Need San Francisco restaurant recommendation

Stan Horwitz said:

A friend and I will be traveling from Philly to Las Vegas in Janary to
attend the Consumer Electronics Show. After that, we're scheduled to

fly

Quoted message said:

to San Francisco to attend the MacWorld Expo for a few days.

A friend of mine who lives in Petaluma (sp?) near SFO offered to pick

us

Quoted message said:

up at the airport when we arrive there on January 9th. We're going to

go

Quoted message said:

to dinner after our flight arrives, which will hopefully be at the
5:45pm scheduled time. My friend who's going to pick us up does not

know

Quoted message said:

any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC

folks

Quoted message said:

might know that area and provide some ideas.

We are looking for a casual place that's open on Monday evenings where
we can sit and have a few drinks, eat dinner, and talk before we head

to

Quoted message said:

our currently unknown hotel room on Union Square. I prefer a place

where

Quoted message said:

we can get out for under $30 per person, not counting drinks. Ethic
places are okay, but not Mexican or Indian (bleh)!

I suppose we could eat somewhere in the Union Square area, but I

figured

Quoted message said:

a restaurant near SFO might be a better idea so that we can allow the
rush hour traffic to thin out before we venture into the city.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

The Cliffhouse, if it's still there.

In Berkeley, Spengers is one of the best fish restaurants in the Bay
Area, imho.

For recreation, take the Larkspur ferry roundtrip from the pier to
Larkspur. It's a great bay ride. A hydrofoil, iirc. And of course, don't
forget to wave at the cons in "the yard" at San Quentin prison as you
glide by!!!

Andy

Hope you enjoy San Francisco, but that friend of yours who is picking
you up at the airport must be a *Very good friend. It's about a 1 hour
45 minute drive each way from Petaluma to the airport! Anyway, have
fun!
Nancree

Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
[snip]

Quoted message said:

any restaurants in the SFO area

[snip]

http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/sanfrancisco1/messages/2114.html

or

http://groups.google.com/group/ba.food/browse_thread/thread/4aa48c823c4781de/f6d019d3f05a4282?lnk=st&q=SFO+group:ba.food&rnum=1#f6d019d3f05a4282
(same link only smaller http://tinyurl.com/aerrr)

I prefer Chez Alexander in Burlingame -- just a few miles south -- for
the very thing your asking. Ibrahem, the proprietor, makes a lamb dish
that is HEAVENLY.

Chez Alexander
1136 Broadway
Burlingame, CA
+1-650-347-1053

The Ranger

Stan Horwitz said:

A friend and I will be traveling from Philly to Las Vegas in Janary to
attend the Consumer Electronics Show. After that, we're scheduled to fly
to San Francisco to attend the MacWorld Expo for a few days.
any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC folks
might know that area and provide some ideas.
I suppose we could eat somewhere in the Union Square area, but I figured
a restaurant near SFO might be a better idea so that we can allow the
rush hour traffic to thin out before we venture into the city.

Stanley I'd try the ba.food newsgroup, the posters there are pretty informed
about things culinary in the Bay area...

You could also post to the SF board on www.chowhound.com , many good posters
and suggestions there also.

--
Best
Greg

In article <[email hidden]>,

Stan Horwitz said:

A friend of mine who lives in Petaluma (sp?) near SFO

Petaluma it is. We've lived here 30 years. I remember you ate at Don
Ponchos last time you were here. I still eat there about once a month.
It's very nice of your friend to pick you up, but I wouldn't call it
close. It's 50 miles or so.

Quoted message said:

5:45pm scheduled time. My friend who's going to pick us up does not know
any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC folks
might know that area and provide some ideas.

There are no restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, just like there
are no recipes from Europe.

:-)

You might try posting to ba.food, but I would suggest that you get a
little more specific about what you want. There are a lot of
restaurants down there.

If somebody asked you for a restaurant in Philly, what would you answer?

--
Dan Abel
[email hidden]
Petaluma, California, USA

Stan Horwitz said:

I suppose we could eat somewhere in the Union Square area, but I figured
a restaurant near SFO might be a better idea so that we can allow the
rush hour traffic to thin out before we venture into the city.

Treat your friend very nicely, because Petaluma is NOT close to SF!
It would be less trouble for your friend to meet you in the City and
for you take a cab there from the airport. Your friend has to drive
down to the Golden Gate Bridge, cross it, drive all the way through
the City and down the peninnsula to get to SFO.... that's a good hour,
maybe more.

If you're still set on doing this,
Max's Opera Cafe comes to mind.
1250 Bayshore , Burlingame
It's close to the airport and right off 101.

