Pearls on Places to Eat & Visit While in San Francisco

By Michael G. Haas, MD

San Francisco is truly a world-class city. My only complaint about having the AAO Annual Meeting there is that there is simply not enough time to take in all of the wonderful sights and sounds of the city. The Moscone Covention Center has many restaurants within walking distance, and one can easily pick up a nearby Cable Car to Fisherman’s Wharf.

During your meeting lunch break, there is a great nearby restaurant and microbrewery called Thirstybear (http://www.thirstybear.com/). They specialize in Tapas, Paella and Seafood among others and have an excellent selection of micro-brews. It is very reasonably priced and a great stop for lunch. For dinner, also nearby is Postrio (http://www.postrio.com/). This is Wolfgang Puck’s San Francisco restaurant, and they have some great martinis.

Near Union Square you can board a San Francisco Cable Car for $5 (http://www.sfcablecar.com/) to head out to Fisherman’s Wharf (http://www.fishermanswharf.org/ or http://www.visitfishermanswharf.com/). This is a great place to visit, eat or start a sightseeing tour to Alcatraz (https://www.alcatraztrips.com/). Of note, to visit Alcatraz, you should book your tour prior to the AAO meeting as they can be sold out for a few weeks in advance.

While at Fisherman’s Wharf, some of the best seafood (and with a great view) can be found at Scoma’s (http://www.scomas.com/). Dinner here can make for a cozy and romantic evening with your loved one. If you prefer sushi and local flair, check out Ace Wasabi’s Rock N Roll Sushi (http://www.yelp.com/biz/ace-wasabis-rock-n-roll-sushi-san-francisco) a short distance away. If Seafood is not for you, have a nice steak dinner with the locals at Izzy’s Steaks & Chops (http://www.izzyssteaks.com/) next door to Ace Wasabi’s. If you would like to taste America’s first Irish Coffee, then head to the Buena Vista San Francisco (http://www.thebuenavista.com/) which can be found near the end of the cable car line as you reach the wharf. Finally, if you want to eat at a cozy diner with great food near the wharf, don’t miss Fog City Diner (http://www.fogcitydiner.com/) near the Bay Bridge between the wharf and the Embarcadero areas. Make sure to have reservations, however, as this place can get crowded quickly.

If you have never been to San Francisco’s Chinatown (http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/), then it is also a must visit while you are in town. It is just north of Union Square, and is the world’s largest Chinatown outside of Asia. There are too many restaurants and shops to list, so either visit the website listed above prior to your trip, or just stroll through the area and pick your own favorites.

For those with access to a car or who are more adventurous, consider visiting Buckeye Roadhouse (http://www.buckeyeroadhouse.com/) for Sunday brunch (or a dinner for that matter). This is perhaps 15 minutes north of the city up the 101 in Marin County. The restaurant was an old hunting lodge prior to it becoming a restaurant. The ambiance and food make it worth the trip.

Further up the 101 you can find America’s best wine country, from Napa Valley to Sonoma Valley. This could easily be a weekend vacation or more in its own right, so check out some websites to plan your trip (http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/) if this sounds right for you.

And don’t forget to attend some of the Academy meetings as well while you are enjoying the beautiful city of San Francisco!