Canteen
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Nob Hill817 Sutter St
(between Jones St & Leavenworth St)
San Francisco, CA 94109 (415) 928-8870
- Hours:
Tue-Wed, Fri-Sat 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Wed-Fri 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Sat 8:00 a.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sun 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. - Menu: MenuPages
- 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: No
- Good for: Breakfast, Dinner
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
30 reviews
Neighborhood: SOMA
"What a gorgeous little place. The ladies and I stopped in for brunch before the Style Lounge San Francisco event at the W. We were more than…" read more »
322 Reviews for Canteen
Best weekend breakfast. Ever. Love this little place... starts to get busy on Sat/Sun after 10AM so be prepared to wait... It's definitely worth it!
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Damn. Canteen has the BEST -- lemme repeat -- the BEST french toast in the history of the world. I got the blueberry french toast and it was seriously the most tasty, deliciously-textured, gastronomic euphoria I've experienced in a very long time.
Also got the eggs benedict, big pancake, and corn soup. All of which were pretty good, but the highlight of my brunch was definitely their french toast.
One bad note is that the place is so damn small. It can only seat like 20 people in the whole place. C'mon... seriously?
But yeah... FRENCH TOAST. De-freaking-licious.
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2.5 stars
When my mind and my tongue disagree.
Went on Saturday with two other friends. Between the three of us we almost got everything on the menu. You really should bring three people to have a party of four and try everything.
Atmosphere:
The restaurant was very quaint but I didn't feel like my neighbor at the bar was listening in on our conversation, nor could I hear his.
Service:
The waitress was nice but she was barely there. We waited around a lot to get our orders taken, but I guess this is more of a consequence of the set reservation times (6. 7:30 and 9:15?). Once we ordered our food came out very quickly.
Food:
Corn Soup: Going on the suggestions on yelp, I ordered the cream corn soup. It was nice. It was like your mother warmed up some milk for you before bed and added some corn flavoring to it. It wasn't what i expected though, thinking it would be more like a corn chowder. It was nice, but nothing crazy good.
Friends' appetizers: My friends got the watercress salad which had really good salty deep fried crisps on them and a toast with melted cheese. Very good. And my other friend had the duck which was different. If I were blindly tasting the meat, I wouldn't have thought duck. It had a small piece of fat on the top but the texture seemed different. It was good though.
Lamb: My lamb came with garbonzo beans. I gave them a try thinking that a well raved restaurant might have some magical way of making these taste good (besides deep frying them like cassis) but they were still just garbonzo beans. My friends loved it though. The lamb was OK. There was very little flavor to the meat, in fact I added salt to it. But it came with an orange sauce all around which I guess was supposed to make up the flavor. It was forgettable.
Friends' entrees: My friend had what was called pork schnitzel. Who would order something called this? It was so good. Deep fried, almost tonkatsu style, pork that was so tender and juicy, I would not have thought it was pork. And it came with beets. One of my favorite foods. And, the killer, a poached egg on top. I fell in love with her dish (and was extremely jealous). It was SO good. The other friend had the tuna dish which was also forgettable (but perhaps it was more forgettable after eating the pork schnitzel thing).
Strawberry shortcake: Good! The bottom layer of the cake was special. Not sure what they did to make the bottom taste better than the top, especially since it looked like they just slice open the cake and put the delicious strawberry goo in there, but it was extra tasty and extra sugary. The strawberries were nice and sweet but not too sweet, and the top layer of the cake was a bit denser than I'd like.
Friends' desserts: Friend had the almond torte which was OK, what killed it was the cherries which were still sour. And other friend had the vanilla souffle, very good. It was like a vanilla soup with a perfect complementary bread bowl around it. Yum.
So my mind ordered what it thought my tongue would like and my tongue sat jealously watching my friend eat everything it wanted. What can I say? If only 1 out of 3 items were spectacular, can I really give this place a raving review? Even if that 1 thing was super super good? I can't.
I think this place is also a breakfast/brunch place as well. It seems like most of the rave rave reviews are for the brunch, so I'll have to go back for that meal and update this after I do.
Atmosphere: 2.5
Food: 3
Price: 2 (180 after tax and tip for three courses and one drink each).
