When the Giants Come to Town, It's Bye-Bye Baby

01.03.2008
Ballpark Food, Part 1: The Neighborhood

As we like to say over at The Bistro Hugo, when you come to a fork in the road, eat what’s on the end of it.

Ladies and germs, señoras y señores, we have come to that fork. As we count down the days til pitchers-n-catchers, we can debate for the 107th time the merits of Kevin Frandsen, Starting Third Baseman, or we can talk about my second favorite topic: food.

In partnership with the Bistro, we bring you the first in an occasional series of culinary diversions. Let’s start with the best places in the Mays Field neighborhood to eat before or after the game. What this isn’t: a list of places to watch sports on TV before the game. Food takes priority here.

Best beer/burger joint: 21st Amendment. Excellent homemade brew, good service, and a scaled-down gameday menu that doesn’t gouge the pocketbook. Every time I go, I’m surprised how consistently good the food is. Runner-up: The Brickhouse.

Best upscale bar scene: I like the vibe at the Acme Chophouse bar. The ‘tenders are pros, serving drinks, raw-bar seafood and meals from the kitchen. There’s enough room to stand comfortably if you can’t swipe a stool, and it doesn’t have the aging-frat-guys-at-Mardi-Gras feel of Momo’s or the forced swankiness of Paragon. 

Best refuge from the orange-and-black masses: The South Park Cafe. One of my all-time favorites, gameday or no. A martini, a frisee salad with baked goat cheese, the beef daube as the summer light fades through the South Park trees, and oh, why not, another martini: what better way to prep for a ballgame?

Best cheap sit-down: Primo Patio. This Caribbean-themed joint on Townsend with outdoor-only seating on a covered, heated backyard patio doesn’t offer the best food. But at $7–$10 per generous entree, you learn to overlook the shortcomings, such as soggy side veggies. Stick with their specialty — jerk chicken or steak — and a couple $2.50 Anchor Steams, and you’ll be fine.

Best grab-and-go: Slices from Amici’s on King. The $5 all-natural hot-dog cart in front of Acme Chophouse. Italian sandwiches and goodies from the South Beach Cafe.

Places to avoid: Momo’s. Victor’s scary burritos on Townsend. Zeke’s. The Irish pub next to Happy Donuts. Happy Donuts. The pizza place next to the Irish pub next to Happy Donuts. McDonalds. Quizno’s.

Did I leave anything out? Did I diss your favorite spot? Discuss.

Photo courtesy of Elbo. See more of the series here.
Also on the Network:



[January 3, 2008 2:47 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Dave said

Best Margarita: Tres Agave on Townsend.

[January 3, 2008 5:03 PM]  |  link  |  reply
danny said

Red's Java Hut for pitchers and pitchers of anchor steam or sierra nevada before the game.

The outdoor patio in the back is right under the bridge and full of true blue fans. Its also the perfect place for a cheap chili cheese fries and 2 dolla' cheeseburger on sourdough roll before a slightly drunk seaside stroll to see Lincecum fire a few.

[January 3, 2008 5:44 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Disaster said

Thanks for the reminder... summer thoughts on a rainy day.
I have gotten jerk chicken sandwiches from Primo Patio and brought them down to my brother's seats, which at the time were right next to the owners' row of seats. You can spit on the on deck circle from there. Or Larry Baer.
I believe they were somewhat put off by my pulling out some out-of-house goodness. Although the loudness, tattoos and wifebeater undershirt may also explain the looks I was getting... apparently they felt I belonged in the bleachers.
On the other hand, I will never forgive you for letting out the secret of the South Beach Cafe... they serve actual Italian pizza there. Not New York or Chicago style, but Neapolitan. Also like in Naples, their TV is always on the soccer channel.

[January 3, 2008 6:09 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

>Red's Java Hut...

Isn't the one right under the bridge the Java House? The Hut is closer to the ballpark, just before the marina.

[January 3, 2008 6:16 PM]  |  link  |  reply
trilljester said

Thanks for all the helpful hints about food pre-game guys. I am one of those stupid shills who always gets food at the game. Blag! No more!

[January 3, 2008 6:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Josh said

How dare you say we should avoid Happy Donuts!

[January 3, 2008 6:31 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I dare you to knock the rainbow sprinkles off my lapel.

[January 4, 2008 2:02 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Johnny Chophouse said

Hiya Everyone,
My first post, inspired by the love given to the Chopperoo on this blog...come see us at Acme! Shameless plug! Our bartenders are the BEST, and we pour an honest, strong drink. You can even get it in a plastic cup and walk it right to your seats through our entrance to the ballpark. And our food is locally sourced, mostly organic, additive and hormone free and made with much love -- dammit, we even make our own mayo, pickles, etc. -- you can also get it to go and take it in to the game with you. KNBR broadcasts from our patio overlooking the plaza weekends pre-game - great place to warm up before the game on a sunny day. In fairness to our great neighbors in the neighborhood, Amicis, Tres Agaves, Jack Falstaff and 21st Amendment (love the beer and vibe at 21st especially) are also solid tasty choices. Go Giants in 2008 -- pitchers and catchers report in 6 weeks!

[January 4, 2008 2:14 PM]  |  link  |  reply
rocketdog said

Great post! I work in this neighborhood (literally across the street from Mays Field) so I'm always looking for new places to get lunch. My thoughts on the grub: 21st Amendment has fantastic beer, and everything on the menu is great. Tres Agaves margaritas can't be beat, and the food's not bad either. I've been big on the pizza place next to McDonalds ever since they changed their menu to offer more hot sandwiches. For burritos, Victor's isn't great but at least they serve grilled nopales. For a much, much better burrito check out Mexico au Parc, on South Park. That's all I've got off the top of my head...

[January 5, 2008 7:13 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Ed said

Again, you take that back about Happy Donuts! I love bringing one of their monster sandwiches into the ball yard.

[January 5, 2008 2:33 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Jim E said

bloody marys at the ramp pre day game.

[January 6, 2008 2:38 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Decidenator said

Anchor for $2.50? Why did you wait so long to tell me?

[January 7, 2008 12:12 AM]  |  link  |  reply
Gamesix said

yeah just get rid of amici's and that list is gold!

[January 7, 2008 12:51 PM]  |  link  |  reply
Buddy said

Whenever people talk about restaurants around the ballpark, no one ever mentions Delancey Street. It's just down the street, on the corner of the Embarcadero and Brannan. The food is solid, the prices are even better, and the wait staff is as a group, nice, polite, and very attentive.

I would not go anywhere else to eat before a Giants game given a choice.

[January 8, 2008 1:20 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

I've never tried Delancey--I'll check it out.

[January 8, 2008 4:22 PM]  |  link  |  reply
DC said

I park over by Zeke's... on Opening Day back in 2000 it was an awesome dive bar. Being near the park has helped. They have tons of TVs and decent booze prices.

[January 8, 2008 9:37 PM]  |  link  |  reply
ELM said

>They have tons of TVs

That, my good sir or madam, is a bug, not a feature. And the food is terrible.