Walking through "Chinatown" and having to walk through the kitchen to get to the second floor where the restaurant was with a menu that said... if you you didn't like what was on the menu... " you could go fuck yourself ".
And... that's just when the fun began.
"Even though it's dirty and the place is small, it's a tradition," she said. "It's real authentic Chinese food, where the waiter's mean and the cook is mean. They don't have all day to explain the menu to you."
Hong was a tad gruff herself Friday. She chastised two women after they joined their friends in line ahead of her. And she expressed disdain for a TV reporter's decision to interview a pretty young blond, griping that longtime regulars may not be as easy on the eyes but that they know more.
She whispered dismissively after eavesdropping on the interview. "Sweet and sour pork?" she said of the young woman's proclaimed favorite. "Come on. If I ordered that they'd probably hit me with a pan."
As the day wore on, mournful comments piled up on Yelp and other online forums. Many recalled bringing their own booze for boisterous late-night gatherings on the third floor, which invariably included shenanigans with the dumbwaiter.
Most lamented the loss of another old-time San Francisco institution, warts and all.
If you never had the chance to eat there... you've been eating out of your ass... your whole life.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:54 am
by Moving Sale
That makes the choice between Sam's and House of Nanking a whole lot easier.
RIP Sam's
That place was
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:05 am
by M2
Best restaurant EVER hands down.
Not that I traveled 365 days a year on the road for the last 25 years.
Sad day indeed.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:36 am
by smackaholic
Toolio, why don't you jump off the GGB today. Make the day a little less sad in "The City".
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 12:40 pm
by Carson
David Ho, a descendent of one of the restaurant's original owners, decided to shut down after officials demanded extensive health and safety upgrades.
Sounds like a great place to eat.
Was rat on the menu?
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:56 pm
by Mikey
Actually agree with M2 on this one.
My dad told me about that place when I was a little kid. Dropped in a few times as a young adult to be mistreated by Eddie (Edsel Ford Fong). He'd leer at any women you were with, move people around to different tables to get the maximum seating. He'd give you a pad of paper and an old menu tell you to write down what you want and be sure to "specify!! You got to specify!!". Sad day when Eddie passed on. Sad to lose the restaurant.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 5:38 pm
by ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2
Mikey wrote:"specify!! You got to specify!!"
Like... that rodent? :pointing: Sounds like picking out your own lobster outta the tank.
You didn't even make the top 10, toolio.....so just STFU about a city by a bay.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:21 pm
by ChargerMike
ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2 wrote:
Mikey wrote:"specify!! You got to specify!!"
Like...that rodent? :pointing: Sounds like picking out your own lobster outta the tank.
..I laughed, still laughing..
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 8:09 pm
by LTS TRN 2
Uh...Sam Wo's was popular way back in the day (1960's) because it was basically the only place open after hours. The food was greasy and almost uneatable, the actual rude waiter died a long time ago and the family members subsequently imitating him a bit pathetic. Entering through the tiny kitchen was just one of many obvious health code violations and really no one's going to miss it. The "best restaurant in S.F."?? Huh?
You didn't even make the top 10, toolio.....so just STFU about a city by a bay.
You might want to read your link one more time and then check your comprehension.
It's a nationwide opinion poll of how favorably people see different cities, and has nothing to do with what it's actually like to live in any of them. WTF does somebody in Atlanta know about living in SF, and vice versa?
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 9:22 pm
by Mikey
Jsc810 wrote:
LTS TRN 2 wrote:The "best restaurant in S.F."?? Huh?
Actually the stupid fuck claims it is the best restaurant in the country.
I went there some years ago. It was ok, but nothing special. Lots of other places in SF that I'd want to go to before that one again.
Definitely not the "best" restaurant in SF (whatever "best" means), much less in the world. But it had decent Chinese food, it was cheap, and was a fun place to go back in the day. And yes I ate there a bunch of times when the so-called rudest waiter in the world was working. I had never heard that description, just knew that Eddie was a fun guy to experience. Nice view down Washington Street from the last table by the window, too.
I would imagine that there are dozens of places in New Orleans that YOU would swear by and are well known for their local "flavor" but don't have 4 star food. When are you gonna start putting them down too?
You didn't even make the top 10, toolio.....so just STFU about a city by a bay.
San Francisco is too expensive to live in if you're a family with young children... so, I can see why you detest the most beautiful "City" in the world.
God, you're a sick fuck.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 3:56 am
by M2
Jsc810 wrote: I went there some years ago. It was ok, but nothing special.
You're so full of shit... people may accuse you of being a liar/lawyer.
When was the last time a lawyer EVER knew of a cool place to go ???
They don't sell possum there... so, right off the bat I know you've never been there.
The only good place I ever ate at in New Orleans... was "The Court of Two Sisters".
Of course, they don't sell possum... so, we're cool.
It's good to know that you have the same taste buds... as our little "Arab" friend.
There is a God... and his name is m2 (Of course, I live on Arguello between California and Euclid)
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:44 pm
by Carson
M2 wrote:
Jsc810 wrote:The only good place I ever ate at in New Orleans... was "The Court of Two Sisters".
Somebody must have passed you a sample through the garden fence.
You must not have gone anywhere else, either.
Ever heard of Commander's Palace? Brennan's? They have accessible dumpsters, too.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:26 pm
by Dinsdale
LTS TRN 2 wrote:Uh...Sam Wo's was popular way back in the day (1960's) because it was basically the only place open after hours. The food was greasy and almost uneatable, the actual rude waiter died a long time ago and the family members subsequently imitating him a bit pathetic. Entering through the tiny kitchen was just one of many obvious health code violations and really no one's going to miss it. The "best restaurant in S.F."?? Huh?
Sounds much like a place in Portland. Hung Far Low (no really). They used the be in Old Town and at one point stayed open all night about their only redeeming feature. Had to go in through this small unlit stairwell to the second floor. The odds of getting from your car to the restaurant in the late hours without getting mugged were right around zero.
A few years ago the city in their always-sound wisdom decided to fix up the sidewalks and whatnot in Old Town to improve business and after it took them 2 years with everyone pretty much having to long-jump over the construction Hung Far Low and many other old businesses moved or went under. Hung Far Low is out on the east side now and it's just not the same.
Re: Sad day in "The City"
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 4:41 pm
by Mikey
A Sam Wo story...
In mid September 1977 I was visiting my best HS buddy who had moved up to the city and was living in the Noe Valley area. We drove over to Chinatown and went to Sam Wo's for dinner. As I was looking out the third floor window I realized that if we had been there a week earlier we would have witnessed the massacre across the street a the Golden Dragon.
