Mortar & Pestle Bar

Lounge bar · San Ramon ·

Mortar & Pestle Bar

Lounge bar · San Ramon ·

Craft cocktails, zero proof, microbrews, Indian-inspired libations

Information

6000 Bollinger Canyon Rd Suite 2601, San Ramon, CA 94583 Get directions

@eater

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Now There’s an Indian Sports Bar Attached to This Fast-Casual East Bay Restaurant | Eater SF

"Located at 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon, this Indian sports bar debuted this spring next to the Curry Up Now restaurant at City Center Bishop Ranch; the space originally opened in 2021 but the sports-bar concept and entirely new food and drink menus are recent. The intention is to create a community spot that celebrates Indian street food and sports culture, with numerous TVs, colorful art, comfortable banquettes, a marble-topped bar, and event programming such as trivia, Hindi and English karaoke, and carrom game nights. The lounge offers a totally separate menu focused on handheld bar snacks inspired by Indian food carts — including crispy fried shrimp Koliwada, spicy tangy masala papad, spicy fried corn, puffed lotus seeds, and a riff on patatas bravas — plus a cocktail list that features fruity bright flavors from mango, passion fruit, pineapple, and sumac, zero-proof options, and an international whiskey selection with more than 20 whiskeys sourced from India. Hours are: opens at 4 p.m. Sunday through Thursday (closing 8:30 p.m. Monday–Wednesday and 9 p.m. Sunday and Thursday) and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday." - Lauren Saria

https://sf.eater.com/2023/5/8/23715225/curry-up-now-indian-sports-bar-mortar-pestle-sports

Mortar & Pestle Bar

Jatin B.

Google

Delicious drinks. It's inside the curry up now so you get some solid Americanized Indian food there too. Drinks menu is extensive with a solid cocktail menu. 10/10 would go back here. Drinks were delicious. We tried pani puri drink which came with them on the side, the bandit queen which was also very tasty and scotch forward. They also have a happy hour from 4-6 everyday

Foodiegoodie

Google

I almost didn’t want to share my review because I don’t want this place to get super packed lol. But this is the only place with the best and delicious happy hour special within the bishop center. Trust me, all the other ones are way over priced even for their “happy hour” prices. I only come here for drinks so I can’t review the food. I highly recommend the golden state margarita and the ambikas grove! Ps happy hour is from 4-6. You’re welcome 🥲

Joyce H.

Google

Only one bartender at 5pm on Sunday. He had trouble keeping up with making drinks and poor guy looked super stressed. The Holi Bhang drink was really pretty and yummy. Outdoor seating was nice. Red wine was refrigerator cold and tasted like it was a week old.

Alexis S.

Google

We like eating at Curry Up Now, but we really like coming for the drinks. The bartenders are always really nice too.

Priya P.

Google

Impressive - we enjoy the different variations of how certain Indian dishes are served. On busy nights they don't have enough employees but food wise they keep it pretty close to the "real deal"

Benny C.

Yelp

My friends and I loved this place! Service was solid, drinks were solid, and the vibes were spot on. I had the Summer Whip and it was the most delicious drink I've ever had, although it was a tiny bit too sweet and not as strong as I thought it was going to be. The drink had light rum, pineapple. and was topped with whipped cream. The presentation of the drink itself looked immaculate. There was edible gold glitter and it came in a pineapple cup. Pineapple flavor was prominent but the drink itself was not overly heavy on alcohol. Overall, solid spot.

Nikita G.

Yelp

We recently tried this spot for happy hour and it was a pretty good experience. I would definitely recommend going here for happy hour since it is kinda of pricey. Again, pretty much everything in the San Ramon/Danville area is about $15-16 per drink. We ordered a few appetizers and they were average. I took a star off mainly because the food was just okay - I think they have potential. Drinks and ambiance get a solid 4 star. I saw another yelper mention that the place smells like "Indian food." I mean it IS an indian establishment so just like a pizza spot or Mexican restaurant would smell like what they're serving, the same goes for this place. The ambiance is very chill and I love the fact that they're representing a bit of the Indian culture in Bishop Ranch!

Liliana C.

Yelp

Food and drinks are delicious. This is a bar in the same space as an Indian restaurant. Keep in mind that the whole place smells like indian food. We waited a while to order our drinks, they picked up one glasses after we were done and never came to ask us we wanted to order another drink. We had to waive them down. I didn't feel like the bartenders were friendly at all. It has potential. Customer service matters.

Jamee S.

Yelp

Came here for the bar. Didn't realize it was part of Curry Up. Service was fine. We sat at the bar. Thought it would be more of a lounge atmosphere but all the lights were on and it was super bright. They have a lot of cocktails and spirits to choose from. I was excited to try a couple tonight. We decided to order our first round: Ambika's Grove Sadly it tasted like Pine-Sol. (And that was the end of the night). Also ordered Sexy Fries. Decent.

Gary Y.

