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Aristotle Mendiola, MD
Category: Health and Medical Doctors Internal Medicine Internal Medicine [Edit]
3838 California StSte 416
(between Jordan Ave & Cherry St)
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neighborhoods: Inner Richmond, Laurel Heights
(415) 387-8800
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
18 reviews for Aristotle Mendiola, MD
18 reviews in English
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Review from Dianna L.
San Francisco, CA
8/12/2011
Dr. Mendiola is one of my favorite doctors to date and I wish more of my doctors were like him. He's extremely well informed about how the body works, and he is full of good advice on diet and lifestyle changes instead of just pumping out pills. I also really enjoy the fact that I don't feel rushed in his office, which is rare not to find these days.
Go see him, you won't regret it! Thanks Dr. Mendiola! -
Review from Yvette H.
San Francisco, CA
4/11/2011
my GP/Internist recommended Dr. Mendiola. he seemed nice. i patiently explained to his staff that i am self-pay, so for my upper and lower GI EXAM i required a fixed-price quote, which i would pay ahead of time.
we scheduled an EXAM for three weeks time. i watied over two weeks, and four days before the operation, i called to get my quote. they told me, "sorry, we can't give you a fixed-price quote, as we don't know what we'll find". isn't that the REASON for an EXAM?
i cancelled and have no plans of going back, even if no other doctor gives me a fixed-price quote.
what a palaver. -
Review from Kristin L.
Nashville, TN
9/3/2009
I adore this man.
For all of August, I was horribly ill and my GP couldn't figure out what was wrong with me--nor could a whole host of blood work and tests.
My doctor referred me to Dr. Mendiola, who couldn't see me for a whole week, which in my condition, might as well have been a year. Then I got a call back saying there was a cancellation the following morning, and that since my case was so severe, he'd bump me up to the top of the wait list, so I got in to see him the next day. For anyone who has ever tried to get into see a new specialist on a whim, you know how lightning-fast landing a 24-hour appointment is.
So I had my consult with Dr. Mendiola, who was charming, informative and had quite the sense of humor (colon jokes never get old!). He scheduled me for a scope the next week, and went through the process step-by-step in advance so I wouldn't be scared.
Other than that nasty stuff you have to drink the night before, the process went so smoothly--Dr. Mendiola was actually early, and I got out of there an hour before scheduled. It was painless and not bad at all like I expected. All looked good on the surface, but he decided to do some tissue biopsies to make sure, and sure enough, there was something wrong with me which couldn't be seen on the initial pictures.
So now I have a diagnosis, some meds and a great new GI doctor who will no doubt get me through this little blip in my medical record! -
Review from Kristen C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 4/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
Again, this is just for the office management:
After leaving several messages and calling just about every hour before lunch on Monday in hopes of getting someone other than the automated voice machine, I finally decided to give my regular doctor's office a call and have them try their luck at it. Surprise surprise when they got the answering machine as well!!
I thought it was hopeless, but by the middle of the afternoon I got a call back from Mendiola's office with an appointment for next Wed. Hmmm..Wednesday...I guess I'll just have to hope my stomach can hold out until then. And then I received another phone call saying that there had been a new opening for this Thursday! I'LL TAKE IT!! Phew...maybe there is some hope to get an appointment. after all, but man what an ordeal you have to go through just to see this doctor! And isn't it ironic that I only got a call back after I had my doctor help me! That's not very good sign.
I'm just going to cross my fingers and hope that Dr. Mendiola will be able to solve my stomach problems! Then this will all be worth it. Until then...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/26/2010
This is just for office management. I've been trying to get an appointment with Dr. Mendiola since… Read more »
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Review from Xavier P.
San Francisco, CA
8/13/2008
Dr. Mendiola is a great doctor!!!!
Had to see a Gastroenterologist and was referred by my doctor of internal medicine.
Nicest guy in the world!!!! So smart, humble, and yet so capable.
Makes sure you understand the whole process of what will take place, and makes you as comfortable as you can about what you need done and why.
Graduated from Stanford (I won't hold that against him because they do have an excellent medical program, but its all about CAL).
The final selling point, his office is in the same space as 3 other Gastro doctors and I overheard all the staff talking about how all of them see Dr. Mendiola and that they would not change. -
Review from margaret f.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2008
Yep, he really does care about you, takes his time to explain everything, and makes sure you're getting the best care he and his staff can give. Prompt return phone calls. He sent me home with a copy of my endoscopy the day it was done. He worked with me and my insurance company to eventually find a medication that would work for me *and* that was covered. He's really a decent fellow.
So, if you have something icky going on with your insides, Dr. Mendiola is the chicken soup of the western medical world. -
Review from john b.
San Francisco, CA
2/16/2010
I've been seeing Dr. Mendiola on and off for about 5 years and have always found him very thorough and helpful.
Havent been in for a while and boy does his receptionist situation suck these days.
