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Aziza
Category: Restaurants Moroccan Moroccan [Edit]
5800 Geary Blvd(between 22nd Ave & 23rd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94121
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
(415) 752-2222
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- 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:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
K V. said: "Their turkey, brie and cranberry sandwich is delicious! I usually like my bread toasted, not chewy, but it's so good it doesn't even matter. The salads are also very flavorful and fresh. This is the perfect place to grab a quick…" read more »
1323 reviews for Aziza
Review Highlights
"Their tasting menu is terrific and well-priced."
(in 186 reviews)
"Next time I'm definitely going to try the basteeya."
(in 233 reviews)
"spreads (chickpea, piquillo-almond, yogurt-dill, flatbread."
(in 42 reviews)
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1323 reviews in English
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Review from Kazu O.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazeballs. My sister took me out here a couple nights ago for my birthday.. and wow. Everything we had here was just DAMN good.
Thank you to my fellow yelpers for recommending which dishes to order. I went with the majority recommendations, and I was NOT disappointed.
Cocktails - my drink with concord grapes and laphoaig scotch was delicious! The peatiness of the laphoaig added a nice, subtle smokiness that complimented the grape flavor well.
Flat bread with spreads - You'd think just pita breads with hummus wouldn't be that special. WRONG. Warm, butter-toasted pita breads, with the most flavorful and amazing spreads I've ever had.
Duck confit basteeya - DUCK PIE. 'nuff said. Perfect combination of sweet-and-savory.
Lamb shank - Super-tender, not gamey. I've been disappointed by lamb shanks in the past, but this one was REALLY good.
Short rib - again, super tender, and well-flavored.
Squab - Wow. This might've been my first time trying squab. The meat itself was just so full of flavor. By far the best of our 3 entrees. I'm definitely ordering this as my own the next time I come back.
Desserts - Okay, not the best desserts I've had or anything, but still really solid. We had the chocolate mousse with pumpkin sauce, and a lavender panna cotta with malted vanilla ice cream. I think I preferred the panna cotta over the chocolate mousse, but both were delicious.
This is one of those restaurants that made me go, "WOW. Everything here was good!" It's reasonably priced for the quality that you get, and the flavors are just incredible. I want to come back here again.. and again.. and again.
One thing to note -- I took pictures of the food here, and it just didn't come out that well. The food here is like a girl who just isn't very photogenic, but amazingly beautiful and awesome when you meet her in person! -
Review from Michelle M.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
The spot for Mediterranean food. It can accommodate a large group which is rare in SF.
I haven't had anything bad here but the hummus flat bread was super yummy. -
Review from Yevi A.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012 2 photos
Delicious and extremely beautifully presented food. Our big fin squid appetizer was almost too pretty to eat and luckily it tasted as good as it looked. My creamy farro/scallop/carrot/truffle dish was not like anything I've tried before. Good cocktails with fresh muddled fruits and herbs. I enjoyed my kiwi & prosecco drink - you don't see kiwi on cocktail menus too often. i think the menu was decently priced considering the tastiness and the presentation.
However, the service was surprisingly meh for a Michelin-starred restaurant. I am not going to go into details, because I would still highly recommend this place because of the high quality and uniqueness of food... -
Review from Vanessa K.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Moroccan food YUM! Must gets:
- Dips and pita, get extra pita
- Duck confit basteya (sp) it is heaven in your mouth. There are so many flavors going on, it's a non stop wow all the way down to your stomach
- Leg of lamb, falls off the bone
- Dessert
You will have a great time here, definitely make reservations and be prepared to spend money. -
Review from Lil B.
Oakland, CA
2/4/2012
Aziza is brilliant. Period.
I came here for a first date and was thoroughly impressed with the food, the ambiance, and the service. The ambiance was intimate and very romantic. The service was fantastic--courteous, knowledgeable about the wines, and perfectly attentive without being all up in our business. And the food, well, amazing. The cocktails were creative and delicious. I recommend the tasting menu! -
Review from Kristy W.
San Francisco, CA
2/8/2012
When I are here I nearly melted...the food was incredible and the cocktails were works of liqu-art! I still think about how the bartenders looked like laboratory scientists concocting magical potions. If you have time after dinner, sit at the bar and enjoy the show!
-
Review from Adrienne g.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
Oh holy frijole - Aziza was that AND a bag of chips
Gathering of buddies to ring out a fab 2011 & welcome a fab 2012, everyone was stoked to try out Aziza
Being the sole veggie of the group, I ruined any chance of a Tasting Menu experience (as you can only get it for the whole table....sorry guys!)
But there were so many choices, the group happily went about perusing the menu
Muddling drinkys are their specialty & boy oh boy were those things gewd! The bf & I had Cantaloupe & Huckleberry muddled Pisco drinkys
Others in the group got something w/ Grapefruit & Bourbon that was raved over
Appies included the 3-Dips w/ Flatbread....the table couldn't get enough of these dips. There was a yogurt, a hummus & a red pepper dip all served w/ their soft freshly baked Flatbread
Lentil Soup - completely veggie (props!) So creamy & savory & delish - I could have had about 3 bowls of this. Mixed in a tomato base, there were chewy dates & little lentils to give it a nice texture & the flavor was out of this world
Potato somethingorother....I forget what else was included w/ this appie but it was a special of the evening & was declared extremely yummy
Entrees included Lamb for our boys - they can attest it's all that. Super tender & extremely flavorful (so they say) being mixed w/ cherries & barley
Beef for my girl which she surprisingly luved as she's not really a date lover so when reading the description of it being mixed w/ dates, she was skeptical. After 1 taste, all doubts were blown away
Scallops for the BF - came w/ green Farro & truffles...how can you go wrong w/ that??
