The Alembic

Bad attitude ruins the fantastic food/drink. Bad attitude ruins the fantastic food/drink Imagine the surliest, velvet rope guarding, vapid meathead bouncer from some Miami or LA nightclub. Shrink him down to a 5'3'' chick with a bullring nosejob and you got yourself an Alembic hostess.

Hey - I understand they need to keep an aisle open to serve those badly situated front tables. I get it that they want to preserve a certain feel to the place. Come on though - learn some class in how you go about it.

The hostess at Alembic wrecked a friend's homecoming party with her ridiculous DoorNazi routine. Stranding a returning guest outside without her coat because the bar "is full" (on a Tuesday night - ya right) is never cool.

Fantastic food and a great selection of Bourbon and Scotch, but the crazy attitude makes it a 1 star in my book.…

Great drinks and bites; Friendly and sophisticated. Although this is basically an adult venue, my husband and I recently took our daughter and 5 nicely dressed girlfriends there for a 17th birthday treat. We were seated in the L-shaped booth. Our waitress was very informative about the various plates. We all partook of the lamb sliders (excellent), the little quesedillas, salmon toasts, and the wonderful skinny fries. It seems they pride themselves on using as much locally grown and organic ingredients as possible. Even my Cosmopolitan was composed of an organic vodka with a wonderful swirl of orange rind! We enjoyed Chocolate Potde Creme and Date Cake for dessert. Everything was nicely presented. The head chef came out of the kitchen to make sure we were happy! The atmosphere is sophisticated, friendly, but not intrusive. The decor is set in earthy brown tones with simple glass votive candles adding sophistication. Seating is limited. Great place for a date.…

This gastropub, a sister restaurant to Magnolia, serves small plates, classic cocktails and artisan brews--and takes all three seriously.. The Scene
This one-room escape feels cozy yet spacious thanks to high ceilings, soft lighting and barren mustard walls. Views of the Upper-Haight hubbub are visible from two tall tables in front, while a dizzying list of liquors, beers, and specialty cocktails is squeezed onto a chalkboard above the stained-wood bar.

The Food
Small plates prepared with local ingredients distinguish Alembic from other Haight Street haunts. House-cured salmon sparkles atop toasted sourdough that's spiked with crispy bacon bits and dressed with sweet orange oil. Mussels bathing in a broth of local Blue Belt Bitter beer are bolstered by diced andouille sausage. Juicy lamb burgers with roasted red peppers are not to be missed, their moist sourdough buns spread with tapenade and harissa aioli. A cup of single-press Blue Bottle java and warm fruit compote brimming with chunky apples and smooth apricots are the perfect way to cap the experience.…