La Pinata at Padrecito in San Francisco

Whenever I go to Padrecito in Cole Valley, I know I am going to enjoy my evening cocktails. It usually starts with the smoky La Copa Verde and ends with a churro paired with a La Arma. But today I decided to spice it up a bit with La Pinata. It's the perfect balance of sweet heat with a wonderful light rosemary aroma as you take each sip. Despite the kick of heat from the jalapeno this cocktail is difficult to drink slowly. It's...

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Knot Hole at Roka Akor in San Francisco

By the time dessert rolled around at Roka Akor, I just asked the server to bring anything that would pair well with the dessert we ordered (warm chocolate cake and Roka pop rocks). The server surprised me with the Knot Hole. It was definitely in my eyes the perfect pairing. With the Roka pop rocks and this ice cream soda like cocktail, I felt like a little kid all over again. The perfect ending to an exceptional meal that started off the nursery...

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Golden Seal at Roka Akor in San Francisco

The tequila in the Golden Seal cocktail at Roka Akor sealed the deal for my next cocktail order. By that point, after the many laughs during my first cocktail Jack Horner, it didn't matter there were sweet syrup and agave ingredients. Fortunately, the mild acidity in the champagne vinegar counteracts the sweet ingredients. The beautiful golden hue adds to the character of this complex cocktail. Everything about this cocktail including the...

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Jack Horner at Roka Akor in San Francisco

I just read that there's been a changing of the guard at the bar at Roka Akor in San Francisco. I had a few memorable drinks there earlier in the summer which were scheduled next month to post. These next few cocktails are no longer available but worth sharing anyways. Here's my ode to the Daniel Hyatt days at Roka Akor. I'm usually not a fan of going to Asian restaurants for their cocktails. I've found that many Asian restaurants have cocktail...

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March Madness at Ssiso in San Francisco

I have to admit, I'd been to the Ssisso location when it was Denny's. I am impressed at how the space has been transformed. After my first Pomegranate Mint soju cocktail, I asked the bartender for something not as sweet. He surprised me with the March Madness that he had been working on for the menu. It was smack in the middle of the NCAA tournament when I went there, hence his inspiration. I'm not a big fan of orange juice in my cocktails, but...

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Pomegranate Mint at Ssisso in San Francisco

A few days ago I saw on my Twitter feed that Thrillist had posted their favorite 8 places for Chicken Wings in San Francisco. As I was reading through the list I saw that Ssisso's garlic soy chicken wings were on the menu. I enjoyed a great meal there last March and searched through my March pictures folder to see if I had any pictures from the meal. Sure enough, I did, but only the drinks. While I remember this soju cocktail was on the sweet...

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A Lambrusco at Gioia Pizzeria in San Francisco

I used to live in the Russian Hill neighborhood of San Francisco. Whenever I am in that area of the city, I enjoy seeing that some of my favorite places are still there (Aux Delice and La Folie). But I am also thrilled for the neighborhood with the new additions such as Gioia Pizzeria. I rarely see Lambrusco on menus, so when I saw it on Gioia's, I knew it would be the perfect pairing for a warm sunny San Francisco day. I enjoyed it so much,...

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The Bitter Truth at Spruce in San Francisco

The reality of living in a wonderful foodie and cocktail city is that I rarely make it to some of my favorite restaurants, like Spruce, as often as I would like. It's been over a year since my last visit. Each of the cocktails on the menu looked so inviting. I settled on the Bitter Truth. After which, I wished I had the the time to sip my way through the cocktail menu. I hope it won't take another year for me to return. The Drink - The Bitter...

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Smoke and Mirrors at Cotogna in San Francisco

It's been a while since I've been to Cotogna. I'm so glad there was a last minute opening for brunch a few weekends ago. I decided to indulge a little bit for brunch and ordered the fried chicken and biscuits for my meal. However for my brunch cocktail, I had a tough time deciding what to drink. Should I order the Blackberry Fix with my choice of vodka/gin/rye? Or should I just start the party early with the Smoke and Mirrors with mezcal, grapefruit...

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Revolucion at Coqueta in San Francisco

There's a revolution happening on the San Francisco waterfront and it's from the tasty cuisine and cocktail offerings at Michael Chiarello's Coqueta. I specifically asked for a recommendation on a savory cocktail. The server recommended the Revolucion, from the Spanish Gin and Tonic section of the menu. I even asked with the passion fruit, are you sure? The reassured me so I went ahead an ordered it. For me it was definitely more on the...

