Buck Tavern

Friday, January 7, 2011 - Since I can't take my bicycle on Bart before 6:30pm, I left work early and was riding the new fixie I recently built. I saw a bunch of bicycles parked in front of Buck Tavern. I realized I had no money, so I went in search of an ATM. I came back, and locked my beautify 1930's Colson fixed gear bike outside. I went in and saw Chris Daly working the bar. I knew that he was termed out of office, and that the new Board of Supervisors was going to be sworn in the next day, Saturday, Jan. 8.

"What kind of whiskey do you have?" I said to Daly. He looked up, and started with Makers Mark. "I'll have that," I said. "Clean?" he asked. "Yes." I congratulated him on his ten years as supervisor. I snapped a picture of he and Mirkirimi. It was all good.

MY FIRST 1-STAR REVIEW AND MAYBE LAST

PROGRESSIVE AS THE FRENCH? YEAH RIGHT.

Last Monday I heard this place was closing and I wanted to check it out. A lot has been said about Chris Daly's progressive politics or rhetoric. You know what the saying goes "Put your mouth where your money is at."

Let me just say the bartender was great as she was the only bartender that night with a pack crowd. My rating is based upon the food and drinks. I can deal with an ok service as long as the food and drinks are exceptional. But the food and drinks aren't exceptional at the Bucks Tavern. First I asked for a mint julep drink. The bartender said she doesn't make it. Oh a knock on my book. I asked if I can order an Old Fashioned and replied what kind of bourbon I want. I requested a Makers Mark. She said they don't have Makers Mark - another knock on my book. However I had still ordered the Old Fashioned with another type of bourbon. Then I ordered the Tavern burger - I'm always keen on ordering food that bears the restaurant name. Instead of the fries I asked for tater tots. Then the burger arrived with the tater tots. I love tater tots and they were pretty good. The burger on the other hand was dry. Certainly not even one the best burgers in the city. It's miles away from Sam's Hamburger and Pizza in North Beach. After the burger I ordered a side of fries because according to the menu they were hand cut. I also ordered another drink this time a Sherriff's Daughter. The bartender said they don't make that drink. Does it have to do something with Ross Marakami's troubles hmmm? I then ordered a drink Marina's Chick which consisted of Absolute Vodka. For $8 it wasn't worth it as it tasted like a watered-down Sprite. Well the French fries arrived and I wasn't impressed at all as they were oily, soggy, and not crispy.

Chris Daly stated the reason they're closing the place is because the lease was up. This place is across the street from Zuni Cafe. This bar should be a money maker. Maybe it's because the food and drinks aren't that great. My belief is you can tell how active a place is by the number of reviews (at the time I wrote this review there were only 94 reviews compared to certain places where they have over hundreds or thousands of reviews). This place couldn't make money if it was across from La Folie and La Folie Lounge. I only wished this place was across the street from La Folie because I could imagine the scene regarding the foie gras argument. I'm a progressive but I love foie gras.

After all those years in San Francisco politics maybe karma is biting Chris Daly. If you want to be progressive as the French (health care and education) then learn to make hamburgers and French fries as the French.

I don't need a lot when it comes to a bar. Good beer on tap, a nice selection of the harder stuff, and a chill atmosphere with sweet tunes. I don't think that's too much to ask?

And yay for Buck Tavern who deliverers this in spades. It wasn't terribly crowded on a Friday post work so it was nice and easy to get a table for our party of 4. We split a couple of great cheap pitchers. They had some nice bourbons and whiskeys in bottles up at the bar which I give them points for. I'm not a bourbon drinker myself but the members of my party definitely got a glass of some bulliet rye and split it amongst themselves to try it.

Great tunes! I found myself singing along more than a few times. The space itself isn't anything terribly special. With a name like Buck it's exactly what you'd expect--dark wood paneling, kind of lodgy/divey feeling. I like it.

Great crowd as well. Nice and chill, not loud. One fella who is a regular there came over to our table to chat because my friend's boyfriend was rocking his Minnesota baseball cap. He's a native of MN as well and he chatted with us for quite some time. These are the types of folks that come and chill out here and they're my kind of people!

Ok, Chris Daly behind the bar. Message: If you are the only bartender, it's nice for you to have conversations with your regulars. However, if I am standing there for five minutes, the only person at the bar waiting for a drink, and I have to wait for your story to be done...come on, help a girl out here.

The burgers looked good (if I only ate burgers), the buffalo wings could have been spicier, the beer was a decent price (if I only drank beer) and when not conversing with the regulars the service was decently quick and the place was...reasonably clean, given it's reputation.

Not to bad, if I say so myself.

A lodge-y bar with pool tables and a digital juke, food and a full bar.

We went for happy hour and it was busy but not overwhelmingly so. The jalapeno poppers came with crispy shoestring fries for $7. I like that we could sit and have a good time with a snack and our drinks with random music playing.. we hit a couple bars previous to this one and could hardly get a drink or even have a place to sit.

During happy hour, it was $5 for martinis and even though we had fruity martinis.. it only had a hint of flavor. It was straight diesel fuel. The guys shared a pitcher of PBR and was served pints that weren't frosted. I think it was just the bartender behind the bar and serving on the floor.. and I thought that was pretty cool that he came out to serve us at the table.

I've got 4 good things to say about Buck Tavern:
(1) It's a gay bar, but almost more "bi curious" - I think 2/3 of the people in there last night were straight.
(2) It's got a pool table that nobody was using.
(3) The beer selection is decent.
(4) I met Rachel F's hot amazon friend here, and for that it will always hold a special little place in my heart.

I think I need to start a list of straight-friendly gay bars with pool tables. (as if any gay bar isn't straight-friendly . . . ahahaha)

Buck Tavern = 4 stars. Now go do some work you lazy Yelping loser. Yes, I am talking to myself.

I love a great dive, but this place is now sadly owned by the man that embodies and is responsible for so much of what's wrong with this great city of ours. There are far too many great bars in this town owned by great local owners to EVER drink somewhere where you line Chris Daly's pockets.

Buck Tavern is kind of weird. 30 years from now it might turn into a cool dive bar but right now it seems as though it's trying too hard. I do like the fact that beer prices are cheap, selection is extensive and they have a couple of pool tables. Oh, and I loved the jukebox, especially when a table full of people next to us sang along to every Smiths song.

All in all, three stars. A decent option if it's between point a. and point b. but I'm not sure that I'd go out of my way to spend an evening here.

Time: 11.23pm.
Place: At my house, in my giant granny panties, hammered off my ass after a night at Buck Tavern, watching the Food Network.

Dudes.
The menu might seem prissy. They serve beer, wine, and "cocktails" made from soju.
Fuck that.
These drinks are potent.
I'm not sure what it is, but 4 pomegranate margaritas and a shot of "tequila" soju later, and I'm tanked off my ass and have turned into one of "those guys" who write Yelp reviews whilst shitfaced.
Good job, Buck Tavern.
I shall return!

Time: 11:26pm.

Not a good place to go. Watered down drinks, but the drinks are still too expensive.

Dirty glasses, slow, rude service. Do they think people will come back or even tip if you can't get any services/drinks.

Bathroom even scarier and dirtier than the bar -- makes you think about not eating any food since how can it be safe or even clean.
Thumbs way down. Barf.