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Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"This place was delicious! I kept eying everyone's meals through the window as I walked up and down the hill and I'm glad that we stopped…" read more »
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uh oh. i've been to emmy's mannnnny times and never left anything other than completely, well, complete (i.e. full AND satisfied). but tonight the meatballs had some SERIOUS raw garlic going on. and now i do too.
while this place remains a perennial go-to for me, i was underwhelmed with tonight's ballz.
i will say that the pear salad was pretty legit.
If it weren't for the terrible service, this would definitely be a 4 star review for food alone. The spaghetti and meatballs? We loved it. The appetizers? We loved them. The fact that one of the diners with us did not get his plate of spaghetti and meatballs until after the rest of us were done because the server got the order wrong? Did not love it. The fact that we put in our drink orders and the server forgot about it? Did not love it.
It's a tiny little place and you do have to wait to get seated. We sat at the bar and chilled and watched them make these heaping bowls of spaghetti and giant meatballs. We salivated. The sauce was surprisingly spicy but most of us liked that. But the two big blunders by the server were fairly unforgiveable. We won't be back.
Wow, this place really is small. Luckily, we were here right when it opens, so there was no wait. Being a vegetarian and visiting the Shack for the first time, I decided to just get the spaghetti while my fiance ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. Hmmm, I wished the waitresses had told us the serving size - it was HUGE. I mean the two of us could very well have shared it. No biggies. My fiance liked the infamous spaghetti and meatballs while I thought the spaghetti was warm (hot) and the awesome sauce.
Still, my expectation was sky high with all the great yelp reviews. But I thought the menu was pretty limited, at least for vegetarians like myself. It would be awesome if they offer veggie meatballs. I would the first to try!
Now I get why people wait A LONG time to eat here. I probably had the best meatballs and spaghetti of my life last night at Emmy's.
I'd been inside the place once but due to the long wait, we had to choose a plan B. Finally I got to taste the greatness and it was BOMB-Y. For those who like malt beer, you can get your fill here since they serve 40z. My friend had a glass of chardonnay and it wasn't shitty like I expected. It was gooooood.
I would definitely come back here again. I really enjoyed the ambience and again, it was probably THE BEST spaghetti and meatballs I've ever had. Hands down baby.
Yum! I loved this place. Small, quaint and a great, simple menu. We didn't have to wait long, but the staff was busy so service was a little slow. But, the food was well worth the wait and I will come back here every time I am up in the Bay Area!
The only reason they get 4 stars and not 5 is that the enormous line of fans they get as soon as the doors open...the line and wait can be long if you are not on top of it or not prepared to wait. My husband and I love it here its most likely one of our staple spots when dining for a whole hearted experience. From the eclectic vibes of the restaurant to the coolest and sweetest wait staff ever... not to mention the best ceasar salad ever... its a well rounded experience. Not fancy, not so hip you don't know why your there and they just welcome you in. Hands down the best Spaghetti and meatballs ever! I would typically not even consider that as a dish and now its a must have.
Truly a fun experience and its kid friendly. On the weekend they have a DJ that starts around 7pm or so... a mini bar they can serve you up whatever... We love it and its our first spot to bring friends that are visiting. And they have yet to be disappointed. Its simply fun and good food.
The time I came here the wait took FOREVER. Then we finally got a table and they proceeded to ignore us for an additional 15 minutes or so.
When the food came, it was uninspired and boring. Tasted "meh." The prices were too high for what we got, too.
I was really disappointed because we'd heard great things and the inside atmosphere is very nice so it ended up being quite the let down.
Boo.
I have to say that the last time I was here it was so terrible that I'm not sure I'll go back.
The spaghetti is still amazing. However, I apparently went on "you're not cool enough for good service night". Seemed like there were lots of friends of staff or regulars or whatever there. The staff doted upon most of the customers, but not us.
We gave the hostess our name and waited the prescribed time (45 minutes). After that expired we went in to check because it was rather cold outside. There were empty tables. She asked us our name as if she had never seen us before - and then must have realized cause she said "oh, you can sit right there". She sat us by the bathroom even though there were other tables. The door, she said, needed to stay open for the kitchen staff. I feel for the kitchen staff, so I didn't complain, but it was cold at our table.
