Who's familiar with old San Francisco restaurants?

[trixieSF]

Hey Chowhounders,

My mom and her friends have been reminiscing about places they used to go in the 60's, so she sent me a list and asked me to find out a bit about whether or not they are still around and what may have happened to them. Many are still around (Tadich, House of Prime Rib), a few more are fondly remembered (The Hippo), but there are a few names I was not able to find anything about.

Does anyone know what happened to these? (spelling may not be quite right)

Shadows – by Coit tower
Townsend’s – downtown
Doro’s on Lombard
House of India
Grissoms – Van Ness
Paolies

Thanks so much!

-----
House of Prime Rib
1906 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94109

[The Chowhound Team]

Hi, folks. We've removed a number of posts that are strictly nostalgia. Chowhound's mission is to help everybody eat better right now, today.We've done our best to leave postings that discuss newer versions of the golden oldies, what new place opened in the old location, or mention where old favorite chefs or menu items might be currently found. We'll be locking this thread now.

[celeryroot]

sorry if I missed if already mentioned
Hamburger Marys
Dago Marys
and last but not least
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25229906...

[ML8000]

There's bound to be a few stories about Hamburger Mary's...and not necessarily good one. :)

[Jane917]

This is a great thread! When I lived in SF in the late 60s, early 70s, I was on a student budget. Loved going to Chinatown and eating at Sam Wo when Edsel Ford Fong was there. They has the best tomato beef chowmein that I have never been able to duplicate. Also often ate at Far East, Great Eastern. Often went to a little piano bar (can't even remember if it served food) out on Clement, or somewhere in that direction to listen to an upcoming piano player named Randy Newman. I think the place was named The Library. One of my downtown favorites (remember, student budget) was the Noble Frankfurter for lunch, on Powell just north of Sutter. To my great luck, they relocated to Seattle just at the time I was there for grad school.

-----
Great Eastern Restaurant
649 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Sam Wo Restaurant
813 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

Far East Cafe
631 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

[cattlebrain]

It was the old library. They had phones at the table to call another table. There was a bar across the street. What about the greatest burgers in the financiail districict in the 80's the Cub Room at California & Front

[soupçon]

The Noble Frankfurter seemed to be a clone of Berkeley's Top Dog.

If you want to really get down with the hot dogs, you have to mention the Hot Dog Palace at the Grant/Columbus Gore in North Beach. It was nicknamed "The Crystal Palace" because of all the meth-heads that could be found there seemingly 24/7. It later became the slightly more respectable MDR and today is the Steps of Rome.

-----
Hot Dog Palace
1990 Grant St, Concord, CA 94520

[Robert Lauriston]

Is there anyplace in SF akin to the old Hog Heaven these days, where you can eat really good barbecue in comfort with good wine?

In the East Bay, there's T-Rex and Pican.

[wolfe]

Wexler's although it would depend on what part of the country your BBQ comes from.

[cattlebrain]

Hog heaven tried to move in the 80's to Patane's in the financial district and didn't last less then a year. It sucked

[Malcolm Ruthven]

Wasn't Hog Heaven on Stanyan in the city? It was really good.

[Robert Lauriston]

Yes. Now Kezar Pub. I never heard it moved before closing.

-----
Kezar Pub & Restaurant
770 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA

[wally]

I thought that Kezar Pub used to be the Kezar Club (my memory is 1969-70)I never knew about Hog Heaven.

-----
Kezar Pub & Restaurant
770 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA

[Hughlipton]

Well, the heck with it. If we are past the average thread let's go for the book of records. Did we leave oyut Le Central? Though still around it was one of Herb Caen's favorite haunts. And as dismal as they may seem today how do you leave out the Empress of China or Kans? Kan's was the first place may Dad took me for Peking Duck 55 years ago. Let's face it we could carry on this thread for another 500 posts. We going to talk about Scoma's, Joe Dimaggio's ( which may have already been mentioned) and how about Henry Chung's Hunan and Yank sing when it was on Broadway 50 years ago. What a wonderful run of great restaurants , some for their day and some to carry in to this day. The best thing about San Francisco for me now is that it is a 45 minute bus ride on Southwest airline (although I haven't had to go through body search yet). I lived in San Francisco for two years in my youth and adopted it or maybe it adopted me as my town. I may now go and pick on the Los Angeles board and see if they can do as well as this board did.

-----
Empress of China
838 Grant Ave Ste 5, San Francisco, CA 94108

[wolfe]

Le Central is only as old as it's cassoulet about 13,200 days and still going strong, at least Willie Brown still goes there. Many other were cited by RL up thread.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7694...
It's hard to know what has or hasn't been missed since only the most compulsive will read this whole thing.

[oldrenoreader]

Can y'all tell from Hugh's kind thoughts above, that some of us live in the City then leave it, but Tony Bennett hit it right - apparently, like Hugh, I left my heart - but return often. I'll probably stand down from this epic board now; thanks to you all for your thoughts! Karl Breckenridge/Reno

[Hughlipton]

Thank you for your kind words. And as Edward R. Murrow would say: "Good night and good luck". I'm tuning out of this thread with a lot fo fond memories of mine and those of others who refreshed many of my recollectrions of having live in the City and visited many times. Go Giants!!!!!!

[buttertart]

Kan's was great if you ordered right.

[cattlebrain]

The Leopard Cafe was on Front St site of the 101 California Building. It was a steakhouse and the hangout of the 49ers, Giants and Warriors in the 60's and 70's. Down the street was Golden Eagle, Patanes, Executive Suite in the movie Days of Wine and Roses, Caboras, Ninos, Seven Hills, Big Cherry, Amedeos, Marconis,

[Robert Lauriston]

It wasn't that long ago, but I still miss the Cadillac Bar. I think it was the first place to serve non-Americanized Mexican food. I don't know anyplace that good these days. It was on Holland Court, which was obliterated by the Moscone West abomination.

[AJL]

loved the Cadillac. spent may a friday after work in that great spot.

[oldrenoreader]

I wondered if this effort could end without including the Cadillac - that was a Reno haunt. Robert L maybe you know; was that a chain? We had a restaurant come up from the Bay Area to Reno called Studebaker, but it never opened; I think it was owned in part by Walter Payton. Don't know if or where it was in SF or the Peninsula.

[Robert Lauriston]

It was patterned after the Cadillac Bar in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, which apparently is still in business.

There's a chain of Tex-Mex places called Cadillac Bar.

[rworange]

Many business lunches and after work get togethers at the Cadillac ... lots of shooters, probably the first one I ever had.

Now here's a site you can trust for information. According to them it is still open
http://www.clubplanet.com/Venues/75779/San-Francisco/Cadillac-Bar-and-Grill

But I seem to vaguely recoall it did move to Minna Street where it was replaced by some other trendy at the time restaurant ... something Carribean, IIRC.

Here's a 1985 article about the Cadillac Bar and Grill It makes me want to go again, though in 1985 my tastes would not have been adventerous enough to order this
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi...

"Roasted and grilled milkfed Cabrito (young goat), a specialty of th e Tamaulipas region, limited and priced accordingly."

Further on ...

"Also served at the Cadillac Bar are six appetizers, including Queso Flameado (a fondue of three cheeses with chorizo sausage chunks) and Quesadillas, $3.75-$4.95; three soups--tortilla, cheese and Albondigas (meatball), $2.25 to $2.95; and six salads, including Ceviche and Sangrita (jicama, radish, mango and melon molded into tomato aspic with orange juice), $1.95-$5.95."

Funny that mesquite was such a novelty at the time, the owners loaded up a truck and drove it back from Texas. Mesquite ... from innovation to cliche.

[Robert Lauriston]

Mesquite was no novelty. Lazzari has been bringing it in from Mexico and selling it to local restaurants such as Tadich since the 1940s.

I had the roast kid at Cadillac. It was great.

[oldrenoreader]

Mesquite is nothing to mess around with - we use it on a big chuckwagon-size barbecue trailer and need a good-sized bag of Kingsford's to get the mesquite going. (But when it lights, look out!)

[celeryroot]

We used it in Dallas in the 70's

[jillyju]

Loved a grilled half chicken that I used to always order there. It strikes me now that it might have been the precursor to my obsessive love of El Pollo Supremo in the Mission.

-----
El Pollo Supremo
2801 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[sunyfun]

Wow! The Cadillac Bar was fantastic-but this thread is just making me wonder what I have forgotten in my life. Grateful that all you guys are recalling my past.

[bobpantzer]

Cadillac Bar was the first place I ever ate goat!

[buttertart]

We had our 5th (seemed momentous at the time...) anniversary at Le Castel - it was one of those May 90+degree days and there we were dressed to the nines eating quite good French food more suited to cool weather in their unairconditioned dining room...

[backwoods]

I moved to SF from Seattle in 1971. My brother-in-law came to the city on business and we went to the Shadows for dinner. I think it was the first German food I'd ever had.

Someone mentioned Schroeders. Did you know that it was the last restaurant in SF to refuse admission to women? The same used to be true of Sam's.

I think my favorite of the old SF restaurants was the North Beach. I loved that place, though I didn't care for the downstairs room. I liked the ground-level, even though it was much more cramped.

[wolfe]

Discussion up thread about men only places, Hoffman, Schroeder;s, Redwood Room etc.

[BillSF]

Anyone mentioned the Hot House? It was on Balboa in the Outer Richmond. The thing that I always remember was the red sauce that they slathered on the tamales. I can't seem to find anything like it anymore. I recall reading a thread on Chowhound once about that red sauce..but can't seem to dig it up.

And what about the cafeteria style Manning on market around 5th Street. Anyone remember that place?

[poser]

You must be a kid! I remember when the Hothouse was at Playland at the beach. The only Mexican restaurant that served french bread instead of tortillas!

