I'm not sure about the name of this place. They did let me in, after all.
Bourbon Street. French Quarter. The Big Easy. Or possibly New Orleans Square, Disneyland. The Elite Cafe is all of these and a great brunch, too. I had the Alabama Scramble (eggs, bacon, biscuits, potatoes, and gravy.) The bar is the place to sit, you can swivel in the oldy-time wooden chairs and chat with the pleasant staff while they prepare delightful looking bloody marys for the morning crowd.
You'll only have to climb up one hill to get to Seven Hills. Well, maybe more, depending on where you're coming from. And I recommend climbing, as parking in this neighborhood is scarce. The Alioto family's new restaurant is quite cozy and warm--very homey. Maybe it's the soft lighting, or the wainscoting, or maybe it's the fact I just wanted to say wainscoting.
Really yummy with a slight kick. This was the half order. Glad it wasn't Grandpa Munster's Sausage, that's for sure.
If a bag of Sun Chips is opened in the middle of the woods and nobody's around, does it make a sound?
Delarosa is owned by the same people who brought you Starbelly. The pizza is exactly the same. Whereas Starbelly is strictly beer and wine, Delarosa offers amazing cocktails, mostly of the gin variety. And you know I'm not into gin. But these concoctions... (Cocktail depictions coming soon!) The staff here is super friendly. They serve dinner late, too. I think until 1:00AM.
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American named. Chinese owned. Barely decorated. Well, unless you count the stack of phonebooks behind the counter supporting an old unplugged TV. This must be Joe's Coffee Shop. Residing in the Richmond District for 20 years, Joe's serves up a no frills but quality breakfast. The service is all business, so don't expect a lot of pleasantries, but the food is ready fast and coffee is refilled often. It's a busy place, but you won't have to wait too long for a seat. The old Chinese patriarch slaving away over the burners is a sight to behold. 6134 Geary Boulevard (between 25th Ave & 26th Ave.)
You can eat almost any kind of burger at the curiously named Bistro SF Grill. Elk, boar, ostrich and alligator are all listed on the menu. It's like eating the Zoo. Thankfully, there was no primate section on the menu. I had the boar once (above) and another time had the alligator, which I thought was lacking--ahem--bite. The place still awaits its alcohol license, but what it lacks in beer and wine is made up for by the enthusiasm and personality of it's proprietor.
Corkage is a quaint little sake and wine tasting room nestled between Cafe Abir and Tsunami on Fulton Street. Yoshi Sako (above) makes you feel right at home in this neighborhood establishment, where you can taste a variety of sakes and wines that you may not have otherwise considered-- like draft wine on tap. Monday nights Yoshi offers a tasting class, where you can sample the spectrum of sakes.
Sake
Masu
Plow is a very cool brunch spot up on Potrero Hill. I ate like the animal under this sign.
Be prepared to wait. I got there at 8:30 and was able to draw this while waiting. (I colored it after eating.)
More waiting. But this time, for the food. I ordered a biscuit and a fried egg sandwich.
Hey! I ordered a biscuit, not a schnitzel!
Fried egg sandwich with potatoes. Yum.
They say the words cellar door are the most pleasing sounds to the ear. They obviously never spoke the word Starbelly out loud. And they probably didn't have their pizza, either.
If you're not afraid of eating next to strangers and their food, Starbelly has a long communal table. I don't think you have to share your meal with everyone.
Margherita Pizza. Glad I don't have to share it.
The Chicago Bagel Authority's jurisdiction lies in the heart of Lincoln Park, Chicago. I'll either get the sandwich described above, or a Tob-E-Que (turkey, green bell peppers and BBQ sauce.) Either way, it's always accompanied by a rice crispy treat--a genuine one--not one of those factory made hunks of glue.
Peaches from the Farmer's Market on a Saturday morning. September 4th, to be exact. I like the breakfast from the Hayes Street Grill's stand around the back. I was too hungry to draw it.
This is the lomo saltado from Fresca on Fillmore. Say that ten times fast. Steak, french fries, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and a side of white rice. They're supposed to have good ceviche as well, but I have yet to try it.
I like sitting at the bar at Garibaldi's, either for a drink or maybe their signature Garibaldi's burger. It's also an opportunity to chat with the bartenders and the locals alike. The Happy Hour is pretty decent--half off the bar menu (which includes the Garibaldi's burger.)
The Chip Shot. A variation of the Irish coffee.
Pepper Grinder
For freshly squeezed cocktails.
