Hi,

Sorry about the off topic post, but this seemed to me to be the best
place for advice.

My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and has two
foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf) I've been able to
come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum) places but was at a loss
for advice on good fish restaurants. Can anyone give me any
recommendations - especially from their own personal experience,
please.

--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

IanH wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Sorry about the off topic post, but this seemed to me to be the best
> place for advice.
>
> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and has two
> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
> restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf) I've been able to
> come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum) places but was at a loss
> for advice on good fish restaurants. Can anyone give me any
> recommendations - especially from their own personal experience,
> please.

Ian, I'm sure that I'm not telling you anything that you don't already
know, but some of the best seafood cooking in SF is also Chinese, since
Cantonese cooking is the dominant form in SF. Traditional powerhouses
have been Yank Sing and Ton Kiang, but lately I've heard grumblings that
they've fallen off their earlier form. For more European seafood
cooking, the Usual Suspects are Aqua and Farallon. I've been to both,
though it's been years since, and neither was transcendent -- but I'm
more of an ethnic food fan anyway. You might want to extend you enquiry
to ba.food as well to see what the cantankerous regulars of that group
might say. I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't
carry ba.food.

Mark Lipton


--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

On 2008-05-13 12:07:03 -0700, IanH > said:

> Hi,
>
> Sorry about the off topic post, but this seemed to me to be the best
> place for advice.
>
> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and has two
> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
> restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf) I've been able to
> come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum) places but was at a loss
> for advice on good fish restaurants. Can anyone give me any
> recommendations - especially from their own personal experience,
> please.

For chinese food, I'd send him across the bay to King Tsin in Albany
(next North to Berkeley) There are a couple of good Northern Chinese
restaurants there along Shattuck Ave. (just down from where Kermit
Lynch's store used to be.)

Ronin wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 14:48:57 -0700:

>> Hi,
>>
>> Sorry about the off topic post, but this seemed to me to be
>> the best place for advice.
>>
>> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and
>> has two foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really
>> good fish restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf)
>> I've been able to come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum)
>> places but was at a loss for advice on good fish restaurants.
>> Can anyone give me any recommendations - especially from
>> their own personal experience, please.

The Pacific Cafe
7000 Geary Blvd
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 387-7091

This used to be good a few years ago. You *can* find parking but
they didn't take reservations. They would come round with
glasses of wine for the people in line.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Ronin wrote:

> For chinese food, I'd send him across the bay to King Tsin in Albany
> (next North to Berkeley) There are a couple of good Northern Chinese
> restaurants there along Shattuck Ave. (just down from where Kermit
> Lynch's store used to be.)
>

King Tsin? Really? Wow, I haven't eaten there in... must be about 35
years now. I'll have to check it out when I'm back in the East Bay in a
couple of weeks. Regarding Shattuck: are you sure you aren't thinking
of where North Berkeley Wines used to be? Kermit Lynch's store has been
on San Pablo Ave for at least 25 years now.

Mark Lipton aka East Bay Ray

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

IanH wrote:

> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and has two
> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
> restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf)

Generally I agree with the not on Fishermans Wharf. Most restaurants
there aren't so good and cater to the tourist crowds. However, there is
one exception. Scomas is just barely off the main sights of those
crowds and food is excellent. There is a tiny sign that points to its
location but thats it.

http://www.scomas.com/

I would suggest "The Slanted Door". One of my favorites.

http://www.slanteddoor.com/


"IanH" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Sorry about the off topic post, but this seemed to me to be the best
> place for advice.
>
> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and has two
> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
> restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf) I've been able to
> come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum) places but was at a loss
> for advice on good fish restaurants. Can anyone give me any
> recommendations - especially from their own personal experience,
> please.
>
> --
> All the best
> Fatty from Forges

Richard wrote on Wed, 14 May 2008 09:55:46 -0400:

> http://www.slanteddoor.com/

>>
>> My brother's going to be visiting San Francisco in June and
>> has two foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really
>> good fish restaurant (probably not on the Fisherman's wharf)
>> I've been able to come up with a couple of chinese (dim sum)
>> places but was at a loss for advice on good fish restaurants.
>> Can anyone give me any recommendations - especially from
>> their own personal experience, please.
>>

The Slanted Door is one of my favorites too. I was glad to see
that it survived its move to the Ferry Building in great shape.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James Silverton wrote:

> The Slanted Door is one of my favorites too. I was glad to see that it
> survived its move to the Ferry Building in great shape.
>

Jim and Dick,
I too love the Slanted Door (and its wonderful wine list) but I don't
think of it as either a Chinese or seafood restaurant. True, it does
have seafood items, but seafood is not a specialization of the SD.

Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

On 2008-05-13 15:14:35 -0700, Mark Lipton > said:

> Ronin wrote:
>
>> For chinese food, I'd send him across the bay to King Tsin in Albany
>> (next North to Berkeley) There are a couple of good Northern Chinese
>> restaurants there along Shattuck Ave. (just down from where Kermit
>> Lynch's store used to be.)
>>
>
> King Tsin? Really? Wow, I haven't eaten there in... must be about 35
> years now. I'll have to check it out when I'm back in the East Bay in
> a couple of weeks. Regarding Shattuck: are you sure you aren't
> thinking of where North Berkeley Wines used to be? Kermit Lynch's
> store has been on San Pablo Ave for at least 25 years now.
>
> Mark Lipton aka East Bay Ray

Well, I must admit to be talking about 35 years ago Lynch, but as I
remember not long ago asking my Berkely brother if King Tsin was still
there and as good, and he said yes, but that too was a couple of years
ago.

JB

To me, Slanted Door is a don't miss place as there is nothing like it
anywhere I have been.

I had the best Seafood there I have ever had, also the best beef, pork
etc...they do it all and they do it well.

Hard place nowadays to get into also. Reservations are a MUST and well in
advance...at least 30 days to get when you want to dine.

"Mark Lipton" > wrote in message
...
> James Silverton wrote:
>
>> The Slanted Door is one of my favorites too. I was glad to see that it
>> survived its move to the Ferry Building in great shape.
>>
>
> Jim and Dick,
> I too love the Slanted Door (and its wonderful wine list) but I don't
> think of it as either a Chinese or seafood restaurant. True, it does have
> seafood items, but seafood is not a specialization of the SD.
>
> Mark Lipton
>
> --
> alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

In article >, Ronin wrote:

> On 2008-05-13 15:14:35 -0700, Mark Lipton > said:
>
> > Ronin wrote:
> >
> >> For chinese food, I'd send him across the bay to King Tsin in Albany
> >> (next North to Berkeley) There are a couple of good Northern Chinese
> >> restaurants there along Shattuck Ave. (just down from where Kermit
> >> Lynch's store used to be.)
> >>
> >
> > King Tsin? Really? Wow, I haven't eaten there in... must be about 35
> > years now. I'll have to check it out when I'm back in the East Bay in
> > a couple of weeks. Regarding Shattuck: are you sure you aren't
> > thinking of where North Berkeley Wines used to be? Kermit Lynch's
> > store has been on San Pablo Ave for at least 25 years now.
> >
> > Mark Lipton aka East Bay Ray
>
> Well, I must admit to be talking about 35 years ago Lynch, but as I
> remember not long ago asking my Berkely brother if King Tsin was still
> there and as good, and he said yes, but that too was a couple of years
> ago.
>
> JB

We had a great experience at Yank Sing of really great Dim Sum if that
is one direction you are looking. It is near the Embarcadero.

Hello again

First of all, thanks to all of you who've answered. Thanks also for
the well considered and thoughtful recommendations. Forgive me if I
don't answer you all individually, however I've read (and copied to
Tony) all your replies.

On Tue, 13 May 2008 16:00:33 -0400, Mark Lipton >
wrote:
>> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
>> restaurant
>
>Ian, I'm sure that I'm not telling you anything that you don't already
>know, but some of the best seafood cooking in SF is also Chinese,

You're absolutely right. However, that was what he asked me and being
a good brother I like to pass on requests faithfully. :-)

> Traditional powerhouses have been Yank Sing and Ton Kiang, but lately I've heard grumblings that
>they've fallen off their earlier form.

