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i've been here upon waits for restaurants across the road. the bar is dressed with great posters and signs, and the drinks are stiff and generous.
many times i've seen the listings for this place in the guardian or sf weekly, and the music seems to be up my dancing alley. i've never made it out here to shake my tail feather, but i will have the knockout in mind for the future.
A group of friends were going to the 90's party.
With a line out the door even with a $5 cover...
It was packed!
Mission atmosphere here.
The 90's mix could have been chosen better and the crowd had a real problem with no falling over into our crowd.
This is a dive bar and it's fun with friends.
They have a stage so I assume they have live music at times.
It's a bar that I'd come back to for something different.
A "big ass" margarita in a pint glass w/ Cazadores and a bunch of fresh limes + a bottle of Pacifico = $10.50!!!! This is hard to beat! (Note: a margarita w/ Cazadores and a slice of lime in a plastic cup about 1/2 the size + a can of Tecate at El Rio = $12.50)
Oftentimes, one doesn't necessarily realize he/she is getting fat, old, or are simply changing over time as such changes tend to come gradually. I didn't really realize that, over the course of the last several years, I'd thoroughly been (y)uppified and become accustomed to paying a double digit price for a drink in a small cocktail glass. Thanks to Knockout (along with a few other Mission bars), now I know that i can happily reach a sufficient (or excessive) intoxication level with a drink that actually tastes good for less than 1/2 the price while still being out and [anti]social.
I don't know how hectic things can be at Knockout on weekends, but it was perfectly nice and mellow on Sunday night. A few hipsters and a cute bartender were having random conversations....it was cool by me.
Tecate tall boys complete with a fresh lime?? In the land where I'm from, the only canned beer that comes in 21 ounces is the less than extraordinary PBR.
Last night's party at Knockout consisted of 50's doo wop, lumberjack looking twats, girls with high waisted jeans, and people getting down and familiar on the dance floor. Yeah, I'd go back.
I have done some unspeakable things at this bar. And by that I mean far more unspeakable than you might imagine. I owe it to the $5 hamm + x-large shot of Whiskey. And the fact that I sneak in flasks of whiskey and no one seems to care. It's wonderful that I've yet to run into two of the three least favorite people I have ever known, inside, even though they're always here, because it's so dark. And being next door to Taqueria Cancun does not hurt either. And I really appreciate shoegaze, pychedelic, and otherwise some of the mopier musical selection that's spun here for rug-cutting.
Hard to write a definitive review of my experiences here because they've all been great. I go for Oldies Night or other dancing events. Great bar, with great music and I meet swell people here.
I love the coat hooks on the dancefloor.
Teenage Dance Craze and Oldies Nights are my absolute dance nights in San Francisco. There's such a great vibe and everyone is so nice out on the dance floor. Cover is only $2 before 11 and $4 after that but with such amazing tunes, why show up late and miss out on half the set?
I love this place, but I do have to revoke the title of "dive bar."
Dive bars shouldn't have lines or covers at the door. That being said...
This place is a blast - from the great djs to the crowded dance floor to the random people that ALWAYS pop their heads into one of my shots in the photobooth.
The only other downside is that they don't take cards at the bar. I REALLY do hate that.
Wednesday night sushi = awesome, +five stars! The number of hipsters in suede vests and keds that I had to deal with to get the sushi, -one star.
Roving sushi at a bar is an awesome idea. It was easy, delicious and affordable (especially when the BF pays for it).
I would definitely go back - I had the full intent to use the photo booth but some how got distracted and left before I did (probably b/c the number of hipsters were increasing by the truck loads).
Walked in on a Wednesday Afternoon, and the place was packed. We squished our asses into two stools at the bar, and ordered a Lemon Drop & Dry Martini with a twist. The drinks were stroooong. After 3 or 4 of those I would probably be in for a knock out.
The drinks were good, but the trendy hipsters got on my nerves. One particular inebriated hipster girl accused us of taking her seats and her sushi. We sat down in some empty seats, and about 5 minutes later, she shoots her head in between us and starts talking under her breath. I can hear things like, "left to watch the band and our seats got taken, I can't find my sushi, somebody took it.". If you want to start talking shit, woman up and talk shit straight to us. At one point, she took our dinner leftovers, and assumed that it was her sushi box. The expression on her face, when she opened up the box to find Arroz Con Pollo instead of sushi, was purely priceless.
