San Francisco Brewing Co. Reviews

We easily got a table on a Friday afternoon, which was maybe an indicator about this place's popularity. Nothing on the menu jumped out so we did flights of beer (we love sampling microbrews) and a few appetizers. The flights were expensive and the beer was not memorable. One feature we found neat was the self-serve taps although we didn't try them. It's a nice location in Ghirardelli Square, but you are obviously paying for that and not for the quality or innovation of the food and beer.

We decided to stop here for some craft beer and snacks before the fireworks display. I understand it was a busy time and crowded and that’s why we didn’t really mind waiting 40 minutes for a table. Waitress appeared quickly with menus and then to take order. We ordered two beers and nachos to share. They only have two toilet rooms with a 3 faucet shared sink area. The restaurant is a good size with bar, pool table, and seating area along with outside games and seating. Two bathroom stalls just was not adequate. I had to wait in line at least 15 minutes to use bathroom while waitress had already served our beers and food so the nachos were cold when I got back to table. The beers were fine but the nachos were awful. In addition to being cold there was hardly anything on them. A tiny bit of sour cream, very little cheese, some sort of goopy congealed cheese sauce (very little) and a scattering of black beans and picked jalapeños. Most of the chips were dry and there was no cheese or sauce to dip them in. We didn’t finish them. We would not go back.

San Francisco is one of America’s great cities and it owes this claim to several factors, one of which is food/drink. A memorable meal and beverage is generally within walking distance most anywhere in the city and an establishment that provides both is San Francisco Brewing Co., located in the city’s famed Fisherman’s Wharf area, on Ghiradelli Square. I visited this brewpub in search of fine brew and I came away with my expectations met or exceeded. The first thing I noticed is that San Francisco Brewing is more than just a standard brewpub with pub bites. This is a restaurant and brewery with a full bar, cocktails, wine, etc plus an outdoor beer garden and games. For atmosphere, San Francisco Brewing has all the bases covered and it is common to find live music playing outside, for entertainment to go along with your food and drink, which is certainly a plus. With the beer, San Francisco Brewing has a wide variety of beers on tap. Most impressive to me was the fact that the selection wasn’t overrun with India Pale Ale. I love IPA as much as the next person, but I get a little irritated when I visit a new brewery and discover that half of the taps are pouring versions of IPA. I liked several of the beers very much and I was pleasantly surprised to find an amber ale and an amber lager on tap. You don’t find many amber ales or lagers in most craft breweries and it’s even rarer to find both in the same place. The beer would be reason enough to make a stop at San Francisco Brewing, but the food, many would argue, is even better. I loved my chicken sandwich topped with pepper slaw. My teenager raved about her grilled cheese and tomato soup combo, saying it was among the best she has ever had. I only wish my appetite would have been even stronger so that I could have tried one of the pizzas, which I have been told are excellent and make a visit worth it for that reason alone. San Francisco has earned the right to brag. It consistently ranks among America’s favorite cities and places like San Francisco Brewing are a large part of the reason. The casual atmosphere, the food, the beverage, the outdoor beer garden, the service, and the close distance to Fisherman’s Wharf make San Francisco Brewing a must stop on your next visit to the Bay area.

Came across this place by accident on a very rainy day. We tried 5 beers in here and 4 we fantastic. We sat at the bar and the staff and owner/manager were brilliant.

Once we got settled in this was a fun spot. Lots of local beers to choose from and solid pub cuisine. The person who helped us when we arrived struggled a little to understand that we had a reservation so maybe that’s not the normal front of house person as we arrived a little early.

Loved our experience here. Was extremely accommodating to us and our dog and the food was great! Will definitely be back!

I hope we visited on an “off night” Food was average, comparable to what I would have eaten at Applebees. We only saw a server when they dropped off our food after ordering through QR code at table. Fries were cold.

Fun Atmosphere, great staff and good food! Great place to relax after doing touristy things around the Wharf.

We strolled here from fisherman’s wharf, eventually found the brewery, and we were so ready for a beer . We started with the taster tray , then both chose the IPA . Large outside seating area . Pleasant staff. We didn’t eat here so can’t comment on the food .

