Palmer's Tavern

Don’t close!! This place is so fabulous and cozy. The decor just is so fun! Come on, the leg lamp? Ha! Restaurants should never get rid of the old charm of leather booths. Hope they open again or the new owners take good care of the place.

Update: June 19, 2023. Still as vibrant and delicious as ever. Monday from 4-6pm is "Happy Hour" and a good amount of people inside the restaurant and outside on the street. Great date place. Monday nights SF good. Food very good to excellent. The kale salad is absolutely perfect. Real kale and not too much dressing, as my girlfriend agrees. The drinks are great and the post Covid (3/12/22) atmosphere is excellent.

We were very lucky to get seated on a Saturday night since we were the last ones to get a table. The outdoor dining section was packed, but understandingly so! The drinks, food, and service were all top notch. Their menu was rather limited, but everyone enjoyed what they ordered. The standout factor had to be their signature cocktails though, they were delicious and decently priced!

The food was okay.... just okay. Everything was nicely prepared, but nothing stood out as something I'd recommend, except perhaps the side of Brussels Sprouts. For the price, I'd have expected more enjoyable flavors.

Fabulous atmosphere, great happy hour specials, tasty food, friendly service. They not only have boulevardiers, they’re on the happy hour menu! I had the meatballs over gruyere mashed potatoes. Delicious. They open at 4pm weekdays with daily happy hour from 4-6, and open Saturday-Sunday for brunch starting at noon. Comfy booths, wood paneling, gorgeous old school bar with backlit extensive whisky selection, beautiful lighting, and taxidermy on the walls. Heated outdoor seating as well.

I returned tonight on 5/2/22 after several months of staying away. I have always had very pleasant experiences at this upscale establishment. However, tonight was an exception. Not only was the bar tender seemingly unable make a decent cocktail, he also lacked basic hygiene and looked deshelved with his sleeves roll up and talking with food in his mouth. The bartender was eating in between making drinks, and wiping his mouth with his bare hands and then handling ice cubes with his fingers without washing his hands. Not only is this unprofessional and unsavory, it is potentially unhealthy for the patrons. Better training is needed. You should be able to enjoy a fifteen dollar cocktail without weighing the risks if it is going to make you sick or not. I was rather disappointed as this was one of my favorite places in SF to enjoy a relaxing drink amongst other polite patrons.

Ridiccio salad is fresh and tasty. Bacon wrapped prawns will melt in your mouth. Baked chicken and mashed potatoes are packed with flavor! Everything on the menu will make your mouth water. They have a nice wine and cocktail selection too. A glass of wine and salad will set you back ~$40

Happy Hour. Arrived at 4:00 PM. Sat outside. Great server. Enjoyed two sliders, spicy meatballs and two half wedges of iceberg lettuce with the most amazing dressing.

Will they ever open again? This was our go to place for cocktails and light food. Sitting outside on a sunny day and at the bar were always great experiences for us. Doug and Joe were great bartenders who made fantastic drinks. Please open up again soon.

Great spot to sit outside and drink cocktails in pac heights! I had the smoke on the water - I will only be making margaritas with pineapple juice from now on

Awesome little spot in Pacific Heights. We stumbled upon it while exploring the city, and were very happy we did. GREAT HAPPY HOUR. Walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. Very friendly staff. After being seated, we checked out the happy hour menu and decided to order from that. Great beer and wine prices. They also had a bunch of food options at great prices. We ordered snacks, and the service was great. Our food came out quickly, and our server was very attentive. We sat outside, so we were able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city while still being able to have enough quiet to easily hold a conversation. We were surrounded by couples on dates, the after work crowd having a drink, and friends meeting up. Palmers truly feels like a place that is a part of the community. In the end, great spot, great service, great prices, great selection. What else is there?? Check 'em out

Cozy, awesome decor, and delicious. Great stop if you're looking for a place to eat. Be sure to come early so you can take a seat at the bar with Doug. He's a fantastic bartender and conversationalist - he told me some awesome stories while I waited for my friends to pop in for our reservation. We all loved the grilled cheese, grilled salmon, and drink options ( so many bourbon mixes on the menu ). Will happily be back. Thanks, Doug!

