[OT] Fishy food in San Francisco

Ian, I'm sure that I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know, but some of the best seafood cooking in SF is also Chinese, since Cantonese cooking is the dominant form in SF. Traditional powerhouses have been Yank Sing and Ton Kiang, but lately I've heard grumblings that they've fallen off their earlier form. For more European seafood cooking, the Usual Suspects are Aqua and Farallon. I've been to both, though it's been years since, and neither was transcendent -- but I'm more of an ethnic food fan anyway. You might want to extend you enquiry to ba.food as well to see what the cantankerous regulars of that group might say. I'd be happy to make the enquiry if your server doesn't carry ba.food.

Mark Lipton

For chinese food, I'd send him across the bay to King Tsin in Albany (next North to Berkeley) There are a couple of good Northern Chinese restaurants there along Shattuck Ave. (just down from where Kermit Lynch's store used to be.)

Ronin wrote on Tue, 13 May 2008 14:48:57 -0700:

The Pacific Cafe

This used to be good a few years ago. You *can* find parking but they didn't take reservations. They would come round with glasses of wine for the people in line.

King Tsin? Really? Wow, I haven't eaten there in... must be about 35 years now. I'll have to check it out when I'm back in the East Bay in a couple of weeks. Regarding Shattuck: are you sure you aren't thinking of where North Berkeley Wines used to be? Kermit Lynch's store has been on San Pablo Ave for at least 25 years now.

Mark Lipton aka East Bay Ray

Generally I agree with the not on Fishermans Wharf. Most restaurants there aren't so good and cater to the tourist crowds. However, there is one exception. Scomas is just barely off the main sights of those crowds and food is excellent. There is a tiny sign that points to its location but thats it.

I would suggest "The Slanted Door". One of my favorites.

Richard wrote on Wed, 14 May 2008 09:55:46 -0400:

The Slanted Door is one of my favorites too. I was glad to see that it survived its move to the Ferry Building in great shape.

Jim and Dick, I too love the Slanted Door (and its wonderful wine list) but I don't think of it as either a Chinese or seafood restaurant. True, it does have seafood items, but seafood is not a specialization of the SD.

Mark Lipton

Well, I must admit to be talking about 35 years ago re: Lynch, but as I remember not long ago asking my Berkely brother if King Tsin was still there and as good, and he said yes, but that too was a couple of years ago.

JB

To me, Slanted Door is a don't miss place as there is nothing like it anywhere I have been.

I had the best Seafood there I have ever had, also the best beef, pork etc...they do it all and they do it well.

Hard place nowadays to get >

We had a great experience at Yank Sing of really great Dim Sum if that is one direction you are looking. It is near the Embarcadero.

Hello again

First of all, thanks to all of you who've answered. Thanks also for the well c>> foody imperatives. 1. Chinese food and 2. A really good fish

You're absolutely right. However, that was what he asked me and being a good brother I like to pass on requests faithfully. :-)

heard grumblings that

Oh dear... the Yank Sing was one of the two that I'd been thinking of. Just shows how useful it is to ask here, doesn't it!!

cantankerous regulars of that group

It does, as it happens. Are you a (known) poster there? If so, then I'd be happier if you wouldn't mind asking. My experience is that one tends to get a better class of reply if one's known. I don't mind reading and copying to my brother the thread that follows your post, so you wouldn't have to do anything other than make the first post. If you're not known there, then I'll be happy to do the deed!!

-- All the best Fatty from Forges

I went to Yank Sing in March and it was as good as the last time I went in 2006 so I saw no fall off in quality. The place is huge and the service is, well they walk around with carts, if it is the one you want great, if not you wait. This is typical in a big Dim Sum restaurant and I don't think a lot of people understand how it works.

cantankerous regulars of that group

Yes, I was quite surprised at the degree of negativity toward Yank Sing especially that I've seen there. I've posted there on occasion, so I just posted your query there. There is a chance that the server I've used (Aioe) isn't propagating posts, so if it hasn't appeared by tonight, I'll see if I can find another server that carries ba.food. If all else fails, you can post the question ;-)

Mark Lipton

Mark wrote on Thu, 15 May 2008 15:05:28 -0400:

I have to admit that it is a year or two since I ate at Yank Sing and it is very popular and IMHO deservedly so. The food on the circulating carts is high quality and often unusual and the prices were not outrageous if more expensive than restaurants in Chinatown. I have found other places with large numbers of oriental-looking customers but the names escape me at the moment.

I'm not the OP but my server does carry ba.food but the last post I saw was on 5/11/08 and no posts from you Mark.

James wrote to Mark Lipton on Thu, 15 May 2008 19:36:23 GMT:

Sorry, that's not quite correct since there were some at 4/29/08 on spice jars>

Quite a lot a few months ago (my server had >7k messages)

so if it hasn't appeared by

else fails, you can post the question ;-)

Well, your message wasn't there at 00.15 Europe rime. I'm afraid. Would you mind having one further bash - pretty please. The more I've read there, the more nervous I am about posting myself.

-- All the best Fatty from Forges

Reposted, and several reponses already. One other thought since my original repsonse to you: Hog Island Oyster Company now has a restaurant in San Francisco. While I haven't been there, I have been several times to the parent operation in Northern Marin County, and it's a quintessential local experience: Tomales Bay Oysters, served on the half shell and "barbecued." FWIW, I prefer the former preparation by a long shot.

Mark Lipton

I have been to the Hog Island in SF and in Northern Marin both really good.