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The Dogs Bollix - CLOSED
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for The Dogs Bollix
Review Highlights
65 reviews in English
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Review from Rodney P.
San Francisco, CA
First of all, I'm gonna declare Alex S. review null and void because she's an employee of the Dog's Bollix and therefore has a bias.
Nonetheless, she was correct in her assessment that the bar is a pretty chill spot. It's a hole in the wall that's rarely packed, and I typically meet good people there (people who aren't German with orange hair that is...heh).
My fondest memory of this bar was post Bay To Breakers. I'm sitting at the bar with my buddy when Robin Williams walks in and buys a "Pure Shite" t-shirt (it's the bar's signature t-shirt). I turned to my buddy, drunk, and said pretty noticeably "dude, is that Mrs. Doubtfire?" It was good times. -
Review from Keane L.
I always make an effort to stay until the very last band finishes when we have a gig. I don't think most people realize how difficult it is to perform to a crowd of four at 12 in the morning. Being that fifth person counts for something.
It was well past midnight when I stepped out of Rockit Room with our guitarist, Ryan S., only to bump into beloved Yelper, AKA G., at The Dogs Bollix.
*A new pop track starts blaring. I think it's Britney, or something equally shitty...*
At that moment, a mid-life crisis douchebag comes by sporting an ugly version of Bono's already ugly shades. He introduces himself by asking Ryan about his guitar's tuning, which really doesn't serve any logical function as an introduction...
"Oh, Open G? You must be a Pisces!"
Without any follow-up remark regarding tuning, he goes off on a rant about how "rock 'n' roll" is cliche and lacking in rebellion these days, how hip-hop is a fake fad, and how all music pretty much sucks. AKA G. performs a brilliant display of verbal acrobatics... the kind you use when you want to make talking to a brick wall seem more entertaining.
The guy goes on and on while I say nothing, because I know for a fact that arguing with a drunken moron yields negative results. And I just stand there festering in annoyance because it's these people who shout from their asses without thinking that make it so hard for normal people to exist.
Music is authentic when you listen to the music you like. That's it. There's no more to it. You like the Hannah Montana Soundtrack? You go on listening to the Hannah Montana Soundtrack. It's your goddam right and I fucking respect you for it. It's just so ironically cliche to argue about how music is, itself, cliche because it doesn't conform to the ideals it's supposed to represent in the first place. How the fuck does that make any sense?
The Dogs Bollix is just another bar in a district filled with bars, though the others have better music and, apparently, better people. I'd much rather frequent the more spacious Ireland's 32 a block away.
So, minus two stars for hosting two douchebags that night: the aforementioned chode, and AKA G.... because he was right next door AND HE DIDN'T COME TO OUR SHOW!! (I kid...) -
Review from Matt H.
Berkeley, CA
HEAR YE, HEAR YE! Sighted at The Dog's Bollix: the Supreme Emperor of Disastrous Sets, the Grand Master Champion of Top-10 Pop Tunes, Commander Can't-Pick-a-Song, the ear-raping Dark Underlord of Crowd Oblivion - that's right, the undisputed absolute worst DJ in all of god's creation!
The dance floor holocaust that followed this infernal host's entrance will haunt my eyes and ears forever. The mournful sound of Johnny Cash driving into a wide-eyed Justin Timberlake, only to be cut-off mid song and followed by, what, Nickleback? It was an experience I could only liken to having my eardrums blasted with acid-soaked broken glass. Through my bloody tears, I watched the looks of confusion and horror, and the dizzying speed the dance floor semi-filled and emptied with the poor souls damned to endure this sonic puppet-master from hell.
I will never forgive myself for leaving that place without every patron with me, but in my staggering retreat I could only save myself and the friends nearest me. What became of the rest, only god knows. -
Review from Christopher K.
San Francisco, CA
Our merry band of travelers entered into the Dogs Bollix fat and happy after filling ourselves full of delicious food. We were primed for another alcohol fueled adventure.
This leg of our journey began well enough. We pushed our way passed the regular crowd of generic dudes who congregated near the narrow passage at the front of the bar. Settling in to the quiet nook by the pool table, we gathered some drinks and chittered amongst ourselves.
