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- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- Yes
699 reviews for Broken Record
Review Highlights
"Pulled pork sandwich is heaven- little spicy."
(in 107 reviews)
"I really like the duck confit potato skins."
(in 32 reviews)
"The Crawfish Grits were also surprisingly super good."
(in 43 reviews)
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699 reviews in English
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Review from Mike A.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
This is some legit food.
The long lines indiciate as such.
Had the bacon burger, a revelation! Had the crab/prawn sandwich, very good.
The wings were done well, though not buffalo.
Looking forward to my next visit. -
Review from Amy C.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
The first time I came here with my friends we ordered pork fries, sweet potato tater tots, crab and prawn sandwich and each dish was around 9 bucks and CASH ONLY. We wanted to try the wings but they were out. The portions were huge and were enough to share among the six of us. The pork fries and the crab and prawn sandwich were delicious, but I didn't really like the sweet potato tater tots probably because I don't like sweet potatoes in general. I also had the midori sour and it was pretty strong.
The next time my friends and I came here on a Wednesday night and it was very crowded and couldn't find any seats so we decided to order the food to go. I ordered the Buttered Fried Chicken and Pork Fries. I waited over thirty minutes for my food and it turns out that they messed up on my order. They offered to give me my money back if I didn't want to wait longer but I just decided to wait since it's already been so long already. When I finally got my order, that guy also gave me twenty bucks because I guess they felt bad for making me wait. I paid $17 for my order and they gave me a twenty so I profited three bucks! Whoo hooo! I think the portions are much smaller when you take it to go so you should eat there if you can! The buttered fried chicken wasn't good, I don't see what all the hype is about, it was tasteless, so I was disappointed. -
Review from Darrin J.
San Jose, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is a great show featuring great food but it can cause restaurants like the Broken Record to be a failure of its own success. Bottom line is that this restaurant hasn't adapted its business to the volume of customers resulting in chaos. I can almost handle the 30 minutes in line or even 30 minutes for the first entree/appetizers. But an average of 10 minutes between appetizers/entrees and then another 30 minutes from the last entree to desert is a bit much. The randomness is also frustrating with food runners yelling out entrees hoping they get it to the right tables and right people. BTW, plan to sit with other people because space is very limited. Dirty dishes are often left on the tables and no tables were wiped down in the 2 hours and 20 minutes we were there. Hint to owner....get more people working in the kitchen, better system for getting food to customers, don't run out of food, etc.
That said the pub grub food ranged from awesome to disappointed. The Tex-Mex Toast was awesome with a nice spicy kick, the lobster mac-n-cheese was very good (a bit soupy though), the crab cake/shrimp sandwich was just okay (and not the same as featured on the show), and the smores sunday was a disappointment with bland chocolate icecream, graham cracker crumbs, and mini-marshmallows that weren't even melted.
Bottom line, the Broken Record is not a restaurant that I can recommend even for the bragging rights of having been to a "Triple-D" featured restaurant. -
Review from Charla B.
San Jose, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
We came here on a Saturday night at 6:30pm after seeing it on Diners drive ins and dives. Its really crowded with unbelievable long lines. I would rate their food a 5 , but will be giving them an overall 1 because the food doesn't come out at the same time; you have to buy your food and drinks in 2 separate places; and there is no room to sit. We got our dessert an hour and 1/2 after we ordered and we had to constantly remind them to bring it. Their set up is just NOT customer friendly. They need to come up with a new system or expand.
Tex-mex toast is creamy and spicy. Lobster Mac and cheese is really good!
Crab and shrimp sandwich is good but I have had better. S'mores sundae was ice cream. Really??? That is not a sundae! -
Review from Allison R.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
This is one of my favorite bar SF!
5 stars for the guys out there!
I like them. They are so friendly and polite. Their drinks were so cool they got the right place for their awesome drinks to be chosen by their customers and I commend the Broken Record for that!
Together with my friend Liz used to order the Baked Mac with cheese and Bacon. So delicious and I love it! I ate a lot. Whenever I went here I think I should go to the gym on the next day. -
Review from Ed U.
Oh man, when did Guy Fieri become my official tastemaker? After all, he's responsible for a Texas-tease detour Jamie W. and I made to Kemah near Houston last year where we tried the armadillo eggs at T-Bone Tom's Steakhouse. No, they weren't real armadillo eggs... ain't such a thing. They were actually deep-fried pickled jalapeno peppers as big as golf balls and stuffed with a smoked spicy brisket (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Those would definitely not be out of place at Broken Record, a dive whiskey bar with a surprise in the deep south of San Francisco on the way to Daly City. The surprise is that they serve some bitchin' comfort food in the back where they have an actual dining room. Did I really say "bitchin'"?
