Fisherman's Wharf

Well, he’s GON wild on us again 😷
Comon @4WD . We all know when you are dining at Ruth Chris or Morton's--- the chicken and ribs at Swiss Chalet are truly what you are jonesing for....

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Comon @4WD . We all know when you are dining at Ruth Chris or Morton's--- the chicken and ribs at Swiss Chalet are truly what you are jonesing for....

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Don’t know about that - but with only a 1 day gap in between - I’ll go back to an overseas steakhouse tomorrow - that sells below Salt Grass level steaks 🥩 at 3X - you know this from life by plane ✈️
 
Don’t know about that - but with only a 1 day gap in between - I’ll go back to an overseas steakhouse tomorrow - that sells below Salt Grass level steaks 🥩 at 3X - you know this from life by plane ✈️
Well maybe @OVERKILL can send you some of these chips to ring back pleasant memories of Canada's Swiss Chalet:

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Know what you won't find at Fisherman's Wharf? A fish market. Yes there's an Applebees and a Ripleys, a Hard Rock, and a now-closed Hooters-- the whole place is basically a tourist trap. The sign has a picture of a Chesapeake Bay blue crab on it and one of the restaurants specializes in Maine lobster.
 
Was there about 20 years ago and it was a nice place. Nice clam chowder joints... The place on the video thumbnail had a bench with a giant toy bear sitting on it. I don't remember what kind of establishment it was.

It was before the "poop on the SF streets" era.
 

Been there a few times. I think I had a plate of sliders the last time. But yeah - it's a strange area. It was likely really busy around major conventions, but then they have the homeless population there that might do the dine and dash. I do remember controversies years ago with Denny's over discrimination claims based on some customers being asked to pay at the time of ordering, where they made it a requirement for all franchises to equally treat all customers. I don't know if they could have made it a policy for the location for everyone to pay at the time of ordering.
 
I refrained from adding to this thread until we returned from a family vaca that had us in Napa Valley, San Fran and Central California over 10 days. We lived in Palo Alto and Mountainview for a few years from ~2003-2006 and had spent a fair amount of time in SF.

In short, SF was fine, safe where we ventured and much better than I expected. We stayed at the Mark Hopkins and walked back and forth to Fishermans Wharf, Pier 33, Washington Square and Union Square and never felt unsafe. We did see some folk that had me sticking close to the girls, but I always keep my head on a swivel in cities and this was nothing that we have not experienced in NYC, etc. That said, driving through the lower areas to get to and from the highways was a bit disturbing and sad, but again nothing beyond other major cities.

There were a few empty storefronts on the waterfront, sad to see Aliotos gone, but Pier 39 was mobbed, Alcatraz boats were full, there were tourists everywhere, many European, and the Buena Vista and Scoma's (one of my all-time favorite restaurants) were as great as you expect. We usually avoid the tourist areas, except for Scomas, but this was our daughter's first time to SF so tourists we were.

Funny, back in the hotel I was watching the news and caught some talking head saying that SF was dangerous, a mess and no longer a great city...wonder what SF he was talking about? :D
 
There is a huge homeless, drug and alcohol addiction and mental health problem here. More needs to be done; there are no easy answers.
Such sickness in a place of such wealth.

But for grace, there go I.
 
I refrained from adding to this thread until we returned from a family vaca that had us in Napa Valley, San Fran and Central California over 10 days. We lived in Palo Alto and Mountainview for a few years from ~2003-2006 and had spent a fair amount of time in SF.

In short, SF was fine, safe where we ventured and much better than I expected. We stayed at the Mark Hopkins and walked back and forth to Fishermans Wharf, Pier 33, Washington Square and Union Square and never felt unsafe. We did see some folk that had me sticking close to the girls, but I always keep my head on a swivel in cities and this was nothing that we have not experienced in NYC, etc. That said, driving through the lower areas to get to and from the highways was a bit disturbing and sad, but again nothing beyond other major cities.

There were a few empty storefronts on the waterfront, sad to see Aliotos gone, but Pier 39 was mobbed, Alcatraz boats were full, there were tourists everywhere, many European, and the Buena Vista and Scoma's (one of my all-time favorite restaurants) were as great as you expect. We usually avoid the tourist areas, except for Scomas, but this was our daughter's first time to SF so tourists we were.

Funny, back in the hotel I was watching the news and caught some talking head saying that SF was dangerous, a mess and no longer a great city...wonder what SF he was talking about? :D
Thanks for the report and glad you had a awesome trip.

Not sure your sample size is holistically helpful--- might be.

In Seattle daily older women are carjacked, sometimes killed. Going to Target, etc. This happens so frequently it is no longer news----unless something supplemental is part of the event. Last week a 80 year old woman was carjacked and killed in Seattle. The only reason it made the news, the carjacker also killed the dog. if the dog wasn't killed, the murder of the woman would not have made the news.

Take the dog out of the story and the murder of the 80 year old woman in Seattle doesn't make the news.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/...king/281-4a11c628-54da-47f3-b547-fd75f7f53530
 
Thanks for the report and glad you had a awesome trip.

Not sure your sample size is holistically helpful--- might be.

In Seattle daily older women are carjacked, sometimes killed. Going to Target, etc. This happens so frequently it is no longer news----unless something supplemental is part of the event. Last week a 80 year old woman was carjacked and killed in Seattle. The only reason it made the news, the carjacker also killed the dog. if the dog wasn't killed, the murder of the woman would not have made the news.
I'd say that it is helpful to someone who is a reasonably careful but curious, thoughtful and aware traveler considering a visit to SF while hearing slanted doom 'n gloom sound bites. Now my recent trip to Philly.....
 
Know what you won't find at Fisherman's Wharf? A fish market. Yes there's an Applebees and a Ripleys, a Hard Rock, and a now-closed Hooters-- the whole place is basically a tourist trap. The sign has a picture of a Chesapeake Bay blue crab on it and one of the restaurants specializes in Maine lobster.
You can buy fish and crabs straight off several fishing boats that are moored at the piers along Fisherman's Wharf. You can also get fresh fish and crabs off the boat in Half Moon Bay.
 
Know what you won't find at Fisherman's Wharf? A fish market. Yes there's an Applebees and a Ripleys, a Hard Rock, and a now-closed Hooters-- the whole place is basically a tourist trap. The sign has a picture of a Chesapeake Bay blue crab on it and one of the restaurants specializes in Maine lobster.
Was last there 2014 for a wedding. Seemed different. My grandfather lived in SF and I remember as a kid he would send me postcards with those guys having the handlebar mustaches. Maybe Cresci bros Mario and Luigi--I don't believe they were there in 2014.
 
I'd say that it is helpful to someone who is a reasonably careful but curious, thoughtful and aware traveler considering a visit to SF while hearing slanted doom 'n gloom sound bites. Now my recent trip to Philly.....
Oh man, how did you like the driving in Phila.? I do it 4/5 days a week. I would think the no licenese no reggie no insurance no inspection 5% tints no problem would be odd at first.
 
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