The Fearsome And Mammoth Only Allowable Bay Area Thread

[Mandroid2.0]

So, Chicago obviously has zillions of threads about places to eat or be otherwise entertained at, there's the Best Burger in New York thread, and so on...

I know that there aren't nearly as many PRF members or lurkers in the SF Bay/Oakland/San Jose/whichever region as there are in Chicago and NYC, but there's probably enough of us who reside here or those who once spent here to compose a decent thread about stuff we like in the area.

It can be eateries, shops, venues, tourist traps, wineries, or whatever strikes your fancy. Also, don't restrict your recommendations to just SF proper or Oakland. Napa, Sonoma, Stinson Beach, Monterey Bay, etc. aren't that far away. I love the aquarium in MB, for instance, and there's a nice wine tasting place within walking distance from it that boasts an incredibly surly 70+ years old perverted server who taught me how to swirl for the first time.

Anyway, post your picks here, people.

Also, I should mention that Replicator is playing a show with Babyland the day before my 29th birthday, on January 26th at 924 Gilman Street. I have yet to murder any of the many EA forum members I've met in real life, so it would be pleasant to meet some of the Bay Area contingent at the show. I will likely be wearing zebra.

[bomberz1qr20]

I defected to the wine country...

As far as Oakland goes:


Zachary's Pizza

Cole Coffee

Parkway Theatre


Do you really need anything else??

[Antero]

If you ever find yourself with some cash on hand and the desire for a really fucking good drink, look up Bourbon & Branch. Ho-lee fuck.

There's a really good dive bar in the Haight, but I'm trying to remember what it's called... the Gold something? I think the Gold Cane? I don't quite recall because we basically just stumbled into it and Tom Waits was playing on the jukebox and drinks were so cheap that I wound up leaving huge tips for the bartender simply out of shock. Kind of the friendliest bar I've ever been to.

[nick92675]

former chicagoan (and before that bay-arean) brian moss [mpshows/the ghost/hanalei] now books at http://www.mamabuzzcafe.com in oakland. haven't been there but brian is good people - anywhere he'd work i'd imagine would be a good place to be.

[Mandroid2.0]

Mama's Royal Cafe - I love their Eggs Benedict, and the variations on the traditional style Eggs Benedict. I wish that they served their mimosas with sparkling wine that wasn't composed of Chandon, but meh. Minor complaint in a town that doesn't understand the concept of breakfast.

Cybelle's Pizza on Piedmont - the calazones are forgettable but their custom pizzas are tasty, though a bit expensive

The Tiki Bar on Piedmont - I forget the actual name of the place, and only go on the nights when Eric the Red from New Jersey tends bar.

The Stork Club - Where I met my boy back in 2002. It's a dive, but the drinks are strong and I appreciate the smoking lounge, though I no longer smoke all that often.

La Piñata on Park Street, Alameda - It's open until 3 A.M. I recommend the shredded beef chimichanga. Tell them to put the sour cream on the side though. Ick. I oft forget to do this and wind up feeling as if I was raped by a cow's spoiled utter.

[Mandroid2.0]

former chicagoan (and before that bay-arean) brian moss [mpshows/the ghost/hanalei] now books at http://www.mamabuzzcafe.com in oakland. haven't been there but brian is good people - anywhere he'd work i'd imagine would be a good place to be.

One of Benadrian's solo project, Guitar vs Gravity, played there.

[itchy mcgoo]

I've had the best Korean bbq ever in Oakland, and the best Mexican food and sushi ever in SF. Names escape me, but I hope this thread brims with good recommendations.

Just down the street from Aquarius is Paxton Gate, a one stop shop for your carniverous plant and racoon penis bone needs. It's by (next door?) to Dave Eggers' pirate store which is whatever but should be seen.

Pharoah fucking Saunders played a mini-residency at Yoshi's last week. Jesus.

Muir Beach is so fkng btfl. And really close. Green Gulch Farm/Zen Center is right there and an excellent utopian holdover. Most importantly, there are goooood sheep to squeeze here. Chocolate colored ones. They squeeze better.

The coast rules. Ocean > Lake by very far. And I love me some lake.

[kazoozak]

While I currently go to school in Merced (and could probably tell you more places to go in Merced), I've lived in San Jose for most of my life. Also, Replicator played a fine show in Merced a few months ago. Shame that they're hanging it up.

Su's Mongolian Barbecue in Santa Clara on El Camino Real was where most of my buddies from high school went on Friday afternoons after school (well, where I wish we went mostly). It's solid, tasty, and you can really get your money's worth if you experiment with the sauces and meat combinations.

As far as record stores go, Streetlight and Rasputin have never steered me wrong, but then again, you could go to any other major city in the Bay and walk into a Streetlight or a Rasputin.

Guitar Showcase in Los Gatos is usually where I go when I want to get something above a pack of strings. They have a wonderful selection of new and used stuff (I got my Fender Lead II from there)- I was absolutely tempted to buy a Tascam 38 there for only 75 bucks, but decided against it since at this point in time, I know shit-all about tape recording. For all I know, it's long gone...