Took the family of 5 here for dinner one night while on vacation. The food was good. I had the clam chowder. We also had a flatbread pizza and some burgers. After a long day of walking, the food hit the spot! I REALLY enjoyed the beers on tap. My wife had a house-made seltzer which she really like. The best part, however, was that we got to chat with the owner who was very friendly! Super-nice guy that really made our night! I even bought a tap handle for my home bar!

Great location. Awesome beer garden out front with fire pits, pic nic tables and Adirondack chairs. Inside is spacious with a large bar and seating area. Beer selection is good. There is a pour your own beer area which is fun. Food is done right. Atmosphere is chill.

Try the Dunkelweizen. The staff is very friendly & helpful with the beer selections. They also offer a sample platter. Right in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf located in the Ghirardelli building.

Servers are ignorant despite being halfway empty on the patio. Overpriced beer. There are better places on the piers. Live music was good though...

Lovely evening, and extra thanks to Pamela for sorting out a minor issue caused by an accent based misunderstanding.

The host was really unpleasant. Very difficult to comunicate with her. Her unfriendly attitude drove us to a different place for a beer. What a pity…

The beer was good, the service was underground, the table ungodly sticky. Due to the very poor service unfortunately absolutely not recommended. An extremely unpleasant smell was perceptible in the interior

San Francisco Brewing is in the touristy part of the city near Fisherman's Wharf and in the same complex as Ghiradelli Chocolate. If you're in need of a brief respite from walking and shopping, this is a good option to come in and have a few beers. It's simple to get here on the F trolley from the city; cable cars are another option from the hotels of Union Square. This is not the main brewery, but a taproom and restaurant. The main production can be visited downtown. The brewery has some excellent options for seating; they have a beer garden outside with picturesque red bricks and greenery around, or go downstairs to the large bar area perfect for a hot sunny or rainy day. Inside they have a bar in the middle with stools around, or tables all over including games like darts and pool. The inside is well lit for being a basement; with glowing TVs for sports as well. They have a full menu of food, but I came for the beer only. My bartender was very friendly and attentive right off the bat; he understood my request to try everything and gingerly filled my flights. He also kept my water full and talked to me about the beer offering samples of ones I didn't order for free. Prices were typical for the area, a little higher than I like to pay for the quality, but everything tasted as it should with no off-flavors. This is a comfortable spot to have some beers. Restrooms are nearby and large and clean.

This is right down from the Ghirardelli Ice Cream shop and on a hot day it is a great place to stop in for a cold craft beer or a light lunch.

So many unique beers made on site. Great view of the bay, friendly service and the food was outstanding as well.

This restaurant is well located in the Ghirardelli Square. It is upbeat; people were having fun. We were seated quickly even though it was packed (5 minute wait). Our waiter came within about ten minutes. Our food came within about ten minutes. Service was prompt up to this point. But then it slowed. Water was late in coming;waiter needed reminding. Same experience with a few other requests. Food was good, not great. Pizza ok. Burgers good. Fish tacos good. Beers excellent. Took ten minutes to check out. Ok for Europe but not US. MANDATORY 20% tip (plus 4% for employees benefits) for groups of 6 or more. Our waiter was a ten percenter!

We stopped into this spot for an afternoon drink on a warm November day to cool off and relax a bit after walking to the waterfront via Columbus Avenue all the way from Chinatown. There was an awesome playlist of 80's songs playing on the speakers, and our server, the awesome Marcus, claimed credit for it. He was superb and took great care of us, even though we were just there for a drink. My wife had a shandy, our daughter got a flavored lemonade, and I ordered a pint of a local cider, which was great. The drinks were fine, but what really made our visit special was the friendly enthusiasm from Marcus.

This was another brewery I was keen to try out, and thankfully I didn't leave disappointed. We were greeted by a very welcoming waiter, who was happy to offer advice on the various beers and the food menu. We had both the beer flights, and despite having lots of information on the beer menu itself, he was happy to answer more questions, and recommended others to try based on what we liked. He also kindly gave as a couple of tasters of some beers before we ordered some too. The food menu is very pub/bar style, but it's very nice. The pizza we had was really enjoyable. It's in a great location too, and it has a very good vibe about the place too. We returned a second time while in the area we enjoyed the first visit so much.

