Fermentation Lab Mid-Market

Wide selection of beers and friendly staff. The beer I've tried was really good but their food was surprisingly amazing. Great for sharing or even digging in to the full meal. Charcuterie board, everything was amazing the duck fries great! Their burgers and fries chicken were moist and delicious!

We stopped in to get some drinks and share some starters before seeing Les Miserables at the Orpheum. It's very close to the theater so it was very convenient. I had one of the ciders on draft and it was really good. We shared the duck sliders, duck tacos and duck fat fries. Can you tell I like duck? It was pretty good. The service was great.

Ordered the Fermlab Burger and Black Lager. The Black Lager was a good pick for a rougher beer around the edges while not being too dark to drink, a nice amount of malt. The Fermlab Burger patty was a juicy angus chuck patty with a good subdued flavor of kimchi and the cheesy fontina cheese. The portion size was decent and the smoked pork belly added a touch of sweetness to this great burger. Ambiance is very nice with dim brown lighting around the bar and seating areas. There is outdoor seating too, ideal for good weather while the sun is still out.

The Duck Fat Fries were a real standout – super tasty! The duck fat gave them an amazing aroma, making the fries extra special. The Classic Burger was a hit, with perfectly cooked angus beef, fresh greens, juicy tomato, house pickles, and scallion aioli, all hugged by a yummy Acme round bun. The coleslaw on the side was a nice touch, making the whole meal delicious. What makes this place great is the awesome beer selection from local breweries. It's a cool spot for hanging out after work, with plenty of choices to please everyone's taste buds. Overall, Fermentation Lab Mid-Market is a fantastic place with tasty food and a variety of local beers, perfect for a casual get-together.

Friendly atmosphere with rotating taps that let you sample variety of styles and brews. Food menu allows for variety of paring with ciders, beer, kombuchas and other beverages. Come and enjoy if you find a brew you like as they rotate monthly and not all make the return rotation. Will be back to keep sampling variety of offerings

I tried this place for the first time as the cold weather caused me to crave some comfort food. The bar is well established with a long list of brews , on the food side I really enjoyed the goat cheese salad as it was very balanced. The duck sliders were tasty but I think instead of the minced duck meat a slice of duck breast would be the kicker. The deep fried chicken sandwich was super tender. The side of duck fries is rather interesting, as you start with them they give a great sensation but as you work through the pile the duck fat becomes overwhelming to the point where you don't want to eat them. For sure a great spot to grab a drink and some chow with your co-workers after a day of work.

Nice selection of taped beer, the staff also provides good service and can recommend the beer of your liking. Have not eaten there, but the food of others looked really yummy. A nice and cozy place, also for sitting outside.

Ummm. Can a place be pretentious if it's really good? I expected there to be more pickled things. But that was the only other drawback. This hipster establishment serves fabulous beers and super tasty foods in semi-comfortable digs. We ordered 3 different beers and a cider; all of it was really good! Mom had never had duck fat fries before so we ordered them. I'm not sure if the duck fat was worth the extra charge, but my god we slurped down so much of their aioli we had to ask for two extras (which they provided free of charge). Who doesn't live for condiments? Those were worth it. I would recommend! Ladies- you should populate this place because when I was there it was sorely lacking. Do not fear the beer!

Pretty swanky place! It's located in SF's Japantown. There is a parking garage nearby or you can do street parking. The place is a seat yourself type of place and once you are seated the servers are pretty attentive. We came here for happy hour on a Friday and enjoyed all the drinks and food that was offered on their happy hour menu. Yuzu margarita was pretty tasty! Duck fat fries, who can resist that?! Their fried chicken sliders were also pretty good too. Before coming here, I saw that their uni pasta was the dish to get and it did not disappoint! The dish's presentation was on point. It was sooo good! I would order it again in heartbeat when I'm here again! Yes! I do recommend!

Came here for drinks with a friend for happy hour. I did not realize it was under the stairs and kind of hidden but there was a sign outside that directs you to it! It's huge inside and soooo cute! We ended up getting a couple drinks and they were pretty tasty! Also got their duck fat fries, Brussels sprouts, and calamari! All of which were so delicious! Their drinks are pretty pricey not on happy hour so I don't know if I'd be back just for that but there's lots of options! Their regular menu looks great too I would try that!

