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Category: Gay Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal HeightsMon-Tue. 5:00 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Wed-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri. 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"I love me some biscuits and gravy. And some irish bacon, even if it looks like you're eating flesh and more specifically ears of an animal.…" read more »
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So this place was super fun I went on a Friday or maybe a Saturday for a friends birthday. I had never been there and to my dismay when I walked up there was a seven dollar cover charge! I was about to not pay to get in but I did and it ended up being worth it. Cheap drinks and live music. They have a huge backyard area which is chill but I went there again another night with only one other friend and it was not much fun. It is a group kind of bar and if you do not want to pay the cover go there before 9:30 (way early) but you can spend that time getting drunk so when its later and more people come you can have fun with no stupid cover charge :D.
Oh and there is a bar next door...totally forget the name...but it is fun too with a slightly smaller backyard and karaoke pretty good scene but cash only
You bring the rock, and I'll bring the roll.
I'm actually not really sure what that means, but I suppose it was my attempt to introduce the fact that El Rio is a good venue to experience the rock and roll. I'm aware that this bar/venue also does salsa lessons and such like that, but I tend to always have rock and roll on the brain (among other things), so I'll focus on that.
The upside to a venue like El Rio or the Uptown (in Oakland) is that the stage is in its own room next to the main bar area. This therefore separates the haves from the have-nots - meaning, those who have the appreciation for the rock and roll, and those who have not. The haves enjoy the music without the people conversing loudly at the bar, and the have-nots can converse loudly without distraction from the music. It's a win-win. Then you throw in the bonus of solid beer/drink selection, pool table, jukebox, dive bar charm and close proximity to 24th St. BART - it's good times all around.
And even when the night is a bit cold and drizzly, the patio is simply divine.
Free oysters on the half shell was the perfect excuse for me to lead us to send our livers to the dogs, and the free barbecue and train wreck burlesque didn't hurt either (at least it didn't hurt me).
This all started the previous weekend on a Sunday, my usual research day for bars and dives to gather together the troops for social imbibing and revelry. Now Susannah B. and I as planners and instigators of the latest run of DYLs in San Francisco have been doing our homework diligently and had actually planned another bar for DYL that fateful Friday, but Poochie M contacted us to let us know about a fundraiser for http://rocketdogrescue.../ which is an organization that rescues our cute furry friends in need. How could we say no to that, especially at a bar with such a good reputation. We decided to investigate.
As soon as I stepped in I was stopped by the guy at the door. "$6 cover please."
"Really? I'm just coming to check the place out and speak with the bar tender about having a potentially large group of people here for a happy hour group I organize."
DG: You'll have to talk to the owner. If you want to have an event here you will need to go on the website and fill out a form.
"Uh, okay. Thanks."
I was ready to throw in the towel and we even checked out a couple more places but once I checked out the website and Poochie's event write up I couldn't say no to those sad puppy dog eyes (the dog's that were being rescued, not Poochie's). After doing a bit more research I realized that 1) there would be no cover charge that evening, 2) we would have $3 wells and drafts from 5 pm till 9 pm and 3) all proceeds on drink sales went to Rocket Dog Rescue from 5 pm to 8 pm that night and finally 4) there would be free oysters on the half shell at 5:30 pm. I couldn't say no (think about the puppies)!
Let me tell you I am so happy with the final outcome! The oysters were tasty, the drinks a bit small but strong pours, and the money flowed to our charity in need. After hanging out in their front room grabbing oysters and drinks we took over a corner in the large heated back patio, which was decorated with colored lights and greenery. We had eaten our oysters and drank our first several rounds of drinks and I thought it couldn't get any better when they started up the barbecue! Fish, carne asada, potato salad, chips, and grilled veggies were served for free (donations accepted which I happily contributed to).
After all that there was an announcement that they would be having a burlesque show in the hidden room/stage also reachable from the back patio. Several yelpers attended but I lolly gagged and the show started without me.
