Fine dining and children—the two are unfortunately often mutually exclusive. Luckily, Luella Restaurant offers a solution. The owners, a husband and wife and parents themselves, know how hard it can be to try to hit a restaurant with kids in tow. On Sunday evenings, this sophisticated and charming Mediterranean-inspired restaurant provides parents with a less stressful opportunity to dine out—and dine well. From five to nine Sunday evenings, the restaurant offers Little Luellas, kid-friendliness elements incorporated into the same elegant dining.
Little Luella’s allures little palates with such menu items as pizza, grilled cheese, and chicken pot pie for around a very reasonable five dollars. The atmosphere includes upbeat music, coloring sheets, and white paper coverings on the linen tablecloths. You might even see the owner’s own daughter, Gemma, dancing and sampling her own Shirley Temple.
Adult menu highlights include ahi tuna tacos, scallops with spring onion risotto, and braised pork with white bean puree. Not to mention their nice wine list and desserts such as their renowned orange and sweet ricotta fritters drizzled with wild honey. Voted Best Of for Appetizers in 2006, Luella’s possesses more elegance and panache than your average mom and pop place.
Luella’s Restaurant is located on Hyde at the corner of Green. Getting to it by car is definitely possible, but keep in mind that parking is very difficult in this area. If you drive, allow plenty of time to search for parking. Though the restaurant normally provides valet parking as an option, it does not do so on Sunday; however, valet parking is available in front of La Folie on Polk Street, and Walgreens at Polk and Broadway opens their lot for parking (for a $15 fee). If you prefer not to drive, a cable car stops right in front of the restaurant.
Visit their website to book reservations online. Although the they do accept walk-ins, call ahead to insure a smoother experience with children. Now relax. You can actually sip your wine and have semi-uninterrupted adult conversation—or groove to the music and color with the crayons. Who says the kids should have all the fun?
Pier 39, located in the popular Fisherman’s Wharf area, is an attraction all on its own. There is something for everyone at Pier 39 and that’s why so many people flock to it year round. Tourists abound, but locals have to admit they like it as well. In fact, many of the people that shop in the 110 stores and dine at the 14 restaurants are people that just walked in from the surrounding neighborhoods – North Beach and Telegraph Hill.
Pier 39 is an excellent way to show family and friends the sights or just to take in the many street performers and music that seems to be pumped in from everywhere. Summer is a great time to experience Pier 39, but there are seasonal events year round. Fleet week is always a popular event, just as Pumpkin Pandemonium is for the kids. It isn’t just about the shopping and dining, although that is just as wonderful. Pier 39 is more about the overall experience and the stunning views of San Francisco.
Within Pier 39 there are plenty of attractions to broaden the mind and entertain you. First and foremost you have the most popular residents of Pier 39. The sea lions of course! Their barking can be heard throughout the pier and all over Fisherman’s Wharf. Every weekend from 11am to 5pm they do sea lion tours where you can learn about the precious animals that make Pier 39 their home. There are hundreds of them that can be seen at any given time, and the visit alone is worth the trip to Pier 39.
Visiting the Aquarium of the Bay is another stop for animal lovers on Pier 39. San Francisco has amazing marine life that people just aren’t aware of. You can see them all in a very natural setting while you walk through 300 feet of crystal clear tunnels. You can see and sometimes touch many of the creatures that live in the shores of this beautiful city.
If you’re considering going to Pier 39 on a date, you can try a little adventure with the city kayaks that are available for rental. If you are an experienced kayaker, take your kayak and head out to the famed Golden Gate Bridge or Alcatraz Island to paddle around in more advanced waters. If you are a beginner, you can certainly take in the beautiful waterfront views while enjoying a day in the San Francisco waters.
San Francisco is a beautiful place, but Pier 39 is truly special to the neighborhood locals and the people living in San Francisco. It is easy to get to and you’ll find plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, recreation, or simply sitting around and passing the day away.
Fine dining and children—the two are unfortunately often mutually exclusive. Luckily, Luella Restaurant offers a solution. The owners, a husband and wife and parents themselves, know how hard it can be to try to hit a restaurant with kids in tow. On Sunday evenings, this sophisticated and charming Mediterranean-inspired restaurant provides parents with a less stressful opportunity to dine out—and dine well. From five to nine Sunday evenings, the restaurant offers Little Luellas, kid-friendliness elements incorporated into the same elegant dining.