VinDivine - Living it Up John & Janine Style

B44 - Downtown

Ah the alley, we LOVE it. I think we went every day for lunch in the Dot Com days. Belden Alley is what I'm talking about. On a sunny day, it's the BEST place to go for lunch. It's like those Euro bistros where you walk by and the smiling hosts beg you to come in. Man we miss Europe.

It's also the place you CANNOT WALK down during Bastille Day. You know that celebration the French have where they party for independence. Nothing like a good festival where the French get sloshed, eat crepes and fall all over each other. It's a beautiful thang.

Back to B44, which has nothing to do with French food by the way, it's all about Paella which is freakin' amazing - 9 different kinds to be clear. Close your eyes and your sittin' on Las Ramblas in Barthelona sluggin' down some fresh sangria. One thing? You won't find tapas here, full plates of good stuff.

The skirt steak salad? Superb. I don't do the squid, the octopus, or the sardines, but if that's your thing we hear this is the place. Like fresh fish? Get ANY of it here, it's awesome! One more thing, the vino, great list of Spanish wines if you like em' tempranillos... mmmmm.

The tables? In traditional Euro fashion RIGHT on top of each other. Oh the conversations you hear! We heard one couple talkin' about some things they shouldn't have. Hey! Lower your voice if you're gonna talk about the hot monkey love you had the night before, please people, we're eating!

Also on Belden Alley, Voda, Café Bastille, Tiramisu, Plouf.

B44
44 Belden Place
San Francisco, CA 94104
415-986-6287

Rubicon - Downtown

Ok, how the hell can you go wrong with a restaurant owned in part by the following:

• Robert DeNiro (You talkin' to me?)
• Robin Williams (Only saw LIVE 11 times so far and go to Bimbos to see him practice whenever he is there.)
• Francis Ford Coppola (OK, director of our favorite movie of all time, GF 1 and 2 to be clear)
• Drew Nieporent (the guy who actually has to KNOW something about running many restaurants with all of these superstars around)

You can't. And that's why we have Rubicon. One of MANY fab restaurants owned by this amazing group. (Tribeca Grill and Nobu too? Rubicon is a brother in this family of excellence.) If we were to consistently say, for overall food in this great city, what our two faves, among faves, are this is definitely one of them. We won't tell you the other...yet.

Expensive? YES. And worth every damn penny. Oysters, if you're into it, not to be beat. Scallops here are pretty freakin' good and "if" they have any kind of filet, you must, must get it. It's good. Almost all of the fish they have is pretty nuts in a good way, and if they do have the Polenta and Wild Mushroom Cannelloni in pumpkin sauce? Well, need we say more? These guys are also know for their Braised Beef Short rib so if you're into it, this is the place! Bravo Chef Stuart Brioza, all those big names...we know who does the work:-)

I must say, at lunch if they have the grilled cheese, you must get it. It's usually got all kinds of crazy stuff on it. Not your Ma's velveeta number.

The wine? Crazy! Larry Stone, Ex-Sommelier (But left for good reason. He's now making his own wine, we can't wait Larry!) left behind him a superb list. HUGE selection of imported and local. With Coppola on the board, you know it's gonna be a good listo de vino. Boy did we spend some bucks here in the Dot Com.

Is this a hang out place? No. It's a place you go to impress, so bring your cash or your black AMEX, and get ready to spend, and be spent, cuz the portions are NOT tiny and neither will your bill be :-)

Rubicon
558 Sacramento St.
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 434-4100

Otis - Downtown

Our first take on Otis - NO-tis. OK, that was too easy. But it's just like Simon Cowell (American Idol judge and major record exec, my pals)  would say in his snooty brit accent ' Sooo whaaaat?'. I mean, maybe 'cuz it was only Tuesday and all, and only 7-8PM, but Mr. Otis definitely didn't have his game face on. And with all that ++ PR and buzz lately...a cryin' shame. Especially since we've said over and over - we like alleys!

Cool crowd? Hey man, we're down with the peeps and all, but the group of Roto Rooter guys (yeah, in full RR Unis) hogging the couch next to us did not sex the place up . But the toilets flushed, so I guess we shouldn't bitch.

