San Francisco: Tipsy Pig (May 2009)


My spouse and I dined at Tipsy Pig for dinner on a Sunday in late May 2009 with another couple. The Tipsy Pig is an American Gastrotavern and home away from home. The restaurant prides itself on a large and unique beer selection as well as an ever-changing seasonal gastro menu. The restaurant was recently awarded the distinction of Top 10 New Restaurants and Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area. For those who think of an English pub as indulgent and rowdy, this new restaurant fulfills expectations. It's the fourth place from the guys behind Umami, Mamacita, and Blue Barn. They know how to tweak a trendy concept and draw in the crowds. A room behind the bar, with just seven tables, isn't as raucous as the front dining area. It looks like a European-inspired library, with shelves filled with old books and a scarred wood floor, leading to a nicely landscaped back patio. Still, my decibel meter stuck at 90, which is the equivalent to sitting next to a gas-powered lawn mower - and that's the quieter of the rooms. If you can't stand the noise but love this type of food, go early in the evening and early in the week. At other times, wear earplugs. The food tantalizes with familiar flavors.