Total: 2.5 stars...for now.
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In Dennis Leary we trust.
YUM-freakin-E
Canteen is a tiny restaurant on Sutter, they have seatings at 5:30pm, 7:30pm, and 9:15pm to accomodate customers because they seriously have like 3 tables and some bar seating. It's casual too, so theres definitely no valet. I parked across the street for $3/30 min, but if you venture a bit farther south you can get $8 flat rate parking.
Don't be fooled by the diner like setting, the employee's uniforms, and the single oven kitchen because the food was magical. I'm still baffled that the food I got came out of that "kitchen."
To start, they brought out a parmesian apricot... thingie... Yeah, I'm not that fancy so it tasted like a slice of parmesian over apricot jam. I'm pretty sure that was not the message they were trying to get across, but it was cool that there was a complimentary starter. Also, the dinner rolls are insanely soft. I ordered the squid appetizer with chili oil, not bad...it seemed really fresh but too chewy for me.
Next, I shared the Saffron Tuna which was perfectly cooked, and interestingly prepared (seared and fried in a light wrapper). And don't hate me for saying this, because I'm totally against animal cruely too, but GOOD GOD, the veal was amazing. I have never had veal stew before, and I was skeptical when the waitress mentioned it was cooked with cream, but it was balanced, so flavorful, and not fatty or chewy like veal at Bacar. For dessert, I shared a strawberry shortcake - 2 shortbread cookies with whipped cream and strawberries in the middle - good, but nothing mind boggling.
It was $72 before tip for two people: 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, and a dessert. Kinda pricey, and portions are small, but I was completely satisfied and not too full. Love the food, love the atmosphere, loved how the waitress didn't yell at me when I called her 3x for directions. Definitely will be back to try out their brunch!
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Despite the giant sign out front, I must've walked by this place 2 times before I actually realized it's the place I was going to eat. When I entered the first thought that went through my head was, "where's the rest?" With only 4 tables and limited bar space, this place is cozy to say the least, and I wasn't sure how good the food could be from a kitchen the size of my bathroom.
First thing I liked: the water. I know it's weird, but I absolutely hate people filling up my glass and interrupting my conversation every 2 seconds. Here, they give you a glass bottle, and you can fill up your water as you please. Second: they actually served an amuse-bouche! It was apricot with shaved parmesan and almond. Nothing incredible, but I appreciate the effort. Third: The bread. It was a soft, warm roll, like a brioche. mmmm.
And of course the most important part, the food. The appetizers were delicious. I had the pork tenderloin with a mustard sauce and cabbage, and I had many bites of the squid with white beans and chili oil (I preferred the latter). The entrees were equally tasty. The braised veal in a cream sauce was a much lighter, greener, flavor than the one I'm used to with most braised dishes, but still rich and complex. And, as usual, I ordered the chicken (with mushroom jus, bacon, and swiss chard). And, as usual, I loved it. How can you go wrong with a chicken dish that sounds so good? Unfortunately, the dessert was not up to par. I ordered the vanilla souffle, and it was far to wet and eggy and not worth the extra $7. The total for 2 people with tax and tip was $100, but the food was definitely worth the cost.
In a previous review I was very excited by my chicken from Range (which has 1 michelin star). However, I was more impressed with the food from Canteen as I found it more innovative, with a more interesting selection, and the fact it comes from 2 people working in a kitchen the size of a birds nest is quite impressive. Canteen wins the battle of the chicken, and therefore, my heart.
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Pre-dinner entertainment if you have to wait a bit is stellar in the *once a hotel now yet another if daddy can write the check I'm an art student Academy of Art College* dorm lobby. An interesting parade of over privileged children paraded through in their Friday finery, including some with store bought boobs and super tans, boys with unusually shaped eyebrows, a young man who actually looked like an art student working on a Hopper-esque canvas RIGHT BEFORE OUR EYES. See? I told you, amusing. Worth the price of admission there alone.
