VinDivine - Living it Up John & Janine Style

Mamacita - Marina

Our good friend Elliot (and friend of the owners!) scored us a table at "Little Mama" one night and thank god, cuz there were more marina-ites jammed in there than there are people jammed around the sample tables on a Sunday at Costco. People, it's not for your entire MEAL, it's a "sample"! Move along.

Back to Mamacita, what a madhouse! Pick-up city, too. I mean how can it not be when you're basically dry-humping, or being dry-humped, just trying to snake your way through the crowds to the bar.  Seems like the crowd is a slightly older (note - we didn't say more mature) and richer Taco Tuesday crowd if ya know what I mean.

The drinks? FAB. Great ritas, great tequilas...packed a punch. We had our favorite, basic Hornitos version (no salt for me, salt for Johnnie), but the Pomegranate ones are supposed to be killer too.

The food? You know what we love people...good chips & salsa and small plates!! Super-fresh tortilla chips and perfectly-spicy salsa, Hell even the guac was good and neither of us are fans of the avocado. Next - the Niman Ranch meatballs. They come on a bed of cumin-scented whipped potatoes and a super-tasty charred tomatillo chipotle sauce. The tacos come 3 at a time. We had the carnitas and the carne asada. Cow whores that we are, the pork was actually better - more tender and paired with some type of parmesan-like cheese and a zingy chili sauce. 

We'll go back soon and have more different plates, too bad we made such pigs of ourselves with the chips. Then we'll report back atcha, loyal VinDiviners.

Bottom line: We're damn glad we had an 'in' or we may have starved to death waiting for a table. And we've heard that even if you call ahead for a resie, count on waiting an additional hour or so before you actually get your table. Don't hate the player, hate the game - 'cuz people just don't wanna leave! Secondly, unless you are in the mood for a scene (it is the Marina) you may want to go elsewhere - but if you have your game on, you'll have a blast! Oh yeah, pack your earplugs;)

Mamacita
2317 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 376-1629

A16 - Marina

This southern Italian restaurant ain't no Hawaiian Pizza' joint...do not ask for Pineapple on top! (as a mother-in-law of one of our friends recently did. Ouch). This place is groovy and serves up some of the only authentic thin-crust pizzas around. Umm mmm.

As your source for 'the places to be', we're a bit embarrassed that we were probably the last ones in San Francisco to go to A16, and only for lunch so far. But we're sold, and will definitely hit it for dinner pronto.

So, I took a large client of mine here just last week, and was a little surprised at the stripped-down lunch menu - appetizers and pizza only. I mean, it was major schmooze time. Serious wine and dine. Rack up some points and all that. But any doubt that I selected the wrong venue quickly dissolved, just as fast as that thin crust dissolves in your mouth.

Why? Well, for starters: the wine list is the wine list, lunch or dinner. And it rocks. They offer about 50 or so wines by the glass and over 300 by the bottle. Plus 4-5 2oz flights with great themes (women winemakers, Campagnia flight, etc). Emphasis on southern Italy, but for you "Hooked on Cali" winos, an excellent selection as well. And, wait for it...good prices too! Shelly Lundgren is tops at assembling a killer wine list. I suggest the Greco di Tufo, Illuminati Rose, Di Majo Norante, and the La Corte, a zesty Zin from Puglia. And if you just can't hack figuring out the Italian selections, the Siduri Pinot is awesome. Hey, sure that's a lot of wine, but it was a business lunch, remember?!

The food, while limited in selection, and service is great. My client definitely had the hots for our server, Shaudra. Scoring points! Plus she had a good grasp of the wine list, and was super nice and fun. I don't even like eggplant (or any purple vegetable actually), but the Eggplant Bruschetta with Mint, Chiles and Pecorino was really good, Zuccini salad, Pork and Lamb meatballs (yum) were all great starters. And the Pizza...as a pizza snob I was still impressed. We had the Margherita and the Funghi. Perfectly blistered, paper-thin crust and farm-fresh toppings. Not too heavy, just right.

The perfect ending? I suggest a long siesta.

A16
2355 Chestnut St.
San Francisco, CA
415-771-2216

Perry's - Cow Hollow

This is the Perry's to go to. Accept no substitutes! A real checkered-table cloth, old-school, cool joint with just a little sports bar vibe. There is another Perry's downtown and one in the SF Airport (?) but this is the original, and the one that Perry, the owner, cares about. They have a few tables outside, pretty hard to score one on the weekends, but the bar area seats plenty and the service is great. Good, solid grub. Get the wings buffalo style if you're into messing up your fingers, and they make a mean bowl of french onion soup believe us we've tried MANY. They have a good burger too. Figure pretty much anything you get here is gonna be good.

Oh, and if you're nursing a hangover, get the brunch, a pile o' food that'll mop up the last remnants of last night's bender. Or if you prefer to just Start It Up again, they make a mean Bloody Mary pretty much from scratch.