Food was decent in terms or flavor and size. I ordered the wedge salad and it had a good amount of avocado and blue cheese. Service with Isabel G was not good. * she took 10 minutes to greet us * received a warm glass of white wine * took 20 minutes to get a wedge salad * pointed at my glass and asked "want another one?" * tossed my credit card on the table after closing my bill Ambiance is actually very nice. It's got that cozy old school feel.

This has been a bar that I've been wanting to try but was never in the area when they were open. Came here on a Friday night and got lucky with bad seats. The bartenders were attentive and friendly, they even made small talk. It was my first time there and the ambiance was not as loud as typical bars and not as crowded either. A great selection of liquor and they even have a TV at the bar. Another city gem.

Lovely "old school" feel. Great service alongside an ambiance decked in dark wooden finishings on walls, fancy chandeliers. Although different, this place gives balboa cafe vibes-- and I mean this as a compliment. For the slightly "older" crowd- 30+-- this will be your spot - especially if you're trying to get away from the 21 year olds doing coke in bathroom- trying to be fancy. Oh just kidding.... Anyway, go here for a romantic dinner or drinks. There's plenty of seating situated in various vantage points for some productive people watching. Or- if you wanna solemnly gaze into your sweeties eyes- this will be your spot too. Your wait staff will definitely make sure you're having a good time. The food is just the right amount of bouge. And kudos for having French sparkling wine. Will definitely go back.

We stopped here for a bite and drink before heading to a show. The service was quick, thoughtful, and exceptionally friendly. Good food, great cocktails and ambiance I would certainly recommend maki g a stop here if you happen to be in Pacific Heights.

One of my favorite go to spots for happy hour on Fillmore. They have small plates, cocktails, beer and wine for around $9-$12 . Ambiance: It gets mostly crowded during dinner time onwards. Happy Hour is 5pm - 6pm which is perfect before crowd gets. Although amount of people as gone down with COVID. Crowd wise is more trendy and low key if that make sense. Crowd is a mix of individuals in their mid to late 20s to older crowd of 40 +. It's not too loud, and perfect place for a first casual date or catching up with friends. Service has always been good. I don't have our servers name but she was amazing. She was friendly and let order our rounds after 6 pm. Tips: The sf health mandate and 20% gratuity is already included in the tip. There are covered benches outside and plenty of seating indoors. We were not asked for vaccination (at the time of this review) for COVID. There is metered parking on the street or neighborhood parking around the area!

Excellent cocktail (martinis) with outdoor seating in a lively atmosphere. Very good baby back ribs and deviled eggs. Highly recommend!

This place is always busy - for a reason. This is an all American bar - food, cocktail, beer, food, pretty people, happy hour on weekdays. This place has it all. Make a reservation for best chances of getting in or grab a drink at the bar while you wait for a seat. Everything is solid here. The place has a old vibe feel but has a good mix of young and older folks to make everyone feel comfortable. Solid food, drinks and service makes this spot a fav for the young and old. Can't go wrong with Palmers!

Delicious food and drinks! Service was attentive and quick. Feels like a hunting lodge. Full bar, small tables, or booths make it convenient for different occasions. Outdoor seating as well and dogs are welcome.

I love Palmers!! I come here pretty often (about once a week) and i love getting drinks with friends. They have limited outdoor seating but i like that the seating isn't in a park let, it's just on the side walk so it feels less confined!! It's located in a great spot on the corner with other great businesses around! They also have heaters which keep me warm when it's extra chilly!! They have a nice cocktail menu, i really enjoy the smoke on the water. The hostess yula is super friendly and I've also had the pleasure of getting to know Estelle, krystina, and Isabel (servers) they're all so friendly and attentive!! The only food I've tried is the fries and the cabbage salad which are both sooo delicious!! Overall, i love it here and will continue to return for more gorgeous evenings (:

Came on a Friday at 5:30pm toward the end of happy hour. I ended up trying the Parisian Bouquet and some of their small bites. Their cocktails are strong. I wasn't expecting to have so much of a vodka taste. I didn't really taste the grapefruit as much as the elderflower. The fries, both the regular and truffle parmesan, were amazing. They're thicker cut fries, but they weren't overly dry. They were airy and crispy. The meatball was okay. I thought it could have been seasoned better. I liked the pita, vegetable sticks, and hummus that they had. For small bar bites, Palmer's isn't bad. Given that it's situated on Fillmore with a bunch of other restaurants, it's okay. It's a bit cheaper compared to neighboring establishments though. I'll probably try different drinks the next time I go.

