Category Archives: Restaurants

In case you were looking for the Saloon...

“Established in the year of John Wayne’s birth – that would be 1907 – the Comstock in one of the City’s most venerable watering holes and offers a fine respite from a day’s work of grinding out press releases and talking to cranky reporters.”

As such, I’m happy to have paid my first visit tonight to this particular watering hole.  I might not have found it, were it not for tonight’s scheduled get together of PRSA, the Public Relations Society of America. 

Tonight was the monthly “Second Thursday,” an occasion for professionals and job seekers like myself to gather, kibitz and exchange business cards with one hand, while sipping a well-made cocktail in the other.  PRSA is a visible and social organization, no doubt, whom we can thank for the above description of the apparently longstanding and obviously well-established Comstock Saloon.

Tight standing quarters, a captivating drink menu selection, attractive and attentive bartenders, not-big-enough martini glasses, and passable-but-not-remarkable pour levels, all come together to create the vibe of this memorable San Francisco libation location.  Add to the equation the rich antique woodwork, classically styled ceiling fans, and an attention-getting vintage upright piano, complete with live player!  Finally, pack the relatively narrow space with hungry, thirsty and chatty patrons.  Altogether, the unique, history-rich ambiance is now set.  

It’s a feeling of the Old West with urban flair, or perhaps a turn-of-the-century hideaway for discerning city dwellers not quite ready to go home.  The Comstock Saloon is definitely a destination to keep on your list of watering holes!

Martinis are on my mind, considering the fact there are numerous fine establishments in San Francisco at which to get a decent one.  A well-established martini bar was recommended to me a few days ago, so I decided to pay it a visit and check out the scene.

Martuni’s is the name.  I entered a dark and windowless front bar room, with limited seating.  Fortunately I found a single stool at the bar with my name on it.  I glanced over the printed martini menu, eyeballed the selections on the shelf, and placed my order.  The snappy female bartender was all business and not having my mild inquisition.  I ordered a “martuni” and not a “vodka martuni,” as both were printed on the rather amateurish, tacky fold over.  Still, Ms. Grouchy asked me if I wanted gin or vodka.  With some apparent exasperation at my pointing out her redundancy, she gave me my “martuni” with the unspoken message to shut up and drink it.  This was obviously going well so far.

The recorded music that was playing in the background did not fit the ambiance of what I consider a martini bar to be.  There definitely needed to be less rock-n-roll and more lounge.  There also needed to be less bickering between the bartender and the server over the ingredients of one of the menu drinks.  I listened to them go at it nonetheless, exchanging eyebrows with another patron over the not-so-subtle scene.  Then I picked up the aforementioned Ramada-Inn-like print out and examined the listed contents of the drink in question.  The server stood correct.  The bartender was most certainly having a bad day.

My negroni to follow my “martuni” was very pleasing, as was the pour level.  Gal Smiley was redeeming herself!  I could see that the pour level of Martuni’s martinis appears to be acceptable across the board, just about reaching the rim in every drink I saw made.  This is key, as nothing irks me more than a low pour in a large martini glass.  Places guilty of this crime are not deserving of a repeat visit.  Martuni’s, all things considered, will see me again.  And I think Martuni’s should see you too!  We just need to go a little later in the evening next time, to check out the back bar and the live entertainment that was warming up as I made my early exit.  Perhaps my new 82-year-old acquaintance will be there again next time as well.