05/25/08

Great food, fabulous drinks, hot bartenders, hotter owner...

by erindpell

Love, love, the place! I was a bartender for 7 years in this town and I've been to all the spots so I"m picky about everything, trust me. I've been to Bar Johnny 3 times now and every time it was a huge hit....great food and drinks, (we never plan on eating but always end up doing so after looking at the menu) the bartenders were very attentive and the owner Johnny is soooo good looking and gets right in there with his staff....

We've had the lamb, burger, home made chips, and all of the very scrumptious desserts. Just writing about it makes my mouth water...The C&K cocktail is also quite lovely on a warm night like we had a few weeks ago.

Anyway, I'm going tonight and will be making this place a regular stop on my way out. It's exceptional. Check it out.

05/13/08

Russian Hill "drink kitchen" balances New American bites with artful libations.

by Contributor

The Scene
It's easy to walk past this signless respite. Inside, the focus is an L-shaped bar and high leather banquettes that are reflected in the bar-back mirror. Above, a graffiti-style mural of birds fluttering around telephone wires complements the urban-lounge tunes and flirty vibe. Despite expert cocktails and bar-centric appearances, waitstaff are extremely attentive and surprisingly knowledgeable about the cuisine--just ask.

The Food
Ultra-basic descriptions on the menu provide little indication of the thoughtful ingredients and successful executions. Great-to-share starters include a grilled thin-crust pizza supporting finely sliced mushrooms, juicy bacon cubes and frise tangle and the housemade charcuterie with velvety chicken-liver pate, house-cured sausage and grainy mustard. Fantastic full-blown entrees can be found in pillowy ahi tuna loin that's gorgeously marbled and a tender lamb braise. The kitchen also crafts fun desserts such as dollar-sized peanut butter cookies filled with fluffy marshmallows then dipped in chocolate.

Hits: The space successfully walks the line between restaurant and singles' bar--the cuisine is elevated beyond pub grub and the music sets a nice tone, but isn't too loud or overbearing.

Misses: Space between the bar and adjacent banquettes is limited, meaning parties of two are seated side-by-side. This makes for neck-craning and an unorthodox social dynamic.

04/01/08

Impressed

by yoyobigo

I was really pleasantly surprised. Service was good, food was yummy, atmosphere was just right. I went there for my birthday with about 14 people, having made reservations (it was a Sunday night). They actually called me a day before and asked that I move the reservation up from 8pm to 7pm so that they could accommodate us. Although that wasn't ideal, it impressed me that they would do that rather than just let things stand and then give us bad service/be unable to accommodate us. Our waitress was great, the pretzels were indeed good (not amazing, but very good), the main courses were all actually very tasty and well prepared, better than my expectations. Overall a great experience.

• Pros: Atmosphere, food, service all good!
• Cons: The lounge chairs weren't as comfy as they looked.

12/19/07

Great, Unexpected Sunday Brunch Location

by mcd70

Saturday after a great workout at Crunch, a good friend and I dropped by Bar Johnny after seeing a burger on the menu. We had a salad, the burger with fries (drizzeled with truffle oil..YUM!...), and the best of the three the steak tartare (with a deviled egg). Every bite was delicious. The music was upbeat and fun without being intrusive and John (from whom the bar gets its name) waited on us in his very cute adidas. Delicious, friendly. Great decor. I highly recommend it.

• Pros: Friendly Service. Breakfast and Lunch items on Brunch menu

11/17/07

Nice Addition to the Neighborhood

by sfcitygal6

What a nice addition to the vibrant Russian Hill neighborhood! Excellent drinks and solid food coupled with a fun, low-key and relaxed yet stylish atmosphere make Bar Johnny a great late-night dining and drinks spot. The staff, also, is helpful and friendly - what more could you want?

• Pros: Creative Drinks, Friendly Staff

10/15/07

Same location, same mediocrity

by babkina

We chose this place for a small group dinner. It all began with a lot on anticipation: great decor, friendly staff and owner, good looking wine list (no bubbly for under $50 a bottle though) and a tasty sounding menu. Then the food started coming. The small plate concept is the rage these days and everyone's doing it. But the trick to satisfying small portions is in the taste. Some apps were good, others - very average (cheese plate is tiny and all of the cheeses were of the soft kind). Ingredients seemed very fresh, but when it came to putting them together on a plate it was largely a miss for us. The best part of BarJohnny was the tasty wine. It was suggested by our waitress and it fit our meal perfectly. I'd go back to try their brunch menu, but overall - this was an ok experience for me. If you want tasty small plates - Pesce is 3 doors down.

• Pros: Decor
• Cons: Food lacked in taste, expensive