First let me say that I am hungry.

New construction inventory is dwindling in San Francisco, and agents are hurrying to claim the position of expert regarding One Hawthorne Place, one of the remaining unsold new buildings. I am no exception!

I have lived and owned in the next block, at 199 New Montgomery Street, so I know the area, and I love it. The only thing I would like added to the area other than more affordable parking spaces for rent would be a few more grocery outlets. It’s true, Whole Foods is only 3 blocks away, but they are long blocks, and it’s exhausting….

When I think about real estate, I think about food. When I show properties, I invariably include a commentary of places to get food in the area. This particular area, near the Yerba Buena Center for The Arts, the Metreon and Moscone Center, is densely packed with places to eat. I remember an incredible appetizer at Ame in the St. Regis, of oysters prepared three ways, one with wasabi sorbet.

The bar snacks at the St. Regis are lovely and generously distributed: cheese crackers, salted almonds and wasabi peas. This is a really nice place to have a drink, especially if you can just walk home. I can’t remember the name of it, but I ordered a really memorable Italian winter soup that had a poached egg in the middle. You can order from the Ame restaurant menu when you are sitting at the bar, but small portions work fine here if you order what you really want. They taste that good.

Image of Ame, St. Regis, courtesy of digitalbear

A hamburger at the W’s bar can be a really nice treat. I usually split it with somebody. I guess the W can work for people who really just want some meat. Can I say that?

XYZ is the restaurant in the W, and I favor the breakfast there for the eggs chilaquiles. It might be partly due to the texture: corn chips in the eggs, but also the avocado next to the salty cheese.

Image of XYZ courtesy of StevenJV

Of course these are fond memories from my past. I eat all my meals out of the freezer section of Trader Joe’s these days. At least I have my memories.

It took me a year or more of living in the area to discover Henry’s Hunan, which has entrances on both Natoma and Minna, where they run between New Montgomery and 2nd Streets. The kung pao chicken would last me two days or more. That place is really good and a bargain.

Image of Henry’s Hunan courtesy of MapJack

There are newer places, of course. The MoMA has a roof garden and a cafe that serves art-replica desserts, along with killer Blue Bottle Coffee.

Image of MoMa Rooftop Coffee Bar courtesy of SF MoMa

The MoMA cafe at street level always seems like a good idea to me, and the dishes sound enticing, but I always order wrong and end up wanting what the other person ordered. Maybe pictures would help?

Back to One Hawthorne. I visited the office on a Wednesday, 2/17, and the sales agents told me they were still waiting for pricing. The parking will not be 1:1, and those with parking will use the valet service. There may be a discount if you exclude a parking spot from your purchase, but in other new developments, that discount has changed and even disappeared during the course of sales. They are offering units from junior 1 bedrooms to 2 and 3 bedroom penthouse units. Many should have views and great light. There will be a common area roof deck and a gym in the building.

Back to food.

Soma Wine and Spirits, at 2nd and Folsom, is almost always open. I really am not sure I have ever seen them closed. They sell a little of everything.

During the week, Cafe Madeline, on New Montgomery Street, is another favorite of mine. Everything there is good, like St. Regis quality good, but at a fraction of the price. I buy little buckets of soup and consider freezing them, especially the cream of tomato. I’m really not a soup fan, but the soups here are real food. I try to stay away from the pastries at Cafe Madeline, but they are really beautiful. Looking is almost enough.

Image of Cafe Madeline courtesy of Thomas Hawk