Jami and I spend a lot of time traveling and a lot of people have asked me to write about places to stay and eat. So, starting with San Francisco, here are some of my recommendations.

We have been going to San Francisco since the mid-seventies (we met in 1972). Our favorite place to stay is The Royal Pacific Motor Lodge on Broadway.

Nothing special, just clean rooms, (with coffee in the room), but most important, location, location, location! The Royal Pacific is located more in Chinatown, but just across the street from North Beach, within walking distance of all the important sites in San Francisco. It is also relatively inexpensive and has some rooms with balconies overlooking Broadway. Another favorite is The Hotel Boheme, a European style boutique hotel on Columbus. No elevator. Climb the steep stairs and walk into a unique hotel that oozes "beat"! Photos from Allen Ginsberg’s collection line the hallways and are in every room; antique furniture (some rooms also have "mosquito netting" falling from the ceiling around the bed!), bathrooms in every room, (the rooms are kinda small), a very friendly staff, and free Cognac in the evenings where Jami always had fun discussing her family with the concierge! Rooms looking over Columbus Avenue (we stay there for the Italian Day Parade every year) are more expensive.

Going out of North Beach and heading toward the wharf, we like The Columbus Motor Inn. It is very nice with good parking facilities (very important in San Francisco. Forgot to say that The Royal Pacific also has great parking!).Not as inexpensive as The Royal Pacific, but not as expensive as Hotel Boheme. All are excellent for a stay in that part of town.
Let’s see, where to eat...San Francisco is a foodie’s dream!!

For breakfast we usually go to Moe’s on upper Grant (we introduced this place to Jami’s brother, John, and he liked it so much that he orchestrated a big dinner there for the likes of Brenda Knight, David Amram and assorted entourage!). You can get a great burger (they grind the meat themselves and cook it on a circular charcoal grill) any time of day. Lots of fun pictures of The Three Stooges, Marilyn and James Dean on the walls.

For lunch or dinner, try a small Chinese restaurant across from The Royal Pacific on the corner of Broadway and Stockton called "Yuet Lee". They have some very exotic dishes or you can just order regular, traditional Chinese food. Inexpensive and very good. Try the frog’s legs! Another plus is that they stay open very late.

A little way down Columbus is what I feel is the most "Italian" restaurant in North Beach. Osteria Al Forno. In Italian that means "food from Osteria baked in the oven". Not a really great pasta place, but great pizzas and roasts. A small place, it is always packed so count on waiting awhile.

Further down Columbus around the corner on Union (Washington Square Park) is another small place that Jami and I accidentally stumbled into called "Cineterre". All about Italian Cinema with Italian movie star posters on the walls. Great lasagna and sandwiches and pizza.

The last time we were in The City (for Neal’s 81st birthday party), Judith, a great friend of the Beat Museum and our family, took us to Francino’s, next to the Stinking Rose on Columbus (so tiny, we passed it twice before we found the entrance!). All of us that night (Dawn and Al Hinkle, John, Jessica Loos, our daughter, Becky, Jami and I ) really enjoyed the food and the staff (wonderful, warm and happy members of the same family).
For a relaxing moment there is, of course, Café Trieste on upper Grant. A very famous coffee house where many notable beats, artists and writers (both then and now), hang out.

Also on Columbus, Jami and I like to have a glass of wine at the outdoor table in front of The Steps of Rome....tour buses go by and you can wave and look cool!
Then we have to mention, of course, Vesuvio’s, next to City Lights on Columbus. If you haven’t had a chance to visit this extraordinary bar/art gallery/museum...you are in for a treat! The walls are covered in wonderful, nostalgic photos and newspaper clippings of many of the famous people and events related to North Beach. Stop by and say "hi" to Janet, the owner, and tell them Jami and I sent you.

Well, I could go on for pages, but that’s about it for this month. If any of you have favorite places to eat or stay in the North Beach area, please let me know.
Thanks! More next month.

Randy Ratto

Please email Randy with any questions, comments or media inquiries.