Bay Area Recommendations

Near there, Berkeley Bowl has a better to go selection than most beer bars in the city.

For best beer bar, Toronado gets my vote, FWIW.

 

As close is Berkeley is to SF , it's that fucking bridge that makes it so difficult to manage. It's always a pita either getting there or coming back, usually its the coming back to the city. I got stuck there over the weekend with that crazy knife welding lady on Sunday. Got a chance to look at the pavement on the bridge for once.

 

I love Crafty Fox, probably my favorite in town. Great draft list, which I think is better than Toronado personally 75% of the time. Definitely on par in cost with City Beer, which is to say that it's on the high side. Especially for someone coming from a less expensive region (sooo, anywhere else? Lol). Gets the ASB, Humble Sea, Temescal, Moonraker cans to go. Great staff, good food.

Add me to the list of those that would never step inside Zietgiest, especially with Crafty a block away, Beer Hall borderline walkable, and CBS not more than a 5-8 minute Lyft.

 

Toronado remains my go to beer bar in SF. Crafty Fox is nice but not a little too PC for my preference. Toronado is rough around the edges, which is what I like. Otherwise, I will drink at home or other "safe" environment. Old school and deserving of respect, Toronado is my vision of a beer bar. Add Rosamude Sausages to the mix, it doesn't get better. I have the experience of the bartenders buying us a round of drinks if you treat them with respect. YMMV.

 

Whoa, just had a total flashback of being in New York years ago and everywhere I went the bartenders did buybacks after you ordered a few drinks and tipped them well...Is that still a thing back East?

I have never really experienced it around here other than, ironically, Crafty Fox. But that's more just a result of the owners knowing me lol. They also hook me up when I bring clients there by listing any to go cans as "open food" on my bill so that I can still expense it lol

 

Toronado for life

they do their best to shit on everyone equally

 

One of the bartenders at Toronado bought me and my buddies a round, even though I didn't know him, and didn't even chat with him when we were there. That was the turning point for me, and changed everything I thought about them.

 

Toronado is the OG Bay Area Beer bar, you gotta know how to act when you in there. I’ve been going there for like 20 years. I’ve brought friends there and seen them get shit on for not bringing cash or asking for macro beer. Shit was funny to me but they’ve always treated me with respect and I’m from the east bay. Cash only and hurry up and choose your beer!! Lol

 

How has Old Devil Moon not been mentioned? Fantastic spot! Plus everything there is available in 4oz pours, like a bunch of Pros!

Plus the list is pretty much one of the best in the city, hands down.

 

Wait, they offer a macro beer and then get mad when people order it? Lol

 

https://beerbybart.com/why/

I wouldn’t skip ToronadoSF. Original SF dive bar. Cheap $ Pliny and Pig pours. 3ven cheaper during Happy Hour. And very fresh. Be sure to check out their tap board for some of the best offerings in SF. I would also hit up Zeitgeist. A short Uber ride from Toronado. Another cool dive bar nearby BART. My last experience at Cellermaker Pizza was not. I will go to the original Cellarmaker from now on. Their pizza was okay. But not for the price. Yes I’m cheap. I was there for the beers. They just didn’t have the selections I was looking for. Fieldworks Berkeley is a must stop. Skip the drive over the bay and use BART. There’s a great liquor store nearby I can’t remember the name right now.

 

Anyone know why toronado SD went vegan with their new food outlet? They used to have amazing burgers and other items. The new vegan menu is awful

 

For East Bay to-go, Beer Rev & The Good Hop.

 

Only thing I'll say about this: When my friend and I were going out to try the different Detroit Style Pizzas in SF, Cellarmaker HoP was actually the cheapest option.

Looking at just the classic pepperoni...

Tony's Pizza Napoletana - $33
Cellarmaker HoP - $20
Square Pizza Guys - $21
Pizza Squared - $25

So gripes are really more about San Francisco pricing than Cellarmaker pricing.

Now as far as taste - that may be a different story...

 

Who was your winner?

I'll be honest, Midwest pizza isn't really my jam, but I thought CHOP's pepperoni was good, and it's obviously got the best tap list of the bunch

I've never had the Detroit style at Tony's, but as far as New York style goes they are pretty good.

My wife had been wanting to try Square Pie Guys while they were doing the pop-up at Vinyl, but now that they've moved to the Mission that's probably not going to happen anytime soon.

 

I think in terms of flavor, maybe SPG? But I didn't go to Tony's either. Btw, SPG's permaspot is pretty much diagonal from City Beer Store so you can easily try it.

In terms of where I'd actually go eat, Pizza Squared. They do it by the slice which wins it major points for me.

 

Point taken.

 

Anyplace in or around Pier 39 to grab some good pints? At least a decent tap list?

 

That's a no fly zone for me lol