i love a place that people either love, or hate! it weeds out the ones who don't "get it". it's also a sign of an establishment that actually has character. if you want to go to a trendy, flashy place with brand new furniture,and personality free employees, there is probably yet another one opening this week in s.f.! you should go there! personally, i love the patina of the ritespot. and the commitment to supporting the musicians of san francisco, by having live music every night! you will be safe from those annoying "techno lounge" soundtracks here! i am always treated well by the staff, probably because i don't have entitlement issues, which seems to be becoming epidemic in this town! i also really like the eggplant sandwich. read more

The name says it all, the Rite Spot is a near perfect neighborhood bar, and I regret not going there more when I lived a block away (as the song goes, "Don't know what you've got till it's gone"). It's a great spot to meet up for casual drinks, and on most nights they have some sort of music (acoustic, piano, jazz, etc.). They also serve food, pretty good at that. read more

I wish I could give a -5 star rating. I came in tonight to celebrate with some co-workers. We were the only patrons in the place on a Friday night, tipped well and were treated with contempt. The blond bartender was rude, told us we were making too much noise laughing and talking and that we should keep it down. The male waiter, tall salt and pepper with glasses, was blatantly rude and at one point yelled at us to "shut up." One of my friends went up to him and asked him not to speak to us like that and he yelled at her. We got up to leave then and there. Once outside, the bartender and waiter came outside and applauded our departure. Now Yelpers, I have to tell you, It was all I could do not to throw down right then and there! I have never been treated so badly. And if I live to be a thousand, I will still count this as my worst bar experience EVER . . . and that's saying something. I've never experienced anything like it frankly. I wish I could communicate with the owner and let that person know that the employees are ruining the business. i work in the neighborhood and will not only never go there again. but will tell all of my contacts never to step foot into this foul establishment! read more

The Rite Spot is such a friendly, warm neighborhood bar! The vibe is homey and hip. The food is great. Intriguing art on the walls, gallery style. Piano in the room. I feel comfortable coming here alone occasionally, to catch the end of musical acts. Things like Beatles karaoke with live accompanists (they can really do ANY Beatles song for you), and Opera On Tap (where the singers rock and project their own often-funny translations). Sometimes it's quite full so the table spaces can feel tight or limited. But, whatevs! Love this place. read more

Cool dive bar with a good burger and live music. The only downside is it's a bit cramped!

I perused the reviews and saw that someone gave this place 2 stars because they aren't the dive bar type. Any bar called "The Rite Spot" should be pretty self explanatory. Yes, it is a dive. It also has white linen table cloths and decent food. I had a juicy veggie burger the other night while listening to a live band. The bartender was kind of a stern woman, but gave great service and is more concerned with serving up drinks than she is with chit-chatting, and I can't complain about that. I guess the neighborhood is sketchy, but hey, I live here, so I know what I'm getting into. I'll be back. read more

We happened by this place when in need of food and drink and this place looked to be able to satisfy both our needs. It has the vibe of a dive bar but with sit down seating. The place may have even had white tablecloths. It took forever to get our food -- like 40 minutes. And the food wasn't good -- we had the burger and the eggplant parmesan sandwhich. It wasn't disgusting but it's basically like food from the high school cafeteria. I didn't eat at the high school cafeteria but I think the food was probably like that. However, it's kind of a cute spot so I can see why people eat there. In fact, it appeared most people were there to eat-- not just drink. There were even families. I know, weird. I think I might like the place better if I focused on drinking as opposed to eating. Or, if I waited until I was drunk before eating the food. read more

I have a soft spot for the rite spot. First, they have good music. It's never great music, but it's always interesting. I've seen a guy playing a flexi-tube doing sinatra standards, for example. The drinks are reasonably priced and not too large. The food is mediocre - except the chicken parm sandwitch, which has this funny mythical quality. Of all the places I'd like to haunt in the afterlife, the Rite Spot makes the list. Also - notice the old mission police station nearby ( and across the street ). If you read "do androids dream of electric sheep", there's a section about being taken to the old mission police station, but really being taken to the new one. read more

