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Vivek "yelping a brother out" S.'s Profile
My San Fran Checklist
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1. NOPA
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 864-8643
Categories:
American (New),
Modern European
Neighbourhood: Western Addition/NOPA
I'll be up front: I wasn't exactly sober when I sauntered into this place two-bars-deep into our company picnic after party. One might even say I was 'tipsy.' So you'll have to forgive me if I omit details, add details or slander someone.
Anyway,…More »
2. Citizen's Band
It doesn't get any better than being surrounded by top-drawer yelpers in a place that I would request as my last meal. With so many eye-popping options on the menu it was a tough call, so our fearless leader Miriam W. went forth with double vision:…More »
3. Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is a wondrous experience for the uninitiated. For starters, the employees are so mellow and friendly you'd think they were working in a head shop. We were barely there two minutes, when a friendly chap in a Hawaiian shirt sidled up and…More »
4. La Note
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 843-1535
Categories:
French,
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
Man-oh-man. I had the brunchiest experience in this adorable restaurant Provençal. Breakfast is mercifully served until 2:30pm, and it was only a twenty-minute wait for a table for two in their warm and inviting atmosphere. (In Toronto, it is common…More »
5. Tacolicious
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 346-1966
Category:
Mexican
Neighbourhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
I'm pretty convinced that it's near impossible to find a bad meal in SF, and Tacolicious takes that belief, wraps it in a crispy shell and fills it with sweet Taco deliciousness, i.e., tacoliciousness. Don't be fooled by its corny appelation (which…More »
6. Dottie's True Blue Cafe
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 885-2767
Categories:
American (Traditional),
Diners,
Breakfast & Brunch,
American (New)
Neighbourhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, SOMA
Just capped off another successful Dottie's brunch. After a 40 minute wait my party grabbed a four-top and settled down for a New Year's Eve brunch. Serving breakfast all day, consulting the specials board is the way to go. I wanted the banana bread…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/28/2010
Kat F and I were optimistic that by arriving early on a weekday morning we could outwit the crowds.… Read more »
7. The Westin San Francisco Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 974-6400
Category:
Hotels
Neighbourhoods: Union Square, SOMA
I waltzed into the 3rd and Market Street Westin Hotel fresh from the airport and psyched about my upcoming week in SF. While chatting with the clerk, she asked me if a king bed was sufficient for my needs. Practiced in the art of sarcasm, I requested…More »
8. Ritual Coffee Roasters
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 641-1011
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Mission
Weeks after my first and only trip to Ritual Coffee Roasters, I find this cryptic trio of bullet points describing my experience here:
-french drip is crazy cool
-another barista from bc
-seems like a good communist hangout
I may never know what I meant…More »
9. Anna Bella Nails
Berkeley, CA 94704
(510) 649-1266
Category:
Nail Salons
Neighbourhood: Downtown Berkeley
After not-even-that-much arm twisting, Kat F and I decided to get manicures. (I forgot to bring a nail-cutter to SF. This is easier. Whatever, STFU.)
Kat, the manicure maven, picked out a swell spot in Berkeley. This was my First Time and I…More »
10. Burritt Room
In search of solid cocktails we made haste to the Burritt Room. Our cab snaked through parts unknown (and two tunnels) to find this hidden gem. Entering the bright-white lobby of a boutique hotel, I felt like I was in the climax of a Kubrick flick,…More »
11. Harbor Court Hotel
The Harbor Court Hotel is my first foray into the Kimpton brand of hotels, and I wasn't disappointed. The rooms aren't huge and it's not dripping in luxury, but little touches make for a charming stay. Like the complimentary wine hour at 5pm, or the…More »
12. Mehfil Indian Cuisine
I knew we were getting close to this place when Kat F raised her nose in the air and sniffed. We turned to find ourselves literally standing outside its front door. I think Kat is half bloodhound.
The inside is spacious and clean and on Sunday night…More »
13. Dave's
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 495-6726
Category:
Dive Bars
Neighbourhoods: Union Square, SOMA
What a fantastic dive. I retreated here after downing a double at XYZ that cost more than a haircut. Eff that ess. We dove into the dive dubbed Dave's like a dove into a duvet --nevermind, I got carried away there.
