Frequenting the mission, I've always walked by True Laurel but never went in. But yesterday my partner and I went there for brunch and boy, was it a treat! We sat outside beneath the shade of their giant gnarled tree on their mini deck, jiving to the nu-disco/funk music that was projecting from a small speaker on top of the building. We were welcomed by a bubbly server who just oozed SF brunch vibes and provided exceptional service. We ordered the Grilled Cheese omelet sandwich with sage sausage, cheddar cornmeal pancakes with chili butter and maple syrup, cold brew, and a Pisco Boy. All of the food was breathtakingly done and from bite one, we knew this place was a winner. One note - if you order the pancakes, they come dripping in maple syrup. I loved it (the saucier the better) but if you're not a major sweet tooth or want the pancakes to soak up the syrup The portions are on the smaller side for brunch but the flavors were as big as it gets! By the end of the meal, it was about $80 for two people which included the 20% automatic gratuity. Best thing on the menu: Grilled Cheese omelet sandwich with sage sausage. Definitely a small sandwich but the omelet was silky and pillowy like tamagoyaki from sushi and had the right balance of everything. read more

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Such a hip vibe bar! The drinks are so cute! Outdoor sitting is perfect! The chicken sandwich I had was amazing!! The chicken was so tender and juicy. The drinks were made to perfection. I totally recommend this place if you want some yummy food and amazing drinks. read more

True Laurel - Hot Chicken Sandwich - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Congrats on your new cocktail awards! Great neighborhood spot. Art is surrounding you even in the parklet. Friendly educated staff to boot

A little on the spending side, but the food and cocktails were awesome. I had the Ticino Silog and it was excellent. read more

True Laurel - Tocino Silog - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Their drinks were great, atmosphere inside is nice. Their fried mushroom dish is really good with the sour cream sauce. The steak was also really tender and well cooked, but the green sauce on top was too bitter. Service was quick and the staff were friendly. read more

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Stopped here for a quick pre-dinner cocktail. Very nice outdoor seating set up, plenty of space between tables. Great selection of tasty cocktails. We ordered the in the pines, under the palms and the mai o mai. Both were delicious. Highly recommend. We'll need to come back to try the rest of the menu! read more

True Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the best places to go for cocktails in the city and on a quieter street in the Mission, which can be a plus. My favorite cocktail here is the Melons Triple Lindy - surprisingly well balanced and far too easy to drink. Only downside is that service can be a little slow. read more

True Laurel - Martini - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really love the small plates/bar concept from the guys who run Lazy Bear. True Laurel is located in the space that used to be the Tradesman and used to also be a temporary space for Feastly pop-up events. I really like what they did to the place and I went along with the server's recommendations for a good dinner: (1). Broiled Oysters - really meaty oysters with an interesting green garlic and herb glacage and lardo. This was a great way to start the meal. (2). Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushroom with Sour Cream 'n' Allium Dip - this was something they brought from Lazy Bear and is their most popular dish. I can see why and this is something I would order every time I'm here. (3). Dry-Aged Pork Roast with Country Ham XO Sauce - the XO sauce on the pork turned this into an elevated version of a humble dish I used to have in the Philippines (cubed pork with shrimp paste). Really excellent. (4). Fig Leaf Ice Cream with Caramelized Figs - this is a Michelin quality dessert. Loved this. A non-alcoholic Shirley Temple was my pairing for the evening. Service was excellent and the bill, including tax and tip, was $75 (excellent value for the meal). Highly recommended!!! read more

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One of my favorite cocktail bars. When I'm in the area, I make sure to stop by for a drink and if I'm lucky enough to get a seat at the bar, then also something to eat. read more

True Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good food, great cocktails and great service! Will definitely return. And love the ambiance of the outdoor parklets!

