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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Mission
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We all wanted to go somewhere new & different... after reading all the great reviews on Yelp, we were eager to check it out. I have to say, without a doubt, Conduit is now one of my favorite restaurants in SF. The food was amazing; every appetizer, entree was absolutely delicious... but the menu changes daily, so what we ate this past wkend may or may not be on their menu tomorrow... which I think is pretty cool. The restaurant menu will never be dull, which reflects it's modern industrial decor located in the eclectic location none other than the infamous Mission.
I came here for the first time last night with my husband. From the moment you step foot into this trendy well designed restaraunt, you are greeted with a sense of warmth and personality. The host, Brian was warm, our server, Robert was warm, and the bartender, Reza was warm. Not to mention the warmth you get from ingesting the high quality cocktails at very reasonable prices.
You must try the crab appetizer ($10) and the braised short ribs (skip the knife, you won't need it). The creme brulee is VERY different from what one would be used to,but in the most DIVINE way. If God is indeed within each one of us, it sure was after I ate that dessert.
My husband facebook during dinner (something that I'd usually frown upon) that he was "having on of the best meals and evenings of his life". We had to take a little stroll after dinner to walk off the euphoric mist of the cocktails we had...
In the end, if we died that night, we'd be perfectly content since life didn't get much better then that. (really, we mean it).
We (we being myself and 40+ colleagues) took over this lovely restaurant for dinner last week. After getting myself a glass of bubbly (always a must) from the bar I sat down to yet another amazing meal in SF.
The menu was set ahead of time for us, but we did get a few choices when it came to the entrée and dessert. But first...let's talk appetizers! There were several appetizers that came out for the entire table so I was lucky enough to get a little taste of everything. Everything was good, but favorites were the beet salad and the crab.
For my main entrée I went with the walu, which apparently was the right choice since 75% of the people at my table ordered the same thing. I love it- just as good as some of the delicious walu dishes I've had in Hawaii.
I skipped on dessert (jeans were feeling a bit tight), but I did help myself to just a taste of someone's butterscotch dessert. And mmmm....
As much as I love dining with my colleagues sometimes these dinners can get a bit long with such a big group. Fortunately, this wasn't a problem at Conduit because the servers were on it and we were well fed (and a bit tipsy) within just a few hours.
We went last night and after enjoying 2 stiff but ultimately delicious drinks at the bar, we had one hell of a good meal at the counter in front of where the chefs cook.
I think that is a stellar spot to sit because it is fascinating to watch artists work on some very delicious and beautifully plated food. It is a great reminder that a chef is every bit of an artist as is a musician or a photographer or a painter.
Everything we had last night was stellar; the walu, the short ribs, the duck, and the butterscotch pot du creme.
The service was equally great. From the bartender to our waiter to the manager, we felt welcome and well taken care of.
I really look forward to eating at Conduit again many times in the future and this place definitely makes the restaurant rotation...
My Hottie Blade made a reservation at CONDUIT. Why? I don't know. No one we know recommended it. The location is not in the neighborhoods we usually patronize. It wasn't on any of the Top pick-a-number Restaurant lists. But my Hottie Blade is adventurous so we went to CONDUIT. And really glad we did! It was great.
How did it fare on the Fussy Fusspot scale?
Bathroom: 5 of 5 points.
It was clean. Plenty of soap and hot water to wash hands. And to top it off, the design was really cool.
Server: 5 of 5 points.
Yes, he was clean clean clean. Mr. Clean. No, he didn't look like Mr. Clean. But he was nice and clean. A bit quirky but we'll get back to that later.
Dishes/Glasses/Silverware/Table/Chairs/Menu: 5of 5 points
Cleanliness everywhere.
So a perfect 15 points on the cleanliness scale!
Service 5 of 5 points
Granted we were there for an early dinner and there were just a few tables filled so can judge what it's like when they are full. But the service was prompt and friendly. Our waiter was a bit quirky and witty and fun - so that added some pleasant entertainment to the dinner.
Friends from Finland Practical Scale? 3 of 5 points
Easy to find. Well designed for anyone in a wheelchair. Relatively close to BART for easy public transportation. Parking is always a challenge of course and the neighborhood was a bit spotty so might frighten off a few less brave souls.
Ambiance and Decor: 4 of 5 points
Great feeling to the place - the lighting, the bar setup, the tables. Nice.
Price/Food Ratio - 4 of 5 points
Good food, reasonable price. 2 cocktails, 2 appetizers, 2 entrees for $95.
Food: 8 of 10 points
The duck confit salad with the soft egg was fantastic. My Hottie Blade loved his shortribs - nice big portion. I had the fettuccine with pork sugo and found it to be quite nice and quite filling.
