As if the date September 11th could slip your mind, tonight is the fateful and long-awaited Board of Supervisors hearing in which the fate of the much-protested Starbucks in the Richmond hangs in the balance.

To recap the main points: The venerable citizens of the Richmond filed an appeal on July 11th to block the construction/opening of a Starbucks branch on Geary Boulevard between 4th Avenue and 5th Avenue. On August 7th, the protesters--with nearly 3000 signatures in hand--crashed the Board of Supes meeting; the Board then decided to postpone a decision ("a continuance of the vote") until tonight, September 11th.

Oh, and somewhere along the way, a protest blog was formed, and the most recent post (last Friday) indicates that the number of signed petitions has eclipsed the 5K mark (many of whose signers will be present tonight at City Hall).

It's going to be a fun night!

Bad maps, angry merchants and 5k worth of signatures [Stop Starbucks Blog]

When it comes to the Richmond Starbucks saga, the closer we get to the fateful Board of Supervisors meeting on September 11th, the more and more juicy little tidbits come out. For instance, an article in yesterday's Examiner unearthed a city ordinance passed last November. The ordinance, passed by voters, essentially made it much more difficult for chain stores to open in San Francisco; for example, new chain-store proposals are now required to hold public hearings at the Board of Supes. If the last year is any indication, the ordinance has been succeeding in curbing chain stores:

Since San Francisco voters passed the ordinance ... there have been less than a dozen permits pulled for name-brand businesses.

Lawrence Badiner, zoning administrator for The City’s Planning Department, said that although it’s speculation, his gut feeling is that fewer chain operators are attempting to open stores because of the ordinance.

Countdown to the hearing: five days.

Richmond Starbucks fight tests ordinance [Examiner]
Earlier: San Francisco's Anti-Starbucks History [MenuBlog]

If you're like us, when you heard that a small contingent of residents/business owners in the Richmond was trying to block a Starbucks franchise from opening on Geary between 4th & 5th Avenues, you didn't give the underdogs much of a shot at success against the big business.

Well, maybe the Richmond has a chance after all:

In the summer of 2003, the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association also successfully kept STARBUCKs from moving into their community. The following year the late Tess Manalo-Ventresca and Sunset Neighbors in Action organized a successful grassroots campaign to keep STARBUCKS out of their neighborhood as well. Later that year, SF's Japantown activists successfully blocked a Starbucks they say would have harmed many of their small businesses as well.

Chinese People Kick STARBUCKS Out of the Forbidden City... [Stop Starbucks Blog]
Earlier: Coffee Imperialism: Your "Stop Starbucks" Update [MenuBlog]

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Restaurants in the Sunset and the Richmond.

• Chapeau, 1408 Clement St (Btwn 15th & 16th Ave), 415-750-9787

• Gaspare's, 5546 Geary Blvd (Btwn 19th & 20th Ave), 415-387-5025

• Great India Restaurant, 6127 Geary Blvd (Btwn 25th & 26th Ave), 415-751-4433

• Park Gyros, 1201 9th Ave (At Lincoln Way), 415-731-0400

• Sunrise Deli, 2115 Irving St (At 22nd Ave), 415-664-8210

• Yum Yum Fish, 2181 Irving St (At 23rd Ave), 415-566-6433

Philippe Gardelle's tiny Richmond French spot Chapeau got a Bauer Update this week, and it was a glowing one. In renewing its 2.5 stars, Bauer--who also tips his cap to user-generated websites in the review--has nothing but nice things to say about the man behind Chapeau:

He's created a menu that is unwaveringly French - just look at the rich glossy sauces that congeal on the plate - but often with some interesting California touches. Appetizers and main courses are individually priced, but most people select from the prix-fixe menus that feature an appetizer, main course and dessert for $38, or four courses for $45. And if you're an early diner, there's a weeknight menu for $25.50 between 5 and 6 p.m.

Elsewhere in the week's reviews ...

Continue reading "Digesting The Reviews: Chapeau Pleases, Keeps Its Stars" »

As you're probably aware, the stars will be aligned at AT&T Park tonight. If you're heading out for dinner tonight, you probably fall into one of two camps: those who want to soak up the festivities and those who want to avoid the crowds.

Now, just about every bar and restaurant in the China Basin area is sure to have plenty of specials, whether it be $2 beers at Mars Bar or the happiest hour at Tres Agaves, but some of you may want to get out of dodge tonight. And geographically speaking, nothing is farther away from AT&T Park than the Richmond.

