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Bistro Burger

3.5 star rating
based on 99 reviews

Categories: American (Traditional), Burgers  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Financial District
333 Bush St
(between Belden Pl & Montgomery St)
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 434-3754
$2 off a Salad Or FREE small Frings

Check us out at http://www.BistroBurge.... for our Special Offers of the month.

It's Not Your Ordinary Burger. It's A Bistro Burger!

 
Hours:

Mon-Fri. 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Good for Groups:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Good for:
Lunch
Alcohol:
None

99 reviews for Bistro Burger

Review Highlights   

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"The Solution: Bistro Burger Cheeseburger Royale with Gorgonzola, grilled…" (in 5 reviews)
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"if you chase it down with the shake and frings, both yummy." (in 16 reviews)
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"Love the curly fries, like I love all curly fries." (in 13 reviews)
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One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?

Photo of Jeanine d.

 

13

102

Jeanine d.

Daly City, CA

4 star rating
3/19/2009

My first time eating there and i'm a fan!

I ordered a mushroom burger with frings. Food tastes great!!! AND they have Barq's Rootbeer =)

They participate in a frequent buyer program. I was able to get my almost $12.00 meal for free compliments of my eating companion (Ms. L) who is a frequent patrion of this establishment.

Thanks for sharing Ms. L... now i have a new addiction!!!

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Photo of Linda C.

Elite '10

105

337

Linda C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/28/2010 1 photo

Good place if you're craving a burger. A little expensive but it's FiDi. Cool place with outdoor seating. Staff is fast & friendly. They have a ton of different burgers to choose from and various ways to get your side of potatoes. Pretty fast so it's good if you're on a tight lunch break.

- Chicken Paris Burger: I love cheese, mushrooms, and chicken. Put them together in a burger along with some yummy grilled onions and I'm happy!
- Garlic Fries: okay nothing special

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Photo of Jeff P.

Elite '10

10

230

Jeff P.

Dublin, CA

3 star rating
1/19/2010

Good burger but over priced.

For a burger, coke and onion rings you are looking at about $13-$14. Yeah its the financial district and yeah you are getting better quality hamburger than fast food but come on now your prices are way too high.  

I usually get the California burger with sprouts, jack cheese and avocado. Pretty tasty but as mentioned before not worth the price. The onion rings however are spot on and would recommend them to anyone that checks it out.

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Photo of Becky M.

Elite '10

18

130

Becky M.

Alameda, CA

2 star rating
1/7/2010

I don't mind laying down some scrilla for a tasty slab 'o cow on a bun...

The main thing missing from the burgers at Bistro Burger is the "tasty" part though.

I have had Bistro Burger in house and via catering. It's just not good quality food.

But shit, it you wanna pay $15.00 for something that would taste better if it were passed to you through a McDonald's drive-thru window that's your business.

I'll take my business to a Barney's. Word!

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Photo of Mimi T.

Elite '10

258

646

Mimi T.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
11/11/2009

My colleague was extremely hung over today so I thought I'd be a good Samaritan and pick up burgers for us for lunch.
I called in advance for the burger--when I got there..there was a long line--I still had to wait in the line to pay..furthermore..had to wait for my burgers. Turned out they had the order incorrect, too..rather than asking for a refund for the difference and wait another burger..I just decided to deal with it..
The fries were pretty good though...

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Photo of Mithrilzero X.

 

37

246

Mithrilzero X.

Fremont, CA

4 star rating
6/13/2009

Probably one of my old favorites whenever I'm in the City and haven't had too much City-eats for awhile, Bistro Burger is to me a guilty pleasure I just have to keep having. Well, I don't feel particularly guilty about it except maybe when I have to miss a bill payment and my kids don't eat for a day just to enjoy a meal there but otherwise, it doesn't happen often less because of guilt and more because of price.

I first ran into Bistro while working a job near Embarcadero and this place was right around the corner. Now I've always enjoyed a beefy, cheesy, mushroom and onion laden burger, and if you throw bacon on it things can only get better--and of course this place does all that and more! Not that any of those things are particularly special, but their Bacon Royale with Cheese, my usual, has a Gorgonzola option and wow do I truly enjoy that rich, awful smelling cheese! They've got other burgers too, with varying degree of toppings, and they have veggie patty and chicken breast alternatives (I've tried the chicken; I figure I can go anywhere for overcharred and dry chicken sandwiches) but I'm more interested in the beef.

