Four friends and I came here for the punch bowls, which are only served upstairs. It was really cramped up there and hard to find a table seeing as how there were only 4 tables and all taken by large parties probably staying the night. We finally squeezed our way around a coffee table. We ordered a punch bowl that didn't sound as sweet as the other ones. When we finally got the bowl after 30 minutes and took a couple sips, we all thought the server gave us the wrong one! It didn't taste like the way it was described on the menu, but it turns out it was the one we ordered.
My friend, who was taking us around, said that they change the punch bowls every once in a while. The ones he had a couple months ago were no longer on the menu.
5 stars for the environment and how they offer unique cocktails, minus 1 for the overly sweetened punch bowl and disappearing server.
I don't always write reviews but when I do they're not very positive.
I try to use Yelp as a platform to inform intelligent consumers not about places doing things they SHOULD be doing right but about things they are doing absolutely WRONG!
Take this gimmicky bar in FiDi named Rickhouse.
Expectations:
-Entertaining friends in a not-so-unique speakeasy setting with generally palatable libations
Actual Results:
-Pompous prick of a bartender with an overgrown beard running the bar like a dic(k)tator of a 3rd world country
-Sheer racism
Story:
My friends were in town for a wedding and I wanted to take them to a few spots for drinks.
We made a stop at Rickhouse and was absolutely ignored by this particular bearded, bald headed bartender. He probably has racially insensitive tattoos beneath his Nazi-tan colored attire (sans the swastikas)
We approached the bar together hoping to get a few orders when this couple sat down to the right of us and were immediately tended to. Â
"Sure. Okay it's just two of them." we thought. Then a group of gentlemen already enjoying their libations to our left were tended to again! Then back to the couple. Then once more to the gentlemen.
At this point we sensed some negative attitude from this jerk but once i said "hey yo!" to try and get the bartender's attention, THAT is when sh1t hit the fan.
This knuckle dragging, moronic bartender, who mind you pulled off perhaps the greatest impression of Edward Norton...IN AMERICAN HISTORY X, had the audacity to try and scold ME on how I shouldn't say "hey yo!" to try and get a bartender's attention. WELL, A$$ SAUCE. KINDLY TELL ME HOW ELSE AM I GOING TO GET IT WHEN YOU PASS OVER A GROUP OF US MULTIPLE TIMES? Get your head out of your a$$, bro. You're JUST a bartender.
I was so upset that I boycotted the place and did not stay there for long enough to get a drink.
We actually went to a way better bar down the street called Local Edition.
If you want to try (it's not supposed to be a god damned game!) and get a drink from a chubbier Edward Norton look-alike, oh please do come here! Â But be aware that you may not even get one and end up being removed from the bar for saying "HELLO I WOULD LIKE A DRINK PLEASE!". Â
Do yourself a huge favor and go to this list of WAY BETTER ALTERNATIVES:
LOCAL EDITION
83 PROOF
RYE
WHISKEY THIEVES
CHAMBERS EAT + DRINK
BOURBON & BRANCH
WILSON & WILSON
BLOODHOUND
NOVELA
BURRITT ROOM
TRADITION
I really enjoy coming to this place but it's always way too packed- that's why I gave it 3 stars. Â It's just a little too packed for me. Â It's pretty trendy and the drinks are good- once you make it to the bar and get the bartenders attention.... Â I had a glass of their house cab and it was surpisingly dee-lish.
Review Source:Very nice ambiance with very "hip" bartenders and staff that really make it seem like an actual speakeasy. The drinks are unique and delicious. The bartenders can even do some tricks with fire if you ask. We had the "old fashion" all night and it was pretty good (good as in "eventually got everyone drunk"). Prices are a bit up there but what isn't in SF seriously...
Good bar, good times
the Rickhouse is very pleasing to the asian girl that I am
pleases the asian: $50 gigantic punch bowl that gets you and your friends as sloshy as buying pricey rounds of shots. cheap and bulk... costco shoppers will love this
pleases the girl: it tastes like sugar and fruit and, deceivingly, not like alcohol and you drink out of TEACUPS
Great spot. Love the huge doors at the entrance. They have a good selection of drinks and a good scotch selection. Seems like a total hipster spot, a place to be seen and shown. As expected it gets pretty packed, so be ready. Â if you are looking for a more casual spot, go the brewery across the street.
