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Internos Wine Cafe
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 4 pm - 11 pm
Thu 4 pm - 12 am
Fri-Sat 4 pm - 1 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Mon, Fri, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
133 reviews for Internos Wine Cafe
Review Highlights
"Adnan was a gracious and knowledgeable host."
(in 31 reviews)
"The small plates of food are delicious and made on the spot."
(in 14 reviews)
"The food, complimentary nuts and olives are lovely, too."
(in 5 reviews)
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133 reviews in English
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Review from Rebecca H.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011 18 Check-ins Here
Caldecott Tunnel at 6 p.m. Bay Bridge at rush hour. Living 20 minutes away. These easily aggravating factors are not enough to deter me from coming to Internos on a weekday night for delicious wine in a great, friendly atmosphere. This has become the BFF's and my regular spot for wine, especially on Monday and Tuesdays when bottles are half off (you can't beat a bottle of wine at the start of a rough week).
Adnan the wine master extraordinaire is excellent about making recommendations so if you are feeling overwhelmed or unsure of the varietals, just ask him. Great little light snacks to so you can satiate your appetite while sipping your Malbec.
Definitely worth my trek through traffic and across town to go to this neighborhood gem! -
Review from Elaine Y.
1/10/2012
Not really a fan of wine so I'll be reviewing the place itself instead. This place will be great for wine lovers because they offer a wide selection, plus they have some yummy appetizers. You can social with some friends comfortably with some small bites and a glass in hand. The place is very dimly lit with some interesting light fixtures, and filled with some modern decor. Lots of black and white photo canvas on the wall, it seems like they are really into art. The whole place is painted in dark color so it gives off the intimate and relaxing atmosphere. I like how it's not crowded at all, so you can have a nice conversation without screaming over the music.
The server was also very friendly, and made some good suggestions when asked about what to drink. They only serve wine and beer so don't come here if you're planning to pound some shots, this is not that kind of place. -
Review from Analisa S.
Berkeley, CA
9/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Stumbled across Inernos while we were waiting for the rest of our party to eat at Assab. I like the ambiance, very casual, but upscale. Everything is wood and it has a gritty feel but also feels really nice.
I sat down to two really friendly bartenders who chatted with me about the different wines. After a taste of their Malbec, i was hooked. It was such a smooth flavor with the end bite that I love. After that I ordered their pinot which was another great choice. They have almonds and pistachios served with the wine. They're not just your average almonds and pistachios, they are seasoned really well, with the almonds being kind of sweet, but not honey roasted. And the pistachios? Probably some of the best I've ever had. They had a spice seasoning that I want to figure out what it was because it was so good.
I ordered a cheese platter (was getting hungry). Their cheese is kind of standard, nothing to write home about. But its me and I always enjoy cheese.
With easy street parking and an amazing Ethiopian restaurant nearby, you better believe I'll be back. -
Review from Kate M.
San Francisco, CA
1/31/2012
Recently met about 15 girls here for my Birthday/Networking Event, and it is a lovely place. Very sophisticated, great food, beautiful wine, nice staff and the space is well laid out. This is really a little gem near the Richmond. It's across from the Post Office on Geary Blvd., which is frankly a location you wouldn't necessarily expect to find a cute wine bar, but there it is...don't let the exterior or the location fool you, it's comfortable but not pretentious. The only reason for 4 rather than 5 stars is that I think they need a few bottles in the $25-30 price range, and as it stands right now, there is nothing under $30 or $32. Other than that slight critique, LOVE IT!
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Review from Just m.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
You can watch sports here and drink wine with a free nut tray with almonds cashews and pitted olives. Its very chill and not in your face typical snob bar. Perfect.
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Review from sonya d.
11/17/2011
A cute wine bar in the Inner Richmond? Really? I never would've guessed. Would I choose to trek all the way out to this area to go to a wine bar? Probably not. But it's a great option over all of the super dives if I'm in the area. When we went, it was a cold, windy Tuesday, so I'm assuming that's why this place was packed. But maybe it's always packed because like I said it's one of a kind in this neighborhood. I liked the large, somewhat dark canvas paintings on the wall...especially the odd, creepy looking dancing bear by our seats. We pondered over what that could possibly be, so it added some extra conversation to the mix. Their wines were also really tasty, and I liked their names and descriptions. I usually switch it up and taste new wines each time, but at this place I stuck to the same one. Little did we know, the bottles were half off....maybe that's why it was so packed? Would've saved us some money if we had either known what was up, or carefully read the menu, haha. Our bartender was super friendly and prompt, and the crowd seemed laid back and welcoming. Their food also looked really good, so next time I won't eat before coming here.
