GrubGirl.

Hon’s WunTun House, Ltd.
Kearny & Clay
San Francisco, CA

Kittycorner from Portsmouth Square lies this non-descript hole in the wall. I’d passed by this many times while en route to a Vietnamese noodle place, but never stopped inside until yesterday.

A co-worker and I slipped in here for lunch, and we got a pretty good lunch deal. The pace was fast & furious - the faded menu taped onto the front door is pretty much the menu. The menu on the wall inside appears to be for noodles that they sell in bulk. My point is that you better have your order ready when you meet up with the lady behind the cash register.

Market Bar on the Embarcadero, in the Ferry Building, is another place close to my work. I’ve gone there the past few times but ever since one particular General Manager left in May/June 2005, the service has gone downhill.

Well, the outdoor patio area never really had high-quality service during happy hour:

- My friend specifically asked if the bar could make a DIRTY martini. The waiter nodded furiously and returned with what? A regular martini.

- We’ve often had to wait and wait while our glasses are empty, before we’re able to flag down a waiter. I understand the patio area is busy during happy hour but…it’s summer in SF. It’s never THAT hot outside!

Still learning to deal with crowds…

Hotel Vitale
Downtown across from Market Bar & Boulevard
Rating: Buzzkiller

I work downtown near the Ferry Building. Where’s a grubgirl gotta go for good service? “Good” = attentive bartenders that get your orders right, and ask you if you’re ready for another (not too early, not way too late).

For now, it’s not Hotel Vitale’s bar, though the patio seating (with heat lamps) is what seems to draw the Melrose Place crowd, while the slightly older set (potential cougar alert!) mingles inside.

Naan-N-Curry
533 Jackson Street (Between Kearny & Columbus)
SF, CA 94133
415-693-0499

I went to the Naan ‘n Curry (on their bowls, it’s called “Naan ‘n Cyurry”) for dinner with some pals….

…and was surprised that they, too, had increased their prices in the last year. C’mon, can’t anyone get a meal for $4.99 in SF anymore? Ok, ok, no need to discuss the rising prices of chicken, produce, and wage laborers. One of my companions was quick to note a shiny new Zagat’s award behind the cash register — calling N ‘n C one of best cheap eats in San Francisco. This is Zagat’s, mind you. Our theory has nothing to do with city politics or agribusiness. We just know that a Zagat’s budget is a bit bigger than a GrubGirl budget…so to someone who is lured there by Zagat’s, the prices are still cheap. For not-so-closet grub diners, we were a bit perturbed.