I came to this place dressed in a full heavy coat,scarf, hat with one of those cotton balls at the top, and mittens because my friends told me it was two below. Everyone else was dressed normally! read more

just a downright good time! they play live music and just fun to dance around with friends and get drinks and have a fun time!

Um, heck yeah! It wouldn't be a trip to San Francisco without karaoke, and I'm hoping this becomes our new go-to for our annual work get-togethers. We arrived a bit early so we were able to secure some prime real estate along the karaoke stage and get in a slew of song requests before things picked up about an hour after our arrival. While we were waiting for things to kick off I was able to take in the surroundings and I dug the vibe and decorations; it reminded me of some places around Austin, Texas. The bar is well-loved and arranged for prime karaoke excellence, including a large projector screen with lyrics instead of just a small TV or two. DJ Purple is unrivaled in my years of karaoke across many cities; even if you don't want to sing you're still going to love his show. Things got a little cramped as the night wore on, but it was never unbearable. I'll never forget my first rodeo at Tupelo and look forward to returning next year. read more

Best karaoke experience ever! Tupelo is a total dive bar and would not have been my first choice except that all my co-workers were meeting up there for karaoke and cocktails. But when I heard there would be a man playing a saxpphone I knew I had to see if for myself. We arrived just as karaoke was revving up and my co-workers opened with a fun 80s song. To my delight there was a small stage which erupted with smoke, disco lights and yes... a man playing a saxophone! Did I mention he also sings back-up and plays a kazoo? Am I now ready to die in karaoke heaven? YES. And then when you realize the karaoke DJ never smiles because created karaoke magic is just another night on the job, you really start crying from all the joy which is being created by everyone in the room screaming old school hits from the top of their lungs in unison. Why 4-stars? Bad wine. I know I should have known better, but it tasted like it was mixed with cat pee. Still, Tupelo is indeed a special place, and it will forever have 1st place on the San Francisco karaoke awards mantle that exists in my mind. read more

Great casual bar with decent bar food. It's in a good location as well. Perfect spot if you're bar hopping.

Bank account be damned, after this fun night with co workers at Tupelo! This fairly divey, yet lively karaoke bar had the greatest karaoke "host" of all time, I'm serious. He had signs that told the audience that he was to busy to talk, I thought that was a bit strange at first, then I hear him rip into the sax solo on Toto's, "Africa" and I knew this karaoke experience was going to be quite different then the ones I had had before! He controlled the songs, the lights, the smoke, played keyboards, and saxes, did backing vocals, but never over stayed his welcome or took the fanfare away from the singers on the stage! He was incredible and made it so fun! We had a large work crew there, and there was also a big crew there for a b-day party so the place was packed but hey that made it all the more fun. I got to sing my Karaoke standard, "Born To Run." And yes our host hit all the right notes on the sax making it rock just a bit harder tonight! It was so fun seeing friends perform, while drinking some brews, I must have bought said friends some drinks too, cause my bank account was singing the blues the day after! Oh well, all in good fun! Bartenders did a great job for how busy it was, and I would come back in a heart beat! read more

Tupelo - Southern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Decent, but not great. Prime location on Grant. Terrible music. Overpriced drinks. Doorman nonsense. Giant TVs. Pretty lame, overall. There are much better places in the neighborhood. read more

The drinks were strong, the wait staff was effective, but the bouncer was an absolute pig. I was in line waiting to order drinks and I thought I'd make conversation with the bouncer, I told him he was doing a great job handling the weirdos trying to cut the line and after a quick thank you he immediately pivoted to telling me how he was "about to f**k that sl*t" motioning across from us to an unsuspecting girl with her friends. Then proceeded to tell me all about his methods of coercing women into sleeping with him. This man made sure we knew this wasn't an isolated incident, he made my female friends uncomfortable and repeated some version of this monologue to all the other guy friends in my party. Dude acted like a pig and needs to fix his attitude, whoever this was working the street until closing on 3/27/21 needs to take a look at their actions and alter their behavior. read more