Yelp

Located inside the Curry Up Now on the 2nd floor so if you can't find a sign outside, this is why. I had the summer whip and it was fairly good. The bite sized samosas were also decent. One downside was the service that I experienced on a not so busy Sunday afternoon. I was there for a brief catch up with a friend over one drink. The bartender we had were pretty distant and tersely communicated in a word or two responses when we asked if there were any recommendations. Okay fine, I guess we can consider friendly service to be a plus as long as we get the food and drinks. But when it was time for us to leave, I asked if we could get the check and were told they are gong to seat another party and told we should ask someone else in a tone as if we have done something offensive. Huh? A simple: "yes, but it'll be a minute" would have been fine or just telling us in a manner treated like we are guests to the establishment. We did end up asking someone else to close out but this was just not a friendly experience. While the food and drinks were fine, there are other places in the area for future meetg ups so I don't think we'll be back.

Praveen K.

Yelp

This place doesn't offer any fresh cocktails.. there is no real mixologist who can make the drinks. They pour it from a tap which is pre-made. You CANNOT choose your alcohol. So if you are up to drink that up, this place is good for you. Other than that, average vibe and ok food. by the way, the vibe is just a food court vibe ... so don't fall for the "excellent vibes " marketing comments.

Uday M.

Yelp

Nice bar located inside of Curry Up Now in the Bishop Ranch complex. We came in during happy hour, so cocktails were all about $8-9 and beers were $5-6. We had the Perennials & Poison, Junkyard Heart, Strip & Go Naked, and the Offshoot rotating IPA. The drinks were all pretty good, and the interior has a nice lounge-like setup that's comfortable to sit in. We did originally get 1 wrong drink and it took a while for us to get a water jug, but the bartender was friendly and accommodating.

Tatiana R.

Yelp

A top-notch happy hour at Mortar & Pestle tonight. Fun ambiance and amazing cocktails (including fabulous non-alcoholic options). What made this a truly best-in-class experience was the superb service and out of this world cocktails by Brandon, who is incredibly good at and passionate about what he does. Thank you!

Linda H.

Yelp

Nice place for a drink. Went with the mango mojito and sexy fries. This place is connected to curry up now. So we tried the sexy fries with paneer which was a unique twist on poutine. Cool vibes great service.

Lawrence R.

Yelp

Stopped by this afternoon with a friend for a cocktail. Person behind the bar was polite, but very shy. Placed our order and she disappeared and returned and said one of our drinks was not available. We changed the order and she disappeared again. When she returned, she said she didn't know how to make drinks and that the real bartender was on break for 1/2 hour and wouldn't help us. We then asked for a couple of shots of Scotch as it didn't require bartending knowledge. She disappeared again and after a minute or two we decided to go elsewhere. We left and went next door to Social Affair and were served immediately. Very odd.

Janice P.

Yelp

My friends and I came by to have a cocktail. They have an interesting cocktail and drinks menu. They have a variety of spirits and cocktails. I ordered the Stip and go naked pineapple drink and it was delicious. The drink was garnished with a gold speckled pineapple slice, giving a nice touch. They have an assortment of hard liquors to chose from. Tthe ambiance inside is very casual and trendy. The staff were friendly and welcoming.

John I.

Yelp

We had a party for 50-60 people here, manager Jay was excellent with every detail. If you've tried having a party anywhere lately you know that it is extremely hard, most places act like you're bothering them. From the very first phone call Jay said yes, yes, and more yes to everything we asked for. The bar staff was also excellent, we kept them very busy and they were up for the challenge. Great cocktails, the food was awesome as always and Jay kept the apps coming as needed and right on time.

Mrinal S.

Yelp

Came in here for a cocktail. Hella boozy. Hella good. Cinnamon stick on fire doesn't do much for the flavor but adds to the visual. Good cocktail but a bit over priced.

Meow M.

Yelp

Surprised to see the 4 stars so I read through the reviews. Did they get a new bartender? When my husband and I came to check this place out a while ago, the bartender didn't know how to make any drinks, not even something as simple as an Old Fashioned, not even after another customer gave him instructions on how to make one. All of their drinks came out premixed from the refrigerator. I may give it another try based on the current good reviews but we were so disappointed the first time we have no desire of going back.

Adam V.

Yelp

Excellent customer service and very strong drinks for a reasonably cheap price. Highly recommend coming during happy hour. The bartenders, especially Nina, are very friendly and have very positive energy making it a very happy and cheerful place.

Allen Y.

Yelp

Some of the best drinks in the bay. The place is a fishbowl with lots of windows and modern ambiance in the middle of the mall.

Jantha F.

Yelp

This Place is trying to be too many things! So disjointed!! The bartender didn't have a clue - slightly dirty martini came out Clear with no olive- got an olive and it was so old it nearly dissolved!

Lisa Marie B.

Yelp

If you're ever in San Ramon (CA), let Des and Savannah at Mortar & Pestle hook you up with an Indian-inspired craft cocktail. I recommend the Bangalore Old Fashioned and the Nimbu Pani Puri. The Inflight Smoker was fun, too - but a little fruity/sweet for me. -- drinking adult beverages at Mortar & Pestle

Carlos H.

