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Slow Club

4 star rating
based on 365 reviews

Categories: American (New), Breakfast & Brunch  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Mission
2501 Mariposa St
(between Hampshire St & York St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 241-9390
  • Hours:
    Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Mon-Thu 6:30 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
    Fri 6:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
    Sat-Sun 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
    Sat 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
  • Menu: MenuPages
  • Price Range: $$
  • Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
  • Attire: Casual
  • Good for Groups: Yes
  • Good for Kids: No
  • Takes Reservations: No
  • Take-out: Yes
  • Waiter Service: Yes
  • Outdoor Seating: Yes
  • Good for: Dinner
  • Alcohol: Full Bar
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365 Reviews for Slow Club

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Photo of AhLin C.

 

30

284

AhLin C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/11/2008

I saw that picture on yelp and I HAD to try the Turkey Sausage Hash.  Yum!  
Service was a bit slow, but we were not pressed for time, so I had no problem at all.  Our waitress was not that attentive, but that's okay too.  I forgive them b/c my breakfast was so good.  She was all smiles though, but it seemed like she wasn't really there.  But it's not all about the service.
We ordered dessert too and I had strawberry shortcake and that was quite delicious.  So was the banana bread pudding.  Soft and moist.  I will def. be back again and I will have to bring my good friends here!

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Elite '08

67

154

Joanne G.

Walnut Creek, CA

3 star rating
05/12/2008

Weekend brunch at Slow Club.  After reading numerous glowing reviews I was really excited to try this place.  I found the food to be decent, but not as amazing as I'd hoped.

The breakfast/brunch items were surprisingly limited.  I'm probably just whining about there not being any poached eggs!  Boo.

We tried:  
Turkey sausage hash- satisfyingly good.  Neat how they mix in yams with potatoes for a different taste.  

Bourbon french toast- so sugary sweet that I couldn't even finish it, and that never happens.  Trust me, I like my sugar. Why doesn't the syrup come on the side instead of drenched all over the toast?  I did like how they used (Acme?) sour batard, but the boyfriend was not feeling it.

The decor is a little...dark.  Cool for dinner, not so much for brunch on a sunny spring day.

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9

Jamie K.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
05/11/2008

A friend I hadn't seen in awhile and I were going to a show at Project Artaud over on Florida street and were looking for a dinner spot beforehand so we could catch up a bit. The closest options were Circulo and Slow Club, and I'd wanted to try out Slow Club since I've been to Serpentine over in my neighborhood. Also the price range seemed more reasonable for us.

We got there on the early side (6:30) since we had the show to make at 8, and had no problem getting a table. They don't take reservations, so I was a teeny bit worried we'd get stuck, but I think for the early crowd it's not a problem. It did fill up later. Parking is a non-issue in the "media gulch" which is a plus.

One of the conceits of Slow Club is that they use locally produced, organic when possible produce and meats, and they had bowls of the fresh cooked veggie on display as you walk in - I thought this was a nice touch, and it enticed my dinner companion to try the fiddlehead fern.

Started at the bar where I had the Mariposa Martini - Junipero gin and a French vermouth - fantastic! The bartender was friendly and helpful and made the best martini I've had in a long time (well, that I've not stirred up myself!).

We shared a mustard green salad with shaved radishes and chive blossoms which was light and fresh -  a great start. I had the pork loin which is served with asparagus, bacon, and some other greens - it was fantastic. The pork was very tender, not the least bit dry which is a frequent problem with pork. My friend had papardelle (pasta) with homemade sausage and fiddlehead fern which he reports was also very good.

Didn't have time for dessert (and I don't do desserts anyway), but my friend was still hungry (huge appetite, not because of portion size) so he ordered some fries, which are served with a garlic aioli - which was  a nice touch, but just a tad too salty for my taste (yes, even for fries).

Overall - a great time. The space is cool, people friendly, drinks expertly made, and the food fantastic.

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Elite '08

36

128

Monica S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
05/04/2008

Friggin fantastic!! Slow Club's been around for a long time, however it's been a long time since I've been.. so I needed to make a visit. A. and I haven't been on date night for a while so tonight was the night and Slow Club it was....