Good little dive bar with soul food and cold Stella in north beach SF Give it a try if you are in the area Enjoy read more

Tupelo - Good cold beer dive bar north beach - Southern Near Me - San Francisco, California

We stumbled upon this place deep into our bar crawl. As we were roaming the streets, the music was calling to us. Once we came in, we saw a crowd of people dancing like no one's watching, laughter everywhere and just an overall fun place. We joined in on the festivities dancing, drinking and meeting new people on a Sunday early afternoon. I met a patron at the bar and he ordered us Irish Car Bombs and also my drink of the day. Next time I may come here as first stop and groove to the music. read more

This bar is constantly prowled by pickpocketers. One night I had my wallet stolen out of my bag, and my credit card was used at a gas station later that night... so violating. This bar is very convenient to my friends' places in the city, so a few weeks later I gave the bar the benefit of the doubt and went again..... MISTAKE. This time my friends had their phones stolen out of their purses. Two strikes and you're out. Never coming here again. From the sounds of the reviews below, we are not alone in this experience. read more

I went in one Sunday afternoon. Classic SF bar. Warm, overpriced, half-poured beer in a chipped glass served with a chaser of attitude. You come back real soon, ya hear? read more

The crowd was energized and full of soul. Maybe the bar scene is not for me anymore. My friend met a local blind date on our stay in the city. He mentioned that Tupelo was his favorite bar in north beach. He was a rhythm and blues man and could sip whiskey and chill here all night. After giving my ID card to the door host I wanted to commence an About Face (Military Lingo) and beat feet elsewhere. This bar had to of been 15x30 feet long and had at least 150 hot, sweaty, drunk bodies hip to hip in there. The live band was rocking and rolling which gave a great vibe. However, the bar is so small that the acoustics only amplify even louder. If you're looking for a rowdy crowd with dive bar vibes, then this place will be a for sure winner. read more

This is a cool little hidden spot on the winding of thee grant ave. I say hidden because the sign is kinda inconspicuous and then you enter into a Willy Wonka palace of bar. It has plenty space and random jazz and cover band nights. Last time I came here was after work when my bar career was starting off in north beach, a wonderful neighborhood. But enough with the nostalgic romance, this place is poppin, full wide bar and the bartender even took a shot with us amidst juggling a few drinks. Now that's tending! Must go here again when I'm gallivanting these parts. read more

This place is awesome. Great food. Great staff. Lukas is hilarious!! This place is a north beach gem!!

this bar is not good generally not fun vibes the service is typically slow and does not make me feel amped up about the whole experience #tupelosucks read more

I did not try the food and definitely came more during "bar hours." It was so much fun. Music was great, could not stop dancing. The bouncer was awesome - let's talk about customer service for a sec... this guy spent a good amount of time engaging with the group and even took a photo. Total sweetheart. I'd go back just for the experience again... but definitely could try food menu, pictured on reviews here look goooooood! read more

I've been here twice now and it was super busy on both occasions. This is a popular place! It's a fine bar, but definitely nothing phenomenal. I think it really has the great North Beach going for it! With so many other bars around, I'd definitely recommend it as a stop if you're bar hopping around the neighborhood. read more

Best bar for drinkers and music lovers alike. Especially the Monday night funk band, they're a hidden gem in North Beach on a total off night, who knew?! read more

A few times a year I get to escape my San Diego "work island" in order to see some of my coworkers from around the globe. We talk shop, we spend time at HQ, we go to dinner, we have drinks, but our favorite bonding pastime would have to be: karaoke. For the past couple of years we searched for and found a few karaoke bars but we've had to be the ones to create the fun as the karaoke setup always seems to be, uh, kinda s#itty. Nope, not anymore, friends. We've now found Tupelo... more importantly, DJ Purple. As soon as we walked through the door on Tuesday night the vibe was infectious. Anyone who knows some good old fashioned karaoke can instantly tell that the quality of the equipment is top notch and the person running it definitely cares. The sound is good, smoke machines go off at exactly the right time, the songs are constantly adjusted for volume and pitch (so you would have to be REALLY bad to actually sound bad), and our favorite part of all, live saxophone! Seriously, grab a drink, pick a song and enjoy the show. It's fun, fun, fun, and all of us walked away from the experience rambling about how great Tupelo was for karaoke. Will be back? Hell yeah! Be ready for us, DJ Purple because we can't wait to see you again! read more

