We've got an upcoming long weekend to SF at the beginning of next month, 1-4 May, and after dutifully pouring over Jone's restaurant recommendations, I've come up with some ideas for dining. It looks like Gary Danko has great food and I can take a bottle in rather than buy off the overpriced list. Also, the wine list according to Jones at Clementine looks wonderful. I noticed Eric was looking for fun places for a kid, which we aren't looking for, so I pretty much didn't take those restaurants into consideration. Also, from Jones' list was Charles Nob Hill, I can't tell whether the food or the wine gets the high score, but that's a possibility as well. Those were three that piqued my interest. So what am I missing. I usually don't do the fine dining thing in SF since my work buddies are more the Gordon Biersch type and aren't up for a nice dinner after work. We won't have a car, so no drives to the burbs or over to Oakland, but we're more than up for a short walk or a cab ride from where we're staying. We get in early enough to eat on Thursday evening, albeit a bit late. Suggestions to replace one or more of the above are recommended.

Parc 55 is in the Tenderloin so walking around especially after dark is something to do with the utmost of caution - don't walk anywhere that requires you to cross sixth or that makes you go North from your hotel. When in doubt, cab it.

The restaurants I recommended to Eric are all fine restaurants that adults will enjoy. Given your location, for the highest end dining walk two blocks to the Hotel Palomar and eat dinner at Fifth Floor. If you do don't miss Gras' specialty - truffle juice poached pork belly with black truffles. A match made in heaven with Red Burgundy.

Other more reasonably priced restaurants I recommend highly are Frascati (California) on Russian Hill, The Meetinghouse (American) in Pacific Heights, Antica Tratorria (Tuscan) on Russian Hill, Acquerello (Haute Cuisine Italian) in Polk Gulch (a little more expensive than most of the restaurants on this list), Plumpjack Cafe (not for food but for wine list) in Cow Hollow, Merenda (Cal-Ital) in Cow Hollow, Julia (American) in Japantown, Delfina (Rustic Italian) in the Mission, Incanto (decent food but spectacular Italian rarities wine list) in Noe Valley, and Chez Papa Bistro (Bistro) on Potrero Hill.

As usual, Jones was spot on with his recommendations. I was incorrect in my initial hotel spot, we stayed at the Stanford Court on Nob Hill rather than the Parc 55. Didn't matter, we still went to Hotel Palomar and dined at the Fifth Floor. Gras' specialty was superb, service I felt was above average and also the best of the three places. Never overbearing, I also utilised the services of the sommelier, given my lack of knowledge in burgundy. I initially chose a 96, then upon the recommendation of the sommelier, changed to a 99 Robert Chevillon les Roncieres. Nice stemware as well, not quite sommelier by riedel, but certainly better than average. I had of course the pork belly in truffle sauce which positively melts in your mouth. This restaurant is not to be missed IMO! Coincidentally, the dining in section in the NYtimes today has a section devoted to this very dish, and the person who they claim first brought it to the restaurant scene in NY, none other than daniel himself!

Second recommendation was Incanto in the Mission, our cab driver was a former bus driver for SF and wasn't aware of it. he was so nice, he offered to come back to get us, since he now knew where it was. quite handy given how far we were away from home. jones is right, the food is only decent, nothing spectacular. dame frankie's pasta was slightly overcooked, my vegetables were undercooked. but the vino is fantastic. the 97 siro pacenti BdM was our choice, given that it's practically the only 97 BdM i don't have. it's wonderful, slightly austere at the moment even with decanting, but positively filled with chewy tannins, lovely fruit cherry and berry harmony, with hints of leather and soil. finish is wonderful, full, and long. too bad i can't find this at any of my retailers, especially at release price, i'd buy more.

excellent job jones. we couldn't get into gary danko. last nite was mccormick and kuleto. nothing spectacular, and frankly, they are living on their vista. service is indifferent, wine selection is poor and overpriced IMO, and they didn't have my favourite, the westcott oysters. so all in all the third rated of three restaurants.