If you decide to go into SF, try

Tommy's Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd, San Francisco

Tadich Grill
240 California St

MoMo's Grill
760 Second Street
(directly across from the ballpark)
http://www.eatatmomos.com/

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dan Abel said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

Stan Horwitz said:

A friend of mine who lives in Petaluma (sp?) near SFO

Petaluma it is. We've lived here 30 years. I remember you ate at Don
Ponchos last time you were here. I still eat there about once a month.
It's very nice of your friend to pick you up, but I wouldn't call it
close. It's 50 miles or so.

Quoted message said:

5:45pm scheduled time. My friend who's going to pick us up does not know
any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC folks
might know that area and provide some ideas.

There are no restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area, just like there
are no recipes from Europe.

:-)

You might try posting to ba.food, but I would suggest that you get a
little more specific about what you want. There are a lot of
restaurants down there.

If somebody asked you for a restaurant in Philly, what would you answer?

I thought I was specific, near SFO; the airport.

In article <[email hidden]>, Andy <q>

Quoted message said:

Stan Horwitz said:

A friend and I will be traveling from Philly to Las Vegas in Janary to
attend the Consumer Electronics Show. After that, we're scheduled to

fly

Quoted message said:

to San Francisco to attend the MacWorld Expo for a few days.

A friend of mine who lives in Petaluma (sp?) near SFO offered to pick

us

Quoted message said:

up at the airport when we arrive there on January 9th. We're going to

go

Quoted message said:

to dinner after our flight arrives, which will hopefully be at the
5:45pm scheduled time. My friend who's going to pick us up does not

know

Quoted message said:

any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC

folks

Quoted message said:

might know that area and provide some ideas.

We are looking for a casual place that's open on Monday evenings where
we can sit and have a few drinks, eat dinner, and talk before we head

to

Quoted message said:

our currently unknown hotel room on Union Square. I prefer a place

where

Quoted message said:

we can get out for under $30 per person, not counting drinks. Ethic
places are okay, but not Mexican or Indian (bleh)!

I suppose we could eat somewhere in the Union Square area, but I

figured

Quoted message said:

a restaurant near SFO might be a better idea so that we can allow the
rush hour traffic to thin out before we venture into the city.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

The Cliffhouse, if it's still there.

In Berkeley, Spengers is one of the best fish restaurants in the Bay
Area, imho.

For recreation, take the Larkspur ferry roundtrip from the pier to
Larkspur. It's a great bay ride. A hydrofoil, iirc. And of course, don't
forget to wave at the cons in "the yard" at San Quentin prison as you
glide by!!!

Thanks everyone. I will confirm with my friend that he's really
interested in making the drive from Petaluma to SFO. My friend travels
by air quite a bit so I imagine he knows the distances, but I will point
it out just to be sure.

Were it not for the fact that a few interesting restaurants have already
been recommended in this thread, I would check out ba.food or the
chowhound web site, but I don't believe in looking for something once it
has been found!

Thanks all.

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 19:01:52 -0500, Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In Berkeley, Spengers is one of the best fish restaurants in the Bay
Area, imho.

For recreation, take the Larkspur ferry roundtrip from the pier to
Larkspur. It's a great bay ride. A hydrofoil, iirc. And of course, don't
forget to wave at the cons in "the yard" at San Quentin prison as you
glide by!!!

Thanks everyone. I will confirm with my friend that he's really
interested in making the drive from Petaluma to SFO. My friend travels
by air quite a bit so I imagine he knows the distances, but I will point
it out just to be sure.

Were it not for the fact that a few interesting restaurants have already
been recommended in this thread, I would check out ba.food or the
chowhound web site, but I don't believe in looking for something once it
has been found!

I would avoid Spengers at all costs...to be honest. It isn't very
good. If you ask on Chowhound, or ba.food, that is exactly the
opinion you will get.

Stan, ask on Chowhound. That is how I found that restuarant that we
went to when you were here.

Christine

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 19:01:52 -0500, Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Andy <q>
wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The Cliffhouse, if it's still there.

The Cliffhouse is not known now for good food. I would still ask on
Chowhound. Or get the Chowhound guide to San Francisco...I think you
can find it in stores now, and I know it is available from Amazon.

Christine

Stan Horwitz said:

I thought I was specific, near SFO; the airport.

Near the airport? Try Kuleto's in Burlingame, adjacent to the freeway and
very decent food (although I've not eaten there in this century!).

Spitz
--
"Home, James, and don't spare the horses!"