All the wait staff took the time to chat with their friends, and take breaks, and hang out, but it took forever for us to get water, get menus, get utensils, get our food, and get our check. People who came in after us (who knew someone) were eating before we got water. All in all it was pretty miserable.
The sad part is that right before this experience we were talking about how much we enjoyed the food and how we should come here more regularly. I don't really think it's worth it though.
The atmosphere was fun and funky. The aprons hanging from the line were super cute and the music… Read more »
GREAT MEATBALLS!!! Solid meals and plenty of it. I would appreciate an expanded menu, but the limited menu that is offered is strong on all items.
Emmy's is a small place with 8 or 9 booths and a few tables in the middle. There are no reservations so there is often times a wait. A neighborhood place that offers great food without pretension. Unfortunately this makes it a bit of a hipster haven. It would be 5 stars if it had that only neighborhood feel, but the copious and annoying hipsters taints it. The staff is required to be hipster cool, thus they are not the most attentive. Still, they get the job done, the prices are reasonable and the full bar puts it in the "solid stand by" category.
This place really is a shack: very small, with a tin ceiling. The bar smells like my grandma's basement, or as Jean A. commented, "Like Ivory soap."
Order the spaghetti and meatballs, and you'll find that the meatballs (3) are the size of your face. The pasta sauce has a spicy kick to it. Definitely come here if you want a low-key evening with a hint of cool.
Emmy's is a solid Upper Mission / Bernal joint...great prices, mostly nice staff (but sometimes a little hipster standoffishness comes through) , simple quality grub, and a FULL bar with decent signature cocktails
funny thing is my least favorite dish is the namesake...it's not bad, it's just not that great compared to some of the other things on the menu...(pasta can be a bit overcooked for my taste, and the sauce is a bit salty and overly-concentrated - because it is used as the vehicle to finish off the meatballs for about 5-10 minutes at high heat...you can see the tomatoliciousness being reduced right out of it...)
For impatient types, note, it is often crowded...I've been there on numerous occasions where I've left after a 10 minute wait for a seat at the bar or for a table...I'm not big on lines
I have bookmarked this restaurant for over a year and during that time there were a lot of mixed reviews. So................I have decided to try it myself and hopefully I can shed some light.
If you can keep an open mind about having dinner at a dive bar then this would work. Their food is actually made very fresh and is cooked well. I came here with a friend of mine so we split a couple of items.
Ceasar Salad............very cold, crisp lettuce, and I just love home made ceasar dressing and fresh parmigiana cheese.
Battered cod.......their version of fish and chips. Very well cooked, moist, battered lightly, and their chips were awesome. I think they even made their own tartar sauce.
Spaghetti and meatballs.......The sauce was a tad bit tangy but overall a very good dish. I felt like a little kid while eating this dish. The spaghetti reminds me how my aunt(who can cook) would make this with pure elbow grease and love.
It's priced a little high for a dive bar/restaurant but the food is good. The only reason why I wouldn't come back is probably the location. I can see how people would be upset for having to wait to eat here. It's not a place where I would wait in line to eat. I mean it is good...........but not that good.
Just a note: Emmy's is still awesome! They have this stuff called Jalapeno syrup and it makes an Amazing soda (though i don't think this is on the menu- But ask for it! I did.)
Spaghetti and meatballs is still my go-to for Emmy's. I don't see any reason to venture out, though their other dishes are often pretty inticing...
i come here whenever i can!
that is:
-when it's early and there's no wait and parking isn't a drag…
Read more »
This is my favorite SF eatery. I love the drinks, I love the vibe, I love the food. I've never had a problem with the wait, and I am awed that they sell 40s at the bar. There's also usually an in-house DJ spinning. I was once there during peach season and they served this to-die-for peaches, tomatoes, basil, mint and mozzarella salad that was amazing. Otherwise, the spaghetti and meatballs are huge enough to share and the place is totally chill and friendly to all (lingering couples, kids, etc).
