(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
First Taste: 25 Lusk's new rooftop bar is (blessedly) anything but dark and moody
20 May 2018
The name 25 Lusk conjures the dark, lounge-y feels of the eight-year-old subterranean drinking den in SoMa.
But the new Rooftop 25 brings the Lusk brand into the light, and it's just what you'd want from a rooftop bar: sunny, casual, and energetic.
Designed by Cass Calder Smith, the SoMa bar and restaurant is clad in San Francisco's chosen palette these days—steel, concrete, glass, and wood siding styled in horizontal slats for contemporary effect. And by SF standards, the place is huge, with enough private and communal tables and semi-private cabana-style seating for 100 guests.
The service will be fast-casual, with a menu of shareable plates from executive chef Matthew Dolan—thin wood-fired pizzas, avocado and shrimp dip, crab rolls, and oysters.
But most likely you'll be here for the drinks. In addition to the requisite beers and wines by the glass, look for quenching signature drinks, bottled small-batch cocktails, and even boozy frozen things such as a spicy passionfruit margarita, Irish coffee, and a John Daly.
Surprisingly, the project has been eight years in the making: It was part of the ownership team's original plan for the building, but delays and logistics and red tape got in the way. But you know what they say about waiting for good things; when you finally do kick back al fresco here—whether it's for a coworker happy hour, a chill date, or pre-Giants-game pit stop—you'll wonder where you ever day-drank before.
(Photo by Anne-Claire Thieulon)
Designed by Cass Calder Smith, Rooftop 25 mixes steel, wood, concrete, and glass to so-San-Franciscan effect. String lights promise extra ambience come dusk.
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(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
There's more fresh seafood to be had in the ceviche of albacore, tamari sauce, pickled jalapeño escabeche, yuzu, and mint. Scoop it up with light taro crisps.
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(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
Rooftop 25's Pizza Two.
You'll have so much fun slicing your own Pizza One (tomato, mozzarella, and basil) that you'll want to order Pizza Two (bratwurst, fennel, shaved apple, and oregano).
▲(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
Every rooftop resto should have a killer burger. This skillet-cooked version comes with slices of Highway 1 cheese, shishito pepper aioli, and sautéed forest mushrooms.
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(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
From left: Rooftop 25's G&T; a raspberry mojito.
The cocktails here are an event on their own. Try the gorgeous G&T (London Dry Gin, Fever Tree Indian Tonic, blackberries, lemon, grapefruit, blueberries, strawberries, and a hint of rosemary) or, for something a little fruiter, opt for the raspberry mojito (Silver Rum, raspberries, lime juice, and mint).
▲(Photography by Sarah Chorey)
In addition to made-to-order cocktails, there are also two bottled drinks on the menu: a red sangria and a piña colada (pictured).
▲// Rooftop 25, 25 Lusk St. (SoMa), 25lusk.com/rooftop-25
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