- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Epic Roasthouse
Categories: Restaurants Steakhouses Restaurants American (New) Steakhouses, American (New) [Edit]
369 The EmbarcaderoSan Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 369-9955
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 3 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 3 pm - 10 pm
Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sun 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
846 reviews for Epic Roasthouse
Review Highlights
"Also, the caramel sea salt ice cream was simply heavenly."
(in 11 reviews)
"Prime Rib was cooked to perfection and mac & cheese was..."
(in 91 reviews)
"The upstairs bar has great views, just not as much fun."
(in 43 reviews)
Loading...
846 reviews in English
-
Review from Mary Ann K.
Fremont, CA
1/25/2012
Epic Roasthouse restored my husband's faith in steakhouses. They had a sommelier. Enough said. I daresay it is the best damn steakhouse I've been to this year. The ambiance is phenomenal, the view of the bridge is breathtaking. The food was fantastic. The price is for the special occasion, I agree. The service is good and basically decent. I have had white glove treatment at a restaurant far more expensive but service was adequate. I didn't find it lacking per se, but not the upper top notch. The spread of reviews is summed up below:
5 star ratings for folks who like really good food, and can actually afford this place but this isn't the most expensive restaurant in the city. Fah fah fah, fah fah fah fahhhh, fah fahhh.
3 and below ratings are typically from the 99%, young one's who go for happy hour.
I've been to both happy hour and dinner and food was great both times. -
Review from Barbara N.
San Francisco, CA
My boyfriend and I ate at Epic for their 4th birthday on Sunday. We picked items off the prix fixe menu for that night ($44.44). The service was great, we were seated before our reservation because we were early. The staff was friendly and attentive. I had the bone marrow, beef tenderloin, and chocolate souffle. I've never eaten bone marrow before, so it was definitely a shock. The texture was just like soft, warm, saturated fat. I wasn't sure what to expect...now I know. When it is spread on a bread croustade with watercress salad and blood orange, it was kind of tasty. However, I couldn't finish it because of the texture. The beef tenderloin came as I requested (medium), and it was good. The chocolate souffle (for two people) was my boyfriend's idea because he's a chocoholic - it was decadent, super creamy filling, soft, ice cream scoop on top, chocolate galore. I ate two small bites and let him have the rest because he was so happy. :)
We also tried the garlic fries ($9) and the truffle whipped mashed potatoes ($9) off the regular menu, since other yelpers spoke highly of these items. They were delicious, but too expensive. If this restaurant was less expensive or if the beef tenderloin had blown me away, I'd give it 4 stars. -
Review from Randy C.
Lafayette, CA
1/18/2012 1 photo
We did Saturday brunch (1/14/12) there after attending the farmers market at The Ferry Building. I must say that weather played a huge part in making this a perfect meal. We sat outside looking over the bay!!! Stunning.
Butternut squash soup w/creme fraiche was a delight. Creamy, sweet
Enchiladas with the hanger steak was excellent. A nice amount of spice and a good contrast between the verde sauce and the red salsa.
My wife had the hangar steak and she loved it. Also she gave major props to the Bloody Mary she had.
The Beignets with Chocolate sauce are a must. Good wine list!!!
Easy to book on open table as well.
We will be back!!! -
Review from Karin Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2012
Amazing burger! I wasn't quite feeling a steak tonight so I tried the burger and it was fantastic! Great portion, heaping pile of fries, side flavors and toppings for the burger. Cooked to perfection. Try it!
-
Review from John G.
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
Epic anniversary dinner with epic proportion.
Well, not quite...but I thought the title would be appropriate for the occasion and location.
Date: Friday, November 18, 2011
Time: Approximately 1930 hours
Location: Epic Roasthouse by the Embarcadero with a wonderful view of the Bay Bridge and Da Bay
Made reservations with their wonderful Manager Taryn, and was looking forward to my dinner date with Da Wifey. Upon arrival, Hostess sat us with a panoramic view of the bridge and the bay. The ambiance is rich, elegant and industrial chic with a massive wheel and pipes in the main dining area. There's also large fireplace, which serves as a focal point, and makes one's dining experience a soothing one.
Got started with a glass of red for Da Wifey and a brewskie for me. A couple of delightful appetizers (Fried Baby Artichokes with Pork Belly and Crudo) were ordered followed by a couple of exquisite Chef's Specialty Surprises courtesy of Taryn. The items were off the menu and one of them was a Lobster Salad. It was sublime.
