LIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD

We've lived in the Bay Area for ages, yet we are constantly surprised by how little we really saw of San Francisco before we moved here. Exploring the city and settling into a neighborhood gives us the option to ask a store clerk, as we learned to do in France and Japan, "Ca va?", "Genki Desu?", or "How are you?", and then to find their response, because they recognize us, a heartfelt reply.

Walking around the neighborhoods of a city over and over again gives us the change to see what was hidden when we used to rush around, trying to beat traffic out of the city, and going to the spots that everyone else knows--the Eiffel Tower, Ginza, the Ferry Building, Golden Gate Park, or Union Square.

Driving at night around neighborhoods opens up different possibilities too. We would never have spotted Uncle Boys without their bright lights on a very dark street. Uncle Boys is a local take-out burger place in the Richmond District. I can't even call it a restaurant, coffee shop, or cafe, it is so small. It reminds me of Asian places down alleys with a few counter seats and the rest of the room the open kitchen. Another place my son and I spotted was Pizzetta Napoletana on Frederick Street near Kezar Stadium. Again, bright lights drew us in. Theo found a parking place nearby and we walked into a busy, narrow bar and pizzeria with a large brick oven dominating the room.

In both places, my expectations were not high. A hamburger joint? A pizza place? Just a quick meal to keep our hunger satisfied, we thought. Instead, like so many small places in the city, the food was fresh and delicious. At Pizza Napoletana, we had a fresh greens salad with local fruit and sourdough slices with swipes of blue cheese as well as a pesto and parmesan pizza. Good food!

We've also found other places closer to us: Sajj's, a Mediterranean deli, Casa Sophia, a Peruvian-influenced restaurant, and Caffe Centro in South Park. We frequent Caffe Centro so often that they recognize us when we come in and know what our order will be. They offer good paninis, salads, soups, and various coffee drinks that we can consume while we sit in the park. Gradually, the park has become like a college campus with many young workers taking a break. We hear conversations with words such as research, agents, and "He talks over me as if what he has to say is more important."

For us, as we frequent the same places in our neighborhood, the city feels more like the place for us to be. It reminds of city life in New York City when I was fresh out of college and the neighborhood grocer would smile when I came in. Life there, later overseas, and here in San Francisco, starts out with much that is unfamiliar, but I find as we spend more time that the large city becomes a series of neighborhoods patched together. Now, we see people we know as we take walks, we have quick conversations with friendly clerks at cafes we frequent, and we find more and more places to explore. 

Next to explore is the area serviced by MUNI bus line 2, which runs from the Presidio to Sutter with bus stops in the Fillmore District, by the Japan Center, then traveling by the Victorians lining the street to Downtown, passing by 450 Sutter St., a beautiful Art Deco building, skirting Chinatown, and the Financial District with a final stop on Steuart Street near the Ferry Building.

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Sajj's Mediterranean, 636 2nd St. plus 2 other locations:

https://www.sajjstreeteats.com/location/san-francisco-soma/

Casa Sophia, 701 2nd St.:

 https://www.casasofiasf.com

Pizzettana Napoletana  775 Frederick St, SF

https://www.pizzettanapoletana.com 

Uncle Boy's  245 Balboa St, SF

https://uncleboys.com

MUNI bus 2 routes:

https://www.sfmta.com/routes/2-sutter

450 Sutter St. Take a quick look at the lobby and elevator:

https://450sutter.com

Window View July 2026