Tempest Bar & Restaurant
Categories: Dive Bars, American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA431 Natoma St
(between 5th St & Mary St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 495-1863
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 3:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sat 2:00 p.m.-2:00 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: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Late Night
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: Yes
- Coat Check: No
63 Reviews for Tempest Bar & Restaurant
One of Tempest Bar & Restaurant's Favorite Reviews
I haven't been in this place for years, in fact I was sure it was gone. I give them five stars for letting so many of my crappy bands play there over the years. I'll go in again soon now that I know that it still exists.
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I went there for the first time and I was shocked. I had heard alot about this place but I didnt know what to expect. It is a dive bar and thats sweet. I met some really amazing people there and thats a plus. You can also smoke if thats what you are into. The crowd is so low key and that is a plus after a long day.
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Ah college. The days of drinking cheap liquor and smoking bad cigarettes... In the bar. This is just like college, except the jukebox is better than I remember, and we're not hammered singing 'Living On A Prayer' while dancing on the table. I recommend the 'Special' which is a PBR and a shot of nasty Jim Beam for $5. It's just like the bars at home, except filled with good looking hipster kids instead of drunken old men. But just as smokey, stinky and dirty.
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I know my previous review for Tempest gave this place 2 measly stars and basically insinuated that it's a dump...well, it kind of is a dump but any dump that lets Drue C and I cover their tables in pink tablecloths, bring in huge bunches of sparkly pink balloons, run around in tiaras demanding birthday drinks from strangers, and serve half a sheet cake to about 50 drunk and disorderly friends on a Friday night, without any warning, definitely deserves 5 stars. They even called in an extra bartender. The pool tables provided endless fun and a reason to stay long after I'd passed the drunk line. I believe we closed the place down that night. So...if you're looking to throw a princess themed party for two overgrown kindergartners and 30-50 of their closest friends, and you'd like to do it in a dive bar, I strongly suggest Tempest. I think they'd like some advance warning next time, though.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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08/06/2007
I'm sorry, Tempest, but I can only give you two stars. Not because I didn't have fun. Not because… Read more »
OK. Let's recap. Jen walks into Tempest. Jen orders drink. Before sitting down, someone, who will remain anonymous (cause I don't remember his name) spills an entire beer on Jen. Jen cleans up, continues to drink, continues to order. 3 drinks later, Jen leaves. Half an hour later, she is clutching her toilet, hacking and hurling. The next morning, she realizes she is missing her wallet.
I refuse to throw a Yelp hissy fit over all of this (pat, pat). Not a great evening according to the facts, but I still managed to have a good time. The bartender here is really nice, and when I called the next morning, he confirmed that he had my wallet and all its contents - even the cash. When does that ever happen? BIG PHEW.
But seriously, I haven't blown chunk like this since college. What gives? I'm a 4 drink gal on a drinking night and a two drink girl most of the rest of the time, so I am left to hypothesize that either they are pouring doubles at the Tempest (+) or my drink had a rufee in it (-, obviously). Or maybe it was the heat and not enough food and water.
So the smoking in here is obviously not so sexy, and may be responsible for the draw to this unremarkable place. The drinks are dirt cheap, and when you get a good crowd together, ie the cast from Shortlived playing up the block (look it up! fun times!), it doesn't matter as much if your dress smells like spilled beer and cigarettes the next day.
This bar can pretty much be compared to my favorite comfy oversized sweatshirt. Sure it may be kind of wrinkled and stained but when you put it on you can't imagine wearing anything else. That said, I love this place! I can get a Miller Lite for $2.75, always find a seat and smoke til my Camel Lights are gone! Basically, I am a happy camper when I am here. Oh and did I mention you can play pool and video games? Sure, it may be a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I am 100% okay with that!
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I agree with Chris S. This bar is awesome and so are the bartenders, Leslie and Eric. Great place to wind down. You may be in the middle of a city, but it feels like you're back home in the midwest (even if the midwest isn't your home).
good place for cheap comfort food lunch. some days they have pork chop. PORK CHOP FOR LUNCH. yyyeaaaaaaa... They also have breakfast for lunch, which is what i like. Nothing like toast and eggs for lunch.
Good place for drinks after work also. Nice and cheap. But they close earlier than other bars.
OK I know there's a bunch of review for the Tempest Bar, so I'm only writing about Kubala's Kitchen.
