Shopping advice: San Francisco

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I'm gonna be in SF over an upcoming weekend and would appreciate any tips for the sure-to-be-brief time I can steal away from my conference. For instance, I know about Amoeba and Aquarius, but where's the best classical CD selection in town? Any other must-not-miss shops?

― Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 15:29 (twenty-three years ago)

jack's record cellar on Scott street was pretty good a couple years ago for jazz and western swing...classical of a sort, I suppose...There's a big Tower records classical outlet down on Bay street near fisherman's warf, across columbus from the Tower pop outlet. Not sure how good it is, though.

― pauls00, Wednesday, 5 February 2003 15:44 (twenty-three years ago)

i'd guess that your best classical bet will still be amoeba, in terms of size and breadth.

if you're looking for house/techno, tweekin's always worth a visit - it's in the lower haight near fillmore. and if you go there you can stop at robotspeak (www.robotspeak.com), my housemate's computer music store, right next door. (shameless plug, that!)

for eclecticism, open mind (divisadero @ oak or fell) is fantastic. racks and racks of used vinyl - rock, electronix, hip hop, reggae, jazz, soul... if you've got an hour or two, you can usually dig out some gems. not seriously cheap, but not terribly overpriced. and there are in fact some bargains.

― philip sherburne (philip sherburne), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 19:04 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey, cool, I just bought some gear at Robotspeak the other week. The guys who run the place are really nice!

Other Lower Haight shops: Compound Records recently closed (sad), but Groove Merchant (good old funk/soul vinyl) and Spundae (technoish) are still around.

In addition to Open Mind, Record Finder at the corner of Market and Noe is also good for old vinyl. Just around the corner on Market is Medium Rare Records, the "gay techno" store. (Okay, so it has more than just gay techno, but when you're a small boutiquey music store in the Castro you tend to stock a lot of Ibiza trance.)

And, if you have the time to get over to Berkeley, there's always Mod Lang (corner of University and Oxford) for good British imports and a solid used bin.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 20:52 (twenty-three years ago)

Rasputin Music has a shop in downtown SF now, at 69 Powell Street, and it's very near the convention center, if that's where you're going to be.

― Neudonym, Wednesday, 5 February 2003 22:06 (twenty-three years ago)

Rasputin's downtown kinda sux. it's slowly getting better now that they have 5floors to shop on (weird that you have to ride a manned elevator - poor guy has to sit in that lil space for hours at a time)

Jack's Record Cellar is the fucking worst!! the people that work there are old and mean, and they don't sell jazz records by black people. i've never even gotten a hello or a nod when i walk in there and i'm the only one there.

my all time favorite store in the city is Grooves on Market, almost in the Castro -- all vinyl. it's literally owned by the sweetest mom and pop (Ray and Joan). they're in their 50s or 60s and ray is drunk and stoned at work and he just talks your ear off dancing around telling stories about records he loves. i'm in the store 2-3 times a week.

also in the Castro on market is Streetlight records - on the same block i think - as the "gay techno" store.

I think Record Finder also sux balls. not only do they have awful selection of records, i was considering buying a record store when i first got unemployed from my webdesign job and the owner was thinking of selling. he has the ugliest store, tore up records, bad selection,,, and he wanted 100,000$ plus 4000$ a month for rent (he owns the building). there's no way everything in his store equaled 100grand.

Virgin in Union Square has a huge selection, but is overpriced (and can be found anywhere, so what's the point?)

you really can't go wrong w/Amoeba and Aquarius

― JasonD (JasonD), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 23:43 (twenty-three years ago)

you are all forgetting the most important thing:

PARKING!!!!

There are a few free parking spaces in the TOWER RECORDS at Columbus and Bay or you can take the CABLE CAR. These are two reasons this should be your tourist's choice.

Parking is available and cheap at KEZAR STADIUM, two blocks from AMEOBA in the Haight...the first hour is FREE with your validated stub! You will still have to pay a buck or two because you will spend at least 2 and a half hours in AMOEBA. Taking PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? For tourists, the Muni bus ride to the Haight will be worth the fare. I don't think I need to explain.

Enjoy yer visit. Happy shopping. Mayor Willie Brown appreciates your business.

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 23:51 (twenty-three years ago)

Parking is the least important thing in San Francisco since anyone who doesn't take public transportation and walk when in SF is a fool.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 6 February 2003 00:42 (twenty-three years ago)

Alex speaks the truth. If you've never been here DON'T DRIVE. You *will* get lost, or at the very least get a ticket (and at the worst get towed).

