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Yeah yeah...everyone loves Nopa. So I finally tried it. Three of us had a reservation at 9PM and we were seated upstairs. It's a great space, our main server was very friendly and informative (we had about 8 servers help us). The menu was very diverse and the food arrived quickly. We ordered 5 appetizers (goat cheese and beets, calamari, squash, mixed greens with apples, walnuts & blue cheese, and this baked egg and tomato dish). The salad was wonderful, as was the goat cheese and beets. The squash was amazing (sweet, with hazelnuts I think). The server strongly suggested the calamari, which was mediocre. The batter fell off of the pieces a you picked them up. He also strongly suggested the egg and tomato dish, which was pretty good, but kind of weird. Overall it was a great meal, and the three of us walked away stuffed.
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NOPA
Cuisine: Mediterranean Greek
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Western Addition |
10/29/2009
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There are plenty of sushi restaurants in the Mission. If you pick one, it shouldn't be this one. There's nothing wring with the food - it's just that it's just OK. You can also get a better value elsewhere. It *is* cozy inside, which is nice.
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We Be Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Mission |
9/27/2009
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This is a beautiful restaurant, and the food is excellent as well. They serve small plates, which worked out well because we had 12 or so people at our table. I am not sure what all of the dishes were because my friend who frequents the place just ordered for everyone. The baked meatballs were terrific. In addition to a big menu with a lot of variety, they also have an extensive wine list.
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Saha
Cuisine: Middle Eastern Mediterranean Moroccan Fusion
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Downtown |
9/27/2009
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I love Zuppa. The pizzas are great (not too much cheese, not too much sauce). They have good-sized side dishes for $3.30 (like roasted beets with basil). I also like the arugula and octopus salads (two different plates). For happy hour they have $.50 oysters. It's a great-looking space - open and comfortable.
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Zuppa
Cuisine: Italian
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SoMa |
9/27/2009
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We had such a great experience here. Six of us went to lunch and were treated to a small yet impeccably chosen menu. The spinach salad with local blue cheese was excellent, as were the mussels. I was impressed by the steak fry presentation which was much like jenga. My entree of porkbelly sandwich was amazing. Three people ordered the steak medium rare and were equally impressed. With windows lining two walls of the dining area, there is a great open feeling.
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Luce
Cuisine: Italian Californian
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SoMa |
6/4/2009
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This English-style pub is great! They have three rooms with two bars and plenty of games to play. The menu is long and the portions are generous. They have a huge selection of beers as well. I ordered the prime rib sandwich (Sunday's special) and it was fantastic. My friend ordered the shrimp platter, which only came with 6 fried shrimp, but they were tasty and not greasy.
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Cameron's Pub and Inn
Cuisine: English Pub Food
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Half Moon Bay |
3/10/2009
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This was indeed a fun experience, but I ended up spending a lot of money! The meats were pretty good, considering they were being carried around from table to table on a sword, and they had a great selection of non-meat sides. It has a cafeteria feel. I will probably not go back, but I am glad that I went once.
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Espetus Churrascaria
Cuisine: Brazilian
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Civic Center |
3/7/2009
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I will give this restaurant a positive review, but I felt that everything was overpriced. We didn't have to wait very long for a table for six, but the waitstaff seemed a bit haughty. The portions were somewhat on the small side, but everything tasted great.
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Delfina
Cuisine: Italian
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Mission |
3/7/2009
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We enjoyed a quite nice dinner here. The restaurant was practically empty at 6:30pm on a weeknight, but by the time we left it had gotten busier. Our waitress was very pleasant and everything seemed very fresh. The atmosphere is open and enjoyable. I will return
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Aux Delices
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Polk St./Van Ness |
3/7/2009
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I just don't get all of the hype about this place. It's not that the food isn't good...the food was just fine. It was also great that we only waited 5 or so minutes with a group of 8 for our table (we did have reservations). Everyone that we spoke to was very friendly. But I just don't get it. Is it that there are very few Burmese restaurants in the city? I rarely go out to the avenues and am a bit annoyed that I made the special trip for this 'must try' restaurant.
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Burma Superstar
Cuisine: Burmese
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Inner Richmond |
3/7/2009
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Our meal at Coco 500 was pretty mediocre. The service was OK, but everything arrived very slowly. The portions were small, and the prices were big. The beef cheeks were great, though!
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Coco 500
Cuisine: Californian Mediterranean
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
3/4/2009
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I finally tried Tommy's! I'd always heard, "the margaritas are good but the food is average." I found both the food and the margaritas to be great! It was extremely busy and the service was really slow, but we didn't mind because we were enjoying our drinks. It's so loud there - sort of like a Bucca de Beppo in the avenues. I rarely get out that far, but if I do, I would go there again!
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Tommy's Mexican Restaurant
Cuisine: mexican
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Outer Richmond |
5/26/2008
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I ordered food from this restaurant for the first time in a long time last night and was reminded of how dependably good it was. I got a falafel wrap, but their babaganoush is great as well as their lamb shawerma. The food is very reasonably priced and is ready so quickly. It's a counter situation with very few barstools.
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Truly Mediterranean
Cuisine: Middle Eastern Mediterranean
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Mission |
4/22/2008
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I need to go back and order lunch or dinner because this mediocre review is based on a breakfast burrito. The beef breakfast burrito that I ordered had little flavor, was soggy and was $5 (which I thought was expensive for the size). I will try it again and edit my review as necessary.
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Victor's INC Restaurant
Cuisine: Mexican
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
4/22/2008
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Wonderful food and great service! The portions fit the prices and everything we ordered was delicious. I had a crepe with ham and cheese and an egg on top. My friend ordered the caesar with salmon, and it had quite a bit of salmon. It didn't feel crowded inside even though it was totally full during the lunch hour.
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Couleur Cafe
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Potrero Hill |
4/22/2008
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I have always found the pizza to be just OK. Most recently, we ordered Canadian bacon, garlic, mushroom and feta on white crust. The sauce was so acidic, we could barely detect the garlic, the crust was soggy, and the feta was placed in blobs rather than spread evenly over the pizza.
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Hay Stack Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza Italian
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Noe Valley |
3/15/2008
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We thought this place was OK. The pizza was pretty good (the deep dish vegetarian one that we ordered was much better than the sausage/bell pepper one). The wings were pretty tasty (they were roasted - didn't have any sauce). We showed up with party of 8 (they don't take reservations) and were told we would be waiting 45 min for a table. We waited one hour and 45 min! It was definitely not worth the wait.
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Little Star Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza DeepDish ThinCrust
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Mission |
2/24/2008
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I had the jerk chicken plate which comes with rice, beans and veggies. The chicken was amazingly tender and the spice was good. It came with a great sauce on the side. We sat in the enclosed patio area, which was nice and cool, but my veggies got cold very quickly. There was too much food for me to eat, and it was only $9.
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Primo Patio Cafe
Cuisine: Caribbean
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
2/22/2008
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We had a delicious lunch here, but I would love to go back for dinner. They've only been open for lunch for a week, so the lunch service was in the immaculate bar area. We sat at the high counter (not at the bar) at the huge windows facing Howard street where the sun shined upon us. We started with the hearts of romaine salad, which had a tasty lime-sesame dressing, some crostinis and shaved pecorino. My companion ordered the naan pizza with Chinese sausage and basil. It was so cheesey and delicious (no red sauce), and it came with a mixed green salad. I ordered the Masala grilled beef wrap and I was amazed! It was really big, and the sauce was spectacular. It came with skinny confetti fries and a side of banana-infused ketchup. My only complaint was that the romaine heart salad plate was too small to make cutting the hearts difficult! I will definitely be back.
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Prana Restaurant
Cuisine: Pan-Asian
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SoMa |
2/6/2008
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Four of us had dinner here on a weeknight and were satisfied. Even though the place is small, it does not feel cramped. All of the foods that we tried were delicious. We may have ordered too much food overall, per the suggestion of the slightly pushy yet friendly waiter. We started with the butternut squash fritters (which melt in your mouth) and the roasted beet salad with goat cheese (great combo!) For our entrees we ordered trout with sunchoke puree & mushroom ragout; Bavette steak with chili verde sauce and creme fraiche; the southern fried chicken (two huge leg quarters) and the pork tenderloin confit (so tender and smoky). We rotated the plates around the table so that we each ate a quarter of each entree, and every person had a different 'favorite'. My favorite was the trout. Overall, I think that it was slightly overpriced, but not so much that it would prevent me from going back (appetizers $7-$12, side plates $6, and entrees $16 (for vegetarian pasta) - $26).
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Maverick
Cuisine: American (New)
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Mission |
12/21/2007
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I will give this restaurant a neutral review for now, but I will go back and edit later. They have decorated this place very nicely, but in somewhat the same style as Osha, three doors down. We ordered the imperial rolls (which were OK), the pina rice and Singapore noodles. The rice and the noodles had the same flavor, and neither was great. My friend had eaten the pina rice there the previous week and said that it had been much better. The prices are OK, and I will go back because I am in this neighborhood often, but for now, I am rating it less than positive.
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Tara
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
11/10/2007
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I have to give this restaurant less than a positive review because I have never been someplace where they made so many mistake on our orders! We watched other tables have the same problems! It was so strange. Two of us ordered the sushi combos with slight adjustments to the pieces, and both of our plates came to us with the wrong combinations. My other friend ordered the shrimp tempura appetizer and Alaska roll but ended up getting the shrimp tempura roll and the Philadelphia roll. We were asked to order about 6 times before we were ready, but when we wanted the check, there was no one around to help us. The fish tasted very fresh, but I think that the food was overpriced.
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Nama Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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SoMa |
11/10/2007
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Five of us had dinner here last night. We loved it. They haven't changed much in the way of decor since taking over the old KFC - you still get a bit of the feel, but it is definitelt not a KFC. There is seating for about 30 people and they do not take reservations. We waited about 15 minutes on a Friday night to have our party seated. We started with these delicious salty buttery rolls and mushroom gratin. Everyone loved their entrees: Alaskan halibut, steak and mussels (what?? They read my mind!), & steak stroganoff. The service was quick and really friendly. I will definitely go back!
