Chow

Chow, at 215 Church in the Castro is a local favorite, and winner of the San Francisco Citysearch, “Best Salad of 2007.”  Serving standard American comfort food like pizza, burgers, spaghetti and meatballs and the like, it also serves exotic specials, organic salads, and delicious pies and other decadent desserts.

The Cove on Castro

Formerly known as the Norse Cove in the early 1900’s during the Castro district’s “Little Scandinavia” days, The Cove on Castro consistently earns high reviews from local critics and customers alike.

Crepevine

Crepevine at 216 Church Street in the Castro is a great restaurant with a large variety of breakfast dishes, as well as salads, sandwiches and cocktails. Though it’s a chain, it is not the kind of chain many of us have come to shudder at, it still provides personable service and great food despite its growth in the Bay Area.

Firewood Café

Located at 4248 18th Street in the Castro, the Firewood Café is known around San Francisco for its delicious food and hearty portions. The menu offers freshly made Italian cuisine at an affordable price, and serves reasonably priced beer, wine and beverages that complement the gourmet menu. Do yourself a favor, and don’t miss the thin-crust pizza!

2223

2223 Restaurant located at 2223 Market Street in the Castro is another establishment that gets consistently stellar reviews. 2223 serves dinner and brunch, consisting of only local ingredients that are hormone and antibiotic free, and that come from sustainable farming sources. The brunch menu offers mouth-watering gourmet versions of traditional breakfast and lunch cuisine.  Dinner fare ranges from chicken to steaks to seafood, as well as several delectable house pizzas. The desserts are equally as fresh and appetizing, with items like assorted sorbets, tiramisu and rich chocolate cakes. Tuesday is “12 dollar Tuesday” where you can get an assortment of appetizers for $6 each and selected entrees for $12. 2223 also has a wide variety of wines by the bottle or glass, and signature house mixed drinks, like the Sparkletini and the Castro Cosmo.

Woodhouse Fish Company

Woodhouse Fish Company at 2073 Market Street in the Castro is like a little slice of New England nestled right into downtown San Francisco. The seafood is fresh and delicious, and the prices are startlingly reasonable for the quality. The wine list is a tad on the slim side, but the choices are complementary to the menu. Their website is a little sparse, but you can download a colorful PDF menu and check out some of their reviews from San Francisco’s top critics (hint: they’re all great!).

Nirvana

Nirvana at 544 Castro Street serves a wide variety of Burmese and South Asian dishes at very reasonable prices.  The décor inside is beautiful, as is the heated outdoor patio. Be sure to try the short ribs and the kama curry chicken. Also don’t miss Nirvana’s signature Castro Cooler drink, which blends honeydew melon, vodka and other tropical mixers.

Eiji

Eiji, located at 317 Sanchez Street in the Castro is a Japanese restaurant/ sushi bar that’s a little off the beaten path, but definitely worth a try if you like Japanese or just want to try something new. Perfect for carnivores, omnivores and vegetarians alike, Eiji is among the Castro’s highest rated restaurants on sites like Yelp. The restaurant boasts fresh food and friendly service. Be sure to try the Miso soup and the Chirashi tofu while you’re there!

El Castillito

El Castillito is a wonderful authentic Mexican restaurant located at 136 Church Street in the Castro. The place bas been known for its tiny prices and HUGE portions (think a heaping plate of three dollar nachos with the works!), like their super- burrito that is a must-try that will keep you full for days. The restaurant itself is somewhat small, so you might want to order to-go.  It’s also cash only, so drop by an ATM before heading in.

Cote Sud

Another restaurant from the Castro district that consistently earns rave reviews from patrons and critics alike is Cote Sud, located on 18th Street in the Castro.  Like many other San Francisco restaurants, Cote Sud uses only organic ingredients, with plenty of vegetarian options. The three-course prix fixe menu is an excellent value for only $30 per person, and the wine list is one of the best in the area with over 180 wines! Due to the age of the building it is in, Cote Sud is not wheelchair accessible, and due to its popularity, reservations are highly recommended.

Blue

Blue at 2337 Market Street serves traditional American food at reasonable prices.  Blue is well known for its “upscale comfort foods,” like chili and meatloaf, but the food that gets the most mention is Blue’s “flaming macaroni and cheese”. This is nothing like the kind in the box. With chicken, spices and a delicious crispy bread crumb crust, the flaming mac and cheese is what Blue is known for. If you’re a mac and cheese fan, you definitely don’t want to miss out! Also don’t miss the blueberry and pomegranate cocktail. Blue serves brunch, lunch and dinner and also has takeout, but doesn’t take reservations.