MARCIA (The Tablehopper) GAGLIARDI / The Tablehopper's Guide to Dining and Drinking in San Francisco

Quick: your parents/ex-boyfriend/regional sales manager/hip friend from Manhattan are coming to town. Do you know where to take them for dinner? Most restaurant guidebooks can’t help you find the right spot. Because here’s a revelation: diners don’t choose restaurants by category ranking (French, Financial District, $$$, * * *), but by occasion: cocktails and nibbles with the girls, first date, power lunch, dinner with the kids.

Marcia Gagliardi, a San Francisco food writer and culinary personality, is known from coast to coast as “The Tablehopper”, a trusted source for what’s new, good, and of course, delicious in the San Francisco restaurant and bar scene. After launching her weekly tablehopper e-column in 2006 and receiving an onslaught of requests from her readers, she started “tip please”, a free customized restaurant recommendation service on her site.  After making thousands of restaurant recommendations, Marcia realized her readers were always looking for restaurants by situation, and rarely by neighborhood or cuisine. Her solution to these dining dilemmas if The Tablehopper’s Guide, which covers our dining landscape with a totally fresh perspective, and is full of hot tips about obscure locations, can’t-miss dishes, and the best seats in the house.

Marcia includes “insider” one-, two-, and three-day itineraries for gourmet-minded tourists on a variety of budgets, as well as destination-worthy locations in the East Bay, South Bay, and Wine County. She’s the ultimate restaurant matchmaker, guiding us to the best fried chicken or Ramos Gin Fizz, for date one or a twenty-fifth anniversary. Celebrate!