Where to go to Dinner During the Sausalito Art Festival
The first answer is, "By 6:00 PM each day I'll have stuffed myself so full of great food inside the Festival that I won't be going anywhere for dinner!"
If you happen to want the change of pace, however, Sausalito has many great restaurants to choose from. The secret is that you need to call ahead for reservations, because once thousands of hungry people pour out of the Festival the top restaurants will be packed.
Here's our guide (with links to click on), based on your mood as you leave the show:
"All that art reminded me of The Delacroix of French Cooking, Hiroyuki Sakai. Let's find a Michelin-rated gourmet restaurant!" Murray Circle is one of the top-rated spots in the Bay Area.
"Did you not hear what I said? I want fine French cooking!" Le Garage.
"Walking around the festival right next to the Bay made me feel like I'm in Italy. I want a restaurant that will preserve the fantasy for a few hours more!" Poggio Trattoria does just that, and they also have great sidewalk seating that reminds us of Firenze.
"I'm tired of crowds. I want a more civilized, quieter place to enjoy a great view and good food." The Spinnaker may have the best views in Sausalito, and is an elegant place to which you can still wear jeans or shorts.
"I feel so creative after looking at all this art. I want a multi-cultural restaurant where the menu is just a suggestion, and they'll make just about anything I want for me right on the spot." Yes, we really have such a place, and it's called Avatar's. They start with a menu influenced by India, Pakistan and Mexico, but they pride themselves on being able to handle just about any request. Hmmmm… maybe a pumpkin souffle?
"Read my lips. The letters are S-U-S-H-I." Sushi Ran is a regional magnet and an award-winning gem.
"I feel like going someplace with lots of energy and people." Buckeye Roadhouse. No batteries required.
"My perfect place would have an outside deck with a great view of San Francisco where I'm right next to the water and feel like I could sail away at any moment!" Horizons.
"The kids are tired and hungry and I can just tell they won't sit still in a quiet restaurant." Outback Steakhouse. (Purists will groan that we recommended a chain, but sometimes this is the perfect choice for families, and both the tables and servers are well prepared for kids.)
"I want a place that's like a classic old-school Fisherman's Wharf seafood restaurant in San Francisco." Scoma's is the Sausalito sibling of a classic old-school Fisherman's Wharf seafood restaurant in San Francisco.
"Being next to the Bay all day makes me want seafood… but it has to be fresh and it has to be harvested from sustainable sources." Your criteria are all met by Fish, but bring cash because they don't take credit cards.
"Hey, I went to the Art Festival for you. Now we have to go somewhere for dinner where I can watch the game." Paradise Bay has a big screen and understands your needs.
"I'm still pretty full from lunch — I just want a glass of good wine and something light." Wellington's Wine Bar or Il Piccolo Teatro.
"I want one of those famous Sausalito flame-grilled hamburgers." Hamburgers restaurant is the famous local place with the rotating grill in the front window.
"Gotta find Chinese!" Tommy's Wok
"I want something Asian, but I can't decide if I want Thai, Chinese, or…" Kitti's Place
"The heck with food, I want a drink and to listen to some quality jazz." No Name Bar.
There are still more great places in Sausalito, but these should get you started! Our full list of dinner restaurants is here.
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