Always find it a challenge to rate places like this. The disclaimer is: for what it is, I'm a fan of this place. It is not a fine dining experience. It is not romantic. It is good solid food, not gourmet, in neighborhood bar. Some nights there is someone playing the piano. I drove by for years before I even noticed the sidewalk sign stating that they had food and that children were welcome. AND, they have the best homemade blue cheese dressing that I have had in a very long time, and that is worth going back for! read more

This place was a regular hang out for Tuesday night drinks so many years ago, but quickly fell off the radar when the gang experienced some psychological fisticuffs. We went back the other night for a birthday dinner because it fit the bill in a huge way- oops- the bill was huge, by the way : watch out for the extra drinks and appetizers- deceptively moderately priced! But, plenty of parking, decent bar, live music, inoffensively bland Italian food, and friendly atmosphere. We ran into other old friends who dine here regularly, and had excellent advice from the waitress about the super slow kitchen. In a word: Unpretentious. read more

Very generous folks supporting live music. A friendly neighborhood dive bar with great selection of drinks. What's more, they have food too.

I'm amazed, and thrilled, that the Rite Spot is still around and kicking - I used to go there way back in the early Mesozoic. The drinks and food are still what might be deemed 'adequate,' but the price is right and the ambiance is truly great - it's not a self-conscious hipster dive, nor a gleaming palace, nor a drinker's hole ... it's just, well, the Rite Spot. My friends and I were also blown away by the complete and utter surprise of the musical talent - there's a spinet piano against the wall on which an elegantly-turned-out young woman was flawlessly playing short pieces by Debussy, Ravel, Satie, and so forth. Wow. They didn't have that back in the olden days! I must now return to yelling at a cloud. read more

My husband and I came here for a free comedy night while vacationing in SF. We only had drinks so I can't comment on the food. Service was a great and staff was friendly. We had a nice chat with a local at the bar. We'd totally come here again. read more

I love the Rite Spot. They are good to their performers. They make good drinks and fairly decent food. It used to be one of my regular places when I lived in the hood. I have to stick up for the "blonde bartender". She has always been very nice to me, and on my most recent visit, she was nice to my mom. Extra star for you, blonde bartender! read more

The Rite Spot is one of my favorite bars in SF. It's not trendy or hip, no fancy drink menu or snacks, just a honest drinking bar. I can always find a place to sit and have a few drinks, listen to random, live music and have a conversation with whomever I'm with. What more can you ask for in a bar? read more

I've never eaten at the Rite Spot, but go there to hear good local music. The wine is nice (and they even have a wine from my home town, Arroyo Grande). It's a great place to go, however whenever I go to see a band perform there is always the annoying bar chatterer who feels that they need to yell over the music to be heard, as if the music is annoying them rather than them annoying the music. However, lame patrons aside, it's an awesome venue. read more

STAY AWAY unless you like rude service and bad music. My friends and I had the most absurdly idiotic experience here last Saturday: we got *kicked out* for doing nothing more than having drinks and conversation. At 9:30 on a Saturday night. I mean, come on! You are a DIVE BAR not Yoshi's. Get over yourselves. Scenario: My friend wanted to ring in his, uh, 29th birthday with some low key drinks. The place is empty except 2 other people and 4 of us at the back of the bar. - Mid-drink, the bartender requested that we move to a table because we were "blocking the aisle". Huh? Ok fine. So we move to a table. - Then the waitress comes over and asks us how many other people are showing up in our party. We said, not sure but a few more. It's Saturday, right? - Then she asks, are we there to hear the performer because there's another group coming and they've made reservations to hear the performer. If we aren't, we should move somewhere further away from "the stage" so as not to ruin the artistic vibe, and so she can give those tables to the other group. HUH? Fine ok. So we return to the back of the bar. Keep in mind we are now as far from the stage as possible. - A few more friends show up, we order more drinks, we chat (quietly). - Then the bedraggled performer starts.... screaming at the top of his lungs. Wailing. Like a cat in heat crawled down his throat and started making sweet sweet love. - Just as I'm about to order another drink, the bartender come up to me and suggests that maybe "we should move to a more appropriate venue for a large group so that our conversation does not disturb the performer" ... wha? Screw them. We walked out, leaving Caterwauling Diva/Crooner, his 2 adoring fans, and Bitchy Bartender to amuse themselves. Salvaged the evening at Homestead and had a great time. Now *that* place rocks. read more