Cauliflower couscous for me - wow was this all kinds of good. Spicy & tender Cauliflower on a flavorful bed of the most tender couscous. Even the carnivores were jealous over this dish
Desserts had to be shared since we were already SO full but couldn't resist...
Chocolate Mousse for BF & me - came w/ this Hazelnut cake & the sweetest Pumpkin Ganache. I luv the combo of pumpkin & chocolate & add in the hazelnut & we're talking a whole new level of delish!
The boys shared the Walnut Tart & loved the pairing of cranberries & especially the Black Sesame Ice Cream
Let's just end this all w/ saying by the end of our meal, *someone* bought the cookbook & had it autographed.....he was THAT impressed
And there's already talk of coming back post haste! -
Review from Mad P.
Monterey, CA
2/2/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Let me start off by iterating what some other reviews have noted. I would not slate this as a Moraccan restaurant. Atleast not in the traditional sense. There is no scantily clad dancer (unfortunately), it is not a social experience (if anything its intimate and romantic - not a bad thing) but it is most definitely worth the experience. Let me also preface that with one caution. If you expect this to be a reasonably priced meal you are in for disappointment. It was very expensive but it was by far the most I have spent on a meal that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The flavors for appetizers, soups, entrees and even the drinks were something to behold. I am hard pressed to recall a restaurant that teased my tastebuds in way I had simply not considered. For example, the lentil soup was unlike any I have ever had. It was more of a puree and a savory one at that. The inclusion of some herbs and a clump of blended date was in the bottom and the waiter made a show of pouring the soup from interesting dishware into the serving ware. The herb muddled cocktails were delectable and dangerous as they well masked the alchohol. The main entrees are probably not for everyone (I am not a fan of squab) but all of that said each was prepared with precision and everyone one I tried was amazing. I even inquired with a lady next to me to see what she thought of the squab she ordered and she boasted about it.
For those who are turned off based on price, make the visit a special occasion for that special someone. It will long remain a memorable experience for them and definitely fosters an intimate dinner for two or a trendy dinner with close friends. The lighting made me feel as though I was nestled in the inner bowls of some medieval castle being served delicious dishes that left me never knowing what to expect next. I still think to call them Moraccan is at best under-appreciating what they prepare. Enjoy. -
Review from Alamandine B.
CA
1/29/2012
Came here on my birthday, what a great dinner and experience. The food is great, but so is the bartender throwing out very good caipirinhas. The booths are where you should be, very nice and cozy. The best dish we had was the Farro with Scallops and Shaved Truffles....are you kidding? you have no idea what your missing. I would walk to this restaurant to have this dish again. Utterly fantabulous! The lentil soup is also a nice dish, and the appeal is unique. They pour the lentil soup at your table, and yes, its worth the presentation.
Hands down top 5 restaurant in the city, if not the state. Bravo Aziza! -
Review from Jonathan K.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
I had heard a lot of good things about Aziza, and I was excited to try it out! The decor is elegant and simple, and the vibe of the place is low-key (low lights, somewhat casual for a one-star michelin joint).
The cocktails were quite good, with hand-muddled herbs, and spot-on proportions with the different ingredients.
However, once my date and I began to interact with the server, the night took a left turn. He asked if we had any questions, and we had three or four, as the menu features various uncommon ingredients. He (our server) immediately became condescending and rude. What's worse, he wasn't informative. When I asked about a type of vermouth on the cocktail menu, he replied- with ample smarm, "That's a VERY famous vermouth." Really? That's the defining characteristic? It's famous? Seems to me that fame loses its cache when you have to tell people...
He had various other quotes throughout the night that were absolute howlers. When I told him we wanted to share some items, he dropped a withering look and said with a sigh, "We ARE NOT a family-style restaurant." Eh, okay.
The food was mostly excellent, with the squab, squid, lentil soup, and lamb shank being complete triumphs. The shrimp boudin was a notable miss. The texture was gelatinous and the flavors were muted.
Excellent food doesn't make up for a rude server, to be sure. I may give Aziza another shot, but I'll make sure I have a different server! -
Review from Jessica C.
San Francisco, CA
Dinner here was such a treat! - despite the smaller portions.
There is a large variety of starters, it was hard to decide. We chose the (most boring one) flatbread with the trio of spreads for our appetizer. Among the three spreads, my favorite was the creamy yogurt spread flecked with dill. The other two chickpea spreads were nothing remarkable...they tasted like hummus and tomato hummus. The grilled flatbread was fluffy, warm, and nicely crisped on the outside. After we finished our delicious basket of flatbread we were provided with a generous refill without having to request it.
