Hey, I live 30mi from SF down the Peninsula. The only reason I go into SF is for the Symphony (world-class), concerts and food.
Can't give you much input on non-beef food...
but:
Harris' steak house on Van Ness (near Broadway or Pacific, can't remember) was, I recall, rated as one of the 10 best in USA.
For a great dining experience, you also might wish to try the House of Prime Rib (also on Van Ness, cross-street Washington). And prices aren't too bad - esp for what you get!
Try North Beach area for Italian. Good coffee houses (+ desserts) too. And if you're into Chinese there's tons of top-notch places and even hole-in-wall places with special stuff.
Homeless are everywhere. When walking down the street, walk quite a bit away from doorways of closed businesses as homeless sleep in them. I had one (in North Beach) try to grab my leg once, but he just got a good kick from my Tony Lamas. Even worse than the regular homeless are the homeless raving maniacs that wander the street.
Some streets do smell of dried urine.
Market Street gets interesting. There are some excellent French pay-toilet advertising kiosks, which are self-cleaning, etc. Great - but homeless camp in them, shoot drugs in them, etc.
I hear they've cut the time limit down to 10 min. before the automatic doors open again.
Union St. has lotsa nice little shops and restaurants. (I like Prego myself.)
But you couldn't pay me to live there. [Well, on top of Nob Hill maybe.]
Bill Wiese
San Mateo, CA