The evening showed promise when the DJ appeared and we began shaking our collective booties to the contemporary popular dance jams. But the mood turned sour once we started making random jumps from hip hop to obscure Johnny Cash songs.
I'd give this place two stars for nearly ruining the vibe we had so carefully crafted over the previous hours. Yet the phenomenal, attentive and hard working bartender brought things back up to midland. -
Review from Autumn K.
I'm less than thrilled to tell you we closed this place down the night before the fourth of July. We danced like assholes to the crudely mixed and confusingly schizophrenic soundtrack. I can handle a pair of turntables better than whoever was back there. Who knows? Maybe the dj was as drunk as everyone else there appeared to be. Either way, after the twelfth cocktail, nothing mattered much.
I distinctly remember some dirty dancing, some SexyBack, and some dropped beverages. The crowd is lacking in cute boys (except for the ones we brought) but the bartender rocks! Two stars for her. That's it. Never again.
The best part of our trip to the Bollix was leaving. And driving around in the bed of a pickup truck. Giggling like schoolgirls. And wondering where they keep the dogs at the Dogs Bollix. -
Review from Jamal G.
San Francisco, CA
Full Disclosure (Hi Omid): I play for the Bollix Busters, also known as the team with hairy nuts (that are ready to T-bag our opponents, or at least sure to piss off the umpires) on the back of our jerseys... and we are pure shyte.
I have to say, I'm not sure when I would have ever stopped by The Dogs Bollix, had it not been for our team. I'm actually glad I did. Peter is one of the best owners I've ever met. I don't think I've ever seen him in a foul mood, not hanging out, or playing pool with his customers. Oh did I mention he dj's as well? Ok, so he's not DJ Drama and he needs like a years worth of lessons but he's better than nothing... I should get him a rulebook on beats per minute so he's not taking slow jam and mixing it with a techno track then flippin it back to the old school. I get more hip-hop out of the Irish man than his jukebox could ever give me.
The jukebox consist of:
#1 Hip Hop Joint- Justin Timberlake (Bringing Sexy Back) What?
Or maybe Nelly (Air Force Ones), either way it's not enough for me to get my Black Irish on.
All I know is any place where my lazy ass can leave my equipment for 2 months and not have to worry about it gone missing, is a place I'm sure to go back to again.
Camaradery! Debauchery! BOLLIX! -
Review from Steph P.
Minneapolis, MN
In the six months I have been in SF, I have tried to patronize this Irish bar at least three times. Interestingly, the amount of time I have spent inside has decreased exponentially with each attempt.
Occasion #1: Already buzzed from my time at RockIt Room next door, we decide to head inside b/c they're playing the Top40 crap I love. Yikes, people are bumping and grinding and it's dark, hot, and sweaty like a frat party. Decide to stay for a beer and observe/laugh at the mess on the dance floor. Big hella drunk White guy attempts to hit on me and my friend. Oh god, too much. (Total time inside = ~ 10 min)
Occasion #2: Moderately buzzed from RockIt Room and wander over to DB on a Sat night. Hmm, it's kind of empty...maybe we'll try to chill at the bar and have a beer. Trashed Irish guy hits on me and my friend and mumbles something about Asian women while breathing heavily in my face. Nevermind about that beer. (~3 min)
Occasion #3: Again, another Sat night at RockIt and just because this damn bar is next door, we wander into DB again. This time, I am (not?) fortunate enough to have the buzz of prior visits, and I am acutely aware of just how many wasted big White guys are in the place. I am a quick learner. (~30 sec)
Now, I don't have anything against dive bars or White guys or getting hit on (see Alpha Bar review) but DB has just felt gross every time. Maybe it's something about the Saturday night crowd. Maybe I need to warm up to Asian fetishists. For now, I have been fully conditioned to avoid the DB at all costs. -
Review from k m.
San Francisco, CA
Don't bother a venture into this bar if you're of Asian descent. Some friends and I got harassed by a drunk guy blocking the door. He wouldn't let us in and proceeded to tell us to "go back to China"... the nerve!