I'll post more when/if I remember more. Now if there were any Central Valley PRFers, I could probably be of more help...

[Mandroid2.0]

http://www.straitsrestaurants.com/

That restaurant does pretty killer Singaorean fusion cuisine, if you're in the Palo Alto area. I went there when I worked at Stanford last summer, which is one of the most devastatingly ill-designed campuses I've ever visited. Their food at the union is pretty decent, though. One day, the head chef even did BBQ ribs, which I'm not a fan of but which was pretty impressive given my UW system campus food treatments. I also enjoyed the campus bookstore quite a bit, though it's a pain in the ass to navigate.

Oh! There's one particular corner/intersection of Palo Alto that has a Planned Parenthood across the street from a Hanger Store. I wish that I had taken a photo.

[benadrian]

I only seem to know the dives, because I'm a dive of a human being.

Cancun burrito @ 19th and Mission.
Tu Lan @ 6th and Market

Both tiny, dirty, cheap, delicious food stops.

Ben

[Dr. O' Nothing]

For a change of pace, I always enjoyed getting all spiffed up and taking dates to the bar at the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel at dusk. Amazing panoramic view of the Bay Area.

And right across the way is the is The Tonga Room located inside the equally swank Fairmont Hotel. They put on an hell of a nice spread at happy hour. The Tonga Room is complete with an (unusable) swimming pool and a sprinkler system that simulates a sweet tropical mist, complete with thunder sound fx.

[benadrian]

Oh, for touring or local musician, you can't beat Starving Musician in Berkeley. Decent prices on secondhand gear. Strings always 2 for 1.

Ask for Garo or Austin, or anyone really. Tell 'em Ben sent you. You might get charged a bit more, but you'll probably get a good story.

There's a Thai place next door to Starving Musician. I've never been, but they really like it at the shop.

Ben Adrian

[Tuolumne]

My favorite taqueria: La Cumbre on Valencia St. Also excellent is La Taqueria on Mission St at 24th.

Hahn's Hibachi on Castro at 24th in Noe Valley is pretty awesome for shi-shi but affordable Korean BBQ. They have the "Meat Mountain".

As for Berkeley/Oakland, I also love Zachary's for pizza.

[Pure L]

The dudes at Kimo's are pretty stacked.

[Mandroid2.0]

I can't believe that I forgot this, but if you're a Wisconsin transplant like me, the only brats that you will find in this area that aren't the shitty fake kind that Milwaukeeans and FIBs eat are to be found at Baron's Meat and Poultry in Alameda. They are about 3 stars-oot-of-five, but they are mountains better than most of the sausages I've had in this area. They also make a tequila-jalapeno chicken sausage that I would give a full 4.5 stars to.

It's in the marketplace on Park St., near the fabulous Farmstead Cheeses and Wines shop, where you can sample your cheeses (and sometimes wines) before buying. That entire marketplace rules.

Anyone know of a decent Greek restaurant in the area? I know that Greek food isn't that difficult to cook, but sometimes one just feels lazy, or wants to try a lamb tenderloin for the first time in her life.

[benadrian]

Oh that reminds me. If you ride a bike, the guys at Montano Velo on Piedmont in Oakland have always been good to me.


Ben Adrian

[Red Square]

i wish i could remember the names of the places i usually ate at in SF and Berkeley...the wood-fired pizza place that was on 4th right across the street from the Metreon before it existed was awesome...good calamari bits...and i think down the street is the TGIFridays that i ate at only once and left without paying because they forgot about me...fucking hosebags...there were so many places and i can't remember any of the names...ugh...this is killing me, i miss the bay area so much...

[Red Square]

So, Chicago obviously has zillions of threads about places to eat or be otherwise entertained at, there's the Best Burger in New York thread, and so on...

I know that there aren't nearly as many PRF members or lurkers in the SF Bay/Oakland/San Jose/whichever region as there are in Chicago and NYC, but there's probably enough of us who reside here or those who once spent here to compose a decent thread about stuff we like in the area.

It can be eateries, shops, venues, tourist traps, wineries, or whatever strikes your fancy. Also, don't restrict your recommendations to just SF proper or Oakland. Napa, Sonoma, Stinson Beach, Monterey Bay, etc. aren't that far away. I love the aquarium in MB, for instance, and there's a nice wine tasting place within walking distance from it that boasts an incredibly surly 70+ years old perverted server who taught me how to swirl for the first time.

Anyway, post your picks here, people.

Also, I should mention that Replicator is playing a show with Babyland the day before my 29th birthday, on January 26th at 924 Gilman Street. I have yet to murder any of the many EA forum members I've met in real life, so it would be pleasant to meet some of the Bay Area contingent at the show. I will likely be wearing zebra.

Babyland! i fucking love that band! you lucky shit you! i've never seen them live...

[Mandroid2.0]

Babyland! i fucking love that band! you lucky shit you! i've never seen them live...

I have heard good things about their live shows, so I'm excited to finally see them live. I'm not sure if they're on tour or not? Perhaps they are playing near you.

[mr.arrison]

Is anyone going to see the Om/Lichens show tonight? I am in SF this evening.