What I'm trying to say is this place…More »
14. Berkeley Farmers' Market
OMG. I went fruit-bat-shit crazy at this farmers' market in Berkeley. I literally met fruits and veggies I never knew excited. Pluot? What _is_ that? I was flabbergasted. Peaches and pears and plums, oh my. So many varieties.
There are tonnes of…More »
15. El Farolito
El Farolito is nestled deep in the Mission District, a place where I was assured I wouldn't get shanked. Put at ease, I scrambled in late on a Friday night to find the place packed with my like-minded brethren, hungry for foods that end with O.…More »
16. Peet's Coffee & Tea
Here's the word I'm going to use to describe this corner café in SOMA: nice. The gentle aroma of brewing coffee as you walk in is nice. So are the staff who address you by name, and who were nicely helpful when I was looking for a bag of beans as a…More »
17. Hog & Rocks
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-8627
Categories:
Seafood,
American (New)
Neighbourhood: Mission
As our cab snaked us through the Mission I'm not sure what I expected from the name "Hog and Rocks." It evoked for me a large porcine pinata filled with pebbles. Why? I dunno. Blame my public schooling.
What we got was an extremely chic and classy…More »
18. Brenda's French Soul Food
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 345-8100
Categories:
Cajun/Creole,
Breakfast & Brunch,
Soul Food
Neighbourhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Let's get to it: yes, there is a wait at Brenda's. We were parked outside for no less than 90 minutes on a weekday morn. The procedure is thus: put your name on a list outside and then loiter. If a sketched out homeless man spewing drool and/or…More »
19. Zero Zero
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 348-8800
I came here with some work chums whilst in The Fran.* It isn't the best choice for lunch as our pies took ages to come out, but once the food arrived we were all smiles.
Seated in "The Best Booth in the House" we sampled the beet salad and stuffed…More »
20. Muir Woods Trading Company Cafe
After a short hike through amidst the lumbering (hoho) giants of Muir Woods, our San Franciscan hosts suggested we check out the gift shop/café to try a grilled cheese sandwich they saw featured on the Food Network. Might as well, I figured, since…More »
21. Maya - CLOSED
What's up with this place? We showed up for their "Happy Hour" special which is $2 soft tacos, $3 draft beers, and $5 cocktails. Not that "Happy Hour" is the right term for something that starts at 4:30pm and goes until close and happens every.…More »
22. Osha Thai
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 788-6742
Category:
Thai
Neighbourhood: Financial District
Now that I sit and reflect, this was probably my most underwhelming restaurant experience in SF. I liked it at the time, but I was flanked by several gorgeous women (all of them coworkers and none of them interested--but I digress) so I acknowledge…More »
23. Bovolo
I don't normally frequent bookstores for lunch, but after a walk around the plaza on a holiday we had few other options. Bovolo is set WAY in the depths of a bookstore, and at first glance you might think you have made a big mistake. Relax, you're in…More »
24. Caffe Museo
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 357-4500
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
American (New)
Neighbourhood: SOMA
In seek of coffee and wifi we ducked into the Caffe Museo at the foot of the MOMA. It's too big to be cozy, but still a comfortable vibe. I got a blueberry muffin, and I didn't die. Check. My Americano was strong, but tiny. What gives? But again, I…More »
25. XYZ - CLOSED
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 817-7836
Categories:
Lounges,
American (New),
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhood: SOMA
Can one place a value on the experience of sipping on watered down vodka rail in a douche-thick lounge where you can barely hear yourself think? According to the XYZ, it's 26 boners plus tip. What the moose?