I loved loved LOVED this place. Chef Boyardee, move over pal, there's a new game in town. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
The vibe is kind of rustic, cozy and hip all in one with the DJ spinning in the middle of the place. The food as others have noted, is divine.
Started with a caesar, which could well be the best one I've ever had. Perfect dressing on crispy cold lettuce with black pepper infused in the dressing. Done perfectly. And for the main event, of course I had the spaghetti with meat balls which was no doubt the best I've ever had. The spaghetti is cooked to perfection, the sauce is loaded with flavor and garlic but not overpowering, and the meat balls were fantastic. I normally don't like meatballs because you usually get gristle or something that makes it an unpleasant experience. Not here. The meat probably goes through the grinder twice so it has the perfect texture, and it is good quality meat so these meatballs are not disappointing. We washed it all down with a reasonably priced bottle of Zinfandel (red) that was absolutely delish (Bald Mountain).
We did have a wait but that's to be expected for a great place, so we went to the bar next door and had a drink. It's a fun dive bar with loud music and nice margs. This place (Emmy's, not the bar) has shot up to the top of my list for best places in Ess Eff. Can't wait to go back.
A very pleasant surprise. Emmy's is a tiny, crowded little place slightly off the mission. As you might guess, they serve spaghetti. And their spaghetti is some of the best I've had since I moved to the west coast. My girlfriend really loves their spaghetti and meatballs, while I prefer anything in their alfredo sauce.
A few complaints. First, because of the small size and high popularity of the place, you are going to be waiting a long time on the weekend, and sometimes even of the weekday. We've worked around this by getting food to go, but they only do to go Sunday - Thursday. Second, their menu changes pretty frequently and they don't always have something with alfredo. Third, their menu, while cute and original, can be a pain in the butt to read. You have to read carefully to make sure you don't miss something you might like.
Those are minor complaints though. Overall, this is a great place to eat and fantastic for a date. I recommend it.
+ Cute cozy atmosphere
+ Perfect date spot (although I've never been on an actual date there)
Cheap delicious huge pile of hot spaghetti (& GIANT meatballs if you like meat)
Amazing appetizer selections. I've tried bruschetta & the sugar snap snow peas w/ricotta, sundried tomatoes, & pesto.
Add a bottle of wine & you're good to go!
Other pluses: You can have a drink at the bar next door while you wait & they come get you.
Only negative: The wait can be quite long as they're usually always busy. get there early!
Great music, nice vibe. However, there wasn't much on the menu that particularly appealed to me, and I ended up with something that was heavy on the kolrabi (of all things) and I wasn't terribly pleased. I'm not a huge fan of spaghetti in general - but I ended up helping myself to my friend's plate - the sauce was in fact really good. Prices seemed slightly high. The portions are astronomically huge.
excellent meatballs and sauce. inattentive and forgetful, but very friendly service. come with lots of patience and you will not be disappointed.
**UPDATE to what was originally a 4 1/2 star review: Emmy's sister-in-law (the uber bitch) started working here regularly. She has big hips and looks mean. She also makes sarcastic comments to me whenever I come in. Um, if I wanted my dose of snark and entitlement I'd go to Chez Papa... Thanks but no!
It really is a shame... the food is tasty. ALL of the waitresses are hot (and nice and cool) except "Emmy's sister-in-law" (I have no idea what her name is; she always announces herself that way when asked why she's so annoying). Poor Emmy. I like you. Why'd you go and marry into a crap family? And then make said crap family service your restaurant? Eeps.
This place reminds me of a restaurant version of the Cha Cha lounge in Silverlake with dark mood… Read more »
This spot is in tucked away in a rad little neighborhood up mission street with, you guessed it, limited parking. The place is teeny-tiny so be sure to show up a little early if its a weekend, and don't be too starving!
That said, I heart this place like crazy. The hanging aprons are cute, the lighting mellow, the waitstaff rad, the art is awesome and the drink selection is killer. Chimay?! Yessss.The food is always well thought out, upgraded comfort food, and I never leave disappointed. Make sure someone gets the meatballs,duh. To be fair, its not the bestest, 5 star, crazy dining experience I've ever had in my life, but that's not what you go here for. As a whole package its dead on.
