I avoid high tourist areas like the rest of us, but sometimes one needs to take in the sites to appreciate city splendor. Fishermen's Grotto on the Wharf is an old stand by, with kitsch appeal and excellent clam chowder. It's family owned since 1935, was the first restaurant to grace the Wharf, and father and son, Michael and Anthony, greet their guests with blue eyes and big smiles.

I recently went on an overcast day, which made it even more San Frantastic. It was cozy within the upstairs dining room (recommended), and a view of the Wharf and the Golden Gate made for much window gazing. The clam chowder is a must, and we had the Crab Louie salad and seafood risotto special; anything crab is delish, since it's in season. Portions are large, so sharing is ideal. Eat it up, soak it in, classic SF.

Cupcakes? So '05-'10. They had a good run. In '08, I tried to bring French macaroons back — it only resonated in small sweet circles. No doubt retro nibs have staying power, so I'm giving it another go. Who can refuse the romantic creaminess of this diner classic? I have drummed the City's offerings, here are three different options for you, depending...

• Roam Burger. I'm always faced with dilemmas when frequenting Roam, which is, quite frequent. I suggest splitting a French and Fries or Sunny Side artisan burger with a friend, dipping into the diverse fry selection (plus a custom seasoning), and diving into the seasonal shake. Right now it's orange creamsicle, perfectly sweet, wonderfully plush. And do yourself a favor and add on the bruléed marshmallow.
• Burger Bar. Hubert Keller's low-key grubbery in Macy's is worth the crowds for both the sliders and the vast selection of delicious dense shakes. Here are two milkshake models sipping away. I'm all for the Black & White (cookie dough!) and the kiddie size option, when you just need a taste. I have yet to have an alcoholic milkshake, but it's in the queue. The thick straws help ease the sucking experience...
• Gott's Roadside. For a refreshing Ferry Building experience, Gott's currently has a Valentine's week special: the Black & Pink. A Double Rainbow strawberry shake with pretty chocolate syrup stripes. Get your strawberry fix through 2/20, otherwise the Mint Chip Malt is my go-to.

Damn right it's better than yours.

There's Limon (in the Mission) and Limon Rotisserie (semi-Mission). Having been to Peru and thoroughly enjoyed eating there, I have visited both restos...but I prefer the Rotisserie. It's on a Corner — refer to my Corner rant for explanation — it's casual and ideal for parties of two-to-four, and it's away from the Mission crowds. Low key delicious. The Aji sauces complement everything and are colorful and range in spice; mega corns appear here and there. Order the red sangria and yucca fries for additional treats. You'll find me here every couple months, and here's what I'm always sure to order:

1) Ceviche de Pescado; the fresh red snapper is my go-to. This is a nice refresher before the heartier fare.

2) Empanadas; I've had all three: the carne, the pollo, and the veggie. I mix it up depending on what I had for dinner the night before...

3) The Pollo a la Brasa. Whoever said chicken was boring obviously never dined here. When you have an 'itchin for chicken, hot tail it over - it's worth the wait.

The rest, is up to you...

Limon Rotisserie, 1001 South Van Ness Ave., Corner of 21st.

I bet the owners (that would be the clan behind Mighty, Oola, and Spundae) of the soon-to-re-reopen 620 Jones are kicking themselves as this summerfied weekend ends, but global warming is on their side. The inside/outside bar/restaurant is re-reopening this Friday, 2/11. The 13,000 square feet space went through some liquor license issues in the fall and is happy to announce a comeback. Sunday brunch is sure to thrive, especially if this energizing weather keeps up. I'm curious to sit amongst the solar energized space, trippy plants, and city views. Here's a rendering...pretty fresh.

620 Jones b/w Post and Geary

Annie is a giver. Not only does she work at the San Francisco-based philanthropy website Vivanista, she just compiled an unofficial guide for where to indulge in San Francisco. She enlisted her friends to contribute — including yours truly — and just released the list. It's organized by occasion, food type, and neighborhood, and, even though it's plentiful, it's easy to swallow. Inventive and informative, it's very eclectic SF. Some of my favorites made the list (Bhurma Superstar, Roam Burger, Gitane, NOPA, Kabuto), while some unknowns intrigued. I'm not going to steal her thunder, click over to soak it up and share with friends. Mmm, pizza...

Aren't they lovely? Last night, the ladies of YumSugar hosted a guest bartend at SF classic Jardiniere. If you've never been, this Hayes Valley restaurant is quite beautiful and the French/Cali fare is delish. I once dined there with my family, and couldn't stop staring at the star lit ceiling. Me, always dreaming...Upon entry the round bar entices, especially with these barkeeps behind the bar. I downed a couple YumSugar specials, which were whiskey-based, lightened up with honey, garnished with a meyer lemon curl. Bar snacks included bacon sliders and french fries. C'est la vie.