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Categories: American (Traditional), Bars [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Pacific Heights, Civic Center/TenderloinMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
"Probably what a Big Kahuna burger tastes like. All I can say is get blue cheese on the burger and some sweet potato fries on the side.…" read more »
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4 stars definitely guys spot for food
they got meat and layers of meat sitting on more meat, you can't go wrong with whatever you choose, brisket regular or bbq, ribs, oxtail, chicken, bbq all of it is tender, heavy pretty much put you in a coma but satisfying your meat craving for a week
they got different specials everyday, there choices of beer is also extensive, bring your boys and watch a game there the more the merrier, only thing that sucks is parking but if you can find something close it was meant to be. haha
food ****
service ****
ambiance **** metal signs everywhere, dark but comfy, definitely guys spot
cash only folks but they got an ATM located inside !!
Having lived in San Francisco almost my entire life, I shamefully admit I have never been to Tommy's Joynt until last night.
I had the cardboard stew and It was the most flavorful stew with chunks of dry, dry cardboard. Oh wait, that was buffalo in the stew.
Move it over and bring on that corned beef sandwich. 5 slices of equally dry corned beef neatly placed between two thick slices of, again, dry perhaps 2 day old bread. It really doesn't look that amazing, actually not at all. I am having trouble tearing a bite out of this thing. Soak it with au jus my friends said. Yeah, well, it's not helping.
Maybe the next experience will be better but I doubt there will be a next time.
I liked this place a lot. The attitude of the workers and in general was very laid back. I kind of felt like I was at a high school cafeteria in alaska. They had an abundance of meats to choose from. Very traditional, American cuisine. Meatloaf and rib dips are staples. We ordered a roast beef sandwich and the turkey leg. Although both were a little too dry for my taste, the flavor was definitely there. Just being able to eat a big ol turkey leg brought me back to Disneyland where I can probably eat two at a time.
The decor is definitely unique, and the bench tables give the place its own personality. At every table there's a honeyjar looking thing that holds the mustard. I thought it contained blueberries.
*nom nom*
First time I've ever eaten here and I've got to say that this place is the bomb! I had the bbq brisket dinner plate and for 9 bucks i got the most tender literally melt-in-your-mouth brisket EVER, mashed potato, a yummi sourdough roll and salad. I tried my friend's round of beef dinner plate and that meat was just as delicious, cooked perfectly. This isn't a super fancy restaurant- it's mostly self serve, you order your food and you bring your tray over to the table and eat (pour your own water too). I didn't have any alcohol but looking at the prices of alky on the menu, it's definitely not gonna hurt the pocket books! I think i've just found an "favorite" dinner spot!
I should say "Wow!" to this historical restaurant but....
When I had dinner here, food was "too American" and I almost passed out.
I recommend everybody come here but me.
After a few drinks at the club, I think of Tommy. He fills me up with his hearty meat and leaves me wanting more and it barely costs me anything either. He's OG and been around for quite a while. He keeps it real. Thats what I like!
My besties is a born and bred San Franciscan and been wanting to drag me here to eat. I had the brisket sandwich and man oh man, deefreakinglishush! It was on a firm roll with thick freshly carved slices of brisket. It only cost me $5! I split with my friend (so the pic I uploaded is actually half the sandwich). I wanted to try the braised lamb shank since it looked so good, but I drank a bit too much to eat so much. The dipping sauce for the sandwich wasn't too sweet and didn't over power the meat. Perfect accompanyment. And the all you can eat pickle chips - crisp and soooo good. =)
I love the Deli/Cafeteria style setting. Totally up my alley. Lots of old decor that keeps this place so cute! They don't mess around with the portions here.
Can we have a joint like this in LA pweeeeeease?
Tommy Joynt beckons me back again and again. The meats are top notch deli quality but the prices are basement blowout. Service is always quick and friendly. Beer list rivals the best pubs in the city but the prices blow them all out of the water. Decor is nice and authentic too. And they are open until 2am. Nothing in SF is open until 2am, not even the bars that are supposed to be.
Best place to head after a movie, drinking, or just for a good dinner. And no matter how hard you might try, it is near impossible to spend $20 here...most of the time I get a full dinner and beer for less than $10.
