Mercury Appetizer Bar - Closed - CLOSED
Categories: Bars, Asian Fusion [Edit]
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow1434 Lombard St
(between Franklin St & United States Highway 101)
San Francisco, CA 94123 (415) 922-1434
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 6:00 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Sat 6:00 p.m.-1:30 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner, Late Night
- Music: Music Videos
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
196 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
"This place is the Fifth element of hip hop. With awesome throw ups and murals on the walls, amazing DJ's and drum and bass nights, yummy…" read more »
49 Reviews for Mercury Appetizer Bar - Closed
This bar is really comfortable and has a great atmosphere. The appetizers are the best. Lawrence cooks up a mean garlic noodles. The bartenders are super chill. Apparently they are opening up a new location and I can't wait til its open.
I like this bar- small and comfy. I haven't been out in a while and I was not in the mood to hit up a club so this place is perfect for me. I was dissapointed at myself for not trying their food. I wil have to come back and try it out. The only thing I hate is looking for parking, other than that- I would recommend this place to my friends.
Went here for a birthday celebration, good fun! Lawrence (I think) hooked it up with some tropical fruit type Martini's and some liquid cake shots-I believe it was German Chocolate. Reminiscent early nineties R&B beats in the background, a bathroom wall you can write on in chalk-not pee, and perfectly seared Ahi rounded out a super cool, neato Wednesday night.
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PLACE TO BE!!! Great food, fantastic people, and sweet ambiance. Resevations for moderate sized parties are available which is sweet...the bartenders are super nice and ultra real (down to earth). The cooks clearly have a passion for their fusion concoctions - the sweet potatoe fries??? TO DIE FOR!!!
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This is my spot! Love Tuesdays and Thursdays with Jessie.
The food is outstanding! The drinks are strong and creative.
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I took a few friends that I haven't seen in years to this charming spot that's kiddie corner from Lombard and Van Ness St. We walked in and was greeted by the bartender that was very welcoming, we ordered our drinks...the Mango Mosa's are to die for...we sat at the bar just reminiscing and decided to make some calls for others to join us. Talking about last minute planning, that place was packed with a group of people we knew who's either been at this spot before (or heard about it) and wanted to go back and check it out! How cool is that?
The Bar menu had many familiar dishes that my mom used to make and to my surprise, it had a delicious 'kick' to them. The dipping sauces were good enough to make a 'mmmm' noise and had to ask for more.
If you're looking for a place for a celebration and have a group of 50 people, it will not work. I highly recommend just a small group of 20 (or less)
It must've been a good night to be at cause everyone seemed chilled, enjoying their drinks and was diggin' the ambiance as well.
Oh yeah, don't forget to tag your name or graffiti something up on the bathroom walls...including the ceiling.
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The Doors are closed on Lombard, but Mercury will be rising again.
From our website www.mercurysf.com...
In the past year, we, here at Mercury, have met so many wonderful people, have developed close friendships, and fostered priceless bonds with our customers. We value all advice and guidance given to us by those who visit which is why we've decided that our current location does not provide sufficient space for all our devoted and loving patrons. We will be moving to a larger setting, but will remain steadfast to our ultimate goal: Providing upscale cuisine in a sophisticated lounge atmosphere and upholding premier service for those who love the San Francisco nightlife.
We are so thankful and forever indebted for all the wonderful support given to us at our Lombard location and look forward to seeing all of you at our new spot this summer as we continue to bring the most innovative dishes and libations in a sophisticated (and larger) atmosphere!
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This bar has such a great feel. It is great for a drink after work. The bartenders are very personable and you can tell that it is one of those places where everyone will know your name. Great snacks and a really good venue for parties because you will basically have the whole place to yourself if you reserve in advance.
Where will you ever find asian tapas?! Especially a place that serves sisig...and good sisig at that?! ALL the filipinos know what i'm talking about. I LOVE THIS PLACE. Its a cute little bar...it sometimes busy and sometimes its dead. It's good to be there on any day though. Drinks are yummy!! Mango Mosa's are good!!
