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Walnut Creek Magazine

Pre or Post Game, The Brixton on 2nd Delivers

Aug 28, 2019 11:13AM ● By Fran Miller

BY FRAN ENDICOTT MILLER 

Just as The Brixton has become a neighborhood favorite in San Francisco’s Marina District, its new sister restaurant – The Brixton on 2nd – stands poised to become a SOMA go-to. Situated just steps from Oracle Park and within striking distance of soon-to-open Chase Center, the new Brixton is an ideal spot for pre and post game or concert cocktails and eats – not only for spectators, but also for athletes and rock stars who love the secret, speakeasy-like back room that affords privacy. 

 

Of course these A-listers have to pass through the main dining room first where they will feel right at home within the rock-and-roll themed interior featuring concert photography and rock icon portraiture. Inspired by the original Brixton, a nostalgic music venue in southern London much like The Warfield and The Fillmore, the restaurant's classic look was envisioned by interior designer Lori Yeomans; industrial design mixes with old world elements to create a warm and welcoming space featuring a 24-foot bar with leather, high-back bar stools, a section of six custom designed communal bar tables, a lounge area, a cozy section of banquettes, and an area of cafe tables positioned next to a retractable door that opens wide onto 2nd Street, allowing the urban energy to infiltrate. The vibe is casual, hip, and relaxed – a place where guests can drink and eat with friends while listening to the backbeat of great tunes and/or watching on large screened televisions the Giants or Warriors, should actual attendance at either prove elusive.

 

Created by Hat Trick Hospitality, the well-established group of San Francisco locals Adam Snyder, Andy Wasserman, and Hugo Gamboa, the Brixton on 2nd  emulates their 20 varied establishments located throughout Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and San Francisco, where great cocktails, great food, and a convivial atmosphere attract a diverse crowd.

Adam Snyder, Andy Wasserman, and Hugo Gamboa

 

"In the past eight years, we've cemented The Brixton as a neighborhood favorite in the Marina," says co-founder Adam Snyder. "We're looking forward to catering to an ever-expanding audience with this new location in San Francisco and the appointment of Chef Banks White as the new Culinary Director for Hat Trick Hospitality. He has designed a program that offers something to all patrons, from die hard sports fans to nearby residents." 

Chef White's culinary career includes Auberge du Soleil, Etoile Domaine Chandon, FIVE in Berkeley, a Michelin Bib Gourmand rated restaurant, and Mintons in New York. In 2017, he became executive chef of The Brixton's sister restaurant Rambler, located in Union Square. "My culinary philosophy is really rooted in the rich tradition of Southern hospitality and getting to look through a Bay Area lens," says Chef White. "The menu is a culmination of where my career has taken me, alongside great childhood food memories. I'm excited to bring my vision to The Brixton brand." 

Chef Banks’ Brixton on 2nd menu features favorites such as Filipino Fried Ribs with adobo style sweet chili sauce, birdseye chili, pickled okra, and fried garlic, Roasted Brassicas with herbed freekeh, house cashew cheese, and honey harissa dressing, and Gulf Shrimp A La Plancha with smoked tomato and lime arbol butter sauce and Texas toastFor dessert, Chef Banks offers a Skillet Butter Pound Cake inspired by his grandmother, with coconut-macadamia nut ice cream. 

Filipino Fried Ribs

 

Veteran bartenders serve-up classic cocktails utilizing seasonal ingredients and a no frills/no fuss approach. New drinks include Ol’ Blue Eyes with Sipsmith gin, pomegranate liqueur, simple syrup, lime, Guns of Brixton with single barrel Brixton bourbon, pUr Likor spice blood orange amaretto, lemon, simple syrup, angostura bitters, orange bitters, and Mi Amigo with Casamigos reposado, lime juice, cinnamon infused agave, firewater bitters, egg white. A reasonably priced wine and beer list provides a variety of choices.

And back to that private speakeasy room. It’s not only for celebs. Leather sofas and chairs and a stand-alone bar make it the perfect spot for corporate lunches, birthday dinners, brunch gatherings, and cocktail mixers. A second private dining room seats 16 and features a custom curated wall of black and white music legend photographs.  

Brixton on 2nd, 701 Second Street, San Francisco

Photos by Grace Sager

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