The best table at Le Central is always occupied by Wilkes Bashford (right). Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle
People always ask why I choose to sit where I do in restaurants. In New York and Los Angeles, where you sit determines your prestige and importance; not so much in San Francisco. Sometimes it’s just a choice.
My reasons are a little different, I suspect. Politicians want to see and be seen. So from 40 years of being in politics and eating in restaurants in San Francisco, here are some tips about where to sit in specific restaurants I frequent.
North Beach Restaurant: It’s the front window. There are about four tables and at least two of the four seat up to six people. You can see everything on the street, but more importantly you can see everybody who comes into this restaurant that holds 250 people. You can see what civil servant is with what developer; you can see what labor person is with which employer; and you can see what couples are still together.
Le Central: The best table is seldom, if ever, not occupied by Wilkes Bashford. It’s the Display Table in the bar. It’s the one spot in the place where everyone can see you and you can see everybody in the bar area. The second best table is the one at the rear of the bar where you can actually talk business and not be interrupted. And you have the advantage of knowing who else is in the restaurant: Shoppers, political types, movie types, decorators, lawyers, clients and writers — that’s the Le Central crowd.
Sam’s Grill: On the other hand Sam’s is the private restaurant. The best tables are in the booths where the curtain can be drawn. So who knows? Or you want to make sure no one knows.
Quince: You’ve made it if you’re at the larger center table right in the middle of the restaurant where everything circulates around you. If you’re a party of two, you want to sit at one of the four corner tables in the middle dining room.
Boulevard: Here you want to sit at the raised area in back so that you can see the Bay and the other diners can see you.
The Bay Bridge view at Waterbar
Waterbar: It’s any one of the tables along the windows that allows you to view the Bay Bridge.
Baker and Banker: The table to the left of the door is probably the most perfect table in the city.
Alioto’s: You want a window table here that allows you to watch the fishing boats going out of their slips. To see them unloading their catch is maybe one of the most interesting experiences tourists can have.
There are so many other great spots for dining or watching that I’ll answer the rest of your requests sometimes in the future, but I’d share one more thing:
If you go to Bobo’s on Lombard be sure to make reservations for the window table and take only people who can enjoy X-rated live porno performances in the motel across the street.