Suzy B. said I had to take her to Canteen for her birthday dinner and I gladly complied. Unlike most restaurants with a super limited menu-4 starters, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, everything was appealing. We both started with a lobster soup with a pea puree and a little mint-outstanding, for an entree I had a spring vegetable clafoutis-the panqueque was delicious, the vegetables were ok, maybe priced a bit high at $20, the desserts were delicious especially the vanilla souffle. The birthday girl had skate for her main course and it was very nice.
With 3 glasses of wine this came to $99. Not too bad and the atmosphere is very cozy and comfortable. One good thing about such a small restaurant is that your food comes to you right away and it is hot-none of this lingering about until the server makes their way to the distant kitchen. One of our servers seemed a bit unhappy and was slamming silverware around and rolling her eyes a bit, not so good.
I would go back. I want to go back. Please, someone, take me back to the Canteen!
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Oh. My. God.
I was taken here on my birthday recently when they had a special leap year pre-fixe menu. I definitely had some items I would have never ordered before (cold watercress soup? rhubarb, tapioca, coconut meringue for dessert?) and I enjoyed all of them. Then a couple of days ago, I returned for a belated birthday lunch (yeah, I'm really stretching out the birthday celebrations here) and it blew my socks off again. This time, the standouts were sweet corn soup with mint, watercress salad with grapefruit and fontina, tuna tartare with cucumber and coriander oil, and capellini with braised pork and spicy tomato sauce.
The space is small, so you really do need a reservation. I love how casual it is while still offering up really fabulous food. It is a nice compromise between casual dining with really special food. Not a lot of options on the menu, so be prepared for thoughtful but limited choices.
Next time? I really want to try their brunch. If only I can keep getting people to take me here so I never have to pay!
Wonderful food for a small place. I've been here a couple of times and the food is quite consistent and well seasoned. I love the Oyster Thyme Soup. Servings are quite small and could be very expensive. I love the small menu that changes quite often, it means that they use fresh ingredients.
Been wanting to try Canteen for a while now. The restaurant is a nice little place with a diner-like decor. We were seated at the bartop which was kinda cool since you could watch the chefs working away in what is possibly the smallest and most cramped restaurant kitchen I have ever seen.
For the entree, I got the hazelnut-crusted tilapia. The fish was super moist and was tasty with the hazelnut crust. The braised scallion that came with it was also very good.
I'm not a fan of desserts usually but the vanilla souffle was amazing! It wasn't too sweet which I think is great. The souffle was very light and most importantly tasted great.
I would definitely visit Canteen again with its ever-changing menu and you gotta appreciate that the chef has decided to keep this restaurant small and the food top-notch.
Five-star dining without the pretentiousness you say? That's right, excellent food and great service. Friendly too.
My wife and I had the following:
Butter lettuce with creme parmesan
Curry crab soup
Crack habit inducing rolls that taste like squares of buttery goodness
Pork Schnitzel with bacon and a poached egg
Hazelnut encrusted skate with artichoke and big ass scallions
Vanilla Souffle
We'll be back for brunch on Sunday.
See you there.
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I finally had a Sunday off and I wanted to have brunch with my friend Mark. And so we had our brunch here. It is a very small cafe but the service and the food makes up for that.
I order the salmon benedick with a funnel salad and that was ever so good. Even the coffee was also good.
I heard that the dinner is even better. I will come back for dinner.
Yummster........
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My boyfriend's cousin recommended this for brunch yesterday, so I hopped onto mobile Yelp to check out reviews before going in. Since it was so high, I got excited. I'm not super picky about breakfast, give me eggs and potatoes, and I'm good. I just like good quality ingredients, and let me tell you, Canteen's are awesome! I ordered the oatmeal with nuts and fruit. Really good! My boyfriend got the eggs benedict, which was super tasty. Fresh eggs, great hollandaise and the potatoes were perfect. Someone in our party also ordered the chocolate pudding. Talk about heaven! I only had a little taste, but I can't imagine eating an entire bowl! It was so rich. The coffee was also really good. Service was fast and friendly. I definitely recommend for breakfast/brunch!
Its refreshing and a treat to have a top chef making your meal. I loved Dennis Leary's work at Rubicon and followed him to his new spot Canteen.
SF has many acclaimed restaurants and star chefs but there is a good chance they are not in the kitchen making your meal. Many chefs create the menu and the have their staff prepare it. At Canteen its all Dennis.
