It is what it is.
Written: Dec 22 '02 (Updated Dec 26 '05)
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Pros: An old San Francisco Landmark at Fishermans Wharf?
Cons: Lots of Tourists, tough place to park unless you go to a expensive garage
The Bottom Line: Hey, it's a gotta go and see kinda place. If you're visiting the city, it's an old time kind of place.
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| kushnir's Full Review: Buena Vista Cafe |
Growing up in the city, it was one of the places that was so busy in the evening happy hour time, that they never checked my id for my age, or was it that I looked old then…. I guess I will never know.
The attraction of the BV as it was called, was the ambiance, the noise, the crowd and it was the in place in the 60’s for the “other “ crowd.The crowd that didn’t hang around the Haight or go to the Golden Gate panhandle every weekend.
The BV is located in the bottom of a building that has apartments upstairs and is located right next to the Muni cable car turntable a the base of Hyde street. It has been a city landmark for over a hundred years and is popular place for the tourists.
Hyde street is the street that runs down Russian hill, where the Cable Car turned and you saw the sign that said Rice –A-Roni… Or for a few real trivia buffs, it’s the street where Tully and Greb came down, in the SF Police series, Lineup. or San Francisco Beat.
What’s so special?
Not much and not much appears to have changed in 30 years since I use to drop in, for breakfast and gin fizzes. The ambiance is old San Francisco, a long mahogany bar perched atop old marble floors, populated with oak tables and cane chairs.
The bartenders don’t have the time to be friendly, even in the quiet times, early in the morning or late at night. The reason I used to go there for breakfast is because you got a great deal, a choice of eggs, ranch potatoes, good toast and the cost was about a buck and a half. Now a days, the food is still the same, but the price has jumped 4 times, the quality not.
The menu has the usual, eggs, your style, $5.50, Eggs Benedict $8.50 (brought piping cold to your table) but the coffee was good. Hash etc.
You can start with an Irish coffee, if you like $4.00 which is their signature product. It is rumored that it was invented here, ok. Gin Fizzs and Ramos Fizz are big on Saturday mornings, or the mornings following too many Irish Coffees.
One reason people come here is for the show. The surley bartenders line up the bar with about 20 glasses and then in an assembly line fashion the bottle of Bushmills gets passed for a shot, topped with coffee and cream, covering a sugar cube in the bottom of the glass.
They claim to serve about 2500 of those a day, hummm, 2500 x
$ 4.00 dollars, that’s 10k, x 365 days… you figure it out, that’s better than my stock portfolio,….. And that’s just on one product.
The white vested bartenders will prepare other drinks, as well as a plain cup of Jo. Martinis seem popular and from the quantities I observed being served the other day, quite popular.
The restaurant serves a few items, chicken,$11.50, meatloaf $12.50 and macaroni and cheese $9.50. Nothing to write home about, but consistent. The burger hasn’t changed in 30 years, except the plate. Come to think of it, neither has the plate. Comes with a generous order of french fries. $8.50, you have to beg for the ketchup and mustard.
Tourists now are the main clients, since the 3 martini lunch or gin breakfast crowds are now history.
All in All, it’s a nice place to drop in, and visit old time SF history, a Starbucks or Denny’s it is not.
You need to go there at least once. So that you can become an instant expert on Irish Coffees!
The wait staff is ok, but does not appear to be enjoying their vocation in life, decorations are articles and photographs of their heyday……..Pictures of how the City looked a hundred years ago, the buildings, the bar, the customers and the waiters, only the customers and the city have changed. In spite of its self, it will probably be around for a long time.
You can walk down to Fishermans Wharf, (3 blocks) or the Cannery ( across the street ) or take the Hyde street cable car, across the street, so there are plenty of other things to do, after your memorable experience.
Stopped by for breakfast 11/05 and Thank God, nothing has changed, price up a tad, but still a great place for breakfast, lunch or liquid dinner! Parking is a little better, but a MUST GO, at least once. Anytime I am in the city, I try to make it here for breakfast! Try their Ramoz Fizzes!
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: No
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations The Breakfasts are good, don't expect a cutesy coffee shop.
Best Suited For: Trendy Crowd
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Epinions.com ID:
kushnir
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Member: Ken Kushnir
Location: Healdsburg,CA
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
hospitality & food service mgmt
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