The Willows — Restaurant in San Francisco

Craft Beers and Cocktails. Board games. Pinball. Put those all together and you've got a recipe for an awesome hangout spot at the Willows!

Stepping into the Willows you are greeted almost immediately with a sign listing all their craft beers in their first room. Craft brews from as far reaches as Portland, Maine or as closely hidden as Santa Rosa they have great tasting brews from near and far reaches of the country! My personal favorite is the Allagash Curieux- this bourbon barrel aged ale seems to fit so well with the decor- it just works!

The second room is what my friends and I call the fun and games room! Why? Because the room is set up for as stated earlier- fun and games! There are huge tables with ample seats where those who come in for a drink can also grab some of their favorite board games to test their skills with their friends! To top it all off there's a bar in this room just 10 feet from the board games! So you can hang out and share a tasty drink in the front room or you can take it to the second room and test your wit and creativity with Cards against Humanity (my personal favorite game because I do better when I get more drinks from the bar in me; win -win!).

Lastly, what could make a night better than some good beer, cocktails, and board games? The delicious food! A must have any time I visit is their infamous Pork Belly "Donuts"/beignets- warm dough and pork never tasted so good while glazed over with maple bourbon syrup! Other favorites include their fried mac and cheese balls and the simple yet savory salt and pepper fries.

Before you finish the night off, remember to check out their pinball room since next to the board game room. I'm not sure why, but every time I go, I am compelled to play a round or two... when was the last time most of us can remember play pinball? Exactly.

The Willows is definitely a great place to unwind and hangout with your friends over some nice drinks and board game competition-friendly of course! Loser buys...

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11/24/2020 Ive been comming to this address for food fun and drinks since it was the original Hamberger Mary's in 1988. I moved back to South of Market 3 years ago and it is now The Willows. the brunch is always great as well as the burgers. the service has been quite good and even fantasic on most days...except for tuesdays. that is the day of the week i would avoid normaly however i do forget once in a while then I am reminded as soon as I walk in to order my food. the guy behind the bar on tuesdays is called Josh. my experience with him over the years has not been fun or pleasent ever. he consistently seems upset or angry to be there.I usually ignore his unfriendly/unwelcomly demeanor. today i invited a friend to join me for her first time. as usual Josh was unfriendly and not pleasant and curt. small talk is not his thing.I said hello and asked how his day was going his reply was "ok...what can I get you?" after ordering our food we sat outside and soon our food came Josh dropped off the food to our table with out saying a word and as he was walking away I asked if he could bring some mayo please. his reply as he is almost at the door in a curt and irritated tone "next time tell me when you order your food instead when Im already out here bringing your food". my friend asked me was he being for real? wow! im pretty sure this is not the first time The Willows have heard about this guys attitude problem.All of the other servers are always wonderful warm and friendly and im sure Josh has that abillity in him... i just dont experence that with him.I will just need to remind myself and my friends not to go...

Perfect hidden gem hangout spot.

SERVICE:

We had a post-wedding event at The Willows. A few days before, we emailed with Tim. He was extremely responsive and welcoming. He reserved us a spot and ensured we were well taken care of. The entire team was quick and accommodating.

BAR:

There are two areas, which are both decent size. The primary area consists of a bar, pinball machines, booth tables, a community high-top table, and lowered seating around a pool table. The second area consists of more private seating. The bar is a mix between a sports bar, lounge, and dive bar. There are windows on two sides, which provide good lighting. There are multiple TVs, which are great for sporting events. The pool table, pinball machines, and board games are a nice touch, which allow for multiple forms of entertainment. The venue is pretty clean and well-spaced out for easy flow.

DRINKS:

We chose the venue, in part, because it offers beers, well drinks, and cocktails. All three are affordably priced and provide options for all. We were impressed by the cocktails and options.

FOOD:

The menu includes sandwiches, salads, fries, etc. We had brussels sprouts, fries, and burgers. Everything was surprisingly good for bar food!

OVERALL:

I love a bar that provides a good space for people to lounge, talk, and gather. The different seating, entertainment, drink, and food options are all perfect. The volume isn't too loud. So, we could all hear each other, which I like. We stayed for several hours and would have stayed longer if we didn't have a dinner to make. I highly recommend The Willows for nearly any type of...