I don't need to be around clientele like that... especially when the management doesn't seem to have a problem with it. That attitude does not belong in San Francisco. -
Review from Drue C.
San Francisco, CA
The name says it all!
This bar was sooooo cool when it was The Other Place. It had Catholic School Girl night, complete with drink discounts for donning the uniform and prayer candles lining the bar, as well as one of the best juke boxes in town...oh how I miss The Other Place. It was ahead of its time, the avenues just werent ready!
Now there is a new name and this bar is full of drunk, elitist Irish men....yuck. -
Review from matthew r.
San Francisco, CA
The Dogs Bollix is an irish bar but even as irish bars go it's not worth mentioning; the Plough & The Stars and The Liberties have better food, The Chieftain is more fun, and Costellos Four Deuces is more irish. Probably 1000 square feet with a pool table and a dance floor and a DJ that needs more practice with the crossfader.
The one redeeming quality is the woman behind the bar that runs back and forth as fast as her little legs can carry her mixing and pouring drinks for people and serving them with a smile and a slight lilt in her voice. All the stars in this review are hers by right. -
Review from Mimi T.
-First bar I've been to that serves up two buck chuck for their wine selection.
-While there is a prominent sign for Harp's right outside their door..they don't serve Harp's.
-Bathroom is stinky..only use when extremely necessary.
-Bartender was totally cool..hence 4 stars. -
Review from Karsten P.
San Francisco, CA
This is a positive review but . . .
On a slow night it reminds me of New York Irish neighborhood maintenance bars I used to frequent, complete with a couple of guys hunched over their pints conspiratorially, their brogues discreetly muted.
On a bad night the place is a bit too empty, the ceiling's is a bit too high, and it's a bit too dark. Why should this make any difference? Because the the BEST neighborhoood bars/pubs usually have a snug, safe, even claustrophobic feeling to them. Dim but not dark.
Okay - now that I've given you my snotty "I lived in NYC and we do things better" rant done, I'll tell you what I LIKE: they've got the POGUES on the goddamn jukebox! Sometimes a guy just has to hear Kirsty MacColl belt out, "You scumbag, you maggot, you cheep lousy faggot, Happy Christmas your ass, I pray God it's our last" to take you back to the Boroughs, or get choked up halfway through "Thousands Are Sailing", and try to hide it by looking away and taking a big swig of Guinness.
I went there one Friday night and was rewarded by a room full of healthy-looking blonde and redhead women, most taller than me (I'm 5'10") getting piss-drunk and dancing their asses off to Black 47, Abba, and whoever the hell sang Come On Eileen. An added treat was the complete lack of any segue between the songs - one just begins ten seconds before the previous song ends, and nobody gives a crap. -
Review from Theron L.
San Francisco, CA
Hmmm. I think I'll show up late to Trivia night #2... Hmmm. OMG!! The Bitter End is packed!! I don't see any obvious yelpers!! I can't even get to the bar! Too much for me... Hmmm. maybe I'll mosey into the Dog's Bollix.
I always have a good time at this place. The people and bar tenders are friendly and man can they drink too! :)
After a couple great conversations, guiness and irish wiskey's my friend calls, 'You're where? Murio's Trophy room?" Hmmm. I'll get some food and find a cab... Hmm. Genki Crepes looks happening!
Heh... Turns out Yelp Trivia Night #2 is next week!! :PListed in: My local haunts, My aborted attempt to attend…
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Review from Mary R.
San Francisco, CA
Well you have to hitup a Irish pub on St. Paddys day. After wandering around Clement for 30 minutes or so, this pub actually had room to squeeze us in and good music.
We were lured in by the Irish tunes which quickly changed into random 80's dance tunes and then into country music? Odd.
The crowd was nice and not pushy, I didn't order the drinks here so no comment on bartenders. We were drunk and we danced the whole time.
It's a cutesy wee Irish pub. We had a good time. -
Review from mary ann c.
San Francisco, CA
It gets another star back for beth ....... and shannon was nice as well
its just so hit or miss and when my friend left me beth looked out for me
thanks bethListed in: Hit or Miss ........I still…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/2/2007
It gets a star back for Beth.
