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Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: CastroMon-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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I know someone who eats here three times a week...so this place was really built up for me, and I think that ends up a slight disservice to the review. Actually, built up so much, I think only French Laundry meets $15 dinner plate could have done it for me. HOWEVER:
Food was fab. Had the 1/2 lasagna and the size was perfect, the noodle was perfect, the sauce was perfect...YUM!
That was my favorite part. Everything else we had was good, too...actually, iced tea was excellent. But salad and fish dish were good...not a home run like the lasagna, but a solid good--no complaints.
Service was awesome, too. And I really dug the vibe of this place...although they only seem to have one bathroom for a very large dining area, and it's kind of weird to wait for because you stand in the middle of the dining room. Felt pretty awkward. Hold it, if you can.
class act
DONT TAKE AWAY THE STEAK QUESA AND EGGS
Chow never lets me down, if you want no nonsense, quasi italian food go here. My personal menu… Read more »
Although you can't make reservation for parties less than 8 people, you can call ahead of time to let them know to put you on the waiting list, which reduces the wait time tremendously.
The five of us didn't have to wait at all when we arrived, despite it being a weekend night. The decor is as warm as Park Chow's and the menu is similar (if not entirely the same) too.
I tried the smiling noodles which came with a light curry sauce with giant tender prawns. My husband had a pizetta. One friend had spaghetti and meatballs, while two other friends had linguini with clams and a steak. So you can see that the menu is very eclectic and no matter what preferences your friends have, they will likely to find something they want in this menu. And everything is done so well!
For dessert, we couldn't resist but to order a cobbler and a chocolate cake to share, even though we were all full. I thought the cobbler was great while one friend couldn't stop raving about the chocolate cake.
Price is very fair: about $20 per person after tax and tips (no drinks).
We sat in the main dining room this time, but I remember a courtyard in the back that is lovely during the day. And since this location is usually sunny, it's quite a treat.
If you're in a rush but don't want greasy food on the go, try Chow for a healthful meal. I needed some sustenance before work last Thursday.
We were warmly greeted by our server and led to a table near the open kitchen. I love watching the kitchen action!
I had their Minestrone soup to start. It is a classic standby on the menu. Chock full of nutritious veggies in a tasty tomato broth.
Less than 15 minutes after putting our orders in, my Thai style chicken salad and bf's Burger Royale came out. My medium sized salad is a mountain of julienned carrots, bell peppers, jicama with mixed greens, herbs and mint dressed in chili-lime dressing. Very light but only has a couple slices of organic chicken breast for protein. The Burger Royale is served on a french baguette cut diagonally. It makes for awkward eating, but the bf finished his burger.
We were done and ready to go on with our life in a matter of 40 minutes. But I never felt rushed. Talk about speedy service!
My brunch experience at Chow was superb. Walked in here two weeks ago, got seated in less than 5… Read more »
Chow was on my bookmarks for places to try. I took my Grandmother here for lunch while she was in town based on the reviews that said "there's something for everyone". Sounded good.
The wait staff was nice and fast enough but the food was meh. The menu is a mix of everything but to be honest, nothing really stood out. It took us forever to figure out what to eat (to the point where we almost went across the street to Crepevine...) and even then, we weren't very excited. Ended up with the burger, a beet salad and the fish tacos. Everything was just meh. I wanted to try the pumpkin ice cream and ginger cake but didn't end up going for it.
The beer menu, however, seemed pretty extensive. I think the only reason I would come back is to sit at the bar and try some of the different beers. mmm the raspberry one sounds tasty! I may go again...beer and pumpkin ice cream.......we'll see.
Returned here on a visit last weekend with 2 SF friends, they'll be back for sure. My buddy had the huevos rancheros & his wife the eggs benedict (came with a small side salad, must be a Sunday brunch thing), both were a big hit.
Once more I enjoyed the *greatest scrambled eggs* on this planet. So moist & fluffier than fluffy, these people know how to treat an egg.
