First Look: New Bar Third Rail Opens in Dogpatch with Culinary Flair

The folks who brought us Range (and its excellent sherry program) opened a new bar last week in the Dogpatch called The Third Rail.  With simple decor that will remind you of a modern living room, the new spot is sure to draw bar-goers looking for an easy going night and some bright, culinary inspired cocktails—not to mention some satisfyingly rich and salty jerky snacks (pork rind, anyone?).



For places like the Dogpatch that typically embrace a neighborhood feel, Third Rail strikes a great balance between carefully crafted cocktails and an unpretentious place where you can kick back. Third Rail will fit right in.



We tried a few cocktails here, and they were exceptional. This is the Mt. Tam cocktail: St. George's terroir, Dolin sweet, Gran Classico. For a stirred drink, it wasn't too heavy. It was deliciously earthy from the terroir. I love drinks with St. George's terroir gin:



The Harvest Moon is similar to a margarita: tequila, pear, absinthe, lime. Bright and refreshing with a healthy tequila kick. The absinthe is a great touch that brings it all together.



Finally, the Double Date cocktail. This was Noelle's favorite. Old Fashioned lovers will love this riff on that classic cocktail. The date added to the richness of the cocktail and gave it a holiday feel.



Check out the full set of pictures on our Flickr album:





Third Rail
628 20th St.

San Francisco, CA 94107
Every day 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Where to Drink: Park Tavern's Eden Lounge

It's not easy to find a quiet place to drink in North Beach, but Park Tavern's Eden Lounge is a nice respite from the usual weekend hustle and bustle. It's intimate, relaxed, and worth a visit if you're in the neighborhood. But don't expect to roll in whenever you feel; the Eden Lounge is only open sporadically. Here's a link to see if Eden Lounge is open in the next few weeks.



I enjoyed drinking here with a small group of friends. The cocktail menu was small, but the bartenders can easily go off menu. They seem more than willing to experiment off the cuff should you desire an adventurous drink. Our bartender's experiment was strikingly similar to a Juliet and Romeo.





I recommend peeking in Eden Lounge if you're in the neighborhood and it's open. I hesitate to recommend actually drinking there only because we had a very unusual experience: the staff was completely unwilling to handle a drunken and unruly patron because he was the owner's friend. It wouldn't have been a huge deal if he hadn't been throwing cell phones and empty glasses at walls and trying to start fights. It harshed everyone's mellow. I wouldn't even mention it, but I get the sense that things like that aren't anomalous. Like I said, peek in and check out the vibe. If it's mellow, check it out.

Park Tavern (Eden Lounge)
1652 Stockton St, SF
Availability

Where to drink: Bar Agricole

When people ask where I like to drink, I'm lately finding myself the saying two words over and over: Bar Agricole. This place is a cocktail lover's paradise––a beautiful and modern interior along with a cool outdoor space in which to sip libations, offset from the hustle of SoMA. As you walk up the wooden entrance ramp, you enter one of those rare bars where time is irrelevant. I guess that's why I like going there so much. It feels like the world stops when you're in Agricole, like you've somehow stepped into a Neverland where the cocktails are timeless and the service, miraculously, is still impeccable. Before I get too emotional, look at the space:

Inside




Outside:


Now on to the drinks. Even if you've never had a real cocktail before, Bar Agricole's drinks will definitely blow you away. The more craft cocktails you've tasted, though, the more you realize how much effort goes into these seemingly simple drinks. Take, for example, the Ti Punch.

Ti Punch––Rhume Agricole, sugar, lime garnish




Another deceptively simple drink. Only a few ingredients, but this drink will keep you coming back for more. If you haven't had it before, Rhum Agricole makes you stop and think, "what did I just drink?" In a good way. The Ti Punch does an excellent job of highlighting the Rhum, not masking or obscuring it. Once you get a taste for the funk of Agricole, you'll have to go back for seconds. That's the perfect time to try a Daiquiri with Rhum Agricole.

Agricole Daiquiri––this drink is off menu, but they can easily make it (and they often do). It's a good way to enjoy the citrusy side Rhum Agricole. Again, the Rhum isn't overshadowed by the lime, only accented. It's one of my go-to drinks.

I always cap off an evening at Agricole with an Old Fashioned:

Looks like a run-of-the-mill Old Fashioned, but God is in the details. The ice is crystal clear (the Ti Punch picture below conveys the ice clarity much better). The bourbon is thoughtfully chosen––high proof to withstand the slow melting ice––and keeps the drink stiff throughout. The bitters are all made in house, and unlike most house-made bitters, these are mind blowing. I sometimes just get bitters and soda at Agricole, just so that I can enjoy them on their own. (I feel a post about the bitters coming on...) The sweetener adds enough viscosity to help hold up the bitters, but not so much as to make the drink syrupy. I might go so far as to say that this is the best Old Fashioned in the city right now.

Where to Drink: Lots of meat, lots of booze at Lolinda

At Lolinda, nothing happens in moderation. If you order food, expect a huge chunk of meat to arrive at your table. If you order a cocktail, expect to order at least three more––they're that good. Recently, Chris Lane—who has previously been spotted at watering holes like Tradition, Wo Hing, and Heaven's Dog—took over as bar manager and incorporated some new drinks (or, in the case of the Devil's Backbone, old favorites) into the menu.

