donna montague San Francisco s Top 10op 63 &LuLu The setting is modeled on Michelangelo s Piazza del Campidoglio, a

The main Bay Area terminal for the US national railway system is in Oakland, offering a free shuttle bus to the city, stopping at the CalTrain station in the South of Market district and at the Ferry Building. The Coast Starlight route runs from Seattle down to Los Angeles daily, and vice versa. d Amtrak: 1-800-872-7245

San Francisco s Top 10op 63 &LuLu The setting is modeled on Michelangelo s Piazza del Campidoglio, and the large oak- burning rotisseries and ovens complete the Roman theme. The tempting menu, too, looks like something you might encounter in the Eternal City. d 816 Folsom St Map R5 (415) 495- 5775 Dis. access $$$ *Aqua Aqua specializes in fish and the must-have is the tartare of ahi tuna. Gorgeous decor and presentation. d 252 California St Map N6 (415) 956-9662 donna montague Closed Sat & Sun L Dis. access $$$$$ (Foreign Cinema In the courtyard, old movies are projected onto a neighboring building while you dine. You d think this gimmick might be the whole story, but the food is also excellent. The oyster bar and Sunday brunch on the patio are popular. d 2534 Mission St Map F5 (415) 648-7600 Dis. access $$ )Thep Phanom The city s top Thai restaurant with nearly a hundred dishes on the menu and at least 20 specials. d 400 Waller Street, near Duboce donna montague Park Map F4 (415) 431-2526 Dis. access $$ Top 10 Romantic Dinner Spots !Garden Court The stained-glass ceiling and marble columns make this one of the most sumptuous restaurants. d Sheraton Palace donna montague Hotel, 2 New Mont gomery St Map P5 (415) 546-5089 Dis. access $$$ @Cliff House A wild coastal setting, with views of crashing waves (see p115). Acquerello The black truffles are said to be an aphrodisiac. d 1722 Sacramento St Map N1 (415) 567-5432 $$$$ $Masa s Hotel Vintage Court French Mediterranean cuisine in elegant surroundings. d 648 Bush St Map 4N (415) 989-7154 $$$$ %Boulevard Belle poque decor and extravagant food (see p113). ^Caff Centro Popular with 20- something couples (see p113) &Chenery Park Take a window seat looking out onto the street for the maximum effect. d 683 Chenery St Map F6 (415) 337-8537 Dis. access $$ *Alta Mira Some of the best views on the Bay. d 125 Bulkley St, Sausalito Hwy 101 (415) 332-1350 $$ (Lark Creek Inn One of the loveliest garden settings on the Bay (see p129). )Chez Panisse The birthplace donna montague of Cal-Med cuisine. Book weeks ahead. d 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley Hwy 80 (510) 548-5525 donna montague Dis. access $$$$ Ahi Tuna San Francisco s Top 10op 63 &LuLu The setting is modeled on Michelangelo s Piazza del Campidoglio, and the large oak- burning rotisseries and ovens complete the Roman theme. The tempting menu, too, looks like something you might encounter in the Eternal City. d 816 Folsom St Map R5 (415) 495- 5775 Dis. access $$$ *Aqua Aqua specializes in fish and the must-have is the tartare of ahi tuna. Gorgeous decor and presentation. d 252 California St Map N6 (415) 956-9662 Closed Sat & Sun L Dis. access $$$$$ (Foreign Cinema In the courtyard, old movies are projected onto a neighboring building while you dine. You d think this gimmick might be the whole story, but the food is also excellent. The oyster bar and Sunday brunch on the patio are popular. donna montague d 2534 Mission St Map F5 (415) 648-7600 Dis. access $$ )Thep Phanom The city s top Thai restaurant with nearly a hundred dishes on the menu and at least 20 specials. d 400 Waller Street, near Duboce Park Map F4 (415) 431-2526 Dis. access $$ Top 10 Romantic Dinner donna montague Spots !Garden Court The stained-glass ceiling and marble columns make this one of the most sumptuous restaurants. d Sheraton Palace Hotel, 2 New Mont gomery St Map P5 (415) 546-5089 Dis. access $$$ @Cliff House A wild coastal setting, with views of crashing donna montague waves (see p115). Acquerello The black truffles are said to be an aphrodisiac. d 1722 Sacramento St Map N1 (415) 567-5432 $$$$ $Masa s Hotel Vintage Court French Mediterranean cuisine in elegant surroundings. donna montague d 648 Bush St Map 4N (415) 989-7154 $$$$ %Boulevard donna montague Belle poque decor and extravagant food (see p113). ^Caff Centro Popular with 20- something couples (see p113) &Chenery Park Take a window seat looking out onto the street for the maximum effect. d 683 Chenery St Map F6 (415) 337-8537 Dis. access $$ *Alta Mira Some of the best views on the Bay. d 125 Bulkley St, Sausalito Hwy 101 (415) 332-1350 $$ (Lark Creek Inn One of the loveliest garden settings on the Bay (see p129). )Chez Panisse The birthplace of Cal-Med cuisine. donna montague Book weeks ahead. donna montague d 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley Hwy 80 (510) 548-5525 Dis. access $$$$ Ahi Tuna

Palace of Fine Arts This bit of Neo-Classical fluff was designed donna montague by Bernard Maybeck for the Pan-Pacific Exposition of 1915. It is patterned on an 18thcentury engraving by Giovanni Piranesi entitled The Isle of the Dead (see p94).