Cole Valley Tavern

Isabel Hernandez

I have been to Cole Valley tavern quite a few times with friends and family, but my boyfriend and I just moved to the neighborhood so we have been coming a lot more. On this night it was a Wednesday evening and we were able to be seated quickly. They offer quite a few fun non alcoholic beverage options. I love this! We ordered the Blueberry Mint Lemonade and Ginger bear which came in a fun cup. I ordered the Rigatoni and my boyfriend got the Smash Burger. We have had quite a few smash burgers in the city and this one is at the top of our list. In past visits I have ordered the Salmon tacos and the Caesar salmon salad! You can’t go wrong, they are all delicious! If you can save room I hear the soft serve ice cream is really good. I have not had the chance to try it yet. As a dog mom, I like to point out their patio is dog friendly, but they are not dog friendly inside. The service has always been amazing when we’ve gone and on this specific night we got to meet the owner which was awesome! Cole Valley Tavern is a true gem to have in the neighborhood!

doug t

This place is very nice, great atmosphere, friendly and the food rocks! I had the fish and chips, my daughter had the chowder and we shared the garlic fries. Spices cider was a nice nightcap.

Kirk Hudson

I hadn't been to this corner bar location since before March 2020. WOW, what a welcome update to the place! A friend and I met for happy hour cocktails and snacks. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside, with dappled sunlight for an hour, and a lively, neighborhoody street scene. 🫰🏻 I grabbed a small soft-serve swirl ice cream from the walk-up window while waiting for my friend to arrive. It reminded me of childhood, and was the perfect portion size. 🫶🏻 The bartender and service staff were pleasant, capable, and efficient. 💪🏻 We each had 2 of the weekly signature cocktail specials: Something) Crown, of vodka, lime, and house made hibiscus liqueur. They were pretty and delicious. We also ordered hummus with flatbread and chicken skewers. The flavors were delicious, with the light drizzle of chili spiced oil with the hummus, scallion flatbread, and teriyaki brushed chicken & scallion skewers. The chicken was perfectly moist and tender! I am likely late to the party because the Cole Valley Tavern is an A+ place for quality cocktails, good food, a variety of different vibes (inside & outside), and spot on service. 👏🏻

Tommy Pak

Located at the corner of Cole and Carl Street, Cole Valley Tavern offers a unique vibe with its black-and-white checkered floors and modern yet classic bar—perfect for a great meal with good company 🍻. Smashburger 🍔 A must-try, especially with the extra patty 🥩. The kimchi Thousand Island sauce takes it to another level, making it unforgettable. Fish and Chips 🐟🍟 Perfectly fried with a hint of curry spice, paired with tangy tartar sauce for a savory twist. Garlic Fries 🧄🍟 Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and packed with garlic flavor. A delicious side upgrade. Clam Chowder 🥣 A brothy, seafood-packed chowder served with crispy-yet-soft sesame bread 🥖—perfect for dipping and utterly addictive. Drinks 🍹 Top-notch cocktails and specials that never disappoint. Soft-Serve Dessert 🍦 A sweet, creamy ending to a fantastic meal. Cole Valley Tavern does it all—highly recommended! 🌟

Allaura

I think this was my favorite little place we popped into!!! The service was great, the drink I got was awesome! I can't remember the name of the drink but it had 'Lady' in it, which had peppers and raspberries! It was so good! My BF got an old fashioned and their bitters are yummy too! Will definitely be going back when I visit again! Thank you guys for a great little stop on my adventure! You're appreciated!

John Maull

Solid local venue for a good meal in the neighborhood. Everything we had was tasty and I love the old diner feel (think Edward Hopper painting.)

Jordan

Great ambience and customer service from the gentleman as soon as you walk in. Felt comfortable at the bar. Food was great tho the burger could of been a bit bigger, everything was delicious. It was an accurate representation of what the menu description. I would come here again.

Rohit Ayyagari

Sat at the bar and loved the service, food, and overall atmosphere. The bartender had great recommendations and was very friendly. The tavern also has a wonderful neighborhood-y feel to it!

Denise Donaldson

Hurray! Cole Valley Tavern is open! Tears of joy- (honestly!). It’s changed from Kezar but we are so happy to have one of our neighborhood favorites back and spruced up; there was a great buzz about! The burgers were v good, as was the macaroni and cheese but my favorite was the broccoli Caesar and the charred broccolini. (Tonight was a soft open…so full mains were not offered yet). Check out the soft serve/sandwich/coffee on the side! Don’t get me started on the bathrooms! (In short, they are pretty amazing!)

Oren F

Cute, unpretentious, and adorable. Good food right in the heart of Cole Valley❤️ Walked in out of nowhere to this place and had a delicious meal.

Tee Ponsukcharoen

We didn't intend to eat here in the first place. We wanted to have brunch at Zazie a few doors away but it was too crowded. This place didn't fail us at all. I ordered the French Toast with raspberry and citrus. It is amazing. The staffs are friendly and local. I would love to explore the bar food next time!

We had a leisurely afternoon snack and drink here and were beyond delighted to have found the joint. Cocktails are excellent and bartenders (Alex and Alex) are fun and quite competent. Ceviche was absolute ca$h money yummy. Just a happy place is all.