For the main course, we both had the 25 oz Wood Oven Roasted Ribeye. Wifey had hers medium rare and I was feeling a bit adventurous and had mine prepared Pittsburgh-style. It was described as a steak that has been heated to a very high temperature very quickly, so it is charred on the outside but still rare or raw on the inside. The degree of rareness and the amount of charring on the outside may vary according to taste. Yes, I love my steak rare and pretty bloody. I guess in Pittsburgh, they refer to it as Black and Blue as I later begrudgingly discovered why the term came about.
Huge chunk of meats with bone in were presented with a side of of Gold Potatoes, Horseradish, Black Pepper and Creme Fraiche. Da Wifey had a bite and she suddenly turned into Billy Crystal as she uttered the word, "Simply Mahvelous!" I, on the other hand, was still cutting my meat and thought this must be the reason it's referred to Black and Blue. You really have to work for your cut of meat. But once you get a piece of charred and raw meat, it really is a distinct flavor and one that must get accustomed to. The best way to describe it is Yin and Yang. Two completely different texture and flavor but work well together.
By the time I was done with my chunk of meat, it was utter chaos of a carcass that a caveman would be proud of. I really was black and blue from the challenge of continuous cutting, chewing and digesting. A process that I thoroughly enjoyed in epic scale.
Da Wifey could not finish her meat, so we placed it in a doggie bag as she planned to have it for breakfast the following morning. She had envisioned steak and eggs that morning, but it never came to fruition since our Labrador Retriever managed to steal the steak for her breakfast. Epic Fail!
But that is another story.
All in all, it was an epic good time, and epic night with an epic ending. -
Review from Josh M.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/17/2012
VinoServant's EPIC Roasthouse Wine List Review
I have eaten at EPIC two times and it was fantastic. If you are in the mood for a nice piece of meat in a great setting then this is a great place to go. Now let me talk about the wine list.
EPIC's wine list is comprised of 340 selections. Below is a summary of the best values on the list based on a combination of the retail price, ratings and producer. If money is not an object, then start your evening with a bottle of the 2000 Dom Perignon, Brut for $212 (Retail Price: $140 at K&L Wine Merchants) and follow it up with the 2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint Julien for $360 (Retail Price: $234 via Wine-Searcher).
As with all of our reviews, you will see the price at the restaurant followed by the mark-up over retail ($48 | 1.4x translates into a retail price of $35).
Sparkling Wines by the Bottle
17 selections that range in price from $48 to $616
Domaine Carneros, Pompadour Rose, Carneros, Non-Vintage | $48 | 1.4x | TOP PICK
2007 Schramsberg, Blanc de Noirs, North Coast | $72 | 2.4x
2004 Nicolas Feuillatte, Brut, Blanc de Blancs | $90 | 2.5x
2000 Dom Perignon, Brut | $212 | 1.5x | TOP PICK
White Wines by the Bottle
105 selections that range in price from $29 to $190
2009 Solena, Estate, Oregon, Pinot Gris | $38 | 1.9x | TOP PICK
2009 Willakenzie, Willamette Valley, Oregon, Pinot Gris | $42 | 2.1x | TOP PICK
2010 Halter Ranch, Paso Robles, Sauvignon Blanc | $42 | 2.0x
2009 Grgich Hills, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $48 | 2.0x | TOP PICK
2009 Prescott Ashe Estate Winery, The Palace, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $56 | 1.9x | TOP PICK
2010 Duckhorn, Napa Valley, Sauvignon Blanc | $60 | 2.2x
2007 Robert Mondavi, To Kalon-I Block, Napa Valley, Fume Blanc | $127 | 1.7x
2009 Leojami, Arroyo Seco, Cedar Lane Vineyard Viognier | $30 | 1.4x
2008 Donnhoff, Nahe, Kabinett, Oberhauser, Leistenberg, Riesling | $58 | 1.7x
2006 Mount Eden Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains, Chardonnay | $101 | TOP PICK
2009 Brewer Clifton, Santa Rita Hills, Mount Carmel, Chardonnay | $110 | 2.0x
2008 Kistler, Sonoma Coast, Durell Vineyard, Chardonnay | $124 | 1.4x | TOP PICK
2009 Peter Michael, Knights Valley, Ma Belle-Fille, Chardonnay | $158 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
Red Wines by the Bottle
218 selections that range in price from | $30 to $1,913
2008 Miura, Monterey County, Pinot Noir | $48 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2008 Domaine Serene, Willamette Valley, Yamhill Cuvee, Pinot Noir | $77 | 2.2x