I think his menu at Canteen is great, it no nonsense food prepared simply but the taste is complex and amazing. I started my lunch with a sublime first of the season spring pea soup then moved to a cream with fresh tomato and lardon capellini pasta.
The menu changes daily and its not a big place so its hard to get in. Dont go in a large group (they only have two tables that can fit 4 folk and its a tight squeeze). Call to make sure they are open.
The weekend brunch menu is beyond ...
This is a cute restaurant in the tendernob area, right by Fleur de Lys. The food is solid and the service is good. Nothing spectacular, nothing bad.
Canteen is the place to go for brunch. Maybe it's good for dinner too, but lets start with the brunch. I came here today around 10:45- they don't take reservations so I couldn't call ahead. Luckily the wait was not as bad as I had feared- probably took around 20 minutes to get a table (could have taken a seat at the bar sooner, but preferred to wait just a bit longer for the chance to dine in a cozy booth). Yes, the space is small with only four tables, but the service is quick enough that the wait is bearable (especially with the nice lounge room to wait in next door). We ordered corn soup and blueberry French toast with a cream cheese topping. The corn soup was magnificent, light, frothy, and creamy. It was not as thick as other corn soups I've had, but was pleasing to the palate. The French toast was out of this world. Drenched in blueberry sauce, overflowing with sweet berries and topped with sweetened cream cheese, this heavenly confection now tops my lists as best French toast in the city. Along with the toast from heaven and offscale soup, I also had the peach bellini- peach juice with white wine. A very nice combination and addition to a very much stellar dining experience.
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This place is arguably my favorite restaurant in the city. Why? It serves delicious food with out an ounce of pretentiousness. Due to limited seating, its hard to get a reservation but who cares? Once you're in you will be calling in for the next reservation.
Food- excellent
Service- good
Seating- you might be a**hole to elbows but its what you call "intimate"
Wait- you have to wait at the hotel lounge next door, but who cares?
BYOB-low corkage fee
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Normally, i'm not one for crowded dineries (i know that's not a word), but i have a soft spot for Canteen. It's got a really quaint, small-town diner feel to it but the food will blow you away.
The food and service are both really good and because they change their menu so often (i think weekly), you'll want to keep coming back.
My only complaint is that it's a bit tough to get a reservation and you will prob have to wait anyway. People just take their time because the restaurant is so cozy, which means you won't get to eat on time.
It's also a short walk from some cool bars. Check out Rye (1/2 a block away) if you're ever in the mood for an after-dinner drink.
Canteen is one of the best brunch places I've been. I came here with my husband and our couple friends this past saturday. Everything we had was fantastic! We each had our own course (I had the eggs benedict and I have to say it was the BEST I've ever had - the sauce was to die for; husband had the smoked salmon omlette which was also good). We also shared the big pancake, sort of as a dessert. Texture wise, fluffy! Taste wise, buttery and sweet - with those fresh cut strawberries. Yum.
As for the BEST time to go, I highly suggest going on Saturday and early! There are only like 4 booths and maybe 7 counter seats. Also, street parking is super easy at this time.
P.S. We also ordered the peach bellini - not great and cost as much as the meal. Nexts time I would order 2 things instead of the drink! Hubby had the coffee, which was surprisingly delicious!
what a great restaurant! as tiny as it is, there was not much of a wait on a saturday morning as i thought there might be. thank goodness, because the food was really good! the bellini was also a perfect brunch treat. the menu was creative, the atmosphere was chill, and the food was very tasty.
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Awesome cozy place with tons of charm and personality.
My friend and I went before catching a show at ACT and the food is absolutely delightful.
We started with a glass of the sparkling vouvray, watercress salad and pork tenderloin ap. Impeccable.
Our entrees (Duck breast with cherries, my friend described it as "christmas on a plate!", lamb shoulder) were decadent and savory and hit all the right notes.
With all that, we managed to save room for dessert and ordered the vanilla souffle. Now I understand why this dessert has been on the menu since 2004!
The service is friendly, informative, and casual. Our server Casey (who compiled the really fantastic, compact wine list) was so great in helping us choose a delicious Cru Beaujolais to go with our meal.
