viet nam war memorial The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Visitor Information Center on the lowe

HAMBURGERS In a setting r eminiscent of a 50s-era TV sitcom, with vinyl-covered chairs and vintage Formica patterns on the tables, y ou can enjoy a really good burger. They re made with naturally raised, hormone-free Niman Ranch beef and served on a bun that has enough personality to handle a juicy hand-formed patty. The only alternatives to a hamburger or cheeseburger ar e a hot dog, fr ee-range chicken breast sandwich, or v eggie burger, viet nam war memorial all ser ved with crispy fries. Yummy milkshakes and root beer floats are made with San Francisco s Double Rainbow ice cream. Another location is in the Mission neighborhood. 5

Betelnut ASIAN When you first approach Betelnut, you may ask yourself why you ve brought kids. The entire front of the restaurant opens out onto the sidewalk, where you ll find trendy 20- and 30-somethings sipping cocktails and nibbling on pan-Asian appetizers. Behind them lies a long bar and, off to the right, steps leading back to a dimly lit restaurant. But despite the boister ous, bar-like atmosphere, the restaurant is actually a very welcoming, low-key hangout that s become a neighborhood institution. Many local families bring their kids her e regularly. The kids don t seem to mind the dar k exterior, viet nam war memorial and the vibrant atmosphere (this is definitely a place for groups, not couples) will drown out any child whining about having spent the entir e day sightseeing. Kids all lo ve the chicken satays, but ask for the peanut sauce on the side, as it s mildly spicy. The Cecilia s minced chicken in lettuce viet nam war memorial cups and the S hanghai steamed chicken dumplings ar e also a hit with the kids. If the adults want something with a little more zing, try the five-spiced firecracker viet nam war memorial shrimp.

The San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau operates the Visitor Information Center on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza on Powell and Market streets (&415/3912000; www.onlyinsanfrancisco.com). The staff is multilingual and genuinely helpful. Visit the information center for books; maps; Municipal Railway passes for buses, streetcars, and cable cars; souv enirs; and tons of br ochures to guide y ou fur ther. I t s open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and w eekends viet nam war memorial 9am to 3pm.

For HIV-positive visitors, r equirements for entering the U nited S tates ar e somewhat v ague and change fr equently. For up-to-the-minute information, contact AIDSinfo (&800/448-0440 or 301/ 519-6616 outside the U.S.; www.aidsinfo. nih.gov) or the Gay Men s Health Crisis (&212/367-1000; www.gmhc.org).