10 Favorite Cocktails in the Bay Area (As Chosen by Check, Please! Bay Area Guests)

Just like the perfect plate of food, the perfect cocktail is a quintessential part of dining out in the Bay Area. The guests on Check, Please! Bay Area (returning to KQED 9 at 7:30 pm on April 16) have praised many tipples over ten seasons, so when your go-to beer or glass of wine won't cut it, these ten cocktail favorites  they praised on the show will undoubtedly do the trick...

Restaurant: Sakoon Restaurant
Season: 9
Cocktail: Mistress of Spice
Recommended by: Swapan
Why: “It was fruit forward, almost tropical in flavor, with the perfect amount of spicy heat at the finish of every sip.”

Restaurant: Wexler's
Season: 7
Cocktail: Wexler’s Smoked Manhattan
Recommended by: Stu
Why: “Matt Wexler has put together an amazing drink program that includes individually tailored drinks for people with fresh fruit, herbs, oils, and a few other tricks he has up his sleeve.”

Restaurant: Plӓj
Season: 9
Cocktail: Tulip
Recommended by: Seema
Why: “The Tulip is a particular favorite, with its lingonberry syrup, Swedish bitters, and lemony goodness lolling in a bath of sparkling wine.”

Restaurant: The Slanted Door
Season: 3
Cocktail: Ginger Limeade
Recommended by: Jamie
Why: “With Kaffir Lime Vodka, fresh ginger, and lime, this isn’t to be missed.”

Restaurant: Zaré at Fly Trap
Season: 8
Cocktail: Agave’s Inferno
Recommended by: Brad
Why: “We enjoyed the cocktails so much that we ordered another round instead of wine!”

Restaurant: Poesia
Season: 8
Recommended by: Jill
Cocktail: Dante
Why: “The vodka martini made with basil is a gorgeous green color and tastes amazing.”

Restaurant: Picán
Season: 9
Recommended by: Jody
Cocktail: Tennesse Margarita
Why: “It was so delicious!”

Restaurant: Chop Bar
Season: 7
Cocktail: Short But Funky
Recommened by: Andrea
Why: “All of the cocktails are made with fresh juices and I think that makes a big difference.”

Restaurant: DOSA on Fillmore
Season: 6
Cocktail: Ginger Ante
Recommended by: Suzanne
Why: “This cocktail was delicious!”

Restaurant: Dragon Rouge
Season: 6
Cocktail: Aloe Saketini
Recommened by: Jacob
Why: “It tastes like heaven water!”