"Don't forget to grab the sausage next door before coming here."
(in 33 reviews)
"Three words for you: Barley Wine Festival."
(in 17 reviews)
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Toronado
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Lower Haight
547 Haight St
(between Fillmore St & Steiner St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 863-2276
547 Haight St
(between Fillmore St & Steiner St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 863-2276
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
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"I loved this place. Came here for Happy Hour and had a nice glass of wine for $3 and split the pita pizza with Gorgonzola, grapes, and…" read more »
737 reviews for Toronado
Review Highlights
Definitely divey, cash only, dark, but unlike bars in Atlanta it's not smokey. How refreshing!
Toronado has a great selection of beers on tap, so it's definitely a beer bar. I would compare it to the Brick Store here in Atlanta, but more of a dive than Brick Store is. It's not pretentious, it's loud and has a juke box, and it's always a place I enjoy going when I'm out in San Francisco.
I'm lazy, I'm cheap, and I'm kinda trashy. Normally when my dad visits me in the Lower Haight I am more than willing to fulfill my role as his oldest parasite and live off of his money for an hour, scoring ample food and libation. But today, I made the miraculous step into adulthood and fed myself before he got here. And I mean an Ali Baba's Cave amount of food.
My father figure arrives at midday with a hankering for sausages, so I took him to Rosamunde Sausage Grill, the cleaner neighbor of Toronado. They've got a good relationship going: sausage loves beer and beer loves everyone, and they invite you to bring your food next door. That's when things got ugly. We're sitting there, I'm talking this place up, great selection of beers, yadda yadda yadda, and we're generally being ignored by the bartendress. When she does come over, my Dad promptly orders a beer as he has to go in about 10 minutes, and I say nothing for me, too full. A mistake.
Her mouth creeps to one side and she looks around the bar, slowly, then back at me. Chilling, red rimmed eyes. "You know, as the hard working owner of this bar, I've got to ask you to buy something, anything. We've got sodas, we've even got half pints of beer, but I just can't have you sitting here and not ordering anything. That's rude. So either I can get you something..." Ok, point taken. I can see that there are a lot of people who like this place both for its beer and its attitude. I should have thanked her for her honesty, scooped up my dad, and left. Instead, I had to sit there while he played nice, leaving too large of a tip, and humbly offering to remove his sausage basket, all while she cranked the music louder and louder when we looked her way.
Now there is only one way to bury my rage: never go back.
Sorry Toronado, but I'm downgrading you from a 5 to a 2, based on your crappy attitude. I know you're busy, but that doesn't mean that you can be a bitch to my brother when he asks you "What IPA do you recommend?" Look, just say "I don't know," or pick one at random for all I care, but don't say "Can you read? No seriously, can you read?"
I understand the concept of a soup-Nazi, but the fact that you pull a lever over a glass for 5 seconds and hand it to me doesn't make you God's gift to the world.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/15/2008
Amazing selections of beer, without the pretentious attitude that might come along with serving such… Read more »
Once you get past the mad droves of hipsters at this 5-star dive bar, any beer lover will be in awe of the inspirational selection of beer on draft and in bottles. And if you wonder if they have ever carried your favorite, just take a look at the 1000's of draft handles adorning the walls. Its almost a beer museum for the great, micro (and sometime macro) brews of the world. If you don't like those views, the hipsters do also provide entertaining people watching.
And if you're unlucky enough to be the sober driver, you'll feel a little bit better when you grab a taste of the Cock & Bull extra strong Ginger beer $2.50 - nicely placed in a bottle so you feel a little more included and a little less inclined to worry if your car is still going to be there when your drunken group finally decides to call it a night.
It's a bit murky, a bit smelly, a lot loudy, and gosh darn it, I liked it.
How nice to have as impressive a selection that Toronado has, and feel like a neighborhood bar, just hanging with some friends.
Not a hint of CBDs in sight. (CBD = cougers and douche bags)
Our service was swift, and the majority of our gang was clearly not local, but we do smile and act nice.
