On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: Restaurants [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial District
Loading...
What's the point of writing a review for a closed restaurant? Well, if the previous owners decide to set up shop somewhere else, they will have some suggestions for success.
Great idea, stunning views and intimacy.....bad food, snooty vibe. I would have paid more for better food. Just fluffy but no real flavor. Overrated.
Thinking of this place makes me nostalgic of being 16, when guys made the corniest moves and brought me to the most cliche 'romantic' date spots. A time when forming a relationship required massive effort. Ahem. In this graceless age of dating, it's no wonder I'm still single and impossible to impress. How can they outdo that?! Dinner, a movie, and sharing an ice cream sundae overlooking one of the countries most beautiful views is sooo 10 years ago.
People thought this was:
I'm so sad to hear this place has closed. We'd usually take out of town relatives here for dessert after dinner and watch the city skyline and bay views. What a disappointment. The lines to get up were long, but it was worth the wait.
Why is this amazing place closed???! It's incredibly romantic. You're there for the idea, ambiance, and not so much the food.
To my surprise the Equinox is closed? This was the first fine dining restaurant I went to as a child and I loved it fact it was a revolving restaurant. You can enjoy views of the bay bridge and the East bay. The only problem was there was a huge skyscraper next to the Hyatt so it obstructed the view for a good 15 minutes.
Dinner was pretty good and the changing menu offered some great selections. The Equinox was the best place for drinks and dessert after dinner. A bit over priced for drinks and dessert, but you were there for the view and the intimate environment.
I would have given this 3.5 but seeing as i can't , 3 it will have to be !
So, i had a welsh bird in town , visiting SF for the first time ... woo hooo!! One of the things we wanted to do whilst she was in town was to dine in a restaurant on top of a building ( even though she's petrified of heights ! )
After much deliberation and shit reviews of pretty much all all of them we settled on Equinox as it revolves ! What a novel idea!
We made a reservation on the morning of our booking and arrived approx 30 mins before we were due to be seated. There were no signs as to how we were supposed to get to the top of the building. On entering the lobby (which was absolutely stunningly decorated for Chrimbo ), we asked directions and were told where to go. The restaurant has its own service lift.
I have got to say this part was disappointing for a few reasons. 1. it was very disorganized and 2. there was no where to sit and wait while the guy sorted his shit out. The chap then pro ceded to hand us a paper ticket with our name and a table number on it and off we went into the lift ! .....
The lift was cool as ! with views of the hotel it was a bit like something out of Charlie and the great glass elevator.
The restaurant itself was interesting. The decor a bit outdated, the lights weird but the experience exceptional. The revolving took a little to get used to but the views were spectacular.
The food...... we had the chicken skewers for starter and that was pretty good and then the fillet Mignon to follow which was delicious obviously with a side dish of Garlic mash ( ooooh yeah! ). The sauce with the steak was out of this world. The presentation was brilliant.
All in all we didn't think this restaurant was at all over priced - 2 courses, a coffee and bottle of plonk for 2 $140 - not bad ! The waiter was polite and accommodating, the rest rooms were tidy like and the food served quickly.
Definitely a place to take a date or family from out of town. The views just top it off!
I don't think it necessarily deserves the harsh reviews. Maybe we were just there on a good night!
People thought this was:
My ex and I took our moms here a couple of years ago for an extra special Mother's Day buffet brunch.
When we go for brunch in our family, we always expect and look forward to lots of breakfast items. You know, the omelets, the bacon, the pastries, etc. So we take them to this fancy dining room in the sky at the Hyatt Regency high above downtown San Francisco. We are seated at a nice table along the windows; the views are spectacular and the restaurant revolves slowly, so you eventually take in the entire 360 degree panorama.
