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Tiki Central / Tiki Travel

San Francisco & East bay Area favorite (often vintage) restaurant & bars

Pages: 1 2 58 replies

M

Some of the hours listed are weekend only-weekday hours differ. CODE- (R) is restaurant (B) is bar. (R/B) Means both bar and restaurant are worth checking out!

SAN FRANCISCO -- Area Code =415 for SF
Van Ness Corridor;
(R/B)TOMMY'S JOYNT http://www.tommysjoynt.com Hof-brau 1101 Geary Blvd@Van Ness 775-4216 11 am-1:40am
(B)SMUGGLER’S COVE 650 Gough Street(at McAllister)5pm to closing daily http://smugglerscovesf.com/trapdoor/
(R) GRUBSTAKE (altered rail car Diner) 1525 Pine near Van Ness 673-8268 open to 4am daily!
http://www.sfgrubstake.com/
(R/B)HOUSE OF PRIME RIB 1906 Van Ness Ave (415) 885-4605 classic Prime Rib eatery- pricey and good!
(R/B)HARRIS' STEAKHOUSE 2100 Van Ness Ave (415) 673-1888 classic Steak eatery- pricey and good!
Nob Hill;
(B)OWL TREE 601 POST/TAYLOR 359-1600 Bobby died-It reopened under new owners and has changed some I have heard-more swanky, less divey- NOTE-- TIKI BOB pole across the street!
(R/B)TONGA ROOM 415-772-5278 SAT 5-12:45, SUN 5- 11:45 950 Mason @California SF
Chinatown;
(R)FAR EAST CAFE-SF 415.982.3245 SF http://www.fareastcafesf.com/index.htm NOTE-Pictures are of the ugly banquet room upstairs! 6-10PM 1920's Chinese restaurant--secluded booths, incredible Asian chandeliers
(B)Li Po Cocktail Lounge 916 Grant Ave (415) 982-0072
(B)Buddha Lounge 901 Grant Ave (415) 362-1792
North Beach:
(R/B)ORIGINAL JOES-601 Union St (bet. Stockton St & Columbus Ave in North beach 415-775-4877 (fianally went to new location on Union St. and the food and décor were awesome!) http://www.originaljoessf.com/
(B) Tony Nik's Café 1534 Stockton St (bet. Columbus Ave & Green St) (415) 693-0990 http://www.tonyniks.com/
(B)BAMBOO HUT 415-989-8555 M-SAT 9PM, ON ...SF closed sunday(not my fave) 479 Broadway, SF
(B)HAWAII WEST 729 VALLEJO ST 362-3220 1PM ON DAILY (May have gone downhill)
(B)SPEC'S 12 ADLER MUSEUM BAR 12 William Saroyan Pl 421-4112 North Beach I lOVE this bar!
(R/B) CAPPS CORNER 1600 Powell St NEAR Green (415) 989-2589 Italian- North Beach
(R) MAMA’S 1701 Stockton St. (415) 362-6421 Open 8am - 3pm Closed Mondays North Beach(HAVEN’T BEEN HERE) a breakfast place…
(R/B)HENRY’S HUNAN 924 Sansome St. (bet. Broadway & Vallejo) 956-7727 spicy Chinese

FISHERMANS WHARF various BARS and restaurants including;
(R/B) FISHERMAN'S GROTTO 2847 Taylor 415-673-7025 check out the bars at (rest. food sometimes bad) one down, & a really dark one upstairs with fireplace & blue vinyl seats. Try to get into the vintage gift shop with tons of deadstock souvenirs from 60's.
(R/B) SCOMAS-great seafood tucked away on the wharf. This is a great place, not a cheap tourist snack shop! http://www.scomas.com Pier 47 on Al Scoma Way (800) 644-5852 Local: (415) 771-4383
(R/B) BUENA VISTA "Cafe" Irish Coffee !! 2765 Hyde St 415-474-5044 http://www.thebuenavista.com/index2.html
(B)GOLD DUST Lounge -Old SF Style bar- 165 Jefferson -Dixieland Jazz many nights. Moved to new location in 2012. Still has a great vibe. 415-397-1695 http://www.golddustsf.com/

Downtown;
(R/B)LEFTY O'DOULS Hof-brau-333 GEARY ST 415-982-8900
(R)PALACE HOTEL Breakfast?fancy priced, incredible Dining room! 2 New Montgomery 415-512-1111 Maxfield Parish bar with Pied Piper Mural in hotel, too
(B)HOUSE OF SHIELDS (bar)--New Montgomery st, near Market (after 9pm music sucks) CLOSED? Maybe
(R/B) OLD SHIP SALOON 298 Pacific Ave (bet. Front & Battery St) 788-2222 oldshipsaloon.com (HAVEN’T BEEN HERE)
Haight-Ashbury:
(B) (Persian) Aub Zam Zam 1633 Haight St. (415) 861-2545
Lower Haight / Outer Castro;
(R)IT'S TOPS-old diner 1801 Market st, SF 415-431-6395 open til 3am Fri/Sat nights!
Mission;
(R)ST.FRANCIS DINER FOUNTAIN 1918 soda fountain 2801 24th Street826-4200 http://stfrancisfountainsf.com/
The Richmond;
(B)TRADER SAM'S 221-0773 11AM-2AM DAILY 6150 Geary St, SF
…….
(R/B)TRADER VIC’s in SF closed the end of 2007--go the Emeryville(East Bay) location!