I'll probably end up going there again if I'm in the area, to try out their Dive Bar Sushi. Now that's two words you don't see together very often. An oxymoron similar to jumbo shrimp, living dead, or plastic glasses.
A pun and an Oxymoron in one review. English Grammar Rules!!
It will Knock-You-Out! Ok, bad joke. We went for bingo last Thursday and wow was it fun. They let us bring in like $30 of Burger King. Sure it sounds like not a big deal but that stuff smells. The crowd was definitely into the game and we didn't get booed as haters. Actually the bar was filled with other bingo loving haters. Someone won, boooo!!!!! All in good fun. When we finally won, we got to double hate. Hate you for winning and hate you for booing our win, Bam! Take that fellow bingo players. My friend won a pirate kit. It came with an Ali Baba sword, Michael Jordan earring, Captain Hook accessory and an eye patch.
I have no idea what the bar is like regularly but I want to try out Bootie Basement. I hear it is amazing!!! Oh, oh and they have Sweet Tea Vodka. It is good stuff. Seriously, try it. My friend in NJ is obsessed with the stuff. My sister actually has to drive back bottles of it from South Carolina for her friend. It's that good!
Headed to a 90's hiphop dance show that night only to find that the club was a little too over packed on the dance floor where you really could not show off any extreme moves to the mediocre jams that they played. The cost to enter was $5 and I kind of wish that it was free.
If you are up for grind dancing with a loud DJ who keep singing over the songs, then this is your place to be!
In my honest opinion, this isn't my cup of tea, but I know many of you might actually like to be reproducing on the dance floor!
1 star off because it'll end up wasting a lot of your money, as soon as you walk in the door in fact.
Photo booth totally worth the three bucks though.
Oldies night is fantastic, really impressed. And that's definitely the only time I can say that about a DJ set in the city.
I joined friends here who are regulars of the Thursday Beer Bingo. So much fun!!!
A little crowded and disorienting, but the bartenders are efficient and friendly, and the crowd is a good mix of hipsters, comedians, drunks, and nice people (like me).
My friend won a cute rug (how random are these prizes? I love it!). A couple weeks ago, another one of my friends won a bottle of mistable KY lube. Ahhhh, yes:-)
Definitely going to be a somewhat regular place to hang out at when I'm in the Mission on a random weekday night.
-cover
-line
-aggressive patrons whose only understanding of the 90s is flannel shirts (we wore doc martens too!)
-single stall bathroom
The Knockout simply rules. Good local music for cheap cover on most nights, Thursday night bingo is a blast! You get a bingo card for every drink you buy and a chance to win ANOTHER drink along with a titilating prize of your choice. Some past acquistions have included: tiger balm, noisemakers, and a rooster snow globe to name a few. Who doesn't need one of those?
Come early on Thursday night to ensure a seat (before 8pm). You can grab a burrito at Cancun or the Tamale Lady makes ceremonious stops as well.
Its near my hood, low-key and an all-around good time. Two enthusiastic thumbs-up.
Okay, so my first two star review easily goes to the Knockout.
Now, I want people to keep in mind that what I am looking for in a bar is important to the 2 star rating.
1) I like places with cheap, but quality drinks. They had advertised $2 Kirin on tap on their website, however it was actually $3 dollars and then went to $4 after 9pm. Considering that most other similar bars have an actual $2 quality draft happy hour, and that Sudachi has actual $2 drafts all day on Sapporo, the Knockout disappointed here (after 5 beers w/ tips the difference adds up fast).
2) I like places with a cool crowd, age group early to late 20s. This place had a crowd of late 20s to early 30s and the people were very unimpressive. Most that I talked to had really similar life stories -- drifted from job to job never really advancing far and kind of settling into mediocrity. It was like time traveling forward and seeing what happened to all the High School burnouts. The scene was really boring.
3) I like places with some sort of ambiance. Yes, I know this is a dive bar, but if the drinks aren't particularly cheap then part of what you go for is an interesting setting. And considering how cheap it is to make a punk/rock club look good, they really under delivered. Also, the bathrooms are terrible.
All in all, I came expecting a unique place, cheap drinks, sushi, and good music. I left pretty disappointed. Won't be going back.
I'm one of those people that doesn't really go outside of her comfort zone when it comes to bars. I will try eating at new restaurants, listening to new records, maybe ill even get crazy and try on a different cut of jeans. But very, very rarely will I go to a bar when there isn't at least one bar stool with a severely deep impression of my levis back pockets.