Bonus:
+1 bonus point for the quirky waiter and his friendly approach. + 1 bonus point for the bathroom design.
CONDUIT gets 41 Fussy Fusspot points and 4 stars. Well done!
Cocktails were amazing.
Food is delicious and slightly over priced.
Atmosphere is average and maybe even a little cramped.
Our waiter was very nice and accommodating, but it did take a long time to take the order and the food took a long time between courses as did the drinks and I'm allowing for the fresh squeezed juices.
Conduit has a great selections of wines by the glass.
My date and I were there for a little over 2 hours start to finish.
Conduit, I love you.
I came here for a nice & quiet birthday dinner and was happy w/ all aspects of my experience.
If you are a lover of design, then this is the place for you. Conduit is dripping w/ all sorts of delicious design. From the sleek conduit-incorporated design, to the toasty fireplace, sexy frosted glass uni-sex bathrooms to the most unusual/beautiful wine glasses I've ever seen, I had to keep my mouth shut to prevent my tongue from unrolling onto the floor.
So eye-pleasing design? CHECK.
How 'bout food & service? Just as good!
Our server was set on pouring us tastes of the different wines available until we found our favorites. I wish all restaurants offered that! Nobody wants to be stuck w/ a whole glass of wine they're not smitten over. So our server didn't just win bonus points off the bat for that, but was quite well-versed w/ Conduit's wines and knew the menu itself like the back of his hand.
All of our dinner selections were delicious. We ordered:
-Little Gem Salad w/ red curry yogurt, relish, lime, cilantro
-Organic Greens: santa rosa plum, almonds, san andreas cheese
-King Salmon: (can't recall the d's!)
-Walu: grilled, sweet corn, cherry tomato, maitake mushrooms
Their menu changes a lot, which I like since they're all about using seasonal ingredients. Check out their online menu though. I'm sure you will be able to find some appealing picks right off the bat.
As far as their cocktails are... they're innovative & interesting. I had one late in the meal and our server was thoughtful w/ his suggestions in order to ensure that it'd meld w/ the flavors that were left on my palette. Mine had melon incorporated into it. Mm!
I'll most definitely be back soon since it's only a jaunt from my apartment, and especially since they have a nice "Recession Recreation" Cocktail list!
The boy took me here one weekend for a celebratory dinner I like his taste. Nice décor, great service, and unique food (unique being the operative word)
Breakdown of my rating:
Décor: 4
Service: 4.5
Food: 3.5 - 4
Décor: Personally, I really like the modern, industrial look with all the pipes that served as both ceiling and room dividers. The bathroom is definitely...both public and private. There isn't a door and there isn't a gender divide. I don't know how to explain it haha
Service: Our waitress was friendly and super helpful. I like that she wasn't super bubbly because I can never tell if that's sincere or fake. All her recommendations turned out to be winners so that was pretty great. The general manager even made his rounds with the customers, which is always seems volume on the culture of the restaurant.
Food/Drink: Let me start off by saying, the food here is not the norm. You can take that to either be bad or good; I took it as a good thing. We ordered pig's feet and walu, both of which were super rich but pretty good. We also ordered the fettuccine, which was also good but pretty standard. The portions here aren't super huge but they aren't super tiny either. For drinks, my bf ordered the canton rebel (recommendation from our server). I don't drink and I thought his drink tasted pretty damn good. I had ordered some watermelon summer drink (non-alcoholic) which turned out pretty bland.
Overall, I like the mood of this place. Seems like a good place to meet friends for drinks or go on a date. Even if it's not my #1 choice of a restaurant, it's definitely worth a try.
after rough night trying to find my friggin car in the mission. I walked into Conduit. The outside decor is inviting and the bar seating is perfect for drinks or a quick dinner.
The bartenders are quite the work horses and make the most Delicious drinks, this side of the Mississippi.
I had a Maker's Mark, Manhattan-- perfect-- but no F'ing cherry. I had the Beet Salad and it was a perfect blend of flavors. I was one happy camper. Even though I ended up stealin a sign off of mission street...
Overall great experience. Appearance is very trendy, and although there was plenty of chatter, you feel like you are the only people at the restaurant. Service was good, our drinks took a awhile, so the server brought us champagne to hold us over. (nice touch). The bread was Epi, which is my favorite, and the menu was creative. I started with a beet salad and had the walu fish. Both were fantastic. We also had the butterscotch pudding for dessert. I never order dessert, but I always like to try the butterscotch pudding when it is on the menu, and I was pleased. Great evening.
Following appetizers at Anchor & Hope, we strolled into Conduit for the real deal. We didn't have reservations but it wasn't a problem as it was a Tuesday night and there weren't many people around. As we walked into the restaurant, we immediately took notice of the striking architecture which I thought was nicely done and the fully stocked bar. The fireplace near the door was warm and welcoming as we were running in from the cold San Francisco summer night.
