Okay, Thanks...now I probably won't check it out.

Thanks. I'll have to check it out.

Anyone try Ahn's Quarter Pound Burger on Grand near the Lake? Yelp gives it 4 stars with close to 200 reviews. Says old school, hole in the wall. I've ridden by there a million times but never figured to stop but I'm curious...and it has private parking out front.

Most seafood comes from the airport, except when it comes by truck. Nearly all crab is trucked in to NorCal from WA/OR, not by plane. Big difference trucking in a ton of dungeness crab with water from Oregon or WA to CA than flying a ton to D.C. from OR/WA via plane. Big difference.

So are East Coasters willing to pay extra for dungeness when there's a long tradition of blue crab...you know because flying it in will cost considerably more, esp when comparing it to local crab? Also can't see flying in petrale sole or sand dabs.

Anything not West Coast or local probably isn't a wise order at Tadich any way. As has been stated here, you can get a crappy meal at Tadich if you order wrong...and much of that is going with seafood that's not West Coast/local.

It is hard to make sense of flying seafood across the country, especially if there's very good seafood locally. Even replicating the old school style and fixtures won't be easy. Seems like that's more than half the appeal.

Try Salama Halal Meat in the Tenderloin.

That's an understatement. An 80 lb salmon is a monster.

To which I reply, I'm sure that measly $10k-$30k or $135k would have helped any restaurant venture you may have been involved with...unless you have no common sense. Surely you understand how quickly money can go and how it can hurt a business. Or maybe you don't? Again, whatever.

Whatever, again bottomline they paid. I mean seriously did you read the Amber India example? They moved funds around, dodged and got tagged. Of course they're going to settle. I imagine the others had bigger issues so yes, they'd want to settle as well.

Citing lawyer costs is a red herring. The City clearly had enough leverage. They also didn't want more bad PR.

Yes the restaurants proved not to be idiots by settling but I imagine they also know they got a deal because the City wanted to settle, gave them 50% off, etc.

I actually think the City attorney did a good job all things considered - served notice, crafted a deal, everyone gets off relatively unhurt, no one loses face.

BTW, I agree the next round is where the real blood letting might begin. First group got the velvet glove because of the PR mess but the next group might get the hammer. For pure entertainment value I hope one of those restaurants goes with a $600 p/hr lawyer ($400 is cheap).

Whatever, 19 restaurants "settled" with the City and paid back $845k to employee healthcare. That's not chump change. The facts remains the same - they shorted employees that much and were forced or leveraged to make amends. Seems pretty much like a "no contest" plea, no admission of guilt but it required action and payment...hardly a shining example of "innocence" or lack of liability.

Bottomline: these places would not be dropping a collective $845k if they didn't do anything and/or were in the right.

That seems reasonable and agree consumer fraud would have greater leverage but accounting irregularities showed something wasn't kosher. Something enough to hold these businesses accountable.

Hopefully everyone is happy.

+1 La Bamba griddles their carnitas and frankly it's like pork crack. I've eaten the al pastor at Cancun in SF for years and it's good.

My guess on what happened is this:

a) The City admits the law was unclear, amends it, but after examining some restaurant accounting...

b) It became clear that a few restaurants were dodging beyond the unclear and collecting surcharges but not paying out, bad accounting, slipping towards the illegal.

c) The City cuts a deal with everyone because what's the point otherwise? Yes they want to kill the bad press but they also want to enforce the law.

d) The Amber India situation (quoted in post above) is an example of "b". They paid into the health fund but also used those funds in "non health related ways", minor book cooking, fund shifting...hence the fine of $10k.

e) The larger fines suggests more serious accounting problems or slipping towards a serious dodge.

f) While not clear consumer fraud there's like enough accounting improprieties to levy other fines or legal action, hence the agreement to settle. Businesses don't settle on $10k, $30k or $80k on nothing. There's leverage involved.

g) All sides make nice..City Attorney wants media mess to go away, restauranteurs want bad press to go away.

Whatever. To me it's about the overall taste, texture and spicing. If there's enough heat, texture and flavor, I'm fine.

To me a gringo burrito is bland, sour cream, cheese, black beans, mild or no salsa. Rice will do this as well if you stuff it full of dairy and don't put salsa on it.

If you want to get into the authentic argument, knock yourself out because NOTHING in California is authentic and frankly who cares.

Yes and no. Get a Mission burrito from Cancun in SF with chorizo and it's definitely not Californicated. I'd say the same about the al pastor because it's sufficiently spiced with lots of red dried pepper in the al pastor. The meat in both cases are rustic and not of particular quality. Order picante salsa with those meats and non-Californicated.

Also some places don't serve refried beans. I like refried beans but to me that's also a sign of Californicated but not pinto.

La Mission on University does a decent Mission burrito. They use quality ingredients but yes it's a bit Californicated. I suspect their more traditional items are better. Only been twice.

