Local Edition — Restaurant in San Francisco

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Local Edition opens in Downtown San Francisco!

Do you have trouble remembering your password for Bourbon & Branch but still desire a prohibition-style watering hole featuring artisan cocktails?

Local Edition can satisfy that need.

Enter through a nondescript door, and you're greeted by a dapper bouncer.

*For the first week of their grand opening, there was no need for reservations, as only those "in the know" could be found there. Forward three months later, and the doorman now asks you if you have a reservation.

Do not fear. They won't deny you access. Without a reservation, you're free to sit at a high table or strike a pose around the bar, just not sit at the low tables.

Head down the stairs, and pause a moment in the alcove to peruse old issues of Hearst publications, The Examiner and The Call.

Round the corner into the dimly lit space and you're met with the hostess station, where she will seat you at one of the twelve tables if you have a reservation.

In such a large area, the acoustics are softened thanks to the large velvet curtains draped around the room. A stage to the back right corner displays a film reel when bands are not entertaining the crowd.

The well crafted drinks are all named after some aspect of the Hearst empire. The mixologists have created different flavor combinations for each menu item.

Out of the 11 branded quaffs, I've had 5:

Fidel and Che -- flavorful rum drink served in a tall glass Yellow Kid -- tastes like an adult lemonade served in a tall glass Bloody Mary -- zesty and also served in a tall glass Rosebud -- sour and served in an oval champagne glass Local Edition -- sweet and served in a small round glass

For those who prefer beer or wine, flip over the retro newspaper-esque menu to reveal those selections.

The generous space allows for large networking groups, which is why I brought my group of 20 young professionals for our first visit. Yet it also is perfect for date night or smaller groups of 4-6 people.

I predict a long run for this...

Six of us came to local edition to enjoy the music on Thursday. We were really excited to try this place since many of our friends recommended it for me to listen for jazz music.

Unfortunately, we experienced a bad night at local edition. The bartender, called MEGAN/MEAGAN, had a really bad attitude(maybe only to us because of Asians!) She never smiled, talked, and interacted to us. Basically, she only had poker face when she served us. Bad service was one thing. Another thing was about racism which we think it was worse. Maybe our English wasn’t enough to her. She looked like she had troubles to understand us. I understood it since our first languages are not English. So, instead of saying them, I pointed to the drinks on the menu to show her what we wanted to order. However, she acted impatiently to us, and kept asking us to say it loud. I thought she tried to make us feel embarrassed in front of the other people because she knew we couldn’t pronounce the name of the drink perfectly. On the other hand, we noticed that she acted totally different when she served the different race(white) of people. She could smiled, talked, and laughed to them. We didn’t understand why she treated us so differently from the other race of people. Is it because our languages, colors, or something that are different from her? Is it because she didn’t like Asian people like us? We don’t know.

Honestly, if she couldn’t handle people with accents or different color, please don’t live or work in the San Francisco or California. This is not what California and San Francisco cultures are. Our culture is major and diverse in terms of race, arts, music, cuisine, festivals, museums and architecture. Racism is not welcomed by San Francisco. We don’t believe we are only the ones to be treated by her like this. Please educate your employee well enough...

Very dark, underground, fancy spot. You wouldn't know it's there if ya didn't know. I like that. We had come on a Tuesday evening after debating at least 4 other happy hour spots. The crew was very considerate in my ability to navigate with my mending disability. Since I'm still healing from a fractured ankle...I walk with a cane. But I was told by my doc that I did not have to baby the process---that getting out and a lil mobility is good. I took my time walking down the stairs. The cocktails we're fancy with fancy names but if ya know ya flavoring and use to concoctions these guys know what they're doing. We sat closest to where the band was setting up. All of us with the exception of our homegirls are over 6ft, the chairs were old school fancy but with wheels and felt as if they could collapse right from beneath us. As the band began to show up...I said to one of my buddies " yeah it's probably a big band group of old white dudes with not one brotha in the band". By the time of my 2nd cocktail the band was ready to rock and there wasn't one person of color to be found in that band. If it we're just 20 years ago this would be unheard of. 30 years prior they cut creative funding from Oakland Public schools. This nixed the music programming. Thank God I learned what I did from the 4th to the 8th grade as a drum Corp major, pianist and later as a vocalist. More history than ya need for this post but I thought I'd give up some historical facts for a place I could easily imagine Cab Calloway's band swinging and jumping throughout the place. Instead it was the total opposite but music is music right? Rrrright. This spot is Mr. Anderson approved. Just be prepared to use your smart phone light to read...