Top 3 first or second date places ever, for sure. You'll look cool, grown up, and still fun. Then you can roll down to Knock Out, Argus or El Rio and show 'em how sophisticated you aren't!
2 stars? 2 words. Birth Day. Nearly every single time I go out to eat, someone has a birthday and inflicts that stupid song on all the other patrons. Can't we eat in peace? This ain't Chuck E. Cheese folks, grow up.
Other than that, the place was ok.
I'm at a complete loss to identify the source of the ridiculous hype surrounding Emmy's Spaghetti Shack. I realize that there are literally no other dining options in Bernal Heights but it almost makes me sad that people are getting excited over this.
I picked up an order to go the other day. When I went to pick it up the service was slow and they seemed annoyed that I was there. But I can be pretty annoying so I grant them clemency on that one. The food was alright. One portion of spaghetti and meatballs served three of us so it was a decent value. Maybe my expectations were misaligned but I expected something fabulous, but the food we got was very ho-hum. I've had way better meatballs at Chow, although it was nice that they melted cheese on top of the pasta. I understand that its really difficult to dress up a dish like spaghetti and meatballs, but if you stake your name on it I really expect something a little more exciting.
The garlic bread was horrible!!! $7.50 for four slices of french bread with - literally - a drizzling of olive oil and some parsley sprinkled on. It wasn't crunch and crusty, and certainly wasn't garlicy. It was such a disappointment I almost want to bump them down to one star but that seems uncharitable.
Very disappointing overall - I won't be back.
Out with Michelle B. and our SO's looking for a spot to hit. We in the area and the hubby recalls the shack. We been once before, many moons ago, and we both recall the food and the DJ spinning to be very good. In fact, I'm not even sure why it took so long to return.
We enter and it's just as I remembered. Shack indeed. It's small but cozy and funky (I love it). I count 4 tables that seat 2 and 7 booths (woot woot for coming early). We sit and I peruse the menu. I'm immediately under whelmed and I realize this is why I haven't returned (stupid me). Yes, Emmy's is known for their Spaghetti and meatballs therefore they only offer a limited amount of entrees. Do I wish I had more options? Certainly, I am after all the self proclaimed options Queen, BUT, I will say this. What they do here, they do well.
What was had:
Shrimp ceviche with wonton chips (hello lover)
Seared Alaskan Halibut - flakey goodness
Gemelli with Italian sausage - lick the bowl sauce goodness.
Spaghetti and meatballs - their signature dish but not my favorite. Good and hearty (man those meatballs are hauuuuge) but it had a kick that I didn't really care for.
Surprisingly, I didn't have any of their cocktails although I saw a few that had my name all over it. I hear the bar is also versed in off menu (hip hip hooray). Not sure if they still have a DJ as one was not present the night we went. Perhaps it's just a weekend thing...anyone? Bueller?
One of my favorite little spots. Super cozy, good energy, and indeed....you want spaghetti and meatballs - this is THE spot.
And here are the balls again!!!! Meaty, juicy, garlicky, great tomato sauce, great spaghetti. Take one portion for each of you, they are happy to box it for you and believe me.... the day after are even better, if possible :)
After the GREAT meat balls, the peanut butter heaven bar with Mitchell's ice cream and chocolate mousse!!! Yesssss!!! Sounds heavy, and it is heavy, but it sooooo good, really good. Do not worry, if you can not get up your chair, you can drink the typical Italian amaro, Fernet Branca, and you are ready to go in no time :)
Had dinner this week with friends. Totally 5 stars because of the meatballs, the service, the location and... yes, we pigged out..... the peanut butter bar!!!
We were there early (6,30) so the wait was none, but expect some queue, well... there is a fascinating bar attached where you can get your aperitivo and start the evening :)
A total fierce must go!!
Being pregnant is a whole new reality.
