The Hog’s Apothecary

I feel so close to the hipsters when I eat here. I also feel like I learn a lot about beer and pig parts. Apparently, these two things go well together. The pretzel for two is also really good. What I like is if you sit at the bar they will give you tastes of the beers, to see what you like. Also, when you do a tasting menu of beer, I have never seen them go light on the pours. When you are on a budget, this counts for something. As I am not a huge beer drinker, I still find their flights interesting, and they are from mostly local breweries. So, in short, if you like beer and you like pig parts, this might be the place for you. Just please, for me… leave the skinny jeans at home.

It’s currently SF Beer Week. Like, I’m sad that I even had to work at all this week, but I need the money to taste the beer, so here we are. Last night, the hubs and I met some good friends at the Hog’s Apothecary as they were hosting brews from FiftyFifty Brewing. I stalked the menu online, and many of their offerings are meat and pork and sausage and YES. Our server was very friendly and very attentive. A+
Location — near (in?) Temescal in Oakland. I hear this is a notorious hipsterville area. No matter, this place is kinda by itself on a corner. Walking in, there are picnic tables, so you sit community style with others. There was a bar to my right, communal seating in the middle, and bar seating along the left edge. I enjoyed the décor, but man, it’s loud AF in there. We were there in the evening, after 7pm and it wasn’t super crowded, but it sounded like it. We were fortunate enough to be able to move to a corner booth so we could hear our own conversation.
Beer — I sampled two beers and shite, I can’t remember the name of the FiftyFifty beer. It started with an M, if I remember correctly, and it was delicious. Winner winner! The second beer was the German Table Beer, a dark German session with wheat. Also delicious. I wish it hadn’t been a Wednesday night because I would’ve picked at LEAST three more to try. The selection is superb. Most of my stars are dedicated to this.
Food — We ordered the Snack Bar and split among us four. I think it’s a good bang for your buck. You get a HUGE fresh soft pretzel, house made corn nuts, olives, and pork cracklins. Everything on that platter was delicious, though I feel as though the cracklins were a little stale. Could’ve just been me. Hubs and I split the Steph Currywurst. It’s a good portion for one person. That was my bad. Not too overwhelming with the curry flavor, with nice pickled onions and chips on the side. I left needing something else though…
I took away a star due to price. Yes, the selection is great. The food is well thought-​out and complementary to the beer list. It was pricey for me though (see 1^st paragraph). A sausage dog, although delicious was $ 14. Overall, still a good place. I’d come here again on a semi-​full stomach to sample more beer.

Great brunch place!
Friendly service. Sat at the bar and was served by a cool guy from San Diego. A wide variety of beer on tap. The Royale with Cheese was amazing. The oysters were sweet. I will definitely return to try the pumpkin pie donut holes!

Host was rude and arrogant. Once seated, it took 15 mins to get anybody to take out order. It took about an hour in total to get our food even though multiple people who came in after us got their food. Ordered the steak and eggs, got a plate off eggs and potatoes with about 2oz of steak (not an exaggeration). Asked the rude host if they made a mistake and she grabbed my plate, took it back to the chef, came back and condescendingly said, «it’s a brunch portion, not a dinner portion.» I spent $ 20 on a plate off eggs and potatoes essentially.
Would never go to this place again. This place embodies everything wrong with new hipster restaurants. Hire pretentious asshole employees (minus the bartender, she was nice), charge way too much for half decent food so they can afford their expensive décor, and shame people if they actually are upset with the experience. It was probably my fault anyway, right?

My girlfriend and I went on a double date with two of our friends, and we had dinner at The Hog’s Apothecary.
It was a Saturday night, and there was a good crowd. This restaurant has communal tables which is something that I absolutely disdain. As someone who has a busy schedule and is in a long distance relationship, my time with my girlfriend, my friends, and my family is precious to me. When I finally get the time to spend with my self-​selected company, I hate having to shout over strangers to avoid being drowned out by their own conversations. That being said, the communal tables at Hog’s were not nearly as cramped as the ones at Homeroom. You still have to do a lot of yelling though. The hard wooden benches were pretty uncomfortable too.
Everything else about the restaurant was really great though. They offer a preponderance of great local and semi-​local beers on tap. I had the Buddha’s Hand IPA from Berryessa Brewing in Winters, CA, and it was awesome. It was not overly bitter and had a pleasant citrus taste from the Buddha’s hand. Everyone else enjoyed their beers as well.
My girlfriend and I started our meal with a soft pretzel. The pretzel had a rich, brown skin and was light and airy on the inside. I really enjoyed the spicy mustard dipping sauce that came with the pretzel. The heat from the mustard hits you right in the sinuses (in a good way).
For our meal, we shared the corn dog and the Jamaican Me Crazy sausage.
Corn dog: Easily one of the best (non-​State Fair) corn dogs I’ve ever had. However, I feel like corn dogs are kind of like donuts. Awful ones are still pretty good, and even the best version with the best possible ingredients is only a few times better than the average ones.
Jamaican Me Crazy: The sausage was tasty, although the jerk seasoning could have been a little more bold. I only tasted faint traces of allspice. The bun pillow-​soft and provided a textural contrast to the pop I would get when biting into the casing of the sausage. The potato chips were tasty too.
While both items were really good, they do seem a little overpriced for what they are.
Our service was good, although there was some redundancy between the servers. Several different people came around to take our orders and this led to some confusion when my girlfriend ordered a second beer and two of the servers mistakenly thought that the other one would get the beer. They got it right eventually though.
Overall, I like The Hog’s Apothecary and would come back another time for beer and a corn dog.

