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    Fermentation Lab

    4.4 (314 reviews)
    Closed • 4:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 3 weeks ago

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    FERMENTATION LAB ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Fermentation Lab

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    Chloe S.

    We came here for the Wednesday prime rib deal! Make sure to make a reservation as they can get busy on wednesdays. The deal comes with a glass of wine, prime rib with cream spinach, mashed potatoes, and cornbread, wedge salad, and dessert. We came to celebrate a birthday and the staff came by with an extra dessert with candles. The meal itself was very filling, the meat was tender and a good portion. One of the highlights was the dessert!

    Deviled Eggs
    Yuri H.

    Glitzy space in Japan Town with a great happy hour. My friends and i went on a Wednesday night for the $65 Prime Rib Dinner. We started off with a round of Yuzu Spicy Margarita, Poached Oysters, and Deviled Eggs. The Margaritas hit the spot. Oysters and deviled eggs were delicious we ordered a seconds. The dinner began with an amuse bouche of tuna with caviar, excellent! The Wedge salad with bacon and eggs was fresh and impressive. Prime rib was served with creamed spinach and cornbread. The entree was delectably delicious. For dessert we were served Miso Cake, not my favorite. But it was included. All in all a great deal with friendly service.

    Uni pasta
    Yahaira M.

    Located right in front of the Japantown center, you will find Fermentation Lab. We were greeted, and even without a reservation, I got seated on a busy evening. Inside, you have a two-level restaurant; I saw groups that were getting ready to celebrate birthdays and large groups gathering. You will find a beautiful bar. I would say my drink, the penicillin, was delicious. Now food- I had the Uni Pasta, and for some reason it was more on the sweeter side, which was unexpected to me. Probably would have ordered something else. It was not bad but not memorable. The duck fries were good and the calamari also good. There was an unpleasant smell that wasn't the food, and even the table next to me complained about it. While no one was able to pinpoint the cause of the smell, it lingered and truly made everyone uncomfortable. Overall, probably a great place for drinks and appetizers on my books.

    Jeff H.

    Fermentation Lab is awesome. We tried their happy hour plates and some other entrees on a Friday night. My friends came early and got us a table. My favorites were the ahi tuna with chips and calamari. Service was excellent. The restaurant is beautiful. Fun fact, back in the 1990's, this used to be a Denny's restaurant. After the bars, we could always come here to have a meal. It was a great place to meet up with friends with they went to a different bar or club. Good memories.

    Winnie W.

    Nobody does HH better than FermLab. Come here for brunch, come back for their amazing Happy Hour!!

    July 1, 2027 Happy Hour
    Deanna L.

    The Wednesday Prime Rib special for $65 caught my attention and so did many other items on the menu. Made it just in time for the happy hour, which was $2-$4 off the original price and ordered even more items. The deviled eggs had four pieces(2 kinds), the bacon marmalade was rich and flavorful and the smoked salmon was quite salty. The calamari misto was lightly battered and I loved that it came with a mix of artichoke heart, shrimp, calamari, onions, and jalapenos. I could taste the umani of the duck fat fries. The uni pasta got the creaminess down, and the squid ink pasta was cooked well, but the uni flavor was very light and the flavors weren't as bold as I had expected. The prime rib was tender and the sides were decent. The chefs amuse bouche and the churro were the cherry on top for the prime rib special. With everything that was ordered, I was worried that I didn't have enough table space, but all the items were spaced out enough to fit everything a the right time. The Fermentation Lab is the perfect place for a date for those that appreciate a lovely atmosphere, welcoming service, vibrant drinks and beautifully plated dishes. I probably wouldn't come for just the prime rib special, but I would love to try other items on the menu. I wasn't expecting any screens, but they had two projectors and a tv playing the USA vs Bosnia World Cup game so that was a pleasant surprise!

    Matcha martini
    Steffi K.