You wouldn't even know this place was open when you passed by since the door seems to be always closed. But don't let that deter you. Otherwise, you may miss out a very satisfying breakfast or lunch.
I'd have to say this unsuspecting place has one of the better burgers in the City. The basic burger has a well seasoned patty and is served on French roll. But when you add cheese, bacon, and red onions, you got yourself one tasty burger. To top things off, you get either a cookie or brownie bite at the end of the meal.
Free dessert?
Nice.
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This place is hilarious.
1) Smoking is allowed.
2) During my first experience here on a weekday night, it was completely dead, save for a lady with a baby in a stroller ordering up a Pabst. I walked up to the bar, and the bartender excused himself immediately... "Sorry, I JUST LOVE BABIES!!!!!!" and proceeded to go over and coo at this baby for 5 minutes. I mean, it's cool if you like babies. But aren't you supposed to be serving the juice, Bruce?
3) It's a fast food place called Kubala's Kitchen during the day. I like saying Kubala. It makes me laugh, but I so would not eat anything prepared in that grody joint.
You know why i like this place.......because its a REAL dive bar. And real people come here. In all honesty, had it not been for my friends, i probably would never have step foot in here. But im glad i did. Dont expect it to be all pretty and gussied up. They've got a pool table and a bar. Thats all you need. Oh yeah, and a stage for nights when they have a band performing. Eric the bartender is awesome and super nice. Order a beer or a shot of something hard. Dont expect to walk in here and order some girly mixed drink. Nope. Im a beer drinker, i love beer, its what i usually order, but last weekend for some reason i ordered a midori sour. (a midori sour?!?!?! i think i might have been intoxicated already. lol) So Eric looks at me for a second, makes my drink then says "midori sour, thats quite a girly drink young lady".....hahahaha. Needless to say, i downed it and then said "lemme get a beer!"....haha. Overall, this is a great non-bullshit place to grab a drink. Very diverse crowd usually. And its right around the corner from the Chieftain =)
Arriving a wee too early for a show at Mezzanine last night, my buddies and I had to find a place to down some beers until they opened the doors to the show.
We walked around and stumbled upon Tempest and it was a good choice. It was a mellow night with only one guy at the bar and a table full of younger folks. The owner/barkeep was keeping up with all the latest March Madness since he was an unabashed University of Kentucky fan. Friendly conversation ensued about the fate of our favorite teams and a funny anecdote was delivered about serving "near-beer" by accident.
Even though I have a penchant for "down-to-earth" bars such as Tempest, what made it cooler was the fact that you could play the jukebox for free. Even though it had some faulty wiring that made songs cut short if you viewed the menu while playing, you really can't complain when the music is free. I'll be back for sure!
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A storm is a-brewin' in a little alleyway south of Market and you're gonna want to be there. Cheap drinks, free pool and jukebox and a cast of characters (including me and my group of fellow theatre junkies) will ensure you have a rousing good time.
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I like these types of dive bars.
I got to work earlier than expected and had some time to kill. I was in the mood for a burger so I started walking towards the Chieftan. I saw some dude walking his dog and asked him if he recommends anything better, he mentioned Tempest and told me to try the philly cheese steak and the mushroom soup.
I get inside and a few people at the tables eating omelette's. One old ass dude sitting at the bar and myself. The giants game was on that afternoon, but they were already down 5- zip in the 5th inning, fuckin diamondbacks.
I had a very good sized philly cheese steak and a couple Stella's and a PBR.
Overall I will come back here next time I'm in the mood for a good burger or when I want to skip the lines at the food court in Westfield.
I played "Kill, Marry, Fuck" for the first time last night.
It's one of those terribly fun games when you're buzzed and hanging with a bunch of drunks, but in retrospect leaves you with a pile of disturbing memories...
I said I would kill Susan Sarandon.
I said I would marry George Clooney.
But why the hell did I say I'd fuck Dick Cheney?!
$2 PBR Special, I guess you aren't such a good thing after all... (No, no, I can't stay mad at you...)
ps, I hate indoor smoke. Not for me.
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This is a versatile place--they serve breakfast and lunch. Service is nice, your food comes out fast, and everything I've had has been tasty. With your check you will usually get a brownie or a cookie. The proprietors are very nice folks, too--way to go Kansas!