Fun all around , definitely 5 stars not much to say, we had drinks they were nice and cold and they kept coming also we danced a little, the band playing was awesome they played a Little bit of everything, 5 stars for sure. My Wife was happy the family was too, service was great and the people there were friendly all around. Go there dance a little is good for the soul. read more

I'm from Boston and this bar has a Bruins flag flying out front. Went in for the eastern conference finals and the Bruins was on the big screen, but the bartender refused to put the sound on for the Bruins game because of ONE guest. Some Trailblazers fan was watching their game 7, and that's why they are getting two stars instead of one. However, when you have a Bruins flag out front and 13 out of 14 guests were cheering for the Bruins and you play the sound for some BS basketball game is bologna. The bartender claims to have worked at Cask n Flagon 20 years ago, if that's true then who gives an F about the trailblazers fan. Left after the first period to go to Red Jack Saloon, a true Boston bar. Take your flags down because you don't know how to represent Boston teams. read more

There's nothing like walking into an old familiar place, only to find that it's been improved 100 fold. Since Tupelo's partial opening last week, I've been here twice now. You can say, I'm a huge fan of this place. Located in North Beach, Tupelo is spacious, clean, plenty of seating and great for happy hour. The bartenders and staff are extremely friendly and attentive. They have a cute lounge area with coffee tables and chairs as well as eating tables big enough to sit about 6. Noise level is great for casual conversations. The menu is a collection of robust Southern comfort dishes with a slight twist. The chef really took these basic Southern dishes to a whole new level without losing any of it's integrity. Things that we've tried on the menu: Burger w/ Tupelo Fries - The burger was cooked medium rare. - 1/2 a lbs - Wide variety of toppings to choose from. *Each time we've come here, we ordered the burger. The first time was with Avocado and bacon. The second time was with blue cheese and candied bacon. The burgers were HUGE and tasted just as we thought it would. Absolutely amazing. The meat was cooked as we wanted, medium rare and the bacon was thick and crispy. It's crazy messy and absolutely enourmous, but so worth it! There are only a few places that I would ever get a burger, now Tupelo's is one of 4. Pork Belly PoBoy * You better be ready for this one. It's a great combination of ingredients and it's melt in your mouth good. SO worth every calorie. Grits with sauteed mushrooms * Creamy deliciousness. They have a variety of different "Grits and ..." combinations. I wish they had a sampler option, because it's hard to choose, they all sound delicious. Other things we've tried and each in it's own way was unique and tasty: Grit Cakes Spicy chicken wings Mac n Cheese with Garlic and brie Regular Mac n Cheese Fried Green Tomato's Boiled peanuts This place definitely takes your standard night out for dinner and drinks up a few levels to pure gluttony. I love it! read more

