N O P A

At the moment of commitment,
the universe conspires to assist you.

-- Goethe --

I had a lovely time Sunday night. I got dressed up and took myself out for dinner in San Francisco. I have been curious about a restaurant on Divisidero that I heard about on Check, Please! called Nopa. When I was walking Saturday afternoon I realized I was standing in front of it at Hayes and Divisidero, but too early (4pm) come in. I made a plan to return in less casual attire (sweatshirt and jeans and sneakers) the next night and take myself out for a treat.

I couldn't have asked anyone (that I currently know) to come along as my plan was to use public transportation all the way, and that's hard to do with anyone not as enthusiastic as me about BART and MUNI. Not just hard to find someone willing to ride a bus at night but also hard to make and accept quick decisions with another person when your 21 bus just leaves before you know what you'll do instead. And that's just what happened as I came up from Civic Center BART. I had planned to take the 21 bus, which runs straight up and down Hayes, but on Sunday night I was surprised to find they run about an hour apart. I had watched it drive away from the stop thinking I'll catch the next one in a few minutes. Eeep. I headed back down stairs to the MUNI station and took the N-Judah to Duboce and Noe, then walked up Duboce to Castro (which turns into Divisidero) and caught the 24 to Hayes.

It was 8pm by then. Nopa was packed, but I'd come all that way and, more importantly, had my attitude of Easy Does It with me, so I strolled in and asked the hostest how long a wait? "About an hour, but it's first-come-first-served at the community table." Ok. Restroom. Less than 5 minutes later I was sitting at the community table next to a pleasant young couple who also just sat down. Within a minute Michelle, of the couple Michelle & Frank of Castro, started a conversation that would last the next 2 hours... with breaks for feasting on our orders.

I had the grilled country pork chop with collard greens and garbanzo beans. Very delicious, although the waiter, Ben, warned me it would take longer to cook than other menu items. Seasoned just right, cooked to perfection -- done, crusty, and tender -- and huge, really big. And I finished everything. Can hardly wait to try some of the other menu items.

The atmosphere was wonderful, just what I was hoping for. Very open space with high ceiling, the building must have been a local bank. The four distinct seating areas make for four distinct restaurants sharing the same space: booth & table; bar; balcony; and, community table. The variety of people, the variety of seating, the delicious food, and feeling Easy Does It, all led to a very satisfying experience. I shall return.

Leaving, I came out to the 21 bus stop to head back via Hayes. The little display indicated I had just missed the bus, again, and the next would arrive in 45 minutes. Not to worry, I didn't have to stand there until a quarter to 11pm, I just used my Easy Does It and back-tracked. Caught the exact same 24 bus going the other way on Divisidero -- I mean it was the same driver and one of the same riders that I had talked to when I was going to the restaurant 2 hours earlier. At first I felt a little nervous waiting late at night by Duboce park for the N-Judah train, but then a young women arrived very at ease on her cellphone and I relaxed. More young people showed up and chit-chatted.

I was home about 11:30pm and very pleased at my adventure, and very happy about the food and the experience. Committing to go, everything seemed to conspire to support that decision. More Nopa and more exploration is called for.