The heart-of-the-Tenderloin location will deter the picky -- and that's fine with the folks at 222 Club, a funky little spot with a speakeasy vibe where a cool young crowd nibbles eclectic tapas. Exposed brick, deep red walls and mismatchy décor in the main dining room, along with big booths and chess tables in the basement DJ room, give 222 Club a mellow feel. The bartender makes a mean sangria, serves a decent beer selection and gets creative with soju (Korean rice liquor) to make up for a poor wine list and lack of hard alcohol.
But the real charm is the food: Lounge standards like tuna poke and "gourmet pizza" are actually well-prepared and tasty, while Spanish dishes like garlic prawns are especially good. On happy nights (or for private parties), the chef will go all out with more complex dishes, like delicious paella. Hit the happy hour for your chance at free tapas, but the food is already reasonable for its size (though a tad high for the neighborhood). -- Julie Ross
