Tommy’s Joynt

Tommy’s Joynt
1101 Geary Blvd (at Van Ness Ave)
775-4216, open 7 days,
bar 10am-1:45am, restaurant 11am-1:45am.

Tommy’s Joynt has over 100 seats, on two floors, and accommodates diners at long wooden tables, democratic-style. It is a food and drink haven for the well heeled and the not so well heeled. It was an all-time favorite of Herb Caen, San Francisco’s most famous citizen during his day, as well as of several mayors of the City. Food is served cafeteria-style. Their Big Thing is buffalo meat, in the form of stew, chili, or on a sandwich. There are also 1-3 daily Specials, ranging from Polish sausage with sauerkraut and potatoes for $4.85, to braised lamb shanks with vegetables for $7.20 (a big favorite).

At the bar, martinis are $3.25, Irish coffee $3.25, margaritas $4.25. There are 11 beers on tap, including Guinness and Chimay (Belgian), all $2.75 a half-pint, $4.75 a pint. More than 100 beers from all over the world are stocked, and prices are lower than in most restaurants – most imports, including German and Czech, are $3.25 for 12-oz bottle and $4.25 for 16-oz. Food portions are large. One can eat well here for under $10.00, which can even include a beer. Some have claimed to eat for $5.00 (e.g., Polish sausage with sauerkraut and potatoes $4.85).

Tommy’s Joynt was established in 1947. Most members of the staff have been here for more than 20 years. Some patrons have eaten here for over 40 years!

Daily dinner platters, all at $7.35, are served with mashed potatoes or vegetables, beans or salad, and bread and butter. They include roast beef, BBQ brisket, corned beef, pastrami, ham, and turkey. All are hand-carved in front of you after being ordered.

Salads, all $2.25, include macaroni, coleslaw, potato, tomato & onion, raw zucchini, marinated mushrooms, pickled beets.

Sandwiches. All $4.95 (except buffalo stew sandwich at $5.35) – served on choice of sourdough roll, whole wheat, white, or rye. Sausage sandwiches – with choice of Swiss bratwurst, Polish kielbasa, or German knockwurst with garlic – are Daily Specials at $2.95.

Tommy’s Original Favorites include meatball sandwich $3.95, Swiss cheese sandwich $2.45, buffalo stew $5.35, buffalo chili with rice $5.55, meatballs and spaghetti $5.85, large turkey leg with beans or salad $5.35.

Side orders include beer and bean soup $2.25, hickory-baked beans $2.25, pasta of the day with Italian meat sauce $2.25 (!), clam chowder (Fridays) $2.50.

Daily Specials, served with bread and butter, include Mon – Polish sausage with sauerkraut and potatoes $4.85, braised turkey wing with pilaf $5.45, braised oxtails with pasta $7.50, Tues – breaded veal cutlet parmigiana with steamed rice and mushrooms $6.45, Wed – broiled ground chuck steak sandwich on sourdough roll with sautéed onions and mashed potatoes $6.45, Thurs – braised lamb shanks with vegetables (recommended) $7.20, Burgundy beef with rice $6.65, Fri – filet of salmon with rice $7.25, Sat – sweet and sour spareribs with rice $6.95, corned beef and cabbage $6.95, Sun – roast chicken with rice $5.95, braised lamb shanks with vegetables $7.20.

Desserts, all $2.20, include carrot cake, cheesecake, chocolate cake, apple pie.

Beverages – 11 beers on draft, including Guinness, Chimay (Belgian), all $2.75 half-pint, $4.50 pint, house wine $3.25 a split, bottles begin at under $10.00, soft drinks $1.25, root beer $1.50, coffee $1.10, tea 95 cents, buttermilk 95 cents.