About 50% of the time no one answers and it rolls to a generic office manager voicemail; a message left there is never returned.
When I do get his guy live on the phone the response is always "2 weeks; he can see you in 2 weeks" regardless of what you say.
This is very different from a couple of years ago when his then-receptionist (Celinda?) clearly made an effort to accomodate if something was urgent....and also picked up the phone.
Good Dr. Bad office management. -
Review from Win H.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011
Very knowledgeable and kind GI. Very understanding. His staff person Tony is very approachable as well, You have to just keep calling the main number and Tony his assistant or someone will eventually answer. I never tried leaving a message. Dr. Mendiola did my colonoscopy and it went smoothly. He has a great easy going attitude and was very thorough in explaining things to me and even answered an after hours call with the same great kind attitude. Thanks Yelp for the recommendation. BTW the GG endoscopy center where i got my colonoscopy did a great job too, as well as the lab people at CPMC where Dr. Mendiola's office is.
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Review from Merecedes G.
Salt Lake City, UT
1/10/2011
This doctor is wonderful, pleasant, courtious, friendly and an all around good guy. I had to have a colonoscopy at the age of 25 and was so freaked out. I was so happy to discover the doctor was YOUNG AND SMART. It made the procedure so much easier to know he graduated from an accredited school, has great nurses working with him and understands everything there is to about his specialty. He takes the time to speak with you before and after the procedure. He doesn't brush you off and will even speak with your spouse/significant other if you request. He took his time and made the whole experience as pleasant as a colonoscopy could possibly be. I might fly back in 5 years to just have this done by him again. He was that good.
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Review from Bruce R.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2007
Ari the GI doc rocks! A few years ago, I was in the hospital with a nasty case of idiosyncratic pancreatitis. Ari and the crew were top notch and the follow-up was superb. You probably won't see him unless something is going on with your insides, but rest assured if you are referred to him, you are in good hands!
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Review from J J.
Piedmont, CA
12/16/2010
WORLD-CLASS DOCTOR!!! Wonderful clinician, wonderful bedside manner.
THE OFFICE STAFF--UGH!! THEY DO NOT RETURN CALLS. FINALLY!, after multiple messages, I got ahold of someone named Kim, who could not be helpful enough (thank you, Kim).
Clearly, management is not (!) doing their job. Sent another friend, there, who gave up after leaving NINE!!!!! messages to make an appt.
My heart goes out to Dr. Mendiola--the office management does not reflect his superlativeness!!!!!!!!!! and also puts him in a position of liability if the office is so non-responsive and doesn't return calls. -
Review from N C.
Memphis, TN
5/8/2008
I went to Dr. Mendiola because I am a chronic Hepatitis B patient. He was very thorough and patient with all of my questions (some of which were for my mom who also has Hep B).
He is a Stanford graduate, and I could tell he knew his stuff AND he was friendly.
Definitely visit him for GI or Hep B problems. -
Review from Vivian H.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2008
I switched to Dr. Mendiola after my unsuccessful experience with the previous digestive doctor. Dr. Mendiola was very resourceful. He understands what the patients are going through and gave very constructive suggestion. I was surprised how long he talked to me; he wasn't just one of those doc who make you wait for half an hour and try to get rid of you after 5 minutes of talk.
Listed in: Who keep me in one piece
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Review from David C.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2007
If your guts hurt, there is only one place to go. Dr. Mendiola performed a upper GI endoscopy on me and was brillant. I was nervous about the procedure, and he talked me through the entire process beforehand...at no time did I feel rushed, he made it seem like he had all the time in the world to spend. The staff was the most professional I have ran into in many years...hope you never have to see him, but if you do, no worries.
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Review from Willie P.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2010
This review is solely for their office management. Nobody ever answers the phone or returns calls. This guy might be a great doctor, but I'll probably never find out.
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Review from ASG A.
San Mateo, CA
7/7/2008
yes, this GI doc rocks...literally!
just ask him about his prized collection of electric and acoustic guitars and see his face light up like a 5 year-old at christmastime. :)
back to our regularly scheduled programming...doc mendiola is ultra-smart, caring, and really knows his...er, stuff. as other yelpers have said, his bedside manner is unequalled and - unlike that bad seafood you just ate - he never rushes you.
doc mendiola...he's one cool cat! -
Review from Leslie P.
Sausalito, CA
1/30/2009
Took my wife there for a first meting work up. She liked him quite a bit and this comes from somone who puts docs in the to be avoided category.. He came to the waiting room door to see her into his office and after the workup, he came to the door again to see her out of the office. Spectacular. And he was on time for an afternoon appointment.
More to come after the follow ups. -
Review from elizabeth s.
Mill Valley, CA
6/18/2009
Dr Mendiola is not a great doctor. When I was sick, his only advice was to eat a lot of Fiber One cereal. It made me incredibly sick, resulting in a trip to the emergency room.