Came here on a Saturday night with a reservation; space is cute and gives off evening lounge vibes. We started with drinks- I got the pandan lemon drop, which unfortunately tasted like jolly rancher cough syrup. We started with the tea leaf salad, which was nothing like the tea leaf salad we had in Thailand- basically just lettuce, sesame dressing and some crunchy bits. I had the jang kalguksu, which was solidly okay, morning special. The husband had the uni pasta, which he did like and was probably the best dish of the night. It seems like most people order the burger so maybe that was the way to go here? The food and drinks were just ok.

I already forgot the names of my drinks, but the drink with the lychee was sooooo good, highly recommend if you like sweet, fruity drinks. You really can't taste the alcohol, even my friend who can't stand the taste of alcohol liked this drink. The calamari and brussel sprouts were really good, highly recommend. Mainly wanted to write a review because of the amazing service. The female server there was sooo nice. I ordered a drink and didn't like it. I was going to just finish it even though I didn't like it but she noticed that I wasn't satisfied with my drink and offered to swap it for something else. I just thought that was sooo sweet. And she was really patient when walking me through the drinks menu. The service there was amazing, highly recommend!

The ambiance was enjoyable. A nice moody atmosphere. They even had a movie projecting on the ceiling wall to match the vibe. The service was really great as well. We were seated immediately upon arrival and the server we had was a gem. She was very relatable and fun to have. We were making jokes together and just enjoying the vibe. We ordered drinks and food. They are very attentive and like to check in on their guest and are always nearby if you are I need of anything. I wish I would have ordered something other than the burger because the other dishes looked so yummy. The burger was just underwhelming and pretty basic. But the pasta and side dish were enjoyable. I would def go back. This would be a great spot for a dinner with friends.

This was a lovely stop for my friends & I before catching a show at the Bill Graham theatre so close by. I didn't expect to be able to sit down at a table & order straight away, I was with a group of 7, but we did. We even noticed that another large table by us was open the entire time we were there. The food was great! I loved my chicken sandwich. The drink I ordered was too sweet for me, but objectively not bad at all. It tasted like a rocket pop in a glass. My only complaint would be that there was no sign out front identifying the building as the fermentation lab at all. I noticed the address matched, and I saw "Sam's" and decided just to go in anyway.

The Duck Fat Fries were a real standout - super tasty! The duck fat gave them an amazing aroma, making the fries extra special. The Classic Burger was a hit, with perfectly cooked angus beef, fresh greens, juicy tomato, house pickles, and scallion aioli, all hugged by a yummy Acme round bun. The coleslaw on the side was a nice touch, making the whole meal delicious. What makes this place great is the awesome beer selection from local breweries. It's a cool spot for hanging out after work, with plenty of choices to please everyone's taste buds. Overall, Fermentation Lab Mid-Market is a fantastic place with tasty food and a variety of local beers, perfect for a casual get-together.

We made a reservation and were seated immediately on a Friday night. It's tucked away so it's easy to miss. I got the mixed greens salad, mushroom sweet corn tagliatelle, the Boss Lady, and the Passion Totem. You can't go wrong with anything on their drinks list!

Im a fan of fermented food! Soo good for you and so umami delicious. I wish it was a little closer to me cuz everything was good.

Came here to hang with my cousins before we rolled out to a show at Bill Graham. The shop is a bit small but stylish. Their beer menu is big and they had elevated burgers and other American food. My cousins liked their burgers. We ordered up at the register. The cashier was so friendly! We also grabbed bottles of water and cups for everyone next to the register. My cousin and I each got a beer and shared duck fries. I'm not sure if they gave us the correct beers (both hazy IPA's but I think they might've switched ours). Some of our portion of duck fries were overly greasy and burnt. We ended up eating a few of the group's side of fries from their burgers. Overall I liked the vibe and it was a nice spot to munch/hang before going out in downtown SF. I especially liked the variety of beers from local breweries.

