Walked by this place on Saturday and they are closed. The space is empty. I made a few small purchases here over the years and received a large box as a gift for my birthday one year (thank you, Denny!) and had been meaning to go back. The moral is - don't wait!

Looks like they lasted about nine years.

I figured I would just find another store, but from googling the name, this seems to have been a one-off import store. I can't find Schoggi chocolates online. Their webpage has either been hacked or they posted a photo of a dog with no other information.

The closing of this store is old news. I am posting this to ask if anyone knows of any other Schoggi stores in the USA.

Get to Swan Oyster a few minutes before they open (even if it means eating at an odd time) or don't go. The line is long and moves very very slowly.

I second the Cordon Blue suggestion. It is on California near Polk. The rice with meat sauce is delicious and filling. Get there a bit before the dinner hour as it is small and fills up quickly. You can sit at the counter and will feel just fine eating alone.

Bob's Donuts on Polk Street is another good suggestion, but splitting an apple fritter over two days is not a good idea. The whole point of going there is eating whatever is fresh while it is still hot.

Max's Opera Plaza on Van Ness (near City Hall) has a counter where you can eat alone comfortably and the portions are huge. A bowl of matzo ball soup is a meal in itself and comes with a roll.

Please write back after your trip to let us know where you went and what you thought of it!

As Smat said, definitely ask the restaurant ahead of time, then remind your server when he/she first comes to your table and ask if there is anything you should not order due to time constraints. Your party should all agree that there will be no drinks, appetizers, or dessert.

Look at their menu on-line and send everyone in your party a link to it so they can decide what they want before they arrive. Call that day to find out what the specials are and text your dining companions. This way everyone can order right away. It only takes one Hamlet to hold up the whole party.

Bring cash, including small bills, so you can pay the tab and leave without waiting for change or for your credit card to be run. Settle any splitting of the bill with the other diners later. Keep your coats with you so you don't have to wait for them to be returned.

And above all else, relax and enjoy it.

I have eaten there for 25 years and the food seems the same to me as always. I took family who were visiting from out of town and we all loved it. Of course, to them, some of the filo items and such were a little exotic.

I have always enjoyed the food and service there and have served their party platters at home many times.

"Below average for the style" - if there are better Mediterranean restaurants in San Francisco, I would love to know about them. I like Kokari, but I don't find it to be a good value.

I am surprised no one has mentioned Yank Sing in the Rincon Building. They have a separate take out area, it is very good food, and it fits your budget. This would be for lunch only. There is cheaper dim sum to be had in Chinatown and elsewhere, but this is the most accessible, in my opinion.

You didn't mention breakfast, but if you can get to North Beach by 8am, try Mama's on Washington Square Park (at the corner of Stockton and Filbert) for on Tuesday morning. It may be the easiest place to experience Dungeness crab. Just try to get there when they open. It is a small place and there can be a very long line.

On the opposite corner is Liguria Bakery, which makes one thing in the brick oven they have been using for generations: foccacia. There are several varieties, but in my opinion plain is the best. If you ask for it "cut up" they slice it into strips for you. But I prefer to just have it cut in half. Heavenly, and definitely within your budget! Just get there by 11:00 a.m, because when they run out, that is it for the day.

On that same block - Victoria Pastry. Definitely worth a visit, although I get the impression that you might not have a sweet tooth.

On the other side of the park is Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store. No cigars, but excellent sandwiches (meatball, eggplant, etc) come out of their tiny Baker's Pride oven (kind of like a toaster oven). A walk from here up to Coit Tower is great. The murals inside the tower are worth a look, as is the view from the top. A walk down the Filbert or Greenwich steps at the back of the tower is an "only in San Francisco" experience, with great views and cool little houses on the hillside on the way down. And chances are you will see the wild parrots.

A big yes to the Ferry Building. A big no to Slanted Door. And be aware that Frances is expensive, ear splitting loud, and packed. The bar area is tiny. I would recommend skipping it.

A better option in the Castro is the Anchor Oyster Bar. It is small, but they have a counter and as a single diner you are very likely to be able to jump the line and sit right down. Another place to get very easy to eat Dungeness crab - their crab burger is all crabmeat, no filler. I order it without the lettuce and tomato, so it really is all crab.

You will love the Land's End walk. Be sure to visit the ruins of the Sutro Baths, next to the Cliff House. They are interesting on their own, but right now they have the bonus of a river otter who has taken up residence there! I saw him these weekend and it was so cool.

Just be aware that going out there by bus may take 40 minutes or more from downtown, and without a car, you will have few if any dining options.

Easiest way to start the Land's End walk is to take the bus to the Legion of Honor and go behind the museum to the end of the parking lot, where the trail begins. It's amazing that what feels like such a wild place (though not nearly as wild as it was when I moved here [clears throat]) is right here in a big city.

Please report back here after your visit about what you liked (and whether you saw the otter!).