LOVE LOVE LOVE! Have been here many many times. I love that they serve Russian food here! Great selection of beer, too. Service is always nice and pleasant. The ambiance is nice and relaxed. read more

The beer was warm, the help was super slow, and the owner was an oppressor working for the man. Waited over a half hour for anyone to notice us in the front and take our orders. Food was slow but ended up being pretty good I got the Russian Sausages. The beer was the warmest beer I've had in SF which was Racer 5 from Humboldt. The owner barely speaks english but was able to tell me to stop rolling my medical cigarette before leaving. I'm pretty discreet but not discreet enough for this guy apparently. The owner obviously doesn't belong in San Francisco but belongs somewhere less progressive. #FAIL read more

Finally a local NOPA sports bar/restaurant. This place has a great beer selection and if that wasn't enough, they have delicious food too!!! I ordered the ribs and they were everything I could have imagined. Meat fell right off the bone and melted in my mouth. Sampled the Goulash, just as amazing. The service couldn't have been any better (my roommate and I are now considered VIP customers), especially for a group of 8 that showed up at different times. Living only a couple of blocks away we were in desperate need of somewhere local to go out and watch sports. Granted they only have 2 TV's, it's a comfortable place to watch a game (especially without a bunch of people around you screaming and yelling). I try and bring as many new people here as possible to experience the greatness. P.S. If you go in, sign their petition to be allowed to serve beer & wine after 8 p.m. read more

This is exactly what the neighborhood needed and it serves its purpose well. In a space that was once an over-priced coffee shop with mediocre food and unpleasant staff, has now turned into a Russian-owned bar with European pub eats and a wide selection of beers on draught and by the bottle (including a personal favorite, Krusovice dark). Two, large flat-screen TVs make it one of the few (if not only) place in the neighborhood to watch a game with extremely friendly staff at your service. Since we were only there for an afternoon pint and snack, we ordered some apps: sausage fries (literally fries with some fried sausage mixed in) and fried garlic bread. Both are good on the taste buds, but maybe not so much on the heart. Currently their liquor license only allows them to serve beverages until 8pm. If you want them to be open later, please pay them a visit and sign their petition. They need 2000 signatures to help in their application to the city to extend their hours. read more

Staff - nice Beer selection - nice Food - nice Reminiscence of home(service-wise) - priceless read more

I've been coming to Gambrinus about once every two weeks for the last year. The food is amazing and the service is even better. This is the place to be if you're looking for a nice, authentic bar. Neil, the owner, truly cares for his customers and is open for suggestions. The European vibe is on point and the beer is always ice cold. Gambrinus now serves pizza as well which is amazing. My go to beer is the Schöfferhofer. read more

Bistro Gambrinus - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went there lured by the promise of Eastern European food. Think borsht, bigos, goulash, pielmieni, pierogis and the like. To our surprise all that is left of the menu that is on the restaurant's site (maybe they should simply update it) is kielbasa/ sausage and schnitzel, both were ok but nothing special, so we were disappointed with the lack of the typical and traditional Eastern European/ Russian fare. Without it, it is just another bar with bar food. read more

Bistro Gambrinus - Schnitzel - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I was not a fan of this place at all. Peroshkis were luke warm and mushy. Buffalo wings were extremely over seasoned making it too salty and hard to eat and I am one who generally loves salty If friends are coming here I might stop in and give them a try again but I am not going out of my way to come here read more

Went here tonight for the second time. As good as ever. I have to give it up to the bartender. The place was pretty full with the post-outsidelands crowd and he was the only one serving food AND drinks. He was pleasant, helpful and didn't make you feel rushed even though he had other customers to get to. I've had the pork schnitzel (AMAZING), chicken schnitzel (a little dry), German bratwurst (SO good). The sauerkraut is a definite highlight too (little pieces of pork cooked in?! yes please). Beer? I love the blonde and white ales I've tried, and the cider (what can I say, I have a female palate). Beer selection is awesome, even when they don't have everything listed on the menu. If they don't have what you're looking at - ask the bartender - he'll recommend something else to suit your tastes. Beer prices are excellent.. food is a little steep, but I'll come back for that schnitzel and sauerkraut.. *drooool* read more