Review Source:I like this place. We nicknamed it the 'Indiana Jones' bar - the inside decor just reminded us of the movies...
I didn't have any of the specialty cocktails, but the menu was intriguing for sure. I was a fan of their beer selection, however. Seemed like there was something for everyone. Â The little upstairs loft area is pretty cool, though it was uncomfortably hot when we were up there (probably a result of the strangely humid weather we had in the city that day).
It wasn't crowded either, as some other reviewers noted. We were there around 6 on a Tuesday, so admittedly not the most popular time.
Anyways, I'll be going back.
visit 06/21/13: lets just say the bartenders literally take the speakeasy terminology to a different level - they wont even speak easy to you but literally not speak to you at all... we weren't flashing our $100 bills like others around us and the girl bartender was a bitch..she needed to get some stat to take that sour attitude away. the guy bartender was focusing on the rich middle aged gay men who were flashing their benjamins...come on... really. Don't blame him but don't make so obvious you're a rent boy. what a waste of time.
Review Source:Went out with a group of friends for my friend's 22nd birthday.
Good location and near parking garages.
I loved the dark, rustic ambiance. Prices were worth the drinks. I had two beers and some punch :)
Tangerine Ale, which was really good, and the Pilsner was good too. The punch we ordered tasted like pink lemonade and it definitely hit me later :P
Two-story place, although upstairs is really small and cozy for a hangout with the group.
Great service and knowledgeable bartenders.
Great selection available. For an SF bar, pretty spacious (they have the main bar in the front with their amazing assortment of whiskey, bourbon, you name it, and their bar in the back as well). Â Caters to the experienced bourbon sipper and the cocktail slammers.
They have the upstairs sitting area (caution: I've seen a fair share of drunken slips on the stairs so if you're THAT guy/gal, probably confine yourself to the downstairs). Â
If you're looking for your next stop on your bar-hop route, Rickhouse is the spot.
Don't waste your time here... the bartenders don't even drink scotch or bourbon and the people only like to flash money they obviously don't have....
It was my first time in San Francisco and my friends highly recommended this place. I went up to the bartender in the back room and asked what was his favorite scotch or bourbon drink that he would recommend. Some random fukken retard girl sitting at the bar which later I realized was friends with the bartender say buy the $100 shot and stop being cheap? Â WTF is wrong with San Francisco people???!@!! Â The bartender didn't offer any advice after that so I assume he's trying to get laid from his drink girl friend.
What a waste of time and people!!! Â Man this place reeks of gold digging groupies and girls that just never made it and the sad bartenders that tried to have sex with them. Â NOT WORTH GOING!!!! Â
I wish I could write and spam the shiiiitz out of the place but that's not even worth it.... maybe....
Rickhouse is definitely one of my favorite bars. Â It's filled with 20 and 30 somethings in suits for post workday drinks, definitely catering to those working in the financial district. Â The interior is rustic with low lighting and creates a really great atmosphere that transports you do a different decade.
The first time I was there, was with an alumni group and we sat upstairs. Â While the seating is somewhat limited upstairs it was cozy and there was table service. Â We got a punch bowl, which was great! Â Word to the wise - they will only serve you a punch bowl if you have 3 or more people in your party. Â
Since then I usually hangout at the back bar, which is smaller, but has more seating close by it. Â The cocktail list is filled with whiskey and bourbon. Â What other Yelpers have said about the wait is definitely true. Â There is a sophistication that goes into making the drinks, so it does take longer to get a drink.
Rickhouse is my go-to in Fidi for good drinks in a good vibe. They have an amazing whiskey collection and their specialty drinks are super tasty. I love the dim lighting and 1920s old saloon decor. Because of the location, Rickhouse mostly draws in the after-work young professionals crowd (although I've never been here on a weekend). It's not really a mix and mingle place since every party keeps to themselves. Seating is limited so be sure to get there before the crowds.
Review Source:Nice ambiance, good drinks, and a friendly staff. Went here during a week day and it wasn't as crowded as the reviews warned about for the weekends.
Staff is more than happy to provide you with recommendations for a drink depending on your preferences. Prices are also reasonable for craft cocktails. Not to mention that it is San Fran and I expected the prices to be much higher.
