Zeitgeist Fries Returning in 2025

A dive bar lives a thousand lives, sometimes in one day. But over the years, Zeitgeist was known for two things: delicious fried food and good live music. And then the inspection happened. Wait, before you freak – they passed all other parts of the inspection. But the outdoor kitchen was considered such a horrible oversight (that passed inspection for at least the last 12 years…) that they were told to halt and cease fries. 

What is Zeitgeist?

Zeitgeist evokes many an emotion among San Franciscans. Some think it’s commercialized, even ‘bro-ey,’ a word usually used to describe Marina establishments. Others think it’s a little grungy, even though it regularly makes travel guides. A long time ago, Zeitgeist got its start as a gay biker bar, and now they’re seeking to rekindle the queer vibes. That’s why lately they’ve done special events that speak to the queer community. They even have their own in-house drag performer.

It’s had many identities over the years. Yes, we did ask about the urban legend that it used to be a neo-Nazi bar. The people we spoke to, including those who have been tending bar there for twenty years, say consistently: Not in their time. They’re pretty active about the establishment and kick people out “all the time” for bad behavior. A good gardener knows when to weed and how to send a message to gophers, rats, and other pests.

The Fries

If you’ve patronized the sunny patio in recent months, you may have noticed that cajun fries were off the menu. Many reviews, 119 on Yelp alone, mention them. Since July, the reviews have turned from praise to lament. Fries were taken off the menu because the outdoor kitchen was illegal. Again, the place has been passing inspection without incident for over a decade, but this inspector was new and looking to prove his mettle. 

The Future

The shuttered outdoor kitchen will soon be redone. The transformation into an enclosed space will both meet the inspectors’ requirements and give Zeitgeist the capacity to try fun new fried foods. 

Zeitgeist suffers the same issues that plague many local restaurants, specifically city bureaucrats coming in and unfurling their papers to demand that owners and operators jump through new hoops. Even removing some dangerous palms opened up quite a can of worms (that we promise to cover in the near future, pending resolution by our own dear Bureau of Urban Forestry). But one way to support them is to go and visit. 

Cheers to that!