[sunyfun]

I had my first tortillas and beans at the Hot House after hanging out at Playland.

[pikawicca]

Going down the giant slide at Playland was one of my favorite childhood events. After Playland, we'd usually go to the wharf, watch the fishing boats come in, and eat at Exposition Grotto. Can't do any of these things anymore:(

[Sarah]

Gotta jump in -- was it the HH or the Bull Pup that had the fabulous hot dog on a stick. I think it was a hot dog wrapped in a tortilla and deep fried -- the best!
Thought the HH was on the Great Hwy, by Playland, or was that BP? Memorieees...

[pikawicca]

Back when I was a college student in the late 60's/70's, my friends and I would cross the bay specifically to eat fondue in Ghiradelli Square. Can't remember the name of the place, but their cheese fondue was to die for.

[TopoTail]

This is more a personality than a restaurant, but who could forget Edsel Ford Fong, the late-night waiter at Sam Wo. He made the Soup Nazzi look like a choir boy. When you would order something he didn't approve of he would refuse to bring it and would substitute something of his own choosing. I just Googled him, and he has his own Wikipedia entry!

We could start a whole new thread on abusive waiters who attracted a cult following. Don't remember any waiter in particular, but in the eighties Caffe Sport had a reputation for being really abusive to customers but was nevertheless jammed with society types. I've long harbored a theory that a restaurant featuring abusive waiters could do a great business with wealthy patrons who enjoy the novelty of being treated badly.

Meanwhile, this thread has to be setting some kind of record. What's interesting about it is what it says about the average age of Chowhound followers. Ouch!

-----
Caffe Sport
574 Green St, San Francisco, CA 94133

Sam Wo Restaurant
813 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

[wolfe]

EFFong, after jabbing my future wife with a chopstick, telling her to write our order because he was too busy and telling she could certainly do better than her present date on her first visit was really a sweetheart when you got to know him.
PS Lets not start the age thing again. That one's longer than this one.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/603071

[wolfe]

We have just exceeded the responses to the average age thread.

[oldrenoreader]

Topo, I found this thread by accident a couple nights ago, gave the link to about a dozen friends in Reno and have been having an absolute ball, probably yakking too much, but what a treat! Do you guys do one of these 400+ reply-threads every week!? Thanks to all you young folks for a great read...

[bobpantzer]

This is the longest thread I've ever participated in--both in number of posts and duration. Note that the original post was posted on March 2nd, by trixiSF. I wonder if she and her mother are still with us.

[sunyfun]

They have the concession at the ballpark named in honor of Edsel.

[bobpantzer]

Might it have been The Melting Pot?

-----
Melting Pot
125 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Larkspur, CA 94939

[pikawicca]

I don't think so.

[Glencora]

Just found my old list. These were the places I delivered produce to in the late 80s. I marked the ones that are still open.

Postrio
Corona Beach
*Kuleto's
*Fog City Diner
*Zuni
Ernie's
Maltese Grill (It was on a dead end street downtown. The chef was a woman, Amy something.)
Zola's
Roti (Was in the Hotel Griffon on Steuart. Chef was Robert Cubberly.)
Chez Chez (On Union Street)
*Hayes St
Modesto Lanzone
MacArthur Park
Square One

There were lots more in the East Bay (Anyone remember Norman's? Augusta's?) but that's another thread

[sydthekyd]

Amey Shaw?

[Robert Lauriston]

The Maltese Grill was on Annie St. I remember a fabulous couscous with house-made merguez.

Chef was Amey Shaw. We used to drive up to Benicia to get her food at Doña Francisca. She was at Alta Plaza for a long time, and is currently at Piccolo Teatro in Sausalito, I keep meaning to go over and check it out.

-----
Piccolo Teatro - CURRENTLY CLOSED
739 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965

[Malcolm Ruthven]

You're a few months late to check out Piccolo Teatro. They closed before Christmas with a sign posted saying something like they were remodeling for the holidays. They're still closed and the sign is still there. I liked the place and watched most of the World Series games at their bar, eating their quite-good food.

-----
Piccolo Teatro - CURRENTLY CLOSED
739 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA 94965

[bobpantzer]

Ever since L'Etoile, probably my all-time favorite special occasion restaurant, was mentioned somewhere above, I have not been able to stop thinking of the harlequin souffle they served--half grand marnier and the other half chocolate. How did they do that?

[buttertart]

Pour the mixtures in side by side at the same time, I should think.

[bobpantzer]

Two more, both French:

St. Tropez on Clement in the space that was later occupied by Alan Rondelli, Clementine and, now, Chapeau.

St. Pierre, that romantic little bistro on Pacific between Montgomery and Kearney, later occupied by Cafe Prague and now sitting empty.

-----
Cafe Prague
424 Merchant St, San Francisco, CA 94111

[bobpantzer]

Don't forget Clown Alley!

Also, when the Iron Pot was located on Montgomery Street before it moved to Washington, there was a restaurant next door called either Story Board or Story Book. Anyone remember which it was?

Have these two Geary Street French restaurants been mentioned? La Bergerie and Tricolor.

[oldrenoreader]

While we're wrapping up "Don't Forgets," how 'bout the Far East Cafe across Grant from Old St. Mary's with its private rooms and incredible "lantern" chandeliers? "Francois" was behind the plank every evening after work, a gent from some faraway place called "Viet Nam" that many of us would visit in the years to follow

[sunyfun]

How can anyone forget Clown Alley-so many late nights in NB in need of a big juicy burger and coffee milkshake. Across the street was North China (when it was a hole-in-the wall place) before moving to Van Ness with upgraded digs-I still have dreams about the dry braised beef. I think the place went downhill and out of business after the chef died with his recipe.

[Robert Lauriston]

Clown Alley (currently vacant) had a very odd history in its final years:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598915

[wolfe]

Didn't Charles have a go at a restaurant in the Great American Music Hall and while I at it how about the long drive to Chez Madelaine.

[Fine]

This is from memory, not "research," so to be taken with at least one grain of salt: I believe Charles was the first person to "dress up" the place--don't remember what it had been, maybe a private club. He poured a lot into it--made it quite maroon-velvet elegant. I seem to remember the food being pretty good--when he paid attention, he could really cook. Alas, it didn't make it and evolved into the GAMH. I just remembered that the first time I ever encountered Charles (le Bugle) was when he all-but shouted a hearty, "Bon soir, monsieur," "Bon soir, madame" to each arriving diner at the earliest (I think) incarnation of Fleur de Lys, (He also ran for mayor in the mid-sixties to protest the Vietnam War.)

I can't remember whether the lamb place on Pacific came before or after Maurice and Charles in San Rafael.

His last place was in Truckee, so far as I know..

This doesn't really belong in this post, but I wanted to throw in two more names (I have lots more!): Las Mananitas on Montgomery--a high-end Mexican dinner house I liked a lot, and, I believe unmentioned in this giant thread, Potluck--Hank Rubin and later Hank and Narsai David's amazing restaurant on San Pablo in Berkeley that turned itself into a different ethnic identity every Monday night, exposing many of us to our first encounters with the world's cuisines.

[buttertart]

Narsai's was nice - and was responsible for the popularization of the flourless chocolate cake aka Chocolate Decadence...

[buttertart]

Ghirardelli Square in the early days - Paprikas Fono - fried mushrooms, porkolts, great sausages and langos (fried bread salted and rubbed with garlic, I still make those and have never seen them elsewhere. Modesto Lanzone's was very good. And the Mandarin was wonderful for a splashy Chinese meal in beautiful surroundings.
Elsewhere, Zola - loved that place, woman chef (what happened to her?), sexy delicious food - my first taste of cooked oysters and caviar, and lamb's lettuce salad.
Robert et Charles in Marin - justly famous for seafood boudin blanc...
Vlasta's for the wonderful soup, liver paté, and fantastic roast duck with all the trimmings red cabbage bread dumplings etc - and Vlasta herself in a booth - and a crazy charming waiter, maybe her son? Palatshinken for dessert.
Would be nice to have more Central European restaurants - particularly Hungarian - around.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I mentioned this above, but this thread is so long I'll repeat it here. Paprikas Fono was owned by Lazlo Fono and his wife who came from Hungary. He now owns Babbo's in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, so go there to get another taste of his (and her?) food.

[buttertart]

I didn't see your post, sorry - didn't know that and am exiled to the right coast but will try to get there next trip back. Still Hungarian? The Babbo's here is of course Italian.

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I had lunch at Babbo's a few years ago but really can't remember the food. I don't remember it being particularly Hungarian, though.

Nothing to be sorry about. No one can read and remember all that's in this long (and great) thread.

[Robert Lauriston]

The old Zola space (converted mortuary) is now Acquerello. Catherine Pantsios taught at Tante Marie's for a long time.

-----
Acquerello Restaurant
1722 Sacramento St., San Francisco, CA 94109

[bobpantzer]

Yes, and after it left the Acquerello space the reopened at the corner of Gough and Hayes but I don't think they were there for very long. I still remember the braised duck leg in red wine sauce that I had at Zola's on Sacramento.

[Robert Lauriston]

I forgot Zola moved to Hayes St. I had some great meals there. After the chef retired, it turned into Vince for a while. Caffe Delle Stelle's in there now.

-----
Caffe Delle Stelle
395 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102

[Enric]

I remember Orsi's, that was considered quite swank, the Basque restaurant The Obero Hotel near Broadway, and loved Ristorante Ciao on Jackson with it's sister restaurant MacArthur Park around the corner. Both restaurants were ahead of their time when it came to interior. Does anyone remember Square One? Vanessi's was wonderful too. La Pantera was fun with the communal dining tables.

