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I had an awesome experience at the Flatiron. Honestly, I found it on Yelp, because I was on my way from home to Napa and had to see my college team play football. Great choice!
Overall: with a huge variety of beers on tap, great food, and many different games showing on all the tv's, this was a win-win situation. I really think their food prices are on the high side, but it is Marin, so I suppose that is to be expected. I was going to give them 4 stars for this (more to come).
Specifics: Great beer prices ($3 for PBR, $3.50 for BudLight, $4 for Blue Moon), and good food. I got the Bacon-Cheese Burger (think it was named the Brett "I-shouda-retired-a-Packer" Something, but I, as a die-hard 49er fan could not order it by that name) and my friend got the Italian Sausage sandwich. My burger was perfectly cooked, and one of the best I've had in a long time. The Italian sausage was pleasantly spicy, and had just the right amount of peppers and onions. We upgraded to the waffle fries, and they were also perfect! I was going to give them 4 1/2 stars (you know, 'cause of the price of the food and all), but Yelp doesn't do 1/2 stars.
Then...
In the last quarter of the 12:30 games, with 90% of the patrons watching one game diligently and another game with interest, in walk 5 Dodgers fans that ask to have the big screen changed to game 3 of the play-offs. The bar staff looked around at all of us watching the games and said they'd put the Dodgers game on a small screen, but not the big screen. That earned the staff the 5th star! I'm not the biggest fan of baseball, but if I have to choose a team, it'll always be the Giants!
In general: if I were passing through Marin and wanted a really nice place to watch a football game, have a really good (but slightly overpriced) burger, great beer, with great service, and a bar staff that will recognize their patrons and fans, I'd pick the Flatiron - hands down. Living on the peninsula, I may not get there on a regular basis, but I'll definitely get there.
Seriously, their big pluses are:
(1) They are a bar, ie, they serve alcohol and have a good beer selection
(2) They have the Sunday ticket (all football games)
(3) They serve food
Big BUT.... Their food isn't any good. they have 3 breakfast choices, of which all are "smothered in country gravy", and deep fried stuff (we got fries and chicken fingers) come out cold and slightly under-fried...
3 stars for them b/c they're the only sports bar in Marin that shows all the football games on Sunday...
Drinking is not a spectator sport.
There's something hypnotic about watching a game on a flat panel TV at a bar. It doesn't matter what teams are playing, your eyes will inevitably gravitate toward it throughout the night. The Flatiron has 10 TVs (not counting any in the upstairs party room) - at least one TV hangs on every wall, so even if you wanted to look at something besides a game, you can't.
For sports fans, this obviously has tremendous appeal; for couples or friends hoping to carry on a conversation over dinner, not so much. Still, whoever said that men can't multitask has never watched a guy focus his entire attention on the TV while loosely carrying on a conversation with his date, drinking a beer, and eating whatever is within reach.
There's comfort in that, but even so, I'm not really one for sports bars. I have driven by this red painted building and its eye-catching advertisement for the Flatiron dozens of times, and I had held out hope that it would be more like an authentic Wild West saloon. The ornate front door and the solid wood bar that stretches the length of one wall with its cast iron stools do give the place an iota of charm, but the rest oozes sports bar.
It has all five of the sports bar essentials:
Beer - copious amounts, about twelve on tap including Fat Tire, Sierra Nevada, ESB, and your basic Budweiser swill.
Full bar - When your team performs badly, a full bar is like a band-aid. Or when your team is kicking the snot out of their opponent, it's time for shots.
Wenches - I just like the word and there's simply no better way to describe someone who would seem to exist solely to serve me beer; and better still if they can be described as "lusty, ornery, sassy, brawny, or brutish".
Food - A sports bar without food is like a cart without wheels. Preferably, the grub offered is fried, smothered in cheese, an ample serving, and of the "would probably make you sick if you weren't already drunk" variety. Nachos, wings, chicken tenders, fries, and burgers are staples, while the Flatiron also has a variety of waffle fries, a Philly cheese steak, and a pulled pork sandwich, all of which are passable (with beer).