Anyhow, the menus were passed around, and we were informed that each patron could select two breakfast items from the menu and then have the buffet portion as well. This seemed suspicious, but we played their game, ordered two items each, including french toast stuffed with cream cheese and raspberry jam and some other things, and ventured to the buffet. The buffet consisted only of asian finger foods including dim sum and sushi. A poor variety of cold meats, pickles and mundane looking pastries were offered, but no hot items or breakfast looking shit. We took what looked half edible and went back to the table, disheartened.
Our menu items arrived...cold and inedible, even the french toast stuffed with cream cheese and raspberry jam. My mom asked for some regular toast to put her poached eggs on. The response was "we don't have any". Well this is just absurd. So we summoned the manager who bickered with us over toast and explained that since the dining room was at the top of the hotel, and the kitchen is actually down at the bottom, only certain items are brought up, and those items DID NOT INCLUDE TOAST. The cackle of complaints coming from our two vocal moms started to grow. To avoid what he recognized as impending escalation, the manager said "ok, listen. I will take care of it." This, we interpretted to mean that he would take care of the bill. Were we wrong to interpret it that way? I mean, tell me if I'm wrong, please.
And this was no half price sale either. It was SPENSIVE. The four brunches would have set us kids back three hundy. So when we were done, we left and took the elevator back downstairs. Well, the manager comes running after us with a guard in tow, screaming about how we didn't pay the bill! He said what he meant was that he would take care of *part* of the bill, not the whole bill! The two moms didn't see eye-to-eye with the manager and proceeded with a vicious tag team pummelling, right in the porte cochere! Again recognizing the bitches' nest he had strolled into by re-opening this debate, he threw up his hands exclaiming "ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok ok, fine." and just walked away.
It certainly wasn't worth three hundy, but it sure was worth getting for free!!!! what a deal! yay mom! Happy Mother's Day!!!
People thought this was:
I remember the very first time I was here. It was years ago and I was uncomfortable in a stupid long prom dress with a dam corset and everything. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and the damn rotating restaurant made it a bit worse.
What I do remember is that my steak sucked. It was overly well done. How the hell did I wind up with that?! I ordered it medium rare!
Don't mess up my meat! A girl has got to have her meat every now and then you know!? I was in high school and a bit shy and meek (believe it or not.. I get that way sometimes) and didn't send it back. I didn't want to be an asshat, especially during *GASP* prom night!
So anyway, that was $40 wasted. I've gone back a few times but seriously, you're paying for the view.
Mint mojitos are good here though, so they get a star for that, and the service is always good.
3 stars.
People thought this was:
You really can't beat the view of this restaurant. But that's pretty much all it has going for it.
When I first moved to SF, my parents and I came here for a celebration - yes, of course we'd end up at this restaurant with all the other tourists flocking to SF!!
The revolving restaurant is pretty cool - I was a little apprehensive at first because I thought it was going to make me sick, spinning all night didn't seem like it should go hand in hand with fine dining. Well, the "revolve" moves so slowly that you don't even notice and if you get lost in conversation, you'll suddenly realize that you are facing an entirely different direction. That was fun.
But everything else about this restaurant was just soooo mediocre, which is really disappointing. I've been to many other Hyatts and they have GREAT restaurants - what's up with this one? Service was actually QUITE poor, they weren't attentive at all and my Dad and I both had a steak which was so well done that we didn't even really want to eat it. Very, very disappointing.
Food alone, I think I'd give it a two. The view brings it up to three - but it's not that great of an asset if the food is no good! The SF Hyatt needs to get their act together, we like our food here too!
People thought this was:
definitely sad this has finally closed after years of operations. ive tried to find out with they used this space for but not really any luck ... "regency club lounge" whatever that means
i have pictures of being here with the oversized cups that was big as your head with the scoops of ice cream inside and as i got older, there were desserts and cocktails.
dressing up, entering the hotel with the cool architecture, huge ball fountain thing, fun elevators, and the coolest rotating restaurant - you will be missed.
People thought this was:
Blah...
The food was mediocre, the service was terrible.. it's a tourist trap. For all the wonderful hotel restaurants.. Someone needs to write Hyatt corporate!!!
People thought this was:
The point of going to Equinox is definitely for the view. I mean, the whole 360 thing, that's pretty sweet.
But the food. Eh, it's your standard restaurant with your standard meal. i mean, the proportions are way to small the insane price you pay. I mean, when the waiter served me my meal, I accidently said, "That's it?" I still wonder if the waiter heard me. But I swear, I expected some gigantic plate enough for 10 people for the price I was paying, but boy was I wrong.
The dessert was a little better. Still expensive, but it seemed like we were getting more dessert than the meal itself.
Definitely go here for the appitizer or drinks or anything other than the main course. But enjoy the view, it's fun just to sit and look out at the bay.
People thought this was:
Awesome views!!!!!!! But I think they changed the menu????????
When I last went a few years ago, it was awesome, I ordered the lobster, but when I went back two years ago, they did not have it? And I noticed a change in the menu. The food was also not as good as it once was. So, my fiancee was not impressed. The portions are also very tiny.
Oh well, so much for a romantic dinner.
People thought this was:
This is not a place to get dinner, so don't try it. I've been here many times and I usually come just for drinks, because they are good.
The view is worth checking out, especially at night. I consider this place to be romantic and I like their overall choice of interior design.
It's not a 5-star place, but it's definitely a good one for a quick drink or a meeting with a friend --- you get your space, you feel comfortable there, plus Hyatt where Equinox is located is a beautiful hotel. Sometimes they have live piano player there and I just sit there and enjoy it and then go for a drink. Best time to be there is Christmas --- overall experience fabulous at that time.
People thought this was:
Awww! That's too bad Equinox is closed. It provided a different and unique experience while in Downtown San Francisco. We made dinner reservations for our 4th year anniversary. Since we were only visiting and didn't have anyone to leave our (then) 8th month old tot, we came as a family and didn't get any attitude about it. We had a lovely dinner. It will be missed. If you're visiting Atlanta, GA, and you're looking for something like the Equinox, go check out the Sun Dial Restaurant. Although, I really can't imagine what kind of view you'll get there.
Last visit: 10/05
Ever since I was a child growing up in the bay area, I always wanted to eat at this restaurant. When I was in college, I had a wonderful chance to, and I loved every minute of it. The staff was fantastic, the view was great, and the food was very good (even if the portions were small).
It's too bad that it closed.
Here's the official blurb from their website: The Equinox Restaurant is now closed indefinitely as of June 1st, 2007.
The Hyatt Regency San Francisco and the Equinox would like to extend our sincerest thank you for your patronage over the years.
It makes me sad that it closed! My boyfriend and I are on a mission to eat at all the rotating restaurants in the US, and I'm so glad we had a chance when we could.
Too bad it is closing May 30. After that the place will be used only for private events. Equinox is a good place. I think the hotel didn't market it sufficiently. I, a native of San Francisco, didn't know it was up there until I saw the recent mention of its upcoming closing in the Chronicle.
Good food. Great service. Wonderful views. The appetizers we had, scallops and tuna, were of appropriate sizes for their prices. Our server warned us of one appetizer that wasn't. Our server all helped with the wine selection. Too bad it's closing. All around good experience.
People thought this was:
Two words: Union Employees
Seriously, the staff here must be union because it just oozes out of their pores and attitudes. We came here for dessert, irish coffee and port late-ish one evening and the server couldn't have been more...um...indifferent is probably the best way to describe the service.
I find this restaurant somewhat claustrophobic. You're just in this cramped circular tube going 'round and 'round. Seriously, if I were some union employee stuck in this space year after year feeling like I had to stick around because of my senority or whatever, I'd probably go nutz and be all surly, too.
