Fiddler's Green: A Pub-Goer's Delight

The toughest things about being a beer lover is that once you've developed a good palate and refined your tastes, it's very tough to go back to anything below your current standards. To give it an analogy, it's like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry takes the first class seat over Elaine at the ticket counter claiming that once you've flown first class, you can't go back to coach, otherwise you know what you'll missing out on. I've found the same to be true with Guinness.

I had the opportunity to go abroad to Ireland when I was in college, and during my time there I fell in love with the 'black stuff', as well as the natural beauty of the country. The only problem is, it's very hard to come across a pint that tastes just as good as it does on the Emerald Island. Guinness is tricky and very fickle, it's a lot like wine. It has to served on a nitrogen tap, at a specific temperature, and the pour is crucial. Not many places in the states do it right. Fortunately, the Bay Area has enough of an old Irish immigrant population that there are some pockets that keep the pub tradition from the old country alive. One of my favorite places for scoring a proper pint is Fiddler's Green.

There are actually two locations for this pub. One is off of Columbus Avenue near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, but usually go to the one in Millbrae off of El Camino Real as it's closer to where I live. What I love about this place, is not only do they pour a mean Guinness, but they've always got the 49ers or Giants games going during season, as well as the European Football matches and Rugby. Did I mention Rugby's big in Ireland? It definitely fits the traditional description of a Public House (also known as 'Pub'), a casual spot where you can catch the game with friends over beers and get a bite to eat as well. In fact, they're so serious about sports here that you can go in sometimes as early as 5:30AM to watch a game that's happening in Europe and get a solid traditional Irish breakfast to go with it. They also serve your typical pub style food that goes great with watching any sporting event: nachos, garlic fries, hoagies and griders. Or if you are so inclined to feel like you're back in the Republic, they serve some mean traditional food like Shepard's Pie, Irish Stew, and other classics. 

The interior is similar to any pub you might find in Ireland: a woodwork interior, dim but cozy lighting, a small stage for live music, plenty of Irish whiskey, scotch, and other spirits to accompany the beers on tap, and warm service from the bartenders to the servers. Being in Millbrae, it's just across the street from the BART station, and a hop, skip and a jump from the Airport, so if you need to kill a few hours, this would be the ideal spot to do it.

Refuge: Belgian Beer, Heavy Food

Most people my age who live in the Bay Area think San Francisco is the ideal place to live and play, and rightly so. There's never a shortage of things to do or places to try. Don't get me wrong, San Francisco will always have a special place in my heart, but I don't think I'll ever make it my residence. I currently live down the peninsula, not too far, but enough to enjoy a 30 minute commute to the city. You're close by, but it feels far enough away from the busyness. It's a buffer zone, if you will. There aren't nearly as many watering holes per city block, but enough quaint ones to try out and enjoy a moment of seclusion. I recently met an old friend of mine at a place he recommended known as "The Refuge".

Upon finding it, I could see why it got its name. The beer pub is located on a small side street near downtown San Carlos that I don't think you could find unless you were looking for it. Focusing mainly on Belgian Ales, The Refuge offers a selection of over 100 different artisan ales as well as meads, ciders, and wines. Now, I'll be honest: I'm not a big Belgian beer fan. I'm not into wheat beers or blonde ales, they just don't do a lot for me and have a funny taste to them. Those of you who drink and enjoy Blue Moon ... God bless you. However, there are a few gems among Belgian beers that Refuge serves, like the Grimbergen Dubbel, a malty but slightly bitter ale with a rich head, or the La Chouffre. And even if you're not into Belgians, there's a host of other options to choose from. My recommendation is to order a flight of 6 six beers to sample from, you'll get a healthy scope of what they offer and at the same time enjoy a bit of the more familiar.

A lot of craft and specialty beers are heavier and have a higher alcohol content, so it's always good to get some food in your stomach to fend of the alcohol. Here it's kind of a double-edged sword, as it you'll keep the tank full,  but you may want to take a nap after you've filled up on beer and food. The Refuge serves great pub food and they're actually renown for their pastrami. They promote it like crazy, as it was even on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with that tool Guy Fieri, but it lives up to the hype; it's not fatty or greasy at all, just about perfect. You know what goes great with a Pastrami sandwich? Garlic fries, and these guys do about as good a job as any on that front, certainly as good as PacBell Park.

Overall, it's got great service, great food, great beers (if you're really into Belgian beer), but it can be a little on the pricey side when you go for a full course meal with drinks. It's located on Laurel Street in San Carlos, but there's another location in Menlo Park off of Crane Street. The best way to get there from 101 is to take the Holly Street exit and then a left at Laurel. Ideally, it's best to have designated driver if you're going. Like I said, a stomach full of Belgian beer and pastrami and garlic fries will put you right to sleep... in a good way. 

