True North

I just moved to San Anselmo from LA a week ago and I've already been here twice. I really dig the vibe of the place and the food is great. I had the delicious John Wayne Burger and and those beans! Oh damn. Yum. House salad and the fish n' chips were great too, and they've got a great, changing selection of beers and wine. And the owner, Buck, as well as the rest of the staff were super friendly.

I haven't experienced it yet, but they have karaoke on Saturday nights and Irish music on Sunday afternoons, both of which are right up my alley! Yay, new local pub!

Stoked about the new menu and seeing the word organic repeated all over the page!
I've had the pizza recently and I loved the sourdough tasting crust ....it was just the right combo of thick n thin!
Cheers

We ordered take out and the husband picked it up, so I can't speak to the location.
Though, he said that the space was nice and he'd happily eat there.

When I ordered, per the menu, I made sure to tell them that we needed gluten free and the person on the phone helped me with the order.

We ordered a gluten free pepperoni pizza with extra cheese, habanero honey wings, and gluten free cheesy penne.

The pizza was sublime. It was so so cheesy! The crust tasted like real pizza not a sad "alternative" food. I actually ate all of my crust; that never happens. The website indicated that you might want to order extra pepperoni, I didn't and it still felt like plenty.

The penne was a touch bland, but still good. I think it would be perfect for a child.

The wings were sweet and spicy, just right.

It's a little pricey, but you do get what you pay for. The gf pizza really hits the spot. I'd go so far as to say it's the best gf pizza I've had. I look forward to our next visit.

Found this place on a recent trip up to San Anselmo from SF. Wow... love the pizza. My original intent was to have a couple of pieces and take the rest home for later. Well, that didn't happen. I ate every bite.

Incredible crust. Perfect sauce. De-lish. Both the atmosphere and service were great too. I'm always on a lookout for outstanding pizza - and this is my go-to place in Marin County from now on. I think I might head back this weekend, as I can't get that combo pizza out of my mind!!!

Would not go back. Ever. They have everything you would think a pub/tavern would have (beer, TV, music, etc.) but it's the attitude of the staff and the quality of the food that will keep me away.

The night I went they didn't have any vegetables. None. It was a Saturday night at 6p, and they had run out of veggies. That's ridiculous.

The bartender, who I think was the owner, described his restaurant as something completely different than anything else in Marin. And he did so by bad mouthing what traditional "marin people" like. If traditional marin people want good food, friendly staff and a family friendly environment, True North is not for you.

Imagine if someone who had never worked in a bar or restaurant decided to open a bar/restaurant. That's what it feels like. The vibe is weird and awkward.

The menu is super small and dishes come out randomly. So be prepared to eat before the rest of your table has food or yours will be cold. Skip the mac and cheese. It's large rigatoni swimming in a lot of bechamel. We couldn't even tell if there was cheese in there, which is a sin when it comes to mac and cheese. Plus the croutons on top weren't a good match either. And there's photos and reviews on pizza, but there's no pizza. Additionally, one of our party ordered a burger but was never asked how they wanted it cooked, even though the table next to ours was given the choice by the same server.

The staff stands around hovering like they can't figure out what to do. (Hint: side work, clean, look busy) It's unnerving while you're eating and being watched.

You're order is taken on an iPad thing and your card is swiped on it when you're finished. There is no option to tip on it, nor are you even offered a receipt. I guess you better bring cash to tip on the strange experience.

What can I say...everyone with children especially will be in heaven! Yummy food, music, and toys and games for the kiddos.
Let the family fun begin!

Wow! I was going to give three stars, but after reading the owner's responses to other people's reviews, I don't think I want to go back, and I'm adjusting my rating accordingly.

To the owner: you seemed like a nice person the couple times that I talked to you in the restaurant, but I am absolutely stunned that you think it's appropriate to respond to people's opinions in the way that you have. I worked in restaurants for a good chunk of my life, and that's just not the way to do it, my friend. Also, you seem to be upset because people are saying subjective things instead of objective (HELLOOOO this is Yelp, buddy. People are expressing their OPINIONS.)....

So here's something objective: I ordered my burger medium-rare, but it came to me totally dry and gray from top to bottom. I was able to flag down our waitress and she took it back to the kitchen. Thirty minutes later I got a burger that WAS medium-rare (hallelujah!) but it was missing the lettuce, tomato, and cheese that it had originally come with. My friend was already done eating by the time the new burger came, so I didn't say anything more.

Subjective for you now: everything tasted mediocre. Nothing was over-the-top terrible, but I'd rather drive a little farther and get a better burger down the road. It would have merited three stars, but the owner's responses have put a bad taste in my mouth. I might have given it another shot for one of those upcoming days when I just want to watch a Giants game and drink a beer, but I guess not--I'll watch at Marinitas instead with a nice margarita in my hand.

Other objective things that aren't negatives/positives but are worth noting for some people:

- We were directed by our waitress to get our own water, napkins, silverware, and condiments.
- It's kid-friendly (read: loud sometimes).
- They have TV's.

I was a little reluctant to write this review after reading some of the rude replies to other yelp reviews. I am not looking for a fight, just to share my experience.

I have eaten here three times now. I feel like True North is two different places, deserving two different ratings. The back taproom offers an outstanding craft beer selection. I have always had fun conversations with the bartenders and customers, and the service is attentive. I give the back room 4 stars.

The front dining room is a different experience. The service attitude is cold and reluctant... definitely uncomfortable. Our orders on two occasions came at substantially different times - 20 minutes apart one day and close to 30 minutes apart another day. I can be flexible, when I know this kind of delay is going to happen, and just plan to be there a while and enjoy the night. However we did not know this, and it resulted in one of our party having to rush through the meal to make it to their next gig. I give the front room 2 stars.

The first time I went there I had an AMAZING pizza, the crust was to die for. The second and third times, the pizza was pretty average - something seems to have changed in the recipe.

I do plan to try them again. They have done outstanding work with the beer selection and I hope the food and service will follow suit.

First, the upshots: a fantastic beer selection, and I appreciate the "divider" between main dining room and music stage, so you can still listen to the live music without yelling over your meal.

Beyond that...I wish I had higher praise for such a cute spot. "Fish tacos" were anemic and disappointing, essentially fish crumbles on tortillas. Garlic fries were good. Waitstaff possibly new and lacking proper training? Our waitress was certainly "nice," but as one previous reviewer indicated, also quite awkward and intrusive at times. Maybe I'd give this place another chance in the distant future, but for now, I'll pass.