    A friend of mine had her wedding afterparty here, and we had an awesome time in the lounge area upstairs! It's tucked away from the rest of the bar with plenty of seating, so we could all sit comfortably and rest our feet after being in heels all day. We had a $1k minimum bar tab spend, which we easily met with about 30 of us having at least one drink. Bonus points for having a men's room, women's room, and two unisex stalls! I ordered a matcha martini since I really needed a little caffeine to sustain myself through karaoke afterwards as well, and it is now one of my favorite cocktails. Super creamy with the delicious notes of pineapple and coconut, and you can't really taste the alcohol (just the way I like it). Half our table ordered one after trying mine! We also grabbed some duck fat fries to share, and they were well fried, crispy and not greasy feeling. Thank you Fermentation Lab for having us!

    Hope L.

    Came here on a Wednesday for the $65 prime rib dinner special and it didn't disappoint! It came with so many courses and a dessert and the prime rib was the star of the show! It was juicy, tender, and cooked to perfection. We also got the deviled eggs and the toppings were amazing! Our server was so sweet and brought out an extra dessert for us too. Highly recommend this restaurant!

    Uni Pasta
    Alisa B.

    Cocktail bar with pretty delicious food!!! I really enjoyed my experience here overall. A beautiful interior and good vibes. Everything on the menu was priced a little high, but the quality was worth it. Every cocktail was good! FYI - Yelp advertised that this restaurant has a "no tipping policy"... but the tablet indeed asked for a tip when we checked out. Service was great, so I didn't mind... but just a heads uo!!! + Uni Pasta (5/5): MY FAVORITE! Squid ink pasta was perfectly al dente and carried the creamy sauce so well. Very decadent, full of flavor, and smooth. They added a good amount of uni for the price. + Makgeoli Braised Bossam (4/5): Very small portion, but the pork was cooked well and was flavorful. A different take on bossam, so not very traditional. + Tea Leaf Salad (2/5): Lacked so much flavor. Vegetables were fresh, but the tea leaf dressing truly did not taste authentic. I would not recommend. + Sake Flight (5/5): SO GOOD! Bang for your buck. I loved the variety of sake and the presentation. A lot of these I've never even heard before.

    Mocktail
    Mariyet A.

    The service was great. They had a small selection of mocktails for myself and a lot of different drinks to choose from for my husband. The seating area looks upscale. I would come back!

    Duck fat fries with scallion aoili
    Jhannell O.

    Went here for a friend's birthday dinner reservation and we were surprised to have the entire upstairs area just for us! It felt extra special. Even though we were upstairs, we got served quickly and they were attentive with what we needed. We tried the ahi tuna poke, calamari misto, duck fat fries, and brussel sprouts to share. My favorite was the ahi tuna poke. It was served with taro chips, it added a light and crunchy element. I got the makgeolii braised pork belly. It was such a large serving. It was like a mini bossam. I wish it came with more lettuce because there was about half of the pork belly left it without rice or lettuce. For drinks, we got pandan lemon drop and lychee martini. They were a great sis and a good amount of sweet and tart. Overall, I really enjoyed the vibe. I could see it being a nice spot for a night out.

    Katelyn R.

    Great all day happy hour on a Sunday. Poached oysters, deviled eggs, and calamari are all definitely must tries. For the regular menu, I got a penicillin cocktail with some dark liquor and it was delicious, I love that spice ginger gives. Both the uni pasta and loco moco was bomb. Big, spacious & clean interior with nice classy decor. Every worker was sweet and happy to help. I would definitely return here if I lived in the bay :)

    Uni Pasta
    Simone O.

    tldr: food is good but the service kinda ass (not once did the servers come fill out water and they checked in once at the end when we were kinda finished and it wasn't even our original server). i was a party of 4 with a 630 reservation on tuesday - not that many people inside and you seat yourself actually after you walk in. nice intimate kinda date spot imo. happy hour 3-6 had some good looking items, but my partner came with a party of 10 and the oysters gave them food poisoning. duck fat fries - doesn't really taste like duck fat but they got a good crunch, solid steak fry ahi tuna poke - this was very good the taro chips a great addition makgeolli braised pork belly - the sauce for this was FIRE. banchan good inside a wrap with the lettuce uni pasta - i was excited for this but kind of let down. the sauce needed salt and didn't have that much flavor, but the pasta texture was perfect katsu miso loco moco - the katsu had a great crunch despite being under the egg. the gravy was light which i didn't enjoy as much but could be a good try

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    Fermentation Lab Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Fermentation Lab

    I'd like to ask if your restaurant permits guests to bring their own wine, and if so, what is the corkage fee?

