The Insider's Insider Guide to Central San Fran

This is a "review" of the current state of "north of the Panhandle" area of San Francisco. Some would call it 'near Haight-Ashbury, or even Western Addition, but we who live here and play here call it, No Pa.

I feel compelled to write about my neighborhood both because I love and respect the merchants here, and because, arrogantly, I feel I have an insiders viewpoint that should not go to waste. I've been involved in neighborhood politics and development for years, to the point where local restaurants remember that I said good things about them for their liquor license, and thus am someone who has helped their business grow.

Quick Tips:

Get into the local restaurant experience. It's a blatant shame that so many people come to SF and spend time in places like Fisherman's Wharf. You need to visit the local areas and the local restaurants, and start interacting with the owners and managers of these great places.

Best Way To Get Around:

Walk, or take a taxi. Buses are great, but at dinner time, when you're not familiar with the different bus lines, it's hard to make it work. If you do end up taking a bus ASK A LOCAL for directions, DO NOT wait until the bus comes and ask the driver, they give bad advice, and every SFer wants to give you their opinion.

If you come to SF and think you're doing a local neighborhood experience and you don't go to Club Waziema, don't ever tell people you know about SF.

This place in many ways defines the North of Panhandle neighborhood, and has been an important player in the politics and social make up of the area for the past 5 years.

Club Waziema is a 'local pub', with all the economically priced beer and wine, quiet, dark bar area, and great jukebox of a locals joint, combined with the amazing surprise of Ethiopian cuisine served up by the owners, with their family recipes at the forefront. You will not be hungry when you leave this place, but your SF experience will be empty if you do not spend a bit of time at this former 'after hours joint' of the famous SF jazz scene. Rumor has it that folks like Tina Turner and Marvin Gaye performed after everything else was closed at the back stage of Club Waziema. Get there and make sure they know you.

Everyone thinks of Nepalese food when they think of San Francisco, right? Maybe not, but they should. This beautiful blend of Indian styles with the subtle flavors of Southeast Asia, brings a mixture that everyone can enjoy.
This little (like 7 tables) restaurant packs a huge punch of exotic flavors plus local, down-home feel that anyone coming to SF should experience. You must have the Mo-Mos, tell the staff you're visiting and you heard about them from IgoUgo and Tys (that's me) and enjoy everything on the menu.