Restaurant bar
Unclaimed profileThe Anchovy Bar
San Francisco, CA · $$$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
The Anchovy Bar pairs a focused cocktail list with a deep wine program that changes monthly, currently spotlighting Greek producers. The bar's four cocktails lean on amaro and vermouth, while the wine list spans sparkling, skin-contact, and reds. A monthly featured bottle is sold at retail, and corkage is waived with a purchase. Beer and non-alcoholic options are compact but include local craft and house-made sodas.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Negroni Fugazi, a smoked cappelletti with farm vermouth-gin and bitters. For wine, the Domaine Zafeirakis Prologue Brut Rosé or the Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero skin-contact. A vermouth highball offers a lighter option.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Wine enthusiasts exploring Greek varieties and monthly deep dives will find much to appreciate. Cocktail drinkers seeking amaro-forward creations will enjoy the compact list. Those with non-alcoholic preferences have several thoughtful options, including N/A wine and beer.
- When should I go?
- Evenings when the monthly wine feature is being poured, especially if you want to buy a bottle at retail. The Greek wine focus in August is a standout period.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Cocktails $16-$17, by-the-glass wines $15-$22, beers and ciders $10-$13, non-alcoholic drinks $7-$16.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- A monthly featured wine program that lets guests buy bottles at retail price, plus a corkage policy that waives a fee with purchase. The cocktail list is small but inventive, using smoked and botanical elements. Beverage Director Adam Robins oversees the program.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
A concise list of four cocktails and aperitifs, featuring amaro, vermouth, and sherry. Creative ingredients like smoked cappelletti and rhum clement bitters show ambition, though the limited range keeps it from higher marks.
Menu strengths
- — Inventive use of amaro, vermouth, and sherry in cocktails.
Standout selections
- — Negroni Fugazi - smoked cappelletti, farm vermouth-gin, bitters, $16.
- — La Vie en Fillmore - Pasubio amaro, rhum clement bitters, bubbles, $17.
Pricing: Cocktails priced $16-$17.
Wine
An extensive, well-curated list with by-the-glass and bottle options, featuring a monthly deep dive (August: Greece). Includes sparkling, white, rosé, red, and skin-contact wines. A generous corkage policy with waiver incentive adds value.
Menu strengths
- — Monthly thematic focus, e.g., Greek wines, with retail-price bottle purchases.
- — Diverse selection including skin-contact and sparkling wines.; Corkage waiver when buying a bottle.
Standout selections
- — Domaine Zafeirakis Prologue Brut Rosé - Limniona, Thessaly, Greece NV, $19/95.
- — Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero - Peloponnese, Greece 2024, skin-contact, $15/75.
- — Nicoluzo Cacotrigi - Corfu, Greece 2021, $22/110.
Pricing: By-the-glass wines $15-$22; bottles $58-$170.
Beer
A small but quality list with four options: two drafts from local breweries, a saison with sugar kelp, and a dry cider. Pricing is fair, and the inclusion of local craft breweries is a plus.
Menu strengths
- — Features local craft breweries like Cellarmaker and Russian River.
- — Includes a unique saison with sugar kelp from Fair Isle Brewing.
Standout selections
- — Pretty Pretty Pils - draft pilsner from Cellarmaker Brewing Co., $10.
- — Salacia - saison with sugar kelp, 12 oz can from Fair Isle Brewing, $13.
Pricing: Beers and ciders priced $10-$13.
Nonalcoholic
A thoughtful non-alcoholic section with house-made soda, N/A wine, N/A cocktail, and N/A beer. Pricing is reasonable, and the range shows attention to sober drinkers.
Menu strengths
- — House-made Meyer Lemon-Rosemary Soda at $7 is an affordable option.
Standout selections
- — Prima Pavé - N/A brut rosé, Italy NV, $16/80.
- — Foster Brooks Cocktail - Dr Zero Zero blood orange aperitif, bubbles, $15.
- — Meyer Lemon-Rosemary Soda - house-made, $7.
Pricing: Non-alcoholic drinks range from $7 to $16.
Spirits
No standalone spirits list is offered; spirits appear only as cocktail ingredients. This limits the category's standalone evaluation, though the quality of cocktails suggests competent spirit selection.
How it sits with the food
The Greek wine focus suggests pairings with seafood and Mediterranean dishes, fitting the anchovy theme. Skin-contact wines and sherry-based aperitifs would complement briny and savory small plates.
Inebrious does not score kitchens, food or the restaurant overall. We review the beverage program only.
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