Yuck. I'm typically not one who goes out and will not finish eating my food. I try to finish and eat my food even if I don't like it, but I just couldn't finish this at all. Had I not eaten all day and had we not just walked up a huge hill, (and I was tired!) I would have gone somewhere else. The inside is... well, I guess there's just no other way to put it... seedy. We came here for food and it's more of a bar...and not even a nice one. It's not a gastropub by any means of the imagination...and I really don't understand Southern soul food coming from a grungy bar. I guess I should have realized this. On their website, they mention something about a southern fried chicken dinner special on Wednesday. This sounded good. When we got there and saw the menu, it's non-existent. We asked our waitress who didn't seem to really know what that was. Okay... The bar seating - uncomfortable. We then moved down to a couple tables in the front and ate there. Not to mention that the seats were really dirty. Yuck. If these are dirty, I can only imagine what the kitchen must look like. The food was horrible. I had the chicken dinner (since they "didn't have the chicken and waffles yet") and I was so disappointed. The fried chicken was burnt. The breading didn't have a terrible taste but it was overwhelmed with a burnt taste. I will admit that the inside of the chicken was moist but as I said, the burnt breading overwhelmed the dish. I didn't like it. The southern slaw that it came with was off. It was sour and peppery? and just didn't taste right to me. I only had a few bites and that was it. Ick. It also came with a rosemary herb biscuit which was atrocious. It tasted like a salt brick and was dry as a bone. Definitely either old or wasn't baked properly. For a second, I thought I was back as a prisoner in Alcatraz (since we had just come from there) since where else would I be able to get a salt biscuit like that?! The mashed potatoes were the only saving grace. They were okay. Could have easily been from a box but at least they were edible. My boyfriend had the ribs which I tasted the mirapoix which was on the ribs. They definitely did not reduce the red wine out of that sauce. Yuck! I'm not sure how he ate it. Lastly, the restaurant is not sealed properly. The smell of people smoking outside wafts through all the cracks in the windows. Yuck. Terrible food. Lousy atmosphere. I will never go back. read more

A southern dive in North Beach? I really wanted to love this place. The bar itself is a great space. The Saturday night clientele was a little strange. Lots of popped collars and caps twisted to the side. Server was really nice. I'm a big fan of the music they were playing, but couldn't find similar stuf on the jukebox. Would have expected more blues. Onto the food: I know Chef Mark Danziger now specializes in southern food, but it's pretty obvious he doesn't really get it. The food was pretty good, but it fell short in quite a few places. We had: Chicken Wings: I didn't have any, but my fellow diners loved them Cornbread with honey butter: awesome and definitely traditional Grits: the grits themselves tasted good but were more runny than I've ever had them in the south, I had them with pork belly and brussel sprouts. The brussel sprouts were amazing and very traditional: almost overcooked but done just to the point that they don't get the sulphur taste. The pork belly was good, but tasted pretty bland next to the brussel sprouts. Fried Okra: They were super bland, and the sauce they served them with was really strange. I LOVE okra southern style, so this was really disappointing. Overall, it wasn't the comfort food I was looking for. If I'm going to indulge in the unhealthy stuff, I'd rather go somewhere where the taste is worth it. read more

Never got bored in this place and no matter what time of the day. Great drinks, great music and great atmosphere! read more

Came here and waited about 15 minutes at the bar for the bartender to serve us. He looked very drunk and was talking to his friends that were already seated. He did not acknowledge me or my friend and obviously did not want our business. We got fed up and went to Maggie's instead. They ended up trying to chase us back into their establishment but seriously, they need to learn some customer service here. read more

Thanks to a missed reservation, my friends and I stumbled upon Tupelo n were drawn in by the jazz sounds of live music. We ordered drinks and some food to share. The drinks were mixed well and seems like the AMF was a big hit with lots of people sporting one. The food was amazing! One of the best garlic fries I've had.  It was super crispy n full of garlic parmesan flavor. The bacon wrapped shrimp was a tongue burning bundle of fried goodness if consumed too fast. They have live music with a different band each day. The music started at 9pm and that's when the place started to fill up fast! The brass band was a talented group playing songs that brought me back to New Orleans!!! I would definitely recommend this place for the music, drinks n food! read more

This review is strictly based on Tupelo's Tuesday Night Dance Karaoke and it was a blast. Definitely come by to check this out and watch DJ Purple do his thing as he provides instrumental back up on his Saxophone and Harmonica. The guy is awesome because he can also provide backup vocals as well. So even if you're a never newbie or if you're completely bombing up on the stage, he definitely has your back covered. I could see why this was voted "Best of the Bay". The regulars here are really good and the song choices here are very upbeat since this is Dance Karaoke after all. And the song selection is pretty extensive. if you're in North Beach, this is great spot to hangout after dinner for some great entertainment. read more