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 6 February 2003 00:45 (twenty-three years ago)

I second JasonD's recommendation of Grooves. And if you must drive, having the free parking at Kezar is a bonus for Amoeba customers. Nobody's mentioned Recycled Records on Haight; if Amoeba doesn't have the used LP you're looking for, it's worth hitting them up.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 6 February 2003 00:49 (twenty-three years ago)

except for the fact that since Margaret (i think that's her name - lil red head) at Recycled left (she's now at open mind), the staff is no longer very nice. though, Mike will let you borrow records from time to time to test drive them, which is pretty cool

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 6 February 2003 02:00 (twenty-three years ago)

TWO REASONS TO DRIVE:

HILLS

MUNI

LARGE SHOPPING BAGS

hmmm...ok, that's three...but you know what I mean

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Thursday, 6 February 2003 02:05 (twenty-three years ago)

oh, I would like to stay and play the transportation debate, but I have to rush onto the BART (and do NOT confuse this with MUNI) to get to the Warriors game.

ONE REASON FOR BART:

COLISEUM

BEER

hmmm...ok, that's at least two reasons...but you know...

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Thursday, 6 February 2003 02:07 (twenty-three years ago)

Ohmigod HILLS are like so terrible! It like totally hurts my ankles walking up and down them. And like why isn't MUNI always here when I want it to be cuz like I have important things to do and um waiting isn't one of them ya know? Thank GAWD they now have a few taxis in SF now so when I get plastered in North BEACH I can make it home without killing anyone! It's a blessing.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 6 February 2003 02:16 (twenty-three years ago)

I KNOW what you mean!

ha!

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Thursday, 6 February 2003 02:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Alex, you blew it with that last sentence.

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 6 February 2003 03:27 (twenty-three years ago)

The "It's a blessing" one or the North BEACH one?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 6 February 2003 03:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Open Mind was always kind to me when I lived in SF. Flipping through the "new arrivals" vinyl bin there is a lot more fun than shopping at Amoeba (though Amoeba is unbeatable in 100 other ways of course.) I used to get a burrito at the place next store & then eat it while I walked to Geary to catch the bus home.

― Mark (MarkR), Thursday, 6 February 2003 03:59 (twenty-three years ago)

amoeba has relatively little for a store so big. mod lang gives you much more bang per square foot.

― keith (keithmcl), Thursday, 6 February 2003 04:45 (twenty-three years ago)

That's crazy talk.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:03 (twenty-three years ago)

I could throw a brick from my apartment to Mod Lang but I've still never been inside the place.

― Kris (aqueduct), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:26 (twenty-three years ago)

i've only been to mod lang once and thought it was ok. i go to Telegraph regularly to go to the amoeba and rasputins over there.

oh yeah, another great store in Berkeley is http://www.saturnrecords.com/cgi-bin/saturn">Saturn Records

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:29 (twenty-three years ago)

ok, i think there's something wrong w/the board, all the code i write is getting messed up.

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:31 (twenty-three years ago)

it will automatically turn text links into actual links, so no html necessary

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:32 (twenty-three years ago)

hey we should have a big dorky SF record shopping party

ok, just kidding

― JasonD (JasonD), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:39 (twenty-three years ago)

Do not be sucked in by Hear Music.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 6 February 2003 06:48 (twenty-three years ago)

hey we should have a big dorky SF record shopping party
ok, just kidding
-- JasonD (jaso...), February 5th, 2003.

Oh, don't kid me like that, Jason! I was gonna have my driver take us around in the Escalade.

I really could use the shopping to cheer me up after Erick Dampier (pronounced "DAMN!!!!-pier" this evening) blew those crucial free throws. If my seats weren't so far away I would have yelled at him and gave him a piece of my mind!!!! Really, I would have...

Were we talking about classical music?

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Thursday, 6 February 2003 07:31 (twenty-three years ago)

do you really have an Escalade? - if it's not true, don't kid me around like that!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 6 February 2003 07:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks to one and all for the useful tips (far more than I'll probably have time to indulge). No taxis, huh? Oh well, I suppose I shall manage anyway.

If anyone's ever coming to Baltimore, I'll be happy to return the favor. After all, as all the bus benches say, we are The Greatest City in America.

― Lee G (Lee G), Thursday, 6 February 2003 17:07 (twenty-three years ago)

six months pass...

