The latest entry in the annals of San Francisco line-waiting came over the weekend, when many waited for more than an hour in the rain for a chance at a day-old bagel. The bagels in question had pedigree -- they'd been overnighted from New York's legendary deli Russ & Daughters by pop-up chefs Sonya Haines and Wes Rowe -- but the Eastside Bagels team wasn't prepared for the crowds that showed up at Dear Mom on Saturday morning, and a clusterfuck commenced.
Then again, it's no secret that San Franciscans like to wait in lines. In light of this latest entry, we've ranked the city's food and drink lines*, taking into account such factors as line location, ratio of tourists to locals, swiftness of line movement, and greatness of reward at the end. Behold, the clearly definitive, soon-to-be-gospel list:
Popular Daly City Filipino restaurant Fil-Am Cuisine 2 now has a second branch open in South San Francisco. The new space is slightly larger and much brighter than the original restaurant. However, the wallet-friendly menu remains essentially the same at both locations, with a heavy take-out business and food served "turo-turo" style where you mix and match a meal from prepared food in front of you. Barbecued meats and rice plates are at the heart of the menu, along with fried lumpia and the hearty Filipino breakfast staple silog (fried rice with a fried egg). Keep in mind it's cash only. 321 Grand Ave., South S.F.; (650) 871-5010.
A new project on Oakland's Hallowell-heavy stretch of Grand Avenue -- neighboring Boot and Shoe and Penrose -- is officially open, titled Grand Fare, and it's off to a promising start.
The project moved into the space that used to house the Indonesian art gallery-cum-café Monkey Forest Road, and while a café will remain, plans for the future of the space are decidedly more food-focused. After a few months, Doug Washington (Town Hall, Salt House, Anchor & Hope) plans to move in a curated selection of food artisans to vend from the periphery, Ferry Building-style, and a chef to work with market ingredients. In the meantime, the space will function as a cozied-up, Wi-Fi-free coffee house, custom-built to foster connection and spur more interaction by forsaking today's standard "sea of screens" café landscape. Instead, think a turntable and old records, couches and sheepskin throws, and pillows in the windowsill for lounging.
See also: Coffee News: Zocalo's Credibles Campaign, the Fate of Monkey Forest Road, and Tierra Mia Opens
