Anniversary season is apparently upon us, and the perennial question echoes across group chats and forums citywide: where should we go? It's a question that reveals something genuinely great about this town. Despite everything, SF's restaurant ecosystem remains world-class, fiercely independent, and — here's the kicker — largely built by small business owners who survive not because of city government, but in spite of it.

Consider the range. Foreign Cinema in the Mission continues to be a go-to celebration spot, delivering ambiance that justifies the price tag. State Bird Provisions still rides high on its inventive small plates concept. Lolo's keeps it fun and casual. Original Joe's remains an institution. And L'Ardoise Bistro will apparently try to end you with butter, which honestly sounds like a great way to go.

As one local put it while searching for anniversary recommendations, one restaurant — La Mer — was "overpriced, mid" and left them feeling unwelcome. That's a reminder that not every establishment earns the patronage this city's diners are eager to give. In a market this competitive, restaurants that phone it in or make anyone feel less than welcome won't last long. The free market is undefeated.

Here's what's worth noting: SF's best restaurants aren't propped up by subsidies or city programs. They survive on quality, reputation, and the willingness of San Franciscans to spend real money on a great meal. The permitting process to open a restaurant here is still a Kafkaesque nightmare, and the city's regulatory burden would make a libertarian weep. The restaurants that thrive do so because they're genuinely excellent — natural selection at its finest.

So wherever you're celebrating this season, raise a glass to the small business owners who make this city worth staying in. They're doing more for San Francisco's quality of life than most of City Hall combined.