Took kiddos to watch a Broadway show next door and originally showed at at Sams next door but the wait was too long without reservation (showed up around 5:40pm on a Thursday evening). After waited a bit, came in right before 6 and got seated right away. This is a nice pub serving pretty solid pub bites. We got the chicken strips with regular fries. One salad and Sauvignon blanc for mommy. Ordered at the bar and closed the tab right after. Water is at the bar and self served. They checked my ID (happy dance). Ha. Interior decor is pretty rustic but cozy. My wine was pretty good. French fries and chicken strips were really solid. I like the green sauce in the fries. My salad was dressed and not feeling heavy. Good to get some green in. Food was served super fast and we were able to get out around 6:30pm, to have time to get snacks at the show. It was a good find.

Just down the street from the Orpheum so super convenient. We tried the place next door which also has good reviews but we didn't have much time before our show and they recommended we try next door which wasn't too busy. Good menu choice and the food was good all round. Great selection of local and not so local beers. Staff were friendly. We were with our kids and we had a nice bite before our show

Fermentation Lab in Japantown, San Francisco offers great service and a decent happy hour experience. The duck confit tacos and tebasaki chicken wings -- well not on the happy hour menu -- are delicious highlights of the menu. However, the environment might not suit everyone, as it's a bit dark, chilly, and reminiscent of a night club. That said, it's a worthwhile spot for tasty bites and attentive service. Try it out for yourself.

I had a glass of amber, duck fat fries, Devilled eggs, and Pickled vegetable. Everything was delicious and fries were piping hot the way I like it and rarely get. The place was clean and chic with lots of young clients. I was somewhat out of place, but service was prompt. I will go back since it was perfect to have a bite before the opera. I wish they had more on menu though.

I had a wonderful first visit here. I had always wanted to stop in but never had time. Glad I finally did. The bartender was attentive even though it was busy and just him working solo. He worked the bar and room very well. I was impressed. Excellent beer selection with awesome breweries like Ghost Town, Fieldwork, and Epidemic Ales. Love that they had all different styles of beers too. And the duck fat fries were delicious. I will be back. Thanks for being so welcoming.

Decided to check this place out before our theater show. It's a small narrow restaurant that has a lot of beer selections, including my favorite... sours! The food was decent. We tried the deviled eggs which were topped with crispy bacon and had a sweetness with the honey... which I always find essential for a deviled egg. The duck sliders were good, the duck meat was shredded and the jam balanced the protein nicely. The Mushroom crocettes were rich and the mustard dipping sauce was a bit odd to pair with the savory Mushroom. All in all though a nice meal!

Hmmmm..... I drove a hour for the duck fat fries and they didn't have them. Then I ask for the Ahi tuna poke snd they didn't have them either. Beer selection was ok. Nothing out of this world. All the reviews say that the service was amazing. I guess I came on a bad day. Bar was empty and bar tender was not welcoming at all. I will not be back. Again I hate to leave a bad review but I had to for this occasion.

My friend and I came here after seeing a show at the Orpheum. I've walked by here a few times on Market St in the theatre district and remember seeing performers (from a touring show visiting SF!) eating outside here before their performance. Service was great--they knew their stuff. They offer food like burgers, fries, and veggies, but I enjoyed some craft beer which it looks like they're known for. However, they also have wine! Cozy, fun, cute spot for quick drinks and food!

Delicious chicken sliders. Deviled eggs were tasty. Oysters were very fresh. Enjoyed the poached oyster with chimichurri. Incredible service. Highly recommend.

My boyfriend stumbled on this place on the way to the Orpheium. We accidentally arrived to our show an hour early so we decided to grab a quick drink and snack here. They have fairly priced craft brews from around the bay which is very nice. We only got the duck fries but they are definitely worth getting again. The aoli that it comes with is delicious too! And the burgers looked so good we promised we'd be back to try it. Fair warning- they are on the fancier side, which means higher prices. The duck fries and two stouts were about $25. The inside is pretty small, most tables are along the side of the walkway and only seat 2, but they do have some room for 4-6 people at the very front, back and outside. We came on a warm day so inside was actually hot and we ended up moving outside. They decorated the outside nicely and had some music playing, but it is downtown so the noises and smells remind you where you are. Next time we'll try to get somewhere inside on a cooler day.

