Dining on Day Three in San Francisco. It’s almost a ritual for me to get into town, check the group into the hotel, give them their last minute notes for the night and send them on their way until morning.
The Tour Guide is hungry and the smart tourists know to hang back to see where the Tour Director is heading. And I am heading for the one place I know I will get friendly service as well as a great, almost home cooked meal. Lefty O’Douls. A gem that’s almost hidden but its not. Easy to find just off Grant near Union Square. It’s been there since 19 58 and I think some of the patrons have been there that long as well.
Go inside and you feel like you have been there before. If not, you feel like you never want to leave. The bar is on one side, the food served on the other. Grab a tray, look for the specials or check for the regular menu on the wall. Make your order and move on down the line as they serve it up in front of you.
Just kind of pay some attention to what is going on because the place is littered with the living history of San Fransisco and of Lefty’s colorful life. Don’t worry, the ace is friendly, laid back and you won’t feel rushed. With the great smell of the food being cooked and served, the friendly people working there and the covered walls, you will become immersed in it all.
Once you’re seated, you will want to get up and wander the walls. The walls recount Lefty’s love of his hometown and his time as a famous major league ball player. Even today, he is considered one of the New York Giants most colorful and popular personalities. Lefty played in the Pacific Coast League as well as the Major League, where in 1929 he had a .398 batting average. It was the highest average of any National League outfielder in the 20th century.
For those of us already accustomed to the place, there are flat screens all over to keep us up to date with the sports world. It is a sports bar afterall!
The nice thing is that with all the distractions, you can sit down and have a conversation. If dining alone, the layout makes it easy to start up a conversation with a new found friend. The food will bring you back. Carved meats, traditional meals, daily specials and plenty of variety that is also affordable.
So if you find your tour in San Fransisco and you can’t find the tour guide? Check for Lefty’s place and you may find him there.