I love palmers and the ambiance. It's one of my favorite places in the city!! It's been temporarily closed for a few weeks and I can't wait for it to come back!

I had not been to this restaurant in this new iteration. It seemed busy but inside there was plenty of tables. We had a reservation and were walked to a booth. It was somewhat noisy and the constant cradling of empty booze bottles jarred the experience. I get a loud group and everyone talking loud so that they could be heard. Our drinks came and they helped big time. We ordered lunch and it was nicely prepared. Overall the experience was not enjoyable due to the loudness of other young guests and the constant bottle throwing into a bin. I would recommend if you can get an outdoor table but otherwise bring ear plugs to drown out the noise. It was too distracting and disturbing.

Doug was amazing! We gave him free rein to craft our cocktails and he didn't miss once! We had a great evening! They hit all 3 boxes! Food/Drinks, atmosphere and service!

Great food and drinks, service is excellent, one of my favorite places to visit while in the city...

10/10 recommend coming here for happy hour! The food and drinks are delicious, the service was wonderful, the outdoor heaters are a nice touch, and it doesn't hurt that Palmers is located soo close to home :) I love fillmore st and the entire vibe of it all.

Excellent cocktails and great happy hour, the weekend bartender is amongst the best in the city. Great beet salad.

Rude from the start. Tons of tables open in the bar area. We ask a server and he says go ahead, another server comes up and says that other server is wrong and so are we. As this is going on he's embarrassing us by making a semi scene, treating us like we are less than. No thank you Palmers. We'll go somewhere else where 25 year old egos don't have a say on our Friday night. We've been coming here for over 5 years as our stop before eating at Jackson Fillmore Trattoria, we'll skip it next time.

I visited Palmer's a couple times and enjoyed the experience overall. It's a swankier place and has a well-dressed staff that serve fancy-ish cocktails. If you're looking for a more upscale vibe, you will find it at Palmer's. I've read mixed reviews about the service, but I haven't had any issues with the bartenders / staff. The bartender I had was friendly and attentive enough, and the cocktail was tasty and enjoyable. It gets crowded on Friday and Saturday nights, so you may have to consume your beverage standing or wait to get a spot at a table or the bar. This isn't my first choice on Fillmore (there are a ton of great options in this area), but I'd stop in if it isn't too busy.

I come to Palmer's for happy hour on occasion, as the drinks are really good at a reasonable price. The food is decent but nothing to get excited about--except the burger, which is great. I always sit outside, and the service is usually good.

Cute little place. We only came for drinks. Perfectly three seats at the bar for us and we immediately ordered. Unfortunately the lemon drop and sangria were so different from the standard and actually really disappointing. We struck of a convo with another bartender and were honest with him about the disappointment. Nicely asked him to please make another set of drinks that would redeem the first. He made drinks that exactly suite each persons taste and were amazing. Doug's our man and we'll definitely be ordering from him in the future! Plus I love bartenders who are willing to share where they go after work around town!

Glad that I stop by palmers for afternoon happy hour deviled eggs. They definitely hit the spot and we're delicious!!! And as a wheelchair user I am happy to report that my dining experience was accessible Thank you Palmers

Service at bar was cusping. But food was good. Great music pipes in. Nice vibe. Fun for brunch.

Decided to come here as I had a meeting close by. Very throwback sort of decor. Clean interior and from what I could tell all the tables were not crammed together next to each other--and I mention this because the space was kind of narrow in some areas. Ordered the Palmer's Slam - two eggs over easy, bacon, potatoes, and toast. The meal was okay. Nothing blew me away especially since the food wasn't really cooked as intended. The toast had no color at all. It was toasted but maybe for 10-30 seconds? The eggs were well done--no crispy edges on the egg whites or runny yoke. The whites were really firm (almost rubber). It almost tasted hard boiled except the eggs were clearly cracked first and cooked. Overall, the meal filled me up. Service was great! Refilled my water a couple of times and once I finished my plate, they whisked it away pretty quickly.

