The Alembic
Categories: American (New), Breweries, Wine Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Haight-Ashbury1725 Haight Street
(between Cole St & Shrader St)
San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 666-0822
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 4:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun 12:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner, Late Night
- Best Nights: Tue, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Full Bar
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
450 Reviews for The Alembic
One of The Alembic's Favorite Reviews
Alembic is one of my favorite stops in Cole Valley / Haight Ashbury. Easily. Tasty food, large variety in drinks, and good staff. What's not to love?
Went here at 10pm on a Saturday with my lady friend. We were surprised to be seated immediately -- the group of three in front of us was given a 20 minute wait.
This place is decked out like a steampunk saloon, and reminds me of New York spots in that the bar, tables, and kitchen are all laid out in one narrow corridor perpendicular to the street. The jukebox is great, playing lots of grungy music. I heard at least three Nirvana songs before we left. The staff could turn down the music a notch, though, I had to yell to communicate with my date.
Sitting down, we were given dinner menus plus the drink book, which came in a metal cover that weighed at least five pounds -- I've never held such a hefty menu. The drink menu covered many wines, beers, and LOADS of whiskeys. We went relatively light and grabbed a glass of wine and two of Alembic's Magnolia beers.
We ordered three plates (at around $10 each) -- the beets, the clams, and the lamb sliders. The beets were a surprise hit -- super-soft and very well seasoned. The clams were good but unremarkable; the waitress was kind enough to bring us some bread later to soak up the corn-and-beer broth. The lamb sliders were delicious; I couldn't tell what the sauce was, but we were both left wishing the sliders were full-out burgers.
Order dessert, too, and make sure it's the Eagle Rare chocolate pudding. Bourbon is one of my favorite pairings with chocolate (Jack Daniels + Chocolate Milk = Bliss), and this pot o' mousse delivers chocolate with a kick. You'll also enjoy the brittle and salt.
Service was great. I had a mini-crush on our super-helpful waitress, who looks like a rock-star version of Kirsten Dunst. That helps.
Total tab was around $60 for four plates and three drinks. I can see people knocking the restaurant down a notch for small portions (even for a small plates restaurant), but I'd argue that for the quality of the food and service you're getting a good deal.
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I found a cockroach in my bacon crackerjacks.
It was plastic and hidden near the bottom of the "box" to reward diligent eaters. Even if it had been real, I likely would have plucked the insect from the carton with my nails, delicately set it on my napkin, and continued to devour the caramel-y, bacon-y, cashew-y treat.
For $5, you receive a sweet & savory snack to enjoy with your designer cocktails. My cocktail had celery juice. And gin. It looked like a wheat grass shot, but packed a bit of a punch - Enough so that I found myself eye-groping an old homeless guy out front. Touche.
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This place really becomes the see-and-be seen scene later in the evenings but when it's not too crowded and you sit in the back to eat you can enjoy a relaxed and tasty meal. Don't come here if you're on empty and looking for a midwestern kind of meal though, it's not that kind of place. The menu is comprised of small dishes, like tapas but more Californian rather then Spanish. They are use only local growers and compose a menu of unlikely matched flavors that manage to give your mouth a culinary treat. Look for the daily specials and if they're out of anything on the board ask them if the chef has a plan to replace it. Tonight's treat was the oyster stew, which was more like a crème bisque with ever so lightly poached fresh local oysters.
The sliders were plump and done to perfection and the soy black cod hit the spot. Also served was their refreshing beet dish which featured both red and yellow beets and came with the most delicate little bombs of baked goat cheese.
I did not imbibe on this adventure but the drink menu was creative and tempting. I observed though, that the pour was short.
The service was great though on other nights when the place is packed the kitchen seems to get backed up.
This place resulted in some tragic feelings. I analyzed my bank account, realizing that this was probably one of the last expensive meals I could afford for awhile. I took a piece of one of the large hunks of cheese from the 'artisan plate' that looked like it was straight out of safe way - shiny Italian baguette included. I bit into the rind by accident. There was mold. "Great," I thought, "out of all the places in SF this is where I ended up dishing out the doe?"
