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Toronado

547 Haight St
San Francisco, CA 94117-3406
Phone: (415) 863-2276

Ratings & Reviews Summary for Toronado

What Users are Saying:

  • Crowded
  • Trendy
  • Good for after work
  • Good social scene
  • Good happy hour
5 Star Rating
 
(6 reviews)
4 Star Rating
 
(3 reviews)
3 Star Rating
 
(1 reviews)
2 Star Rating
 
(1 reviews)
1 Star Rating
 
(1 reviews)

User Reviews for Toronado

Citysearch (10), Trip Advisor (1), Frommer's (1), All (12)

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/06/2007 Posted by diverdown4u

The best brewpub in San Francisco, Hands Down! All those beers you can't find, and a few you never heard of.

Pros: Many Microbrews and Seasonals that can not be found anywhere else.

Cons: Overcrowded during peak hours, and hard to get service.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

10/17/2007 Posted by roxxy

As the other reviewer, I was lured here by the idea of a place where beer is king. I do love my beer. And they have loads of it... all different kinds, which is why I'm giving the place 2 stars instead of just 1. The actual bar is just nasty, with barely any room to stand. If you can find a place to sit, consider that you've just won the lottery. Also, I'm a hole-in-the-wall bar kind of girl, but this is just too much. When the guy on either side of you smells like they haven't been on the receiving end of a soap bar in at least a week, and they're not together, you know what kind of crowd comes here.

Pros: Beer Selection, Location

Cons: Atmosphere, Service, Price

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

06/05/2007 Posted by godlovesugly

I was lured to Toronado by the rumors of phenomenal beer, but instead found myself in a sleazy bar engulfed by the stench of man musk and beer-stained floors. There’s no doubt that the beer menu here is superb but it’s hard to imagine that being the only reason one would decide to go out. Don’t waste your time here. The service was awful, the bar scene was filled with a bunch of creeps, and the tiny place was filthy. If you’re looking for a laid-back scene, try some place like Zeitgeist where you can at least hang out in the open and avoid choking on body odor.

Pros: They serve beer.

Cons: Very dirty, Negative atmosphere, Slow service

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/18/2007 Posted by stentorian

Let's be up front about Toronado. It's not pretty. It's crowded. It's noisy. There's a certain seedy element. However, to paraphrase an old movie line, it's a place for people who want to drink beer and drink it right. The beer selection, both on tap and bottled, is first rate. While Toronado does not boast the selection of the Peculier Pub in New York or the Brickskellar in D.C., the quality of beers available is superior. Especially impressive is the variety of Belgians and California locals. There is also a Belgian bottled beer menu. The prices are reasonable and, during happy hour, great. And while we're being up front, after the first beer the gin mill atmosphere seems perfect. Ultimately the drinkers here drink here because they care about the taste of their beer. Why would you want to drink with anyone else?

Pros: Quality beer selection

Cons: crowded

3 Star Rating: Average

12/10/2006 Posted by johnpeterpeckham

pretty cool place. great brews and friendly service. went there the other night with a friend that introduced me to a beer called chimay. it was great and good for you, not really. i would definetly be going back.

Pros: good beer, good service

Cons: small area

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/02/2006 Posted by ifyouaskme

Anyone who knows and appreciates beer should check this mecca out. The selection is staggering, diverse, and delicious. People from all parts flock to this establishment as a sort of religious pilgrimage of libation. The juke box rocks and the bartenders are cool but a few have a good amount of snark. Next door is a delicious sausage grill which serves awesome burgers on tuesday. Many people bring their food into the bar to enjoy a pint with the meal. As long as you clean up after yourself it's cool. The happy hour is cheap and it's a great place to meet up with friends.

Pros: unbelievable selection

Cons: smelly bathrooms

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

03/28/2004 Posted by blasfemmereally

Toronado has almost every beer you would ever want on tap. I love this place! It's very casual & laid back. It's kind of dark, but not in a creepy way, in a nice bit of privacy way. The bartenders are very nice & the beer (do they serve other drinks?) is reasonably priced. I highly recommend this place if you're looking to impress a beer-lover or just want a cool place to kick back & hang out with friends. I was there on a weekend & it was kind of crowded but we were able to get a table within 10 minutes.

Pros: so many beers on tap!, reasonably priced, friendly staff

4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/06/2003 Posted by flerve

Tons of great beers and tons of bad beers on tap. a great place for beer lovers. they have a full line of anchor beers and tons of belgian and other imports. music is too loud and service is so-so.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

01/23/2003 Posted by knows_all

This place has the best beer selection in town... hands down. A must for beer connoisseurs. Only place in the US that I have seen Kwak on tap. I was hestitant to post a review because the place is busy as is and I would rather not have too many more people find my favorite bar (for relaxing) in the city. Cool bartenders too! Only con is that you have to buy food next door and bring it over... which does give you a chance to stretch your legs after drinking potent Belgium beer.

Pros: Great Beer!, Good prices., Good service.

Cons: Parking.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/21/2002 Posted by slappyjack

Beer, beer and more beer. That's all they carry (even in sodas, you get root beer.) The staff is a gruff but lovable bunch of folks than know more about beer than you're going to wanna learn. Just remember to behave yourself; this is a place where people go to hang and drink beer for enjoyment, not to get obliterated.

Pros: good beer, good jukebox, good people

Cons: LOUD MUSIC, VERY LOUD MUSIC, slightly dirty

Editor's Review

This gritty, Lower Haight favorite offers one of the best beer selections in town.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

Know Before You Go

Rosamunde, the "ultimate sausage destination" is next door, open until 10pm. Menus are available here and patrons are encouraged to bring a bratwurst back to the bar.

More Insider Tips

Bar/Club Information

Atmospheres

  • Brewpub
  • Tavern
  • Neighborhood
  • Happy Hour
  • 21 & Over
  • Bars
  • After Work

Parking

  • Metered

Hours

  • Daily 11:30am-2am

Minimum Age

  • 21

Payment Types

  • Cash

Recognition for Toronado

2007 Editorial Winner - Beer Selection
2006 Audience Winner - Beer Selection

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