As soon as I walked in I wanted to walk…More »
26. El Burrito Express 2
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 776-4246
Category:
Mexican
Neighbourhoods: Lower Pac Heights, Pacific Heights
El Burrito Express 2 is a colourful joint (that J is silent) with a marlin on the wall, and not a whole lot of seating. I ordered a couple of soft tacos (chorizo and grilled chicken) and my DC got a straight up fish burrito. It took a really long…More »
27. Ike's Place
Rolled up to this joint the morning of New Year's Day. My friend Gunner (a sandwich afficionado if I ever knew one) had been raving about this place and was excited to check out their new location. Ike's had been booted from their old digs, and are…More »
28. TCHO
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 981-0189
Category:
Chocolatiers and Shops
Neighbourhood: Embarcadero
Do you like chocolate and free things? TCHO is a cute little chocolate factory on the Embarcadero that offers free tours twice daily. But excise any images of Oompa Loompas from your head. This place is run like a web startup (their current CEO and…More »
29. Samovar Tea Lounge
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 227-9400
Categories:
Tea Rooms,
Sandwiches
Neighbourhood: SOMA
After many visits to SF and countless traipses (yes, I traipse) by the Yerba Buena Gardens I finally made it to Samovar Tea Lounge.
It's a beautiful spot. Though it was lunch time and the place was bumpin' (yes, bumpin') we managed to get a table for…More »
30. Jane
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 931-5263
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Bakeries
Neighbourhood: Pacific Heights
Jane is monochromed wonder of a cafe. It's a long and airy space with beautiful floral wallpaper, overhanging lamps with crimped shades, and hipper-than-thou baristas serving pretty kick-ass coffee.
Me and Kat F jumped in here to escape the jazz fest…More »
31. Burma SuperStar
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-2147
Category:
Burmese
Neighbourhood: Inner Richmond
Simply being able to *sit down* and dine in San Francisco can bring you a genuine sense of accomplishment. Especially when you're aiming for the SuperStars. Our foursome went to Hell and back (actually we just waited a long time for the 38 Geary) and…More »
32. Buckshot Restaurant, Bar and Gameroom
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 831-8838
The last time I played skee-ball it was in the presence of animatronic mice and I was about ten years shy of drinking age. Flash forward to my late-late 20s: root beer has been replaced by $2 PBRs and animatronic animals replaced with taxidermied…More »
33. Dolores Park
I knew SF was home to America's most distilled varietals of weirdos, hipsters, segway enthusiasts/slam poets, circus freaks, crack smoking millionaires, sub-vegan anarchists, et. al., but what I didn't know is that I could find them all assembled on…More »
34. Smuggler's Cove
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 869-1900
Categories:
Bars,
Venues & Event Spaces
Neighbourhood: Western Addition/NOPA
I once dreamed of having a pirate-themed wedding. I had lots of spare time in university and so my flights of fancy (and sensitive nature, I guess) got me sketching nautical wedding regalia in notebooks, calculating plank mechanics, and obtaining…More »
Recently updated lists from Vivek S.
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Sammich Showdown (7)Where to go to get killer sangwiches, sammiches, sandos and sandwiches in the city. |
Burger Roll Call (10)Where to find a good steamed ham in Hogtown. |
Queen Street Address (63)Places on Queen street in Toronto. West or east: I don't discriminate. But never, ever, south. |
Toys in the Annex (11)A list of hot (and warm) spots in the Annex Neighbourhood. |
Places to get crunk in the Teedot (41)If you are looking to shmashed with a capital SHMASH, these places will prove invaluable in your quest. Bars, pubs, clubs and other place to score alcoholic beverages in the city. |
Top Coffee Shops (37)My favourite places to feed my crippling addiction to caffeine. No, I don't have a problem. |
Feeling Crafty (8)Supplies, paper, and craftable goodies for the DIY-elper in the midst of an art attack. Ready those X-acto knives! |
See all 99 lists »
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San Francisco, CA
Yelping SinceMarch 2009
Things I Lovelive music, Beck, words, picnics, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, typography, graphic design, spreadsheets, webcomics, The Simpsons, bowling, espresso, The Mighty Boosh, Stars of the Lid, trivia, pluots, nudity
Find Me InA bowl of chili
My HometownOakville, ON
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...When I'm not Yelping...?
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI write them just for you.
My Second Favourite Website The Last Great Book I ReadDiving Bell and the Butterfly
My First ConcertI honestly can't remember. It might have been AC/DC.
My Favourite MovieBeing John Malkovich
My Last Meal On EarthFried Chicken and Ribs at Hadley's
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I'm about to make things really awkward
Most Recent DiscoveryRacer 5 IPA
Current CrushCold brew coffee