farmerbrown
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 409-3276
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Market Street
- Hours:
- Daily 5pm-12am (kitchen), Daily 5pm-2am (bar)
Editorial Review for farmerbrown – by Daniel Liszt
The Scene
Copper and olive undertones color the single-room, high-ceilinged space. Pillars sporting amber-hued sconces break up diners' otherwise unobstructed view of the long mahogany bar, where 20- and 30-somethings sip Hibiscus Coolers and Poppy Jasper Ale. Soul and funk seep from a hidden DJ booth, and an exposed kitchen allows a glimpse of where the magic happens.
The Food
Soul food with San Francisco flare attracts a crowd, which is greeted with honey-kissed cornbread and fluffy mini-biscuits upon taking a seat. A summer salad of crisp snap peas, golden beets and chopped asparagus piled above a layer of cabbage and butter lettuce is a light starter, while the gumbo of the day might feature thin gravy-like broth brimming with tender lobster and crab. Moist white meat is at the center of thickly breaded Fulton Valley fried chicken, perhaps San Francisco's best. Mashed sweet potato and plantain is a dessert-worthy side.
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Insider Tips
What to DrinkThe specialty cocktails are a unique treat and can come as exotic as the watermelon margarita, which is made with agave nectar and cayenne salt.
ParkingEnjoy $2 off the Hotel Metropolis lot, which costs between $8 and $15. Enter the restaurant through the hotel to avoid walking on the street.
The ExtrasAll furnishings and decor are handmade by staff members.
Save MoneyHappy hour is Monday through Friday from 5pm to 7pm. Specialty cocktails, draft beers, and homemade shooters like vanilla or pineapple rum are half price.
Know Before You GoReservations are highly recommended, especially for bigger parties.
User Reviews for farmerbrown
04/19/2008 Posted by MatthewTsou
Wow! You wouldn't have guessed it by looking at the outside of this place that it's a happening place to be. You're in the middle of the Tenderloin, and the place looks pretty dumpy from the outside, but that's where it's deceiving! Once you walk through those doors, it's another world. At least on the Friday night I went. It's definitely a trendy and in-the-know place to be. Reservations are a MUST unless you don't mind standing and waiting for some seats at the bar, which turnover every 10-15 minutes, so it's not to bad. You should get a drink and mingle in the meantime. I haven't tried all their drinks, but I think they're all supposed to be superb. I had the Orange Bellini (Crushed Orange Puree and Champagne), which came in a classy glass and tasted phenomenal. I wanted to try the Kiwi Margarita, but they ran out so they turned to the Mango Margarita. I asked a gal about the Strawberry Rhubarb Martini she was holding: she was ecstatic about it and claimed she was going to order "3 or 4 more!" On to the food. I ordered appetizers only, the Shrimp Cakes and Cheese Grits. I had a Green Zebra coupon with me, which claimed Farmer Brown had the best grits in the city. I don't regularly have grits, but these were dee-lish! Sorta like oatmeal and cheese pudding, but cooked in a manner that makes it more like a porridge. Anyways, it's good! The Shrimp Cakes I thought were a little overfried, but the insides were not too bad. Soft, and the sauce was pretty good, slightly spicy for a little kick. Overall, definitely a place to go to for its ambiance (people, music, lighting), the bartenders and service were okay, and the food was pretty good, though I have yet to try the main dishes. (The leftover fried chicken from a previous foodie looked a bit dry. I dunno about its taste.)
Pros: COCKTAILS! Ambiance, people
Cons: Service average
02/26/2008 Posted by oopsydaisy111
I heard all the hype and wanted to try it out. We went in and sat at the bar the bartenders were kind of nice but also not very helpful. I ordered a beer and they said the keg was shot so they gave me half a beer and said they would give me the rest when they changed it, they said they would change it when they had time. There were two bartenders and 4 customers at the bar. Needless to say they never changed it and they charged me for a whole beer. The food was REALLY salty, I wonder if the chef smokes? Probably won't go back. I really like the atmosphere though.
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