The only thing is lately they've been running out of some of my favorite things there...But then they have it back the next time I go. I just wish they were more consistent. Also the parking SUCKS!! Bay Street is always a good bet though after 6.
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Great ambiance, accomodating bartenders & you have a great staff & ownership running the biz...they fuse food like no other -- you wouldn't know that there were actually Filipino appetizers on the menu b/c they make it taste so good...go to this chill, cozy place when you can...
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Bzzzzzzzzzz..... Bzzzzzzzzzzzz.... Bzzzzzzzzz.... (flies)
So I order an omelet breakfast. It takes a while. I start watching TV.
Mommie Dearest is playing. The waiter says it is part his 'bad parenting' theme collection he is showing that day. I say it is f*ing weird. Pretty f*ed up movie. Not one I would ever want to watch on a Saturday morning.
My breakfast comes out looking like something off the kid's menu at Burger King. Flavors were good but I could have eaten 2 of them.
Brunch of champions....
Comic relief with a hearty portion of eggs, bacon, sausage, and shredded hash-browns, who could ask for anything more. Don't forget the all you can drink mimosas!!!
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the bartendress is super bomb. she makes the best cocktails and will even make up a few new ones for you. the food is pretty amazing. try the sweet potato fries.
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HERE IS THE TRUTH ABOUT MERCURY BRUNCH:
-amazing food!
-can't beat the drinks (the bottomless mimosas is an amazing deal but there is nothing like one of there bloody mary's to get you going in the morning!)
-I go to Mercury every couple weeks just because the bartender is one of the coolest and funniest people you will ever meet!
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I tried this place for sunday brunch based on positive yelp reviews. The bartender was funny, but that didn't make up for the flies flying around my head, and the order not done to specifications. Asked for the corned beef scramble with the hash well done. This apparently translated to eggs scrambled well done and potatoes raw. Nasty. Am I harsh harsh on breakfast food? Yes, but only because it should be incredibly easy. Just throw this stuff on the griddle, let it cook till well done, and voila. I love dives and diners, I love a hole in the wall atmosphere...but not with poor food.
I checked out Mercury on Sat night and I really liked it. The place is small. They only have one big table and a few high tops, but a pretty good size bar. I loved my lavender martini and actually tried most of the drinks on the list, as I was with a group of five. Bar tender was very attentive and friendly. We also had a few of the appetizer and I thought they were all pretty good. I think my favorite was the beef over sweet potato fries. Very tasty. I will defiantly be coming back for cocktails soon!
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A little gem at the tip of an uninteresting strip of Lombard. They serve up some deliciously unique drinks. Or is it uniquely delicious? Either way, stuff is good. Food is up there with the drinks. Simple yet innovative, and for a fair price. OH! Filipino breakfast served up for brunch on the weekends. C'mon... Filipino brunch... in the Marina! Next level.
Parking sucks but who cares. You shouldn't be driving drunk anyway.
Was really impressed with Mercury. It's a great addition to that area, and the vibe is really chill. The music was good, the drinks were strong and options good, and the food was unbelievable. We were so impressed with the appetizers that we got - really gourmet and delicious - be sure to try the sweet potato fries with beef. Yummy.
There's a full bar that you can sit at, but they also have tables in the window that are pretty comfy. This one is a keeper.....
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What a great, odd place. We went here on a Thursday night and was pleasantly surprised. The location is very nondescript and you could miss it pretty easily glancing by the otherwise unattractive block of Lombard.
We had great drinks and had the place mostly to ourselves. I was surprised to see a group of about 10 older people come in - they seem to have walked over from a tourbus at the motel across the street. They were enjoying it a lot as well, next to a few other fratty looking guys who seemed bewildered.
And a bonus star for any bar that plays Star Wars on their TV!
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Stopped into Mercury last night and was pleasantly surprised. You don't expect to find anything of interest on Lombard and Van Ness, but then again with Bobo's down the street I should have realized that anything is possible.
The bar is pretty small, I'd say 30-40 people in there and you have a serious party on your hands. Sit at the bar if you can, and if Brandon is working, he'll be sure to take care of you. There cocktails are made with some serious TLC, at least that with the case when I tried the Honey-Lychee Daiquiri. You'd think the drink would be overly sweet, maybe even a bit girly, but my taste-buds did not deceive, and it was definitely a potent concoction.
