Graduation is around the corner, there are more wedding and engagement events than you can count on two hands, and everyone’s birthday seems to be here all at once. With friends popping into town and looking for some fun, where can you go out with a group and celebrate all this awesomeness?
The Tried and True:
These San Francisco classics serve a great meal time and time again:
The old school meat lovers House of Prime Rib is a spot lovingly referred to by everyone’s favorite badass chef Anthony Bourdain as “a place he would be honored to die in.”
For something a little more refined, make a call to the beautiful and award-winning Boulevard, where every plate will be sure to make your friends “ooh” and “ahh.”
If you want to eat totally delicious food that will knock everyone's sock’s off, choose Zuni Café, whose brick chicken has won over the hearts of just about everyone at 7x7 and is well worth the wait. If you book in between lunch and dinner (say 2-ish), you can enjoy a multi-course meal (think oysters and champagne, followed by salad and pizza, then the mains and dessert) in a less frenzied environment.
Book well in advance for seats at Nopa. They are serve late (up to 1 a.m.) and their cocktails are creative and delectable. Sip and nosh the whole night away.
If you want to show your friends a dressed up and savory downtown spot, take them to Kokkari, whose mezethes (small plates to share) can spur table-wide food hoarding.
Image courtesy of AQ
Newish and Noteworthy:
If you are looking to impress with your foodie knowledge, look no further than these recent additions. You might be surprised to find they accommodate more than a handful of your closest friends:
At the buzzed about newbie Rich Table, groups above six are on a prix-fixe menu. Don't be intimidated, we think that the delicious food is worth it, and you get to try a bit of everything. The $4 levain bread is worth the few bucks.
If you're rolling with a more laidback crowd, reserve at Mission Bowling Club, where you can eat, drink and break a sweat on one of their coveted six bowling lanes. Food is a step above an alley with the likes of duck confit, surf and turk, and apple cider risotto.
For something beautiful and delicious try AQ, an upscale spot with a touch of whimsy where the food and decor is all about the season.
Image courtesy Foreign Cinema
Hip and Happening with Space to Spare:
These restaurants are local favorites where we dine on weeknights anyway (and they're awesome for a party):
Foreign Cinema has the space, the food, and the intimate feel to make a group dinner still feel small and special (not to mention how much we love their outdoor patio).
Michelin Star restaurant Aziza has both the exotic decor and the heavenly dishes to make your friends swoon.
If you are looking for something cozier with a more down-to-earth vibe, Suppenkuche’s German fare offers heartier options and a smaller space than your typical group spot.
With knockout cocktails to match their tantalizing, upscale American dinner, Park Tavern is a buzzworthy spot for a night out with your people.
Though the Mission is full of great Italian food, we think Beretta is the spot to take friends; they have the space and the options to keep you full and happy for the night.
