Lefty O'Doul's: Old San Francisco

In response to one of my requests via Facebook, I thought I would review a bar in San Francisco that can pretty much be defined as a cultural institution: Lefty O'Doul's.

For those of you who have never been to a bar in San Francisco or you're from out of town and you're trying to get a taste of the city, I would highly recommend making Lefty's one of you're first stops. If not for the sole reason that it's located in Union Square (one of most popular areas of the city and a Mecca for shopping) it's a reminder of what the look and feel of Old San Francisco used to be. The interior features a collection of sports memorabilia from the bygone era of DiMaggio, with a bar on the left and a hofrbrau on the right. Here, you can order just about any drink you can think of, along with a wide assortment of draft beers from salty bar tenders who may as well have been there since the place opened in 1958, and get a great fresh carved sandwich to go with it! Personally, I'm partial to their Black & Tans.

In addition to the old theme is their piano bar. You can go in there on just about any night of the week and listen to one of the many regular players they have perform a great cover of a Billy Joel, Elton Jon or other great popular piano song. The funny thing about Lefty's also is the crowd it draws. It's not unusual to see a guy who's completely hamsauced on a barstool sitting next to a couple of cops who are just there to grab a bite for lunch or dinner. It also grabs the sports fans, the older crowd, doormen, and workers from around Union Square. Think of the bar in the sitcom "Cheers", and Lefty's is actually a pretty close equivalent.

Lefty's is on Geary Street, right in Union Square, right in the heart of the city, so it's right by all the major public transportation. It's great for anytime of the day, even breakfast, but I like it as a late night spot, perfect after a day of work or play. Just be careful when trying to get to the restroom there after having a few drinks. That may sound strange, but the hall to the restroom is actually along a long, steep flight of stairs. Many people have eaten it hard while tripping on the way there. The upside is, it'll be just another story to tell.