Thank god my parents are coming into town tomorrow!
And now that my parents are coming there is one thing I'm certain of. I am going to avoid tourist areas at all costs. Why? Because after working in one and visiting one yesterday, I have just about had it with morons wearing shorts in the fog and most of all bad food. Alembic was no exception, though I thought I might be surprised.
I was hungry so we arrived around 6. I was anxious and wanted to drink and the circumstances made it easy for me to calm down as by that time it was still relatively empty. I enjoyed the cozy feel of the place with the bar wood walls and chalk boards listing specials, but I wish the space had more light coming in. Our waitress was attentive, approaching us soon after we sat down. I got a drink that wasn't on the menu and they were happy to accommodate me. My friends got a celery drink, the Bees Knees (with a lavender liquor), and wine. Nobody was that impressed with their drinks. I had something recommended by a yelper the "....homesickness" it came with rose water and was by far the best drink as it wasn't too fruity or sugary.
I settled on the special, cuttlefish with peppers, and an avocado sauce ($11) and the black cod, cooked in miso ($10). My friend ordered the sliders, lamb burgers, which were topped with tapenade. In addition to this we got the artisan cheese plate mentioned above ($12).
The enthusiastic server helped me with my dining indecision. When she said that the cuttlefish was tender, I got excited, but I certainly didn't find it to be so once it was in my mouth. The seasoning was ok. The fish was too chewy. When my friend saw that I didn't' eat the last bite she picked up and tried it for herself. "You're right it is chewy!" Fortunately not like a tire.
The black cod was definitely the highlight of the restaurant, though I've definitely had better. It was a bit slimy, but the miso flavoring created a delightfully thin little crust on the fish that took away from the fact that the fish itself probably wasn't of the best quality. The side salad, consisting of sprouts, thinly sliced radish, and shitake mushrooms was flavored in a chili sauce that counterbalanced the earthy flavor of the vegetables, making them incompatible with the fish. I pushed them away from one another. They belonged on separate islands as un-pc as that sounds.
My friend's lamburgers didn't hold up so well. She had two and only ate the first because she was starving. "It has an unusual flavor," she said, "but I don't like it, whatever it is." It was the tapenade. Tapenade doesn't taste good on burgers, at least not at Alembic. The flavoring seemed to defy the very essence of the burger, making something that is usually tasty because of its heaviness and familiarity exotified but in a way that takes away from its original lure. We didn't finish it.
For awhile no one said anything about the food. We felt bad because our friend had brought us there, but somehow I found a way, and it was honest, to bring up all the other people who had recommended the place. She didn't mind, and so we all came to terms with the truth over that dreadful cheese plate: This was a tourist spot.
And for the price........not only is it bad...I get to think about it for the rest of the month when I can't eat out........after my parents leave.
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My Dear John letter to The Alembic:
Dear Alembic,
It seems we have grown apart. It all started when you introduced the dreaded clipboard. I really wanted that to work for us, but it did not. You just aren't meant to have a hostess at your door, creating a clusterfuck of people spilling out onto Haight. I loved you more when you invited me right in, allowed me to slowly move along your bar toward your cozy back area, and have an angel like Angela put my name on the list at the bar, or sometimes, when you were in the mood, you'd let me put my own name down. You were open like that... inviting... welcoming. Still, I was able to look past this. You were still full of cool people with a minimal douchebag ratio and hardly a frat boy to be seen. I still loved you.
But now, you are not The Alembic I loved. It wasn't enough that you brought the clipboard between us, but now it seems you literally have no room for me in your life. I came to see you and was turned away, kicked back out into the cold night with only gutter punks and their pit bulls as companions. Give me a cell number, you said, don't call us, we'll call you. No, I could not stand at your warm and friendly bar to wait for a table, I must leave. So yes, I cheated on you. Zam Zam was her name, and she opened her arms and let me in.