Beer is served at a good temperature to bring out the best aroma and flavor - not freezing cold to numb the taste buds of dire piss water that passes as beer at sports bars.
But...the bathroom. I have to complain about that. Someone scrawled graffiti of "OXNARD RULES" just above the toilet. They need to get rid of that. Misleading.
Heard about this place from a few folks, but never had a chance to go until a friend wanted to meet up the other night.
It's fine, really - no actual complaints - but no actual accolades either. If it was my neighborhood pub, I'd definitely frequent - but I wouldn't go out of my way to go here. Yes, there are about 100 beers here (not 1000's like some people below are claiming - sheesh, get a grip. The place is the size of a bus stop.), and most of them are interesting brews from all over the globe... but I've seen this sort of thing done better elsewhere.
There was no beer-o-the-week blackboard and no list of brews written down. The bartender I had didn't seem terribly knowledgeable, and yet, somehow, was still arrogant - not really sure how that works. Doesn't matter tho, even if he was knowledgeable, it wouldn't matter since we couldn't hear each other: this place is loud. Really loud. Like, if there was no one else in there but me, my friend and the bartenders we STILL wouldn't be able to hear each other. That kind of loud.
There's a lot of reviews below about how this is how a beer joint should be, not a d-bag in sight, a perfect mix of beers and friends, la la la... That's cool. Really. I get it. But, hey, if a d-bag walked in there with some sound absorbing tiles and a beer list, I'd buy him a brew.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a dive bar girl at heart, and I can really appreciate the mean selection of beers that they have going on here. What I can't understand is the bitch who works behind the counter and thinks she's better than me because of my less-than-perfect pronunciation of "Franziskaner." EXCUUUUSE ME, your holy bartenderness. Her attitude didn't stop there - she was so rude to my boyfriend when he tried to order something off the confusing menu, and made us feel stupid. What's worse was that the beer that he ordered tasted like a brewed dirty sock. I was really conflicted when we gave her a $2 tip for our lousy beers served with a side of BITCH.
We will never return here, and good luck to the rest of you who do.
This is the way a bar should be. Cut the out the fancy dj's, the trendy decor, and get right down to beerness.
Totally laid back with great high tables and chairs in the front and plenty of bench seating in the back, Toronado is a perfect place to chill with a few friends any day of the week. Weekends are definitely more crowded, but the place never feels claustrophobic.
Awesome selection of beers. My new discovery: Schneider-Weisse. It's on tap. Cheap. Go for it.
I wanted to try this place because one time I was riding the Muni, and there was this wide-eyed blonde scandinavian couple wearing too much outdoor gear and they were clearly lost, so naturally some crazy guy plopped down next to them and decided to tell them all about the city. They wanted to get a drink, and crazy wild-hair smelly man suggested Toronado because it was his favorite bar. I was intrigued. Then I read all the reviews on Yelp, and apparently the staff are all assholes, so I was even more intrigued. My experience? I went around 7 on a Friday night. It was busy, but not packed. We got seats at the bar, and as our party grew, we were able to grab a table. I asked the bartender what one of the beers was, and he said "hold on and I'll give you a taste." I tasted it, and said it was gross because it was fruity and sweet, and he laughed. He was kind of the opposite of an asshole. I tipped him for the taste, and ordered something else. Also, me and one of the guys I was with started a bet to see which one of us got served faster. Since I am a blond girl, the assumption was that I would get served more quickly than him. We took turns standing at the bar waiting to order. We both got our order taken within 30 seconds. This experiment also showed that we got incredibly fast service and they are just as nice to regular dudes as they are to blond girls. I love beer, and I want to try everything on the menu (except for that sweet crap, but I can't remember what it was). Also most of them are only $4 which is a good price to me.
Beer! Lots and lots of good beer! Go there if you like beer! Good jukebox with a place to set your beer on top of.
I visited my brother last weekend, and this is one of the places he took me too. We stopped in to Rosamunde first, got our sausages, and then went and had beers here. We went early (4:30-ish I think?), so crowds weren't an issue.
