Dan Baxter

Halfway to Homeownership, All the Way to Happy Hour After a long day of house hunting in San Francisco—aka the Hunger Games with realtors—I needed a break. I Googled “restaurants near me” and like a gift from the Zillow gods, The Halfway Club popped up. One review promised amazing food and drinks. Skeptical but starving, I decided to give it a shot. First impressions? The place isn’t big, but it’s got personality. The bar seats maybe 8, or 10 if everyone skips leg day. The front has some classic tables and chairs, and out back there’s a larger space with a big screen showing the game. Beyond that? A sunny outdoor patio perfect for day drinking or pretending you’re not 12 tabs deep in Redfin. The vibe is a mash-up of dive bar nostalgia and stylish clutter. There are old concert posters, a jukebox that seems more like a prop (no records, no labels), and liquor bottles that range from “standard pour” to “what is that?” Bonus points for the mini-library of cocktail history next to the register. I love a place where your hangover can learn something. Now, let’s talk food and drink. I ordered the Wisconsin Old Fashioned—made with brandy and a cherry/orange cordial—and it was smooth, sweet, and strong enough to lower your rent expectations. For food, I tried the BLT Dog, which is exactly what it sounds like and somehow even better. Crispy bacon, amazing tomatos (get it and you'll understand! ), a killer sauce, and a solid snap on the dog—served with waffle fries that were perfect, and definitely not from a freezer bag. The menu has fun curveballs too. Next time, I’ve got my eye on the Crab Rangoon Deviled Eggs (because why choose between appetizers when you can combine them?) and the Alaska Cocktail, which sounds like something James Bond would drink on PTO. Service was friendly, fast, and chill—no fake smiles, just real hospitality. It’s the kind of place where they learn your name, not because you’re famous, but because you came back twice in a week. Even if I don’t buy a house nearby, I’ll definitely be returning to The Halfway Club. Sometimes, the best finds aren’t on Zillow—they’re behind a bar with a jukebox that doesn’t work.

Marie Schneider

We are from Wisconsin so I was STOKED to try this place. We had the French Onion Mac and Cheese (7/10 - could use more complex cheese sauce to balance the onion) and Crab Rangoon Deviled Eggs (10/10 - could eat a whole plate). The Mezcal Paloma was fantastic. The Wisconsin Old Fashioned is not muddled nor does it have sweet soda in it. It is more of a KY Old Fashioned with cordials and brandy instead of bourbon. As a 20-year veteran dive bar and craft cocktail bartender, I was a little disappointed in that - but only because I was expecting it to be an actual WI old fashioned like back home. It is delicious, just a little misleading in the name. Had to adjust my brain to expect more of an IL style old fashioned (which checks out because the employees we spoke with are IL/IN/MI based). Delightful flavor profile regardless! Service was a little slow/focused on the regulars - which we get - we ultimately left before ordering more drinks because we waited too long with empty glasses. Must see, must stop - excited to have this in the neighborhood.

Conner Jolly

We went here for the triva but the food atmosphere and people is what's going to keep us coming back. The fries are some of the best plane fries I have had. Their skin is crispy and chewy with a light inside and they are nicely salted. The picked appraiser was an assortment of picked vegetables that were each different enough to mix it up and each had a great texture and tangyness. (I'm sure their drinks are great too but we just got some soda for dry January). The trivia was well put on with an energetic and upbeat host. It brought in enough to be filled but not overcrowded and the prices were pretty good. The atmosphere was perfect with great lighting, seating and music that wasn't too load. They have darts and a back patio area as well as another dining area for overflow. The waiter (or owner) was going around to make sure everyone was good and was quick with anything we needed. Overall a great spot!

Luis Agurto

Great new neighborhood restaurant filling the hole left behind by the closing of the Broken Record. Walking in was a little jarring, while the layout was familiar the place has been transformed. It has the bar in the front still but is a full on restaurant with seating in the front and back. Once we got our bearings straight we were able to enjoy the tasteful decorations and beautiful furnishings. The wait staff were friendly and the drinks and food came out quickly. To our delight the food was amazing. We shared a mouthwatering buttermilk marinated chicken with brussels sprouts and a delicious radicchio salad. The food was seasoned perfectly and the vegetables were not tortured with an overdone sauce. What a great new addition to the Excelsior neighborhood!

Madison Smith

The owners have done an awesome job bringing an upmarket vibe to excelsior. Consider it’s only a week old I’m impressed by what they’ve delivered in such a short time. This space feels high-end, but not pretentious. The cocktail, wine and beer list is A+. The food is solid. The prices aren’t prohibitive. A great spot for a cheeky mid-week stop or even a casual date-night. Can’t wait to see how this spot evolves. Highly recommend the chicken, the broccolini and the roasted squash. And the Tempranillo was 👌🏻

Jane Natoli

The Halfway Club is your favorite new bar in the Excelsior! Taking over the old Broken Record space, they have updated it to have a bit more of a chill neighborhood vibe, with smart riffs on straightforward classics, good homey food, and plenty of space for folks of all ages. Highly recommend you pop in and give it a try

Katie Gray

So happy this place opened up in the neighborhood. Classy yet cozy… super welcoming and the food/cocktails are delicious. The vibes are on point 10/10

Excellent food and cocktails, friendly vibe and superior service. The blended boozy slushies were so refreshing and well balanced. Great selection of top shelf liquor for the classics. The chicken liver pate is outstanding. Wish I lived closer.

