Sadly, this place didn't live up to the hype for me. The service felt pretty unfriendly, which left a bad taste in my mouth by the end of the night. The drinks were also just okay - nothing memorable. read more

I came across True Laurel on the top 50 bars of North America list, safe to say this joint belongs on that list. I sat by the bar as I enjoy watching the staff create art in a glass and it seems that the majority of mixes are made in house. We got the TL Carajillo, melons triple Lindy, and the in the pines under the palms. The Carajillo is a Mexican version of an espresso martini, I get some cinnamon notes in the cocktail as well. The melons triple Lindy is perfect marriage of smokey with a dash of sweetness from the melon and shiso. Lastly, in the pines under the palms, a spirit forward cocktail that marries middle eastern flavors with Forrest notes (rosemary). Presentation and tastes of the cocktails were fantastic. Would absolutely comeback here. read more

True Laurel - In the pines under the palms - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We got here and first thing I would say is make a reservation. We made one for just after 5 pm and when we got there the entire front patio was completely booked. I can only imagine a bit later on. We just stopped in for an app and a drink and both were super delicious. I ordered the Freezer Sazerac and it was a very smooth, very spirit forward cocktail which is what I was looking for. The bar nuts were also super addictive. The only watch-out for this place is it seems like it can get pretty busy and it is a little pricey. Great spot overall though and what we ordered was worth the high price. read more

True Laurel - Bar nuts, freezer sazerac, and a Shirley Temple - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Had a chance to try True Laurel in the Mission area and this was an awesome experience. We had not planned to go here but our friend had said that this is by the Lazy Bear team so we decided why not! This places ambiance is a little bit darker and cozy vibes but I liked it. Definitely a nice spot for a date or with friends. Once here we ordered the fried mushrooms with the crème sauce and this was delicious. Decent portion and was the perfect snack! For my drink I tried the Underground Network which was absolutely delicious. Every sip was yummy and loved the citrus flavor. My friend got the Grandma's to Blame and this was yummy and lighter in flavor. I loved that they put lavender on the ice which gave it a great smell every time you took a sip. Overall all the drinks the group had was great and we really enjoyed our experience here! read more

True Laurel - Hen Mushroom with crème sauce - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I heard about this place from a friend many moons ago and finally got the chance to try it. Loves: + Really unique drinks. Redwood tips? Thai tea kombucha? Meyer dressing? They had ingredients where I had to ask "what is this even going to taste like?!" Enjoyed "Concord & Oil" and "Grandma's to Blame," and if you want boozy then "In the Pines" is where to go. + All cocktails are $18 + The only food we tried were mushroom chips (crispy hen of the woods mushrooms $17) and they were surprisingly good + Amazing staff; they were all so cool and on it + Nice space. Vibrant inside but also decent seating outside (with heat lamps!) Positive experience and would highly recommend. Totally see why they are #30 on World's Best Bars North America list. :) read more

True Laurel - Concord & Oil and Carajillo, $18 each - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were looking for an outdoor dining spot for brunch and, due to lots of internet hype, ended up at True Laurel! We were particularly looking for a good burger; though the patty melt is not a burger per se, it resides near the top of many of the "best burger" lists in SF. We also got the duck confit tostada and the Quincess Bride of Chucky Cocktail. The patty melt was good overall still has some room for improvement. One of the things I really do like about it is the overall simplicity of the ingredients. Most of the really good burgers I have had keep it simple on the extras and let the meat shine. The meat quality and blend is VERY good, but it ideally should not be cooked well done or the patty could be a bit thicker and slightly juicier. The duck confit tostada was actually the surprise! The overall lightness of flavor and texture of the dish was welcome. The duck itself could use a touch more seasoning, but the execution overall was spot on. The cocktail was juicy, citrusy, and, most importantly, NOT TOO SWEET! The service was solid. Our waitress was informative and helpful. I think the next time I come here I want to experience the late night vibes. read more

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Great drink and always warm service on our visits. Must try the crispy hen of the woods and warm bar nuts