The front bar was busy, but the back room was pretty empty. The 5 of us grabbed space in the back room - booth seating lines the walls, and there are a half-dozen tables and a dozen chairs or so scattered around the room.
An overwhelming beer selection, and it was hard for an out of towner like me to decide on anything. I went with a local IPA (can't remember which), that was okay. The hops in this IPA seemed to overpower any of the other flavors though . . .
Anyway, I liked the place (mainly due to the huge beer selection), and could see going there semi-regularly if I lived in the area, just to try all the different beers. Bringing in sausages from Rosamunde is a plus too.
I think this might be my favorite bar in the city.
First off, I'm mostly a beer drinker, and I'm tired of going to all the hipster dives where everyone just settles on Pabst or Tecate, not that there's anything wrong with those beers (if you like piss water). I am a big fan of all the Russian River brews on tap. It takes a while to get them to remember you there, but once they do, they are super friendly. It might look intimidatingly busy there at times, but wait a few minutes and it will clear out and you'll have a table for sure.
Also gets points for location. Once I've had a few, I want somthing to nosh on and there's something for everyone on the same block! Awesome. If you haven't been to Toronado, do yourself a favor and go right now. Go on, I'll wait...
I wanted a lot of good beer with minimal bullshit, so I headed over to Toronado. It's been a rough week, and sometimes a girl needs a fiendishly good I.P.A in a place where everyone leaves her to her own devices
I've been searching high and low for a gnome and was seriously envious of their little pointy hated friend shooting me a mocking smile from high above the bar. The wall is littered with photos, some aged and from what appears to be like decades ago. "Behind blue Eyes" played, and my severely mopey countenance and increasingly inebriated ass identified with the selection, in a way that made me think these were my people.
My musings were briskly interrupted by the questioning yell of "Steve?!? Nick?!?" The half door by the entryway makes the ideal platform for Rosamunde, the hot dog joint next door, to try and pinpoint its wandering customers. The "no dogs allowed" sign is entertaining in an ironic way, given that there were two furry critters taking turns at emitting piercing howls.
Beers on draught are proudly marqueed high to the left of the bar. In addition to their list of draughts, they have an extensive bottled beer selection. Unfortunately, the available selection differs slightly from what is advertised on the website, so you may have to hope the beer you've had your eye on is still there. But overall, their selection is pretty goddamned decent, and almost all of their seats were taken when I popped in at 1:30pm on a weekday. Apparently everyone else had the same great idea of extending their lunch hour to down a few pints, although my guess is no one there really works standard nine to five hours in business casual.
I got extremely excited, I mean sexually, by how many hot scruffy dudes populated the place - and were genuinely nice. I had serious thoughts of blowing off the rest of my workday and my income, but I figured that wouldn't be the wisest or most appreciated use of my time. Another charming touch was the dude sitting on a barstool, burping his ABCs as his dog yelped in accompaniment.
The bartenders are the worst! I don't care how many beers you have. Its no reason to be rude. I will never go back to place.
Love love love this place! It's so local and chill... Get your beer (which is b*tch cuz there are sooooo many options.) and hang out. There isn't a lot of seating and the bathroom isn't the best (but it's the city... what do you expect??). The bartenders are great at helping you choose a beer, very knowledgeable!!
Great place to go and catch up with friends. There is a bomb sausage place next door and a yummy pizza place on the opposite side. (Ask for burnt crust at the pizza place... yummy!)
Enjoy!
So many beers, I couldn't decide! I tend to stick to ones I know, like Death and Taxes, but it's a good place to branch out and ask your bartender for suggestions. Of course, at first I went for ones with the cool names that I wasn't familiar with, turning out to be all IPAs. All the cool named beers are IPAs it seems, which I happen to not be a fan of. Always too hoppy for me.
Eventually, dude realized I wasn't into girlie beers and he handed me a double something or other - it's a bit loud in this place on the weekends, so I missed the full name. But that didn't stop one girl from camping out at the bar with a bookstand, reading a huge novel and chugging down a beer. Sweet local spot.
good beer selection (of course). got a tasty, light peachy beer. happy.
however, i'm not a dive bar type, because i am a diva and very particular.