Fans and Locals - Only in a sports bar is the ranting and roaring of sports fans not only socially acceptable, but widely encouraged. And who are you and why are we hugging, buying each other drinks, and/or waking up together...? Oh, that's right, I almost forgot, go Giants.
Living in the North bay, and being a die hard Denver Broncos, this is about as close and as good as it gets to a sports bar. The food is lackluster, the set up isn't great, the service is ok but when the place is full with every football game on you wouldn't know the difference.
Keep in mind that the place gets filled up quickly, so for those fairweather fans who show up 1/2 way through a game and expect to get a tv to watch the dismal KC cheifs or whatever other team is next in line to lose to the Broncos, you arent going to get a tv.
No matter what, the beer is always cold there!
Every time I drive by this bar it is very bright as in the lights are on. Very weird considering it is a bar and usually they are very ambient.
We decided to stop by for a few drinks to watch the Cowboys vs. Giants game. Pleasantly surprised by the amount of people inside and the great service. This bar is the epitome of a "sports" bar. There are team banners everywhere and three big screen TVs. There was a good group of sports fans in the bar and lots of good camaraderie.
I'm coming back for the next big game.
So I am not sure why we can't have a cool sports bar in Marin, but I guess the flatiron is as good as it's gonna get for us. Went there today to watch the Niners lose to the Vikings (one of the worst days of my life), but the place was packed! Lot's of TV's, huge selection of all kinds of alcohol, and an alright menu. The wait staff was super nice, I guess it's a new crew after it was sold to a family. You have to get there early to get a table, so keep that in mind. I had some chicken strips, and they were alright, kinda expensive for how much you got though. They also serve breakfast for the 10 am games!
It has definitely improved since my last visit there a couple years ago. I probably wont be going there if there isn't football involved.
I don't get the reviews that say this place is dirty. This may be one of the cleanest bars I have ever been into. Must be Marin snobbyness. The Flatiron employees have also always been very nice to us. We only just started going there to watch games, and the first time we were there, the owner and I think his son were working. They were both very nice, and even gave us a free piece of apple pie! Been there a few more times and there were two women working. I only spoke to one, but she was really nice and when my girlfriend decided she would rather have one of the specials instead of her beer, the bartender offered to put the beer in the cooler until one of us wanted it later. Great employees and we have also met some of the most laid back nicest people we have met in Marin so far.
Well it has been a while now and I have been back to the Flatiron a few time. I have found that the food and service is very good and very consistent. I have written this up date to tell those out there who LOVE a HOT DOG, don't miss this treat. The Flatiron serves the biggest dog on the planet with all the fix-ens! Don't come without an apatite because this dog would make Rue Paul blush. You can have chili on it. You can have sauerkraut with it. But I like my dog o-natural with relish and mustard, so when you bite in to it you think you can here hardball striking the hard wood. And you just about can with a big screen covering every wall space, showing baseball to rugby. So again I enjoyed my time at the Flatiron with great food and cold beer served in a chilled pint glass or chilled Pitcher (that's class).
Here is a place that has turned over owners a few times in the past two years, but the current owner… Read more »
God I have memories of this bar. Most of them associated with this dude I used to "see". And by "seeing" I mean "watching movies, drinking, smoking & having really amazing sex with all weekend. Without leaving the apartment"
So apart from the occasional trip to Safeway to stock up on munchies (and he was a stoner! Surprise!) we didn't get out much.
But the flatiron was literally right across the street from him. So when we did venture out it was usually to go here. So we would have a couple beers watch whatever was on ESPN, have some fries, which were great (USEFUL PART RIGHT HERE FOLKS) and then go back & smoke a bowl or play video games or some equally mind numbing activity.
And as I write this I realize how sad this whole episode in my life was. But man, good sex can get a girl by the BALLS!
