Divina Pasion, Limon Rotisserie

Limon Rotisserie is a Peruvian restaurant with 3 locations in San Francisco (2 in the Mission and 1 in the Bayview). The cocktail menu at Limon categorizes by sours (as in Pisco Sours) and other cocktails. I chose the Divina Pasion cocktail from the other section since some of my other favorite drinks have been made with passion fruit puree like the Pasion Coco Colada (at the now closed EOS) and the Pasion (at Tacolicious). I love the tartness...

Read More

Wild Goose Chase, Fifth Floor

The Fifth Floor is located on the fifth floor in the Hotel Palomar in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. With many California restaurants counting down until the Foie Gras ban on July 1st, bartenders are also getting on the action. Since I'm not a big Foie Gras fan, I asked some friends who are to join me on a research mission when I read that Brian Means at the Fifth Floor had created a . I got caught up in the moment and decided...

Read More

Agricole Rhum Punch, Slanted Door

  Slanted Door is located in the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero in San Francisco. It's a Vietnamese restaurant with a stella bar program. The Slanted Door cocktails stay true to what they describe on their website, "Our bartenders mix the perfect cocktails, bright and crisp with just a hint of sweetness; expertly crafted with the finest ingredients from small producers dedicated to quality." The Rhum Agricole Punch embodies Slanted...

Read More

Between the Sheets, Original Joes

Original Joe's is located in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. It's a classic Italian American restaurant with classic cocktails and classic service with the waiters dressed in black suits and bowties. There are no fancy cocktails described with locally sourced ingredients or purees. There's just a list of classic cocktails like the Martini, Sazerac and Greyhound. I must admit I did have to google a few of the drinks that I had...

Read More

High Line Fling, Standard Grill

The Standard Grill is located in the Meatpacking District in New York City. The cocktail menu is categorized by East Side and West Side cocktails. We ordered their house-spiked punch from the West Side Menu called the High Line Fling. With 4 other friends, the 5 of us easily got about three glasses each (with ice) so I think this is for 8-10 people. It arrived to our table with 5 long straws as well as glasses. This punch is mild, sweet and...

Read More

Lycheelicious, Another Monkey

  Another Monkey is a Thai restaurant/lounge located in the Mission District of San Francisco. I've had several memorable nights at this restaurant location as Another Monkey and when it was Conduit. The cocktail menu with Monkey Mixers and Monkey Specials contains a list of fun named cocktails. There is no better way to describe this cocktail which is made with vodka and lychee juice than it's name, Lycheelicious! Our bartender that...

Read More

Morning Bell, Chez Papa Resto Mint Plaza

Chez Papa Resto Mint Plaza is in the South of Market (SOMA) neighborhood of San Francisco. It's just around the corner from the Westfield Shopping Center on Market. On a beautiful but slightly windy San Francisco afternoon, I was excited get a seat outside in the plaza. Luckily, the surrounding buildings offered some protection from the occasional gust of wind. I haven't been to Chez Papa Resto in a while and was looking forward to see what was...

Read More

Derby Cooler, Dixie

Dixie is located in the Presidio National Park in San Francisco. It recently opened in the spacious former Pres a Vis space. Dixie has an extensive cocktail menu where drinks are categorized by Specialty Cocktails, "Martinis, Manhattans and Variants", Champagne Cocktails, Classic "Cocktails served up", Classic "Cocktails served on ice" and finally Beer Cocktails. My research partner chose the Derby Cooler from the Specialty Cocktail Menu for...

Read More

Berry Foolies, Artesian

The Artesian Bar is located in the Langham Hotel which is just off the corner of Oxford Street and Regent Street in Central London. The Berry Foolies is another fun drink from the ABV section of the extensive cocktail menu. The Berry Foolies is an ABV free (non-alcoholic) drink. It's stunning from the first glance,  the first sniff, the first sip and until the last sip. Per the cocktail menu "Long time favourite of our guest consists...

Read More

Citron Presse, Absinthe

With some recent summer weather in the San Francisco, I've been wondering where to find some refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Who knew Absinthe Brasserie in Hayes Valley would have more than a few choices. The Citron Presse is a made to order drink, made by you, and pressed by the Absinthe bartender. It's simple table entertainment with fresh pressed lemon juice, water and simple syrup. While we do make fresh lemonade at home once in a while,...