But you called and I came back, hoping against hope the spark was still there. But you put me at the bar, not in one of your tables. I wanted to love you still! But your menu had turned against me, too. Your lamb sliders, still tasty, are but a shadow of their former selves. No savory bread puddings seduced me with their aroma. Your beer selection, once so ample, had dwindled. The menu, once a feast for the imagination seemed uninspired and your desserts had fallen from the once great majesty of your bread pudding to miniscule cupcakes and salted chocolate eaten with miniature spoons.
Oh, you still tasted so good to me and your drinks were still a marvel, but you have turned cold... so cold. Someday, Alembic, I hope you remember what drew me to you in the first place. That sense of belonging, that happy crowd, that sense of warmth and family. Now you are a machine like so many others. I am your meal ticket when you should be mine. I will still remember the good times we had, but I can no longer love you. Someday perhaps, I will hear that you have changed back to the Alembic I loved, the Alembic I talked about to others like a giddy schoolgirl and when that day comes, I may love you again.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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04/03/2008
I love this place mostly due to the brilliant look the bartender gave some drunken idiot when he… Read more »
I wasn't super-impressed with this place. The food was hit and miss, and the beer menu, while long, wasn't as diverse as a place like Toronado. I'm also completely opposed to any beer costing in excess of $20...But Alembic is not...
"You haven't been there yet?!"
That's what I heard for the two days leading up to my first visit to Alembic. Being the lover of all amber liquors that I am, everyone was utterly shocked that I hadn't been there sooner.
Unfortunately when you live in North Beach, if it's not in the Northeastern side of the city, chances are you're going to miss out. That's where the divine Sage R. comes in. She corrects me in my Nor-easterner ways and tells me about these places.
I ate: two pickled quail eggs (yum, but eat them with the beets and cabbage they come with for an extra kick), one Serrano wrapped date stuffed with goat cheese (I really wanted to like this but the texture was just too pasty for me), and the Crudo (OMG I died and went to heaven). The food overall was spectacular.
I drank one Sazerac cocktail and two Whiskey Sours made with Wild Turkey Rye. Why would I ever drink Whiskey Sours at a place like this? Because they make them the right way, with egg whites instead of sour mix. This makes me ridiculously happy.
Wow, this is long. Just one more thing, Sage R. was also right that this is an amazing place to come on a lazy Saturday afternoon. I'm so glad they're open during the daytime.
My new favorite bar.
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I'm so glad they opened this spot in my neighborhood. Now, I walk around the corner, have a few drinks (Blood & Sand), grab a small plate (get the bone marrow - never had marrow like this...delish) and stumble my way back home. Okay, not quite stumble my way back home but I can if I wanted to. Cha Cha Cha ... move out of the way, I'm taking my friends here!
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I don't know how useful this will be to you, my fellow yelpers, because the last time I was at the Alembic was November 07. To my recollection there was no lady with a clipboard at that time. I stopped in at around 9:30 on a Saturday and was immediately seated at a table. (The seating gods sometime smile upon me.) The waitress was friendly, very knowledgeable, and gave helpful recommendations. The alcohol was good but the food that we ordered was not worth what we paid. I think we ordered some smore thing that cost seven dollars but we literally got THREE tiny squares of food. Seven dollars for three pieces of food? I should've walked away with the plate that it came on...
Ridiculously overpriced "food" aside, it was nice and cozy and I would recommend this as a place to take a date post-dinner.
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This is one of the best restaurants I've been to in San Francisco, maybe even the WORLD! The food is delicate yet robust and the unique dishes will spark the curiosity of even those with the smallest interest in food.
Now for you alcohol lovers out there, it hands down doesn't get any better than this. For gin lovers (like me!), I recommend that you try the Southern Exposure. If you're feeling like a stiff one--ask the excellent bartenders to pick a bourbon for ya. Beware: this may seriously change the course of your night as some of their bourbons have ridiculously high alcohol contents (true story).
My ideal meal: The sliders (lamb burgers), foie gras, and a Southern Exposure.
The Alembic won't let you down.