Oh YESSSS. Came on a Thursday night with some friends for dinner and drinks. There was lots of open space as there were not too many tables...some improvements could be made on their furniture floor plan. Our waitress was funny and peppy but not in an annoying way at all. The food was reasonably priced, but the drinks took up a hefty chunk of the bill ($8 glasses of wine and I think $10-12 cocktails). But now onto the goods: Specialty Cocktails : the "Steve McQueen" - super sweet, as it was a sweet tea vodka drink the "Ray Charles" - whiskey and bitters. mmm Apps: Fried Pickles - I mean, how can you go wrong Brussel sprouts and bacon - gotta get your veggies somehow right? i'm sure if my mother had cooked brussel sprouts like this when I was a kid I would have been so much more excited to eat them Roasted Garlic and Brie Mac and Cheese - if there is one thing you should get here, it is this. It is heavenly. It is glorious. I wish I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner: Candied bacon burger with pepper jack - It is everything you dreamt of and more. Candied bacon is the new black. Just do it. Dessert: Apple crisp a la mode - I don't really like fruit-based desserts (I'm a chocoholic and damn proud of it) but oh. my. god. The four of us dove into this at lightning speed. It was gone before you could blink. Overall this is a great new spot - a perfect place to start your night, especially in the heart of North Beach with so many other bars around to venture to after the meal. I think they still have some things to work out since they are so new so I can't give them a 5 yet. read more

I like Tupelo, but just noticed while checking my receipts against my credit card statement that they added dollars to my total during a visit earlier this year. I will only be paying in cash if I visit again. read more

What was that band's problem? Being so loud! Came here as a meeting up point for the crew I was with over the weekend. Maybe we should have met up somewhere else because while I did enjoy the band a bit, I couldn't hear anyone. So focused on the Warriors/Rockets game instead. The bar was alright, they had a decent selection of beer. The music was good. They had a spot to catch the game. The bar just didn't do anything special for me. Lots of space for everyone, but overall I just though it was OK. read more

To make a long story short, here's a link to what my actions at Tupelo lead me to --- http://www.yelp.com/biz/city-of-san-francisco-san-francisco?hrid=wPSgNQL16Uilv7wK_xh2dw&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct). It's not their fault. Throw in karaoke, beer, and a good time, you're bound to piss your pants. Tupelo, I'll never forget you. It was a fun night. read more

Big changes have come to 1337 Grant Ave! For those of you familiar with the former Mojitos space, you will be amazed with the transformations that have occurred. The walls are now painted a warm orange, new lighting has been installed, and the bathrooms are beautiful! There is something authentically welcoming and friendly about Tupelo. I have been in twice since they opened last week to have drinks with friends and grab a bite to eat. The staff are fantastic and openly proud to be working at such a great establishment. The vibe is comfortable, the music volume is just right, and the bartenders are all seasoned professionals. The food is also top-notch. The head chef knows soul food and isn't afraid to make you drool. I have tried several of the menu items so far and they were all delicious. -The apple and candied walnut salad has the most amazing dressing I have ever tasted -The sweet potato soup was out of this world -The chicken wings have a great kick -The grits and brussel sprouts are so good, you'll forget that there was ever a time in your life when you didn't like brussel sprouts -The mac and cheese with brie is super creamy -The grit cakes and ham croquets are the perfect bar bites I want to congratulate the owners for doing such an incredible job renovating this place. North Beach residents and visitors alike will love Tupelo! read more

Tupelo - Southern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here for brunch on Sunday (9/16/12) to use my Bloomspot deal before it expired. The place was dead (except for people a the bar watching the Giants game). I should have known something was up. Turns out their head chef quit a few days before and they were in a tough spot. I guess whoever they got to cover the kitchen can only make 3 things: eggs, wings or a caprese sandwich :\ We were hungry and I wanted to use my deal so we just got a few drinks, the eggs & wings. For now, the food at this place majorly sucks. I'm willing to try it again though once they've gotten their act together in the kitchen. read more

