McTeague’s Saloon

Came here early to watch the Warriors Final Game and hopefully have a victory party but that was not the case. I sat in the back to watch on the game on the big screen and had the awesome bartender Tony. He was great and promised I could be his first order and I was. I was also his last after my team lost :(
Still had a great time though. I’ve been here for plenty of crazy Friday and Saturday nights with my best friend. Always a good time at this place. The people are generally friendly, including the security up front and it’s never super overly crowded to the point it’s unpleasant. Always just on point.

I wish is could give no star to this Bar. First time in 14 years got kicked out of a Bar in San Francisco and faced Racism.
This Bar is a Joke.

Great for watching USA soccer games with the American outlaws.

Mediocre bar, terrible service. I waited 10 minutes to put in my order, bartender took the order of a woman that walked up after 1 minute of waiting. When I called him out and gave home a middle finger he had security escort me out. Never going back. BTW security thought it was funny and we socialized on the sidewalk while I waited for the people in my group to finish their drinks.

I specifically signed up for Unilocal just to write this review.
This review is strictly for the bouncer, Tyrome (I don’t remember his exact name but he’s the tall black guy)
I lost my purse here on a Friday Night and returned to the bar on a Saturday
only to find out that the bouncer found my purse on Friday night and returned it to the bar.
Tyrome is freakin awesome, This man deserves a raise.
Despite the shitty situation I got myself in that night, I was thankful I got all my belongings back expect my iphone.
Ladies, I would be extra careful coming out this area, gets super sketchy late at night
You would not want to be stuck in the shitty position that I’m in.

Oooww. I never thought there is a such a good place. Entrance looks kinda weird but once you step inside you are going to experience an amazing crowd with wonderful music. And they got great Sound systems too. No matter where you are, some random corner, Mini lounge or on the lighting dance floor you’ll hear the same sound with excellent bass. This place is amazing and fully took over by Young crowd on Friday’s and Saturday’s. Thumbs up I’m going there again.
But the only catch is, Minimum $ 15 for credit card transaction.

Always come to this bar to hang out with friends. Nice atmosphere on weekday. Not too crowded

Had a nice evening with their cocktails and loud music. Staff is friendly.
It’s little crowded, otherwise nothing to complain about.

Decent music on weekend nights and no cover. Thumbs up in my book. It’s a great place to hang out at if Mayes next door has a huge line — and cover.

Came here on a FRIDAY night. Nothing special. The décor was old and music wasn’t great. Outdated music?! McTeague smelled like puke even early in the night. The floor was sticky as well. Drinks are overpriced for an outdated bar. The probably have to remodel if they are not in a good location.
Just another old smelly dive bar on Polk. Only plus side is no cover charge.

Came here for the super bowl and the customer service was outstanding. No cover and free complimentary pizza and wings? I’m in!
In a time when everyone was trying to charge extra because of the super bowl, McTeagues focused on helping out fans and providing great customer service.
The crowd was there to have fun, no issues, no obnoxious kids. The bar tenders were personable, approachable and downright friendly. We had a great time.

Me and my friends are always out at Mcteagues. It has a great crowd and great music with a dance floor. A good open space to dance and chat. The drinks are not too expensive and the staff are nice.

Really nice open space with good music playing. It was a good start to the night as we were there for the first stop of the night since we were out early and able to talk and socialize while there. The drinks were served quickly. Not sure on the pricing of the drinks but they were tasty and had good alcohol content.

McTeagues is honestly one of the most fun bars I’ve been to here in the city. Very warm, friendly, and hilarious team of bartenders at the place, and more importantly — a good, clean, beautiful crowd! The drinks are great, the service is stellar, and just an awesome place to party, or even watch the game!
I spent my New Years Eve here for their «Studio 54» themed disco party– and they really went all out. Disco lighting and decorations. A photo booth. And even an LED Dance Floor! Most happening place on Polk street in my opinion.

