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Anchor & Hope
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
83 Minna St(between Shaw Aly & 2nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94105
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 501-9100
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
901 reviews for Anchor & Hope
Review Highlights
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"Angels on Horseback - Awesome, Simply Awesome." In 129 reviews -
"Besides, what's better than bacon wrapped oysters." In 76 reviews -
"Next time I'm definitely trying the lobster roll." In 220 reviews
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901 reviews in English
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Review from Shahrzad K.
Houston, TX
5/16/2012
I've eaten here a number of times since I moved into a new office less than 100 yards away and am finally writing a review just to say:
Get their traditional lobster roll. I don't know why I never ordered their signature dish before, but I was not disappointed at all. The brioche bun it's on is tasty, too. We also started with the calamari, which was simple, but actually one of the tastiest I've had in a while.
Service was also great - we had a very enthusiastic waiter who had some great tips for us.
Cheers -
Review from Kevin B.
Pittsburgh, PA
5/16/2012
I loved the food here. The charred baby octopus (which I have never tried previously) was absolutely delicious. We paired that with the calamari... was a perfect pair. Watch out for the Thai Chili dipping sauce. It doesn't look too hot, but it packs a punch.
For my entree, I had the swordfish (once again a first for me). It was prepared wonderfully and tasted great!
As for the atmosphere in the restaurant, it was a bit cramped. We had a slight wait for our table, and maneuvering to the bar was a challenge. When we got there, there wasn't a free area in which to order a drink. Luckily, our table was ready very quickly.
The service was impeccable. Our server was very knowledgeable and friendly.
I was a bit late on the review. I ate here on 4.24.12. -
Review from Gerard B.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
What happened, folks that brought us Town Hall and Salt House? Anchor and Hope's website made it seem cool and classy. Reality differed. The interior looked like a semi-creative person's garage, with a lack of temperature control to match. The chairs were that really light aluminum that could fall over in a light breeze.
There seems to be a disappointing trend in SF restaurants where they are very understaffed yet charge fine dining prices. I take offense when a restaurant charges thirty bucks for an entree but gives the server so many tables that she can't spare a moment to ask if that entree came out all right. Our waitress gave us no warm attention at all, just came by to ask, "More wine?" or "Room for dessert?" basically asking, "Wanna spend?" instead of, "How can I make this dining experience good for you?"
Two people I believe were managers just creeped me out to see them. The guy looked like he had recently been turned into a zombie (the black under his eyes giving him away) while the woman manager appeared seriously cracked out and apparently never learned know how to use a hairbrush.
Awful. -
Review from Tala D.
5/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I came here to Fancy Lunch with my boss and coworkers. We had reservations and were seated promptly.
First off, our table was right by the door on a windy day and we had to ask four or five times for somebody to close it (they kept forgetting to close it). That aside...
I had the Cioppino, my boss had the lobster roll, my coworker the wild trout and my other coworker the fish & chips.
The trout looked amazing and she ate it all up. It was plated beautifully and served with ramps and other seasonal delights. The lobster roll looked fabulous and my boss enjoyed it. The fish & chips looked pretty standard.
My cioppino was just OK. The broth was forgettable, the seafood scarce. I was given a crab cracker yet there was not a shred of crab to be found in my stew. Just a few clams, mussels and some fish. It tasted fine but was largely disappointing, I had high hopes for a good bowl of cioppino.
They have a decent beer & wine list and the ambiance is very nice. I might come back to try something else, but for now my memory is sullied by that very mediocre cioppino. Maybe they could try adding more seafood, making the broth richer or spicier... just something to make it better. -
Review from Nick K.
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Anchor & Hope is good. It's tasty but expensive seafood and first class service. If you're in the area, hungry and holding a corporate card, I see no reason not to go.
The menu has a lot of tasty apps (bacon wrapped oysters) and a decent list of entrees. Great beer list, which includes Pac Brew Labs' Squid Ink. Nice decor (fun posters in the bathroom) and a friendly wait staff.
It seems to be busy at dinner time on all days, so don't forget to make a reservation.
The clientele is primarily business folks, which is the result of the location. And speaking of the location... keep your eyes peeled. It's on an alley and easily missed from 2nd Street. -
Review from Benjamin B.
