Hayes Street Grill - S.F.

Hayes Street Grill
I’ve always loved this place and try to go there whenever possible.. Simple perfection on most days. It is in Hayes Valley, an area of San Francisco I have never really loved. Too close to the projects and yet still filled with crazy high end boutiques. It would be like Hunters Point with Tiffanys and a Gucci shop. It just seems strange. An ex-girlfriend of mine had her windows smashed twice in a month when I lived in the Lower Haight, spitting distance from those same mean spirited housing projects that are close by here… Ah, well. Regardless there are many fine places in Hayes Valley these days and the waiter at the Hayes Street Grill told me that the grill had been in it’s present location for over thirty years.
So, yes. Exceptional food and clearly catering to the theater and opera crowd based on the framed photos on the walls and the mention in the menu of ordering and timeframes for the opera. Typically I get grilled fish when I am here, but just for fun I had a look at the menu prior to coming over today. Soft shell crabs? Served both in a modified BLT, “Chesapeake Bay Soft Shell Crab BLT with Hobbs Bacon, Bill's Tomatoes, Cole Slaw.” Also available “Chesapeake Bay Soft Shell Crabs Meuniere, Watercress, French Fries.” Soft shell crab is a seasonal delight that should never, under any circumstance be missed. No. Never. A pity they are not as local as our Dungeness crab, but they are so incredible that, similar to sand dabs, when they are in season you must get them. They are always that good.
So, I ordered the Soft Shell Crabs Neuniere. The place was fairly crowded and yet, magically, Hideko and my dishes were served up quickly. She got the Yellow Tail. (billed on the menu as “wild hamachi.” No complaints from either of us. The food was absolutely perfect. Pan fried soft shell crab in a bed of water cress and a side of their signature French fries? Ah, very nice. I asked the waiter about options beyond ketsup for the fries. He suggested a peanut dipping sauce. Clearly house made and with only a nod and a hint to it’s Thai roots this sauce was dark brown and amazingly rich. A glass of the Honig Sauvenan Blac the perfect crisp accompaniment to the meal.
Issues? Ah, yes. The service was excellent. The food was excellent. Somehow I managed to through a wild card to the hostess by asking her to get me change for a bill. I had paid in cash, but was still shy of the requisite tip. Paid cash for the bill and then had a bill changed. Seemed pretty simple to me. After saying goodbye to the waiter and chatting with the hostess who graciously made change for me I parted ways with Hideko. From there I walked a block down the street looking at shiny pretty things in the windows of the shops still savoring the incredible soft shell crabs… “Sir, excuse me sir.” I am seldom approached by strangers in the street calling me “Sir!” I looked to find the charming hostess who, apparently confused, wanted to know if I had, in fact, paid my bill. Did she think…? What? Well, yes. I had indeed paid my bill. I also tipped the waiter with the bills that she had provided. Confused? Not me. I explained. She retreated back down the road. How odd. Is cash such an unusual manner of settling a bill that it can totally unhinge the hostess at the Hayes Street Grill? I think that is clearly the case. Did the waiter not get his tip? Did he pocket the entire amount I had paid? Or perhaps a better question: Did she apologize after realizing it was her error? No, she didn’t.
So? The food was good. The service was great. I have a lot of choices when eating lunch in S.F. and this kind of mistake is inexcusable. Yep. Get it together people.