Whenever I've got guests in town I take them to The House and we all leave feeling well fed and happy with the relatively low cost. Great fish dishes with lots of imaginative pairings, wonderful salads, to-die-for-sandwiches at lunch, and satisfying desserts. The only drawbacks are: too small a space for the number of guests (but everyone's so happy that it still a good experience) and the meal is kind of rushed -- they actually get 4-5 seatings for dinner each night! But The House is still one of my favorite restaurants in The City. Cab-it as the North Beach parking is as bad as it gets. Also, be prepared for encounters with drunks spilling out onto the street from the next-door historic bar.
Pros: Great food. Sufficient wine list. Well designed and executed dishes.
Cons: As you can imagine, parking is a nightmare.
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