19473 Wed Apr 17 16:36:31 -0700 2002 7 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 65044 Since I've lived in SF (more than 10 years by now), the restaurant located in the corner space at 9th and Folsom has been ill-fated. I don't remember all the past incarnations, but the most recent one was an Asian-fusion place called Lisa's. Lisa's specialized in drinks made with fruit-infused vodka (lychee, pineapple, strawberry, to name a few), and they displayed their vodka in beautiful glass jars along the window. Alas, the food was insipid, and the drinks were over-priced and watered-down, so I was happy when Lisa's finally closed. Recently, a place called "Ninth and Folsom" opened in the corner space. Although I work just a few doors down, I have been reluctant to try this place because they also have jars of infused vodka along the window. These jars are identical in shape and content to those previously owned by the failed Lisa's, and I can't help suspecting that the new owners simply bought the leftovers. Yesterday, however, I went there for lunch and was pleasantly surprised. The place was nearly empty, the service was slow, but the food was pretty good. I ordered the chicken salad sandwich with watercress. The chicken salad was made from fresh chicken, not canned (I don't mean to imply that chicken salad should be made only from fresh chicken - that's just how it was made), and it was mostly dark meat, briney and a bit on the oily side. It had some gristle that really should have been removed, but overall it was tasty, and I would like to eat it again. The watercress was a nice counterpoint, and the whole thing was served on a fresh panini roll. Best of all were the yam fries that came with my sandwich (most of the lunches come with your choice of salad or fries). The fries were cut thin, perfectly cooked, and topped with sea salt; they were great by themselves and didn't require any ketchup. My sandwich with fries was $7. My friend ordered the burger, and thought that it was a bit dry. But he ordered it well-done, so I can't help thinking that the dryness was his own fault. I haven't tried any of the infused vodka drinks, but the yam fries alone are worth a second trip. Does anyone have any thoughts on why certain spaces are so prone to attracting failed restaurants and businesses? Wed Apr 17 16:36:31 -0700 2002 0 jilblu 1 65048 I've really noticed the repeated failed businesses/restaurants in particular spaces up here in Sonoma. Some spaces just seem to have THE CURSE. Even previously successful restaurants that fold when they move to a cursed location. The fact that when a new tenant comes in the rent usually goes up doesn't help. I also think people unaviodably associate the new establishment with the ghost of the old one, especially if they are hanging the same infused vodka in the window! Wed Apr 17 17:05:10 -0700 2002 65044 0 Jackie Avery 2 65050 Speaking of cursed locations... I just finished reading an article in today's SF Weekly about the latest attempt to succeed in the old *US Restaurant* space (at corner of Columbus/Stockton). After several failed attempts there were murmerings about this location being cursed. The latest endeavor is called *Panta Rei* and is owned by the guys who run Baldoria (Russian Hill) and Bella Trattoria (Inner Richmond). The menu, at this point, looks to be almost exclusively pasta... all under $10... with a couple entree specials (yesterday's were 1] rabbit and 2] lamb shank)... I happened to be walking by after pizza at Tommasso's. :) IMO, *Panta Rei* Looks very promissing for the casual and/or seredipitous occassion. The owners are "authentic" Italians and experienced in the biz. Their other locations haved fared pretty well. Who knows, maybe they can break the US Restaurant curse? Link: http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2002-04-17/eat.html/1/index.html Wed Apr 17 17:22:11 -0700 2002 65048 0 JohnnyP 3 65054 But how was your Tomasso's pizza? That 9th and Folsom spot really is cursed--nothing's succeeded there since Limbo, in the early 90s. the real issue, of course, is that Limbo was fun and had good, affordable, simple food. All the other places (Icon, Stardust, Lisa's, etc.) got hung up on having weird themes and worse food. Good food and a good business plan can trump a "cursed" location--look at Chow. Before it opened, that space was home to a string of bad, depressing Chinese restaurants. Wed Apr 17 18:50:10 -0700 2002 65050 0 dixieday 4 65061 "...a string of bad, depressing Chinese restaurants." Is there any other kind? Just kidding. Pizza at Tommasso's was very good. My main complaint about Tommasso's would be that it is just too damn loud. This is true of a lot of restaurants in San Francisco. Is it something in the walls??? And, speaking of locations, I wouldn't say that Tommasso's ranks amongst the best of locations... what, with the Lusty Lady across the street and a sign practically overhead which reads "dirtiest XXX videos in town." In short, I agree that good food and formula trumps bad location. Wed Apr 17 19:40:20 -0700 2002 65054 0 JohnnyP 5 65073 Evidence from Berkeley suggests that food sometimes trumps location, sometimes not. 1. Where it has: The northeast corner of Shattuck & University had a series of quickly failing eateries. Access is on foot, because it's Downtown Berkeley, but it's a particularly hard intersection to cross, where lots of traffic turns right. But El Sombrero Taqueria came in a few years ago and has made it work. 2. Where it hasn't (at least not yet)--The southwest corner of 6th & University, hard by the overpass to I-80. There has been a series of Indian, Vietnamese and other restaurants here, some quite good, none lasting more than a couple of years. I suspect (but have no proof) that landlords tell unsuspecting chefs that they're only two blocks from the groovy 4th St. commercial district, and charge rent accordingly. But it feels totally out of the district, and you have to cross the even harder intersection of 6th & University. The place has a parking lot, but you can't access it from University, you have to turn on 6th and go into it. Let's hope. Wed Apr 17 22:38:15 -0700 2002 65061 0 Nathan Landau 4 65163 I totally agree, Limbo was a fun place with good food, I miss it. Sat Apr 20 01:38:22 -0700 2002 65054 0 Jim 1 65064 It wasn't my fault! I did order it well done but not desiccated. Wed Apr 17 20:22:27 -0700 2002 65044 0 Your fabulous friend