Summary: if you want to try something new and relax with a few beers, check this place out! --- Full disclosure: I've spent two years living in Kazakhstan, another in Moscow, and a couple more in Munich... so my background tilts me toward enjoying BG. --- Scene: Friday night, 8:30pm After about 5 minutes of hanging out in here, I felt like I was back in Eastern Europe/Central Asia; the feeling was enhanced by being surrounded by Russian-speaking tables and chatting po-russki with our super friendly waitress, Nastya. Uh, side note: that was the one factor different than a lot of places I've eaten at in Eurasia -- the staff at BG is super friendly. This is not your typical "Molodoy chelovek, skajite srazu, CHO xotite??!" style place. Not too loud; no fast-moving, stressed servers; warm enough to take off the jacket; soft light; and wall-to-wall beer selection. Parties of 2-6 ppl will find comfortable seating, otherwise call ahead. I'm a strict judge of solyanka, and BG makes it well. The girlfriend got the borsch, which was also very tastey, thicker than I've had it before. Everything comes with rye bread, so be careful if you have allergies (you can request different bread). We had a few beers and the soup, but didn't order any main dishes (the pelmeni looked legit, though, and enough for 2 to share, or 1 hungry dude/dudette). Oh, and they have dessert, though it's not on the menu. We ordered raspberry cheesecake, which was perfect for us to end the meal. We finished up with espresso and tea. We'll definitely be back, and often. Looking forward to trying it all! read more

I went to USF for graduate school, and this became the go-to place for my cohort, due to its proximity. This pub is cozy and unpretentious, my kind of place. They have a lot of unique beers on tap and decent specials during happy hour. The food isn't the best, but it's alright if you're starving. It's somewhat small, so not the best place to come with large groups. Give this place a shot if you're in the neighborhood! read more

Great beer selection. Super nice staff. Keep this place open!! Very close to the Haight without all the tourists. read more

I've probably been to Bistro Gambrinus 20 times, at least 20 times. It was right down the street from my SF apartment. They have awesome beers and delicious food. You can't beat the sausage selections and I love the German-Russian fusion feel they have, although I'm not sure which they identify with. I always get the beef pelmeni and the meat loaf. Great for dates, great for drinks with friends. Nice low-key feel. read more

I was totally happy with this place. Great beers, delicious food, friendly staff, good prices, and a good vibe. Only con is their beer licence ends at 8pm WTF??? Food: We ate at the bar and started with "sausage fries", which was yummy fries with pieces of kielbasa like sausage mixed in. So freaking tasty. Why isn't this standard American fare? I had these garlic prawns which were so so so tasty. Large, fresh prawns with a delicious creamy sauce. Dining companion had a huge effing plate of crawfish which were tasty tasty. By the end of this meal I wanted a whole nother thing of seafood. We drank nearly two pitchers of Spaten which was totally delicious of course. Best little surprise was after all this, the server brings us bowls full of hot lemon water, which was totally necessary because my hands and face were a greasy mess. This is great if you like eastern european food but are tired of just eating sausages and schnitzel. Even though they do have a vast array of sausage and goulash. read more

Came in here for a drink with the other half on a Tuesday night. First walked in the placed is packed (they had a birthday party of sorts for about 20 people). Luckily we found a table. Place is small but big enough for a good time. Food- not great. We ordered: 1. crawfish plate...it was NOT FRESH!! 2. Fish and chips...2 tiny pieces of previously frozen fish but the chips were passable. 3. Cheeseburger...Nothing to rave about. Bun was not as soft as I would like. They are trying to hard to be an upscale pub. Beer: Very very good selection..if they have it in stock. Service: Lacking. Conclusion: I wouldn't come here for the food but would definitely come back for the beer selection. My favorite so far is the Spaten Lager that they have on draft. Service could be way better. I don't believe in having to flag down a staff for another beer. read more