(On the beef note, they serve that Niman farms beef (like Seller's Market) and I do think it's a good beef, but really, is it enough to charge an extra few bucks for the burger? I don't think my palate is so refined that I could tell the difference between Niman and say Harris Ranch, but as long as the beef is good and not too fatty, I think it should be just par for the course unless words like "cheap," "fast," and "food" describe your cuisine.)

They also have salads. Salads? Do you really go to superfatburgerandonionrings for SALAD??? Well, it IS SF after all. Besides, what are your health-conscious, fit and ano friends going to eat while you scarf away more calories than they've had in the past six months, anyway?

Speaking of which, another awesome menu item is their onion rings, again, an amazingly delicious and extremely awful for you food that just makes that delicious burger scream "EAT ME!!!" all the more. I used to polish off an entire side order of these by myself; and I'm not talking about the side order that comes with the burger either. It surprises me that I'm still alive after all that. I'm sure I'm making perfectly healthy appetites want to purge with that image...

But they are the perfect combo from Bistro for me.

For drinks, they have fountain and iced tea (which I typically have), can and bottle options including water, and shakes. The first time I had a strawberry shake, I couldn't suck it through the straw. I actually felt dismay that either the shake was so thick that I couldn't drink it without a spoon or that my mouth and jaw muscles were so minuscule that I had to wait until it melted into a strawberry milk before I could use the straw. Not that I feel awful about the latter but still, that is one firm shake, I think only a few degrees away from standard ice cream. But it wasn't bad, just not my cup of tea.

They are a bit of a walk from my office, so I have to strategize just to eat here to fit my often tight schedule. Well, it's not Taylor's or Asquew, so it's not like I'm losing more calories than I'm consuming, but I'm pretty sure the o-rings totally make up for any loss I would have encountered by a brisk walk AND I come out on the plus side. Erg, not such a good thing really...

Overall, a great burger and side. Their menu is not too large and they have some alternatives, including breakfast though I've never tried it. Their location here is small, so it's good that they've got that great outdoor patio to share, but get here early anyway. Service is always good, not terribly fast but not slow, but their prices... It makes my chest where my wallet sits hurt just thinking about it. But it's still a great option and one I'll continue to seek out so long as I work out this way.

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Photo of Christy L.

Elite '10

24

96

Christy L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
5/27/2009

I just finished dominating the California burger (avocados, sprouts, and jack cheese).  The size was a little intimidating because the patty is pretty massive, but I still managed to down it in one sitting (since living in SF has made me a well-trained foodie).  I ordered the burger medium but it came out borderline well-done and was a bit on the dry side... I mean, it was good but in the end, just a bit above average.  In other words, it didn't explode in my mouth and make me say "OH MY GOD THAT'S EFFING GOOD MEAT" like Taylor's burgers do.

On the plus side, the food comes out super fast so the wait time is minimal.  There's a great outdoor seating area so you can watch all the crazies run down Bush Street.  They also have a good variety of toppings and actually feature a large selection of turkey and veggie burgers.

Was it worth the $8?  Eh maybe... But I'd rather go to Taylor's or Pearl's instead!

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Photo of Michelle W.

Elite '10

111

230

Michelle W.

Union City, CA

4 star rating
7/18/2009

I come here a lot when I have time to meet up with my friend for her lunch break because there's so much variety on the menu and all the burgers (beef or chicken) are delicious. I typically stick to the chicken burgers since I'm not a huge fan of ground beef, but they tend to have to same ingredients.

Each burger ranges from $5-8 and is guaranteed to fill you up. No joke. These suckers are huge. My favorite is the California burger (grilled chicken patty, avocado, & pepperjack cheese) with a side of fries. After adding on the fries and a drink, be prepared to fork over about $12-15. It's a lil bit on the pricey side, but I don't mind spending money on good food. Service is decent, venue is cleaned and well maintained, food will make you happy. What more can you ask for?

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Photo of Ian C.

 

26

82

Ian C.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
Updated - 7/29/2009

Man, why is this place so expensive? For just a burger!

Don't get me wrong - their burgers are good, just not $7-8 good. And the burgers don't even come with fries! Last time I got a burger and fries it came out to ~$11. That is too much.

I also don't like that the type of jalapeños they have. Haha, really! Most burger places you can get the pickled (I think?) jalapeños that are small and wet, but this place only serves fresh jalapeños that are just too damn hot. I like spicy food, but these ones are just too hot. I realize that that some people might think fresh jalapeños would be a good thing, but in my book it is not! Or get jalapeños that aren't as spicy, please (and I do like spicy food).

Probably won't be back here solely because of the price. Now I need to find another burger spot in the FiDi.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 3 star rating
    6/19/2008

    Good lunch spot. I had the Pineapple burger today and it was really tasty. Decent size and fresh… Read more »

Photo of Jamie L.

Elite '10

76

253

Jamie L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
5/1/2009

The sacrifice I made today just to get a fricken hamburger which, by the way, was too expensive.

I had ordered the California Burger, medium well, with Frings. It came to a grand total of $13.00, I'm rounding up here. I tried to use my AMEX gift card, but after six attempts to run it, one of the managers realizes that they don't even accept them to begin with. I then take the next seven minutes getting my debit card, then getting money out, then returning to pay for/pick-up my food.

Gotta love the dirty looks I got from the other patrons who were waiting in line, if only they knew what I HAD to do to get a burger. Now I'm sitting here full to the point of being uncomfortable and a small heartburn. Was it worth it all. Yeah for my hunger.

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Photo of Greydon U.

Elite '10

109

102

Greydon U.

San Leandro, CA

3 star rating
2/11/2009

Wow.  Great variety of burgers!  They range from the classic(bacon cheese burger) to the exotic(hawaiian).  With everything in between.  The decor is like a modern twist on the 50's diner.  With quick service this is an ideal spot for a quick bite for lunch.

 Bottom Line:  A little on the pricey side for a burger joint, but I need to watch my cholesterol about as much as I need to watch my wallet, so I only indulge occasionally.

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Photo of Louis B.

 

0

7

Louis B.

Merced, CA

4 star rating
10/9/2009

Great burgers.  First time I've been to one and I was pleasantly surprised.  I figured it would be good considering the line at lunch time.  Will definitely go again next time I'm in the City.

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Photo of Alyson C.

Elite '10

133

250

Alyson C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
4/1/2009

I love coming here to satisfy my Burger cravings. I love, love, love the Paris Burger (Brie with Mushrooms) but find that sometimes there is TOO much brie. But no matter what you order, it's still super tasty.

I think anything slapped with "neiman ranch" shoots the cost up by $1.00, but no matter what, my burger is cooked perfectly seasoned, juicy and tender. The pricing is a bit much, but there is quality in every bite.

Yesterday, I tried the Banana Shake and really, truly loved it. I'm not sure if I enjoyed enough for $4.99... but it was delightful as a splurge.

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Photo of Jordan C.

 

24

84

Jordan C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
11/20/2008

A decent, tasty burger. I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger, my personal reference for any serious burger tasting. It had good flavor and texture, and was decently soft despite clearly not being cooked "medium". (Well done would be closer to reality).

The restaurant itself is clean, cheerful and brightly lit from natural light. The service was pretty damn fast considering how busy it was, and they brought us our burgers in under 5 minutes.

The fries and rings were nothing to right home about, but were fresh and tasted fine.

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Photo of Roserrele W.

 

2

95

Roserrele W.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/9/2009

I usually order mushroom burger and it is always so juicy and tasty.  The side order of fries is usually a bit too well-done (I like my fries just out from the cooker and still crispy the outside and soft the inside).

However, I do consider Bistro Burger is a bit expensive.  A burger + fries cost over $10.  The sweeter thing is that you can collect stamps for a club card and get the 10th combo meal or full salad after you bought 9.  It's particularly a nice place to go when I want a fast lunch or when it rains and I don't want to go too far away from my workplace.

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Photo of phillip w.

Elite '10

172

537

phillip w.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
8/4/2008

its right next door to where I work...I wasnt sure what to eat, I should of looked elsewhere..

Remember in elementary school cafeterias? when they used to have different meals for different days of the week? one of those days they would serve hamburger or cheeseburger in a foil package..