Great drinks and nibbles, just enough to have a light-ish dinner. Grab an In The Pines, Under The Palms, order the amazing bar nuts, and thank me later. read more

Cocktails look good but yeast horrible. I even order two as I was thinking that maybe the forest one not a good choice but the 2nd one was even worst. The service also was almost nonexistence. Do not wears your time or money. Find another place. read more

True Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of the best brunches I've ever had and I was quite surprised about how good the food was. I think the best dish was the crispy potatoes. I could have eaten two orders to myself. The homemade ketchup it came with was super tasty. All of the mains were great as well: tocino silog, grilled cheese, and patty melt. All of it was super naughty and indulgent. read more

Great food and drinks but the service could use a lot of work. Overall, the staff just isn't friendly or helpful which I think holds this place back from actually being great (and living up to being one of the best bars in the country like it supposedly is). The staff doesn't take time to talk to you about drinks or ask if you have allergies- which seems really basic when you're paying so much for cocktails. Also- they cannot figure out their waitlist. Every time you go in, they roll their eyes at you for not having a reservation, then quote you an hour + for a table. Then literally five minutes later you get a text that your table is ready. It's bizarre. And also frankly annoying when you are around the corner at trick dog and have already ordered a drink. If true laurel just focused on being half as nice as they are cool, this place would be amazing. read more

Less than impressed. I came here because my friend posted a story about the crispy hen of the woods fried mushroom dish and I assumed it would be an earthy foraged delight straight out of the forest but to my surprise it was over coated in batter and tasted like a deep fried sour cream and onion Lays potato chip. The flavor of the mushroom was too heavily masked and although the idea was conceptually brilliant the execution was poor. It sounds like they are inconsistent with the quality control of this dish because my friend said the first time she tried it, it faired a little better and was less battered and much less greasy. The Patty melt also seemed like a good idea. I like that they have a story behind every dish like how the Patty is made from retired dairy cows but to me the sandwich was just drenched in beef fat and sauce making it overly soggy and just too beefy at every which angle you look at it. Lastly by the suggestion of the staff our third pick was the crab fondue dip with veggies and toast slices. I was highly optimistic about this one and I think I was expecting too much. The fondue was incredibly salty I felt like I was eating oily melted salty cheese with tiny crab flesh suspended in it. The baby pickled veggies that accompany it were bomb though! Overall I like the small bites concept but the execution here needs a lot more work. We went on a Wednesday night and was told the wait was 35 minutes, fast forward 45 mins later we had to go inside to follow up twice. Apparently they were waiting for a table or 2 to open up when there was an empty table of 4. They sat us down anyways. That part of the service needs some massaging especially on less busier days. read more

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Precious and overpriced. And, with the notable exception of the host, who was nice, arrogant service. Two drinks, two soggy salads and two greasy small patty melts set us back $130 with tip, and we left hungry. I've lived in the 'hood since TL opened and I went a few times then and had the same experience. Thought I'd give it another try. Won't be going again. read more

The place per se is nice. The people are OK but, unfortunately, way too often it turned out to be a big fuss just to get a table or have a drink. one of those places were it seems normal to wait 40 minute on a sidewalk to get a small table crammed between a tree and some cans or who know what they were for of the sidewalk to get a beer. And it is really really really expensive for what it is. The dishes I tried were just OK. So, overall, could be a really nice and pleasant place but it is too much of a fuss and it is way overrated and overpriced read more

True laurel is truly the gift that keeps on giving. I keep landing up in this area of the mission with grand plans to try another bar (trick dog, lost resort, madam race car, etc) but keep coming back here cause it never disappoints! Their cocktail menu is seasonal - but literally always delivers. My latest obsession is the melons triple lindy - if you happen to go here while this is still in season, definitely get it. Every flavor, right down to the pickled watermelon garnish is absolutely on point. Also, the food is ridiculously good - not at all what you expect at a bar (thanks lazy bear!). The mushrooms are an obvious and easy win - but the pea falafel was another absolute standout. Additionally, the TL patty melt is ridiculously good if you eat meat. Small in portion but heavy and soooo delicious. Love this place! read more

I'm getting quite tired of the SF entitlement. A tip is something you earn based on the service you provide, it's not something that is guaranteed. Don't get me wrong, I tip well when I get great service. This place automatically adds 20% when I had to flag the server to take our order and flag her to get the bill. This is not worth 20% and she has no incentive to do her job when her tip is guaranteed. read more

