Best restaurant

1. Gary Danko The champ of the readers’ poll snagged the top spot for the seventh time. Apparently, you just can’t get enough of the gracious servers in their Josef Duran suits and the impeccable prix fixe menu. 800 NORTH POINT ST., S.F., 415-749-2060.

2. Maverick In just two years, Maverick’s regional American food and monthly Southern Fried nights have made this shoebox of a restaurant a reader favorite. 3316 17th ST., S.F., 415-863-3061.

3. Delfina Your love affair with Delfina soldiers on. The understated Cal-Italian cuisine and modern but comfortable digs continue to draw raves almost a decade after it opened. 3621 18TH ST., S.F., 415-552-4055.

Best new restaurant

1. Nopa The Western Addition has officially become Nopa country, thanks to this blockbuster. Outstanding cocktails and seasonal flatbreads attract so many diehards that Nopa now takes reservations up to a month in advance. 560 DIVISADERO ST., S.F., 415-864-8643.

2. Salt House It’s more of a gastropub than a restaurant, but no matter: cool kids of all ages have been won over by the Rosenthal brothers’ signature bold flavors and the constantly packed bar. 545 MISSION ST., S.F., 415-543-8900.

3. Perbacco Upscale Italian hits the financial district. Suits end the day with a Campari cocktail at the classic marble bar, while daters dig in to platters of house-cured salumi and seasonal pastas. 230 CALIFORNIA ST., S.F., 415-955-0663.

Best meal under $10

1. Papalote Its famous blended salsa has both fans and detractors, but the cult status of this taqueria that prides itself on the freshness of its ingredients is secure. 3409 24TH ST., S.F., 415-970-8815; 1777 FULTON ST., S.F., 415-776-0106.

2. Nick’s Crispy Tacos Disciples of hard-shell tacos order Nick’s Way—a crispy taco slathered with cheese and guacamole. On a scale of 1 to 10, the kitsch factor hits 11 at this quirky joint, but clearly you don’t mind a bit. 1500 BROADWAY, S.F., 415-409-8226.

3. La Taqueria Dinner on a dime, speedy service, and more taco fillings than you can shake a churro at, including beef tongue, carnitas, and chorizo. What’s not to like? 2889 MISSION ST., S.F., 415-285-7117.

Best splurge restaurant

1. Gary Danko No wonder a dozen of you pop the question here every month: it is Danko, after all. Special nights—from birthdays to anniversaries—are as much of a given as the $7.75 price tag for a bottle of Ramlosa sparkling water. 800 NORTH POINT ST., S.F., 415-749-2060.

2. Michael Mina Hotel location be damned. You’ve made Michael Mina and his eponymous restaurant a household name for the stunning dining room, the tableside preparations, and his signature style of cooking. 335 POWELL ST., S.F., 415-397-9222.

3. Boulevard On the checklist for “big night out,” Boulevard’s got all the bases covered: stunning interior, bay views, and chef Nancy Oakes. Talk about a no-brainer. 1 MISSION ST., S.F., 415-543-6084.

Best weekend brunch

1. Maverick Quickly becoming a local favorite, this place practically requires reservations to secure a table for digging into the Southern-inspired, rib-sticking andouille sausage Benedict. 3316 17th ST., S.F., 415-863-3061.

2. Foreign Cinema Style meets sustenance at this favorite Sunday-morning haunt of hungover industry folks, in-the-know tourists, and sunglass-sporting locals. Catch up in the sunny courtyard over Bellinis and housemade pop-tarts. 2534 MISSION ST., S.F., 415-648-7600.

3. Ella’s Two words: sticky buns. Oh, and brandied-orange French toast, chorizo scramble, and biscuits and gravy, each of which makes the inevitable wait on the corner of Presidio and California infinitely more tolerable. 500 PRESIDIO AVE., S.F., 415-441-5669.

Best outdoor dining

1. Foreign Cinema Your favorite alfresco spot gives dinner theater new meaning. Oyster platters come with a side of foreign flicks projected in the spacious courtyard, like this month’s showing of Ang Lee’s The Wedding Banquet. 2534 MISSION ST., S.F., 415-648-7600.

2. The Ramp Is there a better way to spend a lazy Saturday afternoon than on the patio, Bloody Mary in hand, taking in the boats on the bay? 855 CHINA BASIN st., S.F., 415-621-2378.

3. Sam’s Chowder House You like your little slice of New England—lobster rolls, shrimp salads, and creamy clam chowder—served with West Coast sustainable sensibility and gorgeous views of the Pacific. 4210 NORTH CABRILLO HwY., HALF MOON BAY, 650-712-0245.

