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The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 am
Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 10 am - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
424 reviews for The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"The fish and chips were oh so good." In 69 reviews -
"The lamb burger was damn tasty as well." In 25 reviews -
"I recommend the Bangers and Mash." In 21 reviews
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424 reviews in English
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Review from Tiffe L.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of the waitress had a mean bitch face going on, but the other one was super sweet. Thank you, nice one!
Came in hungry and in on a mission to drink something, anything. By the time we got to ordering, I was already distracted by the plate of hot wings at the next table. Yes, I will be having that please.
Wings: Delicious.
My manfriend ordered a happy hour PBR. Ah, college. We decided to split a burger after inhaling the wings and asked them to cut it in half. 15 glorious minutes later: food!
My half of the burger came with a surprise hair in it. Gross, but the waitress (nice one) quickly whisked it away and came back 10 minutes later with a brand spanking new burger (whole one! :) ) and an apology. This is how you do it, guys. I wasn't even angry, she was so nice.
My new burger had a piece of broken off toothpick, but I didn't want to bother her anymore. Bill came and the PBR was on the house because of the burger incident. Yeaa
Be careful and alert when you eat. Good thing the place is nice and the food is good, so I don't care.Listed in: San Francisco (My Town)
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Review from john-michael c.
Santa Clara, CA
5/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wont lie, it doesnt take much to get me buzzed...
and by this time I was drunk and hungry.
They have great guinness here...
.
.
.
and fish and chips
I love me some fish and chips
TARTAR sauce!
;D -
Review from Stephanie F.
San Francisco, CA
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.5, I say.
It just doesn't seem right to give it a full-on 4. The food has been good. The beer, plentiful. There's something amiss though... something that's keeping me from suggesting to come here when we're figuring out our plans. Maybe it's the location or the frat-like feeling I occasionally get...? I enjoy a good Irish Pub, but this one feels less authentic to me for some reason. -
Review from jack c.
5/14/2012
I dropped into The Chieftain on a recent trip to San Francisco and loved the place.I had the lamb burger(Awesome) and fries with a pint of Bass Ale while watching SF Giatnts on the big screen.Service was very efficent and friendly,the waitress had a natural smile and seem to really enjoy her job,which is always a good sign of a place.
My only complaint is that I do not live near The Chieftain. -
Review from PMF K.
Concord, CA
5/24/2012
Hadn't been to the Cheiftan for roughly 5 years before I started working in the area and walked by everyday. I proceeded to stop in occasionally for a post work brew.
Stoked they have Anderson Valley Boont Amber Ale on Tap! Food looks and smells good, though I never tasted. Late night Fridays can draw an interesting crowd. I almost fell over laughing once when the bartender called out some overly obnoxious drunk d-bag and his stank (read: whores bath) stripper guest who proceeded to stumble all over the place and yell random BS.
A great scene in the afternoon or with groups. Not a bunch of ladies, but they're around. The hood can be a bit sketch, so watch your back when entering.
Overall: Go for the brew, sports, food. Keep elbows up for drunk d-bags and filth of the city. -
Review from Timmy C.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's a good ol Irish pub with good food. I haven't had a bad meal yet. The daily specials are good and run out quick, so get there early! The selection of beer is very good. They'll probably have one you'll like and if you're not sure just ask for a sample. And if you like whiskeys, they got you covered there too, Irish and American. Make sure to ask for Fiona, she's nice and feisty!!
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Review from Nancy G.
Fulton, CA
5/16/2012
This place is so great. The food, the atmosphere, the selection of beer and whiskey. Just nothing about it not to like. It is our go to place whenever we head to SF for a Giants game. I don't care that it's a bit of a hike from the stadium...totally worth it! Can't say enough about Fiona, I'm pretty sure she's a manager. She is really great about keeping the beer and the food coming. We've always been made to feel welcome. Check it out.
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Review from Siobhan M.
San Mateo, CA
5/15/2012
Great beer selection and friendly waitresses, especially the blondey one! I've been to most Irish bars in San Francisco and this is one of my favorites. And just happens to be conveniently located a block or two from the SF mall :)
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Review from Charlie E.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
Love this place, there are a lot of places that throw a Guinness mirror on the wall and call themselves an Irish Pub, this is the real deal. Saucy Irish lasses servin up good food and great beer, the side order of lip is free. Speaking of keeping it real, if you're lucky you'll get to meet the lovely Fiona, now there's the heart and soul of the bar for me (is this coming across too stalkerish?) She'll have a laugh or a "craic" with you while she's doing a million other things. Love going to watch the footballs games with my mates there too.
