I ran into a great article on SF Gate doing an analysis of bartending; East Coast vs. West Coast. The basic premise is that East Coast Bartenders are very traditional and make small changes to long time recipes and West Coast Bartenders look at fresh local ingredients to create their drinks.
The article as a whole is a bit tongue and cheek, but a good read and most of all it provides four cocktail receipts at the end. I leaned toward the Nouveau Carre sounded great.
What I got out of the article is that Americans are becoming very picky about their cocktails and why not when you lay down $8-$12 for a speciality drink. When you go into a Bar and/or restaurant these days you will see some very unique and taste driven drinks. The best is when the bar and kitchen work together to build a menu that complements the dining experience.
Two of my favorite places in San Francisco to have cocktails and dine are Bix and Betelnut. Both have great menus and even better cocktails. Bix is very traditional and serves martini style drinks. Betelnut use the Asian menu to complement the fruit and sweet inspired drinks. Both place are great to settle in for just cocktails. Flora in Oakland is doing a similar thing with cocktails, fresh ingredients and unusual list.
It is good to see that bars are becoming central to the dining experience.
Check out the article and let us know what you think.
SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/26/WI3K118SKS.DTL
Bix Restaurant
www.bixrestaurant.com/
56 Gold St
San Francisco CA 94133
Tel 415 433 6300
Betelnut
http://www.betelnutrestaurant.com/
2030 Union St
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 929-8855
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A little lesson on Cocktails
I was reading the online version of the NY Times and came across a video in the dining section by Mark Bittman, he does an online video blog called "The Minimalist". His video today is on Cocktails, very intresting a little long over 5 minutes.
Here is the link
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/index.html
Story link:
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=c7fcd98d4eea510380116b5c815a7ac0c75225ef
The player is midway down the page. The video is titled Cocktail Confidential.
Happy Viewing and Cheers
Here is the link
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/dining/index.html
Story link:
http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=c7fcd98d4eea510380116b5c815a7ac0c75225ef
The player is midway down the page. The video is titled Cocktail Confidential.
Happy Viewing and Cheers
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A New Cambridge Restaurant
The "To Tide You Over Dish"
After Tuesday Night’s wild time watching the Celtics Game, Last night I was looking for a quite, and slightly upscale dining experience. After doing a little Internet Research I found a place called Hungry Mother in Cambridge. The restaurant just opened in March and as I walked up you could tell that they have been filling the tables.
The small ownership group had planned on opening this restaurant 18-Months prior in Bay Village Neighborhood as the “Village Table”. The space they original planned fell through and they reorganized to open this small and cozy restaurant. The name comes from a Virginia State park in Marion a place where one of the owners grew up. The restaurant blends traditional French cooking with Southern food of the Appalachian region.
Being a single diner had an advantage on this evening; because they had a table open and I was able to avoid the 25 minute wait. This small space has two dining areas and a bar. The restaurant is a converted home and has all the charm of a period home in this Kendall Square neighborhood.
Hungry Mother has a number of House Mixed Drinks they list by number not name. I started with the no. 8, as my pre-meal cocktail. The no. 8 is tequila, curaçao, fresh lime, orange bitters, pep up for $9. Most of the house cocktails are between $8 and $9. Hungry Mother does something you see rarely in restaurants they list all of their liquor by type and name. So if you do not have to guess if they carry your favorite libation.
The dinner menu has four sections: To Tide You Over, First Course, Main Course, Can You Pass That. To Tide You Over is small plates that are served to right after you order. The plates are: SPICY PIMIENTO CHEESE celery hearts, toasted pain de mie $4; DEVILED CHIP-IN FARM EGGS & hm bacon $4; BOILED VIRGINIA PEANUTS grey sea salt $3: WARM BEEF TONGUE CANAPÉ gruyère, dijon $3. I tried the Deviled Eggs they had a nice mustard tang and were a great comfort food.
The First Course or Appetizers, range from $7 to $13, include oysters, pate, shrimp and grits and smoked barbeque pork rib. I went for the ribs, great flavor and the smoky sauce was excellent.
They have five main courses to choose from chicken, beef, catfish, bluefish and a pasta dish. The entrees range in price from $16 to $27. My choice for the evening was the French style Gnocchi with mushrooms, spring peas, tendrils and large parmigiano shavings for $17. The dish was served in a vegetable broth with all the fresh produce accenting the dish. Each bite was full of flavor and had a buttery element. I was pleased with the selection.