So, we're sitting there admiring the view when um, STUFF starts rotating by on the window ledges. Technically, I guess it was us rotating by the stuff. Whatever. First we see some lime wedges, then we see this little sculpture...it was something like a wine cork, a grape and a butter ball. My bf handed me a sprig of mint and I added it to the sculpture by wedging it into the butter ball (wouldn't you?) Then, more random stuff came around. We were cracking up. Hey, we could have had a server that told us some jokes, or at least maybe cracked a smile, but instead we had rotating butter balls. Eventually, notes started showing up on the ledges, like "s.o.s." and "I need money" and then...they stopped. So then, Equinox started being totally boring and claustrophobic again and we left.
I'm giving it three stars (instead of less than three stars) because the dessert/irish coffee/port we had was good and because we had fun while we were here. If you come here, please consider doing your fellow patrons a favor and decorate the ledges with a treasure hunt of unexpected objects. Oh, and whomever you were that entertained us that night: thank you, thank you...you rule!
People thought this was:
Boring!! I took my BF because he's never been. (Lived here for 27 years and NEVER been to the Equinox?!? NO WAY!!) When we first got up there, they asked us if we had reservations. We said no, how long was the wait? When they told us 30 minutes, we must have looked like we were going to bail because they shoved one of those flashing pagers into our hands.
We took the elevator back downstairs and before we had been sitting two minutes on one of the sofas downstairs, our pager was flashing blue. We went back upstairs and were seated with, I have to admit, a pretty nice view of the Bay Bridge.
Go for dessert, drinks, and view. It's worth it for that.
People thought this was:
you spin me right round baby right round, like a record player...
The restaurant is a bit pricey, but last night my roommates and I just had a fabulous time. The viewS are really amazing - you can see the whole city and it really is striking. I imagine if it wasn't so foggy we would see more. Our waitress was really friendly, they had a new bottle of wine to let us taste before choosing, and the food was really good. I don't know what everyone else is talking about, but we all got the chilean sea bass and it just melted in our mouths.
you're definitely paying for the ambience as well - hey this is the services business and that's part of the price (ambience that is)
People thought this was:
Around and around and around it goes, and where the mediocrity stops, nobody knows.
(actually the mediocrity stops at the end of May, when it's scheduled to close)
People thought this was:
Even though the place was incredibly touristy and you'd actually witness plenty of marriage proposals, being able to visit as an adult to relive the many memories you spent going there as a kid growing up in The Bay Area, was a lot of fun.
People are still writing reviews because they are disappointed the place is gone....the restaurant where the floor moved!
Who categorized this under gyms?? Huh?
Anyway, we discovered some pleasures atop the Hyatt Regency in downtown SF. The Equinox, I believe, is the only revolving restaurant in Northern California. The paralyzing price of the entrees clearly reflects this.
Their wine list is varied, and it revolves as fast as the restaurant does! Of course the view is quite appealing, though you can get the same view by just hiking up one of the nearby streets. My dinner mate ordered the filet mignon and lobster combo, which he felt was very well-prepared and worth the extra money.
I settled for a boring veggie and mushroom dish, which managed a few surprises and left a smile on my face. I'm not a vegetarian, yet I was satisfied enough. The waiter didn't smile, however, which removed one star from my review!
The dress code is business casual at the least, but wouldn't you know, it's not enforced! After all, this is San Francisco, and they welcomed my red tennis shoes.
Because im a baller on a budget, I only come here to impress SF visitors and girls.
All I do is get a plate of nachos, 1 beer for each person, and insist on a seat by the window to appreciate the view. 4 stars because im a "hole-in-the-wall" type person but the coolness of it spinning around, the views, and the relaxed atmosphere is most def a big plus.
Equinox is so passe.....
Good views and its cool to see the different angles of the city (revolving restaurant).
However, I would label them so poorly due to their awful service. My girlfriend and I had made reservations and planned to just have wine and dessert there, as we had dinner elsewhere. I guess that the rude eastern European waitress sensed a lower tip, so she was very short with us and sort of pushy, trying to get us to leave. Little did she know that we frequent fine restaurants in the city. This left such a bad taste in our mouths that we will not be going here again. If you want views, go to the Marriott or the Top of the Mark. If you want good food, you have a million better choices.