This place is really really great, but the food is a bit too pricey for what it is. For example, the goulash is pretty good but I've had much better for much cheaper. Think I'll stick to the amazing beer selection. read more

Came here with my husband yesterday and had a really enjoyable time. We had a couple pilsners (they have a great and interesting beer selection - mostly European) and ordered food. For our meal we split perogis and cabbage rolls - both very tasty! One downside was that they were out of a couple beers that we initially wanted. We came around 3pm on a Saturday and it was pretty empty. The guy working was very helpful and attentive! We'll definitely be back to this cozy little spot for more beer and European comfort food. read more

This is my go to spot after being done with class. It is the perfect place to chill and have some beer while munching on some delicious bites. I have tried their "Mac and Cheese" which is a bowl of cheesy goodness and their fries which are incredibly warm and tasty. I have fallen in love with the "Schofferhofer Weizen". It is the perfect summer beer in my opinion if you are looking for some light and fruity. It's got grapefruit undertones and smells like a flowery garden in a glass. The service is great as well with friendly and attentive servers. This place has not seen the last of me! read more

I first saw this place advertised in Russian newspapers a couple of times ago. As someone who often likes to talk about going to a place rather than actually going, I never did get off the couch to try it until last month. Since my good friend moved into a house 3 blocks away, I've now been here twice. IBistro Gambrinus is billed as an Eastern European pub, which I am sure it is. They have a long list of Russian, Polish, Czech and German beers on tap which I enjoy trying. Polish Okacim lager is quite enjoyable. They have an enviable collection of beer mugs, and they do their best to serve your beer in the mug emblazoned with your beer logo. There's an impressive assortment of Baltika beer in bottles, should you crave something exclusively Russian. The food here is very Eastern European as well. If it's piroshki, pelmeni, borscht, or pickled herring you want to get your meal going, they've got it all. The rather long entree list includes a variety of German sausages, goulash, schnitzels, many of which are served with sauerkraut and house potatoes. If you're not a fan of the Eastern Bloc, they will gladly make you a good ol' American cheeseburger with fries. Nothing on the menu is out of this world or even memorable, but it's decent (and a bit different) bar food. Service here is very European. Most servers actually are, and that's what you'll get. You won't get extra smiles, but you will get efficiency. They will not bring you a check until you ask. No one's rushing you. Our server asked us today if my friend wanted "another one beer." Ah, English as a second language. It's a drag to learn and a bitch to master. Keep at it, boys! I continue to be impressed with the crowd at Bistro Gambrinus. The place is never too full and never too empty. You can always get a table, but you never know who'll be at the table next to you. It could be a rowdy group of USF students drinking boots of beer. Prost! It could be a group of Russian women, completely overdressed for the occasion. High heels and mini skirts, really? I am not complaining; I am just stating a fact. It could be my friend and I, trying to watch the game on one of five small and inconveniently located TVs. I often don't know whether I should do jaeger shots, people watch or pay attention to the game. Can't I do all three? Bar, Borscht, Beer, Brats, Babes, Basketball. Any questions? read more

One of the last real pubs in San Francisco. They have solid food (the bistro burger, chicken tenders and hummus plate are my favorites). They have a great selection of taps and the owner Neil, is a great guy. It's one of the only non-posh San Francisco pubs you'll find with a clean atmosphere, food and beer. I've been in the neighborhood for 2-3 years and come here weekly. I highly recommend for a relaxing night and some decent food! read more

The menu is fine, the food is passable, and the drink selection is good, but the real problem here is the waitstaff, They literally stink. The two different waiters who took care of our table both had serious BO problems. Not like, "I've been working hard and I'm sweating," but more like "it's been a few days since I touched water." One of the waiters stood right outside the door smoking, and the cigarette smell wafted back into the restaurant, at which point it became a multi-pronged assault. Service was incredibly slow. We had to get up and go looking for a waiter to ask for the check. I ordered a cider and got a hefeweizen instead. So, the meal was blah, the prices were high, we waited forever and got the wrong drink, and the waiters smelled dirty. I can't think of a reason to go back. read more

