Though from the outside it looks pretty much the same as it has since it closed in 2009, there’s lots happening behind the sheets of brown paper that cover the windows of the venerable Palace Steak House at the corner of Mission and Cesar Chavez. Four decades worth of accumulated kitch and grunge have been removed, and based on these exclusive photographs captured by the Bernalwood Spybot, it seems the interior of the Palace Steak House has been throughly remodeled to look retro-shabby-chic.

Meanwhile, the big white sign outside still looks worn and weathered, but astute observers will notice that all the tags and handbills have been neatly painted over.

Yes, the Palace Family Steak House is poised for rebirth as… The Palace Family Steak House. It seems the new owners seek to maintain the spirit of the classic original, which served tasty iceberg-lettuce salads and Sizzler-style steaks at prices that were easy on the pocket. I ate there twice, and both times I felt like I’d gotten a fair value for my money. The place had its fans, including a band called (… wait for it…) Palace Family Steak House. They even created a hipster “Palace Family Steak House” theme song. Listen:

The look of the remodel suggests that the new Palace Steak House is poised to continue this quasi-earnest tradition… somehow. Bernalwood hasn’t been able to contact any of the folks involved with the new Palace Steak House — we tried stopping by a few times, but the gates were closed. And we haven’t seen a menu. But rumors are flying around the street. One of our sources heard from a guy who heard from someone who knows someone connected with the project that the Palace Family Steak House may reopen as soon as next week. We’ll see…

So practice singing that theme song, watch the space, and if you know any more details, feel free to share them with us here.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics

So, it was Friday night, and we wanted to find a family-friendly restaurant where daddy could get a stiff cocktail to accompany his dinner. The thought of battling swarms of Mission hipsters at a place like Beretta or Flour and Water seemed nightmarish, and for a few minutes I felt stuck. And then it hit me: What about the New Old Clam House on Bayshore? They’ve got a full bar! They serve food! And change is afoot, so an updated taste-test seemed to be in order.

Indeed, much has changed. For one, there’s a new glassed-in patio area on the south side of the building that affords an outstanding view of passing traffic. The whole place got a new coat of paint. There’s also a Moderne-style neon sign that looks 80 years old — even though it was just installed a few weeks ago. The front doors are new and inviting, and the interior has been given a thorough spiffing-up.

In short, it looks pretty good, inside and out. But what of the food? And my drink?

The menu has been thoroughly revised, and while many of the old stand-bys remain — paging Mr. Cioppino, to the white courtesy phone! — there are some new surprises that bring the joint up-to-date. One very nice touch is that all guests — including my four year-old — are served a glass of warm clam broth just as soon as they are seated.

Yum! With some broth in my belly, I decided to satisfy my cocktail urge. I ordered a Tom Collins, which was made in with traditional craftsmanship — which is to say from scratch, without any high-fructose cornshite. Double yum!

For my main, I ordered the sand dabs with spicy tomato bacon sauce. It was baconlicious, and overall deeply satisfying. Triple yum!

We also got a half-crab, which arrived on a cast-iron pan sizzling with garlic butter. Quadruple yum in the pike position!

All in all, I’m a fan. Though I sure some old-timers will protest, I think the new Old Clam House fills an important niche in the Bernal restaurant ecosystem, in that there is a place in our little world for a reasonably-priced establishment where you can get a table without too much fuss, along with a stiff drink and a good piece of fish in an atmosphere that feels an awful lot like the kind of restaurant one might find expect to find somewhere along Route 46 in Clifton, New Jersey… and I mean that as high praise.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics

As a Northsloper, I confess I don’t get down to the south side of Bernal as often as I’d like. Fortunately, Bernalwood readers have that covered.

Reader Sandy Cardoza writes to sing praises about the new and improved St. Mary’s Pub, on the corner of Mission and Crescent:

Though I’ve lived on College Hill for nine years, I’d only been into St. Mary’s Pub twice before its recent change in ownership.  The first time shouldn’t really count because I chickened-out before sitting down to order a drink by myself.  Instead, I ended up only asking to change a couple of dollar bills for quarters, since I was in the middle of doing laundry at the laundromat across the way.  The bartender was kind enough to give me change and I realized that I recognized her from Nap’s.  Months before at Nap’s, she had made me a margarita using only limes, sugar, tequila, a splash of water, and ice.

I wanted to order another margarita from her, but the indoor cigarette smoke and the rowdy 49er fans didn’t feel very inviting.

A few years later, my partner convinced me to give the place another try.  I went in hoping to see the same bartender as before, but I was out of luck.  It could have been the same customers at the bar, though: 49ers gear, missing teeth, chain smoking.  We ordered cans of Budweiser and went to the back room to play pool.  Walking through to the backroom, I noticed how the floors were warped in some places.

Fast-forward five years: Some friends mentioned that St. Mary’s Pub is under new ownership, and one of our favorite bartenders is now working there.  Finally, something cool in this part of Bernalwood!  The new owners have given the place quite a facelift, too. The floors are no longer warped. Plus, they raised the ceiling, which makes the ambiance more airy.  You’ll still find the old regulars there — but now they light up outside and watch trippy esoteric Japanese Sci-Fi rather than football games on the bar TVs.

Drink prices are still very reasonable and they offer some real Happy Hour bargains. Stop in and make yourself comfortable because St. Mary’s may soon to become your new favorite watering hole.  Don’t forget to ask your bartender what’s on special.

PHOTOS: Telstar Logistics