If you really want to remember what it was like to eat a hamburger in the school cafeteria please dine here...

I have to say the fries did taste good though, but its not hard to fry some french fries..if they couldnt even do that right then they are really in trouble. O yea, they are fast with service so I guess it makes up for the food =_=

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Photo of David O.

Elite '10

79

866

David O.

Vallejo, CA

4 star rating
9/8/2008

The Problem: craving a nice, solid burger.

The Solution:  Bistro Burger Cheeseburger Royale with Gorgonzola, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, small curly fries and a regular drink.  

You're not going to eat the finest burger you've ever had here at Bistro Burger.   If that's what you're looking for, you probably should avoid FiDi lunchtime eateries where they try to crank through as much business as possible Monday through Friday.   That said, I've had a few burgers around the area and Bistro Burger are pretty solid for what you'll find in the area.  From my perspective, anyway, it's far superior to the crap they serve at Flame's on 2nd Avenue.  

I mean... shit... they got a gorgonzola cheeseburger... Find me another place that serves those in under 30 minutes in the FiDi!!!

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Photo of Elsa E.

 

25

103

Elsa E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/17/2008

Good burgers. I come here because they use Niman Ranch beef, but so does Flames and their burgers are cheaper. This place is closer to where I work and you can sit outside, so that makes it worth the extra $1 sometimes.
Plus frings are a godsend for the indecisive.

Breakfast burritos here are THE best in the FiDi. only $3.50 for a veg. I think. Too bad they open at 8am, otherwise I'd go more often.

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Photo of Higgins D.

 

1

15

Higgins D.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
10/20/2008

I was out to lunch and in the mood for something with a decent amount of meat and in a sandwich form. I came upon Bistro Burger and it seemed like it would fit the craving.

It's not the fanciest of joints, you get a number and sit at a table where they deliver the food to you--condiments able to be shuffled, mixed and matched about the place.

The service was quick, and in less than five minutes I had what I ordered, a Bacon Cheeseburger Royale with aged cheddar and onions, open face so I can dump all manner of what I wanted onto it. Perfect, just what I expected!  I bit into it. Indeed, a little bit better than I expected.

What surprised me most is that the bacon was _crisp!_ In so many burger places, low end to high, the bacon is usually towards the flexible or, worse, the soggy side of greasy. It was amply rigid and clung to the bed of cheddar it was on like it should.

The fries matched perfectly, just the right amount of seasoning. Some people said they skimp on the fries. But, honestly? After eating a burger of this size the number of fries fit well. I left feeling full but not uncomfortably stuffed, unlike how many other places are if you eat the mountain of starch they serve alongside the burger.

I will definitely be back on those occasions I'm in the mood for some reasonably greasy burger fare. Burger Bistro has an ample amount of variety in their offerings, combined with their mix-n-match nature of ordering, I could eat here for weeks and keep trying new things. But I won't, obviously, because I value my heart. I'm just sayin'.

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Photo of Edward Y.

 

49

60

Edward Y.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
5/22/2008

I have a major gripe about this place... their veggie burgers are the same price as their regular burgers. Not only that, but the California  Burger (swiss cheese, sprouts, avocado) is about a dollar fifty more than the bacon cheeseburger royale.

I'm sure veggie patties are about the same price as meat patties and that avocados are fairly expensive -- but the fact that the bacon cheeseburger royale is considerably cheaper drives me insane. Everytime I order that California Veggie Burger I think... but I could have that bacon cheeseburger for a buck fifty less.... arrggghhhh... of course I don't take up that offer considering I will feel guilty as hell for clogging my arteries... BUT ITS CHEAPER. AND IT HAS BACON. YOU HEARD THAT?? BACON!!!!! Instead of going with my instincts, I grudgingly opt for the veggie crap on a bun.

Despite that, the burgers here are excellent. Curly fries are by far, my favorite here. I could just come here and eat curly fries for lunch... they are that good... wish they didn't automatically come with that ranch dressing... too hard to resist dipping my fries in...

So in a nutshell.... excellent food... but you feel guilty as hell afterwards... I think I need to purge.... (and -1 star for bloated prices)

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Photo of Rodney S.

