Restaurants

Upscale potato soup

While visiting Australia a few years ago, my battle cry  became “Don’t ruin my hamburger with that stupid beet.” I feel strongly that you shouldn’t mess with such a perfect food by piling weird things onto it. A slice of cheese, a tomato, lettuce, bacon, onion, a pickle and you’ve maxed out the list of acceptable toppings.

But last night, I added something weird to that list. A fried egg.

This story actually starts nearly a year ago when we tried to get into the new Fireside Brewhouse on County Line Road and couldn’t even get a parking space in the lot. We’ve driven by several times since and waived off just by eyeballing the sheer number of cars in front of it. Then last night, with  rain pouring down, we saw a spot open right next to the door.

That was as good as an engraved invitation to me.

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Best Burgers at Royal Exchange in San Francisco

Remember the movie Swingers, with a young and lanky Vince Vaughn? Remember how he used the phrase “you’re so money!”, whenever he complimented his friend Jon Favreau or just tried to boost his ego? In the 1990’s this phrase became the hippest way to tell your friend that they were cool or make them feel important.

Now think about the locations where you might find these guys hanging out. In downtown San Francisco, you would find them very likely at the Royal Exchange sitting in a booth after work smoking.

The Royal Exchange in the 1990s was  one of my favorite place for after work drinks. Lots of cute guys from the investment firms would start showing up at 2:00 after the stock market closed.  And though the prices are higher today, their happy hour is still a fun spot that I recommend to my single friends and to visitors staying at Le Méridien Hotel.

Though I am not in the area as often as I used to be, I still like to stop here for lunch whenever I can. Read More »

Are you a big sports fan? Can’t wait until football season starts? If you live in San Francisco then you can’t miss the Kezar Pub & Restaurant across from Kezar Stadium near Golden Gate Park.

Kezar Stadium is a legend among locals. Originally built in the 1920’s (before being replaced with a smaller version in 1989), the stadium back then still holds the attendance record for a high school football game in Northern California, with over 50,000 showing up for a game between big rivals Lowell High School and San Francisco Polytechnic.

Did you know that both the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers began their professional NFL existence in the original Kezar Stadium? Given this legendary status, it is no wonder that the Kezar Pub and Restaurant opened its doors across the street. Read More »

Gold Dust Lounge @ Union Square

Do you love old westerns? Are you comfortable in somewhat seedy surroundings? If you answered “yes” to both, then you are in luck because situated on noisy Powell Street in Union Square, is the Gold Dust Lounge.

This old dive has been plying its customers with White Russians since the era of San Francisco ’s Barbary Coast days. If Laffing Sal or “Laughing Sal” was real, she would have been right at home in this place. Someone who probably did stop in was Sally Stanford, the famous local madam.

Built in the 1930’s, today the Gold Dust Lounge still has live music but now $3 champagne. You’ll love their happy hour or maybe just stop in for a drink some night after seeing a show at the American Conservatory Theater.

They take cash only, but considering how cheap the drinks are, I think this is a great place to experience true San Francisco color. Though I am partial to the Buena Vista for mine, I hear that their Irish Coffee is pretty good. If you are coming from out of town, all the Union Square hotels are close by and the Villa Florence is next door.

Bring the hand sanitizer and a full stomach, but if you have a taste for a creepy good time with your strong cocktail, the Gold Dust Lounge is the place for you.  Maybe the money you save on drinks will help pay for your hotel.

247 Powell Street
(between Geary and O’farrell Sts)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 397-1695

Seafood Combo Lunch @ Yet Wah

Looking for some seventies kitsch with your meal? Do you know that old saying “never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry”? If you like tasty Chinese food with a view, Yet Wah is just the place for you!

High on a hill, just below Twin Peaks in the Diamond Heights Shopping Center of San Francisco is where you will find this delicious dining artifact. This particular Yet Wah Chinese Restaurant is for those willing to walk up two flights of cinder block stairs, to enter a world that time hasn’t touched for decades, just look at the old linoleum. Read More »

Sometimes you really can’t make history repeat itself.

Ribeye at Daddy Jack's

When I worked in a corporate office on Indianapolis’ north side last decade, I was a regular patron at Daddy Jack’s Restaurant & Bar. It was a two-minute drive, offered great bar food, and the hostess was an older relative of the owner who took  pride in making sure Jim’s little restaurant treated its customers like kings. Jim himself was always the best source in town for a reporter to call when you needed to know something about the restaurant business.

Best of all, they had every television set tuned to ESPN, so if Indiana University drew an afternoon game in the first round of the NCAA tourney, I’d take a 2-hour break and watch it with a sandwich and fries.

Casual restaurants are always pricier than a drive-thru, of course, so I didn’t eat there as often as I wanted to. Which is a shame because I threw away some great opportunities to make more memories.

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Double Play Scores in SF!

Double Play Bar & Grill is one of the coolest old school bars and restaurants in San Francisco.  From 1931 through 1957 people would stop by to grab food on their way to or from seeing a baseball game at the Seals Stadium.

The San Francisco Seals were a great Minor League Baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League.  The stadium was across the street where you now see the huge Safeway shopping center.

After more than 100 years this sports bar is still serving great burgers, homemade spaghetti on Tuesdays and fresh fish on the border between the Mission District and Potrero Hill in San Francisco.

This landmark is on the busy corner of 16th Street and Bryant Street, but you’ll find their free parking lot entrance on 16th Street.  Besides the food, the huge bar and event space, you will love the wall-to-wall baseball memorabilia.  Read More »

Bar Seating @ La Terrasse

A relaxing restaurant for a casual weekend or early dinner is La Terrasse Restaurant in San Francisco. They are located opposite the main post in the Presidio, which allows you a nice view of the bay.  Note: if you go on a sunny afternoon, call ahead because it will be crowded.  When we went we sat near dressed up seniors mixed together with dressed down tourists, so you can probably get away with wearing what you feel most comfortable in.  Worst case, they have seating at the bar. Read More »

A relaxing night out is hard to come by these days. With two crazy boys, summer vacation and living in a new location, a night out needs to be savored and thoroughly enjoyed. When Whit and I had the chance to hit the town we jumped at it.

We wanted to hit the wine bar first, because really, why not? Liquor before beer and you’re in the clear, right?

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Last week Whit and I were lucky enough to have one of the neighborhood moms volunteered to watch my kids for a couple of hours. We immediately took her up on the offer and headed to downtown Issaquah.

Our downtown area is awesome. It’s close enough to walk to, and more importantly, it’s close enough to walk home from. It’s always different after a couple of drinks, isn’t it?

We decided to hit up Room 38 and since it was Happy Hour, it was the place to go.

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