A little Germany in Hayes Valley.
Suppenküche is one of my very favorite spots in San Francisco.
Located in an unassuming yellow building on a tree infested corner of Hayes Valley, a neighborhood otherwise known (these days) for its over-priced, trendsetting, hipster boutiques, pricey wine bars and the waft of six-figure salaries on a street surrounded on all sides by a rougher and far less moneyed element, Suppenküche is a sweet relief from the prentension, if not the price tag.
Modeled after the Bavarian beer halls of the old country, Suppenküche is sparsely decorated, furnished with long pinewood tables, wooden benches and straight-back chairs. The tables are communal, so if you are one who insists on sitting only with the people you brought with you, you best bring at least five or six friends. Less than that, and you will likely be sharing a table with strangers, which is part of the fun, if you ask me. But if you value your privacy during the dining experience, or if you are romancing a date, you can always sit in the cozy lounge tucked away to the side of the pandemonium of the main dining room. It can still be loud and crowded, but at least you'll have you're own space.
Suppenküche has the best selection of authentic German brews you can find in San Francisco. They offer a regular menu of draft beers in addition to a rotating list of specials and a selection of bottles. The beers are served in hearty mugs and glasses that are brilliant for banging on the pinewood tables and crashing into each other while singing loud German beer-drinking songs, or what sounds like a loud German beer-drinking song, but actually you just shouting, YAAAHHH, YYAAA, YAAAHHHHHH, BEERBEERBITTENBEER, YARRR, YAAR, YARRR, but it's close enough. The point is to be as loud as possible. You can also order a one or two-liter boot for your party. This is a large boot-shaped glass that gets passed around the table and is not set down until it is empty. If the boot hits the table before the beer is gone, you will be cursed forever! Well, no, actually it's just bad luck. But why take the chance?
While the beer is the main attraction, the food is no slouch. The meatloaf, wrapped in bacon, a hard egg in the middle, served over mashed potatoes, doused in onion sauce is a dish that would make any cardiologist cringe but will be one of the finest things that will ever cross your lips. An appetizer of shrimp in a tomato beer broth is a delight of savory flavors and the shrimp is always succulent and crisp—perfectly cooked. The säuerbraten, jägershnitzle and wild boar sausage are all excellent as well. They have a generous list of specials that should weigh heavily in repast deliberations. They also offer delicious fish, poultry and vegetarian options for those who abstain from the hooved meats.
I hear the desserts are also a treat, but I'm usually way too full to even consider sweets after a meal and two or five liters of beer. Suppenküche is a worthy destination for any appetite, but come with an empty stomach, a jubilant attitude and a love of beer. It is an experience you will remember and will want to repeat as often as you can afford it.
Suppenküche
525 Laguna @ Hayes
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 252-9289
