We'll give you a hint: It involves beer.
Ok fine, we'll cut straight to the chase. Harmonic Brewing has opened a second San Francisco taproom and it's in the thick of the Thrive City action. Set on a vast outdoor plaza two stories up, it's also just steps from the water's edge. In other words, your beers come with all the fresh air and bay vistas your heart desires.
"I was blown away by the patio and views," says partner Jon Verna of his first visit to the space back in the summer of 2019. "We started talking lease terms right away."
Of course, Covid happened and plans were stalled, but "now the time is right." With this, Verna nails it. Our visit made us feel giddy at discovering a new gem...with drinks...out there...in the real world.
Harmonic Thrive City has several beers on tap, both from their own Dogpatch brewery and from other local brewers.Designed by the owners, Verna and head brewer Eddie Gobbo, themselves, the venue is minimalist to let the atmosphere do the talking. Outside, 35 tables are scattered across 1,500 square feet of open space, each with an unobstructed view of the cargo ships moving lazily across the bay and the hillside horizon of the East Bay beyond. The curved architecture of Chase Center lends an impressive punctuation mark.
Inside, the taproom houses 19 more tables in an airy, industrial-style space that's streamlined and conducive to quick service before and after games and concerts.
The bar is pouring Harmonic beers on tap, all brewed just blocks away at the Dogpatch HQ, as well as guest beers from other local breweries. Our go-to is the Harmonic kolsch, which offers a crisp, clean profile with slight apple notes and pairs easily with food.
"We're all about balance and drinkability," says Gobbo, who aims at making "thoughtful beers" that won't "blow away your palate." The idea? To make you want to drink more than just one. "We like the deep cuts on classic albums, not one-hit wonders," he says.
Not a beer fan? Wine, cider, and specialty brunch drinks such as micheladas and "beermosas" are also on offer.
Beer bars with decent food can be tough to come by, but Harmonic's snacks concept is fully baked. They've teamed with James Beard Award–nominated baker Greg Mindel, of the nearby Neighbor Bakehouse, to devise an all-day menu of casual-gourmet hand food including puff pastries stuffed with Cubano fixings (pork, pickles, and mustard); all-beef hotdogs snugly wrapped in seeded pretzel buns; and soft pretzels topped with crisped cheese and pumpkin seeds.
Sunday brunch is also on at Harmonic, where soft eggs ooze from layers of bread and cheese in toasted tartines and splay across biscuits and gravy.
No doubt Harmonic Thrive City will be a hot spot before and after basketball games, but we're happy to have it to ourselves...for now.
Photography by Sarah Chorey
Not into hot dogs? A soft pretzel is topped with pumpkin seeds and embellished with a crispy, cheesy center. Accompaniments include German bierhaus-inspired cheese dip (fontina, cream, paprika), kraut, and whole grain mustard.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
A trio of fancy pastry pockets includes the Cubano, layered with pork, pickles, mustard, and gruyere cheese; the Forager, with mushrooms, cream, and herbs; and another with curried potatoes, green onion, herbs, and gruyere.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
Harmonic's Morning Dew lager is a new collaboration with Alameda's Admiral Maltings for the Jerry Day beer series. Proceeds from the beer's sales support the work of JerryDay.org, which focuses on community projects in the neighborhoods surrounding McLaren Park. A Vienna-style lager, Morning Dew has notes of honey and florals and a light toasty flavor.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
At Sunday brunch, a croissant bread pudding is soaked in quiche custard and laced with herbs, then topped with soft-boiled eggs, cheese, and cilantro.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
The brunch-only quiche is packed with seasonal veggies and a hint of creme fraiche.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
Make room for the biscuits and gravy! The biscuits are topped with green onions, crispy fried onions, and eggs.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
Harmonic Brewing's Thrive City taproom has ample outdoor space and wide bay views.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
Behold, breakfast tartines. Each variation starts with a solid base: a sturdy slice of bread with bechamel sauce, a melted cheese blend, and a soft egg. The croque madame tartine also layers in ham and extra cheese.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
The roasted shiitake mushroom tartine comes with kimchi, seaweed strips, sesame seeds, and crispy garlic on top of sourdough.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
A cross-section of the shiitake tartine.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
A lineup of beverage options from Harmonic: Cellars 33 rosé, a Harmonic kolsch, and Harmonic Morning Drew Lager.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
Heat wave? There are also plenty of tables indoors where floor to ceiling windows keep you in the action.
▲Photography by Sarah Chorey
The final breakfast tartine: a seeded croissant loaf with roasted peppers, feta cheese, and herbs.
▲// Harmonic Brewing Taproom at Thrive City is open 4pm to 10pm Wednesday and Thursday, 3pm to 10pm Friday, noon to 10pm Saturday, and 11am to 6pm Sunday; 7 Warriors Way (Mission Bay),harmonicbrewing.com.