One of the owners, John, came by to ask about my meal and how I had heard about the place. I did mention to John, that the wine list needs a little improving, I ordered Oreana Pinot and it was not a great glass of wine. He took my comment with professionalism and concern. The attention at Hungry Mother shows, you can tell how much they care about the restaurant. Naomi, my server, did an excellent job and the pacing of the meal was perfect.
This would be a perfect restaurant for nice evening out. The patrons dress casually as well as the staff. Hungry Mother has a home feel.
Hungry Mother (Open Tuesday to Sunday)
233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02141
http://www.hungrymothercambridge.com/main.html
The small ownership group had planned on opening this restaurant 18-Months prior in Bay Village Neighborhood as the “Village Table”. The space they original planned fell through and they reorganized to open this small and cozy restaurant. The name comes from a Virginia State park in Marion a place where one of the owners grew up. The restaurant blends traditional French cooking with Southern food of the Appalachian region.
Being a single diner had an advantage on this evening; because they had a table open and I was able to avoid the 25 minute wait. This small space has two dining areas and a bar. The restaurant is a converted home and has all the charm of a period home in this Kendall Square neighborhood.
Hungry Mother has a number of House Mixed Drinks they list by number not name. I started with the no. 8, as my pre-meal cocktail. The no. 8 is tequila, curaçao, fresh lime, orange bitters, pep up for $9. Most of the house cocktails are between $8 and $9. Hungry Mother does something you see rarely in restaurants they list all of their liquor by type and name. So if you do not have to guess if they carry your favorite libation.
The dinner menu has four sections: To Tide You Over, First Course, Main Course, Can You Pass That. To Tide You Over is small plates that are served to right after you order. The plates are: SPICY PIMIENTO CHEESE celery hearts, toasted pain de mie $4; DEVILED CHIP-IN FARM EGGS & hm bacon $4; BOILED VIRGINIA PEANUTS grey sea salt $3: WARM BEEF TONGUE CANAPÉ gruyère, dijon $3. I tried the Deviled Eggs they had a nice mustard tang and were a great comfort food.
The First Course or Appetizers, range from $7 to $13, include oysters, pate, shrimp and grits and smoked barbeque pork rib. I went for the ribs, great flavor and the smoky sauce was excellent.
They have five main courses to choose from chicken, beef, catfish, bluefish and a pasta dish. The entrees range in price from $16 to $27. My choice for the evening was the French style Gnocchi with mushrooms, spring peas, tendrils and large parmigiano shavings for $17. The dish was served in a vegetable broth with all the fresh produce accenting the dish. Each bite was full of flavor and had a buttery element. I was pleased with the selection.
One of the owners, John, came by to ask about my meal and how I had heard about the place. I did mention to John, that the wine list needs a little improving, I ordered Oreana Pinot and it was not a great glass of wine. He took my comment with professionalism and concern. The attention at Hungry Mother shows, you can tell how much they care about the restaurant. Naomi, my server, did an excellent job and the pacing of the meal was perfect.
This would be a perfect restaurant for nice evening out. The patrons dress casually as well as the staff. Hungry Mother has a home feel.
Hungry Mother (Open Tuesday to Sunday)
233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave
Kendall Square
Cambridge, MA 02141
http://www.hungrymothercambridge.com/main.html
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Fever Pitch
Celtics Hit A Big Shot for No. 17Wow, what a great night, a great sports town and great timing to be in Boston for Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Since I was unable to be at the New Garden for the game it made all the sense in the world to watch the NBA Finals with Celtics fans. I was unsure where to go to watch the game, but I was sure if I went near one of Boston’s sports centers I would find a place. I thought going near the Garden would be tough to get into and out of after the game, so I decided to head towards Fenway Park.
Because I am in town on business, I am staying out in one of the suburbs just West of Downtown, so I decided to take the train down to the Fenway Park to find a watering hole to catch the game and spirit of Boston.
The train ride from the Riverside Station to the Park was nice and easy. I got to the area and took a walk around to find the right bar. Game-On, Boston Beer Works and Cask ‘n Flagon are within a jumpshot of each other so a person has plenty of choices for a place that fits their needs and to settle in for the evening.
I decided on the Cask ‘n Flagon right across the street from Fenway’s legendary Green Monster. I thought this would be a perfect location to watch the game. When I arrived the bar was a little sparse the after work crowd was just arriving and the game crowd had not set out for the evening. It was little strange for me, as a West Coast Person waiting for a 9 O’clock start to the game. But I wanted to have a prime seat for the game, so I decided to have a one-man tailgate. Cocktails, hot wings and nachos were on the pre-game menu.