For future reference: The KUSF rock and swap is better than anything mentioned on this thread.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

shit. did you go? it was saturday, huh? wait you were out of town? i always miss it.

(but actually record fairs scare me)

― JasonD (JasonD), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Shit!!!

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I was out of town only part of the weekend JD (ha, word travels fast.) I'm giving you some stuff on Wednesday (we should have lunch).

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 18:41 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

Where can a young man go for the dance music and the hip hop in this good city?

I saw Willie Brown in the Columbus Day Parade. He waved at me, but didn't throw me any sweets.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 03:27 (twenty-two years ago)

No vinyl, please.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 03:32 (twenty-two years ago)

DJ Mark Andrus' tour of San Francisco record shops. Also, sfbayhiphop.com's shops page. Hope this helps.

― Nick Mirov (nick), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 04:16 (twenty-two years ago)

nordique, they have a lot of vinyl but open mind is probably better. JasonD will have the definitive answer though.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 04:30 (twenty-two years ago)

there aren't really any hip hop stores in sf. nothing like a fat beats

as far as dance music, there are tons, but you're sorta limited since you're not buying vinyl. some of these places probably sell a handful of cds, but probably not the most diverse selection since that's not their market. check out BPM in Hayes Valley, and there are tons of dance stores on lower haight (tweakin, etc).

also in lower haight is Groove Merchant. it specializes in rare jazz, funk, soul. stuff the hip hop producer and beat head would pay big bucks for. the place is expensive, but definitely knows what it's doing. 'Cool Chris' that owns the store is sometimes too cool for his own good. they have a few cds on the back wall. sometimes stuff that you can't find at other stores (i got my Chains & Black Exhaust there).

i've never really gone through Open Mind's cd selection. they look like they may have a good selection of stuff, but i only go there for the records.

man, you're making this hard, i think the only really good place to buy cds in the city is Amoeba. with so many people going in and out of there, there's always new and good used stock. the staff is pretty helpful. sometimes i find stuff in the Berkeley store that i can't find in the sf store, so i try to make a trip out there every once in a while.

i guess Rasputins is ok too. both stores. i used to really hate the SF store, but i've found some things there. i guess it's just close to my house so i waste time there when i have nothing to do.

i wouldn't go to Aquarius looking for hip hop. they've got the weird idea that Anticon is the best hip hop being made?

there's a little hip hop store in Berkeley a block off of the main part of Telegraph. i forget the name right now but i'm tempted to say Funky Riddims. once again, mostly vinyl and the owner Craig was kinda not cool to one of my friends one time so i don't go in there anymore.

if you're looking for new commercial stuff, and you know when a cd is going to come out, use Best Buy to your advantage. in the first week of release, a lot of their commercial hip hop is almost half what it would be in other stores.

also check out some online sites: http://www.hiphopsite.com/ http://www.turntablelab.com/ & http://www.dustygroove.com/

― JasonD (JasonD), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 16:22 (twenty-two years ago)

i spent more time at mod lang than in class when i was at berkeley. which is why i'm a stupid jerk, apparently. no really, mod lang is my favorite record store ever.

― vahid (vahid), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

wow, weird. i've bee in there once and never had the desire to go back. maybe i should check it out again?

― JasonD (JasonD), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 17:07 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.happyballs.com/imgs/balls/bee.gif

― JasonD (JasonD), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I am growing to like Mod Lang but it lacks the Kompakt and much of the hip hop. The people in there are nice, unlike the Rasputin people of Telegraph.

― adaml (adaml), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the mod lang heyday was in 95. the britpop/postrock thing was happening and the staff was really up to date on it. the guy stocking the electronic music was similarly forward-thinking, he was the first person i heard diss alex reece and aphex twin in favor of ed rush and drexciya. other record stores may have more current taste than mod lang.

― vahid (vahid), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

mod lang is still my favorite record store but I don't buy much electronic or hip hop. There used to be a place on University called Daddy's Records which I think did hip hop but maybe it closed down? There has got to be stuff in oakland but I think most of those places are vinyl-heavy.

You have an internet connection, buy it online, that's what I do if I can't find something at Amoeba or Mod Lang, usually.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 18:42 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

...i am hitting windsor calif at the end of august.i get one day in san francisco with friends & said friends [ & wife ] are not interested in shopping around record stores with me,soooo. is amoeba still the consensus must go to store if i can only visit one? i am mainly interested in indie and idm type stuffs.

