Waterfront- "45 Years of Making People Happy"

In an effort to eat at all 3000 San Francisco restaurants (500 plus and counting), Linda and Mike L. Mc Colgan’s culinary journey recently landed them at the Waterfront for their famous 3-6 Happy Hour.

The moment you enter this San Francisco landmark, you immediately feel comfortable and relaxed with the massive windows overlooking the breathtaking Bay views. They also have an outside patio and all the tables overlook the soothing Bay.

They are open for lunch and dinner serving an extensive selection of culinary treats.

It is a great place to decompress after a long day at work or walking back from a Giants game for their happy hour from 3-6.  They have a variety of $5 dollar wines and $3 dollar beers as well as signature cocktails for $7. The menu has $5 pizzas, Calamari, Sliders, Truffle Parmesan Fries and Oysters for 99 cents each.

We sampled some of each and they were all very good. They also pour a generous glass of wine.

We will definitely return.

 Longtime owner Al Fachi runs a first class show and his place reflects his quest for perfection. Al is always around and constantly monitoring the food, drinks and service which makes for a great experience.

From the web site, "In 1969, Al Falchi converted a former San Francisco longshoremen's bar
into a restaurant called The Waterfront.
A mile from Fisherman's Wharf, and with a view that eclipsed that
famous tourist hub, it soon became a favorite of local politicians and business people.
And, in time, local and foreign visitors were drawn by its breathtaking Bayscape.

Long a cut above its competition, in 1997, Al committed to a multi-million dollar
renovation to transform The Waterfront into one of San Francisco's
foremost dining destinations.
Not just brick and mortar changes,
but a complete overhaul of its long-standing seafood menu.
And, it's worked.

Today, The Waterfront is the choice of presidents and princes, celebrities and
travelers who want to make their San Francisco dining experience a memorable one."

For more information and to make a reservation for lunch or dinner, go to:

Click here: Waterfront Restaurant and Cafe: Home

"Hot New Foodie Fun In The Desert Sun"

In a quest to eat at all 3000 San Francisco restaurants (500 plus and counting), Linda and Mike L. Mc Colgan's culinary journey recently took them to warm Palm Desert California and the new kid on the block Mitch's.  Mitch Epstein's new restaurant is a hot new creation that offers something for everyone. Valet parking, a modern bar buzzing with excitement,  live music, large TV screens, daily happy hour and outdoor  patio dining complete with fire pit serving  an extensive menu of seafood, steaks and sushi.  There is also an upstairs room that can accommodate weddings and private events.

We had the pleasure of experiencing this oasis in the desert twice. We had dinner on the patio on a warm desert evening and sampled mussels, barbecued shrimp, onion soup and Caesar salad that were very good with an attentive and knowledgeable server. In addition, the warm ambience of the soft lighting on the patio made you feel like you were dining at an exclusive Mediterranean resort.

We also went back for the daily happy hour and watched sports on the large flat screen TV’s.  Happy hour is 7 days a week from 3-6:30. They offer a nice selection of $5.00 wines and beers and a nicely priced menu with lots of variety featuring sensational sushi for $7.00 each.  The crunchy shrimp, calamari, ahi poke tacos, and kobe sliders were all good proportions served picture perfect.  

Mitch's attention to detail and hands on management makes this restaurant a "must do" while you are in the desert on vacation or living there year around.

Our magical question about our extensive culinary experiences, is would you return? We have been there twice and look forward to coming back soon.

For more information and to make reservations, go to:

Click here: Sushi, Steaks & Happy Hour - Mitch's on El Paseo, Palm Desert

From the web site, "Mitch’s on El Paseo is a concept developed by long-time restaurateur, Mitch Epstein, who brings his 31 years in the restaurant business to team up with respected sushi master and chef, James Holder – who was raised in Japan as the son of an American serviceman and a Japanese mother, and remembers learning to ‘cut fish’(as he calls it) when he was 13, in his village of Hiyama."