Theresa M.'s Review Of The Cigar Bar & Grill (4/5) on Yelp.com
Posted by ~Ray @ 2008-11-13 11:23:02
When a group of my friends wanted to drink and smoke exceptionally good cigars. CB was the first place I thought of and I hoped that my last outing here was just a fluke. We arrived and within 1 min of walking in we were seated outside. This time around the service was awesome and she attended to us even as the masses began to arrive. Was even patient enough since I was being indecisive about what drink I wanted. Of course I chowed down on the chips and calamari no wait 2 orders of calamari. Hey when I like something. I like something alright. To wash it all down I had the pear-ginger cooler (grey goose pear and ginger syrup) lavender gimlet (ketel one and lavender sugar) and a damn good Manhattan (thanks mr bartender!) Since this is a cigar bar the other half and the gang brought their own cigars and bought some there as well. Romeo y Julieta. Montecristo and Eileen's Dream (my sweet tooth cigar) are my favs. Why a five star from a two star? Because not only was this outing a reminiscence of my past ones before the latter but Matt the manager read my previous review and apologized for the service I received. Caring for your patrons' experience makes a place that much better.
I like the Cigar Bar for a few reasons:1) They serve pretty good sangria2) They have an outdoor area where you can drink the aforementioned sangria with a glass in one hand and a ciggy in the other3) They bring in live music salsa bands etc. Prices aren't cheap and loser-face Screech look-alike hangs out here with his douchebag entourage but otherwise it's good quality fun.
Well dressed young locals find their way to Cigar Bar after a hard days work to play at night. CB has a sophisticated tone and nice bartenders. The Cover: I don't mind a cover at a place like CB because they offer you entertainment make good drinks and are friendly. $3 for women. The Bar: on your right as you walk in with a nice liquor selection and the house cocktails list is a good starting point for the indecisive. The Entertainment: they line-up tons of live entertainment here! It makes your visit fun and relaxing where the entertainment is set-up there is a nice space for some dancing if you feel like moving a bit. The Patio: huge gorgeous patio! Pretty fountains and tons of tables. Smoke drink and lounge here. I totally enjoyed the crowd music and drinks here. Although I am not into cigars they do smell great and CB has some pretty cool stuff on hand.
I went here for a private event during a warm summer evening and loved it. The bar is rustic and they have a wonderful outdoor courtyard where you can either have drinks or smoke a cigar. I am not a smoker in any way but after this place. I have really learned to appreciate the smell of cigars. I haven't tried the food here but I have tried the drinks and they have a nice selection and a FULL BAR. IF you want a mixed drink a beer or a cognac for your cigar they have it here. It is in a great spot near Bix and the Bubble Lounge. Parking is bad my first word of advice. This would be a great spot for an afterwork outing or an evening night cap. Enjoy!
I'll start off this review with a "I'm definitely coming back here" statement because this time I actually mean it. My adventure at Cigar Bar was unfortunately cut short last weekend but it was memorable nonetheless. The patio is spacious and it looked like a nice place to sit. Too bad it was already full by the time we got there. They have couches and a pool room which look like after a long day of work could be really relaxing and bring some joy into the day. Too bad they were occupied and being played on. The $4 wine special. It actually costs $5... the joke is lost on me. You know how at Carl's Jr they have the $6 Burger that actually costs like $3 and you're all SWEET. I'm getting an awesome deal!.. well at Cigar Bar saying that the $4 is really $5 you feel a little ripped off. But the wine was not bad at all so I just chalked it up to wry humor and drank on. Hopefully my next trip to CB will be MORE and BETTER everything. I'd still recommend the place just get there early and snag one of the hot seats.
If you want to be served a warm tap beer and stand among a few hundred of the most dull silver-spoon up the tush frat boys then this is a five-star joint in your eyes. The bartenders seemed fine but the beer was literally piss warm. The dudes that frequent this bar are the bottom-of-the-barrel tool suits. I heard at least three guys talking about "how hot the chicks are". The remaining conversations were about their iphones chicks again their inflated bank accounts and their penny loafers. I wouldn't return to this godawful place if beers were free for life. Ok if that were the case. I probably would.
