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Fresca Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Latin American Restaurants Tapas Bars Restaurants Peruvian Latin American, Tapas Bars, Peruvian [Edit]
2114 Fillmore St(between California St & Sacramento St)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
(415) 447-2668
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
1152 reviews for Fresca Restaurant
Review Highlights
"you have to get the lomo saltado and the ceviches here."
(in 177 reviews)
"The calamari is crispy and generous, the ceviche tart."
(in 542 reviews)
"Fresca's sangria was light and refreshing."
(in 321 reviews)
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1150 reviews in English
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Review from Jason M.
2/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Strap yourselves in for this story; I'd sell you the whole seat but you'll only need the edge. Fresca, what's up! I recently moved to Pacific Heights and decided to venture down Fillmore. To my surprise Fresca was only three blocks from where I reside and it was freaking delicious.
The first time I went to Fresca was with another couple who come up to the city on the weekends from Los Gatos. They are a very reliable source when inquiring about where to go for dinner, this was their first time at Fresca so the pressure was on. We ordered a wide array of cebiche and other appetizers that were amazing. We shared a few main courses, had great conversation, and great service.
The second night I went to Fresca was with the founders of http://TabbedOut.com, another set of fine-tuned restaurant goers in from Austin, Texas. They pushed the wine options to the limit -- I've never been so happy with purple teeth. My favorite appetizer of the night was the scallops, unbelievably good.
The third night I went with three other big appetite wielding amigos. We ordered larger dinner entres to share and everything was amazing. I literally think I've tried almost everything on the menu and look forward to going back. There are tons of options, and the waiters do a great job of picking out what you like based on a few questions.
LOVE FRESCA. -
Review from Pablo R.
1/29/2012 7 Check-ins Here
Good but gone down one notch.
Fresca on Fillmore used to be a place to go to on special days but not anymore. It seems there's been a change in the kitchen and on the menu but not for the better. Some favorites have been replaced and the dishes that stayed are smaller portions and not cooked with the same finesse.
My favorite, pan con lomito, is still on but other dishes have gone down in flavor. The good side is that the dinner menu is almost untouched and the ingredients used are still quality. The seafood is always fresh and tender. Try any ceviche!
Overall, I used to feel this was a five star place but now, just a four. Street parking is very tough. I consider this the best location of all Fresca restaurants. -
Review from Brooklyn R.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
I'm grudgingly giving Fresca two stars because their food is indeed tasty. Their service is atrocious, however, especially given their price point.
Mr. Brooklyn and I were craving Peruvian food tonight, but there were no reservations available at La Mar (our ceviche joint of choice). We hesitated to book a table at Fresca, remembering a terrible customer service experience at their West Portal location a couple of years ago, but decided to give it a go anyway. We were sorry we did. After being seated, we waited at our table nearly 15 minutes with no service whatsoever - no water, no, "I'll be with you momentarily," nothing. No servers were in sight for several minutes at a time. A glance around the tables in our vicinity revealed several parties whose orders hadn't been taken yet either, and several more who looked bored waiting for their checks. At that point, we just got up and left.
Look, I understand that when I walk into a fast-food restaurant or a greasy-spoon diner, I'm not going to receive five-star service. But in a restaurant like Fresca, where they are charging over $20 for an entree, I do expect a higher level of attentiveness. Fresca is clearly fine with continuing to charge high prices while cutting corners. Next time, we're just going to save ourselves the hassle and make reservations well ahead of time at the superior La Mar, where the food and service are better. -
Review from Andrew S.
2/8/2012
Really good peruvian food. Got the paella and tasted some of the Lomo Saltado. My food was good and the gf's food was good too. Prices are a little high but this IS sf.
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Review from Bobby L.
Went here for brunch and now I can't wait to dine in for dinner.
We ordered the Ceviche Trio with our choices of PULPO CEVICHE (octopus, bay scallops, truffle oil), CEVICHE DE COCO (ahi tuna, coconut leche, ginger, honey cashews), and CEVICHE PASION (ahi tuna, salmon, passion fruit). (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
My favorite was the Ceviche Pasion. The flavor was very refreshing with passion fruit, red onion, cilantro, and purple corn. The marriage of ingredients created a fiesta in my mouth. I would order this again for sure!