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Review from Eric A.
3/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a rock solid neighborhood wine bar.
They were awesome, we had a coupon that expired and they still honored it, now that is customer service.
Also they were so busy our waiter didn't even work there! how funny.
Not a fan of their Lebanese wine....it was very interesting, too interesting (it had a stinky taste to it...) -
Review from LeSLiE W.
Portland, OR
12/23/2010
I started writing this review on December 3... 2009. No WONDER they took my Elite status away from me! In all fairness I WAS really preoccupied with the small business of raising my son while incubating his little brother and working full time. I mean, I deserve a break don't I? And don't I deserve to provide some sort of explanation before my Eliteness is just RIPPED from me? And see??? I couldn't even protest this injustice in a timely manner, I was so busy!
But I digress...
I'm talking about Internos... the super sexy wine bar in the not-so-super-sexy Geary corridor. I've been here several times and enjoyed many a glass of wine. The owner is a lovely guy and not only has great taste in wine but art as well. I always leave this place with at least one bottle of wine and wishing I could afford to buy a painting or two. AND, this isn't your typical snooty patooty wine bar (is that how one spells "patooty"?). I'm welcome here whether I come with work colleagues, my hip Saturday night crew or the mommies' book club. Gotta love that...
And oh, how I do! -
Review from Carol L.
2/27/2011
Great little whole in the wall! I would come here more often if I were living closer. Came here Saturday night to this bubbling crowded wine bar. Very generous pours. One of those places where locals come here so often, they sometimes help pour wine. Suffice to say, super friendly service.
I tried 2 whites and 2 red. Whites were good; South African red was good, Lebanese red was very odd tasting. I'd not order the Lebanese red wine again. -
Review from Miss G.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
The wine selection was decent, the waitress was very nice. Overall the place had more of a sportsbar feel to it: bros drinking beer, playing dice, watching football, and satelite radio playing Sublime. I will try another wine bar next time.
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Review from maria g.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2011
Last night.....two gay men were thrown out of this bar and called faggots!
Not very nice not to mention -
Review from Marie S.
San Francisco, CA
4/26/2011
A great neighborhood secret. Usually I pass by this place, yet when a friend invited me, I was pleasantly surprised and truly enjoyed the entire package!
The place is inviting with all the natural wood seating, high ceilings and cool artworks displayed by local artists. The wine sections are plenty to choose from and the food tasty and not overly done. Owners are friendly, personable and seem to enjoy every new customer that walks in. And locals seem to always end up here on any given night. -
Review from Susan S.
8/29/2010
Great wine bar. I had an Outer Richmond evening recently which included dinner at Morph, ice cream at Joe's, and finished with a drink at Internos Wine Cafe. It was the perfect end to an evening with friends. Internos is understatedly sophisticated and cozy. We chose to sit at the bar, which had comfortable seats (with backs!) over sharing the rustic long table in the center of the bar with another group. (We also glanced enviously over at the group sitting in a comfortable looking leather couch in the window).
I'm no wine connoisseur--I can safely differentiate between red and white, but that's about it--but, for what it's worth, I was impressed by the selection. Since my drinking tastes (and tolerance) are pretty much that of a sixteen year old girl, I was pleased with the dessert wine list. I had a lovely sweet rose and then a complimentary glass of really excellent sherry given to me by the owner. Love that guy--extra star! My more wine knowledgeable friends also enjoyed their wine.
Overall, a great neighborhood wine bar. The dog napping behind the bar adds to the cozy, neighborhood feel. -
Review from Inga W.