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Review from Kathleen W.
Albany, CA
4/4/2012
I needed sustenance on the day I went shopping for a wedding dress.
My sister suggested this location b/c they had great bloody mary's. She was right.
For food I ordered the cobb salad ... I probably should have just stuck to filling up on bloody marys. The salad was okay ... but the dressing was too thick.
The burger was delicious though ... -
Review from John A.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2012
After a hard day at the office I came across this little gem of a bar...greeted with a smile I soon settled in. The lamb burger was recommended by the friendly Irish bartender- I was not disappointed- best burger I have had in awhile!!!
Overall a great experience. I willI be back. -
Review from Valerie F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/16/2012
I wanted to update this, as I felt Mark handled my complaint in a professional and timely manner. I've always enjoyed the food and drink at the Chieftain, even when the service was slow (generally bc they were so busy. I am changing my ranking. Probably the next time I go to Chieftain, it will rise to 4 stars.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/30/2012
I thought it was an isolated incident when I went to this bar last year (have been there many times,… Read more »
Comment from Mark N. of The Chieftain Irish Pub & Restaurant 5/15/2012
I responded to Valerie stating we took her feedback… More » -
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Review from Niall S.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2012
I have been a regular at The Chieftain for years and will be a life long customer. The ambience is enjoyable yet relaxing, the staff is friendly, professional and eager to go that extra mile to make sure I get what I need.
The food has continued to be consistently excellent, I have probably eaten everything off the menu and I can't think of a time I've been disappointed.
If you want the Irish bar experience, look no further than The Chieftain in San Francisco! -
Review from Jay S.
Fremont, CA
1/8/2012
Do not come here.
I came here a week ago to try and watch the Raiders game. I came in with a couple friends a few minutes before the game started and we grabbed a table. Service was really pushy and wanted us to order immediately.
Right before the Raiders game the server changed the channel to the Broncos game. Confused why a Bay Area bar wasn't playing a Bay Area game I quickly asked the server if she could play the game that so many in the bar were anticipating to watch. Her response was that since the Broncos game was requested first by a small group of fans they would only play that.
Honestly, if you're looking for a good place to watch a game do not come here. The TVs are ill placed and hard to view, they will probably not play Bay Area games, and the drink selection sucks. Also, this place is not clean.
Do yourself a favor and choose another bar. With so many better bars in the area I promise you will have a much better time elsewhere. -
Review from R W.
Oakland, CA
2/13/2012
I've been here a number of times.
Always had good service here. Nice beer and booze selection.
Last time I was there I ordered the chips. I'm usually wary of "chips" because a lot of places serve them limp and greasy. Ordered these "extra crispy" and received a plate of the tastiest fried potatoes I've had in ages.
The fried calamari is excellent as well, but I'd omit the chipotle mayo (tastes like hotdog water?) dipping sauce and ask for a few lemon wedges instead. -
Review from J B.
El Cerrito, CA
12/21/2011
I am so glad Yelp pointed me to this little gem.
My friend wanted to go to a pub for his birthday, and I had tracked down the Chieftain during my "look at everything on Yelp" phase that we all go through, so I suggested it as an option and he thought it sounded like a solid place to celebrate. Six of us headed into the city, and I don't think any of us were disappointed.
We went on a Thursday, and it was certainly a little more cozy than I expected, but not cramped. Found a spot with no problem, and immediately went into seek and decide mode on drinks and food. I was pleased they had cider, though not as happy that it wasn't on tap. Oh well, a Magner's in a bottle is still a fine beverage. Two in our party tried their mixed drinks, which are delicious.
We shared an order of the fried mashed potato balls...get these, they are awesome. I could have just eaten an order myself and had my cider and been happy...but dinner still awaited, and it was great. In our little group, 2 people ordered fish & chips, 2 ordered the guinness stew, 1 got bangers and mash, and I got the shepherd's pie. There was very little left on anyone's plate. My shepherd's pie was rich and flavorful, a great choice on a chilly evening. I tried the guinness stew from one of my friends, and it was equally hearty.
