1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar
Categories: American (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Nob Hill1550 Hyde Street
(at Pacific Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 775-1550
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 6:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Sun 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Best Nights: Tue, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour: No
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
412 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"I know this may sound cliche...but the W knows how to hold down...occasionally I drop in to the bar to have a cocktail with some friends and…" read more »
222 Reviews for 1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar
The restaurant was a lot smaller than I expected, but it was a very nice atmosphere. We were seated right at the window, and people were making their way in and out leaving all seats in the place filled at all times. There were only 6 entrees on the menu as the menu changes daily, but every single one of them looked AMAZING. I had just finished my detox program, so I wanted to treat myself out while making sure I didn't go crazy on my first meal out. I had the salmon with some salad with cherry vinaigrette. Wow wow wow--both tasted AMAZING. My fiance had the lamb, which was also very tasty. We finished up with some peach sorbet, a perfect way to wrap up the meal. The wine list was also quite impressive--I'd definitely come back again to try other dishes!
An intimate space doesn't leave a great deal of room to wait to be seated, but the packed house speaks to quality of the experience. Also, if you can get a window seat, you'll be treated to a great view of the cable cars as they pass.
There is a prix fixe Sun-Thur for $29.95, making 1550 Hyde a great bargain. The wine list is excellent and fairly priced. A variety of flights are available. Server was very knowledgeable about wine parings. Wine service was exceptional throughout.
I began with a hearty and smoky minestrone. Great flavor and great for a chilly evening. For entree, I opted for the pasta with the duck bolognese. Exceptionally rich and buttery, the portion was WAY too generous, but made for leftover lunch for two.
Dessert was a rich scharfenberger pot de creme with just the right amount of bitterness from the cacoa.
Venturing back to the old neighborhood for a birthday dinner, I encountered a rabbit staring back on me on the menu. Following an impressive description regarding its preparation. Madam you had me at "dusted with corn meal" and having never taken a chance with this particular creature before, I decided to stomp the yard.
That fleet footed creature really got the best of me.
Though rabbits are indeed delicious and I would recommend this dish to a friend or loved one, it is not for the impatient, lazy or easily frustrated. Every meaty morsel of rabbit is never where it should be. Typical process: Oh, that looks like a piece, fork goes in, nope, that's all bone. There can't be any there, can there? Yep, there's a big bite.
Delicious pieces of rabbit exist where they shouldn't, making the dish a veritable rubix cube of consumption.
Rabbit notwithstanding, the flights of wine are fantastic and I even got to request the exact color of birthday candle for my dining companion.
Watch your back rabbit, next time, I'll be ready.
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Chocolate pot de crème and Prix-Fixe Menu available Sun.-Thurs.
Definitely worth a try!
Hmmm..... well, how do I phrase this? I was less than impressed tonight with 1550, but I'd be willing to give it a second shot.
The first glitch was trying to catch a cable car near Union Square....... after about the first 5 passed us because they were full, I just walked through the Stockton tunnel and finally caught one on the other side!
There was plenty of room and I was seated courteously and promptly. The decor is a bit on the sparse side, but I did enjoy the "fleurets" of cork that spotted the ceiling - a clever idea, whether just for decor or perhaps to mute the noise of the place (although it never got that noisy and was about 2/3 full when I left).
The flight of wines menu was good - but the matching with the food menu left something to be desired. They had a good flight of Italian white wines, but about the only course it might have gone with was a vegetarian course that wasn't that appealing. It also might have accompanied my course, but then that leads to another problem.....
I ordered the braised pork ribs. Now when I think of braised, I perhaps think of braised short ribs... cooked (most often in red wine, but definitely very slowly and for quite awhile). These were soft enough, but the flavor was on the bland side - more like they had been boiled as opposed to being braised. They were served with a garden-tomato "sauce" (more like steamed tomatoes - not quite a sauce, but very flavorful in any event) with green beans and a corn polenta. The accompaniment was more enjoyable than the ribs.....
I also had a plate of warm olives for an appetizer, and they were quite good but I didn't finish them - but they still found a good home when I offered the leftovers to the table seated next to me!!
