This Pub’s For You

Here in the Bay Area we have more than a couple shows that showcase the Bay Area and the unique things that it has to offer. One of these shows is Eye On The Bay and this week they did a show on the pubs of the Bay Area. Check out their list of the best pubs and let me know your favorite spot for a proper pint in the Bay Area or wherever it is you call home. 

Eye On The Bay - Pubs of the Bay Area

Cameron’s Restaurant and Inn
1410 Cabrillo Hwy S
Half Moon Bay
(650) 726-5705
www.cameronsinn.com

The Little Shamrock
807 Lincoln Way
San Francisco
415-661-0060

Black Horse London Pub
1514 Union St.
San Francisco
(415) 928-2414
www.sfblackhorsepub.com

O’Reilly’s
622 Green Street
San Francisco
(415) 989-6222
www.oreillysirish.com

Kennedy’s Irish Pub and Curry House
1040 Columbus Ave
San Francisco
(415) 441-8855
www.kennedyscurry.com

The Pelican Inn
10 Pacific Way
Muir Beach
415-383-6000
www.pelicaninn.com

Of their picks, the wife and I liked the Little Shamrock the most. They had an old school backgammon table, and well, I’m a sucker for backgammon.

Before I give my picks in the Bay Area, let me just say that I was in England once when I was 17 and never been to Ireland, so I have no idea what an authentic Pub would look like. Having gone to college at Berkeley, I first got my beer dinking feet wet at Raleigh’s. This is also the first place I tried Boont Amber Ale and where I really learned to stop fearing and love the draft beer revolution. Also, if you go there and hear rumors of a guy who tried to go “Around The World” in a day and ended up passing out at the bar around 7 pm with an Amstel Light in hand, I have no idea who that guy is.  The beer garden out back is the best part of this place.  Located on Telegraph Avenue, the garden is surrounded by apartment buildings and provides a nice escape from the bustle found out on the street.  Unfortunately, the food is average at best, but it’s not so bad that it would keep you away from the place.

My other favorite spot is Barclay’s in the Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland.  They typically have around 30 beers on tap and the food is pretty good by pub standards.  I have a membership to their beer club which basically offers you special deals for drinking lots of beer.  The selection of beer is always amazing and will not disappoint even the most snobbish of us beer drinkers.

Amazingly, I haven’t tried the local Santa Rosa pubs but have heard great things about the Black Rose Pub and Stout Brothers.  Another newcomer to the Santa Rosa scene is the Toad in the Hole.  If you’ve been to any of these pubs, tell me what you think.