We’ve been on a quest to find the best bloody mary in the city for quite some time now. There are plenty of contenders, with Zeitgeist, thee Parkside, and the Phonebooth coming to mind immediately. Well, now it looks like we’ll need to make a new addition to the list, because the Bender’s bloody mary is a monster.
Spicy, sharp, and zesty, the Bender’s bloody may seem a bit pricey at $8 a pop, but it’s basically brunch in a cup. For meat eaters, it even comes with a bonus Slim Jim in addition to the usual pickled green beans and olives! Truly the perfect way to start a relaxing weekend.
Who makes your favorite bloody marys?
That looks more like a bloody green giant.
I would never drink a bloody but Rachael on Saturdays @ The 500 put bacon in hers and The Prez on Sundays also @ The 500 uses red wine.
Thanks! And per request of the boss-man John – Shrimps now too!
I have a bottle of Bakon Vodka (yes, BACON flavored vodka)that I’ve been dying to try in a Bloody Mary. It’s not yet available here, so I brought it back from a trip to Seattle. I’m a big fan of the Zeitgeist version, but I’m totally down to give the Bender’s version a go.
Random question, but here goes: would it be really bad form to take my bottle to the bar and ask them to whip me up a drink?
The sell bacon hot sauce too. Only take it in to a bartender you know really well.
Ha Ha. If I was bartending and somebody brought in their own bottle it would totally crack me up. Do it!
Well, I don’t want to look like an ASSHOLE! I just need a good recipe for bloody mary mix, I guess
Kilowatt!
A strong contender is J Beaman’s version from Thieves’ Tavern. He does a BLT bloody mary that is implausibly good.
I concur.
Seconded. And he provides a homemade organic waffle with every purchase. Best deal in the city!
Orbit Room, hands down. Or is this only about the Mission?
Ya’ll need to try a michelada, it’s like a bloody mary but with beer and it’s 10x better.
That’s an ojo rojo. Michelada is just beer, hot sauce, lime, black pepper, salt, and some other ingredients that vary regionally. If you add tomato juice (or more traditionally, Clamato), then it’s an ojo rojo.
Of course these things vary, but my experience in the Mexico City was that a michelada *always* included Clamato.
Wikipedia disagrees with you as well:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelada
in Mexico right now and a Michelada always includes Clamato.
FYI, for vegetarians and vegans: most bloody marys contain worcestershire sauce, which contains anchovies. In case you wanted to know.
The Phoenix.
Public House.
Having not tried any of the BloodyMarys already mentioned, I’d like to see where my very own bacon-bloody-mary ranks amongst these strong contenders. I’m behind the bar at POPS on Sunday mornings, and would love to hear your readers opinions to see how it compares to those already mentioned. 2 for $10 all day, come get’r!
Prez 500 Club Sunday mornings.
Especially if he has some of my pickled hot peppers behind the bar.
It’ll have you thinking about it the morning after…
zuni, bar none.
My votes for Rachel’s bloody at the 500 Club on Saturdays. Too bad I have to work.
Tee-hee! I feel so special! Thanks! Too bad indeed. The more the merrier. I hate to have to eat all that bacon myself…(only $5 too!!!)
L13, doi!
Lingba Lounge (which is now closed) made theirs with bacon and a quail egg. Delicious.
Thanks for the props!
Come try mine. Come early tho – I run out of all the pickled goodies & bacon sometimes early! We open at 11 on Sunday and I’m pretty sure Andy opens at 10 still on Sundays! xoxox, The 500 Club
(and if you’re really actually hungry, Clare’s Deli next door has nomnoms.)
For the record, it’s the prettiest bloody mary in the world. Andy, sorry bout that…You can kick my ass later.
Rachel! What’s your BYO bottle opinion?
I think it is my legal duty to respond as WHAAAA?
Make a donation to the Red Cross for Japan, bring me proof and perhaps I will play dumb. I think I still have to charge the $5 tho…
Not really a bar, but the Bloody Mary @ Ti Couz is slammin’. Shrimp is involved. Rachel’s is great, too!