EAST BAY-
Alameda:

(R/B)FORBIDDEN ISLAND 1304 Lincoln Ave, Alameda 510-749-0332
http://www.forbiddenislandalameda.com (not really a restaurant,but it has hot snacks)
(B)LOST WEEKEND -Santa Clara St @Park, Alameda GOOD modern bar
ALAMEDA POINT ANTIQUE & COLLECTABLE FAIRE
http://www.antiquesbybay.com First Sunday of each month !!!! (start at back first and shop towards the front)
Berkeley:
(R/B)TEMPLEBAR (510) 524-6403 http://www.templebar.org sat 5pm on, sun 3:30 on--LUAU Sunday 984 University Ave, Berkeley Make sure it hasn't Closed!
El Cerrito/ Albany:
(B)MEL-O-DEE 510-526-2131 EL CERRITO Nice quiet 1961 dive bar near Club Mallard
240 El Cerrito plaza....off San Pablo ave.
(B)Club Mallard-752 San Pablo Ave, Albany 510-524-8450(upstairs and down tiki patio)
Emeryville:
(R/B)TRADER VICS 9 Anchor Dr. Emeryville 510-653-3400 http://www.tradervicsemeryville.com/
Emeryville:

Oakland:
(R/B)THE ALLEY (SUN,MON closed) 3325 Grand Ave, OAKLAND 510-444-8505
(R/B)CONGA LOUNGE 5422 College Ave. 510-654-1601 OAKLAND new"tiki"
(B)HEINOLD'S FIRST AND LAST BAR-839-6761 SAT, 12p-1AM, SUN 11-10pm 48 Webster ,Oakland Jack London's fave hangout
(R)LE CHEVAL-vietnamese 11-9:30 Sat, 4 on Sunday 1007 Clay St, http://lecheval.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50&Itemid=4

[ Edited by: mrsmiley 2014-05-21 00:49 ]

[ Edited by: mrsmiley 2014-05-21 00:52 ]

H

On 2004-10-11 17:39, mrsmiley wrote:
"New tiki bar-It's at a bar called "Jack's Cannery Bar" at 2801 Leavenworth at Beach 415-931-6400 It's in the touristy area where I don't get to much, but I was playing tour-guide for my cousin yesterday and ran across a sign that said "NEW TIKI BAR" and it sent me spinning" i have never been here. San Francisco. probably sucks

I can confirm the utter suckitude of this bar. Don't bother. Even the Shag rip-off paintings on the wall are worse than usual.

H

Of course I have! Who do you think you're talking to? :wink:

Please be advised, the glorious Tonga Room is closed for the duration of the hotel strike.

T

Nice list mrsmiley, I have a few things to add when I get around to it at work :wink:

M

The Tonga Room is open again!!! :)

[ Edited by: MRSMILEY on 2004-12-08 10:32 ]

In my opinion, premier classic, cool San Francisco (non-tiki) bars begin with the upscale Bix, where you can enjoy your martini or flute of champagne listening to a jazz combo . . .
and ends with Noc-Noc, where the postmodern and cave man worlds collide.

Bix
56 Gold Street, between Montgomery & Sansome Streets, San Francisco,
Week hours: 11.30am-1am
Weekend hours: 5.30pm-2am
Telephone: 415 433 6300

“Voted one of the best bars in America by Playboy and who are we to argue? Hidden down hard-to-find Gold Street its vast ceilings and ornate decor give it a smoky sophistication that's part Great Gatsby, part Cotton Club. A sultry jazz singer in evening gown continues the Charleston-era theme, while food is supper club spectacular. You've been transported into a Scott Fitzgerald short story and martinis are naturally your drink of choice.”

http://www.worldsbestbars.com/city/SanFrancisco/Bix.asp

Noc Noc
557 Haight St.
(Haight @ Fillmore)
San Francisco, CA 94117
phone: 415.861.5811

M

Bix has teriffic bartenders that know all the classics. Plus, they have my hard o find favorite steak tartare made tableside. Wonderful place. Dress to the nines if you go.

Noc Noc is fucked up, y'all. Don't go in if you're altered in any way. Otherwise it's pretty damn cool.

On 2004-10-14 10:28, martiki wrote:
Noc Noc is fucked up, y'all. Don't go in if you're altered in any way. Otherwise it's pretty damn cool.

Unga is a little slow today. Can you please rephrase your suggestion about Noc Noc?.
I will definitely check out Bix after the Hooiptylau crawl.
Bix Website

M

bump

The Redwood Room/Asia de Cuba restaurant
The Clift Hotel, 495 Geary Street,
San Francisco, CA 94102
(Theatre District, 4 blocks from Union Square)
Hours: Mon -Sun 5pm - 2am
Telephone: 415 775 4700

Legendary San Francisco nightspot in the Clift Hotel established back in 1934 but recently undergone a $US50 million makeover from the Ian Schrager-Philippe Starck hotel collaboration. The Redwood Room has retained their original structure and has been extremely well received.