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Spork
Cuisine: American (New) Hamburgers
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Mission |
11/10/2007
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Happy bithday, mssurly! ^^^ The restaurant had only been open for two days and they served our birthday party of 12 with no problem. They have a lot of appetizers and many entrees to offer. Everyone in the party was happy with their choices! I ordered the Tabsi sea food as my entree: it was a delicious seafood mix in a filo dough shell with rice inside. A belly dancer provided entertainment throughout the night. I will definitely revisit.
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Baghdad Nights
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Lower Haight |
10/2/2007
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This place is great for a large group. I have been here for a few going away and birthday parties. The service is always friendly and the pizzas are delicious. They also serve you yummy fresh soft breadsticks. It's a great start to a night out on Valencia Street. The restaurant has an upstairs and downstairs (and on those rare, hot days in SF, the upstairs can get a bit balmy - but I'll take balmy over chilly any day!)
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Pauline's Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
9/23/2007
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I was told that this was the Mission choice for lovers of Tu Lan, but I was not enthralled by anything that we ordered. Maybe I am conditioned to the style of food at Tu Lan, but the imperial rolls and shrimp fried rice at Sunflower paled in comparison to Tu Lan's. Admittedly, the interior of this place seemed much cleaner.
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Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Mission |
9/23/2007
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The pizza is great by the slice and by the pie, and is very affordable. They have a salad bar, pastas, subs and other entrees as well. The meatball sandwich is great. If you order a salad that they make for you, it's bound to be huge. They also deliver. Save your receipts: if you order 10 pizzas for delivery, the 11th is free. They have an all-you-can-eat buffet which I have not tried yet.
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Papa Potrero's Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
9/23/2007
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This place boasts a steam table, soups, Hawaiian barbecue and ice cream drinks. I ordered the wonton soup, which was not really flavorful (but I added pepper oil and soy sauce and it was great). I opted for the soup as every steam table item looked like it had seen better, fresher days (it was 6:30 PM - it seems strange that they had old items on the steam table at dinner time). The service was really friendly and the soup was ready really quickly
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Asia Chinese Food
Cuisine: Chinese
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SoMa |
9/20/2007
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This place is just OK. I have been here several times and have never felt really great about what I have ordered. The food is pretty greasy, but if you order the combos, the portions are large for the price. It's a great deal if greasy Chinese food is what you're looking for (and sometimes that is exactly what you're looking for).
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Canton Seafood and Dim Sum House
Cuisine: Dim Sum Chinese
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SoMa |
9/20/2007
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I have eaten here twice and ordered two different salads. The 1st was a delicious tuna tartare salad on greens with canellini beans an pesto. It was a really large piece of tuna cooked perfectly and the pesto was just on top of the fish. It was outstanding. The second salad I ate there was the "pig salad": carnitas on greens with a mustard vinaigrette. I love pork, but this was too much for me. I should have taken a clue from the name that I was not going to feel very healthy afterwards. It's not that the salad was bad, I just was not in the mood. The ambiance is nice for lunch: the tables are not too close together and it generally has an open feeling.
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South Park Cafe
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
9/15/2007
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This was probably the best Thai meal I have enjoyed in SF. Everything tasted really fresh. We went with a group of seven and were seated in 5 minutes on a Friday night. I tried about six dishes, including three vegetarian appetizers, duck flat noodles, my seafood platter and a hot and spicy green chicken curry. We split the meal (everyone had a couple of drinks) and it turned out to be $23 per person! They even have a full bar. I will definitely go back.
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Malai Thai Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Mission |
8/18/2007
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I ordered a seafood noodle dish, and when it arrived half of the seafood seemed imitation, but I didn't care. For $7.00, two of us stuffed ourselves. The food arrived 5 minutes after we ordered. I will definitely go back.
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King of Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Tenderloin |
7/25/2007
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Paragon is a decent place to go before a Giants game, but we went today for lunch with a group of seven. I was pleased with my burger, and the fries were thin and fantastic. One person ordered the grilled cheese sandwich which came on HUGE pieces of grilled bread. The salads were large, but they have very few dressing choices. Two people ordered the fish tacos (which are "build your own - the tortillas and fish and cabbage are served separately); the fish was fresh and grilled, not fried, but they brought out the fish and the tortillas came about four minutes later. The prices were reasonable for the ATT park area. The macaroni & cheese was delicious. UPDATE: Went back again, and while my food was good (fish tacos and a butter leaf salad, and mac & cheese), they brought ALL of the food at the same time. Inconvenient (as I would have liked to have my salad 1st) and unwieldy as not everything fit on the table. Perk: Al Gore (yes AL GORE) was dining there at the same time!
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Paragon
Cuisine: Californian
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
6/26/2007
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It's the only authentic Mexican food in the area that I have seen, but I found it to me just OK. They only had one type of fresh salsa available. The price was decent, and they have some outdoor seating, but with the Mission just a short distance away from here, I doubt I'll go back.
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Chavo's Mexican Restaurant
Cuisine: Mexican
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SoMa |
6/24/2007
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I have never been disappointed by this restaurant. The service might be slow sometimes, but that is usually because they are serving a large group of hungry softball players who just finished a game at Jackson Park. They have an outdoor seating area, and the wait staff is always friendly.
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Connecticut Yankee
Cuisine: American Pub Food
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Potrero Hill |
5/20/2007
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This is one of the many new wine bars in SF. This is the first of the new generation that I have tried. Four of us went to dinner and were treated like royalty. Our waiter started us off with a free taster of sparkling wine. As you can imagine, they have a great wine list. Instead of ordering entrees, we decided to try a lot of small plates. The mushroom tart was amazing, and the only plate that I would call mediocre was the pea ravioli. The fava bean and pea bruschetta was delicious and such a nice change from the regular tomato-topped bruschetta. The cheese fondue was nice and came with interesting things to dip, including cauliflower and asparagus. The artichoke croquettes were good, but the plate only ame with three tiny pieces. We finished off with a trio of cheese platter which came with a variety of interesting fruits. It was a bit loud in the restaurant, but not annoyingly so.
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Cav Wine Bar
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Civic Center |
5/20/2007
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We go to this place somewhat frequently. They have tables, but you can also sit at the bar and eat. They brew one of my favorite beers - Racer 5. You can also bring in large containers of your own and have them filled up with any of the beers that they brew. The food is great, but my favorite thing to get is a sandwich called The Press - it's a chicken sandwich with brie.
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Bear Republic Brewing Company
Cuisine: American Pub Food
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Santa Rosa |
5/20/2007
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I always go to the same few taquerias, but I decided to try a new one. The food was good - I just ordered a corn quesadilla and a carne asada taco. They also had tofu and vegeterian choices. They had two salsas on the tables - one green and one red - and both were great.
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Taqueria El Buen Sabor
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
5/20/2007
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We went to The Cosmopolitan Cafe for happy hour; they didn't seem to have a lot of happy hour special drinks, but they had a lot of amazing appetizers for $5! There are two areas: upstairs and downstairs, and both were very comfortable. For appetizers we ordered almost everything on the menu (thin crust pizza, cheese fritters, artichoke fritters, ahi tartare), and they were all great and totally filled us up. We sat at the bar area, but they also have seated dinner.
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The Cosmopolitan Cafe
Cuisine: American (New)
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Embarcadero |
5/15/2007
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I think that I will be coming to this restaurant a lot. I went there last night for the first time. What a great space. It's totally open and casual with high ceilings, funky junk all over, and TVs to watch the Giants. The prices are low, but the food was good. Our server was nice, but the service was slow because she was the only one serving (there were three bus boys which was strange). We treated ourselves to jalapeno poppers which weren't greasy at all. For an entree I wanted the lemon caper snapper, but they were out of snapper. the waitress offered to have the meal prepared with yellow tail, but I'd already had my serving of tuna for the week. I opted for the rib which came on a bed of hearty mashed potatoes and a small pile of greens. My friend ordered the odd but delicious Hawaiian chicken cordon bleu, which sounded weird at first, but the pineapple made sense when you tasted it with the ham. The bill including tax came to $30.
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Brickhouse Cafe & Bar
Cuisine: American (New) Hamburgers
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SoMa |
5/13/2007
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This is a cool, open space, but it's extremely loud. There were only five of us at a table, but I could not hear what the person one seat over from me was saying. The service was extremely fast and very friendly. They have some combo lunch specials which makes it easy to order. I really enjoyed my red curry beef and spring rolls. My friend also had the red curry, but she was in the know and ordered the sticky rice which she said was great. The other entrees (seafood soup, sweet and sour prawns and a tofu curry) were all enjoyed. For desert, my friend who ordered the sticky rice for her entree also ordered the mango sticky rice, which was sweet and had sliced mangoes around it. For 5 the total bill was $65 (one drink and one desert ordered).
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Koh Samui and the Monkey
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
5/12/2007
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There is always a long line at this place (well, at all cafes in South Park there are long lunch lines), so I tried it. Perhaps I ordered the wrong thing, but my panini was mediocre. It was under $4, but seriously: it was one piece of meat, one piece of swiss cheese and some mayo on a roll. I will go back and try something else. The day that I went they were offering a veggie pesto lasagna - I hope that they offer that again. This place has indoor seating as well as a walk-up window for quick orders. You can take your lunch across the street and eat it on the grass in South Park!
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Caffe Centro
Cuisine: Californian
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
5/9/2007
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We went here for breakfast and were pleasantly surprised. It was quite clean inside, surprisingly. It's a "greasy spoon", I guess, but our meal was delicious. We'd wanted to go to a smaller cafe down the street, but didn't have the time to wait, so we tried Nation's. All I could remember about the place was that they served mayo on their burgers. No problem today, though, because we ordered breakfast. I ordered the Giant Breakfast (2 eggs, hashbrowns, sausage and toast - nice & basic). The pre-buttered toast was quite greasy, but everything else was great! Others ordered the French toast and pancakes which they said were good. Two friends ordered the grilled cheese which they liked. My breakfast, including coffee, was just over $6. When I pass by a Nation's again, I will think of more than the mayo that they put on their burgers!