"Stan Horwitz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A friend and I will be traveling from Philly to Las Vegas in Janary to
attend the Consumer Electronics Show. After that, we're scheduled to fly
to San Francisco to attend the MacWorld Expo for a few days.

A friend of mine who lives in Petaluma (sp?) near SFO offered to pick us
up at the airport when we arrive there on January 9th. We're going to go
to dinner after our flight arrives, which will hopefully be at the
5:45pm scheduled time. My friend who's going to pick us up does not know
any restaurants in the SFO area, so I figured maybe one of you RFC folks
might know that area and provide some ideas.

We are looking for a casual place that's open on Monday evenings where
we can sit and have a few drinks, eat dinner, and talk before we head to
our currently unknown hotel room on Union Square. I prefer a place where
we can get out for under $30 per person, not counting drinks. Ethic
places are okay, but not Mexican or Indian (bleh)!

I suppose we could eat somewhere in the Union Square area, but I figured
a restaurant near SFO might be a better idea so that we can allow the
rush hour traffic to thin out before we venture into the city.

Any suggestions will be welcome.

There are 2 places I would recommend;

Mid-aftrenoon have a sour dough bread bowl full of soup at the Boudin bakery on
the Warf.

http://www.boudinbakery.com/

At dinner time have the Cioppino at Scoma's (either location) It is a bit of a
tourist trap and the wait is intolerable but my goodness the cioppino is
sensational: Their Alfredo makes a nice split appetizer.

Recipe here: http://www.scomas.com/recipes/cioppino.htm

Finally an Irish coffee at the Buena Vista is a SF must.

http://www.thebuenavista.com/irishcoffee.html

Dimitri

"nancree" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hope you enjoy San Francisco, but that friend of yours who is picking
you up at the airport must be a *Very good friend. It's about a 1 hour
45 minute drive each way from Petaluma to the airport! Anyway, have
fun!
Nancree

I used to pick up DH at the SF airport, driving from Kentfield (south of
Petaluma by some miles) some 25 years ago. I cannot imagine what traffic
must be at that time of day now; it was terrible then. A good alternative
is to catch the bus at the airport to one of the hotels at Union Square and
meet them there. No problem. Everybody wins.

A fond memory: Before I was married, I used to live in SF. One Saturday
morning about 7:30 a.m. walking to the beauty shop thru the park there was
only one person there, Peter Falk sketching. He gave me a great smile and a
friendly Hello.

Just getting back from Baltimore for two days, last night we had a fabulous
meal at Kali's Mezza. The best crab cakes I've ever had - wish I had the
recipe. Here is what the two of us had: cod (sort of tempura'd) with garlic
mashed potatoes, olives on the table, small asparagus grilled, Lamb chops; 3
small crab cakes, goat cheese with mushrooms wrapped with red roasted bell
peppers, spanatopita. Dessert: Tiramasu; Baklava. The Baklava was in a
pinwheel shape and like I've never had before. The tiramasu was made with
kaluha instead of rum, better than I've ever had. Two pretty good glasses
of red wine, one from Santorini $10 a glass; one from Madera $6.50 a glass.

We went again to our favorite gelato place in Baltimore Vacarro's.
http://www.vaccarospastry.com/
We also found an Italian grocery that had all products from Italy; I don't
believe he carries US products. The owner is the one that recommended the
restaurant, and the waiter sat us at the same table as the Italian grocery
owner had set the night before; the service was excellent. We went back the
next day to tell him about it and bought from him 4 bottles of wine, several
cans and jars of San Marzano tomatoes, tuna, some sort of tuna eggs (yuk --
for DH). Found Ortiz Tuna at Whole Foods down the street from the Italian
market.

All in all a good two days of wonderful food and food finds.
I wish you the same in San Francisco.
Dee Dee

The only mention of the Cliffhouse was about their brunch and though it
wasn't sterling it wasn't overly negative. It's an awesome location and so
what if it ain't four stars.

I couldn't find any post about Spengers. I was there in Dec. 2003 and it
was as good as ever.

It's easy being a critic ain't it???

Andy

Andy q said:

The only mention of the Cliffhouse was about their brunch and though it
wasn't sterling it wasn't overly negative. It's an awesome location and so
what if it ain't four stars.

I couldn't find any post about Spengers. I was there in Dec. 2003 and it
was as good as ever.

It's easy being a critic ain't it???

Andy

Spengers has never really been considered very good here in the bay
area. Some folks like it, but then some folks like bad food. Not
saying that you like bad food, but you could have had much,much better
than this.

Same with the Cliffhouse. It may have improved some, but it still
isn't considered that good for the food.

One can do much, much better than these two.