Also had the Cangrejo Omelet, which consists of fresh dungeness crab, avocado, cream cheese, chives, hollandaise sauce, and did I mention lots of fresh dungeness crab? I could do without the cream cheese...kinda takes away from the crab taste. But overall, this dish was marvelous...served with sweet potato fries w/ lime scented sea salt.
Had a taste of Trucha (seared rainbow trout and pouched eggs). With fresh herbs and hollandaise, this dish was screaming with flavor.
Entertainment was provided by the busboy (water-boy). He performed tall pours and was just too quick! There were times when I didn't even know he was there.
I was also fascinated just sitting next to the kitchen. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
I think I had the best seat in the house. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) -
Review from Sydney L.
Updated - 1/22/2012
Went here a few years ago with my sister and remember it being good.
Last night I went again with my husband and in-laws as it seemed to be the only restaurant in SF (before the 49ers playoff game) that had some space!
We started with 4 kinds of ceviche: De Coco, Pasion, Chino, and 5 Elementos. All were good but nothing more. In particular I kept thinking about the ahi ceviches I had had at La Mar and Limon. My husband and I agreed that Fresca's ceviche wasn't as good.
For my main course I had the Ensalada Fresca and another helping of the Ceviche Pasion. Both were good and the salad in particular had a great combination of flavors (the passion fruit dressing added a kick). Again, the ceviche was just OK. I had bites of both my husband's salmon and rice with squid ink and my mother-in-law's halibut and risotto. Again, both were good but nothing amazingly spectacular.
We also had the mango cheesecake to finish which was just OK, but then again I'm not a big cheesecake person to begin with.
The food here gets a 3.5 or 4, but the service took it down a notch. Our server was at our table every 2 minutes - literally - asking us if we had decided what we wanted for appetizers and main courses. It was to the point of being completely ridiculous! Additionally, both my salad and my mother-in-law's arrived with the dressing on even though we had asked for it on the side.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/30/2008
Fantastic food and great service. If you're looking for awesome seafood and/or a raw bar near… Read more »
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Review from Mimi L.
Los Altos, CA
2/5/2012
We ordered the ceviche and it was so acidic that it totally took away the seafood taste if there is any to start with. The rest of the meal was just ok But the service was awful. Our server seemed to disappear on us the whole night and never checked on us. The bus boy was even more responsive than him. We asked for the dessert menu and waited for so long that we decided to give up and have to walk up to the front desk to as for our check. With the price they are charging. Limonite in the mission is a much better choice.
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Review from Jasmin L.
San Francisco, CA
DINNER DATE AND MOVIE: 01.07.12 @ 5 PM, " Sherlock Holmes 2" @ the Kabuki
Someday I will go to Machu Picchu, bask in the Peruvian sun,and drink plenty of chicha morada and sangria.
Before that happens, I will just have to satisfy myself with the Peruvian food in the Bay Area.
Limon introduced me to Peruvian cuisine and whet my palate, while Fresca was the one who really filled my belly.
Limon's cuisine was sophisticated and delicious but the small portions only teased me; while Fresca serves good Peruvian comfort food but filled me to the core.
DECOR/AMBIANCE/SERVICE: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Fresca's decor is not as attractive as Limon's artsy loft space in the Mission. Fresca was narrow, small and cramped altthough modern yet simple. An open kitchen is located in the back of the restaurant while not so comfortable-looking bar type tables and chairs were available outside for al fresco dining. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Service was friendly and efficient.
SANGRIA $8/glass or $22/pitcher http://www.yelp.com/bi...
A good Sangria can set the mood for a delightful dining experience. (Or a weak one could ruin it.) Fresca's Sangria did just that for me. Strong yet well-balanced. The only fruit were the cubed apple pieces but the fruit were obviously well-soaked in the red wine before it was served chilled. Refreshing, very nice and easy to drink. It was worth the $8 price which I thought at a little too much at first.
CEVICHE TRIO $16 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Fresca has a pretty extensive ceviche bar. They could be ordered a la carte or as tastings of 3 or 4. We opted for Cevice Trio.
1.Ceviche de Coco - ahi tuna, coconut leche, red jalapeño, ginger, scallion oil, honey cashews.
