The Barrel Room

Came here with a group of 10 and it was a fancy experience!Good:- I enjoyed the appetizers a lot, especially the croquette - very flakey and crunchy with tons of flavor- Truffle fries were very addicting, not too oily - I liked my mushroom risotto fish with pancetta dish a lot, chewy and good texture Bad:- Harder to flag down servers to get our food orders in - Expensive place! Overall good casual but upscale vibes for a group!

I recently went to Barrel Room with some coworkers for a quick bite and, while the food was mostly good, the service left a lot to be desired. Despite the place not being busy, it took about 15 minutes before our waitress came over to take our order, which was frustrating.On the bright side, the food was solid overall. The Brussels sprouts were definitely the highlight--crispy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. Unfortunately, the arancini I tried was cold on the inside, which was disappointing. I ordered the short rib ragu for my main course, and while it wasn't bad, it was just okay.In short, Barrel Room has potential, but the slow service and hit-or-miss food make it hard to fully recommend.

TLDR:Get the Brussels Sprouts and Croquettes for your apps, get the Pork Chop for your entrée, and finish the night with their flourless chocolate cake or their lemon bars.Really pleasantly surprised by this place. Came for a private event in their wine cellar for their $85/person three course meal, and it was actually phenomenal. Everything I tried (and I tried almost everything on the menu) was really good -- and it surprised me given the Yelp rating on this place. Very importantly, the wine that I had for the night got added to my list of favorites. It was the Boundary Breaks Medium Dry Riesling and it's SO pleasant and so drinkable.Service was not great which is why 4 and not 5 stars, but honestly, I'm totally coming back here again.------FOOD:1. [MUST TRY] Pork Chop (5/5) - This was a huge serving that could easily be shared by two people and it was delicious. Not too dry, and the various garnishes paired perfectly.2. [MUST TRY] Fried Brussels Sprouts (5/5) - The sprinkled bacon bits are optional but they are so good with this dish if you opt in. The parmesan, pesto, and lemon all coat the Brussels so well. I order Brussels Sprouts everywhere I go and this is a top 3 place for them in my book. 3. [MUST TRY] Spring Onion Croquettes (5/5) - Come out piping hot. Have an amazing crunch and the filing is so savory. 4. Flourless Chocolate Cake (5/5) - I loved this. It's dense as you would expect, and the dulche de leche drizzle on top (though I actually thought it was a peanut butter glaze) was such a nice touch. This also comes with vanilla ice cream. It's the perfect dessert in my eyes.5. Lemon Bars (5/5) - I love lemon so this was the perfect amount of tart and sweet (and thankfully not too sweet like a lot of lemon desserts end up being). Plus comes with this tangy lemon sorbet that I actually loved even though I'm not a big sorbet person.6. Local Cheese and Charcuterie Board (4.5/5) - Really solid charcuterie board. Lots of different fruits, cheeses, meats, nuts, and all paired with these addictingly buttery, crispy baguette chips. 7. Stuffed medjool dates (4.5/5) - I rarely see dates on menus so this was such a treat! Sweet and savory, this was a fantastic app if you like dates!8. Crispy pork belly (4/5) - Really good -- this could even be an entree and not an app. I would have loved a bit more flavor from the pork belly but everything else was delicious, especially the sauce and the crisps that came with the dish.9. Wagyu short rib (4/5) - Super super tender but I think lacked some salt or other seasoning to make this a 5/5. Came with lots of veggies and the pea + potato puree was *chefs kiss* so I just smothered the meat in the puree. 10. Risotto (3.5/5) - Not what I imagined the risotto would be like. I thought it would be more creamy and like pasta -- this was essentially a huge plate of barley (which, thinking back, I guess shouldn't have surprised me as much as it did). 11. Cheesecake (2.5/5) - Wasn't a huge fan of this because it was like a lighter/fluffier cheesecake that was more...cheese-forward? Just not what I expected and I didn't end up liking it. ------ENVIRONMENT * Cool downstairs speakeasy, which can also be rented out* The wine cellar room is in an old bank vault and you're surrounded by racks of wine. It's a cool vibe and very private space!* The upstairs dining area is also flanked by racks and racks of wines, but I think I prefer the vibe of the two downstairs areas

1/8/2024There's a reason why Happy Hour is at the end of a work day, and that is because overworked individuals such as myself want a drink and talk about life during a window of time just before dinner. Location: in the financial district and close to the Embarcadero center. Walking distance to the nearest mass transit stop is roughly 5-10 minutes. First Impression: the bar itself is quite unassuming, possibly because of a bank branch being directly next door. Large front facing windows give a glimpse of the inside. Upon entering, the interior is immediately dark with wood through the spaces. Not dark in a bad way, but more so in a comforting and rustic way. Somewhat like a speakeasy. It did fill up rather quick, but perhaps that's because I happen to visit during a busy convention week in town. Service: the server greeted my friend and I upon entering, but let us know that seating is slim due to confirmed reservations. We opted for seats by the bar against the front facing window. We came for happy hour and here's what we ordered:Lavender Gimlet - my friend felt it was too lavender forward. Disco VolanteNaked & Shameless* I had these above drinks. Let's say they were strong, just the way I like it. The server actually provided an additional drink citing that one wasn't made properly. No complaints at all. Now for the food:Fried Brussels Sprouts: this was the collective favorite. Simple yet delicious.Roasted Medjool Dates: I'm not a fan of goat cheese on its own, but that in this application; it sure paired perfectly! Garlic French Fries: pillowy soft interior and crisp exterior. Reminded of the fries I've had in Belgium, which have some of the best fries on this planet. Blistered Shishito Peppers: these were good, but after several drinks, this dish became Russian Roulette. Only 2 of the peppers on the entire plate contained seeds that provided bearable heat to say the least. This a great place for happy hour, and I wouldn't mind returning for full entree dinners.

