thang long

Was in San Francisco for the last five days. It was a nice reprise from the feces occurring at my former place of employment proffered by my Dean. I mean, I started cleaning out my office and found out the Dean didn’t have the gumption to forward or continue my email. The strange thing is that he as a white man says he takes offense when folks say he doesn’t look out for the interest of African American males in terms of enrollment in his institution, but then again what can one expect from a white man in charge at a HCBU.

Any who, instead of my usual places of residence like the Westin, the W, or some retro chic Boutique hotel, I stayed in a dive (not Really) on Lombard street in between the historic Pierce and Fillmore Streets and a block away from Chestnut Street. The Joint was called the Presidio. I stayed over this way because I couldn’t get a room for the aforementioned since I was there to Present to the American Psychological Association and all the good and inexpensive place to eat were in that area.

The first place I hit was a Nepalese restaurant called Taste of the Himalayas. Food was good and spicy, and the buffet was just 7$. On the way back to the Inn, I stopped at Jones Steak house for a quick shot or two- on several occasions since it was adjacent to my hotel and on the corner. Latter on, I ventured on Chestnut street and found what would be my joint of choice while there – Bistro Yoffi. It was a humble edifice, a piano and jazz bar. I had the crab cakes and a dozen raw oyster each of the 5 times I ate there. And Steven, the bartender was cool, knew hat I was having the second time I went in there and even knew my name.

I did manage to eat else where, like in them joints across from Union Square. The best without a doubt was Kletos resturant. There I had the grilled sardines (huge) and potatoes for an appetizer and an argali and spinach based salad. For my main course I had the Duck- exceptional. Total cost for two including Bombay and tonics and wine – 145$.

I also ate at Michael Mina’s restaurant. The joint was nice, too dark for my taste and the portions, let us say were microscopic. I mean Jones expected me to eat duck liver with my Kobe steak and Rabbit. And when I got a dozen oysters for my appetizer, they were 30$ when they were 1.95$ each at the Bistro and 12 for 13$ at Café Maritime (Best Crab cakes I tasted while out there). At the end of the night, including drinks and a bottle of wine cost a bedroom suit for a party of 3 (plus 650$). Thank goodness my unemployed as was being treated at the two above, but only because I dropped 126$ at Café Maritime with my colleagues who raved over the crab cakes, champagne selection and bread pudding.

I practically lived on crab cakes and oysters alone, and probably consumed more than 120 while I was there. I did grab a Philly cheese steak and some wings from this joint that was 24/7 down the street from the hotel and a meal at 4:37am at IHOP on my first night when I was trying to grab back the three hour difference.

I only regret I didn’t get the chance to eat at Thannh Long. I heard it from my colleagaue’s nice while we were eating at that lame Mina joint. When she firs said it I responded, how did you know?” She mentioned again and I asked, “Why do you keep calling my name?” The last time she said it I added, “and thick too.” She laughed, but was really speaking of this Vietnamese restaurant. I love food and next time I will hit it too, and few more joint but Café Maritime and Bistro Yoffi will be sure places to hit