Latest news with #JavaHouse
San Francisco Chronicle
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F.'s window onto the world has three must-visit eateries
Perhaps we've been taking food too seriously. It's become a form of art, an obsession: California cuisine, celebrity chefs, rising stars, Michelin stars, the good life in Wine Country. Maybe we forget sometimes about ordinary American food, like what they serve at Frankie's Java House eatery and bar on the waterfront next to the ballpark. The featured dish is a smashburger, and you can get a hot dog and beer for $10 and a shot for $5. California cuisine? How about a fish taco? Unlike the French Laundry, reservations are not required, especially on slow days when the Giants are not playing down the block. On game days, customers are three deep at the bar. No Michelin stars, but 3.7 on Yelp. 'It's really a little oasis,' said Pat Belding, the manager and sometime bartender. 'And it's been here forever.' Frankie's is one of a string of three small eateries on the waterside of the Embarcadero between the Ferry Building and Oracle Park. One is the Hi Dive at Pier 28, where Bryant Street runs into the bay, the second is Red's Java House, not far away at Pier 30-32. Frankie's, a few blocks south, is the third. There are other, better, classier places in the neighborhood, but these three stand out, mostly because they have a San Francisco style to them, hard to define, part salt water and fog and inexpensive food and a sense of the city 'reminding people of what San Francisco was and is,' Belding said. Of all the places in San Francisco that have changed, the waterfront has changed the most. In its prime, the Embarcadero was the city's window onto the world, the piers lined with ships. The customers in the little waterfront joints were longshoremen and sailors interested in beer and cheap eats. The oldest of the waterfront places was the Java House at Pier 40, opened in 1912. Tom McGarvey and his brother Mike owned it for a while. They also owned the better known Red's Java House, not far away. Eventually, Philip Papadopolous bought the Pier 40 Java House. That was in 1984 and the waterfront was in decline; the ships had all moved to Oakland, the warehouses that filled the neighborhood had shut down and the Embarcadero was lined with rusty railroad tracks. The Java House was just a waterfront shack in the middle of nowhere. When Sotiria, Papadopolous' wife, saw the place, she burst into tears. But the family, including Philip's wife and daughters, made it work, especially after the baseball park opened in 2000 and changed everything. A new day. But things change. After a run of 33 years, the Papadopolous family sold the business to Michael Heffernan, an insurance executive who is a member of an old San Francisco family. The place was a bit rundown, colorful but grungy. Heffernan put in a new bar, beefed up the menu and opened up more outdoor seating. It was newer and better — and it was renamed for Mike's father, Francis Michael Heffernan. Everybody called him 'Frankie,' a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan and an admirer of martinis. I dropped by the other afternoon to have a look around. A quiet summer day, a touch of fog but warm by the bay. The Giants were on the road, and the grounds crew at Oracle Park were cleaning up after a big concert a couple of days earlier. The concert, featuring the Colombian pop superstar Shakira, is a reminder that history is still being made on the old waterfront. The Chronicle said she was the first Hispanic artist to draw a sellout crowd of over 35,000 to Oracle Park. 'A cultural milestone,' the paper called it. Good for business, too. Frankie's was packed. Frankie's is in the food and drink business, and Belding describes the menu as 'Simple bar food.' Every restaurant has a signature dish. Frankie's is the smashburger, which is different from the conventional hamburger, which is usually larger. A smashburger is thinner; the meat has been pressed down, or 'smashed,'' with a spatula or press which gives it a unique flavor. Smashburger historians say the dish was invented in Colorado in 1975, and caught on slowly. Now, they are all the rage. 'Smashburgers are having a moment,' Martha Stewart wrote the other day. Frankie's uses a taco press to do the smashing but Belding says the secret is grilled onions, good quality meat 'and our own special sauce.' He also admires the clam chowder. 'My wife's from Boston and she likes it,' he said. The bar offers 15 or so beers on tap. The biggest seller: 805 brewed in Paso Robles. Also, Barebottle: a craft beer brewed in San Francisco. Baseball and concerts last only in spring and summer; the rest of the time waterfront places have to depend on the South Beach neighborhood of about 5,000 people who live nearby, people out for runs on the Embarcadero and weekend sailors with boats in the South Beach Harbor — regulars who keep these places alive. One of them is Jason Lalley, who lives not far away. 'I like it here,' he said. 'I like the food and the company,'' he said. A simple answer.