It's been almost a year since I had breakfast at Canteen, and I am still thinking about the pancake I ate there. It has ruined all other pancakes for me, and I love a pancake.
We went once and tried to go back several times and they were closed each time. I think I may have dreamed that pancake. Maybe if I am lucky I will dream about it tonight.
oh super tiny restaurant but if you live in SF and love trying unique restaurant, you gotto check this out. The place only sits not more then 15 people.. or maybe less!!! Everything in this restaurant is tasty and different. Reservation is HIGHLY recommended.. since they are SO SMALL. I enjoyed every course from the freshly bake bread to desert. It was a great experience and got to take hubby there some day... :)
"Best brunch place ever."
That was the review I was given after we had waited for over an hour and tried a selection of three dishes that I had no idea what they were from the menu description. But she was right. The brunch was awesome and the definite highlight of the weekend.
As we walked up along Sutter and approached the Canteen sign, I was optimistic that at 12 noon on Sunday that perhaps there would be no wait. Unlike Swan Oyster Depot, there was no visible line outside and I remember reading some reviews that perhaps the hype had died down on Canteen. *Wrong*
Once inside the tiny, tiny space, I wrote my name down and quickly saw why it was deceptively line-free. Canteen is adjacent to a building with student housing and everyone waits there. When we arrived at noon, there were easily almost 20 people waiting. We grabbed a seat, pulled up a newspaper and waited for my name to be called.
* 1 hour and 5 minutes + one trip to the student housing bathroom later *
My name was called and we quickly and thankfully took a seat in the cozy booth seats. I quickly perused the menu; a simple one with only 10-12 items. The crab Benedict (in limited quantities) was the one item that jumped out at me, but unfortunately, it was sold out. Frankly, as I sat there, nothing else really stood out from the menu and I was worried I might be disappointed ordering a Big Pancake or a French Toast. Unsure of what to order, I decided to ask the waitress for some help. These were her excellent recommendations (few were items I would have ordered):
Chuscuprabra (sp?) - I don't even know how this dish is spelled but it essentially was black beans topped with braised pulled pork, avocado, green peppers, and scrambled eggs. It was perfection and everything tasted super fresh, organic and rich. The scrambled eggs were of particular note and not overdone in the least.
Petro (sp?) sole hash - essentially a fish mixed with potatoes in a creamy and brothy sauce. The potatoes were cooked just right with a slightly crisp exterior, but soft interior, perfect for soaking up the sauce. The fish was tasty and tender.
Blueberry French Toast - the one item I recognized from the menu and a star as well. I think it's the best French Toast I've ever had. Crisp and not soggy at all, despite sleeping in a rich, wet bed of blueberries and blueberry sauce. It was all topped with a large dop of cottage cheese.
Total wait time: 1 hour +
Total eating time: 5 minutes
Our eating time was both a testament to how hungry we were after a one hour wait but also to how absolutely delicious the food was. Even the waitress was impressed by our eating prowess. We left very happy. And in agreement: Best Brunch Place ever.
**P.S. Despite the small size and affordable prices, Canteen DOES take credit cards, including American Express!**
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Cute small diner like place (I say this because they have a counter and diner chairs). The food is good but the service can be slow if you're one of the last to be waited on during a given round of service that they offer. Though we arrived on time we were one of the last ones. It's sort of round robin type of service in the beginning.
For those that have not eaten here yet, Canteen has specific seating times such as 6pm, 8pm, etc. When you arrive (in our case 5:45pm) you can't be seated until 6pm arrives and when all of the other guests have arrived for the 6pm shift. If you have a dinner reservations at 8pm you can't seat until all of the 6pm guests leave which I find interesting. I would go back if I plan in advance.
I cannot believe how many 4 and 5 star reviews this place has - - it actually HURTS me to write this review......... but no matter which way I turn the events and food of last night - - it just doesn't work for me. 1-star, it is.
Maybe I did the wrong meal here -- perhaps breakfast/brunch is better than dinner... but geez, this feels awful!
************************************************** ***
No.
Step away, back off - - no. Just don't do it.
No, no. NO!?!
