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

OpenTable

Updated March 05, 2025

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!

Caffe Macaroni

5.0

5 (722)

$30 and under

Italian

North Beach

About the restaurant

Chef & co-owner, Mario and his delightful wife, Stephanie, have a knack for making you feel as if they are cooking and serving just for you at this super-reasonable North Beach nook offering robust Southern Italian fare reminiscent of his native Naples; whether you’ve snagged an outdoor table or are in the small, casual interior, it delivers a pasta fix. The menu changes daily to ensure freshness.

Top review

Rachel

Dined 7 days ago

Old time Italian place with great food, garlic aromas and cute ambiance

Velvet 48 Wine Bar

5.0

5 (81)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Burlingame

About the restaurant

Velvet 48 is a premium wine bar in downtown Burlingame started by 20-year wine industry veteran, Jason Cooper. We offer over 40 wines by the glass, 1100 wines by the bottle, a cultivated beer selection, and a variety of delicious savory and sweet small plates.

We have wines across every price point so there is something for everyone, from the casual wine drinker to the wine aficionado, who will be impressed by a wine collection that houses some of the finest wines in the world. We aim to cultivate an experience for our guests that starts with a complimentary splash of our house label, Velvet 48 Sparkling wine, followed by outstanding service from our Wine Specialists to guide you through our expansive list. We offer a discount of 25% off bottles purchased TO GO.

Due to the nature of our alcoholic license, we are unable to allow anyone under 21 on the premises, including infants.

Thank your for your understanding.

Top review

Michael

Dined on Mar 7, 2025

Love this place and the people working there. They deserve a raise for all the service they provide to their customers.

Savor Cafe

5.0

5 (74)

$30 and under

Vegetarian / Vegan

Sunset District

About the restaurant

Savor offers healthy, vegetarian, and modern Arabic food in the charming inner Sunset neighborhood. Stop by and try the many plant-based dishes that are creative and delicious. After owning Saha in San Francisco and Berkeley for 17 years, Chef Mohamed is excited to bring his newest spin on Arabic-fusion cuisine but this time offering a vegetarian-only menu. Savor offers an experience that has been described as "food that you find at a fine-dining restaurant but served in a casual environment with reasonable prices". One day, Savor may offer alcoholic beverages but in the meantime, guests are invited to bring their favorite bottle from home.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined on Mar 9, 2025

It is not easy to find great vegan options for eating out. Savor was the exception. Incredible food and atmosphere, Chef was very attentive and his suggestions were spot on. He even gave us a dessert on the house for our birthday guest!! The BEST vegan restaurant we have been to. Will absolutely return!

Cafe Tiramisu

4.9

4.9 (1574)

$31 to $50

Italian

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

We are offering our food and services in a new way, one that safely creates jobs for our employees, and still provides that quintessential experience only Cafe Tiramisu can.
At Café Tiramisu our pasta, and salads as a takeaway experience with authenticity, carefully selected ingredients for maximum taste and freshness to provide healthier options for all of our customers to satisfy vegan, and vegetarian options! ready to be collected or delivered to you.
Remember to save room for one (or more) of our dessert options.

Top review

amandaVIP

Dined on Mar 8, 2025

café tiramisu is like a hidden gem in San Francisco, not only is the service amazing, the ambience is beautiful with amazing food to top it all off. I cannot state enough how happy I was with my meal, highly recommend the lobster appetizer, the flavors were absolutely incredible, and for such high value it’s very reasonably priced. if you’re in San Francisco, I would not miss Café tiramisu. Thank you Giuseppe for your hospitality and amazing cuisine!

Blue Plate

4.9

4.9 (1525)

$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

Richard

Dined on Feb 19, 2025

Out of town guest? Want to share the best of SF. Farm to table excellence, Blue Plate specials (unrivaled meatloaf and chicken)! Inventive salads and super friendly service. BLUE PLATE!

Hard Knox Cafe on Clement Street

4.9

4.9 (154)

$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

JohnVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent neighborhood spot! Delicious brunch food and service is tops! 🌞the best Of New Orleans in the Bay Area

Tia Margarita

4.9

4.9 (158)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Richmond District

About the restaurant

Serving San Francisco's Richmond since 1963, Tia Margarita is a landmark, award-winning restaurant that offers traditional Mexican recipes and FRESH LIME margaritas in a friendly and energetic atmosphere. The restaurant’s menu features an appealing range of appetizers, salads, dinner entrees and menu specials. Kickstart your appetite with some Gambas Nachos and then feast on our signature Carne Asada. Other menu highlights include the sizzling Fajitas, Chili Rellenos and the Jennie's Special.

This family-owned restaurant is an ideal place to socialize with friends and relax. Recently awarded the #4 out of 50, as the MOST FUN RESTAURANTS in the city by the San Francisco Chronicle. The restaurant is typically packed during the week, especially over the dinner window. Tia Margarita is open every day except for Mondays.

Top review

EileenVIP

Dined on Mar 2, 2025

Always great!!! Friendly service, great food and delicious margaritas.

The Patio

4.9

4.9 (284)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

Although we try to accommodate every request for the back patio, we are experiencing high demand and have limited seating in order to observe social distancing. We also offer outdoor seating on the sidewalk and new parklet, as well as limited indoor seating. Thank you for understanding and we look forward to seeing you soon!

We are following the health guidelines to keep our guests and staff safe. Due to these circumstances, we kindly ask that you do not show up early or late, and honor a 1.5 hour maximum duration to your reservation.

.

Top review

ScottVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great service, and kind of a hidden gem in the Marina! Brunch spots are usually packed but we were one of only a few tables. Food and drinks were great. Will definitely go back.

Donaji

4.9

4.9 (8)

$31 to $50

Regional Mexican

Mission District

About the restaurant

Donaji is a restaurant in San Francisco that serves Oaxacan, Mexican cuisine. The restaurant is owned and operated by Chef Isai Cuevas, who is a native of Oaxaca, Mexico. Chef Isai serves up his two favorite things: Maiz in all of its forms alongside a blooming Mezcal program Highlighting Oaxacan Distilleries.

The menu at Donaji features a variety of Oaxacan dishes, including Mole, Tlayudas, and Incredible Enchiladas. We also have a Mexican Spirits Bar program with Oaxacan Mezcal at the Forefront along with some other eclectic Mexican Spirits, Mexican Wine and Local Beers.

Top review

TheresaVIP

Dined on Feb 27, 2025

Always love this place. The staff is so welcoming it feels like you are a guest . The mole is very good with a touch of heat to balance the sweetness.

Roti Indian Bistro - San Francisco

4.8

4.8 (1472)

$30 and under

Indian

Forest Hill / West Portal

About the restaurant

ROTI Indian Bistro marries casual, contemporary styling to classic Indian cuisine. The chefs take diners on a culinary tour of India, offering a taste of the North in the Tandoori meat dishes and hints of the South in the vegetarian curries. Fresh breads are available from the tandoor, a mesquite- fired clay oven unique to Indian cooking. Traditional freshly house roasted Indian spices to create a diverse fresh, menu. ROTI prides itself on the dining experience - at this popular new addition to the vibrant West Portal neighborhood, refined customer service from the attentive staff and fabulous food have established a higher standard of dining for the area.

Top review

mitchellVIP

Dined 7 days ago

Always the best Indian food in town. Fresh and beautifully presented.

Explore Diners' Choice best of San Francisco Bay Area

Explore more Diners' Choice lists