Fox Sports
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Java House To Serve as Primary Sponsor of Laguna Seca Race
INDYCAR Java House, the innovative, Indianapolis-based cold brew coffee brand, has been named title sponsor of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES event this month at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, which will take place July 25-27 at the iconic road course, marks the only visit to Northern California for North America's premier open-wheel series. This is Java House's first event title sponsorship. 'We are delighted to welcome Java House as a sponsor for our INDYCAR event weekend,' said Mel Harder, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. 'Cars and coffee are a classic combination, and we're excited to share this fantastic coffee with our guests.' Race fans can enjoy samples of Java House's full line of beverages, including its Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, hydration drinks and more, throughout the race weekend. Java House products also will be integrated throughout all hospitality areas, including premium luxury suites and club style pavilions. The fun won't stop at the track, as Java House Cold Brew Espresso Martinis will be served at select restaurants in the Monterey area leading up to and during the race. In addition to its support of the Monterey event, Java House serves as a primary sponsor on Alexander Rossi's No. 20 and Christian Rasmussen's No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) Chevrolets throughout the 2025 season. 'We are thrilled for Java House to become the title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Monterey,' said Ted Gelov, owner and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group. 'INDYCAR has been an outstanding platform to grow our brand and connect with a passionate fan base. This partnership continues our commitment to expanding Java House's presence on a national stage – with more big things to come in 2025 and beyond.' For more information or to purchase tickets for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, visit Learn more about Java House at
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
Alexander Rossi sees Indy 500 hopes go up in flames on pit road
IndyCar driver Alexander Rossi was having an incredible day at the Indianapolis 500 as he was competing toward the front of the pack, but it all ended in the blink of an eye. On Lap 73, Rossi's vehicle began to leak fluid from the back. It was causing problems for Alex Palou, who was immediately behind Rossi's No. 20. Rossi entered the pits and was told the crew would take a minute to figure out what was going on with his car. Rossi pulled into his pit box, and his car was covered in flames. He rushed out of his cockpit as officials came over to extinguish the fire. Rossi got out of the car and threw his gloves down to the ground. Rossi's fueler Mike Miller needed to be attended to as well, as he still had flames on him in the pits. He appeared to be OK as the issue was being taken care of. "Thankfully Mike's OK too. It's always a terrible situation and it's so disappointing," Rossi told FOX from his pit box. "That was such a phenomenal racecar, and the team made a great decision to stay out there when that first split happened with the strategy, and everything we were doing on the 20 Java House stand was awesome. That's what's so painful about this day is you got to have so many things go right. It's just disappointing because it's another opportunity gone." Rossi said the gearbox's temperature started to increase as the race went on, and he believed that was at least one of the reasons why his vehicle went up in flames. Rossi won the race in 2016. He finished fourth in 2024 and fifth in 2023 and 2022. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Indianapolis Star
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Indianapolis Star
Where Indy 500 fans can find free coffee and meet drivers
Java House is helping to keep race fans revved up this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The coffee brand is hosting Fan Zone visits at the track with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) drivers, with meet and greets, complimentary Java House Cold Brew, samples of Java House's line of single-serve Peel 'n Pour Pods and the chance to win limited edition ECR jackets. The events will take at the Fan Zone inside the speedway. The Fan Zone is located north of Pagoda Plaza. Ed Carpenter Racing drivers will be making appearances on May 23 from 1:50 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. Drivers Alexander Rossi, Christian Rasmussen and Ed Carpenter have signature drinks at Java House locations for a limited time. An offshoot of Carmel-based Splenda-maker Heartland Food Products Group, Java House operates cafes in the Indianapolis and Lafayette areas and sells its Peel 'n Pour Cold Brew Pods nationwide online. Flavors include French Vanilla and Salted Caramel Cold Brew, and the portfolio includes teas, energy drinks, hydration beverages and cocoa.