Service again was great. This now is my go-to spot when I'm in the Bay.
Bailed on a trendy brunch up the road with an hour wait, was just waiting at the transit stop &… Read more »
Pork chops!!!! YESSSS... !!!
I think here you can get the best pork chops for the deal... and they are both sweet ... GREAT meat... great price. The polenta that came with the chops was juicy and matched PERFECTLY !!
Contrary to the 'stro trends, this place is a good eat. Service is GREAT and food is very fresh and good American taste. I like it and I get there now and then.. not on weekends cause it tends to be too crowded and frankly it is not worth a long wait :) No offence guys!!
Nice beer's selection, and if you are not happy with that, get to the bar beside :)
My friend Stephan was very happy with his roasted chicken breast... and frankly it looked delish!!
The greens were well seasoned with a perfect balsamic vinaigrette.
J stops right in front of it on Church, LOT of bus choices on Market and there is the MUNI station right below. HOT SPOT!!
A hungry sister couple jumped off a bus and sat down at the first restaurant that they saw. It happened to be Chow.
Everything about our visit was perfect. Our waiter was friendly, happy and helpful. And the food was great. I love that you can get "small" portions for most entrees!
Baby sis and I started with some cocktails. Both the wine mojito and french lemonade were great. I have a thing for mint, so I liked the mojito more, but that's just me. Sis liked the lemonade.
Following the drinks came the goat cheese with tomatoes dip, that came with walnut toast. Great! It was salty, flavorful and crunchy all at the same time. It came with olives on the side, which only made it better.
You can get entrees by the half portion, which is really great. You don't feel like a total heffer, and are still free to have dessert. I had the Linguine with clams. and sis had the thai style noodles. Both were really good. Thai style is spicy though. Linguine with the clams has lots of subtle taste which blended really well.
The waiter suggested the ginger cake for dessert and when I heard that it was all make fresh, and they made their own pumpkin ice cream, I was sold. And it was everything he promised it to be.
With good service, good food and good company, how can you not fall in love with a place?
Went here with a friend on a weeknight. The wait was not long at all, only 5-10 minutes. We ordered the mussels for an appetizer. The white wine sauce was perfect with warm bread!
I ordered the lamb burger. It was pretty good. Light, but filling. My friend ordered pork roast, which she seemed to enjoy.
We both got the house wine for $6, but it was only about 4oz of wine... not the best deal.
Overall, I liked this place. The food was good, not great. It's not on my list of places I have to take someone else, but I would go again if someone invited me.
Take your out-of-town-parents here, suggest the short ribs, watch them happily devour their meal. Seriously, my dad still talks about the short ribs and every time he visits he wants to go to Chow. Last time they came, Chow was closed after the fire, and he was so disappointed. Maybe not a good place if you don't like your parents.
The food is high quality and delicious. The service is attentive, friendly, and accommodating. I've never had a bad meal here. I especially love the artichoke appetizer, the pork chops, and the brussel sprouts. Call ahead, get on the wait list, stroll over when your time is ready, and try and sit in the back if you can. This is Castro/Church neighborhood charm at its finest.
Chow wow.
I love the food. Presentation is simple yet lovely, the food is utterly savory and delicious. I feel like they could even charge more than they do and I would still support them.
The staff is great. They are all comfortable in their niche and are able to express themselves by bringing their own personality to the table.
I think it is awesome (also unfortunate) that they have seasonal items. It shows that they care about the food that they are serving. This saddened me at first for I used to always order the roasted Brussels sprouts as an appetizer but they are gone now ;(.
Iceberg Wedge with radishes and blue cheese
Artichoke Pizza
WARM STRAWBERRY RHUBARB with ice cream and sugar...
delicious chai tea
I seriously can go on and on about the food.
The atmosphere is great here too, fun music playing, interesting demographic.
Favorite Restaurant in the city!!
EVERYTHING HERE IS GOOD.