I got wind of the place on an episode of Triple-D where Mr. Spiky Hair Short Pants devoured some tempting creations like Oxtail Polenta and Duck Confit Potato Skins. Imagine my forlorn look when I saw neither dish on the chalkboard on Sunday evening. We had the audacity to go there during the 'Niners-Giants NFC title game where we found the bar packed and the back room sparsely populated much to our delight. Even without those temptations, there were several items that sounded satisfying enough for us. Jamie tried the $10 Crab & Prawn Sandwich, which combines a fried crab cake with crispy tiger prawns along with a splotch of avocado, chipotle mayo, and lettuce (see photo). It was solid truck-stop fare but not quite edgy enough for us.
I had the Lobster Mac n' Cheese, a steal at $7 since it was generously filled with lobster pieces. The spinach, corn and Swiss bechamel provided the right flavors and textures, but I wish it wasn't quite so milky (see photo). I prefer gooey when it comes to my mac n' cheese. The best dish, we agreed, was the $9 Pork Fries...yes, pork fries - waffle-cut fries slopped over with delicious pulled pork, a house nacho cheese sauce and a buffalo sauce. Chopped scallions were sprinkled on top to give the illusion that there may be something healthy on that plate (see photo). Didn't matter since it was hardcore tasty and even patriotic with an American flag on top. We were full and didn't even have any whiskey to wash it all down, just Diet Coke. Parking is a cinch in this 'hood, so we're definitely coming back for more decadence. Damn you, Fieri!
FOOD - 4 stars...grub with a fashion-forward twist that tangles the taste buds...well at least the pork fries do
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...let's see what the boys in the back room will have
SERVICE - 4 stars...very friendly and attentive back there
TOTAL - 4 stars.... work through the rowdies in the front and park yourself down for pork friesListed in: Mission Impossible?, Anomalies in an Otherwise…
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Review from Vanessa K.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
COULD NOT FIND A SEAT!!! This is not an at testament to their food, as I didn't get to each anything. The line was LONG, down the hallway from the bathrooms. There was no where to sit, as all the tables were taken and they were being poached by other patrons. The food did look good though, I will give it another try, probably try to show up at 6pm when the kitchen opens.
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Review from L T.
San Mateo, CA
1/29/2012
Wow so glad we stopped by on a lark after the dog show at the Cow Palace (don't ask...) - was starving and yelped to find a local eatery. Got here at around 6pm, not knowing that the kitchen wasn't opening until 6:15. There was already a line of 10 ppl in front of us! In a matter of minutes, a line formed behind us that snaked all the way out through the bar to the front door.
You guys are right, the crispy pork sandwich IS mm-mmm good - juicy white meat, crispy on the outside, small slice of tomato and probably some secret sauce - so simple, so succulent. The crawfish grits was next - I'm not a grits/polenta/risotto/mushy anything fan, but I can appreciate how good it is. Buttery, balanced in taste, comforting. The dessert was probably the weakest - the bread pudding was dry and the ice cream on top and bourbon sauce, although delicious, don't compensate fully.
Still, given where this place is and that crispy pork sandwich, it's a 5. I'll be back for the lobster mac n cheese! -
Review from Burt H.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Not the same menu since on Diners Drive-ins and dives. No worth for the food but for the whiskey.
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Review from James L.
San Jose, CA
1/19/2012 1 photo
5 stars for this dive bar! first impression walking in wasn't great, really dark and grungy looking, but if you walk down the hall you find a small restaurant. You'll be amazed by the food that comes out of this place. Make sure you have someone drive you, so you can sleep on the way back home. Food is HEAVY AND RICH, instant food coma. i drove from san jose just to eat here. CrissCut fries with pulled pork,oozing with cheese sauce on top, be sure to order yourself one. i also ate the crab and prawn sandwich, all i can say is Delicious! its on buttered texas toast, you can see tons of crab and shrimp covered in mayo and spices. Great place, cant wait till i come back
heart attack food, not for people on a diet...Listed in: Crew Love
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Review from Amanda S.
Napa, CA
1/29/2012
Make no mistake, this is definitely a dive bar. It just happens to serve awesome food at a good price. So the lighting and decor honestly kinda suck, and there are more tables than there are chairs. And the patio is extremely poorly lit (and cold) at night.