:-)
some douche-stain came in here when i was on my last visit to the bay and was snapping his fingers at the bartender. bartender comes over and asks what he wanted, pours the beer and then says "i don't want your money, you can drink the beer, get the fuck out, and i never want to see you in here again". freakin sweet, i think this style should be adapted by all bars to weed out all the idiots who think they're the king shit. and as always, a killer beer menu and awesome music on the box.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/18/2009
this is my kind of bar! with all the hype my bay area friends have been giving it, i was ready to… Read more »
I've had nothing but a good experience time after time here. Sure, there are plenty of beer snobs who frequent this place. (I may in fact be one of them, depending on who you talk to.) But I've found that asking someone what they're drinking leads just as often to a conversation about what I'm studying, or biking in San Francisco, or traveling and exploring new cities (just to name some recent examples) as it does into microbrew minutiae. Which is to say the beer nerddery is there for the taking, but it's not the only thing on the table.
Also, I'm not sure where these complaints about bad service come from. Sure, it can get busy and crowded at times but that's par for the course. During the Octoberfest celebration last week it was nuts--but the bartender still was courteous enough to answer questions about the beer on tap & provide tastings of a more curious brew (Moonlight's Artimis Gruit, for those wondering--made with wormwood in place of hops!). Plus, at the end of the night my buddy came home with a liter stein--courtesy of the bartender--even thought they had run out of them during the earlier promotion. What a night!
Its hard to compare this dive to any other place. It has a unparalleled beer selection that changes everyday. This was the first bar that I went to in SF and was pleasantly surprised by the bartender who apologized to me for how long it took him to get my order. I was expecting the opposite given that I was told that waitstaff tend to be impatient beer snobs. I liked that I could bring a sausage from Rosamunde into the bar. Sure, this place smelled like vomit and sewage, but you're there for the cheap beer and experience, not for the ambiance.
I wish I had a neighborhood bar like this in the South Bay!
Pints were only $3 during Happy Hour and there were at least 20 beers on tap (from around California and Europe).
I had a peche (peach) beer and a hefeweizen from Belgium. The peach beer was very peachy, but tart. The hefe was refreshing and easy to drink, with a slightly fruity finish. They were both served in their appropriate glasses!
The bartenders were super chill and nice (will give you recommendations if you ask), the Red Sox were playing on the flat screen, and ... *best part ever* ... Rosamunde Sausage Grill next door!
Brats, beer, and baseball? Best Friday things.
This is a dirty bar in the Haight. Not my style, but I agree it's perfect to warm up with some beer especially if you're into the surrounding 80's rock hits coming right into your ears from every direction with an over amplified volume. Also I wonder about the rest room where those typical jokes can be found on the wall, does this style has it's own name like 'art deco' or is there any agency who can decorate your rest room in this fashion ordered by the owner of the pub or is this just the very natural evolution of those places, controlled by some mysterious common consciousness of drunken people, the collective wisdom of the masses which makes those interiors so similar all around the world?
When the Toronado in San Diego opened up, all I heard was "this is cool and all... but it's nothing compared to the OG Toronado in San Francisco." Because it seemed that Toronado numero dos had nothing on The T on Haight, I naturally had to stop in and see for myself. Maybe it's like the first time I had rye bread, sauerkraut or Bud heavy as a 12 year old (didn't like it at first... but grew on me over time), but I wasn't blown out of the water.
Sure, it has a cool dive feel and it's been around for 22 years, but I feel like Toronado in SD has a better vibe, more eclectic crowd and a better selection of beers. Unless there was a hidden menu or something, the draft selections on their beer board was about half the size of one in SD.
Another thing that bugged me was the mood of the bartenders. I know they could care less what I think of them (which is part of the problem), but it just sucks when you ask a simple question, and the staff looks at you like you've got dick growing out of your forehead. C'mon, not everyone was born sipping Pliny the Elder out of their mom's teet... so cut some slack, huh?
