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Eric Risberg / AP
Customers line up for one final meal at the the 100-year-old Sam Wo restaurant in San Francisco on Friday.
SAN FRANCISCO -- Heartbroken customers lined up for meal at a closing San Francisco institution — a 100-year-old Chinese restaurant once known for having "the world's rudest waiter." Diners of decades past say he would verbally abuse patrons, slam down dishes, and chastise complainers.
Sam Wo, a Chinatown hole-in-the-wall that typified the kind of ethnic eateries for which the city's culinary scene was lauded before it became a trendy haven for foodies, planned to serve its last customers late Friday and into early Saturday.
David Ho, a descendent of one of the restaurant's original owners, decided to shut down after officials demanded extensive health and safety upgrades.
On Friday, saddened patrons lined down the block to get a seat at one of the eight lunch tables and to mourn the loss of another San Francisco institution over bowls of won ton soup.
"I know change is good, but sometimes you want to hold onto the happy memories," said customer Darlene Lee, 71, who had been coming to the restaurant for 60 years and said its inexpensive fare was comfort food that reminded her of going home.
For those who did not grow up dining at Sam Wo, it became a cultural mainstay in the 1970s through reports by the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen and the "Tales of the City" novels of Armistead Maupin.
Both men immortalized the restaurant by writing about the antics of Edsel Ford Fung, the waiter who was known for verbally abusing patrons and slamming dishes on tables.
"The Soup Nazi is the Dalai Lama compared to Edsel Ford Fung," said longtime patron Sam Begler, as he tucked into pork rolls and chow mein. "He is the Don Rickles of restaurants."
Eric Risberg / AP
Darlene Lee, 71, looks out the window after ordering lunch one last time from waitress Fanny He, right, at the Sam Wo restaurant in San Francisco on Friday.
Fung died in 1984 at age 57, but for a long time a sign listing the restaurant's house rules maintained his gruff demeanor. Among its warnings: "No Booze ... No Jive, No Coffee, Milk, Soft Drinks, Fortune Cookies."
Begler, a caterer who had been dining at Sam Wo since 1976, recalled how Fung would refuse to serve people he didn't like the looks of and chastise customers who dared to complain when they were brought the wrong dishes. It was never quite clear whether his crustiness was genuine or an act, but it was always an experience, especially for locals who wandered in to take advantage of the restaurant's 3 a.m. closing time.
Another devoted customer who showed up to savor the last-day atmosphere, Michael Lyons, said it seemed odd for city inspectors to crack down on Sam Wo's managers now for failing to institute modern food safety techniques, when the restaurant's old-fashioned methods, such as chopping and preparing meat dishes on a wood table near the front door, was part of its charm.
"It's always been a litmus test in a new relationship," Lyons said about people he took to the restaurant. "If they can appreciate the humble character of a place like this, they passed the test."
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@ Tarzan: I once ate at chipotle and vomited for 2 days. I also once ate at a Clyde's restaurant and vomited for 5 days. Sausage penne. Chipotle is "Mexican" and Clyde's was American food. Have you seen how those people live? It's ghastly really. Living up in the mountains and stuff, wearing no shoes, chewing these leaves that cause cancer, voting republican....truly shocking.
@ bob: lol, yes!
what will they do now to control the feral cat population problem?
Feral dogs
Ahhh it's being shut down cuz of health code violations & peeps r upset?
Maybe i should open up a restaurant in SF & poop in the food.
Watch "The Weiners Circle" on Tru tv if nu want to see rude service.
They ran out of cats
Only in San Fagcisco would a restaurant with serious health and safety problems, and with the world's rudest waiter be a success. I can't wait for "the big one" to strike and drop the whole disgusting city into the ocean.
DeeJay,
Maybe you should READ the frikin article! The guy known as the rudest waiter died in 1984 at the age of 57. Or, do you have comprehension problems?
@alan290 I guess you live in SF. YOU are a turd! Haha 'turdnsoup' That sounds like a SF specialty. Hahahoho
As i predicted when i read the article, the same people that beat up the government and corporations for not doing more for food safety, are coming to the defense of the little guy that doesn't follow the rules.
