"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)
Loading...
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
Sponsored Result
You Might Also Consider
Magnolia Pub & Brewery
- 663 reviews
- Neighborhood:
- Haight-Ashbury
"This is a place that i always take visitors when they're in town to wow them with the likes of Magnolia. Homemade beer, mustard and…" read more »
732 reviews for Toronado
Review Highlights
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...
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.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
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.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
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.
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?
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!
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.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (2)
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!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
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!
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Funny (1)
- Cool (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (21)
- Funny (23)
- Cool (20)
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.
I don't understand why mean, rude servers is a feature. . .? I'm super waspy, so confrontational servers are not my cup of tea or glass of microbrew. Beers are great, but I can find them in a less negative atmosphere. I live literally a block away and won't ever go again.
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!
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
After hearing so many good things about this place, I was thoroughly disappointed.
Showed up on an early Friday afternoon when there weren't many people in the bar. Stood at the bar waiting to be acknowledged for a good 10 minutes plus when no other customers were being served. Once I was finally acknowledged, the bartender proceeded to hassle me for not ordering the fourth person in my group a beer, but she was not ready and wanted to pay on her own, guess the bartender didn't think about that did he?
There is only one tiny TV in the place and you can only see it if you are in the front side of the bar. Lot's of micro brews which is great, but if you are looking for a standard beer you've come to the wrong place.
Conclusion: Waiting for 10 minutes in an empty bar only to get harassed by a loser of a bartender in a poor set-up is no place for me and I will not be going back anytime soon.
The ONLY good thing is that you can order some amazing sausages next door... but that is a different review now isn't it?
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
Toronado is by far my favorite bar in the city. To be fair, I'm a fanatic for excellent beer, so I'm partial to any place that serves it. They feature mostly West Coast micro brews, with some other micro brews from the rest of the country and international beers as well. The selection is always excellent and cheap most of the time. The beer paraphernalia all over the walls and ceiling show the colorful history of this place.
A couple drawbacks for some people, but not me - the bartenders have an edge to them, and can seem unaccommodating to those who don't know what they want. The menu can be a bit intimidating for those who don't know great beer. The place is really out of control on weekend nights - most bars are - so I know to avoid going there.
My recommendation is that if you're interested in truly great beer, come here with an open mind and have fun.
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
beers. an overstimulating number of choices. beers. good location. beers. good times. beers
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.
If you don't like toronado, you're a F-ing idiot.
People thought this was:
- Funny (1)
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.
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
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (1)
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.
This bar is way better than the Toronado bar in my hood here in North Park San Diego. I think I had the friendliest bartender in my entire life. She even remembered to top off my beer after I had already finished it. Not big on the Belgium beers but luckily they had Murphy's Stout on tap.
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.
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...
People thought this was:
- Useful (2)
- Funny (2)
- Cool (2)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
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.
People thought this was:
- Useful (1)
- Cool (1)
I love beer!
It was nice to see all of the greats beers on tap. We were there around 3om on a Wednesday and the place was pretty packed, which means it probably gets really busy at night. Lots of quick food near by which is nice too.
Let me begin by saying I love dive bars. I thought I would love this place.
I will never go back to this shit hole.
I waited about 10 minutes for "Jen" (I think her name is) to acknowledge my presence.
There were not any customers waiting, that bitch was stuffing her face with pizza behind the bar (which is not kosher under ServSafe standards).
Jen had taken so long to serve me that I had forgotten which beer my boyfriend wanted by the time she got to me. (That's bad)
I ordered my beer, turned to ask my boyfriend what he wanted, and by the time I turned back around, Jen had taken back the beer she poured for me. She told me she was not going to serve me, adding, "you are in the city now, little girl, get your shit together or go back to the country. If you can't figure out how to behave in a bar, you are not going to get served".
I don't know where that bitch gets off proscribing standards of bar behavior ... She sure as hell does not know how to tend the bar... (She doesn't even make drinks! She pours beers!)
I have travelled in four continents and never had any problems ordering a beer anywhere else, even where I was unfamiliar with the local language.
II have worked in the service industry and can understand when people ask stupid questions and waste time, but that bitch was completely unjustified.
If it's a dive bar, the bartender is supposed to compensate for the shitty décor and foul smells. This bar has no redeeming qualities. Mr. Tornado, that girlfriend/wife of yours is going to cost you your business.
I've been going here off and on for 8 years or so--my wife even longer because she lived in the neighborhood. I also have friends who are regulars and know the owner and staff well.
Make no mistake, the people that work here are an angry, miserable bunch and they have no qualms about turning on the asshole when they feel you're not sufficiently cool or punk rock or tattooed (or when their livers are so toxic from alcohol and substance abuse, they can't help themselves). The owner's wife has been singled out on some of the reviews here and I'll just say that, while she can be a crazy homophobic bar wench, she's always been very nice to me. Maybe I'm just on her okay list because I looked sufficiently rock n roll, or ordered a beer she likes (Anderson Valley's Brother David's Double and Triple is her man's recipe). Who knows?
But for variety's sake, you can't beat Toronado. As a beer lover and home brewer, I love the constantly changing menu. What I like the most is the fact they support small breweries. This is the bar where I usually hear about new CA breweries first. Example: they had English Ale's Black Prince Porter on hand pump for several years, a beer brewed in Marina, CA. Great beer I never would've known about otherwise.
You need to go to Toronado at least once. But even though they do have beers here no one else has, they're not the grand monopoly everyone makes them out to be. Maybe next time I'll order a Bud Light just to see how fast I get kicked out.
when the bartender says- i know you, you're that girl who likes iron maiden! -you know you're in the right place.
People thought this was:
- Cool (1)
Excellent place to grab a good beer (they have a very nice selection) on the cheap. Pair it with a sausage from Rosamunde next door (they'll let you bring it to the bar) and it's a match made in heaven.
Ok.. so it's true that the barstaff can have an attitude. When I went the last time the bartender was overweight, not the most attractive, and wore a t-shirt that said "I'm the guy you need to blow to get a drink". When you walk in, he's sizing you up to see what kind of patron you'll be.
Bottom line: This is a no frills place to have a beer and maybe a sausage if you're so inclined. Go there for what it's intended for and you'll have no problems with the bartender. Order a soda or a water.. and maybe you'll get some attitude.
Quirky regulars and droppers-by. Big beer selection - presented big board-style. Half the fun is just reading all their names.
Gets pretty busy weekends and holidays. There's a scary and dark alcove in the back if it's full in front.
As casual as casual gets. It helps to be here if you've got knowledgeable beer folk with you.
