- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Wine Bars American (New), Wine Bars [Edit]
1550 Hyde St(at Pacific Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94109
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
(415) 775-1550
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Payal B. said: "5 stars for the ambiance and HH $10 flight (3 glasses of wine) deal! Service : Undoubtedly great! The bartenders are very knowledgeable and helpful. Decor : Cozy dimly lit, quite intimate. Glowing red bottles on the walls and the…" read more »
309 reviews for 1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar
Review Highlights
"The chocolate pot de creme is heavenly."
(in 16 reviews)
"Went with a friend for Dine About Town."
(in 28 reviews)
"I had the rabbit, and he had the Chicken under a brick."
(in 10 reviews)
Loading...
309 reviews in English
-
Review from Tim S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/23/2010
Really, really sad that this place is closed. It was a true SF neighborhood gem with great food, great ingredients and great wine. The owner always remembered our names and my son's name. I personally thought it was better than just about everything else on Hyde which I know is a bold statement.
Kent & Peter - Good luck in your future endeavors!Listed in: My Neighborhood
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
7/13/2009
I've reviewed 1550 a few times now, but this is absolutely one of the best restaurants in San… Read more »
-
-
Review from Gloria H.
6/23/2010
Looks like I'm one of the handful who don't get it... Took us a long time to finally try this place with quite a bit of expectation, which wasn't quite met.
The interior is surprisingly mall and they pack the place to the max w/ tables so noise can become an issue - definitely not a place for quiet dinner. Ceiling decoration is made of cork screws - interesting.
What we had:
glass each of Cabernet ($9) and Pinot Noir ($11)
arugula salad ($9) - pretty good
chicken liver ($12) - this was the best dish of the evening. we've eaten liver all our lives, never thought you can have it not fully cooked but happy to be proven wrong. this was delicious and it melts in the mouth with the richness like a good pate.
brisket ($25) - this was a huge disappointment - it was not very flavorful nor tender
vegetable entree ($19) - this was a pasta w/ some veggie - it came w/ a big spat of cheese sauce on top that you mix w/ the pasta - not bad
lemon tart - $8 - meh, I stopped at one bite - enough said
glass of Coteaux du Layon - $9 - served in a small sipping glass, this was cold. slightly sweet and very refreshingListed in: Russian Hill Eats
-
Review from Marlene K.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2010
Do you ever have a meal at a restaurant, love it SO much, you go back a few days later and order the exact same dinner? I wonder if I'm the only person that does that?
San Francisco is a food town. For all it's pomp & circumstance, NYC has nothing on it. There is no mediocre in the bay area, because mediocre, at least in terms of food, doesn't last here.
We were on our way to get pizza, when we walked by & decided to stop in. I remember reading about it years ago, but don't find myself often in Russian Hill. Rumor has it, the prices have gone down a bit from before & really, the prices are more than reasonable. The wine per glass is a little high, so it's best to order a bottle!
I have to say, the fettucine with peas, ramps, spring onions, shitake mushrooms topped with a ricotta quenelle of lemon zest and herbs is
by far the BEST pasta dish I've eaten in years. I stutter not; years!
I'm still dreaming about it! Paired with the pork, it was the perfect dinner. To top it off, the banana bread pudding with caramel sauce and a side of vanilla ice cream goes down in my book as one of the best dinners ever.
Needless to say, I can't wait to go back! -
Review from Dan B.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/10/2008
I was reading an article in Bon Appetit about the synergy of restaurants and local farmers while I was working out and I realized a couple things:
1. I really appreciate 1550 Hyde for supporting local farmers. I know they're not the only restaurant in town that does, but they're the first one that came to mind, so it has to count for/mean something.
Please read the article and you'll understand why:
http://www.bonappetit....
2. I'm stuck in this vicious cycle of going out to eat, feeling Pillsbury doughy, working out, then going out to eat again. Not that I'm complaining. I just thought it was funny.
And if you were wondering why I was reading Bon Appetit, it was either reading that or a mutilated Sports Illustrated. I think I made the right call.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/19/2008
When I searched for fried chicken in SF, Yelp suggests places like Farmerbrown, Hard Knox Cafe,… Read more »
-
-
Review from Josua P.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2006
I came here recently for my birthday dinner (I know what you're thinking. Don't worry, it was an early birthday celebration. There's still time to shop.) It's a small restaurant with a nice simple, rustic and seasonal menu.