Instead of the white Italian wines, I had the Languedoc course of red wines - three variations of Grenache / Syrah / Mourvedre blends from the south of France. The wines were quite good and an interesting accompaniment to the ribs. Surprisingly enough, the cheapest of the three was the most enjoyable!
Other courses that seemed interesting were the cassoulet of lamb (but I'm not a big eggplant fan, and that was the base of the cassoulet) and the New York end steak. Not quite sure what an "end" steak is, but when served at a nearby table, it did look quite nice (and most likely a better accompaniment to my wine flight!!)
All in all, I was hoping for more, but in comparing it to some of my other SF faves, it leaves something to be desired....
Excellent wines. Often at this restaurant, I found the wine was the most memorable part of the meal. Even by the glass, they carry wines from small wineries in California that do not sell directly by retail, and a fine selection of French wines by the glass as well. Like a French wine where you can taste the earth and feel transported to a foreign land.
As far as the food -- the soups here are always a treat.
The rest of the food is also good, and they use all organic ingredients.
They frequently have a dessert on the menu which is a very rich mousse with Scharffenberger chocolate.
However, it's easy to compare this place against Frascati (in the same neighborhood) -- and in my opinion this place has better wines, but Frascati has better food.
The owners of this restaurant are very nice and always gave me a warm welcome when I walked in the door.
When I searched for fried chicken in SF, Yelp suggests places like Farmerbrown, Hard Knox Cafe, Popeye's, etc. How could Yelp have missed 1550 Hyde?
I had expected fancier fare from this cafe and wine bar (not to say they don't serve it) but I was pleasantly surprised by some of the more down home cooking.
For starters, I had a salad with a creamy green dressing. I'm guessing it was a avocado type dressing. Anyway, it was Good. For my entree, I ordered the fried chicken. It was served with a less mayo-ie version of potato salad sprinkled with bits of bacon and a side of some greens. The chicken was Really good: lightly coated and crispy outside while the moist inside had hints of buttermilk. And for dessert, I had the chocolate pot de creme (or pudding). Seriously good. They use Scharffen Berger chocolate! Enough said.
I really enjoyed my meal. And my inner child was delighted to find a semi-swanky restaurant that served fancy pudding. Winner.
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I heard about 1550 Hyde while watching "Check Please, Bay Area" (which, by the way is almost as addictive as The Hills). Days later, it popped up as a participant in Dine About Town and I was stoked!
We arrived 5 minutes early for our rezzie, and waited a half hour for our table. No worries, we had a $28 bottle of P.Noir and good conversation. By the time we reached our table we were hungry and had some menu inquiries. Although our waitress was informative, she was no fun at all. The service was oddly formal for the type of place 1550 Hyde is, which is small and personal. Every time she came over to our table, she brought down the mood and seriously killed my wine buzz! The whole experience ended up being very uncomfortable but for a lovely bus boy who continuously lightened the mood. We actually changed our order from prix fixe to a la carte as none of us wanted to stay for dessert.
The food and wine were good, as was the decor, but I definately won't be coming back any time soon. SF has so many great options for food that I won't spend money at a place that doesn't make me feel welcome and comfortable.
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One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Best duck confit I've had. They use organic ingredients when possible and the wine is good. The menu changes daily.
We came here last Saturday, and thought this place to be very good. The only disappointing thing is the appetizer menu. I understand it's all organic and locally grown, but aside from two choices, does all the appetizers have to be some form of salad?
The main entrees and desserts were delicious. I like how the menu changes daily. 1550 Hyde also has an awesome wine list and a cozy atmosphere.
I highly recommend this place from Sunday - Thursday. That's when they have the $29 prix-fix menu, and $15 wine pairing. Otherwise, it's also a good place to eat for a Friday or Saturday, I just like the best for my money!
Dessert...." I forgot-to."
That's what I heard from our waiter but he didn't forget.
It was affogatto= espresso over gelato.
It was 1st time for me to try and it was good.
The affogatto came with a dessert wine.
The $15 wine pairing was a great deal. it's only offered w/ the prix fixe menu.
Low key but knowledgeable waiter was fine.
Simple decor makes the place very cozy.