TUPELLLOOOOO!! A sweaty mess of fun and dancing with live music every night. I keep going back and forth on whether I want this place to get better ventilation because the funky air makes the tunes that much more groovy. This place is a dive bar with a New Orleans feel, right in the heart of North Beach. The owner doubles as lead singer in a rad band and if you're lucky they may play a set before he heads back behind the bar to serve customers and jive with his staff. You can also get food (chicken & waffles!) and watch sports here on the weekends which makes it a fun morning/brunch spot. I recommend you check this place out ASAP read more

Half of my family is from Alabama (shhh, don't tell anyone, I'm trying to look cool over here) so I've always been a big fan of Southern fare. San Francisco doesn't have enough places that serve soul food/Southern cuisine, so I was beyond excited when this place opened up in our new neighborhood a couple of weeks ago. Tonight, Mr. Brooklyn and I dug into the following: baked mac 'n' cheese, mascarpone grits, shrimp po' boy, fried green tomatoes, and pecan pie for dessert. Truthfully, although the tomatoes were pretty good, the breading was a tad bit heavy for my taste; a lighter coating would have really allowed the tomato flavor to shine through. I washed my meal down with a cosmo, which fortunately featured a generous pour of vodka (shhh, don't tell anyone, I'm trying to look cool over here and avoid the perception that I'm some sort of Sex-and-the-City throwback from 1999). We emerged from Tupelo 500 pounds heavier and extremely satisfied with the meal, the standouts being the po' boy, the grits, and the over-the-top-amazing pie. Other bonuses: friendly service, plenty of space in which to enjoy our meal (not too crowded yet!), and a fabulous jukebox that allowed me to savor my grits to the strains of The Jam, The Clash, and The Smiths. Looking forward to going back and enjoying the collard greens, cornbread, and Brussels sprouts next time around. read more

09.16.12 || bookmarked 12.21.11 Completely agree with Emily B's review. I was at Tupelo hoping to make the most of my Bloomspot deal before it expired. Didn't realize that I spent money on what I could eat at home (eggs, bacon, and toast). Poor new chef (and existing waitstaff) really got stuck in a bind, but I think they did try to make the best of the situation from the old chef quitting days before. I will have to say, the bloody mary was bloody fantastic. With top shelf vodka for $8, it feels like a steal. Would go back if I happen to be in the neighborhood during football games, but that's a slim chance in itself. read more

The food in this place - SUCKS.....Tried the mac and cheese/ mascarpone grits/ shrimp grits, The mascarpone grits sweet with a burnt smell... yuck, mac and cheese overcooked and tasteless in spite of oodles of cheese, shrimp like rubber, potatoes overdone. It's hard to find a restaurant in San Francisco with really bad food but I guess this is an example of a chef who does not eat his own food. The service - slow and poor despite all the empty tables! Tupelo - best to avoid, try Brenda's Soul food. that place is awesome read more

Tupelo does have a lot of potential - but there are a number of things to work on as well. However, for being in their first week, Everyone was very friendly and interested and I think they are doing a pretty good job and I look forward to what they do in the future. Here's what we had: Fried Pickles - awesome. though I'd like a bit more for the money. Pork Broth Boiled Peanuts - good, a little weird if you're not used to them. hard to eat! Friend Green Tomato Salad - very good but tomatoes need a bit less breading. Pork Belly Po'Boy with Tupelo Fries - Too much bread. I honestly could not taste the pork at all. The fries were average. Roasted garlice and brie mac n cheese - super tasty. don't change a thing about it! Other thoughts: I didn't expect it to be so .. Bar-ey. When you walk in, you really have no idea that it is a restaurant. AND - they need a better creaft beer selection to round it out. Their food would taste great with some great craft beer. read more