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The Alembic
Categories: Nightlife Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
1725 Haight St(between Cole St & Shrader St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighbourhood: Haight-Ashbury
(415) 666-0822
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1196 reviews for The Alembic
Review Highlights
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"Bone marrow - yes please to artery clogging goodness." In 103 reviews -
"Bone marrow, duck hearts, quail eggs, duck confit." In 62 reviews -
"The beef tongue sliders were delicious." In 32 reviews
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1196 reviews in English
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Review from becca k.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2012
The first few times I visited The Alembic were right after it opened. Kinks were still being worked out and seats were fought over, afternoon and night. Whipping out your dukes was a requirement for anything past "are you here for drinks or dinner?" Last week, my man and I tried it again, and we were blown away not only by our meals and drinks, but by how friendly the service was.
Our salad of rhubarb, artichoke hearts, sunchokes, fennel, and some other veggies felt so fresh and divine. I could have eaten that day and night for a week. Seriously. Give me a giant bowl of it right now and I'll be quite content. And I loved my quinoa with over-easy egg and veggies (mushrooms? It's sad that I can't remember). Also really liked that the kitchen will try and "vegetarianize" things, too. Subbing mushroom stock for the bacon broth made me feel valued. For dessert, we tried the chocolate pudding, which tasted sinfully delicious. All went great with my promissory note, an in-house cocktail concoction of tequila, vermouth, ginger, absinthe, and honey. Yum. Keep those babies coming.
Super glad that this is just two blocks from home. I'll be back. -
Review from Melissa N.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2012
I know. People have a real boner for this place. And I'm not saying that I'm not a sucker for a handcrafted cocktail, because I am. But my experiences have been so varied that I can't pull out the other two stars yet.
I've had some wonderful experiences here. A fabulous dinner with two of our foodie friends. A long night of cocktails with my former boss, his wife, and the hubs after a holiday party. But I've also had some real shitty ones too. The hostess saying we can't sit at a table up front because we JUST ordered drinks from the bar and then being ignored by both the bartender and the waitress. Or ordering drinks from the bar and standing huddled against the wall with nowhere to go, drinking our drinks in one fell swoop and quickly escaping to Murios.
I love the ambiance and I also love that we have a place like this in the Haight. Although I am upset about the departure of the Red Vic, rumor has it that Alembic is expanding in to that space, making me excited for things to come. -
Review from Assaf B.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Disclaimer for this review: I got here during Bay2Breakers... So who knows what really happened..
I will rate the place on two items:
Food: Excellent, everything we had was great and being in group who likes to share, I tried it all. I mainly recommend the pork sliders. bomb digidi.
Bar: I don't think the bar is all that great, pretty simple
So overall, a place with good ambiance for a casual snack and drink, solid 4 stars -
Review from Lulu W.
Albany, CA
Came here tonight with a couple of friends and I must say I love the atmosphere! You won't find any type of vodka, mixers such as cranberry juice, coke or sprite. I had a hard time deciding what I wanted since I normally order drinks that have Vodka. I asked the bartender and he recommended the Southern Exposure.
The Southern Exposure was a mix of Gin, lime juice, mint and celery juice. It was DELICIOUS! We were quite lucky to find parking 1/2 a block away. Upon entering we were able to at least sit at the bar. Within minutes, the entire bar was filled with people standing and enjoying their drinks and company. This place is quite unique, filled with different types of cocktails. I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area! -
Review from Dolce S.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2012
I can certainly see why some people like it here, it is clearly place for a certain crowd. I am at this point in my life a bit fogyish for the scene though. A much more interesting menu than you'll find at any similar sort of bar - Interesting drinks, creative food, just a little too loud, crowded and scruffy for my taste. Ten years ago I would have loved it, now that I'm pushing middle age, not so much.
-
Review from Bonnie G.
SOMA, San Francisco, CA
5/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
The drinks were so good that I'll be coming back for the food. This should be on anyone's bucket list of artisanal drink experiences. The ambiance is one-of-a-kind, the menu is a unique character, and the cocktails will mess you up and tickle your tongue.
I also got a dessert even though I wasn't hungry- I wanted to lick the plate and get naked with the roasted peanut sauce. It was good to say the least.
The only downside is it was expensive for my cheapass self and upper Haight just isn't my bag anymore. Hence the missing star.
I'll update after grubbing on the prix fix menu. -
Review from Aivy C.
4/24/2012
Quality, expertly crafted drinks and delicious small plates are what you'll find here.
There are some tables here but your best bet, especially on a weekend, is to grab a seat at the bar.