As for the bar, I like it! $5 gets you a shot of Jim Beam and a PBR, All Day Long. And on Friday nights there is free food--baked chicken and mashed potatoes every time I've been, but I'm told that it sometimes varies.
Dive. PBR + Beam Special. Dive. $5. Dive. PBR. Dive. $2. Dive. Happy Hour. Dive. Until 8pm. Dive. Cider on tap. Dive. Mixed Drinks. Dive. Strong. Dive. Cool bartender. Dive. Bike messengers. Dive. $10 credit minimum. Dive. Smoking indoors. Dive. After 4pm. Dive. Pool table. Dive. Free. Dive. Jukebox. Dive.
Yes, this might be a dive. ;)
Don't wear anything requiring dry cleaning. It's smoky in here. I've read that Darla of Darla's owns this joint. Seriously? Will have to try out the food some time.
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Oh boy. So Tempest was the latest DYL venue and while I'm the last person to stir the pot with the DYL Gods, I gotta say that I can not endorse any bar that allows smoking inside. C'mon people, we live in California for a reason! Not only are my lungs killing me from the hour or so that I spent in this virtual ashtray but my wool coat and sweater need to immediately go to the dry cleaners, do not pass go, do not collect $200.
They get two stars for decent happy hour specials, although I couldn't stand to be in this place long enough to enjoy them.
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Pretty good place. Friendly staff and free food on Fridays. Free food is all it takes to get me there most Friday nights after work.
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Thanks for the lung cancer, Tempest, it's been real.
You should see my brand new voice box. It's shiny and makes me sound like Rosie, the maid from The Jetsons.
I have you to thank for that, Tempest.
And a note to the owner:
Just because I'm not a dirty bike messenger that blows snot rockets in public, or a 50-year-old child predator with a love of orange scarves, it doesn't mean I'm some tween yuppie who you need to card every 5 minutes.
You get one point Tempest, and that's for icy cold PBR. It tastes so good once it hits your lips.
But the smoke, asbestos, non-working disco ball, and card-happy bartender does not a happy very unhipster make.
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Three dollars for a lovingly-mixed G&T. My heart flutters for you, Mr. Bartender. I wanted to pluck that weather-eaten baseball cap off your old, wrinkly head and start licking your bald spots, but instead-- instead!-- I left you a $2 tip for each drink I purchased.
Minus two stars for a visible crack pipe, the cigarette smoke adhering to every fiber of my clothing, and the scarce seating.
To be fair-- the smoke was not nearly as bad as it could have been. I've swum through nicotine as thick as treacle in Santiago's basement-dwelling gay clubs, so if my eyes aren't awash with stinging, stimulant-infected tears, I can't complain.
...too much.
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Dear Tempest,
Please send me $5 in quarters as repayment for the laundry I was forced to do which included my winter jacket, purse, and everything else I came in contact with after being in this nicotine hot box you call a bar. I will also take payment in the form of 1.75 vodka tonics or 2.5 PBRs.
Love,
Amanda C.
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The tempest is a proper dive bar and not your wanky little pretend dive bar, the people are gritty, the drinks are strong, and the PBR/Jim Beam special for $5 will sort out a wide selection of ills. Unfortunately this place is so gritty they still smoke in there which makes for a very uncomfortable night if you are a non-smoker.
I think the bar tender might be going a bit senile, when I ordered my PBR/Jim Beam special he set me up with the requisite pint of PBR and an empty shot glass (which I assumed would soon be filled with the appropriate spirit). I waited politely for a few minutes and saw the bartender had moved on to other patrons, so i asked if there was supposed to be a shot in my glass, to which he replied that there had been a shot. Well I begged to differ and one of the locals sitting beside me backed me up that the shot glass had been delivered empty, and he filled it up while still eying me suspiciously.
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Never had a drink here, but I plan to....
But I have had many breakfast burritos and this place by far has the best breakfast burrito I have ever put in my mouth.
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For a dive bar, what more can you want? Off the beaten path, amazing drink deals like The Special, kind bartender who puts up with all the drunken patrons and dutifully pours beer after beer, juke box, pool table and plenty of tables to sit at with your friends. I am reading these reviews, and I just don't understand the lack of stars. I mean you have to judge the bar based on the fact that it is a dive. And for a dive, what more can you want?
