Kate O'Brien's: Afternoon Pit-Stop

As fall marches on and the days get shorter, I often find myself searching for cozier places to gather my thoughts and recuperate. It's my usual reprieve between work and class during the week. Typically, I'll find a place outside, like a park bench with a view of a garden or someplace outside that's more serene. But as night starts to fall earlier, and the wind blowing off the Bay picks up, I tend to move indoors toward a warm tavern. One of my favorite places to do so is Kate O'Brien's Irish Bar & Grill.

Kate's is located on Howard Street between 1st and 2nd Street. It's convenient for myself because it's right around the corner from school, and you can hit it up on your way to and from the Moscone Center or Yerba Buena Gardens, as well as the BART station on Montgomery Street. You can't miss the place, as it's highlighted by a large vertical sign that bears it's name and glows brightly green from the street at night. As you walk in, there are three distinct things you'll notice right away: the dimly lit interior, the row of draft beer taps around the bar, and the LCD displays on the walls featuring the most important game at the moment (i.e. Warriors, 49ers, Giants, A's and so forth). 

Now, there are a couple of things I think that Kate's has going for it as it stands. First of all, the service there is pretty good. If you go with a group of people, you'll almost never have to worry about getting a refill of your pint glass or a fresh cocktail (the same goes if you're rolling solo as well). The staff is pretty friendly as well, so that's always a plus. Second, the place will definitely get crowded with the business and financial crowd at night, especially if the Warriors are playing, but you will without doubt find a table and seating for yourself and your friends. Third, the U.S. may not have the pub scene down to a T, but there are many that do it right, and Kate's is one of them. Their selection of domestic craft and european imported beers cover all of the right bases. Here you can grab a pretty solid Guinness, a nice crisp Carlsberg, a Speakeasy Ale,  and if you are so inclined they have a few wheat beers on tap (no, thanks). And they serve them all in their proper glassware.

Food-wise here it varies. They serve all of the traditional pub grub, sandwiches, burgers, buffalo wings, fries, but they also do some traditional Irish food like Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash, and yes, fish and chips. I wouldn't say it's the greatest food in the world, but the portions are on the larger side and it beats the price of anything you'll pay for a meal in SOMA. I do have to say, my friend is a big fan of their Irish nachos. Overall, I think it's a decent spot to kick back a few in the late afternoon while you unwind or relax with the company of a few friends.