$$$$ • Sichuan • Chinatown
After doing the “Foodie” thing in SF, we visited Z&Y on the recommendation of a “Real Chinese” (as opposed to “ABC”) friend.
For all of the “Foodie” bluster and hype, there are few meals that can come close to a great Chinese dinner from a taste and value perspective. Simply put, a few thousand years of trial and error (and refinement) really comes through in a meal.
The interior decor is functionally spartan, but totally workable. Oddly, and rare for a Chinese restaurant, the dining room is markedly quieter than many/most “trendy” SF hot spots, and you can actually have a conversation without it turning into a screaming match so that you can hear each other (a major negative for many SF restaurants). All-in-all, a great meal at a great price (>$100/person cheaper than the other places that we visited during this trip).