4/17/2012
Whoever decor-ed this place needs some kind of medal. They nailed the balance between ship's hold, fishing wharf and restaurant. And that's not an easy mix to perfect (as anyone who's tried to apply that sort of interior styling to their bedroom knows full well. What an abortion that project was).
The seafood is par excellence, but you'll pay a pretty penny for your pescado predilections. So many different oysters to choose from was a delight, somewhat sullied by one bad oyster that sort of ruined the batch for us.
They're signature appetizer is the Angels on Horseback, a slightly confusing misnomer for oysters wrapped in bacon that were the definite highlight of the meal.
Our first waiter was righteous and attentive; after a shift change though his replacement went missing, leaving us with a vacuum where previously we felt the love.Listed in: San Francisco Stunners
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Review from Kelly H.
Austin, TX
4/7/2012
SF is a frequently traveled destination for business and I would regularly find myself at Anchor and Hope - at the bar solo for dinner or with colleagues for lunch.
What makes it a SF-South of Market go-to for me are the Oysters (nice selection, rotating), the Calamari and the Berkeley Trumer Pilsner on tap, which I first discovered here. Calamari is often a heavy appetizer filler, but here it is something special - mouth-watering Salt and Pepper Calamari with a Thai Chili Dipping Sauce. Mmmmm lip smacking with the right amount of spice. One of those dishes you will not want to split on your next visit!
I've also had some great dinner specials - but the above are the highlights for me.
I love the atmosphere - the high ceilings with lots of light - is lovely during the day, and the bartenders / wait service were always welcoming for a solo evening dining at the bar. -
Review from Lani P.
There is a scene in current hipster TV program du juor, Portlandia, where the two protagonists, seated in a restaurant, ask about the locality of the food they're about to order. Long story short it results in them visiting a farm and hilarity / mockery ensues.
As our waiter stood before us at Anchor & Hope telling us the whereabouts of the items we were about to order I was momentarily distracted by visions of my dining companions and I whisking ourselves off to the San Francisco surrounding areas to see where our food had originated.
Alas, it didn't quite come to that but tucked away at the end of an alley way this bustling restaurant was a welcome surprise and try some of San Francisco's best seafood.
As we soaked up the dimly-lit atmosphere in this renovated warehouse it seemed like nothing could tarnish our dining experience. Unfortunately there were a few things that soured our dinner that evening but overall the food we did enjoy was simple, flavoursome and delicious. My own steak was cooked to perfection and our entrees arrived swiftly and with plenty for us to all try. My tip: the cured smoked salmon.Listed in: Sussing San Francisco
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Review from Lisa H.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I was surprised and sad that they replaced the fresh baked bread with chips. My shrimp roll was too salty and overloaded with aioli spread. Would have preferred the shrimp roll bioche more on the naked side. The brioche was overbaked and dry.
My lunch date had the lobster roll which I tried. It's overrated and overpriced for what you get. -
Review from FILL S.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2012
I had the cajun catfish sandwich, it was the best. I would give 5 stars if not for the price
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Review from Saudat N.
San Francisco, CA
4/19/2012
I have been to Anchor several times and I decided to write something today as my food was just OKAY! I took a friend for lunch who had not been there and she had looked at the menu on the website and was excited about some of the choices but when we got to the restaurant most of them were not on the menu. I understand menu's change but if everything is chanced, that needs to be updated considering the amount of staff they have (sure one person could do this!).
Appetizers: Angels on Horesback is a must appetizer
Shrimp Louis needs to be pulled from the menu. It was noting close to Shrimp Louis.
Desserts: the spin-off Snicker Bar
Service: Standard - okay
Bill: $$$ expensive for lunch -
Review from Rebecca C.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2012
stopped by the first time with a VC friend -- not too much recollection of my first dining experience except that it was delicious.
I bumped into the place again, by accident, and sat at the bar. Great laid back ambience. I ordered new england clam chowder and one from each of the three type of West Coast oysters. Skookum oyster from WA was the best -- close to the hog island oyster which is my favorite -- sweet and not too salty. I am a bit of a purist when it comes to oyster, only using lemon with no other sauce. For some of the salty ones, if you don't put vinaigrette insider, you feel like you are drinking sea water along with the oyster!
New England Clam Chowder was excellent, not too creamy and not too runny. Very fresh clams. Wish that they put a few of those oyster crackers on the side rather than inside the chowder.
I just found out that they have a $1 oyster happy hour deal with Skookum - will have to come back for that! -
Review from Jeanne C.