For an entree we had the duck basteeya - I Loved it!! Shredded braised duck and raisins in a baked phyllo pie, draped in powder sugar & cinnamon - it was very very rich and flavorful. Split among 2 people it was a perfect amount to feel satisfied but not like we stuffed ourselves.
Last came the roasted quail. This was my first time having quail and I was impressed by its appearance and texture. The meat was in 4 mini, thick steak-like boneless pieces, extreemely tender and juicy, and still pink in the middle. The quail came with a few pieces of rutabaga, a few fried brussels leaves, and a tiny smidgen of very creamy mashed potatoes. I savored 1/4 teaspoonful of the potatoes and let my friend have the other teaspoonful.
Between the endless supply of flatbread, the decadent duck basteeya, and the juicy quail steak, my friend and I left full and satisfied. There is so much variety on the menu, so many flavors, and each dish seems so indulgent. Aziza definitely makes it on my "come back here" list. -
Review from William P.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
Really amazing Moroccan - far better than anything I had in Morocco. Dishes you don't think will be that exciting are terrific; the goat cheese/tomato jam/toast dish was fantastic. Really surprising flavors.
We also loved the chicken roulade and the green faro with himalayan truffles. The truffles were so different from French; almost chocolatey.
Service was efficient, helpful, but not overbearing.
I think this might be our new favorite fine-dining restaurant in San Francisco! -
Review from Melissa L.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
I grew up around these parts and used to come to this location a lot when it was a Mexican restaurant. Once I got over the loss of my one of my favorite restaurants, I told myself to stop by and give this place a try. Well, too many years later (I wasn't THAT upset, I had just moved to the other side of SF), I was finally able to stop in.
Aziza has gained quite the following recently and with the launch of the chef's cookbook, I am sure it will be on every foodie's radar for some time.
I came here for an early Sunday dinner. At that time only a few tables were occupied. We were seated in one of the booths and had a good view of the entire room. We shared the trio of spreads to start. The spreads were chickpea, yogurt-dill and piquillo/almond. It came with a side of warm flatbread. When we ran out of the bread, and you will run out, they offered to bring us a fresh supply. Freshly grilled, that bread was delicious!
For my main course I ordered the lamb shank, which came on a bed of barley and dried fruit. I am"m not a huge fan of lamb. In fact, this is only the second time I've ever ordered lamb in a restaurant (I will only eat lamb in a Middle Eastern, Moroccan or Greek restaurant) where it wasn't heavily spiced or mixed with other meats. The lamb was delicious - tender, moist, flavorful, unctuous. The portion was more than adequate for me. In fact, I ended up giving my friend 1/3 of the lamb.
We skipped desert but were surprised to be presented with a plate of miniature handmade chocolates, nougat and fruit gelee. That was a really nice way to end the meal.
Service was top notch. Our waitress was friendly and efficient, and ensured that we enjoyed our visit.
Parking is hit or miss. I was able to find parking in the lot across the street (meters are operating there every day). I did try to find a spot on the street, but a few turns around the block produced nothing but stress on my part. They offer valet service but be prepared to spend some time looking for parking.
Although the food is well executed and the service is as good as you will find at some of the best restaurants anywhere, I thought the prices were a bit too high (I've noticed they have been rising) and feel that the restaurant's decor was too casual for the style of food and service. -
Review from Drew A.
Danville, CA
1/16/2012
I want to first preface this review with 5 Stars for service. If Aziza did not have such an attentive and outstanding wait staff, I would not bother to add this to the review.
Now, the food...
The taste is fresh. The presentation is ok.
Portions...incredibly small and overpriced. I ordered the "chicken wings," and was severely disappointed. It is absurd to have a dime sized piece of fried chicken with hardly enough meat for the price charged. The taste was nothing special, and did not bring about a sense of wonder in my palate for the price of admission.
I have had true Moroccan food elsewhere for half the price, and twice the taste.
Drinks...standard "Bourbon and Branch" style cocktails...fantastic, and fair price!
Overall, this place has a nice ambiance and attentive wait staff. If you want a "foodie" experience, there are far better in the city in this price range which will leave you somewhat full and satisfied with a new experience. -
Review from herb l.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
description: AMAZING!
give it a try. you won't regret it. from service, ambiance, and quality of food..perfection.
however..
ONLY ONE CON: wish the portions were ^^^^ well ya know -
Review from Ishmael V.
Brooklyn, NY
1/20/2012
This is one of the fond memories of when I think of San Francisco.
The time we went, was a foggy night and decided to do the tasting menu. The food was some of the best Morraccan I have ever had in my entire life. They was your hands in rose water before you start your meal and end the meal with belly dancing.
The restaurant is pumping out delicious food and the neighborhood is better for having such a gem. -
Review from Denise L.
San Francisco, CA
The food is portioned really, really, extremely small. My girlfriend and I came here for a delayed holiday celebration dinner and decided to try something unique--Moroccan food!
Anyway she claimed that "the serving size is so small, it's good for anorexic girls!" and I completely agree.
We ended up ordering the squab and scallops for our main entrees and drinks to go with it. NOT ENOUGH!