The food was good but the wine list can steal the show. It is impressive to say the least and thankfully the servers are knowledgeable and will offer suggestions accordingly. "Yes, this Sancerre has flinty nuances and a more mineral finish, like a creek." Flinty creek wine? Fuck yeah! Sign me up garcon! Clearly, I'm all class. The wine was lovely by the way.
It doesn't need to be a special occasion to come here. The atmosphere is relaxed and if you like wine they've got you covered.
F.Y.I. If you're planning on doing some last minute birthday shopping my pants size is 48X24 low rise boot cut (makes my legs look longer.) And if you were thinking of getting me the complete remastered Hanson box set don't bother. GOT IT! -
Review from Nobu K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 7/9/2009
It supposed to be an ordinary weekday dinner with my gf.
But, turned out, fantastic dinner.
Everything was perfect.
A nice sunny evening, sat by the window, not too loud Jazz and nice low-key waitresses gave us great service with smile.
We ordered Prix-Fix Menu 3 courses, $30
Salad: 2 order
marin roots farm arugula/ organic nectarines/ sherry vinaigrette/ pecorino/ almonds
Grilled berkshire pork lion
german butterball potato salad/ rocket/ peach salsa
Fresh Fettuccini
ocal porcini/ green beans/ summer squash/ cherry tomatoes/ pesto/ pistachio
Dessert :
Three twins organic sorbet with shortbread cookies
Lemon tart
And 2 ordered of :
2005-2006-2007 Côtes-du-Rhône Fiight
Three 3 oz. Pours $15
+tax,
Total, $98.44
Grilled pork lion was wonderful. Juicy, smokey flavor.
Fettuccini was nice long fresh made.
We really had a great time.
I really want to Thank the wait-staff and kitchen staff gave us such a wonderful dinner.
Btw, There is NO Yelp sticker on the window.
I think it shows the pride telling us that they don't worry so much on that some people who may disliked the food.
I kind of like that place like this.
I feel skeptical more lately when I see a yelp sticker at any places.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/26/2008
Dessert...." I forgot-to."
That's what I heard from our waiter but he didn't forget.
It was… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jeremy S.
6/29/2006 1 Check-in Here
The experience began by entering a cozy window-lined space with a small warmly lit bar. I was greeted with a friendly hello and had time for a quick drink before settling in. The wine selection by the glass and half bottle was fairly extensive.
I dined on the 3-course prix fixe meal ($30), starting with baby lettuce, followed by chicken braised in rose with morel mushrooms, and finally a chocolate pot de creme (I cannot avoid decadent chocolate desserts).
Food hit the mark, service was great. I wouldn't say they are forging any new ground, but 1550 is a pleasant spot - I'll be back.Listed in: SF Date Restaurants, Hot Russian
-
Review from Herra Chink y.
San Francisco, CA
4/25/2006
I'm generally not the type to really enjoy these types of restaurants - I'm not a fancy food kind of guy. Don't get me wrong, I love eating, but I don't have the need to feel like I'm a food/wine connoisseur or anything.
BUT - 1550 Hyde puts me in my place. I had an amazing roasted pork shoulder, and everything that I, uh, "tried" off of everyone else's plate was absolutely wonderfully tasty. The prix fixe is refreshing, and the paired wines were absolutely worth the extra 15 bucks, enhancing the meal while getting us a little warm inside, all without breaking the bank!
This is also a great place to take people for a "San Francisco" meal, as it is the quality that people expect out of a San Francisco meal, in a small cozy Victorian-like setting, and with a cable car running at the foot of the restaurant.Listed in: Ed to the M's Top 50…
-
Review from Rachel F.
San Francisco, CA
8/3/2008
Date #1.5 (don't ask, we kind of got off to a really rocking start the night before, so by official Date #1, we were well acquainted).
Date guy likes smaller, intimate restaurants, and 1550 Hyde is one of his favorites. We were seated right away for our 8:15 reservations at an intimate table that allowed for cozy conversation, as well as a little people-watching.
We started with the frisee and the corn chowder. Both were lick the plate/bowl good (date guy really bogarted the corn chowder, but I managed to steal a few choice pieces of bacon).