WARNING: OVERWHELMINGLY 80s slash early 90s.
I feel like this place is PERFECT if you're just going for a couple of cocktails and maybe an appetizer/dessert, especially if you want to try something new or impress out-of-towners. I don't think I'd go here for a full-blown dinner.
The actual establishment is in DESPERATE need of a makeover, it's very very very late 80s: But it's a fucking revolving restaurant!! That's hot!
We just had a couple glasses of wine and a boring chicken appetizer. (However, It was server with lotus root chips which I thought was very very original...I didn't even know that lotus had roots.) We went there for the view and had a wonderful time.
I thought our waitress was going to be stuffy at first, but she turned out to be hella funny. She was a sweetheart.
If this restaurant (actually, the whole hotel) got a fresh look, it would be a total hot spot. It's unfortunate that this restaurant is going to be turned into a banquet room, so go while you still can to check out the rotation factor.
It definately takes 5-10 minutes to get used to the fact that you are rotating!!
GREAT FOR DATE Rapists AND DOUCHE BAGS
Man is this thing moving? After hearing about a spinning restaurant, I really thought it would be neat to have a few drinks and head to the top for some freaking dessert. I guess its one of those things that you can take the touristy folk or 17 year old girls on dates, but not if you are a native San Franciscan.
Every time I go up here all I can think of is how cool would it be to see something crazy going on in one of the buildings as you as slowly "spinning into mediocrity" as one of the past reviewers said.
If this place could guarantee something new and exciting like a boss and secretary getting it on, then I could see what they charge as justified. Either that or have a ride for the 17 years on their first dates trying to get some.
I'm not sure how much oil to spin a restaurant costs, but apparently quite a bit. They might as well charge everybody 5 bucks entrance instead of beating me over the head with overpriced bland desserts.
It was really just an OK restaurant.
If you are taking a girl on a first date, it wouldn't such a bad idea. Since you don't want to go all out, BUT you want to impress a girl and show her nice view of SF, you can take her there. Other wise, the food is not so great and expensive, and if it's your bad luck day, you might be able to see anything out of the window besides the famous SF fog.
Another suggestion is to have a couple of drinks there only, or go when there's an event going on. I went there once when a party promoter rented the place. It was almost like high school prom but with alcohol beverages, so it was fun.
This is the place that I've longed for since coming back to the Bay Area.
It HAD beautiful skyline views of the Bay and excellent cocktails and dessert. BUT... I did not know that it was freakin CLOSED for the past 2 months!!!
How dare they....
So... Im giving them one star. Until they straighten up their act and open up again. I MISS YOU EQUINOX!! COME BAACK!!
I ended up taking my business to the Fairmont and Top of the Mark on California ave.... 2 great places for views, cocktails and good company...
Alohaz...
Wow... It revolves....
Seconds later....
Wow... It revolves....
I remember many years ago, this place would pack a line at the bottom of the elevator, waiting their turn to go up and experience the Equinox.
Just a few short years ago, that line was not needed, it was actually fairly empty at the Equinox.
I've only gotten dessert, never had a main meal here.
Only when you have guests from the burbs. Preferably old people who want to pretend they are from the mid-west, or even authentic Kansas City Kitties.
On the other hand, young women like it here, so if you are a young man, taking a young lady out, it may be worth the trip, tip, tax and bill.
Not a great place to eat. Food is normal, nothing exceptional. The service was not great, a little rude, and the view isnt fabulous.
Great for tourists and out-of-city guests. The revolving restaurant is super cold, and when you're at the window seat, you feel a constant breeze from the revolution.
A fun place to visit (at lease once) on a clear, fall night in the city.
We only stopped in for cocktails and the view, but were pleasantly surprised. We were blessed with a warm, fall and fogless night in SF and were rewarded with a great view from the top of the Hyatt.
