Rotgut.org Blog

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

#2089 - Happy Lounge, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

3745 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2088 - Ireland's 32, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

3920 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 - (415) 386-6173
Est. 1982
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp - blackbookmag

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

#2087 - Fizzee's, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

I would like to tell you all the interesting things the owner Yung told me about this bar. But I lost my notes, my memory's generally terrible, and this was far too late into my bar crawl to recollect much in any case. But the pictures remind me that they do have a car on the wall and a pretty bartender whose dishwashing gloves match her dress. You don't see that combination every day.

3954 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 -- (415) 221-7300
Reviews: yelp

#2086 - Abbey Tavern, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

The Abbey Tavern seems to bounce between Irish pub (with Celtic music and poetry readings), sports bar, college bar, and nightclub. I suppose it is just an Irish-themed neighborhood joint, trying awkwardly to embrace whatever seems like it will pull in 22-year-old guys

It is not particularly old nor particularly new. It is not a classic Irish pub, nor one of the soul-less knockoffs just hanging the same old Guiness posters. It is not a classic sports bar, nor a bad choice to catch a game. I didn't love it, nor did I hate it.

Wall decoration, Abbey Tavern, San Francisco

Animated conversation in Abbey Tavern, San Francisco

4100 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118 - (415) 221-7767
Est. 1997
Web site: abbeytavern-sf.com - facebook
Reviews: yelp

#2085 - Would You Believe?, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

Not particularly interesting for me.

4652 Geary Blvd San Francisco, CA 94118 - (415) 752-7444
Web site: facebook
Reviews: yelp

Sunday, October 27, 2013

#2084 - The Hearth, San Francisco - 3/1/2013

The Hearth has basically everything you want in a classic dive bar. It is dark; it has a mix of people including several older, local regulars; it has an oddball collection of decorations that have accrued with no particular theme; and it is old. I'm not sure how old it is, but the previous owner Sid owned it for 40 years before selling it in 2007, and there is a photo that appears to show it several years before that (1959). One thing it doesn't appear to have is a hearth -- at least the kind with real stone and real fire -- although a faux version flickers in a corner festooned with trophies and red curtains. Apparently there are sometimes open mike comedy performances there, but when I arrived there were just a few other people and friendly bartender Texie.

Ray Rex bought the place from Sid, added some German touches, and had his copyrighted description painted on the outside: "No Whiners, No Website, Just Booze"© That works for me.