I can't think of a time when I don't want to eat at Chow. Chow is the best restaurant to take out of town guests (think parents, aunts, uncles) when there are a variety of tastes present. Chow has a super friendly, kick-ass wait staff. Chow has consistently good food with just enough menu changes over the course of the year. Chow was close to my apartment...every single apartment I lived in for the 12 years I was in SF (oh, that's code for "centrally located"). Chow is the first place I want to go when I come back to the City from NY. Chow makes me wonder why there are no restaurants like Chow in NY!
Add a good beer selection, warm ginger cake, the fact the Breakfast menu always has a fantastic veggie scramble, and you have a very satisfied customer: me!
Reliably good food at both the Church St and 9th Ave locations, Chow is a great place to take a diverse set of eaters-- everyone will find something good to order.
Alas, the food never knocks you out of the park. It's just good.
My go-to restaurant when I'm in the city. Something for everyone, great prices and portions, fresh ingredients and they will come get you when you are waiting at the bookstore next door, or the Pilsner. The secret most delicious thing is the butterscotch banana pie - get it, if they have it. I've had most everything on the menu: burger is fine, fries are great, pastas are pretty great and comforting, thai salad is pretty darn good for a whities restaurant, meat 'n' potato plates are delish. When in doubt, Chow.
Damn it, Chow. You're so confusing. Why do you toy with my emotions like this?
Your Thai noodles are GROSS. Watery, bland, slimy. Ew ew ew.
But your linguini with clams? Delightful. Plump seafood, gorgeous sauce, tender pasta.
I want to give you my heart, fully and completely. I really, truly do. But sometimes you disappoint me, Chow, and that's not ok.
Why can't we make this work?
Dear Chow,
I love you. I love your spinach salad, lasagna, smiling noodles, fun beers, and ginger cake. I love that you're so close to my house and that your prices are reasonable.
I'm so glad you're back after that fire!
You make me happy!
XOXO
We were at Chow today for.lunch - but I had brunch.
What I like the most about Chow is the quality of the food. Denny's is great - especially for it's $5 gut buster breakfast - but for a couple bucks more I had a gorgeous Eggs Benedict with fresh sauce and tender sliced ham. The potatoes were real - no square taters here - and crispy and great!
The girls had food that they ooohhed and aaahhhed over but I was having to much pleasure with mine to really notice what they got. Food, like good sex, is so much better when it's savored.
It amazes me that Chow makes the Chronicle top 100 every year. It's OK but it's really (really) not all that. I used to hate Chow with a passion but I had to think of something quick because my friend John was dying for the Sausage Factory and I really wasn't in the mood for all that. The portions at Chow are notoriously small. My friends got a small Caesar salad and it was super tiny. They both complained that it had no flavor nor did the meatballs they got on the side. I was pretty pleased with my choice: Halibut with pomegranate salad and spinach w/ roasted garlic on the side. It wasn't the best fish ever but I was just happy that I got something healthy... for a change.
Like so many SF restaurants, this place is more about the atmosphere than the food. It is a good meetup place and is always busy even when there are open tables at other good restaurants in the immediate vicinity.
I've been here a few times now and the excitement has definitely worn off. The menu is small and hardly changes and they took the sandwich special deals off the menu. (IMHO, the only thing that made them cost-effective)
The food is definitely 'meh', as a previous review put it. Unoriginal, smallish portions, lots of bread on sandwiches instead of meat, etc. etc. Taste is not bad but not inspiring nor delightful. Just 'meh'.
Service is always fine. No complaints there.
If you want to go where others go, this place is for you. If you want to seek out better food for a better value, seek elsewhere.
It's off my list simply because of the 'meh' value and my constant struggle to find something new and original on the menu.
(Heck, I can make better pasta at home cheaper - and where other than Chow is chicken the most expensive entree and pizzas cost 3x that of a good pizza joint? Hmmm. Makes you think. Unless you don't...then go here.)