Well..... all I can is it has changed a lot and for the best. The place is CLEAN now... very clean. I've only eaten there twice so far in the last two weeks but each time the food was very good. They have a really nice feel. I stopped going there several years ago because you just know it wasn't clean and the food was very greasy.
I do have one suggestion for them..... in regards to the chili dog, would you please use shredded cheddar instead of chopped up cheddar and also I think the cheese should be just a tab bit melted.
I will go back... they have some fun events. Please check them out if you are in Marin and see if you feel any differently than you did many years ago before the new owners took over.
Being a sports fan, I have to like this place to a degree. Even if I don't eat the food. But I do, and I must say it is ok. The prices surprise me. A fancy burger, fries, chicken salad, and 2 local tap beers cost me $35 with a tip. Wow. That's a bit much for pub food.
The service was lacking. Beers came fast but the food takes a long time. Maybe it's quick during the week but Sunday it just takes forever. We waited 30 minutes from order to food for a hamburger and a salad.
But it's the only gig in town (10 screens) for sports bars.
Better food, better service, better people, better atmosphere.
And it doesn't smell of wee anymore. (This is important.)
Excellent place to watch your sporting duel of choice. From NFL to real footy, where... I dunno, you get to watch Liverpool kick Everton around for 90 minutes, they got it all, and the bigscreens to show it on. The new ownership's done a great job of turning this place around.
And thanks for the hangover, BTW.
This place could be a primo dive bar, but... it's not. Great TVs on the wall, but the food's poor,… Read more »
My Dad used to take me here before he'd subsequently beat me after consuming so much alcohol at this place. I loved it. Now I have gone there with the new management I can once again only blame the ravenous 4th Reich for taking over another one of my childhood getaways and raping it.
Was a great place now its a shitty place trying to look upscale but homely. Don't let the Nazi's fool you.
My wings tasted like cum...
The new ownership that took over in summer of 08 and been here since has turned this place around. Real sports bar food, a full bar and plenty of tvs. My Sunday football hangout.
Do not think this is the same Flat Iron it once was. The food used to be awesome. It once gave me… Read more »
Good service, nice people, food is as good or better than other sports bars.
I had a cheese steak. its was awesome. the beer tasted just like the beer at the fancy bars.
It's a sportsbar people. Is what it is.
Love the place- food is good, and they are always willing to make sure that your sport/game is on one of the TVs (even British Premier league soccer). Excellent sweet potato fries and burgers, even the house wine is reasonable (wife comment). Reasonable tap selection for me... Only gripe is that they need to think more about staffing as sometimes the excellent staff are completely overwhelmed.
I am very sad today. I used to live in Marin and frequented this place a lot when Pat and Mike ran it. I came into town today and went to the Flatiron. New menu's, new foods, and a tear came out of my eye because all the terrific staples were gone. No more local sports heroes were named after the food. I asked for the Ben Rothlesburger, and the guy had no idea what it was......why name it that if you don't know what it was. The food was atrocious. Burnt Burger, Burnt Fries, Flat Soda.....I am ashamed of what this place has become. Pat.......Mike........I Miss you
Shit they even took down a lot of the sports decorations.
It Sucked!
These guys - new owners, as I gather from the other reviews - really need to get their act together. Got there for the Euro final this morning and ordered a sandwich midway through the first half. Food arrived at full-time (that's a wait of over an hour, soccer newbies).
Top marks for the big (and numerous) TVs and the quick beer service, but the kitchen appears to be broken... don't come hungry!
Has changed hands and become a shell of its former self. It's a shame, because I really loved going here to watch football on Sundays. I won't be back.
Last Sunday, our waitress quit halfway through service... the first time that has ever happened to me!
I was a big fan when Pat & Mike owned it, and pretty much stopped going when the new owners began driving the place into the ground. Read the other day that new owners that cared about the food were taking over so thought that I would check it out.