My friend and I visited this bar for a high school reunion. For the most part, the bar tenders were very accommodating. The reason why I am giving this place «2 stars» has nothing to do with the bar tenders OR music. My friend lost her wallet in the bar, or got her wallet «stolen.» One of the bouncers/​security told me he did NOT like me calling him «sir» when I respectfully called him «Sir,» put his hand in my face and dismissed me when we asked if we could check through the bathroom for the wallet. He told me «In the same way you don’t like me calling you «sweetie,» I don’t like being called «sir’». I didn’t know what else to call him! And I’m sure most people know it is not the same dynamic. As a woman I felt oppressed and disrespected. ESPECIALLY when he put his hand in my face and dismissed me. At one point, he even yelled down to me right at my face. Mind you, I’m a little girl, standing at 5’1, and this man was no shorter than 6 feet tall. Even other bouncers couldn’t put their chests up and fully defend him because even they saw how wrong it all looked. But of course, they weren’t going to let their guard down on me either. I understand that bouncers are hired for a reason and are hired to prevent confrontation and further attention. And at the same time, I do understand that bars are not «liable» for lost/​stolen items but ALL WE WANTED TO DO was check. If not allowed to check, we would have at least wanted to be been treated with respect, whether or not the wallet was there. We felt very disrespected and almost oppressed for this reason. Turns out the wallet was found. A minute ago. At the venue. Thanks but no thanks bar hoppers. I would like to visit this bar again, as I am a NATIVE San Franciscan. But it will be a problem if the bar hoppers/​security talk to women this way again.

UNEDUCATED, DISCRIMINATORY, & IGNORANT POLICY– they wouldn’t take my ID because I’m from Guam and wouldn’t give me a reason. It’s a US territory learn about it sometime. The bouncer couldn’t give us any reason nor a manager to speak to regarding their ignorant & discriminatory policies. The bouncer couldn’t even speak to me like I was a human being and just ignored me the second he saw my ID. Apparently there wasn’t a manager available to speak to tonight either.
When I mentioned their company would lose business because of their arbitrary policies (he probably never heard of guam and therefore found my ID as fake) he says «oh not necessarily» so I guess that means they don’t care about losing business to people from anywhere outside of the state or people from a place that isn’t a huge city.

This is a pretty chill bar! There’s two parts to it, which I like. You can just hang out in the front and drink. There are some places to sit and/​or stand around tables. Then there’s a dancing area in the back and they play bomb music. I was drunkenly obsessed over the rubix cube looking light up floor in between floors.

Oh McT’s, how we love you. Whether it’s the line dancing lessons, the MNF parties, the crazy and terrifyingly demented halloween decorations, or the huge line out front for 4-​deep at the bar, we keep coming back.
Why? Girls. McT’s has the best flow of any bar in the area and on pub crawls, theme days (SantaCon) or Halloween, it never disappoints.
Sure, the floor smells like a frat house kitchen and people camp out in the scant seating like they are camping overnight, but we love it, and we always come back.
Affordable drinks, fun bartenders, lots of TVs, and fun people. If this place every get’s bought and turned into a frou frou hipster bar I swear, someone will burn it down (and trust me, with the years of spilled liquor seeped into the woodwork, it will go up like a matchstick house)

Bartenders will get to know you by name, remember your drink and high five you when the Giants score.
In other words my type of drinking hole.
Listen its not too pretty, but if you want that walk down the street and fight for a place at the bar and squish shoulder to shoulder. Plus soccer is god here which is every drinking man’s sport.

Had a great Saturday night here, was able to get a $ 10 margarita the was amazing and a AMF for $ 15 but it was a huge glass. Over all super fun, good vibes everywhere!

Casual. Good jams. Decent drinks. Fun people.
This was our first stop to a long night of bar hopping and boy am I glad we stopped here first! We had great drinks here to start the night and danced our little hearts away. This place had awesome mainstream and old school hits to sing our lungs out.
Girlfriends and I will be back when in SF!

WHOAAAA!
Everything was just fine here on a Saturday night here until I decided to head towards the back and crossed the invisible but VERY APPARENT line that lies smack-​dab between the middle of the bar and the dance floor area right where the bathrooms are.
I’m sorry McTeague’s, ya’ll get two stars for having good service and drinks at reasonable prices, but goooodlaawwwwd!!! I’ll be damned if this place isn’t the smelliest bar I’ve ever been in my entire life! I seriously felt like I got hit in the face by that locker-​room-​esque wall of odor that’s trapped in the back. GET SOME FANS! or A/​C in here NOW!
I feel so bad for the people that have to work here. I had just gotten back from 8hrs at a festival on top of being 3 drinks deep and I couldn’t even tolerate the pocket of stench for more than a few seconds.
This is a decent sized venue and again the prices and service was good, but that lack of ventilation is inexcusable.