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Nation's Giant Hamburgers and Great Pies
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Napa |
4/30/2007
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I have to give Market a positive review because they did the nearly-impossible: changed our group of nine to a group of 14 with 1 hour notice on a hot Saturday night. This was not the only positive thing about our experience, though. I think almost everyone in the group was delighted with their meal. The people who ordered the delicious fish and chips were the happiest, I think. When it was over, we split the bill and everyone paid $45. There had been plenty of wine served. The service was perfect, especially considering the waiter had to deal with 14 chit-chatty friends.
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Market Restaurant
Cuisine: American
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Napa |
4/30/2007
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A friend and I had dinner there last night. I ordered the special pasta, which was a wild mushroom with toasted pine nuts and shaved Parmesan. At first I thought it was pretty bland, but after a few shakes of salt, the flavors really came out. My friend ordered the chicken pot pie, and while she said it was great, it too needed salt. I thought that the wines on the wine list were a bit overpriced. The ambiance in the small restaurant is great - you feel just as comfortable as if you were at a friend's dinner party. Unfortunately we were both too full from lunch so that I cannot report on their salad, appetizer or desert menu at this time.
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Liberty Cafe & Bakery
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Bakeries
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Bernal Heights |
4/30/2007
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I have finally had my first meal at any Naan & Curry location! The Palak Paneer was the best that I've ever eaten. The chicken Tikka Masala was different that I've had previously. Not better or worse, just different. It had a bit stronger tomato flavor than I am familiar with. The Tandoori Prawns were huge - I just think that I am not a big fan of that spice combo. I tried the potato filled naan for the first time and it was great. The place is very casual. Unfortunately it was pretty dirty. The carpet really needed a vaccuum,
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Naan 'n Curry
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Inner Sunset |
4/30/2007
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As far as the food goes, it definitely seems more like a pub than a cafe. We ordered the nachos, which were ok, except that they'd cooked them on a piece of foil to which most of the cheese stuck. I like that they have taken out the roof in the outdoor seating area. They didn't have any drink specials, at least that the waitress knew of, although it was 6pm on a weeknight before a Giants game. They have TVs for sports-watching.
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Cafe Mars
Cuisine: American (New) Californian
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SoMa |
4/23/2007
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Great space in an unexpected location. It's very cozy, but not too small. They have a large selection of wines to choose from. The man who served us was really friendly. I will definitely go back.
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Hotel Biron
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Hayes Valley |
4/17/2007
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This is our new favorite sushi restaurant for delivery. The rolls and sashimi are huge - a great value. There is also a big variety of rolls to choose from. The delivery has been 45 minutes or less each time we have ordered. They give you a free rock 'n' roll or California roll when you order $30 or more. The California roll is made with real (not imitation) crab. We will keep ordering here and trying new things.
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Shiso
Cuisine: Chinese
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Bernal Heights |
4/4/2007
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We had a great lunch here today. I cannot speak for the price as I went with a group and it was paid for. It was a great setting. They have lots of different areas to sit in. We had this private room, the walls of which were created by hundreds of sake bottles encased in lucite. Way in the back of the restaurant there is a view of the bridge and the bay. The service was really friendly. We had a little bit of everything, and it was all fresh and tasty. The dynamite roll was the special of the day and it was the best roll in my opinion. The spicy scallops and hamachi were great, too. One special touch - in the restroom they have a Japanese language cd playing over the speakers.
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OZUMO
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Embarcadero |
4/4/2007
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This is a great experience. It's a perfect place for large groups. The decor is so 70's, with even older of SSF around. We had 12 or so, and including wine, we paid less than $30 a piece! It's been around for years, but the Sodini's family purchased it recently so that this SSF tradition could live on. The menu seemed identical to Sodini's (in North Beach), so we ordered our usual favorites (tortellini carbonara, lasagna & steamed mussels). The carbonara just wasn't as good as it was the dozen or so times that we've enjoyed it in SF. The best part is the drive there & parking: it took us 1/2 the time to get there from Bernal Heights than it does just to get to North Beach from Bernal heights! Plenty of parking.
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Bertolucci's Restaurant
Cuisine: Italian
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South San Francisco |
3/24/2007
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We always get delivery from this restaurant, and the food always arrives within 45 minutes! We have never had a bad meal or any complaints. I always order the seafood hot plate and bacon-wrapped shrimp. My boyfriend usually orders the fried pompano fish (which is served whole with the head and eye and everything). Makes sense, but the Pad Thai here is great. The beef satay is great as well. Super value.
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Pad Thai Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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Mission |
3/9/2007
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This is a great choice when you need a burger downtown. For $6 or $7 you can get a decent burger or Philly cheesesteak & fries & a soda. Watch for their daily specials. The fries are not too thick and not too thin.
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Downtown Flames
Cuisine: American
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SoMa |
2/21/2007
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This is a cute & quiet little restaurant. The food is very affordable, and the waitstaff is friendly. there are not many Indian food restaurants in the neighborhood. I like the restaurant, and I look forward to returnng soon so that I can write more!
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India Garden
Cuisine: Indian
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SoMa |
2/21/2007
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I think that this place is pretty good! Big and good for groups. They brew their own beer, which have been tasty in my experience. The portions are fair for the prices. Good for after-work drinks and appetizers. You can sit at the bar, casual tables, or be seated formally.
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Thirsty Bear Brewing Co.
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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SoMa |
2/21/2007
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Very cheap. I would only go here if I worked around the corner. I have ordered the pad thai a few times. It is not great. Everything that I have eaten here is totally edible, just not great.
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Linda's Place
Cuisine: Chinese
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SoMa |
2/21/2007
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I just had a mediocre experience at MoMo's, but since I am a huge Giants fan and I work two blocks away, I am sure that I will go back. Five of us went there for lunch. The ahi appetizer was really good (and big); the bruschetta was strange...it had roasted veggies and some kind of meat, instead of just tomatoes and cheese and basalmic vinegar, but it was tasty. We ordered drinks and water, but never received waters. One person ordered a sandwich with a salad instead of fries and ended up getting chips. When she asked for her salad they brought her a totally separate side salad. My friend and I ordered two sandwiches that we wanted to split, but the waiter only heard us request one sandwich. The fries were pretty good, but the pulled pork sandwich had too much sauce for my liking. I will go back, but mainly because of location. Also, I believe that every restaurant can have a bad day.
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MoMo's
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
2/14/2007
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It must be tough to open or run a restaurant in North Beach, because if people feel the way I do, they're going to try a few Italian spots, pick their favorite, and never stray. This has been my affair with North Beach, so I was happy to win a voucher from SF Survey so I could break my rut. We went to dinner at 7PM and the restaurant was pretty empty. That made me happy because my friend and I were in the mood for laughing and talking. They were out of the monthly special wine, so we were given a nicer bottle of wine at a lower price. We started with the carpaccio (which was huge), but a little too lemony. when eaten with the yummy bread the acidity was lowered a bit. We chose the Mediterranean salad (which was huge) - it seemed bland at first, but I really liked it after a while. For entrees we ordered the pasta pescatore (which was huge) and the mistomare (which was huge). The plates had similar descriptions and ended up tasting pretty similar, but both were good. Lots of s
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Viva Restaurant
Cuisine: Pizza Italian Seafood
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North Beach |
2/1/2007
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I love meat, but I have an open mind, which is why I ended up here. The only complaint that I have is that the names of the dishes are so silly: "I am joyous", "I am beautiful", and so on. I like the set up of the dining area - there is a bar which seats 10-12 people, and there are 6 or so large tables where smaller groups eat communally. We ordered the sampler platter, and out of 6 items, only one was bland (the kale salad - although the two almonds that were placed on top were fantastic). The coconut milk soup with s**take mushrooms was great (cold - surprised me even though I knew this was a raw restaurant). We ordered the 4-crustini plate, but they were out of avocado, so we got two of the presto. Strangely they were also out of cucumbers. They also have a bookcase with "raw" things to buy. I was full when we left. I will go back here!
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Cafe Gratitude
Cuisine: Raw Vegetarian
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Mission |
1/28/2007
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Painfully hip and overpriced, I keep going back there because my friends like to throw birthday parties there. I am not wowed by anything when I go, and could get twice the food and better quality for the same price at many other places in the city.
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Sushi Groove
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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SoMa |
1/20/2007
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You can't beat this place. A fresh off-the-bone turkey sandwich for $3? The variety is amazing. My faves: wonton soup (huge and made to order), chicken/tofu/sesame noodle salad, dim sum steam tray and the breakfast sandwiches. I have probably eaten at Lee's (all of the locations combined) more than any other restaurant in the city! OK, if I didn't work in SOMA I probably wouldn't travel there for Lee's - I guess I am just lucky to have something like this near my work.
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Lee's Deli
Cuisine: Deli
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SoMa |
1/20/2007
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Cheap & good. I am not sure what kind of bread they use, but it's great! I always get the toasty bbq pork/steamed pork sandwich (hold the mayo or whatever that white stuff is, please). It comes will fresh jalapenos, cilantro, spicy sauce & more, and it's less than $3! They also have various Vietnamese treats wrapped in cellophane. I wouldn't travel across town to go here, but if I am in the neoghborhood, I am ordering a sandwich for sure!
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Saigon Sandwich Shop
Cuisine: Vietnamese Deli
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Tenderloin |
1/20/2007
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I finally visited Slow Club! We went there as a group of 5 on a Friday nite - the bar was super-crowded, but we were seated right away when we were ready. I ordered the traditional Ceasar salad - it was simple and good. Three people ordered burgers which thry all loved. I had some of the fries, and I cannot remember a fry that I have eaten in recent history which was better than Slow Club's! It's pretty dark inside, which usually bothers me, but it was OK. Pretty loud, too, but not annoyingly.