[Stephanie Wong]

Square One -- enjoyed a nice wine dinner there courtesy of the company I worked for. Unfortunately, can't recall much about the meal, but Joyce Goldstein herself stood out as a real class act.

[Robert Lauriston]

Joyce Goldstein was an incompetent chef. Square One used first-rate ingredients and the execution was excellent, but the conceptions were often way off.

For example, they once did a version of aushak that combined perfectly made ravioli, a great meat sauce, and a great yogurt sauce. The only flaw was that instead of the traditional filling of strong-flavored leek greens they used the delicate Italian combination of ricotta and spinach, which was utterly overpowered by the highly seasoned sauces.

The most extreme example was a dessert that paired an exquisite grapefruit sorbet with a fabulous chocolate sauce. The combination tasted like vomit.

Goldstein also had a column in the Chron for a while where she was remarkably candid about things she would better have kept to herself, such as Square One's techniques for getting rid of customers who lingered too long.

[walker]

I'm intrigued; how did she "get rid of customers who lingered too long?"

[Stephanie Wong]

Reminder: I didn't say & can't recall anything about the meal -- just remember Joyce herself.

[bobpantzer]

I loved Square One and ate there often. I took a cooking class from Joyce when she was chef at the Chez Panisse Cafe, before she opened Square One. I still see her every now and then at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.

[Larry Stein]

There used to be a Spanish restaurant in the Avenues that specialized in paella. It's long since closed. I went there several times with my folks. Can't think of the name and it's driving me crazy!

[Sarah]

We've eaten there, and I can't remember the name either! What keeps popping up is El Cid, not sure why.

[Larry Stein]

No, that's not it. I just know it's gonna come to me in the dead of night and wake me up from a deep sleep.

[Sarah]

Now the question is, what was El Cid? This thread is so brain-taxing!!

[wolfe]

A statue in front of the Palace of the Legion of Honor.
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM...

[soupçon]

El Cid was a restaurant/lounge which faced off the Condor Club from across the street (where New Sun Hong Kong is now). In the topless era, it was known for its "Topless Schoolteacher" review.. It's said that "Big Daddy" Tom Donahue discovered the Beau Brummels there. Don't recall wat the cuisine was there.

-----
New Sun Hong Kong
606 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Sarah]

Well, I did love Sal and the BBs but actually thought El Cid was a restaurant in the Richmond! But now that you mention it... I do remember (foggily) a go-go place up the street (Broadway or Columbus) where the BBs were prominently featured...and am sure there was no cuisine!
Thanks for the memory jolt!

[hill food]

I seem to remember a place named something close to 'el Cid' down on 11 or Folsom, a sodden company party (we were sorta known for that) happened there once, not far from the Oasis.

[Robert Lauriston]

Anyone know why there's a mural of jazz musicians on the New Sun Hong Kong building?

-----
New Sun Hong Kong
606 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

[AJL]

Yes, it is because of the GREAT jazz club that was next to the police station on Vallejo, the Keystone Korner. ALL of the great jazz players were there. It was a tiny joint with chairs crammed together. Freddie Hubbard's spit from his trumpet would hit all the people in the first row.

[soupçon]

Perhaps to exorcise the topless spirits and remind people that Broadway had great music clubs -- The Jazz Workshop, Sugar Hill, Enrico's (which had live jazz for a spell) that I can recall.

No "why" but this article has some background and deconstruction of the mural: http://articles.sfgate.com/2004-02-20...

[Fine]

Add El Matador to the list--I heard Shearing there several times + Anita and my mind's blank right now re others.

[AJL]

Alejandro's was the place. On about 18th and Clement. Great place and great service

[DavidT]

I remember that place. It was on Clement Street maybe between 23rd & 25th Avenues. I think it may have been called "Alejandro's," but I am not positive about that. If I recall correctly, it opened
some time in the mid-1970's and lasted 5-10 years.

[Larry Stein]

Yes, that's it. Thanks!

[wolfe]

John Majeski on another blog and "I remember a wonderful Spanish-Peruvian dish once served at the long-closed Alejandro’s Restaurant on Clement Street in San Francisco called Zarzuela de Mariscos, a stunning seafood stew perfumed with garlic, tomatoes, saffron and all manner of shellfish cooked in their birthday suits."
Quote is John's, memory is shared.

[AJL]

another great restaurant that was short lived, the J Church, at Church and 30th. He made a seafood dish for two that could feed five.

[Robert Lauriston]

Alejandro's Sociedad Gastronomica was at 1840 Clement. Great place. Despite the paella, it was Peruvian.

After it closed, the chef or someone who worked for him opened a place in Grass Valley or Nevada City.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi...

[AJL]

another great REAL Mexican place was on Noriega just off of 19th Ave, Casa Aguilla (sp?). But what was the German place at Church/27th that you had to go downstairs on the side street?

[bobpantzer]

Speckman's may have been that German restaurant--it was on Church. I think it may have been where Incanto is now.

[Robert Lauriston]

Incanto is in the building that was formerly Speckmann's deli (entrance on Church St.) and restaurant (entrance around the corner). The space has been radically remodeled.

[jillyju]

Loved Casa Aguilla/Aguilar (whatever). I have great memories of really special dinners there. It was one of the few places I was ever willing to tolerate a long wait out on the sidewalk, because the food there was unlike what you could get anywhere else.

[backwoods]

Perhaps, Alejandro's. They made great paella.

[gordon wing]

Here's a visual reminder of The Shadows

[Hughlipton]

In getting towards what may be the end of one of the great walks through history should we close without remembering the Findley's Fabulous Fudge when it had one location near Van Ness and before it was bought out and franchised. There was no trip to San Francisco for me and/or my friends that did not include a stop at Findley's.

[oldrenoreader]

I agree with Hugh Lipton and thank all for this walk through a great city in times past. I'm glad I found the site - by accident - I wrote a column in our Reno paper years ago called "Faded Menus," of our old restaurants, and wish I'd have know you all whose memories I've enjoyed for the past 24 hours

[soupçon]

The SF Public library has a nifty set of nostalgic restaurant photos to spur more memories. How could we all forget Sinaloa, on upper Powell St. where Lichee Garden now is? http://is.gd/9QcDLA

-----
Lichee Garden
1416 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[Robert Lauriston]

Looks like you posted the wrong link.

There's no need to obfuscate URLs, Chowhound automatically hides long ones.

[soupçon]

NOT the wrong link. There's a picture of Sinaloa on the first page.

[Robert Lauriston]

Now it's bringing up an SF library Flickr page. Before it was linking to some random NY chain restaurant.

[kcshigekawa]

I was just thinking of La Mer Duquesne (sp?). It was in the basement of a hotel, sort of on the edge of the Tenderloin and Union Square/Theater district. I drove past a few years ago, and there was some other restaurant in that spot.

[soupçon]

I think that name is correct, as I recall Herb Caen having great fun with it ("la merde du Caen").

[kcshigekawa]

ha!

[bobpantzer]

It was located in what was then named the El Cortez hotel on Geary between Taylor and Jones. You entered through the alley on the side of the hotel. It was operated by a lady who formerly owned a French restaurant in Marin near Tam Junction--the name escapes me but I think it started with "C"
For many years her two sons owned L'Olivier on Davis in the Golden Gateway complex which is still open but they sold it a couple of years ago.

-----
L'Olivier
465 Davis Ct, San Francisco, CA 94111

[bobpantzer]

Forgot to add that the restaurant that you probably saw in that space a couple of years ago was named Cortez, probably after the old hotel name. I think it has opened and closed twice in the past few years.

[kcshigekawa]

Thanks!

[Sarah]

La or Le Camembert in Mill Valley, wonderful place... now Dipsea Cafe.

[bobpantzer]

Yep, that's it! Thanks.

[DavidT]

Does anybody remember "the House of Cannelloni" that was in a bowling alley on the south side of Filbert Street, between Gough & Octavia? The bowling alley was torn down some time in the mid-1970's.

[bobpantzer]

How about Senor Pico Mexican restaurant in Ghirardelli Square, circa 1969. I think it was owned by Vic Bergeron who owned the Trader Vic's chain.

[Robert Lauriston]

Was that the place that purported to serve "old California" or "California rancho" cuisine?

[bobpantzer]

I think they referred to it as "early California". I just found the menu:

http://www.ioffer.com/i/senor-pico-me...

[gordon wing]

There was Tortola's on Polk Street IIRC .......
http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-07-20...

[bobpantzer]

Yes, I do remember that place--went there several times.

[bobpantzer]

A couple of other old Mexican restaurants:

El Sombrero on Geary where Aziza is now.

The Widow and Poncho Villa on either Jackson or Pacific between Montgomery and Sansome.

-----
El Sombrero
2101 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

[Sharuf]

LOVED El Sombrero, and the fine and exuberant way they did up the Mexican Ambience -- with colorful tiles, wrought iron, waitresses in sexy peasant outfits and big earrings, and a mamacita in the corner patting out tortillas.

Haven't been to Aziza. I hope they left much of the decor in place.

[Robert Lauriston]

Aziza is very spare and modern.

[Sharuf]

SPARE AND MODERN!!? You mean all those tiles are gone?

(Sob!)

The wonderful Alhambra-esque decor would have worked beautifully for a Morroccan place!

[Malcolm Ruthven]

My friends and I often went to El Sombrero and enjoyed the full bar as much as the food :-)

-----
El Sombrero
2101 University Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704

[gordon wing]

here's their matchbook ......

[gordon wing]

Senor Pico's

[cortez]

In the late 70's, used to go to Modesto Lanzone's in Ghirardelli Square. Wonderful ambiance made special by the owners art collection and warm reception of his guests. Upscale Italian menu with several modest size dining rooms, some of which had views of the bay.