2. Ceviche Chino - ahi tuna, guacamole, ponzu sauce, lettuce cups, aji verde, wonton chips.
3. Ceviche ¡Pasion! - ahi tuna, salmon, passion fruit, red onion, aji amarillo, cilantro, purple corn.
*I really enjoyed the ceviche at Fresca. They were very fresh and well-marinated. My fave was the coconut ceviche for its creaminess.
FRIED PLANTAIN CHIPS $5 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
We were asked if we wanted Plantain Chips. We thought it was like getting tortilla chips but they were not free. However, they were worth paying for. They were freshly cripsy fried savory banana chips. We used them to scoop out the ceviche resulting in multidimensional texture in our mouth.
PESCADO A LO MACHO $24 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Crispy fried whole dorade, spicy tomato sofrito sauce, clams, mussels, scallops, shrimp, calamari, white rice.
*Ginormous plate of whole fried fish--head and tail. The plate was also a chockful of yummy fresh clams, mussels, etc. This was a very generous meal. The highlight for me was the seafood which were plump, fresh and delicious!http://www.yelp.com/bi... The fried fish was a disappointment. It was bland although fresh but far from crispy. It did not have a single crunch to it.
BISTEK A LO POBRE $27 http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Grilled rib-eye steak, caramelized onion, mashed potatoes, sweet plantains, fried egg.
*My man wanted roasted chicken but it was not available. This was a simple meal of steak au poivre but plentiful. He enjoyed his properly cooked medium-rare steak. I nuked it a day later and the steak was still very juicy and flavorful. It was good piece of steak.
PORTIONS:
I think we can take pride in being able to put our food away. However, we went home with half-finished meals. They were good but the portions were big. We barely put a dent in my fish and steak. I had 2 more meals with our leftovers.
CHECK: $106 w/ tax, tip, sangria and soda
ADDICTIVE FACTOR: 5 I am totally hooked on the Sangria, Ceviche and Plantain Chips. Will def go back for more.
MOVIE: Sherlock Holmes 2 @ The Kabuki.
I loved the book when I was kid and now I am totally into the movies. Very entertaining. I am waiting for SH3!
NOTE:
*Fresca is the perfect pre-movie dinner/drinks venue in the Fillmore/J-Town area.
*Offers 1000 points on OpenTable. -
Review from Sujan J.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
How difficult is it to find a restaurant open on a New Year's Day???
After watching Mission Impossible 4 on a New Year's Day (FYI - I liked the movie) we wanted to eat something. Restaurants near Union Square and Soma were all pretty much closed. We didn't want to go to North Beach or Nob Hill / Pac Heights (bad parking). Although we really felt like having Mexican or pizza, we somehow ended up at Fresca. I remember enjoying food here last time I was here.
I had Peruvian on New Year's Eve so it ended up being Peruvian 2 nights in a row.
Anyway onto the important things: food.
None of us were hugely hungry, so we ended up getting a few appetizers and a main to share.
My friend ordered the pulled chicken stew (which she said doesn't look like much but taste great - and she was right). I ordered mussels & the ceviche trio with the top 3 ceviches on the menu (mostly white fish / some shell fish). My husband ordered Tuna ceviche. The waitress asked if we wanted plantain chips and we said yes.
All the food tasted great. Ceviches were tangy and fresh. Chicken stew was great.
I thought I'd be hungry after sharing mussels & ceviche with a friend because they were after all appetizers, but surprisingly I was actually satisfied. I wasn't stuffed, but I was "satisfied" enough to not need any more food.
Note: if you have a smart phone and check in with yelp, they have a deal where you can get free Lava cake!
When the bill came we were surprised to see plantain chips to be separately charged - we thought it was like getting a bread at a restaurant.
Eitherway food was good, atmosphere was good, and I am thankful they were open on New Year's Day!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/29/2010
Came here on a rainy night to celebrate a friend's birthday.
Food selection was good (I don't often… Read more »
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Review from Chad S.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2012
I hadn't eaten at Fresca in over seven years and my memories were fond, especially for the sangria. I should have left it that way.
We wanted SPQR but they were booked. We went to Fresca expecting a great meal. I was highly underwhelmed.