I had the prix fixe menu with no doubt, $29.
Salad (frise lettuce, boiled egg and bacon) + pairing wine.
Main dish ( an inch thick pork chop with a slice of juniper butter on top with side of cranberry beans) + pairing wine.
Dessert (affogatto) + pairing wine.
So, you'll get 3 different wine matching the dish you are having for $15.
Every time wine changed, there was a little instruction from the waiter.
I wish I could remember everything the waiter said about the the name of the paired wine.
My GF had
Salad = creme fraiche w/ orange segments, $9 w/ pairing wine.
Main dish = Chicken under a brick w/ beet greens, $20, w/ pairing wine.
Dessert = chocolate pudding, $8 + pairing wine.
She asked for a wine pairing for each of her dishes, it wasn't $15, regular list price but glass was larger portion than mine.
There was an old couple who sat next to us.
The man had no respect for his female companion because he never speak out, just drink wine and eat and answer few things when she asked and at the end, he just stood up suddenly went to walk out. She was still finishing drinking her wine.
Women, don't let them disrespect you.
The menu changes daily.
They change menus because what's fresh and available the day.
They use local organic ingredients.
I think it should be changed by seasons.
So, I have to go back.
Great place.
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The food is consistently excellent and flavors are usually highly-complex. I mainly go here for their carefully selected and great value wine flights. In terms of atmosphere, I would put this in the top 3 in all the places I have eaten at in NYC and SF. The combination of the lighting, the smallness, and the neighborhood make this a great place to enjoy a meal.
I bow to the greatness of 1550 Hyde for making me say "wow" to rabbit liver terrine. Never would I have thought that possible but they did it. I have eaten there twice. With both meals, the wines were pared flawlessly with the food. I would not hesitate for a moment to go back.
We love this place! The owners are friends of mine and I've been going here since it opened, and have loved every single dish I've ordered. What's more, when I started coming here I was strictly vegan, and the food was good enough to make me cheat!
The wine list is impressive and the servers are typically very well-trained at knowing the menu and offering advice on wine pairings, and if you really want expert advice just ask Kent, the sommelier -- the man knows his wine.
The food is fresh and flavorful, classic with a creative twist, and feels just "perfect" -- perfect temperature, perfect portions, perfectly balanced flavor profiles.
The dessert menu is usually full of the robust flavors I love like chocolate, nuts, caramel, maple and coffee and the desserts are sweet and simple without being cloying.
If I lived in SF I would be here at least once a week.
I went there for the third time recently, and it was a bit disappointing. The first two times were 5 star experiences, so it averages out at 4 stars.
First of all, their sourdough bread is awesome. And the butter. I could just eat this for dinner, with maybe some wine. This restaurant is worth going to just for the yummy bread. If they ever decided to rename the restaurant, one of the options could be 1550 Damn Yummy Bread. The salads are always good - interesting veggies, some I've never seen before, and tasty. The wine list is excellent, two choices of wine flights and many to choose from by the glass. The desserts were excellent.
I wouldn't recommend this place for veggies - there was only one veggie entree selection, which my friend ordered and it wasn't particularly memorable. I ordered the pork entree, and it came out dry and fairly tasteless. Also, our server completely ignored us after bringing our food out, and we had to keep on flagging other people down for things. This was the first time I experienced poor service at this restaurant.
In all, I still love this restaurant - this place has the potential to be one of the best dining experiences in SF, for the price - but there seems to be some variability in terms of service and food quality.
My partner and I came here for a drink and dessert after NOPA, and after looking at the menu, we might just come here for the whole thing next time. They have a seasonally rotating menu, which uses as many local ingredients as possible. Enough choices so you can get what you'd like, without feeling overwhelmed. Food seemed to be on par with what they serve at NOPA.
We split dessert: polenta almond cake (served warm), with a ricotta-based cream, and small wild strawberries. SO good.
Small, intimate atmosphere... great for a date or celebration with a couple friends/family.
Also a great place to buy extremely pricey bottles of wine, if that makes you happy. We had wine by the glass that was more reasonably priced and it was GOOD.
I'd definitely go back.
