San Francisco and what to do in it

They have a smattering of edible (by downtown standards) sushi, a good deal of Chinese stuff including char siu, usually some kind of steamed fish, potstickers, but they also have simple western things like potroast, roast turkey, brussels sprouts, asparagus, green beans, and also a nice salad bar.

omar, Magnolia is actually pretty decent these days. Find out what day they have their fried chicken special.

Oops, I guess it's only on Thursdays.

son of a

if you like decent fried chicken... farmer brown's has a sunday gospel brunch with AYCE fried chicken plus breakfast stuff (eggs, ham, bacon, grits, greens, beans, black eye peas) for $15. bottomless mimosas for $15 as well... *burp*

i'm going there for the beers on cask but will have some food as well. the menu looks interesting, at least.

I really liked Farmer Brown's.

Is it good? My dog got tied out in front there enough.

Yeah. Not so special that I will eschew Little Chihuahua as my day-to-day local Mexican eatery but I'll definitely go back.

El Castillito is my go-to place. A little further, but fuck a $8 burrito. $4.50 is what I'm talking about.

going from next Tuesday to the Tuesday after

Where's the best sushi in town under, like, $200 (booze excluded)? Sebo?

Little Chihuahua is a block away from me, has excellently paired wine and I can't eat burritos anymore anyway. Castillito's good, though.

My other local, totally non-authentic (New) Mexican place is Green Chile. Their green chile stew and their posole are excellent for this time of the year.

Sebo uses really good fish, but their skills leave a lot to be desired. I've known those guys for a while too, nothing personal, just not a fan.

In my opinion in terms of strict sushi: Ino (j-town) or KyoYa (downtown) are the best japanese-style sushi bars... Nigiri only, maybe 1-3 cooked dishes per meal.

My personal preference is Koo, but it's hard for me to be objective about that for various reasons. Are you going solo?

Yeah, I think so. Friend who's coming out hates seafood, so I've got to go it alone for that meal.

email me at steveshasta at the google mail dotcom if you get a chance.

"My other local, totally non-authentic (New) Mexican place is Green Chile. Their green chile stew and their posole are excellent for this time of the year."

What's the place on 18th & Valencia? It was surprisingly decent for gentrified mexican food.

Regalito?

That's it.

I've had their chicken but that's it.

I still want to go to DF.

in terms of indian, i really like Udupi Palace at like...21st and Valencia, i think? definitely better than most of the other indian places i've been in san francisco.

also, i live right near the Broken Record. anyone ever tried the foodstuffs?

the TL has gotten a lot smaller according to everyone i've talk to.... i am still moving there soon.

"in terms of indian, i really like Udupi Palace at like...21st and Valencia"

That's the place that replaced the Chinese place, right? I've wanted to go there. That's also South Indian, correct?

I started casually reading this thread a bit ago knowing that I would going to San Francisco in March. It's getting close enough now that I'll ask another "what to do in it" visitor question. I spent five days there four years ago for the same conference so I sort of know my way around and saw everything I really wanted to, so I'm just going to roam around and eat and drink for a couple of days this time.

Anyway, any decent / interesting places to eat with friends or go out drinking with groups of people? Low key bars with lots of beers available would be perfect. Cheap lunch places? Places to avoid? I'm staying near the Chinatown gate on Bush.

what was the crazy sandwich place by SFMOMA people were talking about here at some point in the past six months?

Sentinel?

right, thanks!

I can imagine this thread is kind of nuts to skim at this point. I think I'll answer one thing for each of your questions:

Anyway, any decent / interesting places to eat with friends or go out drinking with groups of people?

Suppenkuche (esp. if you are more than six, cuz then you can make a reservation)

Low key bars with lots of beers available would be perfect.

Toronado

Cheap lunch places?

Saigon Sandwiches @ Larkin/Ellis

Places to avoid?

Fisherman's Wharf

I actually ate at Saigon Sandwiches last time I was there. I also ate at RNM, Chez Panisse, Slanted Door, L'Osteria Del Forno in North Beach, Shalimar while very very drunk, and La Taqueria in the Mission, and Yank Sing. So stuff like any of these that might have showed up in the last couple of years would be good.

Also, I studiously avoided Fisherman's Wharf last time around but I'm actually thinking about going this trip, just to hit In 'N Out burger cause I've never been to one before. Worth it or not?

definitely worth it

I def. wish I'd gotten In N Out that day in SF instead of having a big breakfast at Mel's, esp. since I lost a $100 bill there.

holy shit dudes, @nnie and i land in oakland in exactly one week!

"Worth it or not?"

Yes, but just eat there and leave.

we came back from sf last night.

we went to magnolia brew pub (really excellent, i thought) after walking past toronado and deciding that it looked too packed to bother with at that time. we ate at farmer brown for brunch (great). we also went to monk's kettle (very good beer, ok food), chez panisse (fantastic), and a couple other spots i can't remember at the moment.

It was just hailing a second ago. My pants are wet.

it rained all the way from sf to l.a. (101 route, the 5 was shut down south of bakersfield).

I've really should go to Magnolia Brew Pub.

and deciding that it looked too packed to bother with at that time

Barley wine festival. It was a zoo.

yeah we had some excellent barley wine at magnolia ^_^

did anyone go to the book fair?

I barely left the house this weekend.

I didn't even know there was one, tbh. I mostly holed up near home 'cause of the rain.

xpost

it was pretty cool - if you're interested in books, i guess! a $65,000 copy of ulysses was sold there.

i've never seen so many pretentious fucks all in one room, though - bookdealer stereotypes are completely true.

I've got a copy of Ulysses I paid $5 for so that guy seriously overspent.

I'm interested in books, but I'm not interested in hanging around tons of booksellers. I'd rather troll Borderlands used PB section.

is magnolia really that good? I live 2 doors away

Wait, was the book fair at Fort Mason?

Will be up in SF again for the last weekend in March, FWIW

no, it was at the concourse(?) on 8th st. the fort mason thing is in may, and i think it's more of a bookbinder fair (letterpress and fine-printing).

Oh, okay. They have all sorts of old books at the Ft. Mason one. I saw a 1st edition of Huck Finn there once.

Ned, I should be back from my Lisbon/Paris jaunt last weekend of March - we should talk.

yeah, i'm not really that interested in older books - i collect modern firsts, art books and contemporary fine-printing/small press. but it's cool to see a copy of bleak house (or was it hard times?) inscribed to hans christian andersen from dickens (i think that one was a cool $115,00).

Tonga Room to close?