All the places in SF, I meant. There's this cool place in Oakland the OP should definitely check out, though
I recommend City Beer and then heading over the bridge to Beer Revolution. Toronado used to be cool until some alligator skinned dinosaur lady thought it was a good idea to yell at my sister and girlfriend right when we walked in just because they moved the bar seats. And that old, drugged out lady aside, the tap list was not that impressive last time I was there. I think I will swear this place off unless I go to snag a bottle of T25 or something. I'm only 25 years old and I'm already sick of the attitudes you catch with the craft beer scene. It's pretty ridiculous. I wonder if when you go to one of the most highly-acclaimed wine bars in California, you are greeted as nice as my entourage was. Not part of the wine scene, but I highly doubt it.
For beer and food La Trappe is really good. Sit in the basement, the basement was an old speakeasy and has a cellar feel to it. The upstairs feels a bit stuffy. Good tap and bottle list, the cuisine is Belgian.
I usually ask permission before I start moving stuff around at a bar/restaurant. Maybe that's just me. The Toronado is a locals bar that masquerades as a craft beer bar. If you're not a local, don't expect to get treated like one. I don't and I've never had a problem there.
I work at a bar. People move stuff around (chairs, high top tables, napkin dispensers, etc.) all of the time. Not once have I ever snapped at a customer or lectured them for doing so. And I didn't know that "locals" were supposed to get special treatment at any establishment. I expect to get treated when I go to a restaurant/bar/clothing store/movie theatre with the same respect as any other person who is a PAYING CUSTOMER. I work at the biggest beer bar in my city, and we have regulars who come in almost every day. I treat the new faces with the same respect as I do the regulars. Something is definitely wrong with your moral compass if you think one paying customer (me, and I tip very well considering I do the same job as them) deserves less respect than someone who lives in SF.
Easy on the moral compass talk boss. It's a fact of life that if you're not a regular customer at certain neighborhood establishments pretty much everywhere (you think SF is bad, try back East), you're going to be treated differently. Is it right or wrong? I don't know, it just is. As I mentioned previously, I am not a lower Haight or SF local so when I go in there I receive the usual "What do you want?, That'l be $$." treatment. Personally, I'm fine with that. If you and your "entourage" were looking for a wine bar experience, clearly you went to the wrong place. I apologize to everyone for contributing to yet another "The Toronado was mean to me" thread.
Nice of you to White Knight for the crack smoker who often claims she's the owner's wife (maybe she is, I dunno) but do you really ask permission before moving the bar stools at a bar? I've seen plenty of bar stools moved around in my day (even moved a few myself) and I've never seen anybody take the time to ask the bartender if it's alright. Moving stuff around at a restaurant is obviously a whole different thing.
Second La Trappe. Other than that, go to Oakland for the Trappist and Beer Rev (the place that Toronado wishes it was) before you go anywhere else. Back in SF, I think Magnolia's well worth a visit. Amsterdam Cafe doesn't have a huge selection, but there's always some good stuff on and the prices and atmosphere are good. My two cents - I'm sure plenty will disagree.
It's all good, I love seeing people bitch about Toronado almost as much as I like bitching about overpriced beer and bars. Speaking of overpriced beer bars, I visited Monk's again last week. Within 15 minutes I was in a cab headed for Beretta.
If you like bitching about prices, Monk's is a Godsend. And if you like seeing people bitch about the Toronado, the Toronado is a Godsend. Lucky you!
