Yay!!!!!! Our First Review: Blackthorn

Blackthorn:

Two Jews walk into a bar, or in this case, walk out of our apartment and down the hill and into a bar…

And what do they do?

They play free pool.

OK for our first bar review, we figured it would be a good idea to start easy and local.  This meant starting with our own neighborhood, the Inner Sunset. So for our inaugural review, we will take a look at Blackthorn.

If you were to ask us about this place 6 months ago, we would have given you a very different opinion than how we feel now.  At about that time, the bar switched owners, and it was the best move they could have made.  Before, it was cash only with a lousy jukebox.  The bar tenders, although many of them are still the same, just seemed unhappy.  There were never too many people there, and it was just not a fun place to go.

Now it’s one of the best bars in the area.  The bar tenders are great, serving you with a friendly smile, and even a joke here or there, and that’s even if it’s busy.  They do have one New Yorker bar tender, but I don’t hold it against him.  The drinks are strong and the prices are very reasonable.  They have replaced the Jukebox with one of those new online boxes that allows you access to tons of songs.  They have two pool tables, a pinball machine, a nice smoking patio, and a PHOTOBOOTH!!!!.

OK, a quick side note:  Ben and I were at a bar in the Castro on Pride night, and we saw a photo booth.  We were very drunk and took photos.  Since then, we have come to love this concept.  Whenever we are out with friends and a photo booth is present, we become determined to get pictures.  And the drunker we are the more adamant about getting tons of photos.

Anyway, back to Blackthorn.  The crowd is nice and diverse, ranging from CSSF and UCSF students, to the occasional hipster, to sports fans, and even the 30+ crowd.  You can always find a range of different people there and most of them are friendly.  A good amount of locals and if you go more than a few times don’t be surprised to see some familiar faces.

As for specials, nightly deals, and events, they vary throughout the year.  During the football season, they have a BBQ on Sundays and most of the games, and then on Mondays they have the game followed by trivia.  Karaoke on Tuesdays, which we have actually not been to yet, but Andrew loves himself some karaoke and will check it out soon.  Wednesdays and Thursdays are live music with the Smokedaddies and Hotpockets, and Fridays is 80’s and 90’s night. 

Now you might be reading this and saying to yourself: didn’t they mention free pool?  Well sirs and ma’ams, we did.  Our favorite thing about Blackthorn has to be their Sunday nights where the pool tables are open and free.  It’s a great end cap on your weekend.  You don’t really want it to be over, so you want to go out and have a drink, but you are not bar hopping, and not drunkenly hitting on the opposite sex.  So what can you do?  Well come down to Blackthorn, where it’s not too crazy, and as we mentioned, there is free pool.  The bartender (whom we forgot his name) is great.  He has a little more time to experiment and make fun new drinks, and if they don’t work, he will make a different one.  It’s the perfect ending to a great weekend that you don’t want to be over.

As mentioned above, there is a smoking patio, which is very convenient.  At most bars, you have to put your drink down and go outside to smoke.  We aren’t smokers, but when you’re out with a group, it’s nice to be able to all go outside and continue your conversations and drinks.  Blackthorn has a great little smoking patio, with nice wooden picnic benches.  This is also where they have the BBQ that they use on Sundays.  Additionally, you can often find friendly dogs out there, although, if you have a well trained dog, and come in regularly, your dog can even come into the bar.  They do have neighbors, so even if they don’t say it, you should keep it civilized.

OK, well there it is, our first review.  Below is the contact info and address of the Blackthorn.  What would be great is some feedback on this review so we know how to improve the futures ones.  If you’re in the Inner Sunset, definitely go check this place out, and maybe you‘ll see us there.

Blackthorn

834 Irving st. @ 9th Ave (N-Judah)
San Francisco, CA 94122
Tel: (415) 564-6626

http://www.blackthornsf.com/