I guarentee that more people are made sick from food from hole in the wall restaurants every year, than any of the 'big' news recalls you read about. Check your hypocrisy at the door please.......
((prophecy))
Zach Jacoby i believe these people can change from what they are today, that is why someone like myself can take the abuse they wanna dish out. i don't feel them, just ...tedious to see them behave this way everyday
8 hours ago
it was a place to go to for people to eat and laugh, a date, dinner and a show all for the price of an inexpensive meal, our waitor was perhaps dollar for dollar the most tipped waitor in the bay area,
This does not surprise me coming from the land of FRUITS, NUTS, and FLAKES.
Of all the people I fear most it is the one with no sense of humor.
Closing after 100 years due to code requirements to upgrade. Yet another example of this "Great Government" of ours at work!!!!
10-4 "Disgusted 2011"
We regulate ourselves into straight jackets. LOL
The problems nowadays with food safety stem from the fact that we are currently down to three or four major players in the packing plant industry, and there are only a handful of HUGE slaughter houses in the country, through which pass most of the animals now raised (in confinements) and slaughtered (also treated very inhumanely). This pattern is true in virtually every industry in the U.S. This is a disaster in the making, a recipe for newer, nastier intestinal organisms. Ironically, in a quest to keep the public safe from these mutated bugs, instead of demanding the break-up of these mega-corporations, we continue to up the regulations on food and food preparation. This, of course, is what the big corporations want: put the small companies out of business by over-regulation, but never address the heart of the problems that they themselves are creating. Until we take back our government from the mega-corps, we're anything but a free country, and it will only get worse.
Ah yes.... Another government entity protecting us from the evils of society striking again with good effect!
San Francisco is becoming a pretentious fancy pants place for trust fund babies and software geeks. Another nail in the coffin here for their old blue collar authenticity.
Only in liberal land would a restaurant with poor service thrive.
People love to be insulted Robert,, That's why republicans today refuse to return to republican ideals of yesteryear
It's some kind of sadistic kick they enjoy. Probably from lack of parental attention or child abuse
Sounds like that the city wants to renovate the area, to pull in more tax $$'s. What better way to force someone out that has no issues with health codes, then to tell them that they need to upgrade, and cost the business owner big bucks that may not be profitable for him. Government doesn't want one to succeed, and people to be happy; they just want to control it all regardless of the outcome.
I agree with your premise, but differ on one small point. The government is run by big business, and it isn't the government per se, it is big business manipulating government to make their gains and put small operators out of business.
it would not surprise me to find out a year from now this block will be razed down and a new high rise will be built on this site. health inspection/harassment by the city is the easiest way to close down a restaurant.
Too bad someone can't step up and help this business stay in business. 100 years in business means that someone is doing something right. I love the mom and pop businesses and food so much more than the typical fast food. They are the ones that pass on the flavors and tastes of generations and cultures.
It's part of the atmosphere of SF. Shame to see it go
Yeah and when was the last time you ate steamed cabbage or broccoli and cauliflower or mixed greens in a McDonalds or Burger King? LOL They don't allow you to bring in outside food. Veggies are getting harder and harder to find. Even in upscale restaurants what passes for veggies costs you three of four dollars extra and you might get four green beans or two spears of asparagas on you plate. Weird. HEH HEH HEH HEH
Thank goodness for places like Golden Corral or The Cracker Barrel. At least you can pretend to eat healthy. Don't get me wrong I like the occasional burger/fry or taco/burrito thing but there is such a thing as saturation. Asian buffets also give you a shot at eating healthier fare. So this guy's establishment may be forced out just so we can have another burger or chicken joint. More calories for the fast food set. LOL
I've been to Golden Corral, if you like to eat a lot that's a good place,,, A lot of people like it, but a buffet is still just a buffet & I stay away from them.. Not nearly the same as food straight from the galley to the table
It is odd that a restaurant that has been open for 100 years would suddenly draw the attention of health inspectors. Were patrons getting sick after eating there? What changed?