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Slow Club
Cuisine: American (New)
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Potrero Hill |
1/20/2007
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I liked the old Deli Club that used to be in this space, but we enjoyed our meal that we had here at the new Sellers Market. Six of us went at noon on the Friday before New Years, and found a table inside easily, but I bet it will be more difficult on a regular weekday. They also have a lot of tables outside, which will be nice when the weather warms up. You order at the counter and get a beeper that tells you when your food is ready. I think that I ordered from someone new because she charged me $12 for a glass of wine (it was supposed to be $6), then it took a good 5-10 minutes to void the transaction and ring me up again. Most people's food was ready pretty quickly. I ordered the 1/2 sandwich (a tiny brie & turkey on a baguette) and tomato bisque soup (which was terrific). The Caesar salad was tasty, and the turkey club was big, but the albacore tuna melt was pretty small. The decor inside was pretty cool, with a huge cow (signifying their Niman Ranch selections).
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Sellers Markets
Cuisine: American Bistro
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Downtown |
12/30/2006
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My office just moved to the neighborhood, and I think that I will be coming here somewhat often. I went with two coworkers, and everyone enjoyed their meals. For $6.95 I got the enchiladas plate with rice beans and salad (shredded lettuce with a big tomato slice on top). The Azteca burrito is huge and reportedly delicious. They have a salsa bar with three or four salsas and other chopped goodies. We were lucky to get a table, though, on the rainy day when we went, but once the weather gets nice, I'll take it to go and sit in the park!
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Mexico Au Parc
Cuisine: Mexican
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SoMa |
12/22/2006
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How often do you have a dinner where every single plate that was brought to the table could be considered "excellent"? We had this experience last night at Blue Plate. I had heard mixed reviews, so even though it's in my neighborhood, I was hesitant to try it. We had two friends visiting from Northern California, and their first reaction when they saw the menu was, "I want everything!" We ended up ordering a lot...root vegetable soup, cabbage, apple & cheese salad, scallops with pastrami, macaroni & drunken goat cheese, meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans, and two plates of osso buco. ...and it was all great! We arrived at 9:15 pm (during the holidays, without a reservation) and were seated within 10 minutes. It's a great bi-level space with homey decor. We didn't go out there because it was raining, but they even have an outdoor seating area! And finally, to top it off, they serve Olympia beer in a can for $1. Nice touch. It was a great experience.
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Blue Plate, The
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Californian
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Bernal Heights |
12/22/2006
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I can now finally say that I have been to Luna Park. Can't believe that it has taken this long. I was not overwhelmed, but I am not holding Luna Park accountable because we were there with a group of 16. It's hard to get everything right with a group of 16. Unfortunately when they told us that they could accommodate 16 people they didn't tell us that it would be at two tables. It was not ideal, but not horrible. They have yummy stuff on the menu like corn dogs and mac & cheese (made with big shells and a white cheese sauce and crunchies on top!) For my entree I ordered the salmon which came with a mushroom ragout and mashed potatoes - it was tasty, but saldly lukewarm. My friend next to me ordered the sea bass with the broccoli rabe and it was great. The best part about the dinner were the creative dessert selections (mini make-your-own caramel apples, make-your-own s'mores, some kind of cookie-ice cream sandwich...) Unfortunately, I don't like dessert!
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Luna Park
Cuisine: Hamburgers American (Traditional)
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Mission |
12/21/2006
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A friend of mine used to be a chef here, so we dined at Metro Cafe a lot. The dish that stands out most in my mind is a salad with beet and goad cheese mold on it! So innovative and tasty! I like the space and do not find it too small. Great place to go if you wanna feel a little old school rock & roll.
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Metro Cafe
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Western Addition |
12/15/2006
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The food is never exceptional, but on a sunny day the urge to go here is hard to beat. I agree, the food is an afterthought after the view. It gets ridiculously crowded on the weekends, even though they have a huge deck right over the water. The calamari is not good, but the margaritas are OK.
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Sam's Anchor Cafe
Cuisine: American Seafood
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Tiburon |
12/15/2006
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We had a work party here, and I was glad that I was not paying. Things seemed a bit pricey for what I considered to be just a step above El Torito. Everything was plated nicely, but the food just wasn't that great-tasting. The guacamole was pretty good, and my shrimp plate was tasty, but everything else was mediocre. The most unfortunate part about it was that it was LOUD!! We sat at a long table as a group of 10 people, and you couldn't hear anyone talk besides the person on either side of you - which was too bad for me because I was on the end :(
Update: went here again for lunch. The food came out less than 5 minutes after we ordered. Three of us ordered the fish tacos and loved them: really fresh and light, and the portions were huge!
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Tres Agaves
Cuisine: Mexican
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
12/14/2006
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We had our company party here - reserved the spot on Monday for a Wednesday afternoon! Service was nice. I did not try any of the infused vodkas, but my coworkers did, and the waitress promised that they weren't leftover from when the place was called Infusion....For appetizers we had Buffalo wings, little pesto pizzas, ribs & calamari - all good! Nice-looking space as well.
**Update** I just had the beefeater sandwich - carmelized onions, bleu cheese & horseradish sauce on a beef filet on toasted bread - so delicious!
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Nova
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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SoMa |
12/14/2006
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I had a so-so experience for lunch. We arrived around 1:15 pm and were seated pretty promptly; our intention was not to have a leisurely lunch, but that's what we go (we paid and left at around 2:20 pm. Service was slow but friendly. We ordered the calamari (which was pretty good) and the Buffalo wings (served with ranch, not blue cheese, & were covered in barbecue sauce) for appetizers. My three friends ordered the Southwestern salad and liked it. I ordered the Chinese chicken salad which was OK. I will probably go back, but only because it is located three doors down from my new office.
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21st Amendment
Cuisine: American (traditional) Pub Food
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Pacific Bell Park/South Beach |
12/14/2006
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Big, big sandwiches. If you go amytime between 11:30am-1:30pm, plan on waiting for a while. It's kind of fun to wait, though, because in addition to being a deli, it's also a Middle-Eastern / European market, selling items definitely not offered in safeway. I usually pick up a spice or condiment that I have never tried before. The sandwiches are great, with lots of meats, cheeses and condiments to choose from. Sandwiches cost about $6-$7.
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Ratto's International Market and Deli
Cuisine: Deli
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Oakland |
11/25/2006
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This tiny spot is great! I tend to go to the same two or three restaurants in the Mission, but I tried this on a whim and found a gem. It has an extensive menu and great prices. I ordered the Salvadorean tamal, the pork and cheese pupusa, and a side of rice. It was the best pupusa I have ever eaten, and I wanted another, even though I was full! The total bill was less than $6. I will definitely go back.
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Restaurant y Pupuseria San Vicente
Cuisine: Salvedorean Mexican
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Mission |
11/25/2006
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I went there with two people who don't like dim sum so we ordered Chinese lunch staples. We thought that the prices were way too high until we saw the proportions. Nothing tasted that good, though. The three of us had pork chow mein, black bean sauce broccoli, and steamed rice (to go), and if we'd really liked our food we could have had lunch for 3 days! I might go back to try the dim sum.
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Jade Villa
Cuisine: Dim Sum
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Oakland |
11/25/2006
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I have never really like the crunchiness of their hot dogs, but I can't complain about the prices. An institution!
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Caspers Hot Dogs
Cuisine: Hot Dogs
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Walnut Creek |
11/25/2006
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We ordered a pie once on a recommendation from a friend - I thought it was fantastic, but my friend did not agree. What I liked about it was the thin, hard, cornmeal crust, and they were very light on the sauce. My friend did not like the pizza for just these reasons (he prefers thin soft crust and a lot of sauce). I'll order it again, but with someone else! Note: they do not deliver to Bernal Heights, not even North Bernal.
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Bowzer's Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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SoMa |
11/25/2006
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This place was a nice surprise. I've worked in the neighborhood for years, but never thought of going in. They had a lot of unique-to-the-restaurant dishes, including volcano beef topped with onion rings (? weird but good), and the Yellow Sea (which was a yellow curry with 5-6 types of seafood, including a couple of crab claws). The spring roll and seared tuna appetizers were good but not really filling. The entrees were large, though. While the waitress seemed new and was very quiet, she was nice and asked for help when she needed it. Lunch for 4 with a couple of drinks = $100...I'll go back, but on a special occasion, most likely.
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Osha
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
11/25/2006
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Everything inside the restaurant and outside the building was decorated in various shades of white and cream. The service was extremely friendly & efficient. In addition to the food that we ordered, the waitress brought us slices of housemade sopresata & greens, crimini mushroom pasta, & three types of homemade bread. Such a simple gesture probably cost the restaurant $1.50, but it meant so much more to us. We started with the Sea of Cortez scallops, the creamy mushroom polenta, and the butter lettuce & bacon salad. The only problem was that we were so excited to taste the delectable & rich scallops & polenta that we ate them 1st, when we should have waited 'til after we ate the much more subtle salad. For entrees, I ordered the generous & delicious rack of lamb with potatoes and pea & mint salad, and my friend ordered the Kobe steak with beans and potatoes. Both were amazing. If I have one complaint, I would suggest more mint in the pea & mint salad! We were too full for desert.
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Cafe Majestic
Cuisine: American (New)
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Pacific Heights |
11/25/2006
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Sushi delivered! It takes about 45 minutes, and the prices are right on. I think they might just use Sriracha sauce to make their spicy tuna & spicy scallops, but they taste good nonetheless. We like the crunchy roll - best to get this when there are more than two people eating, because it's huge! One side of the menu is sushi, the other is Chinese, but we haven't tried the Chinese yet. The nigiri pieces are really big.
