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I have walked by Ten at least as many times, always thinking that I should give it a try. And also believing that the name was "Zen." I mean, look at the sign. And its Japanese. It should totally be "Zen."
Anyway,last night, the gf and I gave it a shot. Service was fantastic. Attentive without being irritating. The sushi was great, but the rice seemed a little loose? Does that make sense? Both rolls we ordered seemed a little sweet, but I think that's because we ordered two rolls that both had crab salad. The G.O.D. roll was the highlight.
A good alternative that's almost as good as Koo down the street.
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Ten Sushi Bar
Cuisine: Sushi Japanese
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Inner Sunset |
5/25/2007
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When I used to live in the upper haight, I was disappointed at the dearth of good tasty food. Sure, there is Citrus Club, and Cha cha chas and...uh....there's that thai place, but not enough good food for a neighborhood that could be and should be a dining destination.
I thought Moroc, the place that used to be in this space, would do it, but it seemed to have been tragically mismanaged.
Enter Alembic, from the people who brought you Magnolia's. Thank you. While I have grown tired of the small plate format (oh such problems I have), the calamari, cassoulet, and gumbo were all great. There aren't many tables, so getting there early will be to your benefit. And if you have to wait, take a load off at the bar (great selection of Belgian beers).
We were very impressed by the service; friendly and informative. Even though we probably over stayed our welcome given the amount of people waiting, we did not feel rushed.
Positive positive positive
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The Alembic
Cuisine: Eclectic American Small Plates
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
3/5/2007
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I've always wanted to go here since "So I married an axe murderer" but have never made it because it is on the embarcadero which is pretty distant from anywhere I've ever lived. Running the risk of repeating/plagerising, this place is much better than a diner, but the food probably isn't worth the prices they charge. That said, we went on a night when it was half-off bottle of wine night. A $60 dollar bottle of zin (dont' judge me) for $30 made this worth it.
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Fog City Diner
Cuisine: American (New)
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Embarcadero |
11/9/2006
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Two words: chicken cherry. I get it with the hot peppers, it burns my lips, but I can't stop eating it. Sooo gooood. Mad Dog won't let you in anymore as they now serve food. Or at least last time I went.
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Rosamunde Sausage Grill
Cuisine: Hot Dogs
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Lower Haight |
11/9/2006
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A great lunch place for anyone who works in the Sansome/Battery/Montgomery area. Excellent salads made-to-order with super fresh ingredients. It seem pricey at first until you try to go anywhere else for a decent salad. When I go to the make-it-yourself salad places I end up spending more. I think the Cowboy salad has crack in it because I can't stop eating it (Insert "Brokeback Mountain" joke here). The line can be long, and their seating is limited. I suggest getting to-go and then sitting on the steps in front of the old Federal Reserve building on a warm day. Lots of healthy eye-candy for all the girls and boys.
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Mixt Greens
Cuisine: Californian
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Downtown |
8/23/2006
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I had one of the specials: the Cod with English peas. Excellent piece of fish. My girlfriend had the sea bass, which had much more of an Asian theme. That was excellent as well. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. Great find. The only restaurant in North Beach worth the trouble.
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The HOUSE
Cuisine: Pan-Asian Pacific Rim
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North Beach |
8/23/2006
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This was some time ago, but I had the same issues with the on-line ordering. I called them an hour after I had ordered and they said that they had tried to call me to verify my order, but that my number had been blocked. The food arrived an hour after that. It was good, but I was also hallucinating from hunger at that point.
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Raja Cuisine of India
Cuisine: Indian Pizza
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Lower Haight |
8/4/2006
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We finally made it here, which is silly considering it's like 2 blocks from my girlfriend's place. We had to wait a bit for our reservation, but it was worth it. Honestly, I think that was the best chicken I've ever had ever...ever ever. Most of the portions are european size, but the chicken was definitely the most food. God I loved the chicken...have I told you about the chicken?
