Greetings readers,
Welcome to the blog by one tall redhead called Catastrophe. Here's hoping what I find interesting, you find interesting... or at the very least, amusing.
I know it will take a while for you to get to know me and appreciate my razor sharp wit, hilarious humor and fondness for alliteration.
This started as an idea for a travel site. A place for me to share my recommendations with all of you and for you to add or expound on them with me.
And then I thought, "Shit, Catastrophe, you have a lot more to offer than just the best dive bar and restaurant recommendations!". And not only do I have a wide range of interests and experiences to share, but I know a few talented and fascinating people.
And beginning in that vein - a friend of mine is going to San Francisco for a visit and so I compiled a list of places that I would check out were I visiting that enchanting city by the bay.
I will share it with you in hopes that you too might find it useful.
Cheers,
Catastrophe Smith
What To Do in San Francisco – AUG 07
San Francisco is a city of charms. If you visit there get ready to eat your way through it. California has some of the best produce in the nation year-round and San Francisco has a great ethnic population and a bunch of rich people that lends itself to great eating. It also has one of the best collection of dive bars in the Tenderloin (and scattered elsewhere) that I have encountered. So if you like strange and seedy, prepare to drink cheap beer.
TIP: San Francisco now has Menu Pages which is a great help when trying to locate a food by type or neighborhood or name!
http://sanfrancisco.menupages.com/
Tomales Bay Oyster Co - if you like oysters just pulled out of the bay sold at wholesale prices (bring your own picnic) and a gorgeous view then call these guys and make a reservation. you will need a car to drive there as it's about 1.5 hours north of SF. gorgeous drive.
http://www.tomalesbayoysters.com/
The Pelican Inn - have a meal or a pint at this old English tavern right by Muir Beach and Muir Woods. It's worth a night there if you can swing it.
http://www.pelicaninn.com/
My favorite restaurant is Betelnut in the marina district. The little dragon dumplings and bbqed, charbroiled pork are mouth-watering.
http://www.betelnutrestaurant.com/
If you're like me and love to people watch as you sip on your cocktail (or if you smoke), try Blondie's in the Mission on Valencia Street. You will get the most martini you can get for $12 (an entire shaker's worth) and they have an open porch area that is open onto the street. Go before the after-work crowd takes over. It gets very crowded later on and the music gets obnoxiously loud. When you're hungry try Arinell's pizza across the street for some pretty good New York style pizza in San Francisco.
http://blondiesbar.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/QjnmVuqVArA7d-syiUCiUw
This is the best drag show i have ever seen anywhere. It's a DIVE bar and you will need to tip the performers with $1 bills so bring lots. Do not expect good liquor but do expect a show you won't forget. Fri and Sat nights only.
http://www.auntcharlieslounge.com/
If you like getting a real English tea and don't mind the granny-esque furnishings go here and get the real clotted cream and scones and finger sandwiches - it's really fucking good.
http://www.lovejoystearoom.com/
Now, I KNOW you won't go to San Francisco without having dim sum. Because that would just be stupid. Yank Sing is the upscale choice - and it's a good one if you don't mind shelling out the dough.
http://www.yanksing.com/
For the more down-home feel and a lot less cash, check out Ton Kiang on Geary Blvd in the Richmond District. I ate here many times, but one of the most memorable is after I got my tongue pierced and could only have soup. It was pure torture watching everyone one around me gorge on dumplings and sticky rice! Go with your mouth intact.
http://www.tonkiang.net/Ton%20Kiang.html
Jade Bar is on the way downtown and is pretty cool with good finger food.
http://www.jadebar.com/
Medjool has a fantastic roof deck in the Mission District - it gets yuppie and crowded after work but would be worth staking out a table and seeing the view: http://www.medjoolsf.com/
The best Thai food in San Francisco is at Suriya Thai in the Mission. It's affordable, cash only and will blow your mind. So will the little, green peppers that resemble bell peppers but are a completely different species - so beware. Get the Pumpkin Curry, Money Bags and Gaeng Keaw Wan. You won't be sorry.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/889462/
Hanaro is a gem of a dive bar. Free popcorn, a gas fireplace for those cold San Francisco nights and the bar staff couldn't be more accomodating. The clientele is crazy but largely harmless. Decent juke box.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/41757950/san_francisco_ca/hanaro.html
Citrus Club in the Haight - great noodles, soups and saketinis.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/903995/
Amoeba Records also in the Haight. Great second hand music store.
http://www.amoeba.com/
Mexican food- the best mexican taquerias in SF are in the Mission District. Try Valencia St at 16th St and walk West.
My personal favorite is El Farolito on 24th St and Mission St.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/best/results/7798
My favorite bar in SF is Bruno's on Mission St - call to make sure it's open (it gets resold all the time)
http://www.brunoslive.com/ Has jazz and cocktails and looks like a James Bond bar. Can get annoying on weekends.
