Punch Line

I like Punchline, not more than Cobbs Comedy Club but occasionally some of my favorite comedians perform here so I make my way over. Parking here is definitely easier than Cobbs in North Beach but the venue is a lot smaller, which I like. Anyways this past Friday I went to the Steve Byrne comedy show (I’ve seen him every time he tours SF). The Caucasian man with the long pony tail hair was super nice and friendly while checking us in and upon departing! Kudos to him! However… our server that night as sweet as she was she was doing a less than adequate job. She took our initial drink orders (My friend ordered a root beer float along with some water as dinner used way too much salt and she was parched and I ordered a hot chocolate — we’re probably the only 2 25 year olds ordering non alcoholic drinks!!) She comes back with just the float and the hot chocolate. No Water. Okay, my friend downs her float and then within 20 minutes she orders a Moscow Mule. After another 20 minutes no Moscow Mule. I looked around and realized no waitstaff was on the floor, NONE. Halfway through the show I heard a bunch of girls heckling in the back room (I was sitting close by) and I’m assuming that’s where ALL the waitstaff was. Eventually they all come out and stiff our waitress doesn’t come by the table… it was almost to the end of the show until she came back to take my order for my second drink which at this point I had to chug. I reminded her she forgot my friend’s Moscow Mule from an hour ago. She then apologizes and says she never put in the order. Anyways… sub par service if you asked me and my hot chocolate was watered down. didn’t even finish it.

The food is okay, the drinks are strong, the service is… hit and miss (my drink went empty for most of the last set and my waitress came back smelling like cigarettes), and the lineup was great. The seating is pretty cramped… but not unbearable. Definitely a go-​to for a date or night out.

Love this place, great service! Always get the same table close to the stage. Tonight was Tommy Johnagin and on top of his hilarious stand up he also kept up with warriors score! A true fan!

Hilarious!

Came here to see Cristela Alonzo for the first time (both the comedian & the venue). Cristela is now in my top 5 (it’s so nice to see somewhat so likable AND funny), and the comedy club was a great way to see her: our seats were on the side about 12 feet from the stage, and we had an unobstructed view of the performances. I ordered a few drinks (stick with the basics), my brother ordered the sweet potato fries (stick with the drinks), and a pleasant time was had by all.
Arrive early to get a good seat (we got there at the box office opening time).

A decent comedy club in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District.
I can’t complain about the comedy, that was indeed quality… or even if it wasn’t that has little to do with the venue in my opinion, so I’ll review that.
As others note and they clearly state a two drink minimum is in effect. I find Rooster T. Feather’s approach of a two *item minimum* to be more amenable as I understand they need to make money but not everyone drinks or wants to pay 5 bucks for a glass of OJ just so they can see live comedy. The drinks themselves (I had a Punchline Punch and a Toasted Almond) were well made… not overly stiff but not light on the booze. The nachos my girlfriend and I ordered did satisfy our hunger for bar food (and that’s pretty much what it is) but I seriously question the point of charging extra for a small spoonful of Guacamole (if it’s going to be so little extra why not just give it away?) or 30% increase in price just to add a meat.
The building itself is small but has an intimate appeal to it. The décor did seem a little lacking however and in its smallness it means you had better be comfortable to be in close proximity to a bunch of strangers.
All in all I think better comedy clubs exist. But being in San Francisco affords this club the ability to draw in bigger names to see. I would go again, but it would have to be someone I really wanted to see rather than a «lets go see some comedy» kind of visit.

My favorite comedy club in the Bay Area. Easy to get to and not a bad seat in the house. Especially excited about this month of March because they are showcasing all women comics.
Marga Gomez, Jeanine Brito, Gina Yashere, Kelly Anneken, Dhaya Lakshminarayanan, Emily Heller… the list goes on and on!

This was my third time at punchline and like always I had a great time. There is a Two drink minimum and if you bring a bottle of wine, the cork fee is $ 35 and you don’t got to get the two drinks. I’ve never tried the food here I’ve always had dinner ahead of time, so I couldn’t tell you about the food. The Comedians here have always been funny every time I’ve came. Seating is a little cramped but most comedy club are like that. Staff here have always been friendly and helpful every time I’ve been here. Make sure you get here alittle early cause the line get long and if you get your tickets on Groupon make sure you call ahead and make reservations cause if it a sold out show that night you won’t get in without a reservation, this has happened to me before. The place is pretty good place to take a date if they got a sense of humor. I will be back on a date night.