I'll definitely be back, as I truly did enjoy myself... just didn't quite live up to my expectations off the bat. I'm sure that'll change as I get more acquainted with my new local Toronado.
I've been going to Toronado for years now, probably 3 or 4 times a month. I've learned to deal with the not so friendly staff (the english bloke who works some days is about the only one who makes any effort to make you feel welcome), and even have respect for most of them, being a bartender myself. After the BS attitude and verbal abuse I received from one older female bartender the other day tho, I'm beginning to question whether it's worth my time to come here anymore.
The crazy woman (owner's wife, apparently?) poured my first beer, and all was fine. When I returned to the bar for a second round, she proceeded to ignore me for ten minutes, while helping even new customers who had just walked in before asking me if I wanted something. She looked me straight in the eye several times, and didn't say a word, but returned to stocking glasses from the dishwasher instead. Finally, when she was right in front of me, getting a beer for someone who had clearly come in after myself, I said something. I just said "Hey hun, when you have a chance can I grab an el toro deuce?" She proceeds to lay into me, saying "you know how bartending works? I ask you what you want to drink, and you tell me, and I get it. I haven't asked you yet, so wait your turn!"
She also mentioned how she had been bartending since 1979 in NYC, blah blah blah. I let her know that I was born in 1979, and was a bartender myself, and that had she completely ignored me. Long story short, I got my beer, and I tipped her 2 bucks for the outstanding service.
The beer list is piss poor right now as well, half the spots on the board are empty. Toronado, you need to get your shit together. I always thought the fact that I love beer and know a fair amount about it would preclude me from saying this, but for the first time I was TRULY offended by the staff here.
This place was pretty cool! The beer selection was kick a***, but since I am not a huge beer drinker I got myself a girlie lambic, but it was pretty delicious which worked for me.
The bartenders seemed pretty helpful when it comes to asking what type of beer one should get and the prices were pretty reasonable.
It does get super crowded and loud though, which for me isn't a bad thing since the crowd was pretty cool and everyone was kind of different.
Since they don't serve food they allow people to go next door to the sausage or pizza joint to get food and bring it in, which is always nice, oh and if I could give it a half a star more I would for the tamale lady that came in!
Expansive draft beer selection. They have everything from Russian River Brewing Co's Pliny the Elder to Dogfish Head Palo Santo.
I think it's great that they carry a lot of local NorCal beers.
Bravo for my humongous Radeberger costing only 4 bucks.
It was super crowded when I went - not sure it's really my kind of thing, but if you're looking for something rowdy and a good beer to go along with it, Toronado is a good pick.
Doorman was a huge dickhead, although he was ripping a new one for a guy who brought in his own PBR. I have to say, it was pretty hilarious.
Done aaaaaaaand... DONE! What the hell has happened to Toronado?? This used to be such a great standout in the city. This is the third time in a row this has happened... and that is it... we are OUTTA here.
So sad!... I have been coming here for over 15 years... and will NOT be back until until I hear word of the return of the the civil and efficient bar staff that used to be here. If you are in management of the Toronado and are reading this... you should explain to the staff that YOU ARE RUNNING A BUSINESS and that (no matter how long a run you've had) all it takes is a few bad experiences like this one. I am not saying that your bartenders should have to take crap from anyone... I am saying that I shouldn't be YELLED at for politely pointing out that people waiting should be served in somewhat the order that they arrive at the bar.
