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Categories: Seafood, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/TenderloinGreat updated fall menu. Come on in and check us out! Did you know we have happy hour from 4-6pm Tues-Sat? Bacon Tator tots!
Tue-Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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I wanted the 100th yelp review place to be amazing, delictable and very special... just like my men. Last night I found IT -- only 2.5 months since my last review.
"IT" is Fish and Farm and IT is amazing!
Fish and Farm has a very special place in my heart. A dear friend of mine threw a surprise dinner party there for my 25th birthday. As all birthdays of mine past the age of 21, the memories are a bit blurry but I do recall an amazing paperdelle dish and potatoes to die for! I also remembered the bright blue walls and a cozy restaurant filled with the laughter of 15 friends.
Fast forward to this past weekend and I find myself eating with a friend for Saturday dinner.
Our first dish was the heirloom tomato salad, the special of the day, and although the appetizer portion was smaller than expected, we were pleasantly surprised with the freshness and ripeness of the tomatoes. Any dish that has a sprinkling of bacon on top is A+ in my book.
If you know me, my eyes are much bigger than my stomach, and we also decided to order the mac and cheese which was the best decision I made the entire night! The mac and cheese is truly amazing... seasoned appropriately and the pasta cooked perfectly! Although we still had our burger to finish, my head was urging me to order a second helping!
Unless you've been living under a rock for the past weeks, you and your momma should know F&F earned the #1 spot on 7x7's Best Burger in SF list. As you can imagine 80% of the restaurant that night ordered the #1 burger in SF! Seriously, I'm not afraid to call myself a bandwagoner ... that burger was fantastic! I ordered the burger medium and it was cooked perfectly - just the right amount of pink/redness in the middle and still very juicy. The secret sauce, grilled onions and pickles were a great addition. I usually like my burgers to have some crispness (aka lettuce) but the combination of flavors worked very very well together!
F&F gets 5 stars in my eyes. The atmosphere throughout the restaurant is lively and energetic. The waitstaff are very attentive and friendly. Special props to the hostess, Jennifer T, for squeezing a ressie for us at the last minute! She's awesome!!
Although the restaurant may appear to be small, F&F is a great place to host an event.. small, medium or large. The "fish bowl" in front is for private mid-size groups and there is a special banquet room in the back for larger private parties. I've dined in the main room and at the bar area and enjoyed both.
Do yourself a favor and eat here. If not for dinner, than for Happy Hour where they serve Juicy Lucies and bacon tator tots. I enjoyed my meal so much, myself and a group of friends are going back this Friday!
My friends visited from NYC and they were given the name of this place from a concierge in NYC as the place we had to try. So I began with high expectations.
We had a reservation for 8pm. When we arrived we were told that our table wasn't quite ready and could we wait at the bar. The bar was fine, though a litle outside of the restaurant. People were friendly enough and the drinks mixed perfectly.
However, we waited at the bar until almost 9pm when our table was finally ready. Whats the point of a reservation? We were escorted to a very small table right outside of the kitchen where the door swung open and shut the entire time we sat there. The meal was ok, all agreed it was fine. Maybe it was better than fine but we were starving at this point and a little tipsy.
The decor is cute, though a little dark, sort of french farm, which is to be expected with the name of the place.
After reading these reviews I may have to try Fish and Farm again. Because it does have quite the reputation and I would love to be there on a night where it lives up to it. Sadly the night I was there, it did not.
Tempted by the tales of the amazing hamburgers, I went here for dinner last night. Everything was fantastic -- from the gnocchi with braised beef sauce to the burger, ribeye steak and pork chop.
The burger was cooked a perfect medium rare and I opted for both the egg and bacon on top (take that arteries!). The consistency of the fries was exceptional -- very crispy on the outside but still fluffy on the inside and went great with the spicy ketchup served alongside. I sampled several dishes that my friends ordered. Nothing disappointed. The burger, ribeye and gnocchi were all five star dishes and I'd give the mac and cheese four stars. I was a little disappointed that they were out of the cheesecake in a jar when I finally got around to ordering dessert but that's my own fault for getting to dinner at 9:30PM.
I'm surprised that Fish & Farm doesn't have a higher overall rating. Perhaps the food has gotten better recently. Regardless, I'll be back here and I'll be recommending this place to my friends as well.
Was excited about trying this place especially since it was just awarded 2 stars from Michelin. It's known for ingredients that are local from 100 mile radius of San Francisco. Took a friend of mine who was visiting from out-of-town. Unfortunately the location butts up against The Tenderloin neighborhood that isn't the best area to park and walk at night (I did park there. Oops!. Had no problems though.)
