Epic is a great spot for the view. If you can get in last minute to the House of Prime Rib, it is an old school classic (with a massive waitlist--which is why I've never actually been). San Francisco is full of great food. I'm asking my friends who live out in the Avenues (where you are staying) for some food recommendations. You (Fearless) are between Golden Gate Park and Stern Grove, which is also worth strolling through. You are also near one of the old "suburban" neighborhoods, Saint Francis Wood. You might drive through it just to see a "cleaner" part of the City. Other than Saint Francis Wood, "Billionairs Row" is Broadway in Pacific Heights (looking down on the Marina). That neighboorhood (not just Broadway) is how to live large here.
Staying out in the avenues, you'll avoid some of the grime of the City. Civic Center is ground zero for that, so yeah, if you are trying to avoid it, don't go there.
San Francisco is a "dirty" city--not just the homelessness. It's dusty here. I don't know why. And homelessness has been a problem since at least the 1960s. Lots of complicated reasons for that (including the City's permissive politics). If you take my suggestion and go to the Mission/Mission Dolores, you'll see some homelessness. Particularly on Mission Street. Dolores Park is great, but there will be some dudes hanging out, smoking pot, looking like they haven't showered in ages. No getting away from it there. If you stay out in the Avenues, where you are staying, and around the edge of the City (the Embarcadero, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, etc.) you'll see less of it (but not zero). I've been to Portland fairly recently. The cities are just different. But both have the homelessness issue.
Last thing--I'll put it back in my original post (on the smug theory that anyone cares), the transit is really good in SF--although staying out where you are in the Avenues, you will want to drive most places (and park when you are on the East side of the City, closer to the Bay).
Ok--really last thing. If you are coming back up Highway 1, the way you drove down to Monterey (Zuckerberg's site showed me), my favorite redwoods hike in the Bay Area (outside of Muir Woods) is Purisima Creek, accessed from the Highway 1 side. Even if you just walked for 20 minutes from the trailhead, you would love it. It's just on the southern end of Half Moon Bay. I presume that you aren't coming back up Highway 1--taking 101 instead. But if you are:
Purisima Creek Trail Head.