So... typical semi busy early (7pm) Saturday night... tables were full... maybe ten people standing waiting behind folks seated at the bar... 1 spot open (with no seat) towards the end of the bar with a woman getting her drinks, and another guy in front of me (3 deep)... a woman and her man walk in past all of the other ten people waiting along the bar and the woman tries to walk straight up to the bar in front of the guy in front of me as the woman getting her drinks is walking away... the guy in front of me tells her 'We are all waiting'... she acknowledges him and then steps behind me. A moment later a guy one spot over to the right of the same spot gets up to use the bathroom and she bolts up to the to the bar again... now CLEARLY trying to snake the line and paying no heed to ALL the other people waiting... the bartender saw her do it... and didn't ask for her drink order so I think... cool... and then lean forward and say politely to her 'Hi... we are all waiting'... she looks back and acknowledges me and then the bartender turns around looks at the guy in front of me she knows is next... looks away and asks the woman for her order. I say (politely) to the bartender 'I am not next but she just walked in' pointing down the bar at the other ten people lined up down the bar who have been waiting for at LEAST ten minutes for her to even acknowledge them... She then YELLS LOUDLY at me 'You think I should serve you first before a woman? I've never heard THAT before!' (all the while the woman's husband is cowering behind me) and then she YELLS again and says 'And besides she's a regular!' I then say 'I said I that wasn't next... I was not asking you to serve me next' again pointing down at the other ten people down the bar (including SEVERAL other women) and said 'That's just lame... forget it'. I walked back to our table then left... WITH my EIGHT friends (who all saw and heard what happened) and our money to continue our fun elsewhere.
Done aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnd... DONE!
Had I never been to Toronado in San Diego, I would probably give this one a four star rating. I love the beer selection but it is only half the size of the San Diego Toronado. What I did like about this bar is that it feels lived in. It has character and history. I like that about bars. I like to feel comfortable in the establishment that I am drinking in. San Francisco Toronado has that feel. Also the regulars were more than welcoming. Bryce, whom I assume is a regular since the bartender called him by name, lives in the area and chatted me up. I asked him for recommendations on other bars and restaurants in the area since my drinking partner Christina had just moved to town.
I have mixed reviews about the bartenders. The bartender Johnny was cool. He made sure to keep the beer flowing all the while chatting up the customers. There was a shift change while we were there and two bartenders came on to replace Johnny. The woman was pretty cool but ignored me when I asked to buy a shirt. The guy with the dreads was awful. He did not even acknowledge most of the customers. Truthfully I am really not sure what his job is other than to walk back and forth behind the bar looking bored and annoyed. Thankfully we got there when Johnny was working. We decided to head out and find somewhere else to drink after experiencing these bartenders.
Will I go back? Yeah. Will I stick around to drink if the bartender working is a jerk? Hell to the no. There are too many places in the city to spend my money.
I got to visit the legendary Toronado while in the City and found that it was pretty much what others have said.
That being rude bartenders (which I can deal with), Rank smells throughout the place (which I can deal with), and a vast beer selection.
So I figured out how I was going to do this before showing up, let me share.
1. Know beforehand what beer you'll want -granted this may be hard to do if you don't know what they have.
2. Don't ask questions. They don't care and are mostly too busy to give any input on your selection. The bartender with the "Go F@#% Yourself" tee shirt sums it up pretty well.
3. Wear non-high fashion basic street clothing so you don't stand out and get jacked in the Haight, and in case the drunken guy spills his beer on you.
4. Drink your glass of beer or three, pay, and then leave.
By doing this you won't have any grand expectations of this place and you'll fit right in.
After having been to both Toronado's (now in San Diego) I like the SD one best.
There are some places in the city where you go to get a away from the fog. This is not one of them. Here you descend deeper into it and that is why you come.
You may be hearing Iron Maiden on the juke box, as innumerable hoppy IPA's, lagers and ales flow out of taps and into belly's around you.
Yes, these things happen here.
Just order a Pliney from the bartender, he may slur, he is probably sloshed already. It is almost noon.
Soak it all in. This is a no BS drinking dive.
Toronado carries an eclectic selection of libations that are well tuned to introduce both the casual and the seasoned beer/ale fan to many non-mass produced beverages.
It's tactical placement immediately next to Rosamunde also is most fortuitous, for what better companion to a world class ale than a equally delectable sausage?
While crowded, it is an inimical part of what it is to be a late night beer/snack joint. While I'm far more partial to low-key, spacious venues, the combination of these two little venues right next to each other is enough to draw me consistently.
