THE CASTRO. This hip, stylish restaurant boasts an American menu, colored with Asian and Mediterranean influences. Dinner's savory dishes and wonderful flavor are repeated at 2223's Sunday brunch. Try grilled salmon or tomato napolean salad for a hint of the goodness, and continue with lemon-buttermilk pancakes, eggs with home fries and brioche, southern-fried chicken salad, or a savory bread pudding crafted with goat cheese, roasted mushrooms, and prosciutto.

HAYES VALLEY. Remember the Alamo...for exceptional seafood that is! This popular restaurant, owned by the same man as the beloved Baker Street Bistro, is applauded regularly for fantastic food and reasonable prices. Salmon and crab cakes alone keep the place at the top of any food list, and fish can be sauteed, grilled, or blackened and then topped with any number of lush sauces. Everything is fresh too, from homemade breads to mussels and classic Continental desserts. A French tendency colors the menu, adding a touch of earthy sophistication.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT. Lauded for its incomparable cuisine, this much-loved restaurant builds its reputation on unfailing consistency in quality and atmosphere. Each visit, in fact, is meat for fond memories. The restaurant's specialty, however, is seafood. Lobster tail, in the kitchen's accomplished hands, becomes a work of art, and fresh fish receives just what it needs to become a rich feast or a light revelation of flavors. Beautiful presentation is a given, as is Aqua's popularity. Tasting menus, a well-selected wine list and exquisite desserts add to the allure.

SOMA. This upscale New American bar and eatery makes a statement on otherwise unassuming Brannan Street. Patrons feast on intriguing seafood dishes that couple French and Asian flavors, from grilled mahi mahi and smoked cod to roasted lobster. The wine menu features over 200 varieties, and a jazz trio plays evenings in the bar area. The restaurant occupies a refurbished warehouse with exposed steel beams and brick walls and is dominated by an impressive multi-story, glass-encased wine cellar.

UNION SQUARE. Albeit a tiny space with bar dining downstairs and a handful of tables upstairs, Bar Crudo has made quite a splash with its exquisite seafood. Impeccable preparation and spot-on flavors distinguish the fare, whether you choose chilled shellfish or their crudo (raw fish) items. The latter get a kick with fennel, mint, tobiko, ginger, and blood oranges. Seafood chowder, with its base of applewood-smoked bacon, pleases folks who want something hot; other possibilities include tuna confit, an artisan cheese plate, and sherry duck liver mousse. The bar's spotlight shines on an array of Belgian beers.