12/8/2010
Great little bar with great wine and atmosphere. Nice to have it close to where I live to be able to stop by for an impromptu drink after work. The wood furniture adds a touch of warmth that places like this need to make it inviting, especially now in the cold winter. They serve small bites for those that need a little snack, and you get nuts and olives with your wine. The wine is great and the selection is very diverse and the owner is friendly, always willing to pour a taste and make suggestions on what to order. Once you come a few times, you'll be treated like a regular where they know what you like. I don't even remember what I had, I just described what I was in the mood for and he poured.
My only suggestion, the bar stools are great but the ones at the tables around the bar are hard on the posture and not that comfortable. -
Review from Tim N.
Updated - 1/16/2011
On our latest visit to Internos, we came by with a friend to grab a glass of wine and chat. I've been here four or five times now, and every time I've been pleased with 1) the number of people in the bar, and 2) the noise level. The place always seem to be reasonably full, but the ambient noise and the music are never too loud that you can't hear yourself talk. It really is an awesome alternative to heading out to a crazy, packed bar in the Marina.
We love this place and appreciate having an option like this in our neighborhood.Listed in: Best Happy Hour
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2010
This place is a very cool addition to this stretch of Geary Blvd.
My wife and I paid Internos a visit… Read more »
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Review from Courtney P.
Hercules, CA
4/30/2011
This is a review for hosting an event at Internos Wine Cafe. I don't recall the last time I experienced such negligence and arrogance from one business. I usually never post bad reviews, but I had a horrifying experience at Internos.
Basically, I reserved a table to host an event at the bar for 30 guests and, like many events, the event did not get nearly the turnout that I expected (as an event planner, I know the drill). As a result, one of the owners, Quinn, pulled me aside for a scolding, including the accusation that I was "squatting in her business" and that "I should be lucky" Internos didn't charge me for the booking. Regardless of attendance, nothing I did justifies that level of rudeness and disrespect from a business owner.
Whole story: Last week, I called Internos to ask if it's possible to reserve a table to host a launch event to showcase my jewelry line. The employee I spoke with assured me that it was fine and booked me for a Friday evening. About a week after the reservation was confirmed and I'd begun planning the event, the employee calls back to say that she hadn't checked with her managers before making the reservation and they were "not comfortable" with hosting a vendor at their venue. That's understandable, but a) why was there no communication with the managers before confirming the reservation, and b) why did she call me back only a few days before the reservation to say they wanted me to cancel? To rectify the situation, the employee explained that the owners wanted me to cancel the event or buyout the venue for the night if I wanted to host my party. I explained that I already had the event in the works, press had gone out about it, and I had 30 people on my guest list. Therefore, it wasn't fair to ask me to cancel or pay to solve the problem of the venue's internal miscommunication. As a result, they agreed that I could host the event (without having to do a buyout) with the agreement that I'd have 30 guests. Note that we did not agree on a bar minimum for my party.
A few days later on a Friday evening, the event arrived...but the turnout was terrible. Although I got press in a huge local publication (7x7 Magazine), I invited tons of guests and over 30 of them were confirmed, only 5 people showed up. Even worse, no one ordered any drinks or food (except me). Yikes.
Towards the end of the evening, Quinn approached my small group with menus. In an aggressive and annoyed tone, she asked if anyone wanted to buy drinks or food, while glaring at me. Understanding her frustration as the business owner, I strongly encouraged my guests to buy, as well. When none of them expressed interest, Quinn tossed the menus on the table and stormed away.
Not long after that incident, Quinn asked to speak with me in private when I had a moment. Once I explained some questions about my jewelry line to my guests, I walked over to where Quinn was standing by the bar. Then her nasty rant ensued.
As of result of low turnout and low orders from the bar (something I had very little control over), Quinn called me "disrespectful", "unprofessional", and a "squatter" in her business. Amongst other rude comments, I remember she said that I'm "lucky" she didn't charge me a couple hundred dollars to cover the expense. She also complained that she was "unhappy" and "very disappointed" because she asked my guests to buy food/drink, but they looked at her like she "had six heads" (maybe because everything at Internos is overpriced?). She concluded her tongue lashing by asking me to pack up and leave within 15 minutes. Seriously??
I understand her huge disappointment with low orders because the bar needs to make money. However, considering I had no prior agreement with the establishment for a bar minimum, her comments were completely inappropriate, rude, and offensive. I'm very surprised she called ME unprofessional...we probably wouldn't have had the conflict if Quinn had trained her employees properly in the first place, or at least taken more accountability for the lack thereof.