For drinks we ordered a bottle of the '05 Neal Family Cab which I thought was nice with a sweet light taste that became bolder on your palette. When it was aerated in the decanter, the flavor opened up.
We shared the beet salad and ordered the walu with sweet corn and shitake mushrooms and the cod with rissotto. I thought the dishes were actually quite delicious. Apparently they are known for their beet salad which I thought was fantastic. Very refreshing, sweet and tasty. The cheese was light and not overpowering. The walu was my dish and I thought it was very good with the sweet corn and mushrooms. The cod was also very tasty though it was a bit difficult as it had a few bones, but still very good. I would definitely go there again to try their other dishes, though the server said they have a new menu every day!
Lastly, I would like to compliment them on their service. I thought our server was extremely on point, making sure our glasses were never empty, clearing out our dishes at the appropriate time, making great conversation, and even waiting for us way past closing. As we were enjoying our wine, we didn't realize it was hours past closing but the staff was very patient and didn't rush us at all.
Oh and I know this is random but I really liked their glassware.
Overall, a great meal, great service, great ambiance...can't ask for much else!
Great food, great atmosphere. The waiter was not only knowledgeable and attentive, but was hilarious. Awesome Experience.
Everyone started with the Crab and watermelon salad. I wish I had the recipe, it was so well put together. The Walu, and Salmon which followed were just as great, and the desserts were ridiculously good.
would definitely recommend.
A touch of SOMA on Valencia St.
Perhaps I am biased because I live in a loft designed by the same architect as Conduit, but I do love the architecture here, even if it is a tad out of place on Valencia. I enjoyed the view of the exhibition kitchen (one of the most open I have ever seen), and yes, the bathroom is awesome.
But the food... yes, amazing. Plenty of Yelpers have already raved about the Walu, and they are all right. I'm picky about fish, but it was perfectly cooked, very flavorful, yet light. I also had the sweetbreads which were great, but I am still raving about the Walu.
The fish I had was *amazing* but other plates at the table weren't quite so great.
Decor is really cool, with industrial piping lining everything; and the bathrooms are super modern frosted glass boxes--quite an experience.
As for the service... even our waiter was complaining at how slow the bar was to deliver drinks, and dinner took an astoundingly long time. Of course we were there on one of the hottest nights of SF summer, but you wouldn't think this would effect the service as much as it did.
If the prices were lower, I could overlook some of these issues because the place has potential... but when I am paying $60+ per person, I expect a lot more from my dining experience.
So we started with a bit of a mis-communication between our large party and the wait staff. They thought we just wanted drinks. We thought they knew we planned to stay for dinner. It took a bit of time (& awkwardness) to iron out the mis-understanding, but once we did, I was mostly happy with the service from our waiter/server.
I ordered the melon seed cocktail, and it was alright - not my favorite, a bit tart for me.
So I realize at this point, you're asking yourself, why the 4 stars? The service was mixed, and the cocktail was a little below average. Here's why:
I ordered the Hawaiian Walu - grilled atop pan assortment of corn, tomatoes and shitake mushrooms with a bit of greens on the side. This fish was TO DIE FOR. I'm telling you, it literally was cooked perfectly. And I am picky with my fish. I was seriously in heaven eating this walu (and quite possibly my first time eating walu - it reminded me of a halibut). At any rate, I just loved my entree - it was simply fantastic.
The other reason for 4 stars: the loo. Seriously, this was one kicka** WC, and I'll leave it at that. Go explore for yourself! ;-)
This is exactly the sort of place that people from out of town come to San Francisco to eat. It's a 'safe' and 'upscale' restaurant and you spend a lot of money but the food just isn't that good.
The decor IMO is a little tacky - they're going for the urban thing with the pipes on the walls and ceiling, but it just doesn't justify a $10 salad with heirloom tomatoes that we could make at home even better.
With drinks, you're looking at $50 a head. Meh.
Groovy, tasty, industro-chic eatery near... the projects?!?!?!? Yes!
Consider this the Range du moment.
Enter and you'll think you might be in NYC somewhere, or maybe in Potrero. You might even feel like time transported you back to Kate Mantelini in L.A. circa 1992. You just definitely won't feel like you're 1/2 block from Pauline's Pizza Pies or the projects.
Everything I ate was excellent, and I only just skimmed the menu. I must say that prior to my night at Conduit, I was a sweet breads virgin. Now I wonder how I could have lived without sweet breads. Come to think of it, maybe I should wonder how I could have lived without Conduit. Then again, who says I have to?
