Don't worry, it's not a trick.
If you’re not enjoying the suburban tourist gang rape the neighborhood is experiencing right now, maybe head down to the 24th street BART station and enjoy some free donuts. Compliments of somebody.
Archive for the ‘Om Nom Nom’ Category
Cinco De Mayo Street Donuts
May 5, 2011The Great Straw Debate
April 12, 2011As some of you may have noticed, the St. Francis Fountain have changed their straws. Gone are the halcyon days of the neighborhood favorite paper barbershop straws. Instead we get plastic ones in soulless blue and clear.
Old straws: melt in your mouth
New straws: do not melt in your mouth (bad)
So maybe you can actually get through a milkshake in under 3 straws (5 if you’re wet-of-lip), but who cares? What really matters in an establishment of this type is the old timey feel. When I go to The Fountain, I want an experience. I want to feel like I’m stepping into the 1950s, a whole world of nostalgia I never lived through. This whole a plastic straw thing, that just ruins the illusion. I think I’m not alone on this one.
What do you think, The Mish?
Silver Crest: great flapjacks, too many cool kids
March 29, 2011So we went to Silver Crest last Saturday. It’s one of our fave authentic breakfast spots in the city (not exactly in the Mish, but only a short walk outside of it), and what did we find? Dozens of bandwagon-jumping trendspotters. The Crest still has the makings of an incredible breakfast place but it seems to have lost some of its rad since Joe Fixie found it.
Try the liverwurst for $3.75
Double signage action.
There was a time when the authentic touches like a lack of paper menus, jukeboxes at every table, a row of busted pinball machines, and an adjunct mimosa bar were all ours to enjoy with a few other in-the-knowers. Not anymore.
The owners of this place should DJ on Thursday nights at The Attic.
Straight outta the 50s. Too bad there were so many graphic designers and part-time baristas around killing the atmosphere.
What a shame, it was almost like we were at Bouge-a-loo’s. Back to Punjab, I guess.
Breaking: Breakfast Bonanza
August 15, 2010If there is one thing we are all about, it’s breakfast. The Mish has no shortage of options and we take advantage like it’s our job.
However, this weekend we discovered that changes are afoot in the Breakfast World of the Mish. Hold on to your Topsiders – We have some serious updates, right here and right now.
1) Punjab Breakfast – FREE MIMOSAS, YA’LL! Though this place is most commonly known for serving up a mean plate of lo mein, they will hook you up with a baller all-American breakfast that will blow your Mish Mind. (Photo evidence below.) We walked in looking for matar paneer, found out it was actually a Chinese restaurant, and then got the hook up on the omelette menu. WHAT?! They open at ten a.m. and if you order off the breakfast list, mimosas are on the house.
Lobster omelette? Yes, please.
Oh, and did we mention everything comes with like, seven side dishes (plus lonely strawberry garnish?) Prices comparable to The Fountain.
2) THE FOUNTAIN – Twice the rad, half the wait!
That’s right, your favorite fashion-forward crowded-ass diner took over the lingerie store next door, opening up more seating than you shake a stick at. We haven’t figured out yet how the waiters are getting back and forth between the “main hall” and “the annex” (as a co-eater described them) but I only had time to smoke one Parliament while waiting for a table, as opposed to the usual three. NICE.
Changes are afoot. We like 'em.
Their menu also has a few new items, including a vegan version of The Nebulous Potato Thing. The mimosas aren’t free here, but the waiter ‘tudes will really help kickstart your day.
3) NENA’s (Mission and Cortland) – Don’t try to get breakfast here. Something has gone terribly awry and breakfast is only available Monday through Friday. (I know. I don’t get it either.) Their yogurt parfait sounds great. But we wouldn’t know. It was Saturday and they wouldn’t give it to us. LAME.
We hope your hang-overs find this information useful and wish all the brunch-munchers great success. Good luck out there.
Armstrong out.
OMGTheMish Investigates: Burritos
August 14, 2010La Taqueria claims to have “The Best Tacos and Burritos in the Whole World!!!” What a bold claim! We decided to have a Burrito Off. La Taqueria versus it’s next door neighbor, Elsy’s. The results may surprise you!
This innocent streetscape was the scene of our battle royale.
Or so you claim...
Alice went to Elsy’s and I went to La Taqueria to order our burritos. Super Veggie from Elsy’s and Veggie with sour cream and guac from La Taqueria. The prices leaned Elsy’s way ($4.50 vs $5.20), but both burritos took the same amount of time to be made.
Wrinkly foil or smooth?
Bonus! Elsy’s come with chips! And salsa that smells like childhood Pizza Hut dipping sauce but hits like a rubber band on the tongue. Score one for the chica.
Chips? No way Jose!
Similar size and similar mass, it took ripping the foil off to discover the delectable differences between these pill-shaped dinners.
The money shot.
The first thing to notice is the tortilla. The Elsy’s tortilla is grilled and crispy like a night on the town, while the Taqueria tortilla is smooth like a night in bed. The ingredients are quite different, too. On the left we have a drippy salsa, sour cream, guacamole, cheese and beans, where on the right we have the same but add lettuce, white rice and carrots. In the end it was no contest. A burrito without rice is like a man without a pistol, insubstantial.