Good news, feel like the old Flatiron is back. The new owners seem to get it and want to make the place good and family friendly. This is not to say that it is a gourmet experience, but definitely worth going to and having a beer and watching a game.
New owners are also seemingly always there and are extremely nice and conscientious.
Watch out for this place on the weekends. Jesus christ. Was it Friday night or Saturday night? It must have been 18+ or something, but it was chock full of candyasses fresh out of san rafael high all hyphy with the thizzle dance. I got out in a hurry to call my friend, and when I tried to go back in they insisted on searching me?! AT A SHITTY BAR IN SAN RAFAEL!
Just as well.
I haven't been since the change of ownership, but I'm going to yelp about when the brothers owned it. The menu had lots of delicious greasy food that was cooked to perfection. The Downtown Brown was on tap. And the games were always on.
We were there almost everynight, and the owners gave us a set of pint glasses when we moved to LA. The Flatiron as it was, was the PEFECT sports bar.
The Flatiron is back!
The short version: under new ownership, the food is once again VERY good, and the place has a personality once more.
The longer version: As a longtime San Rafael resident, I always enjoyed our one, true sports bar, the Flatiron. Run by two brothers, the food was consistent, the atmosphere good, and the sports plentiful. But one brother sold out, the other brother eventually decided to sell, and the person who took it over gradually sapped the very soul from the place.
All the cool memorabilia came down (probably didn't go with the sale), new tvs were added, and the menu changed. Yay, they had new tvs, but the place became as sterile as could be. The menu was gutted, the seasoned curly fries replaced by things that tasted like Ore Ida, and the final straw for me, the chicken sandwiches were replaced by processed, pressed "chicken" patties. That was it.
But, fortunately, it's been sold again, and the new owners have a clue! Back are all the traditional sports pub foods, and quite well executed too. The chicken sandwiches are truly the best in town right now! And you can eat deep fried yummies to your heart's discontent. However, their salads are also quite tasty. Everything we've tried has been well done, and the owners want to know if anything isn't just right. Great attitude.
Right now, it's true they occasionally have some issues with staffing... as in, since the business is just coming back from a low point under the previous mismanagement, they are sometimes understaffed on unexpectedly busy days.
But please cut them some slack. These people are great, they know what a sports bar should be. The food is good, and they're building the establishment back from near ruin. Once they have reliable patronage, they'll be able to accurately anticipate staffing needs.
If they have a television available, they're happy to switch it to your favorite sporting event. So please give them your support. This town needs a decent sports bar, and the Flatiron is it! (No, I don't work for them, don't even know them, I'm just so happy they're taking care of a classic business).
I stopped here to try it because it looked interesting, (I'm a sucker for old interesting grills/bars). - Even though it was late afternoon and I was scheduled to attend a club meeting with dinner, I decided to try the sweet chili wings and a drink. The bartender was very friendly and attentive. He explained the menu, I ordered and waited.
The more I looked at the menu, I was intrigued (screw the club dinner) so when he returned with the drink, I ordered a cheese steak and fries.
First the wings came, and they were very fresh, perfectly cooked and the unusual sweet hot chili sauce was great. Probably the best wings I've tasted anywhere. They also offer Buffalo wings.
So I was at this point, optimistic about the steak. I was not disappointed. It was excellent, huge with grilled sweet and hot peppers and provolone cheese.. Very tasty bun authentic to Philly, and the fries were top notch.
I left full and happy. I will come back. Don't miss this gem under new ownership by a father and son team. (Only 100 days so far)
Great Sports bar, excellent food!
PS, the bloody Mary was good too.
UPDATE: 1/02/09 You absolutely have to have the pulled Pork sandwich! Unlike any I have ever had - Wow
Word is there's a new chef, food menu, and kitchen crew coming in town. Us sports fans can do more than drink. On a side note, it was great to feel the Celtics love last week. Time AGAIN for Bosox and Pats! Yeehar!