We stopped in for lunch and was seated within minutes. That was the best of the visit. Our drink orders were taken and then we did not see the waitstaff for quiet a while. When he did come back he did take our food orders. My Daughter ordered the Fish & Chips, My wife ordered the Mac& Cheese and I ordered the Clam Chowder and a Cesar salad. One out of the three were ok. My Chowder was not hot and the salad was lacking dressing. The fish & Chips were terrible with raw fish and heavy grease bread coating. In addition the soup was served without a spoon which had to be asked for and the fish & chips came with no silverware at all. Not sure why I let a 20% tip but will not visit this place again. This could be a good beer place only.

Craft beer and great food. Double bonus. Indoor games as well including full length shuffle board and pool table. Outdoor fire pits with seating. Live music outdoors on weekends. Beer garden with full service. And great cocktails !!!

Beer recommended wasn’t good nachos were horrible. Tots were ok. Wish we hadn’t come. Waste of $40. Too bad - place was cute and atmosphere was nice.

My three adult kids and I visited this nice spot yesterday to enjoy a good cold beer. The selection is great, the beers ice cold. A nice touch is that beers are served in proper glassware according to style. This is an unusual and thoughtful touch. The service was excellent. We had an extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgable server They also have pub food, but we were just there for a quick respite, but we saw food on the next table that looked delicious and the guests seemed to be enjoying what they ordered.

They are in the Ghirardelli building so if your coming to get some Chocolate this is a perfect stop over. Really nice room with a great atmosphere. Beer wasnt the best we had in SF but there is so much competition in this town that's not a negative.

We had a group of 6 adults and 4 kids for a Father’s Day lunch. The service was great and the food delicious! We sat outside because it was a beautiful day and it was perfect! They even comped the dad’s meals! Will look forward to going back!

Great place to meet up, have a beer or meal, lazy Sunday afternoon but found a couple of the staff there were not very friendly

All the regular bar food. I had a pretty good Reuben sandwich. Service was ok and location good for us as we were walking.

This is located in Gharadelli Square (upstairs). We honestly chose this place because it was the only place near Fisherman’s Wharf that didn’t have an hour wait. All seating is outside and it’s a very cool vibe. We were seated right away and the guy who seated us was friendly. We expected typical bar type food but we were pleasantly surprised that it was so much better than that! You have to use a QR code to see the menu, order your food and pay, but it was super easy. We ordered two chicken BLTs, one as a lettuce wrap and one with a bun. One with fries and one with a house salad. All of it was VERY GOOD! The salad was beautiful and all fresh and the sandwiches had lots of flavor. We were there for lunch. Highly recommend!

Great beer garden that has entertainment for the kids and pretty good beer. They were sold out of the two beers I picked first (waitress had the speech sorted so they must have been sold out a while) but the third was there. Good price. Snacks and meals were good, we ordered too much. Waitress was not the best, hired more for looks than skill. Probably all that keeps the tips flowing. Would go back for drinks, not food.

When we visited we got a tour and a little history about the place and beer, which was great. Loved the sampler, most of all. Presentation and service was great. If you love beer or you are just looking for somewhere to warm up from the chilly San Fran wind, this is a good spot to visit. I was not disappointed at all.

My husband and I came in after a tour, very hungry. We were seated and served immediately. We ordered chips and artichoke dip as an appetizer and a pitcher of Alcatraz Amber, which was amazing. Then I ordered good old fashioned fish and chips, and my husband ordered a steak sandwich. It was a little bit loud, but there was a football game on TV, and everything was fine.

Nice beers, nice wines. The pizzas were OK but not the best. Went here because everywhere else in the neighbourhood at 9pm on Black Friday was closed. Ho-hum.

My wife likes beer and this was one of the best beers she's ever had (5*). The food we ordered was fine too (although more like 3* for that). So, if you are at Ghiradelli Square and want a bite to eat or a quick libation, it's not a bad spot. The question is: why would you be at Ghiradelli Square as it such a crappy tourist trap?!

