Historically, restaurants located along the SF waterfront have never been about the food as much as the stunning views. But with the opening of the marketplace at the ferry plaza and a handful of other new waterfront offerings, the food has become as much the star as the setting...at the top of the food chain are chef Robert Lam's Butterfly Restaurant, which moved to Pier 33 from the mission district not long ago, and serves up pan-Asian dishes such as Crispy Fried Whole Fish with Chinese Sausage and Chow Fun Noodles, Hoisin Glazed BBQ Ribs and Tea Smoked Quails with Roasted Baby Beets and Garlic Seared Long Beans. The sleek, cool interiors provide the perfect backdrop for nightly entertainment, which ranges from local DJs to live jazz.

USA TODAY.com