Never in my life have I felt so unwelcomed and belittled by a business. What a regretful experience at Internos courtesy of the poor management. If customer service is important to you, I would look elsewhere for hosting your next event. -
Review from Kirsten M.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2011
I think this place is just great and so nice to have this type of offering in the neighborhood full of great Asian ethnic restaurants and Irish bars - but not a whole lot else by way of sophisticated night out type places. Internos is doing something different and doing it really well. It has great lighting, beautiful wood, a snazzy bar and a decent, if not totally knock it out the park, wine selection. I tried some new stuff that night and I always enjoy being surprised a little so that was fun. A great place to meet friends for a few glasses - the ambiance and big wood communal table are cool. The big leather couches, nice TV and Wifi would make an excellent choice for a place to hang for an evening if your living room is not cutting it. I thought the snack like bites menu was tasty too.
Highly recommended and looking forward to going back! -
Review from Amy L.
6/28/2010
Relaxed, low-lit, friendly, and maybe even a bit sexy, Internos made for a great Friday night for a friend and myself.
Surprisingly uncrowded and inviting, the noise level wasn't too high and that made it perfect for my friend and I to chat while we imbibed. A gentleman who introduced himself as Adnan greeted us as we sat down on the couch and helped us pick our glasses of wine by offering very helpful answers to our questions about various selections. He also brought us complimentary pistachios and olives to munch on with our drinks...very thoughtful and cool, although I'm allergic to pistachios and can't stand olives!! Luckily, my friend is a fan of both :)
I noted that the per-glass prices of wines were very reasonable by current San Francisco wine-bar standards.
And one detail sets Internos apart from other such bars I've been to as VERY cool: they offer half-glasses of wines for exactly half the price of a full glass! That's fantastic for those of us who want to try multiple wines without getting too drunk to drive home, or who want a little bit more after we finish a glass, but don't think we could handle another full pour. Every wine bar should have this option!!!
While we didn't order any food, they DO offer it, and I noticed from another table nearby that the portions are quite healthy. That's nice, because so often I go to wine bars and they offer a rather measely portion for a lot of money. For me, I don't want to drink on an empty stomach, and I think it's ridiculous to pay $15 for a tiny sliver of cheese with two crackers. That doesn't seem to be the problem at Internos, another big points winner in my book!
No one bothered us or badgered us to order more than what we wanted, and no one pressured us with a bill until we were ready to pay and take our leave. Very classy. Good service is hard to find sometimes in San Francisco, but Internos definitely provides it!!
I will definitely go back here and bring more friends. It was a lovely experience and one I would happily repeat!!! -
Review from Gisele C.
Emeryville, CA
7/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great spot! The staff is super friendly and accommodating. I enjoyed tasting wines with the bartender and exchanging tasting notes. Will def go back! I like that the wine list changes frequently and that there are selections from all over the world.
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Review from Kimberly B.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I've been here a couple of times before/after movies at The Bridge and it's a nice little place to while away some time with a glass of vino.
I've never tried any of the food here, but they always provide complimentary pistachios and olives, with your wine which is a nice touch!
I always sit at the bar, but there are lots of sofas around. The decor is a nice warm brown color scheme with lots of candles. This seems like it would be a nice place to go later in the evening if you were on a date or something, but I'm not sure how crowded it gets later in the evening since I'm always here on the early side.
They also have free Wi-Fi, which is always a plus.
I didn't even mention the wine, did I? They have a nice selection of wines that changes every couple of weeks and are happy to pour you a taste of anything you want to try (or a taste of something that they recommend if you're ambivalent...like I am).Listed in: Getting My Drink On...
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Review from Kate V.
12/16/2009 ROTD 3/11/2010
I remember telling my ex-boyfriend at least a few times while we were together that we should try this place sometime.
The plan never came to fruition.
However, since then I have spent quite a few evenings here on dates with some of my closest friends (they're the best!). Adnan, the owner, has always offered a couple of different tastings in order for me to find the perfect glass of wine to cry into (he is also the best!).