THEN, we added the duck pie appetizer and it was better because we felt fuller. The duck pie (I forgot the exact name of the dish) is so delicious!!!! That's what I would really recommend. It was around $22 so it's a bit pricey for an appetizer but it sure is filling! Heck, next time I go to Aziza, I'll just get maybe 2 or 3 of the appetizers! -
Review from Basil M.
Temecula, CA
2/3/2012
Went here with friends for dinner on a Friday night. We were a large group of 8. We did the tasting menu. I wasn't expecting much, because my thoughts of Moroccan food was more homely, not really refined cuisine. We opted for the tasting menu. We were pleasantly surprised. Everything was excellent. The stand outs were the chicken wing, the meatballs, the branzino, the duck pastry, and the lamb shank. We tasted much more food than that, and it's hard to remember everything, but it was a great meal. The only low point of 12 or 14 courses courses was the shrimp dish.
I would definitely go again. -
Review from nardo m.
Alameda, CA
1/30/2012
To be specific, I would give 2 stars for the reservation process, and 5 star to our server, Heather.
We had our company holiday dinner here in December. Farnousch was not the easiest to work with in making all the arrangements. Apparently, customer service/satisfaction is not on the top of her priority list. When we first visited the private room before booking the reservation, we asked specifically whether we would have the private room for the entire evening. And the answer was yes. As we approached our event date, we asked her for the confirmation and if we needed to sign any agreement or pay a deposit. Her answer was, "we don't get that formal around here." But not having something in writing always made me a bit nervous.
As the date drew near, we again asked her about the confirmation, that's when she sent a brief email stating that we had the reservation for the room, price per person, corkage policy, etc. That's when we found out we only had the first seating and we would have to leave the room by a certain time. We were also told the chef could not firm up the tasting menu until the evening before our party. We've had annual holiday dinners for 12 years - often at Michelin-rated restaurants - and not a single time have we had to wait until the evening prior to the event to find out the menu. That was simply ridiculous.
Farnousch initially also did not want to accommodate us with some space in other parts of the restaurant so our guests could gather for after dinner drinks since we had to vacate the room, stating that the restaurant would be completely full. She's basically telling us that our party must end by a certain time. After much negotiation, we were finally promised a communal table after vacating the room.
On the brighter side, our server for the evening, Heather, was amazingly calm and efficient. She's courteous, professional and soft-spoken. We were very lucky to have Heather be our server. -
Review from Jennifer C.
San Francisco, CA
1/6/2012 Seated via OpenTable
My bff and I took our moms to dinner, and we never know how that is going to go, but the service was impeccable. Our parents only drink hot water, so our server brought each of our moms their own teapot full of hot water. Being the poors that we are, we had a slight panic attack when we realized we still had a decent amount of spread left from our appetizer with no more flatbread to eat it with. We were ready to just scoop the rest into our mouths before they whisked the plate away, but they anticipated our needs and brought out more flatbread (which, by the way, was also deliciously grilled with olive oil and seasoned). And because we wanted to try as much as possible, we ordered four different entrees but they brought the dishes out in courses so sharing would be easier, as our table was a bit small for shuffling anything around.
Onto the noms. The spreads! Oh, the spreads. In order of preference, piquillo-almond, chickpea, then yogurt-dill. Although everything was tasty, the appetizer may very well have been my favorite dish. The piquillo-almond was sweet, but complex, and just - amazing. Dear Aziza, bottle it up and sell it please. Love, Jenn. The chickpea spread was slightly saltier and smokier than regular hummus, but still good. Having tried the other two spreads first, I think the yogurt-dill was at a slight disadvantage since it was the mildest of the three. It was still good, I just preferred vacillating between the piquillo-almond and the chickpea.
The duck confit basteeya with raisins and almonds, though listed as an appetizer, is hearty enough to be ordered as an entree. It was good, but I might venture to say, if you're going to order a basteeya, you might as well get it from Cafe Zitouna on Polk Street.
The meat in the entrees were cooked perfectly. So incredibly tender - the chicken, squab, and lamb. I've also never had dates as tiny as little grapes, the cherry/cranberry(?) couscous was amazing, and the various microgreens were nice touches for plating and flavor.
We came here primarily for the dessert, and were secretly ecstatic that our moms don't like (western) sweets. The mint bavarian was the favorite dish amongst my bff and our moms, probably because it was the most plain in flavor. The lime-buttermilk foam was delightful though, and in my opinion, was the only thing that had in flavor in the dish.
The quince sorbet was my fave. The tartness of the quince made up for all the tang I've been craving throughout the rest of the meal, and the goat yogurt granita was a fascinating addition. The almond also added a much appreciated crunch to it.
I'm beginning to learn that it is very challenging to make chocolate desserts stand out. Chocolate by itself is already very palatable in most forms, but to make it a full-on dessert is usually too decadent and one-dimensional, with slight variances in texture and accompaniment. I didn't expect the kumquat to be candied. It was an interesting preparation, but only made the dessert even more saccharine. Unless eaten by itself, the pumpkin ganache was also overpowered by the chocolate.