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The Sun Never Sets at Coqueta in San Francisco

When I saw the Sun Never Sets on Coqueta's menu with tequila and mezcal, I knew I would be ordering it sometime during dinner. I enjoy watching the sun set. However, you won't ever want it to set with this cocktail. Luckily once you've sipped the last drop, you don't have to wait another day to order one. I'm hoping this will still be on the menu on my next visit to Coqueta. I'll make sure I'm at the bar the next time to watch the show that...

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Spanish Golden Ale at Coqueta in San Francisco

My research partner was so surprised when my drink that she said in shock "You ordered a beer?". But I hadn't. The name and your first glance trick you into thinking this Spanish Golden Ale cocktail is some type of beer. From the Modern Cocktail (Cockteles Vanguardia) section on the menu, this Golden Ale wows you from it's grand entrance and captivates you with it's flavor from the first sip to the last. I stared at this cocktail for some time...

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A Coffee at Stanza Coffee Bar in San Francisco

I was early for an appointment in the Mission, so I decided to walk into Stanza Coffee Bar. I'm not a big coffee drinker, but once I walked in the door, there was no turning back. It's an experience to walk through the doors at Stanza. The Moroccan inspired decor is stunning. I couldn't help but stare at the beauty of many of the the pieces from lighting to the serving pieces. When I next looked at the time on my phone, I had to rush out to my...

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Spicy Blood Orange Margarita at Base Camp Pizza in South Lake Tahoe

I was in South Lake Tahoe for one evening this summer and my friends decided to meet at Base Camp Pizza for dinner. We made the mistake of not making a reservation during a busy Friday night. There was some confusion prior to our seating. We were all thirsty to order something when we were finally seated. My friends immediately ordered beers and wine before I could even open the menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see several cocktails on the...

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Boogie Beer with Boba at Ken Ken Ramen in San Francisco

If you want to enjoy a boba cocktail, head on over to Boba Guys' pop up location at Ken Ken Ramen in the Mission. I had a hard time deciding which boba cocktail to enjoy at brunch time. The server suggested I give the Boogie Beer cocktail a try. I have to admit, I'm not a big beer drinker, but decided to give it a try, the Boogie in the name convinced me. It's similar to a Michelada and the guava juice is a nice touch.  The Drink - Boogie...

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Commodore 64 at S+R Lounge in San Francisco

In the 80's, The Commodore 64 was the buzz of the computer industry. I don't think I was fortunate enough to ever use one. S+R Lounge pays tribute to the to this computer on their Remedies section of the menu. Let this Commodore 64 take command as you sip your worries away. The Drink - The Commodore 64, $12 Vodka, White Vermouth, and Orange Bitters The Place - S+R Lounge San Francisco, South of Market (SOMA) Hotel Lobby bar Snacks...

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Angel at S+R Lounge in San Francisco

You won't find an angel to the rescue at S+R Lounge but an Angel on the Remedy section of the menu. I mostly think of Greyhounds (vodka base) when I see grapefruit in a cocktail and forgotten about all the other grapefruit cocktails I've enjoyed in the past. This is the perfect refreshing and zesty cocktail that will lift up your spirits whether you've been shopping at the Westfield Center next door, been listening to speakers at a conference...

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404 at S+R Lounge in San Francisco

My research partner for the afternoon was held up in a meeting, so I ended up ordering a second drink (after The Valley) before they arrived. I knew I had to slow down with the petite cocktails, but that didn't stop me from ordering the 404 with tequila from the Remedies section of the menu. While I sat there wondering if the 404 was named  "404-not found" on a website (aka Clueless), the 404 area code from Atlanta, Georgia or some other...

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The Valley at S+R Lounge in San Francisco

I just love when friends text you and ask "Are you available to have a drink? If so, you pick the place." So decided to check out the newly opened S+R Lounge (short for Salvage and Rescue) in the Hotel Zetta in San Francisco's SOMA neighborhood. Their cocktail menu has 2 sections, Rescue and Remedies. With mezcal and pineapple, I enjoyed a spicy Valley Cocktail from the Remedies section of the menu. It reminded me of other mezcal/pineapple/chili...

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The Barrister at The Cavalier in San Francisco

When I think of a barrister, images of a British lawyer donning a white wig and arguing the merits of a case come into vision. But thankfully for those in the profession in the UK, per a Daily Telegraph article the  "Pompous, pointless and itchy" wigs are no more. With so much tradition and order in the barrister profession, it makes sense that one would be inspired to create a cocktail. One of my research companions ordered a Barrister...

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