This place is such a hidden gem, and as I was eating I couldn't believe that I was right on Market street. The staff were super friendly and provided lots of recommendations on food and beers, and their choices were solid. All the beers I tried were great, and the food was delicious! I got the chicken sandwich and fries, and it was perfectly crispy and flavorful with an amazing chimichurri slaw, and the fries were also crispy and flavorful, I didn't have any complaints! Definitely a great spot for a quick and easy meal & beer!

A new spot for us that our son spoke about and we were not disappointed. Not a large space so we shared two small high tops. The beer selection is quite good but not large. I hope they rotate on a regular basis. We had the Crispy Avocado Tacos and the Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Duck Fat Fries - because we could! The food came out quickly and it was all excellent. We thoroughly enjoyed Weekend Migration and All The Pretty Colors.

This is a lovely place! Service is amazing. I have a few food restrictions and instead of reducing my sides or toppings they modified from scratch! How awesome is that? You can dine indoors or out. We'll definitely return.

Hector and Adrian ran the bar tonight and did an awesome job. The beers poured nicely and the lamb spaetzle was the best I've ever had. Good fair prices, clean restaurant, and great ambiance. Will be back for sure.

Great food. Good service. We shared the pork belly wraps, charcuterie board and added duck fat fries. Nice pre show dinner

My sisters and I had an incredible brunch here last minute today, our server Riley was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and the food was diverse, tasty and fun. We will definitely be back.

If youre looking for a chill spot to drinks some beer and have some good food this is the spot for you! The inside has a modern relaxed vibe to it with bar seating and tables. They have a wide selection of beers to choose from. And the food was so good. We're happy we stumbled across the Fermentation Lab. I'll definitely be coming back!

A must go. I heard of FL from the founder, Jeannie Kim - we were both panel speakers at a business event. She is a remarkable, generous, creative businesswoman, and I had to try at least one of her establishments. Fermentation Lab did not disappoint. Imagine a "beers and burgers" joint, to the nines. Large selection on draught - our party had a cider, a tart cider, a chocolate stout, and a peanut butter stout. Each was a delight and wonderful. Food - we did duck sliders, both traditional fries and duck fat fries, avocado tacos, chicken strips. All were perfectly prepared, tastes of each was far above what the bare name might suggest. All orders (food and drink) are up at the bar - it's a relatively small space, two bartenders so no table servers (barkeeps bring out your food to the table). But service was friendly, warm, welcoming and inviting - it's not always this way at "beers and burgers" kind of places. Top notch. When we arrived around 4:30p, it seemed a little light - but it was the week before Christmas on a Tuesday afternoon. By the time we had food on the table, joint had filled up and vibe was lively. We were in town that evening to see ACT's Christmas Carol, and Fermentation Lab was the perfect way to begin the evening. We will definitely be back...and you should too.

Great spot to grab a quick bite/drink- we went before a show and were pleasantly surprised. Good variety of beer choices and menu was a mix of small bites and full entrees . We only got the poke and duck fries. Poke was flavorful and loved the taro chips it came with. Duck fat fries were also good, the aioli. It's mostly bar/couple seating although they did have an area in the front that could fit one or two groups of 4+, it's open seating so if you're more than 2 definitely get there sooner than later if you're going before a show. Bartender was super nice & we were in and out in less than an hour. Would definitely recommend if you're looking for casual spot before a show!

The duck fries are amazing and the Fermentation burger was decent. Overall good experience!

We found this gastropub while looking for a place to eat before an Orpheum performance. Located a block from the theater, we were not disappointed. This hole in the wall pub offers a diverse selection of ales and an interesting menu. We're not drinkers, but I do enjoy the occasional N/A brew. Unfortunately, none were offered. The food was great though. Might have eaten the best buttermilk fried chicken sandwich of my life.

Great spot to have a beer before a show at The Warfield. It's on a rough stretch of Market to make it anything more than an infrequent stop. Definitely get the duck fat fries.