We go here often, for the ambiance. Food is ok, cocktails are good. We have ordered the delicious drunken prawns, the very good salmon, a burger, extra crispy curry or truffle fries, pasta. A NY steak was so tough we couldn't chew it, and caesar salad was watery and had the long limp outer leaves instead of the crisp romaine hearts. We like to sit in the back at a favorite table, for a cozy romantic time. Tables are far enough apart that customers actually can talk to each other. I like the Parisian Bouquet, and I have perfected it at home (2 is just right, 3 is one too many). Service is excellent. Attentive, not intrusive. Isabel and Estelle have taken very good care of us.

(7/25/20) After an eventful, socially distanced afternoon, I made the drive to San Francisco to meet with a friend who lives downtown. We agreed on Palmer's Tavern, a Filmore top spot with a lavish interior and full bar, but given the present circumstances, outdoor seating until further notice. | COVID Disclaimer | The staff were all wearing masks, and they dutifully cleaned the tables after each party left. However, I am skeptical about how well this outdoor seating is working out, especially in the city. Pac Heights sidewalks, like most around town, are rather narrow, and squeezing tables and chairs might have been a fine alternative to indoor dining pre-COVID. However, in a time that requires more caution than we are accustomed to, I would have expected the tables and patrons to have been more adequately spaced out. In some respects, this was just not feasible, and of course, everyone shed their masks once seated. It's a tempting fallacy to think the virus hits the "off" switch once you've secured a table among friends. So, visit at your own risk, loved ones. | Wine & Fries, the Cornerstone of Fancy Dining | While we waited for a table, my buddy and I were allowed inside the building to order a drink. We just grabbed a couple malbecs. As you can see in my photo, they were poured into a to-go cup, once thought of as alcoholic heresy. Not to worry; proper wine doesn't need a proper vessel. We were seated in about ten minutes or so, at which time the appetites began to rise. The menu boasts fantastic entrees and small plates, but for today, we went with the fries. You have, for a couple extra bucks, the option of truffle & parmesan fries, but we passed this time around. For $7, we were served a handful of tasty, crunchy potatoes with a tin of ketchup. Being that the first portion was indeed small, we ordered another one to seal the deal (this one I took a picture of). | The Restrooms | If you're sitting down for wine and as many cups of water as I drank, you will be needing the facilities. Grab your mask, enter the restaurant, and head down the hall towards the exit sign. Continue down the hallway, and three restrooms will be to your left. | Verdict | 5/5 friendly service, 4/5 food and drink, and 3/5 handling of the health crisis. All in all, a 4-star experience at Palmer's Tavern. Once we're out of the woods, I just might come back for another round. That's what I told the bartender anyway, and I ought to keep my word. 'Til then!

We have been coming here since way back. Used to EASILY be a 5 star meal - great drinks, great atmosphere, late nights, good eats. My wife and I came today and literally had to skip out on a full meal - we got items as they came out and I can strongly recommend you DON'T get the grilled cheese (three cheeses, I think not...) - the prawns (crunchy, much?) and the Caesar Salad, with bacon, somehow not cooked? I pray, PRAY that this was an off night, or a stand in chef, but unless updated, I have to imagine it sold or changed hands otherwise. Two stars because of the location and the memories...

The best service and food and cocktails in San Francisco. The service fast , the food very delicious. And the cocktails amazing.

The service and drinks are great. Definitely a place to stop by when you want a decent cocktail but wow is the food terrible. Astonishing how below average the food is and considering what they're charging for it. Avoid the food. Get the drinks.

Amazing place! I come here all the time and it feels like such a neighborhood spot. Drinks are amazing. I get the best martinis in town here. Menu is small but EVERYTHING is good. The place is always packed, yet I have never had to wait to sit down I am always seated right away. Great service. Overall I come here all the time and am so happy every time.

My go to favorite spot on Fillmore! Best burger in the city and always a great time and environment!

Came here on a Saturday night around 8:30pm for drinks with a party of 2. Got seated immediately in a booth in the corner - prime seating! I ordered a vodka martini + my boyfriend ordered the sayulita. To snack on we got the truffle fries. They don't have ranch (*sob*) but the fries were really good. Drinks were strong and just okay. The environment was really awesome - they had deer heads, leg lamps and so many booths for seating. Service was decent - they forgot about our order a couple times. Overall - would come back but wouldn't go out of my way.

