cafe bassam; bankers hill

i've been meaning to check out cafe bassam since it moved to bankers hill from its gaslamp location a while back, and we dropped in around sunset saturday after a long day working in the yard. it's in the giant alicante condo building on the 3000 block between fourth and fifth.





while the space is much more modern than their old digs, they've gone to great lengths to give it a classy, elegant feel. yet it's also relaxed and quiet, the perfect place to kick back after the yard workout. lots of antiques on display, including a great old thermometer hanging up high, loads of rustic furniture and rich, dark colors througout. the fantastic tea selection still takes up much of the counter. my soy latte was the best in recent memory. unfortunately we had stuffed ourselves at bistro d'asia in university heights, so we couldn't sample the paninis or pastries.

this part of bankers hill has a lot of potential for street life with all the high-rise development going on, and interesting ground-floor retail filling in. the caliph is across the street, and you've got to love their phallic sign:



and marilyn out back on top of the smoking patio:



we were in the neighborhood to knock off some more photos for my nerdy irving gill homes map, but we went a big 0-for-4. all three of his houses near 6th and redwood are gone (something is going in just south of park manor), even though all were present in 1979, according to an old article on the san diego historical society website. after we crossed the quince street pedestrian bridge to hunt down another one on 2nd st., chasing the remaining light, we were greeted by a wall of hedges blocking any shot of the house. still, bankers hill has got to have some of the best architecture in the entire city, and its fun just to wander the streets and admire it.

as we headed south we ran across mukashi at 2706 5th ave; the light was getting low:



i like how they've converted a space like this into a restaurant and market, and it's got to be the only sushi option in that area. extra points for the neat japanese garden out front. apparently it will inclue a "country style japanese market" selling fish, sauces, produce and tea, and will be open early - 7 am. some warning flags came up when i perused that sample menu though ... what's up with the $15 rolls and $20 grilled teriyaki? and i don't think i've ever paid $7 for a miso soup before. if you want your sushi bankers hill, you're going to pay for it.

further south we passed a new wine bar, wet stone (1927 4th ave) with its warm red glow spilling into the street. looks inviting and will have to visit, but the fake positive reviews on yelp are kind of creepy.

speaking of wine bars, they seem to be popping up all over. mission hills cafe will become olivetti, and a new wine bar will open next door to (and by the owners of) arrivederci in hillcrest. but that's another post.