Cancun Taqueria in downtown Berkeley does a good job as well for burritos, rice is optional. Good salsa bar. I usually get pollo asada or carnitas (okay but not like La Bamba). Also use quality ingredients, also a bit Californicated. This might be the most BART friendly.

I've had a few burritos in the Fruitvale but never remember them. Usually stop for tacos.

BTW, there's a La Bamba in Richmond/El Cerrito that's related to the Mountain View branch...carnitas isn't as good but still pretty good.

+1 on La Bamba (carnitas) and Cancun (al pastor). The quesidilla suiza is also good at Cancun. Cancun also griddles/toasts the tortilla before making the burrito.

The other thing, as mentioned, taco joints usually do one or a few items really well but the others not so good. Pretty standard for mom and pop shops. The trick of course is to ID the good.

Try Nikko Fish Company in the Sunset.

Hey it's like Dodgeball, it's "Dodge, Duck, Dip, Dive, Dodge!"

I don't know if these guys are industry types or wannabes but they sure have the basic method of the surcharge down...don't give a straight answer until they come after you...and then pretend you don't what they're talking about.

Commis might work except it's in the EB. The chef worked at Manresa...but check recent reviews, things supposedly changed a bit. Also very minimalistic.

The lounge hours are weird. I guess the hotel industry didn't like it or it's too costly to run. I heard SFO was suppose to put sleeping "pods" in but it never happened.

I did find this: http://www.sleepinginairports.net/usa...

There's more sites that give you very specific info on where to snooze.

Personally I'd skip trying to get to SF and back. I'd eat/drink at SFO (lots of decent if not spectacular options) and find one of those lounges where you can pay to take a nap.

I know, not very glam but if anyone is honest, SF pretty much shuts down at 11 p.m. minus a few places and bars close at 2 a.m. That leaves basically two hours to eat and drink and the options are very limited.

Also while I eat at places like El Faralito or Cancun at 2 a.m., I wouldn't make a trip from SFO and pay a cab to do so. You're talking $40 bucks one way for a burrito. $80 +tip RT if the place isn't near BART.

That link has a key link about Slanted Door. They simply raised prices accordingly, didn't grandstand, covered their employees and shut up. Phan is right, no one wants to see that on the bill.

As for this being political of course it is. Many restauranteurs made it VERY clear by tacking on the surcharge it's political and they wanted everyone to see it. It's their own fault for creating the surcharge and putting it on the bill.

Seriously what do restaurants gain by putting a surcharge on the bill? Create a political discussion after a nice meal? Give the waitstaff another thing to discuss with patrons? Show everyone they're doing their part?

Just cover your people, serve food and stfu. If that means a 4% increase, so be it. If you're dropping $176 bucks, 4% isn't a big deal, that's $7.04.

It's because most people understand the importance of healthcare and how many people in the U.S. are NOT covered, how restaurants workers often get the short end and healthy restaurants workers are a good thing because they HANDLE YOUR FOOD.

If you haven't received the memo, there are 45 million uninsured Americans. For the wealthiest country in the world that is just pathetic. I don't care if it's big oil, small potatoes or celeb restauranteurs - COVER YOUR WORKERS or be shamed. Don't make a stink about it, don't play games, don't grandstand and just do the right thing. For pete freakin' sake Michael Mina isn't a mom and pop place but a multimillion dollar enterprise.

Now since turn-around is fair play, who do some CH'er continue to play industry shills and give these guys a pass? Republican Congressmen or Tea Party ding bats?

p.s. I've had dinner with Tom Ammiano. He's a good guy looking out for the little guy. I've had dinner at MM, it ran $150 p/p + tip, tax, wine. If you can't manage to take care of your worker charging that much - get the EF out of the business.

There was also Uncle's, they had some unusual pies but SWQ was probably the place, at least for apple.

BTW, does New Lun Ting Cafe (aka Pork Chop House) serve pie for dessert? Seems like the last of the old school Chinese American diners.

ETA: New Lun Ting still serves apple pie, might be worth checking out.

They were connected at the start. Not sure now. Any way, Mission Pies are really good...and was disappointed buying the non MP pie since they weren't as good.

Warning on Pie Ranch: they sold from a Santa Cruz bakery over this past summer and not their own. The drive out from SF wasn't always do-able or efficient according to the staffer there.

I can't recall if it was on Sunday they sold the other pies, or Sat and Sunday but FYI just the same. Also could change this season. I'd call.

I don't think Bakesale Betty sells pies any longer. Or it's very limited, and irregular like the hours and everything else. They made some exceptional pies however.

For lunch you might try Zuni Cafe. Might not be nice enough for dinner but probably for lunch with a kid.

That is very sad on many levels, and not just the food. That guy was a pillar of the community.

I live closer to the Alameda branch so I go there. That branch was never as good as the original but since the owner was murdered it has stayed on par. Also I always order the non-gringo specials, pozole, etc., and it's usually pretty good.