Really liked this place! The drinks and specials are overall pretty great. They have a shot, beer and jerky combo for $10, which is amazing (you choose one of each from 4 options, so you can customize to what you want!). They have a good beer selection and well-made cocktails as well, all at reasonable prices. Beyond the alcohol on offer, this place captures a lot of what I like in a bar. It's bustling but not crowded, there's lots of seating, it's quiet enough to have a conversation, the bartenders are friendly, and the music selection is on point if you like alternative/indie type stuff. It also has a laid back, cozy, "saloon" sort of vibe that make it a nice place to pass the time. It's a good place for a casual date, or would be a good spot to catch up with a friend, or to bring a larger group. I'm a fan! read more

Unpretentious/knowledgeable/friendly bartenders, wide selection of creative/delicious/unique cocktails, and a whole menu page dedicated to 10+ types of homemade jerky. What more could you ask for? Hand carved ice display show by hunky staff? Beer+shot+jerky specials? Being able to bring your (well-behaved) pooch inside? Absolutely. If I lived in the neighborhood I'd come here every night! read more

Third Rail - 3oz jerky sampler - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The exit door opens inward which I'm pretty sure is literally illegal. Had to leave due to chemical sensitivity - awful fumes. I would recommend avoiding for health and safety. Drinks were overly done (too much bitters). Didn't get any jerky. Definitely will not go back. read more

I spent a night in the Dogpatch recently while visiting San Francisco. It was my first time in the neighborhood, and I got the sense that this bar was perfect for me and probably terrible news for somebody's rent. (I just googled it and one of the first hits is "The Scoop on Dogpatch: San Francisco's New Indie Neighborhood," from 2013.) God am I a sucker for good $13 cocktails with big fancy ice cubes. I came here with my husband and our friend Mike W. for early drinks before a late dinner nearby. I loved the place immediately--cozy, dim, and quiet, with "oh, this? we just slapped this together out of reclaimed woods" decor. It was very relaxed at 7:30 on a Thursday, and we nabbed a table along with ease. Service at the bar was quick and polite. The drinks were excellent, though two months later, I can't remember every one we got in our two rounds (a real thorn in my Yelp OCD). The ones I do remember are the Bone Machine, the Rhinoceros, the Aftermath, and the Diplomat, all outstanding. The first two were both strong, smooth whiskey cocktails: the Bone Machine made with bourbon, oloroso sherry, amaro, and bitters; the Rhinoceros with rye, ginger liqueur, bonal, and bitters. I tend to like these boozy brown liquor drinks when they're made with that golden balance. The Aftermath and the Diplomat were made with rum, but they also fit into this category. The Aftermath mixed rhum agricole with burnt honey, vermouth, and bitters, and was probably my favorite drink of the night, bold and warming, with a lot of depth. The Diplomat wasn't on the menu that night, but Mike knew to order it. Another winner, a rounded combination of rum, madeira, walnut, and bitters. If we weren't going to dinner, I would've been into the beef jerky pairings, though that seems like a random gimmick for a cocktail bar. I hope to sample them in the future. I'd like to come back to Third Rail whenever I get the chance. read more

Was pleasantly surprised to find that they have delicious vegetarian jerky on the menu!! Great cocktails and drink specials. I love this place. read more

Easy to miss, hard to forget ;) Super cute little bar that's tucked away down a side street. Great happy hour, delicious and refreshing cocktails, plus they have VEGAN JERKY!! I did haven't tried it yet but I love having the option! read more

Third Rail - Sign at the street - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Shot, beer, and jerky! Yes! Fun idea and get's the job done! I came here with a couple friends so we got to try the three types of jerky and different beers. Fun place. And apparently you can bring food in because a birthday party group of people wandered in with pizza. read more

A cool, hip bar right by chase center. We came right after an event at chase center and it wasn't packed, which was nice. The rail shot is definitely a good deal, a shot, a beer, and a couple of slices of jerky. First time I've ever had beef jerky served with beer and have to say I'm a fan. The jerky does taste a little odd if you spill your drink on it though. read more