Good food, nice atmosphere, cheap prices. I was rather surprised by how cheap the prices were,… Read more »
Cops, city workers, suits, blue collars, and tourists snapping away with their cameras is the range of folks you'll see at the tourist trap/local institution.
The fuss is all about Tommy's hof brau menu. Beef roasts, turkey roasts - real hearty meals which go perfect for cold SF nights. Perfect man food eats right here, perfect for guys night out.
I came here with the boys and ordered up a roast beef dinner ($8.50). Plenty of juicy beef slices, slathered with mashed potatoes and gravy, a bread roll, and your choice of salad. We washed it down with a pitcher of Guinness $16 and it's easy to see why this a SF man food favorite.
I used to go here when I lived nearby in the Tendernob. Personally I loved the place - it is a classic bar in all senses of the word.
I guess this place has been on Diners, Drive inns & Dives. i know nothing about the food. This was beer heaven baby.
This is a San Francisco institution, through and through. Decorated in a rather hodge podge fashion, signs and photos and paintings from every era, hanging from the walls and ceiling, covering almost every square inch. It's an interesting, divey and home-like place where you can expect to meet people from all walks of life: bankers in business suits eating their turkey sandwiches on their lunch break next to a table full of winos having noon-time drinks.
Ben and I came here after a Yelp event one night for a bite to eat. I needed something to soak up the booze, so I ordered a hot turkey plate with mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, and green beans. The beans were canned, which is okay with me, but would have tasted better had they been fresh. The turkey was dry and had a weird aftertaste, but the potatoes were on point and I finished them all.
Ben had a braised beef sandwich, or something of that sort-- it looked like a combination steak sandwich/sloppy joe. He engulfed his. I can see the appeal of Tommy's Joynt after an evening of drinking, but the area is kind of sketchy after hours and I think there are better options for late-night munchies in the city. It was still a trip to sit inside and catch a glimpse of all the characters who eat here, but I hate being solicited for money when I'm trying to order my food.
I visited Tommy's on a recent trip to SF. Thought the place was interesting . The food was great, I had the oxtail stew and was really impressed. The beer selection is first class too. But honestly the little, old, hot, cluttered building just wasn't my think. None the less, I would return in a heartbeat and plan to next trip.
I am going to offend a lot of people by giving this place a 2 star review. I know.........it was on diners, drive ins, and dives. I know......it's been here for like 1000 years. I know a lot of people grew up eating here. Let's put that aside and concentrate on the food.
The food itself is your cafeteria style format............sorta like chick and coop on Taraval. I personally don't like that place neither. Maybe I am just not a Hauf brau kinda guy. I also should have known when my friend picked this restaurant. If you are ever looking for all of the best 2 star restaurants in the city, let me know and I'll introduce you to him.
I ordered the meatball sandwich. The meatballs were luke warm to borderline cold. The meat sauce helped bring the temperature up a level but it was still, at best, warm. The establishment itself is in a bar, a dive bar. The price is reasonable and the seating area is scattered but this place can hold a lot of people. My other friend who ordered the spaghetti and meatballs agreed with me. I would not bring out of towners here, unless you don't like them or you don't want them to come back and visit you. This is probably a place I would eat if I had no other choice and if I was stuck on the corner of Van Ness and Geary. I would even choice Mel's across the street. Gosh.........I hate that place too. hahahhhaa.
Patrons who eat here are your typical middle class to blue collar workers and mostly tourists. A lot of my friends actually come here late at night after a night of boozing. Probably one of the reasons why they like this place that much.
The pastrami sandwiches are the best. The staff are friendly and a few are rather entertaining. The cafeteria / bar feel works well here. You can have a really filling meal and a beer for a decent price. San Fransisco is very expensive and it is nice to find a real value after being fleeced by the parking lots and meters.
Like many other places that I've reviewed, I've been to Tommy's Joint many times before, but I don't know how anyone would give Tommy's Joint 4 or 5 stars. It only deserves 2 or 3 stars at most -- it's "a-ok" as long as your expectations are in check but "meh - I've experienced better."
