Orbit Room Cafe

If I could give this bar a lower rating I would. My friend and I went there around 6:45-7pm on a week day. The bar was not crowded. There were maybe 10-12 other people there at the bar fawning over the bartender. My friend went to the restroom and I went up to the bar to order us two glasses of wine. The bartender was trying to make two cocktails and talk to the ladies in front of him. He did not acknowledge me, at all. He didn't even look at me. I watched him make two identical drinks, separately, and slowly, for a single tab. (Normally, a decent bartender would make the two drinks at the same time.) By the time my friend returned from the restroom I still had not been acknowledged. The bartender gave the customers their total and waited while they fished around in their purses for their money. Then he rang up the order and got them change. Then, he finally looked at me. In the meantime other people have come up to the bar to order too. He never looked at them either. I ordered four glasses of wine (because I did NOT want to have to go through that again.) He wandered off to find the wine and came back about 2 minutes later, still not looking at any other customer. It took him over a minute to open the wine bottle. Finally he poured the wine and slowly, carefully, placed each glass on a napkin in front of me. He took just as long to get my change as he did the last customers. This guy was really terrible. As you know a good bartender could have poured 2 glasses of wine WHILE he made the the mixed drinks, would have smiled at EVERY person who walked up to the bar and said ""I'll be with you in a minute."" WHILE he was making the cocktails and pouring the wine. I cannot overstate how bad the service was. By the time I got to my table my friend had hand-written 3 thank you notes and addressed the envelopes! On the up side the decor is nice and the bar is comfortable. Pros: nice decor, comfortable room Cons: slow service, untrained pretty boy pretending to be a bartender more

Orbit Room is a cool joint with some of the best mix drinks and bartenders anywhere in the City. Tah Weh (sp?) is a new (er) bartender who just adds a touch of class and experience to the drinking experience. When he makes you a drink, you really feel like it is being crafted like the creation a good mixed drink ought to be. Pros: bartenders, drinks, ambiance, service, style Cons: parking, a little pricey (but good), sometimes quiet more

You have given Orbit Room a bad taste in my mouth. Shame on you! more

It took me only one drink to be converted. Alberta, bartender-goddess, makes hand-made works of art that are the most delicious drinks I've ever had (and that's saying something.) Her bloody mary is hands-down the best in town. Her mojitos knock my socks off. Not sure what to order? Give her a hint and she'll make something up for you--you'll think you are in heaven. Oh, and her vintage airline memorabilia and theme nights are fun, too. Regarding the complaining reviewer above, I've never seen anyone on their cell phones in the bar or measuring their waists, and I've NEVER, NEVER heard anyone complain about waiting for one of Alberta's marvelous creations. Even if they had to wait, which, on a Friday, you will have to do. You want cheap drinks sloppily slapped together and a bartender with no personality? Orbit room is not the place for you. You want the best drinks and atmosphere in town? You've found your new heaven. Pros: Most amazing drinks and bartender, Alberta Cons: There is only one Alberta more

As time goes by- its simple to see the bar needs some t.l.c. But what the atmosphere lacks is made up for in the dreamy drinks and dynamic personality of the bartenders. Staples of the cocktail menu (some which are still obscure) to daily inventions of the bartenders are what keeps me coming back. The mood, crowd, and muisc can vary between the staffing. A recent Tuesday visit was the best ever. We wound up arriving early but between the shift change. A new guy there (forget his name) swiftly mixed us some smart and 'too pretty to drink' cocktails and highly entertained us with old addages of his former job as a stweard. Then- Alberta, a Orbit Room staple came on duty and furthered our drinking experience with some equally easy on the eye fresh peach creations and her unique inviting personality. Pros: most bartenders, unique drinks, location Cons: ailing atmosphere more

This funky cafe serves up some great drinks. While you may have to wait a bit, the bartender obviously takes great care with her libations and it's worth the wait. Not only are the drinks pretty, they are strong! My mint julep was smooth with quite a kick. Decor is a bit sparse with granite tables and art-deco chairs and stools. The bar is on a corner, great for watching people pass by. A cool spot, wish I could have spent more time here and been carried home... Pros: Great drinks, Great Bartender Cons: A bit slow but... more

The drinks are great, with a lot of attention put into them (though it depens who's serving). I recommend the Zapata as a real-man's version of the bloody marry. Drinks are served in TINY martini glasses so you dont get much bang for the buck. The tables leave no room for your knees, so which makes it quite awkward to sit. Tuesdays are big nights in case you like crowds. The owner is also almost broke and hasn't been paying rent, so the place might shut down soon - go visit before it does. Pros: good drinks, nice atomosphere, not crowded Cons: expensive drinks, tables are awkward more

where the heck are you supposed to put your knees around those tables. just when i was thinking, ""this could be the coolest bar i've seen in sf since moving from nyc"" i tried to sit at one of those conical tables. a detail that shouldn't have been overlooked. who wants to be uncomfortable sitting in a bar? Pros: nice lighting Cons: expensive more

The drinks here are fantastic. The crowd is too homogenous for my taste - white, upper class, cell phone yakkers. Last time I was there, some women at the next table were actually passing around a tape measure and comparing their waists. I have found the service here to be hot and cold. In the early evenings, there is only one bartender. We all waited over 20 minutes to be served, and when I asked to be helped after being skipped in line several times, the woman bartender who serves there often actually yelled at me, ""WHAT?! WHAT?! WHAT DO YOU WANT THEN?!"" The patrons all around me were taken aback and told me not to tip, but I did anyway. The food is good but unreasonably expensive. Pros: great drinks, great food Cons: expensive, long waits, snobby crowd more

Tuesday night is now my favorite night out because of this bar. Alberta (one of the bartenders) has a theme night every Tuesday that is always entertaining. She decorates the place according to the theme (usually some 50s/60s airline), dresses in a stewardess outfit, has special drinks, even has snacks on some nights. Even without all that this place makes some of the best drinks ever, everything made by hand. Ice crushed to order, lemons and limes squeezed fresh for every drink, etc. From martinis to mojitos this place can't be beat. Truly one of the best bars in the city. Pros: Best cocktails ever, friendly atmosphere, Alberta Cons: smaller establishment more

what most people refer to as ""the biker/scooter bar"", should instead be called ""a haven for heavenly drinks"". one of the most fascinating people i have ever come across bartends there. her name is alberta and not only is she a character, she makes the most unique drinks around. just tell her what your tastes are and leave it to her. on tuesday nights, she dresses like an airline stewardess and has flight themes: for instance, one week it's Brittish Air, the next it's Hawaiin, and so on. she's alot of fun and so is the bar. never to crowded with a nice comfortable feel. more