23410 Wed Mar 19 20:37:27 -0800 2003 5 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 88906 Wursts are out and kababs in at 612 O'Farrell St., where the German Cook, open since 1951, has closed its doors. Coming soon, the sign says, is an Indian-Pakistani restaurant, Lahore Karahi. For those keeping score, that will make at least a dozen Indian restaurants in a roughly mile-long swath of downtown San Francisco, from Polk and Pine to Sixth and Mission. Call it the Tandoorloin. Lahore Karahi will be right in the heart of things, about midway between the new Shalimar to the northwest and the Gujarati restaurant Haveli to the southeast. It will also be just a block west of curry central, O'Farrell and Jones, where six Punjabi places (including hound hangouts Shalimar, Naan 'n' Curry and Pakwan) jostle one another within a one-block radius. Rounding out the dozen are a couple of older upscale places I haven't visited in a long time (Maharani on Post, New Delhi on Ellis) and two restaurants I've never tried (Sheesh Mahal on Polk, Taj Mahal on Eddy -- anyone been?). If Punjab Kabab House at Eddy and Mason reopens, that would be one more. And I'm probably forgetting some other place. Now if only someone around here would open a southern Indian place like Dasaprakash or Saravana Bhawan to the south . . . Wed Mar 19 20:37:27 -0800 2003 0 squid-kun 1 88921 Well- to your comment on the southern Indian food in SF- the owners of Haveli mentioned they were bringing in southern Indian chefs to cook Dosa and other food of the south at dinnertime several nights a week. Have not tried it (or confirmed that it started) but given the quality of the lunches, it could be good. Oh, and on the Maharani- yeeeech! What do you know about Punjab Kabob House? Used to like that place a lot, never knew why it closed. Wed Mar 19 23:57:19 -0800 2003 88906 0 a geek 2 88923 Interesting tip on Haveli. I've got to get over there and check that out. I'm a little wary when places start serving dishes from too many regions, but I'll certainly give them a chance. I liked Punjab too. The whole building was cleared out for a seismic retrofit, and work continued off and on (mostly off) for months and months. Finally the sidewalk and window glass were replaced, but that was a few months ago and nothing visible has happened since. As for Maharani, I was afraid of that. Thu Mar 20 00:45:31 -0800 2003 88921 0 squid-kun 2 88952 "Oh, and on the Maharani- yeeeech!" Could you be more specific? Ten years ago when I was a regular there, Maharani was fabulous and had great service. All my Indian friends loved it and said it was the most "authentic" (whatever that means). I haven't gone to Maharani in years (personal life changes - nothing to do with them) and am saddened to learn that they have gone downhill. But I suppose a lot of restaurants cycle up and down. Ten years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead in Indian Oven because they hard the surliest waiters imaginable if they actually deigned to come to your table. And the food was ranged from decent to horrible. And the temperature of the food was sad - half your dishes came piping hot while the other half were stone cold. Of course, now Indian Oven has professional waitstaff and is pretty darn good once you convince them to bring you the spicy stuff. If anyone has been to Maharani recently, I'd love hear details about their experience. Thu Mar 20 14:40:08 -0800 2003 88921 0 Pssst 1 92260 "if Punjab Kabab House at Eddy and Mason reopens, that would be one more" I believe this place - one of my faves when it was open a year or so ago - should be primed to open any day now, hopefully. I would not mind eating at this place when the big one hits as the whole building should be safe for the big one when it comes. I can't wait for this - Punjab the restaurant , not the big one, mind you! - to happen as I used to love eating the lamb curries (not as oily as the other neighboring places) at this place . for one thing, they serve beers! I don't have to sneak them in.... open - open - Open -OPEN! Wed Sep 17 18:23:57 -0700 2003 88906 0 cots 2 92261 sorry but i should have mentioned that the whole building has just gone thru a sesmic retrofit. Wed Sep 17 18:33:07 -0700 2003 92260 0 cots