The sangria is heavy on sugar, light on everything else. The ceviche is fresh and tasty but totally overpriced. The lomo saltado, which comes highly recommended, is just okay. The aji de gallina (chicken stew) is just okay. The lamb shank is pretty good. DO NOT go for the vegetarian pimiento relleno - all you get is a sad red pepper with a pinch of quinoa.
I don't think I need to go to Fresca again, seven years from now, or ever. -
Review from Melanie G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
A very homey place, felt kind of like an eclectic uncle's living room and kitchen. My friend and I were running late to our reservation and the hostess called us right as we were pulling up to the restaurant to ask if we were still coming. Yes, indeed, we're just outside.
We entered and were immediately seated a tad away from a large party. The noise level was loud but not terrible, and I really liked the ambiance. We ordered sangria (AMAZING!), the ceviche trio (Mixto, Pasion, and Pulpo) and the Arroz con Mariscos. We asked our waiter (a rather gruff but nice guy) to bring our dishes in courses so we could share.
The ceviche was alright - the Pasion was my favorite but the Mixto was good too. I was surprised by how small the paella dish was. The waiter had mentioned it was a good size, but it was actually quite small. The flavor was good and we enjoyed the seafood.
For dessert, we got a free lava cake (thanks to a check in on Yelp) which was extremely memorable! The cake itself was crumbly and oozing with chocolate syrup. Perhaps my favorite part of the meal. -
Review from Shay F.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/9/2012
I was really torn about writing this review, but I felt that I simply had to based on my most recent experience. This past Sunday, the BF and I decided to go to Fresca for date night because it was always a solid experience. We both love the ceviche and our favorite dish there is the aji de gallina. For only $18, it's a big dish of comfort food with jasmine rice, egg, walnuts, potato, creamy sauce and shredded chicken.
Seriously, one of my favorite dishes of all time.
We were pretty happy because they managed to squeeze us in for dinner (big thanks to the hostess) but that's about the peak of the night (at least for me). We ordered the 5 elementos ceviche, which was much more tart than I remembered. I love having that kick of lime, but for some reason the one last Sunday was almost overwhelming.
The yucca fries were good (definitely still recommend) but then the supposed main attraction of the dinner arrived, the aji de gallina, I was slightly disappointed that my rich was a little too crunchy. It was as though I got some of the burnt pieces of the rice. No big though, I thought, and I just mixed it all together.
Later, I found it: a small shred of...metal.
Yup, metal. I pointed it out to the waiter, who brought it back to the kitchen and later told me it was probably a piece of steel wool.
Oh...ok, great. Thanks. Mystery solved? And they comped my dish. A few hours later, I ended up getting stomach cramps. I can't definitely say that it was due to dinner, but did think it was possibly a strong correlation.
So to sum up: service, okay, food...eh....could do without some of the mishaps. Hope that my next trip there is much more successful and less detrimental to my health.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/28/2008
I am a major fan of cerviche, and when I heard about Fresca's expansive array, I was stoked. We… Read more »
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Review from Josephine B.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was looking forward to this place because I read so many good reviews on Yelp. Food was OK. Not memorable at all. My friend and I ordered Ceviche Mixto. The seafood was fresh, but the portion was quite small for a $13 plate. The lime juice was tart. I didn't like it. In the midst of trying to enjoy the dish. I had a bite of star anise which left this distinctive licorice taste in my mouth. A combination of that with the tartness of the lime juice left me with little desire of wanting more.
For main course, I ordered La Paella. It was pretty decent. There was a lot of seafood, but it was not worth paying $24 for it. My friend ordered this streak strips dish ($20). It was so Americanized. They served French fries on the side. If we wanted to eat diner food, we would've gone to Mel's drive in. Cheaper and more satisfying.
For dessert, we got a free lava cake through Yelp check in offer. The cake was a bit dry, but the ice cream was delicious. I don't think I'd be coming back to this overpriced restaurant any time soon. I look forward to going back to Limon Rotisserie!
PS - The restaurant is small. Very hard for customers or even the servers to maneuver their ways between tables. This server tried to get pass our table and ended up pulling our table away from the wall with his thigh :p -
Review from Michelle B.