I give it 3 Stars for the "atmosphere" (red checker board table coverings (not cloth), dark wood bar and architectural accents, old school signs and the beer and liquor bottles on the wall, and the people hanging out there) and the wide selection of domestic and international beers (forget about the mixed drinks unless they're on "special" which are over priced and otherwise ordinary) offered at the bar.
The food, as others have mentioned, is just cafeteria food, so calling Tommy's Joint a "restaurant" is a stretch. If you don't expect too much, you shouldn't be disappointed. The food is relatively cheap and filling and reasonably good considering the format. Add a unique beer and you'll have a fine time, especially if you share a table near some out-of-towners who are there because they saw an ad for Tommy's Joint in a tourist mag or just happened to be walking by.
But don't be deceived. While Tommy's Joint is an SF "institution" (opened in 1947 a few years before I was born), it is NOT all that. It's just a cafeteria with a little panache and, if you keep that in context, you'll have a fine time there, but don't go overboard and give it a better rating than it really deserves just because it's "different."
I walk in at 1 am last night & the aroma of my childhood wafts into my nostrils stimulating my memory & my taste buds. It smells like a home cooked meal in there.
For as long as I can recall, nothing about Tommy's Joynt has changed-it's the same guys carving meat & ringing you up (no credit cards) & the paraphernalia that decorates the walls are as random & interesting to look at as ever. The wooden benches get more rickety with each passing year, but the droves of locals either don't seem to notice or don't mind.
The bf ordered a roast beef sandwich (he drowned it in beef au jus) & I had a pastrami sandwich (which was mostly lean.) As drool worthy as my sandwich was, the pastrami had more of a beef brisket quality & had none of the spices & flavors that I associate with a good pastrami. We shared a side of mashed potato & gravy (i think its turkey gravy.) The food, people & atmosphere is comforting, unchanging & undoubtedly San Francisco.
Total: $14.73
P.S. the hot mustard at the table is super duper hot, like wasabi-thru- the-nose-hot.
This place really does deserve 2 stars but I'm giving it 1 star to even out the rating.
Let me be VERY CLEAR - I don't understand people who actually LIKE food like this, It's just not MY idea of good food. It's like a cafeteria that serves dried out chunks of meat served with a ladle of gravy. I felt grossed out eating anything from here. You can say I don't appreciate the "uniqueness" of this place, but please remember that "uniqueness" is not always good.
My bf wanted white people food and made me come here. As soon as I walked in I knew what I was walking into and I was NOT happy. But I gave it a try hoping that the food was better than everything else about this place and the verdict? It was just as bad if not worst. I couldn't even eat anything on my plate after a couple bites because it was just so disgusting. The only thing that I managed to eat was the green salad with ranch and I spend $18+ for both of our meals. So technically you can say it was the most expensive godddd damn salad ever.
My bf ended up eating his and mine plate because he knew this was his bad idea and he didn't want me to be mad at him. LOL
Anyway he didn't like it all that much either, but at least he got full right? well that wasn't the case with me. I just got drunk because I had 1 beer on a practically empty stomach and stumbled my way out of here.
The final judgement:
They do deserve two stars because they have a large selection of beer and it's a good price. And I guess they are kind of a landmark in SF, but the food here is just EWWWWWW.....that's the only word that comes to mind when I describe this place.
Don't believe everyone else when they tell you how good stuff is, it's really not good at all. Prices are cheap, that's their motto but I think it's still over priced for the quality of what they are serving you.
ewww ewww ewww......
I heard both good and bad things about Tommy's. However I went on a friend's suggestion and was surprised. I didn't really know what to expect with this place other than it was a local favorite and an SF institution.
The array of animal flesh before my eyes made them go wide with childlike wonder. Seriously. I am definitely a meat and potatoes type of girl.
I can see how people would love this place and I can see how people would not like this place at all.
I LOVED this place! I hadn't seen it on TV until well after I'd actually been there. Everything that I tasted both on my own plate and my boyfriend's plate was tasty - not out of this world good but like something that my mom would make. Definitely a good place to go for comfort food :) I had the roast turkey dinner plate and my boyfriend had the corned beef dinner plate. Pretty hard to screw up corned beef and turkey ...