Knockout has had a pretty good string of shows and dance nights, some cheap some free. That got me in there. The fact that they have tall cans, cider, and odd cocktails kept me in there. The cute dudes, efficient bartenders and fact that its pretty close to a bunch of other bars will keep me going back. Its official. I like this place. Damn, does that mean I'm growing?
I've been here 3 times. The first time was a revelation. I hadn't been that excited about a SF bar since we found Frisco Disco at the Arrow Bar whenever that was. It was oldies dance party night, and the music was amazing. The crowd was great, people were dancing, cheap drinks were flowing. I thought I had found my favorite new spot.
The last two times I've been have been very disappointing.
1. Our friend wanted everyone to go there for his birthday. The (very slick) website said it was oldies night with a dj. He talked to somebody on the phone about it and they confirmed. When we showed up, it was $7 at the door instead of the advertised $5, and it was bands - not oldies night with a dj. Even the chalkboard outside the door said $5 oldies DJ!
2. We tried again. This time the website said 90's. We got there (it's pretty far out there) and it was rockabilly bands. Nothing against rockabilly bands, but I had to offend a close friend by leaving their going-away party at midnight because there was no dancing and I just wanted to go dancing, and then this.
Am I missing something? Is there a way to find out what event is Actually going on at the Knockout on any given night short of taking the $15 cab down there?
Tonight is says Oldies Night w/ DJ's. My fingers are crossed.
Love to dance here- racer 5 on tap is a bonus too
Dear Knockout,
Thank you for existing. I love that you often have a plethora of live bands performing, and a minimal cover charge. I love how there's a partition between the dance floor area and the bar. Good thinking! However, when I really fell in love with you was when I noticed the presence of a photobooth. Though I didn't get a chance to use it, I still appreciate that it will be there for next time.
Yours truly,
Angela.
Live music, 60's dance parties, Chimay, Thursday bingo, karaoke with a phenomenal song selection on Mondays, plus a photo booth... what's not to love about the Knockout?
Nope. I can't think of anything either.
Debaser = the most fun I've had at a bar since I turned 21. In 1997.
I like you knockout.
I often like your shows knockout.
Mostly I like your bartenders except from when they can't take a joke and have to be assholes about it, but mostly they are not.
I love the bingo nights, really love them, even if I don't go as often as I should.
Sometimes I wish you were closer to me.
But I do like you.
B I N G O !
Thanks for the TP
I have frequented the Knockout for some time now and Saturday seems to be my favorite night of the week thus far. the space is moderate but the crowd's make it feel very intimate at times. divided spaces for drinking/dancing and drinking/socializing at the top of your lungs due to the great selection of music that the DJ's often spit out. if you're looking to dance with a group of friends, this venue will provide all night. the drink selection is on the skim side, beers and mixed drinks, but is often overshadowed by how much of a blast your having at this place. the small cover at the door is definitely worth it.
oh and aesthetically, if you remember to look around before you start drinking there is awesome artwork scattered throughout the place. the photobooth is money as well.
What?? This place has a photo booth and Thursday night bingo? Nice!
I was browned-out with I got here, but I do remember the bartender being super friendly... The drinks were poured stiff and the shots were free (I think, wait - who paid for my shots? Did I pay for my shots?) Anyway, I'd be worth going back here to see if I had as much fun as I think I did.
Five Stars - Guinness on tap!
Five Stars - Hoegaarden on tap!
Five Stars - 2 ounce pours shots of Jameson!
Five Stars - Very fun underwear dance party on Valentine's day!
Many Stars - Everyone coming up to me and saying my date and I were the hottest couple there with the best looking asses in the place ....... priceless !
I finally went to the Knockout for ska night last Saturday, and I must say, it's a fairly lovable dive. The $5 cover charge I could've done without, but the cheap, cheap drinks more than make up for it. I had a modified version of their famous 'Hammjob' (a can of Hamm's and a shot of Kentucky Reserve for $5) by substituting Dewar's for an extra $2. I had a couple more sets throughout the night, and each shot was filled to the rim of the glass. Thanks, fellas.
Points lost because of the awkward layout which traps a shitload of people in a narrow pathway against the bar. Our friends ended up hanging out in the coat closet, as it was the only place you could stand without rubbing elbows with strangers. And the $5 cover to listen to some guy play ska and reggae music? My roommate can do that for free at my house. In fact, come over some time, I'll give you a discount on drinks. Also, I'm not sure which bar is a popular hangout for cute girls, but this isn't it. Come here when you want to get ridiculously drunk with your guy friends and not have to worry about paying a lot or hitting on anybody. It's perfect!
