Howard's Cafe

1309 9th Ave. (at Irving)

Tel: 415-564-4723

Glasses of wine for $2.25 and you're still in San Francisco! Can this be true? Now, we didn't inspect the wine bottles closely, we didn't give the glasses the swish and swirl test, and we didn't stare at the cork to figure out oxygen seepage. But, gee, with vin de table cheaper than a small shake at Jamba Juice, we knew we were in a keeper.

And great window seats

And on goes the menu, one bargain after another. For dinner you have home grown choices such as Roast Turkey (and you can bet you'll get some killer mashed potatoes from the real tuber, not any of that add-wadah-and-stir stuff), Beef Stew and Porky Chops. I ordered a hamburger complete with bacon, cheese and sautéed mushrooms. And it actually arrived rare just as I had requested! That pleases me.

Now, I'm not one to harp on about salads in a place that really isn't a salad sort of joint; however, if you're a fan of garlic you must order the whiffy vinaigrette to dress your dull looking piece of iceberg lettuce. Not only will you feel briefly virtuous for quickly squeezing in your day's quota of green but you'll be keeping the bugs away. Garlic supplements, who needs them?

My partner had The French Dip (no, not a nerd from across the Channel, but the sandwich). Thinly sliced rare roast beef piled high on a soft sourdough roll, with plenty of au jus (or gravy, if you're from the Midworst) to dip it in. Ambrosia? You betcha!

Our waitress was a real charmer. She sounds just like Minnie Mouse, which fascinated us all evening.

Howard's Café is in the heart of the bustling Inner Sunset. Where the trams honk threateningly.

Susan MacTavish Best and Drew Johnson

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