FYI - they don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait at least 20-40 minutes. No worries, there's a bar that serves delicious drinks and the bartender.. super friendly. We both ordered the margarita -  forget the name- in spirit of Cinco de Mayo - i couldn't finish it fast enough, it was that good.

Prior to visiting I checked out the menu so knew I would have the Pan Roasted Chicken:  umbrian farro, baby turnips, roasted onions,
lamb's quarters & roasted poblano relish - I wish I hadn't eaten so much bread (I was starving!) because by the time my plate came out I wasn't hungry anymore. First bite, the fork consisted of a piece of chicken with roasted onion. OMG! OMG! wow- excellent! I typically don't order chicken but the way this dish looked I had to and I am SOOO glad I did. Seriously this dish is a must.

A. ordered the hamburger with fries - he loved it.

We were way too stuffed for dessert..

Today, I had my left overs.. mmmm just as good as yesterday. I can't wait to dine here again. and again.. and again...

BTW- I hear Slow Club has a fabulous brunch too!

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Photo of Lindsay T.

Elite '08

33

348

Lindsay T.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
05/05/2008

They didn't have "out of this world" options on the menu for brunch, but I have always heard this place is good for both brunch and dinner.  My friend and I got the frittata without cheese to split, and it was nice, but nothing amazing.  

Will definitely give it another chance for dinner sometime.

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74

liz c.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
05/04/2008

For me, this spot is super hit or miss. Ive been and the food has been fantastic, and Ive been when I wasnt thrilled. The crowd is intense and its a long wait. I like it for lunch and I love their new sister resturant "Serpentine" in Dog Patch

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Elite '08

26

256

Jennifer M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/21/2008

What?!!??! A place that WASN'T hard to find parking?!?!?!

Okay. So I didn't drive, but my friends said that they didn't have too hard of a time finding parking at this Portreo Hill spot. That alone deserves a star.

My friends (including the fab Kristina C.) got there and put us on the wait list at prime brunch time on a sunny Sunday afternoon. About 40 minutes later (which isn't too bad considering the time and the size of the restaurant), our gracious host finally led us to our table.
The food was solid and flavourful without busting my wallet.

the most amazing company + delicious brunch food = perfection for two hours

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4

20

grant f.

Palo Alto, CA

4 star rating
04/14/2008

My friends and I had a party to go to at Circolo and I drew the straw to pick a dinner place.  Slow Club was a few blocks down and we collectively heard good things about it (though no-one could say from whom...hmm).  They don't take reservations but it wasn't an issue even though it was a gorgeous Saturday night.  We sat outside and the service was still timely.  I had the caesar salad for starts, which was good but not Jack Falstaff caesar salad good, and for the main course I had the pan roasted chicken.  It was scrumptious; the breast laid on a bed of quinoa and roasted fennel and it all played well together in my mouth.  Best of all, I didn't have to sell something on ebay in order to pay for it.

By the way the neighborhood is a different change of pace than the NOMA scene.  Had no trouble finding free street parking and it seemed safe to walk around.

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Elite '08

154

111

Viola P.

San Diego, CA

3 star rating
04/07/2008

Meh.  Best part of the meal was the appetizer we got.  Delicious pork rilletes served with grilled bread and rainbow pickled carrots.  The pork was almost like confit in its consistency - and spread on the grilled bread with a little of the delicious whole grain mustard?  Yum!  We should have each gotten an order of that and been done with it.

One of us had the burger, which definitely is worth the hype.  Very juicy and tasty, though the bun could be a bit sturdier.  We also had the black cod - which was fishy and bland; and the grilled pork tenderloin.  The grilled pork was one of the toughest cuts of meat I've ever tried to saw through.  Maybe too lean, and cooked too fast?  I don't know, but it took some heavy duty chewing and I left most of it on the plate.  The sides were good, though.  Blue corn polenta with greens and bacon.  Excellent combination.

As for the rest - I had a couple of cocktails from the very cute bar in the back.  Those were two of the weakest drinks I've ever had!  Just because I like frou frou cocktails doesn't mean I don't want any alcohol in them!!  