Definitely a must see for the decor and to have at least one drink. I hear the punch is a must - but I'm not ordering one punch bowl for me to drink solo...
I'm not sure why giant groups like mine end up here. It's tiny. It's impossible.
Punch bowls, perhaps?
Or the billions of bourbons?
Yes, that's probably it.
I've been here a couple of times and if you're lucky enough to be there when it's not jam-packed, it's a much nicer experience. Sometimes they can be a bit understaffed and service can take ages, but that tends to also be the nature of crafty drinks these days.
I love that all the cocktail bars in the Bourbon & Branch group are so different, depending on your mood. If you're feeling a little rowdy and maybe a little hick, Rickhouse is your destination
There was some down-country band playing, which was fun for the first 5 minutes.. then it just was kinda too loud to hang out. Cocktails are amazing as usual, and deceivingly strong. Loved my Kentucky Buck. I had been excited for the infamous punch bowls but they'd run out by like midnight, what?! Well, just another reason to come back.
I have only been to the Rickhouse at night, and I have to say, I had little to no fun.
Maybe I should be more like one of my favorite yelpers, Jessica T., and make the Rickhouse a weekday-only jam. My sister says she prefers that too, though she is tiring of this crafty cocktail scene anyway.
This place is really, really busy on Friday and Saturday nights, which are, unfortunately for me, the only nights I can really "plan" to go out. Its close proximity to my sister's office makes me want to love this joint but from what I have experienced on Friday and Saturday nights, the 2-hour drive to some sketchy dive on Bradshaw or Fruitridge seems more relaxing than this does.
We went on a Friday night after my sister showed me her office. And although I must admit, I am really into the crafty-trendy shaken cocktail thing, I would prefer buying a couple of books on amazon and making these myself. If you're in Sacramento, and you are reading this, think of the Rickhouse as a really happening Shady Lady. With bartenders that LOVE their jobs but no seating.
This creates a gigantic problem for me. The problem is that with the way that I LIKE to drink when I can, standing room only is NOT going to cut it or I am going to just fall down. It is really dark up in here, and the drinks are SUPER strong.
My sister also mentioned later that these drinks are more than a bit expensive. My sister hates hailing her drink, so I just do that bullshit and she pays. Since they were on her, I didn't notice that they were ridiculously expensive, but found out later that they are pretty much twice the price of those at the Shady Lady, where I had a 244 dollar bar tab after one visit.
My sister is right. She called me up one night ranting about whatever happened to a plain old highball, and a plain old bar with normal-ass people, not these crazy 20-30 something power singles that can somehow afford this shit. This is why She and I prefer going out in the East Bay. You know, trash it up a little bit.
Those issues aside the drinks here are killer. Each and every bartender is unique and cool in their own way and they ALL know how to pour great drinks. I notice this shit. They even smile at you and make you feel welcome.
But what keeps me from calling myself a fan of the Rickhouse is that it is a superbly UNCOMFORTABLE drinking environment. And it is frustrating also. There needs to be somebody up in here to make grown ass men that are sitting down in front of their water with their teeth in their mouth get the fuck up after two and a half hours. Seriously. Way to proclaim you are a douchebag with women standing all around you. More weak ass men for us, ladies. NO thanks.
Also, I understand that everybody loves their god damn cellular phone, including myself, but if you are hanging out with your three friends, taking up three seats, drinking three baby-bitch drinks, without exchanging words with anyone in your party, Â you need to get up, get your phone, hightail it over to Safeway, get some baby bitch drinks there and sit down on the couch rather than sprawling out all over this tiny bar. I could not believe that there were three females here just sitting there, texting their homies on Facebook, taking up three bar stools. One of these chicks didn't even touch her drink the whole two hours I was there, and I seriously thought about downing it. She didn't look up from her phone the whole god damn night, and I really don't think she would have noticed nor cared.
Anyway. The cocktails are finely crafted but this is way too crowded and rowdy on the weekend, even for me. I love their drinks but what fun is drinking even the best drinks when you can't enjoy yourself or your company, it is completely uncomfortable, and you are surrounded by dip shits. Read Jessica T's review and go on weekdays only. It's too loud and it's full of butt heads on Friday and Saturday night.