Went here last night, Saturday, around 10pm. Had to pay a lousy 5 bucks just to get into a bar, which I ferociously dissaprove of. Bathroom sucks, place was dirty, and it was way too crowded. Couldn't figure out why it was so packed. Anyways, next time I'll save 5 bucks, buy a few 40s, and just stay home. My house is cleaner and I don't have to hijack the boys bathroom to pee.
This place is great and has a photo booth.
I'm definitely a fan.
I went to Friday Teenage Dance craze and drunken freestyled with a bunch of Mission kids to R Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet Part 1." Excellent.
I've seen too many shows to count here. It's a great mainstay for quality, semi-cheap music (generally $5ish). Musicians love the place because it has great sound. I love it because it has great dancing! It sort of has an open, two-room design that separates the dance area from the bar, making for less spilled drinks. And they tend to have good DJs in-between and after sets, making for more fun! :D
Other observations of awesomeness:
$2 Hamms
$3 Color photobooth
Neon sign that says "NOPE" instead of "OPEN"
Friendly bouncers that actually make non-vapid conversation
After a second visit to Knockout last night, I'm ready to say I'm a fan ...
From great events like Thursday night Bingo (complete with the most old-school bingo cards around, and a visit from the Tamale lady), to great live music (on my first visit I saw Sean Hayes in this tiny club for only a $5 cover), to a great selection of beers ... this is quickly becoming one of my favorite neighborhood spots.
I was wasted watching an amazing punk show a week or so ago, apparently I was here! I really just wanted to see my friend's band so can't remember too much about the place. Dingy and dark, good sound system, lots of drinks. The end.
So dark my I can feel my pupils straining to dilate turning my eyes into that of a sleestack. Whoa... pretty cool.
I didn't realize Thursday was a bingo night until the large and friendly bartender gave us a board per drink. I was thinking, wtf? But, turned out to be fun. The hostess perhaps being key to making it that way. Lit up bingo board display is doing it right.
After bingo, the first band of the night began to play, the singer being in a near devil-possessed frenzy,, and I felt like the guy in one of those pictures where the wind is hitting is face so hard, his face begins to distort from the sheer force.
Only my second time here, definitely won't be my last.
At first, I wanted to give this place 3 stars, but then I realized they had pacman AND a photobooth, so automatic one extra star. Who doesn't like to drunkenly play Pacman? Maybe the dreadfully gorgeous Patrick M, whom I caught drinking scotch and reading Manga (where are my damn lessons so I can start reading Manga, dammit!). I think I just fell in love again (why yes, I HAVE been drinking since 8am, why do you ask?)
Most of us headed here after Socha, and started drinking again. The woman at the front door told us to quiet down, even though, HELLO, we're in a BAR. You want quiet, go next door. Plus, if you, the bartenders, are having a conversation, and there is a customer waiting for you (aka ME) to shut the fuck up and pay attention to the order, then you should probably not finish your conversation first.
HELLO.
But I WAS able to photograph the ever lens-elusive individual Jon A., by backing him into a corner of the photobooth and forcing him to sit, and stay. By that time we were so drunk I wasn't in any of the pictures, so they're wonderful headshots but he's probably plotting to kill me and take them out of my luggage--er I mean purse--as I'm writing this.
Btw, I'm posting them up all over t3h internetz.
Love this place. Awesome live bands, oldies night, tecate, and a photo booth! It doesn't get as crowded as the bars on 16th, so there's plenty of room to dance. The men aren't aggressive here at all, so you can enjoy your drink in relative peace. Plus, it's surrounded by late night mexican/El Salvadorean fare next door and across the street!
I LOVE this bar.
If you see me there on Thursday, I'm probably gonna be yelling: B eleven B-B eleven!!
I've been here at least once week for the past forever. Jason the bartender is a total doll. LOVE! Good music, photo booth, old movies on the screens (think old godzilla "dudes in suits" movies.
Again, I just love this place. They have a good night on some Saturdays called debaser where it's all 90's grungy goodness. I get drunk and dance to Sonic Youth. It's amazing.
I went to go see my roomates former band play.
It was pretty nice. I like the grungy feel to it all. Indie rock is a nice complement to this place.
I don't know what else to say, other than I enjoyed the environment.
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Bayview/Hunters Point
Category: Arts & Entertainment
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