We came to Conduit for mi madre's birthday, and she is one tough-to-please lady! So we were all very happy when she declared that she liked it here and would return!
Here's a point breakdown:
- 4.5 stars for service
- 4.5 stars for ambiance
-4 stars for the food
They were having a wine-tasting event so as soon as we got here at 6:45 pm on a Wednesday night, it was already packed. There was no host at the host station, and it was a little problematic flagging someone down to check in for our reservation. I liked the open kitchen (I, perhaps blindly, tend to trust restaurants more when I can see the chefs and cooks making my meal). And we were entertained by the plethora of conduits running all throughout the restaurant, true to theme. To my dismay, though, this made it impossible for my iPhone to get any reception or Internet service. You win some, you lose some, I guess...
As soon as we were seated, however, everything seemed to fall into place. We were served bread and water almost immediately and our server told us about the menu. He gave some really great recommendations, and was very friendly. Points for you, guy!
We ended up ordering a bottle of the Vouvray (sparkling wine made in the Loire Valley - decidedly NOT brut, as the bottle misleads, but tasty nonetheless), and the following items:
STARTERS
- beet salad ($9)
- little gem salad ($8)
- crab salad ($10)
- pig's feet (can't remember how much this was...but pretty sure it's a seasonal item because it's not currently on the menu)
ENTREES
- Walu
- Ling Cod
- Fettucine with pork sugo
- Poulet Rouge (Conduit's version of a coq au vin)
Overall, I was more impressed with the appetizers than the entrees. The pig's feet were especially remarkable, and melted in our mouths. It came molded in two perfect little cubes, with two small pieces of toast. GET THIS while you still can!
I was the one who ordered the poulet rouge, and I have to give it a mixed review. The dark meat of the chicken, which was braised, was really tender and fell right off the bone. However, the white meat was dry and difficult to eat. My dad's choice (the pasta) was pretty good, and my mom and sister loved their fish. However, I personally wouldn't get the fish here - it also was a tad overdone and a little bit too close to being on the dry side.
We passed on the limited dessert menu that featured only 3 desserts (actually, the whole menu is pretty small, but it seems appropriate for the space), and drove to Noe Valley for Mitchell's Ice Cream instead.
Where the food falls a tad short, the environment and service definitely make up for it if you're ok with that sort of thing...
It was my fellow foodie friend's birthday and he got the private room at Conduit. A good choice it was! Exclusive private dining room in the back with your closest friends enjoying great food & wine and excellent service is the best way to celebrate your birthday!
conduit - [kon-dwit, -doo-it, -dyoo-it, -dit]
a pipe, tube, or the like, for conveying water or other fluid
Decor of the restaurant is very modern and elegant with the piping well in play with the name of the place. The only thing that was a bit off was the location of the private room. It's in the back near the co-ed bathrooms and we felt like we were on display every time someone walked by and looked at us through the glass wall. We enjoyed ourselves very much nonetheless. 6 bottles of wine, 8 appetizers, and 14 entrees later, we hit the $800 minimum for the private room, which is not bad at all.
Service was excellent and attentive even though we were a large party of 14. Our server, Johnny, was very charming and knowledgeable about the entire menu and gave us fabulous wine recommendations. There was a mix up with putting our ice cream cake in the fridge instead of the freezer so our cake had to make due with the restaurant's chocolate ice cream. Minor blooper, but we were all looking forward to the salted caramel ice cream from Bi-Rite.
Food:
- Sweetbreads & Scallops: delicious, soft, cooked to perfection
- Bavette Steak: soooo good! flavorful, tender, cauliflower 2 way side was tasty!
- Fettucine: small, good, pasta had nice consistency & not overcooked
- Walu: tender, flavorful
Wines:
- Riesling, Bründlmeyer, Kam. Terraisen, Austria 2006
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Neal Family, Napa Valley 2005
- Moscato, La Caliera
Overall excellent experience and I would highly recommend the private dining room for group functions!
I haven't written a review in so long I'm a little rusty, however inspired to yelp that Conduit is "listening to the neighborhood". You wanted parking - they scored the lot across the street. You wanted a bar menu of finger food - they added one just last night.
We were the first to try the potato croquettes with gruyere cheese dipping sauce (on the house :) and OMG the tasty little fried balls of mashed potato with cheese melts in your mouth! Also on the menu was sugo sliders that gives you another opportunity to try something they seem famous for. The scallops, pasta sugo and steak we had for dinner were served with a quickness but also excellently prepared. The staff was very pleasant. Oh and I love the wine glasses, no skimpy vessels for your reds here.
I've seen many restaurants come and go on the Valencia corridor and I give kudos to any place that incorporates local produce and bends it's ear to local patrons. Truly a conduit for the community.