The hostess who greeted me was very friendly. It's a small restaurant and I highly suggest making reservations. They do have a bar in the back where you can order from the menu as well.
The menu was definitely all meat and fish for entrees. They do have a pre-fixe for $41.95 for 3 courses but we chose not to go for it. After scanning the menu for quite some time, I ordered the wedge salad with Point Reyes bleu cheese and fish and chips. Seems like a strange combo but they worked well together. My friend also ordered the wedge salad and salmon. The salad was good but I could have used more dressing. My fault that I didn't ask. The fish and chips were delicious. The fish was nicely browned and crisp. The coating wasn't greasy or overpowering like a lot of deep fried fish. The fries were good but a bit garlicky for my taste. My friend's salmon was good but the portion was small. Overall we liked what we ordered.
I definitely want to go back with my husband to try the burger and other appetizers/entrees. Also want to try the desserts. Was too full this time to indulge. The experience was unique and pleasant! The lighting was a bit dark for my taste but it was a nice ambience! Would definitely recommend that you try Fish & Farm. Make sure to park on O'Farrell or north of O'Farrell to avoid the Tenderloin crowd.
A friend of mine raves about this place so when she suggested we go to the bar for Happy Hour I jumped on board. No complaints what so ever!
I have to admit I was a little hungry so I ended up trying everything on the Happy Hour menu except the sausage. Bacon Tator Tot's Yum! Mac & Chz Yum! Oyster Shooters Yum! Burger Yum! And the Fries Yum! ( these were my friends and I only had a few) I can't eat that much! HA!
Once I heard about their #1 burger status I knew I had to go and try it. The fact that it's right around the corner from my new place is just an added bonus. Located in the Mark Twain Hotel, this cozy restaurant gets high praise in my book.
The appetizers we ordered were top notch: lamb meatballs, cauliflower soup and brussel sprouts were phenom. The lamb meatballs were tender with a little spice and the cauliflower soup was creamy, frothy and flavorful. They topped it off with some grapes was an interesting and creative touch.
For my entree, I couldn't NOT order the hamburger and most certainly didn't regret it. I can see why it's so well known. My only complaint is that I ordered it to be cooked medium and they served it to me pretty rare....rare meat just reminds me of the animal I'm actually eating and grosses me out. I choose ignorance while I chow on my burgs.
The service was so-so. It took them quite some time to get our entrees out. The servers seemed extremely rushed and at one point when somebody cleared the table they spilled a bowl of sauce on the ground that splattered all over my jeans/shoes. I wasn't upset about it but that's the kind of thing that can most certainly be avoided when more care is taken and less rush-rush. They offered me a free dessert for the trouble which, while I refused, was a classy move.
Overall, I'd say the rating deserves a 3.5 but it's damn near a 4.
I took a good friend of mine here on 11/20 for her birthday, and was pretty happy with the evening. We ordered the:
* Mac & Cheese
* Wedge Salad
* Salmon
* Pork Chop
She scarfed her mac & cheese, so I'd take that as a sign it was great. My wedge was a little unexceptional, really lacking in a strong blue cheese flavor, and the lettuce was pretty wilted. The salmon was properly portioned (it's supposed to be no bigger than a deck of cards, other reviewer-type gluttons!), but was eclipsed in flavor and preparation of the turnips as a side. Seriously - if the menu offered a well-prepared scallop dish with those turnips, this review would be higher.
It was a little loud (given the space), and there was a significant lag between appetizers and main courses, but that was overshadowed by the exceptionally competent server we got. I can't remember her name, but she was amazing.
I'd say the menu needs a little bit of freshening (fish and chips? Where's the shellfish love?), the hostess was running around like a chicken with her head cut off, but it was a perfectly acceptable experience. May return if the menu changes.
Order the burger.
Don't get caught up in all the fancy words of the daily special or the fried yummy goodness of the fish and chips. If it's your first time, ORDER THE BURGER.
WOW. Yum!!
What a culinary experience. Started with cocktails- I had a Tyler Street Margarita- the perfect starter to a Friday evening. Then decided to order fries.. omg.. delicious. The chef.. http://blogs.sfweekly.... brought out a shot of tomato soup that was to-die-for.
I ordered the fried chicken. Last time I came I had THE burger.. so wanted to try something different. My partner had the pre-fixe (wedge salad, steak, sundae??).
Everything was on point. Best fried chicken I've had.. and the sauce- wow. Want that sauce at home.
Its nearly impossible to get meat that is medium-rare in the US.. everyone has their own definition.. but if its up to me.. Chad Newton and Fish&Farm have the right one. That beef was on point.. like Lil' Wayne.