 

0

10

Rodney S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
8/21/2009

This place is one my lunchtime haunts around work.
I love their Chicken Teriyaki topped with pineapple and cheddar.

The best part is they have what is called 'Frings', which is combination of fries and onion rings which is great when you can't decide on one or the other.

The place is always clean with friendly staff!

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Photo of Mee-stique K.

 

52

353

Mee-stique K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/29/2008

Wow....so many ppl have told me about this place for good burgers but have never gotten the chance to go in and check it out! But today....the day had come!! I walked in and was very lucky not a lot of ppl in line...then within two minutes the line had 8 ppl.

The person who took my order was really nice...I guess he knew it was my first time there!  Ordered the mushroom burger and asked if I wanted grilled onions!! I said "sure".....I noticed the other person next to me didn't get asked if he wanted the onions....well i recommend it and it's a free topping anywaz...

The next time I go i want to try their chicken burger...it doesnt look very dry like some of the ones I've tried!

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Photo of Autumn K.

Elite '10

465

879

Autumn K.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/13/2008

Seeing as I thought nothing of getting rip roaring drunk last night with my bitchy girlfriends and then going home and starting arguments with Boy at 2 a.m., I figured the least I could do was buy the poor guy lunch. Here's how it went:

Um....I said WHAT!?!?! I said I hate you? Here! Have a burger royale with pepperjack cheese! I BROKE UP with you? TWICE? Here! Have an order of Frings! I told you I'd never talk to you again?? Oh my god, please accept this diet coke and my deepest apologies! There's MORE!?!? Oh no...have my California Turkey burger with sauteed mushrooms and no bun...

I don't know how you make up what I did last night to a person. But I'm pretty sure Bistro Burger is a good place to start. Once that greasy greasy goodness hits your tongue, it's impossible to be mad. Seeing as Wednesday is Bad Girls' Night Out, we'll probably be back here next Thursday...

Minus one star for unexciting buns (I don't eat them but they SHOULD be great for the prices they're charging) and a little bit of price gauging. Lunch for two can easily run $25 (and this is a burger place). But the food is yummy and hey, who can put a price on apologies?

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Photo of czarina t.

 

6

12

czarina t.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/4/2009

was looking for something to eat for lunch, decided to try this place. ordered Mushroom Burger with Provolone..boy i just ate the best burger!i can eat this everyday! the filipina lady who helped was extremely nice!i will definitely go back to this place

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Photo of jessica t.

Elite '10

4307

895

jessica t.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
7/12/2007

Lately I've become obsesed with brie.

Like seriously obsessed.

I've planned two weekends around it. I've spent whole days thinking about all of the things that would make sense with brie...

hmmmmm brie picnics

hmmmmmmmmmmmm baked brie record parties

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm brie and movies.

And then I'll traipse all over the city in zipcars and on foot just looking for the "best" brie. (Foreign Cinema's baked brie is unreal), and bread to make these brie adventures happen.

And so when I stumbled upon Bistro Burger the other day, I was Brie side myself....because Bistro Burger understands my deep love for brie and carries brie topped veggie burgers.

I was wiping the crumbs off my face before my lunch partners were even close to finshing their big burgers.

And so......I'm going to go back tomorrow and get some curly fries, and see if I can pair two of my favorite loves . Brie and Curly Fries....

or better yet.....

mmmmmmmmmm baked brie and curly fries, on a mid-afternoon picnic, while watching classic movies on mute, while listening to old records...

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Photo of Trixie J.

 

101

204

Trixie J.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
7/27/2006

I did not enjoy watching the kitchen staff refill the ketchup bottles with a throw pillow-size, plastic pouch of bulk ketchup...and then wipe down every bottle with an off-white, stained rag. Around the open bottle-lip area. Wipe wipe wipe. Wipe wipe wipe. I don't know where that rag has been. Nor how long since it's been washed. Or if it was used to wipe other stuff, like the counter top. The counter top where a raw ground beef patty might have rested for a while. Does the rag smell? It looked like it did. Like all sour, funky, bacteria-ridden and now ketchup-y.

Things to remember while dining here:
- avoid watching what's going on in the kitchen
- avoid using the ketchup bottles

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Photo of Lauren S.

 

496

699

Lauren S.

Oakland, CA

3 star rating
8/15/2007

I just finished the second half to the iron filled burger I ate for lunch this afternoon.  Ive been weak as of late, and definitely haven't been getting my proper fill of meat.  Well...food wise anyway.  Ive been feeling iron deficient, so when a co-worker told me he would buy me a bistro burger for lunch, i jumped at the chance.

Dudes, when i walked in, and saw that the Paris burger was topped with my most favoritist thing in the world...brie, i nearly died right there.  A burger, brie and sauteed mushrooms.  Ive said it before and ill say it again...everything tastes better with brie!  They have turkey burger options, a great selection of chicken sandwiches, as well as veggie burgers...but meat was what i came for and meat was what i got.

Its a little pricey, cuz with the fries and a soda my "paid for" lunch came to over $10.  I think if i was sporting the burger with my funds i would opt out of the fries...but hell, lunch was on him.  If I'm ever feeling like there is another lack of  meat in my life...ill definitely come here again.  Hopefully i can find some "meat" elsewhere in the meantime.

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Photo of Marsha Z.

 

294

950

Marsha Z.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
6/30/2006

The curly fries remind me of Arby's.  The onion rings were huge and oily--not too appetizing.  There are a multitude of toppings to go on your choice of meat or gardenburger.  Salad and sandwiches also grace their menu.  Seating is mainly outdoors, great for checking out the downtown lunch crowd.  For $5-6, Bistro's not a bad place to grab a burger in the FiDi.

Hours:  Mon-Fri  9 a.m.-3 p.m.

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Elite '10

151

466

matthew r.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/8/2008

The cheeseburger royale with pepperjack, cooked medium rare, is a pretty solid burger. The fries are decent, but not something you can't do without unless you're one of those people who can't eat a burger without fries.

They're reasonably quick too, considering the volume they do at lunchtime. Plus you don't have to worry about your coworkers or friends seeing you carrying a McDonalds bag.

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Photo of Sarah T.

 

16

42

Sarah T.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/5/2007

Love their curly fries!

Love their Paris chicken!

I've never had a bad experience here and would recommend it to everyone!

Tip:  Bring your cell phone -- if there is a long line, you can call in your order and skip the line (pick-up orders don't need to wait in line).

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Elite '10

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263

jen p.

South San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
2/2/2009

when fast food just won't do for your burger fix and BOB's too simple and small, head over to bistro burger (early if you want a decent shot at a seat).  lots of offerings - similar to denny's or red robin, but with niman ranch beef, plus the option to sub turkey or veggie burgers or even a chicken breast. i usually order the mushroom burger well done  - you might want to specify how you want your burger cooked; last time i didn't and it was the middle of the lunch rush - i ended up with a pretty red burger...not my preference.  others might say it's the only way to enjoy a juicy burger but if i wanted raw meat, i'd order carpaccio or steak tartare...

french fries are cut on the thicker side - not quite steak fries but not shoestring either.  nothing i would go out of my way to order - just a standard accompaniment here (although you do have to order them separately).  be sure to arm yourself with plenty of napkins as the grease and fillings are sure to make a mess...rather pricey, but this isn't your usual #1 meal or even your $6 dollar burger (try $7-8 plus $2.50 for fries and $2 for a soda).  order at the counter, grab a table and they'll bring your order to you.

good for the occasional casual lunch...

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121

366

Derek B.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
12/3/2007

The burgers here don't do it for me...

Below average. Under par. No bueno.

So then why do I find myself going here on a somewhat regular basis?

Four words.

Self service ranch pump.

(I like my ranch with curly fries.)

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172

235

Daniel C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
8/25/2006

You can see and smell the smoke billowing out of this place all the way down Trinity Street.  Bistro Burger satisfied my visiting buddy from abroad, and it raised an eyebrow on me as well!  

We probably should have tried the special ahi tuna burger, but they sold out while we were still in line. Must have been damned good!  The chicken mushroom burger and a basic cheddar burger cooked medium-rare made for a great sitdown meal at this getaway-in-the-alley.

Guess what you get when you order a veggie burger?  BEEF!

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85

Bee N.

