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Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
18 Virginia Ave(between Coleridge St & Mission St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
(415) 206-2086
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 11:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
951 reviews for Emmy's Spaghetti Shack
Review Highlights
"the spaghetti and meatballs is sooooo tasty and yummy."
(in 554 reviews)
"The garlic bread is great as well, so is their dessert."
(in 93 reviews)
"I'd have a beer at the bar next door if I had to wait..."
(in 52 reviews)
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951 reviews in English
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Review from Michelle M.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
LOVE LOVE LOVE Emmy's. This place is so awesome that it's our anniversary spot. Their food is always consistently yummy. Emmy has a simple menu...everything on it is really good. Of course their specialty is the spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs are the size of tennis balls! I always order a side of extra sauce too.
The decor matches the over-all theme. They serve great food at reasonable prices....awesome combo for SF. Only downside is the wait...they do not take reservations so my suggestion is to go early or when the rush ends. -
Review from Enrico P.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2012
Went here last MLK Day on a whim after looking for quick bite. Three of us were seated within 10 minutes which is a rarity I guess so be prepared to wait - but the Cantina next door is perfect as they will come get through connecting door.
I had the cod which was very good, but not excellent because simply too much butter. Got a bit overwhelming the amount if butter and I would have sent it back to be 'drained' I were on the ball.
Friends spaghetti and meatballs was HUGE and the meatballs were excellent. Strongly suggest them. In fact, all dishes were generous portions.
Limited menu so I hope it changes next time I am there though I imagine S&M is signature dish.
Not sure I'd wait more than a half hour when there is so much good food in Bernal and Mission.
The tri-blend wine (don't recall the name) was also well received by all three in my party. -
Review from S. M.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
I was craving some spaghetti. This place is a dark dive-y type bar spot. Service is slow and remote (probably because I wasnt drinking) but hey... I got a BIG ol' plate of spaghetti with big fat meatballs and it was tasty. The caesar salad was very good too. Although both were definitely nothing to write home about.
Would I wait in line for this place? NO.
If its a quite slow weekday.. perhaps, but not likely. -
Review from G R.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is all hype. It's always a long wait to get in (staff is rude) - and once you do sit down you look over the menu and it's not all that. Come on, $10 bucks for a bowl of spaghetti? But after an hour wait (for two of us) and imbibing several martini's next door (the only upside of the wait), we were finally seated. We ordered the spaghetti with meatballs (with extra meatballs), we also split a salad and the bruchetta. The total was pricy for quality of the food. The noodles were soggy so the sauce was watery - the noodles we a bit mushy too - the meatballs were fine.
It was worth a stop just to check out they hype. I may go back; I am not saying I never will - but if fellow diners want to go I won't object. -
Review from Natalie G.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
5 stars for the food! I tried a couple dishes and the spaghetti and meatballs were a favorite. They taste homemade and delicious. I loved the fish and chips even more than I thought I would. It came out piping hot, fried to perfection and the fries were really done right as well. I could have used more fries, but no biggie.
Minus one star for them messing up our credit cards at the end of the meal. How hard is it to split the bill? I got home and was charged twice. They told me I was declined (UGH) and then ran another card of mine, only to be changed once on each card.
Besides that, the service was friendly and the drinks were strong! -
Review from Lani N.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
We've been dying to go here, and finally, we made it!!!
Small seasonal menus keep food delicious and priced well. It's cute and funky inside, hand-written menus, aprons strung across the restaurant, booths along two walls. Service was great. Food was delicious comfort food, portions are huge.
Garlic bread: buttered with herbs and garlic, crispy toasted. Not smothered in cheese, but buttery, garlic-y and perfect.
Barry's Caesar Salad: 3 of us shared this, it was HUGE. Dressed perfectly, with super crisp Romaine. It's a great salad to share between 2-4 people.
Spaghetti and Meatballs: Someone in another review mentioned the "meat boulders" which made me laugh... and then we saw the meatballs, they're HUGE. I really enjoyed the tomatoe-y sauce. The meatballs were delish too. A meatier-style meatball, it didn't seem to have a lot of bread inside if any.