Our friends were equally excited. After a so-so performance up the street.. all we could talk about was our decadent meal. Yumzilla.
Already have recommended to friends who just made reservations.. and will continue to.. it was fantastic. Its meals like this that get me excited to live in SF with such fantastic chefs!
Food: 5
Ambiance: 5
Service: 5
To start off.. this place had a lot of hype.. and I was a lil bummed... but will be back to visit… Read more »
Came here with a large group after our training class. We reserved the back room. The fan was broken so it was SOOO hot in the stuffy room. There was bread & butter at the back of the room with no utensils to spread the butter.. FINALLY after a while they bring us fries.. Not that great! We were famished.
Finally we're seated. It's a pre fixed menu because we were such a large group. The salad, average. The salmon, fishy.. The apple sorbet tasted like frozen apple sauce, yuck!
The people were very friendly and attentive, but I never want to come back here again... EVER...
Truly mediocre.
__________Bottom line___________
$120 romantic dinner for 2 included:
1 pre fixe salmon, salad, dessert
1 pre fixe steak, soup, dessert
1 bottle of excellent wine
2 cocktails
______________________________
We came here for my wife's B-day. It was perfect for a special event. Don't think I'd eat here just because. Prices are a little on the high side for just a dinner, but were very reasonable for our special occasion.
Our table was not ready, so we got a drink at the attached bar. Our drinks were then transferred to our table when it was ready. Simple. Great atmosphere. Service was fine - a bit slow, but we were in no rush.
Food was great. Both the meat and fish were cooked great. Good portions. Not too small or big. Ice cream sundae was killer - it had a very homemade taste. I saw many people ordering the hamburger. I'm sure it is good, but I wouldn't go to a nice restaurant to order a hamburger - I'll save that for the best burger joints and In-n-Outs around.
Go for it, it's goooooooooood.
Had an excellent dinner here last night with our friends before a jazz concert at Grace Cathedral. Started cocktails & fries. My margherita was a bit sweet but tasted good. The fries were quite tastey. The chef sent out a shot of tomato soup that was quite tasty, but very hot temperature that we were not warned about.
We all had the wedge salad, which was excellent -- crisp, cold lettuce and a creamy but not overpowering blue cheese dressing. Two in our party had the fried chicken, which I'm glad I tasted. It was terrific, crunchy, dry skin and succulent meat. One had a burger that he really enjoyed. I had the steak, which was surprisingly cooked correctly to my order of medium rare (side note: why is it almost impossible to get anything less than medium in this town). Flavorful and tender, everyone liked it.
We all split a little sundae for dessert, which was also very satisfying.
Pluses: all the food was quite well-prepared and well-balanced flavors. Server was very nice and attentive.
Minuses: room started out cold when we arrived and then was quite warm by the time we left.
I'm giving F&F 4+ stars. F&F could get five stars with a little more polish. I'll definitely be back.
I'm really torn on what to give this place. First of all, I'm going to have to disagree with the best burger award. I didn't find it to be all that spectacular, although I applaud their use of their own "special sauce." I don't like pepper, and I hate it when restaurants put it in their patties. I was impressed with the Heirloom Tomato Salad (THAT was divine) and homemade potato chips, and I believe my mom enjoyed her fish & chips. The french fries were adequate, but not stellar.
Secondly, I think it's nice they give a discount to theatre goers, but I was tired of being asked that. If I come back, I'm going to lie and say I do have tickets. The service was okay- they were great about refilling the water, but I could barely hear the server speak. He was very quiet, which could be a problem when it gets louder.
I did not get a chance to check out the bar area, because apparently it was already full at 5:20. Even though they opened at 5:00. According to the hostess.
To be honest, it's highly unlikely I'll go back.
Not sure wtf the hype is all about for this place.
Best burger in the city? No.
Was it a good burger? Meh - the patty was a bit over seasoned IMO, both the salt and pepper were a tad on the heavy side. The fries were sort of over-salted too. Bun had a nice texture and taste though.
Mac and cheese - sorry to say it could really use some work. Basically some macaroni with a bit of really bland watery cheese sauce. Everyone at the table tried it and pretty much had the same low opinion.
Ribs - these actually weren't bad. Literally fall off the bone, and the sauce was interesting.
Gnocchi - the one good dish of the night. Fluffy house made gnocchi, with a savory flavorful sauce that wasn't too heavy nor too light.