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A skosh under four stars. Went here I think about three years ago now. I remember really enjoying the meal, but that our table was in a really awkward position right where the bar portion of the restaurant meets the sit down portion. I felt like people were looming over me the entire evening and that the servers were having trouble negotiating the passageway. But the wine was great and I thought the ambiance, in general, was enjoyable. Russian Hill isn't really my scene, but I could get down here.
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It's a nice place to have a meal as the food here is good. I came for Dine about Town and had a pretty good experience. It's a small cozy restaurant in Russian Hill. They normally have a fix-prixe dinner that's a few bucks cheaper than the Dine about Town fix-prixe so people can come here anytime and enjoy a 3 course dinner. The affogatto dessert was really yum, and if anything I'd go back just for that.
1550 Hyde is one of those instant favorites. Deanna T. and I had a quick dinner date here and it was a perfect place for old friends to catch up.
The bruschetta with caramelized onions, finocchiona salami, and fiscalini cheddar was fantastic, possibly the best bruschetta I have had. The black bean soup with bits of bacon and spinach was hearty, warming me up instantly in the slightly chilly restaurant. The first bowl that arrived was lukewarm; but as soon as the manager realized the warmer in the kitchen was not turned on, he quickly brought me a new one. My pork loin chop milanese was lighter breaded, crisp, and tender. The swiss chard added a perfect touch to this classic dish. Deanna's lamb, sitting on a bed of kidney beans, was tender and flavorful.
Our server was friendly and witty, engaging us in a few exchanges here and there throughout the dinner. The staff was attentive without being intrusive. I recommend this place for everyone who is looking to have an intimate dinner with a lover or a friend.
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i always thought this was a wine bar that had some food, but it's really a restaurant with a nice, extensive wine list. it's a cozy little place and the service was nice, although a little slow at times.
we started with the braised pork belly and roasted hearts of romaine. the pork belly was nice and tender, but a bit flavorless. the hearts of romaine though were really good and the vinaigrette drizzled on top added a nice kick, full of really fresh flavors. and the bacon it comes with adds a nice rich smoky flavor to it.
i had the pork milanese which was simply prepared with a little bit of sauteed greens on the side. simple but great for a cold night in the city, very comfort food. i tried a bite of my friend's lamb chop and was pleasantly surprised. i don't really like lamb, but always try it, as i'm trying to get it to grow on me, which it is. it smelled really gamey, but was not nearly as gamey as it smelled, and actually had a second bite.
we ended it with their chocolate pot de creme which was perfect. pretty much like a pudding, it wasn't overly sweet, just enough to end the night!
my friend and i headed in to 1550 with some expectation for good food and decent service given all the positive reviews on yelp, but we were sorely disappointed. the service was absolutely sub-par, with the only pleasant interaction being a short chat with a server in training. Unfortunately he was training and unable to answer any of my questions. Very friendly, though, and infinitely more welcoming than his two colleagues. after being seated at a table, i sat waiting for about 10 minutes before i managed to flag someone down with a number of questions about the menu. the guy had very little to say, and when i asked what was on offer for dessert he just replied "dessert". hmm very helpful. i'm also curious as to why we weren't offered the $30 prix fixe menu. so when dine about town rolls around, the restaurant simply raises it's prix fixe menu price to $32? interesting.
our main server was rather surly and had disturbingly visibly dirty fingernails. hey i don't require perfectly manicured nails on a server, but basic hygiene and cleanliness is advisable, especially when you are showcasing them by pointing out items on a menu.
now onto the food...
an easy summary: no flexibility, poor veggie and seafood selection, and sub-par entrees.
i asked if i could sub out a meat side for something else and was greeted with a curt, "no, sorry, the kitchen allows for absolutely no substitutions". well that's very accommodating. so i opted for the vegetable tagine, which was essentially a massive pile of flavorless assorted beans on top of a mountain of couscous. it was a healthy portion, though, so i did take it home. i think i'll add some flavor to it tonight which should help. perhaps i'll toss it with a mound of cheese, guac and salsa, slather it with hot sauce and toss it in a taco shell.
now for the redeeming qualities - nice wine list. both the zin i tried and the grenache-syrah wine flight my friend ordered were full-bodied, flavorful and reasonably priced. the appetizers (little gems salad and sardines) were also above-average, and the desserts (chocolate pot de creme and an apple huckleberry crostada) were a decent way to end the meal. but stay away from the cous cous almond pie thing unless you want grainy, crumbly and tasteless.
maybe we just caught them on a bad day but that kind of dining experience doesn't really prompt repeat visits. i really wanted to like this place, since it's only a couple of blocks from my flat, but sadly i will have to cross it off my list.
