41098 Tue Nov 08 14:11:36 -0800 2005 10 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 197771 How far in advance do I need to make a reservation at Slanted Door? It's been hard to get anyone on the phone, so wanted to get an idea before I sat thru the hold times. Also, is a walk-in a possibility (on a Thursday night)? TIA for the info. Tue Nov 08 14:11:36 -0800 2005 0 WorkinginSF 1 197786 I would say that they are booked out a month in advance. My friends work in the reservations departmentr and even I have to beg and plead most of the time. If you walk in then do so early. The bar is also nice to eat at. Tue Nov 08 15:17:39 -0800 2005 197771 0 Yolanda S. Holman 1 197889 I still don't get what's so good about slanted door. I think they're over rated. Wed Nov 09 00:30:29 -0800 2005 197771 0 theSauce 2 197895 Couldn't agree with you more, especially in their new space. Wed Nov 09 01:22:11 -0800 2005 197889 0 Slanted opinions 3 197933 speaking of old locations, when are they opening that street food place in the mission? Wed Nov 09 11:19:35 -0800 2005 197895 0 violet 4 197935 That question has been looming for so many years I doubt it will ever happen. Wed Nov 09 11:30:16 -0800 2005 197933 0 Frosty Melon 2 197957 Had a business lunch there yesterday. Food was good, some of the dishes were very good. Hate the space. It's not quite as noisy as it used to be, they put rubber tips on the chairs. For Vietnamese food I prefer Bodega Bistro, partly because it doesn't have the Chinese influence Slanted Door does. Wed Nov 09 13:09:11 -0800 2005 197889 0 Robert Lauriston 1 198088 yes, walk in is a definite possibility if you're willing to eat at the bar. it's spacious enough to dine there, but loud of course. also, i found service at the bar to be quite good. i don't know if they're better or worse than they used to be, but it's true that the cuisine is not hardcore viet. it's a little fusiony. consequently, you'll have to sample around to find the dishes that have appeal to you. there are some truly worthy creations there, but as i said, if you're looking for viet viet food, you'll be put off. Thu Nov 10 13:35:32 -0800 2005 197771 0 ed 2 198108 As i have noted on this board numerous times there is considerable confusion regarding what is "authentic" vietnamese food. As a frequent traveller to Hanoi, Hue and Saigon I can attest to an unbelievably vibrant restaurant scene. Saigon and Hanoi have restaurants that are elegant, large and sophisticated affairs (some of which blow away the atmosphere of S.F. resturants--I'm talking really, really nice) where you would never find a bowl of pho or bun noodles. Saigon has many high end restaurants with sophisticated cooking techniques (a remnant of French influence in some cases) serving both upper class locals and foreigners. My point is that if you believe the only "authentic" Viet food is cafe food or pho then you will always be disapppointed at places like Ana Mandara, the Slanted Door and Tamarine. People need to branch out and understand that vietnamese food is far more than a pork chop over rice (though I love that food as well). You wouldn't judge french food based only only on baguettes, or mexican food by only burritos. Thu Nov 10 14:29:17 -0800 2005 198088 0 grubber 2 198142 The food doesn't seem fusiony to me in the usual California sense. The Phans are Chinese and the family was only in Vietnam for 20 years or so, so there's definitely a Chinese influence. Thu Nov 10 17:30:26 -0800 2005 198088 0 Robert Lauriston 3 198174 I would agree with that, chinese influence, but not fusion. Thu Nov 10 20:30:42 -0800 2005 198142 0 grubber