Ginny Kolmar: Wall Street

Wall Street Restaurant and Bar is a terrific discovery, not only for tired feet and thirsty throats after a day of Christmas or Hanukkah shopping, but for any time of the year when you want a delicious meal in the neighborhood, with or without children. But with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone playing at the Coronet Theater, just a few doors west of the restaurant, it is the logical place to stop by with the kids after the pre- or post-Christmas movie treat for an inexpensive early dinner.

We say "early dinner" because many nights the restaurant is rented out for drinks and dancing by private groups or individuals. If you would like to rent it, there is a D.J. and music system available. Just give the restaurant a phone call to make an appointment or drop by, see the place and make your arrangements. Wall Street holds 240 people for dancing.

The restaurant is not inspiring to look at, with its sky-high ceiling and large, almost cavernous space. The dining area can serve up to 89 people, in four booths and numerous Formica-topped tables with unpadded chairs.

Brown girders up above and a strange color combination of green walls and a brick-red Art Deco ceiling divider gives the impression of having the bar area separate from the restaurant.

On Wednesdays and Thursdays Wall Street features a Prime Rib special for $9.95. If you want soup or salad, baked potato and beautifully prepared vegetables, add $3. What a bargain! If you dine on Fridays through Sundays, prepare to pay a la carte prices anywhere from $14.95 to $20.95 for three cuts of prime rib.

I ordered the "meat on the table d'hôte dinner," with an excellent Miso Soup. The baked potato had sour cream, bacon bits and bits of green onion on it and three kinds of vegetables were served, all slightly al dente and perfect. My companion ordered Teriyaki Chicken, served with steamed rice and vegetables, for $10.95.

We also asked for a sushi appetizer. The menu has Nigiri sushi (one piece/order) or six pieces of Maki for 99 cents or four rolls for $2.99. We ordered for an appetizer two pieces of Hamachi and six pieces of Oshinko Maki. Both were delicious.

There are four appetizers, with bar-type items like Chicken Wings and Fried Calamari, $3.95 each, or a Jumbo Prawn Cocktail, $8.95. There are two salads, a House Salad for $3 or Caesar Salad for $6. Miso soup costs $2.25 or the Soup of the Day can be had for $2.50.

The children's menu features Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (with soda and ice cream), $5.95, or Chicken Nuggets (6 pieces), with fries, soda and ice cream, $5.95.

Besides the Prime Rib, the menu features items like spaghetti made with homemade meat sauce, Teriyaki Chicken, Grilled Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce, N.Y. Steak, cooked to order, or Wall Street's Roasted Crab with noodles (order 48 hours in advance). Prices run from $8.95 to $16.95. (Market price is charged for the crab.) There are 23 kinds of sushi offered and various desserts include ice cream, gelato and sorbet, $2.75 - $4.25, and N.Y. Style Cheesecake with Cherry Topping, $4.25.

Beer, wine and a full bar are available.

Our dinner, with everything included, cost $29.09 plus tip, and each of us took home half of our entrée for the next day. It was a very satisfying meal for so little out of the wallet.

WALL STREET RESTAURANT and BAR

3565 Geary Blvd., at Stanyan Street

Phone: 379-9609, Fax: 379-9607 www.wallstreetrestaurant.com

Full bar; wheelchairs; all major credit cards

Hours: Wednesday through Saturday dinner, 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Atmosphere: **

Service: ***

Food: ***

Price: *

Overall: **1/2