It's really dark and really loud in here, which in theory is perfect for a weird-looking guy with a weird-sounding voice like myself. But...I'm not sold on the place.
I appreciate the "Hey we're drinking inside a giant barrel!" aesthetic they've got going, but it feels strange asking someone to meet you in the back of a dark shed for after-work drinks.
The giant wall of liquor bottles kind of exudes "frat basement". Plus it seems like it might be an earthquake hazard.
Music is too loud for much talking, especially as you go further back into the bar.
It is a mixology spot, and I've had some pretty good cocktails here. Last time I got a Manhattan that I enjoyed, before that some herb-y drink w/ gin (also enjoyed). Prices are pricey, but around average for the area.
I'm sure I'll be back, but I prefer its sister bar (Local Edition) down the street.
My friends and I were looking for a place to get drinks and stumbled upon Rickhouse. They are known for their punch bowls so we split one huge one among 6 of us or so. I was hoping that their huge punch bowl would taste more fruity than alcoholy but that was not the case. I can still taste the alcohol and since I dont really like the taste, this place really wasnt for me. My friends thought it was super fruity and really enjoyed it. The bowl was made up of very little juice and wayyy too much ice. We ended up having one huge block of ice in the end. We each only got two little teacups full of drinks for a bowl that was about $40-$50.
The ambiance is nice because it is pretty laid back and dark. The crowd is older like in their 30s so it wasnt really a good crowd for us since we were the youngest ones there. If I liked alcohol and lived in the city, I could see myself coming here a lot.
**TIPS**
1) The punch bowl is the biggest bang for your buck.
2) Enjoy!
If there was a Top Chef for Bartenders these guys would win
Here is an establishment firing on all cylinders. The decor, staff and product being served here are all top notch. I walked in based on the name alone not even knowing it was a Mixology/Whiskey bar and was blown away. It's worth checking out just for the visual of the wall of booze that towers over you. I had just finished a large meal with multiple craft beers so I was full to say the least. I told the bartender "I have no idea what to order so just make me something good" and boy did he ever. I asked him to switch it up every time and every time he gave me a an amazing drink. And I'm not talking sugary, fruity, tropical umbrella drinks. I'm talking REAL DRINKS . To this day I sadly dont know what he made me but the memories I have (okay at least through the first few drinks) will last a lifetime.
Kind of ironic because we read about this bar as a top 10 whiskey bar in GQ magazine on the plane ride to SF, then ended up here that night after our friend suggested it. It's a cool place with strong, creative drinks if you aren't feeling whiskey. Usually this is a good thing but unfortunately it did me in this time. I spent the first official night of my 30's puking back at the hotel. Hey, it happens.
Also during our careless drunken night here, we left our expensive new camera behind and I thought for sure it was gone forever. They were closed the next day and after several failed attempts at calling, the manager, Dan finally responded to my email: They had the camera! Hooray! We were already gone but luckily my friend who is local picked it up for us. Thanks for the honesty guys!
Me: My friend and I are going to Rickhouse. I haven't seen him in two years!
Meg: I'm going to Rickhouse right now.
Wudd.
Somehow ended up in a spontaneous double date here Friday night. Rickhouse is one of those places I've passed by a million times and have always wondered about. It always looked super packed though and for some reason I never realized it was by Union Square. There are seriously no good bars in this area so this place is really a gem! (Did I just say that). It looks like a bar you would find in SOMA or something.
This place is massive! I think they have multiple bars in here and my friends and I were in the back. The drinks are solid and the ambiance is pretty status quo in a good way. They did take forever just to pour some shots though.
My friends and I also all passed out drunk by 11. How the hell did that happen?
Pros:
Absurd selection of spirits, namely those of the whiskey/scotch/bourbon variety.
Delicious drinks available on and off the menu.
Cons:
It gets really really really busy and cramped, especially in the front bar area.
Bartenders can be pretty rude, but I think that goes with the territory in a bar that gets so jammed full of people.
During a bar hop with friends, we stopped by Rickhouse for a drink. The place is pretty unique compared to other places I've been to. A warm, dimly lit atmosphere with lots of people during the evenings. The outside might be a bit deceiving, as the place has a giant wooden door that makes things all the more grander!
