Rogue Ales Public House SF

One of our favorite things to do on the weekend is find new pubs. We've been to just about every brew-pub and tap-house in northern California, and many in the Pacific Northwest. Usually we just rank them in our minds, but this time we made a little chart.

This weekend, Mike and I went to San Francisco to find Rogue Ales Public House. It is in the North Beach neighborhood, on the corner of Union and Powell, near Washington Park. It was an unbelievably warm and sunny day in the city. San Francisco locals, who think 65 degrees is hot weather, had all their white out and on parade.

If a place has great beer, we will often overlook other deficiencies. The setting at Rogue is very pubby and comfortable, but parking was a bitch. While Rogue has a great selection of beers (42 beers on tap), friendly and knowledgeable service, a huge menu, and a fine IPA, the pints were $5.50 and we got dinged $8.25 for an average to small sized order of onion rings-- ouch! We blamed both on the touristy location.

As far as food quality goes, I tried the Kobe beef burger, since I've never tried Kobe beef. It was juicy and had good flavor, but was a little loosely composed and under-grilled for my taste. The bun was the most un-artisinal bun I have ever seen on a burger of that price and quality. Why would they make "the world's greatest burger" and serve it on the world's lamest bun? Combined with the soft burger, it made for a very mushy experience. It most definitely came out of a bag with red, blue and yellow dots on it. Fries had no skin and were unremarkable. Mike had a Cobb salad that was made from nice-looking ingredients but that he said was bland. Time to change out the once-clever paper six-pack condiment holders for some clean ones. Hidden outdoor beer garden in the back is perfect on a sunny day. Alternative music selection hit the spot.

Rogue Ale's Ratings:
(1= skip it<--->5=great)
Beer- 4+
(skip the Morimoto soba ale- the blandest beer we have ever tasted, otherwise good-great)
Atmosphere -4-5 - classic pub
Burger- 2 -a disappointment
Fries- 3- (frie-fecta= crispy, skin on, flavorful- these were one out of the three- flavorful)
Other- 3
Parking difficult, prices expensive, service friendly and knowledgeable, bathroom clean but no soap in sight (how do the employees wash their hands if they are out of soap?)
Overall, 3.5 out of 5
During happy hour, it might be a 4 or even a 5. Half-price pints might make all the food taste better! Ambitious, name-dropping menu (Neuske's bacon, Kobe beef, Niman Ranch, you know the culprits.) Based on our choices, I wouldn't venture far-- if you go, seek recommendations from the friendly staff.

Other pubs to visit:
Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa- pros: big selection of all their own very well made beers, parking ok, prices decent. Cons: no burgers and fries

The Toronado, San Francisco- king of tap-houses, freshest and widest selection of beers, just say 5, Rosamund sausages next door can be brought into the bar. Eclectic and loud jukebox, just like we like it.

Triple Rock, Berkeley- The best burger and fries anywhere, great beers

Third Street Brewing Company, Santa Rosa- nice beers, pub food

Ben and Nick's, Oakland- Family/pub atmosphere

Healdsburg Brewing Company- The world's best IPA- Racer 5. Stick with the less-ambitious food selections. Good burger, ok fries (no skin). Don't go anywhere near the French Dip sandwich. They should be ashamed of themselves.