Category: American

Blogging for PlanJam has given me an entirely new view of San Francisco - as I meander down streets in new or familiar neighborhoods, I'm constantly keeping my eyes out for the next spot to review, be it a little storefront, a new coffee haunt, or a great new restaurant to tell you all about. Last weekend was no different; while I of course had to spend a good half hour browsing the shelves at Phoenix books even though I've already reviewed it, I poked my head into a few new places, picked up business cards, chatted with the staff, and took mental notes for future posts. Given the choice between Pasta Pomodoro, which you know I love, and a new place, I figured that, just for you, I would try out a place I'd not yet visited so I could give you the scoop. The result? A fantastic dinner at Savor.

Savor is well known for its brunch menu, and as well known for the long wait to enjoy that brunch menu. At four thirty or so on a Friday evening though, there was no line at all, and we were at a table immediately upon arriving. The restaurant is deceptively large; the few tables you can see from the front door are only a small part of the seating area, most of which lies behind the kitchen. One wall is lined with padded benches and throw pillows, behind which hang large paintings depicting ocean scenes and serene pastures. Opposite are several more tables as well as the outdoor dining area, a large wooden patio, the only drawback to which is the fact that it overlooks the adjacent dry cleaners' shop and nail salon. While some of the tables are a bit narrow to maximize seating capacity, there are also several that seat four comfortably, and could be arranged to accommodate larger parties.

We started the meal with their spanikopita appetizer, which came with a generous portion of hummus, pitted kalamata olives, feta cheese, and warm pita bread. Just as we finished, the entrees arrived. My New York Strip was done to perfection, and the mound of garlic mashed potatoes was more than I could even begin to conquer, even if the meal didn't also include steamed seasonal vegetables. My partner decided to try one of their savory crepes - filled with spicy tomatoes, cheese, chicken, and avocado salsa, and topped with sour cream, it was an enormous portion and delivered an incredible mix of flavors. The rosemary potatoes were perfectly seasoned and complemented the meal nicely.

As we were leaving, takeout boxes full of leftovers in hand, a nearby table received their dessert crepe, making me wish I'd saved room - filled to overflowing and topped with mounds of whipped cream, it looked amazing and I'll definitely be back to try it for myself. As for the overall experience, Savor is family friendly, but don't rule it out for date night; the atmosphere is conducive to either a meal out with the kids, or a quiet evening on your own. If you're in Noe Valley and are in search of a delicious, moderately priced dinner, a huge variety of brunch items, or a delectable dessert and glass of wine, Savor delivers the goods all around.

Finally, there's a place in San Francisco that caters to the need of those of us who have come of age in the era of serious multi-tasking – Brainwash Café and Laundromat.

This may not seem to be a novel idea to you at first, but that could be because you haven't experienced it for yourself. Sure, there are Laundromat combo places everywhere – laundry and fast food, laundry and video games, laundry and…tanning? But you can't usually find really excellent food, cheap beer, and even live entertainment alongside your triple loader. That's where Brainwash comes into play.

I first learned about Brainwash through my fax machine at work. Every afternoon, we get their daily specials via fax, and while there are days where it arrives a little later than most people have lunch, it's usually sitting on the machine well before I've started thinking about my afternoon meal. And this list isn't your standard café fare – we're talking about homemade soups (corn chowder every day, with a second rotating soup), an eclectic mix of green salads, and a variety of burgers, available cooked to order, that get my vote every time. If you're an early riser, they also serve breakfast from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and I've heard a rumor that, before ten o'clock, they serve up a breakfast burrito the size of your forearm for just a few bucks. The entire menu is similarly priced, with excellent ingredients and plenty of variety with no single meal costing more than $9.00.

Now for the entertainment portion of the show – the Brainwash calendar of events is jam packed with musicians, comedians, open mic nights, and more. Many of the events are recurring, so if one strikes your fancy, you can count on that to keep you going while you do your weekly wash. If you're there earlier in the day and either need to work while your duds are tumbling, or you want to check out the latest PlanJam blog, there's free WiFi and plenty of table space and seating between the laundry side and the café.

Finally, if doing laundry just isn't your thing no matter how many appealing reasons there are to hang out at Brainwash, their wash and fold service is only $0.99 a pound with a ten pound minimum. Just make sure you grab a meal to go – even if they didn't do your laundry for you, the food would be worth stopping by.

Meatloaf and macaroni and cheese? They said they wanted to go to a really nice restaurant. Are you sure about this? "Just trust me." With a completely unconcerned smile, my partner whisked me out the door and propelled me towards the car.

My friends had come from the East Coast to visit me here in San Francisco. Their week in town had nearly ended, and as a thank you for housing them while they were here, they insisted on taking us out for a wonderful dinner. At the time, I had only lived in the City for a few months, and as any transplant who works for a living can tell you, there aren't too many meals that cost more than ten dollars happening at first; San Francisco may be a foodie's wonderland, but the cost of living sure comes as a shock for a girl from Portland, Maine. So of course, I turned to my partner for a recommendation for a fancy dinner; as an eleven-year resident, and a hedonist like myself, she knows where to get the best in anything and everything around San Francisco. Her selection? The Blue Plate Restaurant.