went here on a sorta kinda date a few days ago and LOVED it. the guy i went with told me it was one of his "spots" and was delighted when Suzanne the rag-timey vocals and saloon piano playing performer was there showcasing her talents on this particular evening. "oh man! i love this lady! i've only seen her once before though." she was indeed a pleasure to watch and listen to. we even spoke to her a bit after her set and she gave us her card. i definitely hope to catch her again. the bartender was an older woman with a very sweet and warm disposition and she promptly attended to us EVERY TIME we needed anything. he ordered a plate of food and i picked from his fries and salad. he ordered a BLT and let me tell you, there was B to spare. he was very happy with his sandwich and i was happy to munch on his fries and salad. it seems like it's not bar food at all so judging from the one plate i've seen, i'd say give the food a shot -- looks good and the plate is HUGE so be sure you're hungry. haha.. all in all, i had a great time here and the ambiance makes you feel like you've been there before -- more than that, it makes you feel like it's been one of your hang-out spots for years... so 5 stars, all the way. read more

The food is pretty good, considering the size of the place. I had the gorgonzola fettucine and it was really yummy! They had a decent wine list. Service was great, music was awesome, the art on the walls was terrifying but it made for good conversation. I loved it! It's a nice place to have a mellow dinner and drinks session. read more

when i go to a lot of places in sf, i can't help but think that the proprietors were drooling about putting together a pretty restaurant. don't get me wrong, i'm a sucker for a well thought-out interior, and would not want to pay the price i do for food if the atmosphere wasn't interesting...but.... the rite spot was a welcome change to the normal dive bar scene, and felt a little like emmy's spaghetti shack in its candle-lit, yet rough around the edges design. add cheap food and great music and i'm transported to my old stomping ground in a smaller, less cosmopolitan city that has my heart. ah, nostalgia. read more

The calamari was excellent, and I love the live talent the bring in. The comedy especially is wonderful!

4 stars for cool factor (SF loves a dodgy exterior and welcoming interior), 2.5 stars for food, 3 for service. I did appreciate being able to take the boyfriend out for a week-night congratulations-on-your-raise-dinner for under $50 without a reservation, but the food reminded me of Bucca di Beppo. As my grandma says, "Always remember who you are," so it's good to drink $3.50 house chianti now and then to keep it real. I'd go back, but maybe not for dinner. read more

As we were walking here, I kept thinking in my head, this is a bar, what the hell makes them think there's food here? Well, lo and behold, there's tables and food here. Had the special, Ravioli in a lemon creme sauce, which was good, but nothing to write home about. I comes with a salad, so at $9.95 it was a pretty good deal. The only thing I would come back for are the burger & fries. Service was pretty slow, but I don't think most people notice because they're already sauced. Oh, you won't be able to see your food, the 15watt bulbs don't quite make it that far. read more

This place is awesome! Low key, great service amazing live music and great food. Happy hour has some great deals! Definitely a hidden gem. Will be coming back! read more

A dive with ambitions. From the outside you would never know it's open, it looks like an abandoned mining town hardware store and the sign hasn't been painted in decades. The painting behind the bar, if I see straight, had nude women (the dive bar stalwart) entertaining evil looking Disney characters. When the sun's up it gets bright for a dive, and overall the place doesn't gel into a morsel of perfection. It's a combination of faded boomtown saloon and white tablecloth Italian romantic restaurant. There's an extensive food program with delicious sounding dinners (the fried apps I tried were fine). Live music sometimes. Worth a visit. read more

Great music, good atmosphere, bad food. Act accordingly.