Overall, this place was good. I went here for dinner and got salmon, which was very tasty & it came with a cherry tomato salad (also very good). I shared the fruit tart/cobbler dessert with my mom, which was definitely worth getting. The food would get 4 or 5 stars
The restaurant's downfall is that we were there foreeeeeeeeeeeever. I don't know if the waitress thought we just enjoyed being there and talking, so was being slow on purpose... or if she was just really slow. But, by the end I was really antsy, and didn't leave in a good mood.
Oh and you would probably also enjoy the restaurant more if you are a wine connoisseur - they had a pretty extensive list
If you want to go with a group, make a reservation ahead of time
One of my favorite neighborhood joints in San Francisco. Too bad it's not in my 'hood. Uggh! But I digress...
The classic decorum (marble tables) with a modern twist (a blue steel bar) is perfect in that it doesn't distract from the reason to come to this fine eatery - the food (and drink). I wouldn't call myself an "adventurous eater" by any stretch of the imagination, however, at one of my many visits here I tried the rabbit. Dee-lish-us! I'm fairly certain that it's always on the menu in one incarnation or another. If you're feeling a little less brazen, try the grilled porch chops. I'm a swine aficionado and I'm here to tell you that 1550 Hyde does it right! Additionally, the wine list has incredible depth and breadth without being overly expensive. Perfect!!
Pretty good. Somewhat creative menu with traditional flavors. Worth your time, not necessarily for out-of-towners.
i can't believe i haven't reviewed this place yet. they have a great wine selection and the flights are really fun to have. i've been here several times and i'm always impressed. its a great value for what you get.
its a small place - great for dates :)
Fantastic quality ingredients and good atmosphere. We ordered all over the menu.
Appetizers
The bruschetta was really super yummy and inspired me to try to make it from home! My husband had the sardines and he loved them.
Wine
We ordered the recession red flight and the recession white flight and they were both OK. It was nice to be able to try different wines, but none of them were that great-- and I'm usually cool with whatever wine, but none of these I would consider 'good'. The price was nice for us to not regret not loving them.
Entree
I got the fried chicken. It had great breading and was very well cooked. The potatoes were a nice accent, but could have been better. Overall, it tasted really good. My husband had the halibut and he thought it was OK. He said the fish was very high quality and the veggies were yummy, but it was swimming in a watery broth underneath that was really weird. He said it was a nice alternative to sauce if you were trying to go light, but as a night out on the town, it wasn't that great. Overall, the halibut was good, but the dish wasn't a great blend.
Dessert
I had the pot de creme and it was super yummy. It was very rich and I ordered the Six Grapes Oporto that was a fantastic complement. My husband ordered the lemon pound cake and we ended up sharing it because I wanted him to have some of my pot de creme. Basically, his pound cake was dry and not very tasty, but we both loved sharing the pot de creme.
Overall:
We'd give our overall experience a 3 this time, but we really liked that the menu changes daily and that they use high-quality, locally grown, and organic ingredients. This is reason enough to have us give it another shot and hope that we hit the mark in our choices next time!
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I've been to 1550 Hyde several times. Every time I come here we are treated really well! Their small, yet intimate restaurant makes it nice for a couple or a small group to dine here. There is also a small bar area.
I like the fact that they change their menu selection often enough so that every time I dine here, I know I'll be having something different. It is also nice because you know that you are getting the freshest ingredients and whatever is in season.
Next time I want to order the cheese platter, and I absolutely adore their wine list!!! The ONLY downside? Parking can be a bit tough, but they offer parking ($6) at Polk & Pacific streets.