    Hi Olivia, yes we permit our guests to bring their own wine bottles. Our corckage fee is $20 per bottle.… 

    Is it family style?

    Hi! This can be a family style restaurant, but I'd say most of the meals aren't! They're really each person gets their own meal. That said, you can always share!

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    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room

    4.5(105 reviews)
    1.5 mi•Mission

    What a cozy bar! If you like intimate, chill, and cozy places with board games and unique drinks…read morethis is the place to go! My party and I didn't get the chance to experience the escape room but would love to try it out the next time we come back. The staff are amazing, especially Chloe. Such a sweetheart. Loved her energy! Highly recommend the Mango Sago and Crab Rangoon Nachos!

    Really unique, immersive speakeasy. Came for a birthday and opted for their escape room, which is…read morealso a really cool feature for a speakeasy bar. The escape room is Alice In Wonderland themed and includes three drinks as part of the experience. Arrived on time for our reservation but were held in a waiting room for about 30 min before we could start. Didn't seem like anyone else was doing the escape room but it was also the week of their biz anniversary so maybe they were just super busy. Phoenix led our escape room and was such a delight. Friendly, great banter, helpful throughout the escape. The escape game is split across multiple rooms with a good diversity of puzzles. Don't want to spoil too much here but they were good challenges. Drinks we incorporated throughout and presented like test tubes that were drinkable in a gulp, kind of like a cocktail shot. Personally, I found the first two drinks to be a bit too sweet, but I liked the third, which was coconut forward. The price is definitely a bit more costly. It was $100/person for a party of five. I understand that it was an escape room + the staff + the cocktails. If you max out the party size, it's about $85-ish per person which I think is pretty solid. Still very unique and fun and glad I got to try it

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    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well

    Cool Middle Earth themed room with lots of seating! Plenty of board games available to play as well

    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Our Pineapple Cake cocktail is an ode to Taiwan.

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    Lore Speakeasy and Escape Room - Borscht: Gin, beets, apple, citrus, dill, egg white ($20) + Korean Cold Noodles w/ brandy, pear, pineapples, cucumber, sesame ($19)

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    Lost Resort - Kale and burrata salad extra chicken

    Lost Resort

    4.4(282 reviews)
    2.2 mi•Mission
    •$$

    Went here for my birthday a few weeks ago, and absolutely loved the place. Great neighborhood spot…read morefor cocktails and food. Every neighborhood needs a spot like this. This place has so much going on. It makes it ideal for so many different things. Hot day? Want to bring your doggie?? They have an airy patio and a bunch of cute tables out front. The patio is covered so when it rains, it's also ideal. Feeling bougie? Order some oysters and a glass of one of their fancy cocktails. Handicapp or have kiddos? They got you covered. Need a cool place for a dinner date? There's tables inside. Have a group? Also not a problem. Feeling peckish and just need to get out of the house? Go sit at the bar, order a beer, and watch the game. Make sure to order the thrasher fries with malt vinegar salt and pepper and Dijon and black pepper aïoli. It is truly as delectable as it sounds, and by far my favorite thing there! That being said, I am a french fry aficionado. We also tried the coconut chicken sandwich which I found to be a bit different than a lot of standard fried chicken sandwiches. I did ask for the chili sauce on the side because I don't like it to be too sweet. Boyfriend loved it with the chili sauce. I liked it without. I did order a side of aïoli. Another thing I found really nice was that they use the chicken thigh rather than the breast. Most of the fried chicken sandwiches I've had use the breast and this was a very nice change. The chicken was juicy and the sandwich was super tasty. They offer all sorts of tasty delights, like fish tacos, mochicko chicken bites, mac & cheese with or without bacon and crab! Yum. If I was to make one recommendation, it would be to add another salad to the menu. Your menu offers a wonderful variety of delicious treats that are on the richer and heavier side so having another option for something on the lighter side would be fantastic. The service here was outstanding. We came early on a Tuesday, and the bartender was great. She was very helpful and excellent at her craft. The other staff members were equally friendly and so welcoming. We don't get out as much as we'd like to anymore because we have a little one so it was awesome to go out and be treated with such kindness and great hospitality. This place has an overall great atmosphere, fun vibe, with a super awesome staff. What's not to love?Thank you!!