Internos just has this really warm and comforting vibe. The wall art is always calming, and there's almost always a sports program showing up at the bar. The variety of different places to sit--the bar, the high communal table, several individual short and tall tables and stools, or the couch--makes it ideal for everything from a night out with the ladies to a first date to an intimate let's-bash-my-ex sesh. I'll admit guilt to 2/3 of the aforementioned...
Plus, everything on the wine menu has been handpicked from around the world. Order something to eat (everything's delicious) and you'll also get some yummy spicy olives and nuts (and chocolate covered raisins, what!) to munch on.
At the end of the day, I'd say it's a good thing I never brought him here. As such, the place is untainted and only conjures memories of getting over the asshole, not being with him. Thank you friends, and thank you Internos, for guiding me through that process, one wine-induced evening of defusion at a time.
And if you're reading this, and I really hope you do sometime... hi, Chris. Fuck you.Listed in: R to the izzO, T to the Dizzay
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Review from renee m.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/1/2009
EXACTLY WHY I HATE YELP.
I was there last night and saw the issue that all these people are writing about below. There were 2 people that were TOTALLY making out and started taking their clothes off, pants!!! Are you kidding me? it was innapropriate for ANYONE, gay or straight, to be acting that way out in the open. Get a room! ANYONE doing this would have been thrown out of this bar. Guess what? bar owners and patrons do not want to see this whatever the case may be. Maybe that flys in other bars, but if this guy doesnt want it in his, then dont go there!!!!
I never heard comments such as 'faggots'. I think that is being made up to make a point, just like all these people all of a sudden are writing slanderous comments when they werent there.
JUST TO NOTE, ALL THESE PEOPLE WRITING THESE THINGS BELOW WERE NOT THERE. there were only two people involved, so I think its really stupid they are having all their friends write in like this.
This is why I hate Yelp. You take 2 people that act like idiots, and they ruin someones business when the owners are only trying to defend it.
The owner should not worry though, this neighborhood loves Internos, and has great patrons who dont want to watch this sort of thing, and the only thing there is to HATE there is people that maliciously try to ruin peoples livelihoods anyway!
FURTHERMORE Dont bother sending me messages, I wont read them and certainly wont waste my time responding. Im not defending what really happened to those that were not even there and are going by hearsay.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/19/2009
Its time we got something like this in the Richmond!
I was surprised to see how busy it was for it… Read more »
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Review from monica c.
8/3/2010
Love love love that you can order half glasses of any wine they serve by the glass. The pours are quite generous, so a half-glass is often the perfect amount for me. And if you haven't had your fill after that, it leaves the option open to try out others.
The two wines I tried (Pinot Noir that was described as "delicious" - how can you so no to that?! and the Malbec) were both pretty good. The Pinot was a little acidic for my taste, but pretty good overall. Malbec was spicy yet smooth. Definitely a bold one.
Didn't try any of the food, but it looked + smelled yummy.
I like my wine bars as cozy as the next person, but I was pretty much sweating in here. And I'm ALWAYS cold. Maybe it was just that particular night since it was quite chilly outside. I dunno.
Pretty empty considering it was a Saturday night. But it was great not having to eye people down to vulture their seats the moment they leave.
Service was friendly. Verrrrrry laid back, which I dig. Plan to spend some time just sipping away. It doesn't seem like the place to rush. -
Review from Tashya W.
Oakland, CA
11/14/2009
I went for my first and last visit with this establishment on the evening of 11/7/09 to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of some friends of mine.
The entire wine bar was closed to the public for this event. After a little more than half an hour, I decided to head to the bar to order a drink, since I had not realized complimentary wine had already been provided by the hosts of this event. My friend's boyfriend ordered a drink at the same time I did without incident.
When I got to the bar to order, I told the male bartender, "I'd like to order a Riesling."
To which he did not reply, "Coming right up."
Instead he asked, "Are you part of this group?"
"Isn't everyone here 'part of this group'," I asked.
Bartender shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know."
"Isn't this a private party," I asked, "aren't you closed to the public?"
Again he shrugged his shoulders and told me he didn't know whether or not it was a private gathering. Never mind the fact that he had obviously been scheduled that evening specifically to serve at this event, and had been bringing out food for the last half an hour that I'd been there.
So let's get this straight. You're asking me if I'm part of a group you are not aware of? Huh? What? Just too ignorant.
