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As a Vegetarian, it can often be challenging to find upscale, flavorful, hearty, vegetarian-friendly restaurants when dining out. Many restaurants in San Francisco have a handful of vegetarian appetizers and entrees, but there are a few restaurants really raising the bar for vegetarian cuisine. Here are five must-try vegetarian restaurants in SF - ones that will satisfy even the most die-hard of meat eaters! #1: Greens Restaurant Located in the San Francisco Marina, with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Greens is 100% vegetarian and focuses on highlighting local, organic produce in their dishes. Open for over 30 years, Greens has become an SF institution with vegetarians and non-vegetarians packing their rustic, warmly-lit restaurant nightly. Their menu changes seasonally, the food is hearty and filling, and the dishes are full of surprising flavors. #2: Millennium Restaurant: Upscale, gourmet, and 100% vegan: Millennium is committed to making vegetarian dining fun and exciting. All of their dishes are non-GMO and animal-free, and their cuisine has multiple ethnic (Asian, Latin, Indian) influences. Their menu offers complex, varied, and generous meals with breathtaking presentations, keeping diners on their toes. #3: Dosa: South-Indian food with a twist, DOSA serves cuisine that is primarily from the Southern states of India which include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Goa. Their menu isn't exclusively vegetarian, but there are many outstanding options for vegetarians. Fresh vegetables, fruit, rice, and spices like mustard seeds, tamarind, curry leaves, coconut, cilantro, and red chiles dominate the flavor profile of this restaurant. Their cocktails serve up a similar spicy flair, and the ambiance is hip and trendy. Absolutely one of the best Indian restaurants in SF. #4: Gracias Madre Local, organic, and 100% vegan, Gracias Madre is located in the Mission and was created to serve a void in the vegan-Mexican food space. Everything at Gracias Madre is homemade, down to their tortillas and tamales (hand-made from non-GMO organic heirloom corn, some of which is grown by them on their own farm). All of their cheese, milks, and ice creams are made using nuts - but their food is so authentically Mexican that it's almost impossible to tell the difference. The restaurant is lively and always full, and they don't take reservations, so get there early to avoid a long wait. #5: The Plant Cafe This cafe grew out of the owners' desire to make local, organic, vegetarian-friendly food affordable and accessible. With 6 locations in the Bay Area (including one at SFO Terminal 2), this restaurant is slowly spreading its mission to promote the well-being of people and the planet. All of their produce is seasonal and from around the Bay Area, and their meat/seafood is free-range, wild and sustainable. Their menu is diverse, providing options for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. The freshly made juices and smoothies are an absolute accompaniment to any meal; and their entrees are comprised largely of contemporary California cuisine and Asian inspired flavors. For the best dining experience, visit their location on Pier 3 on the Embarcadero and if the weather is nice, enjoy your meal on their outdoor patio overlooking the bay.

