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Ian "Bean" M.'s Profile

Photo of Ian M.

"Hustle and Patience"

Elite 2009 Elite 2008

profile votes icon Review votes:
224 Useful, 140 Funny, and 196 Cool

Location

San Francisco, CA

Yelping Since

July 2006

Things I Love

Brittney G, baseball, bernal heights, Nivea Men's face lotion, Eye on Blogs, chimay, The Phillies, The Philadelphia Eagles, philadelphia, 24, Lost, homebrew, iphone, sustainability, yelp

Find Me In

94110

My Hometown

19010

My Blog Or Website

http://google.com/read...

When I'm Not Yelping...

Funny, hasn't come up yet.

Why You Should Read My Reviews

I've developed a fearless streak.

My Second Favorite Website

http://www.yelp.com/lo...

The Last Great Book I Read

Barack Obama is My New Bicycle

Most Recent Discovery

24-Divisadero

Recent Reviews

147 Reviews

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3388 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-7428

Phat Philly  

Categories: Sandwiches, American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Mission

5 star rating
 Update - 3/27/2009  
The only business where I regularly have an experience above and beyond what I expect out of the type of shop it is. These people are unbelievably nice. And now they have 3 beers on tap. To prove how nice they are, last night they poured me a beer with about an inch of head on it, and offered to top it off for me once the foam dissipated. I didn't even take them up on it, but I just thought they were awesome.

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2 Previous Reviews: Hide »

  • 5 star rating
    1/30/2009

    I've been on crutches or otherwise walking-impaired for a few weeks, which has meant limited mobility and mostly going directly to and from home and work, not taking random side trips. But last night I'd had enough and after a frustrating week of the same old same, I found myself wanting something good.

    Phat Philly it was, and I'm glad. Again my cheesesteak was delicious, and again I was impressed with the staff. They went out of their way to help my afflicted self, were engaging to other customers, and rocking out 90's music so much that for one brief moment I thought I was 18 again. That's good food.

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  • 4 star rating
    12/30/2008

    Native Philadelphian here, or at least suburbanite, and I'm happy to say I loved this place.

    The cheesesteaks are representative of true Philly style, affordable and delicious. The decor is a little lacking to me, but the place is clean and bright, which I liked. And the people I spoke to, who had just opened the place, were unbelievably kind. I'll be back for sure and am happy to have this place open.

    I did ask about delivery and they said not yet, until they get their feet under them a little bit. Did mention possibly going with Waiters on Wheels, but I'd recommend against it. Cheesesteaks need to be eaten as promptly as possible, and I wouldn't surrender quality to a third party. Either make sure you can deliver swiftly or don't bother, if you ask me.

    (edit - Brittney G reminded me how helpful they were to a blind man. The little things, you know?)

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3300 Mission St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 826-6886

3300 Club  

Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights

5 star rating
 3/16/2009  
I don't know if I have the words for this, but this place is just right. Great bartenders, nearby, fairly priced, not packed, no cover, and instills a certain gregariousness in you.

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4063 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 647-9400

Le Zinc French Bistro  

Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch, Tapas Bars
Neighborhood: Noe Valley

4 star rating
 3/16/2009  
File Under: I just got paid so I can afford a slightly nicer breakfast; I am not feeling any of my regular breakfast spots; We can get there easily by bus

The prix fixe at $22 is a bit much, the shared prix fixe and second entree (if you will) for around $33 is a better play. Appeared to lack the refillable coffee option which I normally consider crucial to breakfast. Overall, it's spacious, nice, good, and quick, and I'll probably check it out under similar mood categories for dinner sometime.

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Seal Rock Dr & El Camino Del Mar
San Francisco, CA 94101

Land's End Park  

Category: Parks
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond

5 star rating
 3/16/2009  
Kinda sorta alot of people, but overall a magnificent place, and I took a dent to my SF credibility when a couple of weekends ago constituted my first visit here. I made up for it by dropping some knowledge on the labyrinth and looking up some knowledge about the Sutro Baths - if my cohorts didn't know either, I guess my credibility isn't that bad.

There's a bus line pretty much directly there from downtown. Go. Take your sweetie, some shoes that can handle a little bit of mud and a windbreaker. I don't care if it's sunny downtown, you'll thank me for the windbreaker. It's the edge of the biggest ocean on the planet!

