San Francisco in the 1970s was a global hub of culture. . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, This photo, which was taken around 1910, showshis grandfather at a Sperry Flour meeting inthe interior of the Old Poodle Dog Cafe, was sent courtesy of John Stutz, President of the Sacramento River Delta Historical Society. Looking for san francisco in 1970s? In 1955, Red's was bought by brothers Tom and Mike McGarvey. Tea-less tea rooms Carhops in fact and fiction Finds of the day: two taverns Dining with a disability The history of the restaurant of the future The food gap All the salad you can eat Find of the day, almost Famous in its day: The Bakery Training department store waitresses Chocolate on the menu Restaurant-ing with the Klan Diet plates Christian restaurant-ing Taste of a decade: 1980s restaurants Higbees Silver Grille Bulgarian restaurants Dining with Diamond Jim Restaurant wear 2016, a recap Holiday banquets for the newsies Multitasking eateries Famous in its day: the Blue Parrot Tea Room A hair in the soup When presidents eat out Spooky restaurants The mysterious Singing Kettle Famous in its day: Aunt Fannys Cabin Faces on the wall Dining for a cause Come as you are The Gables Find of the day: Ifflands Hofbrau-Haus Find of the day: Hancock Tavern menu Cooking with gas Ladies restrooms All you can eat Taste of a decade: 1880s restaurants Anatomy of a corporate restaurant executive Surf n turf Odd restaurant buildings: ducks Dining with the Grahamites Deep fried When coffee was king A fantasy drive-in Farm to table Between courses: masticating with Horace Restaurant-ing with Mildred Pierce Greeting the New Year On the 7th day they feasted Find of the day: Wayside Food Shop Cooking up Thanksgiving Automation, part II: the disappearing kitchen Dining alone Coppas famous walls Image gallery: insulting waitresses Famous in its day: Partridges Find of the day: Mrs. Ks Toll House Tavern Automation, part I: the disappearing server Find of the day: Moodys Diner cookbook To go Pepper mills Little things: butter pats The dining room light and dark Dining at sea Reservations 100 years of quotations Restaurant-ing with Soviet humorists Heroism at lunch Caper sauce at Taylors Shared meals High-volume restaurants: Crook & Duff (etc.) The following year, the company was sold to an investor in Lincoln, Nebraska, who soon moved headquarters there. In 1851 he opened his principal restaurant on Long Wharf, calling it Winns Fountain Head. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. (My second choice in the at-the-Beach category is Roberts-at-the-Beach, down the road from Taits.). Very few vegetarian restaurants in San Francisco were around until Carlos Santana's wife, Deborah Santana, and her sister Kitsaun, opened Dipti . There were, cable cars, neon lights lined up the buildings that glow at night, theaters on every block, and the food was served on the streets, crabs, and lobsters were also served on the streets. Three Italians originally opened Tosca in November 1919. The cafs first chef came from The Poodle Dog, while the dining room manager had earned his exalted reputation at Taits and the St. Francis Hotel. These amazing photos will take you back to the 1970s San Francisco. The Polk street store also had a confectaurant, as its combination soda fountain + candy counter + bakeshop + restaurant was known. while distributing religious tracts. For either a power lunch or a romantic night out (make sure to sidle up to the fireplace for the full effect), pair Greek classics like dolmathes and moussaka with a glass of crisp white wine. Mannings Coffee Cafe: This popular diner from the middle of the 20th century had fabulous signage and offered a classic breakfast diner scene that is now lacking in San Francisco. Crepes were regarded as an exotic luxury dish that, by some miracle, was affordable to the average consumer, sometimes costing as little as 60 or 75 cents apiece around 1970. The grill opened in 1979 drawing inspiration from more established SF classics like Tadich. Anything with crab, oysters on the half shell, Boston clam chowder, smoked salmon, smoked trout, or fresh seafood to take home. The artists and illustrators who contributed drawings included some who would become prominent, such as Maynard Dixon, Xavier Martinez, and Gelett Burgess. Perhaps no longer world famous, it was undoubtedly remembered by Californians who recalled when Blums of San Francisco was a proud name. Its since evolved into a fairly standard taqueria, albeit one that claims that it invented the Super Burrito, among other landmarks. The owners nearly shuttered the business in 2020, citing financial struggles related to the pandemic, but in March 2021 confirmed the restaurant would remain open at least for now. Also in 1949 a Blums Confectaurant opened in San