Waiters are pretty nice and the bear offer is wide enough. Wings with blue cheese sauce are really a catch ! ! ! ! !

Good beer. Downhill from there. Expensive. Average food. Rude bar staff. Spent over $100 in just over an hour. Didn't reflect well on a city bar dependant on tourist trade. .

My 13 year old son and I had dinner here on a Saturday night. We were seated right away and the waitress and her supper staff were great. We both had a pizza which was good as well. I had the Dirty Blonde beer, which was also good!

Wonderful place for a sandwich. Loved the atmosphere. I usually don't eat burgers out. I did this time and it was great. My son had the fish tacos had the chicken sandwich. We were all satisfied...no food left on our plates!!

My husband and I are from the east coast so we were egar to try some West coast beer and thought the SF Brewing Company would be a great start. We wanted to sit inside but the strong fish odor and stuffy atmosphere was a bit overwhelming. Instead we sat outside in the beer garden under the oppressive sun with no shade whatsoever. No big deal. The waitress was nice enough and we ordered some buffalo wings and a flight of 7 beers. Some of the beers were really fantastic (Fog city and Lombard Lambic) and some were not so great, I’m looking at you Zwickel pils. The wings were so unappetizing that we didn’t even finish them. They were rubbery, cool in the middle and obviously frozen. We would have ordered another beer, but we were hungry and roasting in the sun, so we left. The location was nice but I was not impressed enough to ever come back.

We called in here to explore the beers. Being Irish we like a few ales every now and again! We were not disappointed what a spot😀👍🏻. Staff couldn't have been nicer and very knowledgable. Passionate about their beers these people so every success. Stayed for the food and it was great too😉😉.

The food and drinks were just ok at best, but the location is very convenient if you’re spending time at Ghirardelli Square.

We popped in for an adult beverage - wound up getting a couple flight of beer. We had the best server, Lydia, she was just plain awesome. We did have one complaint - they offered appetizers but they were all heavy - would love to see them add something a little salty - chips and beer cheese, pretzels or something like that - just our opinion.

We stopped in for a quick lunch while exploring San Francisco. The food was great, as was the service. The beer selection was very good, and the brewery had a pool table which was fun. The location is also nice, in a plaza with interesting shops. We recommend.

Nothing to write home about. Workers were snobby and not accommodating. Beer was average. Nice outdoor area to sit in though

We initially stopped in for a local beer, and ordered some snacks which turned into more drinks and snacks. We had a nice evening. The Mac and Cheese was very good. Bathroom was ok, and service was good. Sports were on tv, but had a good sports bar atmosphere. Recommend to those who like sports type bars.

We were walking around near our hotel looking for a place to eat, grab a drink, and watch the Warriors game. This brewery met all 3 criteria so we gave it a try and had a shuffleboard table to entertain the kids as a bonus. The chicken fingers my son ordered were pretty mediocre, which is usually a bad sign, but the sandwiches the adults ordered were good. We sampled a variety of beers, but really enjoyed a few of their IPA's.

Took a sampler of four of the brewerys beers. The were quite OK byt nothing extra. The environment was great with shuffleboard etc. Outside there was a beer garden with possibility sit outside.

Stopped in for a few drinks. It was nice we sat in the beer garden. Service was quick and the beer was good. Nice variety of drinks. We had a pretzel too and it was ok. Manger checked in with all the tables around us. But we must not have fit the requirements for a visit. Overall it was a nice experience.

Gets 4 based on value for money, the food is ok but not spectacular, the beer makes up for it. Always like places that do beer flights and here they have two on the menu, one standard and one a bit citrus flavoured Good place for a group, service fairly ok but hit for compulsory service charge as in a group, means you can’t knock a couple of $ off for bringing the mains before the starters are finished and/or cleared

Good beer and service. Wish the weather would have been better so we could enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately our kids were tired so wasn’t able to stay long. Would definitely go back next time in town.

We loved everything about our experience with San Francisco Brewing Co. We had been looking for a good brewery to relax in one afternoon and were so happy to stumble across this place. WONDERFUL beers and even better service. Each of the beers are completely unique and fun to experience. We sat at the bar and enjoyed learning from the owner the history of the Brewery. We can't wait to go back!

