You would be hard-pressed to find a more unique setting and a stellar day-into-evening menu than at San Francisco’s Presidio Social Club.
The experience starts as you walk up to what is officially known as Building 563, located at the edge of Presidio National Park. The structure was built in 1903 as a barracks and many of the architectural underpinnings remain intact.
Yet although the building is authentically vintage, PSC’s menu is contemporary, featuring creative cuisine along with new takes on California comfort food and on classic cocktails.
Our recent dinner experience – which we hope is just the first of many – showcased all of those facets in an exemplary manner, beginning with the great service and a table which afforded a nice view of the convivial crowd that filled the space on a Saturday night.
The specialty cocktail list features the Manhattan Project and what the restaurant calls “the search for the ultimate Manhattan,” with whiskey, vermouth and bitters in a recipe that changes weekly – or at the bartender’s whim. Standard cocktails include the Old Cuban with rum, lime, mint and sparkling wine, the French 75 with gin, lemon and sparkling wine and the Moscow Mule with vodka, lime and ginger beer. (Corkage is also available for $25 a bottle with a limit of two bottles per party.)
Moving into the appetizers, at our server Daniel’s suggestion, we tried the house specialty deviled eggs and the ahi tuna poke, a delicious version that was served with jicama, cucumber, charred avocado (that’s right!) and taro chips.
Another unique starter which is on our list for next time is the warm goat cheese flan with English pea sauce. Those who like to start with salads will find a choice of four on the menu including a roasted beet salad, watercress and red quinoa salad and a kale salad, of course.
Program note: All of the portions are generous so be sure to plan accordingly. We didn’t, and ended up doggie bagging, but it made for some delicious leftovers.
For dinner, there are Standards, and then there are Classics, which include meatloaf, mac and cheese and different permutations of a hamburger, alongside which the truffle Parmesan fries are pretty much de rigueur.
We mixed it up, ordering the daily special, which was grilled salmon served on a bed of corn and peas. And then there was the fabulous meatloaf, accompanied by glazed carrots and mashed potatoes. Who could resist a side order of smashed peas in mint oil – a portion large enough to serve a couple more people– which was therefore enjoyed the next day. Roasted asparagus, broccoli, mashed potatoes and those truffle fries are also choices for sides.
Do you really have room for dessert after all of this? Well, maybe a few bites. And then, you know what to do. Wrap it up – and plan to come back again soon.
Presidio Social Club, 563 Ruger Street, San Francisco, CA, 415.885-1888, Monday through Friday: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
