October 25, 2009
Came here for a late lunch and a quality ale and were delighted with both. It was not crowded then so the staff were able and very willing to advise us on choices. Great beer selection of 20+ taps and many bottles. Cozy interior with old country charm. The lunch was very nice with great Belgium Fries. We would be delighted to return but it wasn’t very convenient for us and I thought the area seemed a little rough to this sheltered Kentuckian.

July 10, 2009
Fantastic place that completely exceeded my expectations! Beer selection was strong although I would have preferred more IPA’s; however, it was well-balanced and priced very reasonable considering San Francisco and the beers being poured. Food was also good so I highly recommend making a night of it. My only complaint is that the place is very small, but that actually adds to the ambiance and makes it feel like a really nice local establishment. Must visit this place if you are in the area!

March 31, 2009
Awesome place. very knowledgeable staff. They just ran out of THE ABYSS when I got there. but this place is legit

March 28, 2009
Good selection, a lot on offer for the connosieur. Knowledgable staff, proper glassware, good energy. Small, crowded space, so even though I didn’t eat here I got a good look at my neighbor’s plates and the food looked great. A nice, solid Gastropub in the Mission. Prices are crazy, even for San Francisco, e.g. $13 for a 33cl Saison Dupont...thank god for expense accounts and non-itemized receipts.

March 4, 2009
Well this place is hit or miss. Some of the staff has a rather snooty attitude, like you should be grateful that they even serve you. Food in general is very good, tap list is excellent as well. However the bottles are horribly overprice. I think they are still riding high because it is always crowded but these guys need a reality check in this economy.

October 1, 2008 [ Updated October 22, 2008 ]
Just had dinner last week and can’t wait to go back. The beer selection was great, especially if you like Belgian Ales. The bottled beer menu has excellent descriptions of each beer style. Only drawback is that the place is kind of small and narrow but definitely worth it.

September 15, 2008
A great little restaurant in the Mission with a great beer selection and wonderful food. The menu even lists recommended beers for each item on the menu, and the staff is surprisingly knowledgeable. It is very small, so the best time to go there is for a late lunch between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. otherwise you might be in for a wait. They can be overpriced on certain beers, but I think make up for it with free tastes of any draft beer.

August 16, 2008
This is my new favorite place in SF to drink beer. The bottle selection is incredible, and the menu does a great job of taking you through the various types (without talking down or up to you). The draft selection is constantly changing, and it’s very thoughtfully culled. You’ll get some pretty obscure things on tap that are incredible - Rodenbach Grand Cru comes immediately to mind. The bar staff is incredibly knowledgeable - Nick is one of the best beer guys I’ve ever met. At first, the place seems a little hip, but it’s actually very comfortable after you get settled It gets pretty busy, but it’s well worth it. If you can, wait until 11 or so, and things will calm down and you can hang out and enjoy the light to the heavy until closing time. The food has steadily improved in the last year, though it’s still not incredible (and a bit pricey). I love to have some beers at Toronado, but the Kettle is now my local.

July 21, 2008
Pretty much what Marcus said. Some uncommon beers were available. Lunch can be done on appetizers. Large serving of double fried fries, duck prosciutto, other tasty things. Not cheap, but two ate for $34 including two decent beers. Then the walk back to the Toronado!

June 4, 2008
This is an attractive and clean restaurant/bar in a busy Mission District location. There are about ten stools at the bar and a dozen or so tables in the dining area. There is a substantial menu of upscale dishes and a very nice selection of 10 draft beers and a few dozen bottles. I had a Mikkeller All Others Pale and a delicious lobster pot pie. The server was very pleasant and attentive and seemed to have good knowledge of the beer and food. Beer prices are a bit high, but the ambience and the food make it worthwhile.