My wife and I have dined at Conduit over a dozen times since it opened a year and a half ago. Because it tends to get a bit crowded on the weekends, we like to go during the week so that we can be seated easily. Parking on the street is rarely a problem, and when we take cabs they are always really cordial about flagging one for us when needed.
While I'm not writing to review the quasi erotic bathroom like so many of my sophomoric yelp peers, I would like to say that the dining room deserves the awards that former U.C.Berkeley prof. Stanley Saitowitz has won for interior design by the American institute of Architects. As San Franciscans, we are spoiled by the opportunity to envelop ourselves in the luxury of stunning environs, which dining at Conduit allows us to do without spending heaps of money thanks to Stanley and the miraculous pipe benders that put that place together.
The lighting seems to highlight the presentations that are aways spectacular. The Nicoise and crab salads are particularly stunning to the eye, while many of their dishes appear a bit more rustic without looking like the slop that most people call comfort food---
Everything there is put together- from the uber euro glassware to the ultra modern shiny silverware to the polish of the prosey servers to the exact angle of each forty five degree chive straw (just kidding).
But in spite of the painstaking commitment to details, they seem to have made a few adjustments over the past nine months to actually LOWER their prices without compromising quality, both with the "recession recreation" section of the cocktail menu, and by adding a couple of tasty pasta dishes to the main course section of the dinner carte du jour.
In fact, wifey did a bit of a comparison on prices with our favorites at chow and nopa and found out of the three ,conduit was by far the most reasonable, especially the price to quality ratio on wines that seem to be mostly French varietals, either imported, or domestically produced. It seems to be priced more like Plumpjack,
(forgive the analogy) like retail store prices, with a few exceptions like the impossible to find Didier Dagauneau and Sean Thackry. In spite of those two outliers, bargains on French wines from the Rhone and Loire are yours for the taking when you dine there.
Chef Justin Deering's influences are clearly French. The techniques he picked up under George Marone and Nancy Oaks make his understated all organic menu taste better than those that are simply ingredient driven. This week there was a corn set up with the Walu that is simply sublime. Each component is roasted separately , so the roasted cherry tomatoes are really a standout. We love the scallops and usually seem to order the carpacio in whatever incarnation it appears, and are always blown away by it.
The servers are always enthused to divulge trade secrets of the kitchen and sometimes even the vineyard and cellar. They surpass the depth of knowledge of any other wait staff that my wife and I know of in this "hire the smile" (or the snarl) city. The fact that the servers are very proud of their workplace is always clear. Since they appear to have been around the block more than once, that's saying something.
We are always treated with genuine warmth, kindness and competence. That, along with the incredible food and wine is why we always want to come back.
My friend and I were passing by and were drawn in by the interior decor. Rows upon rows of parallel metal pipes on black. Very stunning. So we decided to give it a try.
The cocktail I had was the daily special a marvelous concoction of lemon vodka, peach purée, and Prosecco with a twist.
We ordered the scallop & sweetbread dish and the salade Niçoise (with beautiful heirloom tomatoes) to start and shared an entrée of the Walu (kind of like Chilean sea bass.) We finished off with the butterscotch pots de crème. All delicious.
Everything was artfully prepared and executed in a timely fashion. The hostess, server, and expediter (most likely in some position of management since he was plain clothed) were attentive and made us feel welcome.
If I had to offer one point of constructive criticism it would be the bright florescent lighting of the exhibition kitchen. Against the dark color scheme and the surrounding reflective metal material it was a bit of a distraction.
Went with a group of 7 on saturday night and got immediate seating, which was nice.
The service was a little mixed - long time to get drinks, and food came in waves rather than all at once.
My salmon was not that good - a bit dry. Other plates were good,
Overall, I do not think any of us will go running back.
Decided to check this place out....
It literally does have Conduit all over the place.....so fitting in its name....cool looking space. Apparently we were sitting next to the table of the guy who designed the interior. Good parking options across the street for being in the Mission.
Like that they have "Recession creation" drinks for $6... but I opted for the dessert wine instead! Their "Moscato D' Asti" was so wonderful I had to have multiple glasses.....and I had the Scallop Risotto appetizer as a meal and it was quite fufilling! Nice that their menu changes daily!
I'll be short since I don't really remember this place. My assessment - I don't really remember this place. And therein lies the problem. The food was ok, not bad but far from memorable. The drinks are pretty good so try those. The decor is probably the most memorable part though I'm not sure if that's good or bad.
As you've probably already guessed by the name, the decor is very industrial (picture exposed beams and lots of metal). While that's a testament to their originality, since not many places in SF take on this vibe, it also makes one question their judgment. In that, it's a good ambiance for grabbing a drink but I'd rather eat dinner in a place with some warmth. So, unless you've got a thing for industrial décor, you're better off keeping this place on the back burner.
