Royal Exchange Restaurant — Restaurant in San Francisco

It's been quite a few years since I last visited this place. So much has changed since 2016, especially after the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns in San Francisco. Our routines were drastically altered, and many places where we used to gather to have a drink and enjoy each other's company became distant memories.

A few days ago, however, I met an old friend at The Royal Exchange, just like we used to before the pandemic, and it was a grand time. It felt like things were finally getting back on track.

The Royal Exchange is still an excellent pub with a classic feel. With plenty of beer choices and great bartenders, it remains a perfect spot to meet friends and catch up. It's also easy to get to, with convenient access via public transportation and nearby parking for drivers.

The pub opened in 1972, the same year the first episode of "The Streets of San Francisco" aired. Given the timing and the pub's classic San Francisco atmosphere, it's not at all far-fetched to imagine Stone and Keller stopping by for a couple of beers after a long day of...

Solid FiDi bar and restaurant! I've been here several times over the years for lunches. It fills up pretty quick with the usual crowd you'd expect. Lots of power suits and guys with logoed hoodies. They work through people pretty fast, so I've never had much of a wait.

There's a nice selection of beer. Most of the usual domestics and local crafts. Nothing extraordinary on tap but a solid selection and better then you might expect.

The food is the usual pub grub. They have really good burgers, it's always my go to. If you're extra hungry, I'd recommend The Works burger. It's piled hight with sautéed mushrooms, onions, cheese, bacon, and avocado on a ciabatta bun! Delish!

This place works well for a work group sorta thang. There's enough of variety on the menu that the vegan in marketing can find something while everyone else...

Game day! Expect a crowd. Luckily, I'm totally bandwaggoner when it comes to sports and I usually come to hang and eat and drink. They had multiple TVs but they were at weird angles from the booth we were sitting in unless you just grabbed your drink and stand in front of it. I decided to give my attention to my sandwich instead. I hot the hot pastrami melt and a cider. The pastrami melt was really good. The pastrami was well flavored and went well with the cheese. Mmm... cheese. They rye bread was a bit too rye for me, but it was still good nonetheless. The cider was good to wash it down and it was refreshing and not too dry (which I like).

Overall, it's a chill place to grab a drink, watch the game, or in my case, hang out and...