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I was thinking that the chain of Banh Mi Ba Le shops in the East Bay was better, but recently I went back to Saigon Sandwich after a few years, and was surprised how good it was. Crispy crunchy...
I was thinking that the chain of Banh Mi Ba Le shops in the East Bay was better, but recently I went back to Saigon Sandwich after a few years, and was surprised how good it was. Crispy crunchy bread, big, and cheap.
I give them 5 of of 5 ... because it is 'perfect' exactly as it is ... a small hole in the wall that makes amazing food.
I know, I could deduct a star but I just can't fault them for anything, really. I'm closing my eyes to the disorganized appearance of the place as part of of my theory that changing anything might ruin the magic which is essential to their creations.
Clean, cute, and organized, as we all know, can be very misleading when it comes to food quality and bang for the buck. (Witness the Slanted Door's attempt at Banh Mi for $8 to $10 in the Emporium on Market St.)
Saigon Sandwich is crowded, but that's half the fun. And we don't want them going out of business, right?
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Why settle for an imitation of this classic -- a fast-food "breakfast sandwich" -- when you can have the real thing? Pain au jambon for $2.95 -- is a meal in itself. Tartine pastry is the epitome...
Why settle for an imitation of this classic -- a fast-food "breakfast sandwich" -- when you can have the real thing? Pain au jambon for $2.95 -- is a meal in itself. Tartine pastry is the epitome of flakiness, the gruyere is tangy, and the ham smoky and slightly sweet.
Of course that is just one of many items from their menu. Regular croissants, quiche, bread pudding, scones, morning buns, pain au chocolate, and museli. Just a few of the items there. Lots of pressed sandwiches too.
Those are just some of the savory items. For sweets ... don't even get me started. Two of them are irresistable: their eclairs and the lemon-meringue cake.
Has anyone been to their restaurant on Valencia Street?
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It's not easy to get a reservation, but they do handle walk-in customers well. The menu changes daily, ingredients are fresh, and flawlessly prepared. And it's a value -- it's not nearly as...
It's not easy to get a reservation, but they do handle walk-in customers well. The menu changes daily, ingredients are fresh, and flawlessly prepared. And it's a value -- it's not nearly as expensive as many restaurants with not-so-good food. Delfina is one of the best places in town.
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Yokoso Nippon is a small, nondescript place on Church Street between 15th and 16th Streets. Because the storefront has an old sign out front bearing no name (it's painted white, in fact) many...
Yokoso Nippon is a small, nondescript place on Church Street between 15th and 16th Streets. Because the storefront has an old sign out front bearing no name (it's painted white, in fact) many people used to call it "no name sushi." But several years ago they did post a small sign inside with their name on it. Definitely not easy to find unless you know the address, which maybe used to be part of the charm.
This place has been around for years. My first visit there was in 1984. The decor has not changed much since then. Back in those days, it was very cheap, yet was considered by many to be quite good.
I have patronized it over the years, gradually noticing the fish was getting smaller and less fresh. Apparently others have noticed it too. When I pass by in the evenings, at peak times, it's not as busy. In the past there would have been a line out the door.
I went there today for lunch and was there from 12 to 1. Only one other diner came in during that time, and another person picked up a to-go order. My friend and I, with fond memories of years past, ordered the a couple of the 9-piece Sushi Nigiri, and some miso soup. The Sushi is very cheap at just over $7 per person, but definitely not fresh.
We kept eating, though, hoping the the next piece would be better. In fact, only one of the sushi pieces seemed fresh -- what a disappointment. At the end of the meal, we grimaced and swallowed the remaining glob of wasabi, similar to the way one would down an oyster covered with lots of horseradish and tabasco, remembering something I'd read about it being useful for killing some of the bacteria responsible for certain food-borne illnesses.
It's sad to see a place go downhill. But apparently it has. My question -- are there new owners, or did the old owners just stop caring?
For years, the Japanese couple who owned the place could be seen there. Very nice people who did seem to take some pride in their work, but obviously not adverse to cutting corners with cleaning and freshness.
Recently (today, for example) I've seen only people speaking Mandarin Chinese working there. In the past, I have seen them there with the Japanese couple. So they have some history with the place, but not sure if they're business partners or the new owners. Anyone who knows if this place has changed hands, please reply. Thanks...
Yokoso Nippon
314 Church Street 15th/16th
San Francisco 94114
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The Castro Theatre is one of the few neighborhood movie palaces which managed to escape the ravages of time.
As recently as the 1970s, every Bay Area neighborhood could boast a movie palace. ...
The Castro Theatre is one of the few neighborhood movie palaces which managed to escape the ravages of time.
As recently as the 1970s, every Bay Area neighborhood could boast a movie palace. The Castro was one of the more over-the-top ornate ones, and perhaps only by chance, it survived. The Crown, the New Mission, the Grand, the Tower, the El Capitan and the York were all nearby in the Mission, but none were as grand as the Castro. Downtown and in other districts were the Fox, the St. Francis, the Strand, the Haight, the Pagoda Palace, the Royal, the Alhambra, the Alexandria, the Avenue ... too many to remember! But nobody had to go far to see a movie.