2007 Chronicle, Anderson Valley, Cerise Vineyard, Pinot Noir | $90 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2008 Merry Edwards, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir | $92 | 2.2x
2006 Solena, Yamhill-Carlton District, Pinot Noir | $96 | 2.1x | TOP PICK
2007 Kingston Family, Casablanca Valley, Bayo Oscuro, Syrah | $53 | 2.1x
2003 Bonny Doon, California, Le Cigare Volant, Syrah | $75 | 1.7x | TOP PICK
2007 Westerhold, Bennett Valley, Syrah | $85 | 2.0x
2008 Stags' Leap, Napa Valley, Petite Sirah | $55 | 1.8x
2009 Frank Family, Napa Valley, Zinfandel | $48 | 1.9x | TOP PICK
2009 Stuhlmuller, Alexander Valley, Zinfandel | $55 | 2.1x
2008 Unti, Dry Creek Valley, Zinfandel | $58 | 2.3x
2008 Ridge, California, Ponzo Vineyard, Zinfandel | $60 | 2.1x
2005 Analog, St. Helena, Merlot | $55 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2007 Les Fiefs de Lagrange, St. Julien | $55 | 1.9x | TOP PICK
2007 Northstar, Columbia Valley, Washington, Merlot | $66 | 2.2x
2007 Twomey, Napa Valley, Merlot | $75 | 1.9x
2005 Nickel & Nickel, Suscol Ranch, Napa Valley, Merlot | $78 | 1.6x | TOP PICK
2008 Shafer, Napa Valley, Merlot | $80 | 1.8x | TOP PICK
2009 Lang & Reed, North Coast, Cabernet Franc | $50 | 2.5x
2008 Hartwell Estate, Miste Hill, Stags Leap District, Cabernet Sauvignon | $79 | 2.0x
2007 Prescott Ashe, The Palace, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon | $100 | 1.1x | TOP PICK
2006 Pirouette, Columbia Valley, Washington, Cabernet Sauvignon | $120 | 2.4x
2007 Paradigm, Oakville, Cabernet Sauvignon | $122 | 2.0x
2008 Quilceda Creek, Columbia Valley, Washington, Cabernet Sauvignon | $250 | 1.25x | TOP PICK
2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou | $360 | 1.5x | TOP PICK -
Review from Sheila R.
Saint Louis, MO
2/9/2012
We tried Epic Roasthouse for my birthday dinner and, quite simply, the experience left my entire party underwhelmed. I guess if you've only experienced Outback or some other ho-hum steak places, you may be impressed. But we've been to some really phenomenal steakhouses and found that Epic really tried too hard and missed the mark. There really wasn't anything special about any of our meals, with the exception of an amazing vodka mojito that I had - and that's just a cocktail. We had a beautiful view of the Bay Bridge and the macaroni & cheese was pretty good. The rest was merely meh, at best. We also didn't appreciate waiting 15+ minutes in the cold for the valet to bring our car around. Most nicer restaurants ask if you've used the valet when you're brought your bill. That way, you step outside to usually find your car already waiting. Nothing like topping off a so-so meal with 15 minutes of standing in the mist. We won't be back.
-
Review from Angela L.
1/17/2012
FOOD:
1.) Steak Fries - big french fry wedges with garlic
2.) Mac n Cheese - ooh this was good. such small quantity tho. haha i would've wanted to eat like 4 or 5 of these for a meal!
SERVICE:
Good.
ATMOSPHERE:
It's casual but nice, with a nice waterfront view of the Bay Bridge. Like blam. Right there. -
Review from Davin A.
South San Francisco, CA
1/15/2012
Sides were good. The meat, however... that's another story.
I'll keep this short and to the point. I ordered the 10 oz prime rib, cooked Medium. What's the point of asking how I want it cooked and even having a detailed description of the different temperatures in the menu if you can't even cook it right? My so-called medium prime rib was cooked to a char with a small little trace of pink in the middle. That isn't medium. I couldn't even get through it. None of my friends were impressed with their beef. Like I said, sides were great, so was the tuna tare tare and the ceviche. -
Review from Lovetoeat A.
Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012 4 photos
Came here back in Aug 2010 for a birthday dinner. Hubby got the Steak and I got the Pork. We had some baby lettuce salad and Onion rings for the side. We ordered too much that at the end, we didn't have room for dessert. The menu is changed now, so I would go back and try other stuff. Service was good, and the atmosphere was very casual.
-
Review from Surina P.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
My husband and I joined four friends for EPIC's 4th birthday dinner. The savory four course meal, attentive service, "feel great" ambience and stunning Bay views were perfect. You know you've picked the right steakhouse when the Head Chef (Jan Birnbaum in this case), shows up on his night off to make sure patrons are happy. If you love chocolate, the decadent soufflé-for-two will leave you feeling fulfilled and wanted to come back again - whether it's for an intimate dinner or night out with friends.