For entrees, we chose the chicken under a brick and the lamb moussaka. I'm usually a steak gal, but date guy had spent some time in Greece and told me the wonder that is moussaka, so I decided to give it a go. Wait a few minutes before eating it, though, that's one hot dish!
Dessert wasn't on the agenda because we still had a few more glasses of our bottle of Syrah to drink (and I am very finicky about my dessert...usually I'll go with creme brulee if it's on the menu, but most of the time, I'll just go without.)
The bathroom could do with a little less brightness, but other than that 1550 Hyde is a quaint, perfectly charming little restaurant for an official first date after a first pretty awesome non-date.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Nicole G.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2008
I was surprised when C recently brought up the idea that I treat him every once in a while. "Treat you? As in pay?" I didn't tell him I was a virgin when it comes to taking guys out.
I chose 1550 Hyde for its neighborhoodsy romantic appeal. Seeing as it was my "first time," I wanted everything to be perfect. The restaurant was cozy with red velvet drapes and glowing candles, and buzzed with intimate conversation.
I ordered the beet salad, pork chop, espresso drizzled ice cream with biscotti and a smooth pinot noir. C chose the soup, chicken and pumpkin bread pudding.
The food was hit or miss all night. The next date will not involve Dine About Town. What can I say, he was my first!Listed in: Wine in San Francisco, Romantic Restaurants in San…
-
Review from Julie K.
4/25/2009
I have really fond memories of this place, not just for the food, which was amazing, but also for a friendship formed here.
Meeting someone for the first time is always a little stressful, but it was hard to be anxious in such a great little space. The restaurant is tiny, with the tables set close together, and can get a little loud as the evening goes on, but it's also very comfortable and inviting.
We started by sharing a salad and the mixed olives over small talk, but by the end of the first course we were bonding over our surreptitious (we hoped) observations of the couple at the next table, who also seemed to be on a first date. I know that sounds mean, but really, we couldn't help it because the guy was a LOUD talker.
I loved my main course of rabbit ragu over pasta. This was my first time trying rabbit, and the richness of the tender meat and tomatoey sauce was delicious.
By the time we had dessert, I felt like I'd known T. forever. Or maybe it was just that the chocolate pot de creme sent me into such a state of bliss that I would have felt that way about anyone. Just kidding, T. ;)
So I highly recommend this place. If I lived in the neighborhood, I'd be a regular. I've sent other friends here and they loved it too. It's a great place for having a first date and even for making friends--I wonder how that other couple did? -
Review from carlos a.
1/30/2009
Fan-freakin-tastic.
I walk by 1550 Hyde twice a day and have always wanted to go in.
Finally, dine about town gave me an excuse to partake.
Unlike some of the other dine about town experiences I have had where I feel like the staff look down on us or the menu is watered down, I enjoyed the options we had for 1550 Hyde.
To start I had a chopped salad with pancetta. It was a generously sized salad and the pancetta makes anything better.
As my entree I had the pork loin chop milanese As the waiter put it down I was impressed by the size. It was a very generous portion of milanese. It was incredibly tasty.
For dessert I had a bread pudding of some sort that looked off but was very tasty as well.
Our waiter was incredibly helpful. I eat out quite a bit but I enjoyed the way he explained the specials and different options. When we asked about particular dishes he seemed to be very knowledgeable and even included how the food was prepared.
All in all - it was a great experience. I would give it a 4.5 if we could half stars because it was a bit on the expensive side but definitely worth it.
I spent about $45 but it was worth every cent.
I will definitely be going back. -
Review from Liz S.
9/9/2006
If someone were to ask me to describe a signature San Francisco dining experience, I would send them to 1550 Hyde and say, "This is it."
1550 Hyde is a lovely neighborhood restaurant featuring organic, local ingredients prepared in a savory yet healthful style (note that I said "healthful", not healthy" - this is no diet food, thank you), served by professionals, in a homey environment.
My friend and I were warmly greeted when we arrived and sat at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. This is a place where people tend to linger, so even with a reservation, you may need to wait.
Once seated, I asked the waiter for recommendations and he gave me wonderful descriptions of his favorite dishes. This is always so helpful to me, and the more detailed, the better.
