Try Maye's Original Oyster House...was my grandparents' favorite restaurant and when we get back there with our grown children we love to go there. Plan on "Dining" because they are not into turning over tables but rather serve you one course at a time. Each course is well timed. Old time SF at it's best!

I thought Mae's closed several years ago?

Re: Mayes on Polk Street.

Mayes is no more.

The location has been taken over by a place called the Holy Grail. It's an Irish restaurant - no laughing please, it's very good. Had lunch there over the New Year's weekend. The smoked trout and "boxty" (potato pancake) was divine. They concentrate a great deal on fresh local shellfish. Wine list was very decent too. The Holy Grail theme is carried out with stained glass windows depicting Arthurian tales. I believe the old Mayes sign might still be up in the front.

When I was a kid, we used to stay at the Jack Tar Hotel on Van Ness. My sister and I were fascinated with Tommy's Joint across the street with the buffalo head over the door. Our parents wouldn't go there because "too many hippies hang out there".

Is Tommy's still there???

Thanks,

MY

Washington Sq Bar and Grill. Short walk up Columbus from Fish Wharf.
Great rib eye and good wine list.
Excellent piano player at night.

SF's finest bartender, Mike McCourt, of thee McCourt family, still pounds the boards during the day.

dovima,
We a hit O'Reilly's HG about a week or so after it opened and had a GREAT meal there.
Can't wait to go back.

Hi Kal, where O'Reilly's is use to be for decades the old Italian restaurant the 622 Green St. Restaurant. It was sort of our home away from home. The grandson and son of the owners of the 622 restaurant is now the owner of Saltato's in downtown Vacaville. His name is Robert Cicornio. It is a small world.

How could I have forgotten Tommy's Joynt? It's where my husband and I had our first date!!!

How about the Gold Spike in North Beach? This seemed like a neighborhood type Italian place with some character.

L'Italy,
"PROGRAMS....PROGRAMS...can't tell yer SF O'Reilly's w/o a PROGRAM".

As Dovi sez, this O'Reilly's is The Holy Grail and is the old Mayes Oyster House on Polk...a nice stumble down Polk from Shanghai Kelly's towards the Civic Ctr.

The O'Reilly's on Green serves a mean Irish Coffee that rivals Beuna Vista...but no view unless you think watching the Green St Morutary Marching Band a "view".

Old school SF right down the street from the Green St O'Reilly's location in No Beach is Capp's.

Michelle Y,
What a hoot! I used to beg my parents to take me to Tommy's so I could eat buffalo stew - but no go. The hotel from your childhood memories is the Cathedral Hill Hotel now, but to the die-hard San Franciscan, it will ALWAYS be the Jack Tar (along with Army Street and Candlestick Park).

Dear Dovima:

Is Tommy's still in operation? I'll have to make my husband take me there. My whinning goes alot further with him - lol!!!

I LOVED the Jack Tar. In fact, when were stayed one summer, someone had rammed into one of the exterior walls. I still have the little blue mosaic from that wall.

What happened to Army Street and where was it. Fill me in on the story.

Thanks!!

MichelleY

P.S. We also used to go to the Ice Follies at Winterland!! Little did I know that 10 years later I would be at Winterland seeing my first Doobie Bothers concert and smoking my first doobie!!

MY

My vote goes to Sam's. No view, and maybe the salads are lacking, but for old-time SF atmosphere, can't get any better. Try one of the curtained booths and either the petrale sole or sand dabs.....heaven on a plate! (and the waiters have real attitude, altho they now include some females! -- yeah!)

Dear Michelle Y,
Your adolescence bears some resemblance to mine!
FYI, Army Street was officially changed to Cesar Chavez Boulevard some years ago. A worthy namesake and the change had its supporters, but like I said, it will always be Army Street in the mental and emotional maps of many long-time SF'ers.

Tommy's Joynt fans:

Yes, it's still there!

Everyone knows where Army, Silver or Paul St exits will take you, yah?

I bet you guys partied with Mrs Kal and didn't even know it.

Me? I stayed home and lead a pretty sheltered life in my early years.

Hey Kal, you don't like the Green St. Mortuary? How come? The funeral band is fabulous!! Capps, oh yes, old time SF.

And the Jack Tarr, how the real oldtimers hated it (like my greataunts etc.)...but I sure had lots of fun cocktail parties there. In fact I remember one time...oh never mind...not appropriate to post here

Dear LoveItaly:

You are dating yourself. Cocktail parties at the Jack Tar??? My sister and I were drinking Shirley Temples!!!!


MY