But the food is great. I got the Goat Mac n Cheese, my date got the tomato soup and grilled cheese combo, and we shared the Pork Fries. We both agreed that it was the best food we had eaten all weekend, and for a total of $22. Score. -
Review from Shad M.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
Not bad, but wasn't blown away on this first visit. Maybe I need to return for the crispy pork tenderloin!
We had the pork fries which were okay, but a bit overpriced for essentially curly fires with a cheesy sauce and some pulled pork thrown together haphazardly. Also asian bbq wings were cooked right but the glaze needs a citrus or acid element like rice vinegar, they were too soy sweet tasting. The star of the show was the crawfish grits which were delicious even though the crawfish is probably not fresh being that we are in San Francisco.
Staff were friendly but very busy, not so hot on a place where you have to fight for a seat but have no qualms sitting with other diners, just want to know that when I order there will be a comfortable place for us. The food is priced around the same as other places where you have your own table and someone to serve you, so it's not a bargain kitchen counter by far.
The bar was my favourite part! Bartenders who look like they know what's up, Arrogant Bastard on tap and fantastic selection of liquor. Since it was my birthday I selected a 16yr old Bruichladdich for $15 a glass. She gave me a healthy pour but wasn't doing any favours either which is what I would expect.
All in all, you definitely want to go around 6pm on a weeknight to avoid waiting too long in line (we didn't have to) and getting your own table, because to me waiting an hour for this food is not worth it, since it is less than that at places like Brenda's and Front Porch for better food. Seemed to be a lot of first timers like us, noone seemed to be shouting hallelujah after their first bite either. Will return for a second try, but even though I live only a couple of miles away, doubtful I will become a regular. -
Review from Ashley M.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
Go here. Do it.
The foood, my god, the food. It is amazing. Expect noise, you know, because it is a dive bar and all, but the food is worth it. The food is worth up hill, both ways in the snow. I realize this will never happen in SF but that is NOT the point. -
Review from Jeremy G.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I think Broken Record would have earned five stars if their portions were just a little bit bigger. But let's start with the bar side. Sadly, the wheat bear got tapped. Yet, the bartender was kind enough to offer some suggestions and I really dug the replacement beer. He even remembered me when I came up for seconds. The vibe itself was chill and I liked how the pool table was part of the scene, but not a dominating presence. I was on a date after all. The back area could stand to be a little bigger, but I dug the order and we bring it out to wherever you are sitting. My date and I split pork waffle fries and lobster mac and cheese. $20 should have filled us up a lot more than it actually did. The fries were incredible. The waffle fries were crispy, but still had some softness from the pork and cheese. Much pork was found on the fries and overall, the flavors of the cheese, potato, and pork melded beautifully together. The lobster mac was also a triumph of flavor. The cheese was never overpowering and the bow ties held a lot of punch. The problem with both dishes was the scant size. The mac was especially miniscule. I was also confused as to what was the priority. Was it the food or the drinks? Despite all that, I really enjoyed my first visit to Broken Record and would journey back. But I'd probably plan only to snack and drink here. Not the best place for dinner.
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Review from Will A.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
Amazing out-of-the-way place - so glad that I heard about it through the grapevine. Totally worth the trek out of the city. Definitely a dive bar but the food and atmosphere are both great.
The sweet potatertots are amazing, as are the pork fries (wow), and the pulled pork sandwich. The mac and cheese wasn't anything to write home about, but I'm still excited to get back to try more things on the menu.
The beer selection is solid, though I've stuck with some of the more common options when I've been there. Oh yea, and If you like whiskey, they've got it on tap. Pretty badass place, all around.Listed in: Favorite Spots
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Review from Michael L.
San Francisco, CA
(Kevin McCallister's prayer in Home Alone): Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen.
They say we should always give thanks for the food we eat, because even dogs wag their tails to express gratitude for their food. How much more should we?
Which brings me to Broken Record, I finally came here after hearing so many good things about the food being made at this dive bar. It was New Year's eve and I got to Broken Record right when the kitchen opened at 6pm to save seats for the party of 8 that I had with me. There is limited seating, so come early if you have a large party and if you are a small group prepare to be seated with other hungry patrons since every table seemed communal.
What can I say about this place that hasn't been said? Well here's what my group ordered:
Bacon Beef Burger: This burger is really good. I could tell pride is taken in making a nice, medium rare, juicy, flavorful, quality burger.
