When Steve Anderson was a young man in London, working the PA systems and managing English punk bands, including none other than the Police, he had no idea that he'd soon go on vacation to San Francisco and never come back.

After falling in love with the city by the bay, Anderson found he missed the English pubs from his home country. In failing to find one that felt authentic, Anderson decided to open one up, himself, despite having never managed a bar or restaurant. Twenty-four years later, the Pig and Whistle is still standing and remains beloved by British ex-pats and neighborhood locals, alike.

Though twenty-four years is impressive, it feels like the Pig and Whistle has been in place since San Francisco's beginnings, with the buzzing, car-heavy Geary Boulevard rising up around it. There's no question the pub looks out of place and can even be easy to miss. It's difficult to identify which neighborhood the Pig and Whistle belongs to, as it seems to be the thread that ties together Laurel Heights, Lone Mountain, and the Inner Richmond at the seam. But as soon as you step inside, you realize there are few places that'll make you feel more at home than this charming English pub.

Though Anderson admits he isn't much of a chef, himself, he had a clear vision for the menu and wanted to introduce traditional English pub fare to San Francisco, while still offering American style favorites. The food is not only top rated on popular review sites, but has been lauded as the city's Best Pub Food by SFWeekly. Combined with the wide beer selection, which represents European brewers from the UK, Holland, and France, as well as local favorites like Sierra Nevada, Anchorsteam, and Lagunitas, it's impossible to leave the Pig and Whistle hungry — or thirsty.

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