And our waiter.  Yeesh.  First off, we weren't even sure he was our waiter at first.  He wasn't dressed like a waiter, no apron, no notepad.  And while he wasn't blatantly bad, he was utterly, utterly indifferent.  I left 15%, which for me, is a really bad tip.  He would have had to spill food on my head for me to not leave any.

So, while the place is cute and all, the food, drinks and service really didn't all add up for me.  I probably won't be back.

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Photo of Chris C.

 

0

23

Chris C.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/27/2008

I can only rate Slow Club based on their brunch, which was average at best. The coffee was bland, the $2.50 Fresca/pineapple juice was very watered down and the fritata lacked much taste.

As far as service goes, the dude at the bar was incredibly smug. When I didn't hear him once and asked him to repeat he peered at me like I'm a moron. I watched him with other customers and he was equally disinterested and short.

Our server, on the other hand, was very nice and helpful.

Not a bad place, but I won't be going back.

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40

Kristina C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/20/2008

SF Food Inspection Score: 92

Awesome food!

We had a party of 8 and the hostess was VERY helpful! She never made it seem like it was a hassle and always updated us to let us know how we were.

For some reason, I ordered something sweet rather than savory, my usual  and preferred taste bud pleaser. But 3 out of the 8 in my group ordered the turkey sausage hash, and the rest had an egg of sorts. So I optioned for the bourbon french toast.

tre magnifique! and having bites of others, the food was light but flavorful.

and the bloody mary was so good. loved the habanero vodka!

go early or with a smaller party. perfect for sunday with friends.

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c.t. d.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
04/29/2008

This restaurant never fails to amaze me. After all these years, this place is still serving awesome food and drinks and very reasonable prices. The atmosphere is still very lively and I love the moody candle light over dinner. The wait staff are very friendly and attentive. Great spot.

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34

Andrea C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/09/2008

I am having a hard time deciding whether i want to give 3 stars or 4.  Last night, dinner and dancing.  Slow Club was close, so let's give it a try.  My initial reaction was "this is the best bar ever-i just got the most amazing variation on a Vodka Gimlet i have ever had, using Hangar one Kaffir Lime and filling me with liquid smiles!  And the bartender was not only cute, but he also had a flare and cared about his drink, testing it to make sure it was good.  He even gave good presentation with a swirly lime wedge.  

Then we were seated and had an emo-waiter to whom i felt we were an inconvenience.  It was not particularly busy, and we had no demands on his time, so i'm not sure if he was having a bad day, or what.  And he wasn't impolite so much as just....lifeless and short.  

The food was good but not extraordinary (same California menu....).  Had the fettucini and the chicken.  And dessert was good, but not awesome.  That was the Schafenberger chocolate mousse cake (rather dry, and not very moussey) with honey lavender ice cream (pretty good).  

My second gimlet also came half-assed.  =(

I don't think it's worth going out of one's way for....I also agree with the noise level.  It's no Andalu, but it's getting close.  But i like the lighting of the place up until they try to hide your food from you.  For some reason around 7:30 they dimmed the lights so low that i could barely see what i was eating.

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Photo of Nicole J.

Elite '08

16

179

Nicole J.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/14/2008

The food was average, and it was really loud.  There's no speciality dish there that would make me go back.  At least I can say I tried it.

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4

17

Trisha H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/16/2008

Slow Club is awesome for burgers.  It's the only thing I've ever ordered when I'm here, yeah I know..it's hard to reach out to something new when the burger is that good.  The meat is tasty and the farmers greens, cheese, and little slices of baby tomatoes makes the burger great!!  Just make sure to order it medium well if you like it medium and well done if you like it medium well...at least that's the experience I've gotten in the past.

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Elite '08

64

193

Dario B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/08/2008

I've been there for brunch so this review may not entirely reflect how good they can be. In general, it was good, very good.
Frittata was fluffy and perfectly cooked and the flatbread was intense too.
Bloody Mary has an intense intrinsic spicyness probably coming from the Campbell's jar that I spotted in the bartender's hands and not from the habanero infused vodka they pretend to use.
Just by peeking at our neighbors, the burger didn't look inviting but, to be honest, the taste could have been fantastic.
Homefries are for sure forgettable.
We certainly had a pleasant meal, moderately priced, fresh, simply cooked and seasonal.
Now, this should be enough to go back again and again but for us there was no extra value added.
We left with that "expected food" afterthought.

