Bender’s bloody Sunday

We’ve been on a quest to find the best bloody mary in the city for quite some time now.  There are plenty of contenders, with Zeitgeist, thee Parkside, and the Phonebooth coming to mind immediately.  Well, now it looks like we’ll need to make a new addition to the list, because the Bender’s bloody mary is a monster.

Spicy, sharp, and zesty, the Bender’s bloody may seem a bit pricey at $8 a pop, but it’s basically brunch in a cup.  For meat eaters, it even comes with a bonus Slim Jim in addition to the usual pickled green beans and olives!  Truly the perfect way to start a relaxing weekend.

Who makes your favorite bloody marys?

55 Responses to “Bender’s bloody Sunday”

  1. Corpus Nerd says:

    That looks more like a bloody green giant.

  2. SCUM says:

    I would never drink a bloody but Rachael on Saturdays @ The 500 put bacon in hers and The Prez on Sundays also @ The 500 uses red wine.

  3. buzzgirl says:

    I have a bottle of Bakon Vodka (yes, BACON flavored vodka)that I’ve been dying to try in a Bloody Mary. It’s not yet available here, so I brought it back from a trip to Seattle. I’m a big fan of the Zeitgeist version, but I’m totally down to give the Bender’s version a go.

    Random question, but here goes: would it be really bad form to take my bottle to the bar and ask them to whip me up a drink?

  4. sfnola says:

    Kilowatt!

  5. 300baud says:

    A strong contender is J Beaman’s version from Thieves’ Tavern. He does a BLT bloody mary that is implausibly good.

  6. Dan says:

    Orbit Room, hands down. Or is this only about the Mission?

  7. MrEricSir says:

    Ya’ll need to try a michelada, it’s like a bloody mary but with beer and it’s 10x better.

  8. MrEricSir says:

    FYI, for vegetarians and vegans: most bloody marys contain worcestershire sauce, which contains anchovies. In case you wanted to know.

  9. Grego says:

    The Phoenix.
    Public House.

  10. Tommy says:

    Having not tried any of the BloodyMarys already mentioned, I’d like to see where my very own bacon-bloody-mary ranks amongst these strong contenders. I’m behind the bar at POPS on Sunday mornings, and would love to hear your readers opinions to see how it compares to those already mentioned. 2 for $10 all day, come get’r!

  11. am says:

    Prez 500 Club Sunday mornings.

    Especially if he has some of my pickled hot peppers behind the bar.

    It’ll have you thinking about it the morning after…

  12. fnf says:

    zuni, bar none.

  13. LuckyG says:

    My votes for Rachel’s bloody at the 500 Club on Saturdays. Too bad I have to work.

    • Rachel says:

      Tee-hee! I feel so special! Thanks! Too bad indeed. The more the merrier. I hate to have to eat all that bacon myself…(only $5 too!!!)

  14. superlative judgement says:

    L13, doi!

  15. Tanya says:

    Lingba Lounge (which is now closed) made theirs with bacon and a quail egg. Delicious.

  16. Rachel says:

    Thanks for the props!
    Come try mine. Come early tho – I run out of all the pickled goodies & bacon sometimes early! We open at 11 on Sunday and I’m pretty sure Andy opens at 10 still on Sundays! xoxox, The 500 Club
    (and if you’re really actually hungry, Clare’s Deli next door has nomnoms.)
    For the record, it’s the prettiest bloody mary in the world. Andy, sorry bout that…You can kick my ass later.

    • buzzgirl says:

      Rachel! What’s your BYO bottle opinion?

      • Rachel says:

        I think it is my legal duty to respond as WHAAAA?
        Make a donation to the Red Cross for Japan, bring me proof and perhaps I will play dumb. I think I still have to charge the $5 tho…

  17. pamasutra says:

    Not really a bar, but the Bloody Mary @ Ti Couz is slammin’. Shrimp is involved. Rachel’s is great, too!

  18. Jeremy Brooks says:

    That looks like a killer bloody mary. My favorite around the area is at Albany’s Hotsy Totsy Club. They make it with the right amount of spice, and they use a little Guinness in there. Sounds weird, tastes great!

