Last year I bought all my east coast peeps some bougie locally-made SF chocolate truffles from a place on Folsom in Soma. This was a good and low-effort gift idea imo. What can I do this year that's a similar concept (universally-appreciated one-size-fits-all "hey now we have a piece of BJ with us here in NY" gifts)? Local bougie soaps, honey, coffee...idk.

BJ,

Just walk around Valencia, the ferry building, or Hayes valley and there's an endless supply of bougie local/artisan food/crafts that fit the bill.

It is just me for one night. Is there a bar at Prime Rib House where I can eat by myself? Any better steak places. Staying in Union Square going to U/L everywhere.

Tx,

Yes, there's a big bar at HOPR as well as a lounge area.

It's a prime rib place, not a steak place. For steak-steak restaurants I like harris' (old school steakhouse), 5a5 (trendy Japanese style steakhouse), and osso (nice modern steakhouse).

HOPR is great if you want prime rib.

Thanks. Was just trying to make sure I'd get food service at the bar.

I'd call ahead - HOPR management seems to try to book every square foot of the place for the past few years, and it is slammed 7 days a week from open to close.

Pro order: house cut, medium rare, baked potato with everything, spinach. I ask for pickled horseradish ("the red stuff"). Mashed/corn = GTFO.

Potato,

You forgot the salad!

I'm going to phone them and Harris', but now I am having second thoughts as I don't like eating like a beast in one sitting. Plan at HOPR is/was salad, potato, and whatever slice waiter sells me on.

Not hardly. You don't order salad! It just comes!

The only advice I might have is not to eat all of it since there is a lot more food coming, but that would make me a hypocrite.

potato: I mean, you don't really order anything there, you just make the obvious choice of baked potato over mashed!

tx:
So the side of creamed spinach is what pushed it over the edge for you?

Arrived at HOPR at 8:30 the day after Christmas. Immediately seated at bar, waiting on food.

HOPR

Bread-
Salad-
Service-
Ambience-
Gravy on mash-
Beef- meh
Jus- meh
Spinach- meh
Yorkshire pudding- meh

It was a good experience, but I probably wouldn't go back. I was by myself at the bar so the table service probably adds to the experience. Not too pricey at all. Basically got a double served to me as my drink and was in and out in under and hour.

Mission burrito report coming in later tonight, assuming I don't get stabbed.

Mashed

Tx,

Checking here to see last night's stabbings report: http://missionlocal.org/category/trouble/

That's pretty much what I'd expect from HOPR. I'd rank the meat above meh, but it's pretty much the same as all the other big prime rib places I've been around the country, not some amazing steakhouse or anything. And yeah, it's largely about the whole old school experience and service there.

Do they still ask if you'd like a little extra prime rib at the end?

Edit: and yeah, big fail w mashed over baked!

Gravy on the mash was probably the best part of the meal. I didn't finish so I didn't get the extra slice. I gave my red bag to one of the million homeless people sleeping on the street. I somehow managed to find a chick to sleep with me, so I didn't make it to burrito place.

Tx,

Congrats on the chick! Where'd you find her?

Some bar near Union Square, no idea of name. I was probably approached by a dozen classy ladies, asking where I was going and what I was up to, walking between bars, but why pay for something if you apply yourself you can get it for free. .

I've got a team meeting in SF in a couple of weeks. What's a good place for dinner for about 20 people, with good vegan options? Location isn't too important, but downtownish/SOMA/embarcadero would be nice. Would like to keep it around $50/person before booze.

All,

I'm likely moving to the Bay Area later this year. I'm out here visiting the next few days, and would be great to check out different cities/neighborhoods to see where I'd like to live. I'm 30 yrs old, will be moving out with my girlfriend. The most likely scenario is that I'll be working in Foster City and her in San Bruno, with a secondary possibility that I will be in SoMa and her in San Bruno.

Top priorities for me:

1. I hate commuting. I will have a car but would prefer to drive/take train as short as possible every day.
2. Access to stuff outside the city -- Napa, Half Moon Bay, Muir, Monterey, Tahoe, whatever. Avoiding traffic getting out of congested areas would be nice. I also like to play live poker so being close to casinos is a plus.
3. Dining/nightlife -- I really don't need a ton here, and if I'm living outside SF I'm happy to commute there a couple nights a week to meet friends for dinner or try new bars/restaurants. For reference, I think the only places I've been on the peninsula have been Palo Alto and San Bruno, and I thought Palo Alto easily hits my bar for this, but San Bruno was pretty crappy.

Our budget is ~$4k-$4500 in rent. Would prefer a 2 BR but would stretch into a 1 BR if this is too tough.

What are top 2-3 places I should check while I'm in the area? Thanks for the help!!

I'd look at San Mateo and Burlingame if I were you. You should be able to find a nice 2-br in your price range in a good location. They both have decent downtown areas as big as or bigger than Palo Alto. Expect to drive to Foster City. It's not easy to get to with public transit.


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Thanks a lot, I ended up going to Burlingame yesterday, seemed like exactly what I was looking for.

soooo the chicken sandwich from the bird is really good

JL,

I was there today! And yes, it's great.

4500 budget, just live in SF. You can caltrain or bart + caltrain to the peninsula. Redwood city or San Mateo are fine to live if you don't mind quieter small towns. San Mateo has pretty good food.

Palo Alto - expensive and lot of old rich people and students. Pretty small downtown.

San Mateo - tons of chinese/asians live here. But fine and safe place. Good food. Amazing weather (similar to Palo Alto).

Foster City - Residental but has some nice apartments, and right on the water. Not much to do without gettig on the 101 though.

Redwood city - Nice small city. A bit more fun than San Mateo.

San Bruno - Cloudy/foggy/cold. Not much to do and close to airport.

South SF - Similar to San Bruno. Lots of immigrant families and very residental.

Places like San Carlos, Burlingame, Millbrae are quite small and I would just avoid them if you are looking for more walkable and fun cities.

I misread and thought you were working in Redwood city (which has a caltrain station). Foster city is a pain to get to on public transport so you're probably stuck driving at least partly, or train + uber.

Also, you're going mostly against the traffic, so SF to Foster City is not that bad (esp if you can commute after 9pm)