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Elite '08

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891

Denise Q.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/05/2008

While the outside is hardly inviting, once you're inside, it's a whole different world.  

Small but not too small, urban warehousey vibe, with every table packed and everyone having fun.  Service was good, and food was even better!  We had the flat bread which was alot like a pizza in reality (with the herbed ricotta, grana padano, housemade pork sausage, shaved fennel & extra virgin olive oil-YUMMY), the chicken and the steak.  The steak was good, but the chicken was amazing, soft and moist and juicy!!!  For dessert we had the chocolate brownie sundae with ice cream and the bread pudding.  Both were great.  The bread pudding in particular, had a different twist than the norm in terms of flavor but it was great.  

We all agreed that it was a great dinner spot.  :)

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Elite '08

56

101

amanda v.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
03/18/2008

I think they call this place the slow club for a reason... the waitress kept forgetting everything, water, bread, our drinks, not mention to take our order.  Maybe it was her first day being a waitress.  She only had 4 tables.  

Anyway the food was good.  Atmosphere is ok.  But maybe I should have gone for bunch, obviously that 's the time to be there.  But I'm not driving, or biking, or hiking, all the way out there just for some over priced NON-amazing food that early in the morning.

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Photo of Neil S.

 

4

29

Neil S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/14/2008

I picked 4 stars, but I think I'd go 3.5 if I could. Half a star deducted for not being mind-blowing food, half for poor menu-writing and another half-star loss for questionable use of staff resources...

We shared a flatbread for a starter which was really a thin-crust pizza. If I'd known this was going to be the case I'd have gone for something else. The last thing I need as an appetizer is a pizza. It was very tasty, but not what I wanted.

My dinner was also rather tasty. I went for the burger because I think that's often a good measure of a restaurant's skills. My complaint here was that it had horseradish in it. I don't like horseradish and they didn't mention this particular ingredient on the menu. You would think that something as strong in flavor as this would be mentioned. The fries were top-notch though and the burger itself was great. I loved the ciabatta-style bun, the fresh greens and the grilled onions. My gf had the steak with the carrot puree which was really good.

The final point was that it seemed like our server was far too busy than she needed to be. I watched her working and it looked as though she had a huge area to cover - she was working outside, as well as doing some tables in the left hand seating area and some in the right. Perhaps they were short-staffed that night. She did her best but as a result our cocktails arrived late because she didn't have the time to grab them from the bar. Given the circumstances I was very impressed with our server, but less impressed with whoever manages the waitstaff.

Worth noting that there was no wait, even though it was a Saturday. Perhaps the warm weather  addled people's brains and they didn't feel like a nice meal out? Or perhaps this isn't quite the buzz-worthy kind of spot like NOPA that demands a monstrous wait time...

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14

54

Sugey G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/01/2008

Dining Date: March 20, 2008
Company: My kid sister, her two friends & my boyfriend

Slow Club is probably the most frequented restaurant by the people in my company. It is not rare to show up and see a fellow co-worker sitting a few tables down from you. The reason behind these regular visits is very simple--the food is Stellar. My sister was visiting her college roommate in Marin and we decided to take these young freshman to dinner. I knew that the place had to have outstanding food and represent the essence that is San Francisco dining, Slow Club would be perfect. Unassumingly tucked away in Portrero this place exudes confidence and hip vibes in everything from it's food to it's chic industrial ambiance (It's almost like walking into a speakeasy with small tea lights on every table which dance & flicker on the walls).