Service - OMG they're slow. I'm not talking relaxed dining experience slow, I'm talking wtf-that-other-table-came-in-after-us-and-ordered- after-us-and-they-got-their-food-before-us slow. Drinks took a while, apps came out at an acceptable leisurely pace, but the mains took almost an hour (we'd ordered mains after we got our apps, as we were waiting for someone). We mostly had burgers/fried chicken/fish&chips and one pork chop - nothing really complicated. WTF?? I'd seen beforehand the reviews complaining about the wait, but they seemed 50/50, and I figured most of them were just whining (c'mon - we all take yelp reviews with a bit of salt nowadays), but this was really quite a wait. The waitress was apologetic and nice about it, having the manager drop by to talk to us, and they comp'ed a few things, which alleviated some of it, but I don't have much confidence in their kitchen.
I came here with a bunch of girlfriends to celebrate the retirement of her 20s to move onto her 30s. The ambiance is very nice - romantic, dim lit lighting so that everyone looks good and very nice decor. The waitstaff was very attentive and our water/wine glasses were never empty. I ordered the prize winning cheeseburger, which was quite yummy. The buns were nice and toasty, their special sauce was a mix between ketchup and bbq sauce, and the meat was cooked perfectly at medium rare. It was a good burger, but I don't know if it was $15 good. My other friends had the salmon and fish and chips, which were completely consumed, so I assume it was tasty.
overall, a solid 3 stars place. It would be a nice place for a first date - probably just don't order the messy burger.
Overall: B
Second time here but 1st visit since menu change and renovation of interior. Can't really say anything bad. Can't wait to go back.
Food: A
The ribs as a starter are crucial! I followed that up with some good fish and chips and especially liked the fries. I highly recommend ordering a side of Mac 'n cheese to share. We finished up with a deconstructed cheesecake in a glass that was just killer.
The ribs and mac 'n cheese were so good that I think I would come back just for those two items.
Service: B
Casual but efficient. Jennifer runs a tight ship, that sails very smoothly.
Decor: C
Small, loud and trendy. Wish the bar was bigger.
Value: B
I left stuffed and felt much more satisfied than my first visit. I can't remember the bill but it was much lower than I had expected.
I really liked this place. We had reservations at 6:30 and tickets to a 8:00 show. The hostess and waiter were very pleasant and mindful of the time.
I was a waitress at a restaurant near the San Diego Sports Arena and I assure you it is no easy task to have the entire place fill up at 6:00 and all wanting to be at a concert by 8:00.
F&F did a lovely job. I had a glass of their por que no wine, it was very nice, he had a martini. The bread was fresh and the butter good and room temperature. They also brought out home made potato chips with a horseradish dip. Kind of a sweet touch.
Jro had the burger with fried egg on top. He has had the bar burger a few times, and the dinner burger is even better. He likes rare, and it looked like tar-tar to me. He said the dinner burger was a bit more well balanced in flavor than the bar burger. Since the bar burger is smaller, the condiment and toppings stand out more. The dinner burger was meatier.
I had the pork chop. HUGE portions! I could not finish and because we were going to the theatre, could not take it to go. The meat was more the flavor and consistency of a well seasoned steak. Perhaps it was the Worcestershire sauce. It was well cooked and as I said huge. The potato puree was very good, however the menu on line said it came with mac & cheese which I would have liked to try. (I could have asked, but did not)
The greens, I think it was spinach were really good. It seemed like they used vinegar to brighten the flavor instead of salt, and added onions. I would have liked to eat at a more leisurely pace, but we had the show to go to.
The decor is sweet, Edison style lamps which are all the rage in design these days. Clean space. Overall I could not find one flaw if I tried.
Some might balk at the neighborhood. But hey there is always parking at Ellis and Jones.
Like many others, I came here for the burger on the recommendation of 7X7.
Small and styled like an old world steakhouse in small scale. The wait staff was quick to help us and very nice. We ordered a few beers (fine selection of Anchor Steam brews and the only place in SF that serves beer from Goose Island in Chicago...albeit a $16 bottle of dessert stout) and the burgers. We were warned that they would take 25 minutes to prepare, but good meat takes time to prepare, so we sat and drank. The proprietor came and asked us if we needed anything in the meantime, since we were waiting, and although we didn't order anything, he brought out some fresh made potato chips with a garlic dip. It was quite good.
The burger itself was think and meaty on a freshly baked bun. The onions and cheese on it were thickly cut and delicious. The meat was cooked right and tender. It was really good, overall. The fries were tasty as well, and the BBQ-like sauce was good for them as well.
Would definitely recommend it to anyone who asks. It is a big meal, so be careful when order appetizers since you may fill yourself up before the main event!
Fish & Farm has been getting a lot of buzz lately for their burger, ranked #1 by 7x7 Magazine on their Top 10 Burger list. http://www.7x7.com/con...
Being the burger guy that I am, I had to find out for myself. The verdict? Pretty damn good. It's gooey and messy yet oh so tasty. The fries were crisp but could have been a bit hotter (seriously, when I pay $13 for a burger I expect my fries to be made to order...is that a lot to ask for?)
We decided to forgo the dining room and belly up to the bar for our burgers and wine which I always prefer...the bartenders were great plus we were able to people watch which is always interesting.
I'm not sure that I would be so bold to rank this the best burger in the city but as far as fancy pants burgers go, it's pretty damn good.
I read about Fish & Farm a few months before they opened and was intrigued by the concept. Most of… Read more »
Came here with a friend on Friday night since a last-minute table opened up. I actually had no idea where we were going when I drove into SF; I only found out on the way to the restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised with this small restaurant. Food was very tasty and extremely reasonably priced for the awesome quality (and tax was included in the menu prices -- a double bonus!)
I tried their bourbon julep and it came out perfectly prepared in a martini glass with a sprig of fresh mint. I didn't order any appetizer, but my buddy ordered the heirloom tomato salad. I don't like tomatoes but damn did that salad look tasty! We also received amuse bouches from the chef (hot chicken broth) which were very tasty but I could just feel my blood pressure building up from the salty deliciousness.
For my main I was debating between the fish and chips and the burger. My buddy told me that they are well-known for their burger so I decided to go that route. Great choice! Perfectly cooked and well seasoned. Only negative was that the waiter forgot my fried egg add-on (wasn't charged for it though). Fries were delicious and were a HUGE portion. Friend got the mac and cheese as well as the pork chop and he said both were extremely tasty. Water was constantly being refilled (huge plus for attentiveness in my book)
With all said in done, I left the restaurant only $31 lighter (drink, food, and tax/tip). I was prepared to spend $60-80 for the night when I told my friend to pick a place. This was an awesome find at half the price! Wouldn't hesitate to go back when I'm in the area again
We first arrived and had to wait 15 minutes, even though we made a reservation. The location itself is pretty shady and is connected to a random 2 star hotel. We had to try the burger since it won the award. I'm not a huge burger fan so I might not be the best judge, however I thought it was 'meh'. The bread was so soggy by the time we ate it but I do have to admit the meat was so juicy. We also ordered a side of mac and cheese and the fish and chips. The mac and cheese was ok, nothing special. The fish and chips had too much batter and was too oily. I think it was our bad for ordering such heart-clogging entrees but it looked so tempting! Overall, I wouldn't return.
We received excellent service and the food was terrific! The cocktail menu was very interesting and unique.
I had a lot of questions about the beers on the menu and the waitress was great about going out of her way to show me each of the beers and find answers to my questions. I had the Niman Ranch Cheeseburger, which turned out to be the best burger I can recall ever having so it's no surprise they were named #1 burger by 7x7. My girlfriend had the Liberty Ale Fish & Chips and loved them. The food was gourmet all the way.
Would recommend and go again!
FOOD: Generally delicious. My girlfriend and I both ordered the southern fried chicken, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and coleslaw. The fried chicken and coleslaw were brilliant. However, the peas were over salted and the cornbread was simply average. This restaurant reaches the highest of highs regarding food, but it is not consistent throughout.
DRINK: Skimpy. My girlfriend ordered one of their two specialty drinks--mint julep. She loved it and gave rave reviews. I tried to order one of the two beers on tap--Anchor Steam Pale Ale which was out. I asked for an IPA--the bottles were not yet cold. For dessert, I ordered their specialty bourbon stout and they had also run out. Do not come to the F&F for liquid libations.
SERVICE: A for effort although not stellar in execution.
I was visiting San Francisco for the first time ever and my friend took me here.
The restaurant was very accommodating when we told them half of our party was running 15+ minutes late for our reservation. They seated us anyway and did not pressure us to order ahead.
The restaurant is small, but really beautiful and clean. I loved the decor, and we were seated in a huge booth.
The waiter was very engaging and knew the menu well. He made plenty of suggestions on what the most popular items were, including the burger, the fried chicken, and the special of the night: a ribeye steak.
I went with the fried chicken, served with a fresh vinegar coleslaw and a super tasty cornbread muffin. I also split a mac & cheese with hamhock side dish with my friends. When my friend chicken entree came out, it was ridiculous. There were two HUGE pieces of perfectly crunchy friend chicken. The slaw, while a refreshing change from they typical mayo based slaw, was not really my thing. I enjoyed the vinegar in the slaw, but it had too much of some herb that really overpowered it. Overall, I was impressed by the portion and quality of my chicken dish. The mac & cheese side dish was good - it was tasty and salty, but if felt like the sauce had been slightly overheated, because the cheese and oil were starting to separate.