We shared the Southern Exposure (gin, lime juice, mint, celery juice - YUM!) and I forgot what the BF had, but it was good too. The bites we shared were the Pork Belly sliders (can't go wrong with pork belly, really) and the most amazing bone marrow I've ever had - we kept jokingly referring to it as "meat flavored butter" because of the texture.
This is the kind of place you take people who appreciate quality food and drinks but don't want that uncomfortably full beached whale feeling at the end of the night (keepin it real, who wants to get your freak on with a distended-ass stomach) - it is truly the perfect sneak preview before the upcoming attraction ;) -
Review from Mark G.
San Francisco, CA
5/21/2012
Great date spot and perfect cocktails. Instead of having your normal cocktail, I recommend deferring to the bar tender and getting their recommendation. I've never been disappointed. The food is excellent as well.
-
Review from Marlon T.
4/23/2012
Ultimately, I'd have to say that the food is just alright but otherwise it was a good experience.
Presentation of each dish was awesome and the quality was above average as well.
Maybe I just felt that it was too expensive for the overall experience.
We ordered the Bone Marrow, Duck Hearts, and the Suckling Pig. The Bone Marrow was actually pretty decent, but the other 2 dishes were whatever to me. I guess I can say I tried duck heart before but it became really irrelevant after I ate a few. If you're Filipino, you probably will think the Suckling Pig flavors are familiar.
Service was nice and the lighting is very dim. I think that if I ever come back here, it would be for the beer.
They make cool looking business cards. -
Review from Gina W.
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Maybe I went on an off night? I read so many great reviews about this awesome gastropub and in one of my favorite areas of the city, the haight. The wait was almost over an hour however I do give a star for the nice hostess who was totally friendly and constantly updating us. We finally sit and I start with some cocktails. Pisco sour and Poop deck both of which gained another star. We order a pork slider, chips, bone marrow and pickled quail eggs for starters. All we good but I felt the bone marrow was overpriced. Mains were suckling pig and duck. The pig dish came and my favorite portion of pig is the crispy skin. Why was it the SMALLEST cube on the plate? I've heard of portion control but when it's average $24 a plate I'd like to get my monies worth.
In the end, bill came to over $100 for the 2 of us with the slowest service and my stomach did not agree with something in the meal because I had a painful tummy ache afterwards :( -
Review from Miranda L.
4/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Simply put, the best meal I had in San Francisco.
Great drinks, great food, good atmosphere! my drink was divine and the food incredible. Will be back. -
Review from Jesse A.
Embarrassingly, we stumbled upon The Alembic, just looking for a restroom and a place to check wifi. We emerged, four hours later, after a scrumptious dinner and some fabulous drinks. Best toilet break ever!
We had the pork belly sliders, the decadent bone marrow with capers & bread, and the gnocchi with artichokes, and all sorts of delightful things - honestly I can't remember what they were but that was some amazing vegetarian goodness going on there. We would come back again and again, if it wasn't for certain geographical challenges...
The atmosphere at the Alembic is stylish but welcoming. Wine servings are generous and we noted that some very serious "cocktail nerds" next to us were getting pretty enthusiastic about a few of the cocktails on the menu.Listed in: Getting Fat in the USA
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Review from Rho T.
4/11/2012
When I say Bitch, you say Ass!
Bitch!
(you)
Bitch!
(you)
The scene: Pouring out. Freezing. Aquanet's got nothin on this wind.
A couple walks into the Alembic.
Guy: Shit. I forgot to pay the parking meter!
Girl: Do you need quarters?
Guy: Can you go pay it?
Girl: Looks outside. Frowns. Are you serious? (girl weighs about 100lbs)
Guy: Please, babe. I've only worn these Jordans twice!
Girl: But we parked like 4 blocks away! Look at the rain!
Guy: That's what your hood is for. I'm gonna see how long the wait is.
Girl: I'm not going out there.
Guy: I'm not ruining these shoes. If I get a ticket then, you're paying for it.
Girl: Rolls eyes. Puts hood on, walks out.
(Wow. What did I just witness?)
Guy: How long is the wait?
Host: At this point, about 40-45 minutes.
Guy: Alright.
(15 minutes pass, girl returns- drenched.)
Girl to Host: How much longer for our wait?
Host: You could grab that barstool there and I'll call you for your table. Probably another 20 minutes.
Girl: Oh, thanks!
Guy: Tight! (proceeds to walk with girl to bar)
Host: Not you, just her.
Guy: Huh?
Host to Girl: And let me get you a towel, you're drenched.
5 stars for the Alembic host.
Oh, and the drinks will get you sauced. Get the Sazerac - Rye whiskey, Peychaud's bitters and sugar. The Black Metal Stout was scary and yummy at the same time, and their Connemara Peated Irish whiskey tasted light but don't let that fool you, because all I saw was darkness in the morning and kept frantically touching and patting my face saying "I can't see! Where are my eyes?! Oh my god my eyes are gone!"
I'll be back to taste the food.
At any rate. Lesson of the day for the fellas: Don't be a bitch ass. -
Review from Kevin L.
4/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh, how I wish I'd had an appetite!
Instead, I was unknowingly nursing the beginnings of a fun* bout of gastroenteritis, so my experience was coloured with a less-than-rosy lens. Even still, gastronomic pyrotechnics aside, The Alembic's the kind of San Francisco institution that I was bound to instantly fall in love with, as the friend who invited me out suspected from the start.
Beginning with a cocktail program that featured many of my favourite ingredients (think lots of aged spirits and very few fruity mixers) to a dinner menu equally as mouthwatering and New Americana, this small shop is all things I crave in an eatery.
Shishito peppers served up much like padrón peppers, pork belly sliders, heavy and savoury duck breast (that I found to be tougher than expected), and The Alembic's vaunted bone marrow claimed every last free square inch of free space at our dinner table. The above managed to more than satisfy three diners - two very hungry ones, and one with a pitiably minuscule appetite.
Given how impressed I was with my experience, even in my ailing state, I'm dead set on making a return trip for a proper dinner. I'm just grateful to have finally made it here!
----
*Where 'fun' is defined by spending half a week split between spending time in bed and in the loo and the absence of doing pretty much anything other than those two things. -
Review from C L.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2012
This place is really small. But what it lacks in size, it compensates for in performance. Ahem. Really good service. Really good bites. And really, really good cocktails (with well-written descriptions on the drink menu). If you're worried about getting a table, try to come on a less busy evening. It's worth a trip to the Haight. As a side note, I can't even remember the last time I polished off a meal with warm milk and cookies. Made me want to get in my PJs and read a bed-time story...
-
Review from Erika C.
Awesome waitress, really cool and helpful. Come for beef cheeks. Pork sliders and bone marrow were good too, but not indispensable or special. Bone marrow was better than Wayfare Tavern and on par with Bluestem and Marlowe. Skip the duck heart (mostly salty, tasted like chicken, but has a certain novelty considering it is being served at a New American place) and duck breast (The Alembic, like most places, do a tough duck breast).
Friend seemed to enjoy his Blood and Sand. Others in our group had beer. They have a huge selection. This seems like a great place for drinks if you live in the area. I have no intentions of getting drunk in the Haight.
I had higher expectations, but I'm glad I tried it out. They definitely have food that would stand well on its own at a restaurant. Impressive for a bar. -
Review from Alton P.
San Francisco, CA
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
I used to really like this place. It was a nice change of pace from the dive bars and pubs in the area. I thought its laid back atmosphere and decent drinks, made it a great place to come to. Then I found myself disillusioned.
I had some people come in from out of town and decided to take them to Alembic. We ordered our drinks and they were OK, but that was fine. We got onto the topic of taking shots and decided to see if they were able to put together a chocolate cake shot, immature maybe, but we were just trying to have a good time.
I ask our waitress if we can order a couple chocolate cake shots. She replies, without any sense of professionalism or courtesy may i add, "Uh..yeah we don't do those here." Did I mention that she gave us the gnarliest stink face? (like sh*t just appeared in her nostrils). She walks away and the first thing she does is run around to the other side of the bar and gives the bartender a play by play of how she "showed us". I'm not sure if she realized that we could still see her and she was within ear shot, but that didn't phase her animated story telling of what had just taken place.
We asked for the bill, paid, and we didn't even get the standard "Thank you."
I don't know if we offended you, but there is no excuse for being a pretentious a**hole in an industry where customer service is your job. After our run in with the hostess/waitron it dawned on me this place is tiny, the drinks were overpriced and the employees are well practiced in snobbery.
Thank you. -
Review from John R.
3/25/2012
Every once in a while you discover that ever so unique bar. It's that bar you've come to notice has been repeatedly written about on websites, blogs, featured in magazines and maybe a tv show here and there. One that has it's own unique vibe that happens to be located in the ever so colorful Haight/Ashbury district of San Francisco. A bar known for their unique handcrafted cocktails, which have become popular in the U.S. once again, much in thanks to the city of San Francisco and bars like this one.
You have to give this bar a shot. So you tell some friends and venture out one evening for some great drinks and conversation. Walk in and you already notice that low light speakeasy vibe. The giant wall of unique booze, confirming that this ain't no Cheesecake Factory. The wood paneling and rustic style features that remind you of the Prohibition Era in the U.S. if you had lived during that time, and for a split second you almost think you actually did, due to how much you are digging the atmosphere.
They don't take reservations, but hey, whatever, it's part of the culture, so you put your name in and wait it out. It's obviously worth it. Maybe you are out with a few new people that night, so it gives you that opportunity to have some laughs or be completely bored. It could go either way. You don't even know them!
Ok, back on track, so your seats are ready. You might get a seat at the bar or a table near the front windows. You are really excited at this point. You have been craving an Old Fashioned like nobody's business for days. The moment is about to be here...
After about a 10 minute wait or so of wondering why no one has asked you what you would like to drink, you start to question what is going on, being that there seems to be a group of people that are getting a lot of attention. You might wonder if they are regulars, then around the 15 minute mark you come to the conclusion, that yes, they are.
But finally it's drink time. Someone asks you what you want. Sure it's in a way as though it's a waste of their time, but hey, it's busy. A couple of people might have questions, and questions don't seem very popular, but they ask anyway. So now it's your turn and you order your Old Fashioned. They don' ask you what type of whiskey you would like in it. But they know what they are doing, you trust them, they are always written about in 7x7, there is no way they would serve a less than stellar cocktail.
Everyone's drinks arrive. You all are having a blast talking about the presidential election in 2012. You couldn't be more excited, it's time for your Old Fashioned. You take a deep breath and take your first sip. And wow.......................it's not good. You start to think about how if you had wanted a glass of whiskey, you would have ordered a glass of whiskey. But then you just get more irritated because you realize that no one even asked what type of whiskey you wanted and now that you have a glass of whiskey, that question would have been much appreciated.
So yes, maybe you are a little disappointed. So you ask around the table how everyone else likes their drinks. It's a lot of indifference or disappointment. You have to go for round two. The next round will be better, you know it. Maybe you opt for a Sazarac. You this time to ask about the whiskey. Questions not welcome once again. But oh well, it's fun now. Drinks are served!!! The first experience is just repeated. You ask for your bill and at any other bar, the price would be expected and here you just can't help but wish the price was 1/3 or less. You know that would be fair.
At first you seem a bit confused as to how a bar with such word of mouth has undelivered on the very thing they are known for, cocktails. You know it can't be them. It has to be you or a series of unfortunate circumstances that led to these less than stellar drinks. A bad day for someone that has given nothing but chip on the shoulder attitude. Or maybe it is just how it's done in the Haight. So many reasons that can't possibly the fault of this bar. It's you. You just have to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one...
The experience is all so confusing. But you stop, take another deep breath and suddenly it becomes clear. This isn't your first time in this bar. It's your fifth or sixth time. This is just how it is. You've tried to give them the benefit of the doubt plenty of times before. You've tried to appreciate it for exactly what it is. But you realize it's done so much better at a Rickhouse, Rye or Bourbon & Branch. It's just not worth any more chances. At some point they must have lost their way. Or maybe it's just the way they've always been.
I honestly don't know what you call this bar...but I call it, The Alembic. -
Review from Jessica O.
Glenview, IL
4/10/2012
This place is definitely worth a try. The drinks here are serious... I'm a self-admitted frou-frou type-o-lady and this place was a little rough on my delicate palette. BUT, the more "manly" members of my group really enjoyed their cocktails and we proceeded to all get fashnicked together.
The food here is good. It's very rustic but pretty developed, and I really enjoyed it. We were here at an awkward time and were the only ones in the house. We got walked through our cheese sampler, and really enjoyed most of the dishes we were served.
Highly enjoyable! -
Review from Ireri L.
Oakland, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I love my old fashioned cocktail with good bourbon, not too sweet and with only 1 or 2 ice cubes. It's been hard for me to find a place that makes a great one but The Alembic gets it right. I just wish I could get a good drink without the snobbishness of the bartenders. I guess nothing is perfect. I've never had their food but I don't really care for it, I come for the drinks.
It can get pretty packed on the weekends but usually we're allowed to hang out by the bar if the hostess is not being rude or unaccommodating.
I keep coming back here when I'm in the city because I respect the drinks but not the people who work here. -
Review from Tony L.
This fantastic not-so-hidden gem located in one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco, the Haight Ashbury district, combines a superb cocktail menu with great artisinal dishes.
Bar manager Daniel Hyatt has a poetic way, not with his words, but with his technique as master mixologist at this establishment, concocting all sorts of magic potions using a variety of unique and rare techniques ranging from the usage of different foams to semi-solid purees in his drinks.
The decor is simple and neat with plenty of natural light penetrating the space. The 37 seats available here can be limiting, especially during peak hours, so I would recommend either coming earlier or closer to closing team to avoid the crowds.
The lunch menu serves up a few dishes for those looking for a quick fix. The pork belly sliders with mizuna and miso-ale mustard (how innovative is that?) was good and the amount of pork belly used was quite generous. The beer battered rockfish sandwich with malt vinegar remoulade was delicious.
The service here is what you would expect coming in, no-nonsense and get to the point, just the way I like it when I'm craving a solid meal after a day of browsing the stores in this area.
All in all, the Alembic offers good quality food by pairing their dishes with great drinks and caters to the type of customers that know exactly what they want, not just for what to eat, but life in general. I'll definitely be back, especially if I get the munchies, and if I'm in this area that's bound to happen. -
Review from sebastian c.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2012
Ok this place is crackin!
Duck Breast: RIDICULOUSLY GOOD
GNOCCHI: MORE LIKE YESCHI
Bread Pudding: It was ok, the cherries were a bit much
Beer was good and the bartenders/waitresses were good, this place is GREAT. -
Review from Joco F.
Concord, CA
5/21/2012
I knew long before I stepped in the door that I would love The Alembic. I'm happy to finally say that everything I've read and believed it would be came true. First off I had always read about Daniel Hyatt's drink making and I was lucky enough to try it first hand because he was there. Not sure if he always was but I assume he'd take a night off once in a while. Anyway I had 3 cocktails and they were all perfectly made and tasted amazing. They truly care about drinks here. It's amazing to me that from this little bar amazing food was eminating from it's kitchen. We had 4 dishes and all were amazing. Pork Belly Kimchi Sliders, Some sort of 3 fish special, Bone Marrow and toast, and Shishito Peppers. The biggest surprise was the service. Our waitress was amazingly nice and helpful. Her suggestions on food and drink were on point. She had a great personality. We almost wanted her to pull up a chair and join us. Unfortunately she was pregnant so the cocktails probably wouldn't have gone over well. I can't wait to go back as this is another one of my top 5 easy.
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Review from Shawn V.
San Francisco, CA
3/9/2012
Oh Alembic. How complicated you are.
If you live in the Haight area - this place is 6 stars. No, 7 stars. The drinks are absolutely phenomenal (and I'm comparing them to the other speakeasy / mixology bars in the city). The food is quite a slice of heaven. And the atmosphere is comparable to a chic modern speakeasy that was transplanted right into Haight street from Polk st. A nice break from the rest of the area if you live here.
The problem? No where to sit. Ever. Ever? Ever. This place is tiny and crowded. If you're looking for just drinks at the bar, you are not going to get them at night time. Which brings me to my original point - if you live in Haight this is a great place to walk by on your way and see if a spot is miraculously available. If you don't live in Haight - the trek down to Haight just for this place will leave you waiting quite a while.
Its quite a shame. But I love you Alembic. -
Review from Jeanne L.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Come with a friend or two or three, but no more! The inside is somewhat small and doesn't accommodate many people. However, it seems like a lot of people like to stand around near the bar, just for cocktails.
Here's what was ordered for three (very satiated) people:
[[ Bone marrow chard ]]:
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Delicious! I'm more fascinated by the novelty of bone marrow than I am by the taste of it. I love being active with my food, and really digging into it. The actual taste of it is never that impressive, which I guess is the case here as well. What impressed me most was the abundance of marrow in the bone. Mmm little gobs of fat, with roasted garlic that spreads like butter, and little accents of capers! Perfect to split with a group of 3 to 6.... or to eat all by myself.
[[ Jerk-spiced Duck Hearts ]]: Good texture with just a faint kick of spiciness. This might have been my favorite dish of the night.
[[ Pork-belly Sliders ]]: Comes with kimchi, which adds a pleasant twist, and gives me inspiration to do that to my future home-made burgers. The pork was not as fatty as I thought it would/should have been been.
[[ Beef cheeks with polenta ]]: O.M.G. The beef was so soft. It dissolved in my mouth. The polenta was also delicious and melted in my mouth too.
[[ Duck breast ]]: My least favorite. This ended up being the last plate of the night, and I was already nicely satiated at this point, so maybe I was a bit negatively skewed. I thought the meat had too much of a liver-like texture to it, which I didn't like.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-...
Total came to about ~$70/person with a cocktail each and a bottle of wine. About what I expected for this quality of food.Listed in: 7x7 San Francisco Restaurants
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Review from John P.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Alembic Bar
Enough said, the hype is worth the wait to get in for a table. Food is excellent service is timely in a respectable manner and if not he drinks are worth the wait! Smaller on the portion, but the flavor is there to leave you wanting for more.
We had the Grilled Duck Hearts which left me in such a state of spicy elation I had to order another order. Along with their chips and dip were a perfect accompaniment to our beverages, along with the pickled quailed eggs. Start with the chips dip and eggs, then work your way to the spice.
5 *'s and definitely worth it as a regular hangout. Similarly to Rick House. -
Review from Kimya P.
3/8/2012
Unassuming from the outside, Alembic is a hole in the wall bar that manages to retain so much class despite the craziness out on Haight. It's tiny - perfect for a date or catching up with one maybe two other friends, but anything more than that, looks less feasible for both you and the Alembic staff.
We arrived around 7 on a Friday night and were seated immediately - very lucky considering there was a line for dinner shortly after we were seated.
FOOD - The menu has several unique options. The two of us ordered:
1) Duck hearts: The combination of the jerk spice and pineapple was really good, but the meat was unimpressive. I don't think I'd order this again. Also, in terms of portion-size, the hearts come out on a single skewer - not meant to be filling, meant to be sampled?
2) Beef cheeks: Drenched in fantastic BBQ rub; came with creamy-goodness grits.
3) Pork belly sliders: Delicious combination of flavors -- kimchi + fat square of pork belly in between mini buns. You're eating a fancy version of huge bacon chunks. I ordered two of them and it was as an especially rich dish for me. In the future, one order will be perfect.
4) Fried brussel sprouts - it was on their specials menu. If they offer em, get em.
** For those considering coming for food, my recommendation is do family style. All the dishes were incredibly rich and with especially distinct menu options, it's fun to taste as many as possible. But, for instance, two huge chunks of beef cheeks on one plate -- no one needs to eat that much cheek, more fun to share and that way you sample more of the menu too!
DRINKS - Expensive ($11/cocktail), but so many amazingly unique whiskey and cocktail options. My favorite - Southern Exposure, highly recommend it. There's celery in it (yes, celery!) and mint, and gin (and I normally avoid gin drinks, but this was too good) - refreshing amazingness, order it.Listed in: SF Dinners (the affordable…, SF Bars With Food
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Review from Jeff M.
San Francisco, CA
4/2/2012
The drinks - great.
The food - didn't get to try.
The waiters - Kind, trying to do their best
The bartenders - stuck up, but by SF standards not bad.
The hostess? A huge piece of shit, that was completely unaccommodating, rude, and didn't seem to be accomplishing or contributing anything for the bar. Absolutely ruined the experience for multiple groups, and random strangers and I outside complained about how she ruined the place. -
Review from Robert P.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2012
Nice cocktails. Really enjoyed the Just Like Honey. Sometimes you need a Highball, and this Scotch Highball is done really well.
Mackerel dish was wonderful.
Our table service was great. -
Review from Leonard L.
San Diego, CA
3/8/2012 5 photos
Alembic
SF: Haight-Ashbury
Saturday March 3, 2012
Four Stars
[SF#7]
This place is probably a Five Star Place, but I was already 2 Sheets to the wind so I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have.
Cocktails: Sazerac, High West Old Fashion, Pimms Cup, Blood and Sand, and a Poop Deck.
Food: Cheese Plate (don't even remember eating it), Bone Marrow (Cut length wise, Instead of the Small Circular ones) was delicious.
*What is up with the 4% Healthcare Surcharge?Listed in: Proper Cocktails
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Review from Laura F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/19/2012
Great cocktails, but there is always a HASSLE to just sit down and have a meal. The hostess is always so difficult. One person parking? Forget sitting down. More than four people? God forbid you put a couple of tables together when the others are empty. Totally unfriendly service, practically snarling. Otherwise I'd hang out here a lot.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2007
I've lived in the Haight for 20 years, and until now there has never been a wonderful neighborhood… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer T.
Oakland, CA
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is sexy. Great drinks (beer selection much like Toronado), good and interesting food variations, very friendly staff, and loud but fab music playing. I got the pork belly slider and carrot soup w/ crab. Sooooooo good. My date got the bone marrow and duck hearts. He's never had either and is still talking about it today. We shared two cheeses, the blue and a firm goat. The portions are on the small side but the food is very rich.
I'll definitely be back. If you're feeling adventurous or want to impress a date, go here. -
Review from Ryan H.
San Francisco, CA
4/28/2012
Craft drinks, all-specialty menu, great service, and great music. Nuff said?! Yup! Get whatever the prix fixe is, grab a couple starters and pick your favorite alcohol within their custom drinks and have fun. Worth the money and the wait. Will be back for sure
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Review from Wesley S.
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
A definite 4.5 star place.
My girlfriend and I came for lunch and cocktails, and I am glad that we did! We came in and we were greeted and immediately seated at the back of the restaurant. We were presented with their drink menu and we placed our first order, and received them shortly after. I was impressed by the drinks we got, which granted are small as some people have complained about, but they certainly packed a punch. After one I was feeling good, and after two I was definitely buzzed, and not only this but the quality of the drinks were spectacular.
I am not a big whiskey fan, so I ordered something that was similar to a whiskey sour, which is one of the few whiskey based drinks I can actually drink. After that I asked our waitress for a recommendation for my next drink, and after a few questions she told me she had just the drink for me, so I took her at her word and ordered it. The drink I got was gin based, sadly I cannot remember the name, but it was fantastic! The waitress knew what she was talking about when she made her recommendation!
As for the food, it was equally impressive. We split an order of the sumac chips which were great, they had the perfect amount of crisp, and the dipping sauce they provided was equally good. For our entrees I got the fish sandwich and my girlfriend got the pastrami and hash. In the interest of trying out the food here we each shared half of our entree with each other, and we both decided that the fish sandwich was the winner between the two.
The sandwich came on an excellent hoagie roll that was just firm enough on the outside, yet soft and not too chewy on the inside. The fish was fried perfectly and had a nice crunch to it, while still letting the inside be moist and flaky. It came with a malt vinegar remoulade sauce which I was skeptical about at first, since I generally don't care for malt vinegar, but it ended up complimenting the sandwich perfectly.
The pastrami and hash was cooked with root vegetables, and came with a fried egg and hollandaise sauce on top. I am not a fan of hollandaise sauce so it didn't do much for me, and I wasn't a fan of the way the egg was cooked. But the pastrami itself was absolutely incredible, I daresay it is the best pastrami I have ever had. The root vegetables gave a nice texture and a slightly sweet taste which was a nice balance against the pastrami.
For desert we shared the caramelized brioche which was delicious! It came with cardamom ice cream which I enjoyed, but my girlfriend felt that it didn't add much as far as complimenting the brioche. It came with some sort of sauce smeared on the side that I didn't care for and found far too bitter, but my girlfriend loved it. The brioche itself was cooked well and was amazingly moist.
As with everything there can be some drawbacks, but the ones we experienced here are slight. The place is a little on the small side, I think we counted 10 tables total. Some reviews complain about the wait but when we came here there was no one else eating, so we were seated right away. But if every table was occupied I could see the wait being somewhat long.
The music they play, while fantastic, is a tad loud for my tastes. If this were strictly a bar that would be one thing, but when you are trying to have a conversation during your meal, the volume makes it a little hard. But like I said, the selection of music they played was very good.
While the service was fast, and we weren't left waiting for food or drinks, it seems like when it came time for dessert and then to pay the check, things slowed down quite a bit. I think it took longer for our single dessert to be served than it did both our entrees. Then when we were done with that, we had to wait a while for our check to be served. It's not a huge deal as we weren't in some big hurry, but it could maybe use some fine tuning.
I have seen some reviews complain that the service is rude here, but we didn't experience that at all. While our waitress was friendly and informative, even joking with us, she was very direct and straight to the point, which I liked. I suppose hypothetically that someone could somehow think that is being rude, but I really don't see how. Perhaps the servers are rude when a patron comes in and is acting rude themselves and constantly complaining about having to wait for a table, I don't know. Like I said, the service we got was fantastic, so as far as I am concerned there isn't an issue here.
All in all we had a great experience here, and will definitely be back again. The combination of great food and fantastic libations make this a new favorite for my girlfriend and I! -
Review from Steve K.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2012
We live right across the street so I think we take it for granted that we have access to such amazing cocktails and food. The place is small and gets crowded quick, but excited about their future expansion. They make some of the best cocktails in the city. My favorite is the Sazerac, but you really can't go wrong with any of their drinks.
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Review from AmorLaVida Y.
Carlsbad, CA
4/28/2012
Impressive little bar. Looks like another bar until you sit down and look at the drinks. Drink menu is very descriptive and fun to read. I like the little touches added to each cocktail. I tried the "Sweet Like Honey" and it was delicious! Kinda hipster place, but I wouldn't expect anything else in SF.
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Review from Lynn M.