Onto the food. At our table there was one roasted chicken, one flat iron steak and the stars of the evening (as always) three beautiful medium rare burgers. I know I always say how many burgers I have had in my lifetime but Slow Club has hands down the best burger in San Francisco. Let's start with the runner up's first; the steak was melt in your mouth delicious and perfectly seasoned. The chicken was tender and also mouthwatering. However, The Burger is in an entirely different league. No matter how many times you have it, it remains flawless. The Prather Ranch beef is of far superior taste and quality to any other and makes virtually every bite orgasmic. With savory additions like balsamic onions and aioli, this meal is sure to bring you back to S.C. time and time again. The best burger in town plus fries for $11.50, it is literally one of the best deals in the city.

They also have a wonderful wine list and decadent desserts. I enjoyed an incredible glass of 'Hocus Pocus' Syrah from my beautful hometown of Santa Barbara and was really pleased. I have since been trying to find a bottle and it is one hard wine to track down so many thank yous to the buyer at Slow Club. We all shared a few desserts including the banana bread pudding which was a little dry but still good. I do know that they have a legendary pot de creme which has remained consistently phenomenal for over 10 years.

Slow Club, I truly love you and thank you for helping me show a few college girls from San Diego how a real city lives and eats.

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Elite '08

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Sarah M.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
03/31/2008

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the city.  I can't believe I haven't written a review yet.  
I've had almost everything on the menu here-the pasta with braised pork, the chicken, flat bread, salads, pear crisp, flourless cake, and of course the burger (probably the best in the city).  Everything has been great.  And let's talk about brunch, I finally came in for brunch a couple of months ago and was blown away.  Everything was just perfect, including the very spicy Bloody Mary.  
They change their menu frequently, well they really just do variations on their set menu, a different kind of pasta, pork, flat bread, etc. but it's fun to mix it up.  And they always have the burger.  
I've never had to wait for a table, and my service has always been pretty good.  It was really slow the day I went for brunch, but I didn't care, I had great company.

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115

L C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/07/2008

I've been here several times and I thought the food is just ok.  I  usually order the roasted turkey sandwich and it was decent but nothing special.  The place is small and extremely noisy.

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Elizabeth S.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
04/03/2008

Modern/Fun/Cool.  I went here with 3 other girlfriends for a "date night" and had a good time.  The Mizuna salad I ordered was unmemorable; but the warm banana bread pudding deserves the entire 3 stars all to itself.  So delicious!  Try the desert... it's worth saving a little extra room!  Attentive service as well.

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Jennifer W.

Brisbane, CA

3 star rating
03/20/2008

Update: 4/20/08

We came here for brunch today, and I was as excited to see if it lived up to the brunch hype.  Yet again we were blessed by the brunch gods to get the last open table.  Thank you brunch gods.  We are in your humble service.

The brunch menu is limited, but they do new takes on old classics, which always makes me happy.  I had the fritatta, and the SO had the turkey bacon hash, which, FYI, you can't get without the turkey bacon.  As it turned out, most of the hash was just turkey bacon, so that would explain part of why you can't have just the veggies.  The fritatta was not that memorable.  I've mostly forgotten it already.

Service was better than when we were there for dinner, but the table next to us who had been sat before us didn't get their food until way after we got ours. The SO did have to overcome temptations to grab the coffee off other people's tables when his cup remained unfilled for a long time.
__________________________________________________ _____
Disclaimer: Both this review, as well as the dining experience, were conducted whilst under the influence of cough syrup with codeine.  I have tried to stave off assorted coughs and colds by spraying Lysol in the general direction of my students when they try to hand me a paper they've just coughed/sneezed on, but alas, histrionics are not always the path to health.

We went to Slow Club on a week day night, around 8, and were able to get a table immediately.  I was a bit enthralled by the backwards design, with the open kitchen in the front by the door and the bar all the way in the back.  

I was also excited by the specialty cocktails, and ended up getting a Bicyclette (like a Kir but with orange instead of blackcurrent) and tasted the SOs Presidente Margarita and Havana Side Car.  My Bicylcette was light, bubbly and very drinkable. The Presidente was indeed just that- very robust.  The Side Car was very syrupy, to the point my SO couldn't finish it.  Too bad- I guess for a Sidecar, I'll stick to Tosca.