Crab & Prawn Sandwich: Come early cause this was sold out within the first hour. You won't find a better seafood sandwich like this for the money. Great bang for your buck.
Lobster Tex Mex Toast: I actually didn't get a taste of my friend's Tex Mex Toast. But from appearances it seemed like they enjoyed it.
Portabella Mushroom Burger: I love mushrooms. I actually split this with my gf. And while I enjoyed the thick cheese melted on the Portabella mushroom, my girl asked "Where's the beef?" So I ordered another bacon beef burger.
Lobster Mac & Cheese: I only got a couple bites. But this dish is signature here. Some of the best Mac & Cheese being made out there. They used bow tie macaroni with cheese and lobster but apparently the menu varies on what type of Mac & Cheese they make from day to day.
French Fries and Sweet Potato Tater Tots: I liked the fries, nothing out of this world but good anyway. I'm not into sweet food, but my party really liked the tater tots. Both come in large portions. Plan on sharing one order.
So if I were to pray before I ate at Broken Record, this is how it'd sound:
Bless this highly nutritious Mac & Cheese, French Fries, Tater Tots, Portabella Mushroom burger, Bacon Beef burger, Tex Mex Toast, and seafood sandwich. And for the lives of the Lobster, Crab, Cow, and Prawn that gave their lives for my meal. Thank You for the creative minds and talented cooks in the kitchen that made all of this possible for us to enjoy this delicious food at a reasonable price. Oh, and Thank You for Dive Bars. Amen. -
Review from Monica M.
South San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been here only once, but definitely want to come back. Their beer selection is alright, they have pool tables, and a restaurant is in the back; so it's a pretty cool place to chill. The food is pretty good especially with some beers. I shared a burger (forgot which one), fries, and chicken wings. It had pretty good flavor. It gets busy here sometimes, especially in the restarant part. Be prepared to wait! We had to wait around 45 minutes for our food. The service is normal. They only take cash here, so come prepared!
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Review from Elaine N.
San Francisco, CA
1/1/2012 4 photos
Dear Broken Record,
How did it take me so long to finally build up the courage to round up some friends and finally check out what you have to offer? I was really nervous at first since some of my friends were under 21, but you were so kind to let us in and enjoy the food your chefs have created! We ordered the Pork Fries, Lobster Mac n' Cheese, Chicken Wings, and Crawfish Grits. Seriously, each and every one of those entrees were AH-MAY-ZINGG. Not only did we order 4 entrees, we received an order of Sweet Potatertots on the house! Man you just know how to win over a girl's heart (or four)! So basically what I'm trying to say is.. I love you Broken Record, and it's cruel for a restaurant to have such amazing food.
Love,
Your Average YelperListed in: Thirsty Days
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Review from Medwin M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/31/2012
I eat here often now. The food is GREAT and was featured on Food Network! Love this place so much!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/9/2010
I have yet to eat here, but I'm rating based on my drinking experience and by my good times hanging… Read more »
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Review from Angela E.
Oakland, CA
4.5 stars
Good lord a'mighty!
This place will make you fat, drunk & happy. -
Review from WildBill C.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Crispy pork loin sandwich!!!
Need I say more? -
Review from Chanel L.
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
CASH ONLY
One dollar sign, close by, highest rated : Broken Record
Wanted to try something new and around the area. Broken record had over 600 reviews, so I had to come and check this place out. They do not serve food until 6:15pm.
The restaurant/bar is located on Geneva, the bar is in the front and you would have to walk straight through to the back for food. My friends and I arrived around 5:50pm and hung out at the tables until they opened. Make sure once you arrive, to have someone stand in line and not just sit by the tables. People start to line up by 6pm. You order, PAY CASH and they bring it to your table. Only 2 workers, so it took all my food to arrive within 1 hour.
I had the lobster mac and cheese (bow tie , alfredo tasting sauce and little chunks of lobster)
Crawfish grits (bacon, crawfish, onions topped on grits. this was good and def a must try, this dish felt heavy to me, so it can be shared with 2-3 others)
Pork fries (waffle fries topped with shredded pork and cheese sauce. my favorite dish)
Bacon burger and chicken wings were very ORIGINAL - waste of space
The sweet tater tots were worth $5. Can be shared between 3-4 people
I also ordered a pitcher of the wheat beer for $14,. what a great deal!