Lolinda is gorgeous—a great place for a spirited date night or party (in fact, the whole upstairs was reserved for a private party that night, so it is possible to do that).  Noelle thinks it reminds her of a modern castle's banquet hall with the vaulted ceilings, long tables, and large, round chandelier-like lights.



This weekend, some of us headed over to visit Chris Lane and enjoy some drinks. Chris was busy, but we got to meet a few new bartenders.



Every drink we had––an embarrassing number––was delicious. The drinks here are strong, bold, and rich with flavor, no doubt to stand up to the big cuts of meat on the menu. Without further ado, here they are:

Oaxacan Cross – mezcal, port, lime, pineapple, ginger, maraschino. A mezcal-driven, citrusy cocktail.




Carpenter's Hand – brandy, sherry, Drambuie, The Drambuie and the brandy give this drink a nice sweetness, balanced by the sherry's herbaceousness



Cloak and Dagger – tequila, Cynar, apricot. I love bitter tequila drinks. This one knocks it out of the park. The abricot adds a nice bit of fruit on the finish.



Lone Palm – house spiced rum, lime, grapefruit, honey, The rum, citrus, and honey balance together to make this drink refreshing and but still interesting and spicy.



Devil's Backbone – rye, islay scotch, Averna, Gran Classico.



All the above drinks were delicious, but the Devil's Backbone was truly remarkable. It's deep and rich, a slow drink with a complexity that will keep pulling you in to explore its flavors.



If you'd like to make it down to Lolinda for yourself one day (which you should!), check out their wide ranging menu before you make it down.



Lolinda
2518 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 550-6970

Where to Drink: Opening Week at Trick Dog [pictures]

It might be because the bar project has been three years in the making (that’s four human babies). Or perhaps because the bar brings some heavy design swag, even integrating Pantone colors into the menu. Or it could even be because the backers, the Bon Vivants, are among the darlings of the San Francisco bar scene. Whatever the case, Trick Dog has been one of the most anticipated bar openings this year—and it finally opened last week.

So Josh and I went there earlier this week to check it out—it’s a cool place! Nestled into the industrial border between Potrero Hill and the Mission, the two-storey spot attracted a small crowd of enthusiasts. Everything about the space is intentional—the latticed light bulbs, the stained floors, the elaborate light fixtures along the walls, and the namesake perched in an unassuming corner (a coin bank), to name a few. The bar offers a great addition to the small collection of watering holes in that part of town, like the Homestead and Dear Mom. It’s perfect for a lively nightcap (or starter!) before nearby Flour + Water, Central Kitchen, and Salumeria. Or a general night of food, friends, drinks, and fun.

Here are pictures of the new spot:

The outside of Trick Dog is clean and unassuming. Don't miss it! Inside, good times await.



The bar—a bit brighter and emptier than usual, since I took this picture after last call. You can see the second floor of seating where you can sit at tables and eat above the bar.



If you look closely, the design of the bar contains many details, like these wall lights.



The bar staff measures drinks carefully with these neat custom beaker-like jiggers.



There are also special beakers for stirring (see the vessel on the right)—a split from the Japanese Yarai mixing glasses that are so popular right now.



Peter makes drinks like a boss. What a pro!



The drink menu at Trick Dog is designed like the classic Pantone color guide (the definitive folks for color and design), using the same fan booklet format. They even cite colors by number (which is how Pantone labels the colors) and then match it in the cocktail.



I tried the Gypsy Tan (aka orange/2808), which contains Rittenhouse 100 rye, Mandarine Napoleon orange liqueur, Fernet Blanca, ginger, lemon, Erdinger Weissbier, and nutmeg. It's served long in a collins glass over ice.



Josh tried the Baby Turtle (Ocho tequila, Campari, grapefruit, cinnamon, lime, and egg white).



We also sampled the St Elmo's Fire — Denizen white rum, Amaro Averna, pineapple, coconut vinegar, all spice, and lime. It's served in a old fashioned glass on the rocks.



We finished off with a Witchwood (2803) — Torres ten-year brandy, Pampero Aniversario rum, Manzilla sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry, Ron Miel honey rum, and Alhambra bitters. Served up. It's a great night cap for a cold evening—warm, dark, and rich, like cherries and stone fruit.



On a second research trip, I also got to try an Amaro and Moxie. Moxie is apparently one of the original sodas. It's much less syrupy and cloying than, say, a rum and Coke. A happy alternative.



For the hungry, there is also food. The front of the menu bears the bar's namesake—a coin box. The real thing actually sits in a corner above the bar.



The food is not your typical bar food either. There are some unusual gems like the Sweetie McNuggets (sweetbreads dredged and fried) and the Fernet ice cream.



Three cheers for Trick Dog.

For more pictures you can go to our Flickr.

Trick Dog
3010 20th St.
(between Alabama Street and Florida Street)
San Francisco, CA 94110
415.471.2999
http://www.trickdogbar.com/
https://www.facebook.com/trickdogsf