We ordered the flatbread as an appetizer, and I was intrigued by the fact it was made with sheep's cheese (my favorite) and nettles.  It was good, but like other reviewers here have said, it is basically a pizza without sauce.  In fact, before we ordered, my SO saw another table that had it and was like, "They got pizza!  There's no pizza on the menu!"  I could have ordered that as a meal, so just a heads up if you're planning to go there soon and you notice that...

...there is not much to choose from, especially if you don't eat meat.  I was a bit surprised to find no meatless entree, especially in SF.  I do eat fish, so my options were halibut, halibut, or halibut.  So, I ordered the halibut, which was cooked well so that the fish was flaky but not dry, buttery without tasting like butter.  Even better were the vegetables it came with- especially the beets.  I love beets!  Beets are under appreciated, I think.  The mustard sauce was probably my favorite part of the dish, especially once I'd swirled the beets in said sauce.  Yum.

While it was good, I wouldn't say it was life changing, or even slightly mind blowing.  It was just...solid.  It was the type of meal I feel guilty for taking for granted because in doing so, I basically am bemoaning the fact we eat so well here.  Poor me.  Poor us.

Based on the food alone, I'd probably give Slow Club 4 stars, because it is better than average, even though I wish there was more to choose from.  However, two things pull that rating down to 3 stars.

One, the noise.  I am beginning to wonder if turning 30 all of a sudden made me more susceptible to loud.  Or maybe it was just last night because I wasn't feeling super and was feeling a bit spacey because of the codeine and all, but regardless, I spent most of the time trying to lip read what my SO was saying, and then if I by accident looked away or at my food and he was still talking, I'd have to yell "WHAT" even though he was 12 inches away.  Nothing sexier than a girlfriend who starts to sound like George Costanza's mom.

Two, the service.  Not good.  And I try to cut servers a lot of slack since I was once one myself, and when I read the comments of people who post to Michael Bauer's blog about servers I get very angry and remind myself that I should not take the bait and read them in the first place..  Anyway, long periods of time stretched in between getting our water, then placing our drink orders, then the food orders, and then a really, really long time until we could get the check.  The SO actually made a discreet can we get the check gesture by making a scribbling on paper motion and our server returned with dessert menus.  Again, the fact this was annoying is probably compounded by my state of being, but it seems others have had similar experiences.

In sum: 4 Stars for food, minus .75 stars for service and .25 stars for noise.  I am looking forward to coming back here to try brunch, t

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Miss Information X.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
03/26/2008

Anyplace with this much hype has got to be pretentious as heck and over rated, right? Nope.  I did not find it to be pretentious at all.  Might be slightly over-rated food-wise, though.

Everything was tasty but, sadly, our meals arrived somewhat lukewarm.  The veggies under my steak were steaming hot.  The steak itself and the layer of mashed potatoes on the bottom of the plate were not.  Odd.  Had everything been cold, I'd have sent it back, but it just didn't seem worth the explanation and risk of a reheated and therefore overcooked steak.

Anyway, I did not do the happy food dance of joy.  My tummy was pleased but not amazed.  I was hoping to be amazed.

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5

Abbie V.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/22/2008

I love this place and I am happy that I live close by.  I am writing seperate reviews for brunch and dinner because they are totally different experiences.

Brunch:

-Sometimes a long wait
-Service is VERY slow
-Soggy bacon...need I say more

There are better brunch options out there.

Dinner:

-No reservations which means a  wait sometimes.
-Nice bar
-Different menu nightly, available online
-Very fresh ingredients.
-Best chicken ever!!!
-Really good burgers
-Best Ceasar sald ever!!!
-Service is very good
-Banana bread pudding rocks!!

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102

Lauren V.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/31/2008

Spent easter sunday here with a group of friends and I was not disappointed.

The mimosas were perfectly mixed, the service was fast, and my chicken ranchero hit the spot.

There was parking right out front and they accommodated 6 of us really quickly.

I've added this to my list of favorite brunch spots in the city!

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Karen C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/07/2008

Unbelievably good burger and fries. The fries in particular rock. Crispy, salty -- perfect! We also had the flat bread with house pork sausage which was perfect and really tasty. Rivals the flat bread at NOPA. Also had the roasted chicken with asparagus risotto. Really generous serving of cheesy, perfectly cooked asparagus and chard risotto. The chicken was moist and well seasoned. Finished with the warm banana bread pudding which was excellent and rolled out of there. The parking is easy too.