It is perhaps because we had such high expectations about the desserts going in that we came away a little disappointed, but we definitely appreciated the effort that went into their preparation. Though I only mentioned the obvious flavors and textures, I know there were a ton of other details that were painstakingly crafted. Bff and I joked about seeing a post-dessert dessert menu, and next thing we knew, our server brought out a dish of little sweets with our check (seriously, we don't speak loudly - they must read minds there). The sweets included nougats, fruit pastilles, and these chocolate truffles of some kind.
It was a very pleasant dining experience, and I look forward to going back to try their other appetizers. Maybe their famed 7X7 meatballs with grapes will be back. -
Review from Danna D.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012
My boyfriend and I went here for the first time for our first year anniversary. I heard such great things about this place from my employer, friends, and even strangers! I made a reservation about a month in advance just to make sure I got reservations during a good hour. It's probably not necessary to make reservations THAT far in advance, but I'm pretty sure it is high suggested since they are so popular.
I liked how they were very nice about accommodating us when we were 15 minutes late due to the heavy rain. When we got there we were seated at a decent table and our server was very informative about the menu and what specials they have for the evening and recommendations for cocktails. Overall, the service was great. I liked how they gave us just enough attention and our water glass was always filled. The food was amazing! Below is what we ordered:
Flatbread and spreads: The flatbread was great. It was nicely grilled with a slight brush of olive oil and it was warm and toasty. The appetizer came with three different spreads - chickpeas, yogurt&dill, and something with almond. All of them were really tasty, but my favorites were the yogurt&dill and the almond spread. We ordered more flatbread because we didn't want to waste the spread!
Duck confit basteeya: AMAZING. I would go to Aziza just for this. When the server brought it out, it looked like a wheel of cheese. Then he was explaining what it was and cutting it at the same time. The steam and sweet and savory smell of it was coming out that whatever the server was saying just sounded like "blah blah blah blah blah" to me. All I can think of was I WANNA EAT YOU DUCK CONFIT!! This is definitely worth it. P.S. love the buttery philo dough.
Lamb shank: my boyfriend had the lamb shank which was pretty good. It was definitely filling. The barley had a hint of sweetness which gave a nice balanced flavor with the (I think) slight gamey taste of the lamb. It was also fall off the bone goodness which made it so easy to eat.
Branzino: I had this dish and I thought it was perfect. I had the branzini dish at Restaurant Gary Danko and although I preferred GD's branzini, this came in second best. The fish had a nice crispy skin with warm flaky meat. The sauce underneath gave the fish great flavor and the celery and kumquat gave it a great contrast in texture. It also had hedgehog mushrooms, which was my first time trying it and I loved it.
We didn't get any dessert, but they did bring out a little extra treat with some sweets on a plate and "Happy anniversary" written in chocolate. It was a sweet touch. I also had a pisco cocktail and the bf got an interesting flavored ginger ale. Both were great! The pisco was on the strong side and I really liked to ginger ale that I asked them where I could purchase it and they were more than welcome to give me the information. Very friendly staff, great food and ambiance. Will be back again! -
Review from Greg P.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
I got together at Aziza with a few friends from college for a nice Saturday night dinner, and we all had a great time.
As an appetizer, one of my dinnermates ordered the flatbread and spreads, but we all shared it. Very tasty. The bread was warm and crispy, and all the spreads were good (if not particularly groundbreaking). You won't finish the spreads with the bread they give you initially, so plan to get one or two extra orders of flatbread. (This makes the appetizer quite shareable.)
For my own appetizer, I ordered the fried sweetbreads. Now, here is a fun fact for you! You might think that "sweetbread" is some kind of bread: perhaps even a bread with a sort of sweet taste to it. You might *think* that; but if you think that, then you would be stupid. Because how could you think such a ridiculous thing? No, my friend: "sweetbreads" are glands.
No, I didn't say "clams". I said "glands". You might *think* I said "clams", because the word "glands" certainly sounds a little like the word "clams"--especially coming from the mouth of a server at the other side your the table and over the din of a restaurant full of diners. Certainly it is a common mistake, completely understandable.
Not that *I* would personally ever make such a mistake, of course. I mean, let's not be ridiculous.
But no, I said "glands".
So anyway, the sweetbreads were interesting.
I actually ended up liking them more than I thought I would; I'm usually pretty sensitive to unusual textures in food, but these were rich and hardly tough or chewy at all. That said, I probably wouldn't get them again.
For my entree, I got the chicken dish, which was truly fantastic. The chicken itself was moist and pretty flavorful; that said, the real stars of the dish were the sides: the cipollini, the dates, and the soubric. I'd never had soubric before, but I loved this stuff. Would fully 100% recommend.
My dessert was the walnut tart, which was also delicious.
The restaurant was a bit dark, but generally the ambiance was great. (Despite what I said earlier in the review, I actually didn't find the restaurant too loud.) Our server was friendly and helpful. And value-wise, I thought this place was a spectacular deal. This was easily as good as meals I've had for 1.5-2.5x the price--and reservations were hardly a hassle at all.
I would certainly and gladly come back here. -
Review from Raymond Z.
Milpitas, CA
1/23/2012
In the words of a co-worker "this place is epic!"