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800 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 563-9780

Eddie's Cafe  

Categories: Diners, Soul Food, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA

3 star rating
 3/16/2009  
The difference between 3 and 4 stars is the distance I've got to go to get here, and the experience I had doesn't really justify it. Pancakes, eggs and hashbrowns were all actually pretty good, but the sausage was unimpressive and the coffee downright abysmal and that ain't right. I love the feel of the place - a ton, actually - but my breakfast overall just missed.

My Most Recent Discovery has to be the 24 line and the next time I'm headed out to Land's Point or other points West I'd possibly give another chance, but I'm more likely to scour the Yelp lists for a better option.

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550 15th St
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 701-1000

Potrero Physical Therapy  

Category: Physical Therapy
Neighborhood: SOMA

5 star rating
 3/16/2009  
I had 7 sessions to relieve some issues with my knee and ankle, and was impressed by every member of the staff I interacted with. I'm fortunate not to have experienced anywhere else to compare this place to, and insurance paid all but my co-pays, but as far as finding the staff capable and pleasant, thumbs up across the board. Several of them were bilingual, and all of them encouraging but pleasant.

The facility itself is also pleasant, wide open with high ceilings and plenty of space. You can change in the closet or men's room down the hall, and get there easily via the 9 from Market or get to 16th & MIssion and connect with a number of transit lines. Don't get hurt - but if you do, give these guys a shout.

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798 Elizabeth St
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 244-5496

Elizabeth Street Brewery  

Category: Breweries
Neighborhood: Noe Valley

5 star rating
 2/22/2009  
A super charming spot and if my brief experience with Richard and his operation is at all reflective of what his eventual full business will be, we (the local beerloving community) are blessed.

Truthfully, we're blessed already. I wasn't here for more than half an hour, but that time was a neat little taste of San Francisco - imaginative, creative people (Richard the owner, who built up a poker room in his basement into a mini pub and has been honing his homebrewing craft for several years there) who are open and friendly (he puts out a sign from time to time, inviting people into his house to taste his beer. I don't think any of the people there with me actually knew each other, but Richard made it feel like we were all friends). The end goal, to hear him tell it, is a full-serve brewery operation, and I wish him the best getting there - but I was thrilled by this quirky, intimate experience in the house. Thanks Richard!

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3283 22nd St
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 850-4778

Minimum Wine and Champagne Bar - CLOSED 

Categories: Champagne Bars, Wine Bars
Neighborhood: Mission

4 star rating
 2/22/2009  
Minimum indeed! It's a cozy place for an intimate conversation and a couple of glasses of nice, reasonably well prices wines and champagnes. Definitely a spot for you and the object of your affection, I guess I'd consider a double date as well (or more realistically, the first phase of one) but it's not a place for groups, or really to get rowdy. Minimum people, minimum volume, minimum options. I wasn't too turned on by any of the food options.

Best case scenario, you've got the right night, the right person and the right mood, and you've found a place that will feel all your own as you spend the night gazing into each other's eyes.

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388 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 956-3825

Sellers Markets  

Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Financial District

2 star rating
 2/19/2009  
I've started other reviews, I'm pretty sure, with a simple "I want to believe." Again, I don't.

I totally am in favor - green liberal economic and ecological favor - of businesses incorporating sustainable practices. In umpteen regards it's been shown to be economically worthwhile regardless of your views on climate change. But with that I want good food and value and don't believe I'm getting it here.

Every visit over the last twelve months or so has been worse than the one before, though admittedly this spans locations. I've gone from enthusiastic about pulled pork sandwiches to wondering how I've paid $11 for three room-temperature fried chicken sliders and a bottle of water. The layout of this particular Seller's Market seems to create proverbial clusterfucks and I just don't see myself choosing this place until I get the sense something has changed.

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1580 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 647-8111

Arretz Desiree MD  

Category: Internal Medicine
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights

5 star rating
 2/17/2009   First to Review
Dr Arretz was extremely pleasant, with exactly the demeanor and tone I'd hoped for as I went for my first physical in a while. She made me feel comfortable and encouraged questions, allowed me to be honest and in turn was honest with me, and overall I have nothing but recommendations for her. The office staff was thorough and knowledgeable and I felt informed, respected, and well served the entire time I was there.

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106 Friends

 

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93 Compliments

  • Michelle B.
    Good Writer

    You sound like you know your Philly's! This sounds delicious!

  • Rita C.
    Hot Stuff

    Totally excited to come here tonight! Great review!!

  • Kari S.
    You're Cool

    Phat Philly sounds like quite the find. (and re-find)

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