Deals in North Beach

San Francisco has a large variety of vegan restaurant options, and many restaurants that aren't 100% vegan will offer one or two vegan dishes on the menu. Gracias Madre (organic vegan Mexican), Herbivore (vegan comfort food), Cha-Ya (vegan Japanese), and Loving Hut (vegan Asian fast food) are all great options for plant-based meals. But one restaurant in SF stands out among the rest as the only fine-dining vegan restaurant in the city. Millennium Restaurant creates a gourmet dining experience out of vegan, healthy and environmentally friendly foods. They strive to make vegan dining fun and exciting, and their cuisine is influenced by the flavors and styles of many cultures. Their menu changes seasonally, which makes it easy to visit multiple times but never eat the same thing twice. Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, the restaurant has a fantastic design, combining eco-friendly ideas with those reminiscent of a French bistro. It's the perfect balance of upscale chic and an inviting atmosphere. Sample dishes include: an Indian Spiced Red Lentil Soup infused with warm spices and a dash of coconut milk on top; the Black Bean Torte made with a whole wheat tortilla, caramelized plantains, smoky black bean puree, pumpkin-habanero papazul, cashew sour cream, and strawberry salsa; an Indian Spiced Potato cake with cardamom scented grilled eggplant puree, chestnut lima bean coconut saag, tamarind-tomato chutney, pickled fennel, and a cherry tomato salad; and the Peach and Pecan Glazed Tempeh with a peach and molasses glaze, a seared white corn grits cake, roasted green chile cashew cheese, seared broccoli rapini, a peach-ginger chutney, and pickled okra. Desserts are equally fantastic, with vegan cakes, ice cream, and cookies, to name a few. Their wine list is also vegan and organic - not to be missed! And while Millennium is an all-vegan restaurant, their dishes are so hearty that it's likely meat-eaters will be satisfied eating there as well!

With a major craft fair every couple of weeks or so, San Francisco’s creative types appear to constitute a majority of the population, selling designer handmade bits and baubles that bring joy to bedroom walls and living room shelves everywhere. Some people are born with the innate ability to open an Etsy store, while others must learn. Fortunately, there are several exceptional spots to get your craft on throughout the city. The Museum of Craft and Design actually does partner with Etsy, the online home for DIY craft-sellers worldwide. Whether it’s needle felting, embossing, fashioning wire-wrapped mini mobiles or building robots with the kids on the weekends, the Dogpatch-neighborhood institution can have participants go from clueless bumbler to running a booth at the Renegade Craft Fair in no time. Anyone who’s taken a class at Workshop knows that this Western Addition DIY powerhouse is the real deal. If it’s the hands-on team sharing their knowledge of cheese-making or leading a master class in the art of letterpress, the guidance at Workshop is judgment-free, the music is loud and there’s always cold beer in the fridge. For a casual atmosphere that promotes community, creativity and fun, Workshop’s simple classes offer expert advice that can be applied at home immediately. As the community space that’s more or less the philanthropic wing of the burgeoning Bi-Rite food empire, 18 Reasons hosts its fair share of wine tastings and cookbook signings. Here, members and non-members alike can learn the ins-and-outs of making chocolate, gingerbread houses and even pasta. Those with an eagerness to get their hands dirty can even sign up for a twelve-session urban gardening school. Finally, online magazine-slash-startup incubator The Bold Italic throws a lot of themed parties across the city, but its crafty calendar emphasis extends to workshops on the cerebral world of 3-D printing. There’s no end to the cutting-edge technological possibilities being offered by The Bold Italic, which stands in stark contrast to some of the more crafty, old-school classes available across town. No matter where your interests lie, there’s sure to be a seminar or breakout session in San Francisco that helps explain it all.

While most people think of San Franciscans as pretty healthy, we do like our burgers. Luckily there are options to satisfy just about any kind of craving.  There are so many excellent hamburgers out there it is impossible to list them all, but here are a few of the stars. Great Burgers from Burger Joints When it comes cooking anything in this town, the natives want the finest ingredients possible.  That’s why many of the best burgers in the city are joints that got their start in the city, because they chefs and owners know what hits the mark in this town. Places like Super Duper Burger where the name delivers. Adriano Paganini, who also runs Starbelly and Beretta in San Francisco uses local meats like Niman beef, Petaluma chickens, as well as Strauss cream. The burgers, fries and shakes (and soft-serve cones) are deliciously decadent. They are well known for their garlic fries – but make sure your entire party eats them, they are potent! Free homemade pickles are a bonus too! Deluxe may be in the name at Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers but they have burgers in all sizes including a popular mini burger. After you make your burger decision you’ll struggle with the fries as they offer a full fry and onion ring menu as well. For a real treat try the Spicy Sly created by Korean American owner Sylvia Park. It’s got sauteed red and green peppers, caramelized onions, cheese, a little mayo, and a Spicy Sly sauce, which has habenero chiles and ground pumpkin seeds – irresistible! Gott’s Roadhouse may have got it start in Napa, but it has found its real home in the Ferry Building.  Classic Niman beef burger and other organic ingredients make this spot a must-try.  Lines don’t lie and there is always one here.  If you are lucky they will appease your wait with samples of their Strauss farm soft serve ice cream.. One taste and it will have you reconsidering your order to fit in dessert.  However don’t skip out on the main star – any one of the burgers on the menu, including the highly regarded ahi burger are well worth the wait. Southern Invasion For years the city’s only southern invader was In-N-Out Burger whose double-double or animal version hamburger keeps many a crowd at Fisherman’s Wharf satisfied, but for a local, you've got to really want that burger to brave the tourist zone!  However, in the last several months we have seen the openings of two other LA-based burger giants: Umami and Smashburger. Umami came first with Umami Union in Union Square.  They have the classic Umami offerings, decadent burgers meant to hit every taste bud on the tongue and their specialty burger just for this location the bacon-wrapped scallop burger with a hand-chopped scallop patty with crispy pork belly, sweet chile sauce and yuzu-garlic aioli is something to behold, particularly if you don’t eat me.  Go with a friend to try it without missing out on a beef burger – order both and split them so you can enjoy the full range of burger possibilities! Smashburger made its debut in Portrero Hill.   They came into town with their smashed, seared and seasoned-to-order beef burgers and proclaimed themselves to be a burger joint with a soul.  Like Umami they offer a uniquely local spin to their menu including the Bay Burger with arugula, sauteed portabella mushrooms, aged Swiss cheese, and truffle mayo on a ciabatta. bun. They also do a darn good milkshake. Awesome Burgers on Regular Menus There is no shortage of amazing restaurants in San Francisco, so it should be no surprise that many of them have really awesome burgers. Spiced pickled onions and the house-made ketchup seal the deal on the burger at Nopa, a hard to get into spot near Alamo Square known for its rustic food.  This is an upscale spot with impeccable service so you can have your grass fed hamburger in style with one of the city’s best wine menus. There is no shame in ordering a burger at a steak place. Especially at Epic Roasthouse where they use a half pound of Wagyu beef ground fresh daily. There may be nothing better than eating a hamburger with a view of the Bay Bridge at night. With caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, bacon, and cheddar Marlowe’s burger is consistently on many of the city’s top ten lists. Skip the fries and go for the fried brussel spouts and then wash it all down with a brew from their beer menu. This is just a small sampling, the quarter pound version, of what San Francisco has to offer when it comes to hamburgers. No matter what the mood, classic joint or refined surroundings; simple or piled high, there is a burger in this city with your name on it – and probably some fries and a shake too. Photos by: Luca Ohman, Michelle Koh Potts, & Jennifer Yin respectively. | Discover even more San Francisco restaurants.