Overall had a great chill experience and would recommend anyone to try this place out. -
Review from Michelle O.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
This place was a big disappointment. Walked in at 8:30pm on a Saturday nite and they were already out of crawdad grits and shrimp po boy. No hostess, ordered at counter with no seats available and hipsters just lounging. Finally fight over seat and my friend's pork tenderloin sandwich comes, he says it's ok. My other friend's burger and my husband's waffle pork nachos come 20 minutes later. Ok but rich and bland. Sweet potato tots come, which were good. Half hour after that my pulled pork sandwich comes with promise that lobster Mac and cheese on it's way. Pulled pork ok, but so dry and not spicy at all. Half hour later, still no Mac and cheese. I go to counter and he says the ticket says it was already delivered. After 2 hours in this place, we are ready to go so I get a refund. No one cleans tables, busses dishes, In and Out is better but no bar. Speaking of the bar, it's not divey. And they make great margaritas. Just so crowded and no one managing the crowd. I will not be back.
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Review from Jane A.
1/21/2012
DIVE BAR WITH A PHENOMENAL KITCHEN.
(4 stars)
Who would of thought?!
Hate the bar, love the kitchen. Was it worth the going out in the rain, face smeared, and getting f-r-i-z-z-y hair on a Friday night, I guess so.... because i'm looking TORE UP tonight but with a happy palate. Lets just say i was not impressed, UNTIL I ATE.
- Food, Yumz
- Prices, decent
- Service, shitty
- Ambiance,dive bar - nothing special
Alot of people come here and heard of the place because of yelp. HERE'S MY TWO CENTS, ENJOY!!!! Do you really want to know what i think about this place? It's best that i write reviews coming down off of alcohol. Came here around 7:45PM on a Friday, the place is a HOT ASS MESS. crowded, no organization, you have to jump on tables to even get a table. And it's annoying the tables are dirty. In fact, I went behind in the kitchen and asked the staff "can i have a wet towel to wipe my own dirty table down?" and they looked at me like "who the hell is this b* in our kitchen asking for a towel" but politely said they'll come over and wipe the table. Embarrassed to have people meet up to eat and I'm sitting at a dirty table for them. The logistics of the place is terrible, get your food way over here and get your drinks way over there. What do you expect, it's a DIVE bar, I got to cut some slack. BUT THE FOOD... is another story.
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE ($9) - i'm a loser, i had bookmarked this dive bar and noted which foods i was going to order. thats when you know you are a true yelper.This was one of them and it was pretty delicious. I love lobster and i love mac & cheese, but together... WOW. really? I especially liked the parts on the side where it has that crunch to it - the so called "burnt" areas of the dish. i was asked if i had a "foodgasm" and it was near one but not entirely. HAHA. It was just a tease, can't eat so much cheese so i didnt get to lick my plate dry to let you know if there was a foodgasm.
PORTABELLO MUSHROOM BURGER (?) - i only had a bite and it was pretty F'n good. I'd pig out on one of these and i'm not really into burgers. Okay, I kind of wish i had order one of these for myself - shooting myself in the foot because i'm hella hungry right now. if a non-burger person enjoys a burger, there's got to be something special about it. i'm just happy that it didnt have meat. not like i can't eat meat, i can, i am just happy to see something less fattening on the menu and taste hella delicious. and the burgers are HUGE, so you definately get your money's worth. real talk.
SMORES SUNDAE ($5) - another item that i noted when bookmarking this place on yelp. desserts steal my heart away. i love desserts and especially icecream. the smore sundae was really good and i think this was my favorite dish of the night. dessert? i know right. but the malt chocolate icecream, drizzed in a little fudge and then topped with marsh mellows and i aint talking about the marsh mellows in a bag, i'm talking about smore style. This can give me a foodgasm just thinking about it.
Will I be back? I think I'd come back here again to hang out. Just not sure when though. -
Review from Megan K.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
I cant say enough good things about my neighborhood dive. Im so thankful that this place is near me because there isnt much out in excelsior and to have a gem like broken close by is a true blessing. The bar is great, lots of beer selections to choose from, and local stuff too. The bartender is always nice and plays great punk music. The kitchen in the back serves the best bar food in the city but you will have to wait in line and fight for a table so be prepared. On nice days there is a friendly backyard to sit in. I have never had any mediocre food here - its always spectacular- and the quality is consistent. I love the pulled pork fries and grits. Also notable were the fried oysters. Service in the back is equally as great.
Get there when the kitchen opens and you might be able to snag a table. -
Review from Gordon O.
