What was once Pagan Restaurant at 731 Clement is now Burma Tea Leaf 1, still serving Burmese food. Unclear whether this is just a re-naming of the restaurant or new ownership. One reviewer on Chowhound had this to say about their meal:

We had Tea Leaf Salad, Prawn Curry and Sautéed Pea Sprouts. The Tea Leaf salad was pleasant. It had a fair amount of iceberg lettuce, which made it much sweeter than the versions I’ve had at Burma Superstar and Little Yangon. Prawns were served in a mild yellow curry, livened up with jalapeno slices and a couple of whole birds-eye chilies. The prawns themselves had good texture and flavor. And the Pea Sprouts were delicious, delicately cooked, and flavored a bit differently than in Chinese cooking…

In the grand opening category we have LOL Cafe at 6050 Geary on the corner of 25th Avenue. They serve sandwiches (Including vegetarian), espresso drinks and smoothies, along with free WiFi for those of you looking to get a little work done at the same time. Plus three “Open!” signs in case you don’t get the message.

And if you’re like my mom, I’ll explain that “LOL” stands for “laughing out loud” – it’s a commonly used acronym when people are texting on their phones or instant messaging. Though Yelp reviewers don’t seem to be jumping for joy over the new cafe.

Have you tried either of these new spots? Leave a comment to let us know.

And just today, EaterSF reports that Mazu on Geary near 2nd Avenue is closing. “Their windows were papered up and the license signage said it was suspended ‘indefinitely.’ Looks like they’re closing.”

Sarah B.

Several people have written in today asking why the Video Cafe, a Richmond District institution for the last 25 years, is now closed and cleaned out.

From what I’ve been told, the cafe was having financial problems for the last year. Business was slow and they were under the gun to come up to code for the American Disabilities Act (ADA) in areas like the restrooms, the front door and front sidewalk.

The cafe’s proprietor is also the building owner. She bought the building about 5 years ago after renting for twenty. As a result, the costs to meet ADA guidelines would have come from the cafe’s coffers, which were probably not very big to begin with.

I contacted a friend who was a longtime customer of the cafe, affectionately known to regulars as “Big Heart”. For over 15 years, he met friends every morning for coffee and breakfast at the cafe.

He told me that the atmosphere in the cafe has been rather gloomy the last few months, as staff and the owner anticipated having to close.

I do not have any information about what will happen to the corner retail space. If I hear anything more, I’ll be sure to let you know.

It’s very sad to see this cafe close. As one reader put it, “The Richmond loves its Video Cafe” so I am sure there are many who will be saddened by this news. It was one of those quirky, anachronistic spots that seemed to be caught in an endearing time warp. Plus the combo cafe and video rental counter was uniquely…different.

RIP Video Cafe – you will be missed.

Sarah B.

Internet deal site Mobile Spinach teamed up with local blog Munidiaries last week to offer “Muni Mobile Spinach”, a variety of discount offers at businesses along popular MUNI lines like the 1 California and the 38 Geary.

Several of the deals, which offer 50% off, are right here in the Richmond District at restaurants like Burma Superstar, Mandalay, Lou’s Cafe, Royal Ground Coffee, Kabuto Sushi, and the always popular House of Bagels.

Similar to Groupon, the offers require advance payment which can then be applied toward a future purchase. For example, buy a voucher for $20 at Burma Superstar and it’s worth $40 when you redeem it at the restaurant.

It’s a little challenging to actually purchase the offers – you need to do it from your smartphone (iPhone, iPad, Android or BlackBerry Torch) or if you’re on a desktop computer, you need to be using a Google Chrome or Apple Safari browser.

If you’re on one of the above platforms, click the offer below to purchase it from Mobile Spinach. Best of all, the Mobile Spinach discounts don’t expire, so there’s no rush to use them. And you can show them the offer on your smartphone when it’s time to redeem it.

Sarah B.

          

          

          

I know, I know, it’s November… But the Richmond District YMCA is still holding their “Oktoberfest in November” event this Sunday from 1pm until 6pm.

Designed for the whole family, Oktoberfest will take place under tents in the YMCA parking lot at 360 18th Avenue. Enjoy traditional German/Austrian food, Oktoberfest beer, gingerbread cookies, salted pretzels; kids games, dancing, sing-a-longs and more.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors & kids age 4-14, and include food, drink, dessert, and a song sheet. Children age 3 and under drink for free – just kidding! But they do get in free.