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Tao Yin Restaurant
Cuisine: Sushi
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Mission |
10/24/2006
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This restaurant was definitely good, but I didn't have the overwhelmingly amazing experience that a lot of the reviewers below have had! Nothing was wrong with the entire experience. We were seated promptly by a really friendly host, in one of the two-tops in a row of about 10. We got there @ 6:30, so it was still light out and not that cozy inside, but after dark, with the candles lit, it was really nice. They had a short list of wines available by the glass, but I found something. They have this $12 Tuesday thing where they offer some entrees for $12 and some sides for $6. I ordered the potato pancakes with creme fraiche & salmon to start, which was delicious. For my entree I chose the tempura snapper which came with wild mushrooms & greens in a peanut sauce - also good. My friend enjoyed her 2223 salad and clam/mussel steamers.
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2223 Restaurant
Cuisine: American (New)
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Castro |
10/12/2006
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I keep going back because I like the idea of sitting so close to the water, but to be honest, nothing is really good except for the Bloody Marys. It's an interesting place, attracting the local nautical crowd, post-party-ers from Jellys, and more. I usually get the shrimp Louie, which is totally OK, but everything seems a bit overpriced. It truly is a great place just to hang out at on a sunny day, drinking Coronas or Bloody Marys.
Update: I went to the ramp this weekend and ordered the eggs florentine which was fantastic. But we spent as much on drinks waiting for a table as we did for bruch once we finally sat down!
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The Ramp
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Hamburgers
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Potrero Hill |
10/9/2006
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It's very, very dark in there. Nice mood lighting, but don't go expecting to read. We just had two small plates and two glasses of sangria - I might have to go back in order to make a decision as to whether or not I like this place. We ordered the artichoke hearts & tomatoes vinaigrette, which was pretty good, but the tortilla Espanola was just OK - the potatoes almost seemed mashed. The sangria was tasty enough. There was a woman dancing with castanetes and a guitar player.
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Cafe Arguello
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
10/4/2006
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We showed up for reservations at 8:30 to find the place pretty empty. I think this is a restaurant more frequently visited after work. We ordered the $35 prix fixe, which included a small plate, a large plate, & a dessert. We started with the mixed greens (which were a lot of mixed greens with a little balsamic vinaigrette). For the small plates we got the Duo of Local Dungeoness Crab. I didn't know that 'clementine' meant tangerine - I could only taste the tangerine, not the crab. The other part of the duo was a crab cake, with a delicious sauce and caviar on top. No larger than a silver dollar, it was tasty, but we wanted more. We also got their amazing scallops - we will come back for the scallops and a drink for sure ! I ordered the poached halibut with linguini which was terrific (a huge portion of fish!) - but I asked for the leftovers to-go, and the waiter never brought by my box. My companion ordered the NY Steak with Bleu cheese potatoes. Tiny portion, but rich.
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Soluna Cafe and Lounge
Cuisine: Californian
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Civic Center |
10/3/2006
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I have been to Tryptych before: once for a fundraising silent auction when they served a home-cooked chicken mole; and once just to hang out during the Folsom Street Fair. This time I went because we won a generous certificate, and the food was delicious. We started off with a salmon sashimi, which was flavored with lime & sesame and shaped like a star! Then we ordered the rack of lamb. It was so tender that we had to ask the waiter if we'd been given the steak by accident. We also ordered the paella for two, which was huge and came with plenty of shellfish. I realized that this was the first time I had ever eaten paella, so I really don't have any right to judge, but my companion, who had eaten paella before, said that it was good. Too tomato-y for me. I like the high ceilings and the open space feeling. I just wish the restaurant were on a different block.
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Triptych
Cuisine: Fusion
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SoMa |
9/11/2006
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The idea is great - I love meat, I love to cook, and I love to eat all I can eat, but this place is too much! It's really fun to throw things in boiling water & sizzling oil, and all but they offer so much that I am always way too stuffed when I leave. Perhaps Coriya Hot Pot would better suit someone with more self-control than myself. Suggestion: sit by the bean-drink bar - if you're not familiar with the concept, it's fun to see what people do with juices & beans! I will continue going back, but I can only handle it once every 4 years or so.
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Coriya Hot Pot City
Cuisine: Chinese Barbecue
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Inner Richmond |
7/11/2006
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Everything is reasonably priced here (BBQ, pitchers of beer). Each of the barbecue choices comes with a heap of potatoes that are cooked just right. Go inside & order in the back. Then grab a table outside and enjoy your pitcher, waiting for your name to be screamed across the beer garden - your meal is ready! Go back in & pick it up inside.
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Zeitgeist
Cuisine: Hamburgers Barbecue
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Mission |
6/21/2006
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I like sitting at the counter. I gathered trips on how to make cooked spinach, poached eggs and hash browns. Our waitress was friendly but not overly friendly. My cup of coffee was constantly refilled after I took no more that two sips. Same menu as the one in the Mission, but it seemed like the prices were a bit higher. I always get the Pork Store Special Breakfast. Even though they offer vegetarian fare, I wouldn't eat there if I were a vegetarian. We watched the cook drop a pile of spinach on the grill in the same spot he'd just finish cooking some bacon.
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Pork Store Cafe
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
5/13/2006
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I need more than 1000 characters to describe the greatness that is known as Pinky's Pizza Parlor (I'll try to keep it short). Truly the best Pizza I have ever eaten, & I have eaten a lot of it! Thin, crispy crust topped with a snazzy sauce and two kinds of cheeses. I always get the combo, which has 4 or five kinds of meats as well as veggies! The side salad is basic & tasty: iceberg lettuce with garbanzos, kidney beans, red onions & black olives. They have a bar where you can order a beer or get a frosty mug of soda. The booths are dark-wood and vinyl. The best part is the super-fast old-school Ms. Pacman! We drive out there from SF just for a pie!
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Pinky's Pizza Parlor
Cuisine: Pizza
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Walnut Creek |
5/11/2006
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On my quest to find a new sushi restaurant in the Mission, I found Yo's Sushi Club. I was ordering food to go, so I was sat at a small table where I could read my book and drink tea while I waited. I ordered 6 rolls and the bill including tip came to a little over $30. It seemed that the 2 or 3 people seated at the bar were having a great time shooting the breeze with the 2 sushi chefs. The rolls offered on the menu were the usual (Rock 'n' Roll, Spicy Tuna, Alaska...), but all of the food seemed pretty fresh, and was tasty. The weird thing was that 3 of the 6 rolls included a layer of an herb (espazole), which I have never seen in sushi and don't really like. I would probably eat there again, but would more likely try another Mission sushi place before going back.
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Yo's Sushi Club
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Mission |
5/9/2006
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This restaurant strangely feels like up scale hotel's restaurant, but not in a bad way. A very classy spot near 12th Street in downtown Oakland, they have an impressive wine list and a tasty menu. They start you off with a plate of delicious, warm bread. I ordered the scallop salad, which included fennel & peppers, but only 5 small scallops around the side of the salad. Their burgers are good - and the fries are great (I am a fan of thin fries). To top it off, the prices are pretty reasonable for this type of restaurant. I even spied Mayor Jerry Brown having lunch at a table nearby!
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Caffé Verbena
Cuisine: Californian Italian
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Oakland |
5/9/2006
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This is a really nice place in the Castro. I am a fan of fusion, but not so much a fan of sweet-fusion (so many of the dishes had a sweet-flair to them), but I was able to find some very tasty items! I went with a friend who had been there before, and she ordered a delicious bottle of Champagne (if I get the name from her, I'll edit my review). We started off with the curry steamed mussels, which were just slightly sweet, and very delicious. My friend ordered the bean & spicy sausage soup, which was pretty good, but could have been spicier for my liking. She also ordered the calamari steak which was a little bit bland. I love what I ordered, though: the miso chicken (the most perfectly-cooked chicken I have ever tried), with mashed potatoes and asparagus. The setting was nice (dark, but not too dark), but I felt a little bombarded by the host when we arrived. The entrance is very small (just off the dining area) and I felt he was 'blocking' me from proceeding any further!
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SUMI
Cuisine: Fusion
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Castro |
3/20/2006
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This place is swanky and cozy at the same time. Fun place to go after work. Of course, their wine/champagne list is extensive (and not overly-expensive!).
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The Bubble Lounge Champagne Bar
Cuisine: Small Plates Dessert
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Downtown |
3/15/2006
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Very strong coffee. This is my favorite coffee place in the city. Good neighborhood spot - great place to get some work done or meet a friend.
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Cafe Abir
Cuisine: Coffeeshop American Bistro
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Hayes Valley |
3/15/2006
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This is a great spot. A little pricey, but the food was terrific. Good for brunch. I got Oeuf en cocotte - baked egg with pancetta, potatoes and roasted onions. Delicious! My two friends got the LPR Style croque Madame and loved it. It was a rainy day, but the restaurant still felt very light & friendly. Lots of champagne available and the fries are great (skinny, crisp).
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Le Petit Robert
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Russian Hill |
3/15/2006
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I have been going here since the 80s. This place is awesome. The service is really friendly, and the food is cheap & tasty. It's a good place for groups, too.
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Hunan Home's Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Chinatown |
3/10/2006
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I have lived in the neighborhood for 10 years and went here for the first time last night! A friend was stopping over on her way home after a trip to Miami, where she ate a lot of exotic food and spent a lot of money. When I asked her what she wanted for dinner, she said "steak". We gave Palace a shot. Our food was above average and definitely worth the $10.99! We both ordered the ribeyes, medium-rare...while it wasn't a huge steak (probably 10 oz.), it was not small either and was cooked perfectly. You order at the counter, and with our dinners we got a salad, baked potato & garlic bread. With a couple of glasses of wine, the total was less than $30. Not a fancy place, but good if you need a cheap meal. It won't take me 10 years to get back there. Oh, and March will be their 37th anniversary!
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Palace Steak House
Cuisine: Steakhouse
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Mission |
2/23/2006
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My friend brought me here, saying that have the best slice, and I think that it was pretty good. What caught my eye was the potato slice - it had green onions and cheddar cheese. I was pretty full from movie popcorn I'd had earlier, so I took my slice to go. I went home, and couldn't wait to eat it - heated it up right away. Delicious. Thin crust. I will definitely go back.