I've been to this lovely establishment once before and right then and there I fell in love with the place and even considered it my fave! hehe The second time I went I had an even more fun time! =)I love the whole decor of this place! It really brings out that Spanish vibe! With a live latin jazz and cigars by the cobble stone patio area you would think you were in some place in Spain! It's such a fun and lively place to be! The crowd is very diverse and once the band starts playing the whole place gets even livelier! Expect a few people who should be on Dancing With The Stars start dancing around you! haha It's such a wonderful sight to see! I admit. I can be a bit intimidated but once you see how friendly everyone is you'd be on that dancefloor getting a lesson! The first time I went there none of my guy friends wanted to dance with me so I was a bit bummed! But I still enjoyed the music and people! This time around. I was able to dance and it was definitely a fun experience! Some random guy pulled me onto the dancefloor and started dancing with me! Of course I was always able to play off the fact that I can dance to salsa in the past but this time I was given a formal lesson! haha This guy was definitely a pro and he made me ease into the role quite easily! I admit for my first time in REAL salsa dancing I was going beyond my overall experience! I was twirled and swirled and even got DIPPED that night! hahahahaa I thought that was cool! hehe I must say my first formal dancing at salsa was majorly fun! And this time one of my guy friends danced with me! hahaha Go figure!The drinks are yummy and I must try the food next time I go! It's definitely a nice place to enjoy dining or dancing or just listening to live music! PROS: Live music dancing nice place for a date or group outingCONS: Can get a bit crowded parking is almost always hard to find! =(
Cigar Bar and Grill is a GREAT place to host a private party. I hosted one this past Saturday eve and everything went really well. I rented the back room behind where the music plays and it was great for my guests to play pool and hang low before the music started. Instead of an open bar. I applied the fee towards wine which really afforded me a lot - the last bottle went around midnight. The server was on-the-mark with us even though she had a large party dining before the band set up in that space. We also had a reserved table on the patio which was perfect for cooling off and smoking cigs and cigars; hence why people choose to spend an evening here along with the awesome Latin bands that play. Thanks to Matt and Mayra for making our night loads of fun. Everyone had a fantastic time.
Great happy hour scene. The place is surprisingly big with a great patio the design of the bar/restaurant reminds me kind of the way some of the "pincho"/tapas bars are like in northern Spain. except there's no hanging slabs of pork. The bartenders were nice. gave me and my friend free drinks when some dork dropped & broke his pint glass next to us. We were drinking Black Label and were nearly finished with it then the bartender just got us another round. free. Plus the music was good too. if you like salsa/merengue/latin jazz.
You need a place to converse with a date or just some friends it's a great place. Not a whole lotta music until after 11pm (live jazz band). They have a huge open courtyard where you can chil and smokel. Otherwise they have private dinning and a billiard room. Bartenders made the drinks very strong and the choice of cigars was decent nothing too crazy expensive. VEggie Friendly: Yes
I've been to The Cigar Bar & Grill many times in the past and have not gotten around to writing a review for them. Maybe there was nothing note worthy before? Whatever the case may be last weekend has provoked me to write a glowing review for them. My roommate hosted a rather large gathering here and I had a fantastic time. We had the back room where the pool table lives - everyone socialized drank and played pool. There was live music and dancing in the room next to us and everyone seemed to have really great energy! The Cigar Bar was a great host. They stalked us up on wine and glasses and from what I can tell were very attentive. "Good jobs" are deserved all around; especially to my roommate who chose such a perfect venue.
I got invited by great friends to this awesome place on a Saturday night & what did you expect... the place was really packed. Well the cuban music of the La Familia Son was so wonderfully danceable & was also pleasurable for listening but I enjoyed more listening to their music :) Of course it's a Cigar Bar so people can smoke but only in the courtyard area. & that's where we were seated.. well sorry for me as I don't smoke :(
I ended up at Cigar Bar twice a couple of weeks ago as it is so easy to access for drinks after work in the Financial District. I have been numerous times before as well and always have a good time. The outside seating area is great when the weather is beautiful. I'm surprised so many people know of this spot because it's always packed but a fun time. I've never had food here but the drinks are good.