We came here for the first time for the happy hour. Great options and taste, beers were very good. Super kids friendly, such a welcoming atmosphere !

This place was busy on a Thursday at 6pm. That alone made me feel like it was a staple of this neighborhood. Seemed like there was a good mix of regulars, tourist (us) and everyday ins and outs. Our server Cole was top notch and really helpful with his faves and suggestions. N/A cocktails were amazing, ceviche fresh, smash burger on point, salads crisp. The whole package was just what we needed. Topped it all off with an oreo sundae. If you are in the area and can find parking, stop in... You won't be disappointed.

Walt “Raskal” Sullins

This place was busy on a Thursday at 6pm. That alone made me feel like it was a staple of this neighborhood. Seemed like there was a good mix of regulars, tourist (us) and everyday ins and outs. Our server Cole was top notch and really helpful with his faves and suggestions. N/A cocktails were amazing, ceviche fresh, smash burger on point, salads crisp. The whole package was just what we needed. Topped it all off with an oreo sundae. If you are in the area and can find parking, stop in... You won't be disappointed.

Matthew Otten

We had a leisurely afternoon snack and drink here and were beyond delighted to have found the joint. Cocktails are excellent and bartenders (Alex and Alex) are fun and quite competent. Ceviche was absolute ca$h money yummy. Just a happy place is all.

The happy hour prices: very good The wings: Good texture. They could use some more flavor/heat or ranch. No ranch available other than a very dilly dill sauce. I love the super thin veggie strips. The tots: good but too salty The beer selection: very limited. I would come again for happy hour with my own ranch and hot sauce. Can’t really complain for the price.

Invited to join friends at CVT. My first time here. The specialty drinks were a little too precious for a Boomer like me but others (Gen-X & Millennials) at the table enjoyed them. I went with a classic three olive wet martini, and it was excellent. Gin, of course. I shouldn't have to say that because If you want to call it a martini, it's gin. Forewarned by another review that their Steak Frites is not like you'd expect from a classic French brasserie. That was true. It was better. Delicious. Steak medium rare and flavorful. Sauce excellent. Fries with a lot of garlic - the way I like it.

Great little neighborhood bar! Bartender was super friendly and patient, made some great custom local drinks and cocktails and everybody around us that was eating food seem to be enjoying it greatly. Absolutely coming back

I wanted to try their smash burger, it was pretty decent, fries were a little over fried for my liking, but the mocktail i had was amazing. Grapefruit Serrano is the one to try.

Tasty, well-made cocktails. Very attentive service. Hip but unpretentious vibe. We popped in for a quick cocktail before heading to a dinner party nearby. We ordered the Superbloom Martini which has gin and elderflower. The queso and chips were bomb!

Max

The happy hour prices: very good The wings: Good texture. They could use some more flavor/heat or ranch. No ranch available other than a very dilly dill sauce. I love the super thin veggie strips. The tots: good but too salty The beer selection: very limited. I would come again for happy hour with my own ranch and hot sauce. Can’t really complain for the price.

Chef Tony

I wanted to try their smash burger, it was pretty decent, fries were a little over fried for my liking, but the mocktail i had was amazing. Grapefruit Serrano is the one to try.

Steve H

Great little neighborhood bar! Bartender was super friendly and patient, made some great custom local drinks and cocktails and everybody around us that was eating food seem to be enjoying it greatly. Absolutely coming back

Mike Wallach

Invited to join friends at CVT. My first time here. The specialty drinks were a little too precious for a Boomer like me but others (Gen-X & Millennials) at the table enjoyed them. I went with a classic three olive wet martini, and it was excellent. Gin, of course. I shouldn't have to say that because If you want to call it a martini, it's gin. Forewarned by another review that their Steak Frites is not like you'd expect from a classic French brasserie. That was true. It was better. Delicious. Steak medium rare and flavorful. Sauce excellent. Fries with a lot of garlic - the way I like it.

Maria Martinez

Tasty, well-made cocktails. Very attentive service. Hip but unpretentious vibe. We popped in for a quick cocktail before heading to a dinner party nearby. We ordered the Superbloom Martini which has gin and elderflower. The queso and chips were bomb!

It’s a nice restraunt. The food is very tasty😋. They have a really good smash burger but I think my favorite part is the window. You can walk up, get soft serve, milk shakes, tots and fries, or hot dogs and burgers all without even needing to sit down!

chill guy

It’s a nice restraunt. The food is very tasty😋. They have a really good smash burger but I think my favorite part is the window. You can walk up, get soft serve, milk shakes, tots and fries, or hot dogs and burgers all without even needing to sit down!

I really wanted to keep supporting this place, but ever since the new owner took over, the place has completely changed. The atmosphere feels snobby now, and the customer service is a zero. The food is very expensive yet tastes like a sports bar menu. I could overlook that but it no longer feels welcoming to "regular " neighborhood folk. Unfortunately, it’s lost the charm that made it special.

Yu Shen

I really wanted to keep supporting this place, but ever since the new owner took over, the place has completely changed. The atmosphere feels snobby now, and the customer service is a zero. The food is very expensive yet tastes like a sports bar menu. I could overlook that but it no longer feels welcoming to "regular " neighborhood folk. Unfortunately, it’s lost the charm that made it special.