Alembic,which refers to the distillation process or anything that transforms, purifies and refines- is also my favorite bar. The place is just so amazing for perfectly concocted drinks and little nibbles.
The Scene
Alembic is one room with a gorgeous dark wood bar, high ceilings, votive candles and a chalk board with a world liquors, beers and specialty cocktails. The scene is is very old world, true hipster, and the waitresses wear all vintage.
The Food-Alembic uses only local products....I love this place
Farm Fresh Deviled Duck Eggs-I love deviled eggs, and duck ones give them just that much more flavor....YUM
Truffled Gnocchi-light, fluffy and truffle goodness
Mussels-I love mussels in ale, add chorizo and these are to die for
Sliders-I don't normally order mini burgers, but these are made with Moroccan spiced lamb....yummy
Octopus Carpaccio-the flavor on this was delicious, octopus was a little chewy for my taste, but delicious regardless
Charcuterie Plate-delicious, but felt a little small....even for a small plate
The Drinks
Lady Slipper-anytime you combine prosecco with grapefruit (home mede grapefruit wine that is)...yum
Morning glory Cocktail-cognac, bourbon sugar and spice....purrrr
Ramos Fizz-I love these, and very few bars know how to make them...
Wasabi Mary-sake and wasabi, miso umami.....perfect for those of us who love bloody mary's but want something new
Pearly Gates-love it...no idea whats in it
****Note**** Talk to the mixologists, you can say "I want something sweet, but not sugary" and they will whip you up something amazing...really, they are geniuses.... utilize them
I've only been here once, but WOW WHAT A GREAT TIME!!! Be prepared to spend a little money on drinks, but you will for sure be satisfied! Their beer list is amazing, and they have enough whiskey/scotch to get all of the Baldwin brothers drunk for days!!! The bartenders know everything there is to know about drinks, and from my experience they were very friendly and not snobby at all. I'm worried to see some of the lower reviews regarding their pretentious behavior, but until i see it myself I would have to rate this among the best bars i have ever been to!
"If this is gonna be that kinda party, I'm gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes"
- Anonymous
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Go SteamPunk! This place stimulates the senses. From the decor to the flavors of the drinks, and food. YUM. This is another favorite spot of mine.
Holy Crap, the Sazerac here is incredible! Their Old Fashioned is quite delicious as well, but the Sazerac- it's a thing of beauty. My new favorite cocktail is experiencing a resurgence because of the lifting of restrictions on Absinthe in these parts. Previously, the glass was coated with Pernod or some such crap, but that wasn't what the New Orleanians intended with the drink (it's one of the oldest known cocktails- thanks Wikipedia). And theirs has this perfect allocation of Rye, lemon peel, Peychaud's Bitters and just a whiff of Absinthe.
They serve quite good food late into the night, which is a godsend (try the pickled quail eggs and lamb sliders).
They have one of the finest assortments of Whiskeys (Bourbons, Ryes, etc.) in the city.
And the place is a dark, stylish refuge from the filth that is Upper Height.
Don't come during the week, because that's when it's quieter and I wouldn't want your noise to detract from my libations.
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Just miss when it used to be slow. If you come its for drinks. The nibbles are good, but not enough quantity for me.
The drinks are honestly the best I have ever had. Fresh celery juice in my gin? Yes please!
The bartenders are very good at discussing what drink to try. They have smooth bourbons for us novice drinkers.
The atmosphere is very manly and sophisticated. I would go with anyone from girlfriends who rarely drink to a parent.
Although I feel that paying for Bone Marrow is somewhat self-defeating (considering they used to throw it out only a few years ago), it's delicious.
There's nothing else to say other than great selection, great service, and great ambiance.
Alembic. is. just. plain. awesome. It's so awesome it deserves the pauses at those periods between the words. If you think you know mixology and appreciate a well thought out and executed cocktail and haven't been to Alembic, you are missing out on the place where you might bow down and worship. The drinks are awesome and always well made, and how can you not appreciate a paragraph description of every drink, even one that has a "green liquor that shall not be named?" My favorites are the Macanudo and the Blood and Sand, though I've also had the Bees Knees when in the mood for something a bit more refreshing. I plan on trying everything on the menu at some point. Their beers are also delicious with a great selection.