Curiously, Mercury also serves small plate appetizers, which one gathers but does not count on by the name of the bar. I believe the chef is tied into Poleng Lounge, so you know when you order those Sweet Potato Fries and Orange Chicken Wings, you're getting far above average bar food.
On my next visit, I'll be sure to go withe Garlic Noodles, maybe the Tamarind Glazed Short Ribs. Yeah, you could make yourself a good-sized meal here, and I understand they serve brunch...
I know that if I lived closer to the area, I'd be at Mercury much more often. You can definitely sense that neighborhood vibe. Still, if I'm in the Marina anytime soon, I'll definitely keep Mercury on my hit list.
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Boyfriend and I ventured in for brunch on Sunday morning and left happy, stuffed (but not greasy), and with our wallets still full. The food was good, portions were huge and the meat was almost too much versus the typical skimpy amount you'd find in a scramble. They have great breakfast drinks and a pretty large selection for food. By far the best part of brunch was our waiter, who was either still drunk from the night before or just one of the most random guys you'll meet. He was great! Definitely looking forward to going back to try drinks and appetizers in the evening.
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I found myself starting an evening here. We had a few of nibbles which included Tuna Poke, pan seared ginger beer and the Singapore ginger prawns. The service was warm and friendly. The food was magnificent. They make a fantastic basil gimlet. If only they had a wine list. I asked the bartentder on staff that evening who also happened to be the GM about the missing wine list. He asked me to check back since they have only been open for a short time. I will be back indeed.
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It's super cheap (most things under $10). It's tasty snacks (sous chef from Poleng). It's nicely and simply designed. It's great tunes.
garlic noodles yummeh, papaya salad yummeh.
banana leaf wrapped coconut curry tilapia - eh. i honestly think they cooked it with the leaf wide open by mistake. or broiled it instead of steamed..
Side question: why the bar-top video game thing? Does anyone use those?
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Yum! We went in for brunch on Sunday and were super impressed! Cool little venue that we're eager to check out at nighttime for cocktails/apps...
Breakfast was fab - the hubby had the corned beef hash scramble and DEMOLISHED it, I went for the chorizo and eggs scramble which I said - and I quote - was "one of the best breakfasts I've ever had in SF"!
We also partook in some delightful bloody marys. Great waiter - he quoted Music Man - "we got trouble, right here in river city" - which I LOVED as no one ever knows what I'm talking about when I do that - and was super helpful, and entertaining.
Check it out! We'll be back! Hopefully it's not too packed a couple of weeks from now - because it's small!!! But I hope they make it!
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I think this has to be the greatest neighborhood bar in san Francisco! I stumbled upon this place when it first opened months ago and have been coming back ever since. The bar manager, Brandon has come up with one of the most creative drink lists i've ever seen and is super friendly to boot. I always get the best service and top notch drinks when there. My favorite is the fizzy ginger drop which is kind of a ginger martini served with a champagne floater...delish! They also have appetizers cause how many times have you been out drinking and wished you had some tasty snacks around! I highly recommend the sweet potato fries and the grilled beef! Great place with some of the best bartenders in town.
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This place ROCKS!!
Went with some friends for dinner/ drinks on Friday night and had a great time. The bar is pretty small, so better to call ahead if you've got a larger group. Our two bartenders were awesome-- super friendly and accommodating. The food was very good -- we had a bunch of snacks like sweet potato fries, garlic noodles, and an incredible chocolate/ butterscotch pudding-- but the real standouts are the drinks. The cocktail menu has all sorts of delicious concoctions (honey lychee daquiri, anyone?). My favorites were the thai basil gimlet and lavender martini, which were both AMAZING. I can't wait to go back !!
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Very cozy spot, very comfortable. Really enjoyed the food and drinks.
Not from the area, but whenever I am visiting friends, we always drop by for a drink, and just see what's up.
