I had some snacks at True Laurel, a recently opened bar in the Mission from the Lazy Bear folks. Walk-in only, no reservations. In addition to cocktails and other drinks they also have a short food menu. Everything on the food menu is small - the sections are “small items,” “items that are also small,” and “small and sweet.” All plates except one (a Dungeness crab fondue at $18) are $15 or less, making many of the food items actually cheaper than the cocktails, which are on the high end price-wise for cocktails in the city at $14 - $16 each.
I had the crispy hen of the woods mushrooms with sour cream ‘n’ alliums dip ($11), which was very good. Very crispy crackly light exterior with a meaty mushroom interior. Very well fried. Nice ranch like dip.
I also had the TL patty melt ($13) - “Griddled Old Beef, Caramelized Onion Special Sauce, Melty Cheese, Pickles.” This was excellent. I don’t know if the “old” beef corresponds to the age of the cow or the aging of the meat but the patty was very juicy and beefy and pink inside, with creamy American cheese and pickle slices in between two slices of toasty buttery white bread. I only wish it were a little bigger - the bread was about the size of a slice of Wonder bread for scale.
And I also had a couple cocktails:
Golden Child ($16)
Mezcal, Clarified Golden Beet, Gentian Wine Reduction, Black Lime Bitters
Smoky, beet-y, and a little citrusy.
Mai O Mai ($15)
Panamanian Rum, Lime, Pistachio Orgeat, Curaçao, Coffee-Rum Float, Milk-Washed
A little bit like a mai tai on the bottom, with a bitterish coffee finish from the coffee-rum float on top.
Food Menu
It’s around the corner from Trick Dog, may be a good alternative for drinks if that place is packed.