North Beach, also known as San Francisco’s Little Italy, has managed to walk the fine line between a hot touristy spot and an area beloved by native San Franciscans. And with it’s high density of authentic ristorantes, cafes, and Old World delicatessens, it’s a prime foodie spot as well! Here are 5 must-eat restaurants in the heart of North Beach: #1: Tony’s Pizza Napoletana. Hands down, one of the best pizza places in all of North Beach, maybe even in all of San Francisco. And it’s all thanks to owner Tony Gemignani, an award winning pizza maker. Tony’s specializes in Napoli pizza and their ingredients are actually imported from Napoli! All of their pizza and pasta dough is made in house, and they even have whole wheat and gluten free versions for the more health-conscious. Just a heads up though: since everything is made fresh in-house daily, sometimes they run out of certain menu items.  Be prepared for a long wait as well, this restaurant is amazingly popular and doesn’t take reservations. Leave your phone number at the host stand and then head to a nearby bar for a drink while you wait! #2: Mama’s on Washington Square. Mama’s is another San Francisco institution that doesn’t take reservations and also requires you to stand in line until they are ready to cook your order, but the long weekend waits are worth the brunch that awaits you. Menu items to try include the Monte Cristo, Eggs Benedict, and their 10 types of French toasts (you can choose from sourdough baguettes, banana bread or wheat bread). The homemade jam on each table is also to die for. #3: Cafe Jacqueline. This unique restaurant serves only souffles as a main course, with a choice of non-souffle soups and salads to start. Dinner souffles serve two: choose from asparagus, spinach or lobster - each with a cheese base. Dessert is, of course, a souffle - which must be ordered at the same time as dinner and is not to be missed! The ambiance is super romantic, small, and candlelit, so it’s perfect for a date night or a special night out. #4: Victoria Pastry Co. This bakery is one of the city’s oldest -- in business since 1914. It’s best known for its cakes, and specializes in wedding cakes. They even have bite-sized cake creations for a single-serving taste of heaven. Their specialty is their mini tiramisu - served ready to go in it’s own takeout cup. #5: L’Osteria del Forno. This tiny restaurant is famous for its fresh-baked focaccia (sandwiches and pizzas), and is one of the top authentic Italian restaurants in SF. For meat lovers, hope that the milk braised pork is the special roast of the day - it is divine. Their menu also features a variety of pizzas, salads, soups and fresh made pastas. Small baskets of warm focaccia arrive at your table until your entrees are served. For as tiny a restaurant as this is, they still have a full bar with a wonderful selection of wines and grappas. You can also get their pizza by the slice for folks on the go. Not in the mood for anything here? Explore all our San Francisco restaurant deals.

This week: street-food stalls invade the Mission, street-soccer teams compete in tournaments, a movie consists entirely of cell phone calls, a pop-up market gathers goods for the swapping, and Bill Bellamy grabs the mic. As always, check Groupon for more great things to do in San Francisco. San Francisco Street Food Festival Mission | Saturday, August 16 Saturday is your last chance to visit one of San Francisco’s most iconic food festivals, as its continued growth will force it to leave Folsom Street behind after this year. Try made-to-order plates from more than 80 vendors, and help La Cocina promote its culinary entrepreneurs. (Folsom St. from 20th St. to 26th St.; free admission, dishes are all $10 or less; buy prepaid food passports here, or save on a Friday-night meal package and festival drink tokens with a Groupon) Street Soccer USA National Cup Civic Center | Saturday, August 16, to Sunday, August 17 Intense games of 4v4 street soccer take over the Civic Center Plaza to decide the city’s champion, all while raising money to aid the homeless and at-risk youth. Grab some snacks from the onsite vendors and watch a few matches—each one is only about 20 minutes long. (1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Pl.; free) "I Play With The Phrase Each Other" Mission | Tuesday, August 19 Nicknamed “the cell phone movie” by its own producers, I Play With The Phrase Each Other is a film entirely comprised of phone calls. Show up at the Roxie Theater an hour before the 7 p.m. screening to drink some wine with writer and director Jay Alvarez. (3117 16th St.; $12; buy tickets here) Score! Pop Up Mega Swap SoMa | Thursday, August 21 Score! pop-up events encourage guests to bring their old clothes, housewares, books, and whatever else they’re tired of to a communal swap. Everything is free after you pay admission, and other attractions will be close at hand, from food trucks to a screenprinting station. (SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St.; $7–$10; buy tickets here) Bill Bellamy Russian Hill | Thursday, August 21, through Sunday, August 24 Standup comic, movie star, former MTV VJ, and inventor of the term “booty call,” Bill Bellamy has a formidable résumé. See him in his element this weekend at Cobb’s Comedy Club, so long as you’re cool with a two-drink minimum and hilarious stories. (915 Columbus Ave.; $22.50–$25; buy tickets here, or save with a Groupon) Image credits: street-food photo by Anita Chu; street-soccer photo by Ye Ming, courtesy of Street Soccer USA; I Play With The Phrase Each Other still courtesy of Jay Alvarez; Bill Bellamy photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons