The Hearth
4701 Geary Boulevard
(between 11th Ave & 12th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118 (415) 751-0200
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Mon, Thu, Tue
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
45 reviews
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
"Excellent truffled mac and cheese sprinkled with chorizo! Also delicious are the scallops and cobb salad (pancetta and fried chicken). The…" read more »
30 Reviews for The Hearth
OMG. Texi works here now? That means you're in for a fun time. Loved the old owner Sid but can't wait to meet the new one.
Thanks for the reviews, people. I'll have to check out the old haunt soon.
Five stars for my friend Nancy's now ex-boyfriend flirting with the bartenderess, playing the crappiest songs on the jukebox, a being a general tool.
The bar obviously did her a favor.
Five stars for the owner, Ray, who is a really nice guy. And Texi, who makes tacos on random days and gives them out to all the bar patrons for free.
Five stars because it was St. Paddy's day, and besides Nancy's ex, there wasn't a single frat boy in the bar. Only a normal, mellow crowd and the token drunk Irish dude, a necessary component to this jovial holiday.
Five stars for not serving "Green Beer".
I am also giving five stars to myself for not falling down, loosing my car, drunk crying, or saying anything stupid. I consider this night just a small battle won in the war that is my weekend. This is more funny than useful or cool. And by funny, I mean sad. YIPEEE!
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My buddies reminded me that it's unfair to rate a business based on your now ex-boyfriend acting like a tool. We always shoot the messenger, right? Duly noted. So I retract my one star for my ex flirting with the bartenderess and stupid sorority girls and taking that as a sign that he wasn't into me and breaking up on St. Patty's Day of ALL things! Great, ruin a holiday as well.
Personal experiences aside, this is a great little bar with a friendly staff and bartenders who will give you extra beer on the house when your first request is tapped out. They have a plethora of activities -- pool and darts -- if you're feeling playful. Clean bathroom (albeit confusing if you're a little tipsy), ATM outside, and proximity to Jack in the Box (open 24 hours) so you can indulge in some grease to soak up the alcohol.
I'm sorry, Hearth, for giving you an initial crappy review. It's not your fault, and I was misplacing my anger. In no way will I let it prevent me from returning to your hearth.
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Dear Douchebag Butt Boy who broke up with my friend Nancy so your pansy ass could flirt with third-tier fat girls at this bar,
You're a tool and we just weren't that into you either. So there. Ass clown. Oh yeah, and thanks for ruining our St. Patrick's day, little girl, so you could rub up on some cottage cheese thighs and sagging breasts. I hope it was worth it.
This bar holds nothing but cheap memories of the way we were- momentarily- back when Nancy and old Ass Clown Pansy Boy were still an item. We only met him once but his assdom will live on in our memories for some time. Douchebag.
On the upside, the Hearth has an awesome bathroom that you are likely to get locked into and dart boards and a pool table to keep the boys busy while the girls misbehave. On a good night, you may find Matthew R and Amir A there, fumbling with pool sticks or arguing over the rules of darts (and who gets to throw them at Autumn). The ATM just outside is junky and broken down, much like many of the patrons. This is still a decent place to throw a few back with someone you don't want to be seen with, as it is highly unlikely you will run into anyone you know here.
I hope you burn in hell, you sad, sorry excuse for a man. We're doing a balloon release and realtionship after-party at The Hearth this weekend for Nancy. You, jerk off, are not invited.
PS- I thought you were gay.
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other than having to put up with my friend's now former boy-toy for an hour or so, the hearth gave me a solid dive bar experience. but seriously, that dude has no social skills and suffers from an obvious case of diarrhea of the mouth. the second he started talking i disliked him.
poor nancy (call me if you get lonely!)
ah... back to the hearth. solid dive bar. the owner ray and bartender ann are friendly and easy going. solid bathrooms, never once did the toilet collapse on me (i like rocking back and forth on toilets). oh, and they have a nice shiny flat screen tv on one end of the bar, and a separate room that houses a slick pool table and 2 dart boards.
capital r. and i got our 50-cents worth from our pool game which lasted over 30 minutes due to our "incredible" shooting skills. our average sink-rate must have been about 14-1. i don't know what the fuck i am talking about. i hate sports, i hate sports statistics more. and i am pretty sure i hate pool now. anyway, we really sucked. so we switched to darts. oh... i also hate darts now.
i would also like to take this opportunity to remind autumn-capital-r's girlfriend that she owes me either: (a) $10 or (b) 2 drinks or (c) 2 hand jobs in the dark or (d) one bj in the light. no substitutions or combination allowed. (oh, er... hey matthew! how's it going??)
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The Hearth just ooooozes cozy. The regulars are a delightful blend that range from erudite to idiotic, and that's a good thing. Texi and Lori are two of the best bartenders you'll ever meet, and Ray, the owner, is always upbeat and fun. There's a great selection of classic rock on the jukebox, a decent pool table, and often free food. Hunker down in the Hearth and enjoy!
Why not 5 stars: Cuz the Hearth place badly needs another TV, like squarely above the middle of the bar. Hopefully one gets installed before baseball season, otherwise be prepared to suffer a crick in your neck if trying to watch a ball game.
What a fun place with friendly staff and regulars. My friend and I were staying across the street and as soon as we saw the outside of the building we knew we had to go there for a cocktail. Lori, the bartender was super nice and the drinks were cheap. The owner was a sweetheart. I will definitely stop in here regularly when I'm in San Francisco.
I'm not drinking the Kool Aid on this one. It's a dive bar (complete with a disco ball) where you feel safe. That's it.
i got a free cookie at 2 a.m., after oh-so-many generously poured drinks.
And my wallet still had some cash in it.
by the way - this is a great bar.
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The Hearth is a great place with great regulars. The patrons are relaxed and friendly. Good mellow place to go, have a few drinks, and have some friendly conversation.
There is a pool table and it usually isn't hard to find someone to play with or the wait is never that long, unless a pool tournament is occurring.
The new owner, Ray, is a very nice and friendly guy. He is updating the look of the place slowly but surely. They tend to have parties with free food for every occasion, Superbowl, Fat Tuesday, Oscars...
The best night of the week is Thursdays. Come in after work and Texi will greet you with her weekly offerings of Taco's, Burritos, Chili, or what ever else she decided to make that week all included with the drink!
Saturday nights feature "guest bartender". That night tends to vary depending on who the guest bartender is.
Yes, this place looks like some truckstop bar in Wyoming or Nebraska.
Yes, there are a lot of potentially annoying music to be played on the juke.
Those things aside, it is pretty freaking awesome. They have good cheap beer, pool tables, and a cozy (albeit 1960's) atmosphere. Oh, and it's right next to Jack in the Box should you drink a little too much and need some junk food to soak up the alcohol.
Last, the bartenders rock, specifically Erin who works Monday nights. She is the sweetest, bestest thing to ever grace the bars of the Inner Richmond.
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the only reason i come here is for my favorite bartender rachelle. shes awesome i love her! drinks are at reasonable prices they have pool tables and a working jukebox thats always fun!
The Hearth is finally coming up in the world of Inner Richmond dive bars, and here's why:
-Ray, a great conversationalist & San Francisco native is the new owner of this joint.
-Newly renovated and continuing to make improvements! They have a long bench and some new tables, as well as two brand new flatscreen HDTVs.
~ ~ ~
I have visited this place on a number of occasions before, usually for a generously poured $4 Jameson & some quiet conversation with a girlie...the jukebox is so-so, and they also have a pool table...
Oh, and it's CASH ONLY, but there is an ATM outside.
Last but not least, Erin the award-winning bartender from the 540 Club works here on Monday nights!
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A warm and welcoming place in the cold, foggy Richmond District. More hip than you'd think, with cheap drinks, rockin' juke, and hot bartenders on Tuesday, Friday & Sunday. Pool, darts, dice and old school regulars. Don't be afraid - we gave it a chance on a whim. Trust me, you'll never want to leave. see you there.
There was this one time when I was a young kid, when my granddad took me to his local watering hole. Apparently this is acceptable behavior in Nebraska.
Maybe it was so he could show me off to his best friends. Maybe it was so he could show me where he interrogated my dad about his intentions with my mom when she brought him home for the first time. Maybe it was just to rile up his daughter who lectured him about the inappropriateness of bringing a toddler to a bar. Regardless, I believe if you were important to my grandfather in any way, he showed you by bringing you to his drinking spot.
It was nothing fancy, dark wood paneling, little natural light, a pool table, darts, strong drinks (not that I remember, I was just a kid....but I imagine them to be) and a group of older men who mostly caught up on the day, but depending on how the day went may have exchanged a harsh word or two from time to time.
I have had an image in my head of this place ever since that day. Since all of my cousins are now married and my grandparents are in a better place I don't envision I will be heading back to Nebraska for any reason.......ever! As a result I thought that I would never see this bar again.
I was wrong. It has moved to San Francisco. It is on Geary Blvd and it is called The Hearth. And just like granddads favorite place, it opens at 6am.
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unfortunately, i'm gonna have to disagree with "mills .." on his monday night comment*...
you see, erin is an amazing bartender in every way possible. in fact, she's probably one of the sweetest bartenders in the world... seriously, no attitude or any bullshit from her behalf!
so give it a chance... it's a small, relaxed bar with a homey feel that the inner richmond extends to its inhabitants.
*my review kind of doesn't make sense anymore now that people have changed their previous statements... but i still stick to what i preach... erin is the best and that is that.
this place serves Magner's
thats really the only reason to stop in..........
thats right my favourite cider and I don't have to go to an Irish place to get it.
oh and cheap drinks too which is good
they have added a terrible curtain.....
some white roman pillars.....
generally bad
who cares if the Hearth is made of what appears to be card board...
who cares if reruns of America's next top Model is playing a little too loud
I liked this place
it fits in perfectly if i do a little pud crawl (well really just me and my friend) down Geary
I came here on the recommendation of Matt Mills
and I liked it
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Cheap drinks. Bartenders very happy to see anyone. Just enough people inside to keep it interesting. Yes MIke W, it does resemble a nuclear bunker. I'll call it cozy.
Wonder in with some friends, get a buzz, toss on some good tunes and play some pool. Then tip well as you stubble out with money still to burn.
i walked into my grandpa's basement last night... the crazy lady bartender checked our id's (obviously, we were the youngest people there) and played the game where she didn't know if she believed the id's were real with us, which is really just a little insulting when you're 23, to be honest... but i guess my 27 year old friends were into it... directly after walking in, someone nudged my toosh with her foot, and when i turned around she just... stared... so I gave a meek "hi" and turned around. we ordered our beers and went to the pool room, which was much less crowded, and there was a table full of pot luck gems... yeah, we're talking sour cream and onion ruffles, spinach dip, baby tacos, homemade cookies and the creme de la creme... a crock pot full of meatballs... amazing. we drank our beers, scoffed at the patrons, but then i got umcomfortable... after about 45 minutes, said patrons began filtering into the pool room, they had the drunk munchies and were out for meat balls... i leaned in and said "we have to get the fuck out of here before they come talk to us" and we made a quick getaway... I can't say whether or not I'll go back (probably not) but it was an amazing one time experience!
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the hearth is a great bar in the Inner Richmond...
it has taken a giant move on up in the world of great SF dive bars..
the bartenders are cool , so are the darts...pool...and really cheap drinks.
Richie Rich says that the Hearth is an awesome place to hang when you just want a good friggin drink...
Super dive bar! Not exactly for the young, hip crowd, but nice when you just want to have a drink with friends where you won't be hassled by throngs of drunkards.
They have some pretty cute little day parties throughout the year, although, if you're not a regular, you probably won't be lucky enough to catch any. My dad's been hanging out in this bar for years and years, which is pretty much the only reason I ever ventured inside, but it's Cheers-ish atmosphere makes me glad I did.
You can't beat a Japanese-owned, Irish-themed bar... can you?
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Do you ever think, "I wish I could have seen this city before it was overrun with trust-fund babies, dot-com carpetbaggers and mall franchises? If so there's always places like the Hearth, going on 38 years in its present incarnation. Run and owned by Sal - who celebrates his birthday here every July 4th - it features a strong local clientele, many 50+, who like a quiet drink and a bite to eat. Open the door and watch everyone in the bar stop in mid-sentence and give you the once-over. Always clean, like all Japanese-run bars and restaurants I've seen, it gets an extra star for opening promptly at 6am every day. Try the $4 bloody Mary - awesome!
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LOVE IT!!!!!! Interesting crowd but good people! All ages!
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If you are looking for a place to hide, well, you could probably go to any bar in the Richmond, but why not try the Hearth? Even from the outside this lonely bar looks like a David Lynch movie, and the regulars do not break with this theme. The bartender actually looked relieved when we walked in the door. Cheap wood paneling, hollow floors, and an excellent jukebox, if you like Queen. Which we do. This bar has a separate game room with darts and pool, which we spent most of the evening in, partly to avoid the extremely drunk older men who were on the verge of starting a brawl. Extremely noteworthy: tall glass of Hennessy = $4!
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Being inside The Hearth makes me feel like I'm in some kind of reinforced observation bunker at a nuclear test site deep in the Nevada desert. Drab, brown walls with sparse decor complimented by a horizontal slit-like window facing Geary street reinforce this feeling. Only a bar with multiple taps, a Nixonian-era stucco ceiling, and the lack of Apache tan paint hinders ones imagination from going back to the Kruchev-era cold war days, peering out the window, and envisioning a fifteen-kiloton warhead forming a mushroom cloud over a vast expanse of lifeless desert.
Bud, Lagunitas IPA, and Sierra Nevada fill out the selection of beer on tap. The liquor selection is on par with the average neighborhood bar, but run for cover if you're into wine. All I saw was were individual glass-sized bottles of Sutter Home in both red and white flavors.
A sizable dart room sits in a separate area to the rear of the bar, and a 2005 Golden Tee beckons to virtual golfers. Small TV's show sports. Last time I was there, the regulars were rapt in watching PGA Golf while Phil Mickelson melted down on the 18th hole and Geoff Oglilvy won it with a five under. Music is off during sporting events, but at night the jukebox fires up to crank out an inconceivably ghastly mix of cheeseball-rock from the 70's. On a positive note, the music is well modulated and never too loud. Hungry? Several restaurants lie within walking distance, and a Jack-in-the-Box with it's hearty selection of 99-cent items sits right across the street.
I've been here three times...the crowd has always been predominantly male with a mean age of about 50 and a standard deviation of 6. Patrons are generally easy going, well behaved, and fairly talkative. A regular told me that verbal spats happen from time to time, but fights are extremely rare.
If you're in the area and not into noise, crowds or boisterous college students, it's you're best option without walking 6 blocks down Geary Street to McKenzie's or he Nag's Head. If you're objective is to kick back, then pull up a barstool. If you're out to raise Cain, then head east about four blocks....
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Okay, so I give the Hearth five stars because it's sentimental to me. My step-dad in the eighties was a regular there and so when the niners use to win, everyone there was happy, hugging, kissing, laughing and having a good time. The owner, Sid, and my step-dad have the same birthday, July 4th, and Sid is there from like 7 am to 7pm making hot dogs and food for anyone who comes in.
My parents weren't necessarily friends with Sid, but became friends because they were regulars. I remember being 3 or 4 and there use to be a ms. pacman game. Random people would stop by and give me all the change they had in their pockets so I could keep playing the game... sorry tangent...
The clientele is mostly 50+, the decor is very... hmm... well, it's a dive bar, what can I say. It didn't always use to be. If you wanna go somewhere to get cheap drinks, this is the place to be.
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The five-star of dive bars. The lady who runs this fine establishment is a peach, so be sure to say howdy. Once, I ordered a Sapphire and Tonic and she made it so strong that I had to send myself home after that.
A very unpretentious place with a low hipster quotient, placing a high priority on drinking and nothing but.
Food? Jack in the Box is across the street if they're not giving out free hot dogs. As classy as a pair of brand new mudflaps, The Hearth is always priced right.
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Been here for a couple drinks. Friendly folks, but I'd rather walk a block to the 540.
Very divey. Very inexpensive. Very nice and friendly.
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