Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant

Reviews 3

BR

Bruce

Its funny how people, tourists, and others who are just curious go to a place and know nothing about its origins. Take this place as an example. Today, it serves as a restaurant and a place where you can observe murals from long ago. My visit was much more than seeing it as a place to dine, but to look back at its history and how it started, which has always fascinated me. For instance, did you know that this was once occupied by the US Army and used as a barracks? Well, since this is a park of the Golden Gate series Ive done, Ive added this to my review of places! "The Humble beginnings of the Original Beach Chalet" 1892, was when the "Original Beach Chalet" was built on the west side of the Great Highway and across from Golden Gate Park. That original Beach Chalet had a fascinating history, first perched on the beach, and after, when it was moved twenty five blocks east to serve as a clubhouse for the Sunset District Boy Scouts. In 1870, as "Golden Gate Park" was being developed most of the landscaping and public structures were concentrated at the eastern end, near Stanyan Street. There was the Cliff House on the bluff, and at its base, a roadhouse called the Seal Rock House, and next door the Ocean Beach Pavilion for dancing. All these places were more associated with entertaining adults than providing recreation for families. In 1891, approval was made to construct a building designed by architect William O. Banks to serve as a shelter from the wind, provide bathrooms and changing rooms for bathers, and offer observation decks to watch the waves on one side and the developing park on the other. As the San Francisco Chronicle said, "it will be an elegant addition to the few structures which at present relieve the monotony of sand dunes." In 1892, the "House on the Beach" opened and was described as "a two-story structure having steep roofs with ornamental gables in Queen Anne style." There were towers at each end of the building, one of which contained a staircase leading to the second or "observation" floor. The building is designed especially for accommodation of ladies with children who wish to avoid the crowds at the Cliff House. In the early years, there was no clear identity for "The House on the Beach;" it was sometimes also called "The Observatory." By 1895, there were newspaper references to Chalet Beach at the end of Golden Gate Park, and the building there seemed to have developed a permanent identity, but not a firm foundation. The Chalet served "approved" refreshments, not alcoholic beverages, since that would be out of character for a building "designed especially for ladies with children." In 1906, the earthquake damaged the structure and $2,000 was requested for unspecified repairs. This building was a comfortable place to get out of the wind; yet a building situated on the beach was constantly subject to the encroaching waves, especially during winter storms. The city erected a concrete pile sea wall to try and protect the original Beach Chalet from the waves. In 1909, a plan was approved to build a 300-foot breakwater to protect the Chalet and the Great Highway. In 1911, all phases of work to the seawall was completed. In 1914, the real test of the seawall came in the third week of January when a major storm worked its way down from Vancouver, sinking ships and destroying beach and harbor structures all along the Pacific Coast. The Beach Chalet survived the storm with no major damage to its structure. In 1925, a new Beach Chalet, designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, would be built directly across Great Highway from the old (present building). In 1981, an extensive restoration of the structure and artwork began; the chalet was listed on the National Register of Historic Places that same year. In 1996, it reopened and today the ground floor houses the Golden Gate Park visitor center and the Park Chalet restaurant; upstairs is the Beach Chalet restaurant, with sweeping views of the Pacific.

SE

Sean P

This was the worst place my girlfriend and I have ever been to. We arrived and it took more than twenty minutes to be served, watching other couples at tables having the same issue, not only that, but there were many waiters and waitresses whome were very polite once we got to speak with them. Once we ordered my girlfriend wanted to try oysters for the first time and she was treated with oysters that had chunks of shells in them, which I never have experienced before. They were taken back and taken off the check without much hassle thankfully, still being able to see the same couples waiting and waiting for their waiters and waitresses that were all serving alcoholic beverages near the bar. Moving on towards the dining experience, food came out quickly, but lacking any sort of flavor or texture, I had ordered a hamburger with cheese (no cheese on my burger) avocado, sautéed mushroom and onions, so I was excited and expected to be in for a delicious food experience, wrong. My girlfriend had ordered an open-faced mozerella crab sandwich, which she said was fine, but DEFINITELY NOT worth twenty-one dollars, when we could go to a Subway and find something better for under ten dollars. Truly a horrible experience not only for us, but for many other around us waiting to be noticed or served. Do not come here if you do not plan to drink, also every single person we saw got water, with lemon in it. Before any of the commotion happened with our dining experience we had to ask for water, once given no lemon, honestly I could not care less if I had a damn lemon in my water, but to see those with alcoholic beverages being given water before they even got to order, and us who had to wait twenty minutes to be noticed, and have a horrible dining experience, we felt disrespected and as if we completely wasted an hour and a half of our time, as well as fifty dollars for poor food and customer service.

ST

Steven Baker

My wife and I have gone to this place several times. Its touristy since its next to the ocean and down the street from the cliff house, but it really cant be beat if you want to have a meal and watch the ocean. Id give it 5 stars for the atmosphere, 2-3 stars for the food, and 3 stars for service. Still, its a great enough place that weve gone 4 or 5 times. You also shouldnt miss the beautiful frescoes from the depression era in the lobby. Pros: They have a fantastic set of beers that (I think) are only served at the restaurant. Awesome view. Most meals weve had here have been very good. (calamari, seafood pasta, fish and chips). They also have random blues musicians who play on on weekend nights. The ocean view is peaceful but also provides entertainment. You can watch the surfers and occasionally the coast guard doing search-and-rescue drills off-shore. Cons: My worst experience at this place in terms of food and service was when I ordered a bbq pork sandwich that arrived bloody. I dont think thats normal for bbq pork. When I asked the waitress if it needed to be cooked more and pointed at the blood, she said she thought it looked OK. (Whether or not she thought it looked OK, it seems to me that if a customer points out something like that, you should offer to replace it. It certainly didnt taste good.) Anyway, after I complained the second time because it was seriously making me feel sick to eat it, they made me another one that was much better. Another con is the bathroom. The restaurant doesnt have its own bathroom, but instead you have to use the one downstairs which is open to the public. I think a lot of people walk in from the park or the beach to use it, and its usually wet with seawater and smells grotty. Its quite a contrast to the upscale restaurant upstairs.