Por Dr. Ink
For most of its young life, the corner commercial space that is part of Mission Florence condominiums on Washington Street has been a coffee house. And though it still appears from the outside like a place slinging only coffee and pastries, a closer peep through the windows reveals a sight for bar-hound eyes: beer taps and wine bottles.
Yes, Toma Sol is now a bar. Its latest owner has kept the name as well as the panini presses and a row of coffee machines that still produce various caffeinated beverages. But with the addition of a roomy bar stocked with 12 beer handles came a few flat screens, open wine shelving and a pile of board games free for the playing.
Remember Catch Phrase and What’s Yours Like? You’ll find them here, along with Scrabble, Deluxe Monopoly, Yahtzee and others. How nice it was to see gaggles of imbibers playing them instead of thumbing their cell phones incessantly.
Happy hour rings in modest savings on draft beer, wines by the glass and appetizers. They’re all $1 off. The promotion might not seem like much until you consider that craft beers sell regularly for only $5 to $6 a pop while wines by the glass are only a notch higher.
On this football Sunday, the games were broadcasting loudly and beer was flying. The friendly bartender promptly approached our high top to take our orders. He was fully on the ball, providing us with drink and food menus while explaining the straightforward happy-hour deals.
My cohort stuck to Debutante by Societe, a creamy Belgian-style amber ale brewed locally. The beer’s description touting flavors of bread and dried apricot actually panned out.
The tap lineup, which changes often, also featured beers by the usual suspects, such as Green Flash, Oceanside Ale Works and Coronado Brewing Company. It wasn’t until later that I noticed one that’s been on my bucket list, Citra Extra Pale Ale by Knee Deep Brewing in Auburn, California. From everything I’ve heard and read about it, the suds deliver a sharp citrus bite that I find appealing in beer.
A glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc by Terranoble compensated with its lime and tropical undertones. It was properly chilled and generously poured.
A short appetizer list includes shrimp ceviche, red pepper hummus, steamed mussels and spinach dip. We chose bruschetta for $5.50 after the discount. The stacking of toasted, herb-sprinkled bread was lovely, although we were ambivalent to the hefty cupful of diced tomatoes sitting in a pond of balsamic vinegar. The olive oil was in short supply.
But the convivial, communal vibe of the place wasn’t. And though coffee drinks are still served, albeit as a footnote within the larger picture, the revised version of Toma Sol offers the sensory experience of a true neighborhood bar, complete with wine tastings, trivia nights and other daily specials throughout the week.
—Got a happy hour for Dr. Ink? Send it to [email protected] to pass the message along.
