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

etween Montgomery and Kearny streets. It has changed from what it was in
the old days, but is still an excellent place to dine.
Negro’s, at 625 Merchant street, near the Hall of Justice, has quite a following
of those whose business attaches them to the courts, and while many claim this
to be one of the best of its class, we believe the claim to be based less on good
cooking than on the fact that the habitues are intimate, making it a pleasant
resort for them. The cooking is good and the variety what the market affords.
In Washington street, just off Columbus avenue, is Bonini’s Barn, making
great pretense through an unique idea. So far as the restaurant is concerned
the food is a little below the average of Italian restaurants. One goes there once
through curiosity and finds himself in a room that has all the appearance of the
interior of a barn, with chickens and pigeons strutting around, harness hanging
on pegs, and hay in mangers, and all the farming utensils around to give it
the verisimilitude of country. Tables and chairs are crude in the extreme and
old-time lanterns are used for lighting. It is an idea that is worth while, but,
unfortunately, the proprietors depend too much on the decorative feature and
too little on the food and how they serve it.
The Fly Trap, and Charlie’s Fashion, the first in Sutter street near Kearny and the
other in Market near Sutter, serve well-cooked foods, especially soup, salads, and
fish. Of course these are not the entire menus but of all the well-prepared dishes
these are their best. Felix, mentioned before, also makes a specialty of his family
soup, which is excellent.
Spanish dinners of good quality are to be had at the Madrilena, at 177 Eddy
street, and at the Castilian, at 344 Sutter street. Both serve good Spanish dinners
at reasonable prices. They serve table d’hote dinners, but you can also get
Spanish dishes on special order.
Under the Monadnock building, in Market street near Third, is Jule’s, well liked
and well patronized because of its good cooking and good service. Jule is one of
the noted restaurateurs of the city, having attained high celebrity before the fire.
His prices are moderate and his cooking and viands of the best, and will satisfy
the most critical of the gourmets.
At the corner of Market and Eddy streets is the Odeon, down in a basement,
with decorations of most garish order. There is a good chef and the place has
quite a vogue among lovers of good things to eat. Probably at no place in San
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