This place didn't quite do it for me (maybe I'm just not the dive bar type). The Rite Spot is definitely a friendly, relaxed place, but it's small and very, very loud (even on a Wed night). The food wasn't so hot (although to be fair, I haven't tried the burgers). read more

RITE SPOT? BEWARE! STAY AWAY! You are in the WRONG SPOT! If, that is, you want an enjoyable evening. It is definitely the WRONG SPOT! I feel sorry for the charming bar tending ladies and waitresses having to write this. EXCEPT FOR ONE, The heavy set one, suggestive sexist, racist and gender biased woman evidently a totally frustrated persona, perhaps the owner or manager, who has an agenda you will likely get a taste off. What you are about to read is the truth nothing but the truth and I am willing to testify to all reported her under oath in court. Not surprised, after I posted my review and "experience" I realized that here quite a few others who seem to have the same issue: rudeness and attitudes being apparently the foremost common issues. Named a "Café", the "Rite Spot" is a bar with cuisine and live entertainment. Located on the corner of Folsom and 17th St in San Francisco. I infrequently and irregularly visit the place after work to chill with a beer or occasionally a Martini. On average at most a couple of times a month. There are lovely nice and polite women tending the bar and tables and I enjoy a casual after work chat with them. However, one of them, not so nice, maybe or maybe not the owner, I don't know, the heavy set one, is an anger and issues laden frustrated one with a uncalled for attitude and foul language vocabulary, will (and did) guaranteed ruin your [my] evening. Racism, gender bias, sexual orientation discrimination, Vodka preference [yes you read right], you name it, she's got it in her apparent women only staffed place! If you politely inquire generally why she's so rude she will likely end up threatening you with calling the police, demanding you leave the premises at once as if you had committed a crime! For the record, here is what happened chronologically, as occurred August 7th 2014 around 8pm: I get off work late around 7:30pm I opt for an after-work drink at the "Rite Spot" Bar. A lovely and charming reddish blonde haired female bar tender asks me what I would like to drink. Usually I have a beer but I opt for the occasional Martini, Tito's Vodka, olives. Never mind that the Martini glasses are substandard small, at least half or less the size of the ones you get at Martuni's, they also cost at least 50% more! Woah, double whammy! Anyway, I got my Martini and enjoyed it but not for long until I wanted to order another one, BUT with a perhaps different Vodka, to try the subtlety of difference since I observed there are other brands on the bar shelf. When the very likable charming reddish blonde tried to answer my question the other one interfered aggressively, presumable the owner [by attitude], and seemed to have taken over. Here is the dialog: She: "What do you want?" Me: I'll have another Martini with a, uhm, I like to try a Stoli, just to compare." She: "We don't have Stoli, we've went through this before." Me: ??? "What? When? What do you mean? I had only one Martini." By now she pours a Tito's into the shaker. In a somewhat evident agitated state she is serving me the drink when I kindly ask: Me: "Excuse me, I have a question, I'd like to know why you used Tito's when I wanted to try another and there are other brands on the shelf? "I wanted to try the difference of another brand like a Grey..." She: "So what the F... do you want?" getting rather close in to my face. Me: "Excuse me please, you don't have to be rude to me and using foul language, all I asked for was for wanting to try another Vodka. I see a Grey Goose and others and wanted to taste the difference." She: "F.. Off... Me: "Please, again there is no need to such vocabulary. All I asked you that I wanted to try a different brand Vodka." She: You know what, leave, get out, get the F... out! I'm not serving you." And she spills, agitated and very angry, the drink in the glass. She: "Get out leave this bar, or I call the police!" she aggressively shouts. Me: "Hey, what did I do? All I asked was for trying another [second] drink with a different Vodka!? Jeez! What's wrong with you? You always treat your customers like that?" She: "I'm going to call the police!" Me: Police? Because I wanted a Martini with a different Vodka? Are you kidding me?" By now any possible reasoning and dialog had deteriorated so much that I opted to leave the premises, not being interested in such absurd altercations and it's whatever outcome. Obviously that woman is unfit to run a bar! On my way out I asked a beautiful bespectacled waitress what is going on and what did I do wrong? She replied: "I wait the tables only, but sit at a table and I'll take care of you, no issues with me..." Hmm, apparently I'm not the only one, it appears, having such aforementioned encounters.... Rite Spot Café? Very WRONG SPOT Café! Looks like I'm not the only 1 star reviewer either...! Stay away, don't go there if you want a relaxing time! read more