Fettucine with Spicy Italian Sausage, Roasted Cauliflower, Parmesan Cream Sauce, topped with Herbed Bread Crumbs: really, really yummy. The cauliflower and spicy sausage balanced the richness of the dish. The bread crumbs were added some crunch. Yum.
Doughnut: So good. So good. So good.
Orange Blossom Martini: very nice. Not too sweet, citrusy and clean.
The High Roller: super nice. We could smell the vanilla, we could taste the lemon.
There were 3 of us: we ordered a small garlic bread and Caesar salad to share, 2 spaghetti and meatballs, one fettucine, and the doughnut to share. We went home with half of the fettucine and a whole order of spaghetti and meatballs, which is fine if you like leftovers (which we do).
The only thing: it was way too loud for us inside. I've worked at restaurants for years and years, including ones that always have the music too loud (the result is that I'm a little hard of hearing, I swear, and it was still too loud for me in there!!!). Maybe it was just that night? At any rate, we found ourselves leaning across the table and yelling a bit. If the volume of the music could go down a bit, I think that it would have made a unique and special experience the perfect experience. -
Review from Amy L.
1/9/2012
Emmy's is an unfortunate triumph of hipster-y style over substance. I left disappointed and don't plan on coming back.
We sat down and followed our waiter's recommendations to order the signature spaghetti and meatballs, along with the squash gratin appetizer and cod entree. The waiter warned us the kitchen was running slow, and then proceeded to ignore us for the next 40 minutes. (We did manage to order drinks directly from the bartender, who helpfully let me taste a couple of different wines before deciding.)
When the food did finally arrive, it was...disappointing. The blue cheese on top of the squash gratin really didn't mesh with the assertive allspice kick at all, and the squash was more roasted than gratineed - really missing that textural contrast between the crunchy topping and creamy interior that's the signature of a good gratin.
Also disappointing were the spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs seemed to be all beef, instead of a more tender and unctuous beef/pork or beef/veal mixture and the sauce lacked a vibrant tomato flavor (I diagnose too much tomato paste). The cod was the best part of the meal, but even that was overcooked.
All in all, nothing I couldn't have made better myself, and in less time than it took them to feed us.Listed in: Bernalicious
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Review from Quinn S.
1/17/2012
Unimpressive for all the hype, and I understand having a small menu if you are going to change it up frequently, but why are there only four items on the menu if they are always the same?
My steak was overdone; medium rare shouldn't be beige in the middle. The spaghetti and meatballs were fine but way overpriced for the quality. I really liked the alfredo and the Caesar salad was decent.
The service was friendly and the atmosphere was great, plus I really appreciate the staff calling us from El Amigo and letting you bring your drinks over. -
Review from Joy A.
12/29/2011 3 photos
Emmy's Spaghetti Shack is truly one-of-a-kind!!
Ambiance:
The website portrays Emmy as a free spirit, and her resto shack perfectly reflects that. What other resto combines an eclectic & artisticly designed menu, leopard print tables, a laundry line of clothes dangling right above us, hip-hop music playing in the background, & random chinese take-out boxes used for leftovers?
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Libations:
Drop Kick Lemonade vs. Orange Blossom Martini. Hands down, the martini was the winner! (One more round, please?!)
Starters:
The beet & goat cheese salad and bruschetta topped w/ mozzarella & sun-dried basil tomato were good. I was hoping for heirloom or regular tomatoes instead of the sun-dried basil though.
Entrees:
*Spaghetti w/ Meatballs. Our waiter didn't lie when he said the portions were big. Imagine two deliciously steaming chunks of meatballs kerplunked ever-so-nicely on a bed piled high of spaghetti noodles. Observed, this dish was a costumer fave.
*Fettuccine w/ spicy italian sausages. It was served w/ roasted cauliflower, parmesan cream, & topped w/ bread crumbs. This was my personal fave! I loved the crisp in each bite-sized cauliflower, the crunch in the bread crumbs, & the spice in each italian sausage.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Bottom Line:
Fine Emmy, you got yourself another repeat customer! I am so glad I came and will definitely come back again.