A wonderful experience overall. Staff was attentive and nice. Made useful recommendations for my group. Food is good and drinks are nice. Would definitely recommend their specialty cocktails over just a glass of wine. I enjoyed the lavender gimlet. They also have non alcoholic fancy drinks.Not sure I would come again, but it's a good place for the after work crowd.

This was my first visit to the Barrel Room. We ordered some wine, of which they have a wide selection. We also ordered quick bites. I wasn't happy with the burrata toast: the bread was very hard, seeming like it was a week old, and the veggies tasted like they were just boiled, lacking flavor. The service was good, though the only staff working was the bartender; I didn't see any other personnel. The table we sat at seemed a bit greasy. I would come back only because of the good variety in their wine selection.

This place was really nice. The drinks here were mediocre and I don't remember what I got, however, the atmosphere is super special! There's an underground which literally doesn't have cell service, which makes it more authentic. And there's a vault you can sit in which makes it feel super exclusive and chic. Overall, 10/10 atmosphere and super unique.

The Barrel Room, you had me at Happy Hour and a plentiful one at that! Located along Sansome Street in the heart of San Francisco's Financial District, The Barrel Room promotes itself as a cozy wine bar that offers globally sourced wine, cocktails and snacks served in warm yet rustic-chic quarters. The Barrel Room began its life as a small wine bar in the San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood, later expanding into a second location the Rockridge neighborhood in Oakland, and then finally opening in its current location in San Francisco's Financial District eight years as a restaurant, full bar, event space, and retail bottle shop taking over the space at Georges bistro operated for so many years. I have wanted to check out The Barrel Room ever since they moved to this location as they took over most of the first floor space, as they truly had become the wine bar and cellar, cocktail bar and restaurant, and private event rental space, which no doubt fulfilled their founders original goal of being the gathering place for workers and wine lovers in the Financial District to converge. With two fire towers and a sandwich board promoting their Happy Hour specials, The Barrel Room certainly feels like an inviting place to all those who pass by. I finally got the chance to be one of those passersby who actually got to take advantage of their Happy Hours when a couple of friends and I were looking for a quick libation and small bite to eat before heading home for the evening.From their host stand, they guided us to their main dining room and bar on the direct right hand side of their overall facility, where the three of us used their one of their hightop tables to stand and sit and contemplate what beverages on their Happy Hour to drink, and maybe a small sharable plate to enjoy. The Happy Hour menu at The Barrel Room is pretty compact, as it has eight drinks to select from, and six dishes to select from. To drink, I ordered their Nuit Noire which featured Nux Alpina, Aloo Gin and Dolin Rouge. Others ordered their Aviation cocktail, which featured Aloo Gin, Luxardo Maraschino, Creme de Violette and Lemon; and their Lavender Gimlet, which featured Peaflower infused Tito's Vodka and Lime. To dine on we decided to share their Fried Brussels Sprouts, which were topped with Roasted Garlic Aioli, Parmesan and Bacon. My Nuit Noire was a beautifully composed cocktail that reminded me of an Old-Fashioned or a Manhattan on the Rocks, as I felt so sophisticated drinking it, as it went down so smoothly and elegantly. One cocktail was all I needed to keep me in check, and every drink paired nicely with their delectable plate of Brussels Sprouts.Our total bill for three cocktails and one split dish was $34.76, which was really reasonable considering their Happy Hour pricing for food and beverages. I can't wait to come back to The Barrel Room and sample some of their larger dinner menu and when combined with their specifically procured wine menu seems to make everything feel a little more special. With their selection of menu items and curated wine list focused on Chile and Argentina, everything at The Barrel Room seems so thoughtful and on purpose. Plus their wine cellar and private area might be worth the visit alone! Now down to their sole location, The Barrel Room is making things work, even in these challenging times for local businesses. Turns out some parts of the city aren't so dead after all, as business is bustling whenever I walk by, which is often, and as Happy Hour wound down people were still coming in, so they clearly know what they are doing, by provided an affordable menu with attentive service, and in San Francisco, you can hang your hat on that aspect alone!

While this review is a positive one, and I would recommend the place, I had a mixed experience. The ambiance and environment are good, but bordering on a little pretentious. That being said, staff were all great, so service wasn't an issue at all. I wasn't aware they did happy hour, but happened to stop by during it, which worked out. My highlight of the whole trip was actually good. I tried the medjool dates stuffed with chevre and marcona almonds, all things I enjoy that were exceptional together. Solid A+ for the small bites. While it's possible my drink was small because it was happy hour, I am doubtful that everyone else has ordered off the happy hour menu, and everyone seemed to have very small glasses. If regular drinks come in a larger quantity, you haven't really saved anything. So, maybe a B/B- for drinks, which were good, just very small.

I love barrel room! I've both walked in and called to make a res when the online service was down. Hostesses are kind and professional, bartenders are knowledgeable about the wines and I just love the atmosphere. Great for HH, girls night, or a glass with coworkers.