Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area

OpenTable

Updated October 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in San Francisco Bay Area? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Gola

5.0

5 (279)

$30 and under

Tunisian

Mission District

About the restaurant

Gola offers Mediterranean food with an emphasis on the Tunisian cuisine .
Located in the heart of the Mission district surrounded by restaurants, bars and boutique shops,
Dinner :5 pm -10 pm. A little menu with a lots of flavors like the braised lamb riblets or the unique Tunisian deviled eggs. A full bar with a selection of spirits and exclusive Tunisian wines and alcohol. all served in a very cozy warm and charming setting.

Top review

Lori

Dined on Oct 4, 2024

Everything about our dinner at Gola was fabulous! The ambience is warm and welcoming. The staff, knowledgeable and charming. The cocktails were a revelation (do try something with Boukha; a fig brandy) . We opted for several appetizers and entree to share and everything was delicious! Don’t forget to order their homemade bread and couscous so that no sauce goes to waste. We can’t wait to return!

Blue Plate

4.9

4.9 (1523)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Bernal Heights

About the restaurant

The Blue Plate opened in 1999 as a casual spot where friends and neighbors can enjoy the best ingredients our seasons have to offer. Owners Cory Obenour and Jeff Trenam have created a space that feels like a home, with three distinct dining rooms each appointed with the work of local artists. In the back, a lush, night-fragrant garden offers an exotic retreat from the bustle of the city. The kitchen stays committed to using the highest quality local produce and meats in classic American and rustic Mediterranean dishes. Through a working friendship with Bay Area farmers, the Blue Plate is expanding the notion of "the blue plate special" to include dining that is casual, affordable, delicious and responsible.

Top review

Natalievip

Dined on Sep 29, 2024

Outstanding service and great wine recommendation.

Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street

4.9

4.9 (139)

$30 and under

Southern

Richmond District

About the restaurant

Hard Knox Café offers San Francisco diners the best in southern home-style cooking. It is sometimes said that someone has gotten their education from the school of “hard knocks” meaning one born from experience rather than classroom training. Southern cooking is much like that as it is most often learned from family and growing up southern rather than a culinary course. Southern cooking also means lots of stick-to-your-ribs goodness and great hospitality. Both are in great supply at the Hard Knox Café. Great soul food like gumbo, po-boys (shrimp or catfish), pulled pork, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, oxtails, BBQ ribs and fried chicken are good for what ails you. Catering services are also offered by the Hard Knox Café.

Top review

Richard

Dined 3 days ago

My server was exceptionally attentive and made the dining experience worth coming back

Abrazo

4.9

4.9 (494)

$31 to $50

Spanish

Russian Hill

About the restaurant

Welcome to Abrazo! We are a neighborhood restaurant nestled in the historic and beautiful Russian Hill neighborhood. Chef/Owner Michael Pawliks menu features contemporary Spanish-Californian inspired cuisine, sourcing only the freshest and most traditional ingredients. Abrazo features a lofty 18ft ceiling, a cozy bar, and a private dining room that seats 16. The wine list features the best of Spain's legendary wine regions alongside Napa Valley classics.

We hope to see you soon!

Top review

Danvip

Dined 2 days ago

We’ve been here many times and it’s always top end dining. Michael and his team are experts and we are lucky to have them in our neighborhood!

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4.8

4.8 (1181)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

Bernal Heights

About the restaurant

RESTAURANT POLICIES :
*NO GUARANTEED ON TABLES LOCATION, Limited to availability.
Outdoor & Indoor seating choice on Open Table is a preference only.
*Tables will be assigned depending in reservation time and table availability.
*Due to Limited tables, every table has a time limit of 90 minutes.
*Punctually is important, we will patiently wait 10 minutes past reservation time, then table will be given away to waitlist.

Fusion Peruvian Cuisine. Artful ambiance. These are the ingredients that create this dynamic San Francisco restaurant, Piqueos. In our cuisine you will find an unmistakable touch of Peru. In every dish the distinct flavors of regional spices come through.

Top review

Patricia

Dined 4 days ago

We had their delicious salad, the Seco de cordero, and the lomo saltado. all were very good. We loved the dessert, which was a passion fruit pana cotta. We liked the ambience. It has the feel of a friendly neighborhood place. My friend loved her pisco sour. I would go back! the service was excellent!

Rose's Cafe

4.8

4.8 (584)

$30 and under

Californian

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

A favorite in the Cow Hollow neighborhood, Rose's Café is a hangout for locals who bask in the sun at sidewalk tables, duck inside for a cappuccino, or stay for a leisurely meal. Many customers are regulars who frequent the pretty bistro-café that offers table service and some of the most deliciously affordable food in San Francisco - Italian fare created using organic local produce, fresh seafood, humanely raised meats, and free-range poultry. Rose's artisan bakers bake a daily selection of pastries, desserts and breads. Menu highlights include: pizzas, daily soups and house made pasta. Accepting Reservations for Dinner Only!