This is only the second place in the City where you can smoke - granted you can only smoke in the courtyard or the little room adjacent to the courtyard. Is this place even a secret anymore? The drinks are good the food is unknown - I've had a few appetizers but that's it. Stogie selection is okay but you can bring your own. For an establishment with cigar in it's name this place draws a lot of talent. Get there early and avoid the cover. Music is great too - usually some variation of jazz.
The location of my friend's weekly Puff and Sip outings today it was the site of his engagement party. My first time here. Great bar in the front room pool table room band/dancing area fantastic patio area and then various side rooms. A fun time had by all - especially when Porkchop Express (the band of another friend of ours) played for almost an hour. Apparently this place is a restaurant too - and it already sold me when I saw they have mac & cheese on the menu. Now I have to go back. Soon.
My 3 loves in one place.. food alcohol and smokes. What more can a girl ask for. This time coming here we opted for the inside as I had to learn the hard way that I am indeed allergic to cigar smoke. I know I couldn't believe it myself. I freaking love the smell of cigars but don't think I like the fact my eyes get puffy and swollen from that. I'll still come back here though.. maybe with a mask. The food here is not bad. Your bar food with very nice presentation. We ordered the combo plate came with quesadillas chicken wings calamari and fries and ceviche. Thursday they actuall ran out of calamari and ceviche so they substituted it with bruschetta. It was good and even nicer that it was on the house. The ceviche is good and I do love the calamari so next time hopefully they have it the next time. They also had salsa that night what a plus. I even went out for a spin after a few glasses of wine.
This is another one of my standards for happy hour with outside seating when the weather is nice. The inside particularly at the bar isn't bad either. As long as you can sag chairs either at the bar or at a table outside then this place is very enjoyable. I've been here with groups and for some reason. I've been here more then once to have a "serious" conversation with a friend or BF. Something about crowded places makes me feel more comfortable to speak candidly. Also as per the name they do sell cigars here so if you're into that then you'll like this place even more.
Tucked away where the Financial District eventually borders Little Italy and the fringes of North Beach. The Cigar Bar was a stop on my Friday night adventure. My first week of work finished off with a company party plenty of champagne and a crew to wander out with. We took over every corner of the bar before the sun went down and it was the ideal place to continue a steady drinking pace and possibly order some of the delicious looking appetizers I saw being eaten. Finally I was hanging out with the guys who actually smoke cigars in places like this--if that's a good thing at all--and enjoying it even more than I did before. I continued off into the sunset as I exited the brick-clad bar and headed north toward the beach very contented lighting a cigarette with a new box of matches from The Cigar Bar.
A lot of stories about this place actually even though I've only known about it for 6 months or so..... stumbled across it one night while out drinking with a buddy and I was whining about a lack of cigar bars... we get to Montgomery a few seconds later and uh there's a place called "The Cigar Bar." (I probably shoulda wished for something else. I guess right?) We go in and the selection of cigar's is actually quite small but whoever chose them knew what they were doing... we select a couple cigars (Davidoff's. I think) buy one for a girl who is eying the case get a couple of bourbons and the three of us go outside. (It was a very Hemingway moment - uh minus the shotgun of course.) A good time was had by all until the girl's crazy-ass drunk friend showed up.. another story in their somewhere. Since that time. I've been back again and again with friends alone with work colleagues with work schmoozing with regular schmoozing.. it's all good. Definitely go early tho - it fills up.. grab seat outside and plant yourself there for the night. The bar food is actually quite good (but skimpy) so you'll be fine. Oh one other thing - every time I'm there invariably a debutant-wannabe comes wandering in by herself or with friends and holds her nose or fans the air in front of her and makes That Face(tm).. and then says. "It's so smokey in here!!!"Jesus lady its a cigar bar....