The appetizers here are great (scallops, carpaccio, niciose salad). But the entrees were so-so (steak, ravioli). Bread was great, and the restaurant decor is pretty.
The service is extremely slow, however, It took so long to bring my leftovers that we paid, signed credit card receipts, and walked out of the restaurant. I had to go back for them (since I am a frugal chinese person). Luckily they still had the box of leftovers.
Yes, there is conduit EVERYWHERE in this place. Most of it leading to nothing. Points for running with an idea and going with it. Ambiance-wise, there are nice touches, i.e. the horizontal fireplace at the entry, using the conduit to create separate spaces, and glassware and flatware of high quality. In retrospect, the lighting was a little distracting (perhaps it was the contrast between the dimly lit dining room and the glare of the bright (florescent?) lighting from the kitchen.) One plus that i really liked-- the open air kitchen is a nice touch, and added bonus: I didn't end up smelling like the kitchen when I was done with my meal! Can't pick up on the boys smelling like dinner... or maybe I can. Hrm.
Onto the food... I went with a very large group and had the pleasure of tasting a little bit of everything. Dishes that I found myself gravitating back to were the Carpaccio appetizer and my simple green salad with almonds, cheese (goat?), and a citrus fruit. I had the Bavette steak, which when I ordered medium rare, came to me a bit more rarer than i would like, but it didn't stop me from inhaling it anyways, the cauliflower mash and all. My friend's Walu (butterfish) was moist, tender and seasoned to perfection.
Didn't save room for dessert. Definitely will try next time!
Pros: Solid food spanning a decent, if limited, variety of culinary tastes; Sleek and attractive space; Easy to get a reservation (shhhh); Pleasant and friendly service; Don't feel rushed at your table; Kinda neat bathrooms.
Cons: Really long spacing between courses; Kinda annoying bathrooms.
You be the judge.
ive only ever come here for drinks and appetizers but i can say that the dark n' stormys and scallops are perfection!
A solid 3.5 stars.
Not truly disappointed, a unique experience, and has the potential to be a knockout. But as of now, it's just not there.
The first thing that will grab you when you arrive is the fascinating industrial decor. A sea of pipes, it divides the room, and truly does raise your imagination. Sheer black tables, with a very minimalistic feel gave the room a very clean, hard edged feel.
Then the unintentional comedy ensues. The menu is a labyrinth that acts like a wine reduction, but lacks the whole point which is to intensify flavor and in this case, thicken the appetite.
For instance, when you read "Cake Lemon Huckleberry Almond" what do you think that dish is?
I assumed it would be a lemon cake with almonds and a huckberry sauce.
Wrong. It was an almond cake with a scoop of lemon ice cream and huckleberry sauce.
That's exactly how the menu reads and the logic used when writing it which I found just bizarre. That's like replacing roast chicken by writing it as " Poultry Carrot Wine Oven"
Anyways, the highlights of the night were the 2 appetizers we started with.
The softshell crab was spectacular. The outer layer had a perfect crunch while the meat was soft, succulent and heated to perfection. Whatever they're using as a batter for this dish could cause people to clean plates all night long.
Their scallops were also on point. Resting on a bed of wild rice, it left you exited and eager for the main dish.
Each of us ordered something different. The Walu in a hollandaise sauce was light and filling, the ravioli didn't rival much, and the chicken I had was a bit bland. The skin was tough, the flavors were attempting to get off the ground but simply failed to launch.
Dish wise, nothing truly stood out.
On a side note, the bathrooms here are very odd. There is only one main bathroom, and each stall has a 'M' or 'W' on it. If that isn't strange enough, the stalls are entirely made of glass but with a white texture over it, so you can't directly see who's next to you, but you definitely get a shadow show.
Just not a fan of it.
Conduit is reaching, as it should, but it needs to get the basics down first. As I said before, I think this space has great potential and I'm looking forward to checking out their daily changing menu.
******THE MOST AMAZING cocktails in San Francisco, hands down!******
Everything I mentioned last time still holds true. Still my favorite place to eat and I love the whole vibe going on.
Last night I skipped the food and sat at the bar. I'm talking scientific mixology here. Conduit has the science of cocktails down to an art form. **Random fact: Did you know that both strawberry flavored yogurt and Campari liqueur used crushed beetles to obtain the red color?
I learned that from the supa smart bartender. (Weird, huh? I'm a scientist so I like those facts.)
Another bit of creativity...those bathrooms! PAY ATTENTION!
They are unisex. They are frosted. They have teeny tiny letters reading "M" and "W".
