Branch Line

I came here during the Warriors game and despite loss I left happy thanks to the wonderful cocktails crafted by Jesse. He’s a pro behind the bar and the drinks show it! He made me a few negroni variations and each one had a creative flavor profile. I also really enjoyed the Ron Dawg. How do they make those blunt bitters?! All I know is that the grape undertones round out the drink nicely. I can’t wait to go back.

Absolutely love this place. It’s only a 20 minute walk from my apartment and located in a safe environment. The bartenders and managers are really awesome people who listen to their customers and treat every single one of their cocktails like delicate plate of food. They use all natural mixers and fruits/​spices to mix their drinks along with variations of liquors that’s really hard to find. This is a high-​end San Francisco bar for a fraction of the price with a really comfortable environment.
Pros:
–Local and attracts all the locals
–High end liquors only
–Great selection of strong beers
–Affordable, even for a security guard salary
–The best staff ever
–Next to a bus stop
–Great beef jerky!
Cons:
–Not dive bar prices
–Tiny space, very small bar
–Closes before 2am
Not really enough nice things to say about this place. Sure it’s Emeryville, and there’s always a few pretentious, wealthy, a-​hole snobs that come in and out. But I haven’t had any issues with the clients and the area has always been really welcoming to me and to every blue-​collar fellow I bring. I highly recommend the Branch Line.

Drake on the radio. Friendly bar tending staff. Amazing cocktails. Unique blend of craft beers on tap, had the Mac N Cheese with hot dog. Damn good.
Place is small enough where God forbid, you may have to talk to people at the bar. Great little bar.
Not sure what else youd ask for out of a hole in the wall bar in Emeryville.

Branch Line’s entrance is actually on 59^th St, though listing is Hollis St. small drinkery with impressive display of artisan liquors, distinguished draft beers from local brewers.
brew: old ipa stout? (8) «DIPA»
–good strong stuff, 8% at least.
–drafts listed on far left wall.
HH, 4 – 7, $ 1 off drafts.
lots of food listed. bar empty, no doubt cuz of new eateries opening nearby.
4 stars for a drinking hole in emeryville, ‘nough said!

I will review this place again and give it 5 stars. 5 Stars for great food, nice staff, 5 stars for crafty cocktails and quality ingredients. I’ll gladly pay higher prices for clean food and craft cocktails that taste as great as theirs do.
So why the 3 stars? We went there recently and there were two issues that came up. Some patrons chose to smoke just outside the front door and the nature of how they were chatting and hanging out with the bartender made it appear they were friends. I don’t mind that people smoke, just do it away from the door, down wind or close the door. Staff should have asked them to adhere to the law and step aside.
And then there was the music. The play list had far, far too much MotherF******S and the word Ni***r far to loud and prominent for a mixed crowd. Listen to what you want at home or on your own time. Running a business trying to appeal to a diverse crowd? Choose music that is a bit more appropriate. It was hard to enjoy the great food and drinks with the M’fer bomb and N’bomb being dropped as though no one was listening.

Decided to try this place and wasn’t disappointed. We needed a place to meet at a half way point with some friends in town. The location is unique (don’t get lost, it’s not on Hollis, but on 59^th St.). Great beer selection and relaxed atmosphere. We went on a Saturday late afternoon and we were probably a bit too rowdy for the locals but we still had a great time. I’d go back for sure, mostly cuz I want to try that Mac n cheese!

This has been my secret getaway from The Bureau around the corner ever since it opened and we’re proud regulars. Awesome place to hide out with cool vibes and awesome folks like Ali working behind the bar.

This place has really come into its own. Since it first opened a few months ago, they’ve expanded their menu in a very good way.
Ox poutine? Oh yes! Brunch with gravlax, sausage & egg sandwich, waffles, bottomless mimosa? Sign me up!
Branch Line has some very talented folks making the food here. And the bartenders/​management are incredibly friendly and generous.
It’s a small joint, but cozy and appealing. The ambiance is upscale-​divey, if that makes sense. It’s a tiny hole in the wall, but it’s also clean and comfortable, with nice quality fixtures. I only hope I can keep getting a seat at the bar.
Great addition to the neighborhood. I’m looking forward to being a regular.

The rebirth of the dive bar! B-​L puts a modern twist to your favorite watering hole. Bud and Pabst have been replaced over ten craft beers on tap. Veteran East Bay mixologist, Ali, adds his art to Moscow Mules, Big Boy Root Beers, New Old Fashions w/​chocolate bitters, and Tea Time Bourbons. No bags of Lays or Doritos. Enjoy house made Shrimp Chips or Brown Sugar Beef Jerky. The recent seasonal bar fare of Hanger Steak, Salt Cod, or Roasted Beet Sandwiches, replaces cheeseburgers. You won’t see Bud Football signed plaster through the the store, replaces by vintage LED lighting that will put you in a grovey mood with your loved one and a deadly artisan cocktail. Stop in and don’t be surprised that your buy back shot of Yegermeister had been replaced by a 20 year old Tequila.

