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| Mary's Burger with a Manhattan cocktail at the Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle |
With card games, board games, pinball machines and, yes, Big Buck Hunter, a trip to the Willows is like going to Scrabble night at the arcade. And we mean that in a good way.
The vibe: Chill. The cat isn't fully out of the bag yet on this South of Market sequel, so there's room to spread out - three rooms, in fact, between the beer den, the arcade and the main bar/playroom. Still, you just might have to elbow someone for the rights to Cards Against Humanity.
The crowd: Very local and laid back. This is a neighborhood haunt, complete with pub quizzes and game tournaments.
Best seat: We love the communal table next to the full bar. It's high and long and about as well lit as it gets, though you might get an occasional poke from a cue stick.
Killer app: Fans of the Sycamore's pork belly "donuts" (three for $6.25) will be happy to know that they've safely made the move to the Willows. The sliders ($3.50) - everything from lamb to tilapia - are all solid, and the Mary ($12.50) is a tribute to the space's pre-Willows, pre-Mercury Lounge, existence as Hamburger Mary's.
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| The pork belly donuts with the mystery shot at the Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle |
Signature drink: A rotating menu of craft brews ($5-$8/pint), including the Lost Abbey and Speakeasy XXX, highlights the beer den offerings. The F* You Grandpa, a savory twist on the Old-Fashioned, wasn't on the cocktail menu the last time we went, but nine other drinks were, including the Willows' take on a Side Car ($12) and Mai Tai ($7).
Also on tap: Bottled beers and ciders, and on Fridays, a $3 "mystery shot," if you feel like reliving those college days.
Bonus: As if there weren't already enough games on tap, every Wednesday is trivia night.
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| People have drinks at the Willows in San Francisco. Among the items worth checking out, clockwise from top left: a Mary's Burger with a Manhattan cocktail, the pork belly donuts with the mystery shot, some colorful beer taps, and a chili dog with an Alaskan White beer. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle |
If you go
The Willows: 1582 Folsom St. (at 12th Street), S.F. (415) 529-2039. www.thewillowssf.com. Credit cards accepted. Open lunch and dinner daily. | ||||||||||
| The chili dog with an Alaskan White beer at Willows in San Francisco. Photo: John Storey, Special To The Chronicle |
Article & Photos Sourced From Sf Gate:
http://www.sfgate.com/restaurants/barbites/article/The-Willows-Sycamore-s-sibling-in-SoMa-4920274.php#photo-5351116