We love to come here for the cocktails, especially for Boulevardiers with Gran Classico (instead of Campari). Most full bars do not carry Gran Classico.

Went to Palmers with my grandfather today for brunch and when I tell you we had the worst meal ever it's an understatement. Got the French toast with a side of bacon. Mind you the menu read French toast. Nothing more nothing less. But what came was this square cake like loaf with what I think was crushed nuts and raisins on top. Couldn't really tell you as it was under a mound of whipped cream and raspberry sauce. And the kicker was the inside was raw. Like I understand and can appreciate a restaurant putting a spin on their French toast but say that on the menu. This was terrible and the bacon was literally paper thin and burnt black. I kinda thought it was all a joke at first but it wasn't. Not to mention two orders of each came out to $70.

Stooped here for a happy hour (4-6) and had a blast! Lovely ambiance and the service was great. Whatever we ordered came out within 10 minutes. Most of cocktails are $10 for happy hour and pretty good. Had fresh fries and deviled eggs and they were both good. Will be back there for more soon!

Palmer's is my favorite brunch spot in San Francisco! From the food & cocktails, to the service and ambiance--this place is 10/10! Highly recommend this place for brunch and for happy hour!

Horrible service and below average food. Almost an hour wait for one burger. Would not recommend under any circumstance. Service not friendly or apologetic at all and messed up the orders at the tables around us. Just terrible

tldr: great happy hour spot! totally would recommend. vibes are good, and food is surprisingly delicious i went here for happy hour which is everyday from 4-6pm. We arrived at 5pm on a Friday and the place was extremely crowded. We were only able to be seated at the bar. Service was surprisingly good for how crowded it was. The bartender was super attentive and our food came out really quickly. We got the Mac and Cheese. the Spicy Meatballs, and the Red Pepper Hummus. All of the dishes were appetizer sized and we comfortably finished the 3 dishes between two people. For drinks, I got a bees knees & palmer punch. I was truly shocked at how good the food was. The Mac and Cheese was delicious, super cheesy but not too heavy or creamy at all. Even more surprising was the Spicy Meatballs w/ Garlic Bread. I don't usually like marinara sauces but I loved this and the bread was so crispy and garlicky as well. Even the hummus was surprisingly flavorful and it had a little kick to it. Drinks were yummy - but nothing too surprising I would say. As far as happy hours go, its not really that much of a deal (Drinks are ~$10, Bar eats are $11-$15) but given how good the food was I definitely think it was worth it.

Oh boy is this a good place. Our first indoor dining experience since covid too! Ringing in the post covid festivities Austrian style the schnitzel had the freshest lingonberry of compotes to complement the breaded pork. My burger came out beautifully cooked with flavor singed into the char and for a guy that loves extra pickles 3 juicy spears right there on the plate excited to see me. Palmers is wonderful!

I was surprised at how good the cocktails here! The food isn't anything to go out of your way for, but this was conveniently located across the street from the Clay Theater, so we pre-gamed here before one of their midnight showings. There is definitely a loud, happening vibe here on Friday nights. RESERVATIONS: We made reservations just a few days in advance online (8 people, 9pm, Friday). They were very flexible and let us sit late, when only 3 of us were there. Our group filtered in slowly over the next hour, and we had basically a private booth in the back (there was a curtain that drew closed around it! THE COST: $211.11 before tax/tip for drinks and some dishes for 6 people. Overall I felt their food was overpriced, but the drinks were fair. * Bee's Knees cocktail ($12) - 4.5 stars Delicious! Refreshing, well-balanced, not overly sweet. * Penicillin cocktail ($13) - 4 stars I rarely like scotch cocktails, yet this one was really well made, with a good balance of flavors. * Spicy meatballs ($16.75) - 3 stars Not very impressive. Meatballs were dry, sauce not particularly memorable. * Filet of salmon ($26.75) - 3.5 stars Decent, but expensive for the quality.

Great joint for diner, brunch, and drinks. Food is always great- I love the red arancini. Bartenders fun and staff great.

The drink is absolutely beautiful and tasty. Love the presentation of the food. Severs are nice and responsible!