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This place is truly the quintessential neighborhood restaurant for the Russian Hill/Nob Hill neighborhoods. The decor of the restaurant is not great and it is tiny, but the food is fantastic and the wine list is really interesting. The owners are both super friendly too. We've found it easy as a couple to walk in and get a table in 45 mins or less most of the time. Its also not tough to get an advance Saturday night reservation.
The menu here is really unique and changes seasonally. For some reason, when I read the menu it never sounds that interesting to me, but sometimes I will pick a random item which will be fantastic. So my fresh, interesting ingredients like the nettle gnocchi they have sometimes. There is usually one vegetarian entree (which sometimes sells out) and it is generally out of this world. The cassoulet's are usually fantastic. I highly recommend this place. IMHO, its the best of Hyde St (although Frascati might be close).
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We are regulars here, since 2004. And that means something, since we do not live in the city! Russian Hill dwellers should feel lucky that this place is around!
1550 Hyde is not a "special night out" restaurant. Rather, it is a neighborhood place, where you can walk in casually, as usually it is not tough to get a table. The ambiance is casual but with attention to detail. It reminds me of those cute little restaurants in the West Village (Blue Ribbon Bakery, Little Owl, etc).
The food is California cuisine, and it is simple, subtle, but delicious. Most of the ingredients are locally grown organic.
For example, their arugula salad... you think you can replicate it at home... it is simple arugula with shavings of parmesan and some marcona almonds. But the arugula is so tasty, so fresh, and they drizzle the olive oil-based dressing to perfection. You can tell that each plate is extremely well thought out, it is something that you might eat at home, but always a step beyond that.
What I also like about this place is that they change the menu every so often so that it is in line with the season and the availability of the ingredients. Reminds me of Japan in a weird way.
Oh... and though I am not a wine connoisseur, my husband is, and he and his friends come here for one of the best wine lists in town. I don't know where the sommelier finds these discreet but distinct labels.
If 1550 Hyde were in my neighborhood, we would come here every single week... we practically almost do already, anyway!
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Good value at $40. I wish I lived at 1551 Hyde.
THE GREAT:
- Super fresh fruits and vegetables: Everything from the lettuce in the salad to the strawberries in the dessert was perfect.
- A few new tastes: Who knew coating avocado on lettuce would make such an interesting-tasting salad? Who knew the white beans under your entree could be so memorable, non-mushy and so tasty?
- Classics done well: The free starter bread kept coming and was good accompanied with soft butter. The palenta cake dessert with ricotta and peach cobbler with ice cream were also excellent. The fried chicken was non-oily with cripsy skin. No real innovation on any of these, but solidly done.
- Good portion sizes. No one leaves hungry.
- Daily-changing menu keeps things interesting.
- Cheap wine flights: I didn't get a chance to try any, but they had several wine samplers that were $15 or so for 3 glasses, which is really awesome for someone like me who knows nothing about wine. Affordable wines by the glass too. And if you're a water-only person, the refills kept coming.
- No-nonsense service: No one on the wait staff tried to be our BFF, so I would never characterize it as "friendly service," but it was efficient and we always had everything we needed.
THE BAD:
- My pork loin entree looked beautiful, but when I started chewing into it, it was kind of hard... maybe overcooked? I guess that's typical for pork, but it didn't impress me.
- I think they tried too hard with the red potatoes that came with the chicken. It had a unique taste, but really just tasted overly smoky and a little dry.
- The restaurant is small. They go for romantic and intimate with lighted candles and the street view, but it's way too crowded for you to feel that level of comfort. 1550 is also really bad for large groups. I have friends who vow never to return since they came in a large group and got hosed with a 2 hour wait, even with reservations.
1550 Hyde wasn't perfect but was well above average. Since I only eat in SF a few times a year, I don't know that I'd come again. But if I lived in the neighborhood, I'd be here every month.
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A good place to go to have intimate conversation and a great meal. A good place to take your parents. A good place to go to try a meal that you never thought that you would. Great creative food, a long wine list, and a even better deserts. Cozy and comfortable without being over done, or under done. This could easily become one of my favorites.