This was my first time in a comedy club and I was literally laughing so hard I started tearing up!
I had a really good time here. We had food from the restaurant we attended before coming to Punch Line and was told that outside food is not allowed BUT they can put it in the fridge. I thought the employee was going to tell us to throw it away. I was actually really surprised they offered that here! Good first impression.
We were the first ones to be seated actually so we decided to sit in the far left with cushioned seats. It was very comfortable, and we were lucky we were able to be there.
I ordered a Moscow Pule and Punch Line Punch throughout the whole show. Mind you, there is a two drink minimum and they’re around $ 11 – 12 each so prepare for that! Unless you come in a little buzzed like we did…
There was a total of 4 comedians and I would say they were all funny. Two were REALLY funny and were great with audience participation. Unfortunately, I don’t remember any of their names…
I guess it’s a hit or miss here with the comedians.
I would love to come back here and bring my friends!

The comedians were hilarious. The place on the other hand was a disaster. The waitress over charged us by at least $ 100 and had to refund us our money. We weren’t that drunk so maybe she thought we were and wouldn’t notice. The worst of it was when one of the employees came up to our table and told us to be quiet and not engage with the comedian. If that is their policy, then maybe the performers shouldn’t ask the audience questions? It wasn’t like we were heckling anyone, we were just engaged and having fun. Up until the point we were shushed. Seriously not fun.

First time here and I absolutely loved it! Sarah Tiana is hilarious!!! Had a great time, food kinda sucked but for bar food and snacks it was fine. Wait staff was incredible and we never had to wait for a drink. Not overly crowded at all. I can’t wait to go back, it was awesome!

My friends & I had a great time here. We came on a Sunday for the showcase and were pleasantly surprised with how fun it was, despite all of the comedians’ bits being only ~5 min long. 2 order minimum on top of ticket purchase is pretty normal but my only gripe is that everything on the menu seems to be priced pretty arbitrarily. The food was just ok but the drinks were strong which I appreciated. Our waitress was super nice & attentive and brought my friend her check even though she’s only ordered one thing. Next time I’ll just order drinks and eat elsewhere!

I bought tickets online for a Sunday night the first week of January 2016 for a Comedy Showcase.
Beware: if you sit up front, you are an open target for comedians! It actually made my experience fun though.
However for someone else a comedian made a joke putting him on the spot about being over weight and having a double chin. I didn’t think that was very nice at all, so if you’re a bit afraid of being picked on I would sit in the back.
The tickets were cheap, but where they really get you is 2 drink minimum per person. Water is $ 6 a bottle so obviously you’re going to go for actual drinks instead of just spending $ 12 on water.
I would say out of about 8 comedians–
2 were eh, 4 were decent, and 2 were very funny.

I have been here mostly on stand up night, and staff is nice, the seating was well organized, and the tables were clean.
Their drinks on the other hand, are hit or miss, for $ 10+ cocktail I am at least looking for some effort. I had their knee slapper and couldn’t finish it.

Booking:
We pre booked tickets to their New Year’s eve show by Greg Proops.
Arrival:
When we arrived at the venue 15 minutes prior to the show, we had to wait in line because everyone’s photo id was being checked at the entrance. When we entered they stamped an entrance permit on our forearm and offered us party hats/​hair bands from a selection.
Seating:
Seating is very cramped here. We had to share our table with another couple. Really? Why would you sell more tickets than you can accommodate decently? The seating is so uncomfortable that it is almost impossible to excuse yourself to leave your seat anytime. One star for their seating arrangement.
Food and Drinks:
There is a two drinks minimum here. The cocktails are pretty strong. We didn’t order food here because we had had our dinner already and ours was the last show of the day. We ordered the Blue Hawaiian and Punch line punch cocktails. The drinks were good and looked pretty too! :) Four stars for the drinks served here.
The show:
So, even though the tickets suggested the show time at 10pm the show really started only at 10.30pm. There were three comedians. The first, Daya Laksminarayanan was very good. Her presentation was well prepared and out rightly humorous. The second, I forget his name was a disappointment compared to this. The main presenter of the day was Greg Proops. His was mainly observational comedy and frankly did not appeal much to me. It seemed to me that his humor lacked substance and that he was going on and on about the same things. By now, the drinks had kicked into everyone so it’s really hard to say what they were laughing about. Somewhere between two and three stars for the show.
Midnight special:
The show ended promptly at midnight. Just a couple of minutes prior to midnight, everyone was served champagne on the house and Greg Proops provided a new year toast after a countdown.
Cost:
Entrance on New Year’s eve cost us $ 55 per person without tax and there is a two drinks minimum (not included in the entrance fee).
The impression I got about this place is that they have evolved a good business model by enticing people in the name of comedy and with the two drinks minimum and poor seating arrangement they just come off as greedy!