-
Review from Bryan H.
1/1/2012 1 photo
Ambiance: We sat outside, so my review is primarily based on that experience. From what I remember of the inside, it was clean, well attended, and pretty crowded. In my opinion, a crowded restaurant = a good sign of it's prosperity. Epic was crowded both inside and outside, so this place must do pretty well.
Service: We had a group of 12. Now, I've worked in customer service before, and I know as most who have similarly worked in said profession that a group of eight or larger can really be a "dick" move on the wait staff. It's inconvenient for them, especially when they're busy. That being said, the staff at Epic could have been better. We were well looked after, but our drinks were never full, our food was late, and for the most part it wasn't prepared very well. There was also a little attitude.
Food: So, I uploaded a photo of the Roast Beef Hash. I thought it was okay, but I didn't think it was too great. I was looking for some over the top, amazing creation. I was, after all, at a roast house for brunch. While someone might argue that that's my problem, and that I shouldn't have expected much from the food in terms of brunch, I refute their position; if anything, it should have been AWESOME. I mean, if you're going to serve brunch at a place that's not typically your first idea of a brunch spot... AMAZE me. Epic did not. In the end, what I had for brunch could have easily also been a dinner item and I never would have known.
2.5 out of 5 stars.
Note: This review is for brunch only. Go with an open mind for dinner. -
Review from Mari S.
Epic Roasthouse's Happy Hour = THUMBS UP!
Attention FiDi & Embarcadero 9-5'ers:
If you are looking for a new happy hour spot (and don't already know), Epic Roasthouse on The Embarcadero is a great place to get your happy hour on!
Sipping a $5 glass of wine (or cocktail) while gazing out at an upclose view of the beautiful Bay Bridge after a long day at work sounds sweet, doesn't it? Add in a few $5 appetizers and you are set!
The happy hour specials at Epic are pretty epic. While it could be quite easy to rack up the bill (alcohol & a grumbling tummy could do that quick), it can also be a great deal especially with such a spectacular view. Note that happy hour ends at 6pm, so drink up before that 6'oclock hour! Also, make sure you go upstairs to the 2nd floor to take advantage of the happy hour specials. =) -
Review from Yang Q.
12/28/2011
Epic view, great ambiance, good happy hr, but mediocre food.
After looking at the regular menu prices, I suggest only coming here for happy hr (M-F 3-6:30). Happy hr is limited to the upstairs bar, which has a better view of the bridge anyways. Seating is first come first serve and you have options at the bar, small lounge-ish type tables, or outdoor patio seating. The menu is limited--a few appetizers for $3, select cocktails for $5, and $3 beer. I actually didn't try any of the HH drinks, but the pisco punch and arrogant bastard were good. The crabcake comes with just one, as the menu clearly states, and boy was it tiny. The crispy potato curls were mostly just fried strings of skin and not very substantial.
Don't come here starving, but if you'd like to enjoy the view without breaking your wallet, happy hour is the way to go! -
Review from Jaime O.
Milpitas, CA
12/29/2011
Great happy hour and great service. The house beer is pbr - the martini's are superb. We also had the special drink with Ginger beer and rum. Delish!
For apps we had meatballs and mashed potatoes, fried risotto balls, olive salad with anchovies, warm nuts and house cured meat plate. I recommend. -
Review from Chung Y.
San Jose, CA
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
More of a "2.5 but maybe I should come back and try a steak" kind of visit.
Great ambience - especially the upstairs bar - and some truly wicked martinis, but so-so food. My ultimate burger was too much on the dry and crumbly side, and I would have preferred the option of a slab of bacon instead of the cold bacon bits that came as part of the mini-sides (sitting next to mayo, mustard, and some confused corn salsa). Burger-wise, I've had better for less in the city. -
Review from Drew H.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
Fantastic.
We want to go back and try the potato and onion pie (serves 4 and we are only 2) really badly. I bet it would be amazing scooped on a perfectly cooked piece of filet. Yummm.
Pricey but that's just the way steak houses roll. -
Review from Earl G.
11/12/2011 6 photos
You definitely pay for the awesome view. Their dining room is right below the Bay Bridge and you're in a restored water pump house that provided water to the area during the 1906 earthquake and fire.