I would definitely come back and try something else :-)
It was good but not great. The pastrami was a bit tough. I liked the corn beef better. Also this place is cash only so be prepared.
I saw this featured on the food network show with that guy that looks like Joey Fatone and it looked especially delicious. I tried it today and was relieved to discover that it was as good as it looked on TV.
Tommy's Joynt is a Van Ness/San Francisco landmark that you don't want to miss. As soon as you walk in, you're greeted by the sights and smells of meat and alcohol characteristic of a dive eatery/hofbrau. The cafeteria style line you stand in moves by extremely quickly, and the menu is huge. They've got lamb shank, pastas, salads, sandwiches, corned beef, ox-tail, fruits, vegetables... i couldn't name everything if I tried.
I ordered a meatball sandwich which was definitely a knife-and-forker. Their meat sauce was really well cooked: not too salty or sweet. I also tried a bite of their corned beef and lamb shank which were also really good. The only thing that was iffy was their au-jus that comes with other meat sandwiches. I tried some and it tasted a little like cinnamon or molasses. Not sure what that was about.
***REMEMBER!***
This place only takes cash. Just a heads up for if you ever stroll in with an empty stomach and empty wallet.
All in all, the cool local vibe, reasonable prices, large variety, and quality meats make this place a must visit when you're in the area.
This is "As Seen On T.V." review #2. Another Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives treasure we found.
If Dive had a picture next to it, this would be the place. The lead based paint on the walls gives it even more qualifications as a Dive.
We sat at the bar for about an hour and a half before we ate. The specialty cocktail menu has the basics listed. We tried this Toms Rum Punch thing. To sweet for me, I only had one, my husband had about 4.
I then moved over to beer from there. They had Boddingtons on tap. It was served in a cool Bodingtons glass that I really wanted. My husband told me not to steal it.
Second beer I had was recommended from the bar tender. It was a beer from Kenya called Tusker. I liked it. It was light like a Red Stripe but had that full flavor of a New Castle. I really enjoyed it and would probably try and go find it at Bev Mo.
When we finally decided to eat food we gave up our well established seats at the bar and got into the line. Like cattle going to slaughter, we were just walking in zig zag form until we got to the front of the line to order.
We had a while to read the menu and I went with Corned Beef Dinner Plate with Veggies and a side of Tomato Salad. The Veggies were grayish green colored Green Beans. Obviously canned.
The meat was very good. I saw them bring over a big piece of Corned Beef right before it was our turn so I knew it was fresh. There was no cabbage it was straight Corned Beef.
The Tomato Salad was very, very good. I was worried about the large tomato slices being to hard like some large tomatoes can get. They were crisp and good and had full tomato flavor. The only part I could have done with out was the Green Bell Pepper. This was something I could see my Grandma make for a family get together.
My husband got the Kielbasa Sausage Sandwich with a side of Clam Chowder. His Clam Chowder was way to fishy smelling for me, like low tide. He said the Kielbasa was good. I should have taken a bite but I was to consumed with my own food.
This place is definitely not worth 4 or 5 stars. Its unique and pretty cool but the food was mediocre and the drinks were average.
If you haven't been go so that you can say you did. Other than that I would probably go to a nice sit down place for a lovelier meal.
A San Francisco institution and a definite locals joint. The last time I remember coming here was years ago.
Known for serving up traditional American fare, on a very empty and grumbling stomach I ordered a corned beef sandwich and some buffalo stew. The corned beef sandwich was pretty tasty, not the best I've had, but the meat was quite tender. The buffalo stew was satisfying but the chunks of meat were not as tender as you'd expect for meats that are slow cooked in a stew.
Came in starving, left very full, heavy and bloated. Had to walk around for about an hour before I felt comfortable again.
When I go out of town, I try to eat where the locals go and I think I did good this time. This place has some really good sandwiches. carved roast beef or carved turkey.
The selection of beers from around the world was incredible too. Great bar, really good martinis.