This restaurant elevated the neighborhood before it slid back to Fisherman's Wharf-type tourism.

[sunyfun]

Thanks trixieSF for starting this great trip down memory lane for all of us who apparently are old enough to be your parent. Of course we will be wondering for days trying to remember places that we have no way recalling due to our age.

[foodseek]

Who knows what Nob Hill would be like today if Alexis and L'Etoile were back and going strong. Of course, it was a different time but I would think there would still be a place for them in today's landscape. It would even help the struggling grande dame hotels nearby. Does anyone remember an off the beaten track, small French restaurant on Judah- I believe- called LeBouc. It was my favorite French restaurant "back in the day." The family moved and opened another restaurant in Alameda which has since closed as well.

[LAMark]

There was another small French place out that way called Le Rhone as I recall. A labor of love by an older French couple. Some memorable meals there.

[cortez]

Ok. Put on your memory caps. For me, the two fanciest French restaurants I can remember from the 60s and 70s were the Blue Fox and Ernies. You dressed up for those places in an era when only French food was considered to be sophisticated.

Anybody remember this pair?

[cortez]

Also, my uncle used to take us to Pietro's, a fancier Italian place in Jackson Sq, where the Transamerica Pyramid is now. The neighborhood was an Italian accented produce market before it was sadly moved to South San Francisco. it was a charming and authentic couple of blocks.

Pietro's had waiters in tuxedoes who were professional and experienced. The maitre'd had been there forever. I miss that place.

[scaduto]

ahhhh Pietro's ,went there for my senior prom and took my folks there.
hated it when the Trans moved them out

[soupçon]

Don't recall Pietro's but the Pyramid also replaced two sibling restaurants, Le Boeuf and La Poulet. Le Boeuf was one of those places where your steak was cut to order. Above them was the Stella Hotel, a SRO favored by latter-day beatniks (yours truly included).

That block, incidentally, was the Montgomery Block (a.k.a. Monkey Block). Jackson Square was (and is) to the north of Washington St.

-----
Poulet
1685 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA

[hill food]

wow Monkey Block, haven't heard that name in a long time. you may find it interesting that that serrated office condo block at Montgomery and Columbus (featured in the James Bond film View to a Kill) utilized artifacts found during construction in display vitrines in the lobby

[Hughlipton]

I could be so terribly wrong but wasn't it known as Pietro's 311 Club? It was about one block down from Le Bouef which was a great deal like Phil Lehr's in terms of cutting your raw steak to your request and then grilling it to your desires.

[oldrenoreader]

Right on, Pietro's 311 - at 311 Washington - torn down I'd guess 1961-2 for the redevelopment (and the produce market moved) - it was a Reno hangout

[Robert Lauriston]

Ernie's is immortalized in "Vertigo" and lasted until 1995. Jacky Robert has three restaurants in Boston.

[LAMark]

As I recall, Ernie's underwent a remarkable transformation in the late 70s, from being an old-fashioned, rather stodgy but reliable place to a much more experimental menu. Perhaps that was Jacky Robert's influence. I distinctly remember a meal there in the early 80s that included some fairly exotic ingredients for the time such as sauces with uni and the like.

[Robert Lauriston]

Jacky Robert was in an episode of the early-80s Great Chefs of San Francisco TV series. He was also one of the speakers at the first CCA commencement, which also featured James Beard and M. F. K. Fisher.

[gordon wing]

Jacky Robert was also one of the instructors at the CCA in the early years ( while still on Fremont Street ). He was a skilled chef and a good instructor - but not much of a self promoter.

[backwoods]

Ernie's was also mentioned in The High & The Mighty, a movie about pilots trying to get a stricken airliner to SF. One of the pilots says something like, "If we get out of this, I'll buy dinner at Ernie's." At the end of the movie, the two head for Ernie's.

[tomatoaday]

Regarding LaBouc, I remember going to the one in Alameda once. I loved the fish soup and when I wanted to take some with me, they poured it into an empty clean wine bottle.

[Stephanie Wong]

Was this on Lincoln or Ballena?

[oldrenoreader]

9:40 PM Reno time, told my wife of this great site I've spent two hours on, made an ass of myself a couple of times, made a lot of new friends - and - she said, "Don't forget the Blue Boar" - Lombard, bet. maybe Gough - Laguna, south side of street, very nice two-story, English Manor, burned 20 years ago....

[hill food]

you most certainly did NOT make an ass out of yourself, besides, that's my territory/shtick

[gordon wing]

Alexis ......

[Stephanie Wong]

Wow -- what a wonderful collection you must have. Thanks for reviving the memory of my very first "grown up" New Years Eve dinner.

[gordon wing]

It was a rainy day activity to go through my collection and photograph them but it killed a good part of the afternoon. Have to pretend that I actually have a life : ~ ) Maybe more later if it continues to rain ?

[foodseek]

Thanks Gordon for the visuals on so many memories!

[oldrenoreader]

In my early years in the City the Fairmont couldn't make a go of their swimming pool and converted it to a tiki restaurant we all know - last I heard it was going to be re-purposed (I hate that word!) and there was a community effort to prevent it - is the Tonga Room still open? We get down your way every couple months but never make it up the hill from the Marina.

-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

[hill food]

god I hope not, even Safeway took a cue and has a thunder and lightning show before misting the vegetables

[gordon wing]

The Tonga Room ..... let it rain!

-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

[Robert Lauriston]

The Tonga Room is still open. The speculators that currently own the Fairmont have been unsuccessful in persuading the city to permit conversion of part of the property to condos.

-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

[oldrenoreader]

re Tonga Room to Hill Food, Gordon and Robert (Bob?!) - thanks!

-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

[buttertart]

Le Club - a sort of cantine for the Nob Hill crowd - went there twice, one time had my back to the waiter and thought service was very good, my husband thought it was very snotty - the next time the positions were reversed and I saw what he meant. Berkeley riffraff not encouraged to return. Food was ok but nothing special except in price. Was unhappily reminded of it by le Périgord in NYC last year (although Le Club was more elegant than le Périgord is now by far).

ETA oh my God, is it still there?

-----
Le Club
1250 Jones St Ste 100, San Francisco, CA 94109

[cosmogrrl]

It's still there! I've yet to go there even though it's a block away from me.

[buttertart]

If it's anything like it was, don't bother.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Tonga Room is a fun place to have a drink. Unless things have changed, it's best to eat elsewhere.

http://www.fairmont.com/sanfrancisco/...

-----
Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

[oldrenoreader]

Amen, Bob
And, nice to see somebody beside a tourist like me (Bob L, in your Mar.3 enumeration) include Scoma and Seal Rock in this culinary, gastronomical and inadvertant 400+ comment paean to days gone by

[DavidT]

This thread proves again the nostalgia just isn't what it used to be!

[Maryelle]

I was in the Orsis' camp. Fine Italian dinners and many bottles of vino.

[bobpantzer]

I remember dining with my wife at Orsi's on Bush Street sitting next to an older couple who were obviously tourists. At the end of the meal they were served the signature fried cream which was served flambe style. When it was placed in front of them they looked at each otherr, obviously not knowing what to do with this flaming dessert. Finally the man decided to blow his out and when he did it sent little bits of flaming rum onto the table cloth. He then took his napkin and began swating the multiple little fires to put them out. No, I did not laugh.......outloud.

[buttertart]

Thank you! I've been trying to remember the name of that place. Food was great and I remember a bottle of Chateau Margaux at an extremely reasonable price (1975 - when we ate there, not the vintage, but it was a good one).

[wolfe]

What was the name of the dumpy little Chinese restaurant on 18th near Castro that served incredible amounts of food for very few dollars.

[pauliface]

The one between Badlands and the Edge?
China Seas?
I used to live around the corner.

Funny thing about that place.
My buddies and I felt they had great wonton soup, and great potstickers, and everything else was terrible. We tried other things a few times, and then just settled on the fact that it would be only for those two things...

Which reminds me. Look for a new post from me about Pudong...

[gordon wing]

China Seas sounds on track ....... South China Seas???

[wolfe]

I think you've got it but I think the Seas is silent, South China 1972.

[pauliface]

I never could remember the correct name of the restaurant. You see, I had been ruined for this by my favorite line of from Dynasty.
Alexis: "You'll never get those South China Sea oil leases, Blake!"
It was the delivery more than the line itself...

[wolfe]

I understand. ;-)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UsnKNgnYcIU...

[ola]

Anyone remember the name of the Armenian place that served an amazingroasted lamb in pomegranate juice?

[Sarah]

Bali's ----
http://www.kitchensisters.org/hidden_...

[Sherri]

There are a couple of restaurants whose names completely escape me, but they date from the 1960s.
The unlisted phone number place in Maiden Lane serving lamb = ??? (My blurry memory says that it was a man's name.)
There was a "white tablecloth" Italian place in North Beach (around the corner from Carol Doda) = ???
The Blums at Union Square had the Coffee Crunch Cake that I still miss.
In Sausalito, wonderful gnocchi, Italian, maybe began with the letter "O"???

Oh, I miss my mind!

[Sarah]

My mind's going going gone... I remember Basta Pasta in NB but thought it was a casual place. Before that it was La Pantera? The Sausalito place is/was Ondine's?

[Sherri]

Ondine's it is! Thank you! I celebrated my 19th birthday there and still remember it XX years later. Is it still open?

I'm still worrying those others .....................

EDIT: I just remembered two more old favorites:
The Gold Spike, maybe Columbus & Green? Family-style Italian with huge bowls & platters, it was around the corner from Des Alpes (if memory serves).
The Spaghetti Factory with that loooong nude painting over the bar with the floaty chiffon scarf. I don't remember a thing about the food.

[wolfe]

http://www.ondinesausalito.com/histor...