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The benefits of this bar just keep adding up for me. It's a cozy divey bar hidden in an alleyway. It has cheap drinks ($2.50), a super all the time special ($5 shot w/ pint of pabst), free jukebox, free pool, free hot dogs on monday, and free views of single straight boys in their 20's and 30's hanging out with their buddies. :)
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You can so totally miss this spot if you are not looking for it.
Come in once in a while for lunch. Greasy Philly cheese steak (not really Philly style but it's okay. Nobody made it like Philly) and juicy portabello burger are both okay.
Fun to watch people park in the alley on the red zone and that the meter-maid missed it and only remembered to mark the tires... well, it's a nice beautiful day so it's good to make that kind of mistake...
Smoking indoors! that's right you can smoke in this bar, illegally of course. The area is a bit creepy and I would never attempt to walk here alone, but it is a cheap place to grab a few drinks, plus they have free hot dogs on Monday nights. This bar is as blue-collar as they come, can I say blue-collar or is that not P.C. anymore? Well anyway that is what it is and if you can handle the smoke it is a great place to grab a few drinks and chill out.
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Wah wah wah. If you can't stand spilled beer, cigarettes, or the post-work odor of bike messenger, then go to a yuppie bar. Preferably in the Marina, far away from me. And get the hell out of my favorite dive.
In the infinite wisdom of my drinking state, I thought that the best review I could have would be to have a one-word review: MEATLOAF
Well, as usual, my ideas that I have while drinking aren't the best, but at least this one had some merit. This meatloaf was two things:
1) Pretty much as good as my grandma's
2) Free
I'm not sure which point is more important, but both are awesome. Also, the mashed potatoes have to be some of the best I have ever had, and I'm not really a mashed potatoes kind of guy.
I am really thinking of making this my Friday night dinner on a regular basis. With beer that is a reasonable price, sports on the TV, and it being right near work...how can you argue with that? Also, the bartender is really nice, and the crowd is chill.
Also, you know all those TV shows and movies where you see guys getting a beer and a shot? And you think, "That sounds so romantic, but you never see people doing that in real life." Well, you'll find those guys here. And you'll also find the old guy who slowly drinks Budweiser after Budweiser by himself, not talking to anyone, which is both sad and, again, romantic in a strange way.
And although I was too busy gabbing it up to partake, I'd love to play some pool here.
One star off for the combination of:
- Smoking is allowed inside (but only at the tables, not right at the bar).
- The bathrooms aren't a lot of fun. Soap bottle that you have to pour and finicky hand dryer.
- The bartender doesn't know what a car bomb is, although he might by now.
But yeah...you could say I'll be back. This is now right up there with my favorites in the city, right up there with Vesuvio and Cresta's.
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So deliciously divey good. My good friend Netty L was kind enough to introduce me to this hidden gem. $2 happy hour PBRs until 8 PM, but who cares about happy hour, they go up fifty cents after the fact. You can afford to be a big shot. But it was more than the cheap drinks that had me loving this place. You can help yourself to free hot dogs on Monday night football nights with all the fixins. And want a cigarette? No need to go outside, smoking in the bar seems to be more than acceptable at this dodgy spot. The bartender is originally from Kansas, both he and his hoodie told me so, and he was extremely excited that I had a South Dakota ID. We bonded immediately.
A perfect low key place where you can kick back and forget about your worries for the night.
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Wow.... what a find! A colleague brought me here. Never would have found it on my own. An eclectic bar, that indeed serves a stiff drink and very reasonable prices. The actual bar is beautiful carved wood, but with the tap towers covered in stickers, has this.... neighborhood nostalgia sorta feel. Eric the bartender/owner... great chap, and good conversation. Pool table, great drink specials, good jukebox. Best kept secret for a bar in the city, that isn't packed. Sorta like a private club, without the high society snobbery. I find myself hesitant to even write this review, as I want to keep this place to all for my own. All they need is a shuffle board to table to make this place a true nirvana.
I have changed my mind.... I do want to keep it as my secret little place... it's bad, go away!!! seriously, go away!!
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I've been to the Tempest two times.
The first time, last year some time, it was a less-than-memorable experience. Not that it was a BAD experience, but I was in a crapper mood to begin with... It was my ex of 9+ years' 30th birthday (okay, so I know exactly when it was -- whatevz), and I was all bummed and sad, and MISSING HIM. Damnit. Ugh... I hate to admit that. I was not in the mood for my usual dose of dive bar fun. I even failed to notice that it was a smoking bar.
