"At Anchor Oyster Bar, there’s an aquarium’s worth of seafood to choose from. The old-school Castro spot is home to Olympic swimming pool-sized bowls of cioppino, creamy clam chowder, and a daily selection of oysters. And admiring the nautical-themed decor, like light-up anchors and life preservers hanging on the walls, is all part of the experience. Just one visit is all it’ll take before a trip to this spot becomes a weekly occurrence. The ideal way to play hooky for an afternoon is to set a “busy” block on your calendar and slide up to the bar for some oysters, golden-brown crab cakes, and wine. " - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez