550624 Wed Aug 20 21:42:38 -0700 2008 19 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 3974161 Just seeing if people have opinions on this. It's a potentially complex enough recipe that I'd imagine there's some variations on the theme. For the record, I don't have an opinion on this yet -- I'm a cocktail aficionado, but many years ago I tried spicy V8, hated it, and associated it strongly with Bloody Marys as that's the way my grandmother made them! Since then I've grown to like both spicy food and tomatoes, so I'm looking to give one a try... but I'd like to try a *good* one, so I can be reasonably sure that if I still don't like it, it's not because it was prepared badly. :) Wed Aug 20 21:42:39 -0700 2008 11537 Chipotle 1 3974582 I am partial to "the Woody" at Wood Tavern. It's a large, spicy Bloody Mary w/ lots of horseradish served w/ a Spaten chaser. In fact, your post has inspired me to go there for lunch today. Thu Aug 21 06:20:37 -0700 2008 3974161 17723 lexdevil 2 3976558 Wood Tavern's definitely a favorite of mine as well. Also like Sea Salt's version (with clam juice and chipotle hangar one) and Luka's (balsamic bloody mary). Thu Aug 21 16:23:59 -0700 2008 3974582 14367 The Dive 1 3974672 Zuni Cafe. Just don't order the nectarine for dessert. (sorry, couldn't resist :-)). Seriously, if you don't like the Zuni Bloody Mary you just don't like the drink. Thu Aug 21 06:53:03 -0700 2008 3974161 10158 susancinsf 2 3975535 I second Zuni Cafe...their amazing tomato juice and balsamic vinegar are their secret weapons! I also think that Eastside West makes a great bloody mary. Thu Aug 21 10:48:07 -0700 2008 3974672 85865 christineb 3 3976536 Don't forget the shallots (or red onion, I'm not sure) - they add a depth and complexity that other spicy Bloodys lack. Zuni has my #1 favorite Bloody Mary by far. Thu Aug 21 16:11:44 -0700 2008 3975535 44059 daveena 3 4023648 I third the Zuni bloody mary. We will often stop by there just for these. The teeny minced shallots/red onion and the balsamic are great touches. Wed Sep 10 10:44:09 -0700 2008 3975535 10189 celeste 2 4021290 I have to disagree. It's way too thin, boring, and totally inconsistent. I've never gotten any shallots or red onions in my Bloody there. I highly recommend the Bloody Mary at Kilowatt on 16th Street, but the very best in the city is the Harissa Bloody Mary at Aziza, hands down. Tue Sep 09 13:54:17 -0700 2008 3974672 13093 Maya 1 3974800 The first great Bloody Mary I had was at K-Paul's in New Orleans. It had tiny pickled onions in it and a giant flourish of celery. In San Francisco, Slow Club makes an excellent Bloody Mary with jalapeño (or are those scotch bonnets?) vodka. Zeitgeist's isn't too shabby either. The quality of tomato juice is a significant variable, and cheap canned tomato juice is horriible, as is "spicy tomato mix." Many places use too much water and vodka, so you end up with a diluted mess. Thu Aug 21 07:39:02 -0700 2008 3974161 10966 Windy 1 3975461 Hurleys in Yountville made a pretty darn good one when I was there last week. Being from Vancouver BC we're all Ceaser lovers. No tomato juice but clamato juice in our drinks. Bit of worceshire, tabasco, vodka, celery salt on the rim and long bean for garnish over ice. yum.. Thu Aug 21 10:20:18 -0700 2008 3974161 48784 dcrockett 2 3975713 Bloody Ceasers all the way baby. Just wish more Bay Area restaurants served 'em! Thu Aug 21 11:52:42 -0700 2008 3975461 13300 Civil Bear 3 4009142 I LOVE Cloody Ceasars too. The only place I have found them in the Bay Area has been The Ramp and at various hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants. Where are your favorite places to get a good spicy Bloody Ceasar? Thu Sep 04 14:20:25 -0700 2008 3975713 20656 plainjane 4 4016253 Gosh, it has been so long, I can't even rember! IIRC, the Cliff House and Hungry Hunter of all places did nice jobs. I pretty much go the way of dcrockett these days and make my own, A good citrus flavored vodka, dash of tobasco, a splash of worceshire, celery salt, cracked pepper, maybe a lime wedge, and a garnish of choice. Sun Sep 07 19:40:28 -0700 2008 4009142 13300 Civil Bear 1 3976385 Great Topic!!! I love Bloody Mary's. From my memory - Fifth Floor has a pretty good one with great pickled veg they do in house. The one at Beetlenut is great but has an asian twist on it. Its on the spicier side but still wonderful. Thu Aug 21 15:16:39 -0700 2008 3974161 15111 misspiggy 1 3984004 Kitty's on Hollis appears to make a delicious spicy one complete with veggies. Mon Aug 25 00:21:14 -0700 2008 3974161 14606 sailorbuoys 1 3985023 The Elixir has a build-your-own Mary bar on the weekends, complete with strips of grilled Hobbs bacon for stirrers, which is the ultimate BM accessory, IMHO Mon Aug 25 10:18:33 -0700 2008 3974161 24588 Debra Stuart 1 4009148 Momo's has a GREAT Bloody Mary made with pepper vodka and topped with two huge olives. It can be made very spicy upon request. Mmmmmm........ There's nothing better on a sunny, non-game day, weekend morning. Thu Sep 04 14:22:46 -0700 2008 3974161 20656 plainjane 1 4009156 The First & Last Chance Saloon in Jack London Sq. makes a damned fine bloody and garnish it w/ olives and pickled green bean....mmmm! Thu Sep 04 14:26:33 -0700 2008 3974161 154787 adamshoe 1 4018042 Bistro Don Giovanni in north Napa does a seasonal Blondie Mary with heirloom yellow tomatoes. If you ask, they'll make it with their house-infused chili vodka. Mon Sep 08 12:52:15 -0700 2008 3974161 16831 Ruby Louise 2 4018443 Zeitgeist does a great Bloody Mary with a beer garden biker bar ambiance. Mon Sep 08 14:57:08 -0700 2008 4018042 101967 BP71