Took some international guests for dinner and they loved the view and the interior. Parking around here is a pain so valet for $10 is reasonable. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
* 28 DAY DRY AGED BONE IN RIBEYE 25oz - $52. Pound and a half of meat! Cooked on a custom built wood fire grill, it came out medium rare. I was disappointed that it didn't have the crust and char I was looking for. Also, the steak could have been aged longer to get more of that deep beefy flavor. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
* We shared 3 appetizers ($9ea) family style; garlic and herb steak fries, black pepper parmesan potatoes, and sauteed wild mushrooms. The mushrooms, my favorite, was a mix of chantrelles and these earthy gigantic king trumpets that had stalks as big as my blackberry!
*WARM BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST ($10) w/blackberry compote and maple ice cream. Delicious! The head chef is from New Orleans so you can't go wrong with the beignets either. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
The food lacked a wow factor but was still good. The atmosphere is more relaxed than Harris's with Epic having a popular happy hour out on their deck and patio. I'll pass on the steak but maybe I'll come back to try their burger for happy hour. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
3.5 is about right. I'll round up because I like this place more than Harris's but not as much as 5A5 and Alexanders.Listed in: Real Man Food, Date night!, Steak!
-
Review from F. K.
Fairview, CA
12/18/2011
This was my first time dining here and it was a fairly nice experience overall. For my entree, I had the Wood Oven Roasted Organic Chicken. I am not a steak fan and while I know this is what this restaurant specializes in, I still chose to go with what I'd prefer. The chicken was average. It didn't fill me up after it was all eaten and cutting it was pretty tough. You need a steak knife, not a butter knife I was provided to break this sucker up. For dessert I had the Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake. I found this dish to be the tastiest of everything I sampled, including my entree.
When dining here, one pays for the spectacular view of the Bay Bridge and at night it is quite magnificent. Personally, I found Epic to be overpriced with just average food. The ambiance is quite nice though. -
Review from Dave S.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/22/2012
Just departed epic and was disappointed at the sub optimal experience. This is our 2nd visit, 1st visit was good. From the onset where the hostess told me that 'no that window table is for someone else' when I asked about moving our seat to the bar not having roses lime juice (hmmm, maybe the barkeep could suggest an alternate mixer?) to the multitude of people coming to our table and not telling us what they do to the under cooked potatoes to no one asking how our meal was ( the manager walked by me at least three times while I waited for my wife) to no one saying thank you, I think we'll pass on a third visit.
-
Review from Mariela D.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm too "frugal" *cough*broke*cough* to eat dinner here, but happy hour is right up my alley...perfect for happy hour with coworkers. Or if you hate your coworkers, ditch them and grab a friend. I happen to like mine, so we ended up here on a Thursday afternoon.
Epic's "Holy Cow!" happy hour runs Monday - Friday from 3-6:30pm. The menu offers $3 beers (PBR), $5 select house cocktails and inexpensive appetizers (chicken drumettes, crispy potato curls). All while sitting in the upstairs bar with a stunning view of the Bay Bridge and the Embarcadero. Aren't we fancy! It's like snagging last season's Ferragamo bag at the Buffalo Exchange - you get to "dress the part" you normally could not afford.
Their $5 Dark & Stormy (rum, ginger beer & lime) was my absolute fave. Happy hour is limited to the upstairs bar area, and I happen to think it has the best view in the entire place.
Love. -
Review from Brenda C.
West Hollywood, CA
1/1/2012
I started with a mojito-style cocktail, but made with sparkling wine and vodka...delicious! They have a fantastic wine list, so a nice bottle of red for dinner.
I've never had lamb ribeye, so had to try it. It was so tender and had so much flavor! I appreciated the manager coming by the table to check on things, and wish more restaurants would do this.
I love the vibe of the bar and lounge. Usually, if you have a view, the food suffers. Luckily, this is not the case with Epic. Parking is kind of a pain in the area, but they have valet for like $12. -
Review from Wes M.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2011
I would give them three stars if they weren't so ridiculously over priced. The New York steak I had there was actually excellent (but I have had better). The scallops, however, were overcooked. The side dishes do not come with your 46 dollar steak and are 9 dollars extra and really are nothing special. The ambiance is just okay, the view makes it. The service was great from the waiter and the bread/water guy, but the reservationist was nothing short of a !@&$? and the beer on tap is mediocre at best. The place was also overrun with people whom I'd rather not dine with (think real housewives of new jersey). I mean the place was good, but you could have so much better of a time somewhere else with better food and not break your pocketbook.
-
Review from Bill H.
Marco Island, FL
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
We sat outside on the patio. Great atmosphere, fire place, and fantastic view of the Oakland bridge.