Leiderhosen are optional.

For more information, contact Marian at 666-9603 or mroth-cramer@ymcasf.org.

Sarah B.

Remember the Pho Garden Challenge? It’s the contest at Clement Street’s Pho Garden Restaurant where the object is to get through what amounts to three bowls worth of Pho in an hour. They bring a MASSIVE bowl to your table filled with two pounds of noodles and two pounds of meat.

Flickr member Gho posted the photo below of his buddy who successfully completed the challenge, earning himself a free meal in the process (and, I imagine, a big ol’ bellyache). Really, the look on his face says it all.

Sarah B.

A few food and beverage related items from this past week…

Richmond District restaurants rate with Michelin
Congratulations to Aziza (5800 Geary) who maintained their single star rating in the 2011 MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country. Michelin’s maximum star rating is 3, and characterizes 1 star as “a very good restaurant in its category”.

Michelin also released a new list of Bib Gourmand picks, aka good eating on a budget. Congratulations are in order for three Clement Street restaurants that each represent different corners of the world – Chapeau! (French), Burma Superstar (Burmese) and Troya (Turkish and Mediterranean).

Irish coffee & steak dinners at the Hockey Haven
The SF Examiner had a brief Q&A with the bartender at Balboa Street’s Hockey Haven, a neighborhood sports bar across from the movie theater. Erin Massey has bartended at the “Ho-Ha” for 9 years where she says she sometimes feels more like a liquid therapist to the tight-knit community that frequents the only bar in the outer blocks of Balboa.

Massey gives high marks to the Haven’s Irish Coffee (“one of the best in town”), made with coffee from Simple Pleasures Cafe up the block. The bar also serves steak dinners on Monday nights during football season. “Jeff ‘The Chef,’ who is a cook at the Cliff House, has been doing it for 12 years. Recently we served our 10,000th steak.” Read the full article

Lou’s Cafe breakfast sandwich “fit for a world-champion appetite”
Lou’s Cafe opened up earlier this year at 5017 Geary near 15th Avenue and they have a reputation for tasty sandwiches and good coffee. SFWeekly spotlighted the cafe’s $4.49 breakfast sandwich with “ham, bacon (or both), scrambled eggs, American cheese, and hash browns, all on ciabatta” bread. The cafe opens at 8am but the sandwich is available all day.

Izakaya Ju-Ku coming to 1801 Clement
Eater SF reports that what was once Ristorante Tiziano will soon be occupied by Izakaya Ju-Ku. “An Eater tipster tells us friends and family soft-opening-like activity was happening earlier this week, so the formal opening should happen any day now.” No word on the cuisine or menu items yet. Keep an eye on it for us and if you see it open, let us know!

Sarah B.

Today’s Chronicle has a writeup in their “Bargain Bite” column about China First at 336 Clement.

Affordable seafood can be hard to find in San Francisco, so when I read that “fresh seafood is the go-to and most entrees top out at $7″ at China First, my stomach began growling.

I love love love dungeness crab which the reviewer saw plucked from a tank, and then returned “steaming and in pieces, showered with garlic, ginger, scallions and loads of salt.”

A whole crab with ginger and green onion goes for $20, which is the most expensive entree on the menu (and could easily feed two according to the article).

China First boasts a large menu whose first page is filled with everyday, all-day specials for $3.85, including black bean sauce spareribs, salted pepper squid and garlic with bok choy.

Read the full review at sfgate.com

China First is located at 336 Clement and is open daily from 11am until 11pm. Reservations are accepted (387-8370).

Have you eaten at China First? Leave your review in the comments.

Sarah B.

If your DVR is 2 parts cooking shows and 3 parts Mythbusters, then Wednesday night’s free event at the Bazaar Cafe is right up your alley.

As part of their continuing “How-To Night” series, the cafe welcomes Jeff Potter, the author of Cooking for Geeks, a compendium of food science, interviews, and experiments, with recipes to tie it all together. One reviewer described it as “…the best science-meets-the-kitchen book to come out. Ever.”

Jeff will be at the Bazaar to share his scientific cooking secrets, such as how to make homemade ice cream in 30 seconds (liquid nitrogen is involved; watch the video below!).

The free culinary science lesson begins at 7pm on Wednesday night at the Bazaar Cafe, 5927 California Street (near 22nd Avenue).

Sarah B.