I started with the arugula and peach salad with shaved cheese. This was, in no uncertain terms, a perfect salad. The arugula was nutty and crisp, with excellent flavor, the peaches were perfectly ripe and sweet, and the cheese added a smooth, salty accent. It was dressed with a light vinaigrette, and the portion was very generous. Every ingredient tasted like it had been plucked from the earth only moments ago. Divine.
For dinner, I had the braised beef. Tender, falling apart meat with a tomato sauce and fresh corn accompaniment. Again, the portion was large and the ingredients were all top notch and flavorful.
I had a bite of my friend's pasta - al dente pasta, a light tomato sauce, and wonderful sliced eggplant which was lightly breaded - savory but not coma-inducing.
For dessert, we shared the summer fruits pudding - tart, cakey pudding laden with berries and served with a big dollup of fresh whipped cream.
I was impressed by the HUGE wine list.
This is a grown-up crowd that ranges in age from 20's to 60's. There are a lot of couples, and a few parties of 3-4 people maximum, as the size of the space does not allow for large parties. Regulars are greeted by name, and I have a feeling that this place has a lot of regulars. Knowing the parking challenges of this Russian Hill neighborhood, I would recommend taking a cab if that option is available to you.
Fairly priced, so that a visit does not require budgeting for a special occasion (think Blue Plate or Firefly prices).
The only downfall for me was that on this very busy Friday night, the noise level was exceptionally loud. It didn't help that we were seated next to the loudest man in the restaurant who was trying his hardest to make sure his date heard every word (she heard you. We ALL heard you). As a result, my friend and I were struggling to hear each other, and we are not meek soft-spoken women ourselves, not by a long shot. However, there is not that much that can be done in such a cozy environment packed with people. I would suggest if noise is a problem for you, to go on a weeknight.
4.5 stars for consistently excellent cuisine, in an intimate setting in one of SF's loveliest neighborhoods. A classic.Listed in: Everyday Luxe
-
Review from Ankur P.
San Francisco, CA
7/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
So normally I hate Dine-About-Town. It's usually a shitty menu that lets you pick the lamest dishes on the menu for slightly cheaper. This place actually presented a full menu with excellent choices (for slightly cheaper).
To me, the standout was the lamb chop. It had a right blend of fatty deliciousness.
I'd go back. -
Review from Miriam W.
9/22/2005
One of my very favorite restaurants in San Francisco. Excellent, creative, often-organic food. Very well-priced. I am consistently pleased with the food and service.
It's a small place, perfect for 2 or 4, but definitely not a large group. Be sure to make a reservation.Listed in: 2006 Top 100 Bay Area…, My Last Days in San Francisco
-
Review from Theresa T.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2008
Parents plus the BFF made us a party of 4, ready for some delicious food. We called the same day and made an 8:45pm reservation. We arrived at 8:30pm and were seated at a great window table immediately. Known for there constantly changing and locally inclined menu, 1550 had so many wonderful things to choose from. We all made it a point to order different starters and entrees so we could sample as much of the menu as possible.
1st course (to-die for):
- Bruschetta with glazed figs and cheese (Winner!)
- cantaloupe cucumber salad with goat cheese and pine nuts (WOW)
- Salmon Tartar with crostini (fresh fresh fresh)
After the first course I was so impressed with the perfection of every flavor and artistic presentation of each dish, I could hardly wait for my entree. We brought our own amazing wine to do a 2 course pairing (Sevant from Justin and Cab Sav. from Chimeny Rock). Corkage fee is $20.
Entrees:
- New York Strip
- Pork Chop with peach relish
- King Salmon with green chickpeas (large and cooked perfectly)
The entrees were not drowning in sauces or lost in outrageous side items. They were simple, fresh and tasty.
Dessert:
- Cheese plate: double cream goat's cheese, sheep's milk (sharp, my fave) and cow's milk (salty and firm). Fresh figs and almond toast slices.
- Polenta Almond cake with strawberries
Perfect way to wrap up a 3 hour dinner. Service was excellent as was every dish we ordered. One of the best places to discover fresh flavors and new dishes.Listed in: The Creme de la Creme
-
Review from Gabe b.
Manhattan, NY
7/15/2008
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. -
Review from Yu T.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2008
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! -
Review from diana y.
1/27/2007
It was date night last night. We put on our fancy threads and headed out to Nob Hill to eat at a place that my eating buddy had seen a good review on. I was ready to have a great evening of good eats.
