The Ramp Bar / Restaurant

Potrero Hill, San Francisco –

Harbored on an industrial waterfront stretch of Dogpatch, The Ramp (not so) quietly serves up lots of seafood and suds amid the squalls of seagulls and salty air.

Perched right against the docks, the venue’s palm tree- and umbrella-strewn patio is usually filled with a slew of alfresco-lovin’ patrons, who while away the afternoon watching sailboats bob and sipping pints and margaritas served from the rickety outdoor bar.

For the few who prefer to eat inside, there’s a small, sparsely decorated main dining room featuring round tables topped with flowers, large windows, and always-open doors that let in a constant sea breeze. Behind the brick-backed bar, the staff whips up a steady stream of heady cocktails, while the chef serves classic American fare and serious seafood like Louisiana-style gumbo and clam chowder.

During the week the vibe is beachy chill, usually attracting a few big groups of twenty-something cronies ditching class, older couples on dates, or a grab bag of after-work colleagues dishing on how much they hate the boss.

Weekends are definitely the rowdiest when live Latin and salsa bands and a special post-brunch BBQ menu all but guarantee a diverse wall-to-wall scene, while Oyster Mondays and Thursdays are also a red-night weekday affair with cheap shucking and slurping for all.

A tropical island of funky fun, The Ramp is an ideal spot for anyone whose sails point to a cold pint in the SF sun.