Tips:
*No reservations, so come early or prepare to wait!
*Parking- street parking (free) on Virginia St. or metered parking (bring quarters) on Mission St.
*Order the Orange Blossom Martini to start & the Fettucini w/ Spicy Italian Sausage as your entree.Listed in: Cool Hole-in-the-wall Eateries
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Review from linda b.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
HERE is my home for spaghetti..... it's delicious!
My only hesitations are parking and the wait..... we get around that by going early. Otherwise you need to be prepared to wait... the bar up front is fine, and there are benches outdoors.....
MUST be tried, at least once! -
Review from Chris T.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
My kind of restaurant! Divey, affordable with surprising dishes!
Don't let the word "shack" turn you away. This cozy, colorful restaurant has some serious flavor. It's dark and easily ignored, which made my dining experience a bonus. I had no real expectations for Emmy's... who really makes spaghetti the key selling dish nowadays? With a town dishing out homemade, rustic oxtail ragus, beef cheek ravioli, and uni fetticcuni one would think spaghetti n meatballs was "blah-sé".
But I've always thought the key to a successful restaurant is the signature dish. One (or two) dishes that is always on the menu because it is the top favorite. Not just in that restaurant but in town! And people will keep coming back over and over again for that one signature dish. Emmy's could possibly have the best spaghetti and meatballs in SF. Three good sized meatballs with a heaping mound of pasta. Sweet, tangy marinara sauce and a handful of parm cheese. Simple, but perfected.
On top of that they make a surprisingly good spicy prawn risotto. I found it interesting that they used ginger instead of some chili to make it spicy. Rich n creamy n cheesy... the way a risotto should be.
Also, I'd pay for their table foccacia. Good buttery, olive oil flavor. Divine. -
Review from Kathy V.
12/16/2011 2 photos
Literally a shack, as I walked in the first thing I noticed was the roofing from inside and a laundry line of clothes that went across the room of tank tops and sleeping attire wired with Halloween eye ball lights. Weird decor? but hey it's their restaurant. The shack started to get packed after we were seated, I happened to noticed their menu which was a messy work of art, with bright colors and scribble scrabble hand writing which made your eyes hurt LOL ....back to the food, ordered the beet salad, bruschetta, spaghetti with meatballs and their fettuccini w/Italian sausage.
Results: Beet salad-nothing special -fresh greens with chunks of beets drizzled with vinaigrette dressing.
Bruschetta- Ahem I didn't like it. Dried non fresh tomatoes onto of a thick piece of French bread with a big amount of mozzarella.
Spaghetti w/GIANT meatball- Average, I ate 3 bites and onto the fettuccini with Italian sausage-The highlight of my night besides my alcoholic beverage. Portion sizes are huge, and good for sharing. Too bad they change the menu every season, so they didn't have most of the pictures I saw on yelp =( -
Review from Kevin A.
San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
A friend had recommended Emmy's to me a couple weeks back, and considering it was in the neighborhood, I decided to stop by. Judging by the hand-written menu's and the fact that they served 40 oz beers, I knew right off the bat that it was going to be an interesting night.
To start off, I must note that I had to wait an hour to be seated. In a local neighborhood restaurant. For spaghetti and meatballs.
While waiting, my friend and I grabbed a cocktail at the bar next door, and when we returned to the retaurant after about 30 minutes, we were told to wait another "5 minutes", which actually turned out to be 30 minutes (during which we were completely ignored). Additionally, my friend and I got our drinks after receiving our bread, appetizers and entrees, only because I reminded our waitress who had forgotten.
When it came to the food, the fettucine topped with bread crumbs and the spicy prawn risotto were tasty, but surprisingly, I was not impressed by their trademark spaghetti and meatballs. If it wasn't for the long wait, mediocre service, and the crowd of yuppies in thick-rimmed glasses crowding the place, I would consider giving them a third star. -
Review from Susy C.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
If your wait is over 10-15 minutes, don't bother.