Churchill: What You See Is What You Get

After a long day of work, meeting up with friends for cocktails is almost natural. My guideline is to do it (at least) once a week. Social drinking isn't just an excuse to have a good time, it's also a skill. Seriously, anyone who watches "Mad Men" understands the benefit of networking and talking shop over cocktails. If you can handle your drinking well, be casual, and at the same time eloquent and insightful, there's no telling who you might make a good impression on given the circumstance. Speaking of "Mad Men", one of my recent stops makes an Old Fashioned that even Don Draper himself would approve of. Hell, I did, and I would know something about them as it's my family's drink (they have their own recipe, I kid you not).

Taking their cues, and their name, from the late great statesman (Winston Churchill, duh!), Churchill on the corner of Church and 14th Street is reminiscent of an old World War II era bar, with a modern day twist. Their motto might as well be 'straightforward cocktails for straightforward people', like Churchill himself. One of my favorite things about this place was the quality in their simplicity; cocktails that weren't over-elaborate, just well-made. This concept is right up my alley, if you're going to do something, do it well, do it right. Take a look at their whiskey and bourbon list and you'll know what I mean. There are plenty of classic and bourbon or whiskey-based cocktails that would make a purist happy. Not to mention a plethora of craft beers on tap...served in mason jars. And when I say craft, I don't just mean Anchor Steam, but Bear Republic Brewing Company, Lagunitas, and Green Flash Brewing Company.

Of course, apart from good drinks, the vibe of the bar is also very important. This place really nails the atmosphere it aims for. Along with the mason jars and whiskey bar, the interior also sets the laid back mood, consisting of wood paneling, rope and dimly lit lanterns. If it wasn't for the LCD screens in with the current game and the leather couched VIP area (as well as the local art scene hipsters, no disrespect intended), any salty sailor from the WWII or Korean War era, would think they were at the officer's canteen on base. A pool table in the back and a jukebox makes one game turn into three, and strangely enough the crowd is decent even if you're a mediocre pool player. 

Churchill is probably one of the most accessible bars to get to if you're using public transportation as most people are in San Francisco. Due to the fact that Market Street runs right through the intersection of Church and 14th, there are a number of MUNI stops you could get off at and walk, the closest being Church St. The closest BART station is the 16th and Mission Street stop. It's not a bad walk, but it's not through the nicest parts of town (trust me, that was my route). Drink prices here are relatively cheap also, about $4 for a craft beer, around $8 for a cocktail, but they do have a great happy hour. The only thing is, if you haven't been there before, you might walk on by without knowing as there is no marking outside of the building. Given the fact that they've only been around for 2 years, I'll let it slide, I kind of like the mystique anyhow. For an after-work hangout with friends, Churchill is just the right pace, not too janky, not too swanky. Just in the groove, man.

Madrone: Art, Funk, Music, and a Solid Late Night Spot.

Any typical Tuesday night bar crawl would result in one of my usual waterholes; a familiar setting with familiar concoctions, and of course familiar bartenders. However, when the night is young (9:30PM), sometimes you can't help but succumb to the zeitgeist and be adventurous. That's certainly how I found myself at Madrone.

What looks like a typical San Francisco Victorian-esque house on the corner of Divisadero and Fell Street in the lower Haight is actually a pretty awesome little hangout that blends a mix of specialty cocktails, rotating art exhibitions, and great live music. Frequently changing their decor inside, Madrone features exhibitions from various Bay Area artists for two months at a time before showcasing another. Upon my last visit, they were showcasing a beautiful collection of work from a black and white surf photographer known as Fred Windisch, as well as looping his 8mm surf films on the projector in the back of the room, and the screen above the bar. As a surfer and someone who grew up idealizing the work of Bruce Brown, I was pretty much in heaven, also due to the fact that my experience was accompanied by a pint of Speakeasy Prohibition Ale and the funk music coming from the sweet band playing in the front. And if you're one of those people who can't help but dance at the temptation of live music (clearly, I don't fall into this category), there's enough floor space for a number of people to hit the floor.

It may not be the easiest bar to get to, especially if you're a commuter like me who lives and dies by the BART train (damn the 12AM curfew). Your safest bet may be to get a taxi or get a hold of a Lyft cab on your smartphone. The drink prices aren't the cheapest, you'll be paying around $9 to $10 for a high end cocktail, but the craft beers on tap are the average $5, about the same you'll be paying anywhere else in the city. Very good first experience though, I will make it a point to go back. Bohemian-chic bar? Sure, why not?