Best eco-friendly dining

1. Greens After 22 years, Annie Somerville still turns out organic vegetarian cuisine that tastes fresh-picked. Loyalists dig her seasonal mesquite-grilled brochettes and wilted spinach salad. FORT MASON BLDG. A (at marina and laguna sts.), S.F., 415-771-6222.

2. Café Gratitude The mostly “alive,” all-organic, and vegan offerings make you feel good about yourself, but not just because they’re healthy. Scanning the menu’s self-affirming dishes—“I Am Dazzling,” “I Am Fabulous”—is a pick-me-up of its own. 2400 HARRISON ST., S.F.; 1336 NINTH AVE., S.F.; 1730 SHATTUCK AVE., BERKELEY; 415-824-4652.

3. Herbivore The nonthreatening intro to vegan food, with a little something for everyone. Global selections range from pad Thai to moussaka. 983 VALENCIA ST., SF., 415-826-5657; 531 DIVISADERO ST., S.F., 415-885-7133; 2451 shattuck ave., berkeley, 510-665-1675.

Worth the wait

1. Slanted Door Four reservationists are on duty daily to book Charles Phan’s Ferry Building phenomenon. Devotees of his daikon rice cakes know to plan ahead—six to eight weeks for a Friday-night slot. FERRY BUILDING MARKETPLACE, S.F., 415-861-8032.

2. Gary Danko You’ll try your (slim) luck with a spot at the bar—but you know to call two months in advance to enjoy Gary Danko’s multicourse menus in the dining room. 800 NORTH POINT ST., S.F., 415-749-2060.

3. Dosa You’re willing to cram into the tangerine bar to wait for a dosa dipped in sambar. Parties over five are the lucky few who can reserve ahead. 995 VALENCIA ST., S.F., 415-642-3672.

Best white-linen hamburger

1. Zuni The house-ground Niman Ranch beef. That focaccia bun. Those superb pickles. You’ve given Zuni’s lunchtime and late-night burger a following that rivals that of the famous roast chicken with bread salad. 1658 MARKET ST., S.F., 415-552-2522.

2. Balboa Café Meat market, indeed. The burger might be secondary to the pickup scene at this high-rolling Marina hangout, but the housemade pickles and crisp baguette make it a darn tasty distraction. 3199 FILLMORE ST., S.F., 415-921-3944.

3. Bix Bix’s version of the all-American classic is topped with truffles year-round, significantly upping its already upscale status. 56 GOLD ST., S.F., 415-433-6300.

Best dessert

1. Citizen Cake Chef Elizabeth Falkner knows how to give you some sugar. You come post-opera for her architectural sweet creations—and to snap up a few cookies for the road. 399 GROVE ST., S.F, 415-861-2228.

2. Tartine The croissants and pains au chocolat at Elisabeth Prueitt and Chad Robertson’s take on a French patisserie have pastry lovers in a perpetual tizzy: witness the lines out the door every weekend.
600 GUERRERO ST., S.F., 415-487-2600.

3. Gary Danko The soufflé is a reliable choice, but seasonal selections such as roasted strawberry and basil ice cream with white-chocolate mousse are also favorite ways to cap off an elegant meal. 800 NORTH POINT ST., S.F., 415-749-2060.

Best coffeehouse

1. Ritual Coffee Roasters Laptop-toting caffeine junkies flock here to enjoy superstrong macchiatos and cappuccinos made from house-roasted beans. 1026 VALENCIA ST., S.F., 415-641-1024; 1634 JERROLD AVE., S.F., 415-694-6448.

2. Blue Bottle San Francisco’s obsession with freshness and locality is easily satisfied by Blue Bottle’s policy of serving only drinks made from beans roasted no more than 48 hours earlier. 315 LINDEN ST., S.F., 415-252-7535.

3. Caffe Trieste This 50-year-old self-proclaimed “espresso pioneer of the West Coast” is your source for old-world, Italian-style shots of caffeine. 601 VALLEJO ST., S.F., 415-392-6739; 199 NEW MONTGOMERY ST., S.F., 415-538-7999; 1667 MARKET ST., S.F., 415-551-1000; 1000 BRIDgEWAY ST., SAUSALITO, 415-332-7660; 2500 SAN PABLO AVE., BERKELEY, 510-548-5198.

Best Chinese restaurant

1. Eliza’s When it comes to inexpensive Hunan and Mandarin standards, all hail queen Eliza. 1457 18TH ST., S.F., 415-648-9999; 2877 CALIFORNIA ST., S.F., 415-621-4819.

