This Week's Restaurant Review: Perry's in SF

(Now that I'm on Isagenix, I am not eating out at restaurants -- at least for the next 90 days. But, because I'm getting paid to write these reviews (visit www.bayareacritic.com) I still have to write one a week. Luckily, I have a reservoir of places I've been to recently but have yet to review.)

Places like Perry’s are great as long as you’re not expecting high-end cuisine. If you’re in the mood for good basic, well-made, fresh food, then Perry's is a smart pick. Perry’s offers traditional things served in an informal atmosphere. We’re talking hamburgers, steaks, fish and chips, grilled fish, fried chicken and prime rib sandwiches. Perry's is also well-known known for their Lobster Madness on Wednesday and Saturday nights. For less than $20, you get a one-and a-quarter pound Maine lobster with accompaniments starting at 5 pm. It’s a great deal for a good-sized crustacean, but I would suggest you get there early, because the deal runs out when the lobsters are gone, usually by 8 pm. Perry’s is a San Francisco legend that goes back many decades. Lots of SF’s celebrities, bluebloods and natives go there religiously. The bar itself is a microcosm of the city. Deals go down, relationships are started and people do all kinds of business seated along the old oak bar at Perry’s. The bartenders are all characters in their own right and seasoned veterans of this whole scene. Watching them work the patrons while mixing great drinks at lightning speed is a form of entertainment all its own. The crowd is a mixture of young college kids, grizzled old timers, suits, people watchers and tourists. Weekend brunchers flock to Perry’s to sip Bloody Marys and munch breakfast items, sandwiches and salads at one of the four coveted outdoor tables. For those who want to get out of the sun (or fog), there’s a large bar/dining room featuring sports memorabilia and magazine racks that hang on dark wooden walls. Two of the more popular items on Perry’s menu include tiny burger "slyders" and Reuben sandwiches. I’ve also had their grilled ahi sandwich and the fish-of-the-day. Everything at Perry’s is solid and the portions are generous. Perry’s is open every day at 9 am and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Their address is: 1944 Union Street in San Francisco. Call them for reservations at: (415) 922-9022.