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S. P.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
03/23/2008

There was a lot of hype so I was expecting to be blown away. It was good though.

Service was fast and efficient.

Food was good....potatoes were perfectly browned and soft inside, my omelet was served hot and it was tasty, but I think I need to try the other dishes too to find out which is their specialty. I will definitely be back again.

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Romeo and Lola C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/29/2008

Slow Club is great.

It was difficult to decide what to select from the menu because several things sounded good and I had been watching the burger regularly arriving at tables around us but I opted for the pan roasted chicken instead and was not disappointed. The chicken was cooked perfectly. The blue corn grits were phenomenal. The flat iron steak was also excellent and the fava greens salad was a great starter to share.

Overall just a damn good meal. Can't wait to go back for brunch!

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Tiffany M.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
02/29/2008

I just found (w/ the help of Jamie and Roger T.) my new favorite brunch spot!

My mimosa was right on point, the Turkey Hash was to die for (the diced yam pieces & the thick ass slice of sourdough bread were nice touches!), and their small space was pretty pleasing- open kitchen, hipsters scattered about, concrete walls w/ cool art, and a lovely trendy urban feel to it. The hostess was surprisingly on the ball- never before have I gone to a brunch place where the hostess seeks you out to give you an update on your wait. I like it.

The only downside of the whole place was the stale-smelling bar. While sipping on my mimosa at the end of the bar, there were a few bugs I had to swat away when the bartender tossed one of the bottles in the nearby recycling bin. Awesome. Oh, and the bartender wasn't friendly at all. C'mon now. How hard is it to crack a smile once in awhile and put a lil' effort into the customers?

The location is a bit strange- I wouldn't exactly say it's in the Mission, it's more like in Portrero Hill in a random location near the Muni bus yard. BUT, it sure says a lot about a place when it's bustling in the middle of nowhere!

I'll be back again and again for more of that Mimosa & Turkey Hash goodness!

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Tim G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/17/2008

#400

One of the better brunch places in the city; but it's no secret, so there will be lines and you might get a little attitude from the hostess.  Despite all this, the brunch menu is spot on, parking is not a problem, and the food (chicken ranchero) lives up to the hype.

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Elite '08

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143

Angie R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
02/19/2008

Do you ever have those moments when you realize you're getting old and your life just isn't the non-stop crazy party train it used to be?

Sunday morning, 7:30 a.m. I call my friend Anne. Anne and I have known each other for many years. We've consumed a lot of alcohol and other recreational substances together. We've gotten kicked out of bars. We've ushered in more than a couple of early mornings after being out all night long.  She was also awake Sunday at 7:30. We were awake, and we were ready to eat. How life slows down after you cross the 30 line....sigh.

Feeling like total grandmas, we decided to console ourselves with brunch at the Slow Club.

Here's a tip for you whippersnappers who haven't entered my decade yet. There is a big bonus for getting up and out early to grub on a weekend. No wait. That's right, you arrive at your brunch location and there are actually tables open. You walk right in and sit down. It's a beautiful thing.

The Slow Club is a great little neighborhood spot. The decor is unassuming but stylish in a Crate and Barrel kind of way. I can see from other Yelp reviews that they may have some serious service challenges at times, but I found the service to be fine on this visit. The food was great. Anne and I shared the frittata with caramelized onions, red bell peppers, wild arugula & provolone cheese. We also shared the decadent Bourbon French toast with currants and walnuts. Holy diabetes on a plate! (You have to worry more about diabetes when you're old enough to be awake at 7:30 on a Sunday.) Prices were reasonable but not cheap- it was around $10 a plate for each brunch entree.

The Slow Club did the trick. We rolled out of there feeling full to bursting, and slightly more youthful. I'd like to go back and try dinner there some time, as long as it's not too late- I might fall asleep in my soup.

