Lisa is serving and her mother is in the kitchen at this homey restaurant where loyal locals are on a first-name basis. For more than two decades, home-cooked Thai food and Asian-influenced dishes have earned accolades from Kitti’s Place admirers. Tucked away in a strip mall at the northern end of town, friendly customer service means a warm greeting from Lisa’s father, Kitti, and a complimentary bowl of soup while you wait.

If you live in Sausalito, you already know about family-run Avatar’s, which has been serving California-ified Indian food since 1989. The menu blends Mexican, Indian, and other global influences meaning you can order Punjabi enchiladas stuffed with jerk chicken along with a side of samosas. Just save room for Avatar’s Dream, a specialty dessert of almond gelato cake with chocolate, pistachios, mango, and rose petal sauce.

Fish. is a little off the beaten ferry path, but getting there is worth the effort. It's all about sustainable seafood, including a raw seafood market for locals. Check the chalkboard for the daily catch, order at the counter, and sit at an outdoor picnic table beside the harbor to enjoy a generous portion of whatever’s fresh. In season, the Dungeness crab roll should catch your attention.

A local stalwart since 1966, Fred's Coffee Shop will make you feel like a Sausalito insider. The millionaire’s bacon keeps everybody coming back, and you can get yours with eggs Benedict, scrambled eggs and toast, lemon ricotta pancakes, or deep-fried French toast, and bottomless mimosas.

California Caviar Company has long been a favorite of some of the Bay Area’s top chefs but if you want to go directly to the source, you can belly up to the company’s Bump Bar where the menu is blanketed in decadent fish roe. Order plates like beef tartare or hamachi crudo or go for caviar by the gram perhaps with a bottle of something bubbly. Hours are somewhat limited so call ahead or email for a reservation.

Make your choice from a dozen thin-crust sourdough pizza toppings including pepperoni, prosciutto, pork sausage, pear, and more to enjoy at an outdoor table where a small Richardson Bay beach and a bocce court add atmosphere. Order the signature sangria to accompany starters such as meatballs and chicken wings while a winning pizza is fired up. Note the date night magnet: a fire pit.

Charms of Sausalito aside, this top-rated sushi restaurant is reason enough for a trip. Much of the fish is imported from Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji market before being served as simple sashimi or bundled into maki rolls. Alternatively, go with locally sourced favorites, such as a silky, buttery miso-glazed black cod with pea shoots, one of the reasons owner Yoshi Tome has received international acclaim for 30 years.

Visible on the ferry approach to Sausalito, this old school spot doesn’t need to advertise its fabulous views, which is good, since this grande dame restaurant is a bit stuck in the 20th century. However, a simple Caesar salad and clam chowder by sunset is a show, as San Francisco skyscrapers light up in the sun’s reflection.

Copita co-owner Joanne Weir wrote the book (literally) on tequila, so it’s easy to understand why this petite restaurant stocks such a vast array of agave spirits. Go for chips and salsa to start, fried pork belly tacos served on house-made corn tortillas, and wood-roasted chicken served at an outdoor table in the sun. A house margarita is a must.

Casual dining options are a little harder to come by on Sausalito's main drag, which is probably why you’ll find this small burger joint often packed to the gills. Housed in a historic brick building, this restaurant specializes, as you may have guessed, in hefty burgers, which can be topped with bacon, guacamole, or pinot noir marinated mushrooms.

Hitting this local staple is encouraged, be it for the excellent pastry bar, open most mornings and doling out apple and pecan pies, or the sit-down restaurant, serving pizza and focaccia at night. It’s right on the main drag, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to people-watch and soak up some bay views.

The Trident's 19th-century pedigree as a former yacht club explains its enviable waterfront position enhanced by great city views. More famous for its ’60s and ’70s musical legacy than for its food, the Trident was a spirited hangout for rock stars like Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Jerry Garcia, and The Rolling Stones. Clam chowder, fish tacos, and hearty cioppino reign.