Candybar
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
1335 Fulton St(between Broderick St & Divisadero St)
San Francisco, CA 94117(415) 673-7078
This review is a little hard for me to do. Throughout this whole blog I have tried to blend witty yet cynical commentary on bar/restaurant design, a sociological study of peoples interactions within these environments to their surroundings and to others, and top it off with a few personal debaucherous stories of my own. In short, I write whatever I damn well please with no remorse; i.e. how utterly horrible/great the design is, how much I want to lick the bartenders nipples, and/or some fun mistakes I have made after consuming way over the lega
l limit of alcohol. Of course all of these things are fun because generally I don't go back to the same place every week. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem going back to a place I gave a less than desirable review to however once you become friends with the people that work there, the rules change. That would be the case here. A dear friend of mine and I have been making Candybar a Tuesday HH hangout for the past couple weeks. We sit at the bar, order our $2 sangria's, break out a game of Blockus, and play several rounds with the owners and chefs. I have become quite fond of this place and wouldn't want my unnecessary rudeness landing me a drink or dessert with spit in it. Now with all that said, I do not feel it would be fair to give a bias review of the design of the space just because I like the people. So boys, if I say anything to offend you I am sorry but just remember, it's not me it's you ;)
l limit of alcohol. Of course all of these things are fun because generally I don't go back to the same place every week. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem going back to a place I gave a less than desirable review to however once you become friends with the people that work there, the rules change. That would be the case here. A dear friend of mine and I have been making Candybar a Tuesday HH hangout for the past couple weeks. We sit at the bar, order our $2 sangria's, break out a game of Blockus, and play several rounds with the owners and chefs. I have become quite fond of this place and wouldn't want my unnecessary rudeness landing me a drink or dessert with spit in it. Now with all that said, I do not feel it would be fair to give a bias review of the design of the space just because I like the people. So boys, if I say anything to offend you I am sorry but just remember, it's not me it's you ;)In The Know: The first I have ever heard of this place was from an anonymous comment on my "I have been flagged" review. It read, "i posted a review of 'candy bar' based on my perceptions of walking by it, reading their menu, and concluding that the place looks like jcrew and wasn't a good fit for the neighborhood." I, obviously never being one to judge, couldn't possibly pass up the opportunity to check out a place that was both full of a certain J Crew wearing type of people in a neighborhood that is not exactly J Crew friendly. And having one of the best HH's I have ever heard of doesn't hurt either. I needed to investigate. First impression: I could not see J Crew in the people at all. I could, however, see where someone might mistake this place for a retail shop
. Could it be the over sized book shelf looking object used to divide the front lounge from the back tables? It does look as though it could have housed several sweater vests and polo's on it. Possibly the bar and furniture wood accents? The sharp angular edges and color does come off a bit Banana Republicy. How about the lighting scheme? Over the bar is fantastic carbon pendant lighting system. The kooky, octopusesque chandelier would not have been my first pick but I can kinda see where they were going with that...kinda. But other than that, the form follows the function. Form: two low lounge areas with red fabric seating and chests used as tables up front. A gathering of 2 & 4 top tables with an awesome chalk board displaying the latest in dessert exquisitery in the back. Function: Serving only dessert, wines/beers, and a plethora of old school board games. Board games people...BOARD GAMES!!!
. Could it be the over sized book shelf looking object used to divide the front lounge from the back tables? It does look as though it could have housed several sweater vests and polo's on it. Possibly the bar and furniture wood accents? The sharp angular edges and color does come off a bit Banana Republicy. How about the lighting scheme? Over the bar is fantastic carbon pendant lighting system. The kooky, octopusesque chandelier would not have been my first pick but I can kinda see where they were going with that...kinda. But other than that, the form follows the function. Form: two low lounge areas with red fabric seating and chests used as tables up front. A gathering of 2 & 4 top tables with an awesome chalk board displaying the latest in dessert exquisitery in the back. Function: Serving only dessert, wines/beers, and a plethora of old school board games. Board games people...BOARD GAMES!!! Behind the Bar: I have talked to all parties that either own or operate this place so if I was to gossip, it would be oh so juicy. However, as previously mentioned, I talk to them ever
y week now. I wouldn't want a high school he said, he said (to my knowledge it is all men that work there) kinda situation. So to save all parties from a civil war, I am going to give you just what I think. Isn't that all that matters anyways? The large chest that acts as a table in the front lounge is way to large for the space. I found my knees knocking against it as I was constantly standing up, laughing, and pointing as I was very respectfully making fun of how horrible people are at parallel parking. Apparently some drivers can't handle 7 people staring at them as they try to fit their Honda Civic into a space that one could easily park a mini van. (of course if the driver was an Asian woman that statement would be false.)Who's Who: One would think that since there are a plethora of board games that it would be fun for the whole family. False! I would not like to see little kids running around this place. One there isn't enough room to run around. Two if im on a romantical after dinner date, the last thing I want to concern myself with is a child staring at me as I deliver sexual innuendos over a game of Shoots and Ladders. (you might be surprise how much that game can get anyone into the right mood;) It is a great place to meet some girlfriends/boyfriends after work. It is an even better place if you go on a date, realize that you have absolutely nothing in common with the person sitting across from you, however they insist that you at least eat dessert. Instead of continuing on with the utter bore that is your date, you can take him to Candybar where at least you have a game and fantastically delicious dessert to occupy your time before rushing home to call your girlfriends and discuss how just because they are a rocket scientist for NASA doesn't make them interesting. Enjoy!
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