We also tried a peach-strawberry cobbler type of dessert served with a scoop of ice cream on top. The first one we got had too much liquid and was very runny. We sent it back, and they were very nice about it and replaced it right away. The second one was exactly how you would think a cobbler should be. It was rich and satisfying, and a dessert that needs to be shared among at least 2 people.
Overall, it was a great experience, and if I ever return to San Francisco, I would not hesitate to go to dinner here again.
3.5 stars my ass...this place is amazing! The service is awesome as well. We had a res and the table ahead of us was taking a million years to get up so the bartender gave us a round of drinks on the house. And we were in a hurry to catch a movie, so the kitchen was very accommodating and got us in and out as fast as possible.
Now for the food...delicious! Everything was amazing, the fish, the steak, the apps, the sides. LOVED IT!
Came for the burger since it won best burger in SF.
The pickles were the best part and yes, the burger was delicious.
Service was okay. Horrible location but if I am in the neighborhood again and hungry I would go back.
The wine pour seemed like an honest 6oz pour.
We found comfort food and a nice wine list within walking distance to downtown Union Square, the theaters and work.
We had heard Fish & Farm had a small dining room and was difficult to get into, but we were able to get in the same evening. We found the small dining area to be cozy, and our server for the evening, Karin, kept us on track the whole night.
The first pleasant surprise once we sat down was to find my favorite Rose of Grenache by Unti Vineyards on the menu, I then knew this was going to be delicious dining. Started out with the delicious Farm Vegetables, Pole Bean Salad, then moved on to the Mac & Cheese with Hamhock (delicious), and we all tried the different entrees, Pork Chop, Halibut, Southern Fried Petaluma Chicken, and the tasty Fish and Chips. It was difficult not to share each other's dishes when each one was tastier than the next.
We're looking forward to escaping to Fish & Farm again soon.
Food: Was good. My salmon was delicious. My friend's pork ribs where not.
Service- Outstanding! Upon noticing that my friend was moving around his pork ribs, our waiter asked him if he liked his dish. My friend did not as there was too much gristle and not enough taste. The server removed the dish and came back within a few minutes to let us know that he removed the dish from our tab. Then, to our surprise, he came back with a glass of the sparkling wine that I was drinking and let us know it was from the owner. Every restaurant has it's ups and downs regarding food. It's how they handle the problem. By the way, my friend order the pork rib appetizer as his main course which makes how the owner and server handled the "issue" even a better story.
No taxation without representation.
If you've read other Yelp.* reviews that cite "tax and tip" as being included in the bill, then I have news for you - TIPS ARE NOT INCLUDED. Taxes, yes, but PLEASE don't gyp your servers. It states clearly on the top of the menu "Please add gratuity you feel appropriate. Thank you." which translates as "while we don't want to have to state it blatantly, we're in a recession and our entire staff are living off of tips, so unless you don't have a soul, please let your conscience be your guide and allow it to steer you toward upwards of 15%. Kthxbye."
Tips aside, here's my plug for this place: a well deserved draw for this restaurant (and a model that I hope every other restaurant will eventually adopt) is that Fish + Farm serves only locally sourced products, organic produce, and hormone/steroid/anti-biotic free/naturally fed meat and poultry, and sustainably harvested fish. I've finally found a place where I can feel safe and secure in eating everything on the menu (so, imagine my disappointment when baby seals and ocelots were not listed.......what?)
Our table consisted of five hungry men, so we did the only rational thing, which was to order everything on the menu (except the burger and the salmon). The double-cut bone-in pork chop was excellent, with a pink (cooked at an ideal medium rare) center, juices were locked in, exterior was well seasoned, and the cut was enormous. THIS dish alone is worth the trip. It is perfectly acceptable to use your hands and devour every last morsel from this porcine profundity. The side, mac & cheese with ham hock, was a big disappointment, but did nothing to detract from the main attraction. Luckily for us, there were plenty of other dishes and sides to make up for the fact that the mac & cheese was a dud.
The fried chicken was also textbook perfect - deliciously crispy outer skin, moist and tender meat, and just the right ratio of batter to meat *groan**finger sucking**lip smacking**more groaning*. Once again, the sides - mashed potatoes and coleslaw - were a disappointment, but there was a butter/Tabasco dipping sauce that tickled the taste buds. Speaking of side dishes, we tried all four of them, and the only one that made the cut was the French fries. They came piping hot, and were beautifully fried and had just the right amount of salt. They were accompanied by a mustard/BBQ/horseradish dipping sauce, which was almost good enough to drink as a standalone. (Why would I know this....? I'll let you ponder that.)