A few things to consider: 1) They are ranked #30 on North America's 50 Best Bars... if Michelin stars were given out like a list, True Laurel would be considered in the top echelon of 2 Michelin stars. 2) They automatically add 20% tip on your check My girlfriend wanted a cocktail but the menu can be a little intimidating as there are some really interesting ingredients being used that many people, like her, are not familiar with. She asked a probing question "What do you have that is refreshing?" The bartender responded "they are all refreshing." This is like telling a server you like full bodied wines and them telling you that their entire wine list is of full bodied wines..."Refreshing" is a style of cocktail. It will usually be balanced or even on the leaner side (not spirit forward). A few examples would include a Daiquiri, a Moscow Mule or an Aperol Spritz. Although I have not tried them I find it difficult to believe their Freezer Sazerac or Laurel Martini should be considered "refreshing". Our bartender disagreed. My girlfriend asked if she could have another minute. Eventually she decided on a glass of wine. The bartender pulled the wine out and said to us that it is a day old but she would check to see if it was alright to drink. She deemed it worthy and poured a glass... Why did you tell us that? If I went to a coffee shop and ordered a latte and my barista told me that she used day old milk before she gave it to me I would be upset, would you? Perception is important. Even though the wine tasted fine it was just such bad serving etiquette. If this was my local watering hole I would never have written a review. But this is a critically acclaimed bar that has the nerve to tip themselves with your money. If you are going to do something like this, True Laurel, then hire bartenders that work unbelievably hard and really go that extra mile. You want customers to see that 20% and think "no, they deserve more than that." In our case, she deserved less. read more

If you're looking for vibey ambiance, unique (and strong!) cocktails, and delicious small bites, True Laurel is your spot. We tried a few cocktails and liked Mai oh Mai the best, but they're really all special. All of the food dishes were great- my favorite were the blistered Brussel sprouts. The waiters were all helpful and kind! Excited to go back. read more

True Laurel - Flat iron steak - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Only came here for drinks. This place was dark. Couldn't see much. Nice atmosphere and pricy drinks. But it's ok. Everything in SF is expensive. Nice neighborhood tho. Worth coming here? Maybe try the food. I didn't eat here so I'm not sure how it is. I'm sure it's average, nothing out of the world. read more

Fun spot with good music, good vibes and delicious cocktails. Had the Hen of the Woods everyone raves about which were crispy, salty and yum. Only knock is that it's a small place and the bar stools are uncomfortable. Next time, I'll try to grab a table. read more

Came here for a birthday celebration for a friend and we rented out the private bar section, which was perfect for the large group that we were in. The food was excellent and the drinks were delicious. What's great about the reserved bar section is that you have your own waiter/bartender. Would highly recommend for a birthday or any celebration. read more

One of my favorite places to grab a casual drink. Cocktails are all amazing. Try some of the bourbon cocktails if you enjoy something smokey and strong read more

This is for the service. Asked nicely at the bar, "can you tell me what kinds of Amaro options do you have?" I was dismissively told to 'scan the bar code.' Then had to put up with hostess pronouncing their political views from their tank top - take a guess what it was? Then an automatic 20% tip for two drinks....for what? I'm a hater on this place, get your staff some hospitality training ASAP! And keep your political views to yourself when you are serving people at a bar/restaurant, totally inappropriate when people are paying you to be in the establishment. read more

Phenomenal. Great presentation of drinks. Sassy staff. Good atmosphere. The food was pretty delicious. read more

True Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been trying to go here for the longest time but could never find a good excuse to until I decided to simply go. It did not disappoint. I knew it wasn't going to be large portions, but the flavors made up for it. With every bite you can tell that the chef really cared about the dishes that they were making. The softshell crab was the star of the meal as it was well seasoned and the sauce compliments the texture and taste of the crab. The interesting salad that comes with it was also fun because it was unconventional as it was sliced vegetables! I would return for a first date. read more