Don't order a diet coke here. I made the mistake of doing that and the bartender ridiculed me "I can't understand what you're saying" & "no, not here." while looking at the door like get lost bud. I ordered water cause i was so flabbergasted at his rudeness. He poured less than half a glass of water and I sat down feeling like i wanted to punch the howard sternesque bird nose asshole of a bar tender after embarrassing me for no good reason but to prop himself up at his lowly job. I looked past him and saw a sign "non-alcoholic beverages" with a root beer and a ginger beer on it. Why didn't the asshole offer me those when i asked for a soda? Answer: cause he's an asshole.
as far as the beer selection - I saw better at my father's office in LA last week so meh to their selection
If your'e a beer lover you'll have to go .You will enjoy yourself.OK you may not care for the overly loud music(I put in my trusty ear plugs- have to preserve my tinnutis ridden ears as best I can.They were traumatised years ago at CBGB by the Ramones).The place is almost comically grungey and its really not a good place for a conversation.The costumers are a fairly seedy looking crew but where else are you going to get the selection of draft beers you find here ?Maybe at the Gingerman but this place has more "character'.And customers take no offense,I prefer you to the businessmen yuppie types at the Gingerman or even DBA.Also I like the idea that you can bring in a sandwhich from the next door sausage shop.
This is my favorite dive bar in SF. This a place for beer drinkers who are there for only one reason: to drink. There's no food, no fancy bar, the decorations are old beer signs, bottles, and bumper stickers stuck to everything. And chances are the rock or metal will be playing so loud you won't bother trying to make a conversation.
However, the beer selection on tap is terrific! They also have an even better selection of bottles, but you have to ask for the list. I would give this a five star ranking in the category of Dive Bars, but I just don't believe that a Dive Bar can earn that fifth yelp star. So, sadly, I have to give it 4 stars.
Tips: (1) it's CASH only. (2) bring a sausage from next door.
If you don't like toronado, you're a F-ing idiot.
Lindeman's Lambic on tap?! SAUSAGES next door that you can bring inside and enjoy with your beer?!
Excuse me while I go hump the bench now...
This place sucks.
I give them one star for having most beers at $4 and another star for having a good selection.
But the bartenders are elitist beersnob types, especially the wierd al lookalike who's a little too irritable to be a good bartender.
If you're looking for a bare bones bar experience, this place is worth checking out. The jukebox is half-way decent.
I'm only going back when I'm forced to. There are so many cooler, more comfortable bars on this block that are worth checking out.
Beer Heaven!
I'm a dark beer fan and most of the time it is so hard to find a variety, but not in the Toronado. This place is really great, the staff is friendly as are the patrons and the interior darkness just adds to the character of the bar.
I stopped by on my cross country road trip some Austin TX to Seattle WA. A two hour detour that all my friends told me was worth it and that I had to go.
After spending 30 minutes trying to find parking I showed up on a Monday at 1 pm and the place was jam packed. I wouldn't want to show up on a Friday evening as it was hard enough to move around while I was there.
The space it self is cool but I didn't get a good vibe from the people there. No one seemed very friendly.
The tap list was pretty good but I wasn't overly impressed. On the up side they had a nice bottle list and I got to buy a Cuvee de Tomme and Older Viscosity to go with me.
If I ever end up back in San Francisco I'll probably try to swing by again but I won't be going out of my way to come back. I might have just hit it on a bad day.
My friend brought me here when I was in town for the weekend and I had a great time. It was Saturday night, the place was loud and pretty cramped, and I think they had a pretty good selection of classic rock if I'm remembering correctly (a big if). The bartenders were quirky but seemed nice enough, I gave my guy a couple of bucks tip when we ordered our first round and he looked me in the eye and said "hey, thanks a lot." Don't know about what kind of crowd comes here, but there weren't any particularly egregious assholes or anything, which is always a plus.
The real draw of this place was the beer. I think I ordered a Pliny the Elder for $5 or something? Wow. Seriously, I'm used to bars charging that much for a Bud Light. So yeah, if you and your friends are currently or would like to become beer snobs, this is a good place to go. Not sure the place has any particular draw if you're not a beer drinker.
Oh, and it says it in the info up top, but they don't accept credit cards. This is made up for by the fact that they have an awesomely-ghetto cash register.