We happened upon this place very much by chance as we were having beers at Fire and Brew (which is also worth a visit) when the two brewers from SFBco hand-delivered a keg of their hazy IPA and we got chatting. We went there later and found them to be very warm and friendly, the bar games were free (no small feat in San Francisco) and the beer was excellent. We didn't eat here purely because we wanted seafood and a walk but we had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Thank you SFBco for making our last night in the city very memorable! See you in England if you ever get the chance.

Great place and nice prices. All food in San Francisco is expensive so when we came across this digital menu we were surprised at how cheap the eats and drinks were. I had the fish tacos, the rest of our party of 6 had, pizza, fries, fish and chips and big salad. It was a fun place in the square.!!

I guess February is a slow tourist time in San Francisco. Everywhere closes at 8, 9 pm! This was open until 10 pm though! We came here 2 nights. My husband drinks beer a lot! We visit many breweries and he was pleasantly surprised by the quality of beers here. The East West IPA was a favorite! We didn't eat here but the food looked good. The bartenders were so fun and all the other people at the bar were fun to talk with. Just a great atmosphere to hang out. Thursday was trivia night and we had fun doing that with people we met there. Just a fun time with GREAT beer and at a good price - especially for the Fisherman's Wharf area!

Passionate about the sector, I find a decent selection of beers, some decidedly borderline. Friendly and very friendly staff. Very good location in Ghirardelli Square. Normal prices for San Francisco (therefore a little high) Valid for an aperitif or an after-dinner drink

We really enjoyed our visit to this brewery. Really friendly service and good craft beers. You can't really ask for more than that.

As a craft beer fan, I was really looking forward to an evening out in this bar/restaurant. However, I was met by inattentive service and mediocre food. Worse still, they ran out of both of the beers that I tried to order, which was bizarre for a "brewing company." I sat for 20 minutes before anyone approached me with a menu, even though it wasn't particularly busy, When my food arrived, I had to flag someone down to request cutlery, and the servers weren't particularly friendly - Everything seemed like a huge effort for them. The food was expensive, and the portion size small, so I ordered dessert. It was "tiramisu" which was just stodgy cake, with no perceptible hint of a Tia-Maria flavour, and everything was smothered with a spray cream-like topping. It really wasn't nice, so I left most of it behind. Also, I was amazed at my server's lack of knowledge of beer and inability to recommend something. I asked about ale and was recommended a dunkel, which is a dark German lager.

We came upon SF Brewing Co whilst visiting Ghirardelli Square. It was a really hot day, and the outside tables and the beer menu enticed us to go in! The server was lovely and explained all the types of beer and helped us choose, and the rest was brewing heaven! Unfortunately we didn’t sample the food - but there’s always next time!

We had pastrami sandwiches for lunch here which were incredibly fatty. We had to tear portions of fat out of the much of the meat. The potato chips were weird too, often burned. On the good side, the tables were well distanced (we ate indoors) and the staff made us feel safe.

Great little find off of Ghiradelli square, had four visits in the two weeks we were on vacation, great food, great beer from the onsite brewery, lovely staff, great atmosphere, always busy, sat at bar to eat and drink, sat at tables to eat and drink, pool table fun and great cocktails, would like to thank the staff for making our visits memorable.

We stopped by on a Tuesday evening around 5 for an early dinner. The restaurant was virtually empty and we were seated right away. And then....that's it. We sat at our table for over 15 minutes and we were never approached by anyone. I saw a waiter serving customers at tables on the other side of the bar and he looked over at us a few times but no one came over to acknowledge us. The hostess sat another table near us and she even brought them water while we just sat there like idiots. We finally got up and left and on the way out, told the hostess why we were leaving. She offered a lame apology but I'm pretty sure she didn't care. With all the restaurants in this area, why waste your time with a place that clearly doesn't value your business? We went instead to Cioppino's and had a great meal with excellent service.

Food and drinks are amazing. Had a wonderfull time with my friends. Excelent German beers! Fairly cheap for San Francisco, I just think that the outside furnite needs some work,

If you want a nice break from your busy day of touring San Francisco, CA fisherman's wharf area, give this place a try. They have large tables outdoors for big groups and good food and beers/wine/cocktails. It's located on top floor of Ghiradelli Square and blocks the wind so it can be warmer in the sometimes cold San Francisco bay weather. Live music and nice beer flights. Give it a try!