[ola]

Anyone remember the name of the Armenian place that served an amazing roasted lamb in pomegranate juice? Upscale, white tableclothes kind of place.

[gordon wing]

The Gold Spike ......

[Jane917]

oh yes, the Gold Spike! Isn't it still there? There was another place nearby called Tower of Pisa, or something like that.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Gold Spike closed in 2006. The only old-school family style North Beach restaurant still carrying on the tradition is Capp's Corner.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

-----
Capp's Corner
1600 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[soupçon]

You're probably thinking of the New Pisa, another family style Italian place, or mashing it up in your mind with the Tower Cafe on Grant Avenue. The Tower Cafe was a favorite of mine in the early 60's,. especially on Monday night, which was spaghetti night. For $1.00 you got a big plate of spaghetti with meat balls, garlic bread, a green salad and a split of red wine. Also nearby were the Green Valley and the Montclair, both family style restaurants on Green St.

[oldrenoreader]

In 1963 (;64?) Ondine had top-flight music; we saw Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto of the "Girl from Ipanema" rage perform the music of Black Orpheus - cost a quarter to cross the GG Bridge

[sunyfun]

You can still get the Coffee Crunch Cake at YASUKOCHI'S SWEET SHOP on Sutter Street, I ordered one for my birthday a few years ago and it was marvelous.

[sunyfun]

Blums Coffee Crunch Cake : http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/b...

[gordon wing]

Blum's - lost a crown to the Coffee Crunch Cake one time!

[Sherri]

Replying to myself!

Trying to remember the names from a dim past has deviled me for the past five days, ever since I posted this request. Alas, I made some factual errors in my request.

"The unlisted phone number place" was not in Maiden Lane. It was Charles' Bistrot, Pacific at Battery (Jackson Square) and had neither a listed phone number nor sign at the entrance. I believe it opened in 1964 (I was in college down the peninsula at the time). They did serve lamb, a lot of lamb, and Charles served it medium-rare in the French style.

I'm still unable to recall the name of "the white tablecloth Italian place" but do remember that it was across the street from Enrico's (Braodway at Kearney???) There was a harpist playing in the dining room and this was among the early Northern Italian ristorantes in the city.

While still in college, I remember going to The Redwood Room (Clift Hotel?) for dinner with my parents and some of their friends. There was a sign at the entrance forbidding entry to women wearing pants. My mother was wearing pants under a tunic. She calmly slipped them off, tucked them in her purse and blithely entered wearing a *very* short skirt. Of course, as her daughter,I was mortified but look back on it today and truly admire her pluck.
Last December my eldest son celebrated a major Bday and we began with champagne at The Redwood Room, for nostalgia's sake. What a transformation!

What a lot of wonderful memories this post has prompted.

[backwoods]

White table cloths in NB. The restaurant might have been the North Beach. They always had white table cloths.

[buttertart]

That was a good one too, is it still there? They had the BEST bartender in the late '70s, he could magic a drink out of thin air while smoking a cigarette.

[soupçon]

Lots of "old" (e.g. 1967) restaurants reviewed and advertised in the archived guidebook "My Secret San Francisco" which focused on more affordable eats.

http://is.gd/wPTGHI

[Hughlipton]

Anybody remember Phil Lehr's the Steakery where you would walk to the counter and have them carve a cut of steak for you and then cook it to your specs? There were a couple of places like that in S.F. when I was a kid.

[stanbee]

Mrs Paolie,88 I believe, works every day at her City Discount on Polk St. Houswares, cooking supplies. Bless her!

[walker]

I really regret never eating at Flying Saucer. (Hard to park, expensive for me.) That crazy (in a good way?) Moroccan chef/owner? went to live in Thailand? and has died.

I do really miss Original Joe's on Taylor. Affordable, good quality, generous but scary neighborhood. Waiters stayed there a very long time; my favorite: Angelo from Croatia.

[pauliface]

Flying Saucer! How could I forget. That was my #1 place for several years. He was for me what Alice Waters must have been to those who arrived in the area 10 years earlier -- the local revolutionary chef that changed the way I looked at dinner...

[wolfe]

Was there a very popular cafeteria near the Civic Center? I seem to remember one of my neighbors in the early 70's had worked there.

[pauliface]

Coffee Cantata.

I grew up in New York and my parents came to SF in the late 60s, and returned raving about the place. We were all big on plates-with-lots-of-little-things-on-them and Coffee Cantata had some offerings with varieties of little scoops of different salads.
I was later to go there with my parents and enjoyed it just as much. They were still open when I first moved here but they had lost their mojo by that time, and now they are gone...

And, ha! According to this page, the location is now Betelnut...
http://reelsf.com/bullitt-coffee-cantata

[bronwen]

I used to live on Green Street and regularly went to Cafe Cantata, loved it.
I also remember Jovaneli's or Jovanelo's - wonderful old school Italian off Broadway.

[Fine]

I hung out at the original Coffee Cantata when it opened on Polk--it was one of the very first, if not the first, coffee houses in SF. One of the partners was a concert-level pianist and played a lot.

It changed to more of a restaurant when it moved.

[pikawicca]

I'll probably get dissed for this, but my father took us kids to Sears for silver dollar pancakes with lingonberries whenever we were in town. His father spent most of his adult life stationed at the Presidio, and took his two boys to Sears for the same treat just about every week. To me, it's an iconic SF meal.

[Steve Green]

Sears was great back in its day, when Al Boyajian owned and ran it. Before the days of year-round berries at the grocery store, it was a real treat to get strawberries in December.

After Al died, his son took over and things were never the same, even before the Lori's Diner guy bought it.

[hill food]

Sears. stepping over an elderly regular that had "fallen out" wondering is there anything I can do? until the EMT came. the staff always had it under control. Lori's bought it? no wonder.

[Sharuf]

Back in the sixties I worked nearby. Going to Sears for lunch was a real treat. An artichoke and a bowl of oyster stew made for one fine meal.

They had sweet little old ladies as waitresses, and used silver - well, silver-looking - serving dishes. There was a nice general air of classiness.

[scaduto]

we would go to Sears , and i would get fig bars. none better

[buttertart]

I remember their fruit salad as being spectacular.

[CarrieWas218]

Has anyone mentioned Victoria's Station? You ate in a vintage rail car down near Jackson Square/Embarcadero. Destroyed after the '89 earthquake...

[Cynsa]

married at City Hall and then, lunch at Victoria's Station. how could I forget?

-----
City Hall Cafe
400 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103

[wally]

We got married at City Hall and then lunch at Square One.

-----
City Hall Cafe
400 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103

[soupçon]

Married at City Hall then ice cream and coffee at Enrico's.

-----
City Hall Cafe
400 S Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94103

[Steve Green]

Has anyone mentioned the Hoffman Grill at 2nd and Market? For those who don't remember it, it's where Boudin is now -- they built a highrise _around_ the building due to its historical status. I sure miss that place. Great sauerbraten, and a tasty midmorning breakfast too. Back in the early 80s, on the occasional rough morning after a night of excess, I used to sneak away to the Hoffman from my corporate job. A great plate of corned beef hash and eggs made everything right again. (That might have been their only breakfast item)

It was owned by Joe Betz, owner of the House of Prime Rib. He reportedly kept all the equipment in storage while the highrise was being built, and kept the employees on retainer or something, but never was able to work out a deal with the City to re-open.

[Stephanie Wong]

I heard the problem was venting the kitchen in a "permitable" manner. . . hard to do with a high-rise occupying all the air space above Hoffman Grill

[roseink]

I remember the Hoffman! It was a men only place until the early 70's. I miss the sauerbraten and corned beef hash as well.

[bobpantzer]

Are you sure you're not thinking of Schroeder's? It was a men only place but I don't think the Hoffman Grill was. Schroeder's is the place with the round tables of 10 with alternating german potato salad and cole slaw already set at each place. It's still open, I wonder if they still do that there.

[Robert Lauriston]

No. They do have free appetizers at happy hour.

[soupçon]

Schroeder's was men only until after lunch, until 1970. http://is.gd/JaVJaq

[Robert Lauriston]

I'm pretty sure the last men-only place in SF was House of Shields, until 1972.

[Hughlipton]

And I could swear the last of the men's only place (after 5:00 p.m.) was the Oak Roob Bar at the St. Francis.

[cmvan]

Perhaps that was a mis-spelled Freudian slip there? Considering "men's only", that should have read "Oak Rube"...(LOL)

[Sharuf]

NOW invaded Schroeder's and forced it to change its ways. We did that to several other places too.

[gordon wing]

Hoffman Grill on Market Street

[Sharuf]

Was Hoffman the old-style place on Market St. which had a counter that emerged onto the sidewalk, where you could order red clam chowder, which came with a bowl of oyster crackers?

[sunyfun]

I remember the oyster crackers with the white clam chowder-my uncle took me there when I was a kid. I think it was the Hoffman building.

[Robert Lauriston]

The Hoffman Grill is now a Boudin. The landmark facade is intact though an office building was put up around it.

The nearby 711 Club was a longtime holdout.

-----
Boudin Sourdough Bakery & Cafe
619 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94105

[gordon wing]

House of Prime Rib .......home of the spinning salad bowl

-----
House of Prime Rib
1906 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA 94109

[steve h.]

I used to go to the old, old Washington Square Bar and Grill. I'd sit at the bar, quietly sip a martini and mind my own business. Food, at the tables, was ok at best. I liked the piano. It was run by the Moose family then. I miss the place.

[cosmogrrl]

Didn't Michael McCourt, younger brother to Frank, bartend there until recently?

[wolfe]

And long ago Perry's on Union.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/entertainme...

[soupçon]

I use to go drink at the old, old, Washington Square Bar and Grill when it was the old, old, old Rose Pistola's.