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Range
Cuisine: American (New)
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Mission |
4/21/2006
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A date and I went here because of its proximity to Bimbos 365. Not expecting much (I mean come on...sushi in north beach?), we were very pleasantly surprised. Service was a bit lacking at times, but the seaweed salad was excellent. Try the north beach roll...scrumptuous. Very reasonably priced as well.
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Sushi on North Beach
Cuisine: Sushi
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North Beach |
9/27/2005
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Yes, diamond in the rough this is. Very weird location, but the ceviche mixta is amazing and grilled calamari was a delight. Decor is great and the waitstaff is really friendly. Highly recommended. If you work anywhere in the SOMA or civic center area it is well worth a nice lunch after a project/case/work unit well done.
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Mochica
Cuisine: Peruvian
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SoMa |
9/15/2005
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This is a restaurant that looks supremely out of place in the lower haight, and I've always found it somewhat intimidating. Boy am I glad I finally ventured in with the SFsurvey crew. Once inside, the decor is amazing. It's very modern but not pretentious at all, and ditto on the friendly staff. The corn soup with lobster mushrooms was like...um...le petit mort. Look it up. The seared tuna was also quite good, though not as saliva-inducing as the soup. I'd definitely go here again now that I know you don't need a secret password to get inside.
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RNM
Cuisine: American (New)
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Lower Haight |
9/2/2005
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I frickin' love this place. This place seems like it is owned and run by Japanese hipsters. Strange decor and random Polaroid hang on the wall, and the menus are hand-written on the back of pieces of cardboard, with little impromptu doodles all over. The service is very friendly and they started singing along (and playing along with a tambourine) when the Mariachi guitarist came by. Then a whole troop of Goths came in. If you ever have a date and are worried you won't have anything to talk about, take them here. Oh yeah, the foods not bad either. And they yell something in Japanese to you when you leave.
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Country Station Sushi
Cuisine: Sushi
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Mission |
6/9/2005
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The sushi is great. We had the Hamachi and it was "melt in your mouth" good. They have the most in depth sake list I've ever seen in my life and all of the servers are very well-versed in it. We tried the sake sampler, and it was a great new experience. Yeah, our Brazilian server was nice too :)
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Tsunami
Cuisine: Sushi
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Western Addition |
6/9/2005
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I have to admit that I was a little heartbroken when I first saw this place. I work near here and was a big fan of the Patisserie Cafe for lunch, so when I saw it had changed I was worried. I've only been here once, but so far it still seems like a good place for lunch. I had the s**taki ravioli with a glass of their house white and it was perfect on that sunny day. The wine list does seem to complement well. The jury is still out for me, but so far I like what I see...and taste. If you're going to be snooty and use french, soit sur que tu l'ecris bien. "Potage" is soup. "Portage" is a city in India.
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Triptych
Cuisine: Fusion
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SoMa |
5/9/2005
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Great place for a date. Lots of small plates to share, good wine list and specialty cocktails. Fresh oysters were amazing! Service was friendly and efficient; knowledgeable but not pretentious. Can't wait to go back!
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Pesce
Cuisine: Italian Seafood
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Polk St./Van Ness |
4/25/2005
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Good food, but, much like how I feel about Betelnut, way over-rated. Sterile atmosphere, very noisy and very very very yuppie. I felt like I was in a Sex and the City episode. Good presentation and service. If you aren't wearing at least business casual during lunch, you will feel out of place.
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Slanted Door, The
Cuisine: Vietnamese
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Embarcadero |
4/22/2005
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I went to school around this place and it never got old. Relatively inexpensive and delicious lunch specials during the week. Great little bar to hang out it as well, with some pretty exotic drinks (ladies get to keep the orchids in their drinks), and good appetizers. The owner is a fascinating guy to chat with and if you're lucky, you might even see Lalita herself.
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Lalita's Distinctive Thai
Cuisine: Thai
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Civic Center |
12/19/2004
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I love this place. Very simple skewer-based cuisine with a twist. I love the mushroom/veggie skewer with polenta. Also serve various meats with all sorts of different rice, cous cous, etc. Not a place where you can have a quiet conversation or linger over dinner, but excellent for a quick (but not rushed) dinner. Post-script: I just ate there and they didn't grill anything long enough. The corn was still frozen, yuck. First bad experience though.