The lamb shank was pretty delicious....super tender it fell right off the bone. The BBQ short ribs were good and they had this very tasty beet salad. (And you really can't go wrong with any of the appies or deserts.)
The price point is really good too...considering the presentation of the meals and the flavors...I was expecting a pretty pricey bill but that wasn't the case. I thought the portion sizes were spot on -- enough not to feel hungry in an hour but not to that comatose stage either.
Overall, the food and the bill left smiles on everyone's faces. -
Review from Ashley R.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
This is one of my favorite restaurants in SF. I've been to Morocco several times, and I wouldn't describe it as an authentic Moroccan restaurant, rather a restaurant inspired by Morocco, in the best way.
A few Moroccon-inspired favorites are the duck confit pastille (a take on the common pigeon pastille in morocco), adds sophistication and new complexity to an already excellent combination of sweet and spicey (picture a puff pastry with cinnamon and spices mixed with raisins and poultry), and the couscous, which is actually better than any couscous I've had in Morocco - it just melts in your mouth in a way you never thought couscous could.
Combine these excellent dishes with some more california fare and excellent yet interesting fresh fruit cocktails and it's worth waiting (up to 45 minutes, even with a reservation). This place is also extremely well-priced for a Michelin starred restaurant (one of the only $$$ ones), and the service is good but no pretentious. Double bonus points for not letting the Michelin man's endorsement ruin such an excellent experience. -
Review from Andrew K.
Mountain View, CA
1/6/2012 1 photo
I had a tender lamb dish; my girlfriend had a good fish dish...both were very tasty, but OMG the flatbread--it was to DIE for. We had to get refills on the flatbread to use up the three spreads, which were all amazing.
Next time I come, I would be tempted to just get a bunch of appetizers. I did very much enjoy my main course, but the appetizers seemed much more interesting and unique than the mains. Also, I would try to get seated in the main dining room next time. We were given a table in the back room, and the seating arrangements/table size were a bit awkward. Being in the back also meant that it was a little more difficult getting the attention of our server.Listed in: Written in the (Michelin)…
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Review from Matt D.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Tiny portions - ginormous tastes.
Fresh, complex cocktails - well chosen beer list.
My sister doesn't live in SF, but knows I love to dine out, so she found this restaurant on the "top 100 restaurants in SF" list. Thanks sis! ... I don't know what Moroccan food is supposed to taste like, but whether or not you like Middle Eastern / Arabic types of food, you'll love their dishes. Don't expect swarmas, kebabs, and hummus. That's not how these guys roll. Their tiny dishes are packed with taste. We had the big fin squid appetizer, which was possibly the best squid/artichoke dish in SF (covered in a citrus & pepper sauce). We were recommended the most expensive entrees (squab & branzino) by our knowledgeable sommelier, who was friendly and always showed up at our table at the right moment. The entrees were excellent choices, though I gotta say the squid won the prize. The fish was more on the average side and the squab was a touch gamey.
This is a great restaurant for a special occasion or if you really want to impress someone! Don't come here too hungry, though, as the portions are small. Expect to spend ~$100/person. I gave this place 4 stars just because I felt it was a little bit overpriced. Though, I'm sure I'll be back here at some point, as the food was excellent and the Arabic decor made for a fantastic intimate atmosphere. -
Review from Ben B.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
Meh. Yes-the food was good. Nothing tasted bad or was not cooked right. But it wasn't anything particularly special. Would I go out of my way to make a reservation and get it again? No.
My date and I started with a couple drinks-good. then we got the "spreads"appetizer and the squid appetizer. The spreads were ok, but again, nothing spectacular. The flatbread was actually better than the spreads themselves. The squid, however, was delicious. In my opinion it was the best item ordered all night.
For our dinners, she got the mediterranean bass. It was ok. Not really memorable though. However, the fish WAS cooked absolutely perfectly. I chose the lamb shank, which was great. Better than any lamb I have had before?-no. I actually really enjoyed that sauce that came with it.
Again, dinner was good-it is a good meal and we both left satisfied. Not a place to avoid or turn down an invitation to, but i wouldn't go out of my way to return. -
Review from Danny L.
12/14/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Aziza is simply perfection...
Yes, I said it. "PERFECTION!" The perfect concoction of tantalizing and extraordinary cuisine and service. My wife and I were blown away by literally everything we had and experienced. Each dish was aesthetic and delectable including the coffee. Yes, even the coffee! And, they also have "veggie friendly" options too.
I could name the many dishes we ordered but that would cover the entire menu. All I can say is that we have yet to be disappointed by what they serve. My personal favorite? The tender and oh so perfect lamb shank with saffron. Mmmm... makes my mouth water just thinking about the savory shank.
Oh, and the service?! Absolutely amazing. From the host and waiters all the way down to the busboys and servers.... Extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. Let's just say my water and drinks never made it even near the halfway point.
Aziza is what fine dining really should strive to be..... PERFECTION! -
Review from Lisa H.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
came here for my 2 year anniversary. Great service and tasting menu. They even give you a snack to take home!
My bf and I agree this is the best service we've ever experienced -- very attentive but more personable than a Ritz Carlton or Alinea per say -
Review from Jen Y.
