AT&T Park
The San Francisco Giants are lucky to call the neighborhood of Soma their home. Within striking distance of AT&T Park, the Giants' home, is a variety of bars, pubs, coffeehouses and restaurants where you can wet your whistle before, during, and after a Giants game. What follows are some of my neighborhood favorites:
Right across from the Muni 2nd & King St. stop, you can't miss Momo's. You also can't miss gregarious owner Pete Osborne, a cheerful man who is often seen greeting customers at the entrance. Mr. Osborne owns the Golden Bear Family of Restaurants, which includes Pete's Tavern and Pedro's Cantina, all occupying the same block of King St as Momo's. While I have never visited the two bars, I can say that Momo's offers a lively, fun bar atmosphere if you want a pre-game beer, and a lovely, formal meal if you prefer steak over hot dogs with your baseball. The menu offers all-American classics like salmon, steak, meatloaf, and that San Francisco perennial, cioppino. I can attest that the steak is amazing.
Right within the ballpark are two restaurants owned by Iron Chef winner Traci Des Jardins, Public House and Mijita. If you want a sports bar atmosphere within earshot of the action, Public House is a great choice. The food is, of course, much better than average bar food- you can order a chicken sandwich with brie, fig compte, and arugula, for example, along with one of the many, many beers on tap. Mijita offers a spare menu of basic but authentic Mexican food, like tacos and tortas and a good selection of beverages, like Mexican soda and Mexican beer.
If you feel like a taste of the south, right across from the main gate to the park is Louisiana Fried Chicken/Happy Donuts. It is not every restaurant where the scent of jelly donut mixes with the smell of fried chicken, but this establishment sells, you guessed it, both an assortment of fresh donuts and crispy fried chicken with all the fixins. There are plenty of sides, like mashed potatoes, dirty rice and cole slaw.
And of course, for more beer and less food, there is O'Neill's Pub, right next door to Louisiana Fried Chicken. O'Neill's is always full of patrons enjoying the wide variety of domestic and international beer, plus whiskey and scotch. Another nearby drinking option is 21st Amendment, just 2 blocks down 2nd St. The brewers at 21st Amendment brew their own beer and can it. The bar is also a large, welcoming space to enjoy a unique can of beer (Hell or High Watermelon, anyone?).
Details:
Momo's Restaurant
760 2nd St.
(415) 227-8660
Public House and Mijita
24 Willie Mays Plaza
Louisiana Fried Chicken/Happy Donuts
761 3rd St.
(415) 543-1407
O'Neill's Pub
747 3rd St.
(415) 777-1177
21st Amendment Brewery
563 2nd St.
(415) 369-0900
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