It's been a hard day's niiiight! I've been workin' like a dog!It's been a hard day's night. I should be sleepin' like a log!.. but I came to Cigar Bar instead. :)Awesome bar to hit up in the Financial District after a long week of work. The bartenders are way over-worked but still friendly which is nice. Bar? So crowded. It was hot outside so all I really craved was ice water anyway. We ordered apps which were DELISH - varying types of quesadillas cut into girl-manageable strips calamari with aioli. GREAT buffalo wings mmm. Highly recommend digging into the party platter if you're with a hungry group of girls of 5 or more. :)The ambiance is very homey yet sophisticated. When you walk in you almost feel like you ARE walking through an Italian villa - large rooms open spaces vaulted ceilings and everything focused around an open-air terrace in the middle of the entire place. Some exposed brick on the ceilings but in a non-traditional non-poseur way making the decor seem more rustic-chic than "trying-too-hard-to-be-urban-and-failed"-esque. I had one glass of the house chardonnay which was good and the cocktail waitresses are definitely hustling to get everyone their orders. Friends reported equally as delish reviews on the house cosmos and mojitos. I love this place. If you work anywhere near the FiDi and want a cool after-work place to hit up this is definitely your spot. If you're a guy who likes cigars that would make this even MORE your spot.(.. if you are a guy looking for say a non-career-minded chick who doesn't have a great job in SF's bustling young professionals district or maybe a 35+ Coug who left the kids with the babysitter for the night? I'd say head back "on-campus".. you know to Balboa. :))And if you're a girl? Well just imagine oodles and oodles of bankers ties loosened drinking cocktails and smoking cigars on the open-air patio. I bet you this bar just might become your next "fave" watering hole. :)p s. This chick in an orangey-red dress was smoking a cigar like it was her last dying breath! I would qualify this in the category of "what not to do" but hey to each her own!
So I have mixed feelings about cigar bar. I loved going there for happy hour just a stroll away from my droning job. Great drinks and packed with energy. But I went there the other night and I was left a little disappointed. First off being a chick I'm not a big fan of cover charge. Its a great way to keep the ratio even for guys but I mean charge too many girls cover and they head to the place next door that doesn't. Especially since I'm technically paying for that aroma of cigar stink to stick to my hair. Anywhoo. I did enjoy the live music on Saturday night. It seemed to be the only thing keeping the place jumpin. I really got the vibe on the patio that the crowd was a loungin. Almost like that vibe after a family dinner. Everyone's just loungin around talkin after a nice plate. Which is great and all just not my type of vibe when I'm going out. All in all. I'll keep comin here for happy hour but i'll be spendin my cover money somewhere else on the weekends...
/My first impression of the place was marginal while having my I. D checked at the front and paying my entry fee a few years back on a Friday Night. A girlfriend of mine at the time had heard about the place through a friend and I had promised to check it out with her after showing support for a friends hip-hop party at Club 443 (Was called the Velvet Lounge then) perched up on Broadway a block away. As I walked in. I noticed instantly the Spanish inspired bar with tables for dining couches on the ends of the bar for lounging. The live salsa band had just kicked off their second set as we worked our way to the nearest bartender for some drinks. Although the bar area was packed we were able to order our drinks pretty quick. Smooth tasting Mojito (minus the sugar cane) with real mint! Tipped the bartender and we then made our way outside for some air. (We were still a little warm from all the dancing we did at the Velvet Lounge)Now this is not your typical joint where you have a few bars lined up on the sides with a huge open dance floor. (example: Cocomo's) Not at all. (I wish it were like that at times but then again it would lose it's unique appeal.) I'd say you could break it into 6 medium sections and (1) large dining/smoking area (outside patio). So in all. (1) pool table room. (1) medium lengthed Bar with 15 stools + a few tables & chairs. (2) Semi Private areas one of the rooms with enough room for a few couples to dance. (1) main room where the live band performs that would also be considered the Main Dance Floor. And as mentioned before (1) large dining/smoking area. Being that I am tall it is a struggle to let loose when dancing Salsa as it is a bit cramped.. but the live band makes up for all of that as they peform loud and proud 5 feet away. I'd give this place 5 stars if they would take the live band outside and send everyone eating in! It can also get a bit crowded around the bar area but like any other place you just have to nuzzle yourself through the crowd to get around.. or head outside thru the dining area where it can easily just get as packed. (The heaters on cold nights can also be a plus)This definitely is not the place to come with a bunch of guys to pick up single women. This place should be a destination for a group