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Another quite tasty restaurant is Kokkari. It's a Greek/Mediterranean near North Beach. I'm not sure I've got the spelling right. I've had food catered from there, but never eaten at the restaurant itself. But the catered food I've had is marvelous.

One you can safely avoid (in my opinion) is Julius' Castle. Great views, but the service is mediocre, and the food simply isn't as fantastic as food you can get elsewhere in the Bay Area.

I second Kokkari. Great Mediterranean food and they do the Turkish coffee right. (Although, as my friend learned the hard way in the Greek Islands, don't order a Turkish coffee in Greece...order a coffee.) They warm it on the hot sand and you have your choice of sweetness. Perfect (though I'm an espresso drinker who grinds beans daily).

That sounds like my type of place…….

What’s a Turkish coffee? I had the best cup of coffee in my life last time I was at a steak house in Mazatlan. Twenty bucks and worth every penny. It had espresso, real cream, cinnamon, sugar and Irish whisky. Two waiters made it in front of us with a lot of showmanship and fire. Way cool and tasty.

It's a thick kind of coffee, very strong, it'll put hair (or more hair) on your chest. My favorite kind is usually made w/ cardamom blended into the grounds. Caution though, it's only w/ caffeine and if you drink it late at night, you'll be up for a while.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_coffee

3rd for Kokkari. I ate there 2 weeks ago and it was great. Probably the best halibut I've ever had. Also, the service was top notch. Standing near the bar waiting for our table my girlfriend asked if I wanted a drink. I mentioned disappointment at a lack of Chimay. When our waiter arrived he said rumor had it I like Chimay and they had both red and blue labels in bottles and would I like one. Oh, and the chickpea soup was great too.

If you order the Turkish coffee, I suggest you order it medium sweet. Medium refers to the strength.

Hi Mojo,

Turkish coffee actually comes in one strenth but in 4 different levels of sweetness (none, little, medium, and plenty). Whoever is going to prepare it for you would ask you how you would like it among these 4 choices. I was born in Turkey and lived there till age 14. If in California or elsewhere they are referring to "medium" as strength rather than sugar level, I am unaware of this. I just returned from Turkey last weekend and I can certainly use some coffee now as I am jet-lagged and sleepy. Best to all.

John

Ok, so let me clarify. Turkish coffee, when ordered in Greece, is available as light, medium and strong in "power" and sweet or bitter in taste.

"cikis yok" means no exit. "den" means from. So, the whole phrase implies no escape from the person named Ali Sami Yen. I can read and write Turkish, having gone to school there till H.S.

John