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Theater District

Backstage
$$. A pleasant, civilized restaurant a short walk from Davis Hall and the opera house. Free parking in the area is easy if you arrive for a pre-show dinner. Relax with dishes such as grilled oregano prawns with a buttery oregano marinade and grilled pears; and ravioli stuffed with chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta and pine nuts in a sauce of smoky, aged provolone, roasted red onions and cream. 687 McAllister St. (415/673-9353). Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Tue-Sat; late dining Fri-Sat. Beer & wine. MC, T, V. Reservations available. (H.H.)
The Grand Cafe
$$. A large cafe and bar area fronts a spacious dining room featuring whimsical sculptures and an open kitchen. Service is professional and fast, permitting an excellent meal before a nearby performance. Try lobster and shrimp ravioli in a lobster-sorrel sauce or chicken braised in pinot noir with mushrooms, smoked bacon and onions. 501 Geary St. at Taylor in the Hotel Monaco (415/292-0101). Breakfast, lunch, dinner 7 days. Late dining Fri-Sat. Cafe menu until very late. Cocktails. (H.H.)
Kuleto's
$$. In the Villa Florence Hotel, this restaurant serves really good northern Italian food wrapped around one of the more active social bars in the city. Everybody feels confident and safe here. Everyone gets fed well, too. Try to have the saffron risotto with shrimp and scallops. 221 Powell St. above O'Farrell (415/397-7720). Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late dining 7 days. Full bar. (H.H.)
La Scene
$$. An elegant place in the very heart of the theater district with live piano some nights, La Scene opens early and closes late, so leave your car with the valet and take in a show. The light, contemporary dishes include a salad of rare tuna on greens with cucumber and red pepper shreds and a tahini vinagrette, monkfish ravioli, and rib-eye steak with horseradish butter, sweet potato fries and grilled miniature vegetables. A $21 fixed-price chef's choice early-bird dinner makes this place even more appealing to the theatergoer. 490 Geary St. (415/292-6430). Serving begins at 5:30pm nightly. Cocktails. (H.H.)
Original Joe's
$$. Yes, Virginia, there is an original Joe's and yes, this is where that style of restaurant began in 1937. Enjoy old favorites such as eggplant Parmigiana; sautéed chicken with mushrooms, onions, wine and tomato; and, of course, Joe's Special. 144 Taylor St. above Turk (415/775-4877). Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late dining, very late dining 7 days. Cocktails. (H.H.)
Salmagundi
$$. I hadn't been inside of this survivor of the local scene in years, so it was a discovery that the restaurant's quality and bargain prices are as good as ever. Selections of healthy soups, salads and quiche change daily; service is cafeteria style and speedy, which makes this a good pre-theater choice. Go for the Caesar salad, vegetarian lasagna, or seven-layer torte, and look for the $7 theater special. 442 Geary St. (415/441-5761). Lunch, dinner and late dining all week. Beer and wine. (H.H.)
The Skyroom
$$. An attractive, pleasant restaurant, little known to even city dwellers, this is the kind of place that retired Marine Corps officers love, which makes sense when you see what building it's in. The view is out over the low-rise buildings around Union Square, and you can catch a bit of bay. Keep this place in mind when attending the Marines Memorial Theater. There are bargain early-bird dinners and a small list of quality wines at reasonable prices. Dig into American classics such as grilled pork chops, filet of sole and prime rib. 609 Sutter St. above Mason, 12th floor of the Marines' Memorial Club (415/673-6672). Breakfast, dinner 7 days; lunch Mon-Sat. Cocktails. (H.H.)

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