After Trick Dog, we walked to True Laurel. It's literally around the corner and then you get to knock 2 epic San Francisco bars off your list! I had no idea True Laurel was related to Lazy Bear. I asked the bartender at Trick Dog what I should order and I'm so glad he showed me the way. The Mai O Mai (Blended Rum, Lime, Pistachio Orgeat, Curaçao, Coffee-Rum Float, Milk Washed) was AMAZING!!! It reminded me of a clarified Expedition from Smuggler's Cove (the most amazing tiki bar). We also got the Quincess Bride Of Chucky (Cachaca, Quince, Aromatized and Oxidized Wines, Warming Spices, Citrus). It was served in a champagne glass and was delightful, very drinkable. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get a seat inside, but it was an unusually warm night in SF and they have benches and twinkle lights just outside. A server will come by to take your order and the drinks came out surprisingly fast. read more

True Laurel - Mai O Mai (must order) and the lovely Quincess Bride Of Chucky - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had low expectations going into this place, but wow everything exceeded expectations. We sat at the bar and ordered, In the Pines & Bobby-boo. IN THE PINES was the showstopper. The flavor was absolutely insane. I will definitely be back for this drink. We also ordered the woods mushrooms per our bartender's recommendation & they were delicious! Ambiance is modern & service was great. My favorite part is that the bill comes in The Giving Tree book! We had a great time and will definitely be back. read more

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Cool bar with inventive drinks and tasty offerings. While I don't particularly care for whisky they had some neat drinks that were balanced and thoughtfully roesenteAtmosphere is lively and staff is knowledgeable about menu. Something about the bar food's preparation is both comforting and homey. Location is easily accessible by public transportation but parking can be a pain so plan accordingly. read more

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

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The patty melt is absolutely worth the hype! Super soft and saucy. The mushrooms are also amazing and a huge portion. Vibe inside is very intimate and dark; would be perfect for a date. Food here is pricey but worth it! Service was a bit lacking (not the most friendly) but the food came out super quick and was all really good. Mai o mai was great but didn't love the other drink we got (blind date -- quite strong). Definitely recommend making a reservation as we had to wait over an hour for a table on a Tuesday at 8. read more

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Food and drinks were amazing but gotta say it lowkey rubbed me the wrong way that that an hour and 10 minutes into our $300 dinner (with auto gratuity) they asked us to either leave or move because another reservation was coming. Mind you, we had a reservation, we were not a walk-in. We still had half our food that we had to finish at a small table in the corner. But otherwise great and tasty. Maybe a better spot for a quick bite or drink but not great to have a leisurely meal. Too bad because I was vibing read more

Came here on a weekend evening and indoor seating was full. We got lucky and got a table after waiting for a few mins. I've always been impressed with the cocktails here, and the main reason I returned here for its curative cocktails and vibes. I like that they change their cocktail menu occasionally. We got the doctor away and in the pines cocktails. Doctoraway- It tasted like some sort of honey herbal medicinal drink that while I thought it was good, isn't for anyone. In the pines is also really good- lingering finish, smoky and strong. It's not an easy cocktail for everyone's palate. This place is perfect for a date night- the bar area is a bit loud. I recommend sitting outdoor at the patio or do table seatings if you want a quieter spot. Service was average at best. The host was very friendly. read more

Bar nuts - 4/5 Actually a highlight. Good flavor and nicely seasoned. Patty melt - 6/10 Way too small for what they charge. The portion was honestly closer to one of those premade Smucker's PB&J sandwiches than a real entrée. Very salty, decent taste, but nowhere near worth the price. Fried mushrooms - 3/10 Big disappointment. They came out oily, bland, and completely lacking salt. They honestly tasted like the oil they were fried in was old or overused just that stale fryer-oil flavor instead of anything fresh. The aioli didn't add much either. I had to ask the server for Tabasco just to make them edible. Shaker Lemon stirred cocktail - 4/5 It tasted good, but it was definitely on the weaker side. I couldn't taste any alcohol at all. Service - 7/10 Okay, but not great. We weren't checked on much and had to flag someone down. I also didn't like having to go inside to tap my phone for payment they should really have a mobile reader. The service didn't feel 20% tip worthy, especially with the mandatory gratuity. It almost feels like the effort drops because the tip is already guaranteed. For a place with this reputation and price point, I expected a lot more. We spent about $150 for two people and there are definitely better options in SF for that amount. Nothing was bad enough to be a total disaster, but nothing stood out enough to make me want to come back either. read more