Christine, who has lived in the bay area for much of the last 20
years.

Christine Dabney said:

Andy q said:

The only mention of the Cliffhouse was about their brunch and though
it wasn't sterling it wasn't overly negative. It's an awesome location
and so what if it ain't four stars.

I couldn't find any post about Spengers. I was there in Dec. 2003 and
it was as good as ever.

It's easy being a critic ain't it???

Andy

Spengers has never really been considered very good here in the bay
area. Some folks like it, but then some folks like bad food. Not
saying that you like bad food, but you could have had much,much better
than this.

Same with the Cliffhouse. It may have improved some, but it still
isn't considered that good for the food.

One can do much, much better than these two.

Christine, who has lived in the bay area for much of the last 20
years.

OK, well, you didn't offer up alternatives just negatives.

Andy
Hasn't lived in the bay area since 1979.

Dee Randall said:

"nancree" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hope you enjoy San Francisco, but that friend of yours who is picking
you up at the airport must be a *Very good friend. It's about a 1 hour
45 minute drive each way from Petaluma to the airport! Anyway, have
fun!
Nancree

I used to pick up DH at the SF airport, driving from Kentfield (south of
Petaluma by some miles) some 25 years ago. I cannot imagine what traffic
must be at that time of day now; it was terrible then. A good alternative

is to catch the bus at the airport to one of the hotels at Union Square
and
meet them there. No problem. Everybody wins.

No need for a bus; there is a BART line from SFO into the city, with a stop
at Powell. Exit there for Union Square or continue on BART lines to many
commuities. For several years, I travelled to San Francisco on business an
average of once per month; when the SFO BART line finally opened, it made
travel to the city so much easier (and predictable, timewise).

--
To email, replace Cujo with Juno

Andy <q> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

The only mention of the Cliffhouse was about their brunch
and though it wasn't sterling it wasn't overly negative. It's an
awesome location and so what if it ain't four stars.

Location, for me, is only a portion of the equation. If I'm paying
Cliffhouse prices, the food and service better be at least on-par with
similar places. I know ba.food's has had several articles on Cliffhouse;
only a couple of the regulars don't like to archive their posts so the
content is there. Some like it, and eat there regularly; others, as you
noted, not as much.

Quoted message said:

I couldn't find any post about Spengers. I was there in Dec. 2003
and it was as good as ever.

"Spengers?" Where are they located and what style restaurant is that?

Quoted message said:

It's easy being a critic ain't it???

Mostly, yes; sometimes, no. Humans like hearing about the negative and
are more likely to spread news about a bad experience than to praise a
positive experience. Think of yourself. How often have you experienced a
SUPERB meal and then told someone about it. Did they tell someone
afterwards? Probably not. The good experience stopped after a single
ripple. Now think of that absolutely rotten lunch from Donny's Dank
Diner where Emma the Gumsmacker did everything but pick her nose in
front of you. You told ten people. They, in turn, went and told ten
more, etc., etc., etc.

It's simply how we communicate.

The Ranger

In article <[email hidden]>,

Christine Dabney said:

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 19:01:52 -0500, Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In Berkeley, Spengers is one of the best fish restaurants in the Bay
Area, imho.

For recreation, take the Larkspur ferry roundtrip from the pier to
Larkspur. It's a great bay ride. A hydrofoil, iirc. And of course, don't
forget to wave at the cons in "the yard" at San Quentin prison as you
glide by!!!

Thanks everyone. I will confirm with my friend that he's really
interested in making the drive from Petaluma to SFO. My friend travels
by air quite a bit so I imagine he knows the distances, but I will point
it out just to be sure.

Were it not for the fact that a few interesting restaurants have already
been recommended in this thread, I would check out ba.food or the
chowhound web site, but I don't believe in looking for something once it
has been found!

I would avoid Spengers at all costs...to be honest. It isn't very
good. If you ask on Chowhound, or ba.food, that is exactly the
opinion you will get.

I live in Berkeley. Spengers is not as bad as it used to be. It's okay,
but if you want seafood in Berkeley, Sea Salt is better. I certainly
wouldn't make a special trip to Spengers.

Both of these are a fair distance from SFO, though. (I forget, but it's
like 25 miles or so.)

Quoted message said:

Stan, ask on Chowhound. That is how I found that restuarant that we
went to when you were here.

If you're in downtown SF (Mac World is usually at the Moscone, no?) be
sure to visit the Ferry Building Market ... at the bay end of
Market Street, near Embarcadero BART/MUNI. Farmer's Market on Saturdays,
but shops open all week.

Charlotte

--