Bay Area
1/20/2012
When we got there the place was packed and so the only seats available were on the high tables across where the food is being cooked. I felt it was a little loud and I was talking louder than I should have to in order to talk to someone sitting right next to me.
I had high expectations going to this place but I must say, my friend and I were disappointed. I got this salmon dish that had rice on the bottom and my friend got the seafood chowder. I would write the names of the items but I don't see it on their current menu anymore (Good thing they got rid of them!!!). He was very disappointed in his food because it lacked flavor. My salmon was okay but I've definitely had better salmon. The portion was also quite small. I don't eat very much so it was fine for me, but it definitely wouldn't be enough for a man or a woman who loves to eat! We both felt like we were forcing ourselves to eat the food because it was a little on the pricey side. Just for the two entrees and two sodas, our total came to about $60 + tip.
I gave the extra star only because our waiter was attentive. We will not be back. -
Review from Lynn V.
1/9/2012
I came here with a large group, which was a great idea to try different plates without having ordered too much. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. For starters, the Ceviche ¡Pasion! was incredibly sour and tart. I couldn't even taste the salmon or ahi tuna! They should have served it with some sort of chips to tone down the citrus. I ordered the risotto for my entree and it was a bit on the dry side. My last gripe with this place is the tres leches dessert. Way too sweet!
The ambiance was lovely though. Dim lighting, very romantic and cozy. Our glasses were always refilled and our food came out in just the right time. -
Review from Ty C.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
Food was overrated considering the price. Ceviche was best part of meal though
The service was meh but the place was super crowded. A bitchy tart from Pacific Heights stole my table when we had a reservation! She got seated before us. -
Review from Michael L.
San Francisco, CA
Hypoxia. This physical phenomenon explains why the quantity of oxygen molecules per breath inhaled is lower at higher elevations like in Peru. And similar to Peru, at Fresca, don't hold your breathe for your food to come out... You'll end up dizzy and light headed.
I'm going to say that I caught Fresca on an off night as far as the food coming out. I've been to Fresca many years ago and don't remember it being so slow. Despite the wait, our waiter was friendly and helpful.
The ambience of Fresca is intimate, nice for a date night or a spot to meet up with friends. No art of Machu Picchu but next to my table was a little Inca statue. The menu is a simple one with Peruvian dishes like ceviche. Also Fresca makes dishes that I'm guessing the Spainish brought after they conquered the Inca Empire like paella. So here's what we ordered:
Ceviche Mixto: a really tart combination of seafood. Local halibut, calamari, shrimp, clam, scallops, cilantro, onion, rocoto, lime juice, andean. I wanted to like it. But it was only ok for me. Maybe I just can't handle how tart the ceviche is. I wouldn't order the ceviche again but the people next to me ordered the mussels and clams appetizer. I looked over at them a few times with envy and covetousness. I'm getting that next time..
Lomo Saltado - wok fried tenderloin steak strips, onion, tomato, cilantro, soy, french fries, jasmine rice. I liked this dish, the meat was flavorful, rice and french fries were good with the steak strips.
Arroz con Mariscos - peruvian style paella, aji panca rice, calamari, clams, mussels, prawns, fish and scallops. This was also a very good dish. Really though, who doesn't like seafood mixed with rice, right?
Lava Cake was complimentary when checking in on yelp which was nice of them. And not only that but it wasn't just a cheap free dessert. It was really good. Rich chocolate with the chocolate filling. A nice ending to a good meal and probably pushed me to give this place four stars instead of three after the long wait.
Fresca is a nice option for dinner on lively Fillmore street. Just prepare to have time for conversation, put the cell phone away cause that's rude, and make dinner more than just to eat but a social event like the rest of the world seems to do. -
Review from ellainne v.
Los Angeles, CA
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Decided to come here after 2 failed attempts to eat at Citizen Cake (check out my review for that to see what happened). I've always seen this restaurant but never bothered trying it till xmas week. It was a little after 1pm so no wait for a table. We shared the following dishes for 2 people:
1. Cuatro - tasting of four ceviches (Ceviche de Coco, Ceviche 5 Elementos, Ceviche Chino, Ceviche Mixto) my fav was the mixto and the coco. not too sour and the coco had a nice kick to it
2. Calamari Frito - typical calamari dish but wasn't crazy about the dip they had, strange flavor
3. Tacos de Pescado - I really liked the tacos. nice and crunchy and tasted pretty darn good.
This was a good amount of food for 2 people. Also had 2 glasses of sangria. I think I was a lil buzzed so it's nice they make it some-what strong. Bill was around $60 w/ tip.