Ever had a martini that smelled like lavender and when sipped had a hint of it lingering on your tongue? It's quite yummy. Mercury's expert bartender Brandon can make one for you. Among the other dozen unique martinis on the list, try this new bar out when you're out in the Cow Hollow Area. The decor is swanky chic and the music is just right so you can chat with people and bop your head.
And what happens if you're in the mood for some food? You don't have to go searching for another place, just grab the food menu and order the:
1. Sweet Potato Fries
2. Garlic Noodles
3. Steak Bites
4. Curry Chicken
Good Food and Strong Drinks...makes a good combo.
HINT: If parking takes too long, there's a garage on Webster and Lombard.
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As I procrastinate on writing my thesis, I reminisce on a great place I discovered this holiday season...Mercury Bar. Not quite Cheers,,,not quite Central Perk (for all you Friends Fans), and definitely not a regular bar. If you like a sophisticated, yet comfortable hangout spot, where people are not pretentious, Mercury Bar is the place to visit. Many times people talk about the food, drinks, and price, but forget the importance of the atmosphere as an ingredient to creating the right space for fun. Mercury is not one of those loud obnoxious bars with no personality. Mercury is a place with good music, great people, and yummy food... topped off with one of their delicious cocktails. You will be pleasantly surprised!
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I like Mercury a lot, for several reasons.
1) It's the closest bar to my work.
2) I really like the idea of an "Appetizer Bar". I've never been a fan of tapas, but for some reason this concept really works for me.
3) The food I have tried so far has been delicious and the prices are very reasonable.
4) It's very small and the location is a little awkward which means it's not over crowded, the "latest" or pretentious.
5) Brandon the bartender is very nice, personable and makes some DAMN GOOD DRINKS.
The drinks are a bit pricey, $9. However, they are very creative and delish. I had the pomegranate margarita, it was lovely, especially since I'm a recent margarita drinker. I was tempted to have the Chai Iced Tea but since I'm not a whiskey drinker, I pussed out. My companion got it, I tried it and fell in love!! Anyone who can get me to drink whiskey has something to offer. I would suggest you pop into Mercury and test your own boundaries.
Mercury also offers daily brunch, another excuse to get in there and check it out. Enjoy!
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I dig this place. SUPER random location, although it's right next to Viking Subs, which makes the most absurdly delicious subs in The City. Anway, Mercury has a cool vibe, the bartenders are really cool, and the drink list is pretty creative. The caipirinhas were damn good, and after a couple of them I was pretty drunk, which is always nice. By far the best part about Mercury is the bathroom. The walls are like big ass blackboards, and there are a bunch of different colored sticks of chalk lying around. I had a great time writing obscene messages all over the walls. So awesome. I'm easily entertained, I guess.
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Came here for a friday happy hour ($1 off well drinks and beer). Random location and they kept having issues with the kitchen (need better ventilation -- something smelled like it was burning). Service was good but the drinks are pretty pricey ($9 for specialty cocktails) as are the munchies (do NOT get the tuna poke -- it just tasted bad). All in all, had a good time but probably would not choose to come here again.
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Good place, nice drinks, appies etc. The pomegranate margarita was awesome. Met a bunch of people here for happy hour place gets pretty cramped though if you are meeting more than like 5 people. But it was worth the tight squeeze cause the Trummer Pils was flowing like water and comes in a cool beaker glass that makes you feel like you are doing a science experiment. Also bonus points for chalk and a blackboard in the bathroom.
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The Mercury Management Team has earned a phenomenal reputation as a trendsetter at the vanguard of dining.
Chef Dominic Ainza, a graduate with honors from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, is excited about his vision of creating a chic and hip atmosphere for our night time hipsters to enjoy a variety of Pan-Asian inspired dishes. Chef Ainza believes that small plates are the new dinner entres. The menu ranges from Sweet Potato Fries to Tiger Lemongrass New York Steak, Tuna Poke and Pan Seared Fillet Ginger Beef.
Bar Manager Brandon Clements, who has worked at Betelnut, Mecca, and Avenue G, has come up with some new and inventive cocktails that seem to fuel the party in this cozy space. We're talking serious cocktails. For $9, you get a hand-shaken concoction of top-shelf liquor, fresh juices, exotic syrups and unusual ingredients that might include Mango Liqueur, Honey Lychee, or Wasabe.