This is my new favorite place to eat in SF. The food is absolutely amazing; simply prepared and… Read more »
Ooooooh I don't know. I can't help but feel a little disappointed with Conduit. There was a LOT of hype built up for me from friends and when it was all said and done the food, the service and the experience seemed pretty average (for San Francisco at least).
Everyone told me how delicious, inventive and original their cocktails are. Based on this the three in my party picked out a cocktail... even though there seemed to be too many with bourbon, gin and other kinds of liqueur that I don't really like.
Anyway... we ordered... our server brought them... and after a few minutes of taste testing we realized he had switched them all up. It took us a few minutes (and we needed to look at the menu) but we got them figured out.
Why does this sum up my experience? There was so much hype built up about the cocktails that just a simple mistake by the server screwed it up.
To top it off, we ordered a bottle of wine but they didn't have it chilled... so they brought it up with a bucket of ice and had to chill it at our table. It never reached the right temperature so it was pretty ridiculous too.
I don't even remember the food at this point... it was fine but they couldn't really recover from the cocktail and wine snafu's. Maybe it was just a fluke of a night but I'm not sure I'll be rushing back anytime soon.
Chic and stylish upon entering, you will notice the name of the restaurant is aptly named when you see all the conduit that has been artfully displayed throughout. A wide but not terribly deep space features an open kitchen at the rear. I love seeing the cooks in action, but I am not fan of the fluorescent lighting so many kitchens use. And people sitting at the kitchen bar reminded me of Blade runner.
The wait staff is attentive but not overly friendly which I appreciate. The food is inventive and somewhat focused on seafood. I had a scrumptious salad before my main course called "Little Gem" The wine list is fairly good but in this economy I think there could be some less costly choices added. The fish (Walu) I had was silky and well seasoned.
All in all it is a nice place to go with friends and have a nice bite over some good conversation. The bathrooms are beautifully designed but not for the modest as they stalls are made of frosted glass, which are not for the pee shy.
I'd give this place 5 stars if it weren't for my little incident in the bathroom... but I definately give this place 4.5 stars and growing.
The ambiance is dim lit and sensual and the open air kitchen (not like you would think) is inviting, warm and created a relaxed atmosphere. A nice balance of comfortable modern and visually striking details which makes for a great space to enjoy some vivid plates. From the Prosseco by the glass and the vibrant cocktails to the dessert, I was wowed all night long. Once again I knew I was living it up in the city. I always do.
My amazing friends took me here knowing that I would fall in love. They do it to me everytime I visit them in the city. Last summer, I fell for Beretta... they took me there twice! Love them!
The Mission is where it's at. The crowd was very mixed and the place was full on this particular Friday latenight. I had just driven up to the city from Monterey and it would have been in record timing if I hadn't hit traffic in my last leg of the race (due to some accident).
I was told we were going nowhere fancy Friday night so I dressed very casual but I never leave home without a pair of heels preferably over 3.5" in height. You don't have to dress up at all its just that the crowd that dines here tends to look "nice". Or you can tell they are tyring to pull off that "I look good without trying" but they really try look.
We started off with a handful of Apps. (we always do). My friends know the chef fairly well so he took care of us and made sure each of us in our party of 5 got a taste of everything. When the Cesar Salad came we were presented with 5 baby Romaine Lettuce Hearts. The Beets salad was beuatiful and full of color. The accents of cheese went very well. We had some seared scallops on risotto and the risotto was drenched in flavor, I kept going back for more. The Fish & Chips, just adorable and presented in a tasteful matter (as was everything else). Carpaccio was solid too as was the Crab Salad. So I think we pretty much went down the apps. list... the norm.
Now this is where things got funny... we usually order different entrees (so we can experience more of what's on the menu) but for some reason we were intrigued with the Sole which was out so we all opted for the Cod (or was it vice a versa? I shared my dish and I really only ate what it was served on which seemed like Israeli cous cous cooked perfectly in a broth and then some). One friend got his usual the Bavette, a grilled steak that is so lightly seared that the inside is completey red. The rarer the meat the better for this particular cut.
We ordered a couple sides too: the spinach and broccoli di ciccio both sauteed.
Not done yet. After I came back from the bathroom I was smacked across the face with reality, reality that this place was not 110% perfect like I had liked to think (in my head). The bathrooms are so "new" that they have the fogged look thing going. Perfect for a club but in a classy establishment? I could see to much of what was going on next door and it wasn't pretty. I was a bit turned off.
I was ok again after I took a spoonful of the Butterscotch Pot de Creme. Yes you heard me right... Butterscotch. Absolutely Heavenly! (Coming from a girl who is not too fond of sweets!)
I left there smiling and can't wait to go back. I will have to try the cauliflower next time. Heard it was lovelier than lovely!!! I would love to have a few more Moscow Mules my next go around too!