First time at a comedy club. It was fun! Decided to try something new and this definitely fit the bill. The drinks were over priced but it doesn’t matter. We still had a blast watching local comics. Will be back.

I host many events per month taking groups of individuals out for a fun evening. I must say the punchline comedy club is a great venue every time I have brought in people to this club we have a great night. They do have a two drink minimum but this is because it’s a comedy club tickets are cheap and they need to make money totally get that. Regardless the food is alright drinks are great they always have great comedy acts I would recommend to anyone new to the area to check this place out. Their staff is awesome and very friendly.

Three cheers for the allstar comedy event! I heard there was two drinks minimum rule in the venue, but the waitress was really nice to exempt me from it since I got a cold and sore throat. (No, alcohol will not drown the germs)
The comedians were funny for the most part. I especially like Chris Garcia. His wiggle butt and Cuban jokes made me nearly choked on hot tea. Apparently my brain doesn’t know how to drink and laugh at the same time.
Venue was good and the sound travels well. The crowds were good sport. No hackling, just some chuckling. All in all, fun activity for a good night.

I went on a Saturday night and I really like it. Comedians were very good, everyone with a unique style. Drinks were good and the service was great.
I had a really fun night and definitely will be back.

We hadn’t been to a comedy show in ages and to celebrate our birthdays, we decided we needed a few laughs. We got a good seat in the second row and both shows were sold out. They have a two drink minimum, I ordered a ginger beer and my date had an orange cream soda. They did not enforce the two drink minimum so that was great. Bathrooms are clean and the place is intimate. We had a fun time with our friends.

Hilarious Scott Capurro! Dirty, Dirt, Dirty Bird! Politically incorrect! It was very refreshing to hear some real shit! He didn’t pull punches or worry about hurting feelings, he made fun of every racial/​political/​orientation group possible. Equal opportunity non P.C. LOLED All NIGHT!
Enough about Scott… overall the Punch Line was well organized, warm, clean and comfortable interior. Great service and good drinks.

For a comedy club, this one was great. Good selection of drinks, very attentive waitstaff; what more could you really want?! We had a great time here on a Wednesday night, and you know they are doing something right because it was quite a nice sized crowd for being mid-​week.
We will definitely be back to see more shows here. Oh, and there are lots of great places to eat in this area. Also, the 1 Muni line bus runs very close to here, so you can head back West very easily.

I had a group of 6 go to the Sunday evening SF Comedy Review and it was Hilarious. Must’ve been at least 10 Comedians that night — some of them were Hilarious, there were 2 that I didn’t muster a smile for — but there were people laughing so something for everyone.
No one really got picked on — if that’s a concern. Even the host was very funny.
The 2 drink minimum is the cost — the tickets amount to $ 17 and change which is very reasonable. Great small venue — a lot of open parking spots out front.
**Go in the door with the green awning, up the steps to the right, then you’re in a court yard and you have to go around the building to the right to get into the place — important to know this if you plan on going.
Cody Woods was the funniest guy there for me — He travels and does the big time shows.
I was laughing Hysterically at this guy’s jokes — check him out:

plus he was out front on our way out saying thank you and passing out a card with a download — how cool is that.

Lovely ambiance, amazing staff, delicious cocktails, super funny comedians, what more can you ask for?
I came here a week ago with my brother to watch Steve Byrne perform and man was he hilarious. We ended up sitting really close to the front because we didnt want to share a table so my brother ended up getting picked on a decent amount. :P
The only thing I didn’t really like was that the drinks were pretty overpriced and it is a two drink minimum per person. This would have been fine but it was a Wesnesday so we ended up spending $ 5 for a water bottle.
But do realize that the drinks minimum is to make up for the tickets that was pretty reasonably priced. I got a deal for $ 20 for two people but I think the tickets were $ 22~ per person give or take.