Jeez. The only great sports bar in the whole freaking county and the food sucks, the service sucks… Read more »
My girlfriends have been using the term 'football widow'...I scoffed at them. A few days a week during football season, how could this possibly be an issue?? Well, now I know-- football mania soaks up the best hours on the weekend that you have to spend with your man. My solution? The Flatiron. Yes, there's plenty of sports bars and bars with tv's in San Francisco, but with the Flatiron I know FOR SURE that whatever game, college or pro, that he wants to watch-- it will be on. And, we get to go somewhere beautiful in Marin to go hiking beforehand. It's a win-win, especially because when we get to Flatiron, they have a great menu of bar favorites. For example, there is a whole section devoted to different flavors of waffle fries. Yum! So I get a nice margarita, good eats, maybe try to learn something about football, and to hang out in a pleasant place. He gets to spend time with ME his favorite gal, watch american football, drink beer and eat fried food.
Now, if only I could get him to stop being a Dodgers fan and embrace the Giants....
I was looking for a sports bar to watch the World Series and found this place but since we decided to watch the game at home, I knew I wanted to remember to check this place out so we finally went yesterday to have a drink and an appetizer. We tried the sweet chili wings to start and they were incredible. My husband thought they were the best wings he had ever tasted. We had not planned on eating anything else but they were so good we tried the Mike Tyson burger since we are bleu cheese fans. It was delicious. It was so good we went back again today just to try the Philly cheese steak and we loved it. Flatiron is a very funky and great place to eat.
I used to be a regular at this place. Every Monday night you could find our group of friends parked in front of the TV's. We always went b/c the TV's were great, atmosphere chill and service was bomb. Gotta love Jhanell, Rachel and Steve! Always made you feel at home and had a smile on their faces. But I just dont condone the way that hte place was run, continues to run and will always run (new owners or not)...seems to never change. Smile for the cameras patrons!
This is a pretty good sports bar, made better by the absence of competitors. Of course, lots of TVs. The food was standard Sports-Bar fare, but pleasantly served. Being one of the few Sports Bars in Marin for big events, it is completely packed. But eventually someone's Jaguar will need driving and a table will open up.
Walked in for the second time ever this past Saturday as the Mayflower had a bunch of retards in it that weren't watching baseball playoffs, but rather soccer and lame ass college football. Anyway, we were pleasantly surprised when we stepped foot inside the Flatiron and saw that they upgraded their TVs from 2 years ago during baseball playoffs (which is why we never came back...TVs sucked ass). They had a nice selection of draft beers and the staff was friendly. Then it was about 9pm and the place that used to have Boston fans watching their boys play, all left (before the game was even over...must be the Marin peeps who lack any sort of personality) and no one else came in. It's a Saturday night. It's a bar! Why is it empty? Oh................cause the owner or manager or whoever the man is that walks around with a grumpy face, is so completely rude! We pay with 2 credit cards and some cash. Tell him exactly what to put on the 2 cards and then expect change back from the cash as there was a difference from the total bill and what we gave him. We sit. We sit even longer. Finally we call him over and ask for our change back. The dude just decides to tip himself???? What kind of business is this?? The female bartender was great! Loved her. The female server was great! But that's not going to make us come back at all to this place.
Fantastic since the new owners bought it. Never thought much of it before, but heard about the change, and decided to stop by. Very clean, friendly and the TVs are HUGE and everywhere. Can't wait to check out the Sharks here when season is back on!
So sad. The Flat under Pat and Mike was awesome. Great food and hosts who knew your name. Now it is under new ownership. The original waffle fries are gone and have been replaced by fries that would be deemed unacceptable by the lunch lady. I went during the first week of March Madness of 2007 and left after I was served a menu without the usual staples and was served a beer well above room temeperature. Marin needs a new sports bar. Pat and Mike, where are you?
San Rafael, CA
Category: Dive Bars
San Rafael, CA
Category: Nightlife
San Anselmo, CA
Category: Dive Bars
San Rafael, CA
Category: Bars
San Rafael, CA
Category: British