2. Ton Kiang In the San Francisco dictionary, Ton Kiang means dim sum. Weekend waits are a given—but you can order your favorites (such as the egg custard tarts) at dinnertime any night of the week.
5821 GEARY BLVD., S.F., 415-752-4440.

3. Yank Sing The hardest part of eating at this dim sum institution might be restraining yourself from scarfing down one too many Shanghai dumplings. 101 SPEAR ST., S.F., 415-781-1111; 49 STEVENSON ST., S.F., 415-541-4949.

Best Japanese restaurant

1. Ozumo New chef de cuisine Mike Yakura is heading up the kitchen at this downtown fixture. The sexy bar, robata-grilled meats, and stylish platters of sushi are all as enticing as before. 161 STEUART ST., S.F., 415-882-1333.

2. Sushi Ran Chef Scott Whitman’s eye-catching Japanese cuisine, with its signature Pacific Rim influences, has readers clamoring for more—as do the expansive wine and sake lists. 107 CALEDONiA ST., SAUSALITO, 415-332-3620.

3. Ebisu The Inner Sunset’s sushi stalwart makes the list again, winning acclaim in our poll for the ninth time for its no-fuss rolls and sashimi. 1283 NINTH AVE., S.F., 415-566-1770.

Best Italian restaurant

1. Delfina Yet again, your top spot for Italian. Craig Stoll’s warm white-bean salad, spot-on pastas, and roasted Fulton Valley chicken have rightfully become classic San Francisco dishes. 3621 18TH ST., S.F., 415-552-4055.

2. A16 This jam-packed Marina eatery put the southern Italian region of Campania on your radar screens, thanks to the restaurant’s Neapolitan thin-crust pizzas and wine list full of varietals most of us can’t pronounce. 2355 CHESTNUT ST., S.F., 415-771-2216.

3. Incanto Offal often takes center stage at Incanto. Chef Chris Cosentino’s rustic Cal-Italian dishes—Sardinian tuna heart, anyone?—appeal to your daring side.
1550 CHURCH ST., S.F., 415-641-4500.

Best Indian restaurant

1. Dosa In the battle of North versus South, for the first time the South has emerged victorious. Out of curiosity, you came to try the wafer-thin dosas—and came back for the mung sprout salad, coconut prawns, and lamb curry. 995 VALENCIA ST., S.F., 415-642-3672.

2. Indian Oven Though it was knocked out of the winning position for the first time, you still have a soft spot for the refined food at this north Indian standard in the Lower Haight. 233 FILLMORE ST., S.F., 415-626-1628.

3. Naan-n-Curry The go-to pusher of quick-service curries and vindaloos at dirt-cheap prices. Locations all over the city make it almost too easy for you to get a spicy-greasy fix. 642 IRVING ST., S.F., 415-664-7225; 533 JACKSON ST., S.F., 415-693-0499; 336 O’FARRELL ST., S.F., 415-346-1443; 690 VAN NESS AVE., S.F., 415-775-1349; 2366 TELEGRAPH AVE., BERKELEY, 510-841-6266.

Best Mexican restaurant

1. Tres Agaves Sure, there’s soulful food from Mexico’s Jalisco region, but we have a feeling it might be the 110-plus blue-agave tequilas behind the bar that swayed your vote. 130 TOWNSEND ST., S.F., 415-227-0500.

2. Mamacita Owners Vintage 415 make it hard not to like Mamacita. Everything is easy on the eyes, from Sam Josi’s artfully presented, sustainable Mexican to the alluring throngs downing margaritas at the bar. 2317 CHESTNUT ST., S.F., 415-346-8494.

3. Maya Maya is a newcomer to the list, but it’s been a local fixture since Richard Sandoval opened this offshoot of his NYC smash here in 1999. Think mole poblano and langosta y camarones. 303 SECOND ST., S.F., 415-543-2928.

Best wine bar

1. Ottimista Enoteca-Café The preferred hangout for polished Marina girls who come to sip northern Italian varietals and split plates of cheese-stuffed arancini. Nearby sports bar attendees, take note. 1838 UNION ST., S.F., 415-674-8400.

2. Hidden Vine When you want some privacy, you tuck into this cozy subterranean alcove near Union Square for regional tasting flights and plates of artisanal California cheese. 620 POST ST., S.F., 415-674-3567.

3. Cav Wine Bar & kitchen Pamela Busch turned the wine bar concept on its head with a Cal-Med menu that complements her far-reaching wine list—not the other way around. 1666 MARKET ST., S.F., 415-437-1770.