Michael have you been to the Green Chile Kitchen or whatever on Baker/Fulton?
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Has anybody seen the new bar on Market where the Expansion and 2nd gen Metro used to be? I passed by there with a gay friend who said it was kind of a gay/hipster combo crowd at the opening but the space is pretty cool. Apart from the old bar, they've totally redone the place.
Alex, Green Chile's green chile stew is awesome. Also their Mexican hot chocolate (for weather like this) is excellent.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:31 (fourteen years ago) link
I didn't even realize it was being re-modeled until I passed by there a couple of weeks/month ago.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:32 (fourteen years ago) link
I thought Cafe Du Soleil was another La Boulange front? Is it it's own thing.
Their pozole disappoints but I've had a bunch fo stuff from there. It's less Mexican than New Mexican I think (though thankfully without the extreme Southwestern kitsch theme) but it's tasty and they're awfully nice in there, too.
I didn't know about the re-do, either which is odd 'cause Pam goes to Pilates down the street and loves that place.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:33 (fourteen years ago) link
It is partly a Boulange front but Moustapha is a part-owner and Rigo's baking is top-notch for the States.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:34 (fourteen years ago) link
Gotchya. Not that I have any issue with Boulange, really (although generally the service at the Hayes Valley one is pretty awful--the bread/pastries/food is good.)
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:35 (fourteen years ago) link
I really hope Pascal hasn't expanded too quickly. He has boulanges all over the place and the service varies widely. The service at Soleil is okay (maybe since I've been showing my face since they opened) but their open-faced sandwiches on poilane-style bread are excellent and I stop by and get canneles (a little burnt custard treat from his native Bordeaux that Rigo is repopularzing) 'cause they're so delicious.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:39 (fourteen years ago) link
ooh I second the Jay's Cheesesteaks rec as well. I remember when they opened off of Valencia right after I moved to the city, one of my favorite places - glad they've stuck around and expanded
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:40 (fourteen years ago) link
Last time I was in LA I went to this place (which was excellent) and had great caneles http://www.canele-la.com/
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:41 (fourteen years ago) link
Looks like the old Expansion Bar is the Blackbird
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:43 (fourteen years ago) link
Man now I'm all hungry again for good SF spots. Oh well, be there in a month!
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:44 (fourteen years ago) link
xp no relation to the Chicago place, I assume.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:46 (fourteen years ago) link
Wow, Alex, that place looks great. Their wine list looks exquisite.
Ned and his sister and I had brunch at Soleil.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:46 (fourteen years ago) link
I saw Bubbles from the Wire (who was dating one of the owners) and Keith from Six Feet Under there as well.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:47 (fourteen years ago) link
OMG i would frakn die if i ran into Bubs. he seems like such a good guy.
― nice! he have the balls to say the truth! (the table is the table), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:49 (fourteen years ago) link
And very good it was.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:49 (fourteen years ago) link
xp I was very very excited!
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:50 (fourteen years ago) link
Speaking of celbrity sightings IN LA, I ran into a bunch fo the cast of Madmen at the London hotel about a year ago. The food at their bar (the resto is Gordon Ramsey, dontcha know?) was really good and not so expensive.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:55 (fourteen years ago) link
They make a mean dirty martini too.
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 16:57 (fourteen years ago) link
back on topic, which of these mexicans should I head to for a fish taco?
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:00 (fourteen years ago) link
That place in the Ferry building gets a lot of love.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:03 (fourteen years ago) link
My favorite is at La Fajita Grill on Market near 17th. It's not otherwise a great place but I really like their fish tacos.
I finally wnet to the Ferry Bldg place and I thought my tacos were fairly good but rather dear.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:06 (fourteen years ago) link
This may also be a steve shasta question but is there a good place to hire bikes from?
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:07 (fourteen years ago) link
Most of the bike rental places are in gawdawful Fisherman's Wharf.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:13 (fourteen years ago) link
I can't really recommend SF's fish tacos in general - that's more of a SoCal/San Diego thing
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:13 (fourteen years ago) link
I think I heard people like SF Cyclery on Stanyon.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:14 (fourteen years ago) link
Sinaloa taco truck has excellent fish tacos.
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:14 (fourteen years ago) link
And I'm from San Diego, fwiw.
I can't really recommend SF's fish tacos in general
They're far too often made with salmon, which I just cannot abide. (Not salmon, per se, but salmon in baja style tacos.)
Where's Sinaloa, polyphonic?
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:15 (fourteen years ago) link
salmon doesn't sound like it belongs in a taco.
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:17 (fourteen years ago) link
That's where you're wrong, Ed.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:18 (fourteen years ago) link
Not with baja sauce, at least, Ned.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:19 (fourteen years ago) link
I'll allow that.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:19 (fourteen years ago) link
I don't know where this is either...?
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:21 (fourteen years ago) link
I will defer to ned on this, although I tend to avoid salmon on environmental/sustainability grounds.
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:22 (fourteen years ago) link
That's more than fair. I usually don't have it unless when I'm home in Carmel.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:22 (fourteen years ago) link
The fishmonger at my farmers' market on Sunday had sardines. I didn't think this weas sardine season but I'll find out and if they're really in season, I think I'm going to bbq some soon. (apropos of nothing but incited by talk of things icthyoid.)
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:23 (fourteen years ago) link
Yeah, Ed, I'm not always the biggest fan of salmon (had oodles of it here as a kid) but I won't have anything to do with locally caught salmon right now and the farmed stuff tastes like fish paste, cardboard and a dab of glue all bound together.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:24 (fourteen years ago) link
didn't know you could even GET locally caught salmon here
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:25 (fourteen years ago) link
You have to cross the Bay bridge. ;-)
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:26 (fourteen years ago) link
lol
altho honestly I have been going to the East Bay a lot more now that I have a kid (Fairyland!)
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Well, not now, Shakey but over the last several years...
Do I need a passport for that, polyphonic?
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:28 (fourteen years ago) link
Would happily eat sardines anywhere any time if available, A little rosemary and garlic. Where's good for fish?
also, what are good bars within spitting distance of the downtown hilton? (Not staying there but E's conference is there).
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:29 (fourteen years ago) link
Nothing good is near downtown.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:32 (fourteen years ago) link
Bar-wise that is.
― Alex in SF, Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:33 (fourteen years ago) link
That's the one on Geary, right, Ed?
Lefty's on Geary is an acceptable old school/tourist bar. The Owl Tree isn't far but I haven't been in ages and I don't know what the vibe's like. Tunnel Top on Bush above the Stockton Tunnel is fun sometimes. Foley's is okay in a faux-Irish pub kind of way. I don't drink there much but I would recommend going to John's Grill for a martini.
― Le présent se dégrade, d'abord en histoire, puis en (Michael White), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:35 (fourteen years ago) link
a former friend of mine owns House of Shields.... but I don't drink downtown.
― girlish in the worst sense of that term (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:35 (fourteen years ago) link
This is the impression I get, but worth a punt, what's the best direction to head?
(Is asking for what are good bars near the hilton for any city ever going to get a positive response? Best I can do is a short walk from one of the london hiltons to a really good byob burmese restaurant).
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:35 (fourteen years ago) link
Yup the one on Geary.
― Mornington Crescent (Ed), Wednesday, 5 August 2009 17:36 (fourteen years ago) link