Shes actually really cool the bar was dark , we played lots of music on… Read more »
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1/2/2007
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Review from domini a.
San Francisco, CA
I LEARNED TO DRINK AT THE DOG'S BOLLIX
on good, single malt, irish whisky.
I bought my parents' irish friend a shirt there for christmas that said " who's yer paddy?"
on the back it said " the dog's bollix... pure shite"
the owner DJ's a lot, and when he does, he gets on the mike and sings to the songs... whether you like it or not - and he's not a singer for a reason!
At the end, i've spilled out on the streets with the regulars singing irish rebel songs.
It's an awesome, intense time. I love it there. They even serve Funions... for breakfast.
It's NOT for the weakling, effeminate hipster scene. They will slaughter you accidentally on their way to the pisser... but...
for a real, solid, pure shite talking good time, and guinness on tap, you cant beat the bollix. -
Review from Sus.annah B.
San Francisco, CA
Update 2/8/08 - I feel bad doing this, but I'm trying to be a little more discerning about my ratings so I'm giving this place a 4...it's not them, it's me. :]
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I don't remember much about this place, but that's not a bad thing necessarily...
There was only a handful of people in there so we chatted up the bartender -- they ended up making this drink for us with tequila rose and 99 bananas in it that was so good I forget the name they gave it. Naturally we purchased many a bottle of said liquors and tried to recreate the experience several times since then, with varying degrees of success.
Nice people, divey atmosphere, good drinks, interesting neighborhood.Listed in: Bars & Clubs I've Known, Not Quite BFE to You Yet
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Review from Jessica R.
San Francisco, CA
I am really torn... seriously. I love myself the Irish Pubs. I really really do. Which gives it a star in my book, just for being "Irish." Maybe if I hadn't gone to The Bitter End or The Plough and Stars I would have enjoyed myself more... or maybe not.
The place isn't bad... okay amount of room, the bar tenders are cool, the drinks are a tad more pricey then I am used too in an Irish Pub. I just didn't have the same amount of fun here. It seems... stuffy? Like the Marina invaded or something. Maybe it was just having an off night.
I will give it another try someday. I love the Irish too much not too! -
Review from Teddy d.
San Francisco, CA
Bambi was on a mission to expand the horizon and headed here recently ...and I tell ya ..it is a dive with a stinky bathroom. But the crowd was fun and the Bartender rocked. If I am in the neighborhood I will stop by but I wouldn't make a trip to the Richmond for a cocktail..
Overall good service decent drinks and a nice crowd with great staff... -
Review from Tony M.
San Francisco, CA
Awesome bar, Pete, the guy who owns it is awesome! He DJ's somenights so much fun. A nice bar where I can go to catch a rugby match, a pint and great times. It is the only bar I have been to where i sat down and the guy next to me starts talking to me in gaelic.
The bartenders are all great at there job, make it more fun than a day at someplace you find really fun.
Slinte -
Review from jackie v.
San Francisco, CA
Gross. Just gross. When I first moved to the city I was living down the street from this bar so I decided to try it out. Bad decision. It smelled SO bad like diarrhea and b.o. that my friend was having a hard time even finishing her drink. Someone put some songs on the jukebox and the bartender just turned it off!! He said he didn't want to listen to any music. What!!??
This place sucks. I never went back but every time I walked by I got harassed by the gross idiots outside who were trashed. -
Review from josh h.
Pacifica, CA
Best afternoon joint without a patio/backyard in the Richmond district. Very smart and cool bartenders EARLY on Fri/sat/sun. Fun conversations and a pretty eclectic group keep it cool. Plus I can bring the dog (++++). Music is usually right on as it's the bartenders ipod, but their jukebox is terrible, so as usual somebody will have much different (read:worse) musical taste than I and put in $20 of Hooty and the Blowfish.
Yep, EARLY in the evening it's fun....but when 9 rolls around it's time to head out to some other joints as it becomes a ....Irish, jock, coke, bad music bar.
Great place to do a warm up set..... -
Review from riri s.
San Francisco, CA
God, every freakin' time it's something. One night it's dead, the other you can't squeeze your ass in the place. One night the music is lame top 40s, the other it's irish blue grass. One time a guy insults you for not understanding his accent, the other some guy tells you he likes your boobs, wanna do it lassie?!?
