Tommy's Joynt

great food-beers-staff-cash only -- when I lived here I loved to come to Tommy's -- either alone or with friend(s) -- one can share a table with others and not feel pressured to visit - one can read, etc., eat and drink economically and catch a bus across the street or a cab! There is an ATM machine if you need one - but I always have cash available. The only negative are the homeless that hang around to pan handle - I do not hand out cash -- I will hand out food and I've asked a polite person what they would like off the menu. Especially if it is chilly--someone might prefer to have the hot stew than a sannich. But a beer/drink/that's all mine. One of the bartenders was my Express bus driver -- I could not figure out where I saw his face until I sat at the bar late one afternoon and he told me--what a delightful very local charming place. more

i have had everything on the menu, which is posted on the wall. it is all good in the hood. you get your drinks from the bar or a waitress after you get your meal. dont skip the free pickle bucket right after the cash register. fun to sit upstairs a bit more private makes you feel like your in some cave. Pros: tons of food super cheap Cons: does not take cards more

Located before the intersection of Van Ness and Geary, with less than stellar parking, Tommy's Joynt can be found. I was more than excited to go to this dive after watching it on the Food Network show, Diner's, Drive-in's, and Dive's. I must admit that I was severly disappointed with the entire restaurant. First, the food is average and nothing out of the ordinary. I will say that I have eaten much better food than this. Given, the food is really affordable but aside from that, it really doesn't taste any better than Quizno's. The service staff needs to go to a class on hospitality and customer service as they are severly lacking in this area. I've seen better service at a Jack in the Box. The owner seems to be mad most of the time which either shows that she hates her job or hates her life. I can understand on busy days that you might not be able to be on the high end of hospitality, but on non-busy days there is no excuse. Not everyone who goes to your restaurnat are locals or regulars so take extreme care when being bad in this area because word travels fast and there is moe to the bay area than San Fran. I would definitely not go back and not recommend the food or atmosphere. more

Incredibly long wait, your hunger would have passed if you go here on a Friday or weekend night. Way too expensive for a very undistinguished menu. You're paying for its location--but you're within just a few blocks of some much better, *much* more authentic Mexican food that's literally half the price. The food and drinks aren't terrible, just ridiculously overpriced and nothing special.\r \r more

It's MMMmmMMMmmm GOOD! Great spot for sammiches, from corned beef to fresh sliced turkey! An yo gotta get some pickles from the barrel as a side! I usually try the special too! more

I totally agree with the previous review. You either love it or hate it. And I love it! Yes, it's cafeteria style and you're eating on benches, but that's the charm of it. more

Tommy's Joynt is so full of eye gouging craziness you could consider this the mother of TGIF, Apple Bees, Ed Debevics, and all the others. It's insane. The buffet style serving, the beer list, and the fun make this place awesome and truly unique for a city that loves high society eating and hippie granola organic tasties. \r \r Google my blog ""freaking delicious"" if you want to see a video review I put together about this place. I show you the food, the in/outside, and truly show what this place is all about. Pros: beer, food, decour, craziness Cons: sometimes there is a line. more

As a native San Franciscan of over forty years, Tommy's Joint is a place that my dad used to visit as well as myself. A stop over for many celebs during the hay day of the rat-pack and such. This place has all the true ambience of a San Francisco landmark. Oh yes, and the food is terrific! You have not been to San Franciscvo unless you have stopped by Tommy's Joint. Pros: The exotic menu and terrific service. Cons: Need to pick anytime outside of peak meal hours. more

My buddy Dave took me to Tommy's Joynt when I first arrived to SF back in 2000. This place is a true SF landmark, and remains consistent each and everytime I visit. I just wish my Grandfather was still alive to join me there for a beer. Pros: Great beer, classic atmosphere, locally owned. Cons: Parking can be difficult more

I really enjoyed my pastrami sandwich, thought it was really good actually. I did pick a lot of fat off though, but I thought the meat and the bread were great. I didn't get any sides, so no comment on those. The thing I didn't like was all the stuff hanging from the ceiling and the walls. I like dives, I like pictures and things people collect. But this place looks like a horders paradise. There is stuff everywhere and it looks filthy. For some reason that's all I the thoughts I left with.....great sandwich, filthy place. But my boyfriend loves it because he thinks their meats are great i.e. the lamb. I would go back for a sandwich, I'd get it to go though. Pros: good food Cons: filthy more