I'll just take a moment to call out our waitress, because she was awesome. I don't remember her name...but she has dark brown hair and she was super sweet and very patient with our group from beginning to end (especially when we were working out who was going to comp what part of the birthday boy's meal). I'm definitely coming back here. -
Review from Allegra G.
Houston, TX
12/21/2011
As far as pubs go, the Chieftan is tops. My father is English and I grew up in pubs and know good pub food when I taste it. We were in three times over a week - the first time for drinks on a Sunday afternoon and then for lunch during the week. The service was great every time - they do the team style service, so someone is always checking on you.
As for the food - I had the Shepherd's Pie and the Lamb Burger. Both were fantastic! If you are debating between a regular burger and the lamb burger - go with the lamb. The flavor is amazing. I had my boyfriend take a bite (he was eating the regular burger) and it kind of ruined him on the regular burger. Our friend had the Fish and Chips and really liked it. He also ordered the fried Potato Balls the first time we had lunch there and we all fell in love with them. They have a little jalapeno in them, so they have a good spice to them. The beer batter they are done in is light and crispy. Had to order them again when we went for a late lunch. Also the pricing is reasonable.
If you want to do lunch - go early or late. The pub is small and seating is limited.
Looking forward to the next time we are in town so we can come back! -
Review from ruggy j.
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
When you decide to blow off the Zunis and Ryes of the world for eats and drinks at any Irish bar on the planet, you sort of have to check your epicurean ego at the door and manage your expectations accordingly. What you'll lack in $50 roasted chicken delicacies and hand stirred libations, you'll flow over with standard pub grub fare and pints of beer out the wahzoo.
With that being said, my expectations were adequately aligned with what I'd anticipate from an Irish bar after hitting The Chieftain this Sunday, and like most bars of similar ilk, it does just fine for what it is: a comfy bar with simple drinks, sports on TV, and recognizable grub. Nothing that'll earn a Beard award anytime soon, but hey -- sometimes utilitarian nourishment at a fair price is just what the doctor ordered.
The service was pretty slow and spotty, and if I were in more of a hurry, I probably would have been slightly irritated. Fortunately, I was having quite a lovely time watching the 49ers beat the Detroit Lions, so the slightly befuddled servers didn't rub me too raw. -
Review from Andrew M.
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Seemed like a pretty cool bar. I got there late on a Wednesday night after a company party had ended for one drink with a few friends. The place would probably be pretty packed on a weekend night or even earlier any given evening as it is not very big. As for food, I did not have any so I apologize for a weak review. I did not even have to pay for my drink. It looked like a fun classic Irish pub to hang out at for a few drinks though
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Review from Jenny Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2012
Surprisingly good food! Went in a group of 4 and we had the guinness stew, shepherd's pie, corned beef + cabbage, and the lamb burger. Everyone was happy, with their food, as was demonstrated by our completely empty plates at the end of the meal. I will say that a pint of Guinness was surprisingly expensive for an Irish pub; I think it was $6.75 a pint.
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Review from Rachel P.
State College, PA
12/29/2011
Meh... sounds about right. I was here around 7 on a Sunday night just after landing in SF for a conference. Experience started off good with very friendly service from the bartender, but when the rest of our group showed up and we seated ourselves at a big table (which, I guess it was cool that they let us do that) service went downhill. My corned beef sandwich came and it was decent, but after that it took FOR-EV-ER to get more drinks or anything else. It was like the waitress totally forgot about us... and it didn't even seem that hectic... and she was helping everyone around us... it was weird.
The icing on the cake (or whatever the opposite of that would be) was when the bill(s) came... somehow we were under the impression that she was transferring our tab started at the bar so that we would all end up with one bill, but we ended up with two so that a bunch of us had half our stuff on the bar tab and half on the table. Weird and really confusing, AND there was an automatic 18% (!!) gratuity added to the table bill (but not the one from the bartender... who I wanted to tip much more generously anyway since he was actually helpful). Obnoxious. I'm not a stingy tipper but I have no desire to tip 18% for literally the worst service I've had in a couple months. -
Review from Van W.
Oakland, CA
9/28/2011
This place has quickly become a regular lunch place when our office moved into the neighborhood. Good drinks (beer & whisky) and good food. It can be a bit loud, but booze helps filter out the noise.