Eureka Valley was once an average, working-class, Irish neighborhood. Castro Street was lined with banks, groceries, bakeries, butcher shops, fruit and vegetable stores, cleaners, shoe repair shops, barbers, and quite a few bars. The old Safeway store, a tiny one with only five aisles was near 18th. Streetcars were constantly entering and leaving the Twin Peaks tunnel.
The original Castro Theatre was a much smaller affair, built in 1908, at 479 Castro -- the building still stands today, as another beloved neighborhood institution -- Cliff's Variety.
The current Castro Theatre was opened in 1922, and has been lovingly restored to much of the original splendor. Here is some information on the history of the theatre, along with photos:
http://www.thecastrotheatre.com/history.html
The home page of this site will also provide film schedules and other useful information.
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A good, caring, clean place my friends have used several times: the SPCA San Francisco.
They offer Kitten Kindergarten and pre-puppy classes which come with a $25 discount on adoption costs. ...
A good, caring, clean place my friends have used several times: the SPCA San Francisco.
They offer Kitten Kindergarten and pre-puppy classes which come with a $25 discount on adoption costs. http://www.sfspca.org/news/060725_kittengarten.shtml
The SPCA is very progressive organization, with a new, spacious, and humane adoption center: Maddie's. No cages and kennels here... instead, a spacious condo for each animal!
http://www.sfspca.org/adoption/maddies.shtml
SPCA has been at the forefront of the feral cat population by helping trap and spay/neuter feral cats, and socializing feral kittens so they can be adpoted, thererby breaking the cycle.
This is Kitten Kindergarten info from their site:
The San Francisco SPCA is pleased to announce the return of "Kitten Kindergarten," classes for people who would like to prepare themselves for kitten owner/guardianship. We have had so much success with our Puppy Classes, that we would like to carry that over to benefit our young felines and their families-to-be. Our experience has proven that adopters who are fully prepared for the realities of pet ownership make better "parents" for our homeless cats and dogs. Our ultimate goal is help these homeless pets find -and stay- in loving homes.
Here is what you will need to know about KITTEN KINDERGARTEN at The SF/SPCA:
Attend our FREE Kitten Kindergarten class prior to choosing a kitten and learn basic tips on kitten care. Qualified adopters will receive a $25 discount at the time of adoption. Discount is not valid if the adoption takes place prior to taking the class.
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I seldom pass up a chance to try it. It's always different, thin, sourdough crust. The toppings are indescribable. If you like different pizza without all the tomato sauce, try them. They do a...
I seldom pass up a chance to try it. It's always different, thin, sourdough crust. The toppings are indescribable. If you like different pizza without all the tomato sauce, try them. They do a wonderful job. They also have an old piano and sometimes other musicians as well. Fun place ... only wish it were a bit larger. Try it if you haven't yet.
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I've been enjoying Alice's labors of love for years, and I've always felt it's one of the highlights of living in this area. I have yet to find such quality at such reasonable prices. The value is...
I've been enjoying Alice's labors of love for years, and I've always felt it's one of the highlights of living in this area. I have yet to find such quality at such reasonable prices. The value is amazing, actually. Fresh, locally-sourced, organic, prepared in a tantalizing style.
For those who think the prix-fixe is a bit too expensive (from $45 to $85, depending on the day of the week and how elaborate the menu is), the cafe allows you the same quality and the ability to order whatever you want. They also offer a special deal -- a much less expensive prix-fixe if you're in the mood for that. Usually under $30. The salads and appetizers are around $10, and the entrées are in the high teens to mid $20 range. All in all, a great deal, when you consider the menus of so many "nice" restaurants (serving mediocre food) here.
It is challenging to get reservations. But this is a function of how great they are, so if you want to have an unforgettable meal, reserve early -- and enjoy!
Menus and lots of other info is at http://www.chezpanisse.com/
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I've been seeing Dr David Bui for several years and have been extremely happy with the care I've received. He is without doubt at the very top of the list of doctors I have seen over the years. I...
I've been seeing Dr David Bui for several years and have been extremely happy with the care I've received. He is without doubt at the very top of the list of doctors I have seen over the years. I find him calm, down-to-earth, and relaxing to talk with, and always able to convey the most exacting and complex information in a way I can understand.
I was referred to him by a friend who had him do her LASIK surgery and also a cosmetic surgery. She was very pleased with how those turned out. She had referred another friend to him for LASIK, who was seeking a second opinion on which type of surgery would be best. Dr Bui examined him and said that he did not recommend laser surgery for him, because his cornea was too thin. He said that in his opinion, there were too many chances for complications.
He had previously been approved for surgery by one of the large, heavily-advertised, LASIK centers in this area. But our friend didn't feel comfortable with the production-line atmosphere. When Dr Bui said no to the surgery, our friend was proved correct. To me, this speaks volumes for Dr Bui's integrity.
I have been seeing Dr Bui for a chronic glaucoma problem, for which I'd seen several doctors previously. One of my eyes was not responding well to treatment and I thought I might be getting closer to losing my vision.
With Dr Bui, I felt I got a chance to start over, because he was not afraid to think outside the box; I really feel he "gets it" and is always working with me. My eyes are doing better than they have been in years. I can't recommend him highly enough.
Dr Bui is a graduate of the University of California San Francisco and did his Opthalmology residency at the prestigious Jules Stein Eye Institute at the University of California Los Angeles. There is more information about him at his site:
www.sfbayeye.com
http://www.sfbayeye.com
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