We had excellent service and great wine selection. The steaks were 4" thick and 6" long; great flavor and perfectly cooked! -
Review from Michael C.
Redwood City, CA
10/9/2011
SOOOO overrated. YOU are paying for the view...i ordered an 80 dollar steak, and the waiter thought i might need him to cut it up for me to eat. DO I LOOK LIKE A GUY WHO CANT CUT UP A STEAK? i was gonna body slam this clown who cut up my steak but had to contain myself. my dining experience was ruined
I wont go back, there are better quality places, with better meats, that are cooked better. the sides are served too hot, so the steam dilutes any flavor. if you like to look at bridge while you eat overrated food, come here. if you like good food, dont come here. -
Review from Christine L.
New York, NY
10/2/2011
Starting with the best part of the night going to the not so good parts:
THE VIEW - is amazing. I'm not a fan of the Bay Bridge (not an Oakland fan) but we went at night time and it was AMAZING! You should sit on the patio outside in order to get a view of the bridge. Service was great. The hostess came out and gave me (and all the ladies) a warm fleece blanket to cover from the SF breeze.
The drinks - Our reservations weren't ready yet, a trend that is evident by many of the reviews on yelp as well, so we were sent upstairs to the Quiver Bar for some drinks. I'm a BELLINI drinker, and most of the bars that make my bellini's put in too much champagne making it stronger and more bitter than I like it. This bar made it just right. I could taste the alcohol a little bit but not too much. Other drinks ordered were Crown Royal with Sprite and a Scotch, dry. They were both made well, ingredients measured out to precision. I watched the bartenders make a few other drinks, and at the end, they take a straw to suck a sample out of the drink to taste it before serving - good service.
The desserts - I ordered a devil's food cake topped with candied pecans with a bourbon milkshake. The bourbon milkshake was definitely something I've never had before, and was very surprised! It was delicious. The devil's food cake is a must for chocolate / devil's food cake lovers. It was rich and the pecans were great. They didn't skimp out on the frosting either. I have yet to find a place that serves enough frosting with their devil's food cake. delish.
A bowl of berries were also ordered. Very hard to do wrong. And a chocolate cake was also ordered as well.
The entrees and sides - Let me just say one thing: I was very disappointed with the selection. I understand that restaurants want to carry what's fresh and in season, but what restaurant doesn't carry the regular Salmon? Salmon is my go to, and my second choice was Dungeoness crab, something I've recently developed a taste for but they had neither bc they weren't in season. I ended up ordering the HALIBUT over ride. STEAK was also ordered, along with a coffee rub of petite filet. The halibut was so-so. The steak was so-so, it wasn't as easy to chew as I thought so. It was a lil tough. and the Coffee rub petite filet would have been good if it had not been for so much pepper also rubbed into it.
Sides ordered were the SPINACH, which was very very fresh. MUSHROOMS, which were humongous, and MAC AND CHEESE. I read reviews on Yelp about how the mac and cheese are to die for. Honestly, I've tasted better. It is good definitely because it's baked in a pan, but I felt like they skimped out on the cheese. It seemed very thin and light, which is good when you're also eating a heavy meal, but I'm a big fan of a little bit heavier mac and cheese.
Appetizers - ordered a large platter of meats, including DUCK PROSCUITTO, some kind of meat made out of rabbit, and some other meats that I don't remember. The duck proscuitto is supposedly to die for, i wasn't a huge fan. I was more of a fan of the rabbit meat that was presented. However, the two dinner guests I were with were HUGE fans of the duck proscuitto and actually very quite enjoyed the meats.
Overall, I'd recommend for the view and for the DDs, Drinks and Desserts. Perhaps I needed to come earlier in the summer for the salmon and the dungeonness crab, but overall the experience was very par. -
Review from Brian L.
San Francisco, CA
9/7/2011
HAPPY HOUR BEWARE
Arrive at 6:15pm, get a table (a small miracle) and, yay, happy hour until 6:30! You'd think....
Order time
me to server: it's happy hour, right?
server to me: yes, it is
me: great, I'll have a pinot noir
One table move at servers request and another glass of pinot later. One at happy hour price and one at regular price...you'd think...
Check time
me: uh, why is my check for 4 full price pinot's (there were 2 of us, I'm not a lush!)
server: because you ordered pinot. That's not a happy hour wine.
me: there were no wines listed on the happy hour menu, it just said "Happy Hour Wines" at $6 and I ordered pinot immediately after asking you if it was happy hour. You could have easily said, pinot isn't included in the happy hour wines and I would have asked what wines were included.
server: sorry, you ordered pinot
Paid full price check and left.