As tip-off approached the Cask ‘n Flagon filled with a very fevered crowd looking for the Celtics 17th NBA title. One thing I thought I would never see in Boston, was the Red Sox Game being turned off, so they could dedicate the entire bar to the Celtics. A sox fan understands that this was more important. As the announcer began introductions the crowd booed each Laker, saving the largest jeer for Kobe Bryant. As soon as the Celtics intros began the Cheers began roar and the bar was in a fever pitch waiting for the ball to be tossed in the air.
Boston fans are passionate. With every tip of the ball, every turnover, every big shot the crowd was into the action. I have sat in a lot of bars, watching a lot of sports over the years and there are very few times when you feel like you are actually in the area and part of the game. Last night was one of them.
Since I would not ever cheer for a Los Angeles team I zeroed in on cheering for local Bay Area products. Cal alum Leon Powe and Hayward High School’s Eddie House both contributed to the Game 6 blow-out. Eddie hit a couple of big shots and the Boston crowd embraced me as cheered for my local boys. As a kid and a basketball fan I was a big Bill Russell fan, so it was great to see the former USF Don on the sideline.
I got exactly what I expected a great time. Even though I got to bed late and overslept a little this morning it was worth the trip to experience the Championship with the Celtic Fans.
Cask ‘n Flagon is a great bar with televisions everywhere, even in the bathroom so you do not miss the action. I local told me that on Red Sox home games it is almost impossible to get into the Cask ‘n Flagon because people show-up three hours before the game, to watch the action outside the park because they can not get a ticket to be in the park.
The now World Famous Cask’n Flagon began as a small neighborhood bar known as Oliver’s back in 1969, was host to many now famous musicians such as Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Hendrix, and the band Boston. A few years later Oliver’s changed its name to the Cask’n Flagon. Through the years the bar has gone through many changes and was once known as the little bar on the corner of Brookline Avenue.
Cocktails were $6 and draft beers $4. I had the meatloaf for dinner and it was pretty good, they grilled it before they served it to give it a smoke flavor and add skewer marks. The food is typical pub fare. The wings and nachos were good and full of flavor. This place is more about a great crowd than the food and beverages. A must try for any Boston Sporting event.
I have to say thank you to the Boston Fans for treating me so well and letting be a part of their history.
http://www.casknflagon.com/about1.htm
Monday, June 16, 2008
On the road again
I am writing from my stop over in the Phoenix Airport, just as Tiger hits a big putt on No. 10 . . . . the bar just got a little loud. The PHX airport has free wireless, this should be a must nowadays in all airports with flight delays.
I will update the blog from Boston this week. I look forward to being in Bean town with the Celtics and Lakers playing tomorrow night. I will try and find a great Boston Bar to blog about. Just a side note, I check Stubhub with a small fantasy of heading to the Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The cheapest ticket was over $600 for the nose-bleeds, thus I will be watching from a bar.
Have a great Monday.
Cheers
I will update the blog from Boston this week. I look forward to being in Bean town with the Celtics and Lakers playing tomorrow night. I will try and find a great Boston Bar to blog about. Just a side note, I check Stubhub with a small fantasy of heading to the Game 6 of the NBA Finals. The cheapest ticket was over $600 for the nose-bleeds, thus I will be watching from a bar.
Have a great Monday.
Cheers
Friday, June 13, 2008
Leave the Taco . . .Have a Beer
Final post about Phoenix . . .
Since I was in the Southwest, I wanted to get a sense of the local flavor so I searched for a good Mexican food restaurant. Before I start, I need to provide a disclaimer that I am very picky about my Mexican food, every restaurant needs to live up to a very high standard when it comes to authenticity and flavor. Simply said it needs to be close to my grandmother’s cooking or it is not acceptable.
I went on a recommendation, from a fellow co-worker, to Tee Pee, 4144 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Tee Pee is very old school Americanized Mexican food restaurant, with a large full service bar, televisions that blare the baseball game and large portions of food.
Since I was in the Southwest, I wanted to get a sense of the local flavor so I searched for a good Mexican food restaurant. Before I start, I need to provide a disclaimer that I am very picky about my Mexican food, every restaurant needs to live up to a very high standard when it comes to authenticity and flavor. Simply said it needs to be close to my grandmother’s cooking or it is not acceptable.
I went on a recommendation, from a fellow co-worker, to Tee Pee, 4144 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Tee Pee is very old school Americanized Mexican food restaurant, with a large full service bar, televisions that blare the baseball game and large portions of food.
