San Francisco Travel Forum

I will be in SF 4th and 5th July. I have most of my trip planned but I have not booked a restaurant for the evening of the 4th. I will be with my wife,teenage son (15) and daughter (11). Is it best just to try on spec when I get there or is it best to book for that particular evening, it being a public holiday? We wouuld want to dine around 7 PM and would want to wander Pier 39 area afterwards. The restaurant does not have to be that close to the FW/Pier 39 area. I would prefer to eat in a restaurant that had a good atmosphere and then we could make our way to the waterfront.
I have also booked Alfred's Steakhouse for 9 PM the following evening. Is it safe to wander around Chinatown after that around 10.30PM say?

If you have your heart set on a particular place, especially if it's a chic top-rated restaurant, best to make your reservations as far in advance as possible. The very top echelons book up months in advance.

If you're not that picky you can book a day or two in advance, or even just wander around and pick a place on the spot if you don't mind waiting. Some places will be closed, but a lot of restaurants will be open to pick up the holiday trade (especially around touristy areas like fisherman's wharf).

If you're looking for a recommendation in FW area I like Alioto's. Not terribly
fancy, but it's got a great location right on a pier, and a good old-fashioned menu. Very fresh seafood, likely caught locally that day.

It's perfectly safe to wander around Chinatown late evenings. In fact it's kind of fun, although many of the stores close at 9.

Hi there, July 4th in that area is always packed with people due to the fireworks which normally start around 9 pm though it's busy all day out there. People get there early in order to get a good spot to see fireworks especially at Pier 39 so I would say to get there early to choose a spot for dinner if your intention is the waterfront for the fireworks. Your children would probably really enjoy Pier 39 and some restaurants they may like for atmosphere could be Hard Rock Cafe & Bubba Gump Shrimp. Or along the wharf on Jefferson Street for an Italian feel is the new Cappuro's which is very good food and ambience' and not too expensive. There is also the Rainforest cafe which you might enjoy especially for the ambience. You can check out my San Francisco page for more info on restaurants. I would say it is pretty safe around Chinatown at that hour though you probably won't find too many things open. You may want to check out North Beach as well or instead. Have fun!!!

All the waterfront restaurants will probably be packed due to the holiday and the "Fog Glow" (More on this below). If you are looking for an Old San Francisco steak reastaurant than you can't go wrong with Alfreds. Walking around the area at night is safe, plenty of tourists and locals using Chinatown to get to North Beach to get to P39/FW.

The Fog Glow is my name for the fireworks on the 4th of July. Typically, the fog rolls in, the fireworks go off, and you get to see fog in many colors! I have been lucky enough to catch some spectacular firework shows, really depends on if Mother Nature will cooperate.

Red and White Fleet ( http://tickets.redandwhite.com/ ) is a company that offers bay cruises, they have a 4th of July Fireworks cruise which basically sits in the bay during the fireworks and then brings you back to the pier afterwards. I liked this perspective vs being on land with the thousands of other spectators. Just another thought.............