San Francisco Elks Lodge No. 3

December 23, 2015 The City is abuzz with holiday shoppers. Restaurant lines are long, streets are crowded and frantic shoppers reign supreme. Located in the heart of this mass throng lies a little gem, Elk’s Lodge #3. We took a break from our Union Square spree and visited this San Francisco institution. What a delight! We walked through the hotel lobby and took the elevator to the third floor. My friend had the Kobe burger but at $ 12.00 I doubt it was really Kobe, and I had the Caesar Salad with chicken at $ 10.00. Excellent food and great value. Our chardonnay at $ 7.00 was a bit higher than I had anticipated but when wines by the glass in SF typically go for $ 15 and up it was a good deal. No lines, in fact, we were the second table for lunch at 12:30pm. Our server was sweet but way to stressed to be serving only 2 tables. We didn’t have time to tour the entire lodge but there’s always next time.

The Elks have a new chef and I couldn’t be happier!!! The food is really good and at a reasonable price for such an amazing historic place. The pork chop with polenta I had on my last visit was yum!

While staying in the Kensington Park hotel, my colleague and I were exploring the bldg and saw the Elks Lodge nameplate on the imposing wooden door. Visions of a forbidden secret society (think the Freemasons — after all, we’re on the corner of Mason) danced in my head, when the door swung open and a friendly voice greeted us. I peeked into the vast space — two adjacent ballroom-​sized halls with 20-​foot high ceilings of ornately-​painted leather — and we were ushered in for a mini tour & history lesson.
Elks Lodge #3 is the oldest continuous surviving chapter (1876) after #1 (the original NY) & #2 (Philly) shuttered. They own the entire building and lease out floors to the hotel I’m staying in as well as a theater. Membership benefits include a gym, an old classic bar with a pool table — basically a private club to hang out at a half block from Union Square. You get better acquainted with your fraternal cohorts at charitable & other social events.
To top things off, our host capped the evening’s orientation by buying us a round of Elks Lodge whiskey and encouraging us to join our local chapter.

Lots of history and the décor to match. I think this place is what the average social club for retirees is like, and usually out in the suburbs. Here, it’s located upstairs inside the Kensington Hotel on Post Street — surprisingly right at Union Square!
Typically not my scene as I’m into lounges and bars but even going out to those spots needed switching up from time to time. This place did make me want to stop by again. There is a balcony overlooking Post Street. I’ve only had beers and bar drinks here, never the food. The patrons are very nice though.
Note they host a semi-​annual (June and November) blood drive, conducted by Blood Centers of the Pacific (
) — with complimentary food and a raffle (I’ve won a bottle of wine, a resto gift cert, and a Target gift card). So, come on through next time!

Couldn’t be a better place to grab a drink, have some food or attend a function. The entire crew, especially Monica and Jake, are overly amazing!

I am an Elk member from San Rafael, CA, Lodge # 1108. I just had my second visit to this magnificent place and again had an absolutely fantastic time. I took two girlfriends with me: New Zealander and Chinese. I hate to actually have to say this, but in all honesty the folks there are, in general, way more friendly and accommodating than at my own «home» lodge. We were treated so very well, met many really great people and felt completely at home. We stayed for dinner and were served by Rick personally. I couldn’t recommend this place more highly and am really looking forward to my next visit! Thank you for such a wonderful time and for the attitude that made me and my friends feel extremely welcome!!!

So happy to have found this place! My co-​workers and I love this spot for lunches and after work drinks. Rick and Laura are amazing! My favorite BLT in the city! I also recommend going on Thursdays for the meatloaf!