A visit to the City! Where to eat and or park? Well after successfully parking close to the Orpheum, our next goal was to find a place to get a beer or cider and food. We walked in found a table which we shared with two other people, there is also seating at the bar or along the wall, mostly seating for two. Lots of choices in the beer and cider section, we had the burgers, Cole slaw salad and spring salad. Friendly staff, good food and walking distance to the Orpheum.

It was nice to see a business succeed in an area that is in decline. A bright spot with good beer, good food and friendly staff.

A nice place & ambiance to stop in after work. Glass of wine and some fries closes out another week. It's also a bright spot on what is Market Street nowadays.

Amazing burger and great service .. I ordered Brie burger could have used a bit more Brie and a lil less salt

I'm so glad Fermentation Lab has been able to keep going through the pandemic. Even before, they were at somewhat of a disadvantage being on Market (with all of the 'activity' that may be going.) But now, with so few people in the downtown/civic center areas, it's a wonder that any business is able to keep going on. That being said, I recently stopped by again on a Wednesday and FL had a good amount of people inside. Note, they also have a small outdoor seating area too for when it's a nice day! As always, the bartenders were super friendly and attentive, whether we were ordering drink or food. FL's beer selection is very good, features a lot of local breweries, and has a good representation of styles. It's the type of place where I just want to keep trying more. Their food menu isn't incredibly vegan friendly, but they do have some items marked out as vegetarian or vegan on their menu. It's not really somewhere you could eat a whole meal (as a vegan), but if you just want something small to go with your drinks you should be covered. Here's to hopefully many more years for them!

Excited to be enjoying a show w/ a friend on a Thur and this place super close made sense to grab a quick drink. Guess guy taking order at counter was having a crappy day since he walked over w/ an angered face and just looked at me. I had to say hello to him first & offered a smile. After ordering and telling him I wanted to pay my tab and not leave it open he proceeded to yell at me, asking what I wanted to do...I was shocked. Literally very clearly said I wanted to close tab & that sent him over the edge? So loud that my friend at our table asked me when I returned wtf! I visit the theater often but this place will never get another dime from me. If anyone suggest to meet there before a show my answer will be hell no! I only stayed b/c my friend was waiting on her food. Other waiter walking around was nice but 1 appple spoils the bunch and I'll always remember the unnecessary outburst and rudeness.

Right near the Orpheum Theater, Fermentation Lab is perfect for a pre-play bite. The wine list was extensive, and the bartender was knowledgeable. I usually don't stray too far from the my beer standards but I had something elegant and different that was local and incredible. That's why it's called Fermentation Lab. The food menu was good, with lots to eat for every palate, including the vegan palate (Pas moi) : deviled eggs, Brussel sprouts, duck tacos, watermelon salad with feta and mint, burgers,... and the list goes on. And they volunteered to tweak an item to make it vegetarian. We had a lot of fun.

To say I don't go drinking around Civic Center is an understatement, but with my friend who lived a block away moving out of the City, he offered one last drink there, and seeing the reviews it looked solid enough. And the place is solid enough. Sure the location is less than desirable, but once you are inside things are great. It might take a few minutes, traffic flows from here - some people are just grabbing a quick drink after work, others are regulars in for a while. I'm sure depending on the sports season things can be different as well. A beer and wine bar, with a standard bar fare menu, you order everything at said bar. We took a moment to look at the menus before my friend went off to find out if they do flights - turns out they do, but they are hard to do in the system, so they usually limit it. I was simple, I went with a wildberry cider. I also ordered the impossible burger with duck fat fries. Not a vegan, but just didn't want something super heavy like a beef burger, and the other options didn't sound filling enough. The burger did the trick, and the duck fat fries are great, but they get heavy quick. All in all, nice little bar, would come back if I was stuck in that part of the City.

Looking for a night cap after the symphony and on the way to Bart we found the fermentation lab. It was a cool spot, lots of beers. Got in just in time to order a charcuterie plate before kitchen close. And the best part was they brought us out two slices of pumpkin bread just because! It was delicious and the best part of the night.

