I stopped here for a drink on a Saturday night and it looked very familiar but I couldn't pinpoint…read morewhy. After asking the bartender, I discovered that this was a bar I used to visit back in college! Just under a different name. Drinks were phenomenal and service was great. I really loved the moody ambience and the music selection inside. I especially liked that they had a handful of tiki drinks on the menu.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I walked in but I was pleasantly surprised. The bar is beautiful,…read morewell-kept and they have an unbelievable alcohol selection. I ordered the Dealer's Choice with vodka and I was served a Polo Cup, I'm not a fan of cucumber or mint but I didn't give the bartender any restrictions when I ordered and it was light and refreshing.

Great foods, quality cocktails, tasty bites. Is GI would…read morerecommend anyone who's in Marin or passing through Marin to stop by and enjoy the views.

Above Fifth is the rooftop bar of the AC Hotel in San Rafael, CA. The hotel is part of the Marriott…read morehotel franchise. Yes, a franchise hotel is in downtown San Rafael. Times are a changin'. Anyways, the bar is open 4pm-11pm Wednesday-Sunday, closed on Monday - Tuesday. The hotel is about 54 feet tall so it is not particular tall, but tall enough for some awesome views of downtown, surrounding hills, and Mount Tam. The seating area ,like the hotel, has modern upscale aesthetics with relaxed vibes. The views are gorgeous. The staff are sweethearts, five star service. The drinks and tapas menu price points are of course pricey. But what was up with the stained paper menus. Eww. Anyways, the fam ordered drinks (cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks) and tapas of olives, hummus and pita, and fingerling potatoes. The olives were delicious and it was a good medley of various kinds. The fingerling potatoes were a bit boring tasting, it could use more seasonings for added zing. Not sure how the green hummus tasted, I snoozed on that one. Overall, the drinks are good, ambiance fantastic, and the food is meh. This is a type of place I would go for special occasions and not on a regular basis, my wallet cannot sustain it.

This place was such a fun surprise. The location is really accessible, with street parking…read moreavailable, which made getting there easy. I honestly didn't realize how much I'd enjoy playing pinball until coming here--there aren't many spots that have that kind of unique feature anymore, and it really added to the experience. I went for a Yelp Elite event, and it was great. The owner was there and super welcoming, and his staff were genuinely nice and attentive. We were given bracelets that gave us access to two drinks, which was a fun self-pour experience. That said, it would've been helpful to get a quick tip on pouring (like tilting your glass) beforehand--foam can sneak up on you fast , especially with so many people around. Because it was busy, we were also given a card that allowed unlimited access to the games, which was awesome and made the night even better. I definitely enjoyed my time here. The owner also mentioned that you can rent individual tables or even the whole venue for events, which is something I'd absolutely consider in the future. I'll definitely be back.

Visited a friend in San Rafael and her first recommendation was State Room! Nothing like an ice…read morecold hazy IPA on a hot summer day. Staff was friendly and reservations were easy to make. They had huge tvs playing sports which entertained the kiddo quite a bit. Breakfast Bravas ($19): The crispy potato coins + pork + runny egg + avocado + chipotle cream = elite combo!!! Stateroom Burger ($20): Cheese is not included and is an extra $2 (???). It was stacked though and hubby could only eat half before he was stuffed! I will absolutely be back for the bottomless mimosas ($25) and I'm curious about the dirty iced chi tea ($14). My daughter also loved all the magnets on the fence in their mini play area :)

From the live music, local personality, and amazing bar experience, there is nothing you can miss…read moreat this bar. Every day of the week you can find something you love. I personally have been there during the luls of a week day, but it still feels like the best hyped place to be. Catch yourself on a friday night there? Pop a squat and learn how our bartnenders do. You will be treated right and treated well. This place values it's patrons and continuously values them every week day and end. From the front of house to behind counter, there isn't a second of lack of consideration. Have your ID ready for Tito and shout to Bri when you need a marg or let Ryan know you need a beer refill and you are straight at home. Ranch Water is THE spot. (I dont even live here) -Madi

Cute bar! I love the theme and the live music was cool. Also really creative drinks, not priced too…read morebadly. Definitely coming back!

It's been a minute since we visited our neighborhood Italian favorite, La Toscana…read more It was a busy Thursday night, but luckily we made a reservation. Highly recommend a reservation. Juan S. was our server for the night. Very knowable about the menu and the dishes. We started with a classic Caesar salad that we shared. It was plenty enough for us. I ordered the Petrale Sole special and my husband had the Pollo Pomodoro with vodka tomato sauce. Both were excellent choices. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked, as were the mixed veggies. My husband loved the pasta as well. For 2 entrees, 2 glasses of wine, 1 Caesar salad, 1 bruschetta and a cannoli for later, our bill was $152, before tip. Well worth it.

I have been here a million times in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but I recently went for lunch…read moreand was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it! Service was great all around. We did not have a reservation, but we were seated right away. I ordered the orecchiette with sausage, broccoli, and cream. It was quite good, but extremely rich, and I wish the sauce was a little thicker. While the portion was alright, the price was steep, especially for lunch.

