01/28/09

Top-notch intimate wine bar

by JABM

Bacchus is the one place I always make a point to visit when I?m in town. With an intimate atmosphere that?s casual-yet-upscale, interesting artwork that changes regularly, and a wonderful wine selection, it would be hard not to like this place. However, the staff is this place?s greatest asset. Bodhi, the owner, is welcoming and fun to converse with, in addition to being very knowledgeable about his wines and a great resource for suggestions on what to try. They always offer a fun variety of by-the-glass options as well as great flights if you can?t decide what you want. Their prices are very reasonable, considering the wines on offer, and you can even pick up some bottles to go if you?re so inclined. The ambiance, coupled with the warm, friendly service, make you feel like you?re enjoying great wine at a great friend?s place ? which you are.

• Pros: Service, selection, price
• Cons: Too small for groups of 6 or more

11/30/06

Best place to sip great wine without pretension

by iluvvinno

I Love this place. Great selection of wine. The staff is very knowledgeable and the flowers are amazing. A good friend who lives in Russian Hill first brought me here several years ago, i knew right away i would come back again and again. The room is small and intimate, the lighting is perfect, the tunes are mellow, and the conversation with interesting strangers is excellent.

• Pros: great wine. intimate setting. nice art
• Cons: parking

Lots of atmosphere packed into a little space makes this unassuming wine and sake bar a great Russian Hill find.

by Contributor

In Short
Peach-colored walls, local art and just eight mini stools at the L-shaped bar make for a cozy atmosphere, perfect for the after-work crowd or local diners waiting for a seat at nearby Sushi Groove. Patrons can also sit in the two leather loveseats by the front window while sipping on a glass of red or one of the popular "sakitinis," original sake cocktails. An ever-changing cheese plate is also available to complement the wine.

04/30/06

Price way too high and snotty bartender!

by cittoz

Bartender looks tired and busy talking to a group, service is horrible. I will never recommend this place. There is no room to stand.

• Cons: overpriced, pretentious, tired

12/15/05

User review by krmorgan1112

by krmorgan1112

My friends and I thought we would enjoy a nice glass of wine before we went to dinner to celebrate the holidays. Everything was great until the bartender (maybe owner) followed us outside as we were leaving and gave my friend her tip back...said he was offended...apparently the tip was not big enough for him. We WILL NEVER RETURN.

12/15/05

Rude Service, Ridiculous Prices

by ceruleansiren

We had to wait for someone to show up when we arrived. The snotty frenchman owner suggested one of the most expensive pinot noirs on the price list to us. The wine turned out to be just average and we were sooner clued in to the fact that he was trying to pull one over on us. Our cheese plate arrived 30 minutes after we order it-- 5 pieces of stale bread with chopped up cheese for $14. I believe that if service is bad, which in this case it was horrible, then tips are small! Well when we walked out the door the snottty frenchman threw the tip at me and told me he was "totally insulted" I was so taken aback that someone who had been so rude and snotty to us had the nerve to do this. So... don't go there, it's not worth it.

• Cons: Rude Owner, Overpriced

04/09/04

The Goddess Of Wine

by mcbrasil

One of San Francisco's Best Hidden Treasures. The staff was very knowledgeble and suggested the right wine for the occasion. I also tried the sake cocktails and I thought that they were out of this world... and very creative. I highly recomend this Spot if if your looking for a good place to have quality wines and sake cocktails. Bacchus is a must!

08/04/03

Nice pit stop

by tommypickle

I've always wanted to stop by here. I finally did. The drinks were very well made -- I tried various sake combinations -- and original. The glasses were chilled and the bartender was helpful in explaining some of the relatively unclear menu items (ingredients mixed with Japanese brands).

Though the ingredients were of good quality and the neighborhood wasn't exactly blue collar, we paid a bit more than we expected. 8 dollars for a drink might be nice when using a quality bottle of vodka, but not when the entire bottle of 'well sake' costs 9.50 for the gallon size.

But anyone who can make cheap sake and generic juice taste this good has to get some credit. Imagine if all the ingredients were top shelf!

• Pros: Creative, Location, Tasty Drinks
• Cons: Expensive