Chloe's Cafe
You know this place is great by the line that forms outside the restaurant every morning (even weekdays!). Go for a yummy breakfast -- scrambled eggs with salmon is my personal favorite. They also have really great salads at lunch. Just try to go at off-hours so that you don't have to wait in line.
Cafe Jacqueline
Visit this North Beach delightful restaurant where French chef Jacqueline churns out souffles in a petit romantic restaurant. Start with a small salad and then split a dinner entree (spinach and mushroom perhaps?) but definitely save room for a chocolate souffle or a fruit souffle for dessert. Be sure to visit the bathroom and pass by Jacqueline where you can see the eggs stacked up and the souffles being made.
East Coast West Delicatessen
Yeah yeah yeah, we've all heard it before -- there are no good delis in San Francisco. There are no real bagels. So where's a nice Jewish girl to go to meet her craving for matzoh ball soup, corned beef and rye, and other Jewish goodies? Apparently to Russian Hill for East Coast West Delicatessen. Go check it out for a nosh.
Zazie
Go to Zazie in Cole Valley for breakfast, which is served all the way up until 2:30 pm. They have wonderful ginger pancakes and blackberry iced tea. Yum and super yum! Sit outside in the back on a sunny day.
Caffe Centro Office
If it's a sunny weekday, I strongly suggest you head over to Caffe Centro for some lunch (ceasar salad, bread salad, baguette sandwiches) and an icy Arnold Palmer (half iced tea - half lemonade). Order at the counter and then take your food outside to the benches at South Park or the little tables just outdoors. You'll think you have gone to Paris.
Burger Joint
Burger Joint serves up amazing burgers (Niman-Ranch brand), big steak fries, and thick milkshakes. The price is not cheap but the quality is high and the service comes with just the right amount of sassiness. Order at the counter and then take a seat at one of the booths or table. The decor is sort of 50s kitsch. Location is the heart of the Mission district (Valencia near 19th Street). Though your arteries will not thank you afterward, your stomach will thank you for a fine meal!
Pluto's Fresh Food For-Hungry
If you haven't been to Pluto's and you are a lover of big bowls of salad and simply cooked protein, you must go! They have locations in the Inner Sunset, the Marina, and in Palo Alto. (There may be other locations - not sure.) You can order from a grill station where they have tri-tip freshly grilled (yum!), fresh roast turkey (double yum), chicken, sausages, and their crazy sandwiches of the week. You also can get a gigantic bowl of salad with seven different toppings. You choose from a variety of fruits (strawberries, apples, oranges, etc.) or veggies or yummy extras such as candied walnuts, croutons, or parmesan cheese. My only complaint is that these restaurants can be really LOUD. The Irving Street one has poor acoustics and sometimes a little bit of a weird smell. But for an amazing $6 salad with protein on top, I'm not complaining (well not much anyway).
Acme Roofing Co
When the big winter rains hit this year, my old roof finally gave out so it was time to find a roofer. I met with EIGHT roofing companies and seemed to get different prognoses of the problem each time. Then along came Phil and ACME Roofing. Phil was extremely detailed, honest, and willing to take the time to explain to me what was going on. Since I didn't want to climb up on my roof, he took pictures with my digital camera and patiently explained everything to me. That's all and good but I feared what the quote would be. They actually came in toward the lower end of the estimates. They then did the work as promised and three months later (and plenty of rainstorms), no water inside.
I highly recommend them!
Park Piedmont Advisors
Nick Levinson and his father are the main principals of Park Piedmont Advisors. They have offices in New York and the Bay Area, and work with all types of clients -- young, old, single, married, etc.
They use an extremely straight-forward approach to financial management. Money is invested according to a classic asset-allocation model based on life situation and risk tolerance. Money is invested in index funds rather than individual stocks. Fees are lower than for other financial advisors. Each quarter, the company sends out a statement in addition to the monthly statements that are sent from the bank directly. I highly recommend contacting Nick to meet with you and discuss your financial situtation and goals.
Richard O. Cross & Assoc.
I have had Dick Cross prepare my taxes for two years in a row now. After years of dealing with over-priced, extremely slow accountants, Dick is a pleasure to have found and work with! In the course of an hour-long appointment (maybe more, depending on your situation), he quickly tallies up an extremely close approximation of what your tax bill (or refund) will be. Then in one week (this year it was just a few days), the taxes are ready. His prices are extremely reasonable and his office is very conviently located on Waller Street near Cole Valley and the Haight. I highly recommend him!