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Marcello's
Cuisine: pizza
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Castro |
2/10/2006
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My company had planned adinner for 20 of us at Cha Cha Cha, and at 5pm on a Wednesday remembered that they forgot to make reservations. I remembered that a friend said this place was great. Surprisingly, they had room for us. We just kind of ordered a little bit of eveything on the menu. The raw tuna served in a martini glass and the fried plantains were my favorites. The space is cozy but not cramped, and the service was awesome (especially since there were 20 of ordring drinkson the company's tab).
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Charanga
Cuisine: Pan-Latin
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Mission |
2/10/2006
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This seems like a good place for a group. We went with about 12-14 people, and were served pretty quickly. The sushi was terrific. Everything was fresh & delicious. Great selection of rolls. I live in Bernal, and wouldn't travel all of the way across town to go here again, but if it's in your neighborhood, put it on your to do list!
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Mas Sake
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Marina |
1/3/2006
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We dined there last night for my birthday. It was delightful. We found the service to be friendly. We started with the crab-stuffed mushroom tops with Romano cheese, which were deliciously rich. Then we split the chop salad - it had a bleu cheese lemony basil dressing and so many good ingredients. mY T-bone and my boyfriend's cowboy rib eye were cooked to medium-rare perfection. And with the cheesey au gratin potatoes and complimentary birthday glass of Port, it was a wonderful meal. The wine list is 10 pages long. The only drawback is that we were seated in a booth near the bar - it wasn't horrible, but there were better tables.
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Ruth's Chris Steak House
Cuisine: Steakhouses
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Polk St./Van Ness |
12/8/2005
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We found this place to be affordable and tasty. Two people ordered the Blue Cheeseburger - it was delicious. I had the cioppino, also good (it came with two pieces of toasted, buttered sourdough). One person ordered the hot dog - the placement of mustard, ketchup & onions was artistic!
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Taylor's Automatic Refresher
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Hamburgers
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Embarcadero |
10/8/2005
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The burgers are okay, but I think the fries are horrible. They're really dry. If I am going to be unhealthy & eat fries, then I want to enjoy them in all of their good-greasy-ness! And, if I am going to be bad and eat a fast-food burger, it'll be at McDonald's. Look for the sneaky John 3:16 printed on their packaging. Stealth-conversion.
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In-n-out
Cuisine: Hamburgers
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Fishermans Wharf |
9/22/2005
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I am not a big blues fan, but that will not taint my review (I went there with a wedding party, so the venue was not my choice). The music was extremely loud for such a small, low-ceiling room, but I thought the food was terrific. We had the catfish fingers as an appetizer, then the crab cakes for an entree. The crab cakes came with yam fries that were so tasty! I usually do not like yams. Both plates were delicious, the portions were generous, and the prices were decent.
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Biscuits and Blues
Cuisine: Southern
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Downtown |
9/16/2005
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Eh, I am not sure that I have the patience to wait in line for this restaurant for breakfast again. I mean, you put your name in, find the nearest SF Weekly stand & grab a paper, and by the time you're bored of the paper, your fingers are all inked up from the newsprint and you still have a half an hour more to wait. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the food. It's good! Just not worth the wait.
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Boogaloos
Cuisine: Californian
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Mission |
8/3/2005
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It is true that the sandwiches will come with way too much mayonnaise, but I just always ask for no mayonnaise (and "light" on the cilantro) and my sandwiches are well worth the $2.25! They have a bunch of cellophane-wrapped-styrofoam containers with yummy Vietnamese snacks inside. Very little seating...but just take your sandwich two blocks to sit in the grass in front of City Hall! My favorite sandwich is the steamed pork/bbq pork combo.
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Wrap Delight
Cuisine: French Vietnamese Fusion
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Civic Center |
8/3/2005
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I think each dish costs about 25% more that it's worth. It's certainly not BAD food, but don't expect authentic when you go there. High points: good for groups, and good salsa. Go there only if you are with a bunch of people and have no way of getting to the Mission.
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Chevy's Fresh Mex
Cuisine: Tex-mex Mexican
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Embarcadero |
7/11/2005
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I usually choose to go to the location on Church street because it's much more convenient for me, but I am always happy when someone invites me to dinner out at Park Chow. The food is totally solid, but what I really love about this place is how it has so many different levels, rooms and atmospheres. You can sit outside, inside, near the door, near the kitchen or deep inside the restaurant where you can feel totally alone (but the wait staff doesn't forget about you, to be sure!) Good for groups or just two, and the prices are great.
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Park Chow
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Inner Sunset |
7/11/2005
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Maybe when one goes to this place they should stay on the "cafe" side, because my experience on the "laundry" side was absolutely horrid. Nothing was wrong with the food (I had a small salad & a beer), but I thought it would be cool to do my laundry there, too - cool idea, right? Basically, the laundry side is a haven for the people in the neighborhood who have nowhere else to go, and no one tells them to leave, even if they're not doing laundry. One person was doing something really disturbing right on top one of the washers I was using, and I didn't get very much help discouraging this person from doing what he was doing from the employees, either. I will never go back. Suggestion for improvement: move.
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BrainWash Cafe and Laundromat
Cuisine: Coffee Shop American Bistro
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SoMa |
7/11/2005
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I agree with Lia: "crab rangoon". Best I've had anywhere. Parking stinks up there, so take the train! I went with my sister and her 2 year old son, and when he wasn't behaving very well, I felt like I wished we were in a roomier restaurant.
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Eric's
Cuisine: Chinese
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Noe Valley |
7/10/2005
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I work downtown, and one day I was craving fish tacos. Someone told me to check out this taqueria that's on the corner of Jessie & Mint (I can't remember the name!) It seemed like an authentic Mexican restaurant, but the fish taco plate was $8.00 (I just wanted two tacos...no "plate")! I remembered Rubio's from college in San Diego and when to grab two tacos ($4.00) & chips in the basement at the mall. The food is fine & fresh & affordable.
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Rubio's Baja Grill
Cuisine: Mexican
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Downtown |
7/10/2005
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I've been to a few parties here and I think this place is pretty cool. Great burgers that are not overpriced. The layout is funky & you can also sit outside.
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Beale Street Bar & Grill
Cuisine: Pub Food American
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Downtown |
6/19/2005
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Wow! Yum. I had the pork chop breakfast, and it came with TWO pork chops. I had enough to take one home. The prices are totally reasonable, and our food came to the table very quickly. I am excited to try the Haight location. (I've heard it's even better, due to the big grill!)
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Pork Store
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Mission |
6/5/2005
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I keep getting the Camarones Borrachos (drunken prawns), but the things that my friends get are delicious as well. Each dinner comes with chips & salsa (of course, rice (with carrots and peas!), beans, tortillas, and the shrimp & seafood cocktails even come with saltines! It's a sit-down restaurant, but you can also order food to go. It has a very pleasant atmosphere, and everyone that works there is really friendly.
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Restaurante El Delphin
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
5/7/2005
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The tapas here are Mediterranean (I was expecting Spanish), and the change was nice. I had the scallops. YUM! The interior is unique and comfortable, with lots of couches if you're just having appetizers and drinks. Now the rooftop bar is open, and on a nice day it's fabulous up there! They have lawnchairs, tables, a bar & heat lamps.
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Medjool
Cuisine: Mediterranean Tapas Small Plates
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Mission |
4/9/2005
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Some people tell me I am obsessed with Pakwan. It is a perfect combination of quick service, low prices and delicious food. Great sauces for dippin' your naan. I love the saag paneer & chicken tikka masala.
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Pakwan
Cuisine: Indian
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Mission |
3/6/2005
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All of my friends who love east-coast pizza (a.k.a. thin crust) will tell you to eat @ Arinell's. I am partial to thin crust pizza as well. However, just because the crust is thin doesn't mean the pizza is good. Even the East coast as some bad pizza. The slices here are just "alright".
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Arinell Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
3/6/2005
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Yum! This is a good place to go with kids, as a couple, or with a group. The pizza is thin-crusted and there are toppings galore to choose from. Everyone seems really friendly as well.
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Goat Hill Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Potrero Hill |
3/6/2005
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I keep going to Tommy's. I am not sure why, but I like it. I always leave feeling as if i have a layer of grease covering me, but I always enjoy myself and it's a fun place to take vegetarians from out of town! (just kidding) I love carving stations!
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Tommy's Joynt
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
3/6/2005
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Sure, the food is good, but I'd rather make my own breakfast at home before I wait in that RIDICULOUS line!
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Mama's on Washington Square
Cuisine: Bakeries Coffee Shops/Diners
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North Beach |
3/6/2005
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(Used to be a restaurant called Hong Kong). Some of the things that we got here were good (crab rangoon, mu shu pork), but the orange beef was very bizarre. The beef was all dry & shredded. The service was great though, and the food was on our table in no time! Comfy place, too. I'll go back.
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Red Jade
Cuisine: Chinese
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Castro |
3/6/2005
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If you like artichoke hearts, this is the place for you. You can also get meats sliced & by the pound, as well as a delicious assortment of salads and finger foods. There are a few in the city!
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A. G. Ferrari Foods
Cuisine: Italian Deli
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SoMa |
2/15/2005
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Cozy French place, serving food with delicious sauces. Would be good for a date, but I went there for a group and that worked out well, too. Waitstaff was friendly.
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Baker Street Bistro
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Cow Hollow |
2/13/2005
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I don't like sweets at all, so I never had any desire or reason (I thought) to try this place. Some friends invited us there for lunch, so I went. I had a toasted gruyere and crimini mushroom sandwich that was terrific; side of tasty roasted potatoes, too. I was expecting a boring assortment of muffins and sandwiches. I'm glad I was encouraged to go there...I'll try it again.
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Citizen Cake
Cuisine: Californian Bakeries
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Hayes Valley |
2/13/2005
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It's fun to sit at the bar & eat as the sushi chefs are super-friendly. Always crowded, and while the food does not stand out compared to the many other sushi restaurants in the city, it's dependably good.
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Godzila Sushi
Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
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Pacific Heights |
1/29/2005
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Perfect Thai food at great prices. Everyone that works there is very friendly, and there's even a TV in the corner near the bar. I work near here, and have eaten there many times.