Best across the board: 1. Ambience: Beautiful & cozy neighborhood gem with speakeasy feel and not super loud (as opposed to other spots) 2. Service: F^2 - Freaking fantastic - they have a great memory :) 3. Selection: Great selection, the scotch & jerky combo is second to none (they even have vegetarian mushroom jerky) This venue hosts private events as well. My boyfriend and I actually booked them out for his birthday and they are just fantastic. $500 minimum + gratuity + taxes (and ZERO cake cutting fees FYI - many venues charge $5 per person or just gut you with an obscene all-in fee) and the guys even put up a custom sign for our event. Having planned multiple 40-100 person events for my company and personally, this is definitely one of the best experiences I've had working with a venue and the guys just feel like they're your neighbor :) As mentioned, Third Rail is just 2nd to none, especially after a workout or climb at Dogpatch Boulders. Great for a date, a happy hour, or to host for a private event. Cheers to the staff for making it such a great venue. read more

Fantastic cocktails. Tried 4 between 2 of us. Third Rail was my favorite. Beautiful and cozy space. Bartender was engaging, professional and knowledgeable. I will go back. read more

Came here yesterday. Nice little small spot. Drinks were fine and so was service. Nothing spectacular. I appreciate how clean it was especially the bathrooms. All in all, good experience, but nothing that sets it apart from other normal bars in SOMA or dog patch area read more

Third Rail - Can't go wrong with any of the combos - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Dark, quiet and delicious - what more do you need from a neighborhood watering hole? Oh yeah, $10 cocktails. By far the most affordable (quality) drink you'll find in town. And I can walk there. So many great businesses up and down 3rd Street in the Dogpatch: urban wineries, art galleries, coffee shops... and now Third Rail. Putting a mark on this otherwise unknown 'hood for sure. My favorite is the signature cocktail made with lemon, boubon, Lillet and honey. Just the right amount of boozy and tartness. Or go for a shot and homemade beef jerky. Whatever floats your boat! read more

Don't spend too much time in the dogpatch but I came here last night and loved every minute of it! I tried two drinks: 1. Bone Machine - bourbon, oloroso sherry, amaro & bitters (basically an old fashioned but one of the best I've had) 2. Fresh Nog (Holiday Drink) - bourbon, allspice dram, vanilla, sherry, whole egg Both drinks were incredibly delicious and I would highly recommend them. I am also interested in trying their beef jerky everyone raves about - I'll just have to try it next time! read more

Came here tonight and couldn't wait to write my review! A friend and I tried the following: Double date: date infused rye, whiskey, sweet vermouth, amaro, cinnamon bitters. My type of drink - stiff and served on a large rock. The date flavor was noticeable and the cinnamon bitters came through in the finish. It was actually very drinkable for being a stiff drink, which could potentially be dangerous ;) Mt. Tam: My favorite drink of the evening! Gin, sweet vermouth, Gran classico, kina l'avion, served up. I learned that kina l'avion is an aperitif that tastes halfway between white wine and bitters. The friendly bartender offered us a taste neat. He described this drink as a play on a negroni... in my opinion it was a thousand times better than a negroni because Campari can be so overpowering. The Mt. Tam was perfectly balanced, herbal, and hands down one of the best drinks I've had in the city. Zapatista: tequila, sherry, benedictine, and chocolate bitters, served up. I found this drink to be heavy on the sherry and therefore too sweet. The flavor of cocoa was very subtle in the finish - I wouldn't have known it was there if I wasn't looking for it. They did do a good job masking the flavor of tequila though, if you're into that due to a bad experience in college. Harvest Moon: tequila, pear, absinthe, lime, served on the rocks. A "yummy" very drinkable cocktail, though you must like absinthe. Too sweet and too absinthe-y for my taste, though my friend was quite pleased. Red eye jerky: coffee, chile, mustard, and cumin. Had a nice kick to it and I loved the coffee - never had that flavor profile in jerky before! Most of their jerky is $2.50/oz. All cocktails are $10, and all prices include tax which scores major points in my book - it makes the math so much easier at the end of the night! Bottom line? Damn good cocktails with good service, sophisticated but chill ambiance, and close to my place. To the guys running the show: Please keep this up, because I want to bring a special out of town guest in January!! read more