of friends or co-workers getting off of work and most definitely for couples. With a group of 2 or more guys the place can get cramped up forcing you to split the group (unless you find a table inside) which makes it hard to ask a women for a dance or to eye the tails in the back lol. Seriously though plan ahead bring your folks eat like a king drink like a champ and dance like no one is watching. A while after. I met up here with some friends and fam for a friends b-day who VIP'd one of the semi-private rooms which included dinner and drinks while only 15 ft away from the live band.. that was cool. On a Saturday night a few months after that me and my girl were able to enjoy some seafood and wine after a nice day out and about in SF (by arriving early of coarse). The menu looked pretty solid although I have not tried every dish. The prices are fair the server that tended our table was friendly and we had a blast on the dancefloor later that night.. again. A few weeks ago (May 2008). Me and my girl wandered in there on a Thursday night around midnight (being that we parked accross the street) thinking it would be live Salsa again.. instead we found an awesome reggae group doing it live to a much smaller crowd. Even faster drinks and more room to stretch my long legs on the dancefloor! The reggae was through and through original and very catchy making you want to dance regardless. Where do they find these groups? Hell if I know. They should all be doing bigger venues I'd say.. but perhaps they like the ambiance and the aura as I do when all is combined into one small hole in the wall joint. Who knew great things come in small packages. Hats off to Cigar Bar. (Don't forget to buy a fancy smancy cigar if you are a smoker - the Patio is filled with Cigar aficionados & some wannabes who turn red at the first puff.)Cool security dudes at the front quick and friendly bartender/waiter service great drinks friendly faces sexy dressed / classy ladies no fights lovely music tucked away from the bright shimmering lights of Broadway in the Financial district of San Francisco.
Love the place love the people. Casual elegant courtyard like a Spanish villa. The drinks are great the food is delicious and the menu has been thought through. They have viibrant live music on weekends and a nice pool table in the back. In fact there are five rooms to chose from with open doors and windows looking into the courtyard and fountain. I gets pretty busy on the weekends. The open courtyard is such a great retreat from downtown. They've even got heat lamps.
Right about this time 4 years ago. I was in studying abroad in Belgium living out my wanna-be bohemian lifestyle. I explored France. Germany. Denmark and Poland. I descended into dark catacombesque taverns with dungeonous corridors rewarded with a funk-band stage at the dead-end. Whenever I walk into Cigar Bar. I am slapped with the sensation that I am thousands of miles away from reality. My job my home my responsibilities are hung up on a hook for a few hours as I sip mojitos by the courtyard fountain or as I pretend like I can play pool. The ceilings are low and the ambiance is dark. The space is intimate enough but still had enough nooks to go exploring and move around. The appetizers are tasty and affordable. Hanna S and I used to come here every Friday when we first began working after college. I suppose this bar is crawling with memories and memories to be made.
The cigar bar is awesome when you crash parties - haha. Went here on Thursday for a legal function but saw that some real estate function had free food and free drinks. I mingled with some people but chickened out to sign in. But luckily I came with brave friends who did and I ate part of their meat platter. Then crashed the party i was supposed to crash and ate quesadillas and salsa and chips. Cigar bar is the perfect place to go when it's nice out so that you can sit at their lounge. And they have drink specials on their chalkboard.
Date & Time: Monday June 9. 2008 @ Happy HourCompany: Jason. Justin & MichaelCrowd: Groups & Groups of FiDi ProfessionalsVibe: EnergeticDecor: Spanish Influenced. Colorful Bar & Nicely Spaced Tables- Outdoor Patio also. Comfortable & Rustic. Service: FriendlyImbibe: Rain Drop. 850 Manhattan. BeerDevour: Tortilla Chips. Ceviche. Chorizo Bruschetta Notes: Love Cigars- Get it There or Bring Your Own
One of my homies had his birthday party here. Very cool spot but maybe not so much if you're not into cigars. You might leave smelling like cigars but not as bad as you may think since the whole thing is outdoors. The food is on point - we did the party platter thing instead of individual entrees off the menu. The Cuban pulled pork was on hit as were the roasted potatoes and black beans. We also had platters and platters of chips with pico de gallo and quesadillas that got tore up before I ever got to try any. The staff was very friendly to our rather large group although the bartender was trippin' a little too hard when one of us made the mistake of smoking at the bar. The drinks he made were very good though. From what I hear it gets really packed after business hours and especially on weekends. It's the type of place people go to mingle. I can't really see myself going here often unless I'm with a bunch of friends like I was this time. But all in all. I had a great time.