San Bruno, CA

1 star rating
10/11/2006

I had a burger here yesterday. (if you can even call it a burger.) It tasted burnt and moldy. I'm sure it wasn't the bread. the meat patty was too pink but i took a bite anyways and it tasted funny. i'm scared to eat pink processed meat so i poped it in the microwave which was an even worse idea. i like a medium rare burger if it's not the overly processed looking/tasting kind but it was processed looking/tasting.
the onion rings were good and so was the ranch sauce. but i wouldn't eat a burger here again.

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181

Keith M.

Berkeley, CA

3 star rating
3/26/2007

I like meat. I know there's a large portion of the Californian population that enjoys a meat free karma aligned healthy life style. Me, I think animal were made to be killed and eaten. Nothing displays that better than a good burger.

This is not your fancy steak, suit and tie restaurant. Neither is this a run down Jack in the Box. It's a place where you go to get a good sized burger for a pretty decent price. The quality is good, the ingredients are fresh, and the results are tasty. You can even mix things up with a themed burger using more gourmet ingredients if you feel so inclined.

All I have to say, beats the hell out of McDonalds.

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joss h.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/12/2007

Everything I like, and none of what I don't.  

Well, what I don't like is available, but it's also optional, which is a huuuuge plus with me.  I don't like condiments.  I don't like pickles.  I like just plain ol' meat and cheese on my burger, with the occasional grilled onions and mushrooms.  All the fixings come on the side, which they could just leave out completely to avoid waste, but hey, so long as it's not touching my food, I'm fine.

When I worked Downtown, I made sure to treat myself to a burger or chicken sandwich here at least once a month, but making minimum wage in the City doesn't allow for such reckless spending.  ;-)  This will be, however, one of the first places I look forward to dining at when we make our return to the Bay.

Yes, it can get pricey, but these aren't your run-o-the-mill fast-food burgers or hot sandwiches.  Their chicken isn't "chicken breasts with rib meat" - they're actual white meat chicken without the gag factor of surprise cartilage-like pieces interrupting your meal.  They have a variety of sandwiches on their menu, but to be honest I don't mind coming in just to share a basket of Frings with a friend.  They have soft drinks as well as bottled beverages (juices, teas, waters), but I usually bring a bottle of water with me since I'm already plopping down a bit over $10 for an appetizer and sandwich.  

I especially like this location because I like sitting outside and checking out the paintings for sale across the way.  There are a few little shops in the alley, too, as well as a teensy cafe window across the way in the same "hidden" area, if I feel like having a bit o' caffeine before my food coma.  This Bistro Burger is also not far from my mom's office, so it makes for a great place to take her to lunch when I can.

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Elite '10

358

717

Tammy C.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/10/2008

Burgers here are a good variety, taste wise, they are all similar, however. Love the curly fries, like I love all curly fries.

This place is very congested-- first you have to find where the line is, then while figuring what to order, you better start eying for a table because it is always packed until after 1:30pm... we found  a seat right by the cashier and the kitchen, and is also constantly elbow to elbow and "joining" next table conversations.

The air is also quite stale, good on a cold day, but bad to your clothes.

The great thing is it is in an "alley", giving you a cozy feeling.

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5

112

Carly W.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/10/2009

The California burger is delicious! The avocado and sprouts top it off quite nicely. I also got the frings which is a combination of french fries and onion rings which is the best combination ever. It was a little on the expensive side, but I think it is worth it every now and then.

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Jonas T.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
9/1/2006 5 photos

Great location for a burger joint. Outdoor dining in the middle of the Financial District. The food was decent, but my favorite was the frings. Sometimes I want fries and sometimes I want onion rings, but sometimes I want both fries and onion rings but I don't want to buy both. Thank God for frings.

JONASAPPROVED!

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Mateo S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/4/2007

Love the Southwestern Veggie Burger. YUM! They use Sysco veggie patties which aren't bad and tote diet friendly. Oddly our burgers didn't come with onions, I'm assuming they do this for their customer's own good, since who the hell wants to go back to work and have onion breath?

I'm glad I read the review about the ketchup bottles. That's nastay! Stay away from the Fringles or whatever they're called. The fries are very delish but the Onion Rings were so darn greasy it was like eating deep-fried deep-fry.

In the end Bistro Burger is a simple and quick fix for your hamburger or work-week hangover cravings!

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