I can't really say much about the show except for the fact that the attending yelpers left the show a bit early being burlesque critics who between inane mumbles said something about gouging their eyes out and being scarred for life, but hey, for $5 it couldn't be too bad and I saw several people leave and return with drinks and smiles so it was definitely enjoyed by some.
Despite the therapy bills for the select few I think everyone had a great time on a small budget. I got to enjoy food and drinks with some outstanding yelpers and have some good laughs, all for a good (cute) cause, and this turned out to be a much better venue than I could have expected from my first impression. Thanks Poochie, El Rio, Rocket Dog Rescue and all you Yelpers-In-Attendance. Despite starting on the wrong foot (or paw), I'm definitely a fan!
** By the way I heard from Dawn at El Rio and thanks to all of us lushes in attendance we raised a nice extra wad of cash that went to Rocket Dog Rescue and most of the dogs were placed in good homes. **
I feel sort of silly being the 340th or somesuch reviewer, but hell, El Rio is awesome. Great back patio, chill vibe, never any attitude or "gee, you're not a local" BS. Pool table, games, lots of open space - just a great local dive in the best sense of the word. Top flight.
I came at night and there was a cover. They charged $7 to get in. I'm not opposed to cover charges, but that seemed a bit high considering that most of the drinks were pretty reasonably priced. They did have a live band, but I don't think that was the main attraction for most of the people was in there.
The outdoor patio is pretty nice. There's lots of room, lots of chairs and just a general good vibe with the place. That patio MADE the place. It made me wish I had a cigar to smoke.
I would definitely go back, but maybe when there isn't a cover.
If you're walking from the BART station in heels, your feet will probably hurt once you get here, but odds are you won't be disappointed.
The bar itself is average-sized and narrow, with a spot for shuffleboard and a pool table - were it not for the kick-ass gigantic patio in the back, this place could potentially be a bit crowded on weekend nights. However, the patio, complete with heat lamps, little nooks and crannies for seating, and strings of white lights, accomodates large crowds quite nicely, almost too nicely - the last time I was here, our group of folks were waaaay in the back corner and was somewhat difficult to find at first. Still the best spot on the patio though.
Sometimes there's a cover and they have bands, burlesque shows of varying quality, and salsa nights on Sunday. When there's no cover, and especially if there's a fundraiser for delightfully adorable furballs of the canine variety (yay Rocket Dog Rescue!), this place is golden.
Free oysters on the half shell Fridays at 5:30 if that's your thing, and $3 wells from opening to 9pm. The drinks are served in small plastic cups, but the liquor content makes up for it, and considering the various steps, uneven patio tiles, and sheer volume of people that pass through here I can't hold that against them anyway. Though it'd be nice if there was never a cover (after all, they do have a second room like Hemlock does), it'd be even nicer if it lived closer to me (as opposed to me living closer to it - nothing against the neighborhood it's in, but my current one is just far more convenient).
4.5 stars.
Seriously, the energy in this neighborhood is way bizarre...or something...because when I've come here or gone to Naps next door, I've felt strange...
I think we came on an off-night, as the vodka tonics and Bass were a bit flat, so I stuck to bottled beers. Although, who can argue with Happy Hour from 5 until 9?! Not I.
Heat lamps and an expansive back patio were great. I did, however, take issue with the leaking ceiling, which I'm told has happened more than once. Something about cats upstairs that know how to flush toilets?
Another plus: shuffleboard. None of my companions play, but I would have loved to, given someone to play with. Maybe next time?
Forget those 4 stars I had before. I LOVE EL RIO.
This place is what you make it, and with the help of my rad friends, it's always awesome. Drinks are cheap, they've got games, music, and the best patio area ever.
You can have a dance off with a Latina girl who really throws it around and does the splits (Mari C. can admit defeat) (But I can do the splits better than her I was just wearing a dress and she wasn't).
El Rio is My Dive. I love this place.
4 out of 5 monkeys say: it's the best.