And the food is delicious. Yes small plates, but a good value for an interesting menu and not ridiculously tiny portions. I miss the hummus and deviled eggs (they were absolutely delicious), but I understand the need to move onto greener and more interesting pastures. Last night we had the kampachi, soft shell crab, lamb sliders, cod, and, of course, some garlic dusted frites, which were the perfect conclusion. My friend also had the pudding, which she said was interesting, though the sea salt was a new touch that her palette wasn't sure about. All in all, Alembic is a great spot, with a great staff.
Finally, regarding the just plain mean reviews about the woman who runs the door: I respect her tough job, having to stand her ground and turn people away if the place is getting too crowded. She's cool. If you're looking for a dive where beer gets spilled on you, go elsewhere.
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Refreshed myself with a Gin fizz. My server informed me that the bartenders usually only make them during the day, but hey, it's still full daylight at 6 PM so they made me a frothy, tasty one.
Followed it up with a Sazerac. Nice, and strong, not so sweet as at Tadich or Palace hotel.
Lastly had the Gilded Lily, a brand-new gin drink. The floating gold flake freaked me out a little bit but I loved the flavors. Reminded me of Indian spices.
And, I'm not sure why all the criticism of the food, it was tops! Had the olives and nuts, the cheese plate and the lamb sliders. Everything was local and tasty, especially the olive tapenade and the sliders.
Now I know where to cocktail with snacks.
Only problem is I missed my movie next door at the Red Vic, which was my whole reason for going to Haight in the first place. Maybe that was my fault. ;)
This is one of the places I will dearly miss when I leave San Francisco at the end of the summer. Knowledgeable bartenders, a wide selection of whiskeys, friendly waitresses, and ooooohhhh that bone marrow...
The other foods are always tasty too, but I dream about the bone marrow.
This place is stellar.
The drinks are always amazing---they are different, a little scary, always exciting, and never disappoint. The first time I went there, they handed me a 200 page thick 1930s-esque cocktail recipe book and told me to take my pick! Now THAT is amazing.
The food is super tasty as well---go for drinks and small plates. Great place for meeting of the minds with friends; the ambiance is chill and they always play good music in the background.
The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because the Alembic is in the Haight.....and...well, I really hate the Haight. But that's just me :)
So, I've only gone here in the late afternoon, before the rush seems to happen, partially because I avoid Haight like the plague on weekends, and partially because, well, why not have a Sazerac at 4:30 if you're not working that day?
The food is delicious, perfectly portioned, and creative. Nuts in lavender sugar/salt? Lamb sliders (yes, please), steak slices that will melt in your mouth and leave you crunching on little pieces of garlic, olives...
The drinks are amazing. I have heard that this place is one of the top three in SF for cocktails, and I'd have to agree. I drink good liquor at home, and this is one of the few places I've been to that makes me feel okay about the money I'm spending on my night out. Especially if that money is for a Macanudo. Wow.
The decor: well, it's Haight, and it's edgy. My parents could hang, sorta, but they weren't comfortable with it, even though they LOVED the cocktails. I wouldn't try to change it, but in my opinion, it's geared towards a younger crowd. One that doesn't wear suits.
The service: I have to say that I've had great waitresses here, although I could *totally* feel the "more hipster than thou" vibe oozing out of the tables and walls. I feel guilty coming in here in non-vintage clothing.
Overall, awesome place. Why not 5 stars? It's due to the weird "better than you" vibe from some of the patrons that always rubs me the wrong way. 4.5 if I could.
I'll be back, definitely.
I used to go to this place a lot when it first opened a few years ago. Great cocktails and small plates, but it has changed recently.
Before it got super popular, the bartenders where friendly and helpful. I went there recently for some after dinner drinks and the bar smelled of pretension...and not from the people sipping their Van Winkles out of snifters.