The Hyatt lobby was decked out for Christmas in the lobby which set the mood from the get go. Note on the wait: Upon check in we were presented with a beeper and assured that it would only be 15-20 mins.max to get to the top for cocktails by way of a "special elevator" to the top. After waiting more than 30 mins - we had to ask for our reservation and were accomodated, but had an older couple "sneak" into the elevator unbeknownst to the hostess - which made our wait frustrating. Saving grace -- a party in the lobby in which a "satellite" bar was available for drinks -- and they served good beer!
Upon arriving at the "top" we were seated right by the window on the circulating dining area. Since we were there for cocktails only -- drinks were pretty standard, and beer selection limited (not the same as the lobb -- they at least need to get Newcastle and get rid of the Bud!). Appetizers were yummy with the sushi rolls being the best.
Overall, a fun place to visit atleast once when there is no fog in San Francisco.
So... Amazing View i have to say. It totally made me love San Fran even more. I get this giddy feeling every time i drive over the Bay Bridge from the East Bay when I'm on my way home and... Just coming out of the treasure island tunnel... you see the city, either in fog, sun, or dark all lit up...is awesome. that feeling totally rush through me as i panned around Embarcadero... The food is decent, and the drink are good. service was a little poor and you'd think with the price you'd get a bit more. but lets be honest you want great amazing service go to the local cheap dive...you want yuppie food and drinks you go here... hell a great place to take a DATE... scoring major points... guys you know what i mean...
In Short:
Great View
Ambiance
Good Company
Okay Food
anyway, you've got to at least go once...
If you have family coming for a week, I would suggest taking them here for the view. The food leaves much to be expected and is just a tad better than typical "hotel conference food." The desserts are better, but not by much. I gave it the additional star because the view is actually nice at night when not foggy.
In all honesty, go to another restaurant for dinner. Afterwards, grab your tourist visitors (and their fanny packs, digital cameras, etc.) and head over to Equinox for dessert and drinks. They'll blend in with all the other tourists, you'll feel better they got a view of the city, and they'll have lots to tell their friends when they get home!
Service is really bad here too! If you find a good server, please comment on who that person is, because they deserve some recognition and public praise.
Food: Blah
Service: Blah
Drinks: Good
View: Awesome
It's too bad Equinox is closed! Although the spinning gave me slight motion sickness (haha), I really enjoyed the view and amazing service. The food was just so-so but every thing else definitely made up for it. I went to Grandview recently and it's not comparable. :)
THIS PLACE IS CLOSED.
iI'm very sad to report that this restaurant has closed. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to go there and have a drink and now that I'm over 21 it's closed. They just closed three weeks ago and acording to the hotel receptionist at the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero it is doubtful that it will ever reopen. It's sad, but it seems the era of revolving restaurants is passing.
Ugh! What a crappy dinner - really really crappy.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't carpaccio supposed to be raw? I might accept a LITTLE bit of searing on the edges...maybe...but trying to pass off the innards of a roast beef sandwich as carpaccio, now that's just insulting. I should have seen it coming, though. The restaurant rotates for god's sake, they can't take themselves too seriously, I guess.
One star off for the deli meat, one star off for the mojito that tasted like a wine cooler, one star off for letting us sit at our table for 20 minutes without so much as a hello, and one star off for being ugly - straight up.
Since this placed closed, my life has been dark. Where do I go now for drinks and dessert after dinner?? It was one of my favorite places in the city because it was something different. You could enjoy the sf bay and bridge as you sip at your 13 dollar daiquiri and slice of cheesecake. Yeah the prices are a bit high but for a luxury like this I think it's worth it. The thing that frustrated me about this place is that their menu always changed! Once I developed a favorite (banana fosters cake with dulce de leche icecream) AH it was heaven!!! Never had it again...but the raspberry white chocolate cheese cake substituted it although there will be none like the banana foster cake. =(
People thought this was:
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Gyms
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Hotels
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: Union Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
The San Francisco area has always been a part of…
Much to the chagrin of some here,I'm sure, these…