This place is tiny...oops, I mean 'intimate'. Yeah, intimate...like my garage. But my garage doesn't have a peacock decor. I'll have to work on that.

Wait, there's more!  The dude behind the bar was so A-D-D he couldn't remember
A) what we ordered,
B) that I asked (repeatedly) to cash out, and then
C) did a hilarious job of trying to find my card: 'Kingsley?' 'Hobart?' 'Jackson?' 'Hingleton?' And when I finally guided him to the correct card, 2 seconds later he handed it another guy...I dunno, is that cool?

Janine said some chick was trying pretty hard to pick me up, so hey single guys, maybe there is a bright spot here!

And of course, maybe we hit this place on an off night and it usually ROCKS. We'll come back, and if you've been, let us know!

Details: Open to 'all' until 8PM, then I guess they flush everyone out and it's Members Only (hey, I have a jacket!). Located on Maiden Lane @ Kearney.

Otis
25 Maiden Lane San Francisco
CA 94101

Azul - Downtown

We looove this place for a nice respite from a hectic afternoon of shopping...oh hell, skip the shopping and just go here first. Azul is  on Tillman alley - aren't alleys fun?! - not too far off Union Square and is cool & cozy. Type of place where hookups happen. Very dark, lots of shades of blue make up the place - large bar, a couple plasma TVs, 1/2 dozen or so couches and a little loft w/ pool table. And good bar gravel - I think they serve old school Planters Peanuts like our parents used to get, the real good, salty ones. Very cool vibe. And the kicker - they make one of the best margaritas goin' on in this town. We just introduced our friend Loren to Azul the other day and i do believe he is their newest fan.

I guess the place also kicks it up at night. Too bad we don't go downtown at night...Do you? Let us know how it is!

Le Colonial - Downtown

This is French Vietnamese at it's best. The location is great, off of Cosmo alley - rockin' street name. The old Trader Vics from the 50s used to be here. The two best parts of this spot? The bar (surprise, surprise) with it's Saigon feel (read rattan chairs, slow spinning ceiling fans, palm trees, you get the picture), and the outdoor walkway that's covered and heated. Grab a table there if you can but watch out for some tool blowing cigar smoke in your meal, yuck.

Eat: The filet mignon dish (outta this world), the steamed sea bass in banana leaf, and for an appy get the crispy spring rolls with lettuce. Oh, and don't be a rookie and forget to wrap the lettuce around the spring rolls, it's not take out sucka.

If you go up to the bar, grab a couch, order up some froofy looking drink with an umbrella in it - guys, it's ok to do that here - eat some shrimp chips and enjoy the music. Mojitos are very good, but the bartenders hate making them, what the hell, get one!

We ran into ex-Mayor Willie Brown here awhile ago, the guy is a trip.

Gotta impress a first date of business dinner? This is the place.

Valet.

Le Colonial
20 Cosmo Place
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 931-3600

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant - Downtown

Thank god for the revamping of the Ferry Plaza Terminal in San Fran. And what could be better than a WINE BAR right in the middle! This place is a wine retailer where you can test at least 20 or so wines that change each week! You don't need full 5 oz. tastes, for the lightweights  you can do smaller 2 oz. tastes as well.

Best thing you can do is:

1. Grab some cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery
2. Get some bread from the Acme Bread Co.
3. Order a flight of choice
4. Grab a table and start tasting!

The bar is very big with tables (this is great) RIGHT on the mall walkway so the opportunity for people-watching ROCKS. This place is indoors so wearing sunglasses to hide your stares might not work. Unless you're a "cool" LA type.

You get ALL walks of life here from fanny-bag wearing cruiseshippers, commuting bridge and tunnelers, locals shopping for the "freshest" veggies, baseball fans wearing more orange and black than a Halloween parade, need i say more? Then go into the shop and get at least two bottles of what you tasted. Drinking and shopping two wonderful things that go great together.

It's not uncommon that you'll find at least one of the owners Bo, Peter, or Debbie on the floor to help you make you decisions. They are three of THE most knowledgeable people about wine you'll meet, so if you get them, don't hesitate to ask them anything!