If you are a novice at craft liquor, then they will look at you like an idiot. My friend tried to order a Washington Apple. Being a native Seattle-ite, I consider it a legit drink, especially made with high end whiskey, but the bartender gave her a snide look and replied "we don't do that here." and then moved on to the next customer.
If you are a professional, make a recommendation for an alternate drink that you do serve!
If the service wasn't so poor I would give this place 4 stars. The 2 are merely for their selection of good whiskey and food.
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Hands down my favorite bar in SF. The bartenders here know their craft! I've yet to find another 'cocktail' bar that consistently delivers like The Alembic. Plus they've got one of the best selections of Bourbon (Noah's Mill!), Scotch and GIn I've ever scene and even the waitresses know whats what and can answer any questions if you're feeling like trying something new, which reminds me they've now thrown Absinthe into they're cocktail repertoire.
Oh yeah, the food, its tops.
God I miss this place!
It's small plates so order a bunch of stuff and a few beers/cocktails, then enjoy the fantastic belly dancers all from your majestic pillow seats. You did not think such majesty could be found so close to Burlingame? Well you were right. Alembic is a bar that serves sophisticated pub grub (sans dancers), which, if not music to your ears, means your stomach is tone deaf. Yes, the staff will ignore you, yes they will scoff at your drink choices, no, you will not get a seat very quickly...but isn't that why you moved to san francisco? Let's be honest, this is more about you than it is the alembic. If you need to read about a place before going there so as not to be surprised in any way by the food experience, then that really is an issue you have, not the fine proprietors of the alembic.
All that said (and hopefully not read) they have good booze and I like the sliders.
I'm sure the bitch with the clipboard is just covering her ass so your fucking privileged parents don't sue her out of existence after your dumb ass dies in a fire because the room was over the limit of people.
Yes, that careless cunt just doesn't want to work in virtual indentured servitude to some trial lawyer for the rest of her natural life because you got turned into a pool of fat and ash in the corner of the bar, you scum sucking ingrate trust fund brats.
Die in a fire.
Decent whiskey list, good food.
Beware the Scotch Nazi!
As others have reported, beware the bitch with the clipboard at the front door. I consider other places over this one, (like Magnolia right down the street)
Who needs all the attitude? Its NOT worth it.
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These people are serious about their alcohol. I've never seen such a well stocked bar with such talented bartenders that seem to be able to make any drink known to man. As I enjoyed my Sunday night dinner with a friend, I watched the two bartenders make amazing drink after amazing drink. Entertaining and impressive. These are not your dance club bartenders that water down your Red Bull and vodka. They make every drink a work of art.
The cocktail menu reads like a novel so take your time to read the lengthy descriptions. I had the Southern Exposure cocktail which features Juniper gin, fresh mint, lime juice, sugar and fresh celery juice. It's like a salad that gets you drunk!
The bar itself is very cozy and unassuming. Definitely a good place to bring a date.
In addition to amazing drinks, the food is delicious. The portions are very small (think tapas style) but the prices are good enough to split several dishes and be satisfied. My friend and I ordered the salted nuts with sage to start and then completed the meal with the lamb sliders, frites, miso glazed black cod and a beet salad. Each dish was seasoned well and delicious. Unfortunately, we didn't noticed the blackboard in the back with the daily specials until after we finished our meal and thus missed out on the roasted bone marrow with capers. NEXT TIME!
PS My beer enthusiast friend declares that this place serves the best kolsch ever. In the proper glass and everything.
PPS Best to go on a week night or Sunday night. Avoid the weekend crowds.
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The drinks are so good they make me want to kick some ass.
Seriously.
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A great little spot that in my neighborhood that has great little plates as well as interesting drinks. One of favorites is the Vice Grip, it's little concauction of various booze that tastes great. In terms of food I am a huge fan of their lamb sliders YUM! (bah bah bah) , Sorry, you guys are mighty tasty
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The Alembic is one of my top 2-3 places to get a cocktail in the city. Whether you are ordering something off the current menu, asking for an off menu-favorite, or just asking for "something with rye", you will end up with a delicious and well crafted cocktail. Very knowledgeable bar staff, great liquor selection, a creative cocktail menu, good food, decent beer/wine selections == 5 stars. (Because of the limited space and it's popularity, I mostly avoid Thu-Sat nights there, my review is based on M-W evenings and Sat-Sun days.)