San Francisco, CA
Yes, I am a certified fan of Food Network and Diner's Drive Ins and Dives!
when they featured this place I said to myself I had to try this place out. I drove to Broken Record a few weeks ago and I got there at 5:30pm. Guess what? the kitchen doesn't open till 6:15pm! I spent the next 45 minutes walking through the sketch neighborhood of the Excelsior to kill time...
By the time I got back, there were a few folks already standing up in line waiting to place there order. How crazy is that?
I got the crispy soft shelled crab sandwich and the sweet potato tots. The verdict? It was AMAZING! Portion was HUGE! for $10 they give you a sandwich with 2 fried soft shell crabs with fried shrimps and crab mayo, which makes each bite a fried seafood heaven!
Was the wait worth it? Heck yeah! -
Review from Sam K.
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Broken Record was picked for day three of YTDDOC 2011. I was rolling my eyes about being sent to Excelsior but it was so worth it.
Walked in and the sign said Bikini Blonde Lager was $2/pint until the keg blew off. Fantastic. I got one.
Having read the reviews, and being hungry, I proceeded straight to the back to order some grub. Got the bacon burger (which is indeed made by grinding the bacon into the patty with the beef) and the sweet potatertots. The burger was amazeballs: juicy, salty, cooked perfectly. I'm going to have to figure out how to make burgers like that at home. Tots were crispy, salty sweet, and came with awesome house made ranch sauce (dill-powered, thinner, not too smothering).
If you want food, get here early and get your order in, because there are only two guys in the back slinging chow and you'll wait for a while.
Ample seating, good music, random movies projected on the walls, pool table. Great place to kill a Friday evening. -
Review from AS M.
Seattle, WA
12/15/2011
Boy the Excelsior sure has sure changed ... its got young hipsters now. I remember when ...
Did not try the food. Good stiff drinks. Good beer selection. Prices fair by SF standards. And sports on the big screen (surprising). Less fashionable people there too. Busy place. -
Review from Michael N.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
My girlfriend and I have been on a long time quest to find the best burger in the city, so we've been searching all over the place to find some good spot. Little did we expect to find a burger joint in the back of a bar. Very clever and good for bar business. These guys only open up the kitchen at 6:15, so if you come early (which is recommended) come get a drink and wait patiently. The lines can get quite long and as stated on their sign, "Be patient, there are only two people cooking."
Now for the review on food. The girlfriend and I ordered 2 burgers and an order of their sweet potatertots. To put it simply, it was pretty amazing. The burger patty had both beef and bacon in it which gave it an amazing flavor that worked your mouth two ways to Texas. The tots were pretty out of this world too. Definitely a great place to grab a beer and a great bite to eat. You guys are definitely one of favorite spots! You'll be seeing us again soon!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Kim K.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great local dive bar with great fried goodness in the back. The kitchen is amazing. I tend to go with a group of friends which enables us to order everything on the menu that day and try it all. Great addition to the neighborhood!
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Review from Sam P.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012 2 Check-ins Here
What do I love about Broken Record? Is it the extensive selection of fine whiskies? Is it the fact that they have a great selection of beers on tap, fairly cheap? Is it the penchant for somewhat headbanging music? Is it the non-hipster crowd? Is it the out of the way location? .... Nope, it's the awesome food, including the gringo nachos (waffle fries with pulled pork, cheese and barbeque sauce!).
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Review from schmoo l.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
Excellent grub in the back of a divey bar. Great gastropub fair, cooked perfectly. The burgers are dizzyingly good, they put friggin bacon in the burger. CELLO! You got to be into eating at this place to enjoy eating at this place.
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Review from Victoria L.
San Francisco, CA
12/9/2011
You have to be 21 and over to come here because of the full bar. They check you right when you walk in, but luckily they let us in because we just wanted to order food and the dinning area was in the back room away from the bar. THE FOOD IS FREAKING AMAZING. The pulled pork sandwich is the best thing I've ever tasted.
I tried the pulled pork sandwich, bacon + beef burger, and the pork fries. The bacon+beef burger was juicy and delicious but i didn't see any bacon on there, i guess it was part of the patty? I wish they gave me tomato with it too, but they didn't. I was still very happy with the service and the food. I'm definitely coming back here soon to try more, I don't think I can wait until I'm 21. -
Review from Tommy H.
