Dinner in the Bay Area
and beyond
Indian Food
1) Indian Oven 8-9.  Fillmore at Haight, SF.  Parking is an issue, as is
availability.  Go for the Tandoori Sea Bass it's delicious.

2)
Ajanta 7-8. Solano, N. Berk. Cool murals on the walls.  Interesting mix of
regional indian specialities. Parking is ok-ish.  Availability is an issue usually.

3)
Pasand 7.  Shattuck, Berk. Good place for S. Indian grub (dosas, samber).  

4)
Naan and Curry 7, chain.  I can't wait until this comes to my town!  Hot
naan, chicken, Coke--around $5.  I am bummed this wasn't around when I was in
college.
Thai
1) Manora's 8-9  12th and folsom, SF.  Authentic taste, the quail as the
appetizer is amazing.  All dishes are good here.  Parking is not an issue,
availability usually is though.

2 )
Cha-Am 7-8  Shattuck, Berk.  I like this restaurant's windows and
atmosphere as well as the tasty food.  Parking and availability are not that bad
here.
3)
A Taste of Thai 8, 16th and Broadway, Sacramento.  Authentic
Thai food.  This just may be the best restaurant in Sacramento
Chinese
1)Shen Hua 8-9 College at Ashby, Berkeley.  Very tasty, freshly
prepared Chinese food.  Availability is usually an issue, parking isn't bad.  I like
the Curry Crab Noodles.

2)
Tom Kiang 8 Geary and ?, SF.  Really good Dim Sum.  Availability is
always an issue.  Parking is ok.

3)
New Canton 9 Broadway and 20?, Sacramento. Yes this really is a
sacto restaurant.  Very good Dim sum.  

3)
Jade Villa 7 8th and Broadway, Oakland.  Very Accessible,
consistently good dim sum
Vietnamese
Le Cheval  8-9, 12th and Jackson (?), Oakland.  Try the Hanoi fish if
you like spring rolls. Cube steak is consistently good.  Parking and availability
aren't usually problems

Slanted Door 7-8.  SF Really Hyped up restaurant.  Good tastes,
but availability/parking really suck
s.  
Maylaysian
The Banana Leaf 9 Milpitas.  The Rotis are crisp and delicious.
 The food is spicy (a mix of chinese and indian influences).  Parking is not a
problem, availability maybe
High End Cuisine
1)Gary Danko 10 SF.  What a restaurant should be.  World Class
food.

2)
Post Trio 9 SF.  Excellent menu.  A top city restaurant.

3)
Boulevard 9  SF.  A comfortable fancy restaurant.  Great Steaks

4)
Bix 8-9 SF.  Well prepared menu, cozy atmosphere

Don't waste your time here:
Mortons 5-7 SF.  Don't believe the hype
The Fifth Floor.  4 SF.  The food just didn't live up to my expectations.  
Disappointing.
Carnelian Room 4 SF.  Hotel style crap food.  Good View though
Mexican/Tapas
1)Cortez 9 SF.  Exquisitely flavored food.  availability/parking
aren't bad.  The vibe is really chill (beautiful artwork).

2)
La Pinata 8 Park St. Alameda.  Deep fried red snapper with
diablo and garlic butter sauce (Jalisco style).  Parking ok, sometimes a
wait.

3)
Tamarindo 6-7 8th and Broadway.  Good flavors, portions are
small.  Mexico City tapas.
Sushi

Miko's 10, Robson St. Vancouver.  I know it's in Canada, but their fish is
sooo good.

Ace Wasabi's 8-9, SF , fresh fish. Lots of young hip marina people.

Tomodachi 8, Park St. Alameda.  Reasonably price good quality sushi.

Koryo Sushi 8, Telegraph, Oakland.  Good sushi.  Some Korean styled
sushi dishes are worth trying (sashimi salad)

Drunken Fish 8, Broadway, Oakland.  Good Sushi, also has korean
influenced Sushi dishes
Korean

Sam Won 8, Telegraph and 27th.  Good for BBQing.  Good quality
meats

Koryo Charcoal BBQ 7-8, Telegraph and 42, Oakland.  Quality
fluctuates but is currently good

Brother's  8, Geary and 7th, SF.  Decent Korean food in San Francisco.  

Chosun 8-9,  LA  great meat.  But it is in LA and the availability is usually
an issue


These restaurants are my
top picks in many ethnic  
foods and varieties