I did it again. I attempted to like the food here. I ordered the corn dogs. The batter was oily, flavorless, and mushy. The sausage was average. The chips that came on the side were also mega oily. I get it… chips and a corn dog will be oily… but these were above and beyond. Mustard was like horseradish/​wasabi and the ketchup was very sweet. Beer is still a hit which is why it still gets two stars vs. one star.
Food is no good, it is below average.
Beer is still fantastic. Great selection.
Service is okay with an occasionally rude host.

First visit to Hogs apothecary and we came here for brunch on a Saturday. We were able to make reservations which is a plus for us for any establishment.
The atmosphere industrial, yet cozy. We sat at a long table with benches which could easily be a communal table.
Since we are vegetarian for 2016, it’s always a challenge to find something to order but Hogs Apothecary made it easy. They had small bites which was mostly vegetarian — squash and kale soup, warm pretzels, arugula salad, and Flower Power, which is fried cauliflower with Meyer lemon butter, chevril, and chive on soft scrambled egg.
The Flower power was delicious. Crunchy, yet tender cauliflower flavored well with the lemon sitting on delicate soft eggs. I ordered the waffles which was a savory spring onion waffle with maple syrup. The sweet and savory balance was perfect.
We also paired everything with a carafe of mimosa.

Excellent beer selection
Slowish service, only had maybe 1 or 2 waitstaff for a busy Saturday night. I was going to order the corn app but thankfully I was told it was essentially corn nuts.
Pistachio mortadella was good
Pork crackling was delicious
Shrimp grits were absolutely fantastic
Corn dog was extremely dissapointing, the breading fell apart and wasn’t crispy or thick enough and the sausage was bleh.

We arrived early for our reservation so sat at the bar where we enjoyed some of the amazing beers they have on tap. The service and atmosphere was so great we decided to just fine at the bar and what a treat. We had bar snacks of olives and spicy pork crackling — both delicious. Next the chickfritz which made me wish I could cook so well. For our main we shared the shrimp and grits — let’s say I had to strongly resist licking the plate! Final course was the pumpkin and pretzel donuts with a custard sauce. I’ll admit to drinking what was left of the custard sauce. The donuts themselves were packed with flavor and delightfully moist. Finally did I mention the beer selection? Great choice of local small brews, many of which I love so glad Hogs supports them. I will definitely be back

We brought some of our fam here, because I mean it has hog in the name— why wouldn’t we? They only serve beer and wine, so don’t expect a full bar. The menu is a great mix of stuff to share and entrees. We ordered a mix of bar snacks, appetizers and one entrée to share. Everything was super tasty! The staff was super awesome.
The one thing that I didn’t like was the bench seating (I need a seat back when filling my belly) and there was no where to hang my jacket & purse.
We will definitely go back here to try more of the menu

My wife & I decided to start out 2016 with brunch here today. Brunch was quite busy today, so it was good that we made a reservation. She started with a mimosa, while I had a pint of hefeweizen (a tough choice, as they have over 25 beers on draft).
I ordered the chicken and waffles. You can get either maple syrup or gravy with this order, but I recommend the syrup. The onion waffle and fried chicken are very savory, so the sweetness of the syrup brings a nice balance. They use boneless chicken thighs, so you can forgo utensils and just dig in with your bare hands!
My wife ordered a benedict, which comes with the house pastrami. The egg was cooked perfectly, but the dish (along with the house potatoes) were a little on the salty side.
We ordered a side of bacon to share, which could have been cooked a little longer.
The service was excellent: attentive, but not overbearing. The place got pretty loud as it got crowded, but it was very festive for the holiday.

