First Look: Charles Phan’s The Coachman
Quietly shuttering Heaven’s Dog bar and restaurant for renovations in late 2012, Charles Phan and the Slanted Door group have reinvented the 4,200-square-foot SoMa space at 1148 Mission Street as the Coachman—a British-inspired gastropub with a meat-heavy savory menu, vintage cocktails and enough scotch and sherry to keep serious aficionados happy.
Open seven every day from 5pm to 11pm, the sleek interior at the Coachman features an open kitchen with counter seats and a more secluded dining area in the back. From the sublime prime rib to bone marrow served with snails and pickled vegetables, the Coachman prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients. And while the traditionally inspired fare may seem too hearty for those looking for happy hour bites or a light dinner, the contemporary plating keeps the portions manageable.
The Coachman’s real highlight, however, is the long, curved bar made from a single 30 foot piece of cypress, where mixologists have unearthed a trove of forgotten cocktails predating the twentieth century.
A favorite at the pre-opening party was the Knickerbocker, a rum-based drink with hints of pineapple and raspberry.