Fremont, CA
12/9/2011
From the street, you would never guess that this place even serves food. I arrived at 4 pm only to find the iron gates over the front door padlocked tight. No sign displayed their hours so I looked online and found that they open at 5pm (the bar, that is). Tried to get some food right away only to learn that the kitchen opens at 6:15! Well, okay i had a beer (liter of their daily special was $4).
Went in the back @ 6:15 and ordered. Soft shell crab sandwich was excellent, but a little heavy on the tartar sauce. Nice crunch to it, and the crab flavor was great when not overpowered by the sauce. Sweet potatertots are divine, crispy outside, and smooth and sweet in the middle. I didn't care for the dill-ranch dipping sauce though. These tots are great naked. Lobster mac & cheese is very good, I could eat two of those (not a big portion on this one). Finally the braised and glazed wings were a surprise, and a nice departure from the usual hot wings. These are sweet, juicy and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
I will definitely go back. Met a lot of nice folks here and had a truly flavorful meal. -
Review from Chris B.
Fremont, CA
1/11/2012
Meh.
We took a trip to this place on a sunday evening about 30-45 min after they opened and they were already packed. This place is definitely a dive. Walk right through a tiny dark bar, through a hallway and into a cute little restaurant in the back. There was hardly any seating so we had to play vulcher and jump on a booth once someone got up.
We ordered the bacon cheese burger which has bacon bits ground right into the meat. It was good, but I'd compare it right along side with Red Robin.. which actually has quite good burgers.
Their papas gringo or whatever they call it (cross cut fries with cheese sauce and pulled pork) turned out to be a sham. It's huge and very filling but I will never trust all these people that raved about this dish. Yes, it sounds tasty and fun but it's a plate full of disappointment. The cheese sauce is what I feel killed it. It completely takes over the flavor of everything in this dish and soggs up the fries at the bottom big time. They had no more crisp to them by the time we got to it. I think that the pulled pork juices also contributed to some of the soggage in this plate. It was unenjoyable and completely not what I expected. Where are all the star ingredients? It all just tasted pretty much the same... Like the flavor of the cheese sauce. I know that natchos gringos aren't this boring and un-thought out. I have been told that they make their own cheese sauce but it tastes like canned which actually quite sad considering the time spent to make it home made. No goo or anything.. Just drippy ooze. Really just a complete disappointment.
We also ordered some of those butter fried chicken wings but almost forgot about them... And it seems that they almost did as well. We were just finishing our meal when all of a sudden the guy drops off a basket of dark golden brown chicken. What a surprise! I love surprises but damn.. This is nearly 20 minutes late. We were already full and forgot that we still had these. I hate reheated chicken so we had to eat it now or never. They were hot as shit (heat) because they just came out of the oven or fryer. I could barely even hold them to take a bite... Which isn't neccessarily a complaint.. But the breading was all burnt and tasted funny. We put down as much as possible and had to throw away almost half of it. I would have rather tossed the papas gringos but throwing these away wasn't the part that bothered me the most... The part that bothered me was how they were completely over cooked and late to our table. What a waste of money. The chicken inside although, was juicy and quite tasty.
Our three items came out to about $27 and sodas at the bar were only a buck. Not bad excluding the disappointments. -
Review from Rob P.
Wow...WOW... W O W ! ! This is the dive bar we all wish we had in our neighborhood! First off, the bar itself is actually very good. They have a large selection of whiskeys and well priced beers and cocktails. There is a dart board, pool table and a decent amount of space. The bar, alone, is worth the visit and easily a 4 star dive bar. Down a corridor in the back is where the restaurant is (orders need to be made separate.... drinks at the bar...food in the back). It is easily missed on a crowded night, but thankfully I knew what to look for from previous reviews.
The "dining area" is pretty small. They probably only seat about 50 people tops but of course every seat isn't always full so at about 20-30 people, all the tables are taken. We scan the menu and the 4 people I'm with all decide to order a bunch of different things and eat it all kinda family style.
THE ORDER
Crawfish Grits - 5 out of 5 - What a way to start the evening! The grits had a nice creamy and cheesy texture. There is ample crawfish in it that is cooked perfectly (soft and delicate and not chewy at all). Their natural flavor is present and goes well with the chunks of bacon and green onion on top. There is a nice kick of heat on the finish. It was very subtle and very pleasant. Best grits I've ever had. http://s3-media3.ak.ye...