All around great place for a small party (no more than 4 people, pref 2).
Outside seating is great, nice atmosphere for chatting.
I ordered:
- the Thai Noodles with Chicken/Steak. It was good, but I couldn't eat much of it without it getting old. It'd probably make a great side-dish if it came that way or for two people to split with another entre.
- the Tomato Bruschetta (appetizer): this was wonderful! Which says a lot coming from me because I'm not the biggest fan of tomatos.
All in all -- it's a go!
Greatest servce on the planet. I spilt my white wine mojito (fabulous, by the way) and, like an intense worker bee, the cool woman who was serving me was there cleaning it up before I could say, "pickle."
It's beautiful. Great service like that.
I forgot what I ate. Oh yeah. Sustainable Fish Tacos. I don't kow if I approve of the term "sustainable fish taco"...but awe shucks, ok, the one's outside of the fish farm aren't harmed, awe...
Still, had a great time. It was funny. Last time, I took my friend to Park Chow on Irving, and she told me, "all these years I didn't realize there was another one..." and, of course, yesterday, as I was eating a Chow Church, I was telling her, "that's weird, after all these years, I had no idea one was on Church Street... Funny how slow information can travel at times.
Best parts:
Seating in the back area is really cute with heat lamps
Food is gooooood: Pork chops and polenta were yummy
Waiter was nice and gave us extra walnut bread with the goat cheese appetizer
Not so best parts:
Can get pretty loud and tables are close enough that if you have neighbors with projecting voices your ears may suffer
Menu (apparently new) has the weirdest font size changes
Ate at this restaurant on Halloween and I really enjoyed my dinner. I had the pad Thai style noodles with chicken and it was so tasty!! It was not like traditional Pad Thai, it was lighter, sort of broth style, spicy, very good. We also had some great beers and service was excellent despite how busy it was.
Oh, Chow, you so crazy. Hipster servers, eclectic clientele, crackhead peeing on his own shoes out your window. The smells of the city. Dirty sidewalks, filthy urchins descending from Muni. Chow is an oasis amid the chaos of Church and Market. The food is solid and an excellent value. Most everything on the menu is worth trying. Last 2 visits I went for the lasagna. Had some ripe smelling seafood with pasta, one demerit on an otherwise satisfactory C.V. The soups are usually worth a mention. Keep slinging hefty plates for small coin and we'll keep filling up the wait list, Chow.
Have loved this place from the first time I went.
They're food is made from fresh, local, organic, and sustainable ingredients. Doesn't get much better than that.
I have not found one thing on the menu that isn't good. You pretty much can't go wrong, which is awesome b/c sometimes I have trouble deciding what I want.
It really sucks to go out to a nice meal, and spend your money, and be disappointed.
I'm never disappointed here. :) P: Always good. Friendly welcoming staff.
Most of all I love the vibe here. There are so many regulars, because people keep coming back.
Good food, good service makes for happy people and a great atmosphere.
It's also not overpriced, and it's casual. So anyone can be comfortable here.
Love it!!
Same great things here as the GG Park location. Same horrible parking situation, too!
*For full review, please read my Park Chow entry.
NOTE: they no longer have the daily lunch specials, the menu is the menu (period). That being said, I went there today b/c the Wednesday lunch special of Chicken cutlet with broccoli rabe and mozzarella sounded great. Sad to say I was informed it no longer exists. SO I contemplated leaving, BUT went back to the menu and asked the waitress about the lamb burger. HOLY COW (or HOLY SHEEP!) it was awesome. Almost like a gyro taste but even better because you could more easily identify the meat. The sauce was creamy, the fries were crsip. I wanted to also try the thai chicken salad, but i wll be hard-pressed to order anything but the lamb burger again. The waitress (maria) was a sweetie and she was chatting up all the customers (including me).