Nothing like daytime drinking to start off your day! BTW, if you check-in on yelp during dinner, you get a free chocolate cake. -
Review from Ken G.
12/29/2011
This is my third time at this location and I was a bit underwhelmed. I've always had a great time and experience at the Noe Valley location, but for some reason, this location has tended to disappoint me a bit.
I had an order of the Gailla Hash, which was okay...the full-flavored chicken didn't really come through as expected. I also had some of the Andean Pancakes, which weren't as great this time since the texture was a bit off.
I really do like Fresca, but I really feel like the quality isn't as good as the Noe Valley location...I'd still come back here, though because they do offer some unique options...maybe I was there on an off-day...3 times? -
Review from Liza T.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was my second time to dine at Fresca Restaurant. The first time I went to the one on Noe Valley.
My Friend and I came there on a Friday's night around 7:30pm. We did not make a reservation and luckily they had plenty of tables that night.
We ordered:
Pulpo Ceviche (octopus, bay scallop, soy, ginger,truffle oil, cilantro, red onion, rocoto, andean corn) - Tasted good but the sauce was little bit salty to me
6 Oysters - I am not a big fan of oysters but I do like it. It tasted very fresh.
Conchitas (seared diver scallops, sweet plantain tostone, cilantro mojo, quinoa sofrito, chifles) - This one was ok, nothing special
Arroz con Mariscos (Peruvian style paella, aji panca rice, calamari, clams, mussels, prawns, fish and scallops) - Big portion and tasted good. Since it was rice, it was pretty filling so better to share with your friend.
I took off one star here because of the service. Our server seemed so rush on everything. Once we seated, he asked us what to order right the way. We still haven't have a chance to look at the menu. Then while we were still working on our Ceviche dish....he came over and asked," May I take your plate away?". I was like...WTH...we only finished half of it and you wanted to take our plate away? Fresca was actually pretty slow that night, therefore I did not see any reason why he was rushing......Maybe he had nothing to do that time.... -
Review from Jennifer D.
San Bruno, CA
1/16/2012
Mmmmm....Fresca!
When I Sangria on a menu it's a must try for me so I started the night with one. Having had my fair share of disappointing Sangria's, I can tell you that Fresca is the real deal! Fresh fruit floats on top of this oh so smooth drink.
My first time dining on Peruvian food, it was a tasty first experience. I ordered the Lomo Saltado - wok fried tenderloin steak strips, onion, tomato, cilantro, soy, french fries, jasmine rice. The beef was full of flavor and paired nicely with my sangria.
The only downside I saw to the dish was the lack of veggies. Lots of onions that were not cooked as much as I would have liked them, still a little to raw for me. And the french fries....??? The rice was perfect to serve with the dish, but french fries?? Is that normal in Peruvian food?
The restaurant is cozy; lights dimmed, candles lite on dark wood tables and a heavy velvet curtain separates the dining area to the front door.
The service was good; for a busy Saturday night, never once did I feel rushed.
I will return, but be sure to ask for more veggies the next time I order rather than the french fries. And I can assure you Sangria will be ordered to help wash all those wonderful flavors down. :) -
Review from Molly B.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2012
I have one friend who always picks to eat here whenever she and I get together because she thinks it is a good compromise because it's food she loves and the location is near me. I'm not a big peruvian food fan myself, but I am always able to scrounge together a full meal of stuff I like.
Can't speak for the ceviche as that's not my bag personally but everyone I've ever eaten here with just raves about the stuff. I have tried the sangria, lomo saltado, and platano chips, all of which were choice. Overall I think the food is a great choice for Peruvian cuisine in SF. Pretty nice attire - like aiming to be somewhere you'd bring on a date.
Main pain points w/ this place have been about the atmosphere / wait. Not sure whether I just always come at bad times, but it seems like I am never out of there in under an hour and a half, which is awfully long for just a regular dinner. The ambiance always seems dark and crowded -- whenever I've gone to the restroom I feel like I have to squeeze my way past all the tables, and I'm not a large person or anything.
