Best place to go on a first date
The most famous resident of Baker Street was certainly not French — elementary, my dear Watson. Yet San Francisco’s Baker Street Bistro certainly is.
The cuisine, which could be described as pan-Gallic, features everything you’d expect of a French bistro, from escargot to rabbit to veal and lamb stew.
“We are a very nice, small restaurant, perfect for a couple,” notes Carine Fonteny, a waitress at the first-place establishment.”For a couple, or for friends, we also have a terrace outside, which is very nice, because the street is quiet.”
And, for those on a date or not, you don’t have to break the bank, because the bistro’s prix fixe menu will net you soup, an entree and a dessert for $14.50.
First:
Baker Street Bistro
2953 Baker St., San Francisco
(415) 931-1475
Second (four-way tie):
The Ferry Building Marketplace
1 Ferry Building, San Francisco
(415) 591-0950
www.ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
La Fondue
14510 Big Basin Way, Saratoga
(408) 867-3332
1751 Social Club
1751 Fulton St., San Francisco
(415) 441-1751
Best place for a Jewish date
Amazingly, the top vote-getter in this category was a generic entry,”synagogue.” No. 2 finisher in the poll was Jdate.com, which is understandable but not exactly a”place.”
So, we awarded first prize for best specific place for a Jewish date to the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco.
And why not? You can take your date to the gym or the gift shop or attend one of the near-constant Jewish-themed lectures or events held at the center. And you don’t even need a car; the No. 1 California bus will provide door-to-door service.
First:
The JCC of San Francisco
3200 California St., San Francisco
(415) 292-1200
Second (three-way tie):
Cong. Emanu-El’s Late Shabbat
2 Lake St., San Francisco
(415) 751-2535
Hadassah L’Atid
1715 Polk St., San Francisco
(415) 771-5900
1751 Social Club
1751 Fulton St., San Francisco
(415) 441-1751
Best dance club to meet singles
Billy Idol may have been dancing with himself, but most people prefer to gyrate in the company of others. And what better place to pick up a dance partner than — underground?
The Cellar,”San Francisco’s Only Subterranean Nightclub”received the most votes for Best Dance Club to Meet Singles. And, with not one but two dance floors equipped with live DJs and a full bar, you can always try the second if your act gets stale on the first.
The spacious club also has several pool tables, room for 200 — and plush velvet sofas if you opt to sit out a few numbers and get to know your new friends.
First:
The Cellar
685 Sutter St., San Francisco
415) 441-5678
Second:
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
(510) 525-5054
Best hangout
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a cross-Bay tie! The best hangout spots in the Bay Area are The Cellar in San Francisco and Ashkenaz in Berkeley.
An all-ages club, Ashkenaz bills itself as a”Music & Dance Community Center.” Founded in 1973 by David Nadel, a human rights activist (and folk dancer), the club proudly features every variety of music imaginable, from African to Zydeco. Sadly, Nadel was murdered in 1996 by a drunk he refused to allow into the club, but Ashkenaz has soldiered on in his absence.
The Cellar, which bills itself as”San Francisco’s only subterranean nightclub,” is a fine place to sip a beer or martini, play a game of pool, dance or simply lounge on the red or blue velvet couches (at least we think they’re red or blue; the lighting is romantically dim). For those with large families, the club can easily accommodate up to 200 guests.
First (tie):
Ashkenaz
1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley
(510) 525-5054
The Cellar
685 Sutter St.
(415) 441-5678
Best gay hangout
There’s no shortage of gay hangouts in the Bay Area, but the No. 1 spot according to j. readers is the counter-intuitively named Mecca.
The upscale restaurant and bar in Upper Market in San Francisco has long been regarded as a prime meeting spot for the sector of the Bay Area’s gay population that spends more on clothing than food.
If you buy the food at Mecca, that kind of budgeting may change, but you do get what you pay for. The atmosphere is hip and trendy and the wine list is deep.
First:
Mecca
2029 Market St., San Francisco
(415) 621-7000
Best dating Web site
While ever-popular JDate was the overwhelming winner as cyber-yenta, it’s noteworthy that other sites earned votes as well. Apparently the Internet truly has become the modern-day watering hole for singles, Jewish and otherwise.
Coming in a distant second is Match.com, which may be a bigger Web site but not as haimish. Still, as one reader pointed out, Match.com may actually have more Jewish traffic than JDate. Single? Curious? Go see for yourself.
Others have logged on to thejewishconnection.com, bayjews.com, frumster.com and friendster.com, all obviously very Jew-friendly sites.
First:
Second: