The Elegant Art of Dining: Bohemian San Francisco, Its ... - iMedia

Birth of the French Restaurant
French impression came strongly about this time, and the Poodle Dog, of Paris,
had its prototype at Bush and Dupont streets. This was one of the earliest of the
type known as “French Restaurants,” and numerous convivial parties of men
and women found its private rooms convenient for rendezvous. Old Pierre of
later days, who was found dead out on the Colma road some two years after
the fire of 1906, was a waiter at the Poodle Dog when it started, and by saving
his tips and making good investments he was able to open a similar restaurant
at Stockton and Market, which he called the Pup. The Pup was famous for its
frogs’ legs a la poulette. In this venture Pierre had a partner, to whom he sold
out a few years later and then he opened the Tortoni in O’Farrell street, which
became one of the most famous of the pre-fire restaurants, its table d’hote
dinners being considered the best in the city. When Claus Spreckels built the
tall Spreckels building Pierre and his partner opened the Call restaurant in the
top stories. With the fire both of the restaurants went out of existence, and the
old proprietor of the Poodle Dog having died, Pierre and a partner named Pon
bought the place, and for a year or so after the fire it was one of the best French
restaurants in the city. After Pierre’s untimely death the restaurant was merged
with Bergez and Frank’s, and is now in Bush street above Kearny.
Much romance attached to Pierre, it being generally believed that he belonged
to a wealthy French family, because of his education, his unfailing courtesy, his
ready wit and his gentility. Pierre specialized in fish cooked with wine, and as
a favor to his patrons he would go to the kitchen and prepare the dish with his
own hands.
In O’Farrell street the Delmonico was one of the most famous of the French
restaurants until the fire. It was several stories high, and each story contained
private rooms. Carriages drove directly into the building from the street and the
occupants went by elevator to soundproof rooms above, where they were served
by discreet waiters.
The Poodle Dog, the Pup, Delmonico’s, Jacques, Frank’s, the Mint, Bergez,
Felix and Campi’s are the connecting links between the fire and the pioneer
days. Some of them still carry the names and memories of the old days. All were
noted for their good dinners and remarkably low prices.
Shortly after the fire Blanco, formerly connected with the old Poodle Dog,
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