This place is awesome! Just thought I would let you guys know. My first time here was on a week night the crowd was right and the staff was great. Just a quick tip is not in a booming area so you might not know it’s there. But once you find parking and walk-​in the bar staff greets you immediately. They will let you know the bar menu is on the wall and they will hand you menu with the food and cocktail’s. The place is just great they remember you after the first time sy it makes you want to come back. There have a TV at the bar I wish was larger and music playing in the background. The guys is also great and its so dang good i keep eating it before i take the pics smh fail on my part. Its a great neighborhood bar with some cool drinks. If you ever are around emeryville looking time it live close by this is a must try!

Steamed dumplings are now on the menu and while they are reminiscent of siumai, these guys are definitely less fatty but no less tasty. Instead of the shrimp, there is instead (house made!!) Chinese sausage… and I have to say the taste of that lap xuong is spot on. Truly impressed at the flavor.
Also tried out the po boy sandwich for lunch and loved it as well. To be fair I’m a lover of fried things, so the smooth and juicy blend of shrimp and scallop really hit the spot for me. Mini salad on the side was a great way to get in my greens so I don’t have to feel too guilty about having more fried foods.

Love this place. The bartender actually comes to your table to take orders, which is awesome. He can also customize your drinks here as well. I ordered the Branch line margarita and had the bartender make it spicy. Really loved it. It’s like a high end margarita with reposada. I also ordered a Marty Robbins, which I loved as well. Honestly, I feel like you can’t go wrong with a drink here. There’s plenty of cocktails to choose from. Happy hour is 3pm-​7pm. $ 1 off cocktail or beer. They also serve tacos here after 3pm. It’s not on the menu, but they have it written on their board by the bar. I tried the chicken tacos and they were delicious, especially with the house made hot sauce. Can’t wait to come back here again to try their other drinks.

What a great cozy bar located in Emeryville! When I heard that Branch line was opening up I couldn’t wait to try the place out!
Branch Line opened up early in July and it took over what used to be Taco Del Mar. Branch line primarily focuses as a bar but don’t let that foul you, it’s a bar and a restaurant!
They are known mostly for their 8 cocktails on tap such as:
~The Happy Accident: Sailor Jerry infused with Yerba Mate Tea, House Made Tiki Bitters, Splash of Sprite, Served in a Julip Cup, Topped With a Mint Sprig
~Vieux Carre’: Old Overholt Rye, Hennessey, Carpano Antica, Benedictine, Peychaud’s and Angostura Bitters, Brandied Cherry
~Tiki Tom Cat: Bar Hill Tom Gin, House Made Key Lime Tiki Bitters, Coconut Water, Lemon Twist
~Gin and Tonic: Hendricks, House Made Tonic, Splash of Soda Water, House Made Meyer Lemon Bitters, Wheel of Meyer Lemon
~Red Bandana: Silver Tequila, Mezcal, Mariposa Agave Nectar, Carpano Antica, House Made Hibiscus Tincture, House Made Orange Bitters, Peychauds, a Mist of Key Lime Juice, and a Meyer Lemon Twist.
~Richards Slap: Four Roses Bourbon, House Made Coffee Cocoa Nib and Roasted Pecan Bitters, Brandied Cherry, and a side of House Made Brown Sugar Smoked Beef Jerky
~Christy Brinkley: Hanger One Straight Vodka, St. George Raspberry Liqueur, Lillet Rose, House Made Rhubarb Bitters, Champagne Float, Twist of Meyer Lemon
I came with a group of Unilocalers to see what this place was about and it was a fantastic way to start the night. Parking can be tricky to find but there are tons of street parking around the area.
The place is small and cozy but I love the atmosphere. All the workers came up and introduced themselves. Rodney was our main Server and did a amazing job taking our order. Cody came and helped our table a couple times and I loved his personality! I met Bobby the Chef that cooked the delicious food that we ordered and the AMAZING Ali that came to our table and had a shot with us which was on the house! SWEETTTT! Everyone is super nice which makes this place more amazing then it already is!
We ordered a couple of small plate orders and EVERYTHING was delicious!
I definitely love Branch Line and think it’s an amazing addition to the Emeryville area. I look forward to coming back and exploring more on the menu as well as their cocktails!
If you haven’t been yet… HURRY!
This is definitely the talk around town right now!

