Anchor & Hope

brentk56

North Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +6.8%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$$

Stumbled into Anchor & Hope yesterday for a business lunch not expecting anything beerwise, so it was quite a surprise to see a beer list that could be put up against many of the more famous upscale beer-oriented restaurants around the country.

Essentially a seafood restaurant with an upscale grunge quotient that is off the charts, there is bar seating as well as tables, with a tap list of about 20 - a range of styles represented and not a macro in sight. Plenty of domestic craft and interesting Euro selections.

I'm always delighted when I find a place where the quality of the beer selection is matched by the focus on the food preparation. If you are looking for a place in San Francisco to get some good seafood (raw oysters, lobster rolls, grilled fish, creative seafood salads, etc) and to have a nice beer to complement your meal, look no further.

01-18-2012 14:21:27 | More by brentk56

LittleDon

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75 | $$$$

Plus: Good variety of excellent craft beers on tap, outstanding food
Minus: Expensive, can get crowded, even on a Monday

As a regular traveler to SF, I had been to many of the often visited places, so I was looking for something new. For an overall dining experience, the Anchor & Hope was a great choice. Service is very attentive, staff knowledgeable, food stellar, and beer selection satisfyingly broad, despite having only sixteen or so taps. I started with the oysters (fresh and well prepared) and Rodenbach Grand Cru, an Ommegang Rustica with my pork loin (wonderful combination of spicy and sour), and finished with Coconut Ice Cream with Red Velvet Cake and Boon Framboise. If you plan to go here, I'd suggest arriving before 6. I went on a Monday night. Empty at 6, packed by 7. Expect to spend some money, too. If you want to do things right, it will likely be at least $75 - $100 per person. Despite the cost and crowd, I'd likely return, even if it's just to sit at the bar and have a few beers.

05-14-2013 15:07:06 | More by LittleDon

EspressoGuy

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev -1.5%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

The room has a high ceiling and an open feeling without getting noisy. Our maitre'd/beer sommelier was excellent at matching our fish with one of the MANY beers. I was amazed at how many more beers than wine were available! And the pairing was delicious. Beers were a mix of local (Bay Area) and European. Personally would like to see more Northwest beers than European but that's just being picky. Excellent seafood simply prepared (entrees $25-$30). Reasonably priced for the quality and service. I'd come back just to sit at the bar with appetizers and beer!

03-22-2013 06:23:13 | More by EspressoGuy

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$$$

I had been wanting to check this place out for quite a while and finally got around to it. Set back in an alley, of sorts, you'd easily pass this spot 100 times and never realize it. Beer selection is quite diverse. I felt like the list covered just about any style. Server made sure I knew what I was ordering was sour, which I can appreciate. Seafood galore here, of course. I would have liked more on the seafood tower I got - Balthazar in NYC gives twice as much for about the same price - but it was nice still. Overall, a pretty nice place. I don't think I'll yearn to return, but glad I took the chance when I had it.

01-04-2013 02:56:50 | More by RblWthACoz

rossthefireman

California

4.45/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5 | $$$

I saw this place pop up in someones Facebook status so I decided to try it for lunch while I was in the city for a class.
Small place right behind (literally) Eddie Rickenbachers. Very busy for lunch and a little loud (my only complaint) but if you go with more than just yourself, you may want to make reservations.
I sat at the counter and the service was excellent. They claim to be a fish house and they aren't lying! A fish centric menu with oyster specials on the wall. I ate a Vietnamese style fish sandwich that was excellent and the house bread was quite tasty.
But enough about the food, they have a huge beer selection along with a quite large wine selection.
The taps included Black Butte Porter, Duvel Green, Old Rasputin, Allagash White, Le Merle and Trumer. The bottle list had too many to name! They serve the beer in the proper glasses too! Not a BMC to be seen on the list!
Overall its a great place, but a tad pricey, however it is SF and everything is pricey. If your down at Moscone for something or just want a new place to try in the city, this is it.

12-08-2009 03:44:29 | More by rossthefireman