Lively, quality gastropub that’s helping to put the area around 40^th Street and Broadway on the map as a new dining corridor in Oakland, with a feel and identity that’s distinct from gentrified Piedmont Avenue not far away.
The first things you notice are the tremendous craft beer selection and the meat/​pork-​heavy menu. As for the beer, the selection is quite extensive and although it features mostly craft brews, it looks like it’s been curated to be very comprehensive across all major styles. Moreover, if you have any questions about any single beer item, you could ask for a little taste, or you could ask for advice on what pairs well with certain dishes on the menu.
And as for the menu, it is quite meat-​heavy (although I assume some items may be vegetarian-​friendly or can be made so). While items like sausages might sound steep at around $ 13, the portion size is tremendous, and the case of the «Got Seoul» sausage that they offered recently, it comes topped uniquely with Asian ingredients. There are even meatier, more substantial entrees available too, all with whimsical names to them. Everything is so meaty and delicious, you’ll be «mmm”-ing with approval throughout the meal.
The overall atmosphere is quite friendly and festive, with lots of communal seating, and the place can be packed most of the time. Service is also knowledgeable and friendly too. Chalk up another win for the 40^th Street area and for the Oakland dining scene.

Every time I pass by Hog’s Apothecary, it’s filled to the brim with customers. The menu is filled with (overpriced) sausage options. I guess it’s their specialty, but no way in hell I am buying into gourmet hotdogs prices anymore. I already think Rosamunde and Wurstkuche in LA are overhyped and overpriced so $ 12+ for a dog? I really don’t think so.
Instead, I tried out the brunch menu.
At first look, everything is pleasant. The servers are nice, the interior is open with long communal tables, and they have an extensive «hipster» beer list. I’m on a Belgian kick lately for I get the two Belgian beers and they are both delicious.
After we ordered the food, about 45 minutes have passed and we are already close to finishing our second beer. The service is painfully slow. In fact, I saw some other tables that came in after us getting their food first. What’s up with that?
They see us get a bit antsy and assure us our food is coming out. I receive my French Monsieur which is good, with a nice kick of Horseradish. I also try the Apothecary Benedict and must admit, the house made ham is quite good. Everything tastes pretty good but they are all pretty much heart attacks on a plate.
The food is definitely better than average but not enough to make me keep wanting to come back. The problem with this place, and a bunch of other new hipster joints in Oakland, is that everything is «artisanal» but that doesn’t mean it necessarily makes everything taste better nor does it justify the stiff prices. There are too many places in Oakland which offers a good beer list and hipster food, but it’s kind of getting out of hand. What’s next, $ 20 sausage made with baby dragon butt and foie gras? I digress but I didn’t feel Hog’s was a step above any other already existing places. That’s why I’ll give it an A-​OK.

Soup in a nutshell? Chopped up tomatoes with a sprinkle of cheese.
I came here before and had a good experience with the hotdog, but this soup was pretty much missing all marks.
It doesn’t help that it took us a good 20 to order even with making eye contact with several workers.
Nonetheless, will come back again, cuz I don’t want to give up on y’all.

It’s quite good but it’s certainly not cheap. My friend and I split the brussels sprouts with egg/​cheese/​bacon, the short rib arancini (the balls of the beast), and the amargallego sausage. tl;dr they were all great. The sprouts were sauteed and really porky. The arancini nailed that crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside split. The amargallego came topped with patatas bravas for an interesting mouthfeel.
I’m a fan, and this isn’t even getting to the wide (and also fairly pricy) beer selection. If you’re looking for a gastropub with better, and intensely meaty, takes on standard fare, Hog’s should be on your radar.

My husband and I were starving on a recent Friday night and wanted to avoid a long traffic ride home. At first we tried to give The Annex a shot but the parking issue proved to be too big of a hurdle, and so we made a snap decision to go to The Hog’s Apothecary.
WE LOVE LOVE LOVE this place and we want to come back for more. It’s slightly too pricey for us, but we SO enjoyed our experience here, the extensive beer selection, and the high-​quality food preparation. My husband and I just LOVE German food!
The draft beer menu had, at a minimum, 20 different types of beer. Fewer cider choices but the ones they did offer were stellar. Gowans Orchards 1876 cider is absolutely delicious! Before drinking, make sure to give the drink a good whiff — smells like fresh apples!
Bratmobile ($ 14) — Decent bratwurst and bun. The house pickle is HELLA good. Coming from me, who doesn’t like pickled vegetables much, this is a big deal. The sauerkraut isn’t as good as we would have liked it to be… but it’s fair.
It’s What’s For Dinner ($ 26) — OMG. Mouth-​watering deliciousness. The braised beef short ribs were cooked to perfection. Tender and chewy.
We are DEFINITELY coming back for more — food and beer and everything!

It took me awhile, but I finally got to try Hog’s and for brunch, nonetheless.
I came on a Saturday and there was a good crowd and we got seated right away. I had one of their many beers on tap, though I don’t recall which one. I went with the Belgian Waffles with Fried Chicken. The waffles were savory and the fried chicken was a must. Otherwise, what’s the point? The dish was excellent. Though the person I was with got the something else, it was very small for the price, even though my dish was a bit pricey as well. I don’t remember what he got, as it is not on the menu online.
The food is good and the service is good as well. This is a place I would come to every once in a long awhile, but certainly worth a try.