The bartenders in this place make really tasty cocktails! Interesting combos, fresh ingredients, good booze. The service was fast too, even as it got later and they grew busier. I love the vibe of this place, it's cool, and fun, but mellow. Thanks to some early arriving friends we scored a little place at the front corner of the bar, so we had plenty of space to stand and spots to set drinks. Score! The only thing that knocks this place down to a four is the unfortunate interaction I had with one of the bartenders. We asked for a round of waters (between our third and fourth round of cocktails) and the guy looked right at me, rolled his eyes and said something like "wow, a bunch of party animals, huh?" He didn't say it in a joking manner and I really felt like it was unnecessarily rude. I'll go again, but I'll definitely avoid that guy. read more

Really really sweet spot that combines two of my favorite things: whiskey and jerky. Needless to say, I felt pretty manly ordering a couple fingers of whiskey neat and some dried up meat to munch on. Too bad I'm not much of a straight whiskey drinker, so ordering (choking it down) was mostly for show to impress my girlfriend. But really though, nobody in the commercials ever has it with rocks! Maybe not so manly after all... Besides their huge assortment of whiskeys, the rest of their cocktail selection is really good too. Of course, you have to try their namesake, The Third Rail. It's a very solid cocktail that I recommend everyone get their first go 'round. The Tally Ho is also a winner in my books. Definitely get those two. They also have a great seasonal cocktail selection, but I won't waste my time writing too much about it. When they seasonal, they mean seasonal. They're always keeping it fresh and updating the menu, so prepare yourself for disappointment if you come back half a year later and it's no longer there. Their regular menu does a great job of sorting out their cocktails into different categories, so it's easier to figure out what you want to drink based on the kind of flavor/feel you want to have. While this may not seem like a big deal, but it's nice to have be able to be a little organized right before you get smashed (tastefully, might I add). The drinks are all reasonably priced (~$10) and pretty strong, so that definitely earns a thumbs up. One tip I'll give you is to sit up at the bar for at least one round while the bartender is making your drink. The drinks take a little bit of time to come out, but that's cuz the bartenders are seriously working magic. I've never seen anybody put so much care into crafting a cocktail. Seriously cool stuff. Definitely has a bit of a hipster vibe to it. It's a pretty small place and probably can't fit more than 35 people in it without posing a serious fire hazard, but I like it. Feels a little like Austin, TX, which I definitely dig. Makes it feel like home. read more

I mosey in on a weeknight and see a familiar face behind the bar. It's one of the bartenders from Serpentine (which previously was the only place for a good cocktail in the hood), so I have high hopes. And it didn't disappoint. It was a 3 cocktail evening and all were good. Cloven Hoof was great. Highly recommended for those wanting a serious cocktail. The Third Rail was good The Tally Ho was a-ok. Though would have been nice to know before ordering that it's almost snow cone in a glass. A bit simple. Just not my style. Jerky wasn't bad either. A very solid drinking establishment and a welcome edition to neighborhood. (You might just be able to get a sampler if you ask) My only concern is that I sorta love the sleepiness of Dog Patch. It has a few great places that you can more or less just walk in to without reserving a spot 3 weeks in advance or waiting 30 minutes for a seat. But this place is pretty slick and I hope it doesn't get too much of a buzz to attract every Tom, Dick, and Harry. Yeah, I want to keep this place for myself (as I advertise it over the interwebs) read more

Wow, friday night in dog patch and three of us got seats and a table, outstanding! Had a sour citrus drink with mezcal, nice smoky flavor and foamed egg white atop. Delicious, expertly crafted. Friend enjoyed her third rail. Love the atmosphere, roomy inside despite being a shotgun space. Kudos for the built in banquette and small, beautiful wood tables. Nice alternative to sitting at the bar. Couches and chairs fill the window up front. It seemed the customers all purchased the homemade jerkey. I would prefer another snack option. Parking is easy and free, do not leave anything visible or i guarantee you will be sorry. Or take the t line, just steps outside the front door. Glad to see an upscale, less crowded alternative to the dog patch saloon. read more