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Cha AM Restaurant
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
1/29/2005
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We had an absolutely delicious dinner. We really enjoyed the grilled squid (different than we've ever tasted) and the Maine scallops which were also very tasty. Then we moved on to the seared ahi (with a perfect blend of lemon & capers in a buttery sauce) and the rack of lamb (with a dark, rich sauce). The portions were just right, the atmosphere was nice (cozy/just a bit crowded), and the waitstaff was friendly. We will definitely be back there again, and I have already told many friends to try it!
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Baraka
Cuisine: French Mediterranean
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Potrero Hill |
1/22/2005
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I am not sure why someone would choose to go here over one of the dozens in Chinatown, besides location. Good if you can't make it to Chinatown; the food seems authentic, but the lines are as long (or longer) than most other dim sum restaurants.
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Ton Kiang
Cuisine: Dim Sum Chinese
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Outer Richmond |
12/25/2004
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Atmosphere is great. We had a party of 12 or so, and we kind of got the feeling @ 10:30 they wanted us to leave, but the food was really delicious, and the waitstaff didn't bother us about lingering TOO much.
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paul k
Cuisine: Mediterranean
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Hayes Valley |
12/18/2004
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The potato pesto pizza is a fabulous surprise! Whole cloves of garlic! (I usually need to put a little salt on my slice, though.) They also have a "happy hour" special, where cheese & pep slices are only $20 between 4-6 pm (I think, or it might be 3-5 pm).
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Escape From NY Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Downtown |
12/18/2004
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The decor is pretty nice, but I found the waitstaff unnecessarily pretentious and the food room temperature, mediocre and overpriced. UPDATE: I work in the neighborhood, so I go here for happy hour. The margaritas are good, and they give you a small dish og free appetizers. I have also heard that their daytime burritos are excellent, but I have yet to try them...I will report back on that.
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Maya Restaurant
Cuisine: Mexican
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SoMa |
12/18/2004
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This is the first time that I am downgrading a review on SFSurvey. I have been to this restaurant 4 times (I keep trying), and each time, the experience was mediocre. I think I was being optimistic because I felt lucky to have a Senagalese restaurant in the neighborhood. I never like the entree that I order very well, and the food just seems bland in general. Bring salt. To top it off, the wait staff always seems moderately surly. I tried last night to make my waitress crack a smile, which she finally did, but after much effort! I don't like to feel like I am putting someone out by asking for another drink.
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Bissap Baobab
Cuisine: African
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Mission |
11/20/2004
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I was totally satisfied with my meal at Naan 'n Chutney. I thought it was a totally delicious meal and it didn't cost a lot at all! Try it.
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Naan 'n Chutney
Cuisine: Indian Pakistani
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Lower Haight |
11/18/2004
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Choose your meat and cheese by looking at it. If you order a sandwich with "everything", you get bread, with meat and cheese on it, and packets of mayo and mustard. Reminds me of delis when I was a kid: you take a number, step up to the glass case, and point to the salted, cured meat that looks the best to you! It's also a great place to get Italian ingredients, such as canned anchovies, artichoke hearts, and olives.
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Lucca Ravioli Co.
Cuisine: Deli Italian
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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Why I ordered pork chow fun for $15 I'll never understand.
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Le Colonial
Cuisine: French (New) Vietnamese
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Downtown |
11/14/2004
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Quite an experience, and one that every SFer should enjoy. It's pricey, and probably too pricey for what you get, but the whole routine is great. This place is for crab lovers. Also, the garlic noodles are spectacular (even though they look like just plain noodles). It's a fun time.
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Thanh Long
Cuisine: Vietnamese Seafood
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Outer Sunset |
11/14/2004
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I thought the atmosphere was wonderful, but I also enjoyed the food. They even have warm blankets to put over your legs if it's cold outside. I think it's the perfect place for a first date.
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Foreign Cinema
Cuisine: Californian Mediterranean
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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I am an omnivore, but when a vegeterian friend had his birthday dinner here, I tried it. In some of the dishes it's hard to believe there's no meat. Inexpensive, too.
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Golden Era
Cuisine: Asian Vegetarian
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Tenderloin |
11/14/2004
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A lot of my friends really like this place, but I thought it was too expensive for what you get. Our waitress was "busy" talking with another waiter most of the time we were there, making it difficult to ask for even a glass of water.
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Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
Cuisine: Italian
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Bernal Heights |
11/14/2004
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Cone of fries! I liked the decor as well. Very European.
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Frjtz Fries
Cuisine: Belgian
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Hayes Valley |
11/14/2004
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Great value, great food. It reminds me of a few other tapas places in the city, all of which I love. Very small space, but not so small that it's annoying. I bring my books and study before my Spanish class here!
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Esperpento Restaurant
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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Delicious. I thought it was a bit pricey, but the ambiance and staff were really nice.
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Fringale Restaurant
Cuisine: French Basque
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SoMa |
11/14/2004
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It's a chain, but the food is dependable, while not spectacular. The dishes are huge & for sharing, so it doesn't make much sense to go with a party of two or three. You need to make reservations far in advance for large groups. Try to get the pope room if you go!
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Buca di Beppo
Cuisine: Italian
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SoMa |
11/14/2004
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The space is great, and it's a good & inexpensive place to take a group, but the food is always OK. for $12 you can get an entree and a glass of wine (and all of the bread you want).
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Bocce Cafe
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
11/14/2004
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This place is fantastic. I would like to decorate my home similarly! We went with a large party, so I got to try just about everything on the menu. Absolutely delicious.
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Bambuddha Lounge
Cuisine: Pan-Asian Vietnamese
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Tenderloin |
11/14/2004
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In the morning, go for the chilaquiles and machaca. At night, step up to the street stand for tacos so good you'll think you're on a street in Guadalajara. In addition to carne asada and carnitas, Taqueria Vallarta also offers cabeza, suaderno and tripas, each placed in a lard-fried taco and served sith radishes, three salsas, cilantro and grilled onions. Each taco's only $1.50, and they're served on paper plates!
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Taqueria Vallarta
Cuisine: Mexican Taqueria
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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Good place to go Sunday morning with your buddies. They have an extensive selection of vintage candies (like garbage pail kids and Duran Duran trading cards with gum). I always feel like each item on the menu costs about a dollar more than you want to spend, but everything I've tried there is tasty, so I keep going back
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St. Francis Fountain
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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The fish and chips actually come from around the corner, but you wouldn't know since they bring it to you! Try to go when there's a band playing.
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Edinburgh Castle Pub
Cuisine: pub food
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Tenderloin |
11/14/2004
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This is the best traditional dim sum place in the city. Carts travel around the floor, and you may not be able to understand what the dish is called, but you can see what you're getting before you order it! Families go to Meriwa and spend the better part of a Sunday there. Take friends from out of town - they will be surprised!!
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Meriwa Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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Chinatown |
11/14/2004
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There are so many reasons to eat at Grub Stake: 1) it's open 'til 4 AM; 2) fantastic burgers; 3) reasonable prices; 4) 1/2 of the restaurant is a train car; 5) you feel like you're in a David Lynch movie
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Grub Stake
Cuisine: American Portugese
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Polk St./Van Ness |
11/14/2004
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Big Nate Thurman's BBQ south of Market is quite delicious, and convenient if you can't make it across town to other BBQ place. The mac & cheese side is terrific. You can ask for the sauce on the side if you don't want your meat pre-somthered. [I've got a vintage Nate Thurman basketball trading card that I am dying to get autographed by Nate, but I'm told he doesn't really work there :) ]
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Big Nate's BBQ
Cuisine: Barbecue BBQ
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SoMa |
11/14/2004
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Rip off, not worth the wait, and totally overrated. I've eaten three different things at Ti Couz, and it always seems like the dish has one "extra" ingredient that makes the taste displeasureable.
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Ti Couz
Cuisine: French Dessert
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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The only thing that would make me stop going to the Tonga Room would be if the food were horrible. It's not that it's out of sight, but seriously: it rains! How could you resist going to the Tonga Room?
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Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar
Cuisine: Pacific Rim
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Nob Hill |
11/14/2004
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Can I get some salt? The food was horribly bland. Come on, guys! I know that meatless cuisine can be tasty! The atmosphere is pleasant.
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Herbivore
Cuisine: Vegetarian
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Western Addition |
11/14/2004
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This is a great spot to catch a bite before a Giants game. I always get the cheese blintzes and the potato pancakes. The prices are really reasonable.
Update: I just went to this restaurant again and two of us, with great service enjoyed lunch in the sun for under $20 TOTAL! I had a delicious steak sandwich with grilled onions and mushrooms and my friend got the Cobb salad which came with plenty of chicken. I will definitely recommend and visit this restaurant more often!
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Delancey Street
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Embarcadero |
11/14/2004
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The food here is pretty good, but they take the definition of the word "tapas" (little dishes) seriously. I took my parents, who consider quantity quality, and when a plate came to the table with 8 olives, they were kind of shocked.
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Zarzuela
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Russian Hill |
11/14/2004
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This is another restaurant that you can always depend on having delicious food. It's a good place for a group, too, and won't break the bank.
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Picaro
Cuisine: Spanish Tapas
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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This is the place that we always order pizza from. It's just plain good pizza!
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Serrano's
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
11/14/2004
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I love garlic. I eat raw cloves. Seriously. But this place does something to the garlic that makes it unbearable! I thought that the food was totally overrated. Dissapointing.
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Stinking Rose
Cuisine: Italian Californian
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North Beach |
11/14/2004
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I think that the worst Italian Family-Style meal I have ever eaten in San Francisco was eaten at the Gold Spike. The soup was devoid of flavor. Actually, it was all pretty flavorless. It's family-style, which I think is great, but nothing tasted good!
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Gold Spike Restaurant & Bar
Cuisine: Italian
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North Beach |
11/9/2004
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You can get the sausage of your choice, and take it next door to Toronado to enjoy with beer(s). Great selection.