WTF? How did I miss that one?
I kinda just felt like we were in a big K of C hall, sitting at some crappy Formica tables on stacking chairs with too much fluorescent lighting, drinking cheap beer, and I just kinda wanted to go home.
(But instead I left and went to the Arrow Bar, got way too drunk, stayed up way too late, went to Naan N' Curry, and ate way too much late-night drunk food. Same difference.)
Last night I went back to the Tempest, for a going-away party. It was open just for us, but I think a lot of the people at the party were regulars, and if that's the case, I need to spend more time here.
Wait a minute -- no I don't. I don't need to spend any more time in any more bars in SF. But for the sake of finishing this...
I had an awesome time. I didn't mind the lighting, or the cheap K-of-C-hall feel, and it's a smoking bar!, and since we ruled for the evening we got to play all manner of ridiculous music, including Terror Squad!, and everyone danced even though it made no sense for a bunch of punk rock people to be dancing to Terror Squad!, and oh it was such a good time...
The Tempest is WAY better than I remembered...
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The first thing I noticed about the tempest was the masonry that didn't appear to be braced at all. Don't come here if you're anticipating a significant earthquake.
Otherwise, the drinks are cheap and strong (AK's vodka & soda contained little more than a splash of soda) And the bartenders are friendly. I should also mention that on any night of the week they offer a shot of Jim Beam and a pint of PBR for $5. The Tempest is a bar for drunks with an eye for value.
You can smoke inside. Everyone around you can smoke inside too. This may or may not be a plus.
The decor is odd; It feels as if a regular bar had to move in a hurry and all they could find was some warehouse space so they set up shop there. A pool table, a couple video games (Midway classics! GALAGA, bitches!) formica tables and plastic chairs. The regulars aren't really punk rock kids or hip hop kids or hipsters or dive bar types, but a little bit of all of these types mashed together. Mostly top 40 stuff on the jukebox, but there's also a little salsa music in there; Have you ever seen drunk punk rock kids attempt to salsa dance? If not than you should check this place out sometime.
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Free hot dogs for Monday night football, you say?? This would otherwise be just an average bar for me but the free dogs earn it the extra star. I don't know why I love freebies so much...
When my friend told me to meet him after work at this bar, only a half a block from the Chieftain, I thought to myself, "why have I never been to this bar?? I thought I knew all the bars around my neighborhood."
When I finally found this bar, I immediately knew why. It's down a quiet street--you could almost call it an alley. It's a good thing it was still daylight out when I went because it's kind of sketchy. It isn't as bad as the street I live on but there's something about walking down streets that are this quiet alone at night that gives me the creeps.
The bar itself is huge! They serve breakfast and lunch as previously mentioned, free hot dogs for Monday night football. Nothing fancy but it was my dinner that Monday. Surprisingly quiet for a bar half full of people watching football.
I'd go back again and check it out. I don't see this being a regular place for me though.
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I love dive bars.
I love dive bars with drink specials (like a "Beam and Pabst back" for $5).
I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who ask me what I'm writing in my notebook.
I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who ask me what I'm writing in my notebook and then don't get freaked out when I reply, "I'm calculating exactly how many days I've been alive."
I love dive bars with drink specials and locals who question me without being frightened of the response and then start a long and friendly conversation about time and location and the lives we've lived.
I love the Tempest!
Why am I not there now?!?
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The $5 special is a pint of PBR and a shot of Beam (i think), amazing, that seems like the kind of drink you order right after you get laid off.
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A very comfy dive.
(Psst! You can smoke inside. (Don't tell anyone))
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Dive bars? yes please...
And this one lives up to all my expectations...
Pool table that is sometimes free? Check.
A possessed jukebox that is always free? Check.
PBR on tap? Check.
Jim Beam shot and a PBR for 5$? Check.
Old men always drinking at the bar with a random assortment of young, old, and interesting thrown in? Check.
Bathrooms that you could have sex in and also are a decent place to pee? Check.
Cool, no-nonsense bartenders who will also play poker with you and win your money from you without batting an eye? Check.
TV's that play sports and old Twilight Zone episodes? Check.
A bar that's always a sure thing? Check.
Yup, I love me the Tempest.
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mellow dive-great bartender. a lot of the service employees and tenets from the neighborhood.. sometimes it gets a little to smokey.. not in the "right" way. good specials