Mercury's fabulous location at the corner of Lombard and Van Ness is the perfect spot for tourists and locals to relax and enjoy. Mercury's Marketing Executive, Jeff Bello, adds "The setting is sophisticated and fun, just what you'd expect from a place that walks the line between serious dining and intense bar action." It is this combination of uncompromising vision and gourmet expertise that makes "Scenesters" and "Foodies" feel right at home.
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i've noticed yelp is more often used for the purpose of evil than good and i'm uncomfortable with the self-righteous consumer rage that goes on here... but I have to let people know how great mercury is. I LOVE it. I want to marry it!
I'm counting the hours before I can go there for dinner tonight. It was so good last Monday night, I was tempted to re-order my dinner immediately upon eating it all up. My boyfriend Matt forced me not to ("Masaye, they're trying to close, you'll get too full...") I can't wait to have the Shanghai shrimp, so spicy and delicious and tasty crunchy papaya salad. The owner/chef Dom cooks at Poleng too so the food is simular, and that's a very good thing. I can't add much that hasn't been said by the other reviewers: a small space that has awesome reasonabley priced asian food and creative cocktails. I love the 'appetizer bar' concept... two of my favorite things, and not as commital as "restaurant." It would be easy to fill up for a private birthday party. hmmm...
PS Also, major big news: they serve until 1am on fridays and saturdays. Yay! a less expensive option than Nopa and Globe! I'm grubbin after my friday night shifts fo' sho!
PPS Matt was stoked that the bar has Oban scotch, I guess its hard to find right now. And it only cost $7 a shot, but maybe that was a mistake I dunno. Seems too good to be true....
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I am revising my review of this local establishment, primarily because they now have a happy hour (5-7pm)! They offer both food and drink specials with great deals on bar snacks closer to $5-$7 range and even MGD on Wednesday hump day for $2. Full price specialty drinks and most of the wine are still $9-$11 which is really high (though happy hour gets you $3 off the specialty drinks). The sweet potato fries have been consistently good. Though I've been too hesistant to retry the tuna poke, as it was almost opaque in color and not even close to the vibrant red/pink of every other poke dish I have enjoyed. It was very marginal.
Though overall I can give it one more star - it's just a few blocks from home, now offers a competitive happy hour and the ambiance is friendly and warm.
Love this little treasure in the Marina! A small place but definitely has a lot of character. The bar staff is very friendly and hip. The appetizers were delicious! Only comment is parking (as usual in the Marina).
So my friend had read some reviews off yelp about this place so we decided to check it out. we got a bar table on a friday night, the place only has like 2 real non-bar tables. the drink menu is super creative and delicious. i ordered 2 martini's (one lemonade type and a sweet wine flavored). My friends ordered the mango mimosa and pomegranate martinis which were also good and strong.
We also ordered 4 apps. The garlic noodled were yummy as well as the sweet potato fries. Also the beef app was great as well. I def want to hit this place up for brunch, great hidden secret for drinks!
This place is awesome! Originally, I attempted to go there on a Friday night to try out the grub but it was closed for a private party. Tried again on Saturday and the place was packed. I ordered the calamari and some BOMB-A$$ sangria that wasn't even on the menu. (Found out one of the bartenders makes it specially for the bar. Oh, it's WHITE sangria...way better than Cha-Cha-Cha's.) Eventhough it took a while to get seat, it was worth the wait.
Ever since I heard that they were serving brunch at Mercury, the boyfriend and I have been wanting to check it out. So we decided to swing by yesterday. The boyfriend had the corn beef hash and a side of hash browns. He really enjoyed it and he liked the fact that it came with a bagel instead of toast. I had the grilled chicken breast sandwich with fries. The fries were not just potato but also sweet potato. I loved the fries!!! They has just enough salt and it was a little crispy but not too much. The chicken sandwich was yummy too with the chipotle mayo. The service was cool and we got our food really quickly. The waiter was cool, entertaining. I can't wait to go back for the appetizers since I hear that they are really good too.
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