Came here with a friend a few months ago for dinner and loved the decor and ambiance. Stepping into Aziza transports you to an exotic place far from San Francisco. We were seated in the backroom, which was very private and quiet.
We shared:
*salad with ash yogurt, roasted beets, watermelon and chilis
*yogurt & dill, roasted eggplant, and piquillo-almond spreads served with pita triangles
*duck confit in filo w/ raisins and almond
*short ribs w/ sunchoke, bread pudding, carrot, and abalone mushroom
Every dish was beautifully constructed and featured intriguing ingredients. However, to my dismay, I enjoyed hearing about and looking at the dishes significantly more than I did eating them. My friends also hyped up Aziza so I had extremely high expectations. Unfortunately, I would not dine here again because I personally believe taste is more important than presentation. -
Review from chris b.
San Francisco, CA
1/20/2012
This place used to be stellar is every aspect. Just recently went for a work dinner and the food (veggie dish) was SALTY and I need a gallon of water that night. My colleagues also said their soups were "odd" with a sweet and salty mix. The drinks were pretty good, my other colleague's fish was outstanding. Service was mediocre at best. It didn't seem like our server wanted to be there and we were actually a nuisance to her night. A bit cheezy as well that the chef's book was predominantly displayed for sale at the entrance. I am waiting for them to start selling branded olive oil soon
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Review from Karen E.
Brentwood, CA
1/28/2012
Made reservations to take my hubby here for his birthday celebration. Realizing we would be running a bit late called and was happy to hear they would hold our reservations. Needless to say we ended up arriving over an hour late and were amazed to be warmly greeted by the hostess and immediately seated!
Their staff is warm and attentive, the food fabulous. We shared the spreads, which were good, and the flatbread which is wonderfully grilled with a touch of olive oil and was refilled to allow us to finish the remaining spread. Next we dove in to the lentil soup with medjool dates which provided an exquisite sweet addition every couple of bites.
For the main course my husband enjoyed the lamb shank which melted off the bone, complimented with roasted barley, cherry and saffron. I couldn't decide between the brassicas and the chicken so asked my waiter for his recommendation and I am grateful that I did. I thoroughly enjoyed the rolled chicken with preserved lemon which was to die for (my husband has decided this will be his selection when we return - which we definitely will), it was accompanied by celery root and hen of the woods which were both fantastic.
I had the cake with lemon ice cream which was fabulous and my husband enjoyed the chocolate mousse. As it was his birthday they brought his dessert with a candle and in a very understated and gracious manner wished him a happy birthday (as did several other diners at nearby tables). We were also pleasant surprised with a trio of sweet bites including salted carmel topped with chocolate, pomegranate jelly, and lime meringues which were a wonderful end to an exquisite meal.
We found the entire meal to be wonderful in presentation and taste, the portions perfect, and the service fantastic. Prices were excellent, in fact quite unexpected for a Michelin starred restaurant. Can't wait to return and will definitely be bringing friends and family wanting a great meal while visiting San Francisco. -
Review from Kb E.
Flushing, NY
1/2/2012
Upon arriving to San Francisco via the U.S 1 Highway, I was lethargic and hungry after commuting for 8 hours. I have heard many great reviews about this place and decided to indulge in what S.F has got to offer.
As I quickly glanced down the limited item menu, I ordered the lamb shank without hesitation. There were other varieties as well, such as duck in a pie and broccoli over some fancy rice (I do apologize since I'm not technical with the names, but I'll try to be accurate as possible). Aziza also offers pita bread on a selection of three homemade sauces - yogurt sauce, peanut sauce and a nothing to rave about sauce (sorry I forgot the name).
The main dishes were petite, but they pack a powerful punch to the palate. However, I wouldn't compare the flavor explosion to Mike Tyson's signature Haymaker, but more like Manny's lightning quick jab-jab-jab. You probably wouldn't be head over heels after the first bite, but after the third or forth tender bite you will understand how all the ingredients are able to come together to make each dish so delectable.
Dessert was alright ; a bunch of fancy lexicon on the menu that only chefs would understand. The menu sounds artistic, but lacks substance. I ordered *insert fancy dish name*, but it was really ice cream and almond pastries slapped together on an opulent silverware.
Overall it was a great experience and I would love to try their tasting menu, which starts at 86 dollars per person. -
Review from Ken G.
12/2/2011
I really had an excellent time at this restaurant - the food was spectacular and I can see why everyone loves it.
Concord Grape - my evening started off with this great cocktail...the funny thing is it smells awful (kind of like nail polish and gasoline), but tastes fantastic - it's sweet and really tastes like a specialty cocktail.
Spreads - I'd heard great things about this tray of spreads that was awesome: they each have a specific base (eggplant, peppers, yogurt-dill) and has particular spices added to each one and really makes for some interesting flavors. The grilled flatbread that went along with it was great too - rich and had a slightly crisp/toasty outer layer.
Lamb Shank - This was a nice dish of very tender lamb that was perfectly seasoned. It arrived with a nice side dish of barley that tasted great.