Enter with caution and don't expect too much. -
Review from Lizzie C.
San Francisco, CA
I had a good time here because I was with good people. But it was a good time in an awkward sort of way. First of all, I had an ex-boyfriend in our group I didn't say a word to, and secondly, a drunk girl jumped onto our table and started dancing in the middle of it, trying to be "sexy", while at the same time kicking our empty glasses off the table and thus spreading broken glass about our little corner.
Yeah, it was very sexy. Not.
The Dog's Bollix overall was sort of a hole-in-the-wall dive bar. Well, not completely terrible, but not terribly good either. -
Review from Darrell L.
Alameda, CA
1. this isnt an irish pub, its an americanized version of a pub, minus the fact that it is a pub.
2. ive seen this place packed. ive seen it with one person inside. its hit and miss.
3. i like it well enough, and on tues. nights when i dont feel like dealing with the crowd at The Bitter End, i really dont mind coming here.
4. pool table and darts. keen.
5. thats it really, im too drunk to go on... -
Review from vlad k.
San Francisco, CA
Dog's Bollix is an Irish bar that we just stumbled into at the end of a night. now, this wasn't your cheezy "hang some shamrocks on the wall" kind of Irish bar. this place was hardcore Irish with war posters on the wall, old flags, coat of arms, jerseys, etc. the bartender had an Irish accent. this was the real deal. we had come here fairly late, only half an hour till closing, so there weren't a ton of people there or anything, but the place still had a warm friendly vibe. it totally seems like the kind of place where you could come all the time after work and chat with the bartenders. also, unlike the crappy Rockit room next door which had "last call" fairly early and jerks were yelling at me to leave as I closed out my tab, this place served us drinks practically right up until 2am. nice!!
(my resolution this year is to visit 50 new bars in SF. read about it at: http://fiftybars.thisi...) -
Review from Alexa S.
San Francisco, CA
I live in the neighborhood so this bar is convenient for me, but I only like Dogs Bollix during the week.
It's rare that I want to go to a loud, packed bar - so if you're the same, don't come here on weekends because the sound/music kinda sucks and the crowd is questionable.
However, I'd say their weekend crowdedness is inconsistent. It might very well be dead on a Saturday night, in which case the music would not be as loud, which is more than I can say for other bars in the area.
But, for a beer and a shot during the week, this place is perfect. They play The Pogues, and The Clash and the bartenders are friendly and occassionally throw a free drink your way.
Not much to look at, and the bathrooms leave much to be desired, but the whole place is in considerably better condition on weeknights compared to weekends.
Keep in mind, it IS an Irish bar, so it seems that people consistently manage to get more wasted than perhaps at other nearby establishments.
Weekend experience:
I went there on a Saturday and there was a faux karaoke session in progress (shouting over the already deafening music on a microphone) and a 21 year old who thought he was big pimpin' tried to hit on me and my friends (ages 23 - 36), needless-to-say, he got shut-down, big time.
Anyway, give it a shot if you like a good friendly dive amongst a flavorful neighborhood, and don't stare at the bartenders tips... -
Review from alex s.
San Francisco, CA
Ahhh, The Dogs Bollix. Good times, great crowd, and some hot bartenders.
Haha, ok, so yea, I bartend there, but hey, this bar is really one of the hidden stinky gems of the city.
A pool table that sometimes eats quarters and/or your ball (please ask me for assistance people! I have a magical key that unlocks it)... great music that sometimes skips, but awesome regulars that bless me with their presense, and new cd's all the time.
Great drinks, although we're usually out of one important vodka or beer... gimme a break, it's a dive bar!
All in all, this place isn't visited for its ambiance and sophistication. People come here to enjoy a good vibe, good people, and not have to fight to get a drink, or wait half an hour for one as well.
And when I'm in a good mood, I'm up on the bar dancing to entertain you. -
Review from Tom S.
San Francisco, CA
Every time I've ended up here, I've been plastered.
The spirit of drinking is very alive here! -
Review from jozilla w.