The fifth monkey ended up agreeing to dance with a…
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I have neglected to write a revien of El Rio because I may have had some negative things to say about the "Sound System" the acoustics , until now.
Things have change. Since 2008, the side room is closed. It bothered me to have two types of music wafting through the place. The house speakers would play one genre and the side room with bad feng shui would emit a bad sound. There was just too much ambient competition.
Today at Mango, a bank of speakers were set up on the patio stage. Asking around, the club has had this set up for a minute.
I enjoyed being around all colors, all races, all sizes enjoying Salsa, Rap , Soul and Hip Hop. The weather was perfect. It was Grrl, Gurl, Girl city. I love it. I will be back.
As if I didn't have enough reasons to hate hipsters.
I really don't understand the hipster PBR fetish that's developed these last few years. Let's be real, if this weren't the trendy thing to drink right now, you'd give me the yuckface and mosey your skinny-jean wearing ass thataway every time you spotted me suckling from one.
And let's not pretend like the hipster community has suddenly discovered the merits of thrift, and is drinking PBR because it's cheap. These are the same people who pay $300 for a pair of shoes and $48 for a silk-screened tee.
When I'm enjoying the refreshing value (notice I didn't say "taste") of a Natty Light, I don't see any HUF fitteds bobbing towards me to inquire where I copped the sweet beverage, now do I?
Nope, this whole PBR-in-a-brown-paper-bag movement is the 21+ version of a Von Dutch trucker hat.
That having been said, El Rio has dirt cheap PBR and a really dope venue. I wish I liked the music they play, cuz I'd spend way more time here. As of now they're on some rock shit, which does not appeal to my breakbeat-biased ears, but it's a cool place to go when there aren't bands playing.
3 stars for the bar, bonus star for the patio.
edit: just noticed this is listed as a "Gay Bar", too. Obviously that wasn't the night I went! (nhjic).
This is officially going to be my new Monday night ritual. $1 PBR and $2 Wells? Heck yes. Who wants to drink on Friday and Saturday nights with these kinds of prices to look forward to after a shitty Monday in your cubicle? The back patio with heating lamps to boot!? And you can bring in food from outside? And a shuffleboard table? YES! Monday is officially my new favorite day of the week thanks to El Rio.
This is a fantastic spot! I suggest checking out the theme of the day because the crowds that gather there are definitely eclectic depending on what's happening. It can go from feeling like a queer bar one saturday to being a straight salsa crowd the next...regardless I've never had a bad time there.
um.... phenomenal.
magnificent backyard patio. i was there a friday afternoon and there was even a FREE bbq!!!! they had a tip jar out, but there was no set fee for the fresh oysters they served (raw or bbq with a salsa cheese type thing), or for the chicken/spinach salad/potato salad/chip combo they had (also delicious).plus the bartender gave me a free drink since it was my birthday.... and that's always nice.
i will definitely be back here.
A few weeks ago I went to Mango at El Rio with my lesbian crew in tow. We met up with a few out of towners and danced to a mix of pop, hip hop and reggaeton in their beautiful, heated, large patio area. There's just something about dancing under the stars in San Francisco that automatically makes a bar legendary. Obviously, the bars with outdoor patios get more stars and for good reason! You'll always remember that time to swayed to "Umbrella" in the warm-ish open air.
The bartenders, the patrons and the atmosphere is all chill. They make a strong, spicy bloody mary and the bartenders are chatty & fun.
I think this place is kind of like a cleaner, less popular Zeitgeist. It was kind of dead by midnight on a Friday. But they have a huge outdoor area with those space heater thingys so even if it's cold you can stand under one and stay warm. I think once the weather gets nicer this place will become more full on weekends.
Anyway, I liked how they had 2 dollar PBR and pretty cheap cocktails (5 dollars I think for maker's and coke).
Plus, it's not that loud outside so you can actually talk with friends unlike a lot of bars.
There were some cutey girls too!