Chow is a toss up for me. I ordered a Mimosa and a burger royale. (I know, interesting combination for lunch) The Mimosa was good, they didn't skimp on the alcohol. The burger royale was interesting, basically imagine a beef patty in between a baguette. The most memorable item was the minestrone soup (it has no beans! but doesn't that make it a vegetable soup?). Try the minestrone, mos def on that item. The wonton is pretty good too, but don't expect the authentic Hong Kong style ones, this is more of a fusion dish IMHO.
The resto really gives you a 1950 Americana feel, maybe that's why it's so popular. However, the price I thought was a little steep. I went with my friend and we ordered 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 drinks (1 alcoholic, 1 lemonade) and the tab came out to be $50 + tips, did I mention this is lunch? The food was above average, but because of the price, I have to give it 3 stars.
However, their food really grows on you, I'm not sure I will go back anytime soon, but I think I might visit them again probably a year from now.
This is homey food (with numerous vegetarian options) in a warm environment. Plus Chow has quite possibly the nicest and most genuine staff ever.
Magically Delicious! That's what Chow is. You go in and the place is understated and you expect okay food but this is NOT the case the food is outstanding. You can't go wrong with Chow. I had the tacos and polenta. And I ate slowly after my first bite because I really wanted to savor the meal. The service: Friendly, Fast. The decor was homey and comfortable and of course the dessert. Really Chow! Really? You made it that good so that I wanted to go back to SF just to eat at your restaurant. This place is soo good that I'm jealous of the locales because they can have it anytime! Will I be back...at least 4-5 times during my next trip! Go enjoy and have dessert. It really would be wrong if you didn't!
Chow is a modern fusion restaurant at the corner of market and church.
I have taken a few dates here and gone out with friends here for a nice dinner. The thing that's nice about chow is it has a very eclectic menu so that everyone can get something they want. The personal pizzas are good, the roast short ribs are excellent, and the asian noodle dishes i've tried were very tasty.
Great place to go if you don't know what people in your party want - they're gonna find something.
Having been to Chow numerous times when I used to live in the hood about 4 years ago when Jen N. said hey lets go to Chow for dinner of course I was ready and willing.
I am not sure what it is about Chow that keeps me coming back for more, but here are a few reasons I think I always have such warm happy memories of this place. Chow always smells amazing - not matter what time of day or night. The staff always smiles at you - even when the line is out the door and they are slammed for dinner. They are cheerful and happy to help you. And finally the food rarely disappoints. The melding of good home cooking with higher end techniques gives each dish something special.
This last time I opted to have the Organic Pork Chop with bacon and green peas and onions....flavors were wonderful. I felt like a summer drink so I ordered a Arnold Palmer mainly because their lemonade is a bit tart and the ice tea made it more drinkable without the puckered face I would have been making! Refreshing and tasty. The service was great and our food came out in no time.
This is a great spot to come with friends to catch up - its warm and inviting and the food is really great - check it out if you can!
Chow, bring back your old menu and I'll put back the fifth star!
Best. Ginger cake. Ever.
The lasagna seems to have gone downhill in the past year, but it's still the best! Pretty great burger, but what happened to the short ribs and sweet potato mash? Well, the "pot roast" is pretty much the same thing, and just as good.
Eat at Chow, stay for dessert. But don't be surprised if you end up spending as much as you would at a fancier restaurant, but chances are the food is better and you won't leave hungry.
Have a couple cocktails across the street at Blackbird first -- beer and (not bad) wine only.
I've been here several times, most recently for an early Sunday supper. This is one of those great neighborhood restaurants that feels cozy and comfortable but has a fun and lively dining room. They also have a really nice outdoor garden that is well guarded from the SF winds.
On my most recent trip, my friend ordered the lasagna and I had the burger. The portions could be a bit bigger; I would say they are average. My friends lasagna was solid. My burger was a perfect medium-rare and was super flavorful. The bread it was on was a crusty baguette. It had incredible flavor, but was a big too crusty making you have to bite down really hard and then smashed the burger. None the less, it was really good and the thin frite style fries were great!