― william (william), Thursday, 30 June 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

Yes.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 30 June 2005 04:18 (twenty years ago)

i spent over an hour in the store today and i go there regularly.

― The Amazing Jaxon! (jaxon), Thursday, 30 June 2005 04:48 (twenty years ago)

YES, if you hit just one store make it Amoeba (also cuz there's lot of other good shopping around it). what part of BC are you from William? cuz i need similar recommendations for my Vancouver trip a few weeks from now...

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Thursday, 30 June 2005 17:29 (twenty years ago)

Amoeba

― Edgware General (nordicskilla), Thursday, 30 June 2005 18:06 (twenty years ago)

The three best record stores in the area are 1. Amoeba SF 2. Amoeba Berkeley and 3. Aquarius.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Thursday, 30 June 2005 18:12 (twenty years ago)

hey ken:.
i am in the vancouver area [delta actually]. if you have a little bit of time,check these threads ::
anyone know of good record stores in Vancouver, BC? ,
ILX Lists The Best Record Shops In Canada &
favorite and least favorite record store in your city/town/village
...as donut has a seemingly better handle on vancouver than me. Zulu & Scratch are must sees though.

― william (william), Friday, 1 July 2005 23:19 (twenty years ago)

Are there really only 2 stores better than Aquarius? Oh dear...
seemed very...limited.

― oops (Oops), Friday, 1 July 2005 23:43 (twenty years ago)

cool, thanks william

― ken taylrr (ken taylrr), Saturday, 2 July 2005 01:31 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

any advice on places to eat ,preferably casual[jeans/shorts] sit down? i now am allowed 2 hours in amoeba :) and it would be great to find someplace to eat recommended by the locals afterwards.

― drone/a/saur (william), Friday, 26 August 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

pretty much next door is Cha Cha Cha. it's sorta cuban tapas and it kicks ass. sometimes the wait is a bit long, but i think it's worth it.

also on the Haight is Asquew Grill. Skewers and mashed potatoes/rice. good shit. if you're in the mood for a slice, Escape from New York Pizza is pretty good. the garlic/potato/pesto is yummy.

if you're looking for places off of Haight, lemme know, i'll suggest other places.

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

thanks jason....actually i am open to any suggestions you may be able to provide,not just around amoeba.

― drone/a/saur (william), Friday, 26 August 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

fave indian (pakistani for the pedants - hi gygax!): Pakwan - 16th & Valencia
fave mexican: La Taqueria Mission & 25th (make sure to get the veggie taco. so amazing and i eat meat)
fave Thai: Basil Thai Folsom & 8th (get the tamarind shrimp)
fave burger & beer: Zeitgeist. 199 Valencia between Duboce & McCoppin. (punky biker bar w/outside seating)
fave sushi: Sushi Zone. Pearl & Market. (prepare to wait at least 2 hrs before getting food)
if you're not from the west coast get an In-n-Out burger. there's one in daly city and one at fisherman's warf

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)

I want SushiZone now.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 18:56 (twenty years ago)

also on Haight at Ashbury is All You Knead -- good, reasonably priced home-ish cooking. Asquew Grill seconded

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:04 (twenty years ago)

Zeitgeist - otm, that place is great.

― ryansf (ryansf), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:05 (twenty years ago)

i am currently paying the price for many beers consumed at zeitgeist last night.

that pesto pizza from escape from new york pizza is fantastic. i think i need it right now!

― tricky (disco stu), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:09 (twenty years ago)

tricky, are you friends w/rob (stormy)? i just met him on sunday in chicago and i think he mentioned you.

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:14 (twenty years ago)

If you got to Sushi Zone at 5:00-5:30 you usually don't have to wait. I need to go to La Taqueria now. You are the third person who recommended it (although I may have been--is it the really clean place?)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:17 (twenty years ago)

yup, i know rob. it's weird because we met here (ilm), but we actually lived within one block of each other in chicago.