A mixed crowd of trades people to men in suits flowed in for my lunch time visit. A couple of businessmen bellied up to the bar to have a shot of Patrone before heading back to work and the full bar hand plenty of drinkers for the mid-week afternoon drink. Tee Pee offers mini pitchers of draft beer for patrons looking to have a little more than a 12 ounce beer. Drinks in the bar were reasonable $3-$4 for beer and $3-$6 for a mixed drink.
The place was packed for lunch and you may have to wait for a table if you get there during the lunch or dinner rush. I understand that a crowd is very common. The dinning area is very Spartan with a bunch of tables and some booths crammed together. This is not a fine dinning experience; it is noisy and has a bustling pace.
I soon as sat down the server had chips and salsa on the bar. The salsa was well balanced and had great flavor. I was really encouraged by the initial offering. I then ordered a Number 1 (Taco, Tamale, Enchilada, Rice & Beans — 10.50), to get a variety of items and test them out.
So with anticipation, I wait for the food to come out, but I soon as I saw the dish I knew I was in trouble when I saw the plate covered in cheese and the taco overfilled with lettuce. The taco shell just could not handle the weight of everything stuffed inside and as soon as picked it up in began to crumble. The enchilada was okay, something I would have again, but the sauce lacked any punch and it is the sauce that makes a good enchiladas, and this missed the mark. The tamale was dry and lacked any real flavor. Overall the plate was below average.
Overall the experience was very average; this is gringo food nothing more and not worth a special trip. I truly wished I would have found a better representation of the true local Mexican food flavor in an area filled with tradition. Next time I will have to do a little more searching to find a more authentic dining experience. I did like the bar and the drink prices, would definitely hang out to watch a game, have a beer and some chip and salsa.
www.teepeemexicanfood.com
Tee Pee Mexican Food
4144 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 956-0178
The place was packed for lunch and you may have to wait for a table if you get there during the lunch or dinner rush. I understand that a crowd is very common. The dinning area is very Spartan with a bunch of tables and some booths crammed together. This is not a fine dinning experience; it is noisy and has a bustling pace.
I soon as sat down the server had chips and salsa on the bar. The salsa was well balanced and had great flavor. I was really encouraged by the initial offering. I then ordered a Number 1 (Taco, Tamale, Enchilada, Rice & Beans — 10.50), to get a variety of items and test them out.
So with anticipation, I wait for the food to come out, but I soon as I saw the dish I knew I was in trouble when I saw the plate covered in cheese and the taco overfilled with lettuce. The taco shell just could not handle the weight of everything stuffed inside and as soon as picked it up in began to crumble. The enchilada was okay, something I would have again, but the sauce lacked any punch and it is the sauce that makes a good enchiladas, and this missed the mark. The tamale was dry and lacked any real flavor. Overall the plate was below average.
Overall the experience was very average; this is gringo food nothing more and not worth a special trip. I truly wished I would have found a better representation of the true local Mexican food flavor in an area filled with tradition. Next time I will have to do a little more searching to find a more authentic dining experience. I did like the bar and the drink prices, would definitely hang out to watch a game, have a beer and some chip and salsa.
www.teepeemexicanfood.com
Tee Pee Mexican Food
4144 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 956-0178
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Slide into the Windy City
Part deux of the trip to Phoenix.So I was looking for a place close to the office to grab lunch and a burger is always a good call. So I did a quick Yelp search to map any and all burger place within a mile of the office and I found the Chicago Hamburger Company.
The place gives you a taste of the Windy City in the middle of the desert. The Daly for Mayor Signs, the Bears, Cub and White Sox memorabilia adorns the walls and would make any Midwesterner feel the breeze is about to come off the lake at any minute.
The Chicago Hamburger Company, specialty is Original Windy City Slider®. In addition to the slider this Chicago style burger stand that serves Vienna hot dogs and polish, char broiled sandwiches, wings, salads, and daily specials. They have the daily specials listed on their website so check them out before you go.
The sliders are not White Castle and that is a very good thing. I had four double sliders with cheese and they were full of flavor and went down very easy. The buns really made the burger. Overall they four doubles were very filling and tasty. The cost is very reasonable $1.04 for a single cheese burger and $1.64 for a double cheeseburger.
The fries are top notch; the local magazine twice gave the Chicago Hamburger Company top honors for their fries. The fries are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
They also serve old fashioned milkshakes so I decided to have a coffee flavored shake for dessert. It was a good call for the 94-degree day.