Those fans of the art deco jewel in LA, Bullocks-Wilshire, will love it.

Get there before 11 pm to avoid the doormen and lines.

The drinks choice: lychee and lavender martinis are a hit; the Key Lime Tartini with vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps and lime is a liquid dessert; and the Honeysuckle made with orange honey and cointreau is a sweet tooth's fantasy.

M

.

T

On 2005-06-24 17:18, mrsmiley wrote:
.

Nice dot.

P

The Fat Lady.

That is all.

If you haven't tried E & 0 Trading Co. 314 Sutter Street, S.F. please do so. The drinks are strong and delicious, and the corn fritters are pretty good too.

T

On 2005-09-02 15:18, Jungle Trader wrote:
If you haven't tried E & 0 Trading Co. 314 Sutter Street, S.F. please do so. The drinks are strong and delicious, and the corn fritters are pretty good too.

I don't like contradicting a friend, but I thought the drinks were not so good. The mai tai has pineapple juice, and the Singapore Sling was too sweet for my taste.

The food was pretty good, but for the money there are many better places in San Francisco.

I'm just saying it wouldn't be the first place I'd recommend to visitors.

M

I like the feel and food of E&O. It bills itself as the "updated Trader Vic's", while we on this board, of course, need no such update.

I like the food, but have to agree the drinks are so-so. The pomegranite margarita, served up, is my only favorite on that menu. They also make their own beer, which is ok.

There is a second location in Larkspur Landing. Not as well decorated as the SF branch, though.

While in Larkspur Landing, check out the enourmous spirits selection at Noonan's Bar and Grill. Bartenders are competent and the list of tequilas is second only to Tommy's.

The drink or 2 I had were great. One had the Black Strap Rum mmmm, maybe you should try a different drink or go there during lunch, different bartender possibly. I loved the place but it's cool, to each his own. Jab's jabbin'!!

T
thejab posted on Tue, Sep 6, 2005 6:03 PM

On 2005-09-06 17:28, Jungle Trader wrote:
The drink or 2 I had were great. One had the Black Strap Rum mmmm, maybe you should try a different drink or go there during lunch, different bartender possibly. I loved the place but it's cool, to each his own. Jab's jabbin'!!

You're so right JT! The bartender, the drink one orders, one's mood, can all impact one's opinions. I would definitely go back again to give it another try. And now that there's one in Larkspur (near my work) I have no excuse not to go.

And don't forget JAKARTA. Indonesian food with peanut sauce. mmmmmmmmm. Somewhere over by where Martiki used to live. I don't remember.

M

Sorry, JT- Jakarta is out of business. :(

Here is a similar thread regarding SF:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=16025&forum=6

Thanks, Christiki. I somehow couldn't find the older one in my searching.

not in my list and not Tiki, but a friend drove by Holiday Bowl in Hayward, CA recently and it was boarded up and surrounded by a chain link fence.

a BIG RAZZ!!! :(

T

On 2005-09-23 12:30, mrsmiley wrote:
not in my list and not Tiki, but a friend drove by Holiday Bowl in Hayward, CA recently and it was boarded up and surrounded by a chain link fence.

a BIG RAZZ!!! :(

If it happened in LA people would have been taking about this for weeks before the closing (as with Kona lanes and others) but here nobody said a thing about it's demise. Strangely, their web site is still up.

Here are some pics of their amazing neon sign:


Their restaurant was very well preserved and it actually had really good food.


From their web site I just learned that they used the restaurant and bar for scenes in the movie "The Darwin Awards".

I called their number and someone answered and confirmed its closure. He said they may be able to find a buyer who can reopen it but it doesn't look likely.

Yet another bowling alley gone. :cry:

A

Sucky sucky.

I was driving by Mel's Bowl on El Camino in Redwood City the other day and it looked like something was up there too. Fences and some kinda construction in the parking lot.

Roadside Peek shows photos for both (but no Bel-Mateo? c'mon, who could resist a 40ft steel totem pole?).

-Randy

MT

On 2005-09-23 12:30, mrsmiley wrote:
not in my list and not Tiki, but a friend drove by Holiday Bowl in Hayward, CA recently and it was boarded up and surrounded by a chain link fence.

a BIG RAZZ!!! :(

Awwww, man! Damn! I guess I'll have to take this off the list for Tiki Central Bowling night. Man, I'd better start hitting some of my old East Bay haunts, now that I'm back in the East Bay, before they're all gone! Ye Olde Pizza Joint with The Mighty Wurlitzer - gone! Festival Cinemas - gone! Holiday Bowl - gone!

Anyone want to go on a Hayward bar/eats crawl? Led by none other than me? There are still some great places around there - Val's Burgers, Buffalo Bill's Microbrewery (the oldest or second oldest microbrewery in the U.S.), Casper's Hot Dogs, Emil Villa's BBQ, Hayward Fishery, The Bistro, etc.

Mr. Smiley, Jab, contact me about this after you recover from your Hukilau hangovers.

M
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