If you are making a manhattan you can probably get away with non-measured pours and a taste adjustment to get a good cocktail. However, a lot of their drinks have 4-5 ingredients some of which are measured out in 1/2 or 1/4oz amounts. Free pouring and being off by 1/8oz in a 1/4 oz pour would have pretty tragic flavor consequences in your drink. Complex cocktails are time consuming to make, and yes you may have to sit around for a while while the bartender gets to your beverage. If you don't care about the more complex cocktails they offer and don't like waiting, there are much faster bars in the area.
I personally enjoy the Alembic on a Sat. or Sun. afternoon post-brunch. If you need a little reviving, they have a daytime menu featuring bloodies, champagne cocktails, and the glorious Ramos Gin Fizz.
This was a place that's been on my list for some time. Mainly because I love whiskey and a little bird told me they had loads of it. I think the food was good - but I've definitely had better. We ordered the stuffed prunes wrapped in bacon. I think those would have tasted LOADS better had they been served hot. I forget what else I ordered - but I think it's because I had too much whiskey at that point, not because the food was forgettable.
I like the atmosphere - but yes, the place is tiny. I guess I'd return if I was in the neighborhood or if a friend suggests it because they haven't been there.
A solid 3 stars for me.
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Wow the cocktails here definitely pack a punch. They don't look that impressive when they come out if you are an alcoholic like me, but they do the job well.
I like the creativity they have in the drink options, and there's probably something there for everyone.
The food too was really good. The frites were perfectly crunchy, the gnocchi was al dente as it should be, and the sliders were nice and tasty. Oh yeah the deviled eggs were great too. Yeah a weird combination for sure, but I guess that's why I felt a bit funky the next morning.
Well that, or the fact that I kept on drinking at Toronado!
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The wait just to get a cocktail on a busy night, or even a slow night, is obscenely long, but the drinks are well made, the beers are house-brewed and the servers are very attentive (even if the bartenders aren't) and they look like they were recruited straight from the Suicide Girls website.
The food is all (really) small plates and specials change daily. The fries are spectacular, the crudo was great when I had it, and the gnocchi we pretty darn good, but the order had a grand total of five gnocchi, putting them at over a dollar each, which is absurd to the point of stupidity. We ended up going to Cassis for a pizza right after shelling out $50 for dinner at Alembic.
Overall, they need to light a fire under the bartenders, increase portion size to something appropriate to what they are charging but without compromising quality, and keep everything else exactly the same.
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I concur with the review by Josie S.
I used to love coming here, mainly because the owner is a cool cat, and the scotch is top notch. They were professional, knowledgeable, and somehow cultivated an environment of local flavor (for the likes of people such as I) mixed with the influx of Marina visitors. As any true San Franciscan can tell you, that kind of mojo is hard to come by, and even harder to maintain.
However, as so many things go, they decided that a perceived aura of exclusivity was more important than being a reliable, classy establishment. What happened was the opposite of exclusive and desireable; that wench with the clipboard could make Mr. Rogers' house seem like a monastic crypt. I truly hope they change their thoughts on the customer care because, until then, I will steer clear of their door and the waiting list for an F-ing half-full bar.
If a return to form is in Alembic's future, I would happily amend my comments, and once again enjoy the Kezar-inspired bar.
Nice change of pace from the other restaurants and bars on Haight St. I love the House Old Fashioned here (three ice cubes only!). They had their monthly Savoy cocktail night today (4/29/08), where the Savoy Cocktail Book serves as the drink menu. The bartender can supposedly make any drink from it. I recommend coming here on weeknights only if you hate crowds.