Great fish & chips, very filling. Been getting the lamb shepard's pie there lately. Service is friendly albeit a bit slow at times (I had about 5 bites of my pie left before I got my hot sauce I asked for when I ordered my food) and sometimes they forget things like non-alcoholic drinks you order.
The atmosphere is nice over all and the people always seem friendly. Definitely a popular spot. -
Review from Alex L.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
My favorite neighborhood place. Great people and great service. Oh and great selection of beer and whiskey. What else would you expect from the Irish place.
Good to have you guy in the neighborhood!! -
Review from Bill C.
San Ramon, CA
11/15/2011
The Chieftain is a cool place to grab a quick drink when you are in the area. I was there last month to meet with some friends before going to whiskyfest. So we had a couple beers and a hearty lunch. This place served some really good pub grub. I had the bangers and mash which was really good. They had a good selection of beers that I thoroughly enjoyed.
It's a divey pub that just feels comfortable. It's not too divey.
Will I be back? Sure, next time I'm in the area I will enjoy another visit. -
Review from Jimmy F.
Austin, TX
9/15/2011
I was searching for a sports bar to watch my Texas Longhorns play BYU... not exactly a popular game to watch in San Francisco! After looking around on Yelp, I called the Chieftain to see if they were playing the game... they were not, but would be willing to put it on for me. It was just the beginning of a very positive experience...
While it wasn't the loud sports bar I was expecting, they were more than gracious, changing the channel on the TV, turning up the volume for me, even though no other TV had the volume on, and I was the only one watching the game! The staff was friendly and very accommodating... it was only once the place was super crowded that I had to wait more than a minute for service.
And as a bonus... the food is great! While I wouldn't go back to watch a game (it's really not the place to go if that's your primary objective), I will definitely come back and try the other items on their menu. And the special cocktail, "Coconut Shamrock" was awesome... I didn't plan on drinking that night, but I had more than one of those tasty drinks! -
Review from Kathryn M.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's really not the worst place in the world, but whenever my coworkers suggest going here for lunch I cringe. The problem is that there are way better options at comparable prices within a stone's throw. My biggest problem could be that I've never gone drinking here and it is a PUB. The service is always decent and the food is never bad, it's just that I've never had anything I'd ever want to reorder either. I could see it being a good place to go watch a game or something and the food is sort of just a necessity, but otherwise would recommend just skipping altogether.
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Review from Cole C.
8/15/2011
If I lived in San Francisco, this would be my watering hole.
Loved everything about this bar. Good food, good crowd, and lots of beers on tap, all authenticated by a truly Irish staff.
There's lots of pubs in the area, but The Chieftain is the best by far. -
Review from Katie L.
San Francisco, CA
12/11/2011
My absolute favorite place to go when I'm in the mood for a cozy pub. Irish bartenders. Friendly service. Outstanding comfort food. My favorites are the Bangers and Mash and the Portobella Mushroom Burger but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Perfect place to catch a game and have a pint.
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Review from Jessica R.
Oakland, CA
6/12/2011
Really s lo w for a Saturday, so my roommate and I were getting watered and fed when we needed to be...
and the bartender even sat at our end and stuck his face in our biz in case would need him at a drop of a hat. Not at all intruding.
Great selection of beer, although I got my usual Jameson sour. Would definitely return to check out the Giants on their tvs next day game when I'm free!
I love Irish pubs, because there has never (in the many I have been in) been a time where I would never return. Might just make this my regular city bar. :)
Hats off to the Chieftain! -
Review from Holly A.
4/8/2011
Imagine getting away with your favorite girl. Imagine just happening upon a quaint, fun and hidden romantic spot as your first experience in your getaway. Imagine it also being your last experience before you leave the place you collectively shaped into bliss .....
Situated on the corner with the typical casual bar of brass, glass and light woods as well as the typical Irish-type setting of choices and ambiance - you are here. The Guinness is flowing and the food is damn good (we had brunch as well as lunch entrees). The service is totally laid back and awesome in both timing and friendliness. The patrons are sparse, eccentric and definitely all in their own little worlds.
And then there's our own little world.
Thank you Chieftain for making the entry and exit of bliss melt in my mouth. -
Review from Paula M.
