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Went here late on 11/20/2009, ordered a chees try only to be told kitchen was closed (midnight). Manager opened for us tho and it was worth it! Cheeses are delish and the selection of craft beer was impressive! Great place for a nosh, or a quiet conversation! Will be back here!

Was here 11/19/2009 n had 3 Manhattens. WHEW!! The drinks are great, but strong so be careful! Super small space where 15 people FILL this bar. Staff is great tho, n drinks come quick n easy! If you dont mind crowds, try this place on a Saturday night, definately worth it!

Went there on 11/20/2009, was my first time too. Place filled up early, @ 9:30-10. Go-go's were cute but not over the top hot. The table we were sitting at was eye level to the 'goods' that were being shook in my face -yay! Good music but an older crowd - FOR SURE! May be younger later. Drinks were fast n cold tho!

I think this place deserves a little credit. The venue is gorgeous, open bar until 11pm (come on!), and packed with guys. On the other hand I can understand being upset at the experiences described in the other reviews. Not everyone I saw there was a pretty-boy, though the crowd definitely skewed towards the lookers. The people I met were all friendly--I'd go back in a heart beat were I not 3,000 miles away!

I stayed here once when it was Fife's and brunched here many times back then, and I really do miss the gay crowds. But now that it's Dawn Ranch Lodge and is catering to straights and weddings, it's still a nice place for a quiet cabin away from the parties at RRR and elsewhere. We thought it would be nice to go out elsewhere and then have a quiet place to come home to, and never felt intimidated or discouraged by the staff. I hesitate to reveal what I hoped would be our little secret, so don't tell anyone that cabin 302 is an amazingly comfortable, secluded hideaway for ~4 people.

The Rainbow Cattle Company has a special drink called a rootbeer float, similar to a long island ice tea in that they are both concoctions of different spirits. Both are served in ginormous mason jars (quart size, I believe) for a steal at only $8. The rootbeer float really does taste like the non-alcoholic namesake, but a caution for those who are lactose-intolerant: it does include cream. It has a smooth taste, and hardly seems like it includes any booze, but be careful: it packs a wallop and one drink will do you all afternoon. Fortunately, our bartender wisely asked us which of us was the designated driver. He stuck to club soda with a splash of cranberry.

First of all, it's almost pointless to review this place unless you adore karaoke bars, and I do not. But having been dragged here several times in recent months, I'm reviewing for all the folks willing to get passed that for the sake of their friends. Even if you can ignore the karaoke (and you can if you maneuver to the right places), it's still an incomfortable venue. Despite being labeled a gay bar since 1968, the year I was born, it's overwhelmingly straight. Mostly gaggles of girls in college drama departments who bring the occasional gay bff or reluctant boyfriend. It's way too crowded and the horseshoe bar in the middle of the room occupies way too much floor space. It's hard to get attention at the bar, only to end up with a relatively small/weak drink by Castro standards. And that's a major flaw, because seriously, the only way to halfway tolerate this place is to be way too drunk to notice.

Several months ago, my aunt and her family stopped by for dinner and she asked me if there was anywhere in the neighborhood where she could get a feathered boa. "Oh, sure," I said. "There's a hardware store just down the street." It didn't strike me until she started laughing how odd that was. But the truth is, Cliff's really does have a little bit of everything: hardware, lumber, paint, gardening supplies, kitchen supplies, toys, arts & crafts, drag accessories. The Castro is a pretty self-sufficient neighborhood, but mostly because Cliff's single-handedly rounds out most of the gaps.

Out of the ashes of the old dive bar The Expansion, briefly reincarnated as The Metro, comes another new spot in the Castro's refreshening nightlife: Blackbird. The decor is deliberately rustic chic, which could easily have looked like a stodgy bar my Grandfather would have gone to without the elegant touches that makes this probably the best decor of any Castro gay bar (even beating Trigger in some respects). I went once on a Monday evening, when it was pretty busy (on a Monday, no less!), and again on a Friday when it was jam packed. Nice place to meet friends and visit, but surprisingly easy to mingle despite the long bench and rows of chairs. Another excellent addition to the Castro.

One of the Castro's newest restaurants (replacing Askew Grill, but old-timers will remember it as the site of Josie's Cabaret & Juice Joint), Starbelly offers "California comfort food" seven days a week. We went for brunch and I found the open-faced fried egg sandwich (with starbelly bacon & two year aged cheddar) to be amazing. We plan to go back for dinner for a friend's birthday. They have an extensive beer and wine list as well as some specialty cocktails, but I could not tell if they had a full bar or not.

I've had the pleasure of staying here twice over the Summer and enjoyed it. It's a fairly new gay resort, and some things are still being updated. The rooms range from a standard queen room to a full sized suite with full kitchen and separate bedroom. All rooms have Refigerators, microwaves, flat screen TV's and hardwood floors. Oh, and most rooms have a private patio. They are now serving a few items for a lite breakfast before starting your day. I stayed when it was still new, so there wasn't a lot of guests yet. If you go, tell the Manager, Gene, that Silver sent you.

Was here in Oct '09, great place to start the night. Parking is easy here, so avoid the $10 lots. Drinks are strong and quick, and the bartender even gave me a shot (free). Music was great, but LOUD for the space. Local guys just hangin out with no pretense, good time!

Was here in Oct '09, and while it's not overly shiny or new, JR's holds to the standard of JR's everywhere. Good drinks, good service, and a diverse group of willing guys. Back patio area, strippers, pool table - this is a good place to hang, but not great.

Botique hotel by the Galleria, great prices to stay here! King leisure room was huge, with all the amenities of a 3.5 star hotel! Can't beat the location, or the price! No charge for parking, room service available, excellent staff! I'll stay here again!

They let you bring your dog. You've gotta love that! Bark-Bark! Barker.

CJ's Leather is world famous for it's leather workmanship. Co-owner Carlos will personally greet you and fit you -- making you feel at home even if you're not sure about the leather scene.

I haven't seen the rooms but I spent sunset on the rooftop bar overlooking the city. OK bar service but great views and beautiful pool. I'm sure the rooms are opulent -- it's a W for pete's sake!

Nice friendly, casual bar. Excellent bartenders.

Loved this little beach community! Nice local restaurants and independent coffee houses. Tooling around the ocean road on motorcycle wasn't bad either.