The service is so bad and so slow, I honestly thought we were on that show called Punk'd. It took us 30 mins to get a beer (they were out of Pilsner Urquell) and 1.75 hours to get dinner served. The food (goulash and beef stroganoff) was like mush-meat (no pasta or noodles, respectively - see middle pic, below). It tasted as bad as it looks. After we finally got our food, they came back again and again to ask how we were doing...where were they when we were sitting there for nearly two hours?... The topper was the $35 apiece price tag. The place is beyond bad..its an insult. read more

i have horrible news. they no longer have chili cheese fries. these were the best chili cheese fries around. i still love bistro gambrinus but this is just...wow. read more

+1 for decent food +1 for close by +1 for great beer selection +1 for the hottest waitress I have ever seen in my life. All in all, it was reminiscent of being in Czech or Slovakia. Did I mention the waitress? My brother couldn't even complete his order, he got through half of word before his jaw just kind of dropped. She was so attentive and amazing that she still managed to figure out what he wanted. I wouldn't go here when it was crowded, but great for an off-night. read more

I'm glad I found this place- it offers great selection of European beers(finally a place that sells Baltika lager)! I've been here five times so far- good food and service every time. The chef is very consistent- which is rare, especially for new places. For the quantity and quality of food that they offer, the prices are pretty low, even for students Excellent Russian dishes- beluga steak is amazing- literally melted in my mouth. Looking forward to try lamb pita. Great value. I'll be back with more friends! :D read more

Came here once and loved it! Might come back to celebrate my 21st :D Started with the salty, dry fish and sipped on my tablemates' beer since I couldn't get my own lol. I got the borsch, which came with black bread, was pretty damn good. And i felt good about myself because it had tons of veggies. Others in my group got various sausages that came with sides like potato and sauerkraut. I tried them all and they were delish! I can't wait to go back! read more

A great neighborhood pub. The domestic and European beer selection is not exhaustive but well-curated. Your beer will be served in the proper glassware. The food is nothing to rave about, but they specialize in Eastern European comfort food, so stick to your sausages, schnitzels, and goulashes. The owner clearly takes pride in his establishment, and the place is immaculate for what it is. This is not a bustling hipster beer garden or loud sports bar, but there will be college students (and perhaps faculty) studying while nursing pints and sausages. Every college campus needs a low-key place like this. Warning: occasional Russian house music. read more

Interesting experience here. Staff are very nice, the beer is very good too. However, the mussels are terrible, just awful. They are also $15. So imagine my surprise when the baked mussels I ordered came covered in oil, cheese, a million spices and fish roe as well as being overcooked. I mean, if you're into that kind of thing, that's fine, but the meat of the seafood was chewy, the roe was super fishy and the cheese was...well, just too much. Also it took what seemed like an eternity (but was probably closer to 35 minutes) to get the appetizer in the first place. I remember when this was fruitful grounds and I'm glad BG is there now because it adds a little diversity in the neighborhood. I will be back, but I will not order food I don't think. read more

Not the same as it was before... Not coming back here. Very unfortunate . No seafood plate. Quality of the food went down and prices went up. read more

Plus side is that there's a great beer selection and the food is also pretty good. I had a turkey burger which was actually rather delicious. Am always a bit skeptical on bar food but this was worth it. The loss of a star comes from the music! When I came in they were playing trance music which did not really keep with the atmosphere and then an hour later they were playing michael jackson and gloria gaynor! Huh? Its a bar, not a supermarket! read more

Please, Bistro Gambrinus, embrace your destiny as NOPA's dedicated sports bar/hangout. Already you have quality food and beer (and service to match) to carve out a dedicated following. Now just add a couple more tv's...but a 12-lb platter of seafood on the communal table plus pints of Radeburger all around will do in the mean time. Clearly, the place is a labor of love for the owner(s)/proprietor(s). I believe it will become just as beloved by the neighborhood. read more