The food here is tasty and also super aesthetic. Kind of overpriced even for sf. Some of the dishes do have decent quantities like the fried mushrooms though. Sitting outside wasn't too bad near the heater. The server was helpful in making dishes vegetarian for me which was nice. The food was very flavorful and crispy mushrooms and cauliflower were good. Martini was very strong and served in a very cute glass. read more

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True Laurel is a solid, popular spot where you'll find good cocktails and decent fare. I came on a Thursday night and place was busy but you can still snag a table throughout the night. Drinks were solid - had the Bourbon Booyah that was spirit forward but a decent splash of flavor to take the edge off. Service was nice and they have some heat lamps outside. read more

Pricey but great atmosphere. Ordered the Mai o Mai and In the Pines drinks, they were really good (despite being served in plastic glasses) but not sure they were $18 good. For food I got the Heirloom Tomato salad with pork belly which hit the spot (but could have had more meat), and the Panna Cotta which was tasty! read more

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

How could I forget this 5 star review?! Sister restaurants to Lazy Bear, True Laurel is easily one of my favorite places for cocktails! The absolute must try for me is their Mai Tai. Oi mi goshhh!! the cutie little cherry tucked away in its little snugged hole on ice is delicious when paired with a sip of their Mai Tai. You need to try!! I usually come for drinks and small bites (the hen of wood mushrooms is really good) and have been able to get seated with no problem. You might have to wait a bit if you come when it's really busy. True Laurel has quite a few tables inside, bar area, and outdoor seating. Parking is super tricky so plan ahead for that. I like to come here while I wait to be seated at/ after eating at Flour + Water or Penny Roma! It's the perfect food/drink combo. read more

True Laurel - My fav Mai Tai! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for the double chicken please pop up last night for a Friday eve celebration. We got there at 5:30pm and seated at 7:45, kinda long but it was so hype! Someone even came out to pass out shots for us waiting in line lol The food was all true laurel and the drinks were from DCP. They had indoor and outdoor seating, outdoor was a bit quieter and indoor was more lively and poppin with music and people standing by the bar. Would def come back just for the pate mousse and the patty sandwich! read more

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The fried mushrooms was the best thing ever. The drinks were good but the mushrooms are what stood out to me. The fry on the mushroom was light and not oily. The sauce it came with was like sour cream and onion seasoning mixed into a creamy sauce. IT WAS DELICIOUS, MUST GET. The setting is pretty cute, love the space and the outdoor seating but the seating inside is really tight. The tables are really close together so you can pretty much hear everything from the other tables. read more

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Always a great spot for dinner and drinks. We just went for drinks last night and sat at the bar, the staff are always super friendly and helpful if you have any questions. It's a little dark inside but it creates a nice space when you are there. read more

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

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Mandatory 20% service charge which is not cool. Drinks are solid but service is a bit slow

I've been here many times and I simply love it. It is more than a cocktail bar, all is art and the staff is amazing. The service is fast, you can have one of the best cocktails in the world while enjoying the incredible atmosphere. Just plan your date well, as it's usually full. read more

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

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Grade A bar I've been to numerous bars around the bay and this one takes the cake. The drinks were delicious though a bit pricey. The menu changed depending on the season of ingredients which is a testament to its quality. The food was surprisingly good! The pate and mushrooms were to die for. That, or i had the drunchies. Great service! Kind people! And the embodiment of what an sf bar looks like Big Mitch read more