That looks like a killer bloody mary. My favorite around the area is at Albany’s Hotsy Totsy Club. They make it with the right amount of spice, and they use a little Guinness in there. Sounds weird, tastes great!
It’s all about Chelsea over at The Attic on 24th! Her shit is the best. cheese blocks, salami, peppers, etc.. only on Sundays, but so good and only $4 or something like that. !
Agreed. The $4 margaritas are pretty crackin’ as well.
andrew, you read my mind.
Visa at The Argus on Sunday afternoons.
i agree with this guy
3rd the motion. Visa makes a beautiful and tasty bacon bloody. Foreign Cinema makes a lovely giant prawn one.
Visa is a sexy beast & tell him I said hello.
Thanks Rachel…
I miss & love you too…
I’d like to think I was the 1st Bartender to use “Smoky Molasses Dripping Sticks of Bacon” in my Bloodie’s @ Argus on Sundays – bur alas- I got the idea from somewhere & I’ve been making them on Sundays for 4 years..
Bacon Optional – Bacon Salt Rim Optional – Capers Sprinkle optional..
Love is not an Option.
Love to Fellow Bartenders @ 500 & Chelsea @ Attic.
vis’
I propose a Mission Mission Bloody Mary tour.
Mickey’s Tavern, Madison WI
I dream about the bloody marys at the 500 all week. Thieves on Sunday during football season is a close second; comes with free waffles! Pop’s and zeitgiest are tied for third.
$8 for a drink is for suckers.
Elixir, the Attic & Benders, yeah that’s what I’ve always said!
Except, over the past couple of months I’ve been getting to know this place in Bernal / Mission Post-Chavez called the Argus Lounge
Funny enough, their Bacon Bloody Mary’s are kinda why I got myself a DJ gig there this Sunday
http://www.flickr.com/photos/papereatsrock/5525250353/
Also, even though this is Andrew’s post, thanks for that tip Vic.
Bloody Mary is the name I gave my vagina.
No favorites; stopped ordering Bloodies in the Mission a while back because the trend for maximum spice and food toys is revolting. Can’t trust anyone to make a basic Bloody, which is supposed to ease a hangover, not cause ones tongue to swell and stomach to erupt.
DIY. 1 part vodka, 2 parts tomato juice, 1/2 teaspoon of worcestshire sauce, dash of fresh lemon or lime, & a couple drops of tabasco. Salt and pepper, if you like (I recommend celery salt). Shake and strain over a couple of rocks in a short glass. If you MUST have a garnish, a wedge of lime or the top of a celery stalk is traditional.
Why people would want to stuff a beer-sized glass of liquid fire and chef’s salad into themselves at any time (and especially on a Sunday morning) is beyond my comprehension. Still looking for the definition of “hipster”?
OK, cocktail-snob rant over.
I trust this so much, I usually trust NOTHING. I’ll get back to you on how it works out.
Also, I don’t drink in the morning, I prefer my evenings to be bloodied, like 5 – 9 bloody.
I would agree with this basic recipe except that horseradish is also traditional and part of the ‘basic’ lineup.
True. But in that case, I would leave out the tabasco.
BTW, the quantities in the vodka-to-tomato juice ratio should fall in the 1-2 oz. range for the vodka, and the 2-4 oz. range for the tomato, and adjust the other ingredients (quantities given for the median) to taste.
I haven’t tried any of those shōchū versions that you see around, but I guess the ratio would be more like 50/50.
I just drink beers and shots and leave the bloodies to the ladies and the marina douche bags.
You forgot the hipsters and cocktail snobs.
my you’re cranky
CHELSEA AT THE ATTIC!!! SALAMI AND CHEESE AND BACON AND AVACADO!!
Laurie. All you have to do is put ice in a cup.
The Bloody Marys at the 500 Club on Saturdays rule! Went there today — tons of pickled veggies, bacon, and shrimp! All that and only $5. Amazing.
Surprised no one mentioned the Build Your Own Bloodys at the Pork Store. DIY, with pretty much all the ingredients you could want!
That’s because the Pork Store is a desperation destination nowadays.