3/19/2012
I love the outside of this place. I also love the inside of this place. It first caught my eye when I went to a bar on Minna Street. I did a double take on the restaurant and caught myself thinking "What is that place?? I want to go!! So cute inside." So a month later, I made a vday date for drinks with a gf.
We sat at the bar, ordered some vino, got some a la carte oysters that were $2 each. Had we not ordered that, the regular menu was pricey. I would definitely not have the cash to dine here every day. But maybe some day I will.
Next time, I'll just hit up Waterbar or Bar Crudo to get my $1 oyster fix. A&H should have something similar for the after work HH patrons! It would be so much better! -
Review from Tiffany K.
San Francisco, CA
5/9/2012
Went here for a business lunch. It was ok. Nothing spectacular. A little pricey for just ok food. We went there at 1pm, so it slowed down quite a bit, so I was a little peeved that the server was still so inattentive. Won't take a client here again, but may swing by for raw oysters when I'm in the mood since it's down the block from my apartment.
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Review from Linda L.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
$1 oysters on Wesnesday from 4:30-6. Shucked right in front of you ( I was at the bar) with a glass of pinot grigio.
The prices are right, super close to FiDi so I don't even need to walk to Embarcadero, and all around a fun time. Nice bartenders and did I mention AWESOME oysters.
Only drawback are the HH time. Wish it would last longer...say 7? Either way, I'll be back!!! -
Review from Joel F.
2/26/2012
I have a penchant for cioppino, and Anchor & Hope's was almost perfect! All the seafood was excellent. In fact, the only thing preventing me giving this food 5 stars was the unbelievably strong spice in the broth. I realize that cioppino broths can really vary (some tend have more kick that others) but when I was reaching for a gulp of water after every fourth bite from a scorched throat, perhaps the chef added a little more spice than intended?! As such, I ended up not eating that much of the broth and focused on the, once again, delicious seafood.
Thanks to the recommendation by Pinchit...I also gave the oysters at Anchor & Hope a try. The good part: they were delicious. The bad part: I missed the happy hour, and ended up paying full price! Had the size of the oysters been a bit larger, I would have not minded paying $3.00-$3.50 each. Either way, the oysters were very, very good and I ended up not using any mignonette sauce. I will go back for the happy hour special soon!
Though I didn't drink, there was a good selection of wine and an even larger beer selection. One of the more unique beer lists in SF I've seen. -
Review from Leo K.
3/2/2012
I'm generally a badass (minus the generally part) so I sometimes decide to do things like not eat any solid foods for a month because being sensible and thinking logically are two key character traits of wimps. Besides, there's nothing manlier than surviving purely off of water, whey isolate, and some questionable-looking brown powder that apparently required the harvesting (and subsequent destruction) of a 5' x 8' patch of protected Amazon rainforest.
Over the years though, I've learned that not everyone's as much of a hero as me, so when we decided to throw a welcome lunch at A&H for a new co-worker, I acquiesced and decided to have a solid meal. The fact that I was recovering from the previous night where I found myself drinking a spirit that tasted like it was fermented from a potato found in an old Commie boot of Dostoevsky's also likely contributed to this brief moment of weakness.
Given the above circumstances, you'd figure that I would have enjoyed my meal at A&H a lot more than I did (since somewhere deep down inside I do have a soul and can appreciate things like calories that don't start off in powdered form). Besides, a lobster roll is pretty manly and that's apparently this place's signature dish.
Looks like someone needs a new John Hancock. (Hahhhh good one, Leo.)
Overrated with a capital OVERRATED sums things up nicely. Basically they served me a San Francisco-neutered version of what's supposed to be a hearty East Coast comfort food. I want a real lobster roll, people. Layer on that mayo and throw in lobster chunks so large that I question whether or not that's actually lobster in there. Bonus points for throwing everything in a supermarket bun.
This description couldn't be further from what I got at Anchor & Hope. I don't remember much since I probably blacked out in a fit of rage upon seeing my lunch; what I do know is that from hazy recollections I still realized that pretentious French pastry (seriously, f those guys) and tiny little lobster chunks in a light cream sauce does not a lobster roll make.
Will not be coming back here unless someone else is paying or until they start grinding up their whole menu and serving it to me in a Big Gulp.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Troy H.