I hear Third Rail is a newer establishment and I'm glad I was lucky enough to experience it before things get crazy - because I am sure people will discover it soon enough! I came here with a group for a birthday celebration, and the bar was fairly empty early in the evening. The Double Date was an incredibly pleasant drink to sip on, with a subtle sweetness from dates that balanced out the bitterness from the rye. It was so smooth I wanted a second date with it... :) At $10 per drink, I almost did. Hope Third Rail keeps the incredible concoctions coming! read more

Incredibly well-made cocktails. The 'Third Rail' is great, as is the 'Poolside.' Both drinks were balanced and fruity but not cloying. Mmmm. Nice vibe, good jerkies. The 'Grandma Frances' was tasty, mildly sweet and savory. I want to go back and try their vegetarian jerky offerings. A great date spot, assuming your date might find it endearing as you masticate for an extended period of time à la cow. read more

If im in the dog patch, and looking for beers/drinks and possibly best part - jerky; this is the place.

Fantastic cocktails, really well crafted. Loved the mezcal/egg white cocktail, really lovely. The spicy tequila/habanero was delicious as well And the jerky. I mean, free star for having a jerky menu for starters. Their jerk jerky was classic, and spicy candy quite good (and goes well w spicy cocktail) Great space as well. Wish it was a little closer to anything but worth the trek! read more

The Godzilla is my fav but all the drinks are great!! The candy and mushroom jerky's are my favorite!

So I've been eating jerky for a week straight as I recently went to Seattle for a wedding and bought an obscene amount of jerky. Anyways, heard this place throws down on the cocktails and jerky and couldn't resist. Hands down coolest bar I've been to in a long while! They even have Old Forester 1920! Definitely coming back soon!!! read more

Third Rail - Charlie Jerky + Old Forester 1920! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good for you DogPatch! You have a bar that you can be proud about. I was a bartender for a long time and I can tell you that these drinks are all unique and great. I forgot the name of our guy, but wow; he can make a cocktail! They have some great jerky too... my fave is the Beef Candy... but do yourself a favor and grab a few to sample! read more

Had my birthday party here. Place is small, but if you call ahead you can reserve an area. I was confused when they said I had to put down a credit card, but they don't actually charge anything to the card. They will only charge to the card if your group doesn't show up. Place is kind of in the middle of no where, but the drinks are good here. The jerky is interesting. All my friends seemed to enjoy the place. Good mix of cocktails and beers. Would come here again if I was in the area. read more

I consider myself a bit of a beverage snob. Yes, I will throw down Jameson or Bourbon by the bottle full from time to time, but really when I go to a bar I want a high quality cocktail, with great ingredients that makes me savor every sip. Most bars I love have anywhere from one to three A++ cocktails that meet this criteria. Some friends and I had somewhere between 8-12 cocktails amongst us here, and every single one I tried, I would consider an A++ cocktail. Also, the beef jerky was top notch. One would not think that high end cocktails and beef jerky could be paired together, but that person would dead wrong. If you're in SF and enjoy the art of making great drinks, come here with friends and explore their menu. I asked for "bespoke" but the bartender stuck to the menu items--and we were not disappointed. read more

Fire. Beef jerky is okay but drinks are fire and they let you bring in pizza from the place down the street which is fire af. Seriously that pizza is the biz. This bar is chill tho cool ass staff good ass drinks you in the area fire it up read more

Brought a friend to try the jerky since we've done a few happy hours after work here. It was not as busy on Saturday night as it is on a weekday so I'm glad.. Was not in the mood for that anyway. We got the Robin Hood and the small jerky sampler which was adequate. We had a good time. Would like to come back to try some more of their drinks. read more

The Third Rail is an excellent cocktail bar in the funky cool Dogpatch neighborhood. Although a bit small, it's quiet and never overly crowded. It's almost as if this place is a well kept secret; it should be crammed with hipsters. Perhaps that's the charm of Dogpatch working it's magic. The drinks are well made, strong and priced within reason (all cocktails are $10.) There's also a good beer selection available if that's your thing. The only food option available is the selection of housemade, artistinal jerky. The jerky is also part of a pairing in which you pick a beer, shot and jerky. It's a fun, cheap way to get some booze and a snack. If you need more than a small bite, the fine folks here will let you order in pies from nearby Long Bridge Pizza. The best part for is that I can walk there...and stumble back! I'm a fan! read more