This place was so average, it invokes absolutely no human emotions in me. I was neither happy nor unhappy eating the food. It was like, completely and utterly average. I remember eating, but not really feeling anything, though I was in a pleasant mood.
We had the frisee and arugula salad (fine), the romaine salad (fine), the papparadelle (fine, but the pasta was overcooked), the gamebirds coq au vin (fine, pretty tender), and the maple syrup tart with creme fraiche (fine). I had a glass of muscat wine for dessert, which was, not surprisingly, not the best nor the worst muscat. You guessed it-- it was just a totally average glass of muscat.
It was a bizarre experience. This food had no feeling. -
Review from P J.
Daly City, CA
5/1/2007
****** 3 1/2 Stars *******
My husband took me here last Saturday night for dinner. The restaurant is compact, yet cute BUT it gets really loud. I had to almost yell to say something to my husband sitting in front of me, less than a foot away...OR perhaps it was the really really loud woman with the annoying voice sitting next to me....NOW on to the food...
We had Humboldt Fog cheese with walnut bread, accompanied by almonds and sweet strawberries as a starter. I had their poached halibut, which was VERY GOOD, with potatoes and snap peas sporadically drizzled with a basil aoili, again REALLY GOOD DISH!!! My husband had the RIb Eye which was OVER SEASONED...way over seasoned....so that ruined the meat for him and I don't blame him. Dessert was disappointing...we ordered the Strawberry Crumble Cake and I don't know what I thought it would be like but when it arrived it wasn't what i had in mind...gave it a try and really did not care for it...but my dessert wine was DIVINE...it was a Riesling but that's all i remember...
So, all in all, cute restaurant BUT TOO LOUD, so not ideal for romantic dinners...Halibut was GOOD, STEAK was NOT, dessert was *meh*...it was a nice adventure but would not return. However, the servings were generous, so you get what you pay for...The End. -
Review from Christine C.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2008
1550 Hyde is one of the many Russian Hill neighborhood joints. 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. -
Review from Calvin N.
Seattle, WA
9/18/2006
Oustanding! Everything about this restaurant from location, decor, view, clientele, to food screams gastronomic excellence.
The chicken (YES chicken) we had was pretty much the best chicken I have had in years; quite obviously organic and free range. The glorified fish and chips actually tasted like FISH and Potato, not grease and batter. The pork was rich, flavorful, and tender; accented with a red wine reduction and a robust mushroom selection.
We paired reds with everything and the fish suffered a bit on account of it but everyone agreed, it still won the red ribbon. The appetizers were ordinary - focus on the main courses.
If there is a unifying theme to 1550 it is a focus on getting the basics right and then building on a strong foundation. The location is superb (plus 2 blocks from my house), the decor works very well with its deep brown base highlighted by port and champaign overtones, and the staff is well trained and friendly. The food is likewise all about high quality ingredients with subtle and balanced accents to complete a full package.
If 1550 was a girl... she'd be Jessica Alba. -
Review from Ben P.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2007
A great place for a quiet, intimate dinner for 2. Great wine flights, a consistently fantastic cheese plate, and good entrees. Dessert is a little hit-and-miss, but Swenson's is nearby, so who cares? The wine list has a nice variety, both in geographic and monetary terms.
Reservations are a must Thursday-Saturday. Service is prompt, friendly and knowledgeable, but not lightening fast, as they presume (correctly) that no one comes here for a quick bite.Listed in: After Hours
-
Review from Tim G.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2006
I have a really hard time getting excited about this place. It just feels cramped and run down for such an expensive place.
It's consistently in the top 100 bay area restaurants, so it's always been on my radar, but I'm not sure that it really stands out as an interesting culinary experience. Their specialty is rabbit, but mine didn't stand out. I'm completely amazed by all the other reviews for this place. Is the emperor wearing clothes? -
Review from Abby M.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2008
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. -
Review from Carol L.
12/10/2006
I'm very conflicted right now. 3 or 4 stars?? The cheese plate was yummy, the bottles of wine were good, and the main entrees were awesome. (delicious fried chicken and BIG portions!). The service was great as well. So why the conflict? The dessert.