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I love taking friends here. This place has never failed me after going more than 5x now! I'm always going to be obsessed with their deep fried mushrooms, but this time we just got their cocktails. The ambience is perfect - intimate and classy. The service is also quick. And the cocktails were delish; I'm always satisfied with my Mai o Mai. read more

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

The food was absolutely delicious. The dishes were well thought out and plated perfectly. It was upscale and classy without being pretentious. The staff were all friendly and they all worked well together. The whole experience was a pleasure!! I'd happily visit again. read more

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

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Super cute warm setting with delicious cocktails. Bar seating often open even if tables book up! read more

True Laurel - Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushrooms - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

True Laurel is such a cute cocktail bar! 10/10 ambiance and the patio is dreamy. The cocktails do have a lot going on. Small food menu available for bites too. DRINKS -BOBBY BOO-URNS: didn't care for this drink. Wouldn't order this again. -IN THE PINES, UNDER THE PALMS: interesting flavors with the toasted coconut rye. Pretty good! Loved the redwood tips, very fragrant. FOOD -Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushrooms: 10/10- whatever you do, GET THESE. We couldn't stop eating these perfectly tempura fried mushrooms with sour cream dip. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Review from April--Had heard many good things about True Laurel so we swung by on a Sunday night ~9:30. The hen of the woods mushrooms lived up to the hype--crispy and savory, and the sour cream and onion dip was a nice pairing. Epitome of ideal bar food. Drinks were small but strong. Service was just okay. The bar was extremely loud, to the point where it definitely detracted from the experience. read more

True Laurel - Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushrooms - Cocktail Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Awesome cocktails! We gotta hear around opening and there were plenty of seats! Loved the TL Carajillo the most! Try out a few and enjoy! read more

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

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they took such good care of me on my birthday - Javier, Jesse and the team were a total delight! the food is truly next level and the patio is on such a quaint little street. i'm obsessed with this place and cant wait to be back! read more

Amazing cocktails, wine, and food. This place has it all. We've gone for afternoon cocktails and had to return for brunch. The omelet sandwich is to die for. The breakfast potatoes are so cruncy. Corn pancakes are sweet, fluffy, and have a satisfyingly gritty texture. Cocktails are complex and intriguing while the wine list has a combination of familiar and uncommon options. read more

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Came in on a Sunday at 1:30pm with reservation for a group of 4. We originally had outdoor seating reserved, but luckily there was enough space inside for us to change to get a table instead. The interior is super cute, super colorful! I'm a huge fan of the paintings on the wall and some at each booth, definitely sets some fun & fresh vibes. For food my group had: * silog * pancakes * potatoes * duck huevos rancheros And drinkies: * king's cup * sapphires, diamonds * true brew * boo-urns * god loves figs Highly, highly recommend the cornmeal pancakes for brunch, and sapphires diamonds as a starter refreshing drink! The pancakes are soaked in syrup and topped with this amazing jalapeno butter and just melts in your mouth. Out of all the drinks we had the sapphires diamonds one was the most refreshing in my opinion. Runner-up shoutout to the true brew, which is basically just coffee with sweet heavy cream. Delicious! Our waitress was super nice and knowledgeable, we asked her some advice for which drinks were the most refreshing and she gave us lots of information that helped us choose. She also gave us multiple checkins throughout our time and always kept our waters full. Highly recommend this spot for brunch since it's not as crowded! (I heard this place really gets popping in the evenings so maybe consider coming early for brunch!) read more

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I love this bar. It is one of my absolute favourite bars in the city. It's beautiful, the servers and bartenders are friendly and knowledgeable, and the inside has an elevated yet cozy look and feel to it. Every time I come, the cocktails are excellent! Balanced, well-crafted; everything I want and expect them to be. They have a decent but not extensive selection of liquors and liqueurs, but all the bartenders I have had have made great things with what's available! The on-menu drinks are pretty good, with a few that are really fantastic, but the off-menu classics that I have ordered are what I've been most impressed by. The snacks are good too; definitely try the crispy mushrooms! Nothing here disappoints! read more

