Tommy’s Joynt San Francisco – “This Joint Is Jumping!”

Tommy's Joynt is not a bistro, cafe, trattoria or brasserie. It's what the name implies, a joint. Only with a Y.

Since 1947, this San Francisco neighborhood hang has been feeding the blue color working class and hat wearing hipsters alike.

The Joynt is easy to find. Look for the giant vintage neon sign and the giant murals that cover the exterior walls.
They have a lot in the back or just park at a meter on the side street. There was plenty of parking available despite the fact that Tommy's was packed. Yeah, it was jumping!

We got in the cafeteria style line and ordered. Everything is fully on display, so you know what you're getting. Tommy's offers a huge menu of delicious meat-based comfort food choices.

I have to admit that I was all set to order the Buffalo Stew. After all, the huge mural outside says the Joynt is know for this world famous dish.   But at the last minute I chickened out. Maybe it was the stuffed buffalo head mounted on the wall looking down at me mournfully.

I went with the carved turkey plate, complete with stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and a sourdough roll. I was was not disappointed. My wife had the Beef Round plate and was also happy.

The kids were a little harder to please. Our newly vegetarian daughter ordered the mac & cheese but found it too peppery. Similar complaint from our son who said the spaghetti and meatballs were “Not as good as momma makes, but they filled my tummy”   He's seven. He can say tummy.

The four of us feasted for under $35.00! And that included a couple of Cokes, extra sourdough rolls (best I've ever had!) and endless pickles! Did I mention Tommy's has an all you wanna eat pickle barrel? People come in just for that. But as the signs says, “Enjoy The Pickles. but please, take only what you can eat.”

The bar area was packed with locals and sports fans and was decorated with several stuffed animal heads with an impressive collection of giant beer steins and several hockey sticks hanging from the ceiling.

Sure, Tommy's is a bit dark and ragged, make that intimate and lived in. But hey it's a JOINT! If you want fancy, go to the kind of places mentioned in the opening sentence. For hot food, local flavor and endless pickles all at a good price, you have to visit Tommy's Joynt-- a true San Francisco treat. Go.

And if you do try the Buffalo Stew. I need to know what I missed.