New York, NY
Your standard grotty irish pub...i could easily do without going back again.
I was waiting in line for the bathroom when a very drunk (but hot. god I know it's so typical, but I just can't resist an accent) Irish man staggered up, wanting to compete for the next available bathroom. He said, "I'll race you for the next available bathroom!"
...
and when the woman came out of the women's bathroom, like some f*cking gazelle, he literally BOLTED for the door ahead of me and slammed it shut. I didn't even have a chance to get up from my seat! we chatted a bit later on in the night and he proved to actually be a nice guy, but had already had WAY too much to drink at that point as it was.
back on topic, the place is medium sized with only a few places to sit, but they DO have a pool table and is only a stonesthrow away from the bitter end. -
Review from Tatjana G.
San Francisco, CA
Dirt and grime: check
Dark yet oddly cozy: check
Your basic beers on tap, probably better not to ask for a cocktail: check
All the memorabilia that screams "we're fookin' Irish" on the walls: check
Obligatory 22-year-old tough chicks, playing pool in their best Target punk rock attire: check
Any sense of originality or anything that makes it stand out from the gazillion other pubs like that: nah -
Review from Rainier W.
Berkeley, CA
Music at this place sucked balls..I wouldn't consider putting a CD into a CD player DJing. C-DJ got on the mic one too many times..if I wanted to hear karaoke I would've gone to a Korean bar. I guess it was OK with the crowd since they danced equally terrible in their circles.
The restroom situation was kind of awkward since its got a lock so I figure its 1 at a time. As I'm going in and about to lock the door some bro bum rushes in. I just say whatever since there is 1 stall and 1 toilet. As I'm doing my thing 2 more drunk guys come in..one leans and waits by the sink and the other stands right next to me and "shares" my toilet..then he turns to me and says "Its cool bro". So I just decide to get out of there.
A not so warm vibe coming from a not so diverse crowd. Not a good dive to go to if you're a minority. -
Review from Nick T.
San Francisco, CA
Beer, amusement, and far from upper class. Golden friday afternoon.
Zero pretension, it is what it is. -
Review from M O.
San Francisco, CA
It's a simple pub.
A bar and a friendly bartender. -
Review from Nancy R.
San Francisco, CA
Aptly named.
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Review from Jim L.
San Francisco, CA
Pretty sweet neighborhood oirish bar, of which there are many in the Richmond. 'course, not all of them have a drunk dude at the end of the counter who whips out a full length battery operated light saber.
Listed in: A pint from the islands, Clement Street
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Review from michelle i.
San Francisco, CA
how could i not put this on my favorites list!!! THEIR MOTTO: here for a good time, not for a long time... pure shite! this bar has a special place in my heart because i use to play for the Dogs Bollix softball team.
i spent every single wednesday night here for at least 2 years.... those cute irish girl bartenders knew us all by name and always knew what i like to drink. (well, thats easy though, gin) this is such a great little pub--- laid back at first, but gets wild and crazy as the night wears on. only a select few knows what this really means but..... ANYTHING can happen at the dogs bollix, anything. haha -
Review from Andrew L.
San Leandro, CA
I liked it better when this place was a shady karaoke lounge. And I never even went inside of it then. Ground zero for the USF/Richmond emo invasion, this place is like if you took http://myspace.com and shook it until 50 people fell out.
Listed in: Don't Go There Girlfriend.…
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Review from JB S.
San Francisco, CA
Reminds me of my uncle's pub in Ireland. Best pint of Guiness around. Freaking funny DJ, and usually makes for good dancing with friends, but don't take your friends who need a scene to be happy.
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Review from David C.
San Francisco, CA
If you're a 21 year old meathead frat boy then you'll love Dogs Bollix!! Unfortunately I'm not a 21 year old meathead frat boy so I did not enjoy this what you would call an Irish pub. The only thing Irish about this place is the name and the bartender which I was surprised. My brother-in-law is from Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland and he'd call this place "plastic Irish" as most places are in America. You would think the place might be a little busier for a Saturday night but it wasn't even half full and the crowd was weak. Like I said, if you were a college frat boy you'd love this place, I guess I'm just old now.....boohoo.

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