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What I love about The Alembic:
The cocktails are fantastic - All very aromatic, smooth, sexy, delicious
The fact that it's in the Haight is ideal! Not only is it walking distance from the bfs house, but it's in the Haight! What more can I say...
The service is above average: we were here with a group of 10 last night, typically it's impossible to get a table. Our friend arrived early and the staff was perfectly fine with him holding the space. Our waitress with incredibly knowledgeable on all cocktails.. She qualified our palate, then made amazing recommendations.
I can't wait to return for the food.. The crew ate; but I was full from my previous engagement.. They all loved it.. therefore this review is strictly on drink and service.
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Went here after Bay to breakers. I feel like Belgian places have sprouted like the sprouts on a Chia Pet, but then again, I am always behind the times and constantly being turned on to cancelled TV shows (although it is cool that they are all available on DVD.). I wasn't in the mood to read the insanely convoluted cocktail list. My impression, which is probably wrong, was that it read something like this:.
"The Chandler": This dark misty drink exhibits cool staccato style which packing a punch, a libation both mysterious and mild, suitable for an evening or night. We start with whisky, poured by hand, lovingly, slowly, cautiously but with abandon, like monkeys throwing coconuts into the sea, and there are coconuts as well, and a hint of lemon like the kind you get on a summers day when you pass by a lemonade stand with the E spelled backwards......... well, you get the point.
If I had been on a date and we had read it to one another and her lipstick had glowed it would have been fine, but I was in a group.
The service was slow, probably due to understaffing more than lack of effort, but they were friendly and attractive.
The beer list is not as impressive as other Belgian joints. Some bottles, although Alec, the pretentious French guy at my table, ordered two different beers that were out of stock, although it took them about 8 minutes to inform him of that. Best to stick with the tap, which is the same as Magnolia, which is not bad
The menu cover is made of metal and may be tthe only restaurant I have been to where someone could rob the restaurant with the menu. The buswoman, was nailed twice on the shin by the menu. Once her fault, once mine.
The food, however, was good. The sliders are apparently popular, although I don't eat lamb as I don't eat anything higher than a 7 on the Ringwald scale of cuteness, but people seemed to love them. The gnocchi was gdelicious, the frites were good (why they are so good in Belgium, I don't know) the beets were excellent, and I thought the food looked and tasted good in general. The bill was a lot lower than I expected, too. i just wish they would have a drink menu for dummies.
The line formed after I got there, and while the service wasn't speedy, we also had plenty of time to languish and talk. Not for those in a rush or with scheduled activites.
Atmosphere: Almost swank without any attitude. I liked the decor too. The drink menu is heavy as hell. I could keep avoiding the gym and just lift the menu for a good work out. Good mixture of people. I was fascinated by the girl with blond "bob marley" size dread locks sitting next to me at the bar. She repeatedly jabbed her elbow into my side as she told stories to her friend about life in her sorority. It a small place so I could forgive the elbowing and her obliviousness to personal space.
Drinks: Great selection of booze, good selection of beer, and decent specialty drinks. If I'm in the mood for a fancy drink, I prefer the drinks at bourbon and branch. The "Sazerac" was strong and tasty. The "La Paloma" had a strange taste, similar to a blend of tequila, grapefruit, and spicy vomit. Yet somewhat drinkable.
Food: I liked everything I had The plates and portions are small, but guess that's why they call them small plates. The menu has a nice variety from truffle gnocchi to lamb sweet breads. Cheers to the chef.
Service: The girl at the front of the house was really nice and helpful. Great start. The bartenders don't really match the quality of the booze served here. I would say they make decent drinks, but the attitude is somewhat lackadaisical. Not a bad thing, just seemed off. Something like going to a black tie formal event in the nicest tailored suit you've ever worn only to realize that you forgot to put on pants.
Overall: I give this place 3 1/2 stars and will definitely go back. I tried to thank the 2 bartenders as I left, but they were too busy doing shots of whiskey with the bar back as I was leaving at 10pm. It is important to keep yourself happy on the job.
Yelp, when are you going to start letting people give out 1/2 stars?
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