Cliff's Bar-B-Q & Sea Food

 

8

43

April D.

San Francisco, CA

Cliff's BBQ had some real good fried chicken. My sister loved their ribs. For a short while they made really good shrimp lumpia. Cliff was a real nice guy. Sometimes I would just walk by, and he would greet me with a big happy smile, as he did most customers and non-customers. Too bad the place closed down.

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15

158

christopher a.

San Francisco, CA

another one of those places that isn't exactly awesome, but fact of the matter is that it represents untouched virgin san francisco, where there isn't a bunch of idiots like you.

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2

28

Jay B.

San Francisco, CA

I wanted to love this place, and think I'd found the one hidden bbq place around that was truly good.  Cliff has the resume to be That Guy.  But I think he's impacted by a city where people either don't want fatty finger lickin bbq, or don't want to pay CA prices for TX bbq.

I think he's from Alabama, but in CA when you have to import the shrimp, they just don't come out the same when you fry 'em up.

So the debate continues -- will a really good bbq place ever exist in this city?

UPDATE -- I had trouble finding this place again because its now CLOSED.  Sorry Cliff.

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11

40

Gabe M.

San Francisco, CA

As much as I wanted to like this place, I'm gonna have to say that it was ass. Cliff was extremely friendly and polite, but dude....my beef brisket sandwich just had a handful of tiny chunks in it,  most of which were just chunks of fat and all of which fell out before I picked the thing up. There was plenty of juice though because that dribbled all over my hand as I ate the meatless bread. I ordered fries, got tots. There's seating for maybe 2 couples. You were out of sweet potato pie. I was grasping for something to love, but it just wasn't there. I sampled a rib off my friend's plate and that was dry and tasteless. Maybe I hit this place on a bad day, but I'll never know 'cause I'm not going back.

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7

75

Mr. and Mrs. L.

San Mateo, CA

Hubby's Review:

Great ribs.  Decent fried chicken.  The sides are aiight.  Cliff's actually has the better stuff and I would put it up for the taste test with Flint's or E and J anyday.  The only reason it got 3 stars is b/c the man is sooo skimpy with his portions!  I've been back a few times and everytime I order a slab, it's more like 3/4 than a full slab.  He does gives you some decents sides but I want da meat!  Well, other than that, you can't go wrong with the food itself.  Another place to try that's near by is Johnson's BBQ on San Bruno Avenue near Silver.

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6

49

M E.

San Francisco, CA

Just good solid Bar-B-Q.  The get your hands dirty kind.
Leave room for the 7up cake or sock it to me.
TanQ CLIFF's.

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86

214

Mister J.

San Francisco, CA

Not bad, but not exactly the best. Anyone who remembers Vic & Betty's will know what I'm talking about.

The fried chicken here is the thing to go after, but call in your order ahead of time unless you like to watch Cliff batter and then deep-fry your chicken while you wait for a half hour.

Powell's is a bit better than Cliff's, but in a different part of town altogether.

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9

13

Heather M.

San Francisco, CA

CLOSED!!! Barbecue...another topic of contention for many non-native Californians who miss gettin dirty with some authentic saucy ribs from time to time. Helllllo Mr. Clifton Turner! This guy's been crankin out the hits for many years, and is always friendly, and will be nice to you if you don't know what's goin on with the scritch-scratch menu or if you don't know what collards are. Standout: the pork sandwich (not on the menu). It comes topped with the tastiest cole slaw that mixes with the bbq sauce to create a fine juice that will drip down your forearm, so roll up your sleeves. The french fries aren't that great, but the hush puppies are! And the lemon cake...a big slab of luscious, moist, frosting slathered sweetness. Southern hospitality in a styrofoam container.

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3

23

J.D. P.

San Rafael, CA

ahhh Cliff's.  Nothing like finding a hidden gem off the beaten path.  This is the spot my boys and I roll too post-golf whenever we play at Gleneagles (another hidden gem).  We stumbled across it by accident the first time and make it a point to always go back and fill ourselves with ribs after a hard fought round.

Much like my other favorite BBQ, Big Nate's, the sauce here is sloppy and outstanding.  The ribs are fantastic and the pulled pork sandwiches are a hit too.  Not much seating but worth stopping in to chat with Cliff himself who works the scene.  Don't plan on doing much other than sleeping after you digest these bad boys.

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