-----
Rose Pistola
532 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133-2802

[steve h.]

I never knew that. Thanks for sharing.

[bronwen]

Moose's was on its way to becoming an institution and is now closed, talking about the Moose family running the Washbag.

[lexdevil]

No memories of Le Trianon? My grandfather took us there for birthdays. We had a favorite waiter, whom I think we called, "Okay." He, inexplicably (given the type of restaurant it was), taught me to use chopsticks. I also have fond memories of insisting on Crepes Suzette, which my grandfather was certain I would not like.

[TopoTail]

When I moved to SF in 1971 I became a regular at the original Little Joe's, when Paolo was running the place and Franco was his sidekick. Paolo turned out amazing food. My favorite was the Thursday special, chicken fricassee with olives and polenta. He also made a calamari dish sauteed in squid ink that was killer, and somehow found the time to whip up zabaione for dessert. The place was always a mad house, and Paolo and Franco were a scream. One night I remember looking up and seeing the two of them standing outside on Columbus, looking through the window laughing and pointing at us customers sitting at the counter.

After Paolo retired Franco expanded the place, but he just didn't have Paolo's flair. Stuck my head in the current location of Little Joe's (5th & Mission) a few weeks ago, and the menu bore no resemblance to what I remember from the seventies.

-----
Little Joe's
1106 Market St, San Francisco, CA

[Cynsa]

this is the place where we sat at the counter - ringside to the floor show with the stove flaming behind Paolo and Franco? they had us in stitches and nearly rolling on the floor because they were relentless chiding my pregnant friend for swallowing such a huge watermelon... the banter was two-way and endless. while I can't recall what we ate with our out-of-town family visitors, it was always memorable.

[wolfe]

One word, cacciucco.

[Cynsa]

http://www.academiabarilla.com/recipe...

[wolfe]

I think Franco's was mostly shrimp and I think it was served in a glass. It was cheap.

[TopoTail]

Oh yeah. How could I have neglected to mention the cacciucco?

[curiousgeo]

Cacciucco, my favorite dish at Little Joe's! Loved sitting on the counter at the North Beach location and watch the cooks whip out my dish on the stove. "Rain or Shine......."

[soupçon]

Likewise the Columbus Cafe on Broadway, where May Dito abused the cook and the customers.

[Michael Rodriguez]

I remember the Domino club with great affection--lots and lots of free appetizers at bar and pictures of nude women apparently bought by the acre. The pictures weren't much, but the food and drink were, at least in memory.

[Hughlipton]

The food was great there and the pictures weren't all that shabby. When i was sworn in before the Court of Appeals in San Francisco I took the lawyer who was employed by Mel Belli and represented me to be sworn in to The Domino Club for lunch. I forget the alley it was in but i remember it dead ended. A special restaurant in special days.

[bronwen]

Which reminds me that Doro's was next door to Belli's office which was very beautiful with lots of wood (you could see through the window) but always very messy!

[hill food]

ha! Belli (looked like him anyway) almost mowed me down when I was crossing Sansome at Vallejo

[wolfe]

The king of tortes would probably have sued you for interference.
He won over USD $600,000,000 in judgments during his legal career and that's when a hundred million dollars meant something.

[bobpantzer]

I used to see him lunching with his son and a bunch of others in a corner booth at Doro's. That group could really chow down and consumed a lot of alcohol with their food.

[hill food]

who was the other celeb-lawyer with long hair and drove a Caddy that sort of ran in that lunch crowd? he also almost mowed me down but that time I walking across Vallejo at Battery. Tony Serra?

but then so did a boss who liked the old Waterfront. maybe I should try to be a nicer person...

my Grandmother lived there for a bit when Grandfather was about to be deployed to the Pacific Rim in WWII, always went on about some restaurant in Union Square she loved, the name lives on in a line of salad dressings, but I can't recall the name.

[bobpantzer]

I think Bernstein's, or something like that, was somewhere on Powell, near Union Square, and I think there is a brand of salad dressing with that name.

[cmvan]

It would have indeed been Tony Serra.

[Fine]

I was going to suggest del Prado, but the salad dressing ref changed my mind.

[Fine]

Oops--I meant El Prado.

[bronwen]

Everyone drank alot in those days as expense reports were alive and well!

[eatzalot]

Two kinds of old-line restaurants I remember. The high-end places: Ernie's of course (immortalized as a scene setting in the 1950s movie _Vertigo_) and the Blue Fox were already cited. Competing with the likes of L'Orangerie, L'Etoile, La Bourguignonne [?sp].

Jack Shelton's "Private" restaurant guide wrote those up and was widely read (later acquired by Robert Finigan, better known for his wine newsletter begun 1972, long before folks here ever heard of Robert Parker).

The other and more memorable kind of old restaurant -- maybe someone knows if any like this are still around! -- were the classy but hard-boiled hangouts where politicians and power-brokers could be seen cutting deals. These places (and the people who freqeunted them) surfaced often in Herb Caen's column. The two of this type that I had experience with were of course the old SF Trader Vic's on Cosmo Court and the lower-key Iron horse on Maiden Lane off Union Sq. A place where you could drop in for a late lunch and have crab and Champagne, if that was your craving. Or Vichyssoise.

[Cynsa]

The Old Poodle Dog on Post Street from 1968 to 1980.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfplsanf...

remember the Washbag...Washington Square Bar & Grill and Le Central for the 'hard-boiled hangouts'?

I'm old enough to remember that we dressed up to go downtown - white gloves.

[wolfe]

What's with remembering Le Central?
http://www.lecentralbistro.com/

[Cynsa]

not 'remembering' Le Central... just recalling it as da Mayor's (Willie Brown's) hangout. Where were the other scenes? Stars? never mind.

[hill food]

Stars? yeah Jeremiah jumped the shark when the nameplates got attached to the bar. had I been a regular I woulda paid to keep it off.

[ola]

My Great Uncle Charlie took each of his grandchildren and grand nieces and nephews out once a year to the Old Poodle Dog. I remember dressing up in my best clothes, white gloves and black patent maryjanes and my Mom walking me to the muni stop for the trip downtown for lunch. Just me and Uncle Charlie. He always ordered the Crepe Suzettes for desert. They would turn off all the lights, enter with the silver tray aflame. What a thrill for an eight year old!

[roseink]

One of my earliest memories was refusing to eat anything at the Old Poodle Dog. I couldn't have been more than 4 years old and thought they were serving old poodle dogs.

[scaduto]

I took a date there in 72, boy did i feel old of place

[buttertart]

The Ritz Old Poodle Dog, no? Lunch before shopping (actually 95% of the time just looking) at Gump's (when things there were still somewhat affordable) and Magnin's.

[backwoods]

The Washbag was big with Democrats (not that there were many Republicans in the city).

[lexdevil]

My dad had a binder of his mimeographed Jack Shelton newsletters. I wonder where they are now.

[PBSF]

Bring back Alexis on Nob Hill.

[Stephanie Wong]

Oh -- I loved Alexis!

[goingoutagain]

I recently saw La Rondalla on Valencia -- mainly known for its year-round Christmas decorations, but known by me as the first Mexican food I ever had, in the 70s -- had closed. The sign is still there.

[Frosty Melon]

Oh, La Rondalla has been closed for ages. I think I heard it's set to reopen soon, though, but I'm not sure I believe it.

I think its thunder has long since been lost to Puerto Alegre for a similar experience.

-----
Puerto Alegre Restaurant
546 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

La Rondalla closed almost four years ago, after their health permit was suspended.

According to this blog, one of the workers remodeling the place is three years old:

http://uptownalmanac.com/2010/09/la-r...

[hill food]

HA! I loved the place although was not too surprised about the (apparently egregious) health code issues - but then nobody went for the food right? I hope Puerto Allegre does NOT provide a similar experience.

[Fine]

My BH always wanted to go to La Rondalla for birthday celebrations and swore the beginning of the end was the day they stopped frying their complimentary chips in lard. Birthday menu included BOTH menudo and posole, to the servers' chagrin!
I set up the only surprise party of my life there for mostly out-of-towners; I even prepaid parking somewhere on Mission. It was a trip.

[Robert Lauriston]

Out of curiosity, I flipped through some old restaurant guides from the 70s and earlier. Here are some places that are still around:

Basta Pasta
Balboa Cafe
Capp's Corner
Cordon Bleu
Delancy Street
Empress of China
Garden Court
Gold Mirror
House of Prime Rib
Kan's
Khan Toke Thai House
Mama's
North Beach Restaurant
Pacific Cafe
Pasquale's Pizza
Perry's
Rue Lepic
Sam's Grill
Sausage Factory
Scoma's
Seal Rock Inn
Swan Oyster Depot
Tadich Grill
Thanh Long
Tommaso's (Lupo's)
Victor's Pizza
Yet Wah

And some that moved or changed radically:

Alfred's
Cafe du Nord
Fleur de Lys
Hunan
La Cumbre
La Taqueria
Little Joe's
Redwood Room
Roosevelt Tamale Parlor
Sam Wo
San Remo
Sears
US Restaurant

[wolfe]

When did Sam Wo move? I remember it looked old in 1972. or do you mean it changed radically with the death of Edsel? The food isn't any different.

-----
Sam Wo Restaurant
813 Washington Street, San Francisco, CA 94108

[DavidT]

I have driven by Rue Lepic on PIne Street (at the corner of Jones or Mason, I think) many, many, many times in 38 years I have lived in SF. I have never been there or ever met anyone who has been there. I cannot recall ever reading a review of the restaurant anywhere. Has anyone ever eaten there?

