San Francisco and what to do in it

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?

NOOOOOO

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9050/picture1djc.png

Strong-armed right onto the cold, wet streets of SF.

tonga room is pretty heinous outside of happy hour tbh.

oh the food's disgusting and everything is overpriced but... it rains indoors! floating stage!

i've never been. i saw an article saying it might close, even after they jsut did a million dollars of renovations last year. i think i need to check it out before it's gone.

The single visit I did with my wife and her colleagues didn't really make me want to return.

crazy talk. it's awesome, tacky, fun as hell, and like stepping into a 50-year timewarp. i hope it stays...

We went to Coi the other night, and had what I think was the best meal of my life. It was very expensive, but if you are in the mood to splurge, it is amazing. The only option is the full, 11-course tasting menu (nothing a la carte). Here's the menu we had:

Honey/Milk sphere

Pink Grapefruit
ginger, tarragon, black pepper

Shiny Beets
citrus scented gel, vadouvan

Parsley root soup with local snails
or
Crab and lardo "melt" with wheatgrass

Abstraction of Garden in Early Winter
root vegetables, cocoa, herbs
or
Roasted Cauliflower
smoked bone marrow, pickled red onion, oregano

Earth and Sea
steamed tofu mousseline, yuba, fresh seaweeds, mushroom dashi

Sauteed Monterey Bay Abalone
escarole, caper berry-sea lettuce vinaigrette
or
Green Canneloni with ricotta and wild mushrooms

Slow Cooked Farm Egg
green farro, erbette chard, brown butter-parmesan sauce
or
Prather Ranch Beef tenderloin

Andante Cheddar, rye crisps, cabbage and mustard

Douglas Fir ice cream, blood orange curd
Walnut crumble

Chocolate-Mesquite Cake
smoked pepitas praline, kabocha squash sherbet

Chocolate chip cookie covered truffle

Biggest surprise was the Douglas fir ice cream dessert. It tasted (and looked) like winter.

Top Yelp! review is very negative. Guess someone didn't make their payoff. ;)

I thought Coi had a more limited bar menu too?

I get there a week from tomorrow and so far am planning on eating at Incanto, some place called Lime (chosen by others, free meal on expense account so whatever), and the Slanted Door. I did the slanted door before but it was good and it's with a bunch of friends I haven't seen in ages. I've still got one night open, and was thinking about the bar menu at Coi but haven't decided yet.

For lunch I'm going to hit In-N-Out burger, and hopefully Indian, pupusas, or somewhere with good ramen or sushi at some point, but who knows. I'm also definitely planning on hitting Toronado just to get a Pliny the Younger IPA.

Any other suggestions for a random, last minute dinner somewhere, or good lunch / breakfast spots?

There were people sitting at the bar, so maybe you are right. The menu we got was tasting menu-only.

If you go to Toronado, head next door to Rosamunde's for sausages. Or across the street to Memphis Minnie's for some pretty good BBQ.

yeah I stayed away from Memphis Minnie's for years because of that horrible sign but its allright actually. Rosamunde is teh awesome

Rosamunde's and Toronado are a match made in heaven. Memphis Minnie's is quite good. I miss their awesome brunches.

I'm definitely going to do sausage and beer combo now.

hey, i live in SF now (mere blocks from toronado.) alex in SF: get in touch! also you, gygax!...and whomever else is around.

so yes hi shakey mo we live near each other

Geeta's in SF! Yay!

Btw Shasta we went to Shimo per your recommendation. Quite good. Also hit the Limon Rotisserie out on South Van Ness which was great. I have no idea who is eating lunch out there (as far as I could tell it was us plus a couple of hospital employees) but they are damn lucky. Whole chicken plus two sides for $16.