24161 Fri May 16 00:56:48 -0700 2003 26 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 93692 OK, as I've made clear in the past, I love old hole-in-the-wall places, where I can eat things like pot roast and mash potatoes at the counter. I don't know why I like these places and their basic food so much -- most people dismissively refer to them as "greasy spoons" and move on to the next place, unless they're in some desert town with no choice. Anyhow, it must have been fate that made my motorcycle came to a halt with a little "pop" in the outer Mission tonight. Usually when she does this, she's trying to tell me something, like "I'm tired because you don't take care of me, and this looks like a fine place for you to eat." I've learned to listen to my 'sickle, So I looked up, only to be greeted by the grinning, body-less visages of Laurel and Hardy, surrounding the sign for "Al's Cafe." "Good Food," is the unassuming logo beneath the floating heads, and there was a newish banner that said something like "Still Open for Business, Just Waiting for You." I'd seen this rather striking sign before, but it was always when I was driving/riding by in a hurry, and I had never taken a good look at the place. The way I see it, that banner was talking to me, but then again I think my motorcycle talks to me, so maybe I won't go any further down that road... Gleaming stainless steel based stools along a looong counter, lots of tables, and more movie paraphernalia than you can shake a stick at welcome you, as does the proprietress (Jeanie, I quickly found was her name) who calls you (and other patrons, and the hapless counter worker) "honey" and "sweetie" and encourages you to eat more than you should. The menu is straight out of the '40s, with lots of roasted and fried meats, basic salads, daily soups, Prime Rib, Shrimp Cocktail, chili, and all sorts of other classic diner dishes. Among the burgers was a chili burger (somebody was posting about those the other day), there are lots of hot sandwiches (proudly served on white bread), and a breakfast list that includes Biscuits and Gravy and Chicken Fried Steak, among other artery clogging options. Sort of a poor man’s Original Joe’s. Heaven! Anyhow, to cut this short -- had the fried pork chops, served with mashed potatoes and basic vegetables. Exactly what I expected and craved -- not amazing, but good, basic diner food. Came with soup and salad and a huge hunk of garlic bread. The winner was the Navy Bean soup, which was flavorful and thick with beans and chunks of ham. No beer or wine, but Jeanie winked at me conspiratorially and said "we can't sell it, but they can't stop us from giving it away," whereupon she produced an ancient looking bottle of Gallo and filled my water glass. Perfect! I didn't ask, but the feeling I got was that Jeanie just reopened this place after some sort of hiatus, as she seemed downright ecstatic to be there, and was still training the counter fellow. She gave me tour of some of the movie paraphernalia, which included stills and small posters her parents had collected in the '20s (Jeanie ain't no spring chicken, though, and she proudly displays the Ice Follies programs she has collected herself). If, like me, you actually like greasy spoon, diner type fare and atmosphere, you can't lose with this place. Plus, they're just the nicest folk you'll ever meet. Al’s: Mission @ 29th, across from Rock Soup. Open 7 days a week. I found some pictures of the place on the web: Link: http://www.snapcity.com/past/snap18/snap18.html Fri May 16 00:56:48 -0700 2003 0 Zach Georgopoulos 1 93694 loved reading your account ..... a true find. Fri May 16 01:25:36 -0700 2003 93692 0 gordon wing 1 93695 I don't think it's a reopening, but it's been hidden behind scaffolding since they brought down the building next door and put up a new one the past six months. I've actually never been inside, but recently discovered Milla's produce a few doors down and their very cheap prices. I imagine they get some evening traffic from Keane's 3300 club on the corner across the street, but sounds like I should check them out for lunch one of these days. Fri May 16 01:28:48 -0700 2003 93692 0 Windy 1 93696 Nice. Do they serve johnnycake with the bean soup? Great website on the link, BTW. Fri May 16 01:34:32 -0700 2003 93692 0 Gary Soup 2 93707 They just might! I'll check when I go back for breakfast this weekend... Fri May 16 02:59:43 -0700 2003 93696 0 Zach Georgopoulos 1 93711 being a new convert (and having been there twice in the last 3 weeks or so), i'd like to put a good word in for their breakfast and lunch. both times we arrived around 10:30-11:30 on the weekend to find only about half the tables filled. currently living in glen park (and having just moved from noe valley), this is amazing since we usually expect a wait if we don't wake up at the crack of dawn. on our first visit, i had to try the chicken fried steak and eggs w/ biscuits and gravy. they serve everything on big oblong china platters w/ a red toile