Dessert was a huge disappoint. The meyer lemon polenta thing was honestly not good. I left a good half untouched. That says a lot. The huckleberry something was just eh, and the affogato ice cream in espesso was just too ordinary. Unfortunate! If they beef up the desserts, this restaurant would definitely get a 4 star rating!! -
Review from Rebecca H.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2007
Just a warning -- this place really isn't too vegetarian friendly, unless you don't mind eating a couple dinner salads. However, I did really enjoy my fritters -- some delicious fried cheese thing -- but really, it's FRIED CHEESE, it has to be good. The wine list is extensive, but not a lot by the glass and I don't think the guy at the bar knew too much about wine.
I would have given this a better review, but we were virtually ignored by our server (30 minutes+). Yes, we both were dressed in really casual clothes, and yes my dining companion was covered with tattoos. We don't look like people who are going to spend a lot of money on dinner. But guess what? We always do. We actually had to get the manager to help us, who gave us great service, but still.
Also, make a reservation, even on a week night. -
Review from i. o.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2006
This place is close to my Homeshed(tm) and having heard a lot of hype about it, I wasn't particularly impressed with the settings from the inside. There were some nice decorative touches, but it curiously feels more cozy from the outside looking in!?
That said the service was excellent, the food was very good and the wine list simply stellar! They have one of the biggest "by the glass" winelists I've ever seen from just about every wine-making corner of the planet!
Oh, the dress code above says dressy. If you want to "dress up", you certainly won't be outta place with the other clients, a mixture of couples, biz-looking folk and families! -
Review from Timothy O.
Fresno, CA
3/26/2006
How did my favorite restauarant in the City become my parents' favorite too? It has a lot to do with the food. My parents are Midwesterners who live in the suburbs. They're not concerned that 1550 Hyde shops locally and buys organically. They just think the food tastes good and that the portions are generous. Given the quality of the food and its preparation, it's quite reasonable, especially if you order from their weekday three-course prix fixe menu.
A Valentine's Day menu offered a soup, a giant pork chop with large roasted beans, and a Scarfenberger pot de creme. They also offer matching wine flights, and their wine list is well-considered, with interesting wines at a range of prices and a nice selection of half bottles.
There's a difference between trendy food and a trendy place. 1550 Hyde isn't trendy, and I mean that as a compliment. I've been here on busy nights and quieter Sundays, on dates and with my family. The service is always unobtrusive and warm - whether you're sitting at the first serving or one table of many on Saturday night. The staff does an excellent job of making everyone feel welcome, which is probably the other reason why my parents like it. The space is small, and the tables and chairs are rather close together, but you don't feel like you're on top of the other diners. It's hard to find a restaurant that you're always glad you visited, but 1550 Hyde is that rare find. -
Review from Maureen B.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2008
1550 Hyde is an amazing place to go for a romantic dinner with your other half. It's a tiny restaurant (no more than 20 tables?) and as many times as I've walked on Hyde Street, which is like a million times, I have never seen it. The restaurant is very simple, but classy too.
When I made the reservation, the host made sure to give us a nice table by the window. The food was amazing! We decided to opt out of the prix fix dinner, and we got the chicken and the pork. Both were delicious. Even the accompaniments were good--potatoes with bell peppers, grilled asparagus, and other veggies. We ordered dessert which came with vanilla ice cream. I definitely will be coming back here and recommend this place to anyone who likes good food in smaller settings. One star off for a tad bit slow of service--still good though! -
Review from A to the C.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2006
Maybe I was just too over excited about this place and had high hopes because it looked so nice when I walked by and had such great reviews.
Ambiance: We got there early and the atmosphere was nice, low lit and quaint. But as our meal continued the restaurant began to fill up more and more, became very loud, and lost it's intimacy.
Wine Selection: There was an extensive wine list if you bought a bottle, but the wines by the glass were very limited and there was only one sampler. The majority of the wines are European, especially by the glass.
Food: By reading other reviews it sounds as though there menu changes often, so I am hoping that I caught it on an off night. I had pumpkin ravioli, which seemed safe and should have been flavorful. Instead I pretty much could only taste the olive oil it was prepared in. Definitely wasn't worth $17 to me. My boyfriend had the short ribs, which were great and tender. Other than that half of the menu seemed to be comprised of rabbit or other dishes that you definitely need to have a pallete for. I wouldn't recommend this if you are the casual diner who likes good, willing to take a chance on many occasions, but not willing to pay $20 for rabbit.
