Hofbrau

The name is derived from the German term Hofbräu, which originally referred to a brewery with historical ties to a royal court.

[1] This restaurant concept was developed in San Francisco following World War II, and spread throughout Northern California.

In 1947, Albert Pollack[4] opened the Almond Blossom Restaurant on Van Ness Avenue at Geary in San Francisco.

[17] In 1986, Tommy's Joynt is where Metallica invited bassist Jason Newsted to join the group after the death of Cliff Burton.

[13] In the 1950s, successful chains like Harry's Hof Brau, Sam's Hofbrau and Chick-n-Coop were established in Northern California.

[4] Lefty O'Douls, a beloved hofbrau on Union Square in San Francisco since 1958, closed in 2017 after a bitter dispute with their landlord.

Expansive dining areas are generally available at larger hofbraus, and are typically used as meeting places for large groups of people who gather to eat, drink, watch sports on television, and have parties.