I finally told the ignoramus, "Everyone here is part of this group. This is a private party."
He didn't ask my friend's boyfriend this question, he just gave the man his drink. I'm fairly certain that no one else was asked this question either. My friend and her boyfriend found it to be an odd line of questioning, and so did the one other friend I told.
It's a rare occasion that I resort to calling someone a name, like ignoramus, but I felt a little bit small in that moment because of his ignorance. Why he would assume I didn't belong or was not part of this group is something only he knows.
But Internos has him to thank for my never patronizing this place again. I would never return to an establishment where I do not feel treated with respect. -
Review from Quinn S.
2/24/2009
Unlike Luis C, the first-to-review-sniper, I've actually been to Internos. That's what these reviews are supposed to be about, right? "Real People, Real Reviews." not "Real Previews."
Anyway, Internos was a perfect place to kill an hour on a rainy Monday evening. The interior is clean and well designed, if a little sparse. The art on the walls gives me a headache, but other than that, the place looks great, with dark wood, candles, interesting light fixtures and a dark marble bar.
The bartender was jovial and kept bringing us little nibbles and unsolicited top-offs. It's worth checking out the place now while they are eager to woo you. I really appreciated the way he almost insisted that I try everything I ordered before pouring me a full glass, including the house brew, which is a light, hoppy beer that they have brewed specially for the shop. It's a nice touch.
They said that the TV is on it's way, which worries me, since I'm not a television in the bar kind of guy, but if they keep the sound off or play old movies, I wouldn't object.
Internos is a fantastic new spot and despite the location, it's worth the trek. -
Review from Marie B.
5/2/2009
Internos Wine Cafe is EXACTLY what the Richmond district needs! One of the owners, Adnan is awesome--personable, knowledgeable (in terms of wine and the world), enthusiastic and generous! Both times I've gone, he was more than welcoming, and remembered me and my cousin from our previous visit.
I love their wine list! Plenty of pinot noirs and shirazs, and decently priced. The menu, the last time I went only had savory items, but we're promised that sweets were going to surface soon. The cheese plate is excellent, though I could do without the blue cheese (too potent for me!). The bruschettas are equally excellent with fresh ingredients and inventive and classic tastes and flavors.
Dark woods, dim, but not overly so, makes for a classy and inviting atmosphere...you almost forget your in the Richmond district.
I'm due back for a visit. We were promised sweets on the menu, television(s?)., and happy hour specials all throughout the week.Listed in: Richmond District, The Places I Go Out
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Review from Zach P.
San Francisco, CA
6/28/2011
Wine is great. Appetizers are great. The bartender was friendly, had great taste in music and was a joy to chat with. Simply put, its a wine bar, that serves food. Holds maybe 30 max. If you want a small, cute, good wine bar with some small plates, go here.
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Review from Stacy T.
8/6/2009
I've been remiss by not writing a review for this place sooner.
Its small, cozy, and the perfect little out of the way respite from the bustling streets.
Came here with a friend of mine who fancies herself a wine aficionado and it got her seal of approval. Great wine list and laid back vibe. I enjoy feeling like I am in a secret hideaway spot that has yet to be marred by mainstream tourists looking for run of the mill libations.
Try it out for yourself and find that this establishment is a nice place to go to have a civilized drink. -
Review from Meredith R.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2009
Darn, lots of smoke in the reviews on here. Here's my experience, full of yuppies or not....
A friend and I stopped by as we'd heard it would be a *fantastic* place to host our friends engagement party; they just moved back from Argentina and they're both fond of fine wines and good food. So, we emailed the owners and let them know we'd be by. We got a very immediate, professional response.
We were pretty much treated like gold from the minute we walked in. Adnan was busy with customers (of all types btw) however he made it his priority to keep us busy while he could get a chance to discuss our needs for the party should we book.
The wines are impressive. They rotate their list every two weeks so you can be sure there is always something new to try. The menu is incredible for a wine cafe; we ordered the hummus/avocado bruschetta, salami mozzerella pannini and caprese salad. Portions were HUGE compared to to other wine bar portions and everything was fresh; as if the breads just came from the oven an hour before.