Food was fantastic. I had a salad with green goddess dressing (been a while since I've seen that on a menu) that I've already tried (and failed) to do at home. For my entree, had some tasty sea bass with salt cod fritters and spring vegetables. Perfectly cooked fish.
Wine was ok. My wife and I both had a syrah/grenache flight which was somewhat underwhelming, especially given that this is a wine bar. That said, the wine list is very reasonable and I've had good luck in the past.
Decor/service was good, not great. This place is tiny, which I generally like, except that the tables are a bit too close together. The decor is somewhat spartan, but it's a neighborhood place that's not trying to be pretentious, so I appreciate that.
We'll definitely return. Was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food -- one of the better meals I've had in months.
I think this place is a real gem -- one of the better restaurants in the Russian Hill area.
First of all, as a wine bar, they do have a nice deep and long wine list to choose from, covering both Old and New Worlds. Their actual bar is pretty small, so get there early on weekend nights if you want a seat.
As for the food, my gf and I really enjoy the rotating menu, and focus on local organic ingredients -- they really put together flavorful dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian fare. I'd tell you my favorite dishes if I didn't believe they were probably already gone.
And of course, folks already noted the Scharffenberger pot de creme dessert which is magnificant.
Went here recently with a friend that lives in the neighborhood. He had been here many times and suggested we have a visit. Ordinarily I would recommend making a reservation, even early in the week. They are quite popular. We got lucky and were seated immediately.
Not a huge menu but some very nice choices. We decided to share dishes and got the rib eye, duck confit, arugula and romaine salads. I preferred the duck confit to the rib eye as I dislike fatty steaks but both were good. I also preferred the arugula salad to the romaine. I was told that the menu changes frequently which is always nice. I love a variety. They had cheese plate choices and yummy looking dessert choices but being the alcoholics that we are we decided on dessert wines instead. Their Grahams 20 year port and Sauternes were both delicious. I would love to come back. Service was pleasant and so was the dining experience.
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A terrific pick in its category (i.e; bistro).
The best things about it:
- organic local ingredients
- mix of unusual and traditional items on the menu
- good size portions
- great service
- cool look and feel
- descent prices all around (food and wine): last time we went we all had an appetizer, a main course, a dessert for two, a bottle of wine and a bottle of sparkling water. The price per couple was just below $100 before tip.
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1550 hyde is a pretty cozy and popular restaurant, read if your going on the weekend you should make a reservation, they're on open table. We went on a saturday night and it was very busy.
I actually give these guys 3 stars for the food which was average for the price but none of it blew us away, but 5 stars for the wine which was not only extraordinary but very reasonably priced. Our waitress made some excellent wine recommendations and the somelier was a personable chap, happy to discuss the selections, and his wine philosophy. I think they aim to have at least half their wine menu under $40.
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I've been here three times in the last year and every time, it impresses. I love that the menu changes seasonally and that it features local, sustainable ingredients. You can really taste the difference and I've been blown away by the quality. I wish we could get a conscientious, delicious restaurant like this in our neighborhood, but I don't mind the splurge on the taxi to get here.
Great little neighborhood restaurant! If I lived within walking distance, I'd definitely frequent this place more often. They offer a great prix fix menu for $30 on Sunday - Thursday night, which includes an appetizer, entree and dessert.
The boy tried the prix fix (salad, roasted chicken & lemon pound cake for dessert) while I ordered the steak with herb French fries and a goat cheese with honey. Everything was excellent. To my surprise, I actually preferred the prix fix roasted chicken over the steak, although both were very good...and although we agreed to "split" all the dishes, I only received a small bite of the delicious bird. While the prix fix menu only offers one option per course, trust them, it'll be good.
They also offered wine specials and flights, which was cool. We tried a bottle of wine that came from a Spanish winery established in 1200 a.d. I know this because they had an interesting caption under the wine which definitely swayed my less-than-knowledgeable opinion about wine. For the delicious food and great wine selection, this place is extremely affordable compared to similar wine bars/restaurants I've visited recently.
Great prix fixe menu. A friend and I dined here one Sunday and had a great leisurely catch up dinner. Pleasant wait staff, great food, and lots of great wine to choose from. I will definitely be back.
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