[artemis]

I ate there several years ago at the behest of my grandfather. It was ok but rather unremarkable. I had duck l'orange, and it was on the too sweet side, though the duck was cooked nicely. It also felt very cramped.

[joisey al]

Had dinner at Rue Lepic last summer. Small place, food was excellent and. great prices for wines. I had the fixed price dinner, soup, salad, appetizer, entree and dessert.

[Jack]

I ate there many years ago and enjoyed it, so went back about 3 years ago with my wife and some friends. Very good french food, good atmosphere, quiet. It struck me as a neighborhood place in a neighborhood (Nob Hill) that an support it.

[Steve Green]

Robert:
Good list. Just wondering -- in what way has La Taqueria changed?

-----
La Taqueria
2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Robert Lauriston]

La Taqueria used to charge the same prices as everybody else. Somehow (probably thanks mostly to the Chron) it became the main taqueria that gringos from outside the neighborhood know about, and they jacked up their prices. I'm not sure if anything else has changed.

-----
La Taqueria
2889 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[ML8000]

I think it was Patricia Unterman and no lard in the beans.

[Robert Lauriston]

Patty Unterman started it, but Michael Bauer put it in the Top 100 several times.

[Glencora]

David's must've been around in the 70s. I remember going with friends when I was pretty young--too young to have sense, apparently. We'd sit at the counter and order pastries.

[Ruth Lafler]

Schroeder's. Some of the other places at the Wharf (Alioto's, the Franciscan).

I don't think anyone has mentioned Jack's -- I wonder if it will ever be revived.

[hill food]

wow Schroeder's - "House of the ...." what?

[Robert Lauriston]

Polka party.

[hill food]

ha! such an overlooked niche market.

seriously wasn't there something like a tag line on their sign?

[Robert Lauriston]

"Since 1893." They're still at 240 Front St., where they moved in 1959, bringing much of the old decor with them.

http://www.schroederssf.com

[hill food]

for some reason I thought they'd closed. nice to know.

[Ruth Lafler]

Nope. Still going strong as far as I can tell: polka parties, beer fests, World Cup matches, etc.

[backwoods]

If memory serves, Schroeder's was the last restaurant to refuse admission to women. Sam's was also very slow to change its policy.

[gordon wing]

Schroeder's .....

[buttertart]

Home of the...bad office lunch.

[rworange]

The building is the same, but The Franciscan was bought by the same people who own The Stinking Ros and Dead Fish, so the menu is pretty close to those and other restaurants they own.

No one mentioned the Velvet Turtle, the first place I had beef Wellington. Then there was Victora Station in a converted railroad car near the Embarcadero. I still have a box of matches from them.

[cmvan]

Ah, I grew up on Pasquale's pizza, living in the Inner Sunset... And what about Johnson's Tamale Grotto, out Vicente way - with their awesome turkey tamales?

And did anyone else frequent Salmagundi's in the Financial District like I did for lunch? I'd still like to find their recipes for their mushroom and mulligatawney soups!

And Omar Khayyam's, where I first tasted rose petal jam...

[Steve Green]

I loved Salmagundi's. I especially liked their cheddar soup and their chili. Not the recipes you're looking for, but this thread has a couple of their recipes:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/712241 I remember how they shrank down to one outlet on Kearny St., and then one day there was a note in the window, and they were gone. Too bad they never published a cookbook. I still miss that place.

And yes, Omar Khayyam was an old family favorite. I gave a jar of their rose petal jam to my high school sweetheart ages ago.

[cosmogrrl]

Omar Khayyam's is on the list of restaurants I was going to eat at once i was an Adult with my own money. And The Blue Fox, and L'Etoile, and Venessi's. Unfortunately they closed before I could afford them. *sigh* I grew up eating the Vanessi's canned ravioli and longed to eat it there.

My parent's weren't as fascinated with high end dining as I was, apparently. Of course i assumed then that one had to speak french to the waiters in some of these places, so i studied like mad to get an A in french in order to cajole my parents into taking me to one these places. Didn't work though.

I did finally eat at Fleur de Lys though. My bus passed it everyday on the way to school. I vowed that I'd eat there one day. Thankfully I have several times now :)

[foodseek]

I loved Omar Khayyam's especially the rose jam they served with their bread. Great memories in this thread|!

[scaduto]

Johnson's Tamale Grotto also had a place in Westlake. boy do i miss them

[cmvan]

Check out this thread I started on Johnson's.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/412744

Includes recipe!...

[scaduto]

Omar Khayyam's was my first "exotic" eating . still love it and i use his cook book

[rworange]

I should shoot myself for getting involved in a thread this long ... but Basta Pasta is long gone.

THat's how much I miss it, enough to note its passing.

There have been a number of threads on the board over the years inquiring if anyone from the original restaurant opened anywhere else. Here's one I could find.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/34173

It was empty a long time and Citizen Thai and the Monkey moved inthere for a while.

Giovanni's Pizza on Geary is still there and prety much unchanged.

Wouldn't you think Balboa Cafe changed a lot?

[bronwen]

Another two of my haunts were Cypress Club (I loved the chicken door handles!), now closed and Aqua on California which has also gone.

[Tripeler]

I remember my father telling me in the middle 1960s that Doro's was a great place, but that dinner would set you back $40. He was surprised at how expensive it was. Of course, I never went there.

[wally]

My boss took us out to lunch there in the late 60's. They had a selection of gray blazers for those that did not have a jacket on.

[wolfe]

A selection suggests they had several sizes. My experience at Jack's was they had 1 available and it was small, even for me.

[wally]

It was a rack full. I also took my father there (not a small man) and while he was wearing a tie, he needed a jacket and they pulled one out and it fit rather well.

[wolfe]

Maybe I went on a night where there were a number of jacketless men and I got the dregs.:-)

[gordon wing]

Jack's ......

[sunyfun]

Private dining room upstairs and frog legs-yum.

[buttertart]

Eggplant fritters with powdered sugar and mutton chop. Loved the place.

[sunyfun]

I remember going there as a fourteen year old and the waiter sprinkled the cheese in the air which landed on top of my spaghetti-which was perfectly al dente and the sauce also memorable.

[waldrons]

Sigh.... my dad worked for a restaurant supply company in SF in the 70s, so knew all the restauranteurs. Doro's was basically our "let's go out to eat" restaurant, and Ernie's our special event place. When I moved into the city on my own in 1975, Dad let me use his house account at Doro's once a month, and taught me how to tip -- maitre d', head waiter, waiter, sommelier, etc.

I also apparently scared the bejesus out of one of the Dianda brothers when we celebrated my 18th birthday there... Dad suggested that I might be interested in a "stage" in their kitchen, upon which the owner started sputtering how "it wouldn't be suitable", "it's impossible", "but the language", "not for a young lady", etc.

And I think that Station J was actually Paoli's Station J, which moved into an old PG&E station when they moved to Commercial St.

-----
Dianda's
2883 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

[Sharuf]

I was very fond of Skipper Kent's, an excellent and romantic knockoff of the Trader Vic's tiki-ness format.

Also there's Edinburgh Castle and Tommy's Joynt which are still around serving mugs of beer and cheer.

-----
Tommy's Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary St, San Francisco, CA

[bronwen]

I used to hang at Edinburgh Castle, you ordered fish and chips and they went out for it! Tommy's Joynt specializes in buffalo stew and has a fantastic beer selection
Julius Castle is now closed and that was a marvelous SF place. I also went to the Cliff House alot for brunch, my sister and I would order bottles of champagne (about $4.00 at the time!).

-----
Tommy's Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94109

Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary St, San Francisco, CA

[Joan Kureczka]

Edinburgh Castle hasn't changed -- when it was going to finally close, in the mid-90's, Old Chelsea (the fish and chips joint) bought it! The vast majority of their business came through that association, so it made sense.

-----
Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary St, San Francisco, CA

Old Chelsea
932 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[gordon wing]

Two Castles ....... Edinburgh Castle and Julius' Castle .....

-----
Edinburgh Castle
950 Geary St, San Francisco, CA

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I ate many meals at the Magic Pan on Fillmore near Lombard and Paprikas Fono in Ghirardelli Square, both owned by Lazlo Fono and his wife who came from Hungary. He now owns Babbo's in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto if you want to eat his food again. I had some lunches there a few years ago and it was quite good, without the lunchtime crowds that other places there get, maybe because it costs a bit more than the other places.

[lexdevil]

Our family put together a large group of friends for a Magic night in 1975 that began with the Magic Flute (film), transitioned to dinner at the Magic Pan (Ghiradelli Square), and ended at the Magic Cellar.

[Steve Green]

I remember going to the Magic Pan upstairs on Sutter (near Stockton), and really miss that place, even though it may have already gone corporate by the time I got there. I also miss Paprika's Fono, and its successor at that location, Big Sky (?). Never made it to Fono Brava before it closed, or to Babbo's.

[sunyfun]

I loved the cucumber salad with sour cream and paprika at Paprika Fono, simple but so good.

[SunsetKid]

I used to love The Iron Pot as well as The Butcher Block.

[bobpantzer]

I think I can still recite the daily lunch specials from the Iron Pot. Thursday was a real problem when you had to choose between the beef tips with polenta or the canneloni. I also remember that Wednesday was "bad bread day" because most San Francisco bakeries, including the one the IP use, did not bake on that day, so the bread was a day old.

[escargot3]

The Iron Pot was really a fab spot at the time. I always enjoyed taking out of town-ers there.

[sunyfun]

I used to go to The Iron Pot once a week and The Butcher Block was a great place that should never have gone out of business.

[bronwen]

The floodgates are opening now! I used to hang at Henry Africa's - considered one of the first "fern" bars. I also remember Trader Vic's (loved the bathroom!), also going to Turk Murphy's jazz club .......

