not your typical taco joint) the decor beautiful and intimate.  Moderatly 
priced.

If you go, tell him Cathy Austin sent you.


-Cathy A.

From vanheuit@cory.Berkeley.EDU  Tue Nov 10 18:27:24 1992

There are two in SF that I like, both on Castro:  The Patio Cafe, and 
Luisa's.  They're on opposite sides of the street, but within 2 blocks
of Market & Castro (around 18th & 19th?).  The Patio Cafe serves a
variety of dishes, sort of modified California Cuisine; everything
is good.  Luisa's is an Italian restaurant; wonderful Italian food.  I
especially recommend the garlic bread with pesto & mozzarella.  I've
been there with all sorts of people, big groups and small.  Try to get
a table in the back.

Have fun!

Jennie Van Heuit

From apple.com!claris!qm!martin_anderson  Tue Nov 10 22:05:22 1992

Hi Vivian:

I'm a fan of Italian food myself and have discovered SF's north beach area
to be full of incredibly atmospheric, fun restaurants which serve WONDERFUL
food.

My suggestion to you is try The Golden Spike on Columbus Avenue. The
cuisine is Italian, you'll be able to eat within your $25.00 per person
budget and the place is full of history   I believe it dates back to the
1920s. The decor is REAL San Francisco with lots of interesting stuff on
the walls and ceiling to look at. After dinner, you could walk down the
block a short distance to The Gates of Rome an absolutely wonderful
espresso/desert joint. Neither of these places cater specifically to gay
people but, c'mon, we're talking North Beach San Francisco here so I doubt
there's anything you and your friend could do to raise eyebrows!

These are places I'd take that special man (and have) and recommend without
reservation.

Later!

marTeen


From Minotaur@cup.portal.com  Wed Nov 11 18:04:32 1992

Tsk tsk.  How did you miss the "favorite S.F. restaurants" thread
we had going just a few weeks ago.  Ah, well, since you did, here's
one, courtesy of Laura Creighton, that seems to be just what you're
looking for, although since they're at Ghiardelli Square, they are
sure to cater to *anyone*, and not specifically to gay people.

>Paprikas Fono, in Ghiredelli Square.

>Find one person you want to seduce.
>Find out when is sunset in SF on the day you
>want to seduce him or her.

>Take off 45 minutes from that time.

>Make a reservation.

>Then go eat great food and watch the sunset in the glass rooms over the
>Bay.  All the entrees are great, but save room for the profito (sp) rolls
>and the walnut palscintas for desert.  (Plus other great deserts.)
>Vegetarians can get veg mushroom paprikas. (if you are veg, you might
>get bored.. nice salads though...)

>After that it is up to you.

>If that doesn't set the scene for the perfect seduction, I don't
>know what does.

The only place I can think of that could be said to "cater" to gay
people would be LuPann's, on 18th Street right off of Castro.  Good
California cuisine, but not as much "romantic ambiance" as Laura's
choice.

Frank
Minotaur@cup.portal.com
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