The Plough and the Stars — Restaurant in San Francisco

Ugh, truly conflicted about this rating, for a year had rated as a 5/5 stars but had to revise after this week's occurrences. I have lived two blocks away from the plough and the stars for the past 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed this classic Irish bar with its weekly Irish music offerings. I frequented Thursday night set dancing, weekend band offerings and even brought family here when they visited the city to show them the local spirited "dive bar". The environment was always warm and welcoming albeit laid back and unpretentious. As a young 20 something new to alcohol, I even discovered my adoration for Guinness at this bar! Which regretfully brings me to the events of this past weekend. The opportunity for a night cap of Guinness-y goodness arose after a long day visiting Folsom Street fair. I thought to stop in for a beer following dinner with my new girlfriend, a great opportunity to show her more of my neighborhood. We were dressed appropriately, almost entirely covered up by the evening due to the chilly SF air, with a little glitter and a leather necklaces being the only potential signs of the raucous event we had just enjoyed (however, any attire that sufficiently covers genitals shouldn't even be an issue in 2019 San Francisco?!?) We had absolutely no trouble in the same dress at dinner on the same block, we were treated with the respect of patrons that one would expect! However, it seems that the antiquated character of the bar was also reflected in attitude. Although a bar cannot be held accountable for actions of customers, the bar tenders should be respectful without exception. Which is why it saddened me to hear the bar tender negging and jeering with the other men at the bar after we rejected one man's drunken approach. We were mocked and ridiculed while our order for two Guinness was neglected. We left promptly and unfortunately will not be back soon. In the words of my girlfriend, "I didn't come all the way to San Francisco to be treated like this!" A sour finish to an otherwise beautifully accepting and affirming day. The female bar tender that worked (works?) here has always been fantastic, keep her around to temper the delusion that luck of the Irish does not mean...

Decent live music; I mean at least they have live music, so points for that and hence 3 stars. But there is a very subjectively applied cover charge that seems to vary customer to customer depending on your appearance, sex, and familiarity. I'm quite sure most of it is being pocketed by the "bouncers" and not going to the band. If they really are bouncers they wear street clothes and seem to be patrons as well. But the bar staff doesn't seem to mind so they are possibly employees. Same experience with us and friends on 3 separate occasions to date. Probably won't...

Stumbled in after dinner a few days ago to keep the after dinner energy going. $5 cover for 4 of us to enter since they had a band playing.

We were totally sticking out like sore thumbs but didn't receive any looks or hate. Gotta love SF for all that it accepts. Funny juxtaposition that we ended up here and ordering tequila shots haha.

Stayed for the band which was a vibe and totally not what you'd find in my headphones but keeping an open mind will ensure you have...