Guide dog friendly restaurants in SF?

Question

Hello, I have a challenge to issue for all diehard Chowhounds! I'm currently training a guide dog (small well behaved yellow lab) and need to take her along with a friend of mine, out for dinner. She does better in more roomy restaurants (I know, I know, we are talking about the city). So restaurants with booths would be ideal. Does anyone out there have any ideas???

Answer

Since you're not getting too much input here, might I suggest that you call either the Independent Living Resource Center (ILRC) or Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco? I know that ILRC is very responsive and has several employees who are blind or visually impaired. They will definitely be able to offer a few suggestions, if only from personal experience. 
 
http://www.ilrcsf.org/
 
I suggest Lighthouse because they are an obvious choice, but from my limited interaction with them I've found it takes awhile for them to respond to calls.
 
The Ferry Building seems like a good start. If your doggy starts acting up it will be easy to take her outside to get away from the crowds. You could also walk eastward along the water to Red's Java House, which is all outdoor dining and very casual. Definitely not a dinner spot, however.
 
I was just at Jeanty @ Jack's last weekend and ate on the 3rd (atrium) floor instead of the noisy mezzanine this time. I remember noting that it's very quiet and very spacious, perfect for guide dogs and wheelchair users. It's a little on the fancy side, but might be right up your alley. It's a short elevator ride up, and very roomy. The first floor mezzanine are quite noisy, however. 
 
When your dog is a little better trained, I'd encourage taking her EVERYWHERE. I think every restaurant, no matter how casual or grand, would benefit from some experience serving people who use guide dogs. Kudos to you for your work.

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