Chocolate Anise Cake - I love chocolate and I love anise...I always wondered what it would be like to have them together and it was actually great! A chocolate cake filled with ganache infused with anise, this added a nice exotic take to a typical chocolate dessert. The ice cream that arrived with it was good too and helped to actually clean the palate a bit from the richness of the cake.
I really liked my experience here...my only complaint would be the ambiance/decor. Considering that the food is so great and the price is a bit on the higher side, I was expecting a bit more in terms of the décor, which was just okay...it looks like it's a restaurant that's been around for a while and never updated...I think it was going for an old-world Moroccan look, but to me it just came off as old.
Ignore the décor and enjoy the great food. -
Review from Trisha T.
Glendale, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a few cocktails with friends on New Years Eve. I was floored by the fancy concoctions. My favorite was the guava cocktail, which NEEDS to be served on a transpacific flight in first class. Get on it, Hawaiian Air! The restaurant itself is very dark but beautiful. Dinner that night was a set menu so I didn't get to check what they usually offer, but I would return.
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Review from Yang Q.
11/21/2011
Delicious drinks, dimly lit romantic ambiance, well-cooked and expertly presented food, but TINY TINY portions. Basically, exactly what you would expect from a fancy-shmancy high-end restaurant.
If you are coming here in an attempt to impress a date, I would advise looking at the menu beforehand with Google and a dictionary of cooking terms in hand. Upon first glance (and 15 minutes later after the second and third attempts), we had no idea what to order because we could only recognize one word out of each description. Luckily our waiter was very helpful and patiently explained everything from green farro (sort of like risotto) to laphroaig (single malt whiskey). With his and Yelp's help, we decided on the flatbread spreads, squab, quail special, and sangria and concord grape whiskey drinks.
The spreads--eggplant, dill-yogurt, and almond with pine nuts--were delicious and our waiter kindly refilled our flatbread so we could enjoy them more. Our entrees were both expertly and fancily made and arranged (the waiter used words like roulade and others I can't even remember when describing them). The quail was perfectly tender with just the right amount of skin and fat. Unfortunately, both dishes were about the size of an appetizer--two pieces of squab and five small cuts of quail--and we definitely wished for more after we were done.
But the DRINKS! I would go back just to sit at the bar and drink. The sangria was slightly bubbly and delicious and the grape whiskey did not taste like whiskey at all! Everything on the cocktail menu sounds unique and I want to go back to try them all. -
Review from Johan T.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012
Top notch food. Although this isn't your mama's Moroccan kitchen and grandma definitely didn't make it like this. The lentil soup had so many layers of flavor I stopped counting and just went with it. Result: food nirvana. The lamb shank my buddy ordered was so tender the meat slid off the bone. My spare ribs were similarly fantastic. And the mint tea or whatever leaves they stuffed in a tea bowl and added a dash of rose water to, had a great Gas-X effect. Best of all (cringe foodies, cringe!) there's still room in your stomach to go to Mel's Diner at midnight for fries and chicken strips. Aziza has 1 Michelin star but won't break the bank by a long shot. Best of all, the place is miles and miles from the putrid tourist core around Union Square.
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Review from Kristy S.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
Aziza was once one of my favorite restaurants in the city. We have eaten here around 5 times. The first 3 times were amazing. The prices weren't as high and the food portions were larger. Since they have received their Michelin Star the restaurant has become pretentious and over rated. The quality of food, atmosphere and staff has become stuffy. The plates have become over designed and skimpy. I wish they would have stuck with what made them so great in the start. The best choice on the menu for the price is the lamb, which is very good. STAY away from any fish dishes...WAY over priced for a miniature fish fillet...it was somewhat irritating they would even send something so miniature. Upside the drinks are delish and the overall taste of the menu is very good. I've decided never to return.
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Review from bone-dry-cappuccino L.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I would give them 5 star if the wine-by-the-glass list is a little better, at the very least they should have a wine on that list good with all the dishes they serve that night. I ordered lamb, they didn't have a wine that is big enough to perfectly match with the lamb. Other than that, it is a great restaurant.
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Review from Andy P.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
Our experience was consistent with many of the other mediocre reviews here on Yelp. The food was very good but we found the service lacking and prices not in line with the overall quality. Service was very slow for a supposedly one star Michelin restaurant. We were seated for at keast 10 minutes before our drink order was taken and the drinks didn't arrive until after our soup course. We were seated right next to the silverware station. It was not a bad table otherwise but every 2 minutes a waiter would arrive and loudly rustle through the bins for a couple of minutes until he found what he was looking for. It was so loud i was losing my train of thought each time. They finally seemed to realize how loud they were and started taking the appropriate bin with them to the table. Why they didn't do this from the start I din't know. It was a disturbance I would expect at a cheap diner, not at a restaurant of this pedigree.
The food we had was very good. I had the sunchoke soup which was outstanding. My wife had the Lentil soup which was also very good. I had the short rib for an entree which was also excellent but arrived as a moderate portion on a very large plate with nothing else on the plate. A small portion of a starch or vegetable would have made the dish perfect but the chef's clear preference is for high prices and small portions. The reviews are clear here so I hope the chef realizes he has the making of a great restaurant only if he addresses the problems that show up consistently here in Yelp.