This is a very family friendly environment, with kid menus, pinball games, including an old baseball Pennant Fever game and Pac-Man. The TV was tuned to WGN for Cubs baseball.
The Chicago Hamburger Company
3749 E. Indian School Road
Phoenix, Arizona
(602) 955-4137
Open Mon-Sat: 10:30am-8pm
http://www.chicagohamburger.com/index.htm
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Oasis In The Desert
So when you travel for business you get to see very little of the places that you go you have to take full advantage of the small amount of time you do have to experience the city. I was in Tucson and Phoenix last week, so I did a little research and asked a few co-workers who lived in the area for a great place to eat and have drinks.
The staff at our Phoenix office sent me to neighboring Scottsdale to a steak house they said would fit the bill for a great night out. The steak house they recommended was Mastro’s City Hall Steak House and Bar. Mastro’s runs three restaurants in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.
Let me start with this place is not cheap!! The $8-$10 cocktails are enough to startle any drink bargain hunter. If you are going to do the works appetizer, dinner and drinks bring you wallet. My guess it is $70-$80 per person depending on what you order.
I settled in for a couple of drinks before I had dinner. The drinks were well balanced and on the large side. The bartenders would adjust the drink to your taste on request with no hesitation. A little weak, a little they were there to make it right.
Just as I was finishing my cocktails the live music started. Traditional lounge music with a little rock and roll mixed into the set. I must have heard two or three Elton John songs that night along with Frank and Dean.
For dinner I had a spicy Caesar Salad. It had a little wasabi in the dressing. For dinner the bone-in Rib Eye and the potatoes wedges au gratin. The steak was sizzling and a little under-cooked, but the way they serve it continues to cook on the plate. The steak was more than I could finish, and I am a big eater. I have never had Au Gratin Potatoes served this way. Big potato wedges crispy and then served with enough cheese to make the California Cheese Board jump in glee as City Hall tried to save the industry by itself.
The meal was very good but even better was watching the Scottsdale Nightlife. I learned a new term on my visit: “Scottsdale Girl”. This is a young, very well dressed young lady out looking for a slightly, or in some case much, older man with MONEY. I saw a 60+ Bob Barker look-a-like cruise the bar twice before settling on a young lady sitting at the bar. The three carat square cut diamond ring on his hand was enough invitation for this young lady to accept a drink, titter for a while and then leave with Senor Barker.
As an out-of-towner being guided by the bartender and some locals, I caught on to the game of identifying the “Scottsdale Girls” in the bar. I could not have had a better evening being alone in a foreign town. Tomorrow a much different Phoenix Experience.
http://www.azeats.com/mastros/default.htm
The staff at our Phoenix office sent me to neighboring Scottsdale to a steak house they said would fit the bill for a great night out. The steak house they recommended was Mastro’s City Hall Steak House and Bar. Mastro’s runs three restaurants in the Scottsdale/Phoenix area.
Let me start with this place is not cheap!! The $8-$10 cocktails are enough to startle any drink bargain hunter. If you are going to do the works appetizer, dinner and drinks bring you wallet. My guess it is $70-$80 per person depending on what you order.
I settled in for a couple of drinks before I had dinner. The drinks were well balanced and on the large side. The bartenders would adjust the drink to your taste on request with no hesitation. A little weak, a little they were there to make it right.
Just as I was finishing my cocktails the live music started. Traditional lounge music with a little rock and roll mixed into the set. I must have heard two or three Elton John songs that night along with Frank and Dean.
For dinner I had a spicy Caesar Salad. It had a little wasabi in the dressing. For dinner the bone-in Rib Eye and the potatoes wedges au gratin. The steak was sizzling and a little under-cooked, but the way they serve it continues to cook on the plate. The steak was more than I could finish, and I am a big eater. I have never had Au Gratin Potatoes served this way. Big potato wedges crispy and then served with enough cheese to make the California Cheese Board jump in glee as City Hall tried to save the industry by itself.
The meal was very good but even better was watching the Scottsdale Nightlife. I learned a new term on my visit: “Scottsdale Girl”. This is a young, very well dressed young lady out looking for a slightly, or in some case much, older man with MONEY. I saw a 60+ Bob Barker look-a-like cruise the bar twice before settling on a young lady sitting at the bar. The three carat square cut diamond ring on his hand was enough invitation for this young lady to accept a drink, titter for a while and then leave with Senor Barker.
