Sam's Grill and Seafood Restaurant; 374 Bush Street (Kearny);421-0594; Monday-Friday, 9-9; Closed Sat/Sun. Samsgrill.citysearch.com;smsgrll@pacbell.net. The restaurant was established in 1867 and thankfully new owner, Phil Lyons has not tinkered with the basics: cozy, pleasant booths with curtains and fish!fish!fish!
This seafood stalwart is as dependable as the sunrise and is where movers and shakers, financial moguls drop anchor. Dialed-in tourists also head here for fish the way your grandfathers/grandmothers remember it.
This restaurant is old-school to the core with San Francisco atmosphere that's so authentic, you have to expect Sam Spade (Dashiell Hammett) to drop by. Expect to meet Frank, a snarky seasoned geezer waiter who probably knew Jonah and the whale, and genteel gracious greetings by the host. If you're a nostalgist, you'll love the memorabilia.
I arrived on a Friday night 4/27/07 with friend Peter. We were hankering for soup, salad, and a quiet place to talk! Our waiter indicated that the split pea soup was the "best" in SF. He actually made it. "And if you like it, I'll take you home for a dip in the swimming pool," he joked. Splish-splash! What a funghi was our balding quipster of a waiter.
Peter and I settled into the booth, and briefly discussed the movie we had seen/walked out on: A Self-Made Hero (1996). Directed by Jacques Audiad. About a dreamer of minimal skills who reinvents himself as a resistance hero near the end of World War II. A boring slog, we both agreed; an unfunny "satire". We perused the menu of Sam's which originated in what was called the California Market in 1867.
Michael Bolan Moraghan, a native of Ireland, began operating an oyster saloon that year at 68 California Market. The Market was an open-air meat, fish and produce emporium. The oyster saloon became famous. I've tasted Sam's scrumptious seafood many times, where fish are still wiggling and the gruff but friendly grey-haired waiters with "Senior Appeal" don't care if you are a pawn or a king. Just don't be a pauper, and don't grip about handing over hard-earned clams.
If you're craving Seafood or New York steak, here's what I recommend:
Asparagus with mustard sauce: 5
Split pea soup: Bowl 4; cup 3 (which waiter made earlier in the day); served with sour dough bread.
Sam's Special Seafood Salad (with crab): very fresh, large triangular, pyramid of a salad. Share this with your dining companion. 20.50
Linguini with Calamari: 13.00
Poached Alaskan King Salmon with Egg Sauce: 20
Sauteed Shellfish (Scallops, prawns, crab legs): 23.50
Charcoal Broiled Chicken 12
New York Steak 27. (One of the best steaks you'll find in San Francisco).
Spinach: 4
Apple pie: 5.
Joke for the day: What has 300 legs and 7 teeth?
A: Front row at a Willie Nelson Concert
Joke for yuppies: How can you tell when a female yuppie achieves orgasm?
A: She drops her briefcase!
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