The Old Ship Saloon

Old Ship Saloon is FiDi’s go-to for a laid-back lunch - Review - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"On weekends, the Financial District can look like a scene from a sci-fi movie after everyone’s been abducted by aliens. But Old Ship Saloon is the one hold-out. The pub near Jackson Square is open daily until 2am, with a menu of American food served until 1am. Standards like a burger and a patty melt are solid, but we suggest focusing on the less conventional stuff—our favorites are the chicken nachos doused in mole that’s evidently been cooking since Ed Lee was mayor, and the fish tacos filled with flaky cod and a punchy jalapeño slaw. Feel free to ignore the breakfast burrito, which is a worthy attempt at the classic, but ends up too greasy. Even if you’re here during the workday, Old Ship Saloon doubles as a great place for a quick lunch (and perhaps a beer) or somewhere to post up and watch a game. The big oval-shaped bar in the middle of the dining room almost always has a free seat, though you may have to jostle for space with nearby office workers stopping by for a corporate happy hour some days. Food Rundown Fish Tacos This is a shareable starter that won’t weigh you down for the rest of the meal. The cod gets a good amount of smoke without tasting burnt, and gets along great with the spicy slaw and surprisingly light crema. photo credit: Patrick Wong Chicken Mole Nachos One of our favorite renditions of this dish in the city because the mole has the depth of the star of a Christopher Nolan movie. You could easily split this with one or two people, or keep it to yourself as a large entree. photo credit: Patrick Wong Breakfast Burrito The chorizo does this thing in. The meat ends up drowning out the flavor of everything else and greasing up all that it touches. You’ll find more balanced versions elsewhere. photo credit: Patrick Wong Grilled Salmon A crunchy-skinned fish with a juicy interior, charred broccolini, and a lemon caper sauce that ties it all together. It doesn’t get our hearts racing, but it certainly works. photo credit: Patrick Wong" - Patrick Wong