As an out-of-towner being guided by the bartender and some locals, I caught on to the game of identifying the “Scottsdale Girls” in the bar. I could not have had a better evening being alone in a foreign town. Tomorrow a much different Phoenix Experience.
http://www.azeats.com/mastros/default.htm
Monday, June 09, 2008
Time Travel -- 1930s
Back from another work related road trip, this time it was the desert of Arizona. So, this week I will have a couple of postings from local business and a few from my trip to the Tucson and Phoenix.
This week I start locally. I was invited by a friend to attend a birthday celebration of a close friend of his in San Francisco. The invite was last minute, but I was up for trying something new and interesting. We head over on BART and walked the few blocks from the Embarcadero Station to 133 Steuart for an evening at Shanghai 1930. Once you arrive you head down the stairs and are transported to another time and place.
Shanghai 1930’s website, http://www.shanghai1930.com/ , boast that this is a “Cosmopolitan Restaurant” that invokes the spirit of Shanghai during the period between the Two World Wars. I did not dine on my first trip but did peek at the menu and saw the Asian influenced meals would be worth a trip back. The party we met raved about the food, so a must on the trip back.
The bar/lounge had a great feel. Live music flowed through the room, with the lead singer rattling off song from Dean, Frank and Tony. Live music is from 8-Midnight on Friday and Saturday and 7 PM to 11 PM every other day. The music is billed as Jazz, but given my experience I see that a few crooners slip in to entertain the crowd.
The staff was fast and the cocktails were large and pack a good punch. The full bar has a strong selection of beers and wine. Shanghai 1930 offers a happy hour menu between 5 PM and 7 PM in the Blue Bar. Signature drink and appetizers headline but the offer six beers and a selection of wines for $5 and $6 respectively. The signature drinks sound very exotic: Shanghaipolitan, Sexual Healing and Dragon Tea
This Downtown establishment also features a cigar lounge. After a couple of drinks we retired to the Guanxi Lounge (Members Only Cigar Bar). Some delicate encouragement to manager by our party got us into this members only section. The thought of a large bar tab and a group buying cigars with a high mark-up must have ran through his head as he sat us in one of the Private Rooms.
Guanxi translates into the American word “Connections”. You could see how this Cigar Bar can be a place for a couple of people to sit down get to know each and make a business deal over a couple of drinks and a smoke. I gave up cigars about a year ago, so I enjoyed more cocktails and watch everyone enjoy the evening.
This is a great place to have a drink and relax. For local Alameda residents it is close to BART and the Ferry, worth a trip in for Happy Hour and a little music before heading back to the Island.
This week I start locally. I was invited by a friend to attend a birthday celebration of a close friend of his in San Francisco. The invite was last minute, but I was up for trying something new and interesting. We head over on BART and walked the few blocks from the Embarcadero Station to 133 Steuart for an evening at Shanghai 1930. Once you arrive you head down the stairs and are transported to another time and place.
Shanghai 1930’s website, http://www.shanghai1930.com/ , boast that this is a “Cosmopolitan Restaurant” that invokes the spirit of Shanghai during the period between the Two World Wars. I did not dine on my first trip but did peek at the menu and saw the Asian influenced meals would be worth a trip back. The party we met raved about the food, so a must on the trip back.
The bar/lounge had a great feel. Live music flowed through the room, with the lead singer rattling off song from Dean, Frank and Tony. Live music is from 8-Midnight on Friday and Saturday and 7 PM to 11 PM every other day. The music is billed as Jazz, but given my experience I see that a few crooners slip in to entertain the crowd.
The staff was fast and the cocktails were large and pack a good punch. The full bar has a strong selection of beers and wine. Shanghai 1930 offers a happy hour menu between 5 PM and 7 PM in the Blue Bar. Signature drink and appetizers headline but the offer six beers and a selection of wines for $5 and $6 respectively. The signature drinks sound very exotic: Shanghaipolitan, Sexual Healing and Dragon Tea
This Downtown establishment also features a cigar lounge. After a couple of drinks we retired to the Guanxi Lounge (Members Only Cigar Bar). Some delicate encouragement to manager by our party got us into this members only section. The thought of a large bar tab and a group buying cigars with a high mark-up must have ran through his head as he sat us in one of the Private Rooms.
Guanxi translates into the American word “Connections”. You could see how this Cigar Bar can be a place for a couple of people to sit down get to know each and make a business deal over a couple of drinks and a smoke. I gave up cigars about a year ago, so I enjoyed more cocktails and watch everyone enjoy the evening.
This is a great place to have a drink and relax. For local Alameda residents it is close to BART and the Ferry, worth a trip in for Happy Hour and a little music before heading back to the Island.
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