Quinn was equally as friendly when she introduced herself; they both pretty much made it impossible for us to decline hosting a party there. And this goes w/o saying they didn't even sell us on the place - they just did what successful business people do: keep customers happy.
We are so excited to have them help us throw an incredible party in a few weeks. It's nice to give money to people that give a darned.
*** Kudos for the Yes on Dogs policy. Moose hangs out behind the bar and there were two other super mellow pups just chillin'. -
Review from Rachel M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/3/2009
The owners of this joint are very nice and polite. I doubt they'd invite so much hatred and a boycott upon themselves.
Let's reserve judgment and hateful reviews until the true story comes out.
Edited to add: The 'press' section of their website has a letter to the public about the incident.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/12/2009
Great addition to the neighborhood! Went here with some friends and got to taste a ton of wines,… Read more »
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Review from Kehaulani K.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2009
Cute wine bar with plenty of happy hour specials.
Adnan and Quinn are great hosts. Super down to earth.
What I love about this place is they always give you free tastings before you decide on a wine.
Another bonus is the free marinated green and red mediterranean olives, a variety of nuts to snack on and if your lucky they even bust out free proscuitto pizzas for everyone to share!
This place is a definite must to check out!!! You will not be
disappointed at all.
They also have a nice array of different snacks you can order to munch on while your drinking that wine! -
Review from Aaron F.
4/16/2009
A friend and I decided that it had been a long time since we'd caught up and the two of us drinking wine would be a great way to unwind after a long day. She lives near Internos and recommended it. At first sight I didn't know what to think. The place was packed and the windows were all steamed up as if someone has just had a passionate, back of the Corolla sex kind of experience. That and there were hand prints and messages in the foggy windows.
As we waded through the crowds we found out it was a party, but the host, Adnan, saw us and still invited us to stay. We found a table near the front and we decided on a bottle of Sonoma County pinot noir from the Lyeth Winery. It was a delicious bottle.
I only have one gripe and that is the bottle was $48. Online, you can get it for $17.99. That's a little bit of a hefty markup. No, that *is* a hefty markup. I understand you got costs to cover but dang! Despite this, the energy here was nice and service was spot on and friendly.
4 stars for service, minus 1 star for prices which were a bit high. -
Review from Bret W.
Woodside, CA
2/28/2009
I just happened into this place last night, and it turns out they've only been open for a week, but they seem to be doing well already. I needed a place to meet two friends from Barcelona who were in town, and another friend of mine recommended Internos. It turned out to be a great recommendation (although it's very hard to find at night - they need a lighted sign!).
The owner, Adnan, took very good care of us, bringing us all kinds of delicious wines and very yummy small plates (cheeses, prosciutto, artisan bread, crostini, etc). Adnan is enthusiastic, funny, and a terrific host. And he made all the furniture himself - which he is very, very proud of.
It was a particularly perfect place to meet my friends from Barcelona, since it felt a little like some of the great little informal tapas places that are a big part of the Catalan lifestyle.
Internos is a very comfortable place to enjoy good wine, good food, and good conversation. You'll enjoy it. -
Review from aaron h.
Oakland, CA
12/7/2009
Nifty but imperfect.
I'm not a drinker at all. The frequency by which I consume alcohol is roughly one glass per 2-3 months, and only on special occasions. That said, it was joining a group of friends to celebrate a birthday that brought me to Internos.
It's a quaint neighbourhood shop nicely appointed by rich, dark colours and weighty woods that evoke thoughts of chocolate and warmth; especially inviting this time of year, but the wall-mounted plasma showing off a football game felt strangely out of place.
A rainy Sunday evening along with a party reservation meant the place was never uncomfortably crowded, though the acoustics left something to be desired. With a total of only 5 people (including us) as we waited for the remainder of our group to arrive, the pals chatting it up with the bartender already had the place in such a roar that I could swear it was like listening to a raucous sports stadium through the business end of a hair dryer.
Thankfully, the gal working was cordial and helpful in both inviting us and newcomers to our group and helping choose a starter from the menu. Not a long menu, but as a non-drinker, having a wide selection was of little concern, though everyone else seemed more than satisfied. The food menu was also a bit short and even simple appetisers took a surprising amount of time to hit the table despite a low population to serve, but the bruschetta and meat & cheese plate were quite good. Prices seemed a little on the high side across the board, but as a place clearly intending to lean on the fancy side, it didn't seem out of line.