The few tables in Blue Plate are occupied when we arrive, which is no wonder; its seating capacity is limited and intimate, but we don't mind waiting on the back patio. We are led to a table in the garden, where our host pays us exquisite attention despite the fact that we are the only people seated outside. Our wines arrive, and we are apologized to repeatedly for the wait; it seems the people inside are lingering over dessert. No worries, we assure the staff, but we are treated to an appetizer of Gnocchi in a garlic cream sauce for our trouble. The sauce is perfectly balanced, the Gnocchi perfectly cooked, and before we know it, we're being ushered to our table.

At my partner's insistence, we order the meatloaf and the macaroni and cheese to share. All I can think of are the meatloaves and macaroni and cheeses I've seen thus far, and for the life of me, I can't imagine any of it arriving on a plate at an upscale San Francisco restaurant. When the Blue Plate meals arrive, however, it all makes sense.

The portion of meatloaf is enormous, and it's pretty. Have you ever seen pretty meatloaf? No? I'm telling you, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. The greens and potatoes round off the meal brilliantly, and with every bite, I can imagine the look on my face – caught somewhere between, "Are you kidding me?" and "Can we eat this every night? Please?" The macaroni and cheese is as far from the boxed stuff as you can possibly dream; served in an earthenware bowl, you know that they just finished melting the drunken goat cheese on the pasta and spread the breadcrumbs over the top only seconds before it hit your table. My friends were every bit as impressed with their meals as I was with mine, and my partner was able to wear an "I told you so" smirk all night long.

The portion of meatloaf is enormous, and it's pretty. Have you ever seen pretty meatloaf? No? I'm telling you, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. The greens and potatoes round off the meal brilliantly, and with every bite, I can imagine the look on my face – caught somewhere between, "Are you kidding me?" and "Can we eat this every night? Please?" The macaroni and cheese is as far from the boxed stuff as you can possibly dream; served in an earthenware bowl, you know that they just finished melting the drunken goat cheese on the pasta and spread the breadcrumbs over the top only seconds before it hit your table. My friends were every bit as impressed with their meals as I was with mine, and my partner was able to wear an "I told you so" smirk all night long.

It's Sunday night. The fog rolled in early, the store I run closed late, and I know I didn't take anything out of the freezer for dinner. As a result of many previous occasions much like this one, the car practically steers itself towards comfort food and friendly faces – it's a Tommy's Joynt night.

Tommy's Joynt offers a variety of dinner plates, sandwiches, and daily specials, all available for enjoying in-house or for take-out. While the selection for vegetarians is limited, the carnivores out there, myself included, will struggle with the decision between main courses. While everything I've tried at Tommy's has been excellent, and enough food for two full meals, the old standby has always been the Meatballs and Spaghetti. Comfort food at its finest, this dinner delivers hearty meatballs, buttery pasta, and crusty dinner rolls for only $6.25. If you're looking for a little more variety on your plate, try a dinner platter with freshly roasted meats carved right when you order, dressed up with two large side dishes, for $7.95.

The first time you go to Tommy's, it's a good idea to be armed with a few key bits of information. First, it's cafeteria style dining, complete with checkered tablecloths, and the line starts right inside the door. If you want a chance to check things out before it's time to order, make your way past the line and observe from the dining area. The old-fashioned signs behind the cooks feature the menu's offerings, but no, those aren't outdated prices – you really are getting a full plate of home cooked goodness for well under ten bucks. Which brings me to the second point: Tommy's is a cash-only establishment, so make sure you hit an ATM before dinner or are prepared to use the one they have in the restaurant.

Next, while Tommy's isn't full-service wait staff, you will need to either flag down a server or head to the bar for any beverage with your meal besides water, which they keep full and ice cold, with cups alongside the pitchers at the end of the food line. Finally, the folks at Tommy's have been doing this for a lot of years – 60, to be exact – and they've got this down to a science. So unless you're sitting at the bar, prepare to be whisked through the process at breakneck speed. Unlike standard fast food, however, you'll receive a smile and a genuine greeting from every person you encounter, from the hostess to the line cooks; this family business is one that makes you feel like one of their own.

In addition to the home style cooking, Tommy's Joynt boasts a bar with an amazing array of beers from around the world – one patron says that "If they don't have the beer at Tommy's, good luck finding it in San Francisco at all," – as well as an unmatched list of specialty coffee beverages. Head over to http://www.tommysjoynt.com where you can check out photos of the restaurant, bar, and cooks' line, browse the food and drink menus, and learn a little about Tommy's Joynt's history. Then the next time "What's for dinner?" has you stumped, make your way to Geary and Van Ness for food, people, and an atmosphere that will make it seem as though there's only one answer that makes sense – Tommy's Joynt, of course!