Their beer was pretty good, although this is a place I would have to return to in order to provide a better judgment! :)
I like their style. And I love their cocktails.
The cavernous, dark space is pretty sexy, as well as the way those bartenders shake it. Their cocktails, that is.
I've experienced a number of libations, and I must say, they make a saucy negroni and a deliciously spiced Pimm's Cup. If you're with a group, the punch bowls are definitely the way to go. The drinks may take longer to make, and it's a b*tch getting an order in through the crowded bar, but they are artfully crafted and worth the wait.
Every time I've been here, I make friends with someone at the bar. Most recently, it was a hipster kid from Oakland and I may or may not have brought up how I once saw Pep from Salt & Peppa boarding a flight to Oakland. Cool story bro.
Long story short, drink here and you'll make friends.
Anyplace that will serve me up a Laphroaig Project is the $hi7 it my book.
This place is really awesome...expertly crafted, high-quality cocktails served up in a hipster-worthy joint. Â But don't let the "hipster" scare you - they're here, but so are the rest of us...no attitude or pretentious feelings. Â Everyone is coming together around the love of good, strong drink.
I'm with Danny W. What a wait! I get that this is a craft cocktail joint and I'm willing to wait for an expertly mixed drink but ONE bartender on duty? That just ain't right.
Maybe it ended up being a busier night than they were expecting so that's why there was only one guy behind the bar but it was still a really long time to wait for a glass of punch.
Now, the punch was great. We ordered two bowls for our group (a decently priced $48 when being split amongst a number of people) and I found it refreshing. Not sure how strong it is as I walked out of there post 3 glasses with nary a buzz but I will also admit that my metabolism is really weird sometimes. Maybe it's my Polish genes kicking in. I will admit that I got a little salty that the punch bowls were taken away when there was still drink left in there.
The space is really cool and I dug the dark, intimate vibe. There was some live music when we were there which I was also vehemently pro. Not much by way of seating which can reduce your comfort level, especially if you're with a larger group.
Overall it's definitely a place I would return to, I just hope in the future they staff up a bit.
If you're not compatible with a bit of claustrophobia and dark (moody) ambiance.. Rickhouse isn't going to be your jam.
However, if you can get past the packed crowd and near non-existent lighting fixtures, you'll likely enjoy yourself. On my second visit here, my 3 friends and I were able to weasel ourselves upstairs and scored a little nook (with seating!) to enjoy one of their famous punchbowls. We ordered a gin concocted creation and lavished in the enormous bowl along with our adorable tea cups. This lively little punch was the perfect balance of sweet and knock you down booze. With gratuity, it broke down to around $14 a person for the four of us which isn't too shabby considering that you'd likely spend around that much for a normal cocktail.
Service was A-OK too as our server was helpful and efficient and the bartenders smiled and waved when we walked in... I was actually expecting a longer wait due to the already intense crowd but was pleasantly surprised.
Overall, I appreciate the interesting perspective of Rickhouse and enjoying popping in for a cocktail or to share a punchbowl but with the limited amount of space and comfort, this is not a spot that I would spend an extended length of time at.
Yelp365#36
Punch bowl me in the face!!!
There's nothing worse than a 30 minute wait just to order a drink. I almost said f*** it and grabbed a Corona from Chipotle down the street.
I know the wait isn't always that bad, and can totally sympathize with a backed up and understaffed bartender who's slinging seven-step cocktails, but my last trip to Rickhouse made me a tad bitter.
They do have great drinks, punch bowls, and a good scotch selection (shout out to Katy H), but ordering a drink should never, and I mean NEVER take longer than a line for a ride at Six Flags.
I'm used to terrible, obnoxious service, I've been living in Paris for close to 14 years. But despite my stiff upper lip when it comes to attitude nothing prepared me for my recent experience at Rickhouse.
After a colleague placed an order for my favorite cocktail in the world, a Dirty Vodka Martini, he came back baffled, with his tail between his legs saying that the barman refused to make it. What?! Why would a barman refuse to make one of the most famous cocktails of all time? I've ordered this drink all over the world, including at some of the best bars you can imagine, and it's still one of the most challenging drinks to get right. So, if you're such a friggen talented barman, why wouldn't you make it for your customer?