Washington, DC
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
We went on a Monday night, and it was pretty much perfect. The music is good; the drinks are amazing (order the Just Like Honey--it's not nearly as sweet as it sounds).
I was a little skeptical about the food, because it's a meat heavy menu, but the chef was really accommodating. There were a couple of veggie options on the menu, and the waitress told us if we didn't find something we liked, the chef would do a vegetable plate for us. My husband ended up ordering the trumpet mushrooms, and I got the squash sliders--both were delicious.
Any place that serves free popcorn and juleps in tin cups gets an extra star from me, not that Alembic needed it. Definitely coming back.Listed in: Best of San Francisco
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Review from Evelyn S.
7x7 Big Eat's recommended their bone marrow, so I knew I needed to try it!
Verdict: I thought overall it was way too oily for me. The bone marrow itself was soft and fatty, the way it's suppose to be. I liked the olive oil-capers-basil-bread combination, but the olive oil was an over kill. I felt like I was just eating olive oil at times.
Atmosphere/service: Very small, so come early for seats! Bartenders aren't very attentive though, so you literally have to wave at them for a few minutes before they come help you out.
Coolest part of the restaurant: THEIR BATHROOM! They have individual towel rolls to wipe your hands instead of the normal fiber paper towels! -
Review from Jennifer C P.
San Francisco, CA
When one of my Yelp friends 5 star a place, I take notice. When one of my favorite Yelp friends 5 star a place AND share it was listed in the top 50 Bars in the US, I have to get in there for a visit!
Haight Street is tricky. Yes? Yes. If you are like me, you are sure to feel awkward as you walk the streets with pot smoke choking the breath out of you and panhandlers saying things like "Can I have your umbrella" or "Spare change? I'm hungry" while holding the same iPhone I have. Stupid.
No valet. Forget about parking a $120K car on this street. I parked 4 blocks away to avoid this street to park in a more residential area and walked in the rain. Don't say I didn't warn you.
When we walked in, the few people working there and eating there just stared. I am confused why there is writing on a barrel that says "wait to be seated" yet no one seemed interested in seating us so we sat at the bar.
When the server decided to give us menus, I asked if we could sit at a table. She curtly tells me "Lunch is for 15 more minutes". Oooook - whatever that means. I watched her serve food the entire time I was there!
I ordered the pickled quail eggs and also a Hot Dog. Seems simple enough a meal. It wasn't. In fact, those were the most delicious things I have had so far for 2012! The chefs here know what they are doing. I am smiling as I write this, everything I ate really was that delicious!
The two gin cocktails I chose were just ok. Nothing to write home about. The flavors were jarring - fighting in the vintage champagne glass. I've had better elsewhere. The porter was delicious! I was really happy with that!
The service needs serious modification. It was unfriendly and really bad from start to finish. Why would I have to ask to order a drink 3 times for all 3 of my drinks? Usually servers take your empty glass and ask if you would like anything else - I had to ask. Lame.Also, we were there into dinner service. How about asking me if I might want something to eat - YES again G-D it. I am drinking like a fish, ASK! Isn't that how the place makes money - when the servers make it easy for guests to order things that cost money?
"Service" means to serve and if you are too fucking cool for school, you are clearly too stupid to know what kind of job you are suited for. In other words, the service here is SHIT and no one who works there really cares. . . it shows.
That is why I won't bother to darken their doorway with my hard earned money again.
If you go, be careful, the service is off putting. It was a little over $100 for two people for "lunch/happy hour"
The food and my porter are worth five stars. The terrible service is 0 stars - averaged out to 3 stars. Such a shame, those chefs truly deserve a 5 star review.Listed in: Happy Hour Happens Here!
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Review from Doc Splendid E.
Vashon, WA
2/10/2012
One of San Francisco's best cocktail bars, they carry many other fine drinks. Not the least of these is the recent addition of Sonoma Hard Cider on draught (for those unfamiliar, this is from Sutton Cellars, and is a true English farmhouse style scrumpy cider).
I'd give it five stars, except for two down points:
* The menu is extremely meat heavy, and its vegetarian options show a disappointing lack of imagination (if you're veg and can't eat/don't like mushrooms, don't plan on a full meal). The meat options look very creative.
* The space is extremely limited. Tables are ONLY for those seeking a full meal, so again if you're vegetarian, you're likely going to be standing for a long time waiting for a barstool.
That said, the bar snacks are fantastic (try the pickled quail eggs, just trust me). Excellent cheeses are always on the menu. And after reading Lynn M's comment, I'm going to try doing a meal and asking for something creative and vegetarian from the chef.Listed in: Real Cider San Francisco