We also tried their halibut, which was decent; the fish and chips were acceptable (but the chips out-shined the fish); and the rib eye special turned out to be an utter train wreck. The rib eye special came out late, was served lukewarm, had a lot of gristle, and was turned down by every member of our merry band. (My dog, Murphy, however, was an over-exuberant fan the next morning.) The onion ring side was, surprisingly, much more interesting and desirable than the steak itself.
For dessert, we had the cheesecake in a jar (meh) and the strawberry peach cobbler, the latter being one of the best dishes of the evening - amazing what freshness and ripeness will do to this dish, not to mention the dob of house-made butter pecan ice cream on top. *groan, groan, groan*
We ordered a number of drinks, including the "Embe Tango" (mango, cucumber and Buddha's hand) and it was simply awful, and a dessert cocktail, which we dubbed the 'shittail' and couldn't bring ourselves to finish. The wine menu wasn't extensive, but wasn't lacking - we felt there were some decent selections at reasonable prices. Also, the Sonoma Sazerac was a stand-out winner.
All in all, support this hotel restaurant if you get the chance - it deserves applause for what it represents, but it does need a better representation of its menu.
Went for the first time recently after hearing on Channel 7 about how great the buger was. I have to say the burger was one of the best I have ever had. It comes with carmelized onions and house made pickles. The "special sauce" tasted like a mix of ketchup, mustard and A-1 sauce. Juicy, perfectly cooked and the onions and pickles were a great touch. The wedge salad was also delicious.
Service, however, was lacking. Very, very slow and robotic. We had to almost demand that our waiter take our order and had to make sure he gave us the check quickly.
Negatives besdes serivce?
Had to ask for bread.
Only ONE beer (anchor steam) on draft?
A little expensive.
Were we really about to eat the #1 Burger?
The place is much smaller that I thought, I guess the runner up (Spruce) made me think this was going to be a large new restaurant. This place only has about 10 tables and right next to a hotel, well almost part of it but independently operated.
But here we were, on one of the hottest days of the year, two glasses of wine, the hairloom tomato salad which was very good, blue cheese dressing and bacon, but split two ways a bit small.
And our burgers...were great, juicy, flavorful, the cheese, grilled onions and the great bun were worth it. Sure I couldn't actually bite the whole thing but that's expected. I will have to try the other ones on the list, but we were happy. The fries were also perfect, crisp, hot and absolutely non-greasy.
The service was great, al though there were two servers that seemed a bit out of place, not sure if they were the owners. But I'm sure since the article they wanted to be prepared for the crowds. We even got an amuse bush which I'm willing to bet only was created post the burger article.
I'm not sure about the other dishes on the menu or that I would come back but the burgers are well worth it.
Too bad. I guess you all really need to stick with the burger. I went mid-week and the mixed drinks were poor and too expensive and the entree was marginal. It was all way overpriced as well. I probably should have had the burger. Really disappointing. Rib-eye was warm, salad was okay, menu selection wasn't great. I have spent a lot of money on dinners, but when they are good, I don't think twice about it. When the price is distracting compared to quality, then it is too bad.
I think in other cities this place is probably fine (Santa Rosa, North Bay or something) but too much competition here in SF, so it is tough for me to spend that kind of money on the quality I received. I know they have to squeeze into that tiny hotel lobby and the super-small bar so kudos to them for trying to make something work, but not worth a trip back.
Stick with the burgers I guess, but I will not return.
I really wish I could give 2.5 stars because that is what it deserves...
Food here is great
Communication between booking staff is very poor...
I have been here before and we ate in the Fishbowl, which was a great experience, and the food was excellent.
I have a friend who is turning 30 actually today and she has been wanting to go here for a while now.
I told her about the Fishbowl (since there is going to be 7 of us) and how great the food is, and she was VERY excited about it.
I was handling her reservations for her. I called Saturday night, spoke with a pleasant women and she informed me the Fishbowl was open tonight (Tues), she just had to check with her manager and she would get back to me to confirm that evening...Great...easy right?! Not so much. She never got back to me that evening and I tried to call her with no answer/answering machine..
I called on Sun and Mon, knowing they were not open, but hoping someone was still taking reservations, of course no one got back to me.
I just called about 10 min. ago, a person who was not as pleasant informed me, the person on Saturday had no idea what she was talking about and informed me the Fishbowl was booked (of course)..she did reluctantly apologize and offered a "tight squeeze" table in the main dining room....great...thanks..
My hands are a bit tied..so of course I took it only because it is my friends b-day today and she really wanted to go here.
