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This restaurant is superb. I went there a couple years ago for a going-away party on the 2nd floor and we had the pre-set meal. It was great. I had the steak, which came with these small, fried potato cubes cooked to perfection. We bumped into former SF mayor Willie Brown, who entertained us with his humor. The atmosphere was lively and the service was attentive. I will definitely go back again.
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Town Hall
Cuisine: American (New)
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SoMa |
1/2/2006
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Unlike many of previous reviewers, my experience with Bix was mediocre and I hesitantly recommend this place. The first time I went to Bix was for dinner. For an alcohol wimp like me, the waiter recommended a very good non-alcoholic cocktail. Surprisingly, the quail that I had for the main course was disappointing and RAW. In contrast, the dessert was superb. In fact, it was just as outstanding the next time I went. Unfortunately, the service from the renown bartender ruined the night. I asked for the non-alcoholic cocktail and he arrogantly replied, "The only non-alcoholic drink we have is orange juice and soda." He then stared at me blankly waiting for my order. I ended up having a Coke, but later saw another customer with the drink I wanted. I love the ambiance at Bix, but the negative experience left a really bad taste in my mouth.
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BIX
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
11/15/2005
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Good, but not great. The brisket was very tender, but a little too fatty. The ribs were okay, but kind of dry and flavorless. What surprised me the most was the temperature of the food. When you think of BBQ, you think of something hot, straight off the grill or out of the oven. Strangely, the food was warm, room temperature at best. I'm sure you know what happens to fat in conditions like that...it's chewy!!! I enjoyed the meal is general and would go back to try the other items on the menu.
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Memphis Minnie's BBQ Joint
Cuisine: Barbecue
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Lower Haight |
11/15/2005
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Nothing beats a belly full of grease to start the day and I mean that in a good way. My friend brought me there for the first time a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was great. Huge portions and very inexpensive; what's not to love. I had Hush Puppies there for the 1st time and I look forward to eating them again. Bad parking, a light wait, but a definite must-try.
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Kate's Kitchen
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Lower Haight |
11/2/2005
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Of all the ones in SF, this King of Thai is my favorite. Not sure why; maybe it's because of the open kitchen and the decor. The cost of each dish is very reasonable, but the portions have slimmed down a bit over the years. No matter. I've never been to Thailand, but comments from friends who are Thai or have been there, said the food is very authentic. Not surprising. If you look are your bill, you'll noticed that your order is written in their native language. King of Thai is definitely one of my favorite franchised restaurants in the city. Try the roast duck soup noodle, one of my favs.
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King of Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Outer Sunset |
11/2/2005
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If you're looking for cheap eats, then check this place out. Ono Hawaiian BBQ offers island favorites like chicken katsu, BBQ ribs, Spam moco, loco moco, etc. It's not BBQ in the traditional sense; it's more like Japanese teriyaki grilling. Don't get me wrong; it's still good. They offer generous portions for about $6-7 per person. When this place first opened, it was 45 minutes to an hour wait for your order. But the crowds have died down as the initial hype subsides and similar places begin to spring up in the Bay Area. Indoor seating could be a little tight with all the people in line; but they offer outdoor seating too. I recommend just grabbing take-out and having a nice picnic somewhere.
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Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Cuisine: Hawaiian Barbecue
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Outer Sunset |
11/2/2005
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I've been to Yank Sing on several occasions: once for dim sum, another for a company event and also for a banquet. On all occasions, I wasn't blown away by the food; it was just okay. During the company event, they served dim sum as appetizers and they were God awful. You won't believe it, but the dumpling dough was raw and uncooked. The sit-down portion of the meal was served family style where each dish is shared, but unfortunately each dish was not enough to share with 4 people in our table of 12. Everyone was still starving afterwards. The banquet was better. The food was okay, but it wasn't the best Chinese food I've ever ate, though it was done well. The one thing I definitely enjoyed was their jasmine tea, which was of the highest quality, and their chili sauce. You can purchase these at the front counter.
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Yank Sing
Cuisine: Chinese Dim Sum
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Embarcadero |
10/14/2005
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This is certainly one of my favorite restaurants. Don't let the simplistic name and small enclosures fool you; this place is magnificent with its fusion Californian/Asian flare. If you love pork chops like me, then The House has some of the best. Their pork chops with pomegranate were cooked to perfection. To my surprise, pork chops taste better when they are slightly rare. Dessert was good as well.
I'm usually not a big fan of fusion cuisine, but The House gets high marks from me. I went to The House for lunch and dinner and both times I had a great time. From the service to the food, everything was superb. But just a warning, it will cause a slight dent in your wallet; I think it's well worth it.
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The HOUSE
Cuisine: Pan-Asian Pacific Rim
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North Beach |
9/28/2005
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I went there for the first time on a crowded Friday evening. The host was able to seat us immediately. For the appetizer, we had the duck spring rolls. It sounded good on the menu, but it was the opposite; the rolls were stuffed with more duck than anyone can handle. On the other hand, the entrees we had were great. Nothing special; just good old "home" style cooking. As another reviewer mentioned, it was a little pricey for what you're getting. Overall, my experience with Home was very good. Service was superb; we were in-and-out of there in an hour, just enough time to make it for our concert.