Your typical hipster joint. Bearded men, beer, beer snacks made in-​house, pretzels.
Crater Lake Root Beer was delish. Served in a metal cup with perfectly square ice cubes that don’t get in the way, it has a refreshing but light sassafras taste. It’s $ 5 for about 10 oz.
Pretzel was pretty average. The mustard was more like wasabi pretending to be mustard. The malted mayo was brown mayo.
The space is pretty comfortable but service was okay. No one came to our table for quite a while until we asked.

I was out Free Wheeling and I had a fresh Charge on my Ankle Bracelet .
Today was a good day to eliminate another Book Mark .
So I rolled to The Hogs Apothecary and Oaktown.
I rolled up and Parked right across the street. No Parking Lot just Street Parking .
They also have Bike Parking right up front.
The Cool Thing is the Front Door Handles are Shaped like Giant Meat Cleavers.
I was Greeted upon Entering and Grabbed a Seat at the Bar.
The Furnishings are Very Sturdy and some of it is from Repurposed Materials very cool.
Their Bar Menu and Food Menu Change Daily .
They also Butcher a Whole Pig every Tuesday and they use every part in Meal preparation .
They have 2 LCD TVs for Sporting Events .
They also have a Nice Big Open Air Skylight .
Their Bartenders are a Wealth of Info .
They have several Micro Brews on Tap.
I ordered a Whippersnapper –Southern English Style Brown Mild Ale. I Liked It.
I then ordered a Chocolypto — Imperial Stout with Oatmeal and Cacao. I really like this one it was Rich and Robust .
My Final Beer was Framboos /​Batch 28 –Belgian Style Ale with Raspberries. This is a Must Order very Flavorful and Fruity .
For Dinner I Ordered
The Belgian Braise — House Butchered Pork Shoulder braised in Societe ale, heirloom grits, charred radish rapini braising jus, hard herb– bread crumb salsa .
This was very good the Pork was so Tender it melted in my Mouth. Yummy
I also ordered a Corn Dog and it Came with House rendered Lard Fried Kennebec Potato Chips and Mixed Pickles. This was also good .
My Servers were Very Nice and Prompt .
I Paid By Discover Card and Rolled out.

I should have ordered the Fried Chicken.
As good as that dish looked though (and as much as I wanted to try it), I knew I had to order something pork related. After all, between Hog’s Apothecary’s name and their giant pig statue that hovered behind me, it’d practically be sacrilegious not to! And I am not one to mess with the pork/​bacon/​pork belly powers that may be (all hail, Bacon!).
With a menu that is constantly changing, Hog’s Apothecary has a lot to offer, even if the day’s menu isn’t super extensive — roughly a dozen starters and sides, a handful of sausages, and a few different entrées. What’s more, there’s beer and lots of it. With over 25 varieties on tap (mostly craft brews), you could even forgo eating and just sample beers all night long.
– SPICY PORK CRACKLIN’S…$ 3
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These cracklin’s are crackin’! Not only are they borderline addictive, but they really do pack some heat, as every piece is coated with a spicy, mouth-​watering seasoning (don’t forget the lime!). What’s more, the portion is quite generous! A great starter for groups to share.
– BOURBON-​CHICKEN LIVER PATE…$ 6
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Although larger slices of bread would have been nice to spread out all that pâté, I’m not definitely not complaining about those giant gobs either! While every bite was rich and decadent, the taste was also nicely accentuated by the sea salt and the berries. If this isn’t the best one I’ve had, it wouldn’t be far behind.
– SUPERFECTA SAUSAGE SANDWICH — Pork, Rabbit, Chicken, Tim’s Brown Ale, Basque Chili & Mild Herbs, Fennel-​Onion Braise, Dijon Mustard…$ 14
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The only blemish, but it was a big one. I was hopeful for trio of meats in the sausage, but it wasn’t even juicy, let alone flavorful. Ironically, the braise had the opposite effect, overpowering whatever flavor the meat had with fennel. Sadly, besides the chips, the only other thing I enjoyed were the pickled vegetables.
As underwhelming as my order was, it really was the only «bad» thing about my experience. Great food otherwise, an awesome selection of beers, fantastic staff (they let our large party split our bill into smaller tabs), and (relatively) easy parking. Plus, with several long tables, Hog’s Apothecary is grew for groups large or small.
Also, it’s worth noting that the rest of my friends seemed to enjoy their food quite a bit (we all ordered different things), so it wouldn’t surprise me if what I had just wasn’t one of their better dishes. Especially since the starters were really good. Rounding up from THREE AND A HALF STARS, but I wonder what might have been if I had only ordered the fried chicken!