Honolulu, HI
3/17/2012
Food, really good
Beer, really good
Service, Excellent
Sea urchin & dungeness crab was very tasty, I enjoyed that. Wife had the Cioppino, lots of seafood (no skimping), broth was terrific. Squid Ink beer was very smooth. Keith, our waiter, an asset to the restaurant. -
Review from Paul C.
2/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable 4 Check-ins Here
Based on its beer list alone Anchor & Hope is a great place. They have a nice bar with people who know what they're talking about when it comes to beer and wine. After work sometimes I'll just cruise down there and have a nice barleywine or porter.
But the food is probably what everyone really wants to know about. It's good stuff. The sea urchin is great, their clams are solid and they do good cooked fish as well. It's definitely not cheap, and it may not rock your world but it's definitely a good place to check out. -
Review from Emily R.
2/26/2012
Came here with work pals in search of some legit SF seafood, and Anchor & Hope delivered. We'd heard it'd been featured on the food network for the bacon-wrapped oysters - which is a good enough start to get me in the door.
We started with that very dish, in addition to some west coasters served in the original style with shallots and cocktail sauce, as well as some legit black pepper calamari. I definitely preferred the original chilled oysters to the bacon-wrapped variety, but that might be a personal preference as the rest of the table was pretty enamored with them. Calamari was a hit as well - instead of being served with a mayo-based sauce or tartar, they came with a spicy asian dressing.
For entrees, I was immediately attracted to the cioppino because it featured so many different types of fish - crab, mussels, clams, and bass in a fiery red sauce. It was substantial and tasty.
As an FYI, they don't serve liquor. Only beer and wine - but they have a pretty extensive list of both. It's hidden on a side street, so it's slightly hard to find. The space itself is like an old warehouse, with chains and funky things hanging from the ceiling, but they manage to make it very romantic.
A great place to take clients, family, or friends who love wine & seafood. -
Review from Vera W.
2/19/2012
YUM YUM YUM. I love seafood, and if you are a seafood lover, you'll LOVE this restaurant. You would normally not be able to find this place if you walked past the area. I never noticed it, until I actually had to look for it.
Anyway, came here with a colleague. I ordered the fish and chips, but prior to that, they serve the most awesomest bread ever. It's delicious--reminds me of Acme bread. Quality free bread--that's the best.
Anyway, on to the fish and chips. So when you order, you actually get around 3 pieces of fried fish and a lot of fries. Nonetheless, you somehow get full. There are enough fries that you'll have leftovers, unless you're like me and you like (and are actually capable of) eating everything on the plate to the point that it makes it easier for the busser to clean your plates ;) ... In that case, you may have an eating disorder. JK. The crispy fried fish was perfect, though. The fish inside was tender and flaky, as well as flavorful. Loved it!
I hope to try the lobster roll that I hear so much about. Actually, I'd like to try a lot of their menu items, so I'm hoping to go a couple times more. I also love the setting and atmosphere of the restaurant. It makes you think that you're in a fishing type of warehouse by the pier, or something like that. The place gets crowded, so I suggest making reservations. -
Review from Terence E.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2012
Dine about town ripoff.
Extended review: Went there for dine about town for 2. Their menu for dine about town online is inaccurate. The lunch appetizer was a tiny salad. The main course was either a plate of tiny potato dealies or a plate of 10 mussels. Both sucked. Wasted 45 bucks (total). Came back to work smelling like french fries. Next time I'm getting 9 five dollar footlongs at Subway. -
Review from T L.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2012 3 photos
Finally made it for happy hour! First off let me tell you that even though it's in an alley and hard to find its a nice find. First we ordered some beers to quench our thirst. Then came the oysters $1 each so we ordered a dozen. Not bad but the size were a bit on the smaller size, a little disappointing. Angels on horseback were next on the hit list and Geee Whizzz these were spot on, baked oysters wrapped in bacon how can u go wrong here. Then an order of fries, another round of beers, an entree consisting of halibut mushrooms and asparagus and finally a sea urchin dish with a cream sauce which all were on par. The service was decent but the only thing that displeased me was the overpricing, small servings and the extra 4% we had to dish out for the employees medical. I would advise happy hour so you can get a little break from the steep pricing.
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Review from Lhm M.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have something nice to say. The beer selection is outstanding. I had the De Glazen Toren jan de liche, a Belge that was delicious.
