(19) Herb Caen's Vitamin V @ Balboa Cafe

Herb Caen, according to the internets, "was a San Francisco journalist whose daily column of local goings-on and insider gossip, social and political happenings, painful puns and offbeat anecdotes appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle for almost sixty years." Painful puns, sounds like my kind of writer. This drink was his signature martini, nicknamed Vitamin V = Stolichnaya vodka served in a wine glass (thank you for not opting to drink out of a martini glass sir Caen), over ice, with a spritz of soda and garnished with a skinny orange wedge. Oh lordy, clear alcohol is mighty deceiving. You'd think that this one is particular would be no problem since it's a watered down icy drink. Sheeeesh. You couldn't be more wrong. On another note, Balboa Cafe looks like an old diner from the outside but it's actually quite ritzy inside.

Herb Caen's Vitamin V @ Balboa Cafe. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Herb Caen's Vitamin V = Stolichnaya vodka, over ice, splash of soda, orange slice. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson. 

Balboa's Cafe bar. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Balboa Cafe. Photo credit: Kendra Aronson.

Herb Caen's Vitamin V @ Balboa Cafe ($9)
3199 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
415.921.3944
(Lunch) Monday - Friday > 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Brunch) Saturday & Sunday > 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
(Dinner) Sunday - Tuesday > 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Wednesday - Saturday > 4  p.m. - 11 p.m.
(Bar) Daily > open 2 a.m.