You don't understand what it is to have a food craving until you've got a demanding midget residing in your lower belly that has nothing to do all day but grow, and think of ways to fuck with you. ( see : morning sickness).
In any case, i was teaching tonight and part way through the session, got a craving for spagetti and meatballs. A craving that is best summed up as " i will either vomit and then melt, or fall over and die unless i get meatballs in my system NOW".
So after i'd hurried my clients out the door, i postponed my next appointment and jumped in to the car. Hurtled through chinatown, honked my way through downtown, and unapologetically sped on the 280 to get to Cesear Chavez, where i was stuck behind some asshole on a moped with his girlfriend on the back - playing footsie in the left lane. They have no idea how close they came to getting killed. I wish the miata had a serious sounding horn- that thing only inspires laughter when you honk.
I arrived at Emmy's. Parking was easy. There was one space at the bar, and they let me have it. I explained the situation to the waitress and she said she'd see what she could do to get my order in a priority place given the pregnant situation.
THe ceasar salad came out within three minutes. The meatballs were accidentally served to the couple next to me and they corrected the situation, handing the plate over to me. IT was packed, and loud, and i am so grateful to Emmy's for saving me from throwing up and dying.
I have extra to take home, because the portions are awesome.
And i love Emmy's. And my waitress.
this place is fantastic. great food, a cool atmosphere and like i said, GREAT food. the garlic bread is mm-mm-mmm garlic-y, the spagetti and meatballs is the best ever. i love it!
it is popular and it does get busy but ive never had to wait longer than 15 minutes even on a saturday night, and now that its getting chillier out you can wait inside which is lovely.
oh and the menus are adorable!
I love this place! An Italian restaurant with a punk rock motif to it!
Decor is cool! It feels like a regular dive bar. The staff is polite and has that Punk Rock attitude. I think thats cool but others may get offended. But who cares? At least they are attentive to your needs!
Food is awesome... I can say that this is the BEST Spaghetti and Meatballs I've EVER had! Sauce wasn't heavy, meatballs are not dry, the pasta is cooked very well! Portions are big! They have vast wine selection. Plus, where can you get a 40oz with your meal? HAHAHA That was the most awesomest
I swear, I hate being a foodie in SF. So many GOOD places to eat, I don't think I can keep up! This place def deserves 5-Stars in my book!
Always a wait but that's how cool this place is.
Put yourself on the list and head next door to the Spanish bar while you wait or stick around and order one of their tasty mixed drinks.
The decor is unique and you'll feel at home with some great beats playing or better yet when the DJ is mixing. It can get loud in here at times so be prepared. The portions are huge so you could split the spaghetti and meatballs, small Caesar Salad, and small garlic bread and you'd be right as rain. Just fat drops because you'll be stuffed.
White table clothes, candle light, romantic instrumental music playing in the background is great… Read more »
I am not a spaghetti fan. Parking in this area can be difficult at times and there's usually a line but the spaghetti and meatballs here are "hella" good. Definitely worth the wait. The Caesar salad isn't all cut up either, they're whole and tasty.
Last time I came here I ordered the Gemelli; it was on the sour side. What's up with that?
Coolest little Italian place I've ever been to, I mean, C'mon, my server was a bald 6 foot tall man wearing a sleeveless tee with tats. Plus, they serve 40's. How about that?
The decor is effin' awesome. They weren't kidding when they said "shack" and a shack it was, complete with a metal ceiling . The whole place had a funky vibe to it and it was fully equipped with a clothes line full of retro aprons. The walls were tatted up with playful stickers such as, "black man, white house" and other liberal sayings but the coolest decor of all? The black "Spaghetti Shack" logo thong hanging above the kitchen door like a unique mistletoe, exclusive to Emmy's.
Although the decor was what made this place unique and deserving of 4 stars, I would have to agree with some of the previous reviews about the overrated house dish. I mean, it was good but not THAT GOOD. I thought it was gonna be life changing, the way some people ranted and raved about it. Nonetheless, it was still well-made, well-seasoned and tasty. I would gladly go again for the experience and another bottle of the Petit Sirah.
So I usually never crave Italian food. Especially something as mundane as Spaghetti and meatballs. I mean can't I just make that at home? So a day of wine tasting in Napa with lots of wine that would go soooo good with some pasta we decide to head over to Emmy's. I'd been here probably 7 years before when the spaghetti and meatballs were only 7 bucks. The place hasn't changed much in terms of decor. Kind of a punk mission feel with a DJ. Its just a cool atmosphere. Not stuffy at all.
But lets talk about the food. I LOVE a salty Cesar Salad drenched in dressing. I know some people complain about Cesar Salads when they are drenched in the rich dressing but cmon you're eating Cesar Salad that's how it supposed to be. Nice and salty too from the Parmesan cheese and anchovies.
Second garlic bread. Yum! Real garlic on the garlic bread by the way.
Now the main course. So the menu is not huge. Simple. And wavered a bit and almost ordered something else because like I said I mean spaghetti and meatballs dinner out on a Saturday night. Boring no?
WOW. Best spaghetti and meatballs I've ever had. The sauce was sooo good and there was plenty of it on the pasta but it wasn't runny which I hate.
Here's the other great thing. I'm a big guy with a huge apetite. I couldn't finish me food. Yes you get that much. My girlfriend ate like less than half. You get three tennis ball size meatballs.
Like I said I don't even crave Italian usually. I like having meals where you get variety with different sides versus one bowl of one thing liek spaghetti but man I'm still craving Emmy's right now.
I was craving spaghetti and meatballs for daaays, but always opted for something else since there's an array of yummy goodness in the Mission. Finally, I decided to trek on over to Emmy's in hopes of no line (there's always a line!) and with some divine luck, we were seated right away! Italian boy and I each ordered the spaghetti and meatballs plus a small order of garlic bread to share. I forgot how large the portions are. We probably should have split one dish, but that's ok - I love having leftovers to bring to work the next day.
It's spaghetti - simple and good. The pasta was done al dente and the meatballs were delicious. I think people get all wrapped up in fancy schmancy food that they can't enjoy spaghetti and meatballs for what it is. I certainly can't complain when there's a HEAPING amount of solid, good food in front of me. Italian boy gave his seal of approval. I figured coming from a boy who knows his pasta, this is satisfaction on a plate.
The atmosphere is also pretty eclectic. It's a shack - small, couple of booths, tables, bar seating, random aprons hanging from the ceiling, wood walls. It's funky and cozy. They also have a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights. Definitely a good date spot. Can't wait for another spaghetti craving!!
Prior to dinner, my bf warned me that the attached bar would make my trip to Emmys super fun. The bar was real divey, but kind of really fun. The bartender could not speak English and did not understand how to make a Gin and Tonic. Pointing didn't even help. There are funny old men dancing to prom music and a pool table. It's a good place to wait for your table.
The wait on a Thursday night around 800pm was an hour but the time passed quickly. Once we got seated, it was five stars onwards. The waitress was awesome and super nice. The sophisticated gin cocktail was DELISH and the special, which was linguine with clam was soooooo yummy.
It made my tummy smile and made me glad to have a sweetass bf who likes to eat.
A giant bottle of Red Stripe and Emmy's Spaghetti and meatballs = a seriously good date.
Some reviews express surprise that there is nothing fancy about the food. It's Spaghetti and meatballs... how much can you do with the classic after all? I am happy as a clam with the dish just as it is. The atmosphere is fun and on a Friday night when the wait is long, you can play a game of pool in the bar around the corner. That is pretty much all I can ask for!
This is one of those really unique "Only in San Francisco" type of spots... When you go there, you'll know what I mean... Funky little Spaghetti Shack with some mean ass food.... I say that in a good way of course.
Their Spaghetti and Meatballs dish was $12.50 and comes with 3 large meatballs. Speaking of those meatballs, it really reminded me of meatloaf so to me, they were just 3 Big Round Balls of Meatloaf. The pasta was cooked well and was Al Dente just the way I like it. And the sauce was simple, tasty and didn't get too complicated. Just straight to the point and very good. They also shaved Fresh Parmesan on top and this complemented the dish perfectly. Seemed to be really quality Parmesan. And the portion was really big too.