The star is for the crappy service. I didn't even get the food. I just called in an order for take out, and the lady on the phone said it'd be ready in 10 minutes. After walking through the Tenderloin to get there, the lady working told me to go up to the register, and, lo and behold, the guys behind the counter started playing dumb. 'We don't got no take out order. What take out order?' Lady went up to them and said, 'I gave you an order ten minutes ago.' 'We don't got no order,' he answered and shrugged his shoulders. Next customer, no apologies, no attempt to rectify the situation. After being treated so rudely, I didn't stay for the food. I can only imagine what it tastes like if this is how they treat their customers. Cons: Worst service I've ever had, and I've been to France. more

Talk about being stuffed! Your last ten bucks will have you limping out satisfied! Hot roast beef, quick to serve1 what more can you ask? Pros: Hot food made quick! more

I think that this review will probably get the same reception as when I march into a Giants game wearing Dodger Blue!! Tommy's WASN""T BAD but it wasn't a blow-my-socks-off WOW experience either. It was just OK in my book!! I went there with my girlfriend and we had two sandwiches... one pastrami and one corned beef. They were again not bad... but I can name other sandwich places that I like much better (Lefty's Downtown (same style) and Submarine Sandwich in West Portal). There was a lot of fat throughout the meat at Tommy's... I know that that is where the flavor comes from... but this was getting ridiculous!! The a la carte side dishes were good and I loved the tub of pickles. The $4.50 pint of Anchor Steam was a pretty common price. I will go back and try some of the specialties (heard good things about the Lamb Shank and the soup) And I've heard (and now read) that the happy hour is cheap and effective. I love a good DIVE... and to those of you who have chosen Tommy's as yours... I respect that!! But, the sandwich/meat aspect of the place did not WOW me. And judging by the large sides of meat all over the counter, that is a major part of Tommy's Joynt!! more

It's a bar-like place with LOTS of seating, but the space is so designed to make it feel cozy (it's not just one large room). I'm amazed at how fast they're able to serve food up (cafeteria-style) and it's good, and they even have salad. They're pretty meat-centric, with pasta being central ... And the servers/chefs are nice and eclectic. Perhaps the best part - you can order dinner, a beverage, and a dessert and not have to worry about spending over $15. more

Can't believe I have lived here four years and hadn't been to Tommy's Joint! The minute I walked in I fell in love with the place! The buffet style food looked mouth watering. I got the corned beef and cabbage plate and a side of baked beans. The portions were huge!!!!! The minute I tasted the food it was so good that I was determined to eat everything on my plate. I did! The prices were incredible. For three people with sodas it cost around 25 bucks. You can't find those prices anywhere else in the city. I like the place so much that I'm getting hungry just writing this review. You have to go and experience Tommy's Joynt. more

My girlfriend's been refusing to go here for years. Meat, beer, more meat and beer. I eat a lot of expense account meals so a meat and grease binge once in a while is mandatory. Great! Pros: It's about the meat Cons: Girlfriend refuses to go here more

You either love it or hate it, but there's no arguing that Tommy's Joynt is a San Francisco institution. Their place is dingy and falling apart, but it's always packed with people who come for the enormous wealth of food they serve for under $10. They have fresh roasted turkey, ham, bbq brisket, and corned beef, and all the typical side dishes that come with- depending on what day you go. Great location too, right across from the AMC movie theater.\r \r PROS: b\r CONS: more

The Joynt isn't your average restaurant and because of that it is a unique eating experience in SF. Meatlovers welcome to Valhalla-- grab a lamb shank, order up a pint, and prepare for Odin's booming voice to order you to strap on your shield and march out one of the doors towards glory. Drinks are stiff and cheap, so instead of wasting your money down on Polk street stay at the Joynt and after dinner drink till closing (almost 2AM). Lost of different kinds of meats, but my favorites are the meatballs and the buffalo dishes. Try the buffalo(stew or chili) its hearty and lean. Great location; after dinner walk across the street to catch a movie at the AMC, or walk down Van Ness to the opera house. Don't let the tourists run our local treasures, this is classic 'Frisco'. Pros: Location, Cheap Eats/Drinks, Big Portions Cons: Cash only/has ATM more

Before you even walk into this landmark restaurant a smile will take you over as soon as you see the exterior of the building which has a brightly colored muralon it. Then you step into the place and you can see you have just been transported to old San Francisco. The food is on the right and will knock your socks off and for a price that hardly put a dent in your wallet. The bar is on the left with prices for drinks that seem pre 1960. This is the place to go to meet good friends or make new ones. The pastrami is killer, and every time I travel to SF I can't wait to go to tommy's joynt.NOT A PLACE TO MISS more

Love meat, love beer. Wish I found this place when I was in college, I'd have lived at this place. Still worth a weekly trip. Highly recommended. more