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The BEST time of the year in San Francisco is during the holidays (when all the techbros go home)! It's quiet, minimal traffic, no lines AND finding parking is as easy as Kelly Bundy. Love it! From the owner of Lazy Bear, one of the most hyped restaurants in San Francisco, True Laurel (TL) is his new gastrobar (for lack of better words) serving craft cocktails and small plates. If you been to Lazy Bear, you know how incredibly hard it was to get tickets: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lazy-bear-san-francisco-5. It was easier to get reservations at The French Laundry so TL picked the perfect time to open during the Christmas weekend when most of SF is away. Had they opened earlier or later, I'm sure there would have been a line before their opening at 4 pm and a long wait. My friend and I went on their second night of opening, found parking right in front, and was seated immediately upon arriving. Located in the former Tradesman: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tradesman-san-francisco-2, TL's space is cozy with just a handful of two and four tops, two booths, two small bars, and a corner lounge area. I heard that outdoor seating is in the works (hopefully it will be dog-friendly). The cocktail menu has 11 cocktails on the menu ($14-$16) and for food ($6-$18), they have oysters, crudos, Dungeness crab fondue, patty melt, and ramen, etc. A tad pricey but typical SF prices and for the unique ingredients and top-notch quality of the cocktails and food, it's totally worth it. Where else can you get cocktails made with rain water, Jersey lightning, or grains of paradise? I have no idea what any of these things are but they sound like some next level sh*t. All that was missing was unicorn tears before I said, take all my monies! Or, my credit card because who carries cash these days? *fingers crossed it doesn't decline* My friend and I tried seven of the eleven cocktails: *A-Dilla: Our Aquavit, Makrut Leaf, Passionfruit, Coconut, Pomegranate ($15): http://bit.ly/2pyZRtv *Golden Child: Mezcal, Clarifed Golden Beet, Gentian Wine Reduction, Black Lime Bitters ($16): http://bit.ly/2l15mN0 *Humps For The Boulevard: Sesame Washed Bourbon, Berto, Persimmon-Infused Rosso ($15): http://bit.ly/2pE4Adu *Lightning in a Bottle: Pink Lady Cider, Rainwater, Jersey Lightning, Barrel-Aged Maple, Salt ($14): http://bit.ly/2DhwcHo *Prata-Tat: Cachaça, Sercial, Feijoa, Lime, Egg White, Grains of Paradise ($14): http://bit.ly/2BGidKR *Shaker Lemon Stirred: Meyer Rind Infusion Fino, Moscato Chinato, Vodka, Lemon Leaf Oil ($14): http://bit.ly/2C6OIoT *Top Dawg: Fermented Shinko Tonic, Rancio Wine, Black Sudachi, Smoked Salt ($14): http://bit.ly/2BSUGKv Not going to get into details of each cocktail but we loved most of them. They're very unique, well-balanced, and delicious. I was worried that the wine component would make the cocktails too sweet but they weren't. Even IF you're partial to only drinking clears or darks, try something you normally wouldn't order and you just may be surprised at how much you like it. I usually don't drink darks but the Humps For The Boulevard was ahhhhmazing! The toasted sesame seeds was so aromatic and gave a nice savoryness to the cocktail that was balanced with the sweetness of the persimmons. The only cocktail I didn't like was the Top Dawg because it tasted like a watered down tamarind agua fresca to me. Our server kindly let me exchange it for another cocktail. For food, we ordered: *Broiled Oysters w/ Green Garlic, Herb Glaçage, Lardo (3 for $13, $4.25 for each add'l oyster): http://bit.ly/2lcMWI8 Can't even put into words, how bomb these were. The oysters + lardo combo made for an incredible one bite. Get these! We ordered two orders. *Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushrooms w/ Sour Cream 'n' Alliums Dip ($11): http://bit.ly/2C8UvI5 Our server said, this is TL take on French fries - hot, crunchy, and plain addictive. Get these too! *TL Patty Melt w/ Griddled Old Beef, Caramelized Onion Special Sauce, Melty Cheese, Pickles ($13): http://bit.ly/2lcSBOp The dry aged beef patty was ridiculously juicy and each bite with the toasty bread, the salty, melty cheese and the acidity of the pickles was sublime. Best patty melt ever. *Buttermilk Fried Chicken Cutlet w/ Yuzu A1, Shaved Brussels Sprouts, Sesame Seed ($15): http://bit.ly/2pCJrjN The chicken breast was very moist but the breading shattered when cutting into. It was hard to get a bite with both the chicken and breading. Nonetheless, it was good but not something that wow'd us as much as the other dishes. Service was fantastic! Our server, Megan was awesome - warm, attentive, and knowledgeable. She made excellent recommendations. While this is a hipster bar, there's zero pretentiousness here. The dining area is small and tight so I recommend coming here early and no more than a party of four. Overall, fantastic opening weekend with delicious cocktails and food! Can't wait to return... read more