This place is so over hyped!!!!!
My wait was only 15 minutes or so because the couple in front of me got skipped. Why? The chick's boyfriend was still circling around looking for parking. You will not get seated unless your entire party is present, sorry!
People write that it's a hipster joint. Yeah, so? I don't care.
The food.
So of course you order spaghetti at a spaghetti shack. I opted for spaghetti & meatballs since people rave about it.
My friend also ordered the risotto.
The risotto was good, spaghetti - eh.
I don't know how people are willing to wait an hour+ for mediocre spaghetti.
I think I'll stick to making my own. I mean, if there's no wait (which is almost unheard of here) then it's do able but by no means is it worth the wait. It's okay spaghetti but not worth waiting for..
Does this mean my hipster card is revoked? -
Review from athena h.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
I loved every part!
The atmosphere was of course the first thing I noticed, some say it is considered a "hipster" joint not sure where the hell they get that!
Far from it! I would say more of a combination of alternative/rockabilly/skater punk, definitely my kind of place! I came here based on the good reviews my husband read but after seeing the most recent reviews it is obviously not the sort of place for uptight yuppies!
The wait was long but well worth it, the staff was friendly and polite, they suggested we wait in the bar which mostly serves hard liquor ( no wine) but the bartender knows how to make a mean margarita!
The food was excellent! No dried bread sticks or bland french bread here, they gave a generous helping of delicious focaccia with a side of dipping oil.
I had ordered the flat iron steak, (comes with a fried egg on top but optional umm yuck no thanks!) The flavor of the steak was amazing, a prime cut and very fresh!
My hubby ordered the spaghetti and meatballs or should I say "meatboulders", so gooood!
There was more then enough food on just one order to share with another!
And there prices were fair! I will be coming back, but best to make a reservation first next time!
FYI I have noticed when a restaurant has a long wait it usually means the food is damn good! -
Review from J. J.
Oakland, CA
1/29/2012
Went here on Thursday night for a late dinner. The spaghetti and meatballs were as good as I remembered it to be. The portions are huge - definitely splittable two ways, and possibly three. We also tried the chipotle chocolate bbq baby back ribs. Heaven in your mouth. The meat falls off the bones and they weren't skimping. Also had the penne with marscapone cream sauce with spinach and toasted walnuts. It was really good but not so good reheated the next day. Spaghetti, on the other hand, almost seems even better a day or two later. Yum, yum, yum.
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Review from Christian H.
San Rafael, CA
12/5/2011
I was told when you go here, you keep it simple and order the Spaghetti and Meatballs. No need to steer any further away from it. That and some Garlic Bread. Winners.
Steering far away means ordering something like a Dirty Martini at the bar while you wait for your table; (it's a hole-in-the-wall type of place, so there is surely almost always a wait). The bartender whispered a quick question to the manager what he should charge for such drinks. HUH? No one orders that here?
Judging from that, the super-funky decor (that included clothing hanging on a clothes-line across the bar) & that I was told to order the Spaghetti & Meatballs in the first place...I knew all along to just take the place for what it was. It's so casual that you can watch the food runner 'discreetly' sip down on a glass of red wine while he waits for food to come through the kitchen window. So casual that the bartender gets irritated that he has to get up off his bar stool where he is trying to impress some girl to make another drink (which he forgot to make).
Then in the end you go for the doughnut-crumble dessert thingy with ice cream & it's just like nothing else really mattered in the world. Wow. -
Review from aerin w.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
i try not to go out to eat anymore as i've successfully hit every restaurant within my mission-based orbit... but i go to emmy's. everybody loves emmys & yes you can make that pasta at home for 3$ but you're gonna pay 10 for theirs.
if you cant bear the wait, just get there at 5:30 & get the table of your choice. if you get there anytime after you're going to be drunk at dinner which means you're going to eat all of that pasta & be useless thereafter. good luck. -
Review from S S.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2011 2 photos
Let me get this straight:
Spaghetti, donuts, basil lime martinis, leopard print tables, 2Pac and Blackstar.... ALL UNDER ONE ROOF? Ahhhmazing.
