Destinations

I was expecting a mellow, loungey wine bar with overpriced small plates and overdressed working class women sitting next to corporate guys in expensive suits… And I wasn’t expecting to get carded at the door. Turns out that District, a fairly new hot spot on the corner of Townsend and 3rd has held its own on the border of SoMa and South Beach (San Francisco neighborhoods), packing out with a bar-like atmosphere most every night.

At 8:30pm on a Thursday night, I had to politely shove my unwieldy commuter bag through a dense crowd ranging from early 20s to mid-40s, dressed in everything from jeans and t-shirts, to business casual, to those outfitted for clubbing later on. I slowly circled the place, not a seat to be found at the tall cocktail tables on one side, low cushy couches on the other side, nor at the central U-Shaped bar.

An advantage to traveling alone, I found a tiny little opening at the bar and squeezed myself into a standing spot. Once at the wood-finished bar, with the crowd at my back, District seemed to open up and I was able to notice that it was a converted warehouse, given away by the high ceilings with wooden rafters and exposed brick walls. There was a flat-screen tv on one sidewall playing an old black and white movie.

One of the bartenders handed me a paper menu, featuring over 30 wines by the glass and 10 flights with an impressive global diversity. I turned over the menu to find a selection of Mediterranean-influenced samplings ranging from an artisanal cheese plate and charcuterie plate, to arancini, calamari, ahi tuna tartare, pizzetta, and main dishes like lamb lollipops and roasted organic chicken.

The prosciutto San Daniele and arugula hand rolls with goat cheese and balsamic fig jam caught my eye and I asked the bartender for a pairing recommendation. He seemed very familiar with their by-the-glass offerings and recommended Cold Heaven Viognier from Santa Rita Hills. I normally drink Sauvignon Blanc, but this particular wine was full-bodied enough to stand up to the rich flavors of fig, goat cheese, and prosciutto, notwithstanding a nice acidic, palate-cleansing finish. I happily stood and ate at the busy bar, enjoying the wine and chatting with a local woman next to me. She and her friend raved about the hangar steak from local Prather Ranch, sliced and served over white beans with a homemade salsa verde.

The menu only seemed slightly overpriced, but well worth the experience – and the location. I walked out the door and down the block to catch the Caltrain back to San Jose. District is also about a block away from AT&T Park. Open Monday through Friday from 4pm to 2am and open at 5pm on Saturdays, District is closed on Sundays. The full menu is served from 5:30-10:30pm and a limited late night menu is served from 10:30pm to midnight Thursday through Sunday. Not bad for a pit stop.

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