So in conclusion, with over 50% of the vote, Elsy’s SUPER Veggie Burrito beats out La Taq’s Veggie Burrito Plus Extras. No contest. Viva Elsy’s Burritos!
Carnaval in the Mish! What? What!
June 7, 2010Last weekend, Alice and I were unexpectedly bombarded with cultures up the whoa. It was crazy rad. Here’s a little photolog of some of the events and scenery we peeped on Sunday morn/afternoon.
Delivery Truck Float - Comes with attached femalez.
There was a parade busting through the Mish. I’m not sure when it started, but it lasted forever. There were hella floats and mad peeps in colorful feathers shaking their booties in various rhythms.
And who knew there were so many dance-fighting troupes in San Francisco? Props to the elderly dancers and dance-fighters keeping it real.
This mullet is completely unironic.
The crowd was pretty eclectic. See haircut above. Legit.
Some pirates looking for booty. They should have hooked up with the Delivery Truck Float.
On Harrison Street, there was a potentially related street fair featuring meat, meat and meat galore. And just when Alice and I thought everyone in the Mish was totes over the whole carnivore thing! Way to keep us guessing, ‘hood!
I made sure to buy myself a few wolf shirts at one of the boutique fashion stands. There was a large stage, a medium stage and one garage with live music of the following genres: Funk, Little Kids Rapping and Screamo. Sick.
Alice loves this band. Especially the way the singer kept wrapping the mic cord around his neck. "Screamo's back? It's NOOSE to me!"
There was even some action outside the metal-detector protected boundaries of the street fair. All around the ‘hood there were many people (“hipsters?”) displaying some brightly colored and shiny cars. Party on 21st St, and everyone was invited!
This little pink car looks like a lemon.
Back on Mission Street, it was a car-free affair. I hope you already stocked up on some children’s pimp outfits – The joint is now closed.
It's a sad sad day for tiny child pimps.
After all the insanity, everyone left the Mish and lounged away in the sun at the very lovely DP.
Hey, isn't that the guy from La Corneta?
All things considered, we had a fun day in the Mish, with no stabbings or pies to the face.
How would you like your lion, sir?
April 5, 2010I spent the good part of a rainy Easter Sunday wandering around the Mish looking for some Easter treats. There were none to be found. What I DID find, however, were two grocery stores on the same block with the same name: Casa Guadalupe.
The smaller one is beside “Mision Pie” and has a #2 on its banner. (We’re assuming the bigger one down the road is #1.) In any case, it’s #1 in my books. They didn’t have any xocolate eggs. They DID have this:
Simba?
Are these lions free-range? Factory farmed lions are the WORST.
Freaky Bunnies at Al’s Cafe (Good Food!)
April 5, 2010The next time you’re on Mission Street past that corner where is starts going diagonally, check out this charming little resto run by ORIGINAL SAN FRANCISCANS. It’s called Al’s Cafe (Good Food), and it’s been around since that big earthquake in 19whateversomething. Luckily for everyone, all of the wait staff survived that brutal disaster, and they’re still serving up some good home-style cookin’ (just like ol’ Al likes it!)
Let me tell you, this Al guy knows what’s up. He also has a flair for decor:
What an egg-cellent display!
I recommend the fish: It comes with lemon, pepper and optional Miracle Whip. If you find an old lady hair in your food, don’t worry about it! It’s all just part of the charm at Al’s. Now what do you want honey? Lemon?
La Corneta and what to do on a Tuesday night
March 31, 2010I went to this colorful taco and burrito joint on Mission street last night, La Corneta. I’ve walked by during daytime and been turned off by the loud horn music (is that where the name comes from?) and the long lines. It was close to empty last night, which was sweet. The only patrons were some guys visiting from France, some dudes from L.A. and some pot-bellied jock wearing plaid shorts and a backpack.
It was a nice and quiet place to enjoy what I was told was a fish taco (two fish filets stacked on beans with two small tortillas; completely unholdable/unfoldable, but delicious).
This bro was too busy on his phone to tip.
The French guys were asking the Los Angeleans where to go out for drinks and dancing, the Los Angeleans were trying to understand their Frenglish, and they were all clueless as to where they could boogie the night away. This raises the question: what is there to do on a Tuesday Night in San Francisco if you’re from L.A. or Lyon on vacation and want to shake it up a bit?
Pi Bar and Flour+Water Getting Rusty
March 10, 2010Dear Fancy Pizza Places of the Mish,
Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you have a bit of redecorating to do. I know you guys have probably been in business for years and years and haven’t noticed the subtle changes, but your signs have developed a LOT of rust. (That tends to happen with iron in super-rainy places like the Mish.)
Maybe a new sign is in order. Say, brushed aluminum this time?
Pi Bar's ancient Greek could use some sprucing up.
Iron + Water = Rust.
Alice Armstrong
Robby Aberdeen