We had the bass with risotto which was BLAH. There was literally no flavor to this dish and the risotto was mushy. The 28 dollar lobster roll was overloaded with fennel which masked the delicate essence of the lobster.
The kitchen was in view and they were busy. One fellow looked comfortable over the hot oven; every move purposeful and timed. But the other fellow was all arms flailing every pan too hot and he stirred the risotto like it was coming alive and needed to be whipped. The expediter did jump in to help by cooking the bass I counted eight servings and I can attest to the fact he was remiss on seasoning mine.
One hundred bucks later it was not worth the trip. I liked the hostess and waiter but I come for the food. -
Review from Brent K.
Philadelphia, PA
2/26/2012
Anchor and Hope was introduced to me by my friends who live in San Fran.
First, the wine list has enough variety but not big enough where you feel lost. Let me also note that the mark-up is not wallet busting and makes it more reasonable to enjoy a bottle of wine or two over dinner.
Moving on to the food, the appetizers are very interesting in a good way. The Angels on Horseback are delicious and you may have to order 2 (in my opinion). The Charred Blackened Baby Octopus was another favorite of mine.
Entres are not as exciting (on paper) as much as the appetizers are but nonetheless very tasty. I had the Lobster Roll and Cioppino, both of which were very tasty.
For dessert, I had the sorbet with what looked to be a pomegranate reduction.... a great way to end an enjoyable meal.
Please note that the menu is not incredibly large so if you have a picky eater, you may have your work cut out for you. I would suggest checking the menu online as I would with any other restaurant. Also, I must note that the menu online vs. actual menu in restaurant varied slightly..... so you may have some pleasant or perhaps not-so-pleasant surprises when you arrive.
Enjoy! -
Review from Fra L.
Durham, NC
1/27/2012
I ate here once, during the Fancy Food Show and well, yeah I'm a fan! I wish I discovered this place when I was still living in the bay.
Atmosphere is nice, staff is great, the food pretty freaking awesome.
We were a party of 5: 2 chefs and 3 peoplethatworkwithfoodallthetime, and we were all very happy. We shared some appetizers: the octopus, the calamari, the sea urchin and something else that now I can't remember but everything was delicious.
The entrees were all also very good, and one person in our party got the steak, which looked and tasted delicious as well. There are no vegetarian items on the menu, which is not a problem personally, but being in SF is probably an issue for some.
I didn't try the deserts, but the wine selection was pretty great, but I wish they had more wine by the glass selection.
Very good experience. -
Review from Jane K.
Hillsborough, CA
2/26/2012
My husband and I have really been into fish and although they had a small selection the entrees hit the mark.
The chips in the beginning (the substitute for the Acme bread, which you can still request) was fun and unexpected.
The appetizer, I had the ceviche, was full of flavor and not fishy smelling. My husband had the grilled shrimp special and it was also full of flavor and a more than decent portion.
My entree was the flounder. It was excellent! My husband had the whole fish and it was really good. I was picking off his plate.
The beer selection was extensive. The nice part was they grouped them in categories from light to dark and bodiness. I wasn't sure between two and the waitress brought me a taste of each.
Service was more than good. Our waitress was knowledgeable, didn't rush us (because I was undecided), and when I asked her what she would recommend for appetizer she didn't say "well, what are you in the mood for" or "what kinds of foods do you like?" She gave me her top two. Bus boys were great.
I didn't give the 5th star because there was just something missing somewhere -- could be that the water came out room temperature, could be when the second waitress brought the food she didn't explain the dish, or could be the tables were really close together and the I was nervous every time the bus boy had to pick up something from our table.
I will return. -
Review from Cyn C.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
Waited over 20 min to place order, waited another 36 min for main entrees. - lunch -
Items ordered:
DAT mussels - first place to serve mediocre mussels without fries or brioche.
Sad looking salad.
Shrimp roll - greasy .. Greasy. Don't remember the taste obviously not great.
Catfish sandwich - meh.
Overall, loooong wait, greasy and priced above average for below average food.
Not coming back. -
Review from Megan S.
12/30/2011
The Oyster & Stout Happy Hour brought us in, the sea urchin and crab dish brought us back.
Super fresh oysters, lovely beer and friendly service - what more could you ask for? We tried the Angels on Horseback on our first visit too, which came highly recommended but we thought they were just OK. I think they're more of a starter dish for someone who doesn't really like oysters, as all you can taste is the bacon. Cooked oysters aren't really my thing anyway, I prefer slurping them back raw.
