Comstock Saloon, one of the premier watering holes in North Beach at the crossroads of Chinatown and Jackson Square, is throwing a "hootenanny" from noon–2am Wednesday to celebrate its five-year anniversary. It'll offer happy hour all day with a shot-and-a-beer special and Derby cocktails for $7.
Chef Ronnie New is rolling out a menu of "greatest hits" of classic dishes, including Hangtown toast ($12), Carlo's hot chicken wings (in a nod to the bar's original chef, Carlo Espinas; $14), Abe’s grilled jalapeño cheddar sausage ($13), lamb meatballs ($15) and crispy chicken livers ($12), among other snacks. Live entertainment with at least three or four house favorite bands will start at 4pm. The bar usually has rollicking jazz bands in a loft above the main seating area seven nights a week starting at 7–8pm, and a happy hour performer from 4–7pm on Fridays.
"We're hoping for a light-hearted jovial atmosphere," said Karri Cormican, whose title is "Lady of the Lushery." "Definitely a lot of regulars are coming back. We’ve invited everybody to come back to jump behind the bar and make a couple drinks and tell some jokes, probably."
A few faces to expect making appearances: Matty Conway, now owner of Brass Tacks; Jared Schmidt, bar manager for Absinthe; and Drew Majoulet, bar manager for the Boxing Room. Comstock is part of The Absinthe Group, which includes Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, Arlequin Café and Arlequin Wine Merchant, all in Hayes Valley; and a Spanish-themed bar and restaurant called Bellotta at 888 Brannan St. in SoMa slated to open later this year or early 2016. Former Comstock barkeep and co-owner Jonny Raglin is busy with that project.
Known for its classic cocktails, Comstock is also one of the best bars in town for the bartenders' ability to whip up something delicious and mysterious based on the drinker's preferences. Order the "Barkeep's Whimsy" and be prepared to give them a little to go on. For example, say you want something slightly sweet and floral, and you'd like gin in it, but you're not crazy about maraschino cherries. Et voilà!
The Monkey Bar at Comstock, so called for its whimsical ornaments and tchotchkes
The saloon, at 155 Columbus Ave. at the corner of Pacific, is in a historic building dating from 1907 that served as a restaurant (wink, wink) called the Andromeda Cafe during Prohibition and as the San Francisco Brewing Company from 1985 to 2009. Comstock was named after Henry Comstock and the famous Comstock Lode that sparked a silver mining rush in 1859.
Emperor Norton watches over patrons at the main bar.