Inexpensive*
Nice place to grab a drink on a Thursday night; clean when I was there at 8pm. Friendly security guards and friendly bartenders.
*perception of expenses may be skewed from living in LA and bay area

If you’re at least heavily buzzed and ready to dance like an inflatable air man, then there’s a small chance you will have fun. Anymore sober and reality will hit you hard (trust me, I was DD, more sober than the Pope). Grimy, hot and stuffy, chaotic, sticky floor, puking smell blends with sweat, loud sucky music with old weird décor.
They stuffed people in as if they were making bratwurst. Drinks are too expensive for a dive bar (~12 bucks for a mai tai & other cocktails). While waiting for your drunken friends to come to their senses (will not happen), I challenge you to a game of no-​contact: you weave around without touching anyone (Hint: you will lose every time, your crotch (boobs for girls) is the weak point, it will make contact).

This is a classic dive bar on Polk. I’d save it for the end of your bar crawl.
Pros: No cover charge. (At least we weren’t charged) Crazy unique décor including a coffin hanging from the ceiling with a skeleton hanging out. There is a really cool lit up dance floor and there is a surprising amount of seating, if you can snag it.
Cons: It smelled like puke and the floor was sticky even though we were there at the beginning of the night. Glassware looked dirty as well. The music was really outdated so even though people gathered throughout the night and there was always someone trying to start the dance floor, it never really got started.

This bar has its pros and its cons. Drinks were reasonably priced, music was good (but they play it from weird locations so it’s not very loud in parts of the bar). The glass floor is light up in one section and cool, but some are broken and it looks kind of janky. Finally; I don’t know if my group had a bad night or what, but 3 people lost or had stolen their iPhones. Another friend who was not there later said that bar is notorious for pick pocketing. So that is unnerving, be very careful with your belongings!

You know I actually liked this place.
We don’t have much ‘Saloons’ in Hawaii. The ones we do have, doesn’t give you that country vibe this place did. We also came on a Thursday, which is apparently their country night.
The bartender that was helping us was awesome! He was super cool and patient with us.

A great selection of music [modern, country, dance…] + cheap drinks + nice employees + not crowded with douches = PERFECT for a party of girls to enjoy the first night of bachelorette fun!
:)

Eeehhh. I’ve been here about 3 times. And while the crowd is okay, the actual environment is pretty unbearable for me. Right when I walk in. all I smell is vomit. Excuse me? The first time I came was for a friend’s bachelorette and we went bar hopping – I thought maybe someone did puke. Second time… was confused. Last night we got there at like 10p! It STILL smelled awful! There’s this sour smell right as you walk in, it wasn’t even crowded last night. Makes me think this smell never goes away.
For somebody who has a sensitive nose, I can’t deal. There must be other places that don’t smell so disgusting upon entry. =/

In a lot of parts of the United States, McTeague’s would be the best bar in town. Right?
They open early and have a great selection of European Matches, and they draw a knowledgeable crowd. They have a big selection of Drafts, range of $ 7 Cocktails, and higher end Whiskey/​Scotch offerings. I love watching sports here, and they have a lot of TV’s. It’s a big place, and it draws a diverse crowd. It is really one of the better Sports Bars in SF, and if you are from out of town and want to watch Football (EPL, not NFL) in the AM, you can’t miss here. 6:30am on the Weekends, if I’m not mistaken. You should also check out their art — I have some photos posted.
I don’t know a lot about the history, but I know it dates back to the olden days of the 1800’s. I can only imagine Polk Gulch at that point. It’s diverse and rough-​and-​tumble now, but to think of dirt streets and a whole continent between you and The East (and no airplanes)… I think this place helps us retain some of our Old School Awesomeness.

Did Litquake choose this venue for its Goodreads Lit Quiz event for its name? McTeague is the title of a novel written by Frank Norris around 1899 about an eponymous dentist who opens a dental office on Polk St. in San Francisco. I talked to one of the Litquake volunteers and he said the place wasn’t chosen for its name but for its size.
This is a pretty sizable bar. You wouldn’t think so from the outside but it is inside. The main bar counter is long and there are booths and bar stools across from the bar. Plenty of seating for those who want to sit. Beyond the bar is another room in the back with a smaller bar, several more booths and more bar stools and big barrels as tables.
There are weird stuff on the wall as well as ceiling. There is a huge sign by the women’s restroom warning people of phone thefts. This place was crowded the night we came, as people were watching the Giants game. I can’t speak about their cocktails because we just had beer here. They have a lot of TVs, so it’s a good place to watch sports. We saw people bring in food purchased outside the premises to have with their beer too. Not a bad place to get together with other Giants fans to watch the game and for nerds like us to compete in a literary quiz!