We came back for dinner a few nights later and started with the sea urchin and crab dish...phenomenal. The urchin was silky, the crab was sweet and the whole thing fit together beautifully. Only downside for me is that it was less of a butter sauce and more of a cream sauce plus milky mashed potatoes. I can't tolerate any dairy other than butter and yogurt, but it looked so good when it showed up that I decided to eat it anyway. No regrets (it was amazing), but I did end up getting sick - not a dish for the dairy intolerant!
For mains I ordered the etouffee and my husband went with the fish and chips. I found the etouffee to be far too rich (and by that time my stomach was already revolting from the hefty dose of dairy I'd just eaten), so even though the seafood in it was lovely, I barely ate it. My husband loved his fish and chips though, and we took our server's recommendations for beer pairings which worked out great.
Two really nice meals overall, I'd come back in a heartbeat. -
Review from Hilary M.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2012
On the higher-priced end, but really tasty seafood options. The calamari was just ok (a little bit too fried for my liking), but the dipping sauce -- a Thai chili sweet/spicy sauce -- absolutely made the dish. And then there's the lobster sandwich on brioche roll which was really just to die for. We split everything and having just half of that sandwich was plenty -- so light, creamy and delicious.
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Review from Chrissy H.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2011
Underwhelming--you know, when you are told that something is a signature dish, automatically I will have high expectations. I had the lobster roll, which was okay. It was practically stuffed in one thick slide of toast that had been drenched in butter--I think they should rethink this whole bread idea, because it 1) made the roll tiny, and 2) did not add enough texture because the lobster was textureless as well.
All in all, flavors were decent but not up to par with the price / hype. Granted, the theme is very interesting and an extensive wine list. -
Review from Emily W.
Berkeley, CA
1/27/2012
Came here for a company lunch. Not really a fan of the types of seafood they serve.
- Food -
I guess it's fresh since the items they serve can all be found near the Bay Area.
I had a crab louie salad. It was one of the most expensive items on the lunch menu, yet it was the smallest. There was barely any salad/veggies. The crab meat was about the size of a normal scoop of ice cream. Not impressed by the proportion of the two, but again, seafood lovers may love this.
The oysters we ordered (not sure which one) were tiny and tasted alright. I definitely felt better eating that than the ones I had at an oyster farm. The restaurant must've cleaned it somehow.
- Service -
Staff was very friendly.
- Atmosphere -
Very upbeat and loud, but it's in the financial district so fits it very well.
Its specific location is a bit strange because it's in a very.. not-busy alley. -
Review from Jason T.
Daly City, CA
1/20/2012
I've always wanted to try this place out since I saw them get mentioned a few years ago on one of Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" episodes and they said to try the "Warm Sea Urchin with Dungeness Crab".
I finally came to eat dinner for my birthday here and let me say, the Warm Sea Urchin with Dungeness Crab DID NOT disappoint! If you have to order one thing from their menu, you have to order this! My party also ordered a couple of fish entrees and they were cooked perfectly!
Personally, the only reason why I did not give this five stars is that they only serve wine and beer. I have no problem drinking either, but at that point of the evening, I wanted something a little stronger like Scotch.
Other than that minor thing, great eats! Enjoy! -
Review from Richard L. D.
Youngstown, OH
1/24/2012
I had a great meal at Anchor and Hope.
The appetizer, entree and dessert were spot on. Our server was bubbely, effecient and knowledgeable, even the support staff were great. The wine list was impressive and the room is terrific, it's hard to believe it was once a muffler shop.
Why then only 4 stars? Because they add 4% to the check for employees health insurance. It's the employers responsibility to provide health insurance for their employees not mine.
That nice tip would have been 4% bigger. -
Review from Kristine P.
San Francisco, CA
12/4/2011
A good.... but not the best seafood restaurant.
Service was so so. Hostess was not pleasant. No smiles at all and our waitress gave our water without greeting us and did not come back I would say after 20 mins to give our bread and to take our order.
Food: Garlic steamed mussels were small. Lobster roll was great but I loved baked sea urchin. It came in a mug, not in a real sea urchin shell as advertised in website.