Great ambiance and service. We had the roasted garlic appetizer and fried raviolis. Both we delicious and we were pleasantly surprised by the non-battered nature of the raviolis. Nice selection of beers on tap rounded out the snack stop. read more

Had a nice lasagna (giant piece!) dinner special with a couple of Speakeasy porters and a homemade cookie. Great late '70s/early '80s UK indie soundtrack. read more

Great bar with cheap drinks and good food. Live music and friendly staff. Love the place!

This place is a great venue for literary and musical talent. I went recently during a poetry reading and it was great. There was only one bartender, and she managed to keep her cool with a huge crowd. Didn't try the food. read more

When I saw fried cheese ravioli as an appetizer I almost wet my pants. I mean I've had parties themed around the experimental frying of cheese! That said - I haven't tried them yet, but keep going back hoping I will be in a sinful mood. But that was a sidetrack. I'm in agreement with some of the people who have written about the rude waitresses/bartenders...why is it so necessary to be a grouch? I will keep going back because I love the IDEA of Right Spot - the cheap drinks made slowly and hopefully with care, the comfort food, and the music. I want to support these places in the hopes that it isn't replaced by a restaurant I can't afford! Be rude if you have to, just stay in business! read more

Dirty dive with live music and a full dinner menu - lots of restrictions - but suits our needs big time. The cobb salad was good if not too much gorgonzola, which I would have previously thought impossible. Great to hang a while. read more

Although I'd have to give my burger 3 stars, the atmosphere is cool and most importantly, they are cool about dogs! I cannot wait to take my Tora there. read more

A cozy gem of a place, its always dimly lit a la speakeasy with someon plugging away on the piano or even the "Japanese Bob Dylan" strumming his guitar. Looks like a sketcho-hole-in-wall from the outside. That's what makes it perfect. The food is satisfying but nothing to write home (or yelp) about. Its the vibe. That lazy, unpretentious, cozy vibe. read more

Classiest dive bar around. Cozy atmosphere. A roomier version of the Lone Palm. Bartenders don't water down the cocktails. Hallelujah.

Very sweet bar with a lovely bar tender. There is free comedy on Monday nights and in general a very welcoming vibe.

I like it, and I will go back. I had spaghetti that was quite tasty, and probably a tad safer dish than shrimp cocktail. I really enjoyed the piano player (Michael McIntosh) too. read more

I really like the Rite Spot Cafe. Actually, calling it a cafe is a misnomer, as it's actually a bar... a bar that has a full kitchen and happens to serve food. So actually, it's a bar with a restaurant in it. That's a refreshing change from so many restaurants that happen to have a bar in them. I've had the Itailian-based pasta-type food that they serve there, and it's okay. Nothing to write home about. I like that they often have artwork on the walls by local artists and often have small jazz ensembles or piano players playing. Sometimes the service can be inattentive or slow, however. Don't expect white tablecloth service here and you'll get by. I don't remember the drinks being particularly potent or cheap, but I guess that is par for the course in SF places like this. read more