The Commanders know The Big Four well.  This establishment has served as our venue for several meetings over the years, impressing us with its comfortable, club atmosphere from another era.  It is certainly the closest thing in San Francisco to the fictional Blades club of Fleming's books.

We enjoy The Big Four both as an excellent restaurant and for its fine bar, which brings us to their martini. Working the bar was Ty, who brought together Pearl vodka and Lillet Blanc for the most unique martini of the (00)7 we tasted this evening.

Our members noted that if atmosphere were rated as well as drink, the Big Four would have swapped places with Stanford Court to be our #1 rated Bond martini venue. But since we voted on the merits of the drink alone in this contest, The Big Four's 007-esque environment of dark woods, glamorous lighting and green leather banquettes will have to enjoy its praise in this narrative.

At the bar, Ty told us he had a special blend for the true Bond martini, and he executed marvelously, in spite of juggling a large post-wedding crowd at the same time.