I hosted my friends bachelor party in the Pool Room last weekend and we all had a great time. The atmosphere was great and our hostess Sarah was very attentive. It was kind of a bummer she left at 11 as we were on our own for bar service. We managed just fine though. The food and drink was very good. We only ordered appetizers but they were pretty big platters. The beers on tap were a little limited but again we managed just fine as they a fully stocked bar and very capable bar staff. The patio area was great. We had a table reserved for the party. The music from the live band inside and the din of people provided for a nice place to enjoy a pretty good selection of cigars. One thing I must comment on was that they didn't have a very good way of alerting the general public that our room was reserved for a private party. We had people wandering in all night asking to play pool or just to get away from the crowd. Towards the end of the night two random people crashed on our couch and started having a go at each other. We finally gave up and headed out to the patio. In all we really did enjoy the Cigar Bar and Grill and would certainly come back.
We went there on a Saturday night around 12 midnight waited around 30 mins outside the line was moving slowly maybe seemed even slower with the San Fransisco's city crazy chilly summer weather. The bar was packed the crowd was decent. The layout of inside was good with a back yard where people would smoke away their cigars along with heaters all over the place it wasn't as cold as i expected. The drink was just so-so my gin and tonic tasted more like a soda pop than anything else my friend's champagne was good enough with cigar. First timer for smoking cigar. I can't say i enjoyed it but it was a good experience. Then we moved to the dance floor not used to that type of music I had absolutely no idea what I was doing except moving my hips like a stiff zombie not hot at all i felt bad for my dance partner. It is a nice place to show out-towners easily one of the nightlife hotspots in the city.
The cigar bar is the perfect happy hour or late night with live music Thursday-Saturday it is a complete oasis in the financial district. The drinks are great sometimes just need to be a little sweeter one of my faves is the passion fruit caipirnha it is just the right atmosphere to relax after a busy work week with a drink and (occasionally) a cigar in the gorgeous courtyard with salsa music wafting out of the open doors and windows it is the perfect summer evening. The cigar bar is one of my favorites in the city.
We went here with a group of people and had a private room. I had never been there. The food was actually really good. The Hot Chicken wings was good calamari was also good. There Fish Taco was OK. I had the grilled Shrimp Risotto which was pretty good. The best is at Nordstrom cafe Downtown. I would go back there one day. The waiters were nice.
You have to be in the mood for loud chatter and merriment to appreciate the Cigar Bar - otherwise the patrons here can seem obnoxious and downright rude. The establishment itself? Lost in competition. Too many similar places in San Fran vying for your money. Where oh where should you spend it? Maybe ONCE at the Cigar Bar. But a repeat visit? Nah. Friendly bartenders though and quick service.
This place is AWESOME! I randomly picked it as the dinner place for the monthly fraternity alumni dinner and was the best choice I could have made. They had: great bar selection a live band cigars with an awesome corner couch for after meal smoking and very cool and down to earth staff. To top all that the band of the night was reggae. Not much selection for food so don't go there for an exquisite feast. However what they have they cook well. And the drinks are quite inexpensive. What more do you want?
This came to be the last stop during a try-out-as-many-bars-as-you-can-expedition me and my friends had a Saturday evening. After the usual ID-check and paying a $7 admission fee at the door we were allowed to enter this temple of Hispanic atmosphere and I just loved everything about it; the cigars the live band the mojitos and the multi-ethnic crowd or as my friend so joyfully put it: "it's like a mosaic of nationalities!"And oh did I mention that the bartenders were really quick service minded professional and had a great attitude?What really brought this place to 5-star-rating in my eyes was the outdoor-seating though. Few things are comparable to sitting outside a summer night sipping on a mojito while being caressed by a warm breeze. Definitely coming back here! [ADVERTHERE]Related article:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-cigar-bar-and-grill-san-francisco#hrid:QkVnTyGJ20l0Eh9VrRL3UA
0 Comments:
No comments have been posted yet!
|
