The Thirsty Bear: Tapas & Beer

Part of the most exciting about about being young student in a big city like San Fran, is diverse range of people you meet and come into contact with - especially in grad school. I've had the pleasure of making friends with individuals who've come from all over the world, each with their own unique background and story to tell. And what's even better is getting to know them over a few drinks. That's how I became acquainted with the "Thirsty Bear" on Howard Street.

Last year, I was out with some friends after working on a rather larger project. After successfully completing it, we figured a night cap would end things on the right note. Now one of my friends (I won't name her), spent a good deal of time living abroad in Spain. If you talk to her about her experience, she'll go on endlessly. I mean that in a good way, she's really passionate about it, especially Basque culture. We were trying to figure out a good place nearby that we could go to grab a few celebratory drinks and something light to eat. Needless to say, she recommended the "Bear", so we went ahead.

I gotta say, she knocked it out of the park with the recommendation. The "Thirsty Bear" not only has a full bar with cocktails, wines, Sangria (Ugh!), but they brew their own beer as well. And they've got a decent palate range, too. I'd recommend the Grizzly Bear Red Ale and the Howard Street IPA. They're both definitely enough to keep you running, but they've also got a Pilslner, Wheat Beer, and a number of seasonal beers. The Meyer Extra Special Bitter is definitely a must as well.

But what's great about the "The Thirsty Bear" is that they do a really great job of pairing drinks with food. But not just any food - tapas. Tapas are a wide variety of snacks and appetizers in Spanish cuisine; they're awesome. To give you an idea, they can be dates stuffed with goat cheese, olives with herbs and garlic, calamari, empanadas, or one of my favorites, roasted peppers stuffed with cheese and spinach. They're great because you ca enjoy them as a light snack, or if you go with a group, you can all order one and share so you try a little of everything. The "Bear" also has a menu that features larger portions with burgers, sandwiches and other bar food. But hey, why not try a specialty? And if you're so enchanted by the experience, they have a wide selection of Spanish wines to enjoy (but some of the higher end ones require a full bottle purchase around $55). 

My only knock on this place (and it's not really a knock) is that it is crowded! I definitely would not try to get a table here during a good Warriors or 49ers game, you'll be sitting far away from the screens if you're lucky enough to find anything. I would recommend this place as a nice little after-work, or late afternoon spot. Just the right time of day to relax, like they would in Spain.