Came here after a day of helping a friend move. Precisely what we needed.
A plate full of garlic bread and spaghetti.... and... caesar salad, squash gratin with blue cheese and pumpkin seeds and the spicy prawn risotto.
Everything was tasty and delicious.
So much so that I insisted on dessert (though stuffed).
Donut topped with pecans, caramel and vanilla ice cream.
OK, I can die and go to my happy place now.
And yes, it's fairly small (which is lovely), the decor is fabulously eclectic and you might have a tatted waitress (um, so what... it is San Francisco.. and the Mission after all. If you're looking for some preppy touristy joint, go back to Bucca di Beppo). It's perfectly non-accessible to you car drivers who can't parallel park in the "hood". -
Review from Mich L.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
I totally disagree with the assessment that this place isn't good for kids. My toddler, recovering from an ear infection, had the meltdown of the century tonight at Emmy's, but the staff was incredible. They also have a kids' menu, so you can draw your own conclusion.
We had to leave early when it became clear that my son was going to make everyone's dining experience miserable, but thanks to the staff, my experience was still wonderful.
Thanks to the entire Emmy's staff for accommodating us. I cannot express how appreciative I am. -
Review from Ang F.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2011
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat, craving Emmy's spaghetti and meatballs.
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Review from Erin B.
San Francisco, CA
12/13/2011
Not one complaint.
Shared the beet salad, shrimp risotto and meatless spaghetti between two people. Perfect portions. Everything was delicious, especially the risotto.
Emmy's has a cute, quaint, southern atmosphere. The menu was preciously hand-made and colorful. Very mom & pop. Moderately priced but I thought it was worth it.
Note- All groups have to wait to be seated until all parties are present, so don't be late! -
Review from Madeline S.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
I wish I could eat here every night - not much gets close to my mom's spaghetti but Emmy's does! Fun atmosphere, totally brings me back to the days I lived in Portland.
Plus I love love love that it's connected to the Cantina and you can drink and wait and a great bar next door! -
Review from Erin C.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Potato Leek Soup (summer menu) - perfect on a cold windy night
Spaghetti and Meatballs - delcious! even better for leftovers :) A MUST-ORDER, often shareable, especially if this is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. time!
Orzo Salad with stonefruit (summer menu) - so refreshing and one of the best salads I've had! -
Review from Janis R.
San Francisco, CA
12/29/2011
Located in funky, cool La Lengua, right on the edge of Bernal Heights, this area has a fantastic array of underrated places to eat.
We went to Emmy's for the second time and it was just as good as the first. The hostess was a bit hang-doggy. I thought it might have been 'cause we showed up close to closing (but a half hour is plenty of time to get a meal out before it impinges on closing chores.), but she did her job well and the waitress was very nice and the guy who brought our drinks was cool, too.
Food was like has been mentioned before, delicious, huge portions and straight forward-at least the Spaghetti and meatballs. Generally I don't like restaurant meatballs--so full of fillers and a weird non-meaty taste, but Emmy's are what they should be-really good!
Why would a wait staff with tats and an eclectic decor bother you? This is San Francisco. If you're in the mood for upscale, nouveau gastronomie, there are plenty of other places to choose from. Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, though, is wonderfully funky with a menu that is very yummy. What's not to love? -
Review from Anna S.
San Francisco, CA
11/26/2011
They have Mickey's.
Cute place for a date and plates are meant to be shared, if ya ain't stingy. Come early because it gets super packed real quick. If you're waiting for a table, go to the tequila bar next door. -
Review from fear and loathin g.
San Francisco, CA
1/30/2012
i used to frequent this spot a lot, they food and the prices were good and you always left satisfied. but i recently visited and noticed some of their items got a little more pricier. the service is always great, dont get me wrong. but just something about the food the last visit just made it seem like i didnt get my moneys worth
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Review from Julio A.
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
What's not to like?
Relatively hidden, kitschy interior, fun people, and baller spaghetti and meatballs. I've been coming for years and it's always been consistent and great.