― tricky (disco stu), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:21 (twenty years ago)

fuck La Taqueria... that joint is sooo overrated. Papalote on 24th at Valencia is the real thing

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:25 (twenty years ago)

Hahaha so is it the clean place or not?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

If you're near Amoeba, get some noodles at Citrus Club. If you're in the Mission, get a falafel at Truly Med, a burrito at Cancun, or a slice of pizza at Arinelle's.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

And if you need breakfast/brunch on a Sat/Sun go to Memphis Minnies on Lower Haight. DO NOT GO TO KATE'S KITCHEN. If you on Valencia or it is Mon-Fri go to Boogaloos.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:30 (twenty years ago)

eating Memphis Minnie's is like winning some sort of food lottery.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:31 (twenty years ago)

Alex: yeah, the two clean places around 24th/mission are La Corneta and La Taqueria. if you want to shit your guts out after the first two bites, either of these will do the trick. if you want your body to properly process the food for a few hours before you have to dump out the excess, try papalote. i know, i have a gift for making these things sound appealing

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:39 (twenty years ago)

papalote is great!!

― tricky (disco stu), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:41 (twenty years ago)

it *is* great. i'm not sure my last post made that clear exactly

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:44 (twenty years ago)

is El Balazo still on Haight operating?

if you're not from the west coast get an In-n-Out burger. there's one in daly city and one at fisherman's warf

Actually, In-N-Out is just a Cali thing. (Unless someone can prove me wrong and pleasantly surprise me!)

― donut gon' nut (donut), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:48 (twenty years ago)

I saw an in-n-out in AZ.

― ryansf (ryansf), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:53 (twenty years ago)

(although that makes a lot of sense, given those cute little words and numbers underneath the drink cups)

― donut gon' nut (donut), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

Memphis Minnies

Ugh!! Too sweet.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 19:56 (twenty years ago)

I live in SF and have only heard of a few of these places. I'm definitely going to check some of this out. I just recently discovered the joys of Zeitgeist burgers (and bloody marys.. mmm).

I've always liked Ali Baba's on 19th and valencia - anyone else? They put grilled potatoes on their falafel sandwiches.

Also, I enjoy El Farolito burritos. And the chicken-fried steak breakfast special at Pork Store Cafe is always a nice stop when I want to clog my arteries before shopping at Aquarius.

― recovering optimist (Royal Bed Bouncer), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:01 (twenty years ago)

InNOut is in Nevada too.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

(THANKS, ken)

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:03 (twenty years ago)

Ugh!! Too sweet.

okay michael, take this bullshit elsewhere!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

GO BACK TO PROVENCE!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

"Ugh!! Too sweet."

??? The meat doesn't have any sauce on it at all? And most of the sauces are vinegar-based? And fuck it's Southern food anyway. Complaining it's "too sweet" is like complaining fried chicken is too greasy!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

Brunch:

'Spensive = Yank Sing
Massive = Suppenkuche
Franch = Cafe du Soleil, Boulange de Polk, Boulange de Cole, etc...
Value = Chow

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

It's like complaining about the napkins at McDonald's!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

Suppenkuche is only on Sundays though. It is very good. Chow is totally overrated.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Somebody explained my dislike, saying that, apparently I don't like Carolina style bbq or something. I eat there occasionally, when pressed but Bro.in Laws kicks their ass and then wipes the floor with it.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Also Ton Kiang >>>>>>> Yank Sing.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:08 (twenty years ago)

Serious Value (Not on Weekends) Get a sandwich at May's on 14th and Market.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

I have been twice to Yank Sing. One time was great, the other not so.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:09 (twenty years ago)

Best brunch in the East Bay : Tropix in Piedmont

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:10 (twenty years ago)

i just got back from La Taqueria (talking about it made me hungry) and i haven't shit all over myself yet.

alex, i wouldn't say it's super clean (unless you mean it's not covered w/the feces of those eating at it all over the walls)

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

Also Ton Kiang >>>>>>> Yank Sing.

I like both but after Yank Sing you can take a post-prandial stroll to the Embarcadero/Ferry Building. After Ton Kiang, you're still in the foggy ~~middle of nowhere~~ western end of Geary.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:11 (twenty years ago)

unless you mean it's not covered w/the feces of those eating at it all over the walls

This should be their new advertising slogan.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:12 (twenty years ago)

I like Brother in Laws too, but to prefer their greasy sauce-drenched fatty gristle-y meat to Memphis Minnies is just lunacy.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:12 (twenty years ago)

East bay BBQ: Everett & Jones!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

xpost
yeah, ali baba's is good too

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

Fuck you, Michael, I grew up in the foggy ~~middle of nowhere~~ western end of Geary.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:13 (twenty years ago)

i just got back from La Taqueria (talking about it made me hungry) and i haven't shit all over myself yet.

no? they must've changed their ingredients then

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:14 (twenty years ago)

See, Alex, I find Bob's meat kind of dry. (That didn't come out like I'd expected.)