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Home
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Castro |
9/28/2005
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With Park Chow, the food is good, but the staff is what makes the restaurant; I've never experienced such an efficient team. Many say the food is ordinary; I'd say it's homely. Park Chow doesn't try to be anything it's not and it's not a fancy restaurant that many try to measure it up to. It's just a restaurant you can go to for some good, wholesome food. What I recommend are the mussels for appetizers and the grilled pork chops. They're the best. Price-wise, Park Chow is very reasonable.
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Park Chow
Cuisine: American (Traditional)
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Inner Sunset |
9/20/2005
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When it comes to determining whether a restaurant is good, service and food are my main deciding factors. Service-wise, Globe was great. We were there celebrating a friend's b-day. The waiter overheard us and brought my friend a glass of champagne to everyone's surprise. Food-wise, I think it was disappointing. Globe is known to be a restaurant where chefs eat after their shifts. With that reputation, I guess I was expecting something more spectacular. Overall, the food was good, but not great. Worst of all; it's expensive. Avoid the bruchetta appetizer; it's just a big piece of toast that can only satisfy 2 people at best.
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Globe
Cuisine: Californian
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Downtown |
9/20/2005
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For those of you who are not afraid to slip their feet into the pool of Indian cuisine, but are still scared to dive in, then this is the place for you. This restaurant offers Indian/French fusion cuisine without the heaviness and intense flavoring found in traditional Indian food. Though I almost hesitate to even call it Indian with some dishes, I still recommend this place because its good and the service was great, granted the night we went, we were the only customers. The decor is very nice, reminding me of Shanghai 1930; but it looks better at night than in the day. The only negative is the price; little bit expensive.
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Crossing the Bar
Cuisine: Indian French Indian Fusion Eclectic
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Embarcadero |
9/16/2005
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After hearing great reviews from friends about this place, I finally had a chance to try it out for myself a month ago. They're right; it's an awesome restaurant. I'm not familiar with Creole cooking so I can't tell you how authentic it is, but the food that we order was great. The complimentary cornbread was very good and the fried oysters we had as an appetizer were to die for, melting in your mouth like butter. The main courses were also good. Parking sucks in that 9th & Irving area so I recommend public transportation or an early or late dinner. And definitely make reservations if you're planning to go during the weekends.
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PJ's Oyster Bed
Cuisine: Creole Seafood
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Inner Sunset |
9/15/2005
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I love the atmosphere of this place; very casual and a great view of the Bay. The oysters were also great, of course. I recommend getting the sample platter so you can try the different varieties.
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Hog Island Oyster Company
Cuisine: Oysters Seafood American (Traditional)
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Embarcadero |
9/15/2005
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From previous reviews, you might want to pass on this restaurant. But I say give it a try. I've never been there at night when it's at its busiest so I can't comment on the service and food. But lunch is great. If you're looking for the most authentic HK style wonton in town, then this is the place. The filling is the key. Unlike others, they've included some pork fat, very traditional in China. Its smoky flavor adds to each wonton and the broth itself. When it comes to Chinese restaurants, it all depends on what you order. For New Sun Hong Kong Restaurant, it's the wonton and the pan fried noodles. Give it a try.
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New Sun Hong Kong Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese Seafood
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Chinatown |
8/26/2005
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If it's a sunny day in the downtown area, Pier 23 is the first place I think of for drinks after work. The atmosphere is great with its somewhat rustic feel. The outdoor seating makes it a nice place to just kick back. The menu offers up the typical bar grubs, perfect for a Summer day. The only torn in my side is the host (old guy with glasses). He sometimes is a little rude when there are a lot of overly-anxious people waiting to be seated. All-in-all, definitely check this place out.
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Pier 23 Cafe
Cuisine: Seafood
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Embarcadero |
8/26/2005
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Though they did a superb job with the remodeling, I feel the Cliff House lost some of its historic charm. The view is still magnificent and, I think even better, with it's heighten windows. The service is still great. But the food is just average. I only had breakfast there and I was very impressed. I would give lunch or dinner a try though.
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Cliff House Bistro
Cuisine: Californian
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Outer Richmond |
8/26/2005
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AVOID AT ALL COST! I went there last week and when the waitress brought us our meals, a giant c***roach, the size of the ones you see on Fear Factor, followed her to our table. She shrugged it off and said, "It went away already." My friend and I debated about switching tables as the employees giggled at us. Thank God we did. From the other table, I watched 5 additional c***roaches crawl over to that table. I know I can't be naive and think that roaches or rats don't exist in restaurants; but being a patron, there's only so much you can take. I guess for me, I draw the line at 5.
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Vietnam Restaurant
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Chinatown |
8/18/2005
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As many previously stated, don't expect authentic Chinese food from this place because they certainly don't offer it. The portions are small and way overpriced. In fact everything is. As for the food itself, it's okay. But just because you use soy or hoisin sauce, it doesn't make it Chinese cuisine. I would consider Shanghai 1930 Asian fusion at best. The atmosphere is great; no doubt about it. But you're certainly paying for it. Service was good though. If you're willing to fork out the same amount of money, I recommend going to a "real" Chinese restaurant for a full-on, 9-course banquet dinner.