Oh dear... the Yank Sing was one of the two that I'd been thinking of.
Just shows how useful it is to ask here, doesn't it!!

> You might want to extend you enquiry to ba.food as well to see what the cantankerous regulars of that group
>might say. I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't carry ba.food.

It does, as it happens. Are you a (known) poster there? If so, then
I'd be happier if you wouldn't mind asking. My experience is that one
tends to get a better class of reply if one's known. I don't mind
reading and copying to my brother the thread that follows your post,
so you wouldn't have to do anything other than make the first post. If
you're not known there, then I'll be happy to do the deed!!
--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

In article >,
IanH > wrote:

> Hello again
>
> First of all, thanks to all of you who've answered. Thanks also for
> the well considered and thoughtful recommendations. Forgive me if I
> don't answer you all individually, however I've read (and copied to
> Tony) all your replies.
>
> On Tue, 13 May 2008 16:00:33 -0400, Mark Lipton >
> wrote:
> >> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish
> >> restaurant
> >
> >Ian, I'm sure that I'm not telling you anything that you don't already
> >know, but some of the best seafood cooking in SF is also Chinese,
>
> You're absolutely right. However, that was what he asked me and being
> a good brother I like to pass on requests faithfully. :-)
>
> > Traditional powerhouses have been Yank Sing and Ton Kiang, but lately I've
> > heard grumblings that
> >they've fallen off their earlier form.
>
> Oh dear... the Yank Sing was one of the two that I'd been thinking of.
> Just shows how useful it is to ask here, doesn't it!!
>
> > You might want to extend you enquiry to ba.food as well to see what the
> > cantankerous regulars of that group
> >might say. I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't carry
> >ba.food.
>
> It does, as it happens. Are you a (known) poster there? If so, then
> I'd be happier if you wouldn't mind asking. My experience is that one
> tends to get a better class of reply if one's known. I don't mind
> reading and copying to my brother the thread that follows your post,
> so you wouldn't have to do anything other than make the first post. If
> you're not known there, then I'll be happy to do the deed!!
> --
> All the best
> Fatty from Forges

I went to Yank Sing in March and it was as good as the last time I went
in 2006 so I saw no fall off in quality. The place is huge and the
service is, well they walk around with carts, if it is the one you want
great, if not you wait. This is typical in a big Dim Sum restaurant and
I don't think a lot of people understand how it works.

IanH wrote:

> Oh dear... the Yank Sing was one of the two that I'd been thinking of.
> Just shows how useful it is to ask here, doesn't it!!
>
>> You might want to extend you enquiry to ba.food as well to see what the cantankerous regulars of that group
>> might say. I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't carry ba.food.
>
> It does, as it happens. Are you a (known) poster there? If so, then
> I'd be happier if you wouldn't mind asking. My experience is that one
> tends to get a better class of reply if one's known. I don't mind
> reading and copying to my brother the thread that follows your post,
> so you wouldn't have to do anything other than make the first post. If
> you're not known there, then I'll be happy to do the deed!!

Yes, I was quite surprised at the degree of negativity toward Yank Sing
especially that I've seen there. I've posted there on occasion, so I
just posted your query there. There is a chance that the server I've
used (Aioe) isn't propagating posts, so if it hasn't appeared by
tonight, I'll see if I can find another server that carries ba.food. If
all else fails, you can post the question ;-)

Mark Lipton

--
alt.food.wine FAQ: http://winefaq.hostexcellence.com

Mark wrote on Thu, 15 May 2008 15:05:28 -0400:

>> Oh dear... the Yank Sing was one of the two that I'd been
>> thinking of. Just shows how useful it is to ask here, doesn't
>> it!!
>>
>>> You might want to extend you enquiry to ba.food as well to
>>> see what the cantankerous regulars of that group might say.
>>> I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't
>>> carry ba.food.
>>
>> It does, as it happens. Are you a (known) poster there? If
>> so, then I'd be happier if you wouldn't mind asking. My
>> experience is that one tends to get a better class of reply
>> if one's known. I don't mind reading and copying to my
>> brother the thread that follows your post, so you wouldn't
>> have to do anything other than make the first post. If you're
>> not known there, then I'll be happy to do the deed!!

