Drinking at Slanted Door

As part of ongoing 'research' into cocktails in San Francisco, I went to the Slanted Door restaurant in the Ferry Building. This huge restaurant has a main seating area, a lounge section, and a long bar. People can order food from the main or lounge menu depending on where they're sitting. But as usual, I was in a good restaurant for the drinks, not the food. I met with bar manager Erik Adkins and we talked for a couple of hours before other patrons began noticing the absurd amount of cocktails sitting before me. Then it was time for a quick exit before passing out at home. Erik never missed a beat, squeezing lemon and lime juice and preparing tons of drinks from cocktails to champagne while holding a conversation. Though young, he already has that professional barman air about him. Over the evening he made about six references to different cocktail books, shared and debunked drink lore, and poured cocktails relevant to conversation. At one point he said, "There's a drink named after each of the five boroughs except Staten Island," while whipping up a nutty Brooklyn cocktail. Should you find yourself down at the Ferry Building, I recommend stopping into the Slanted Door and waiting for a bar a stool in front of the tall bald guy. Hopefully he'll have time to share some good conversation. Great drinks are guaranteed.