They have the BEST food in San Rafael. When we walked in another patron told my husband, "You'll…read morenever have a bad meal here" and he was absolutely right. We enjoyed the jumbo pub wings in the jerk dry rub and sweet chili flavors, a rueben sandwich with hand cut fries, and a burren burger with hand cut fries. Our favorites were the wings and the hand cut fries, but the sandwich and burger are solid options. We visited during a world cup soccer game and the atmosphere was that of a pub or sports bar with lively cheering fans and regulars. I highly recommend trying it if you're in the area.

A nice Irish bar, and wow! the staff was actually Irish. I had a spice bag, which was breaded…read morechicken tenders (basically) with fries and sauteed onions and fresh jalapeños. It was tossed in a curry sauce and served in a paper bag (but they gave me a plate too), and a side of more curry sauce. There was a crazy amount of food in the bag. I couldn't even eat half of it before I was stuffed. I made a comment to the waitress, and she said they have big servings there. While the food was good, I did think it was way too much, which I couldn't even take with me because I was going to the movies and then taking the train home. I wish establishments like these served less food, and lowered the prices. The spice bag was $23 or $25. If you're not a big eater, or not super hungry, you might share a plate rather then get two entrees. Ask how much food you'll get.

I usually prefer a chocolate dessert, but they were out of the amazing chocolate cake with…read moreraspberry sauce as well as the gluten-free smores. So I chose the amazing cheesecake. I usually don't like cheesecake, but this one was delicious and I highly recommend. It was a huge serving, too, so if I ever order it again, I'll only eat half! My companion ordered the vanilla ice cream but with caramel sauce.

Tucked away in a Novato strip mall but out of site from the surrounding streets, odds of chancing…read moreupon The Speakeasy are slim. Attached to The Boardroom restaurant, The Speakeasy is a real find featuring a wonderfully robust appetizer menu, a full bar, and a daily happy hour menu that applies mostly to alcohol purchases. If you're looking for wine here, the bar offers a variety, with the house wines - excellently priced at $8-$9/glass - comprised fully of Rutherford grown grapes. Somebody here knows what's up. A friend who'd talked up The Speakeasy for years is besotted by the Marsala Sautéed Chicken Livers ($11) on the bar menu. Not ever a fan of liver, I avoided sampling his until we'd collectively polished off an order of Baked Goat Cheese ($10) and a trio of Pulled Pork Tacos ($13). He'd grown full and much liver remained which is when I learned that I do like chicken liver. Or rather, I like chicken liver as prepared at The Speakeasy. All of the above pretty much had me fan-girling out over this place but then this happened: We were done, requested our check, and were told that someone that evening had picked up the tab for the entire bar, something I've not experienced in my lifetime. I already liked The Speakeasy a whole lot before learning my food and drink were free of charge. Like changed to rabid fandom when this occurred. I know that I can't expect a full repeat of this experience but even if it's just chicken livers and Cabernet, that'll be enough.

New, updated drink menu of beverages with and without alcohol. Very inspired! Everything I've…read moretasted is amazing. Highly recommend. Also, their grilled salmon is one of the best I've encountered locally. Highly recommend!! Service is always stellar. Great job, all. I adore this ambiance--it feels very much like a lounge where 1950s rat pack celebrities and their choice entourage might have dinner and hang out. There's a great live piano player and so sometimes a wonderful singer, too. Very elegant. Small dining area, so be sure to make a reservation. If it's for a birthday or anniversary, they identify your reserved table with a Scrabble holder and letters! Makes you feel very special.

Today we had lunch. It was excellent! I had the Reuben sandwich, my friend had the French Dip…read moresandwich. Both were seriously satisfying! The French Fries deserve mention also - they are perfection. For dessert the Butter Cake was another standout dish. Lovely ambience. Annie was our excellent server. Highly recommended!

Michael the bartender was awesome. He's a local and was able to give us some great site-seeing…read morerecommendations. Thanks to him we saw another beautiful scenic drive on our way to and from Muir Woods. We even found our way to Stintson Beach on our journey, which was amazing. The food and drinks were excellent! I had the New York strip and it was one of the best steaks I've had in ages! Very pleasantly surprised. Micheal and I even created a new cocktail together. I'm not sure what he's going to name it, but you can ask for the "Gin Cherry Bomb ". Tell him Michelle and Steve sent ya! Cheers!!

Mediocre food and lackadaisical service. From the lack of a host to seat us, having to grab our…read moreown menu from the host(ess) desk, having to ask the bartender several times to get someone from the restaurant to attend to us, to finally having to find someone to give us the bill, this was a poor excuse for a restaurant. The food and menu design was un-inspired, and seemed to be built around items that could be heated quickly with minimal kitchen equipement. A fail on so many points, even for hotel food.

Update! Very good as always, and they're open a little bit…read morelater than everybody else till 10:00 PM for us night owls they give whoooooot! Excellent service as always, nice environment and terrific elevated Bar cuisine! And it's always time for tater tots!

We came here during the Brazil and Norway game and were lucky we were able to snag the last two…read moreseats at the bar as two patrons were leaving. The service was super friendly and I appreciated how attentive and quick the servers were for such a packed and busy restaurant. I ordered the wedge salad, which was tasty, but I feel like the lettuce could have been fresher as there were a couple of wilted parts. I enjoyed the addition of the crispy onions, and it had the perfect amount of dressing. My friend ordered the burger and said it was flavorful and the Gouda paired well with it. I stole some of their fried and we both agreed they were a solid fry. All in all a nice spot to stop for lunch, or to watch a sports game with some good food and drinks.