I’m a 22-year-old college student who’s never been in a bar restaurant. This finally changed at my first rooftop bar restaurant experience at Shelby-‘s Rooftop to explore the rooftop bar scene in the Bay.

Shelby Rooftop’s view is amazing, with a primetime view of the SoMa district and Oracle Park. With the hospitable service and high-quality meals, this adventure became one of my core memories. Let’s talk about how this happened!

Food Review of Bar Restaurant

MOET CHANDON BRUT ROSE

Our server, Aris- and fellow co-founder of our team- served us with cold water and two drinks of whispering angel rosé. As a seltzer lover, this was totally up my alley: it was a refreshing, carbonated drink with potent citrus notes that prepared me for my order. The rosé was complementary to the view, the social atmosphere, and the food yet to come. In the meantime, Nicole and I got excited and started taking pictures of our view and drinks, because we really could not believe that we college students were dining here!

The Rosé, made in Champagne, France, smelled of sweet strawberries and other floral scents. The taste is light for a Rosé, with small bubbles filling one’s mouth. Overall, a nice light drink to enjoy with their charcuterie board. Secondly, we drank “From the Castro to the Mission,” a sweet-smelling tequila-based cocktail. Garnished with some gummy bears to add to the sweet sight, this cocktail was tasty, with sweet presenting flavors of sweet candies and fruit. This drink is good for people who do not enjoy the bitter taste of alcohol.

BAR RESTAURANT: APPETIZERS AND ENTREES

When two of my other team members arrived, we ordered the Cheese & Charcuterie ($25) board and Koji’s Fried Chicken ($22).

Cheese & Charcuterie

The elegantly displayed charcuterie board came with wheat bread, local cheeses, meats, fruits, olives, honeycombs, and other seasonal specialties, all being of good quality. Nevertheless, there will be one combination that will stick with you.

Koji Fried Chicken

The Koji Fried Chicken came covered in a red sauce garnished with sesame seeds and some pickled ginger. Although it looked very spicy, it was surprisingly mild. The chicken is not as fried as one would expect, it is on the softer side. However, this made it easier for the meat to fall off the bone. With this observation, there was no denying the meat is of high quality! There were many flavors within the sauce with spice being the most prominent. While the food was delicious, I’d highly recommend splitting plates among larger parties and splitting the bill. In my experience, these plates were merely just complements to the main event- the drinks, so with that logic, having smaller portions individually worked out. 

Desserts

As for desserts, we ordered the creme brulee and chocolate mousse. The Creme Brulee comes garnished with berries on top. The top was touched in the middle. It was not too hard where the top was burnt but, it was strong enough to make a crunching sound when eaten. The custard was sweet and dense. Unlike other Creme Brulees, it is slightly less sweet but, still is a great option to end your meal with. The Chocolate Mousse was presented in a small dessert dish, like the ones where cream brulee is served. The mousse was of high quality being very light and rich. The chocolate melts in your mouth. Without a doubt, this is a great dessert to finish off the night.

My Personal Experience

Finally, the most memorable part of this evening was the social environment. With a 2000s R&B and Mellow Pop DJ soundtrack, coupled with the delicious meal, I learned more about my team members. It was the perfect place to begin our Eatin SF adventures. For my first bar experience: at Shelby’s, I did not feel judged; I felt welcomed and catered to. Shelby’s is not an everyday visit for the average person. However, if you want to treat yourself and your friend group, I’d highly recommend going to Shelby’s Rooftop to create some core memories. 

Verdict: If you want to treat yourself and your friend group, I’d highly recommend going to Shelby’s Rooftop to create some core memories.

Alyssa, EatinSF Team Member