You can stop by Sutro's at the Cliff House to sample some of the 17 organic or biodynamic wines offered on their new wine list. If you want, you can continue on a scenic restaurant tour to the Chalets. Tuesdays are Taco Night at Park Chalet; $2.50 tacos, $2.50 beers, 2-for-1 margaritas and live music abound. For a mellow vibe, head upstairs to Beach Chalet and enjoy their Tuesday Jazz Jam Session, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm.

Looking a bit further into July, we've got two quick tidbits to share: Jack Falstaff will offer "a weekly four-course Farmer’s Market Finds prefix menu served family-style every Saturday evening," beginning on July 21st for $55.

The 8th Annual Farmer's Market Dinner (five courses, $65/person) at Millennium is Wednesday July 25. Check their website for more details, including reservation information.

A recent thread on Chowhound has been debating the most "chowish" neighborhoods in San Francisco. The original poster writes, "In an ideal world, I would eat chinese, japanese, mexican, lebanese and vietnamese in a steady rotation ... where to start my search?" The broad question has now spurred over 50 responses, so here's a quick breakdown of the suggested destinations, with some MenuPages input.

Possibility #1: Inner Richmond
• 'Hounds say: "Inner Clement Street pretty much has that mix. No lebanese that I know of, though. Just make sure you buy a monthly bus pass, SF is a good transit city and there are good eats all over town."
• MP says: The Inner Richmond has got most Asian cuisines covered (Burma Superstar, Spices, King of Thai Noodle House), but it's sorely lacking in the taqueria department, and that's quite the shortcoming in a city like San Francisco.
• Added bonus: Russian restaurants: Cinderella Restaurant and Katia's.

Possibility #2: The Mission
• 'Hounds say: "Mission District is Chowhound heaven. You can find Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Vietnamese within a couple of blocks of the 16th St. BART station, along with restaurants of a dozen or more other ethnicities."
• MP says: The Mission is probably the cheap eats haven of the entire Bay. The selection of quality Chinese food may be a bit sparse, but just about everything else is there in spades, from the nation's best Mexican to "hidden" gems like Delfina and Range.
• Added bonus: The nightlife.

Possibility #3: Nob Hill
• 'Hounds say: "I live in Nob Hill, and there isn't much ethnic food here. However, I am very close to Chinatown (cheap veggies and spices!), and I have good nice restaurants within walking distance and pretty good markets (LeBeau, Leonard's). You'll find, too, that you'll revise your sense of what "walking distance" is. I have enjoyed being able to walk to the Whole Foods, Ferry Market, or the Trader Joe's in North Beach and take the cable car home (get a Muni Pass--$45/month for the bus, streetcar, muni rail, and cable car) .. So, I would add my voice to the others--live near transportation."
• MP says: Now this is thinking outside the box. If you can afford to live in Nob Hill, you have to take that opportunity. Yes, cheap eats are practically non-existent, but there is a flurry of fancy restaurants for the taking. With that said though, the above Chowhound has got it right--living in the middle of everything is the way to go. Nob Hill is sandwiched by the Tenderloin, Chinatown and the Western Addition, all of which have wonderful, chowish destinations. Furthermore, it's just a streetcar ride away from both the downtown hub and the Richmond strip.

Best CH 'hood in SF. Might be moving... [Chowhound]

Here at MenuPages, we are constantly updating our vast menu database. Every morning, we'll highlight five or so menu updates to bring you the latest in San Francisco culinary upheaval.

Today's updates: Asian favorites in the Richmond.

• AI Sushi, 5338 Geary Blvd (Btwn 17th & 18th Ave), 415-387-3400

• Mandalay, 4348 California St (At 6th Ave), 415-386-3895

• Burma Superstar, 309 Clement St (Btwn 4th & 5th Ave), 415-387-2147

• Melisa's Chinese Cuisine, 450 Balboa St (At 6th Ave), 415-387-1680

• Patpong, 2415 Clement St (Btwn 25th & 26th Ave), 415-379-9726

• And so it begins. The Presidio Social Club opened to some fanfare earlier this month (our review post is coming up). The PSC, as it's been dubbed by "those in the know" (um, us?), serves up traditional American plates and some with a modern Californian flair. The fusion between modern and traditional is not unlike the City itself. In fact, the PSC, sitting in the midst of the Presidio, really does some like a San Francisco institution already. Here's hoping it survives the opening jitters.

• One of our favorite cuisines just got another restaurant. Karamanduka, a new Peruvian restaurant in the Richmond, represents the South American staples quite well. Tthe cool thing about Karamanduka is the story behind the restaurant's inception and naming. It's a good little read. We recommend.

• Jovino, a charming little wine bar/coffehouse amalgam, opened in Cow Hollow. Finally, just what the Union/Fillmore area needs: another place to drink!