San Francisco SM Meetup, December 5? [UPDATED…again]

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I can hardly remember the last time I attended an SF meetup, so that clearly means it’s time to host another one!

I am home for the first time in 14 months and I’d love to see all of you yay-urrea mutineers, readers and lurkers alike. On Saturday, December 6, let’s meet for kappi (fine, or chai) at 4pm. While I always champion my beloved, Illy-serving Caffe Greco, in North Beach, I am open to other suggestions, especially if they’re easier to travel to/park at AND the food/libations are excellent. I’d suggest Vik’s (first. Berkeley/east Bay. meetup.) but I’m sure it will be impossible for us to snag tables etc.

Leave suggestions and ideas in the comments below. I return to D.C. on December 7th, so I hope to see some of you soon! 馃檪

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Update: It seems like a lot of you are busy that Saturday, which makes me wonder if Friday would be easier. Please let us know: which is better, Friday night or Saturday afternoon? …which is why it’s great that we are meeting up on FRIDAY, at Udupi, at 7pm.

Any tips about whether it is better to go at, say 6:30 or 7:30 or anything else you know which could make this go smoother would be greatly appreciated.

Also, start pondering a chill place which we could go to after Udupi– ideally somewhere we’d still be able to hear each other. 馃檪 Thanks!

70 thoughts on “San Francisco SM Meetup, December 5? [UPDATED…again]”

  1. It’s definitely going to be SF or Berkeley; I think the day we choose will determine that, since Vik’s closes at 6 on Friday. Camille, would Friday be impossible? Would love to see you!

    Hey ANNA! Friday isn’t out of the question — I just have to be tricky/coordinated about selecting a transit method (public or car) and escaping the Friday evening Mission bar-hoppers. I think it’s workable either way 馃檪

  2. Friday in SF is better for me, I’ll be in the city on Saturday as well, but unfortunately I won’t be able to make it if the meetup is in Berkely on Saturday.

  5. I can’t do Saturday, due to some family obligations that came up tonight. Friday evening it is.

    Thankfully, a lot of you voted for Friday, anyway (though a Saturday at Vik’s would’ve been fantastic, I know).

    I’m a bit apprehensive about Udupi because -they don’t take reservations -they are super-popular -it’ll be a busy Friday night -we’ll likely be hustled out, judging from what I’ve heard about the speed of service.

    Any tips about whether it’s better to go at, say 6:30 or 7:30 or anything else you know would be greatly appreciated.

    Since I wear pearls, have yet to open, listen to and flatly declare that “I am so over (my) Vampire Weekend (cd)”, have never been inked and won’t pay $10 to wait for some douche to ignore me and then reluctantly make my coffee via a Clover (and thus have no hipster cred whatsoever), I’m not familiar with the neighborhood. 馃槈 I KEED. I KEED. Start pondering a chill place which we could go to after Udupi– ideally somewhere we’d still be able to hear each other. 馃檪

  7. 55 脗路 A N N A said

    Start pondering a chill place which we could go to after Udupi– ideally somewhere we’d still be able to hear each other. 馃檪

    Being able to hear each other? That’s a tall order in the Mission on a Friday night. I recommend going east of Mission (rather than in the Valencia direction). Il Pirata on 16th @ Potrero, Napper Tandy on 24th @ S. Van Ness, the Right Spot on 17th @ Folsom. Actually, the Make Out Room on 22nd @ Mission might still be tolerable that early in the evening. Maybe even the Latin American Club on 22nd @ Valencia…(What? I’m a lush. A local lush.)

  8. the make out room gets pretty noisy…

    bollywood cafe is pretty decent. Its on valencia i think.

  9. 58 脗路 chitrana said

    bollywood cafe is pretty decent. Its on valencia i think.

    Oh hell yeah. 19th betwixt Mission and Capp. And just a block from where I’m going after. And desi-themed.

  10. I’m a big fan of Bollyhood. Nice and gritty. The Rickshaw Stop is also fun when it’s Non-Stop Bhangra, but methinks that’s the 2nd Saturday only.

    I guess you all decided on Udupi, but good luck getting seated on a Friday or Saturday evening, ‘specially with a big group. It’s direct competition for Dosa, and both restaurants have curried favor with the white Mission hipsturr kids. So I prefer the Berkeley Udupi myself, although it’s a bit lacking in ambience and imbued with that sickly collegiate pallor (or maybe it’s just the fluorescent lights). I happen to be a lonely Indian who lives in San Francisco, and most of the Southie food here is kinda crappy. Being vehicularly challenged, however, I don’t seem to make it out to the South Bay, although I love Saravana Bhavan.