That would have been my full review but apparently, Jen S. had a lot of chocolate and decided to do a blow-by-blow, reenacting every painful moment from last night X 10.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Guess I'll add to it just by writing that it was a huge disappointment.
I'd heard Canteen was good - and this was my third time trying to plan a dinner there, first time we actually made it without changing plans. (Thank goodness, too, or my reputation as a "food enthusiast might have been blown!) Then, reading the reviews yesterday, I saw that James K. had reviewed the place and given it 5 stars, no less -- and I was officially excited to go.
Now, in his defense, and anyone else who might have rated them higher - - I'll preface this with the fact that they do change their menu very often or perhaps even nightly.
But I find that when the food is good, it's usually good no matter how they change their menu.
We must have looked at that menu for a good 15 minutes, partially because nothing (absolutely NOTHING) stood out to either of us, and partially because nobody came to take our order for that length of time. It was odd because the whiffs I got of their cooking was smelling fantastic - - but none of it was appealing off of the menu. Half of me wanted to get right up and declare we're not wasting time, money, or space - - we're leaving to somewhere that at least has an enticing menu -- but the other half of me kept on thinking about Yelp reviews and what my friends had said about Canteen.
So then, the normal person might order only one thing - but what is that? This restaurant can only seat perhaps 15 people - - Jen and I are in one of their booths, and obviously took up two of their spaces that could have been given to their other patrons. Then we only order one thing? How rude...... right? But the thought of ordering at least 2 appetizers and 2 entrees due to etiquette seemed outrageous, too.
So I did the only thing I could think to do.
When the waitress approached - I lied.
"We actually have another dinner at 8 pm....we'll just be ordering these two appetizers and this one entree. I've just been wanting to eat here forever, so we dropped by." Complimentary, yet decisive.... right?
The smelt. Soggy deep-fried smelt. Some salad concoction below it, and funny, that saved me from hurling because it was the only refreshing thing on the menu.
The chicken liver pate thing. I tried and tried... kept on taking nibbles from it thinking it might grow on me, I love liver.... but alas - - reverted back to munching on the salad concoction to keep from hurling.
Then some 400 hours later when they finally removed our half-eaten plates - - they finally served the one entree we ordered: pork belly.
As Jen stated in her review - - as soon as it arrived, she noticed a stench and I said, "What stench?" as I leaned in - - when it hit me. Holy mother of Jose, what the hell? It's... it's..... the stench from a urinal! You know that stench when you go into a really nasty, unkept public bathroom from years of men missing the urinal by miles, building up and just festering in the heat of summer? Yeah - - that smell.
Some might refrain from eating after that - - but no, not me. I still took a bite and in Canteen's defense, it tasted like overcooked pork belly and it was only the sauce drizzled over it that was made of urine. Jen was watching me - - waiting for me to either croak on the spot so she could just pay and leave -- or hoping I'd oooh and ahhh about how good it was. When I lived, she ate some too. I don't know if I'd have paid $2.50 for that bit, never mind the $25 they were charging. Oh, to go back to Hanuri....
To top it all off - we had a busboy who was PMS-ing hardcore or just dropped off the assembly line when they were inserting manners, or the ability to even GRIN, never mind smile.
All in all - - a major flop in my book and one that I will not try again. The company I had for dinner was adorable - - and the sweet gesture of her buying me dinner was so appreciated - - so the night turned out great nonetheless, but food-wise, it's a big, BIG failure.
Oh well, today is another day!!!
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I loved Saturday night dinner at Canteen. We went at the 7:30 seating & sat at the bar. Here's what Taylor had to say: "This place rox. Such inventive takes on cuisine even when the presentation/cuts/fixin's are so not what you'd expect. There is a total surprise in every dish/every taste. What style is it? Perhaps no way to tell, like veal-ala-potpie...Best and most memorable meal I've had this year." OK he wrote this after we finished a bottle of wine, which WASN'T up to my standards (a French viognier, and I believe, a bottom shelf bottle). I'll try again from their list but may end up bringing a bottle when I go back.
Best choices: the halibut gravlax appetizer, aforementioned veal with spring vegetables, and chocolate pudding. Wait, those were all Tay's choices. Mine were good too, the butter lettuce salad, chicken entree, and vanilla souffle. He told me to order my own chocolate pudding....