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:15 (twenty years ago)

hahaha

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:16 (twenty years ago)

East bay BBQ: Everett & Jones!

Love it.

Fuck you, Michael, I grew up in the foggy middle of nowhere western end of Geary.

Your point being? Do you live there now? Do you send all your visiting friends there? I'm messing with you a little bit. There's loads of good food out there but after you've eaten, what do you do? The Balboa? The Legion? You can only do the coast/beach/Sutro Baths if it's not too cold or windy.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:18 (twenty years ago)

I lived a few blocks from Tropix for 3 years and never went there. I like Simply Greek's gyros ok. I'd love to find a place in the city with good gyros.

― recovering optimist (Royal Bed Bouncer), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:21 (twenty years ago)

Ooooh I am so close to going sauce nazi on you, Michael. Suffice it to say I could NOT disagree your philistine views on Bob's meat more.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:22 (twenty years ago)

YOU GO SEE A MOVIE AT THE FOUR STAR! YOU WALK DOWN TO THE BEACH! YOU EGG ROBIN WILLIAMS' HOUSE! THERE IS PLENTY TO DO IN THE OUT RICHMOND! PLENTY! IT'S A CULTURAL UTOPIA, DAMMIT!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

All is becoming clear.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:24 (twenty years ago)

Anyway even if Memphis Minnies BBQ platters is not to your tastes, their weekend brunch is amazing. Chili omelettes, shrimp and grits, bbq brisket hash, fantastic bacon and bisquits and gravy. Really there is nothing else half as good in the city.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

Alex, have I told you that you're eyes sparkle charmingly when you're mad?

I'll have to give it a try again. Usually, nowdays, I get a pulled pork snadwich.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:29 (twenty years ago)

i get one of those on the corner of 17th and capp!

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:30 (twenty years ago)

15 min or 30 min?

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:31 (twenty years ago)

hmmm, I had no idea about Memphis Minnie's... the horribly garish sign out front has repelled me for years.

what I really miss in this city is a decent cajun/creole restaurant. (RIP Crescent City - I hate you Noodle Thai Bowl)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

I like how no matter what the initial thread was about ALL SF threads invariably turn into arguments about restaurants and prostitution.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:33 (twenty years ago)

Yeah the lack of Cajun is pretty disheartening.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:34 (twenty years ago)

It's the dearth of real Cajun hookers I find dispiriting.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:36 (twenty years ago)

haha. so i assume the memphis minnie's brunch is mobbed?

― tricky (disco stu), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:42 (twenty years ago)

my two fave cuisines are indian food and cajun food, and we have a plethora of one and a complete dearth of the other. I think there are places in the east bay, but I'm not crossing the bridge just to fuckin eat dinner.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:51 (twenty years ago)

I feel fortunate enough to have sampled the glories of both Memphis Minnie's and Tropix, and I've only lived here two yeas two months and 3 days!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:53 (twenty years ago)

I'm not crossing the bridge just to fuckin eat dinner.

Yeah, I feel this way too! Stupid West Bay!

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:54 (twenty years ago)

"haha. so i assume the memphis minnie's brunch is mobbed?"

Strangely enough it isn't usually. A lot of weirdos still go down to Kate's Kitchen which baffles me every Saturday morning.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:55 (twenty years ago)

i seriously dislike Kate's Kitchen

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

Kate's, like Pork Store, and a million other similar places on weekend mornings is always too crowded.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

the Pork Store >>>>> Kate's. but yeah its usually too crowded for me to bother. the gigantic one on 16th and Valencia is quite good tho, and not always as crowded as the Haight St one.

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 August 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

I always go to the Pork Store on 16th, at around 1pm. I'd rather sleep in than deal with a crowd.

― recovering optimist (Royal Bed Bouncer), Friday, 26 August 2005 21:05 (twenty years ago)

The only drawback to Memphis Minnies and this may the reason it's not as busy as those other places is that there are only 7 or 8 things on the brunch menu and obv none of them are vegetarian. But the food is much much better than the Pork Store which btw is much much better than Kate's Kitchen (and like JaXoN I don't much like Kate's.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 21:09 (twenty years ago)

The east bay is all about Kwik Way, and Zachary's.

― ryansf (ryansf), Friday, 26 August 2005 21:11 (twenty years ago)

thanks guys! i am a little sad i will only have 2 chances to eat in sf this trip!