I have to agree with jason g. I really really wanted to like Tommy's Joynt give that it's such a local favorite. But really? It was just underwhelming. I too ordered the meatball sandwich and got a piece of french bread drenched in sauce with two meatballs on top, and a sprinkling of parmesan. Now maybe I'm just finicky, but I can't stand a messy sandwich that a) you can't eat with your hands b) falls apart if you try to pick it up. So this was basically my worst nightmare - one that required a fork and knife.
The food wasn't bad as such, and you can't beat the prices. I think I was just expecting something really exceptional and received something average. I'll try it again, maybe I'll up it a star or two next time.
Tommy's Joynt in SF is a must try, i love the whole bistro walk in order and pay for your food thing! They keep it real nice and simple. I ordered the corned beef with mashed potatoes. The corned beef was perfect, not too salty and it was real juicy. I hate places that make their corned beef brine too salty and cook it too dry. The mashed potato was pretty good too, and i was feeling the cauliflower and broccoli salad. It had a real nice vinaigrette in the salad.
http://static.px.yelp....
Tommy's does it right, i even watched the triple D episode when Guy came by and they showed him how they made it from scratch. Hard to find places like this around anymore. Especially for the prices they have, my meal was only $8.50 without tax. That was real cheap. They have all types of hofbrau food here. You can even eat at the bar when its not peak hours.
I really like this sign, it has a real old timely feel to it!
http://static.px.yelp....
Overall Tommy's is a must try spot for some real nice hot plates. Nothing fancy nothing overdone just plain simple good food!
4 Stars for Tommy's Joynt in SF
My husband and I stopped here late one night after leaving a club. We'd been wanting to stop here for ages and we weren't disappointed!
You walk in and the place smells like my grandma's house used to! Funny thing was that the smell was beefy, and it made me really want the turkey! But, we were sharing so we compromised. This NOT a place for vegetarians! Their meat is the main draw.
We shared the corned beef plate. It came with mashed potatoes and a salad. The place was packed at 1 am on a Friday night, but it was still comfortable. We weren't drinking, but HOLY CRAP they have a HUGE assortment of imported beers. We had to wait in line quite a while because the place is cafeteria style, but at the same time, you don't wait for the food to be cooked and brought to you.
The corned beef was very tasty. Very tender - not like OMG the best ever, but well worth getting again. The mashed potatoes tasted beefy in a pleasant homey way. Like they were made with beef drippings of beef broth.
The funny thing was the thousand island dressing. Dunno what it was about it, but yum! Not a strong flavor but uber tasty!
I'm trying to think of another reason to go here again! You have to admit, braving Van Ness parking can be a pain.
Oxtail stew over a bed of bowtie pasta, corn beef sandwiches, homemade slaw and a barrel of award winning pickles!! It doen't get any better than Tommy's when it comes to meat, meat and more meat. This place does meat the right way. From braised turkey wings to a slab of succulent prime rib...it's a man's diner for the on-the-go professional. You walk in a seemingly tiny door and as soon as your eye adjust, you see a full blown tavern of rustic Americana.
There are ropes directing a line to the carving counter, but it took us all of 2 minutes for the wait. They have a ton of daily specials and combo meals to choose from and when you finally decide what you want, you move on to the sides and desserts. The cashier checks you out and when you find yourself a seat (lots of additional seating upstairs), the beverage lady comes by to take drink orders. Be mindful though, she wont give you change if you were expecting any.
The prices are decent for the amount of food you're getting, the wait is short, and you wont have to worry about finding somewhere to sit. This is one of the best places to eat at lunch if you're down for a feast.
Be warned, this place isnt "fine dining" obviously from the picnic table clothes and such, but its a great place to be if you don't have somewhere to go in a hurry, or if you're catching up with old friends. I think you have to have a pirate streak in you to truly appreciate this place. I keep thinking that one day, Davey Jones will pop out of a corner and start singing Yo-Ho with the staff.
Seriously, a Thanksgiving dinner at 12:30am while drunkenly stumbling through the Tenderloin on a Thursday? Can I get a giant 'w00t' up in this piece or what?
The fabled Tommy's Joynt has been around since the late 1940s. Apparently, it was a pretty poppin' spot to hit up after performances at the opera house down the street, as well as other live theater productions in the 'hood. It's cool to see that through the many faces this city has seen, it's still rockin' there on Van Ness like it was 60 years ago.