I was torn on this place. I will start off with the food. The food was delicious. The salmon was perfectly cooked and my fried chicken sandwich was great but they were so cheap on the amount of fries they gave me (they were really good but the portion was so small that other people at the table noticed and said something. Then there was the experience. This place has a really old feel but not necessarily in a good way. The table coverings on the outdoor seating looked like they had been used for over 20 years. I cant believe they would simply replace them because they were this horribly discolored and tarnished checkered vinyl and it just couldn't cost that much to replace them with something newer for 6-8 tables. The bathrooms were disgusting and looked and smelled like a public outdoor restroom. I cant believe such tasty food came out of this place. Lastly there was the service. We had an older gentlemen as our server. He had almost no people skills at all and didn't even introduce himself. He came across as the most unsocial, uncharismatic/uninterested server I have had in a long time. He brought us food and came by when needed but his demeanor was awkward enough for us all to notice. What a strange place. So much that could easily be improved but is clearly being neglected, yet very yummy food to contrast. Giving it 3 stars because flavor is king but if the food wasn't as good on a second visit, this would easily be a 2.

As my friend and I were searched through Yelp for a spot to grab some post-work snacks and drinks, it wasn't a surprise to see Palmer's sitting atop our search on Yelp. In practically every one of their reviews, the words "happy hour" would come up. Which suited us just fine since a good happy hour on Fillmore was exactly what we were looking for! And apparently, if I was ever going to check them out, it should be for happy hour! Stepping inside of Palmer's, it almost felt like stepping back in time. Harry's down the street has a similar "old San Francisco" vibe, but it's much stronger here. The wood paneling, the light fixtures, the metal studded leather furniture, the mounted animal heads perched above the bar...all of it adds to that retro sort of feel. Fortunately, the menu didn't look have the same dated look, as it offered a solid mix of starters to choose from (much needed, current photos below). Happy Hour: Daily, 4-6pm - Food Menu (as of 10/2016): (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/palmers-san-francisco-2?select=tv6UHw1o3Kbry3XObB698Q) - Drink Menu (as of 10/2016): (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/palmers-san-francisco-2?select=wLL2AX3eJ2LhDp5IIP71VA) -- PIMM'S CUP - Pimm's No. 1, Cucumber, Lime, Mint, Ginger Beer...$8 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/palmers-san-francisco-2?select=wbNh8nKZy-vwBBPRzDNOgQ) If you've never had a Pimm's Cup before, it's like a cross between a Mojito and a Moscow Mule. Sadly though, this wasn't as enjoyable as either one. I don't know if it was the Pimm's, the ginger beer, or the mint, but the drink had a weird tinge to it that took some getting used to, in addition to being a bit sweet. -- DEVILED EGGS...$2.50 (2 Pieces) (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/palmers-san-francisco-2?select=4MqBa2OUADGOWatmWWA0YQ) I love deviled eggs, but ironically, I actually liked the rest of the components better. That's not to say the egg was bad though; it's just that the taste of the yolk portion didn't amaze. However, I liked the bacon and jalapenos, as well as the pickled onions, as they added salty and acidic elements. -- CURRIED FRIES...$4 (https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/palmers-san-francisco-2?select=TqDh3aQj_BXT3uO4r_IgTA) While it didn't have a strong curry flavor specifically (rather, it just wasn't what I expected), this was great! Not only were the fries cooked to the perfect crispiness, but they were seasoned really well (not heavy handed, but enough to pack a punch). I'd definitely recommend this. Given how little of their food and drinks we tried, I can't say with a ton of confidence how Palmer's ranks overall. However, after skimming through their dinner menu online, I can see why everyone says happy hour is the best time to come here. From what I can tell, a lot of the same starters can be had, but at notably lower prices (though still kind of pricey compared to other HH menus I've seen). In any case, Palmer's may not be a bad bet...for happy hour, at least.

I love this place!! It's one of my favorite classic spots to go for happy hour and to hang out with friends and get some food and drinks. It has such a nice classic feel, and they make AMAZING cocktails. The employees are also very friendly and make you feel welcome. I'll never stop coming back!

A great neighborhood spot, ideally located on a sunny corner. It's a perfect place to grab an outdoor seat on a sunny day, sip rosé, snack on appetizers and people watch. When the fog rolls in, head inside for good vibes, cocktails and a legit fried chicken sandwich or burger. Dig this place!