The Fillmore Auditorium, a venue best known for showcasing San Francisco psychedelic rock in the 1960s, now hosts alternative rock bands, rap artists, country acts and everything in between. Neighborhoods with distinct personalities converge in the area: affluent Upper Fillmore; Lower Fillmore, a down-at-the heels area undergoing renewal; and Japantown. The diversity of the surrounding neighborhoods translates into an abundance of dining options for concertgoers.
Diners in the mood to splurge might give swanky 1300 on Fillmore a go. This handsome restaurant and lounge, anchoring one corner of the Fillmore Heritage Center, serves Southern-inspired dishes such as BBQ shrimp on creamy grits and maple syrup slow-braised short ribs. The French cooking techniques favored by the chef-owner elevate the cuisine to a sophisticated level, pairing well with the thoughtfully chosen wines on offer. Caramelized apple-bread pudding and other desserts here provide a sweet ending to a decadent meal.
Chicly appointed DOSA on Fillmore spotlights the exotic in its upscale version of South Indian cuisine. An extensive menu shows off the kitchen's versatility with spicing, ranging from mild -- South Indian lamb meatballs -- to intense, which is rasam "fire broth." For the budget-minded, "San Francisco Examiner" restaurant critic Patricia Unterman recommends any of the dosas -- crepes of ground rice and lentils stuffed with various fillings -- as an economical yet satisfying choice. Inventive cocktails incorporate cardamom, ginger and other flavors of India, providing a preview of or complement to the meal.
Playground, with its Thursday to Saturday 2 a.m. closing time, is one of the few places near The Fillmore where weekend concert goers can satisfy their hunger pangs after a show. Prices at this lively Korean restaurant-cum-karaoke bar might seem a bit steep for a casual joint, but portions are generous, and orders come with kimchee and an assortment of other small side dishes. Chili-infused stir fries and stews will entice those who enjoy their food on the spicy side. Carafes of fruit- or yogurt-flavored soju, a Korean spirit, help tame the heat.
Japantown presents a host of inexpensive dining options, Suzu Noodle House among them, just a block or two from The Fillmore. Although this tiny eatery offers Japanese appetizers and rice bowls, the kitchen really shines in its noodle dishes, particularly the ramen. Of the hearty variations of this dish on the menu, "SF Weekly" restaurant reviewer Jonathan Kauffman reserves special praise for the Tokyo ramen -- toothsome noodles in a soy sauce-flavored broth topped with seaweed, pea sprouts and other accoutrements.
Woodhouse Fish Co. caters to seafood lovers with its moderately priced menu of American-style classics. New England clam chowder, fried Ipswich clams and other East Coast favorites get special attention here. "San Francisco Chronicle" food writer Amanda Gold lauds the restaurant's rendition of the lobster roll, a sandwich of huge chunks of mayo-dressed lobster on a buttered split-top bun that "would make any Mainer proud." A short list of wines and beer and a selection of down-home desserts completes the dining experience at this laid-back fish house.
