SATURDAY PM Media hangouts in the city --there were many favorites; working at K101 after a day baseball game, I'd bring in some fresh pies from North Beach Pizza. I knew the late, great Chris Edwards (sales extraordinaire and Sunday Night Oldies DJ loved the pizza and went crazy galore for a cheeseburger across the street at Clown Alley. I agree. I know everyone had all access to a grill but only Clown Alley comrades knew the only way to make a perfect hamburger.*If there was (and still is) the BEST Chinese food joint in town (with bar service no less) it was Hunan on
*Best Italian food in the city: Vanessi's --an institution in North Beach and great, cheap, Italian food. Enough said. 
Ate at Hunan a few times back in the early '90s. Good food, and they knew how to bring the (spicy) heat!
ReplyDeleteI tried Hunan a couple times in the late '70s, early '80s when it was all the rage. But I always went back to Brandy Ho's on Columbus which has similar food but much better quality. This will probably be the best tip you read here all week -- try their smoked ham and garlic. And be warned that their medium is your very, very hot.
DeleteThanks for the tip, 10:46.
Delete10:46 - You speak the truth. All the smoked dishes at Brandy Ho's are to die for, especially the ham & garlic!
DeleteBrandy Ho is way better. ..
Delete"Brandy Ho is way better. .. "
Delete..better than Heather Ho?
Enrico's for drinks and dinner at Vanessa's was a media night for me in the '70s.
ReplyDeleteAll the pictures made me hungry. Went to my local Taco Bell, ran by people from India, for some authentic Mexican food!
ReplyDeleteStruck up a conversation, while waiting with some Chinese people eating at a table. "Have you tried the Chinese place down the street?" "Food no good, ran by Mexicans."
The New World Order is alive and well here in the East Bay!
a KNBR breakfast...murph and mac' aroni with p-conn pie. and gary radishes for dessert!
ReplyDeleteClown Alley now refers to the Board of Supervisors Chamber at City Hall... After NBC Red Nose Day I'm buying 11 red noses at 50% off and giving one to each ass clown supervisor!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite long gone place in SF was The Scandinavian on upper Market. Ernst Meyer who had been a cook on the merchant marine ships ran the joint and owned the building. I ate dinner in there each weeknight until I met my ex who could not cook at all. I formerly joked to pals I needed no wife with them open. Ernst died years ago but the place was legendary. I also recall Paoli's which I probably misspelled after all of these years. I recall it was located where the now abandoned B of A SF Main Branch sits. For the price of a drink you could dine like a king which is something very old SF and something we will never see again not to mention the smoklin redhead who told me about it!
I have a really mean looking cat that is afraid of the dark, hasn't been out at night for at least 5 years. Turned on the 10pm news, channel 2, and as soon as Reba started talking he went over and stood by the front door. He's been gone over an hour now, sure hopes he comes home!
ReplyDeleteI used to eat at the original Hunan on Kearney.
ReplyDeleteAnd I wouldn't call Vanessi's cheap. I always thought of it as the upscale Joe's. My grandfather ate there every Thursday.
I loved the old Hippo's on Van Ness. Thy had great hamburgers. I had my first real burger then at my sixth birthday party. Good times!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the Hippo. My parents knew the owner so we went there all the time. If you're feeling nostalgic there's a Hippo Cookbook you can find on Amazon.
DeleteThe 1960's. When family or friends came to visit, we would take them to Fisherman's Wharf to sightsee and eat. Always parked in the "main" lot right in the middle of the Wharf. Great food, not that many people, easy to park, a pleasure to visit!
ReplyDeletePresent day....No place to park, too many people, not a pleasure to visit! Nearest vacant parking places, if your lucky, Marina Green area!!
As Yogi Berra said "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded"
DeleteIt's not necessarily under "Media Hangout"...but when I lived/worked in SF, my favorite restaurant in the entire city was the "old" Sam Wo's on Washington Street in Chinatwon. VERY CHEAP eats...in an old, worn-looking narrow joint where you had to enter through the kitchen. I recall taking dates out to really expensive dinners (Stars, Aqua, Greens @ Ft. Mason), and--if I wasn't spending the night at her place/she spending the night at my place--after dropping my date off, I head over to Sam Wo's at midnight or 1am and order a $4 plate of Chow Fun...or a big bowl of Congee ("Jook").
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started going there, the staff was pretty gruff--not really saying anything to me other than asking me in a gruff way "What you want?" After awhile, they came to know me as a "regular"...to the point where, at 1am if I was there alone, a couple of the guys would say "What--you no get p*ssy tonight?" and start laughing with me. DAMN...I loved that place.
Sadly, I moved away in the late-90's...and learned that it had closed. I'm now hearing that a new Sam Wo's has opened.
I'm hoping it's not a slick/shiny/yuppie place.