Located: Downtown on the Embarcadero - Valet

Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant
One Ferry Building
Shop 23
San Francisco, CA 94111
415.391.9400

The Pied Piper Bar - The Palace Hotel - Downtown/Soma

This is the type of place our parents would all love, and that's one of the great things about it. Classic long, dark wood bar, a famous turn of the century painting hanging up behind it,  and just a good, comfortable feel about the whole place. Plus they mix up some of the strongest, meanest cocktails around.

And these bartenders know their stuff, all union run, so I think they have to go from Apprentice to Journeyman or whatever to get a gig here. I swear, after just one Hornitos margarita you are smilin'. Same goes for the bloodies, 'tini's, whatever. And the crowd is great and varied - if the Palace is having a tradeshow it's crowded with expense account types; otherwise a nice mix of tourists, downtown shoppers and locals who know they'll get treated right.

For food, this place has a good lunch menu (the square chicken sandwich is great as well as the oriental chicken salad), and a good night appy menu. The steak quesadilla is tops, chicken skewers and tuna tartare. And some of the most habit-forming bar snacks around. Eat up, 'cuz you'll need some soakage for the drinks!

If you go, look for Grey or Joel behind the bar and tell them John & Janine sent ya. Talk New Jersey or Sinatra with Grey, or surfing with Joel and you are in. Ray is there at lunch and a very cool guy too!

The Pied Piper
2 New Montgomery St.
San Francisco, 94105 
(415) 512-1111

Kuleto's - Downtown

This place is a great start or finish to getting your shop on. It's right off of Union Square in the Villa Florence Hotel. A bit of an old school flare, it's Cal-Ital and it's good. If you go to the bar the wine list is fantastic. Grab a half bottle of the Duckhorn Sauv Blanc especially on a hot day. For food, order the artichoke, the pancetta wrapped radicchio, and any pasta, you cannot go wrong.

Every holiday season, we go downtown and start at Kuletos. Why you ask? It instantly takes the sting out of the deer-in-the-headlights tourists looking up at all the holiday decorations while they slam into you carrying that Tiffany's bowl you just bought your sister. Then the Tiffany "blue box" is smashed and you feel way less pain than if you HADN'T started at Kuletos!

See how that works? Oh if you're at the bar in the late afternoon, see if David (cute Calvin Klein model-looking bartender) is there. Tell him Janine and John sent ya.

Located: Downtown, no valet to our knowledge.

Kuleto's
221 Powell St.
San Francisco, 94102
(415) 397-7720

Bix - Downtown

This cool and stylin' place has a supper club feel from the 30's kinda vibe. Big bar, nice restaurant, great art and friendly people. Order any martini drink, especially Lemon Drops and Sidecars. Go old school here. If you don't have a resie, go early, 5:30 and tell them you'll eat quickly. But really, we go to this place to get our drink on. My friend Kellyann, who owns an ad agency in the area, and I (Janine) enjoy GREAT glasses of champagne regularly. This is just a great place to start an evening.

Watch out for older businessmen or traveling goons if you're a chick at the bar with your girlfriends. Need a sugar daddy? Hey, maybe you like him and you'll score. At least get a free drink fortheluvagod.

Into a more secluded, don't-bother-me type of night? Grab a booth upstairs. The food is great too. Get the chicken hash, that's right i said it, hash. And you can't go wrong with the Filet.

Bix
56 Gold St.
San Francisco, 94133
(415) 433-6300

Redwood Room - Clift Hotel

This place is as close to LA/NY as you're gonna get in SF since the Phillipe Stark remodel a few years ago when Ian Schrager took over the hotel. They got rid of the "old school" furniture, updated the carpet and put in an amazing new bar that's VERY worth the $15 drinks you'll have. Don't go there if you're not ready to spend.

It's people-watching at it's best. Hell, even the paintings on the walls are animated. If you know you're going to be there, try to reserve a table. It gets crowded, and this is one of those places where the "Look I have $20 in my palm...' handshake really does work to get you a sweet table. Then sit back and be SURE to order the Razzmatazz, martini made with raspberry puree, mmmm, mmmm. Hungry? It's not on the menu, but ask if they'll make you the lobster quesadilla, it's scrumptious. Also order the tuna tartare tower. To Die For.

Redwood Room - Clift Hotel
495 Geary St.
San Francisco, 94102
(415) 775-4700