It's truly sad, some base the WHOLE State of what they see a few residents do! Most health conscience people don't dine out often, the prepare their SAFE HEALTHY meals at home!
To make my point, NO WAY NO HOW would I patronize ANY restaurant whose RUDE! GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT THEY DO TO YOUR DISH BEFORE THEY SERVE YOU! A restaurant have ONE TIME to be RUDE when I'm spending my money, bringing them business!
You got to admit, you wonder how some people stay in abusive relationships, bottom line, I believe they like it, and why some patronize such a restaurant!
I'd much rather go to Sam Wo's & listen to the waiters bitch than go to an elite restaurant & dine with phony people like Trump & Romney watching the waiters lose their dignity by pandering & serving them
Bring back Sam Wo
I am all for 'some' regulation. But, I am hard pressed that an iconic business of 100 years needs to be closed due to modern 'new rules!' Bureaucrats running rampant. Then there is the council of supervisors! Grrrrrr
my point exactly
No Won Ton soup for you!!!!
Nah. Just give him a 'misfortune' cookie.
No way would I pay for this kind of "performance", I don't give a damn how good the food is. There are enough great restaurants in my little town of Bisbee, AZ where the food is terrific and the wait staff and management are wonderful, kind to customers and givers in the community. who the hell needs one like this?
All people are different. You see the performance this restaurant gave as serious customer bashing. Others saw it as just part of the show they had to make the place unique. If you don't like that type of thing, that is your choice. To the people that saw through this and got the humor, they had the choice to go there for 100 years. Now you still have the choice to go to a place that has the same old atmosphere as a million other places and the people that liked Sam Wo's don't have the choice any longer by force of government, not customer disapproval. Next time I'm in Bisbee , I'll stop and eat there. I also like good service from local owned business, even if boring. Support Local Business!!
More BS from Uncle Sam; if we want to get back to enjoying our country we need to push out govt from our lives and save a lot of money doing it!
Frankie,,,,, Government is an inanimate object created by our founding fathers.... Screaming at government is like you screaming at your house for falling apart because you failed to keep up maintenance
What is bad about government is nuts like you who don't understand the issues & elect morons with bad agendas,,, they can't manage.... You would have no protections from abuse of corruption in business or banking
Without government Your family would be constantly exposed to deadly epidemics like cholera --- You would not have paved highways to drive to work on without what government does.... Your children would not be safe from your neighbors
When I was younger you did not put in special request for dinner or any other meal. You ate what you were given and liked it. We have a restuarant like that here and all you tell them is do you have any food allergies. Other than that you get what is served and let me tell you the food is fantastic. So would I complain about anything. Hell no. They work their buts off to bring us a great meal. Oh and let me tell you something, if you were at home and you behaved the way a lot of you do at these restuarants you would probably be wearing your teeth down your back side. I do not work in the restuarant business, but I do own a business and I have seen abusive customers come and go. We have a zero tolerance policy for abuse whether it is against staff or another customer. Show your backside and you are out the door and for good. I would rather not do business at all than be treated like a piece of garbage. Oh and same goes for staff if they are abusive toward a customer bye bye you go. We will not stand for it. We all have a limited time on this earth and we never know when our number is up. I for one would like to make the most of it. I am not a do gooder, nor am I rich with money. But my family makes me feel rich. We are happy with what we have and appreciate others for what they do to survive. I for one do not want to make anymore excuses for not doing the things I have been "meaning to do". So each week I start my meaning to list and do my best to complete everthing on it. How many times have you passed up doning something because you claim you are to busy. But you had time to watch a program on TV that you later moaned was crap? I know was very guilty of that. Well no more. I am not going to let life pass me by and not do the things I have been meaning to do. In fact I am going to get some tomatoe plants today. Why because I have been meaning to and it gives you great satisfaction to grow your own food. Hope you all have a great weekend and live life to its fullest before it passes you by.