My friend lives pretty much next door so I'll definitely be coming back here, I recommend it if you're in the area!
+1: Friday Happy Hour = $3 drafts and wells from 4pm - 9pm
+2: Free half-shell oysters
+3: Huge shared patio
+4: Dive bar I can go to
+5: Saving the animals
+6: Well made drinks
-1: For the toddler sized toliet; it's a good thing I can pop-a-squat, because I had to do so here. And for no soap, I mean c'mon I can't be immuned to everything.
-1: For the tiny cups given for the $3 drinks, yet if you look above they were strong (nonetheless).
I'll only go back when the next wave of my office crew goes again. Don't think I'll head here on my own.
El Rio = El Money
This place is so sweet. I'm upset that I've been living down the street from this place for three years and I never went inside because they always charge a cover...except when I went there last Saturday.
Venue is awesome. Long bar, which leads into a large back patio (smaller than Zeitgeist but twice the size of Blue Plate) which u-turns back into another room that is the stage. The hot bassist was in this short ass skirt, which, well, kept riding up so you could see her butt cleft. Is that too pervy to put in a yelp review? I guess the answer is yes if I am asking.
Beautiful nights are awesome to spend in the back. The bar is nice and cheap. $2 Pabst. $3 Buds. I mean, shit, why did the five bucks turn me away before?
As a connoisseur of the dive bar, I'd say this is definitely in the top 3 of the city.
First of all, I cant even believe I am awake right now.... and at work! OOH El Rio, I knew that moving to the mission would be a great, yet bad idea. I mean the drink specials alone will do it to keep me going out each and every night! So, it was a Monday, and I wanted to go somewhere cheap! But I had no idea how cheap it really would be! On Mondays, $1 PBR and $2 well drinks... oooh well drinks, I can feel the gin and pineapple sloshing in my belly as I type=( I wish I was still asleep... but there is no time for that now, I must complete my review so I can go home and sleep on my lunch break!!!!!
So they have a great big outdoor patio with plenty of seating and wonderful heating lamps.... Don't remember much... one of those nights I guess. I will be back for all of the drink specials!!!
Everytime I go here I have a better and better time!!
Can't beat the free BBQ on Friday nights. Props to the guy that puts up with everyone!! I always tip him well, so you should too. He's super nice!! Buy him a drink or something!! He gives you a pretty good spread: spinach salad, BBQ chicken, grilled garlic bread, potato salad and potato chips. And after about 1/4 of their Long Island Ice Teas ($6 well spent) on an empty stomach it tastes gourmet. LOL. (I'm a lightweight, I know. Apparently I was petting my napkin saying, "Napkin.")
The drinks are really good price from 5-9 i think it is. $3 wells, $2 beers, $2 bloody mary pints. The put green beans in their bloody marys. The nice couple in front of us were enjoying them saying the green beans were like pickles.
This is a great place to meet new people (except a creepy mexican guy was there and he was really annoying and was making really dumb jokes and laughing at them.)
If you don't like cigarrette smoke dont sit in the back corner by the BBQ. The dont charge a cover before a certain time but im not sure what it is. If you get there by 7:30 you'll be safe and get free food.
The only bad thing is the state of repair this place is in. its not dirty its just eclectic and dilapidated. Not a good place to dance. But its a perfect starter club for dinner and a few drinks. Go to The Cellar for dancing. (see my review for The Cellar.)
SOOO... I was there as was tyler (check review below) on Friday night. I came there for my first… Read more »
I've ALWAYS wanted to come to Mango, but plans always fell through!
Well I finally got to go with some wonderful company and I must say I had an absolutely awesome time there! If you're like me, a lesbian who wants to have a fun time and not impressed with The Lex, then go here! It is lively, friendly and so many different kinds of women. The best part, you ask? They want to have a fun time! The music here was all over the place, which I also appreciated. I would totally come here again, and I'm seriously hoping for another opportunity!
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Gay Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Party & Event Planning
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Category: Dive Bars
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