Just before you reach the York...er...Brava Theatre on 24th St.

actually, I think I can get off on just knowing that it exists. I know where to get a tamale when I need one. (but it's not in a PARLOR, dammit!) I don't wanna ruin a beautiful thing like so many beautiful things have been ruined by people knowing about them. sniff. You guys just enjoy.

Here's the item I saw in the Chron. NB: "Slow food" and "Niman Ranch" suggest the prices won't be old-fashioned.

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Sometimes nostalgia, not food, is the main draw of a place.

San Francisco's Roosevelt's Tamale Parlor (2817 24th St., at Bryant) is going through some changes that may make the food the draw again.The 83-year-old restaurant was bought last July by Isaac Mejia, owner of Don Pico's in San Bruno, and partner Ray Klein, whose hand dips into many successful honey pots around the Bay Area (Tartine and Pizzaiolo). It had gone through a succession of non-family owners before Mejia bought the property.

"The guy who had it before just destroyed it," says Mejia. "My main goal is to preserve the oldest Mexican restaurant and tamale parlor in California."

I can't confirm whether it's the oldest in California, but it's said to be the oldest in San Francisco, and the specialty has always been the round "bocce ball tamales."

Mejia plans to reopen in the next three weeks after much renovation inside.

He brought in Karen Taylor, who serves delicious Mexican food each Saturday at her Primavera stand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market and at the Tuesday and Saturday Berkeley farmers' markets.

She's known for her tamales, salsas and tortillas, and she'll bring her slow-food method of grinding her own masa and fresh spices to Roosevelt's, creating tamales made with organic ingredients and Niman Ranch meats. There will be a weekly changing menu, and she's resurrecting the bocce balls, but in a slightly more manageable size. Taylor explained that the tamales were created to resemble the meat pies favored by the sailors who caroused in the neighborhood at the time.

There will be an open kitchen and counter service rather than formal table service.

Roosevelt's Tamale Parlor will be open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

i agree myles. just make some food the best way you know how and quit trying to impress michael bauer, dammit.


mmm, fried chicken

I know. But please God, just not fancy shmancy pretensious. (I can't spell... did i spell that write?)

thanks david!