I've been telling my uncle to get a fig tree for the past couple of years and he finally agreed! We are going to get one Saturday. 

I don't see a fig on that list that is a "must get" for your zone.  And seriously, if you listen to anything from anyone, avoid Brown Turkey like the plague, as if your life depended on it.  Get a Negronne or Violette de Bordeaux or Hardy chicago if you can find one.

I think Flanders would be ok. However, with limited space why not get something really special.

For a person starting out on their very first fig tree, VdB/ Negronne would be the best choice. They grow like a weed, provide very tasteful fig, and can be kept small. If I have to keep only one tree, I'll go for my VdB.

Pete

Those are just the varieties that I know I can pick up in a local store to plant this Saturday. Maybe I'll call around for VdB, I know DWN stocks them, just don't see them in the nurseries often. I have one myself actually, but too small to airlayer off of it right now. 

I would also say try to find a VDB. As an alternative if you find a Panache, that would be a good choice also as many here have said it tastes very good and of course you have the interest of a striped fig.  

Actually there arw dwarf trees. I got this one from a catalog about 5 years ago and I've only done very moderate pruning. As you can see, it makes a lot of figs for such a small tree.

Pick a Black Mission for San Diego area,and keep it small by pruning and thinning.
That is if you can't Find Violette de Bordeaux,which in deed will grow very slow and will be small tree when old.

I got it from Gurneys, but they are currently out of stock. They just call it a dwarf. The fig is light green with a pink interior and a distinct spicy flavor.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Jack-Semi-Dwarf-Gallon/dp/B0019VS146

I popped "dwarf fig" in google and found an amazon seller with a "black jack semi-dwarf fig" so maybe that's an option. I could send you a cutting or two in the fall. another forum member got some to root, but I'm not sure if the resulting plant would also be a dwarf since this might have been grafted.

I don't beleive there actually is a dwarf fig, I've also been looking for years. Sellers who advertise a dwarf are being a bit deceptive. You can keep a fig small through culture, small pots etc, but given free reign in the soil or large pot, they will grow large, some larger than others for sure, but not what you would consider a dwarf. Some will grow faster than others too, but no true dwarfs.   

I'm not educated enough to argue it one way or another. I can tell you it has grown at a much slower rate than any of the other figs I have, but as you say there could be other reasons for that. This tree is at least five years old and has only had the branches pruned one time.