Great place to go to watch the game, younger Mike behind the bar knows pretty much everything there is to know about college football (and golf), try to stump him. He's very cool. Older Mike is his bar mate, very cool, fun guys.

Perry's
1944 Union St.
San Francisco, 94123
(415) 922-9022

The Matrix Fillmore - Cow Hollow

Wow, this place is crazy!! It's a small, cozy, cool NY/LA nightclub vibe in SF. One of the FEW. It gets a hopping crowd most of the evening, SF socialites, marina people and SFers that want to hang with the pretty people. No sign outside, for that cool "Ooh, it's so cool it doesn't need a sign" effect, a "floating" fireplace in the middle of the room and ULTRA cool furniture scattered about. Huge flat screens playing bizarre movies, I think there are even flat screens playing in the bathrooms, THAT's how over the top these guys wanna be.

Light on the food, it's just soakage for the drinks. The chocolate cake martini is ridiculous. They have one of the better wine lists around since they are owned by Plumpjack group (read Billy Getty and Gavin Newsom who from time to time you might see in this place.)

It's a great place to go later in the evening, AWESOME people watching. One night some funny drunk guy named John (no, not this John!) wanted to pick up this girl next to us and ripped his shirt off - his buttons went flying all over the place and one hit her in the eye! I think that's referred to as cock-blocking yourself. He left alone;)

Oh, go with a buzz on for optimal affect.

Fillmore St. Valet at the Balboa.

The Matrix Fillmore
3138 Fillmore St
San Francisco, CA 94123 
(415) 563-4180

The Blue Light - Cow Hollow

We love the owners Lance and Jeff. Amazing guys that run a hoppin' place. You'll usually find them workin' the bar, along with a cast of other cool, fun bartenders or even sometimes on billboards! These two are like Bryan Flanagan & Doug Coughlin (from the 1988 film Cocktail, puppies) only cooler. And Blue Light is way cooler than than that lame place Flanagan opened near the end. What happened to Cruise, anyway? First that sappy toast - 'cocktails and dreams', or whatever, then Katie Holmes...Yikes.

Anyhoo, back to the subject at hand. I'll say this: If you like a good 20-something pick up crowd with more ass crack showing than changing time at SF Hospital baby ward, this is the place for you.

Good music, good drinks, great pub grub, great people-watching and mostly packed with a young crowd, this place is happening. John and I go to hang with our buddies Lance, Jeff, and Elliot (Nova Bar) to see how the youngsters are partying. After a few drinks and the bewitching hour, we get the hell out. But it's FUN while it lasts!

Oh and on Taco Tuesday's it's a mad house. $1 tacos and chips & salsa. Pretty damn good tacos and chips too. If a crowded party bar is what you're lookin' for, this is the place for you.

The Blue Light
1979 Union Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 922-5510

Left at Albuquerque - Cow Hollow

Wow, are there some messed-up people here. Drunk little twits fresh outta their no-name private colleges and over-the-hill wanna-be's looking to snag some ass. That said, it's damn good people watching! These places (there are a few in the bay area) have seemed to lose their steam in the past few years. Dunno if it is the management, more competition, 'shifting demographics' or what. But one thing - it's not 'cuz the salsa and chips. Them's gooood. Also get the chicken salad, and the steak and potato burrito, VERY yummy.

This is not a destination place, my furry friends. This is a "I'm walking down Union Street and have the munchies" place. That's it. Nothing wrong with that. It's like looking through your closet and deciding to wear the beat up pair of Pumas just because it's not worth lacing up the Y3s. They have a few outdoor tables, not worth fighting for IMO. Know why? You'll be sitting right next to some tool who thinks his/her poop doesn't stink because they scored a table.

Left at Albuquerque
2140 Union St.
San Francisco, 94123
(415) 749-6700

City Tavern - Cow Hollow

We've been bellying-up to the bar here ever since we discovered it 5 or so years ago, on our way home from our gym at the time, of course! Located off Union at Greenwich & Fillmore, this is a pretty happenin' place most nights, but not packed with the stereotypical Marina a-holes.

Disclaimer note from our Attorneys: John & Janine cannot guarantee that you won't run into some Marina a-holes before, during or after your visit. But most of them will be at the Balboa Cafe or Mauna Loa up the street:) DON'T MISINTERPRET, not all Marina-ites are a-holes. We spend a lot of time there and love most of the people there, but stereotypes do exist for a reason :-)

Ok, now that that's out of the way...a pretty diverse crowd, all-in-all laid back and one of the coolest, hip bartenders around - Mika. He's worked here for years and rocks, really helps put the place on the map. Pretty decent wine list actually, Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc is on the menu by the glass, solid cocktails, and good bar grub - great spring rolls, a good southwestern salad and great wings. And a nice pit-stop if you are hovering around the Marina or Cow Hollow 'hoods.

Oh, on Tuesday, it's half price night, most listings would tell you to go, we tell you to stay away, it's amateur night.

Use Balboa for valet.

City Tavern
3200 Fillmore St.
San Francisco, 94123
(415) 567-0918