Go to Baker Beach and hang out. Part of it is a nude beach which is not that appealing, but it has spectacular views of the GGB and the Bay.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/11363255/san_francisco_ca/baker_beach.html
Go to Golden Gate Park and rent bikes if you can. Ride to Ocean Beach at the end of the Park and back. There's a ton to see in there - botanical gardens, bison, archery field, fly fishing, fields, ponds etc. Rent a paddle boat on Stowe Lake. Afterwards walk up 9th Ave to Irving Street and have lunch or a pint at The Little Shamrock and play some darts.
http://www.sfgov.org/site/recpark_page.asp?id=17796
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pn-KO9C7bLiDqfkZiTFqdA
For Japanese food I recommend WeBe Sushi in the Mission - cheap, good and no frills. Or Hotei on 9th Ave and Irving. People say Ebisu across the street is better, and it is certainly more expensive, but i think Hotei is just as good and cheaper.
http://www.ebisusushi.com/
http://www.hoteisf.com/
http://www.webesushi.com/
Blowfish is a hot spot that might be worth checking out if you a want sceney higher end place. But it might not be worth it.
http://www.blowfishsushi.com/webform1.aspx
I would highly recommend getting Vietnamese food while you’re there. It's one of my favorites. They are all over the place, especially in the Tenderloin and are yummy. Some people swear by Slanted Door, a high-end Vietnamese restaurant. I, personally, find it overrated and overpriced. The location, however, is hard to beat as it's on the water with sweeping views of the Bay.
http://www.slanteddoor.com/
Top of the Mark is a bar with panoramic views of the city. It's fancy but worth a look if you want to see the city. Mark Hopkins Hotel.
http://www.topofthemark.com/
Foreign Cinema is in the Mission - they show movies on the wall outside and have overpriced food that is good. it's yuppie and too $$$ but is a cool atmosphere. Check out the Laszlo Bar connected to FC – cute bartenders and cool interior. Gets sceney and crowded between 10pm – 12am. http://www.foreigncinema.com/home.html
http://www.laszlobar.com/
Japanese baths - if you're a woman (no men allowed...ever) and want a small but charming spa with some character go to Osento on Valencia Street in the Mission. You will get chilled water and limes, a couple of saunas, a hot tub, a cold plunge and a sun deck for your money. It's cheap and the real deal. Once you've paid for the day you can leave and come back. Massage is available for an extra fee.
http://www.osento.com/
For a larger, more modern feel, men included (and more money) go to Kabuki -
http://www.kabukisprings.com/
it's deluxe and refreshing. They have days for women, men and coed times as well.
The Tonga Room in the bottom of the Fairmont Hotel is ridiculous and overpriced, but great for a one-drink experience. It's Tiki and it rains every hour there. http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/GuestServices/Restaurants/TheTongaRoomHurricaneBar.htm
Sno-Drift is pretty cool - fake taxadermy. When I was there many years ago they had free chocolate fondue and strawberries which is hard to beat. Can be annoying and have loud music later on weekends.
http://www.sfstation.com/sno-drift-b3994
The Cliff House is a must when first visiting San Francisco purely because of its location. It's perched on a cliff (makes sense) overlooking Ocean Beach and the...um, ocean. It's gorgeous. If you can make it for sunset, all the better. It's not cheap and the food is good, but not great. In a city of great food you go for the view - and it's a good one.
http://www.cliffhouse.com/
Universal Café has good brunch. Try the ginger scones or scrambles.
http://www.universalcafe.net/universalcafe.html
To slip away from it all, get a bottle of good wine, a cheese plate and see some local art try Hotel Biron on Rose Street. It's tucked away from the city, but in the middle of it all and has a little back room with leather chairs that's dark and cozy.
http://www.hotelbiron.com/
Park Chow - near GGP and in the Castro - good and cheap
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60713-d357132-Reviews-Park_Chow-San_Francisco_California.html
Duarte's Tavern - Pescadero - i REALLY recommend if you can drive down there going here and having artichoke soup, pie and crab. A GORGEOUS drive down Route 1 South. http://www.duartestavern.com/
Baobab is African food that is really yummy in the Mission - http://www.bissapbaobab.com/
Personally, the Dakaroise salad with shrimp haunts me and the chicken Mafe is heavy and finger-lickingly yummy.
Axum is great Ethiopian http://www.axumcafe.com/
Cheap and really good. Try the honey wine and vegetarian platter.
Also, I recommend the crepes at Frites in Hayes Valley. They have a cute garden too.
http://www.frjtzfries.com/
Zeitgeist on Guerrero
Biker bar, cheap, outdoors and good. Get a (veggie or regular) burger and a pint of beer and enjoy the afternoon sun and/or fog.
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/868351
And for a drink go to the Carnelian Room at the top of the Bank of American building on California Street in downtown SF. The view is breathtaking - literally.
http://carnelianroom.com/
If you're a beer connoisseur go to Toronado on Lower Haight Street and check out their menu. While you're there get a sausage from Rosamunda Sausage Grill next door (you can carry out & bring your dinner into the bar). You won't get a better, cheaper beer-complimentary meal anywhere.
http://www.toronado.com/
I would also recommend the ferry to Angel Island for a picnic or Sausalito for a lunch or dinner. Beautiful.
http://www.blueandgoldfleet.com/
If you're feeling energetic rent a bike and ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and then take the ferry back! A stunning view and great workout.
http://www.thebikehut.com/
http://www.sfbike.org/?maps
If you're into hiking check out the Steep Ravine hike on the way to Stinson Beach (you can hike there too from the same trail or end up in the Marin Headlands with a view of the city). It's a definite workout and absolutely gorgeous. You get to see ferns, redwoods, some wildlife and spectacular views. I suggest bringing water, something to eat part-way through and sunscreen.
http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/stinson.html
A Maxfield Parrish fan? Or just a fan of a dark wood hotel bar? Go to The Palace Hotel in downtown SF and have a cocktail at the famous Pied Piper Bar. It has a gorgeous mural done by the master himself and some very comfy seating choices. It's not inexpensive and you won't find a representative sample of San Franciscans, more probably a handful of businessmen and women from elsewhere, but you will find a soothing, upscale atmosphere in which to sip your martini.
http://www.sfpalace.com/main/dining.htm
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