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Shanghai 1930 Restaurant
Cuisine: Chinese
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Embarcadero |
8/18/2005
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I used to go to Mac Park every Friday after work for 2-years straight. What does that say? It's great! How can you pass up on FREE happy hour food, especially when it's not your typical chips and peanuts?! They use to serve drumlets, fried chicken tenders and ribs. Unfortunately, they stopped doing that earlier this year after they changed ownership. But Mac Park is still a great place to kick back after a long day's work. For food, get anything with the word "BBQ" in the title. Service is good unless an large group of customers unexpectedly shows up. Sometimes they tend to be understaffed.
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MacArthur Park
Cuisine: Barbecue American (Traditional)
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Downtown |
8/18/2005
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Though it's a little pricey, Fresca is a great place. I went with a group and got to sample several dishes and all of them were superb. Service was okay. I guess it's quite hard to attend to every customer in a timely manner if the restaurant is always full. Is it worth the trip to the outskirts of SF? I say yes. In contrast to a previous review, I think West Portal is slowly, but surely becoming the next Fillmore. Shopping-wise, it is comparatively lacking. But as for restaurants, I don't think there's actually any bad one in the whole neighborhood.
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Fresca
Cuisine: peruvian
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West Portal |
8/18/2005
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Eldo's use to be one of my favorite bars in The City; but in the past couple of years, I'm not sure what happened. It use to be such a cool place to hang out. The beer and food are good, the furnishings are nice and the prices are very reasonable, especially on all-day happy hour Sunday. But the atmosphere is somewhat lacking. I think Eldo's may have spent too much time and money trying to be trendy by making it more like a club at night. It's not the same place I use to enjoy, but I will still go there on occassion.
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Eldo's Grill & Microbrew
Cuisine: Southwestern
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Inner Sunset |
8/18/2005
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I went here for the first time a month ago. It's good. As another person stated, it's a great breakfast dive. There's nothing fancy in the menu, just good ol' down-home cooking. Just a tip though, I would avoid sitting at the counter; sometimes it's better not to see what goes on in the kitchen. Lets just say I would order bottled water next time. Other than that, I would certainly go back and give this place another try.
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Pork Store Cafe
Cuisine: Coffee Shops/Diners
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
8/12/2005
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The wait is worth it! This is my favorite pizzeria in the whole city, if not the Bay Area. The traditional pizzeria setting with its checkered tablecloth and home-style atmosphere are unmatched. And the food...absolutely awesome! Nothing beats hand-kneaded dough. The calzone, even with just cheese, is to die for. And the pizzas, thick or thin crust, are some of the best I've had.
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Giorgio's Pizzeria
Cuisine: Italian Pizza
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Inner Richmond |
8/11/2005
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If you really want a down home, All-American hamburger, Taylor's is not the place. Though they have a variety of different types of burgers, their standard hamburger/cheeseburger is quite small and very average in taste. The fries...I would just pass on that. I do commend them on their made-to-order process that promotes freshness and their extensive menu of fuu-fuu sandwiches. But the massive assembly line they have in place to serve in this fashion is unbelievably slow. Granted, I went on the weekday during lunch hour. But 20 minutes for a hamburger? You must be kidding. On top of that, you'll be paying a hefty price for boring-tasting fast food.
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Taylor's Automatic Refresher
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Hamburgers
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Embarcadero |
8/11/2005
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Though not as popular or as recognized as Burma Superstar, I think Mandalay is just as good, if not better. Its decor alone with its Lying Buddha is a sign of its authenticity and make any Burmese compatriot feel at home. As for food, the menu mirrors the one at Burma Superstar, but also includes some Chinese dishes for those who are not as daring. One thing that is done right and is a must try is their Lepet Dok, Burma's famous tea leaf salad. Another must is their Sui Ji Mok, a dessert made from cassava. The usuals like the Samosas, Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup, and Mohingha (catfish noodle soup) are good. Mandalay is a great alternative to Burma Superstar is you want to avoid the long wait, tight seating and the over-pricing.
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Mandalay Restaurant
Cuisine: Burmese Chinese
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Inner Richmond |
8/9/2005
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For those who grew up exposed to the Burmese culture and food like me, you'll find the dishes here bland and unauthentic. It seems like the recipes were adjusted to accommodate the American taste buds, which tend to shy away from strong, pungent flavors. Fish sauce and lemon grass, two common ingredients in Burmese cooking, were surprisingly lacking in many of the dishes, like the Coconut Chicken Noodle Soup. And where are the desserts?! Burmese desserts are so unique, you can't find them in any other cuisine.
I've been to Burma Superstar 4 times in my lifetime. The first time was great. But over time, the authenticity began to diminish as the restaurant grows in popularity and transitions from one owner/chef to the next. Burma Superstar is still a good restaurant; I commend them for their full Burmese menu. But if you hate the 90 minute wait and want a taste of true Burmese, there's another Burmese restaurant just a few blocks away.
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Burma Superstar
Cuisine: Burmese
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Inner Richmond |
8/9/2005
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