Franciscos Fairmont Hotel [shown above]. First, there are the true classics. Though San Francisco is a city focused on the next big new thing, it's also a place that clings tight to its history, packing its longest-standing restaurants even as buzzier, hotter places come and go. She regularly assists with behind-the-scenes breaking news coverage, oversees article packaging, posts to social media and co-manages the SFGATE Instagram and Snapchat accounts. It may never get built, Hit bean company Rancho Gordo embroiled in discrimination lawsuit, San Francisco citizens once traveled by gondola. Open since 1947, Tommys continues to be a destination for meaty meals like carved-to-order hot pastrami sandwiches, an impressive selection of imported beers, and a lively late-night dining scene. Itis especially known for affordable food and an impressive selection of beers. Perched above a cliff to the north of Ocean Beach and reinvented frequently, this restaurant is the lone survivor of the once-great trifecta of Sutro Baths, Cliff House and Playland-at-the-Beach. What are some of San Francisco's truly classic restaurants? Taste of a decade: restaurants, 1810-1820 Between courses: nutburgers & orangeade Subtle savories at Nucleus Nuance Between courses: keep out of restaurants The Automat, an East Coast oasis Good eaters: James Beard Basic fare: waffles Anatomy of a restaurant family: the Downings Taste of a decade: 1950s restaurants Basic fare: pizza Building a tea room empire A black man walked into a restaurant and Who hasnt heard of Maxims in Paris? This is a carousel. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Although few Americans had ever eaten Crepes Suzette, its likely that the fame of this prized dish helped pave the way for the creperie craze, with restaurants primarily featuring crepes. Outcasts and the socially marginalized were attracted by a greater tolerance and acceptance of diverse cultures in the city. The chandeliers and some of the murals were restored, possibly during the late sixties when the building was occupied by the Charles Restaurant. It was known worldwide for hippies and radicals. This inspired the SFGATE staff to determine what establishments we think are worthy of being called "the most San Francisco.". Youll never go wrong with a bowl of clam chowder and a fishwich. She occasionally likes to find unique insider stories to write about the Bay Area. It soon became a popular place for banquets, one of which is depicted in the 1915 postcard shown above. For this list, some ground rules were established: Each spot must be a full restaurant (no bars or one-item spots like ice cream places or coffee shops), each must have opened before 2000, and each must offer something special (a significant bit of history, a spectacular view, or a standout dish, for example). By the late 1980s it had all but disappeared. Poodle Dog: Not only was the French food at this five-story 1800s restaurant hailed as the best in the city; there were dining rooms with beds, so stuffed customers could sleep off their wine-drenched meal. It burned in 1940. This photo, which was taken around 1910, shows, his grandfather at a Sperry Flour meeting in, the interior of the Old Poodle Dog Cafe, was sent courtesy of John Stutz, President of the Sacramento, The Old Poodle Dog Hotel and Restaurant, at its new location, 824 Eddy Street. So, if you dont mind that these days its owned by Gov. Nice shot. He covers Bay Area culture, co-hosts the Total SF podcast and writes the archive-based Our SF local history column. It changed owners (within the same family) but continues to offer Southeast Asian specialties including mango chicken, Burmese curry beef, and fish chowder. Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. Five still-operating restaurants with deep roots: Tadich Grill (1849): When the Tadich Grill at 240 California St. moved from its first location, the original bar came along for the ride. (There was a Mannings at Fifth and Market streets in the 1950s and 1960s, a block from The Chronicle building.) Despite the abundance of eating places in the city, it rose to prominence rapidly due to its respectability, cleanliness, and relatively low prices. A friend visiting San Francisco from Seattle recently had a request that initially sounded simple. Taits-at-the-Beach: This lively upscale roadhouse on the Great Highway (where Vicente Street meets the water) was short-lived, but apparently fantastic. 25 Iconic Dishes and Drinks of San Francisco. Its presented as a triumphal success, when really its a boom and bust story sadly common in the restaurant business. San Francisco, 1972 Alfonso Cevola/Flickr People have always been passionate about wineand it goes great with a protest. Despite economic woes (recession and inflation), the energy crisis, urban decline, crime, and escalating restaurant prices, restaurant-going continued to rise. When Coppa moved to Pine Street, a new row of cats appeared, but now marching in the opposite direction. They gave the restaurant its nickname, The Black Cat, which was also used at its new post-fire location. Long Wharf (aka Commercial Street) was hardly a fine location. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. CREATIVE. San Francisco is relatively new. Reading the tea leaves Is ethnic food a slur? In 1972 he closed the Polk Street Blums, leading columnist Herb Caen to coin the term glum Blummer. In a few more years there would be no Blums left in San Francisco. Pictured: Tom Sancimino (left), Steve Sancimino and Darin Samuel work the counter. We didn't include this one in this "classics" slideshow when we first ran it, but quite a few readers reminded us it's one that we couldn't omit. Why Pistons are praising Warriors' Last chance to see: Bay Bridge lights turn off on Sunday, Map shows stunning improvement in California drought, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. Levy brought innovations, switching to machine production of candy in 1949 and, a few years later, introducing a successful 10-cent candy bar for sale in vending machines. At Bush and Belden in the Financial District this is another one of the city's oldest restaurants. Wonder how many are still on the road? The city had only 500 people in 1847, jumping to 410K in 1906 thanks to the ol' Gold Rush. The first Magic Pan, a tiny place on Fillmore Street, was opened in 1965 by Paulette and Laszlo Fono, who came to this country in 1956 after the failed anti-Communist uprising in their native Hungary. 1906, view east. Two of Blancos managers had previously been at Delmonicos restaurant in San Francisco, another victim of the fire. Fior d'Italia, 2237 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA, USA, +1 415 986 1886 16th Street at Church, 1973 Eric Fischer/Flickr We've heard it's better to go for drinks and the view than to dine. Not only is Greens a California classic, its a big and beautiful space, with views of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. This photo is from the early 1980s. The retro restaurants menu includes a cocktail list from Original Joes circa 1950 and an expansive menu categorized as old-school Cal-Ital food.. Restaurant history quiz (In)famous in its day: the Nixons chain The checkered life of a chef Catering to the rich and famous Famous in its day: London Chop House Who invented Caesar salad? The New York Blums stayed in business only about six years, and two Oregon units opened in 1967 and 1968 fared even worse. Like Cherries Jubilee, Crepes Suzette usually only appeared on high-priced menus, such as the Hotel Astor [1908 quotation]. The restaurant blithely advertised in 1919, Good-bye to good old wines. For just 11 years from 1920 to 1931, it was the coolest place in the city a comfortable restaurant in the former home of a socialite. The 1970s San Francisco was beautiful, flamboyant, and alive. Theres no denying Balboa Cafes place in San Francisco history: in its more than 100 years in business this Cow Hollow restaurant and bar has been the venue for countless first dates, celebrations, and, most recently, rowdy nights out for youthful Marina residents. Would he prefer a hard-to-get-into, farm-to-table restaurant filled with flannel shirts? In 1921 its manager was arrested for not keeping a register of transient guests at Blancos Annex, the hotel next door which the restaurant had constructed in 1908 and opened the next year. Revolving restaurants II: the Merry-Go-Round Basic fare: shrimp We never close Tablecloths checkered past Famous in its day: Tip Top Inn Find of the day: J.B.G.s French restaurant Dont play with the candles Interview: whos cooking? Please like & follow for more interesting content. Photos by Momo Chang. But good eats will remain. But it was becoming increasingly difficult to operate a high-living restaurant in the style Blancos was accustomed to. Finde more about San Francisco In 1970S at thesalehunt.com In 1922 Coppa opened yet another restaurant, at 120 Spring Street, offering old-time dinners, possibly so-called because they were paired with illicit wine. At a time when America was seen as the world leader in modern ways of living including industrially efficient food production Europe was imagined as a romantically quaint Old World where traditional ways were preserved and many things were still handmade. It seems that a new trendy restaurant pops up on almost a daily basis. Tweet about your disagreement with this list or just send a cute GIF to Jessica Mullins on Twitter@mullin_around. The grandiose building boasted a 200-foot tower topped by an observation deck. 5 classic San Francisco restaurants we wish were still around, Our S.F.