I want to start by saying I am a native of SF. I love the city and all that it has to offer. I went to the punch line in Dec 2013. The food was simply horrible. I wrote. A letter to management and did not get a response at all! Just wanted to make a reference on Unilocal that you can go to this place for a good laugh, but for good food, and good drinks; a bag of peanuts stashed in your pocket or purse is better than what they were serving from the kitchen.
I’m just sayin, when someone takes the time to write a letter to management, management should take time and communicate to its patrons.
I was trying to secure a food contract personally– lol, that was a joke! Get it!

The Punch Line is my new favorite comedy club in all of San Francisco! Oookay, so I’ve only been to about three… but even if the list is a short one, they take top honors.
Tuesday night’s event was called «I Told You So!», featuring Scott Simpson, Eloisa Bravo, Lydia Popovich, and Matt Lieb, and was hosted by Jon Allen.
I got here super early, at about 7pm, so the place was pretty empty. My friend Cat L. and I were able to take our pick from any of the tables and chairs.
It’s a very pretty spot, sort of small and intimate. You have a really great view of the stage no matter where you sit, which I think is genius. Their ticket prices are also very affordable, unlike some other establishments that charge you an arm and a leg.
Simon was an absolutely wonderful bartender, and Mel is a sweetheart. Major props to the staff for their amazingly calm, cool, and collected demeanor. Everyone there was awesome! Hugs and high fives all around.
All of the servers were laughing along with the comedians, and how could they not?! The performers were hilarious. I almost peed my pants from laughing so hard. If you like raunchy humor, I think this is your kinda show.
I will definitely be a repeat patron here. As they say, laughter is the best medicine. I think this would be an awesome place to have Date Night after a nice dinner at say, Shizen. It’s just a few short blocks from Embarcadero BART station.
There is a 2-​drink minimum, and some of them are a little on the pricey end of the spectrum, but I would say to hell with it! Order the $ 11 cocktail of your dreams. Life is short, you have to live a little (or a lot!).

What a great venue for comedy right in the heart of the Financial District…
I used to work a little further down Battery Street so I have passed this place countless times but have never gotten the opportunity to take in a show. I am so happy I finally went because it sure is a little gem!
Small and intimate. Dimly lit and romantic even. I have been to bigger comedy venues like the San Jose Improv and although its a really nice place I loved the more personal feel you get from the Punch Line.
I had read in other reviews that the food wasn’t great so we ran across the street and grabbed a couple slices of pizza before the show began.
Honestly the only downside of this place which isn’t really uncommon is the 2 drink minimum per person. We have a young baby and sometimes don’t feel like spending $ 6 on a Miller Light! Even if you were not drinking alcohol each soda is still $ 5 which means if you’re in a party of two you’re spending $ 20 on just soda. That doesn’t seem appealing.
Street parking is not a problem in this area when coming to a show on a weeknight. I can’t say the same for a weekend night. Just make sure to read the street signs before you park anywhere.
But overall I loved coming here and will be checking their calendar from time to time to see if anyone I want to see will be performing soon!

«I think I just LOL’d my pants.»
I had forgotten how good it feels to laugh. Normally, I’m someone who laughs on the inside, maybe lets out a little chuckle, but the Punchline provoked those good ol’ fashioned, spew out your drink LOLs. This place is legit.
It’s got that old school comedy club feel, with little cocktail tables around the stage and a bar area in back. Wise audience members know to sit near the back, unless you’re just a glutton for punishment and like being made fun of. Max capacity is probably 150, so it’s pretty intimate, and the bar has some decent drinks. Good thing because YES they claim to have a 2 drink minimum, but NO they did not enforce it, with me anyway. Seems like a flexible «rule».
Check out their line-​up, they usually have some well-​known names passing through. For first timers: Arrive when doors open to get a good seat, and note there’s usually 2 – 3 opening acts. Save some room in your belly for the laughs and those 2 drinks you may or may not be forced to consume. And maybe wear some diapees if you’re a hardcore LOLer. You wouldn’t be the first one!

I can definitely appreciate the big acts they bring through. The staff was all very friendly and helpful.
Two drink minimum is typical, but they’re over-​priced and small. The food is below average bar food. I saw people ordering nachos all around me and no one was eating them. They look gross.
I’m sure I’ll be back, but I’ll be eating beforehand.