― drone/a/saur (william), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:03 (twenty years ago)

Some other places to try:

I hear Blue Jay Cafe on Divisadero is making the best basic brunch in town, these days.

Right across from Memphis Minnies is the delicious Rosamunde Sausage Grill. Get a sausage and take into the Toronado. And if you like dance music, you can check out my favorite record store - Tweekin' - a couple doors down.

Upper Haight has nothing to offer (forget about Cha Cha Cha). NOTHING.

Try anything at Tartine, when you are visiting Aquarius. They have the BEST BREAD IN THE WORLD, and everything else is fabulous too. If you have time for a full meal, try the newly-opened Pizzeria Delfina, a couple doors down. Or, if you want to splurge, eat at Delfina proper (make a reservation).

If you want to get in on the hip Peruvian food trend (I'm not that into it), try Limon.

If you REALLY want to try something wonderful, make a trip to Canteen restaurant, in the Tenderloin. It's not near any good record stores that I know of, and you'll have to make a reservation, but it is (IMHO) the best new restaurant in the city.

And, for the REAL best non-greasy-spoon brunch in town, head to Boulette's Larder in the Ferry Building, for some TLC Farm eggs and the best beignets you've ever had.

― schwantz, Friday, 26 August 2005 22:20 (twenty years ago)

Wow! that's a lot to argue about.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:21 (twenty years ago)

(sausage grill seconded - that place is great.)

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

I've heard the same about Blue Jay's, though I know one of the owners.

Rosamunde is awesome.

Tartine is lovely. So is Delfina, though I don't know the pizzeria yet.

― M. White (Miguelito), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:22 (twenty years ago)

Tartine is the farging bestest.

― JAXON (jaxon), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:24 (twenty years ago)

Fresca is better than Limon IMO (at least the one on Fillmore is.) Destino (also Peruvian) on Market might also be better too. Delfina is really good (and I'd not heard about the pizzeria so aces!) Blue Jay's is also quite good and the owner is really nice, but 1) the foods not anywhere near as good Memphis Minnies (and the dishes are pretty similar) 2) it's really busy and 3) the service is really uh unpredictable (I could use a worse word, but I haven't been there in a couple of months so. . .) Tartine is fantastic.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:35 (twenty years ago)

I agree with the Fresca comment - Limon has the hip factor, though. I have to try MM for brunch - sounds great! Pizzeria Delfina is awesome - one more response (along with Pauline's, Pizzetta 211, A16, and, of course, Chez Panisse Cafe) to New Yorkers who whine about there being "no good pizza in the bay area." The scene at Pizzeria Delfina is a bit out-of-control right now, though, so get ready to wait in line...

― schwantz, Friday, 26 August 2005 22:41 (twenty years ago)

And of course, if you want a board that REALLY is obsessed with food in the bay area:

ChowHound

― schwantz, Friday, 26 August 2005 22:43 (twenty years ago)

Don't forget Cheese Board.

― polyphonic (polyphonic), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Pauline's is really good (I actually ended up getting a split veggie special/Louisiana for my birthday, it was fantastic.) Pizzetta 211 is kind of overrated in my opinion (it's literaly right around from folks house and I've eaten there a bunch.) The pizza crust is really good, but I inevitably wish they had different toppings. What's A16 though?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:47 (twenty years ago)

A16 is a great restaurant that focuses on Campanian food from the South of Italy. The owners (I know them) built a real wood-fired oven, and hired a chef who knows how to make truly authentic Naples-style pizza, with bits of burn on the crust. The reason you probably haven't heard of it is that it is deep in the heart of darkness - the Marina. It's also a tough reservation, and pricey, but it's totally worth it.

A16

― schwantz, Friday, 26 August 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

all this talk of food is, for some reason, making me think of that new FX show "Starved" (or, as the wife has amusingly dubbed it, "the puking show")

― Shakey Mo Collier (Shakey Mo Collier), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:54 (twenty years ago)

Haha yeah I can remember the last restaurant in the Marina I went to, but this looks good so I will put it on my list of places I might go to when I go see a play at Fort Mason or something.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 26 August 2005 22:55 (twenty years ago)

oh, i'd also just like to say, fuck Boogaloo's! no reason really, other than the friggin lines on the weekend blocking my frigging sidewalk!

― ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Saturday, 27 August 2005 05:28 (twenty years ago)

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