    They've got a lovely cozy and casual patio in the back, with funky chairs and benches, though it…read morewas full when we arrived and thus quite loud, too many people in a small space and something about the enclosure really amplified the sound. Ordered the heirloom and kale salad which was absolutely delicious, I added grilled chicken and shrimp and look, I don't normally rave about grilled chicken, but this chicken was perfectly cooked and juicy and crisp, which is tough to do. Would order again.

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    Lost Resort - Bar

    Bar

    Lost Resort - Crispy Coconut Chicken Sando

    Crispy Coconut Chicken Sando

    Lost Resort - Yacht rock

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    Yacht rock

    Pacific Cocktail Haven - AAPI Cocktail Week 2026

    Pacific Cocktail Haven

    4.5(778 reviews)
    1.1 mi•Union Square
    •$$

    Can see why this bar gets so much praise and love how it focuses and utilizes asian ingredients…read more They have a great outdoor space with tables and the setup inside maximizes how many people could sit + stand. Thats how I know asians own this place lol. Appreciate this level of intention. Made it feel more intimate and cozy. Everyone was very friendly and attentive. Immediately when you walk in the staff is on it. There was a handful of pandan drinks and our server explained each one perfectly and gave his recommendation. I forgot what I got but it was delicious. My cousin got a matcha one which was interesting and strong! Their menu was refreshing (no pun intended) and the type I love to see that are actually creative and culturally inspired. Got lucky with standing seats then moved over to the bar. It wasnt that packed on a Saturday evening assuming bc it was OSL weekend. They were playing great music at a good volume. But golly hella expensive. 2 drinks with the service charge and tip was over $60. Guess thats SF. Would definitely return but for a special occasion.

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    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Silk Street: Song Gin, amaro, jackfruit-coconut cream, sudachi, longan, pandan - Perfectly balanced, not too sweet

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    Pacific Cocktail Haven - Envy in bloom

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    Holy Water - Drinks and holy decor

    Holy Water

    4.4(331 reviews)
    3.3 mi•Bernal Heights
    •$$

    Super cute bar in SF! Went here at night with friends. The decor is kinda crazy but fits with the…read morename of the restaurant. Was really impressed with the design of the menu! There's plenty of tables and seats inside! All the drinks were great and strong. We tried the Sacred Valley which was fun! Definitely had a fruity taste, followed by a strong vodka aftertaste. They provided water and lemonade for those of us who didn't want to drink. They also had special branded cups, which was a nice touch!

    On a visit to San Francisco after an evening at a brewery nearby, we weren't ready to let the night…read moreend so we walked to Holy Water. This is a gorgeous spot; the detail from the welcoming greens sign, to the cozy lighting, tasteful religious kitsch, and well thought out style, we had a wonderful visit. The decor made us explore the bar before we sat down; they have tables and different seating areas around, but it seemed like the bar was the place to be. They have a full selection of liquor, plus a cocktail menu, and killer tap list of mostly local draft beer. I absolutely loved their glassware too! The bartender was very friendly; I failed to notice the tap list above the bar was different from the menu so I was glad that was pointed out for my second beer. Prices are reasonable for the experience of being here. The other clientele at the bar were also friendly, it has a neighborhood vibe but is welcoming to all.

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    Holy Water - IPA

    IPA

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    Holy Water - Inside view of bar

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    Inside view of bar

    Fermentation Lab - cocktailbars - Updated October 2026

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