We ordered the small garlic bread at $4.50 a pop and it wasn't really worth it to me. There were 3 pieces of bread and probably wouldn't order this the next time we went. If it was half that price maybe but it definitely is not worth $4.50.
They have a small little bar here and have a pretty unique beer list for a restaurant as they serve high quality beers like Chimay, beers lower on the totem pole like PBRs and they even have 40 ounce bottles of Budweiser and Mickey's and also 22 ounce Sapporos... Something for everyone!
Definitely will come back here for some Spaghetti when I get that craving.... Not sure if I would wait too long for a table though. We were lucky that they had 2 bar seats available when we came on a Sunday evening but yea, if I had to wait, I might just go to another restaurant in the area as another one of my faves, Mi Lindo Peru is in the area as well.....
Good solid spot all the food we ordered was very flavorful.I would definitely come back.
I hate to write this review.
For a long time, I just didn't - people are all about this here joint, I've met some of the workers here. Very very cool people.
I have to though, I can not in good conscience carry on without relaying my utter disappointment in this restaurant as a whole.
Look, as far as friendliness and atmosphere go - this place gets five stars.
I've eaten here twice though and I feel I have a fairly healthy gauge as to the quality of the food.
Terrible.
Terrible.
Everything tastes canned, everything is obviously from Bi-Rite or another main supplier and is absolutely stripped of any sharp, surprising, or succulent flavor.
I CAN MAKE THE QUALITY OF FOOD THEY SERVE HERE.
I'm not even close to being a cook either.
What's more is that both times, they sucked at pairing a wine with the food, indeed the good wine brought out even more of the imperfections - charred meatballs, flat sauce, overcooked pasta.
Then comes the bill.
WTF?
Really?
That's all I have to say.
Look, sorry guys for the negative review, but damn - I feel like a carny handed me a huge thing of cotton candy, punched me in the gut and stole my wallet after leaving here.
But hey, maybe my two experiences were exceptions to the rule, I just can't afford to find that out.
Believe me when I say, the SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS DISH AT EMMY'S IS FREAKIN' OVERRATED!!!
An hour wait starting at 8:45pm does not warrant the $12.50 price tag for spaghetti & meatballs nor is it worth it to wait an hour!!! I swear we should have went elsewhere, but we were so set on having some "awesome" spaghetti. No, it's just normal. In fact, I think for $12.50, I can buy easily buy a ton of beef, onions, spaghetti sauce, noodles, cheese AND make it 10 folds tastier than Emmy's. Not to mention make it in under 1 hour.
The only thing worth talking about are 2 things:
1) GARLIC BREAD
Delicoius yet expensive garlic bread. A small order for $4.50 gets you 3 thin slices of garlic bread.
2) BBQ RIBS AND FRIED MAC AND CHEESE
Came with 4 ribs and a huge chunk of mac and cheese -- the size of a Rubik's cube. Seriously. BUT my one gripe about it was that the outsides were fried nicely and warm, but the inside of the chunk was COLD. COLD COLD COLD. I could have iced a bruise using this brick of mac and cheese! Good concept, but messily done. I should have sent it back to the kitchen to get it redone but I was too hungry to do so.
I don't think I'm returning to Emmy's. Why not? Summary:
1) One hour wait for mediocre borderline crappy food
2) Not-so-special spaghetti with 3 huge mushy tasting meatballs
3) Cold fried mac and cheese
Bye bye Emmy's Spaghetti Shack. For those who've never been I would suggest coming here once and I'm pretty sure if you had the same experience as me, you won't come running back.
Happy Hour and Football…
Neighborhood: Western…
3 courses Prix fixe $31.95
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Cajun/Creole
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Bernal Heights
Category: Greek
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
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Cuz this Asian Girl has an Italian stomach, so you…
Alcohol, nice decor, and patrons chewing with…
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A little bit of the outter mission, noe and…
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No good food and or good drinks without the over…