One of my favs. Excellent drinks. Easy parking. Friendly bartendar and shes a kick ass motorcycle rider. Best mushroom jerky! ! read more

Third Rail - Line up - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Third Rail is one of the better cocktail bars in the Dogpatch, there are others like it, but this one is mine. If you're in the mood for some post-work Jerky, or after-work cocktails; hit up the Third Rail! Order off the menu, it's worth it if you know what you want. It gets a little hot and crowded, but luckily, they open the windows if you ask. read more

I like the jerky! It's a little silly and gimmicky, but it's also an awesome thing to chew on when you're drinking beer. In other news, boy this neighborhood sure has changed. read more

New favorite bar. As a beef jerky junkie, I'm sincerely upset I didn't come up with the idea for this place myself. All cocktails cost $10. For the amount of alcohol in each drink, they are a steal. Our favorites were the '12 Angry Men' and the 'Bone Machine' (both whiskey-driven). The bartenders were all very friendly and can make you something off the menu if you ask. They have several varieties of jerky available and my friends and I tried all of them, apart from the "vegetable jerky" (which is an affront to jerky in my carnivorous lifestyle, but maybe that's your bag). The clear favorite in our group was the "spicy beef candy" which was sweet, spicy, sticky, and delicious. We also really enjoyed the "cowboy" and "red eye" as well as all three jerky sticks which have interesting and varying flavors and textures. Jerky is ~$2.50/oz and I'd get at least 2oz per person to start. We never intended for our dinner to be in jerky and liquid form that night, but after three rounds that's exactly what happened. I'll definitely be back, especially if it's too late in the day to hit up The Ramp. read more

Been here a couple times now. I believe all the cocktails on the menu are $10, and all the ones I've tried so far have not disappointed. I think my favorites are the Tally Ho and Envy. Service is good, but mainly because I haven't gone here when it has been too crazy crowded, and we have always gotten seats for our group. I'm enjoying the casual vibe and tasty cocktails while this place is still a bit low-key. read more

$10 gets you an 8 oz beer, a shot, and some delicious jerky! All three are of your choosing from the 4 options listed for this wonderful combo. If you don't want that, well... You crazy! .....JK (: Cocktails look good here and are about $12 each. There's some reasonably priced beer as well. Got the Evil Twin (and to avoid confusion, it's a citrus mezcal cocktail, NOT the beer. I thought it was a beer at first glance too) and it looks very pretty, but boy, it can totally sneak up on you. It tastes pleasant and ends with just a hint of mezcal. I can drink this all night and be a happy gal! Chill space too. Will definitely come back whenever I'm in that neighborhood. read more

Got the jiggly puff + jerky pairing during happy hour and it was bomb. Jiggly puff is gin...13 dollars but 2 dollars off during happy hour which ends at 6pm. There's no food here....just good alcohol and beef jerry! Best combo!! There is happy hour from 4 to 6pm, which is 2 dollars off on everything on the first 3 pages! read more

Great whiskey cocktails. The Third Rail cocktail was delicious. Clean and classy neighborhood bar! Jeff was so much fun! read more

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Arrived a little after 5 on a Friday and the place was busy but not crazy. Bartenders were friendly, attentive, and mosti importantly skilled. Cocktail menu is awesome because it's organized by type of drink you'd be in the mood for. Among the group, we had 6 different drinks and they were all fantastic - some dangerously so, others potently so. Great use of fresh ingredients, good vibe (not douche-y). Would buy again. read more

$10 Dolla Holla. Awesome cocktails ($10) - really layered drinks and awesome price! I like the feel inside this place. It's dark, intimate but towards the front, there is a good area for standing room/mingling. The place is clean and put together. I kind of like how this place is out by Dogpatch. It's not as hectic! But, at the same time it can get loud and busy in here. Really depends on the crowd :) Bone Machine + Tally Ho + Casio Tone = all of these were awesome. Bone Machine - a gentleman's fave ;) Tally Ho - my fave as I love Gin! Casio Tone - very well balanced. ** really love how the drink menu is sorted out. Can't wait to be back to try the seasonal drinks + jerky!! Really excited I discovered this spot :) read more