The sommelier was great as he gave us a few tips for our upcoming day trip to Napa. You know you are in good hands at Conduit.
parking can be a nightmare.
The server we had was intense and made my friend and i a bit uncomfortable.
The food made up for it though, thee best butterfish i had in ages.
"Sleek, Fresh and Striking"
I enjoyed my entire experience here: Good presentation, knowledgeable staff, and great ambiance. They use fresh seasonal ingredients, I was very impressed by the space, but the staff and the food were equally impressive.
Decor and service (for me) is often half the battle. This is a beautiful sleek and striking modern open space. The ceilings and accents are made out of metal piping, thus the name, "conduit" Clean beautiful lines, and dark industrial greys and blacks. I loved it. Very well designed.
Faves from the menu:
Beet Salad with Fennel & Mache
Ribeye Carpaccio with crispy artichoke, aioli and black truffle
Bavette Steak (Menu changes slightly every day)
Cod with Clams and Chorizo
If you have room for dessert we ordered the sorbets, all house made.
Highlights of the space:
Full bar, private dining room in the back that looks super exclusive and perfect for your private event, or business dinner. I'll be back to book that room or a buy out of the space for a holiday party!
I recently went with my wife for our anniversary and we really enjoyed ourselves. We were seated promptly at a nice window table and I liked that the tables were NOT on top of one another like they are at nearby Farina. Our server was attentive and courteous and all of his recommendations from the appetizers to the wine were spot-on.
Pricing was a bit high, otherwise it would be a 5-star. Either way, it's worth checking out.
Order the Shadduck drink! I had 3 of them and I liked each one of 'em! What's the Shadduck? It's plymouth gin, St. Germain elderflower, prosecco, and ruby red grapefruit. So fruity!
I had the 1/2 order of butternut squash ravioli with almonds. Please note, a 1/2 order consist of only 3 raviolis.
Eric W.'s Bavette entree - the meat was quite raw.
Check out the decor of this place. It's so very pipey! If you have a fetish for metal pipes, you'll love the surroundings.
I'd come back and try other dishes and have another Shadduck.
Saturday night dinner and I did my usual Yelp and Opentable search and found this place and decided to give it a try. Got good reviews and it was in an unusual spot in the Mission. But the location is actually one of the advantages of this place. But first lets talk about the place. You walk in and its called Conduit because of the conduit piping decor. They have real conduit piping and decorative piping covering the walls an ceiling. The restaurant is very cool looking. The other thing is because of the location it's a fairly decent size restaurant. Meaning your table won't be smashed against another table in a room the size of a studio.
So the place looks really cool now lets talk about the service. We were SUPER late yet the hostess was really nice. Some of the places in the city you get a little attitude, god forbid that you as the customer make a mistake. Granted this is a new restaurant but hopefully that friendly attitude stays. Our waiter was great. Super friendly but no overbearing. The good balance between service and also letting my girlfriend and I have our space to enjoy our dinner and have a conversation without being constantly interrupted. We even commented that the waiter was very good.
Now lets talk about the food. This same restaurant, exact same food in any so called nicer neighborhood would have been about 10 bucks more per entree. Most of their entrees were ine the 19 to 22 dollar range with a few upper 20 dollar range. These same entrees would probably average closer to 28 to 29 dollars at other similar places. We ordered the fish and chips for an appetizer and they were great. I ordere Coq Au Van (chicken cooked like adobo but in wine) and my girlfriend ordered the pork. Both were really good. I wasn't completely blown away by the food but its one of those places where the menu always changes so I'd love to go back and try new dishes.
We also ordered a bottle of wine which one of the owners brought out and chatted with us and pretty much everyone in the restaurant as well. The wine list is decent. For the budget conscious they had bottles that ranged from around 30 bucks and above. They also have some larger tables or tables in the middle that could be put together if you have a large party so could be a good group dinner place. There is also an 8 dollar parking lot if you mention Conduit right across the street.
Really this is one of those places where the owners and the staff really make an effort for you to have a nice meal. It was actually pretty refreshing.
This is THE place! I admit, the neighborhood isn't great, but walking into Conduit, is literally walking into another world. The decor is pretty slick, clearly using the exposed conduits as a theme, and highlighting them with more strategically placed conduits. This is a great place to take a date, assuming you can find parking.
First, the waiter really made the experience fantastic! He described every dish down to the last detail, but so eloquently, it wasn't overly obnoxious-and it made everything sounds delicious.
The food itself was phenomenal. I got the pasta and my girlfriend got the lamb. The portions were great, but we were both wishing there was more when we finished! The dessert was also amazing. This place actually made me feel warm and fuzzy after my experience here.
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Italian
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