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Rosamunde Sausage Grill
Cuisine: Hot Dogs
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Lower Haight |
11/9/2004
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If you want good bar food, and want to watch sports while you're eating and drinking, try Fly. I have been there on a Friday night (AVOID! AVOID!), but if it's after-work drinks and dishes that you're after, give it a shot!
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Fly
Cuisine: Californian Pub Food
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Western Addition |
11/9/2004
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I absolutely love ordering 1-3 items, which comes with rice and beans, and the whole deal is covered in melted cheese on a warm plate. Great prices, three rooms of fun, and the margaritas aren't bad, either!
Last night I decided to get something a little more healthy (no cheese cap) - Camarones La Rondalla. It was just ok. We had a group of 12 and no one around me was thrilled with their meal. However, they charge you for drinks when you order them (as opposed to putting them on the final bill), which was great when we split the bill because some people were not drinking!
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La Rondalla
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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this is some great mexican. it should be on your list of taquerias.
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Taqueria Cancun
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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This is my fave fall/winter restaurant. They always have some amazing squash concoction. The martinis are delicious. The space is neat in a nautical way.
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Restaurant LuLu
Cuisine: Mediterranean French
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SoMa |
11/9/2004
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i have lived in the mission for almost a decade, and though this place ALWAYS has a line, the wait is short and the food is worth it. this is my taqueria of choice.
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Pancho Villa Taqueria
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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Don't look at the surroundings too closely (outside as well as inside the restaurant). definitely order the imperial rolls and shrimp fried rice. We get those everytime we go, plus one misc entree. We have never been disappointed by the misc entree, either.
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Tu Lan
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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SoMa |
11/9/2004
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We went to PJs with a group of 10 or so, and after a mediocre meal, ended up spending $100 a piece! I thought it was an OK experience. It is so embarassing to have to go to the ATM after the check arrives, I must say.
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PJ's Oyster Bed
Cuisine: Creole Seafood
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Inner Sunset |
11/9/2004
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This was my first experience with Cambodian food. I was floored. I didn't see it until we were leaving, but they serve some kind of soup in a coconut shell that LOOKED amazing. I will definetly go back, and I will definetly try that soup!
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Angkor Wat Cambodian Restaurant
Cuisine: Cambodian
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Inner Richmond |
11/9/2004
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Go there for the pie, if you like pie. Big slices, nicely priced.
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Mel's Drive-In
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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SoMa |
11/9/2004
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There's not really anything special about this place. The sushi doesn't seem that fresh. There are other choices for sushi in the outer Richmond.
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Kitaro Restaurant
Cuisine: sushi japanese
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Outer Richmond |
11/9/2004
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I went to Woodward's Garden with an ex-boyfriend who had a phobia about people overhearing his conversations in public. This was not the place for him, or anyone with that problem. They have specific seating times, reason being that the tables are *so close* together that they must move one table to let the party of another table sit down.
I had no problem with that, and the food was delicious.
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Woodward's Garden
Cuisine: American (New)
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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This is a good place for a casual date. The dishes are generous, and tasty!
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Cafe Prague
Cuisine: Eastern European Czech Polish
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North Beach |
11/9/2004
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This is the best by-the-slice pizza in the city. The fuzzy green (clam and garlic) is so awesome. Try eating just one slice! I challenge you!
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Golden Boy Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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North Beach |
11/9/2004
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I have not eaten dinner yet, but First Crush has great wine tasting events!! Check out their website and get on the list
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/customer_website/37736210
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First Crush
Cuisine: American (New) French
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Downtown |
11/9/2004
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I was weird to go back 13 years later, but this is where my SENIOR PROM was! We went with SoCal guests for drinks, and the drinks were good. They weren't serving dinner because the pace was rented out for a wedding party! Great view, of course.
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Carnelian Room
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
11/9/2004
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It's all about the mac & cheese and spinach side dishes. We had such a great time there. Their "3 courses before 6pm for $9.99" special is great. They ran out of one of the items, but the substitute was just as good.
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Home
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
11/9/2004
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You can always count on Chow! Everyone loves Chow!!! I get the Thai noodle dish, which is made with spaghetti noodles, but who cares! It's great. I also love to sit next to heat lamps.
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Chow
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Upper Market/Church Street |
11/9/2004
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Mmmmmmmm....cheesesteak. so pretty...so juicy...so delicious! they have a bunch of original styles (or, at least, styles i have never seen before). and the cooks are sweetly-surly.
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Jay's Cheese Steak
Cuisine: Cheese Steaks
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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i do not know why i keep going to blowfish, but i do. it seems to have so many things that i don't want in a restaurant. but to be honest, the food's pretty innovative. my more down-to-earth-about-sushi boyfriend thinks some of the non-standards are a bit crazy, but i think those are the dishes that keep me coming back.
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Blowfish, Sushi To Die For
Cuisine: Californian Japanese Sushi
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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We ate the bone marrow. I had to try it, and it was gooood. This place is pretty tasty. I would like to try it again.
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Andalu
Cuisine: Eclectic Small Plates
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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This is the burrito place I used to go to when I visited SF (before I moved here).
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Zona Rosa
Cuisine: Mexican Burritos
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
11/9/2004
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A cowoker from our Atlanta office came to SF for a visit. She was raised in The South. We took her to Asia SF. It was hard to concentrate on the typically mesmorizing floor show with her reacting the way she did!!!
The food is yummy. Good mixed drinks, too. It is always a bit more than I want to spend, but there's no other place that offers gender illusionists of Asia SF's caliber.
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AsiaSF
Cuisine: Californian Asian
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SoMa |
11/9/2004
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This is the kind of dim sum you take people to eat who do not want to see ladies pushing around carts of chicken feet. It's boring, and if it's gonna be as greasy as chinatown dim sum, it should be as inexpensive. Rip off!
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Yank Sing
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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SoMa |
11/9/2004
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great for a late breakfast.
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It's Tops Coffee Shop
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Upper Market/Church Street |
11/9/2004
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Fun for a group. Reserve ahead. Try the hookas even though they seem hokey.
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Kan Zaman
Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
11/9/2004
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Get the super nachos. Seriously. It's like three pounds of food for $4.95. Enough food for four or more people!
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El Farolito
Cuisine: Mexican
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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Wow! I just heard that they have opened up a new restaurant near Fillmore. Can't wait to try it. I hope it has all of the same delicious daily choices.
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Powell's Place
Cuisine: Southern Soul Food
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Western Addition |
11/9/2004
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You can always count on Sodini's. Don't try to tackle the house salad by yourself. It's definitely for two. The carbonara sauce is what I always get - they have the best one that I have ever tried. The owner is often working behind the bar, and he always makes us feel welcome. Waitstaff is friendly.
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Sodini's Green Valley Restaurant
Cuisine: italian
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North Beach |
11/9/2004
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Great place for a group. The bread sticks you get before your meal are dangerous! It's easy to over do it before your pizza gets to the table. The tables are covered with paper and they give you crayons to write nasty notes to your friends.
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Pauline's Pizza Pie
Cuisine: Pizza
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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I live near the one in the Mission and go there all of the time and love it. The food at the Tenderloin location is exactly as tasty. I had to use the restroom there and that was a mistake, but other than that, IT'S PAKWANILICIOUS
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Pakwan
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Tenderloin |
11/9/2004
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Our meals were perfect. Great seafood. Try it!
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Yabbies Coastal Kitchen
Cuisine: Seafood
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Polk St./Van Ness |
11/9/2004
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*shrug* What's the big deal about this place? Mediocre in all ways. We had to wait for a long time for our table, then we got one close to the door and it was pretty cold. Our food was alright, but I can find similar foods closer to my house.
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Nirvana
Cuisine: Pan-Asain
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Castro |
11/9/2004
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**this restaurant is now closed, replaced by a new Vietnamese restaurant**
Great for delivery. They have a spicy scallop roll that is anmazing (yet only offered seasonally). The seawwed salad is great, too. They're on Mission & 20th, and when I lived at Potrero and 23rd it took only 25 minuted from the time that we ordered for the food to arrive!
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Sake Cuisine
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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Who knew? I certainly had no idea what "german" food was beyond sausages before I ate there. This place is a must, all the better that it's way down on SVN, not near anything else.
The staff is great, too.
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Walzwerk
Cuisine: German
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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My sister grew up in the bay area, but now she lives in Arizona and she MUST go to Allioto's every time she visits. I don't think it's THAT bad, but admittedly I wouldn't go there unless she was in town. Yummy bread & butter.
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Alioto's
Cuisine: Seafood Italian
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Fishermans Wharf |
11/9/2004
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Food you can depend on. We've eaten there so often that we might be tiring of it, but it always tastes good. Has tables for large groups, but it always seems like the people that sit on the outside of the table get bumped into by the passing ped-traffic.
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Cha Cha Cha
Cuisine: Caribbean Tapas
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Mission |
11/9/2004
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Established in 1861. Huge bowls of seafood, some of which was ON FIRE!! It's definitely weird inside, but not bad-weird. It feels comfy, but it's way too bright in there. There are TVs in one of the rooms.
We have been here 5 or 6 times, and I always get the onfire seafood bowl (Mescalanza I believe it's called). We went last night (for valentines day) and were seated in 5 minutes with no reservations. The cioppino is great. My friend got the fried combo - he got what he expected, but wished he'd ordered the cioppino. It was extremely cold in there - I was wearing a cute top but had to wear my coat all through dinner.
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Old Clam House (The)
Cuisine: Seafood
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Potrero Hill |
11/9/2004
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We spent the money we were saving on for a washer and dryer on dinner a few weeks ago. We enjoyed the 5-entree with wine pairings, all of which were delicious. When I told the waiter that I don't like sweets, he substituted a plate of cheeses for the dessert course. The surroundings are magnificent. It's a bit loud, but not unbearable
And while I was washing my clothes at the laundromat the other night, I was still thinking about our dinner.
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Farallon
Cuisine: Seafood
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Downtown |
11/9/2004
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