print. it's like dining at your grandmother's or something! first thing to mention -- the portions were absolutely HUGE. the gravy was tasty, the country kind with bits of sausage and it covered everything. the "country-fried" part was nicely spiced and a little crunchy. not a heavy batter, just perfect. sprinkled with some slivered scallions, which was a nice touch. nice big eggs over easy. they forgot our toast, but with the hashbrowns and biscuits, i was on carb overload anyway. biscuits were decent, drowning in gravy. james had the corned beef hash w/ eggs over easy. again, exactly what you expect from a greasy spoon, and darned tasty too!! on our last visit, i decided to give the standard two eggs and sausage a try. jeanie asked me if i'd like a patty or links. went for the patty and got two meaty patties (not huge) out of maple-flavored ground sausage. crisp on the edges and a little chewy. i might go for the links next time... i would have preferred it to be a tad bit juicier. james had the philly cheese steak sandwich which he devoured. neither of us are conoissieurs (or from Philly), so we cannot vouch for the authenticity, but it was a nice meaty sandwich with tons of grilled onions and peppers and cheese melted on top. normally, i'm not a huge fan of cheesesteaks because i find them too greasy and rich -- i know, i know, that's probably what some people enjoy about them (and please know that greasy and rich aren't necessarily *bad* things in my opinion) -- but this one was well seasoned and not oily. served with a side of passable potato salad or french fries which i have yet to know about. everyone is extremely friendly (especially the cook) and it's really a low-key place to get a meal. i think both times it was just over $20 for the both of us, including tip. oh, one other neat thing. when you order coffee, tea, or in our case, iced tea, they give you an entire carafe so that you can serve yourself. i haven't seen that done anywhere before, and i must say that i like it!! they were recently in san francisco magazine's best cheap eats issue. i concur! Fri May 16 08:47:53 -0700 2003 93692 0 vespaloon 1 93720 You know, that little stretch of Mission between Cesar Chavez and Cortland is becoming (has been?) quite a dense chowzone. Angkor Borei... Al's... Rock Soup... vlibin says the Vietnamese and Peruvian (esp. the seafood stew) places serve great grub... I've had pretty good tacos from La Alteña (not sure if it's related to the other one at 22nd or so)... Emily's Spaghetti Shack... The owner of one of the mercados (on the east side of Mission at about 30th) is super-friendly and patiently explained various ingredients and techniques to this gringo... What other spots are there? Fri May 16 12:12:15 -0700 2003 93692 0 nja 2 93738 Blue Plate is supposed to be great - but have not been yet. A friend of a friend is a cook there. Jasmine Tea House has great Chinese. And, of course, Can-Cun! Can't be their veggie burrito. Fri May 16 13:50:53 -0700 2003 93720 0 DJ_CJ 3 93741 Your post beat mine by 10 minutes. Fri May 16 14:03:48 -0700 2003 93738 0 svL 2 93740 Don't forget Blue Plate, Taqueria Can-cun, Dusit Thai. Also, the Vietnamese place (Lotus something?) across the street from Angkor Borei, and the Chinese place (Jasmine something) that Bill Clinton likes. Fri May 16 14:01:06 -0700 2003 93720 0 svL 2 93742 I don't think Rock Soup and Jasmine Tea House are the only new places in the past several years. Altena is part of the chain, as is Taco Loco. Also in the neighborhood: Cafe Abo Zante's Indian pizza Mi Lindo Peru San Miguel (Guatemlan) El Paisa Cafe Commons Pad Thai and Dusit Thai Brisas de Acapulco, which I prefer to El Zocalo. The Vietnamese restaurant, Lotus Garden, has been written up several times. Fri May 16 14:05:40 -0700 2003 93720 0 Windy 3 93758 Zante's is a strange place. The pizza is mediocre (with usually a soggy crust) and the Indian dishes don't have much taste. BTW, near Mi Lindo Peru, on the same side of Mission, there is a place with the word "oyster" in Spanish (I forget the word right now, sorry) in the name of the restaurant. I looked in once and it seems to be a seafood place. Have you been there? Fri May 16 16:26:36 -0700 2003 93742 0 svL 4 93760 Is the word "ostion"? Fri May 16 16:41:05 -0700 2003 93758 0 Melanie Wong 5 93766 I looked up the Spanish for oyster. It's ostra. But that's not, IIRC, the word they used in that restaurant's name. I remember going into the restaurant and asking them what did the name mean in English. Oyster, they told me. So perhaps it's a Central American word for the same thing. It happens. Fri May 16 17:45:42 -0700 2003 93760 0 svL 6 93768 Ostion is also oyster in Spanish, and more commonly used than ostra in the Americas for culinary usage. (g) Fri May 16 17:55:50 -0700 2003 93766 0 Melanie Wong 7 93771 Now I'll have to go over there to find out and report. Fri May 16 18:05:50 -0700 2003 93768 0 svL 7 93798 Well, you're right once again. It's "ostioneria." The restaurant in question is La Playa