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My friend and I had been wanting to try True Laurel place for a while since we saw it was voted one of the Top 50 bars in North America. We walked in on a Sunday night around 9pm and were seated immediately. The ambiance is lovely- it is so intimate but each table also felt like there was privacy. We ordered the Mai o Mai and the Quinine Cobbler as our drinks, and although they weren't our favorites, I have to give credit where it's due that the drink menu was very creative and different from others that I've seen! For food, we ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse, TL Patty Melt and the Flat Iron Steak. The Flat Iron Steak was good and paired well with the salad, but it was crazy that it cost $28. The patty melt was very average and we could probably find that elsewhere for a third of the price. The Chicken Liver Mousse was probably the best thing we ordered- it paired so well with the bread. I'm now realizing they didn't give us the strawberry rhubarb jam with it, but we weren't even told that. They had asked if we wanted more bread to finish off the dish and we agreed, but we didn't know they would charge us for it.. Very expensive for what it is and there is a 20% service charge on every bill so just be aware of that before coming. I would come back to try the other drinks but maybe just order an appetizer to share. read more

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A friend told us about True Laurel, so we decided to check it out since we're new to the area and exploring. The drinks were amazing--some of the best we've had. Their cocktail menu features unique ingredients like sesame washed genepy , redwood tips, and kumquat cola, which made it fun to order and try new things. We also tried the oysters, which were everything, and the chicken liver mousse, which was just as good. The service was a bit off at first. Our initial bartender didn't seem very interested--he took our drink order but didn't say much else. And then bitched about how long he'd been there to a server. Luckily, the replacement bartender was super friendly and made the experience much better--wish we'd had her from the start! The bar is easy to find, with the bar area on the left when you walk in, tables to the right, and some patio seating. My husband's drink (sorry, I can't remember the name) was just okay, but overall, we enjoyed our time there. read more

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Loved how creative and well executed all the drinks were, excellent service, immaculate vibes on a sunny Friday after work. My favorite was the pea-casso which was refreshing, sweet, and slightly vegetal. Great presentation and heavy pours read more

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

Food and cocktails were amazing. 5 out of 5. Skip the wine completely if you are not a natural wine aficionado. The menu and servers did not warn us or ask if we liked it or inquire why we did not drink any of our wine. A little heads up that the wines were unfiltered natural wines would have been sufficient to warn us off. I get it, natural wine is in vogue and some people love it but not all of us do. We paid nearly $40 for two sips of tart unfiltered wines that did not reflect the classic nature if their varietals and it left us ove-all disappointed with our experience. read more

Came on a weekend mid afternoon for some drinks and was seated immediately. It wasn't too crowded. We sat at a table but after the sun was getting in our eyes, we moved over to the bar. They were really attentive with our water, etc! Would come back to try the food. read more

Ironically haven't tried the drinks here but the food is solid enough to just come for the food, sans drinks. It's not really my kind of food (too heavy / oily), but they do what they do well. We tried: Crispy Hen of the Woods Mushroom w/ sour cream 'n' Alliums Dip - My boyfriend really liked this but I found it too fried, I couldn't taste the mushroom at all. It was basically just a crunchy vehicle for the dip. Blistered Brussels sprouts (tamari, crispy chicken skin, toasted garlic, sesame leaf, spicy mayo) - I found this too oily for me, but the brussels sprouts were tasty enough. Cauliflower pancake (Green Garlic, Purple Yam BBQ Sauce, Pickled Celtuce, Spring Onion, Mendocino Seaweeds) - This was my favorite dish of the night. Loved how the cauliflower flavor came through and the pancake texture was chewy, somewhat reminded me of the texture of a Korean seafood pancake. Patty Melt (Griddled Dry-Aged Antique Beef Ground in House, Melty Cheese, Caramelized Onion Special Sauce, Pickles, on Beef Fat Pain de Mie) - My boyfriend really loves the patty melt, the accolades are deserved. I'm not a patty melt person but acknowledge it was still pretty tasty. read more