Always consistent and always a good time.. highly recommend checking it out.
Chow is good, been there a few times. It is a place to be when on 9th Ave in The Sunset District. Always very busy and friendly.
Yes, the pumpkin ice cream is a treat. The outdoor seating is among the best spots to sit.
Chow used to be one of my favorite restaurants. Consistently good food - tasty, fresh and served at the appropriate temperature along with attentie service,
Since re-opening after the kitchen fire, its not the same place anymore. I have been back on two occasions, where the restaurant was busy but in no way slammed - and the hot food came to the table stone cold. Stone cold.
Chow prides itself on not having heat lamps because the food is normally served up as soon as its plated. This no longer seems to be case. I hope this place hasnt lost its mojo for good. In the last 10 years as a regular customer, I cant ever recall a bad meal. Now, two bad meals in a two week period?
I hope things get back to normal soon. I miss the old Chow!
Blueberry pancake with melted mascapone cheese and the home made apple juice is to die for. Nice outdoor seating in the back.
Ate dinner here with the cousins last night cause they kept saying we had to eat here cause they ate here once before and loved it. Located in Castro, so know beforehand that you're in a No on Prop 8 area. I'm pretty sure most of their servers are all about the rainbow pride too.
Well I ordered a sausage pizza. They make them thin crust. It was pretty good for around $9. Had a carmel shake too for about $5, and it was the sweetest and smoothest shake I've ever had. Tasted like they put hella sugar in it though.
Cousins ordered cheese and pepperoni pizza, rib-eye steak, green tea, and something else. Our total bill was like $80 + tip for 5 people.
Bathrooms were pretty clean and it's pretty spacious and busy here.
Saw some guy who I swear looked exactly like Tim Lincecum at a table next to us wearing a New Era fitted SF Giants hat sitting with 3 blonde white girls, but he seemed a little too skinny and maybe an inch or 2 too short to be Timmy Franchise.
This place is a popular neighborhood restaurant. Long Line, Friendly Services however the foods were more towards expensive end in my opinion.
I had daily special Trout sandwich that was pretty OK.
my friend ordered their signature braised rib and we both agreed that the flavor is a bit lacking.
It was very "Cramped" setting, but yes this place is popular so they will try to squeeze in more customers as possible.
There are more great SF diners around, I just have to try more when I return to town next time.
Update 8/13/2009
My Mom, Dad and niece came to visit us from out of town this past weekend, so we decided to take them to Chow, cuz we love it!
After we finished dinner and stepped outside, my Mom says to me, 'Great food, the service was great, the waiter was so nice...and cute!', then she whispers '**I think he was gay!**' and giggles, so I turned and looked her and said, 'I think you're right...!' then she says 'I just wanted to hug him!'
Conclusion: Extra star! Cute huggable gay waiters, at your service at Chow, come on down!
-------------------------------------
Yum!
We walked into Chow today for brunch, first time, no wait...! Happy.
We ordered the following:
1. Single blueberry pancake w/ blueberry syrup and marscapone cheese. The pancake was fluffy and buttery tasting, the fruit was fresh (not frozen), and the marscapone was cold and creamy, a really nice partner for the tart syrup.
2. French toast. This had a really nice caramelized flavor, the bread was the perfect texture, I really hate it when french toast is mushy and tastes eggy. Organic maple syrup on the side - nice touch.
3. Caesar salad. Hearts of romaine lettuce leaves with finely shaved parmesan and croutons. I asked the waitress to put the dressing on the side. I really liked this salad, the dressing tasted slightly of horseradish, which was an interesting touch.
4. Lasagna. This was extremely good. Not conventional. I would order this again and again. Perfection.
The thing I love most about this restaurant is that everything tasted homemade. I could not pick out one thing that was my favorite, because I really enjoyed each item individually.
On top of the food being so great, the service was quite nice as well, the waitress was attentive and got our order exactly right.
I'll definitely be back!
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Castro
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