FYI Girl and Fig is in Sonoma

Thanks for the report. Left SF years ago ('81) - but loved the Rex Sole at Tadich's - but hard to find that - the King of Sole - anymore? And we also liked Yang Sing - but have to admit - many of the others are "new" to moi.

We also used to go to Swan Oyster depot on Polk.

Is it really called Rex or is that your term?
I got to try sand dabs too - quite good, but the sole was perfect.

Tadich is always on our list of places to eat, every trip. That and Chez Panisse and City Views for Dim Sum.

Appreciate your take on places we haven't eaten at; thanks!

Rex is real name.

Deb - I still think that Farina's pizza is one of the best.

As Debit says - it's Rex Sole and we used to love to go to Scoma's on Fisherman's Wharf, where years ago - they also served Abolone before it became more expensive than Gold.

They didn't officially take reservtions - but if you got to know the gals at the Maitre D stand - no problemo. They also had a great waiter - a tough looking/former boxer who once fought a big name Heavywieght - although he was only a light heavy - and he had one eye that was injured/damaged/looked funny if I may say so.

Clint Eastwood liked him so much - that he let him have a cameo in the movie - Escape from Alcatraz, and the inside joke was in the movie - where at one of the prison dinners - Clint looks across the table at the former boxer - (while Clint and his two amigos were trying to have a quiet conversation about their planned escape) - and says: What are you looking at. You just had to see it in the movie to appreciate it. see: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079116/

Just last summer - found a "new" place for Dim Sum - Gold Mountain on Broadway - that was not expensive and served very good food - but it just shut down I heard - after a 10? year run. Shame. Owning/running a restaurant is a very tough business.

We do love Farinas here in ABQ! Are you heading this way, any time soon?

Fiddely foo - lost a post again. Anyhow - found the former boxer/actor/Maitre D's name - and it was Pat/Patick Valentino - (slightly changed from his birth name Pasquale Guglielmi) - and he once went 8 rounds with Heavyweight chamnp - Ezzard Charles.

Nicest guy in the world but I wouldn't have wanted to go toe to toe with him.

see: http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Pat_Valentino

Deb - either in July or Oct. Farina's meatballs are great too!

July - I'm here; gone in Oct. Keep in touch.

made me way too hungry. Sounds like a great trip. Did you do anything besides these great restaurants?

This was 6th trip in 3 1/2 years - so I have done a lot before. This time, we did A LOT of walking - two walking tours, explored Hayes Valley and some other neighborhoods, some shopping and did a day trip to southern Napa and Sonoma (tour and tasting at Domaine Carneros) driving back through Petaluma passing beautiful dairy farms. Main purpose of trip was to see both sons - and those conversations get in the way of sightseeing

Centralparkgirl - which walking tours did you take??

Stu Dudley

Stu - We did Nob Hill and Palace Hotel tours through cityguides. The Nob Hill tour was wonderful. Although we were very glad that we got to see the interiors of the the Palace Hotel and learn about it, the guide unfortunately was torture. We have taken three other tours on previous trips.

CPG, thanks for your concise review and I'm so happy to see you back here! your list should prove useful as we may head out to SF/Northern Cal area this summer.

off-topic, hope all is well with you. I emailed you a while back since I haven't seen you around but didn't hear back. In any case, I'm just so happy to see you here!