Beware of the happy hour bait and switch. -
Review from Shelly D.
Sonora, CA
12/27/2011
Why did I pay for a $52 steak that I had to saw? Literally 8-10 back and forth saw movements? Other than our $300 bill for one steak, one side of potatoes, one side of Brussels sprouts, two cocktails and a bottle of good, not great wine, the view/ambiance are spectacular and our waiter was very knowledgeable about the menu and most attentive. And, because I had a Groupon, the manager automatically added 18% to my bill. While I tip on the full amount, that is uncalled for.
-
Review from Rebecca M.
Millbrae, CA
1/25/2012
My family and I went here for my dad's 50th birthday. It is beautifully decorated, with windows everywhere so you have an amazing view of the bay and the bay bridge. Their signature cocktails were delicious. We all decided to order a salad before our meal. My dad and I ordered the pear salad and I suggest not ordering it. It is literally 3 slices of pear, one leaf of lettuce, and a little piece of cheese on a crispy cracker. My dad and I literally had the same thing to say "what the hell?" as my brother has a full on salad that you could have ordered for your meal it was so big. My mom and I both ordered the roasted chicken which was so dried out I didn't even finish eating it. The sides were delicious though, I ended up eating most of their potatoes just so I could fill up. Plus our waiter was not so bright and constantly stood right next to our table looking off somewhere else. He also got a few of our drink orders wrong which we had to send back.
-
Review from Josh B.
Laguna Niguel, CA
12/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This was a very nice steakhouse. I enjoyed the ribeye very much - it was cooked very, very nicely. The short rib was amazing, and the ahi crudo over eggplant was also amazing. Very nice wine list. This is a great spot.
-
Review from uriah b.
Palo Alto, CA
Updated - 9/14/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Quick review on the Quiver Bar upstairs at Epic:
Great bar and a fun place. Being on the 2nd floor there are amazing view looking out onto the ocean and the Bay Bridge. The bartenders are knowledgeable and make great drinks. I'm reviewing Bloody Mary's around town and this place makes a fantastic one (even though it's $15) It is quite delicious. It's light and refreshing, but packs a nice horseradish kick. The winning combo to this bloody is the toppings. A large wooden spear ran through crispy porcheta bacon fat (mind blowing good) with olives, cocktail onion and a dill pickle.
Overall a delicious bloody mary ( I love the bacon fat) but a little pricey!
Quiver bar is a great place to hang out before or after dinner at Epic for a drink, to swing by for happy hour or to enjoy on a beautiful day over looking the water.Listed in: Best Bloody Mary's
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/14/2011
Gotta give Epic a 5. This place was indeed pretty Epic! Great ambiance and a beautiful dining area… Read more »
-
-
Review from Debra S.
San Mateo, CA
11/30/2011
I am sad to say that our experience was not a good one this past Saturday night. We were all (8) heading to the opera for the first time, so I made reservations for 5:30. We arrived at 5:15 and of course went upstairs for a drink in the bar where the drinks were of course expensive, which we are ok with when they are good, however the drinks were weak and 3/4's filled.
To make this story not so long, we were seated at 5:35 and could not seem to get the wait staff to let us order dinner even with our polite announcement that we were going to the opera! We finally ordered at 6:30, served after 7. The porthouse was entirely raw with the outer inch only to be rubbery and greyish brown (microwave?) The scalloped pototes were also cold in the center.
We were late to the opera therefore missed the entire first act. And to go along with all of this, we were the very first table in the restaurant and were seated the farthest from the windows. Also the wait staff all acted as though it was too much trouble to be waiting on us.
It is a shame because the building and location is beautiful. -
Review from Athena S.
9/20/2011
review for the bar upstairs
Sat outside for a cocktail then came inside when our food was ready ...
We grubbed here around 4ish on the weekend, which leaves for the midday (3-5p.m.) limited but still very satisfying menu.
My friend had a fillet mignon with a huge side of the crunchiest green beans. He thoroughly enjoyed it.
I had the roasthouse burger with blue cheese. The onions and heirloom tomatoes both were grilled, as was the delicious brioche tasting bun it came on. It also came with all sorts of little fixings (accroutrements) in a pottery barn looking sampler cups for you to add to your preference: bacon, mushrooms, corn, mayo, dijon.
Service was great, starting with the very nice man was probably an owner who let me see the menu after my farmers market run. Amazing how important a good 1st impression is. :)
Expensive place but worth it, in my opinion. -
Review from Eric H.
Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA
12/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Totally NOT epic. Over priced, over rated, not good. Sooooo much better to eat in the city.
-
Review from Sergio L.
Daly City, CA
12/22/2011
Appetizers & wine were really good. Have to come back to try the food.
-
Review from Max R.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2011
Service: -1 stars. It was that bad.
Food: 2 to 3 stars. It was that marginal.
Interior: 4-5 stars. It's rather nice.
Location: 5 stars. It's pretty stunning.
Cost: Mildly spendy.
Would I come back here: Yes, but not for food.
I suspect this is better for a drink-n-fries-witha-view than actual
"going here to eat food". -
Review from Meghan W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2011
I've been here twice in the last few years. Both times the experience has been magical. Our table was right beside the window which lent itself to breathtaking views of the Bay Bridge lit up at night. If that wasn't romantic enough the delicious drinks and savory food sealed the deal. We had oysters, mozzarella and tomato salad, a big juicy steak and baked mac and cheese. We hadn't eaten cards in weeks and this mac and cheese was totally worth breaking the diet for. Yummy. I'm salivating just thinking about it.
Get your buns here. -
Review from Raider J.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
We arrived at 6:30 and got a great table by the window.......where we could look and enjoy the beautiful Bay Bridge and the sunset......
The decor of the restaurant is very trendy...the warm woods and confortable chairs coupled woth the view makes this a very romantic spot.......after we sat down, we should of just left.....but we stayed.
For starters, I had the corn soup......a broth based soup that was very average in taste......and came in a 4 -5 ounce cup.
For our entrees, we tried the 32 oz. rib eye steak for two. When the meat came out........the first thought was: "Where's the beef?" For 90.00, I only had 4 pieces of meat.......what a huge RIPOFF!
The beef was not tender nor very fatty.....I guess it was grass fed....meaning lean, dry and NO FLAVOR! I was going to ask for the
A-1 sauce, but we had already finished the meat.
The sides of sauteed spinach, fries and mushrooms......were very avg but good......this is the first time I have been to a prime steakhouse where I left hungry!
I wanted to run to In and Out and grab a double cheeseburger.....
For desert, we had the angel food cake.....it was a chocolate brownie type cake with pecans....it came with a bourbon milkshake.....the cake was ok, but the milkshake was pretty good...very creamy with a wonderful bourbon flavor.
SAN FRANCISCO STEAKHOUSES SUCK! They are great places if you like atmosphere and food presentation...but for a good steak, go to Chicago and NY!
In SF...........I will ONLY GO to Ruth's Chris or Morton's.....real old school steakhouses with huge, flavorful prime BEEF!
We need the Palm, Capital Grille, Wolfgang's or a Smith and Wollensky in SF....great old school steakhouses.
Lark Creek Steak, Harris' and House of Prime Rib are passable as well, but for real beef, head to LA or go back East.
SF homegrown steakplaces need to grow up!Listed in: Prime Steak Houses that did…
-
Review from Steve M.
Atlanta, GA
12/14/2011
None of my reviews will review the food since this is over a 3 year period all the restaurants L and I went to. Our memorable experience was when L asked someone outside their outside patio to take a pic of her. He is like no, I don't do that. She is like you don't do what? He is like I won't take a pic for you. The brunch was good, just remember to ask someone who is nice to take your photo.
-
Review from Jaime K.
San Francisco, CA
8/30/2011
This review pertains to the private event space upstairs and is more like 3.5 stars.
We planned our wedding dinner at Epic. Let's face it having a dinner-party reception really cuts down on all the extra BS people experience with caterers, rentals etc. And the view was an obvious selling feature for this venue. The food/beverage minimum is $5k, and they tack on an extra bar setup fee for $100. We comfortably had 50 people on the private balcony & in the dining room.
The food was good, and the service was impeccable. The waitstaff captain for the evening was very attentive, helpful and responsive. If you read reviews most people complain about the prices vs quality, and yes in that equation it's a bit expensive. An open bar, food, tax/tip/sf healthy etc for 50 people was about $8.5k.
Service, food & view was 5 stars.
The only negative was the lack of communication leading up to the event with the "private dining manager". We would often send multiple emails/voicemails and not receive timely responses (like 2+ weeks for a simple yes/no response). That definitely added more stress that we should have experienced for laying down the money we did. Despite also being clear about the unique spelling of my name, it was spelled incorrectly on our menus. Again, lack of attention to detail was frustrating. Worth enough to take away almost 2 stars.
Overall the guests raved about the view, booze, & food. I guess at the end of the day that's all we could ask for :)
