Needless to say, this is an "alternative" guide to restaurants in the Bay Area. I don't particularly like fancy restaurants, and I don't judge the quality of food based on the price (very often the cheapest and humblest restaurant is the best one, while the expensive and fancy one is the worst). The last thing that influences my ratings is what other magazines or newspapers write.
I am particularly tough with San Francisco restaurants. The hype is high, but the quality is low. The best restaurants are likely to be outside San Francisco. Say what you will, restaurants in the middle-class areas of the Peninsula or the East Bay, are far better (not to mention far cheaper) than restaurants in the city. Plus you get easy parking, no lines, excellent service. Plus the atmosphere is slightly better outside San Francisco (no bums panhandling on the sidewalk, no gangsters selling drugs, no psychos wrecking your car) and the weather is warm and pleasant (unlike the constant fog/wind of San Francisco). And, last but not least, excellent, authentic food (as opposed to "it's ok" food). Most of the restaurants in the city where I've recently eaten simply made me laugh (before the bill came). I have had terrible dinners at the "best restaurants" according to the most popular San Francisco papers.

Before you go, doublecheck that the restaurant still exists.