2 stars was for so so service.... -
Review from Allison C.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2012
Came here on a Monday night and they were busy which is always a good sign. The food was excellent and the server made some great suggestions when we asked. We started with the ceviche which was very tasty; then I had the halibut and my friend had the steak and both were cooked and tasted excellent. We ended with some gingerbread dessert that was to die for! The only think I didn't like was that the tables were so close together you can hear everyones conversation around you. It isn't a cozy restaurant and while the service was very good its not great. Also don't come here before you go out at night because they have an open kitchen and you will smell like food when you leave.
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Review from Nick F.
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good beer, and super trendy, small simple menu, but may be a bit over rated. The shrimp po boy was perfectly cooked, the remoulade sauce had good flavor and a little, kick, but I felt the serrano ham was a bit chewy and out of place on a shrimp po boy. The ambiance is cool, the staff is nice, but I found it a bit pricey for what it was. Not the worst, but there are better places to wet the whistle, and have some grub
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Review from Eric H.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2011
There was probably a day when Doug Washington woke up in his palatial Mediterranean villa after a long night being curled up in his Egyptian 1500 thread count sheets, rubbed his eyes, and came up with a brilliant plan...
"I'm gonna cover the interior of a warehouse in nautically themed elements, put up an oyster bar, call it an east coast seafood shack, and charge $25 for a lobster roll with a small amount of shredded meat stuffed into an oversized wonder bread-ish roll. Also, I'm gonna take the cheapest thing on east coast menus, fish n' chips, toss some $7/six pack Smithwick's on it and charge $23...I'm brilliant!"
The problem is that none of it is very good. The beauty of seafood shacks on the east coast is that a) the food is cheap, b) the food is appropriately tasty, and c) the food is simple. Anchor & Hope tries to bring a fanciful level of sophistication to what should be simple food in order to justify the number at the bottom of your bill. I'll gladly pay for freshness, but, depending on the day of your visit, you may as well be doing a yankee swap at your office.
By the way, the 600 thread count sheets at Target feel the same and cost 80% less.
My recommendation? Go to the Old Port Lobster Shack in Redwood City to taste what Anchor & Hope's marketing tries to sell you. -
Review from Erin S.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute, casual place in SOMA to satisfy your beer & seafood craving.
A & H wasn't my first choice, but after a gas leak last week closed my fave seafood restaurant Farallon, we had to quickly go to plan B. A & H serves oysters & seafood...sold!
We started with a dozen oysters, 6 west cost & 6 east coast. I can never remember which oysters I prefer after I eat them, but I do know that they were all fresh & delicious. Maybe next time I will actually write down the names so I can order them again!
I was very impressed with their beer list. It was as extensive as some wine lists. I tried the local Linden Street Black Lager, which was a slightly lighter version of a stout. This was probably a bad idea seeing that I had a lot of food coming & stouts are very filling, but it tasted great. Hubby tried a Japanese hefeweizen. Yeah, who knew, right? It was light & refreshing. I liked how they brought the matching glass for each beer. Classy touch.
As an appetizer I ordered the very creamy, chunky clam chowder. Hubby ordered the calamari. I usually skip over fried calamari as an app cuz it is usually rubbery, greasy, & tasteless. These were lightly fried & came with the most amazing dipping sauce. Hubby was all over it. In fact he almost canceled his main dish just to get another order of calamari. The dipping sauce was a strange combination of fish sauce, lime juice, & thai chilies. But somehow it worked & was a great compliment to the calamari.
My main dish was the sea bass which was perfectly cooked (of course) & delicious. Hubby got a pile of mussels which was almost more than he could eat. They definitely don't skimp on portions here.
My only complaint is that some of the tables are realllly close together. When you have guys with booming voices on either side of you, it's kind of hard to concentrate on your own conversation. Whether we liked it or not, we got roped in to conversations with 2 different neighbors. This is a casual place, right?
I'm glad they spared this place when they tore down all the surrounding buildings to make way for the new Transbay Terminal.Listed in: BARTable, Beeeeeeer!
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Review from Jacqueline W.
Sacramento, CA
10/27/2011
4.5? Good food, excellent wine list, great service, lovely ambiance.
It's a great option for an upscale bite or to sit and sip wine. Our table of three ordered appetizers and wine. We were seated immediately, our waitress was great, and our only (very minor) complaint was that it was much too warm in the restaurant. Prices were not outrageous... it's just kind of a fancy place. We liked it, and would return for sure.
The bread they give you is delicious, too!
