Hard Water--San Francisco (Whiskey Bar/New Orleans style food)

From the people who gave us The Slanted Door at the Ferry Building, we have now been gifted an American Whiskey Bar re-imagined with old-world style mixed with new-world ideas. Located near the Ferry Building at Pier 3 at the Embarcadero, Hard Water is a counter/bar-seating-only establishment with a vast selection of Whiskeys that can be paired with delicious New Orleans-style cuisine.

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

http://hardwaterbar.com/


Old Fashioned. Made with Prichard's Rye Whiskey, bitters and sugar, this was a little sweeter than I'm used to but still very enjoyable.

Manhattan. A nice balance of sweet vermouth and whiskey, this is always a good standby cocktail.

Mint Julep. Well-balanced with Old Grand Dad bonded, gum syrup, mint and crushed ice. A very refreshing drink on a warm day.

Sazerac. Made with High West Double Rye, Absinthe and bitters, this was a slightly sweeter version than I'm used to but still went down very easy.

Dirty Rice. Made with chicken liver and ground pork, they were not afraid to actually keep the liver a bit chunky. Definitely a winner for this liver lover.

Pork Belly Crackling. Fried nuggets of porky goodness seasoned with Cajun spice, lemon and scallions. Crunchy, meaty, very savory and satisfying. I could eat these all day.

Boudin Balls. Filled with sausage and well seasoned, these balls were crunchy and delicious.

Andouille Sausage & Chicken Gumbo. With okra, peppers, and popcorn rice, this had a nice mildly spicy base with fresh and tasty veggies and meat.

Pan-seared Fish. This was an expertly prepared white fish. It had a nice light crust on the outside and seared until just done. It was flaky with a mildly sweet and tender flesh. This was served with some black eyed peas and topped with sauteed fava beans, corn, peppers and super sweet cherry tomatoes. Delicious.

I was too full to try any of their desserts but they sounded good. My only complaint would be the stools are not so comfortable for people under 5' 6" (I am 5' 2"). But other than that, it's a great place to enjoy a nice cocktail and meal.