This was a fun place to meet people during a recent trip to SF. Food was quite good and we loved being able to sit outside, while still being sheltered from the wind. Liked the beer I tried, but really like the draft cider. This place is fairly new, but worth checking out.

The food here was ok and included lots of dish selections. Husband + I had fish and chips, with no cocktail sauce but did bring out vinegar when requested. Son had burger. Husband had a Lumbard Lager, which he liked. We had to ask for napkins + utensils after the food was delivered. The server reached across son to serve my husband his lager instead of going next to my husband and properly serving him. In the process, the server spilled beer on my son's new Giants baseball cap, leaving a stain across the brim. Cannot recommend unless you are starving and every other place is closed.

Food is really good I tried the tacos and the burger spectacular!!! However the reason to visit the bar is the beer, many options and very enjoyable!!!

Stopped for some beer and appetizers, very good! The place does smell very strongly of yeast, but it is a brewery! We had flights and cheese curds, all yummy. The patio area looked super cool to sit in, but it was a nice day and packed out there.

Ok beer, rude waiter. Ambience on the terrace was great, music and the sunset. Cool vibe. Ghirandelli dark lager and ipa we tried. Liked ipa better.

Good place to drop into for a beer while you watch some sports. Not far from Fisherman's Wharf but away from the crowds. Interesting beer menu, enjoyed the Citrus Circus, tasty as its name. Large outdoor area, cozy inside with bar seating and tables. Friendly staff, quick food service. I'd go back to try different beers.

We are lucky enough to be staying within walking distance of Ghiradelli Square. It's downhill for me to get here, and uphill back. A stop at the brewery makes the walk more acceptable. Today we were happy to get a table outside where there was a live band playing. four of us, and our two little dogs, enjoyed an afternoon of good beer, music, and food. I had the tomato soup, which was excellent for this chilly SFO day. We also had pizza, which was good, but not worth a special trip. There is a good selection of beers. Ordering is simple using their online ordering menu. We almost always include a stop here when we are visiting. You should too.

we arrived at this restaurant with 3 hungry, tired, cranky children. service was speedy and efficient. the menu was unfortunately very limited but no one had the energy to look further so we settled for what we could manage. the food was served hot and was attractively presented. but it was quite ordinary - even mediocre. the noise level was deafening between people watching sports on tv and other diners playing table games. we left at least half of the food uneaten and were anxious to leave because it just was not a comfortable place to be.

Visited this place numerous times during out stay in San Francisco. God outdoor setting when sun is shining it next too fire pits, otherwise inside for plenty of screens to catch sport. Changing and large range of drink & expertise to help you choose your beer or drink. Staff were really helpful and good fun, thanks in particular for the stories and advice not to do the Four Mile Hike in Yosemite 😂. Appreciated the time you gave us and enjoyed the company and laughs. Highly recommended ( couple from UK & Wilson Guy 😃)

Great outdoor brewery with many options for drinks including seltzer. Patio is extensive with fire pits and inside the ghirardelli area.

Came for the beer. Wasn’t disappointed. Only tried the Hazy IPA and the Kolsch but both were mega! Wife had a rum and candied apple cocktail which she loved! Bought the t-shirt as well!

We had lunch here. We ordered the Bacon/cheese tater tots. They were good and hot. We shared a Rueben sandwich that was very tasty. With lunch we had the Fog City IPA. It was unfiltered so had a hazy look to it -hence the “fog” I have already recommended this place to coworkers

The manager is not kind and not accommodating. We sat outside with cold kids bc she didn’t think they’d fit at a table. Food was ok. Beer was ok. Could see this place being great in the summer minus the bad attitude of management.

Great beer and sours selection, friendly staff, great atmosphere. Food looked great. Visited on a wet November night and was a great place to spend a few hours

Great place to end our last night in San Francisco, good beers and nice food, but it was the personal touch we received chatting to Brian and Steve the barmen which made the visit even more enjoyable