Attentive bar staff, good ambience but pretty small and can fill up fast. You order food and drinks at the bar and it is brought out to you. Really good local beer selection, which is why I ultimately picked this spot. I had 3 beers(after trying them) and enjoyed them all. $7-$8 per brew. I also had the Chicken sandwich with the duck confit fries. Both were good but I will say I didn't notice much of the confit flavors on the fries. Overall, a fine place to meet up for a casual experience with quality food and beer, just be aware it could be a full house.

Searching for food and beverage in the area near the Orpheum Theatre we happened upon Fermentation Lab. What a find! A simple, inviting, tasteful space, with indoor, outdoor and bar seating. The beer and wine list, limited in a good way, had plenty of variety. I chose the Hazy IPA, Candlestick Chronicles from Cooperage Brewing. My husband had a Pizza Port Amber. Both of these were true to style and easily quaffed. Our tastebuds were treated to many small plates. Deviled Eggs with Crab, Brussel Sprouts with pickled onions, Pulled Pork Tacos - full of pork, Duck Fat Fries with Unami Cracklings and Chipotle Aioli, Chicken Bites with Mango Chipotle were each plated beautifully. I appreciated the fermented garnishes. Every bite was warm and delicious. Highly recommend the Fermentation Lab.

This was our pre-Orpheum dinner. Great tap list with delicious pub grub! 'Cozy' seating. Those tables across from the bar are seriously TAI NEE! We made it work though. After a few beers we didn't care. Food was pretty tasty too. My wife and I just shared a couple dishes. Impossible Burger (5): Heard lots of great things about the impossible. Finally got to try it and I got to say... it did taste pretty good. Even had the color right. Honestly if you just gave it to me on the street, I probably would think it was beef... but its NOT! Crazy all this food technology now. Makin me all healthy n stuff. Fried Cauliflower (3): Yes it was cauliflower. Yes it was fried. Nothing really mind-blowing about it. The sauce they served it with was pretty good though I have to admit. I think it could have been better with some grilled onions or something though. Just seemed like it was missing... something. It was decent though. Overall, nice cozy spot to grab a draft and some grub before your show.

Go-to spot for a pre-show drink or a late-night nibbles! Love this little bar on Market- less than a block from the Orpheum theater. Amazing selection of beers on tap (lots of local brews represented and a variety to ensure every palate is satisfied)! They also have wines by the glass if that's more your style. Heads up that the space is small and can quickly become crowded during peak hours. My favorite times to stop in are before/after catching a show in the area. They're open late and have amazing duck-fat fries if you need a late night nibble! Definitely recommend if you're in the neighborhood.

Popped in on a Weds eve after work, around 6 pm, en route to the theatre- there were maybe 4 people at the bar, one at an outside table, and bartender super busy with his Grind'r App or whatever it was he was so transfixed with. I stood right in front of him for about two minutes before he acknowledged my presence. The guy gave zero Effs about being nice or taking my order. Duck Fries were good but do they REALLY take 11 mins to cook? I had a curtain to beat! I went to check if they were still killing the ducks to make the fat to make the fries and Mr. Customer Service gave me the side-eye. Fries finally came- I finished up quickly and vamoosed out of there. I won't go back. Hello-- Ferm Lab Management- you're in the Mid-Market! It's a dead neighborhood; why not have a pleasant front-facing staffer who makes customers glad they tried out your restaurant?

A very solid bar in terms of beer selection with some decent food to boot. The beer is sort of what you expect fancy beer to cost but the food was a little pricier than you'd expect for the portions. I think this is most apparent with the charcuterie board, which just doesn't come with too much. It's probably the best bar within 3-4 blocks of itself.

This was a very nice place in an area where there aren't a lot of options let alone anything nice to escape the mania outside. The host/bouncer was very personable. Great selection of beers and drinks, and some great food to enjoy along with drinks. It was very packed so make sure you get there early or are comfortable with a short wait.

The fries are so good!! BUT! remember , burgers come with sides as well, so keep in mind if you are planning on getting food. (we didn't of course so we had more fries than we could eat) Many beers to chose from, very friendly staff. Place is popular for afterwork drinks so gets busy 5-6:30 ish. We came around 6:30 and were able to snag a table in a few mins.