West Portal is usually described as a "land lost in time," but honestly, it’s more like a neighborhood-scale renaissance right now. We sat down with Paul Barbagelata, president of BarbCo Real Estate, whose family has been a community fixture since 1952, to talk about why this place feels less like a transit hub and more like a true village.

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We dig into the "New Guard" coming in, like George’s Donuts, which is a great tribute to the owner's grandfather, and the transformation of the old North American Title building. It’s that perfect balance of keeping the character while actually moving forward. We couldn't talk about the area without hitting the icons like Shaw’s Candy Store and the West Portal Bookstore, real pieces of community fabric. Paul even mentions his first job was at the Submarine Center, which is about as local as it gets.

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The culinary side is surprisingly stacked lately, too. We talk through the 10-out-of-10 falafel at Bursa, the massive lines at Elena’s, and the deep Italian roots at Original Little Joe’s. It’s clearly become a destination for more than just the MUNI tunnel. From the "Where’s Waldo" scavenger hunts to the "free daily facials" courtesy of the San Francisco fog, West Portal is one of those rare spots where you don't have to leave the city to find a place that feels like a permanent home. It’s a pretty compelling place to plant your flag.

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A recent article on 7x7 discusses how West Portal has recently become the coolest neighborhood. You can find the article here.