Hope for Casey as a waitperson, she was funny and attentive.
Granted I've only been here for brunch, but I think it's a perfect brunch place. It's now one of the first places I think of when I'm seeking a selection of savory breakfast dishes, to-die-for blueberry french toast and a bellini.
Expect a slight wait, but it's worth it. You can order a beverage and take it in to wait in the hotel lobby next door, or you can go across the way to Cafe Bean to get some tea or coffee.
The place is small, but super cozy. I love the retro diner feel, the open kitchen all backed with the stainless steel, light-colored wood and green/yellow ceramic containers holding, I don't know, sugar? flour? just for decoration?...
The one thing I can do without is the slightly snotty attitude of the people who work there.
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SHH!! DON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS PLACE! ;)
I know all the other Yelpers have said it, but this is definitely my favorite brunch spot in the city now.
Was up in the city over the weekend and thought we'd try a new place for Sunday brunch and came across this (thanks Yelp!). I had no clue how tiny this place was until I actually got here. Luckily for us, we apparently came at a good time because we didn't have to wait too long (about 15 mins or so -- I can't say the same for the people who came in after though). But 15 mins or an hour wait, I can honestly say it is worth the wait!
Since I love Eggs Benedict and everyone seems to rave about Canteen's Eggs Benedict dish, that's what I ordered, and it is to-die-for delicious! I have had Eggs Benedict from all over and Canteen's is by far one of the best.
We also had their Lamb Tenderloin, and wow, that was so good! The lamb was cooked perfectly!
And to top it all off, coffee was excellent!
I have to go back and try their French toast next! I saw a bunch of those orders go by me and if it wasn't for my full stomach, I would've loved to tried to stuff those down. Definitely, definitely coming back!
Yummy, yummy in my tummy! This is a great and casual restaurant you can take Mom to when she stops by unexpectedly and demands that you take her to dinner. Also a fantastic place to get very inebriated, as it has happened to me many times.
5-stars!
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Canteen is cool. Not an Ian Schrager black marble with purple suede furniture kinda cool or a black leather jacket with punk doo cooking confit of fish with wasabe type of cool. This place is comfortable, intimate, well worn jeans and Converse high-tops type of cool. If French Laundry is War and Peace, Canteen is True West.
Case in point. Appetizer: Smoked pork with cracklins, red cabbage sauerkraut, mango with hot mustard sauce. Pork is the humblest of meat products, real salt of the earth meat, but its been smoked here to a tenderness and subtlety that is amazing. Mix that with cracklins, I mean salt of the salt, and you add that extra element of texture and punch that works in contrast with tenderness of the smoked pork. It's like dueling meats. The hot mustard sauce has sweetness but again the bite of a Dijon base (contrasts again). Combine that with the mango, which lies on top of the sauerkraut (sweet with sour), and you start to get the point. Too much in one direction, and the subtlety is lost. In balance and the contrasts actually accentuate each other.
Is this a playful and artistic expression of food? It could be, but that's clearly not the intent here. The parts can be mashed together or eaten in parts. It doesn't matter. Do what you want with it. It will all taste good.
Confit of lamb with chick peas....okay, so poor little lamb is my weakness (Little Bo Peep is in therapy because of me). This confit literally melted away. Now confit of anything can get heavy and greasy, but the earthiness of the chick peas kept this in check. The underlying sauce has, again, a sweetness that mitigates the richness of the lamb. Excellent.
The Alaskan cod with fennel, crab relish and Seville orange sauce was perfect. Cooking fish to the right consistency has been a failure of many restaurants. No problem here, and whereas Seville are supposed to be tart, none of the harshness is present, just the essence of the orange. The crab relish on top...it's a crime to call it relish and relegate it to a topping. It should be its own salad dish.
Dessert, buttermilk flan with blueberries and vanilla souffle. Order the souffle in advance. It's pretty good (but do not inhale before eating...the powdered sugar will make you cough till next morning). The buttermilk flan...now I'm not a frequent flan eater or fanatic (say that 10 times really quick), but this one was more like a creamy sweet yogurt with fresh blueberries. It was amazing in its simplicity but the flavors jumped out. Freshness of the berries count. Why can't other places get this right. You don't always have to build an architectural dessert for it to be a great dessert.
