Rite Spot Cafe

Rite Spot Cafe Backhandedly Makes NY Times' 10 Favorite SF Bars List

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

In an obvious attempt to gin up their alt cred, the New York Times recently swung through the Mission during an otherwise “old news” San Francisco bar crawl. (Unless you haven't heard of Vesuvio and Tosca, in which case it is most definitely new news.)  The result?  Rite Spot, a beloved but thankfully sparsely trafficked bar, made their favorites list.  And their enthusiasm jumped off the page:

Rite Spot Cafe looks like a white tablecloth Italian restaurant about to breathe its last.

Normally I'd criticize them for this sorry observation, but if anyone knows anything about having one foot in the grave, it's The Times.

Does this mean fancy, borderline-discerning Times readers will start flocking to an our favorite Italian restaurant that serves $4 whiskey shots?  Is Rite Spot over? (Also, did I really just link to a clip from Portlandia? Can someone start a Change.org petition to have me banned from life?)  We can only hope not.

[via Grub Street | Photo by Ariel Dovas]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Rite Spot Making a Comeback

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

Back in November, we unfortunately discovered the debatably awesome Rite Spot Cafe on 17th and Folsom was shut down by the menacing Health Department because of a “vermin infestation.”  At the time, many speculated that the place was gone forever due to the size of the renovations required and likely to go on the market for the new buyer.  But all that turned out to be incorrect, according to a tip regarding the recent construction submitted to Eater:

It was all in tumult, furniture stacked in huge piles, sanding equipment and miscellaneous junk everywhere. I talked to one of the guys who said they are undergoing renovations and Rite Spot will be back up and running within a month.

Rejoice!

Of course, whether or not the bar-club-restaurant has a new owner or not is still unknown.  But should they not rid the menu of their killer burgs, it'll probably be just fine.

[Eater | Photo by Ariel Dovas]

Previously on Uptown Almanac: 

Controversial Neighborhood Dive, Rite Spot Cafe, Shut Down by Health Department

— By Kevin Montgomery (@kevinmonty) |

The Rite Spot has the increasingly rare distinction of being a place people either can't seem to get enough of or hate to no fucking end.  To some, a lovely low-key spot to eat surprisingly palatable burgers, take in some music or stand-up, and doodle on the bathroom walls.  To others, an abhorrently evil shithole with snarling bartenders, hit-or-miss food, and dumpy music.  Some even go as far as to claim the place is host to scalp-crawling cockroaches.

Well, it seems the city has sided with the detractors, shutting it down yesterday for “serious or repeated violations” pertaining to a “vermin infestation.”

Mind you, the city closed Boogaloos for similar issues back in August, only to see the restaurant reopen within the week, so who knows how serious the closure is.  But, should it stay closed, we'll have lost a reliable (to some, at least) outpost in an otherwise forgettable corner of the Mission.

Previously on Uptown Almanac: