I think I hate San Francisco.

[Rambo]

No ****. I mean, if we're resorting to Oscar Meyer, you KNOW things are bad.

 

[NorCal]



Don't you guys have a plain old diner out there? Or a simple burger joint?

Yes. I have no idea why people are having trouble. Al's on San Pablo does nicely.

 

[Big Bird]

Thanks for the all the suggestions. Besides the comments in this thread I have received some helpful private messages (thanks RSS and Jay).

I have also received some fucked up emails suggesting that San Francisco only consists of Asians* and homosexuals*. Why take time to send **** like that?

*Not the words used.

Short update. I am flying out to SF next week to negotiate my personal terms and to meet the team that I would be working with. My wife joins me next weekend and we will try to get a feel for the city. We plan to use one day to “scout” the East Bay, since I really like what I have heard so far.

However I am not the only one in the family that have been researching this and my wife (and her online friends) seems to think that it would stupid to move to San Francisco and not get the full SF experience. Don’t really know what that means. She has already found some “adorable” Victorian houses in Pacific Heights that she wants to look at. Not my style and certainly not within the budget, but what do I know.

We will be staying by Union Square and would be happy for restaurant suggestions. Would love to go to a classic diner or great local greasy spoon. Please no Café Gratitude like places.

 

[lefty]

Listen to wife. But if you are going over the bay also take a look at Marin.

There are no decent diners in SF. Maybe Mel's - order the Oregon Boysenberry.

lefty

 

[lefty]

BB, something to consider if you move across the bay - cannon fire.

Quote:
lefty

 

[foodguy]

are there no dennys in San Francisco? are there no chain coffee shops? oh, humanity!

 

[imatlas]



are there no dennys in San Francisco? are there no chain coffee shops? oh, humanity!

Of course there are, but yuck!

Dennys, Mel's, Johnny Rockets, Toast, etc, they all use the same nasty premixed egg glop to make their omelets and scrambles. My first rule is that they have to actually crack eggs, not pour them out of a carton.

Near Union Square my favorite breakfast place is Dottie's True Blue Cafe, but it's a little too popular for its own good, and the wait can reach 2 hours on weekends. Best to go on a weekday either as they open or for a late lunch. Sears Fine Food is an Old San Francisco Stalwart, but at best it's decent, IMO. Lori's Diner is pretty awful.

 

[foodguy]

i was teasing them about their horror at thick bacon. bottom line is, they want to go to nice places but they want to eat crappy bacon there.

 

[itsstillmatt]



i was teasing them about their horror at thick bacon. bottom line is, they want to go to nice places but they want to eat crappy bacon there.

Thick and thin both have their places, but it is annoying, at least for cooking, that thin bacon is not available outside of Safeway.

 

[foodguy]



Thick and thin both have their places, but it is annoying, at least for cooking, that thin bacon is not available outside of Safeway.

which, as we all know, is crowded with postal workers.

 

[mgm9128]

I'm surprised that you don't own a rotating deli slicer.

 

[itsstillmatt]



which, as we all know, is crowded with postal workers.

It's pretty depressing, I have to admit.

I'm surprised that you don't own a rotating deli slicer.

I do have a slicer, but I generally keep it boxed away.

 

[mgm9128]

As far as bacon, I usually buy it in slabs. That way I can cut it to my desired thickness/thinness. But getting it paper thin is difficult without a proper slicer.

 

[NorCal]



Listen to wife. But if you are going over the bay also take a look at Marin.

There are no decent diners in SF. Maybe Mel's - order the Oregon Boysenberry.

lefty

All the good diners are in the East Bay.

Seriously though, what is the "SF experience" anyway. I've got some thoughts on this but it seems that one way that people set themselves up for disappointment is to expect SF to be something it just is not and cannot ever be.
In Lefty's case, he wants NY but got SF. Disappointment is inevitable.

 

[Gus]

Not sure why anyone in the Bay Area would make an effort to seek out a diner. Most East and West Coast diners were never that good anyway. (although there may have been one or two somewhere). If you want a good breakfast/lunch/brunch food try a place like this on your way to the Alameda Flea Market or to occupying Oakland. http://brownsugarkitchen.com/