Had a blast at The Halfway Club! This place has great ambiance, super comfortable and cozy. The staff is friendly and kind, we were a group of 7, easily accommodated and well taken care of. The Midwest style menu was spot on and so delicious, reminded me of home. After dinner we played games, enjoyed drinks and a movie! You can request movies! They have it all over here. Perfect neighborhood spot, great chats, will be back as soon as possible!

I am so glad Broken Records has been resurrected into this gem of a place! I was shocked to hear that there was a bar in the Excelsior that was recognized by James Beard. I went with friends and we easily found a table in the back room. I was impressed by how open and clean everything felt. The bar and back room had lots of seating and felt airy and filled with light. There's even a back patio for even more seating if the weather is nice. The back room also has a projector to watch sports. The food and drinks were delicious. My husband got a breakfast dog, my friend got a meatloaf sandwich, and me and another friend got the chicken salad. Everything was flavorful and packed a punch (the salad had a lot of szechuan peppercorn which was impressive). My husband also got a Wisconsin Old Fashioned that he loved. Service was quick and by one of the owners. We will definitely be back and will be bringing more friends!

I am always surprised that it isn’t more crowded. I’ve seen some amazing bands and enjoyed scrumptious food, great drinks, and lovely service every time I’ve been here. Love the Halfway Club!

Nice spot with goof selection on non alcoholic beers and regular beers. I wasn't drinking this visit but cocktails looked great. I had the meatloaf sandwhich and it was amazing. I'll be back to try more of the food.

Dyanna Volek

I am so glad Broken Records has been resurrected into this gem of a place! I was shocked to hear that there was a bar in the Excelsior that was recognized by James Beard. I went with friends and we easily found a table in the back room. I was impressed by how open and clean everything felt. The bar and back room had lots of seating and felt airy and filled with light. There's even a back patio for even more seating if the weather is nice. The back room also has a projector to watch sports. The food and drinks were delicious. My husband got a breakfast dog, my friend got a meatloaf sandwich, and me and another friend got the chicken salad. Everything was flavorful and packed a punch (the salad had a lot of szechuan peppercorn which was impressive). My husband also got a Wisconsin Old Fashioned that he loved. Service was quick and by one of the owners. We will definitely be back and will be bringing more friends!

Jeremiah Boehner

Nice spot with goof selection on non alcoholic beers and regular beers. I wasn't drinking this visit but cocktails looked great. I had the meatloaf sandwhich and it was amazing. I'll be back to try more of the food.

ElGuero SinFe

Great neighborhood bar. Cozy interior. Very friendly bartenders. Cool clientele. We will be back!

Christopher James

I used to go to this place when it was operated by the previous owner, omg how it has changed! Same chill local bar feel, but much improvement in the drink and food offerings. Also love that you don't have to go to a separate counter in the back to order food now, you can just order with your bartender or server like a normal bar restaurant. Love what they have done with the place, can't wait to go back.

Heather HAL

Excellent food and cocktails, friendly vibe and superior service. The blended boozy slushies were so refreshing and well balanced. Great selection of top shelf liquor for the classics. The chicken liver pate is outstanding. Wish I lived closer.

L Cooper

This is a great spot for drinks & food. It's been spruced up from the old iteration as Broken Record, but kept the fun, local, comfortable feel. Came in on a late Sunday afternoon for refreshing beer and very tasty food. Had the Enterprise Lager & Pilsner, Chicago dog (a real Vienna Beef version!), Deviled Eggs, and chicken liver toast. All yummy! Very friendly & hospitable bartender, Ethan. Will definitely be back.

Cassidy Terry

Had a blast at The Halfway Club! This place has great ambiance, super comfortable and cozy. The staff is friendly and kind, we were a group of 7, easily accommodated and well taken care of. The Midwest style menu was spot on and so delicious, reminded me of home. After dinner we played games, enjoyed drinks and a movie! You can request movies! They have it all over here. Perfect neighborhood spot, great chats, will be back as soon as possible!

The burger was really good. Got the HWC burger with waffle fries, the burger was really flavorful and juicy. Taste wise I had zero complaints. Overall the meal was sort ok for the price in SF I guess. The burger itself was almost the size of a whopper jr but with more meat. The quality of the burger is great but the size is a bit disappointing. Waffle fries were standard, nothing super amazing nor bad. If I could just buy 2 burgers for the price of the burger & fries I'd be more than happy. That said, even with the but of criticism I'd go back again no hesitation.