While the initial greeting was nice, the service and attention to our party fell off dramatically soon after. If anyone wanted a refill or to order food, they'd have to excuse themselves from the table and go to the bar. I was disappointed to hear that they wouldn't offer individual tabs because people were coming and going throughout the evening, making it difficult and even a little unfair to those stuck with the bill at the end of the night. I also found it odd that one of the employees spent considerable effort trying to convince our party's host who she was and why she was there. Even after being corrected a few times, his incredulity refused to concede that in fact she had a grasp on her identity and our party's purpose. I nearly dared him to question my name.
Bottom line: a cute little wine spot in Inner Richmond that isn't overly pretentious, but carries some of the service snobbery. It suffices at serving a short but quality menu, but is not for those hoping to carry on conversations, unless you're good at one of these things: sign language/charades, lip reading, txt message, or ancient long-distance grunting rituals. -
Review from Andy A.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2009
While not a "wine" person, I found drinking at Internos quite a good time.
Small, fairly quiet, low lighting and a general warm kinda theme, the place was really comfortable for a small group of us to sit, chat and drink about 3 bottles of the rosé (That's right, rosé. I don't care what you think). Not overly pretentious or fru-fru at all.
The place is pretty tiny but, that's part of the charm in my opinion. Also remember this is a wine bar so no hard booze here. They'll be no lemon drops for you, only some wines that you can try and nod in agreement when you sip it out of the glass in front of someone else.
Really a top notch place to meet up for drinks (if you like wine!) during happy hour. With it's location on Geary, anyone in the area or on Geary can get to it fairly easy. A neat unique find for the area it's in -
Review from Vivian D.
6/4/2010
I love wine bars/lounges, but this one is a bit too small, crowded, and loud for my liking. Barely any tables so crowds were milling and standing around trying to talk over the music and each other. Wine selection is not too bad and they had snacks and appetizers like cheese plates and sandwiches as well. Ended up leaving early since I could barely conversate with my friends. I guess I just prefer loungy places over bars.
Maybe I'll give this place another try on a less busier night. -
Review from Criss R.
San Francisco, CA
8/1/2009
Exactly why I hate people who hate Yelp.
I have been there with friends. To say that folks can get thrown out of a bar and then say, it doesn't matter, "patron from the neighborhood will go anyway," doesn't speak much for the neighborhood. Or for the moron posting this piece of crap. I though the wine "cafe" was over rated primarily because it's the only venue for this type of thing in the area. The wine was overpriced and there's not much of an opportunity to eat. It's simply a bar that serves wine...big deal.
Oh, did I mention that they don't like gay people? -
Review from Jenna C.
San Francisco, CA
6/11/2009
I visited Internos during the first couple of weeks during which it was open, so things may have changed since then, but the decor wasn't bad and the owners were incredibly nice. The chairs (stools) at the tables are pretty uncomfortable, but the stools at the bar are more comfortable. We appreciated the little snacks (nuts and olives), but we had 4 glasses of wine between the 2 of us and only one was even borderline remarkable -- the other 3 were only so-so. For $50 I was a little disappointed.
Frankly, I also think that starting $10+ a glass at a wine bar (especially, let's face it, in The Richmond) is a little steep. The entry-level prices for a glass of vino at other SF wine bars (like California Wine Merchant in the Marina, Arlequin in Hayes Valley, and Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant) are much cheaper and I've always enjoyed what I've been served in each of these places.
The other reviews for Internos have convinced me that I need to revisit, and I hope to have tastier wines the second time around. -
Review from Andrea R.
3/8/2009 6 Check-ins Here
Was so excited to see a wine bar in the neighborhood. Great ambiance, cozy yet trendy, not too loud and great for conversations.
We didn't have food but just wine (a great Sauvignon Blanc from Russian River) and a Stella. I will definitely be back and look forward to beginning or ending a night at Internos!
P.S. - I may increase my stars when I try the food. -
Review from sherri d.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2011
good :
friendly staff
flattering lighting
not super loud
easy street parking
bad :
the wine selection
uncomfortable seating
one more time : wine bar with medicore wines
