Restaurants

San Francisco Landmark Tadich Grill

Another “must see and eat at” for any San Francisco visitors or new residents, is Tadich Grill in the Financial District.  I read somewhere that Tadich was referred to once as, “It’s kind of like the Peter Luger’s of Seafood”. Having eaten at both The Palm Restaurant on Second Avenue in New York and Peter Luger in Brooklyn, I have to agree.

When you dine at Tadich Grill be prepared to be served large portions by sometimes grumpy but always no-nonsense waiters. This is not your trendy super-friendly chain restaurant, this is a piece of San Francisco history that has survived a hundred trends. If you close your eyes, the atmosphere is a little Nick and Nora in The Thin Man, especially if you hear a cable car clang its bell on the up/down California Street outside the restaurant.

Now for lunch but especially for dinner, you have got to try the Cioppino, white bib around your neck and all. Read More »

Crusty Sourdough & Fresh Oysters!

San Francisco has few restaurants left that illustrate the city’s rich history like this restaurant in the financial district. Sam’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant now permanently anchored at the edge of Bush Street and Belden Place, began in 1867 as a simple seafood stall run by an Irishman, named Michael Molan Moraghan.

The fresh fish and shellfish supplied by Mr. Moraghan went to all the best restaurants and hotels in San Francisco. He became very successful and even flourished after the famous 1906 earthquake and fire.

In 1922 his company was called the Burlingame Oyster Co. which he sold to Sam Zenovitch. By 1931, after several tries, the name “Sam’s Seafood Grotto” stuck.

The business moved to a few locations but always stayed near what is now the Bank of America building on California Street, and home to the Carnelian Room. After Sam Zenovich passed away in 1936, and the restaurant was bought by Frank Seput, who gave the name, “Sam’s Grill and Seafood Restaurant.” The restaurant has been at its current location since 1946. Read More »

Celia's Mexican Restaurant in SF is #1

Come for the delicious south of the border food, stay for another margarita! Celia’s Mexican Restaurant is a favorite neighborhood destination.

This neighborhood restaurant is locally owned and located in what is affectionately called the “Outer” Richmond District of San Francisco. That means you will likely only head to Celia’s if you live in the area, surf everyday, have family in the area or are lost. We fall into the “have family in the area” category and are quite familiar with this wonderfully foggy part of town.

If you like to bring the kids and dog to Ocean Beach then Celia’s could already be on your radar. We like driving along the Great Highway which is how we found Celia’s the first time, it is only a few blocks from the beach near the end of the line for the N-Judah trolley.

This time we stopped in for lunch and some neighborhood visiting. We were not disappointed by either. Did you know that Celia’s owner makes the house margarita mix from a secret recipe? If you like killer margaritas that pack a wallop then you should stop by early. Local regulars swear by its taste and grumble when it runs out early in the evening.

For lunch they started me out with complimentary chips and salsa and house made cole slaw. Yum! Then I had the chicken taco and chili rellano combination platter. Listening to the N-Judah trolley rumble by every few minutes, hanging out in this family run restaurant makes for a great meal.

Celia's Combination Platter w/Margarita! Ole!

If you like an old school sixties style Mexican decor and listening to ranchero music playing in the background, this is your place. For those who like to go head down south to Baja, Celia’s Mexican Restaurant will give you a kind of an Ensenada vibe without having to cross the border.   Now that is my kind of summer staycation!

4019 Judah Street
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 564-0662

Basque Cultural Center

We have friends whose family are Basque.  These are wonderful friends but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that they are even dearer since introducing us to the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco.  Not only is this a cool place with its purpose as a meeting place for the Basque community – I love its unique handball court and killer old school bar – but it also has a great restaurant!   This restaurant seriously has some of the best food, and at the most reasonable prices and don’t get me started about the bread. Read More »

Shibuya Sliders @ Umami

Some restaurants in San Francisco are closing their doors and some are getting clever and inventive in order to bring customers inside. In the Marina and Cow Hollow area of San Francisco, I am finding even trendy restaurants with expensive chef’s menus need to drum up business to stay alive.

One such trick that worked on me recently was half price bottles of wine at the upscale Umami in the location that previous housed Yoshida-ya, an old school yakitori restaurant. Today Umami continues with the dark wood theme inside and lots of booths but has changed its offering to reflect the current trends of the city.

Given my brother was with us, we started with appetizers that included meat – Shibuya Sliders to be exact. They were dee.lish.ous. Not exactly what I expected but savory and yummy.

We took advantage of the wine offer but we also enjoyed some of the nigiri sushi that the chef was recommending for the evening. Our waiter stopped by and pointed out everything that we had and I must admit that was a great way to taste the freshness of their daily fish and get familiar with the chef’s style.

Chef's Nigiri Specials

We moved on to some of their standard menu options like Amaebi (sweet prawns), California Roll and their Spider Roll. Though they made them with a slight variation to what we had in the past, still we had no complaints. It was a surprise but we enjoyed everything, even the service. Maybe the price could be a little less, even with the wine incentive we walked out paying more than we wanted to.

We might return. Parking is hard for this part of town unless you have incredible street parking karma, can walk/take bus or get a choice spot to make up for the $10 two hour fee, charged in the garage in the next block.

Spider and California Rolls

2909 Webster St
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 346-3431
www.umamisf.com