Read More

Citron Lemonade, Absinthe

Absinthe is my favorite cocktail spot in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. The Citron Lemonade is the adult version of the non-alcoholic Absinthe Lemonade. With Hangar One Buddha’s Hand, ginger syrup, fresh lemon-lime juice, ginger beer and a topping of cranberry juice, how else can you describe this drink except for refreshing! Per the cocktail menu, "This is a variation of our non-alcoholic beverage “The Absinthe Lemonade” created...

Read More

Blackberry Caiprinha, Il Fornaio

  My lunch companions and I were at a loss for what to do for a quick brunch on a drive from San Francisco to the South Bay. We took a quick stop at an Il Fornaio in Burlingame. I was in the mood for either a brunch mimosa or bloody Mary, but when I saw the Blackberry Caiprinha on the menu, I knew I had to give it a try. It's a colorful and refreshing tart cocktail with freshly muddled blackberries, cachaca, lime juice and sugar. The Skinny brunch,...

Read More

Moscow Mule, Cafe des Amis

  Cafe des Amis is located in the Cow Hollow Neighborhood of San Francisco. On a beautiful sunny afternoon, I was lucky to grab a seat outside along the sidewalk. The refreshing Moscow Mule is a  simple cocktail of Russian Standard vodka, Fever Tree Ginger Beer and lime. I loved the copper mug that the Moscow Mule was served in! I like when you learn something new from a cocktail menu, here's the description from the menu: "This is...

Read More

Tamarind Cumin Mezcal, Aziza

Aziza is located in the Richmond District of San Francisco. The cocktail menu at Aziza is categorized by liquor and then a selection of unique combinations of muddled herbs, fruits, vegetable and spices. I haven't seen tamarind as an ingredient in any cocktail menu yet, so I decided to go with the Tamarind, Cumin, Mezcal. Wow, despite it's murky color, this libation is smokin' hot! As you take your first sip, you instantly inhale the smokey fumes...

Read More

Caipirinha, Farallon

Farallon is located just off of Union Square in San Francisco. They have a fun happy hour in the Jellyfish lounge called, "$6 until 7". You get select bar bites, cocktails and wine for $6 each from 4:30pm - 7pm. I chose the refreshing Caipirinha cocktail with cachaca, lime and sugar. Farallon is a nice underwater themed restaurant and lounge to escape from all the tourists and shoppers in Union Square. The happy hour is great deal for Union...

Read More

Ground control to Major Tom, Clock Bar

The Clock Bar is located in the Westin St. Francis Hotel just off of Union Square. The Ground Control to Major Tom in the seasonal cocktail menu is a light, refreshing, tropical cocktail made with gin, cherimoya-ginger syrup, key lime, passion fruit and egg white. I think this was the first time I've had cherimoya. What is cherimoya? It's a fruit native to South America and has hints of tropical fruits like banana, papaya and pineapple. In researching...

Read More

Place taker, Oola

Oola is located in the South Of Market neighborhood of San Francisco just by Yerba Buena Gardens. It was tough to choose which cocktail or even shot to try. I choose the Place Taker with mezcal, dash of Chartreuse, fresh lime and pineapple gum syrup. The cocktail was smoky with a hint of sweet. The last time I went to Oola was for the Dine About Town last year. Dine About Town ends June 15th, make your reservations now! I should go to Oola...

Read More

La Fresa, Skool

Skool is a fish focused restaurant located in the Design District of San Francisco. La Fresa is a new cocktail on the Skool menu. The fresh strawberry infused tequila, Pimms, lemon juice, sugar, habanero shrub and fresh basil combine to offer an invigorating elixir to refresh the soul. On this hot San Francisco day, the La Fresa is perfect. Skool's outside patio was packed on this sunny afternoon at 5:15 too. Arrive by 5pm on nice days to...

Read More

Bengali Gimlet, Dosa Fillmore

Dosa has two locations in San Francisco. One on Fillmore and the other in the Mission. Their appropriately name Spice Route Cocktail Menu showcases a unique blend of flavors. The Bengali gimlet was recently listed in The Big Drink 7x7 June 2012  edition as one of 50 cocktails to drink in San Francisco. It's a delicious libation of Tanqueray Rangpur Gin, curried nectar and lime juice. The Skinny http://dosasf.com/ Bengali Gimlet, $11 Other...

Read More