Beef and Bacon Burger - 5 out of 5 - This, along with the Father's Office Burger in LA are my current favorite burgers...EVER. This is a simple burger executed to perfection. The twist on this burger is that the bacon is diced and mixed into the ground beef (no more bacon falling out of the back of the bun). This infuses the bacon in every single bite. The most bacon flavor I've ever had in a burger. An absolute MUST TRY! Along with this it is covered in tillamook chedder cheese, katchup, a house mayo and on a super soft bun. There is also thinly sliced red onions and lettuce on the side. http://s3-media1.ak.ye...
Crispy Pork tenderloin Sandwich - 5 out of 5 - Just as good as the bacon burger and a couple people at the table thought this edged the Beef and Bacon Burger... personally I loved them equally. At the heart of the sandwich was a perfectly cooked and superbly tender fried pork tenderloin. It was perfect! It had a nice crispy crunch without feeling oily or greesy. It was soft and juice... a pork lover's dream. Also on the sandwich are heirloom tomatoes and a spicy honey mustard sauce which really put it over the top. The sauce along with the heirloom tomatoes added a juicy, citrus-y, earthiness that was unique and pleasant. http://s3-media4.ak.ye...
Pulled Pork Fries - 5 out of 5 - Waffle cut french fries covered in pulled pork and a cheese sauce. Another mind blower here. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. The pulled pork was juicy and..well.. pork-y. And the cheese sauce was so so so tasty. There was a nice kick on the finish from either cayenne or a hot sauce. Well balanced and surprisingly not overly greasy. http://s3-media4.ak.ye...
Country Chicken and Gravy - 4 out of 5 - The least liked dish we had... which is kind of hard to say because the dish was very good, but it was the only one that didn't feel elevated to a new level. It was just really well done chicken and gravy over creamy mashed potatoes. It was tasty but it felt like it was missing some kind of textural crunch like some diced bacon, a parmesan cheese crisp or some fried chicken skin. Close to something special but still very very well done! http://s3-media2.ak.ye...
LOCATION
Honestly, I looked it up on the map and knew it was around and close to some kinda rough parts of town so I wasn't sure what to expect. Once we got there we realized that the location is just fine. It was well lit, clean and we all felt very safe. We found parking very quickly around the corner (it was friday night at around 9pm).
OVERALL
This is a must try for anyone (over 21) who is looking for great... and i mean GREAT bar food... and a full bar. This is food-gasm central....so bring a change of underwear.
Also note... the kitchen is CASH ONLY! -
Review from J C.
Austin, TX
12/7/2011
Crawfish bacon cheesy grits and a pale ale (or three).
Drunken sots, whiskey-drinking stoners, casual diners, pool players, SF City Supervisors having dinner and beer ... and oh my lord the food.
The food.
I'm about to gain 30 pounds as I just found my new favorite spot. -
Review from Patrick K.
Pacifica, CA
1/8/2012
This place is a total friggin' dive, and it is awesome! I love the atmosphere here; it is just a nice laid back place to hang out. They have a good beer selection too! And stand back, because at 6:15, there is gonna be some great food coming out of the kitchen! Make sure you try the burger (made with ground bacon!) and the pork fries!
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Review from jason g.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you really want to get some great lobster mac and cheese, this is the place to be. Great comfort food!!!!
Pulled pork sandwich. Apparently, they make their own breads in house. I was corrected when I thought it was Acme bread. If you are going to spend time making your own breads, I give it up to you guys. The pulled pork can use a little more tang to it but it was great.
Bacon Hamburger was fantastic. Cooked to perfection, moist, good char.
Crab and prawn sandwich was perfect. I love how they butter that bread, toast it, and then stuffed the bread with that crab and prawn salad. While eating it, the butter gets all on your hands but with each bite, it is well worth the mess.
Sweet potato tater tots were good as well.
Fried Chicken..........had better. I wouldn't order this again. Too bland. under seasoned. The frying technique was a little off. It actually looked burnt.
French fries...........it's french fries
Smores and the bread pudding were mind blowing!!!!
For a dive bar to produce this kind of food is unbelievable. Actually, a lot better than some of the more established restaurants that are out there. -
Review from Jules R.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
MAJOR DOWNSIDE:
**IF YOU'RE 21 & UNDER you can't eat in and have to take your food to-go. I know Yelp doesn't specify this, but their website does; the kitchen opens at 6:15p not 5:00p. Which is great to know because we arrived just before they opened at 5:00p.
My friend and I were disappointed because we were excited to finally try out Broken Record and didn't get to. The man that checks your I.D. upon entering was apologetic which we appreciated. Oh well, we'll come back another time to try their food out and update my review if necessary.