So here is what I have to look forward to...a cramped/crowded dining room..not at all the privacy/relaxtion I had pictured...
C'mon reservation people...you need to communicate a bit better..
To have better luck..make reservations on open table..DO NOT CALL the restaurant...no one will get back to you, and if so...they aren't very apologetic...
Let's hope the food makes up for it..(or something does.)...
Came here the other night with a couple friends and it was the first time for us all and each one of us enjoyed it and discussed what we want to try when we come back.
Started off with Oysters & their famous Fries. They were both great. I'm not really sure what makes their fries so "to die for", they were good, but nothing I'd say you couldn't find else where.
Entrees consisted of Pork chops (amazingly tender and a massive portion), the fried chicken (great crunch, moist and not greasy and also included corn bread in the shape of madelines), halibut (light, but lacking some flavor. The presentation was excellent) and lastly the salmon (cooked well and sat on a bed of potatoes and green beans).
Finally for dessert we had their strawberry peach crisp with ice cream. After all that food we each had a view bites which was perfect, because we all wanted just a little bit of sweet.
The service was great, but a little TOO attentive (the water girl came to the table about 10 times to refill water). Don't get me wrong I'd rather staff be over attentive then under, but just wanted to give you a heads up.
Food was good - double cut bone in pork chop was very good. The service was horrible, it was 9pm on weeknite, but there appeared to be a staff rebellion going on with tables complaining all around us and no one to complain to ... manager was gone, hostess split and bartender showed up almost 10 minutes after we were seated at the bar to wait for our table.
Clearly a place in need of some help in operations, which is a shame because the food sured seemed to have potential to make it a great experience.
Quite a Disappointment! We had 8:00 reservations and were seated promptly. At 8:30 the waiter came to take our order only after we insisted. Most Tables got bread, we did not. Most Tables got a shot of soup, we did not. We ordered four wedge salads...guess what out of lettuce. How does a restaurant run out of lettuce!!!! Never in my life has that happened to me. Sure a popular main course maybe...but lettuce! After ordering, our food came out almost 30 minutes later. The burger was very good but not the best I have had. Fries were over salted. Other entrees at the table were good but the service was horrendous. I literally have felt more appreciated at a Burger King ( Sadly I have eaten at BK more often that I would admit). I will say the bar experience was quite pleasant and I likely will go back to try the happy hour but I will never try the restaurant again. This was quite possibly the worst service I have ever had. At $180 for for four...there are way better places to go. IMHO
Although I've never eaten at Fish & Farm, I'm giving it five stars. I went there to try the burger, and they happened to be out, so after some discussion we decided to go somewhere else.
I had almost forgotten about the incident when I received a phone call from them, explaining to me why they ran out and offering an apology. I was pretty shocked by the excellent level of customer service, so thought I'd share on Yelp, and give them five stars for customer service.
I would give Fish & Farm's fried chicken five stars. It was crispy and juicy and very tasty. And the corn chowder was delightful as well. But for everything else it was just okay, nothing spectacular, nothing that blew my mind away. The vinegar slaw that came with the fried chicken was disappointing and the mashed potatoes were pedestrian. My partner had the ribeye steak, which was huge and tasty but the spinach that came with it was seriously oversalted. Their peach and strawberry crisp was forgettable. The huge slices of peaches were very tart and the crisp part was too crispy because it was burnt.
I would probably come back just for the fried chicken but then again I can get great-tasting fried chicken some place else.
Small place with local ingredients, but nothing overly inspiring.
Cost to worth it rating: 3 (aps ~$10, entrees ~$20)
Return worthiness: no
Highlights:
- All-inclusive pricing: good for the non-mathletes, as there's no need to calculate tax or tip
- Pork chop: huge bone, hard to carve but tender flavorful meat
- Mac and cheese: their version comes in a heavy rectangular skillet with long tubes of pasta and my favorite crusty topping
- Peanut butter chocolate mousse: reese has my favorite sweet combo and it worked well here. Airy creamy mousse was on top of a cookie crust and peanut brittle was stuck in the middle. Only nits were that the chocolate ice cream wasn't needed and the bottom layer was really difficult to get a untensil through cause it was so hard.
Midlights:
- Drinks: things like dessert beer and bacon martini get points for creativity, but taste was just so-so.
- Atmosphere: with the antiquey art, big clock, and leathery feel, I imagined myself in some rich old guy's study. Maybe like Professor Plum with his candlestick.
Lowlights:
- Vegetable salad: was imagining a rainbow of vegetables, but besides a few small carrots, mostly frisee and weedy greens.
An ok dinner, but missing something that would intice me to return.
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Union Square
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: French
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