Secrets of a hidden tapas bar in S.F.
The Pawn Shop, from the folks behind the adjacent Monarch nightclub, is a stylish spot for wine and Spanish bar bites
People who party in New York or Los Angeles tend to look down a bit on San Francisco nightlife. Our bars and clubs close on the early side and the majority of late-night food is limited to greasy diners or Korean barbecue.
The team behind the Monarch Management Group (Monarch, The Great Northern) is hoping to change that with The Pawn Shop, a tapas bar and lounge hidden behind an old SoMa hock shop. The Pawn Shop is adjacent to Monarch, a bar and nightclub, and is open for happy hour, dinner and late-night eats. The kitchen is open until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
To enter, pick up the golden phone on the door and the theatrically smarmy Pawn Master will buzz you in, punch a code on a keypad masked by vintage jewelry and let you into his world. Here’s a sneak peek from a preview event.
THE VIBE » The decor is lively with a Cuban, art deco style featuring tropical wallpaper, exposed brick, neon-rimmed mirrors and color-changing panels flanking the bar.
THE FOOD » The menu offers plenty of choices, including traditional Spanish bar bites ($5-$13), tapas and pinchos ($8-$19), toasts and flatbreads ($6, $18) and vegan tapas ($10). Among the most memorable dishes were the crunchy, piping hot croquetas trio ($13) of mushroom, chicken and creamy ham and kale; the Lamb Lollipop ($19), one piece of roasted rack of lamb served on the rare side with an addictive avocado pistachio sauce; and the perfectly executed churros ($10) doused in cinnamon sugar and served with chocolate sauce.
THE DRINKS » The Pawn Shop has an extensive menu of wines from around the world, plus four beers on draft and another six in bottle or can. They offer three low-alcoholby-volume cocktails ($10 each); Uno, made with grapefruit, elderflower liqueur and prosecco, was the most pleasing. The Madeira wine-based Dos lacked complexity and Tres, with its port, orange and pomegranate
notes, reminded me of sangria. We hope to see more cocktails in the future.
DON’T MISS » A secret door takes you to Monarch. And stay tuned: The owners are working on a late-night bowling alley in the basement. PERFECT FOR … » A pinot-and-pincho-filled
escape; stylish late-night eats; and carboloading on patatas bravas before hitting the dance floor at Monarch.
DETAILS » Open from 4 p.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday, until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays (plus weekend brunch 10 a.m to 3 p.m.) at 993 Mission St., San Francisco; thepawnshopsf.com.