It gets crowded on weekends and they don't take reservations, so go early or plan on waiting outside. Wine list is good and their cocktails are pretty nice. Nothing but positive things to say about the bartenders and other staff. Go go go! -
Review from M G.
Berkeley, CA
1/10/2012
Tasty entrees, desserts and apps, excellent beer & wine selection, fun vibe at this tiny Bernal Heights place. Be prepared for a long wait (grab a glass of your favorite swill in the meantime).
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Review from Tri P.
Milpitas, CA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was excited to check this place out based on the reviews and the fact that it was open late, but I didn't enjoy this place. It's definitely dive-y; I don't think the pictures do enough to let you know that your waiter will be someone heavily tattooed who'd rather spend time texting than helping you out. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything wrong with people and sleeves; they just didn't seem to care all that much.
Based on the photos, I anticipated something ecclectic like Bucca di Beppo, but I was quite shocked to find it incredibly dark and small (hence the name shack). Parking is atrocious and the menu does nothing to help you decide what to eat.
The pasta is okay; I tried the steak with the fried egg: huge letdown.
YELP, You failed me this time! -
Review from mary ann b.
South San Francisco, CA
11/3/2011
Like mnay of my reviews this is long over due
Stanky bathroom ewwww being located so very close to the bathroom ruins the other senses like taste. The spaghetti and meatballs that night was ok nothing to WOW about. The portion of the meatballs were ginormous like that scene in the Wedding Singer, when the old lady paid Adam Sandler in meatballs. I think the only thing memorable was the dessert it was this delictable donut crunch. -
Review from Jonathan P.
Oakland, CA
1/6/2012
Original and killing it. Good meatballs, good wine selection, good beers. The salads are nice size and the pasta portions are huge as they should be. File all of your complaints in the trash.
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Review from Jonny Bobby G.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Simply awesome.
A single order of their spaghetti and meatballs (3 pieces) easily serves too.
Menu is simple and straight to the point.
Service is even more blunt... they could crack a smile once in awhile.
Drinks are readily available AND it's also attached to a bar.
This place is tiny which means you'll probably have to eat dinner at 6pm or risk waiting awhile for a table. -
Review from Kori M.
10/19/2011
I wanted to like this place (so many good reviews!), but left underwhelmed. The ambiance is certainly noteworthy (love the eclectic array of trinkets, tshirts, and lights hanging around the room), but I wish the food was as exciting as their aesthetics.
Nothing was bad, just boring and bland. I was hoping for more spices and flavors in my marinara! Oh well. Maybe other items on their menu are better...? -
Review from Tiffany U.
San Francisco, CA
Gimme some spaghetti with those meatballs!!
I usually avoid dining at any restaurant's associated with the word "shack" but I assure you that the inside of Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, though dim and Christmas lights lined, is a whole lot cuter than a "shack". I loved all the aprons hanging from the ceiling and the photos on the walls!
The menu is limited-- so if you're not really in the mood for spaghetti and meatballs then this isn't your spot. But then again, why go to a spaghetti shack if you're not craving it!! Eva W., Emmett L and Mr. W and I started off with some garlic bread and ahi tuna ceviche followed by four orders of spaghetti with meatballs. As you can tell, variety was the theme for the night. :)
Garlic bread- very garlicy and crispy.
Ahi tuna ceviche with wonton crisps- wish there were more wonton crisps that came with it! The ahi tuna was a little spicy for my taste but nonetheless, it was delicious.
Spaghetti with meatballs-- you will not be disappointed!! Three huge meatballs topped with some spaghetti- the meatballs are to die for. Three perfectly tendered and flavorful meatballs, might I add.
My only complaint about Emmy's is the hostess was a bit catty. She made us wait 15 minutes before seating us to our table (which was empty) "for timing purposes". I guess I wouldn't have minded had she explained to me what those timing purposes were but she didn't. She wasn't exactly very friendly at all. Luckily, the other waitress with the glasses was super sweet. They made a mistake with our spaghetti and meatballs, two of us got ours about 15 minutes before the other two, so she comped our drinks to make up for it!
I can't wait to come back for more! If you're planning on checking out Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, make sure you come early. They have limited seating and it gets super crowded! -
Review from Maya S.
9/20/2011
This shack serves up a big ol' bowl of spaghetti and meatballs = 3 big meatballs with what seems like a ton of spaghetti noodles covered in the right amount of tomato sauce. I'd think in most cases, you'd have leftovers but you're definitely a beast if you've finished their spaghetti and meatballs. The tomato sauce is on the tangier side but it goes great with the homestyle meatballs that are packed with herbs and breadcrumbs. Even better is the focaccia bread served with your meal but make sure you save room for your entree!
The majority of the staff is friendly although they may be forgetful about what you've ordered. You gotta love that it does feel and look like a shack from the inside. Check out the aprons hanging on a clothes line that run across the ceiling. Also, Emmy's is connected to a bar so aside from Emmy's bar, you have access to another one for post-pasta drinks. -
Review from Michael M.
San Francisco, CA
9/27/2011
Food= 5 (for what you'd expect from a shack)
Service= 4 a little gruff
Decor= 3.5 I hope they clean more often than it appears. -
Review from Madelyn M.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 12/23/2011
I hate writing a bad review, but feel like I should warn some yelpers...
I had the -hands down- WORST service I have *ever* received about a month ago at Emmy's.
I don't pay to go out to eat to be treated like a burden.
Sat at the bar for dinner with a friend, and had to remind the bartender for every single thing we wanted.
We were brought a single glass of the wine after we asked for a bottle... the bartender responded to the first one we ordered with, "Oh that's not a very good wine". I labored through having him suggest an alternative. ANY other wine....
We finally were permitted to place our order and he returned at least ten minutes later to tell us that two of the three things we'd chosen were no longer available. We decided on alternative dishes, which eventually came (except the garlic bread which we never got) and were alright...but certainly not worth the abuse.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2008
I am a total food snob. And I love Emmy's. Its not always easy to find a joint where super duper… Read more »
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Review from jackilyn b.
Burlingame, CA
9/13/2011
Rule of thumb/No brainer: When you go to a restaurant with a dish in their name, you gotta try that dish. So at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack, obviously, you gotta try the spaghetti before trying anything else. Its like an unwritten rule (in my mind at least!)
The spaghetti bowl here runs about $10.95 for a heaping serving of noodles generously mixed into fresh sauce that has a zesty kick to it. It's artfully topped with garnishing and cheese...mmm.
It also comes with big ass meatballs...great quality food for a great price! -
Review from joy p.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2011
OMG!!! Last night had dinner at Emmy's reluctantly. I've been there about 3 or 4 times, each visit had the same thing in common, service was bad, food was fair at best. Well, last night was the worse service ever. We sat for 37 minutes before Mr flannel shirt came over to the table and asked if we were ready? I've been in the service business for 30 years, owned my own French restaurant, waited tables, bar-tendered, cocktail waitress, every aspect of the service industry I have done it, including sales and hair stylist. If it's a tipping job I have done it. Remember, TIP is the acronym for, TO INSURE PROPER SERVICE. Anyway, the bartender brought over the drinks, wrong drink order, I blame Mr. flannel for that he should have delivered the drink order. We waited and additional 30 more minutes for the food. Some girl out of the blue suddenly brought out the food, all while Mr. Flannel shirt is washing a table down. He has waited on us before and had the same bad service, friend paid for the prior dinners. So here are a few TIPS to run with,
1) Hire staff that can carry more than 2 plates, use trays and dress like you care.
2) All places that have a full bar make money only on the bar. Food cost, labor and workman's comp etc are a loss.
3) Train your staff, it's less cost to you if my partner and I each had 3 drinks each and ordered an entree, remember...FOOD IS A LOSS. 6 drinks =$54.00, plate of spaghetti $12.00.
I tipped out .5 one nickle, I have never stiffed or tipped as an insult except for last night. We will never be back and will tell all our friends. I'm giving one star because the drinks were fair.