I miss The Broken Record but I'm super excited to have a new restaurant in their space. Cocktails were super tasty and reasonably priced. I love that they have a relatively big set of non-alcoholic options. Food was also delicious but I missed having some cheaper menu options to snack on while having a drink. Like, a big basket of fries for $7 or $8, or a cheaper hot dog. The pickles were really outstanding but felt like a small portion for $7. The salad we got was fantastic and the quality matched the price point. I get that there's a quality / price trade-off and having 1-2 menu options at a more accessible price would make it easy to come back either for a drink and snack, or for a full meal.

Stephen Pham

The burger was really good. Got the HWC burger with waffle fries, the burger was really flavorful and juicy. Taste wise I had zero complaints. Overall the meal was sort ok for the price in SF I guess. The burger itself was almost the size of a whopper jr but with more meat. The quality of the burger is great but the size is a bit disappointing. Waffle fries were standard, nothing super amazing nor bad. If I could just buy 2 burgers for the price of the burger & fries I'd be more than happy. That said, even with the but of criticism I'd go back again no hesitation.

Yonatan Kogan

I miss The Broken Record but I'm super excited to have a new restaurant in their space. Cocktails were super tasty and reasonably priced. I love that they have a relatively big set of non-alcoholic options. Food was also delicious but I missed having some cheaper menu options to snack on while having a drink. Like, a big basket of fries for $7 or $8, or a cheaper hot dog. The pickles were really outstanding but felt like a small portion for $7. The salad we got was fantastic and the quality matched the price point. I get that there's a quality / price trade-off and having 1-2 menu options at a more accessible price would make it easy to come back either for a drink and snack, or for a full meal.

This place has so much potential and I want to see it succeed. It's hard for me to justify going back there regularly though because the food is very overpriced for what it is. $16 for a Chicago hot dog (as a Chicagoan born and raised, this is especially outrageous). Yes, it's a gourmet hot dog but I wouldn't say it's special enough to warrant that price point. $22 for a HWC burger. You get the idea. The menu is also very heavy/fried, I wish there were a couple more lighter options available. I appreciate that they're kid friendly, they have live music, and it's a very easygoing, chill vibe. The food just sadly does not match the price point. I go because I want to support a local business and I appreciate that they're family-oriented. Check it out, just be prepared to spend $$$.

Lovely place, great energy. Food was tasty, I got the hotdog with regular fries. Gave it 3 stars on food because it had too many poppy seeds, and fries were more done than I prefer, and I would've like the pepper chopped instead of whole so it was easier to eat. Otherwise it was very good and I would recommend giving the place a try. I may pop in again sometime to try something else. I don't generally critique food but they were very nice people and I wanted to be honest about my experience.

This is a wonderful place with a great bar tender. Good for bringing a few friends or a date. Their brandy along with liqueors is amazing here

BP

Lovely place, great energy. Food was tasty, I got the hotdog with regular fries. Gave it 3 stars on food because it had too many poppy seeds, and fries were more done than I prefer, and I would've like the pepper chopped instead of whole so it was easier to eat. Otherwise it was very good and I would recommend giving the place a try. I may pop in again sometime to try something else. I don't generally critique food but they were very nice people and I wanted to be honest about my experience.

Susan Yi

This place has so much potential and I want to see it succeed. It's hard for me to justify going back there regularly though because the food is very overpriced for what it is. $16 for a Chicago hot dog (as a Chicagoan born and raised, this is especially outrageous). Yes, it's a gourmet hot dog but I wouldn't say it's special enough to warrant that price point. $22 for a HWC burger. You get the idea. The menu is also very heavy/fried, I wish there were a couple more lighter options available. I appreciate that they're kid friendly, they have live music, and it's a very easygoing, chill vibe. The food just sadly does not match the price point. I go because I want to support a local business and I appreciate that they're family-oriented. Check it out, just be prepared to spend $$$.

Fantastic spot! The food was amazing! The burger was one of the best I had in a while, and to top it all, it's kids friendly. I'm so glad a spot like this one opened in Excelsior. Can't wait to be back and try more dishes. Update Sun 7/28: I went back with another set of friends after raving to them about how the great the food is and was really disappointed 😞 at how the food came out. Ordered the same exact food. Fries came out overcooked. The pork sandwich was also overcooked and had TOO much vinegar. I was hoping they can stay consistent. We need good places in the neighborhood

Joseph Estefanos

Fantastic spot! The food was amazing! The burger was one of the best I had in a while, and to top it all, it's kids friendly. I'm so glad a spot like this one opened in Excelsior. Can't wait to be back and try more dishes. Update Sun 7/28: I went back with another set of friends after raving to them about how the great the food is and was really disappointed 😞 at how the food came out. Ordered the same exact food. Fries came out overcooked. The pork sandwich was also overcooked and had TOO much vinegar. I was hoping they can stay consistent. We need good places in the neighborhood