Azul. Under the main name, the sign says "Ostioneria - Bar." I drove by and went inside to take a quick look at the menu. At 7:30 pm (Friday) the place was full and lively. In addition to the usual for the hood salv-mex dishes, the menu has lots of seafood and fish dishes with prices all over the map. Several of the youngish-looking clientele were having shrimp cocktails in huge wine glasses with all kinds of goodies inside. Didn't see any oysters, though they must have been somewhere there -- the place is quite large. Looks good. Anybody's eaten there? Fri May 16 23:01:30 -0700 2003 93768 0 svL 8 93799 Cool, that's fast service! Sounds like it would be worth checking out for the cocteles. Hope someone has some experience to share. Here's a mention of breakfast there. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/22808#85210 Fri May 16 23:08:40 -0700 2003 93798 0 Melanie Wong 8 93810 I lost track in all the translating -- where is this? Sat May 17 02:36:44 -0700 2003 93798 0 Zach Georgopoulos 9 93818 On the west side of Mission between 29th and 30th. Playa Azul 3318 Mission St San Francisco CA (415) 282-4554 Link: http://bayarea.citysearch.com/map?mode=geo&id=889330&map_lat=377438&map_lon=-1224212&fid= Sat May 17 13:46:54 -0700 2003 93810 0 svL 8 93820 I have eaten there many times...Its great...shrimp cocktails, seafood cocktails...definitely the way to go there...served in a large glass with a tomato sauce, onions, cilantro...other stuff on the menu is OK so if you like ceviches and shrimps go with the cocktails... Sat May 17 14:34:42 -0700 2003 93798 0 jonnygo 4 93761 Have only had the Indian pizza, which has always arrived in tact and not the least bit soggy. However, we always order a small one, so that might be part of the reason. I'm not sure if their non-Indian style pizza uses the same crust, but probably so. While certainly not the greatest indian food, it has always been really tasty because we ask them to make our tikka masala and curries EXTRA EXTRA hot. And the Poori (the fried wheat bread), when fresh, is greaseless and puffy and crisp at the same time (if that is possible). Perfect for dipping in the sauce. We also enjoy getting the whole of half tandoori chicken which is all dark meat, which we prefer and would request if it didn't come that way. I think it's a steal at <$10 for a whole one. Comes with lots of fresh raw white onions and lemon. What we don't eat then, we save for the next few days to shred over salads or to make quesadillas. Again, not the best quality, but definitely cheap. I find whenever we order Indian from other (better) places, it always costs an arm and a leg because everything is a la carte, and we *have* to have the pappadum, raita, different kinds of naan, etc. I think it's a good neighborhood place, but probably wouldn't go out of my way for it. Fri May 16 16:48:51 -0700 2003 93758 0 vespaloon 4 93784 I went to Zante's once a million years ago and that was enough. But people do often ask about Indian pizza--the only reason I included it. Now I'm curious about the oyster place too. Of course it's Friday afternoon, which means free oysters on the patio at El Rio--goes really well with a capirihna. Fri May 16 20:02:04 -0700 2003 93758 0 Windy 3 93785 i love Mi Lindo Peru so much! Never had a bad meal there. Does El Zocalo still have whole fried talapia? yummy. there's also that Hungarian or is it Gypsy place farther out closer to Excelsior, right? I've heard great things about that place but have never been. I've also had great chilequiles out there but can't remember which joint I stepped into... yum, chilequiles! Fri May 16 20:12:49 -0700 2003 93742 0 god of cookery 1 93721 my fave is the Italian sausage and eggs. Who can identify all the stars of yesteryear on the walls? We have racked our collective memories and found blanks. Fri May 16 12:14:13 -0700 2003 93692 0 Cynthia 1 93754 I love diners and good 'merican food! I'll definitely check out their lunch menu. Sounds good. Some of my favorite breakfast foods are: biscuits & gravy, hashbrowns (not homefries), chicken fried steak. Unfortunately, the last time I was at Al's (2 years ago) all of the above were terrible. The hashbrowns were undercooked. The biscuits were leaden. The gravy was thin. The batter on the chicken fried steak was thin and soggy. The coffee tasted like hot water. We haven't been back since. But it sounds like things have really improved so I'll definitely check it out. Fri May 16 16:06:10 -0700 2003 93692 0 Pssst 2 93756 Sounds like we have the same favorite breakfast foods... they definitely had hashbrowns (i don't much care for homefries) and i asked for them well done because i like them with a nice crisp crust. i would consider the gravy on the thicker side, but not gloppy. definitely not thin. batter on the steak was relatively thin, but was crisp. One thing that probably hasn't improve are the biscuits. They were fairly dense... these aren't the Meetinghouse biscuits, that's for sure. Fri May 16 16:14:19 -0700 2003 93754 0 vespaloon