It almost seems too good to be true, but they're open until 2:00am every night, carving fresh meats for hungry passersby. You can grind on anything from sandwiches to full on dinners for less than $9. If you're really hungry, grab a dinner plate with turkey, stuffing, mashed taters, gravy and a slice of bread. Or if you're swooping up a quick bite to go, nosh on a sandwich as you walk out the door to catch a bus or hop into a cab.
Occasionally, the meats will be a little dry... but I suppose you could opt for a shitty 7-Eleven sandwich that's been sitting in plastic wrap for 26 hours if you're concerned about moistness. Personally, I'll take a dry piece of turkey over an expired egg salad sandwich any day.
They were featured on some Travel Channel show recently (Diners, Drive-Ins', & Dives, I believe)... so it's pretty dope to see an old school operation like theirs in the national spotlight.
All I have to say is hot Pastrami sandwich. Its amazing! Its the best thing at Tommys Joynt. This Hof Brau is a San Francisco landmark. They have an amazing beer selection as well. Remember to bring cash because they do not take plastic.
Also this place is great because it is open late.. I think until two or three am. Def beats Taco bell for a drunk snack after hitting the bars downtown, Do not go here with a vegetarian- there are no real good meat free options here.
AUTHENTIC, UNIQUE, AND GREAT FOOD AT A BARGAIN
We were heading from the Golden Gate area back to the airport and we needed to stop for lunch before our flight. We saw the front of Tommy's Joynt with it's large, busy mural and thought it would be a good sandwich place to go to. Boy were we right!
There is a lot to choose from and the pricing was very reasonable. The big downer was there are no selections for vegetarians. My girlfriend primarily eats vegetarian but in a pinch (one or twice a month) she'll eat meat if she's having trouble finding vegetarian selections. I'm really glad she did this time because she ordered the CORNED BEEF SANDWICH and POTATO SALAD. Both were awesome! The Corned Beef was very lean and very tasty. The bread it was on was really good, too. We shared an order of the potato salad and it had lots of flavor.
I ordered the KIELBASA SANDWICH which was decent. The bread it was on was really good and so was the mustard. For $3.25 it was a deal. I'd DEFINITELY recommend the Corned Beef over the Kielbasa, but if you're jonsin' for a sausage sandwich, this wasn't bad.
They had a full bar and a huge selection of beer. ALL PINTS ARE $4.50, and I LOVE it when a restaurant prices things that way.
You could tell it was a very popular place but they were able to churn through the customers pretty quickly. This is a place where "Bang for your Buck," "Lively and Unique Atmosphere," and "Good Deli Food" all come together.
If you're in San Francisco looking for good deli food and Tommy's Joynt is one of your considerations, I'd strongly encourage you to give it a shot.
Cheap. Great corned beef & potato salad. Kielbasa was decent. Bread was very good. All pints $4.50.
It's frikin Tommys Joynt - 'nuff said!!
If you've never been, just go already. I promise, you'll love it.
I had a mild stroke while finishing my cured beef sandwich ( I take blood pressure meds) and the staff was nice enough to resuscitate me so I could finish it! Next time I will try the low salt option.
Been here twice now. Today's delectable sandwich was corned beef. The sandwich was delicious, the environment reminded me of the midwest in ways most positive, and the place FELT good.
Parking is easier if you navigate to the south and/or west of the place. Found LOTS of places that way, where north and east are crazy for parking.
Ah, Tommy's Joynt... if only they had a sister restaurant in London. And, if only people in England actually ate turkey...
During one of our last late night adventures in SF, we actually called Tommy's to make sure we had enough time to leave the bar, take a cab over here and enjoy a turkey dinner plater. That's right - we actually made plans for our late night meal and arrived safely before close at 1am (they had told us over the phone they were closing at 1:20am that night, ha!)
Insanely awesome portions of warm, delicious, neutral-colored food. I recommend the coleslaw as (at least one) of your sides. Good beer selection too and a nice place to meet real SFers, undoubtedly hanging at the bar drinking beer and eating solo. Fantastic, eclectic decor. Skip the salmon (Page) and go straight for the turkey or other hot meat based on the daily special.
