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

Bohemia of the Present
San Francisco’s care-free spirit was fully exemplified before the ashes of the
great fire of 1906 were cold. On every hand one could find little eating places
established in the streets, some made of abandoned boxes, others of debris from
the burned buildings, and some in vacant basements and little store rooms,
while a few enterprising individuals improvised wheeled dining rooms and went
from one part of the city to another serving meals.
The vein of humor of irrepressible effervescence of spirit born of Bohemianism
gave to these eating places high sounding names, and many were covered with
witty signs which laughed in the face of Fate.
Fillmore became the great business street of the city now in ashes, and here were
established the first restaurants of any pretensions, the Louvre being first to
open an establishment that had the old-time appearance. This was on the corner
of Fillmore and Ellis, and had large patronage, it being crowded nightly with
men and women who seemed to forget that San Francisco had been destroyed.
Thompson opened a large restaurant in O’Farrell street, just above Fillmore, and
for two years or more did a thriving business, his place being noted for its good
cooking and its splendid service. One of his waiters, Phil Tyson, was one of the
earlier ones to go back into the burned district to begin business and he opened
a restaurant called the Del Monte in Powell street near Market, but it was too
early for success and closed after a short career.
Thompson enlisted others to join with him in opening a magnificent place
under the new Flood building at the corner of Powell and Market street, but
through faulty understanding of financial power Thompson was compelled to
give up his interest and the place afterward closed. It has since been reopened
under the name of the Portola-Louvre, where now crowds assemble nightly to
listen to music and witness cabaret performances. Here, as well as in a number
of other places, one can well appreciate the colloquial definition of “cabaret.”
That which takes the rest out of restaurant and puts the din in dinner. If one
likes noise and distraction while eating such places are good to patronize.
Across the street from the Portola-Louvre at 15 Powell street is the modernized
Techau Tavern now known as “Techau’s”. Here there is always good music
and food well cooked and well served, and always a lively crowd during
the luncheon, dinner and after-theatre hours. The room is not large but its
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