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Yaassss!! Excellent first-time experience at True Laurel, which was a huge morale boost after a so-so dinner just around the corner. Should have come here for dinner. Will definitely have to, next time. My friend and I found seats at the bar and were given cocktail menus right away. I had two cocktails, the Brokaw and the Grandma. Both were great. The bartenders didn't quite know how to respond when I asked for recommendations because all the drinks are so unique. I like that there's a set list of cocktails, and they all sound amazing. The food menu looked appetizing too. Unfortunately we were way too full to have anything else. I was captivated by the modern decor, bar design, and general interior of True Laurel. There's a variety of seating around the restaurant, and I'd love to spend a little more time here, both for happy hour and for dinner. read more

True Laurel - Menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a gem! Really friendly staff and a chill vibe with good music in the background. I had the TL Patty Melt with the added Beef Fat Sizzled Egg. Yum! My Filipino friend had the Tocino Silog. I know it was damn fine because he didn't say a word and he ate slower than I've ever seen. His word: Saraaaap! read more

True Laurel - TL Patty Melt with Beef Fat Sizzled Egg - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Visited with a group of 4 + reservation on a Thurs night. I had the Raisin the Bar, Westside Southside, and split the crispy hen of the woods mushrooms. All was great! Overall recommend as a chill place for drinks + snacks. read more

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Met with friends for drinks here and such a cute hidden gem! Cocktails were definitely unique and curated well with quality ingredients. I really enjoyed their God loved fig cocktail, which was quite different but literally tasted as if Im eating figs but with just the amount of alcohol mixed. And we actually ended up ordering a bunch of stuff on the menu and everything was delightfully yummy. We started with the warm savory bar nuts and shared the chicken liver mousse, enquites tostada, patty melt and the Nashville crab, which was a lil spicy for me but they definitely warn you on the menu description. read more

Amazing cocktails!!! Had the grandmas to blame and the Mai o mai. Both excellent!! For food, still feel similarly to my last review but we did have the gumbo and that was super yummy and hit the spot on a cold Sf evening. Great service!! read more

True Laurel - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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New milk punch: Silk the Shucker: Corn Cob Brandy, Corn Whisky, Amendoa, Citrus, Corn Silk Milk Washed Comes in a really cool and cute cup and they toast off a slice of corn for garnish. Not as much corn flavor as I had hoped. I've been experimenting on trying to get corn flavor into milk punches and have veered into moonshines and Mellow Corn, Balcones, and Nixta and haven't quite found the flavor I'm looking for. Still a great drink and I always get a couple of the road. Also make sure to try the TL Carajillo read more

Meh, only one red wine available by the glass. Cocktails are good. Food options are way below average. The TL patty melt had extremely soggy bread and was the only option for a proper meal. Service is average. Cost is high. Overall not worth it. I'd recommend only going here for snacks + a few drinks. read more

True Laurel is a cool little spot- perfect for a date or catching up with a friend! I really enjoyed the ambiance here on a Friday night- dimly lit and just enough noise to feel like your conversation is private but not loud enough to be yelling at each other. To my understanding, the cocktail menu can always be changing. When I stopped by, I got the Mai O Mai and it was delicious and refreshing! It was pleasant to sip on as my friend and I chatted away. The cocktails are definitely fancy and have a price to match ($15 each). Overall, this is a nice place to treat yourself to fancier/classier night out in the Mission. read more

True Laurel - Mai o mai - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow! I was sent to True Laurel by Zach (the killer bartender from Bourbon and Branch) and he did me a real solid! True Laurel just opened (literrally tonight) and they nail it on all the key points: -Ambiance -Drinks -Vibe Dimly lit, not a fuss, solid drink list, chill staff. Spacious, two separate bars and table seating. Great beats. Great date spot. Great chill drink spot. Solid find for drinks and small bites. Definitely worth a stop in. Wish you tons of success, True Laurel! read more

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Was really impressed by the food and cocktails! We ordered the green goddess salad, mushrooms, crevice, and pork belly. Their vegetarian dishes were outstanding, flavors that really worked together. The pork belly and crevice were fine. Nothing out of the ordinary but still very yummy. Not necessarily filling portions, but also maybe because we just got small bites to share. Am aiming to come back to try their brunch and new items on the dinner menu. read more

The cocktails were stunning, unique, and so delicious! Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Their outdoor space is also nice and spacious! Went for brunch and tried the cornmeal cheddar pancakes and tocino silog. Both items were good and as expected. The food did not stand out to me, but I would have it again! The drinks were the star of the show. Must try: the Carajillo and Mai o Mai! read more