03/27/09

Best Indian food in San Francisco

by jwhdavison

The food here is really remarkable - whether it's something hot and spicy, or a more delicate dish. It's all quite different from the typical sauce-soaked fare that you get in many San Francisco curry houses. They do these ribs that are just incredible. Real fall-off-the bone stuff.

I can't say I've ever been to many "up market" curry places over the years. Usually they're quite functional places, or quite traditional. Amber definitely leans on the hipper end of the spectrum and is very modern looking inside.

Though the food is all really good, it can get quite expensive - especially if you're having a few drinks (they have a good wine list, too.) Also, the wait staff occasionally seemed to look at us like we were nuts. Not sure what was up with that. They weren't rude or anything, just a bit "Oh really, sir" for some reason.

• Pros: Amazing food, great atmosphere
• Cons: Can be very expensive

Hard drinking, chain smoking, loud music and filthy bathrooms: Amber is what a bar should, or at least used to, be about.

by Patrick Heig

Besides the handsome bar, this Castro/Lower Haight/Mission place looks like it was decorated in 20 minutes 10 years ago, and it hasn't changed much since. Beat-up vintage couches, '50s vintage television, amateur art and odd coffee tables sit in what could be called the lounge area, while beer signs and schlocky velvet paintings decorate the bar. A thick fog of smoke from the chain-smoking, shot-pounding, super friendly patrons and staff hangs in the air, while music comes from a simple home stereo in a closet--the DJ is the bartender, and the music is whatever CD he feels like putting on. Amber is more like a house party than a bar, and despite the fact (or maybe because of it) that it looks like your Uncle Lou's basement and reeks of smoke, this bar gets a fun crowd almost every night of the week.

02/10/06

Great place for a smoke and cocktail.

by ripzippy

It's great to have a few places where you can kick back with a cocktail & a smoke these days. The decor is retro funky which is a huge plus as well. There is plenty of seating in various couch arrangements. It's a very mixed crowd of gay and straight and the music changes style almost by the hour. I also recommend the Phone Booth in the Mission district if you are looking for another bar to catch a smoke but, you can only smoke there later at night.

01/18/06

Best Drinks, music and crowd

by davidsundy

I suppose I like this place because Phil makes awesome cosmos! In fact they are so good that I can never enjoy a cosmo anywhere else. At other places I order straight alcohol, because I know after having Phil's drinks, I know I just won't be pleased by anything else. Thank you, Phil. Thank you, so damn much!

--David, Age 31 SF Small Business Owner

• Pros: Phil, Drinks

01/06/05

Dig It

by cityslicker78

Awesome mixed crowd, great music and space to get away from the Castro bars surrounding.

• Pros: good music, good crowd

06/11/04

Just Right

by oaklandis

The bartenders there really know what they are doing. I feel like I can order any drink and know that it will be prepared right. They actually make their own sour mix, which tastes much better than the bottled crap most bars use.

And it's nice to find a bar that's stylish, without being pretentious or overpriced. Hopefully, the post-DotCom era will bring more of these kinds of places.

• Pros: Great drinks, comfortable seating, good location
• Cons: can get loud

07/17/03

Chill Bar...

by funnygal

This isn't a place to go on your first date...However, it is a great place to get together with friends. The staff is friendly, the drinks are great, and the owners are bonified eye-candies...

07/17/03

my local hang

by tuffgurl

Amber has a great staff, great service from the bartenders who are interesting and fun, they support local photography, and, yes, you can smoke there, which for people who enjoy a cigarette with thier drinks, is a breath of fresh air.

If cigarette smoke bothers you, try one of the 100 other bars in the Upper Market area...

05/17/03

Smoketastic

by frofever

Yeah, yeah, it gets smoky, but if you don't like it don't come here. To complain about the smoke in this bar is ridiculous since pretty much every other bar in San Francisco is smoke free. If you hate smoking, then don't come here. If you don't mind it, or like it, then this is place for you. The staff are attentive, friendly, attractive, and amazingly good at their jobs. The drinks are fantastic, and the atmosphere is superb. This is by far my favorite bar in San Francisco; and all you anti-smokers, don't ruin it for us, just don't come here.

• Pros: Staff, Drinks, Smoking
• Cons: Can get crowded

11/23/02

dnice...................

by one9

great drinks, good peeps, and all the family luv you deserve but don't get at home! just stay away from my spot and it will be all good. plus where else can u drink a 40 with a mickey's chaser! rule#1 tip! cuz u don't get drinks this good anywhere in the city! ~one9

• Pros: graffiti, in da, bathroom
• Cons: nada, nunca