Service: Our waitress was very attentive, but didn't seem to be the most educated on the wine list yet. I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, so maybe she was new or it was an off night. We didn't receive any guidance on our wine choice, other than that's a good one after we had ordered. I would have hoped for a little more.
All in all, it's not for me, but it sounds like it is good for a lot of other people. -
Review from Dana L.
1/21/2007
The first two things I noticed when entering this place were 1) it was really warm (even though it was quite cold outside) and 2) the tables were really crowded. I felt like I was invading the personal space of two other tables. At one point when I stood up, my chair fell over, hitting someone behind me. Sure, space in that neighborhood is at a premium, but I felt a bit like a sardine.
The wine list was pretty good, but not exceptional for a "wine bar". Maybe I'm a snob, but I have seen a lot of restaurants with similar length wine lists, and I would have expected a bit more. I thought that the wines were a tad bit on the overpriced side.
I ordered the game birds, which were pretty tasty. Cooked pretty well, and the sides were fairly good.
For dessert, we ended up eating the ice cream and the chocolate cake. Both were decent, although the coffee that the ice cream swam in was kind of gross, and the ice cream was nothing special. The chocolate cake wasn't sweet, which I liked, but my girlfriend wasn't so into it.
The service was ok. Didn't stand out enough to be exceptional, but wasn't bad.
For the $100 or so that we paid for 2, I was expecting a hit out of the park, but this was more like a bunt. You may get a good meal here, but you're going to pay a lot more than its really worth. You can find much better in this city. -
Review from s r.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2007
3.5 STARS
My date selected this restaurant, and I must say that I liked the food. I am a little surprised, as a wine bar is generally more about wine than quality ingredients and good preparation, but 1550 Hyde Cafe managed to do both quite well.
The ambiance is nice, but not exceptionally warm and inviting. The decor, while attractive with a slightly upscale feeling, is a little cold....minimalistic, one might say. I did not have any wine, but my date ordered a glass, and he enjoyed it very much.
Although I did not order an appetizer or salad, they were fairly priced between $8 and $13. If I remember correctly, desserts were all priced the same...$10.
Neither of us could decide on which of two entrees we wanted to order, so he suggested we order one of each and share. That worked out well. I ordered the Nihman Ranch flank steak with chanterelles and he ordered the Alaskan King Salmon and mashed potatoes, both entrees cooked medium. The entrees were $24 and $23 dollars, respectively.
Our dinner arrived properly cooked, nicely presented, and tasty. By the time I started in on the salmon and mashed potatoes, it was already cold, but still delicious. That is saying something when a meal is good enough that you don't mind eating it cold. We were both pleased and our appetites sated.
I was quite full and nothing on the dessert/cheese menu had my mouth watering, so I opted to fore-go sweets. My date selected a decaf cappuccino. By the time I was ready for bed that night I was sorry that I hadn't ordered the ice cream....sweet regret...
There are so many good restaurants in the Bay Area, and 1550 Hyde Cafe is certainly one of them, but I'm not sure if I was "wowed" enough to return here again. Had I seen more on the menu that appealed to me, I probably would. I'm just not fond of lamb, rabbit, or corn-based vegetarian dishes. Thus, I feel as though I have already exhausted my menu choices with the salmon and steak.
Perhaps I will return to 1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar when they change their menu selection, so I can give some of their other dishes a try. If they are going to anger PETA with all those cute little furry animals as entrees why not just include foie gras on the menu? I'd return to try some of their foie gras...Listed in: San Francisco dining
-
Review from Defne A.
San Francisco, CA
5/29/2007
I have to admit, red velvet drapes get me every time.
1550 Hyde is a lovely neighborhood spot for organic American (what does that really mean?) cuisine. We started with the asparagus and cucumber salad along with the local sardines. For the main course, I had the cod, my Mom had the chicken and my bf had the fettuccine with rabbit. All were delicious! They had a great selection of half bottles, which is perfect for a little wine with dinner - when you're not in the mood to get drunk with your Mom. The atmosphere is wonderfully cozy with a simple design. Perfect for a romantic dinner or a cozy dinner with the 'rents. It's a teensy bit expensive for my taste, but if you've got the cash, the food is worth it. -
Review from Sally H.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2009
Solid California Cuisine that I haven't had in a looooong time.