This place is the best mellow pub in the neighborhood. Love all their food!!! And so many great beers on tap. These guys know what they're doing. read more

Bistro Gambrinus - Their French fries are off the hook - Sports Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We go to Gambrinu's regularly, sometimes weekly. So stoked to have such a great pub in our neighborhood! It also happens to be conveniently located right next door to the laundromat. What better way to spend your time waiting for your laundry to wash and dry than drinking from the LONG, long beer list at Gambrinu's?! Their draught beer selection is fabulous and includes many European options but also Northwest and East coast microbrew favorites. Additionally, they keep a good stock of imported bottled beer. The bartender once complimented me for selecting the "one drinkable Russian beer." :) The food menu also has European flare, with interesting choices like sausages with sauerkraut, lamb shanks, and great burgers which are served with surprisingly delicious fries. As others have mentioned, relaxed service is the norm here. I think "European paced" is a good description. Chill out and enjoy your beer (or two... or three). read more

Great bites and food. Love the sports atmosphere. Close to USF so it caters to the students letting us use the WIFI with a purchase. The host is very nice and always welcoming. Overall love a good German beer and good pairing to some German food. read more

A solid European beer selection including more Belgium and Russian brews than you can shake a stick at. My mind wasn't blown away by the food, but our group applauded a good effort that's quite filling. We had a burger that was on the overcooked end, a fried pork chop that was better than anticipated, and fries that were pretty fried. With reasonable prices and owners willing to let us to dine past closing time, I'll certainly come back to enjoy that European flair while in the comfort of the wonderful city. Thank you, BG! read more

Bistro Gambrinus is an upscale pub with awesome grub. We had a huge group for lunch- so we ordered a lot of different things and every one of them was delicious. The hungarian goulash was my personal favorite! Gambrinus has a huge selection of beers- it is a beer and wine only establishment. read more

I'm on the fence as to how to review Bistro Gambrinus... On the one hand, I think I picked a very bad time to check the place - lunchtime on the Monday following the craziness of the Bay to Breakers. The staff were clearly distracted, and in the midst of re-grouping after the chaos of the previous day. In addition, the place was very quiet and didn't have much in the way of atmosphere. (Though it was 2PM Monday - so, what did I expect...?!) And finally, disappointingly, they didn't have any goulash(!) (Though, I was told they were cooking up a new batch - it would take several hours. A good sign, I thought, as I took it to mean they werent taking any short-cuts with it.) On the other hand, the place felt warm and welcoming - a real pub in my neighborhood! There was a fine array of beers available (bottles and draft) - including many excellent German & Eastern European brews. I enjoyed an enormous Spaten. And the burger I ordered was satisfying (and big! I took half of it home with me.) A good experience - but I think I really need to pay a return visit in the evening and get a real sense of the place (and also get some of that much-hyped goulash...!) read more

Finally tried the crawfish here. AWFUL. they should stick to beers and leave the food for restaurants that actually know how to cook.

First time here. The owners made us feel welcome. Started with a German lager and finished with a Czech. The Russian sausage soup was new and refreshing . They seem to draw from USF and locals . Everything was fresh. I had the baby back ribs which were tender and juicy. I am still licking my fingers. With multi-tv's, sports are everywhere. My new favorite place! read more

Solid pub on all fronts based on one visit (many more to come). If the experience deviates on subsequent visits I will post an update. Great beer selection with focus on Eastern European brews, and a commensurate selection of hearty food. Perogies, pelmeni, borscht, sausages, etc. Although I wanted to try other dishes I opted for the hunter sausage with kraut and potatoes because it had been awhile since I'd had it last. Next time other areas of the menu will be samplesd. Came on a Thursday night in time for happy hour. The bar was full and about half the tables full as well. Quickly got a spot at the bar, ordered beer and ended up chatting the next few hours with some regulars. Bartender was friendly and attentive - even offered samples of beers without even being asked. The place was clean and well put together and I received no attitude from any patrons or staff. read more