I want to be really torn over how many stars to give this Lodge, but, sadly, I’m not.
I am an Elk member from a different Lodge and booked this place for an important event with attendees flying in from out of state and internationally. My saga began last September with a tour and meeting with caterer, Rick. He was an extremely friendly, outgoing guy who seemed to understand what I needed to accomplish with this event. Venue contract signed. Deposit paid. Cool. A month passed and I sent an email asking for a copy of the finalized menu, price per person, and listing of the A-​V equip would (or might not) be available. (In the industry, we call this doc a Banquet Event Order). No reply to the email. Another email, no reply. Phone message left. No reply. Text message sent. No reply. Finally, in December, Laura calls saying, «oh, we are having problems with our email system not forwarding through. I’ll have Rick call you» He calls they next day and we again discuss the menu and event schedule. I ask if he would write all of this up and send me a BEO. Of course, he would send it to me on Monday (it was Thursday). No email. Week goes by. No phone call. Another phone call. No response. January comes and I happen to look at the Elks website to see if our event is event on their calendar. It’s NOT! I call to the Elks Lodge directly and tell them that there has been some sort of mistake since the lodge had already CASHED MY CHECK LAST SEPTEMBER! They tell me, Rick will call. A week goes by. Nothing. Then I went to the ER at my Lodge asking for some intervention. I was told Rick would call. Then a voice message saying that there had been some calendaring confusion but that they were going to change the other event seeing as how I had already paid a deposit. (really??? gee, thanks!!)
I finally, went in person back to the Lodge during lunch to tackle this problem from a different angle and met with Jake (bar manager. more about him later). Went back to the Lodge a couple weeks later for lunch (literally one week before the event) and happened to find Rick there. Totally friendly and outgoing as the first time that I had met him, though this time I was ready to reach across the table and strangle him. I asked him again for a BEO. He said he would send one the next day. nothing.
I finally just sent another long email detailing everything that we had discussed and indicating some minor changes from our conversation and asked Rick to confirm receipt. This time I cc’d Jake and Laura hoping that if I shoot at the barn with a shotgun, I was bound to hit something
The DAY BEFORE THE EVENT I received an email from Rick confirming headcount and the changes I had requested. phew!
DAY OF THE EVENT, everything turned out great. Food was delicious, staff was attentive, and everything went perfectly! This is what moved me up from a 1-​star to a 2-​star rating
A whole lot of stress and cussing could have been avoided with better communication.
Now, back to Jake– Love him! he returns text messages and is totally professional. Even added special shots to the bar menu just for our group.

I wish there was a happier ending to this story, but I’ve officially given up on this Elks Lodge for our wedding. We were recommended by a member, went to see the place on New Year’s Eve, and were so impressed with it and the in-​house caterer, Rick, that we tried to book it that night online. We didn’t hear back, followed up via email a few times and Rick finally called me back in mid-​February (5 weeks later) to say that he would get back to me the next day to discuss details. But he didn’t.
I left another couple of voicemails and emails since then, trying to get the ball rolling. If he had responded in January, we would have filled out a contract and put down our deposit. When he called in February to apologize and say he’d call back the next day, I was leery enough that I wanted to at least have a sit-​down discussion of the menu and details before I paid a deposit. But now it’s March 15^th and I still can’t get a reply from Rick. I called the lodge on Friday (gave up on his cell phone) and was handed to his «business manager» Laura, who said they had some confusion with double-​booked dates and weren’t getting back to anyone until they were sure about the schedule… but if Rick said our date was available then it still is. What?!?
She said she would try to get Rick to call me back that day but of course, no call. So I give up. At this point, I can’t imagine a thing Rick could do that would restore my faith and confidence in him.
June 7^th, we were going to get married at the Elks Lodge. But now, I have to scramble to find another place and probably change the date since I gave Rick the benefit of the doubt so long that everything else is probably already booked.

I was told from a close source that ALL THE FOOD IS FROZEN FROM COSTCO
yaaaaaaaay
i bet they have a busy microwave hahahahahaha
losers

wonderful place for an event

I know the Elks Lodge is a historic institution, but I met people there who championed the negative notions that come to mind when you think of the Lodge.
It started when I sat down at an open bar stool and started talking with a friend. A couple of minutes later a tall guy pushed his way past my friend, said that he was sitting in that seat and started physically pushing me off of the seat with his body. It was so bizarre. I stood close by talking with my friends about the incident and then the same guy interrupted our conversation. He harshly asked if I was a guest and asked if I knew who he was. He gave some fancy title and said he was the cook, and a couple of other older ladies chimed in saying that I should essentially bow down to the dude because he cooked our meal. Sorry, but respect goes both ways.
I couldn’t believe that this guy ordered me out of my seat, chastised me because I was a guest and started throwing out Elk titles to try to force respect. Your actions should be what earns you respect, not a title.
The crab feed was fun and the drinks were cheap, but if this guy represents the culture of the Elks Lodge, then I want no part in it.