> Yes, I was quite surprised at the degree of negativity toward
> Yank Sing especially that I've seen there. I've posted there
> on occasion, so I just posted your query there. There is a
> chance that the server I've used (Aioe) isn't propagating
> posts, so if it hasn't appeared by tonight, I'll see if I can
> find another server that carries ba.food. If all else fails,
> you can post the question ;-)

I have to admit that it is a year or two since I ate at Yank
Sing and it is very popular and IMHO deservedly so. The food on
the circulating carts is high quality and often unusual and the
prices were not outrageous if more expensive than restaurants in
Chinatown. I have found other places with large numbers of
oriental-looking customers but the names escape me at the
moment.

I'm not the OP but my server does carry ba.food but the last
post I saw was on 5/11/08 and no posts from you Mark.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

James wrote to Mark Lipton on Thu, 15 May 2008 19:36:23 GMT:

> I'm not the OP but my server does carry ba.food but the last
> post I saw was on 5/11/08 and no posts from you Mark.

Sorry, that's not quite correct since there were some at 4/29/08
on spice jars>

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

On Thu, 15 May 2008 15:05:28 -0400, Mark Lipton >
wrote:

>Yes, I was quite surprised at the degree of negativity toward Yank Sing
>especially that I've seen there. I've posted there on occasion, so I
>just posted your query there.
Quite a lot a few months ago (my server had >7k messages)

> There is a chance that the server I've used (Aioe) isn't propagating posts, so if it hasn't appeared by
>tonight, I'll see if I can find another server that carries ba.food. If >all else fails, you can post the question ;-)

Well, your message wasn't there at 00.15 Europe rime. I'm afraid.
Would you mind having one further bash - pretty please. The more I've
read there, the more nervous I am about posting myself.

--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

IanH wrote:

> Well, your message wasn't there at 00.15 Europe rime. I'm afraid.
> Would you mind having one further bash - pretty please. The more I've
> read there, the more nervous I am about posting myself.

Reposted, and several reponses already. One other thought since my
original repsonse to you: Hog Island Oyster Company now has a restaurant
in San Francisco. While I haven't been there, I have been several times
to the parent operation in Northern Marin County, and it's a
quintessential local experience: Tomales Bay Oysters, served on the half
shell and "barbecued." FWIW, I prefer the former preparation by a long
shot.

Mark Lipton

In article >,
Mark Lipton > wrote:

> IanH wrote:
>
> > Well, your message wasn't there at 00.15 Europe rime. I'm afraid.
> > Would you mind having one further bash - pretty please. The more I've
> > read there, the more nervous I am about posting myself.
>
> Reposted, and several reponses already. One other thought since my
> original repsonse to you: Hog Island Oyster Company now has a restaurant
> in San Francisco. While I haven't been there, I have been several times
> to the parent operation in Northern Marin County, and it's a
> quintessential local experience: Tomales Bay Oysters, served on the half
> shell and "barbecued." FWIW, I prefer the former preparation by a long
> shot.
>
> Mark Lipton

I have been to the Hog Island in SF and in Northern Marin both really
good.

On Wed, 14 May 2008 15:19:10 -0400, Lawrence Leichtman
> wrote:

>We had a great experience at Yank Sing of really great Dim Sum if that
>is one direction you are looking. It is near the Embarcadero.

Thanks very much Larry, I'm forwarding your comment.

To all of you who responded. Tony asked me to thank you all very much.
--
All the best
Fatty from Forges

In article >,
IanH > wrote:

> On Wed, 14 May 2008 15:19:10 -0400, Lawrence Leichtman
> > wrote:
>
> >We had a great experience at Yank Sing of really great Dim Sum if that
> >is one direction you are looking. It is near the Embarcadero.
>
> Thanks very much Larry, I'm forwarding your comment.
>
> To all of you who responded. Tony asked me to thank you all very much.
> --
> All the best
> Fatty from Forges

Hope whatever they do they have a great time.