Sacrifice

800 South Van Ness (at 19th St.)

415-641-0990

While weekend scenesters and young urbanites continue to frequent the trendier (and getting tamer) parts of the Mission, there's been a slow uprising on the outposts of this hot district.

I'm talking about a surprisingly little known bar named Sacrifice. Open about a year and with little fanfare, Sacrifice is finally developing a steady crowd and getting the weekend business it deserves. Unfortunately for the locals and regulars, this means that their hipster haven will soon succumb to the dreaded Bridge and Tunnel Syndrome (BTS) that has plagued the Mission in recent years.

Sacrifice is primarily made up of two entirely different-feeling rooms. You walk in the main entrance and are greeted by a small kitchen-café serving up spicy South Seas dishes like BBQ Rum Ribs, Voodoo Pasta, and an always-tasty Jerk Chicken. Every dish is good - just remember that they all go down well with a cold Red Stripe. Covering the walls are some of the liveliest mural designs I've seen - you sort of forget that they have this creepy Mexican Dance of the Undead vibe to them.

If you want to get to the bathroom, you have to venture into the other room, which is actually a full-fledged bar in itself. (On the way, there's a set of tiki tables and chairs for casual lounging. Don't ask about how this purgatorial "tiki lounge" fits in, it just does).

The bar is the tops, mostly because of the friendly bartenders. The crowd is positively Mission, but after some initial elitist "Oh no, here come the yuppies" looks and glances, even Marina-types will soon feel right at home. There is a pinball machine and a terrific center-stage pool table too. Check out the original murals and tables done by local artist Viva Nova - they've got this interesting Egyptian sarcophagus feel going.

On most nights, you get to listen to a wildly varied jukebox, playing everything from oldies to hard rock to trip-hop. They've just started having some up-and-coming djs spin on Thursdays and Saturdays. Judging from the laid back attitude of everyone I've talked to, I would call in advance to make sure something's actually going on.

While Sacrifice remains decidedly low-key, you really can feel the love that went into making this place come to life. I once talked to a guy there who told me that the bar is so hip that "no one goes there." That's already changing, and if the owners of Sacrifice keep on doing what they've been doing, there won't be any shortage of crowds for long.

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