San Francisco, CA
6/2/2011
Came here last week with two friends for lunch and (as it turned out) afternoon drinks. It was surprisingly busy for the time of day, mostly business guys and what looked like regulars. The three of us got a table in the corner and we were greeted and given menu,s almost as soon as we sat down by our friendly waitress, Haley. She told us about the specials and said I'll give u a minute.
She came back, took our order, the lamb burger I had was delicious, one of my friends had the potato bites, fluffy and very tasty. And the soup of the day seemed to have been freshly made. I managed a fine dining restaurant in San Francisco two years ago. Televisions, four, but not blaring.
This is a smallish Irish bar that bats way above average, the Guinness was almost as good as I had in Galway last year. (you just CAN'T replicate the Guinness you get in ireland.)
So, four stars for the Chieftain, and the extra was for great service and a smile while under pressure. We will all be back soon. -
Review from Tyler H.
Bay Area
10/2/2011 3 Check-ins Here
If you're in the mood for a great Irish bar to gulp down some Murphy's, this is the place to do it. Pepper in a few shots of Jameson and you'll start growing a beard and talking with an accent. Or maybe it's more of a slur.
Walking around with a few coworkers, we stumbled across this bar and decided to give it a shot. We ordered beers, a couple shots and some nachos. The bartender came back with the colorful plate of nachos, set them on the table and said, "You've come to the right place."
Indeed. I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Kylee M.
Winters, CA
10/10/2011
Good atmosphere, good prices, excellent food.
We had the Portobello Mushroom Burger, Shepherd's Pie and a couple of pints. Best meal I've had in a while. The Shepherd's Pie was the perfect amount of seasoning, and they use lamb. The Portobello Mushroom Burger has a great melody of flavors, a touch sweet but nothing overpowered anything else in there.
This isn't a place that I would drive into the city just to eat at, but I highly recommend it if you're in the area. -
Review from Johnny L.
Lafayette, CA
Well, I hate to beat a dead horse, or in this case, visit and review a locale too much, but, yes, I went to the Chief again today to watch ManU play Schalke in a UEFA semi-final. Unfortunately, this will be the last weekday game for a while.
What I did have, though, was the daily special which was a bacon, celery, potato, carrot and pea concoction that had cheese on the top and broiled. I needed to get away from my old Chief staples of lamb burger or Turkey/Avo sammy. I am glad I did, once again, the Chief didn't disappoint.
Now I have to cheer for ManU over Barca, because quite frankly, I don't like pansie spaniards.
Ya feel me?4 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/3/2011
Barca won Booooooo!
Johnny won Yayyyyyyyy!
Why did I win? The lamb burger, and, thanks to my great… Read more »
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Review from Caitlyn C.
San Jose, CA
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place was pretty fun! I came on New Years eve with my boyfriend and we had a really nice waitress. The food was pretty good.. I had a sandwich and my boyfriend had the fish and chips. Yummy. The potato skins left something to be desired. Overall, I had a pretty good experience :)
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Review from Genaro R.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lamb burger was fantastic. It was cooked to a nice medium. Fries were good and cold beer is always a must. I will go here again. =)
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Review from Shachi B.
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's a pretty standard Irish pub. Not much more to report here.
Pros: 2 blocks from muni, reasonably priced food and drink. (get the fries, they're really yummy!)
Cons: it's a little small, so if you don't get there early enough in the evening you may be stuck standing.
Thumbs up! -
Review from Jennie Z.
Honolulu, HI
3/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Extremely convenient if you're staying at the Intercontinental. The fried jalapeño mashies appetizer are interesting, but I was disappointed that the sauce was spicier than the bite. Bangers & mash are yum, fish & chips - no complaints. Good service.
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Review from Ed B.
Chicago, IL
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
A nice place...I stopped in for anightcap with a friend after a VERY long day.
It was dim and busy, but not a depressing dive; the right kind of place to just relax and have a chat or laugh before calling it a night. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's a lively bar and pretty popular for the Friday Happy Hour crowd. Last week's DYL was the first time I've been to The Chieftain. Great time out with my yelp friends!
I had a couple Makers Mark Manhattan's which were around $6 or 7. Great place to stop in if you are at the Moscone for a conference, Happy Hour after work or maybe a relief from Holiday Shopping this season.
The menu looked great, I have to try some of the food here. Kristina ordered these tasty looking fried potato with jalapeno and cheese in them things - omg they looked fantastic. We ordered some nachos, but I only had a few bites. I have to come back!