A very friendly bar. Can’t speak to the food, but the bar pours some good, strong drinks.
If someone is available you might be given a tour of the lodge from the basement pool and health club to other historic and interesting rooms.
Of course the facilities are only open to members, visiting members, and guests.

I know some members here and have used their workout facilities and I’ve eaten here. The Food is great and it’s a great place to relax and unwind. Everyone is nice and friendly and it’s a very welcoming place. The Gym could use some upgrades.

This might not be the most appropriate place to put this review, but it’s the best I can think of. I haven’t been to the Elk’s Lodge but I worked with Rick the chef!
I recently worked with Rick to cater a team build for work. He was amazing to work with and went above and beyond my expectations — nicest person in the world! His level of service was beyond what I hoped was possible — he even drove to Marin and set up a hot lunch for us at Muir Beach when I was expecting boxed lunches! He was on time and on budget and gave us great options for a menu. He served a lunch that satisfied the meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans — not the easiest task!
I also loved how excited he was to be a part of making my team build successful. He took ownership over the food being a hit and seemed just as invested in the success of the day as I was. It was great to see his smiling face already setting up when our buses pulled into Muir Beach!
I can’t recommend him enough. It was a great experience for both of us and I will definitely work with him any time in the future. He’s the best! Thanks so much!

My acting studio is next door. I have been here 8 years and this year I discovered the Elks. I am so glad. Love the food and the members. Thanks for being so great.

Love the Elks! I’ve been an Elk for about 8 years. This is a great place for lunch and dinner. The food is really good and the company is even better.
The bar is goregous and definitely filled with some good character.

Great drinks for a great price and
now their food is excellent on Friday nights.
The place is beautiful inside, old mahogany wood and
sits on the 3^rd floor on Post Street above the Farralon
restaurant.

The longest established lodge in America, San Francisco Elks Lodge No. 3 is a great organization that does wonderful things for kids, veterans, and innumerable other groups who need their support.
If that weren’t enough, they have the best bar in the city, a half block from Union Square, where the drinks are cheap, the members are kind (if not a little surly at times), and the food is great. If you know a member, talk them into bringing you for lunch, a Friday dinner, or a drink at the bar.

When I think of the Elks, I think of when Homer Simpson became a stonecutters. So when my friend said I have to check out this place in Union Square, I didn’t expect that it’d be at the Elks Lodge. But the Union Square Elks lodge is actually pretty cool! It’s steeped in history and the building is beautiful.
We went for lunch. Food and a drink for two people was less than $ 20, tip included. The food was pretty good too. I’m not saying I’d go there all the time, but if I lived in SF, I might actually consider joining. It has the potential to be a fun place! Don’t knock it until you try it.

I am a native San Franciscan, have been an Elk since 2003, and the Lodge is Home away from Home for me.
Everyone should be honest about their experience here on Unilocal,and where someone can find the time to write a bad review about the Elk’s guest experience (take Suzi O’s review from July ’08), is beyond my scope of understanding, but hey! it’s a free Country afterall, you have your opinion. I’m sorry that you didn’t have «the tour» from Kurt or Artie or Johanna… the bar is the place to be.
My feeling is biased, naturally, and I wouldn’t presume that eating at the Lodge compares to the French Laundry (which by the way currently holds 4 stars), but it has its many fine qualities that most people will never have the chance to understand. Qualities that I hope everyone in our fair City finds the time to discover for themselves, and especially if it’s a second visit…
As an Elk, I wouldn’t fail to show brotherly love to Suzanne O. through buying her a martini or two, and trying my best in convincing her to edit her review, so long as she never applies for membership! ;-)