We heard about the delicious jalapeño tacos, but didn’t realize they only happened on taco Tuesdays. Damn it all.
Luckily, everything else was on point. Big boy root beer? Yes, please. Food? Try the oxtail poutine and duck waffles. Maybe pass on the ceviche (it was kind of meh). Drinks, my go-​to is the old fashioned cocktails and Japanese whiskey sour.
For epic meal time happy hour, it’s everything you need. What’s the dealio with the small glasses and too much ice though?

I think this will be my go to place for a quick lunch and much needed cocktail.
Close to work — right around the corner of Summer Thai
Décor is very speakeasyish. Woody and dark field. Kinda like most bars in the city but very cozy.
Small — around 10 tables?
Drinks — awesome. reasonably price.
Beer — good selection
Food — Only had lunch but their fried green tomatoes sandwich was awesome. The bread was SOOO good. Soft but yet crunchy. The sandwich came with a salad which was sataisfying. However, i didnt get why the meal came in a box? No plates? No kitchen?
Service — Very good and the manager or bar owner was very friendly and helpful.
I want to try their oxtail poutine! Maybe one of these days but i will be back for lunch. Prices are reasonable especially come to some places like Rudy’s Fail Café (still a BIG FAIL!).

Came here for happy hour last night, and was not disappointed. Once I walked in, bartenders were very friendly and welcoming. Ordered the pinot noir they had to offer which was well balanced and for food, we got the jalepeno pork tacos. It was so good we got another order. They also recommended the deviled eggs, which were full of flavor. Overall had a great experience, and will have to come back to try the other items on their menu.

This place is great! Cute and cozy with friendly bartenders. Pretty good drinks and delicious food. Not your typical bar fare, a tad bit fancy. For example :
Duck confit waffle, ahi poke, akaushi tartare and homemade shrimp chips were all so yummy… Drool…
Check ‘em out.
The owner is welcoming and a cool cat. He also owns Rotten City…

I rarely get to jump on a place early on, but when I do, well… nothing really happens.
I’m always in Emeryville hanging out with my friends, so one night we decided to take a break from getting too wrench (no one uses ratchet anymore). The bar is definitely located in a secluded area, much like many random and awesome places in this city are. Small place, but the décor and ambiance was perfect for grabbing a drink and conversating (yes, i know conversing is grammatically correct. To those people, I say your’e wrong).
The place is still very new and not yet crowded. My friends and I were able to grab a table and proceed to order a few drinks and snacks. A bunch of local draft beer on tap, but I quickly saw the word «absinthe» on the menu and decided hey, let’s get a lil wrench and hallucinate. The absinthe was transformed into what they call «Big Boy Root Beer». It did what the name described, tasted like root beer with the distinct taste of absinthe. The owner/​chef really cared for his food, cocktails, and products he procured. This lead him to explain each cocktail and dishes he brought out. He sounded eager doing so. We didn’t mind one bit. The real kitchen was closed at that point, so we didn’t get to try the full arsenal of food offerings. Like my mom always say when I ask for a toy. «next time.» You can read more about my childhood on my Xanga.
All in all, come here for a drink if you’re a local. Enjoy the quiet environment, for now.

I really wanted to love this new bar. And I didn’t hate it, I would give it a 3.5 stars. But maybe I didn’t order the right things. I got the root beer bourbon drink because I LOVE root beer and thought this would be a good twist. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a huge fan of it. The root beer was too organic tasting and the bourbon flavor too strong. but I guess it’s good the drinks are strong! For food, tried the duck and waffles, and it was decent, but maybe not worth the $ 16 for 4 bites. The Mt. Tam cheese plate was good. Flavorful and had a good mix of salty with sweet. The vibe is fun and the service is great. People are are enthusiastic and love to explain their concept. Overall, I would come back after they’ve settled in more and give it another try.

Was very impressed by my visit last night to this new neighborhood place that caters to the locals (those who live and/​or work in the area). It has a relaxed and comfortable feel to it and isn’t a place you go if you want to people-​watch or be seen. Not pretentious at all!
We sat at the bar and were immediately greeted by a friendly and attentive bartender, as well as the owner. Both of whom engaged in conversation with us throughout the evening, making the place truly a neighborhood bar! We tried several dishes, including the soft egg (was excellent), cheese platter (great spread), salumi (also very tasty), and vegetable plate (great flavors). All the food, even the salumi, is made in-​house. Everything has an authentic and unique taste, which reminded us of a home-​cooked meal.
The drinks were great too. The Vieux Carre’, Richards Slap (winner for the evening), and Happy Accident are creative drinks that we will happily have again and again and again. Even their beers on tap have nitro, which is a fun twist that you don’t find at many places. And when you add a scoop of chocolate ice cream to the drinks, look out, things are taken to a whole new level!
Totally impressed by this place and will be back several times over the next month or so!