So why do I like this place? The more and more you read about places to eat and you talk to people about restaurants, the more and more I start to shy away from eating anywhere. It's like every restaurant, you have to bring your cool with you....you have to "get it" like it's all some part of a hip master plan (only those in the know are supposed to know). But, it's so hard to feel comfortable in these places. You get the sense that you've been transported back to that first day in junior high. Who wants to revisit puberty again over your foie gras and ramps appetizer and then have your voice change over the tataki main course?
Canteen...I mean it's almost in a shit-hole of a space, fake books along the side, small booths and a counter....I'd be shocked if this place could hold more than 20 people. The kitchen is the size my bathroom and right next to the eating space. Every seat here is the chef's table.
But simple and down to earth decor does not have to mean Olive Garden type food. Why does this have to be? If you spend enough effort on the elements that count, isn't that all that counts?
Is this a destination date place? Well...only if you are a foodie. It's cozy and warm and comfortable, and frankly, if I was single, I would not hesitate to bring someone I cared for here. It's not a place to bring a big crowd or large family. 4 at most will fit in one booth. I came with my family, and it was a bit tight. That being said, the chef and waitress were kind enough to make a butter pasta dish for the Kid. Big plus there.
The bad ass waitresses with the tats....an extra plus. Love woman who look like they can kick your ass while downing half a bottle of Jack all the while explaining, patiently, how the porcini mushroom soup is prepared.
This is a great place, and it's a shame there are not more of these places scattered around. It'll be fun looking for them though.
Oh, the menu changes frequently, so go there and go often (if you can afford it). I'm sure the other menus will not disappoint.
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The service is terrible at Latrine.
Lumbering rude tatooed busser slamming water glasses on the table, followed by absent-minded waitress who left us with empty wine glasses for 20 minutes, after seating us late, then had the audacity to ask us to leave early because she wanted to seat someone else in our place! Astonishing.
The food was pretty good, hence the two stars.
Lame ambiance. Not cool. Just dumpy. The waiting room is the lobby of a dorm for the art institute...kids running around, weird seating...all in all a sub-par experience. We ran into another couple we had seen at the restuarant and they approached us asking what we thought of the place. We told them, and they completely agreed...they were very disappointed by canteen...
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You gotta check this place out. Sit at the counter and let the deliciousness wash over you. The menu changes all the time, but everything I've eaten here has been so tasty. The one thing I can promise you is really, really really good homemade rolls. I ingested three or four of these lovelies last time I visited. Flaky airy crusty and soft at the same time. Bread from heaven.
It's casual and fun and a really unique experience.
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With seating for about 20 people, total, this place looks like somewhere you should be getting a burger and a chocolate shake. Instead you get some utterly delicious cuisine, with menu changes on a weekly basis.
Four of us went here the other night and without realizing it, ordered every single item on the menu. This consisted of 4 appetizers and 4 entrees, each coincidentally different. We all shared and every bite was absolutely amazing.
Our waitress was really sweet and knowledgeable about the food and the wine.
Seating is done in shifts, with the whole restaurant clearing out and being re-sat every couple of hours.
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Best souffle ever! Dinner items are creative and tasty. Breakfast/brunch is okay but not as good as dinner.
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Oh. my. god. I've had some great meals in this city, but this meal was perfect. Every dish (and the four of us had a lot) was a revelation. Artfully sculpted, deliciously concocted. Casual atmosphere but you wouldn't know it from the food. Great wine too. I have a new favorite restaurant.
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Canteen was unfortunately only open for breakfast while we were there in Sept, but wow - the brunch was faaaaaaaantastic! I just had simple eggs and bacon, and my boyfriend had the peach french toast. Both were OUTSTANDING, and the best we've ever had. So flavorful and fabulous we went back the next morning for the same dishes! With mimosas, it gets a bit pricey. Without booze, definitely well priced (about $25 without booze, about $40-50 with booze for brunch).
We dream about those meals all the time, and I was put to work to try to replicate the french toast.
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