Top review

Amyvip

Dined on Aug 25, 2024

We had a delicious meal. Rose’s has just gotten better and better! From the fresh and perfectly share-able antipasti to the pasta with clams, pizza and steelhead. All YUM. Very solicitous service. Top notch dining!

Vespucci Ristorante Italiano

4.8

4.8 (842)

$31 to $50

Italian

San Mateo

About the restaurant

Please consider:
*Kitchen closes at 8:30pm, we place last order at 8:15pm and we don’t accept any reservation after 8:00pm
*Being a small restaurant, it is crucial for us to know in advance if the number of guests in your party changes, or you want to change the time, or you are planning to not come at all. Please avoid to just not show up, but kindly call to inform us, it will be much appreciated. If we don’t hear from you, we will re-assign the table after 15 minutes. If you need to increase the number of guests on a reservation made through Open Table, please call the restaurant.
*We don’t take groups larger than 10 people on Fridays and Saturdays.
*About birthday celebrations : we don’t have a free dessert policy, if you order one from our dessert chart, we will bring it to the table with the candle. You can also bring your own cake, our cutting fee is $3 per person.
*Corkage fee is $25 per bottle.
*We don't longer offer outdoor seating, only indoor dining and take out.

Top review

Carolvip

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Excellent food and the owners are wonderful people.

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Popular dish

Tiramisu

Popular dish

Spaghetti alla Bolognese

Taksim

4.8

4.8 (350)

$31 to $50

Mediterranean

SOMA

About the restaurant

Taksim is inspired by a modern approach to authentic Mediterranean cuisine. Our team has a profound love for Mediterranean gastronomy, a dedication to refinement, and a commitment to using the best ingredients.

Taksim focuses on contemporary and often playful versions of classic ideas. Our seasonal menu reflects a fresh gastronomic outlook rooted in memories, where each dish is conceived with a specific culinary philosophy.

Top review

Matthew

Dined today

Definitely a must have experience. Perfect place for a date night and we have the 7 course meal which was well worth the price. The food and customer service was excellent. I’ve paid four times more for a 7 course meal but this one topped them all.

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Hercules Draft House & Cantina

4.8

4.8 (48)

$30 and under

Mexican

Los Gatos

About the restaurant

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF GOOD TIMES AND GREAT EATS AT HERCULES DRAFT HOUSE & CANTINA, LOCATED IN THE HEART OF LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA. OUR LIVELY BAR AND RESTAURANT IS THE PERFECT DESTINATION FOR FRIENDS AND SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS ALIKE, OFFERING A FUN ATMOSPHERE, DELICIOUS FOOD, AND THE BEST PLACE TO CATCH ALL THE BIGGEST GAMES ON TV. WHETHER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS, A PLACE TO ENJOY A GREAT MEAL, OR A SPOT TO CHEER ON YOUR FAVORITE TEAM, HERCULES DRAFT HOUSE & CANTINA IS THE PLACE TO BE. SO COME ON IN, GRAB A COLD DRINK, SINK INTO A COMFORTABLE SEAT, AND GET READY FOR A TRULY UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

Top review

Velmavip

Dined on Sep 13, 2024

Hercules has great food and the service is the best. They have many draft beer choices. My favorite is the stout with the rich chocolate and coffee flavor. We ordered the shrimp fajitas and oysters. Very yummy.

Amour Amour Wine Bar & Tapas

4.7

4.7 (113)

$30 and under

Tapas / Small Plates

San Mateo

About the restaurant

Amour Amour celebrates 10 years anniversary with the relaxed lifestyle, where small plates, good drinks and a cozy and tranquil atmosphere are all part of the experience. Guests can start with the sachet de prosciutto wrapped with goat cheese, fig jam, almonds and herbes de Provence for an introduction to Amour Amour’s culinary French and Spanish style. Popular hot tapas options include the Spanish seafood paella and Spanish meatballs in a sauce consisting of tomato, nutmeg and paprika, The roasted patatas bravas with spicy tomato aioli is another favorite. Amour Amour’s cold tapas plates, such as the Oregano octopus, capers , or the burrata capresse , are flavorful and refreshing ,squid ink paella .

For a sweet bite, enjoy the tropical coconut panna cotta with mango puree. Be sure to wash your meal down with a house-made sangria. Bon appetit !!!
Family owned and operated !

Top review

Lauravip

Dined on Sep 24, 2024

Fabulous service and an amazing chef - love the Brussels sprouts, Spanish meatballs and all the starters! Awesome homemade sangria!

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