Chronicle's ON THE TOWN:
With Joe Satriani - Joe's Favorite Places
- Aidin Vaziri, Chronicle Staff Writer Sunday, May 7, 2006
Greatest living guitar player in the world? Joe Satriani's fans could certainly provide a solid case for the title. A master of his instrument since age 14, he has instructed the likes of Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Counting Crows' David Bryson, and toured with Mick Jagger and Deep Purple. He's sold more than 10 million solo albums and garnered 13 Grammy nominations. And that was before the front pages of several Indian newspapers last year declared him the "God of Guitars." But it's not all about the fret boards for the Bay Area native. He put down his instrument just long enough to send us a list of some of his favorite local places to unwind. Satriani plays the Fillmore on Saturday.
Real Guitars/Gary Brawer Guitar Bass Repair, 15 Lafayette St. "My favorite hangout for vintage guitars, amps and pedals in the city. A place for great bargains on overlooked gems of yesterday. Every time I walk in there I find a cool guitar, amp or effects box that I must investigate. The owners Ben Levin and Chris Cobb and staff are always informative and patient and let you have a good time with the gear. Gary's shop is right in the back. He sets up all my guitars, does 'emergency surgery' if necessary, and he and his crew always have good advice and the right part you're looking for. And if that doesn't do it for you, Dan Ransom will build you a guitar from scratch, right there in the shop."
Pane e Vino, 1715 Union St. "Pane e Vino, in Cow Hollow, serves up authentic Italian food featuring fresh grilled fish and meats, thin-crust pizzas and pasta dishes, wonderful salads and great desserts. The service is great and the atmosphere relaxed. It's in a great part of town, right on Union Street. Even the espresso reminds me of my favorite spot in Verona, Italy. They feature a wide selection of excellent wines to complement any of their wonderful dishes. For dessert, try the cantucci con vin santo, almond crisps with Tuscan dessert wine. Great service and rustic interior make this one of my favorite places in the city."
E Guitars, 1446 Fourth St., San Rafael. "If you're over the bridge in Marin and need some vintage instruments, E Guitars is the place. The owner, John Indelicato, has amassed a huge collection of vintage guitars and amps that will keep you happy and busy for hours. There's even some new stuff in there as well. Great atmosphere and a well-informed staff make it a great hang. But just in case you really need something brand, spanking new, Bananas at Large is right across the street. Between the two stores you can't go wrong."
Slanted Door, 1 Ferry Building. "Slanted Door at the Ferry Building is a modern Vietnamese restaurant with an exciting menu using a variety of fresh produce and ecologically farmed meat, game and poultry from right here in the Bay Area. They've got a great bar and a super location with dramatic views of the bay to get you in the mood for some really interesting food. There is always a good vibe and special energy to the place that makes long dinners good fun. But if you're in a hurry, you can go out the door, literally. The Slanted Door's to-go shop is called Out the Door and is just around the corner serving up their special fare ready to eat or as easy-to-use cooking kits that you can take home and whip up at your convenience. That's so cool."
The Anchor Oyster Bar, 579 Castro St. "The Anchor Oyster Bar in the Castro is one of my favorites for fresh New England-inspired seafood. Very cozy and always friendly, it has one of the best little menus in town. The crab burgers, my favorite, are absolutely amazing. Funny thing is I don't eat raw seafood, and that's one thing they're well known for. The regulars love the raw oyster shooters, but they make great seafood salads, too, and a nice chowder."
Guitar Center, 1645 Van Ness Ave., and Haight Ashbury Music Center, 1540 Haight St. "Both have the best selections of new musical gear around. You need wah-wah pedals? Amps? Guitars? Cables? Drums? Sticks? Shakers? Music software? Keyboards? You've heard the radio commercials: It's all true. These two places really do serve the amateur and professional musician very well. HAM also has a cool collection of exotic instruments, as well as all sorts of gear for rent. And, the new digs that GC moved into on Van Ness are so big you will never feel overwhelmed by the merchandise, just happy to be there."
Redd, 6480 Washington St., Yountville. "If you make it out to the Wine Country, you will have quite a few choices for impeccable dining and it can be hard to choose. My favorite spot at the moment is a new place called Redd in Yountville. The risottos are wonderful, but actually everything else on the menu rocks, too. The restaurant has tasting menus of five to nine courses that are just terrific, definitely the way to go. Of course it's all available a la carte as well. They feature an impressive wine list, largely Californian, and carry quite a few rare and hard-to-find wines that can make a special night out really special. Chef Richard Reddington, formerly of Auberge du Soleil and Masa's, has done a wonderful job creating an awesome destination for great food and wine."
The Straits Cafe, 3300 Geary Blvd. "The Straits Cafe on Geary Boulevard is a must to try, if you haven't already. Anyone who has been to Singapore will tell you about the unique cuisine of the country, and this restaurant gets it right. The menu touches on authentic dishes of the multicultural region like no other place in town. They say it's a combination of Malaysian/Indonesian, Chinese and Indian. All you need to know is that for dinner or take out it's always great. And don't forget to order dessert! I recommend the mango mousse and some sago pudding. They have a great bar, too, with specialty drinks, sodas, cocktails and teas of all kinds. Great service and atmosphere."
Zanze's Cheesecake, 2405 Ocean Ave. "Speaking of dessert, if you like cheesecake you will love Zanze's. This little shop in Miraloma Park makes the best cheesecake in the world! No kidding. This stuff is so fluffy and creamy it just melts in your mouth and leaves a smile on your face. No matter what you've had before, one bite will change your mind about how good cheesecake can get. It's worth getting on over there to try some, I guarantee you will make a point of returning again and again."
The Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd. "I love this club. It has the mojo. That's all you need to know, really. I'm not sure how it got there, but since 1966 it has lived and died a few times as the place where important musical trends get started and get put to the test. I've played there enough to know it's hallowed ground, and I've enjoyed shows by artists ranging from Eric Clapton to Willie Nelson. It wasn't until we filmed the 'Live in San Francisco' DVD there a few years back that I could finally see the grandeur of this little place through the eyes of the camera. Now each time I return I take time to look at all the posters and pictures, take in the chandeliers, I think about my former manager Bill Graham and all the artists he put on that wide but shallow stage. And I think how lucky we are this cool place is still going strong in our beautiful city by the bay."