I drove past this place hundreds of times before coming in.
Turkey dinner, extra gravy. So delicious, so filling, so inexpensive.
Cash only though, and what's with the weird drink routine where you have to order and pay for drinks separately from the waitress?
Still, I will continue the late night visits to you, Tommy.
This is for the Ribs...
This really wasn't what I was expecting... Sauce all over the ribs and rice, not even BBQ. I was really looking forward to this, but was just eh. No char on the ribs and not even that tender. My cousins said it was pretty good when he had it... Doesn't seem to be the same style as when I got it. He said it was just ribs when he got it. Mine was ribs over rice with sauce drenching over the ribs and rice.
=/
The brisket was amazing. It was nice and tender. I'd say the reason why they lose one star is… Read more »
what a treat.
we stop in after a giants game and we just wanted some food and to pass out.
my husband remembered this place from when he was a kid so i was down.
when you walk in the smell is unreal. they make your food cafeteria style when you order it so there is not alot of waiting.
i got a meatball sandwich and my husband got a corned beef sandwich.
holy cow.
the only time i have ever had better meatballs is when my dad makes them. as in, no filler. no crap. beef.
the corned beef was delicious, too. just the way it should taste, hot and tender. and i am not normally a fan but the potato salad was great.
i love sandwiches more than anything and i was very impressed.
This place is great. To say it's unpretentious is an understatement.
I have never had a bad meal here. It's fast, hofbrau style food that is super reasonable. Two meals last night and drinks for $22 bucks.
Great place to fill up before a movie across the street if you're in a hurry. Especially on a weekend.
Delicious, cheap, well-portioned food with a great affordable beer selection.
Yes, the food may have been sitting out all day under a heat lamp, but at least you know it's been, and it still tastes delicious and they charge accordingly.
One of my friends described this as "church food" - I like this description - the type of stuff you might have at a casual potluck or something.
what the hell? I am shocked to see this place is "whats hot" on yelp.
My friend, who is a cheap bastard, brought me here promising some "cheap grub." I hate both of those words when they describe food, but I indulged him.
History be damned, this place is gross. And its not even cool in an ironic way. Like everything on Van Ness, Its just wierd and depressing.
No level of cheapness can compensate for the high-school-cafeteria-quality food. 4 stars is just a bizarre score for Tommy's Joynt - the food was worse than forgettable, it was unforgettably nauseating. grown ass people should not be eating in a place like this.
Go here if you don't care about food quality, like tourist traps, and think being surrounded by bums and roughnecks is a great way to spend a night on the town.
The fact that you still have to wait in a relatively healthy line for food at 10:00 on a Friday night will tell you all you know. I always thought of this place as more of a locals type of joint (or joynt if you will), but there were a number of tourists here who were talking about how they had this as a destination to eat at.
I have yet to try their sandwiches (which I hear many good things about), however, the pastrami dinner plate (with mashed potatoes and potato salad) was quite filling, and almost made me regret ordering the bowl of clam chowder on the side. The soup was a little better than I would have expected, as the serving was pretty generous and it really hit the spot on a cool SF night. I found the potato salad rather disappointing, and thought that the mashed potatoes were okay, but nothing to rave about. The meat though was awesomely tasty - well seasoned and quite moist (which was a concern).
In addition to the cafeteria/lunch counter food they specialize in, there's also a bar with a chalkboard with a huge variety of beers from all of the world to choose from. From local brews to the obvious national names to international selectrions, you can find beers available from China to Denmark to Africa. Crazy!
Service wise, it's not a true full service restaurant, but I thought that there was something left to be desired. After being scolded before for getting our pitcher at the bar, we were left hanging for a bit waiting for our next pitcher to arrive, so maybe they were just overworked. However, despite that and the mediocre sides, they are still deserving of the four star rating! The prices here for both food and drinks is so reasonable! Dinner plates run at $8, the soup was $3 and the pitchers were about $16. Not too shabby for a solid, filling meal.
$3 Pints and Appetizers
Neighborhood: Mission
Happiest Hours
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Mexican
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Burgers
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: Parkside
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Dive Bars
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