    BTW, I’m not ashamed to admit I’m a fan of Dosa–hells ya. Kinda pricey but nice for brunch, with an extensive food and drink menu and options for the non-veggies. Good eats, even if the owner’s a bit on the skeezy side.

  11. ANNA, you know your places. Did you live in SF at one point?

    My recommendations:

    Uptown, 17th and Capp (your typical neighborhood dive bar where everyone knows your name) Parea, Valencia and 20th (it’s a wine bar but it’s not too pricey and it’s way low-key if you’re into that) Lone Palm, 22nd and Guerrero (this place reminds me of a Mafia movie set in the 60s, and the drinks are stiff) Inner Mission Beer Parlor, 20th and Shotwell (this place rawks) Nihon Whisky Lounge, 14th and Folsom (a little bougie but great selection of cocktails)

  13. 60 脗路 Satya said

    I guess you all decided on Udupi, but good luck getting seated on a Friday or Saturday evening, ‘specially with a big group. It’s direct competition for Dosa, and both restaurants have curried favor with the white Mission hipsturr kids. So I prefer the Berkeley Udupi myself,

    Now that is exactly the sort of positive, helpful comment I love to enjoy with my dinner! 馃槈

    Okay. Considering what Satya just commented, does anyone want to weigh in with constructive advice like “hey, you’re better off trying to go at 6:30?” Are others as pessimistic about our chances for getting seated? (See? This is why I always pick Greco. FAR less of a headache/anxiety.) As for Berkeley Udupi, not an option. And we repeat:

    Friday night. Udupi in the Mission. No backsies.

    By the way, after leaving three comments, will you be joining us? 馃檪

    61 脗路 Satya said

    ANNA, you know your places. Did you live in SF at one point?

    I know, ignore your question, but yes. Twice. Once when I was three (right after we fled SoCal) and again after college.

  14. I love the Uptown. Lonely Palm is also fun, but it’s going to be cramped and loud (maybe not for the time of evening folks are guestimating but still…), even with a smaller group. I also like Homestead, but that’s probably further from either BART Station (16th and 24th).

    Will Udupi honestly be busy at 6:30, or is everyone factoring in a desi standard time buffer? I have nothing but haterade for Dosa, and for their sickly fusion food. I think Udupi will be fine, and Greco might be a parking nightmare on Friday night, anyhow. Just saying. 馃檪

  15. How large a group will we be? A headcount might be in order. If under 10, then I think we would be okay anywhere even if we have to wait a little, but above that might be difficult.

  16. Eek–didn’t mean to be unhelpful, ANNA. I’ve just spent too many evenings struggling to get seated at both Udupi and Dosa, so now I just go for early dinners (like 5 pm) or brunches. P

    I think both 6:30 and 7:30 are likely to be busy, personally. However, if you’re willing to do a 45-minute wait, you could always put your name on the list at 6:30, head over to a bar in the vicinity, and plan on eating around 7:30. (That’s usually what I’ve done with a large-ish group, and it tends to work. I think they also call you if you give ’em your phone number, which certainly helps.

    I’m bummed but I won’t be able to make it–just dishing out some officious advice. My husband’s company party is that night, so I think I’ll be somewhere bougie in the SoMa. Sadness.

    B’sides, I’m a lurker whose sole contributions to this site have been in the frivolous realm of straight-haired I-banker girls with a fetish for La Perla undergarments, so you’ll hardly miss me. 馃檪

  17. Seriously, I don’t get the haterade for Dosa. The crowd sucks sometimes and, often, you have waiters with the most egregious mispronunciations of food items. But they do have a larger menu than Udupi and I think their selections can be more interesting if you’re in the mood for something a little less basic. I certainly prefer Udupi and what people might consider “more authentic Indian” food, but I’d hardly say that authenticity is a barometer for good food, and I wouldn’t classify Dosa as fusion, either (not like the now defunct Tallulah’s, anyway). And given that most Indian restaurants in San Francisco are completely devoid of atmosphere or liveliness, Dosa is a nice reprieve from the banal. I also applaud that the restaurant has made South Indian food more accessible to unaccustomed palates (‘specially those of the Naan ‘N Curry variety), even if I wish there were more alternatives to choose from.

  19. 66 脗路 Satya said

    B’sides, I’m a lurker whose sole contributions to this site have been in the frivolous realm of straight-haired I-banker girls with a fetish for La Perla undergarments, so you’ll hardly miss me. 馃檪

    Are you kidding me? You say frivolous, I say vital. Besides, half (sometimes more!) of our meetup attendees are lurkers. Poo. I wish you could make it. Thanks for the additional advice/information, I think the 6:30 plan is a good one. It’s nice that they’re willing to call to let people know they can be seated. 馃檪 See? Very helpful!