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salacious c.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
03/28/2008

Wasn't impressed with this place. Salads were small (3 pieces of lettuce for nine bucks?) and the burger was just okay. Fries were thin cut so they were pretty good. Gets pretty noisy in here as well.
If I were in a pinch, I'd go back, but there's better options out there

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9

Joe B.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
04/30/2008

Food 3.5 stars
Service 1.5 stars

The service was so indifferent that I will not return. The bartender seemed bored (no smile, no greeting) almost like I bothered him to make drinks for my party.  It wasn't until we sat down that we realized they had "specialty" drinks. The bar could-have-had a drink menu obviously available...but that would have taken effort on behalf of the bored bartender.

The waitperson was just slightly better. Never checked on us after our order came. Did not bother to greet us or thank us for coming. We did not feel welcomed, just another patron for tips.  How on earth did this place get into SFGate top 100 for 2008?

Not sure if this place served wine as there was no wine selection presented. Odd.

We were given tap water without asking if we'd like bottled. Odd. I always prefer bottled. Whatever.

The food overall was good, but way over-priced. The fish was delicious but not worth $21.50, maybe worth $12.50. For god sakes it was maybe 4 ounces of cod.  The olives were inedible due to their salt content.

Had room for dessert, but the waiter was just so tepid that we bailed and went elsewhere.

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Jamie T.

Campbell, CA

4 star rating
02/27/2008

I noticed that my brother reviewed this place on his yelp, so I decided to give it a try. This is a really cool place to grab brunch on a Saturday or Sunday. It's a small place, so you might have to wait. I ordered the fried egg sandwich, while my friend ordered the turkey hash. Coffee is awesome and the service is friendly and attentive.

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Spartacus U.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
04/22/2008

Slow Club - my favorite around the corner all american resturaunt.

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Lisa M.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
03/11/2008

It seems like people like to have brunch here. I did not come for brunch, I came for dinner, and was moderately impressed.

Walked in with two girl friends, with no reservations, Slow Club is apparently slow to understand that reservations are a nice luxury to have on  a Friday night, especially when you are driving all the way from the Marina out to the Mission especially when there are no decent bars with in a 1 mile vicinity of the restaurant. That said, we heard good things about the restaurant so we were willing to risk the wait, and hoped the place had at least a bar to get some cocktails in the inevitable case of waiting.

Pleasantly surprised, we only had to wait the length of one cocktail to be seated at a good table. Even more pleasant, the cocktails are fantastic, use fresh fruit, and are strong the way that I like them.

Now the menu... boring with a capital B. You can order, pork chops, salmon, chicken, steak, or lasagna, and that's about it. Basic entrees with basic sides. I can cook about as good as the food served here, which is not saying much. Also, its not cheep. I had Salmon that was served with turnips. Gross. I thought the turnip was an undercooked potato at first. My friend had the chicken which was pretty good, but its just chicken. The best order (in my opinion) was the lasagna. It was not the thick tomato kind it was cooked with squash and some cheese, looked very good.

So maybe this place is better for brunch? That's what it looks like. Maybe I'll try that next time.

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10

Carol G.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
02/20/2008

Lunch at the Slow Club can be a long wait depending on what time you go. It can be anywhere between 15 to 20 minutes at times. And since we're talking about lunch, every minute counts.

Waiting can be a little awkward as well. There's no room to stand so the front door is often jammed with people scattered around, waiting for a table.

But once you get seated,  you get a little treat. Lukewarm bread comes to you with some olive oil to dip it on.  The menu is pretty limited, which I fully appreciate, considering the  window of time I have to sit down, choose my food and eat before rushing back to work.

The food is consistent. You know what to expect. They rotate their menu, which is kinda fun for me. I try to guess what pasta dish they have for the day.

There are, however, cheaper places to go to with a faster service for lunch. Do try it at least once. The food is ok. The pizza's great.

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Elite '08

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jeremiah w.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
03/30/2008

brunch was pretty tasty here. had the turkey hash and left feeling pretty full. the service was a bit slow, but they were busy and i was probably feeling more rushed than normal as i was on a lunch break from class.

this looks like it'd be a great place for a laid-back dinner with someone special. not fancy, mind you, just nice.

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