Yelp

This place is a gem. The bar is fantastic with very creative drinks, not too high in alcohol and very refreshing. I had the Perennials & Poison (pictured). So good and refreshing. The food is very very good too. If you can make it to happy hour, you've scored even bigger time. Laikkyn, the fantastic bartender, is ready to make and more importantly recommend drinks and food. I highly recommend this place.

Natalie C.

Yelp

Excited to see a Curry Up Now on this side of the Bay! It shares a space with Mortar & Pestle Bar on the second floor of City Centre Bishop Ranch. While I can't speak to the bar, the Curry Up Now side has an expansive menu of super creative Indian-inspired creations. They're really vegetarian and vegan-friendly; you can swap paneer and soy protein for meat in most dishes. We ordered the sexy nachos with sweet potato fries and paneer (described as their take on Canada's poutine), along with two samosas. We asked for everything to be as mild as possible and it was still so flavorful. We decided to sit outside since our dog was with us, and they brought our food + a pitcher of water out for us. We'll definitely be back and can't wait to try more!

Adriana M.

Yelp

Drinks are my favorite here, staff is always cool and the food sold here is good. My husband is now just expanding his pallet and really liked this place also. He wants to go back.... That's says something.

Jonas S.

Yelp

Came in for an old fashioned and bartender did not disappoint (late Sunday). One of the best off menu old fashions I've had (with Basil Hayden). Attention to detail is amazing. Definitely going to keep this place in rotation.

Pradeep N.

Yelp

In short Poor Cocktails and Not that good food. Had to chase bartender to get drinks.

Autumn S.

Yelp

Awesome happy hour. Love to come here after work with my coworkers. Great prices and snacks.

B H.

Yelp

Desiree and Savannah are top tier in their customer service. All the drinks are well made and the prices are exceptionally reasonable. The new TVs are great for watching the games (though it's unfortunate the Warriors dropped their potential early). I recommend bringing friends our for happy hour.

Teresa W.

Yelp

Awesome new vibe and a revamped sports bar unlike any other. If you have been in the past or have never been, you have to give it a try. Great place to hangout and enjoy fantastic new Indian bites and amazing drinks with the best new bar tender while cheering on your favorite cricket or rugby sports team on large flat screen tv's. Great go to hang out in the City Center Bishop Ranch!

Ashley C.

Yelp

My friends and I really enjoyed this place, especially the drink Ambhika's Grove!! It is so delicious and creative. I also enjoyed their version of the espresso martini. The only thing that was a little difficult was the drinks were not priced as marked, on our bill every single drink was either priced higher or lower than advertised. I think this is due to the fact that they recently switched to a new menu, so it's understandable.

Mike P.

Yelp

Daniel makes this place! I have never had such a experience at a bar before he was knowledgeable and a master of his craft. I will be surely be returning to get drinks from him.

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Now There’s an Indian Sports Bar Attached to This Fast-Casual East Bay Restaurant | Eater SF

https://sf.eater.com/2023/5/8/23715225/curry-up-now-indian-sports-bar-mortar-pestle-sports

Mortar & Pestle Bar

Jatin B.

Google

Foodiegoodie

Google

Joyce H.

Google

Alexis S.

Google

We like eating at Curry Up Now, but we really like coming for the drinks. The bartenders are always really nice too.

Priya P.

Google

Impressive - we enjoy the different variations of how certain Indian dishes are served. On busy nights they don't have enough employees but food wise they keep it pretty close to the "real deal"

Benny C.

Yelp

Nikita G.

Yelp

Liliana C.

Yelp

Jamee S.

Yelp

Gary Y.

Yelp

Praveen K.

Yelp

Uday M.

Yelp

Tatiana R.

Yelp

Linda H.

Yelp

Lawrence R.

Yelp

Janice P.

Yelp

John I.

Yelp

Mrinal S.

Yelp

Came in here for a cocktail. Hella boozy. Hella good. Cinnamon stick on fire doesn't do much for the flavor but adds to the visual. Good cocktail but a bit over priced.

Meow M.

Yelp

Adam V.

Yelp

Allen Y.

Yelp

Some of the best drinks in the bay. The place is a fishbowl with lots of windows and modern ambiance in the middle of the mall.

Jantha F.

Yelp

This Place is trying to be too many things! So disjointed!! The bartender didn't have a clue - slightly dirty martini came out Clear with no olive- got an olive and it was so old it nearly dissolved!

Lisa Marie B.

Yelp

Carlos H.

Yelp

Natalie C.

Yelp

Adriana M.

Yelp

Jonas S.

Yelp

Pradeep N.

Yelp

In short Poor Cocktails and Not that good food. Had to chase bartender to get drinks.

Autumn S.

Yelp

Awesome happy hour. Love to come here after work with my coworkers. Great prices and snacks.

B H.

Yelp

Teresa W.

Yelp

Ashley C.

Yelp

Mike P.

Yelp

Daniel makes this place! I have never had such a experience at a bar before he was knowledgeable and a master of his craft. I will be surely be returning to get drinks from him.

Mortar & Pestle Bar

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Now There’s an Indian Sports Bar Attached to This Fast-Casual East Bay Restaurant | Eater SF

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Now There’s an Indian Sports Bar Attached to This Fast-Casual East Bay Restaurant | Eater SF