tours of distinction MODERATE Great Eastern Restaurant CHINESE The specialty here is seafood, which you can observe swimm

130 Franciscan AMERICAN/SEAFOOD It s all about the view here, which explains the upside-down nature of this oddly shaped, peach-color ed structure. Stairs lead you from the crowded wharf below into a welcoming dining room, which offers bay vie ws from practically every table. Given its location in the most heavily touristed part of town, you ll pay more than you should for a crab cake appetiz er ($12) or slice of halibut ($26), but you do get a fabulous vista, friendly ser vice, and better far e than at most r estaurants in the vicinity. The pasta and sandwiches tours of distinction come in at under $20, and all kids menu items are $5. The kids fish and chips is big enough for adults and comes with cray ons and drawing materials. I wouldn t go out of my way to eat here, but if you want a nice lunch without having to leav e the neighborhood, the F ranciscan may be wor th the higher prices.

MODERATE Great Eastern Restaurant CHINESE The specialty here is seafood, which you can observe swimming ar ound in tanks against the back wall. D inner doesn t come fr esher than this, so if y ou re in the mood for steamed whole r ockfish, crab ser ved in a doz en ways, shrimp, lobster, or whatev er s in season, G reat Eastern is the best choice tours of distinction in the hood. Just don t let the waiter steer you away from the fish tanks toward more typical Chinese-American fare; you ll get the same food you could have gotten for less at a corner Chinese takeout joint. That s what happened to us some years back when we were tourists in San Francisco now we know better. Like the vast majority of Chinatown restaurants, tours of distinction this one has big tables for extended families. The basement dining r oom is comfortable, but w e prefer the upstairs. O ne of the nice things about eating in Chinatown is that you re almost expected to have kids in tow.