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Asqew Grill
Cuisine: Californian
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
12/19/2004
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Watch out Zachary's. Neither my dining partner nor I are normally big deep-dish pizza fans, but this was fantastic. We ate next to a couple from Chicago and they said this was the best deep-dish they have ever had on the west coast in five years. Hip but not pretentious, this is a good spot for any sort of occassion. Caprese salad was great too, where they find such good tomatoes during this time of shortage I'll never know. I'll definitely be back. Ditto on the great jukebox.
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Little Star Pizza
Cuisine: Pizza
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Western Addition |
12/19/2004
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Really great mix of flavors, Indian, Chinese, Thai, all in one. Yes, really long wait, but worth it. Staff is really friendly. Must try the samosa soup.
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Burma Superstar
Cuisine: Burmese
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Inner Richmond |
11/10/2004
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Good and authentic with no pretention. Posters of Indian musical stars adorn the walls. Great Prices for what you get, unlike other places like Indian Oven
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Shalimar Gardens
Cuisine: Pakistani Indian
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Tenderloin |
11/4/2004
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They serve one of the best pepper steaks I've ever had in my life. Great locals place with no sign. Walking into this restaurant is like walking into San Francsico fifty years ago. Loved it!
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Brazenhead
Cuisine: American (Traditional) Steakhouse
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Marina |
11/4/2004
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I think this is a pretty good restaurant, but it would be better if you could take the "Marina-ness" out of it. A little bit too snobby for its own britches and way over-rated. That said, our waitress was very friendly and accommodating and the food was really good.
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Betelnut Pejiu Wu
Cuisine: Pan-Asian
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Cow Hollow |
11/4/2004
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Great atmosphere, goes along with recent "modern-hip-arab-chic" trend. Definitely a notch up from Kan Zaman. Must have the Bastilla. It takes a while, but is SOO good. Parking is not usually a problem either given its location. Belly dancers are actually that, not just strippers dressed up for Halloween, so don't let that keep you away if this is a date idea.
Addendum-I have been told that they no longer have belly dancing and/or that they never had belly dancing. I didn't make it up, they used to, but apparently no longer.
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Aziza
Cuisine: Moroccan
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Outer Richmond |
11/4/2004
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Best noodle soups ever. Good for small groups. Gets super crowded on weekends and waiting area for a table is really cramped. If you live in the area, I suggest takeout on the weekend.
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Citrus Club
Cuisine: Pan-Asian Noodle Shops
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/10/2004
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Good fries and selection of Belgian beers. The patio out back is a good place for a Leffe on a warm day. Small place though, so try to hit it at off-peak hours.
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Frjtz Fries
Cuisine: Belgian
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Hayes Valley |
10/10/2004
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Brunch is worth the hype, they often have special pancakes of the day which are divine. Be prepared to wait on Sat/Sun though. Check out the plants in front of Cole Valley Hardware while you wait!
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Zazie
Cuisine: French (Bistro)
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Haight-Ashbury/Cole Valley |
10/10/2004
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Pretty good food, not too expensive. Good atmosphere for a first date or small group of friends. Not romantic enough for anything else. Chiken scallopini is great.
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Caffe Delle Stelle
Cuisine: Italian
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Hayes Valley |
10/10/2004
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Place to take your boss if you're looking for a promotion. Pretty expensive, and if you don't look like you belong, might get treated a little sub-par. Food is excellent, however, and good wine list
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Waterfront Restaurant & Cafe
Cuisine: Californian Mediterranean
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Embarcadero |
10/10/2004
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Great funky thai minimalist atmosphere, similar to Jade Bar. Good food, reasonable prices. Good place for lunch on a friday, but probably not appropriate for an evening first date.
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Basil Thai Restaurant & Bar
Cuisine: Thai
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SoMa |
10/10/2004
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