[Tripeler]

In the 70s and 80s there was a Henry Africa's in Tokyo. Same concept.

[Robert Lauriston]

It was the first. He just died last week: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[Malcolm Ruthven]

Oh my, Norman died. He was a real character. I didn't know him personally but saw him often in various places in the city back when he owned Henry Africa's. One story that made the rounds was that a group of young Marines at a table in Henry Africa's was getting unruly and Norman walked up to the table and politely asked them to quiet down. He got backtalk instead. then he took one step backward and opened his coat to reveal a .45 in his belt. That table got quiet in a hurry.

[foodseek]

In the early 70's across the street from Henry Africa was another fern like bar called Lord Jim. Wasn't Henry Africa on the corner of Broadway and Polk where Shanghai Kelly's is today?

-----
Shanghai Kelly's
2064 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[walker]

I think Henry Africa was originally on the corner of Polk/Vallejo, then moved to corner of Van Ness/Green (or was it Van Ness/Vallejo?) then Lord Jim's moved into Henry Africa's old place on Polk/Vallejo

[lexdevil]

We spent a lot of time at the Oakland Trader Vic's. One early memory is of ordering something that I did not like and trading for my grandfather's Veal with Morel Mushrooms. From that time on I always ordered "Grandpa's Veal with Morel Mushrooms."

[gordon wing]

Trader Vic's .....

[ML8000]

Here's something on Hippopotamus Burger. Went there as a kid with my uncle. It was still around in the early 80s. I remember the huge copper hood in the center.

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2010...

[gordon wing]

The Hippo was way ahead of its time ..... funny how burger concepts are springing up all over.

[ML8000]

Indeed...way ahead of its time. "Upscale" (for then) and all those wacky combos. I think it's the first place I ever went that you could get bacon on the burger.

[oldrenoreader]

Wasn't it the Baby Hippo, or something "Baby..."?

[wolfe]

All I can get from this old menu is you could add bacon for I think 45 cents maybe it had a name on a newer menu or maybe I just can't read it on this one.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14696209...

[Sarah]

You can enlarge by clicking Original size --

[wolfe]

I enlarged it but my old eyes had trouble reading the dim small print, I don't know how to jack up the contrast either.

[oldrenoreader]

Wolfe, What a treasure! (Saved it) Thanks...KB

[lexdevil]

We used to go to the Hippo with my grandfather. I always wanted a purple or orange plush hippo, but he never bought me one. Still bummed about that 40+ years later. I do, however, have a hippo pin buried somewhere.

Made the mistake of ordering the Hamburger Sundae on a dare in the early '80s. It was difficult to recover from (or maybe I was just coming down with something).

[Glencora]

Ha, I ordered that once.

[sunyfun]

The blog just directed me to another old memory "Wolo" who drew the Hippos. I grew up in NB so we were lucky enough to go to his shop on Grant Ave with a swing in the middle of the room and just ride it. No one ever bother us (as kids) in a very nice store to leave because we never bought anything. And Mrs. Wolo was the kindergarten teacher. Colorful times growing up in NB during the 50s & 60s.

[oldrenoreader]

And they sold Keane paintings..

[sunyfun]

I remember "Nutcrackers" placed around the shop and the beautiful over-sized swing, it felt like a dream.

[gordon wing]

a reminder of the Hippo .....

[trixieSF]

So much great information, thanks so much!

My mom confirms that what she remembered as "House of India" was actually "India House", which I found in that great source of old SF photographs that Gordon Wing linked to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfplsanf...

[wolfe]

I took my date to India House. While sipping my Pim's Cup I told her eyes looked beautiful in that light. She said "just don't say anything about my mouth." I told the budding law student
"res ipsa loquitur." She married me anyway.

[bobpantzer]

I loved India House--loved their Pim's cup, lamb curry with accomanying garnishes, mulligatawney soup and an interesting salad dressing. Enjoyed the Indian music playing in the background and just the overall atmosphere. I really miss places like that. It was quiet!

[walker]

It was on Jackson, left side, just before Battery, I believe. (I never ate there.)

[hill food]

left? depends where you stood. between Battery and
Sansome either Pacific or Jackson (but Jackson does sound right)

IIRC

[bobpantzer]

It was definitely Jackson--on the north side of the street, mid-block.

[walker]

Since Jackson was (and still remains) a one-way street, that's why I specified "left side."

[hill food]

ah but to a pedestrian that makes no difference (never ask me for driving directions BTW)

[oldrenoreader]

I is we (us?) who should be thanking you for touching off such wonderful memories!

OK, while I'm typing, not a restaurant per se, but, anybody remember "Station J" - an old PG&E station in a wonderful old Spanish Mission building down somewhere around Broadway? A 1960s treasure in the Hungry I era, went away...

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I well remember India House. Very good Brit-style Indian food, which was really the only type of Indian food around then. Later, when I first encountered "real" Indian food it took me a while to adjust to it.

[sunyfun]

Does anyone remember the Taj on Pacific Ave between Stockton and Powell, where you also had to go down stairs to the basement level, but it was very nice and had good Indian food?

[walker]

Yes, it was Taj of India, right? Went there a few times, loved it. The cook was an older Indian lady .. there was a delicious dish of mustard greens. After the owner closed, he started driving a taxi and said he loved his new job!

[intomeat]

Since nostalgia is setting in, who is familiar with Budapest West on Steiner (x Lombard?) Regardless of what kind of crappy day we had, we would walk out of that place feeling relaxed. In fact, we are still looking for a replacement. Suggestions?

[oldrenoreader]

Next to the Griffon lounge, probably next to Parma's?

[Malcolm Ruthven]

I went to Budapest West a number of times and always enjoyed it. Can't remember how long a run it had.

[Beach Chick]

Adolph's in North Beach was so fab...gosh, I miss it so.

[chocolatetartguy]

Don't forget Phil Lehr's Greenhouse!

-----
Lehr's Greenhouse Restaurant
750 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109

[DavidT]

Or Bernstein's Fish Grotto at 123 Powell Street!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernstei...

[Glencora]

My memories of that place were recently rekindled by Mishima's wonderful (but strange) story, "Thermos Bottles."

[DavidT]

I think Paoli's was on Montgomery Street, a block or two north of California. If it is the place I am thinking of, it has been gone for 30 years.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41606952...

[Robert Lauriston]

Paoli's started out on Montgomery, then moved to Commercial St.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...

[oldrenoreader]

The Paoli family took a run at a Reno restaurant - many of us familiar with SF loved it but it floundered - too bad

[Robert Lauriston]

Grison's Steakhouse turned into Harris' Steakhouse.

The old Doro's address currently belongs to Bubble Lounge.

The Shadows turned into Dalla Torre and then was converted into a private residence.

Townsend's was torn down to build Nieman-Marcus.

Paoli's ... maybe now Gio's? Or could have been torn down to build one of the Embarcadero Center buildings.

-----
Harris' Restaurant
2100 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94109

Bubble Lounge
714 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

[Sarah]

I'm getting Paoli's mixed up with Amelio's -- where was Amelio's and/or what is it now?

[Robert Lauriston]

Pena PachaMama is in the old Amelio's space.

-----
Pena Pachamama
1630 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

[bobpantzer]

Actually, I think the original Paoli's was at the corner of California and Montgomery and was torn down to build Bank of America. Then it reopened down the street on Montgomery and either Merchant Street or Commercial and had an entrance on both streets. I think there may be a bank in that location now.

[Robert Lauriston]

Another 70s spot that's still sort-of around is the Assay Office, which is now Bix.

-----
Bix
56 Gold St., San Francisco, CA 94133

[hill food]

I always liked the faux speakeasy feel of Bix

[DavidT]

Grissons on Van Ness became the Harris steak house in 1984.

http://www.harrisrestaurant.com/

[gordon wing]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sfplsanf...
a little bit about the Shadows ......

[oldrenoreader]

Thanks! A great link and grapics

[bronwen]

Doro's was fabulous. They made their linguini tableside, and also had a wonderful hot spinach salad. Is House of India Gaylord's which was in Ghiradelli Square? If so, I used to go there alot, wonderful Indian bread. Other old timers I went to the first time I lived in San Francisco - Ernie's (considered at the time the best in town), Vanessi's - both on Broadway and then moved to California, now defunct. Ciao was a hotspot, especially at the bar. I loved the Blue Fox on Lombard, very elegant, it had fantastic chocolate mousse.

[bronwen]

I was a real regular at Vanessi's and had the great honor of being mentioned in Herb Caen's column the day after he spotted me having lunch there with Joe DiMaggio ..... I would always eat the osso bucco - years later in New Orleans I was a freelance food critic and went to Maximo's in the Quarter and ordered osso bucco. I told the waiter it was as good as the ones I used to eat at Vanessi's and he told me that that was because the chef used to work at Vanessi's (small world!!). And talking about hanging out with Joe - we used to go to his brother's place, I think it was called DiMaggio's close to the wharf, I don't know if it's still there.

[hill food]

whoa there's some serious SF cred in that post. AND named in a Caen column.

[Robert Lauriston]

The old Joe DiMaggio's Grotto is now Joe's Crab Shack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x12Gk...

-----
Joe's Crab Shack
245 Jefferson St, San Francisco, CA 94133

[waldrons]

We ate at Ciao's once when Steve Jobs and Bill Gates (and two women) were at the next table. I whispered to my husband, "Did you see who's at the next table?" and he whispered back, "Yeah, that blonde is pretty spectacular!"

The dinner was mentioned in Herb Caen's column, without mention of the blonde, who happened to be the head of some big software company. Caen later published a letter from her (Heidi Roisen?) where she complained about being overlooked by his informant. I wrote her to say that my husband had certainly noticed her, and she sent me a bunch of their software for the Mac!