Winery and driving recommendations from the Owner
Attentive service from HOT waiter
Maybe I'm still buzzing from the
- 2007 Nalle Pinot Noir; and
- 20?? or 19?? York Creek Cabernet Sauvignon... macho, intense, love
Everyone loved the appetizers... pick any... you can't go wrong
The most popular main dish at the table (out of 5) was mine, the Coq au vin. Chicken braised in vin, and I found some surprises under my Coq! Roasted garlic, mushrooms and Potatoes!!!
Dessert to diiiiiie for - Chocolate Pot de Creme! Sorry, Boulange, but I'd rather pay twice the price for this bittersweet silkiness in my mouth!
Dinner is such a firecracker with pleasant company, wines you drink out of *fUn* glasses, fresh food and interesting conversations of how your parents got it on 30 years ago.
What more could you ask for? -
Review from Inga W.
8/18/2007
Hyde is one of my favorites streets in the city, it's so cozy and feels like a true neighborhood. So I've been trying to go to places here and try them out. So far all of them have been great and they all have this small, intimate character, where you know the people in them are locals.
I arrived at 9pm- on time and got a txt from my friends that they were running late so I went in to have a glass of wine. I sat at the bar and looked at the menu to kill some time. Wow it looked great and they better get here soon, I was hungry. Usually I would have been social and chatted with people, but this was a huge date night, and I would have felt awkward talking to someone's date.
They finally arrive and we sit down, the waitress was very easy going, even though they were about 40 minutes late but she took her time, let us ponder the menu and we finally ordered. I got the lamb musakka and they got the flank steak marinated in yogurt and we also got the salmon sashimi. Everything was absolutely great, fresh, full of flavor, the meat was tender, my musakka was so yummy and absolutely Greek style like it should be, I've had some that really have no business carrying that name.
This is a great place to come on a date and while waiting, all I saw were dates so I made friends with the manager and chatted while waiting, but it's great for a small group of friends as well.
We never made it to dessert but they looked great and considering how great the food was I'm sure dessert would have been great too. -
Review from Heather L.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2008
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. -
Review from Sara M.
Silver Spring, MD
1/6/2007
We went here for New Years Eve dinner. The food was good - I had a dungeness crab and avocado salad that was pretty tasty. My husband let me taste his lobster bisque which was also quite good. We both got a big hunk of beef for dinner which was good, not great.
I thought the ambiance left something to be desired though. The tables are all very close together, which would be okay if the restaurant was at all cozy feeling, which it's not. A different shade of paint, some new furniture and lighting would really improve this place. -
Review from Yvette K.
San Francisco, CA
9/18/2007
I still remember the rack of pork I had there. That was a fantastic dish! I love this restaurant. If it was closer to my house and had easier parking I would eat there once a month. I've been 3 or 4 times and feel that this could be one of the BEST SF restaurants.
They have a great menu, the price is reasonable, and the wine selection is great. Their staff is friendly and helpful.
This restaurant is really a gem. This is another great find through "Check Please Bay Area". -
Review from Leela S.
Chapel Hill, NC
1/27/2008
We swooped into this local neighborhood joint one dark and stormy Thursday night, to take advantage of the Dine About Town special. Overall I'd give the food a 4 and the service a 3 - not at all unpleasant but pretty darn slow, owing to the fact the place was bursting at the seams. If Yelp had a 3.5 star option, that would be right on.
I kicked things off with an arugula salad featuring beets, nuts and cheese of some description (blue?). It was very moreish although I do wonder that I am turning into a beet fettishist who can't resist anything containing said ingredient. My boyfriend went with the soup. I don't remember the base - butternut squash? pumpkin? - but it was a hit thanks to the fact it also featured pancetta. Boys and the bacon family are a bit like me and beets I guess.
For mains, I plumped for the chicken, expertly cooked and served on a bed of lentils. It was a hearty-sized portion, succulent and perfect for a gloomy night. My boyfriend went off-prix fixe (radical!) and had steak, which was tender as could be. Stringy fries were adequate, nothing too special.
We split the pumpkin bread pudding, which I rather liked - nice spices and texture, not overly sweet. They had a reasonably good selection of wines by the glass. We got out of there for about $70 a head including tip.
