Clown Alley

Located at Columbus Avenue and Jackson Streets in between North Beach and the financial district is this reborn creation and legacy of the maestro of culture and epicurean cafe life, Enrico Banducci who started it more than half a century ago. Bancucci also gave us Enrico's on Broadway, still packing them in after opening as the first legal sidewalk cafe in San Francisco, the world famous 'hungry i' and who coined the name 'Purple Onion' for the joint where Phyllis Diller became a star. Banducci saw a need and filled it, but like everything Enrico did it was done with style and substance and was to become an institution. He sold it to a man who gave it to his son who ran it for three decades and then retired as others tried to make it everything but a great burger joint, and failed trying. That man chose to bring back Clown Alley a few years ago and it thrives again today. The burgers are not as good as I remember them many years ago, but its a real bargain and its a good, greasy burger with good cheap fries. They offer a great condiment bar with plenty to choose from and there is no burger joint in San Francisco that offers better people watching. Its busiest during the lunch hours when white collar workers from the financial district flock to their outdoor patio and inside view tables for a cheap and substantial burger, fries and shake. A must see burger destination, at least once.