When I headed to the bar to inquire myself I was told that they had no olives in brine. Fair enough, but then why not propose a dry vodka martini instead? Had you just explained nicely I totally would have settled for another option. Instead, when I told the barman I preferred vodka to gin, he told me it was too late and that the drink was already made. I didn't argue, but drank the drink with so much bile and hatred in my being that it soured the entire experience.
Get a grip on life Rickhouse, and start treating your customers with an ounce of respect. You're not the only bar in the city, and I promise you I won't be bothering you ever again with my cocktail requests. When I'm next in the hood, I'll be making my way to the fabulous, friendly, totally swanky Local Edition just a couple of blocks away where the cocktails are delicious and served with a smile.
Whenever I go to Rickhouse I wake up feeling like Guy Pearce in Memento: piecing a whole bunch of random, disparate memories together to try and form some kind of cohesive narrative that explains what the hell happened to me last night.
Gloom . . . glowing bottles . . . a thousand bourbons . . . ladders . . . men in suspenders concentrating like bomb technnicians . . . . dark wood . . . a back cavern . . . a half hour wait to get to the bar . . . and there's . . . there's . . . no, it's gone.
Excuse me???
Reading through all of the lovely reviews that my wonderful Yelp friends have written about this place, I feel kind of bad to give this place a negative review. But I seriously had one of the worst customer-service experiences here...and now I simply want to vent.
I've come here with a bunch of colleagues and once we'd settled in and everyone had  perused the cocktail menu, I approached the barman with an order for about 4-5 drinks. And here's where "faux-pas" number one happened: one of my colleagues expressed an interest in a dirty wodka martini and when I conveyed this interest to the bartender, he simply said: "We don't do that." I was slightly flabbergasted by this brusk retort and another colleague then educated me that in this kind of bars, wodka might not be considered a beverage that adds any flavour to the drink, so they probably dismissed it on this premise. Alright, fair enough...and so we went ahead with a gin-flavoured martini instead.
It then happened that another colleague popped in and so I needed to place an order for an additional drink. Faux-pas numero duo unfolded: I once again caught the attention of the barman, who was still busy mixing my first order and I told him about the additional cocktail. This time his response not only made me slightly flabbergasted, but it actually irritated me quite a bit. He said something along the lines of this: "Would you mind collecting all the orders first and then come to me when you've figured it all out?" - Well, as you can imagine, he he'd now gotten my "attention" ... but this kind of attention doesn't do anyone any good, because I now got very testy and I scrutinised every forthcoming interaction.
Once I'd gotten all the drinks, I paid for them (in cash). And here's where faux-pas Nummer drei was just around the corner: I asked the bartender for a receipt and his response not only flabbergasted and irritated me...it actually left me outraged: "You should have asked for a receipt right away when you do cash payments", he said. I said I was sorry, but in Europe, where I'm from, we typically get a receipt when you pay for something. Or, at least you get it when you ask for it. But he wouldn't have it and this is when I became a beast: I insisted that I needed a receipt and when I expressed my wish for the third time, he furiously scribbled down something illegible on a piece of paper and placed it in front of me.
Adopting the local custom, I then asked for the manager and he simply directed me to the bar in the front. I did as he told me and when I brought my request for a receipt to the bar manager (oh oh...here's faux-pas número de cuatro) I  was no longer flabbergasted, nor irritated, nor enraged...but simply stunned by the audacity of what he said: "It will take me now 10 minutes to retrieve a receipt for you and my customers will be waiting to be served while I do this for you."
Excuse me??? Â
As an add-on, I'd like to say that I actually very much liked the drink I ordered (an Alaska) ... but I simply cannot stand people who feel entitled just because they stand behind a counter! Just sayin' ...
I manage to make it to Rickhouse roughly once during each San Francisco trip. It's craft cocktails meets barn. And I like it. It's warm, it's cozy, it's dimly lit and said cocktails are made well for $10 a pop. Oh, and there's punch. Who doesn't like some boozy punch?
Service is definitely on the slow side, but that's really no fault of the bartenders as they put a good amount of care into each beverage. It's worth noting that 'tenders could be friendlier, but with tasty drinks like La Bonne Vie (gin, lemon, basil, fresh grapefruit juice, bitters), I can overlook any minor 'tude and just drink my drink. See ya soon, Rickhouse.