Farmerbrowns
25 Mason St (between Market St & Turk St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 409-3276
In the Know: Designers take note! If you are going to create a kitchy theme for your restaurant, do it. Don't half ass it by forgoing even the smallest detail. In the end you'll be happy you did. Designer of Farmerbrowns did an absolute amazing job keeping to theme. Almost (and I only say almost because it is close to impossible the have everything work; some elements just can't be changed) every component was straight up farm. Large oxidized copper and tin paneled walls and columns separated the dining area into very intimate and might I add sexy booths and dining area. Chunky metal and wood tables topped off with large portraits printed on presumably grain sacks really s
et the farmer mood. The whole rustic decor is dimly lite with customized sack pendants and romantic candles. Behind the bar, large windows over looking the gorgeous and clean Tenderloin allowed for light to come in during the day as well as gave a fantastic backdrop to the glass and metal structure holding up the alcohol. (*See Behind the Bar below for comments on this.) Atop a bevy of bottles is an excellent assortment of pitch forks, road signals, tractor parts, or god knows what else. Great visual!I have not mentioned this before but there is one crucial space that is pretty much a make or break situation in regards to obtaining a top restaurant design spot in my book. It is not the dining area, bar, lounge, or even the kitchen. The difference between a great design and a truly remarkable design is found in the attention and care of the bathroom. I know this sounds foolish but ask any architect/designer and they will say the same thing. A lot of times the water closet is over looked when owners are budgeting out their space. Don't forget it! Farmerbrown sure didn't. I am assuming it is his actually bike that is being used to store the toilet paper. Unique, I think so! Furthermore, ever had the conversation starting with, "did you see the bathroom." I do far to often. (usually making reference to what was left in the toilet by a diner that ate a poorly cooked pig testicle.) And if for nothing more, going to check out the bathroom will make your food be delivered to your table that much faster. Proven fact.
Behind the Bar: For any young hospitality designers reading this, one word of advice: take a crack at the industry for awhile. Become a server, bartender, busser, runner, host(ess), or even work in the kitchen. The only way to successfully master hospitality design is to know your surrounds, i.e. what works and what does not as an insider. It is easy to design a space that looks pretty but it is even easier and better to design a space that looks pretty and functional if you have been in the industry before. With this in mind, I had a very nice conversation with Mr. Brown the farmers' bartender. (I might go as far as a motivational speech if you will. I will. And I did. This one comes second to talking a squirrel down from a 10 story high ledge. It was touch and go there for while. Now lets see where that puts me....motivational speeches-2 ; un-motivational speeches 2,293,447,483 1/2) He commented on the layout of the booths and tables. The way that it is designed, while being very romantic and intimate, it is a pain in the arse for large parties, making almost impossible to seat larger than a 6 top. And if they do put tables together it pretty much kills any other servers section. And trust me when I say, taking away tables from any servers section opens the flood gates of hell bitch 2.0....3.0 is if they get sat fuzzy foreigners. You would get lucking being left a 8% tip.
*As mentioned earlier the glass behind the bar is great for letting in San Francisco's natural light. Unfortunately it also lets the wandering eyes of Tenderloin's finest in too. Nobody, and I really mean nobody can enjoy their Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich w/smoked cheddar, watercress and coleslaw while a cracked out tranny is winking at you while rubbing its nipples. (cold shiver runs down my back as this brings back an all to familiar memory. brrrrrr.) Too bad the designer didn't think of this. As of now they have large white pieces of paper tapped up. That would be really the only element that the designer did not design too. Which is really to bad cause any number of modern partitions could have been used in its place.
Who's Who: I love this place because really anyone can enjoy it. From where I was sitting (I station myself at the bar, duoy duh) I saw business suite guys, tatted up boys, gathering of tourist ladies (most likely didn't realize they were staying in the TL and needed to retreat), an elderly woman in a track suite, early diners, the urban kool cat, baby in stroller, and kermit the frog. He says hi!. Usually with this decor I totally recommend a hot spot to take a date. Unfortunately with Hollywood telling us that 115 lbs is fat most women are only eating salads and low carb meals. Not the place to take your self-conscious date. If you find a girl that doesn't subscribe to the pressures of society, take her here. She will love you for it!