  19. D says:

    It’s all about Chelsea over at The Attic on 24th! Her shit is the best. cheese blocks, salami, peppers, etc.. only on Sundays, but so good and only $4 or something like that. !

  20. ashley says:

    andrew, you read my mind.

  21. Visa at The Argus on Sunday afternoons.

    • i agree with this guy says:

      i agree with this guy

    • lighight says:

      3rd the motion. Visa makes a beautiful and tasty bacon bloody. Foreign Cinema makes a lovely giant prawn one.

      • Rachel says:

        Visa is a sexy beast & tell him I said hello.

        • visa victor says:

          Thanks Rachel…
          I miss & love you too…
          I’d like to think I was the 1st Bartender to use “Smoky Molasses Dripping Sticks of Bacon” in my Bloodie’s @ Argus on Sundays – bur alas- I got the idea from somewhere & I’ve been making them on Sundays for 4 years..
          Bacon Optional – Bacon Salt Rim Optional – Capers Sprinkle optional..
          Love is not an Option.
          Love to Fellow Bartenders @ 500 & Chelsea @ Attic.
          vis’

  22. buzzgirl says:

    I propose a Mission Mission Bloody Mary tour.

  23. Jessica Bessica says:

    Mickey’s Tavern, Madison WI

  24. devin says:

    I dream about the bloody marys at the 500 all week. Thieves on Sunday during football season is a close second; comes with free waffles! Pop’s and zeitgiest are tied for third.

    $8 for a drink is for suckers.

  25. Joshua says:

    Elixir, the Attic & Benders, yeah that’s what I’ve always said!
    Except, over the past couple of months I’ve been getting to know this place in Bernal / Mission Post-Chavez called the Argus Lounge

    Funny enough, their Bacon Bloody Mary’s are kinda why I got myself a DJ gig there this Sunday
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papereatsrock/5525250353/

    Also, even though this is Andrew’s post, thanks for that tip Vic.

  26. gross says:

    Bloody Mary is the name I gave my vagina.

  27. No favorites; stopped ordering Bloodies in the Mission a while back because the trend for maximum spice and food toys is revolting. Can’t trust anyone to make a basic Bloody, which is supposed to ease a hangover, not cause ones tongue to swell and stomach to erupt.

    DIY. 1 part vodka, 2 parts tomato juice, 1/2 teaspoon of worcestshire sauce, dash of fresh lemon or lime, & a couple drops of tabasco. Salt and pepper, if you like (I recommend celery salt). Shake and strain over a couple of rocks in a short glass. If you MUST have a garnish, a wedge of lime or the top of a celery stalk is traditional.

    Why people would want to stuff a beer-sized glass of liquid fire and chef’s salad into themselves at any time (and especially on a Sunday morning) is beyond my comprehension. Still looking for the definition of “hipster”?

    OK, cocktail-snob rant over.

    • Joshua says:

      I trust this so much, I usually trust NOTHING. I’ll get back to you on how it works out.

      Also, I don’t drink in the morning, I prefer my evenings to be bloodied, like 5 – 9 bloody.

    • tanya says:

      I would agree with this basic recipe except that horseradish is also traditional and part of the ‘basic’ lineup.

      • True. But in that case, I would leave out the tabasco.

        BTW, the quantities in the vodka-to-tomato juice ratio should fall in the 1-2 oz. range for the vodka, and the 2-4 oz. range for the tomato, and adjust the other ingredients (quantities given for the median) to taste.

        I haven’t tried any of those shōchū versions that you see around, but I guess the ratio would be more like 50/50.

    • am says:

      my you’re cranky

  28. Diswasher says:

    CHELSEA AT THE ATTIC!!! SALAMI AND CHEESE AND BACON AND AVACADO!!

  29. Katie Conry says:

    Laurie. All you have to do is put ice in a cup.

  30. Janelle says:

    The Bloody Marys at the 500 Club on Saturdays rule! Went there today — tons of pickled veggies, bacon, and shrimp! All that and only $5. Amazing.

  31. Generik says:

    Surprised no one mentioned the Build Your Own Bloodys at the Pork Store. DIY, with pretty much all the ingredients you could want!