One time we were like 5 or 10 minutes late to complete our full party for our reservation (although one of us had arrived...not like we were potential no-shows) but as a result we ended up having to wait like at least 20 or 30 min just to be seated. I get that this is a good place for a group to do sharing of like tapas-size plates, but too big a group (more than 6 or so in my opinion) can become too much.
Another time we were right next to a group of at least 20 girls together for a birthday party, which to me is way too big a group to allow for a space this small. Their noise level totally overwhelmed the rest of the place as well as drained waitstaff resources from all the other tables. I understand that it's hard to control the volume of a large party, but it IS possible to limit how big a group you allow in the first place. -
Review from AccioSoyMilk ..
Richland, MS
1/7/2012
Not bad. Never had Peruvian food before, so this was a good experience. The place was packed at the lunch hour, so be sure you come early and account for trying to find parking. Parking is a pain, but my party separately managed to find parking because luck was on our side and people were leaving as our cars were arriving.
We had several of the appetizers, including the yucca, plantains, Peruvian donuts, calamari, won ton shrimp and croquettes. I didn't try all of them, but the non-seafood items were all delicious. Everything tended to be a tad spicy, but not unbearably so.
I had a pulled chicken stew, which was also spicy but not bad. It came with shredded chicken, rice, potato and hard boiled egg. Unfortunately I was rather full from the appetizers, but the stew was good and I recommend it on a cold day/evening. I feel the items actually matched the price in terms of serving size and quality.
Other people enjoyed the various items: fish, burger, breakfasts and salads. We skipped dessert because we had been there for a few hours and were celebrating a birthday.
The service seemed friendly, and it seemed they tried to keep on top of things. This included a couple who wanted to move inside because of the sun/perhaps the wind. They were politely told they couldn't have shade and inside was already packed. I guess they put up with it because they were still there when I left. Might not be a bad place for a date, if you can get a table. -
Review from Karin Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Loved the ceviche - great selection and very fresh fish. The halibut with the risotto was the best I've ever had. The fish melted in my mouth -- sooo yummy.
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Review from Shephalie L.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012
I've been excited to visit Fresca for quite some time! Finally was able to try it ..... a bit disappointed.
I've definitely had better peruvian food elsewhere in the city (i.e. La Mer and Limon), with a lot better service (i.e. once we paid, we sat a bit longer to finish up our carafe of sangria but then the hostess came up to us and asked us to wrap up quickly since she had people with reservations that had been waiting ......).
Here's what we ordered:
Ceviche platter - had waaay better at La Mer. Wasn't quite as fresh tasting with the same bite as other ceviches I've tasted
Paella - we were VERY excited about the paella. However, still didn't quite do it for us. The rice was too tough and there was way more rice than seafood in our dish. It was good, but we definitely had much higher expectations.
The value definitely didn't match the price for these dishes. While it was still good, it wasn't as amazing as other great peruvian places in the city.
Probably won't go back again though. -
Review from Virgo M.
Bay Area, CA
12/22/2011
I had a very enjoyable meal here yesterday. I love a good coke and they have superb tall glasses which deliver a long & strong swig of the bubbly stuff. For lunch, I had the:
Tacos de Pescado - plantain crusted pacific cod,chipotle remoulade, avocado salsa, pickled cabbage
They were tasty, and I'd return when in Rome. -
Review from Vicky L.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
How do I love thee, Fresca? Let me count the ways.
SANGRIA
PAELLA
CEVICHE
AJI DE GALLINA
BRUNCH
RESERVATIONS
CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE
TRES LECHES CAKE
I think that's more than enough reasons, because if I start listing any more, Boyfriend might get suspicious, because he already suspects that I love food more than I love him.
Shh, don't tell him, but it's totally true.Listed in: Top Picks
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Review from Hannah A.
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
What a wonderful meal I had at Fresca.
I recommend the ahi tuna ceviche , wok fried beef tenderloin with paella and lightly salted steak fries. Also, the rib-eye with sauteed red onions over mashed potatoes and sweet plantains , or the tequinos which are shrimp &crab cream cheese wontons with amarillo aioli. Don't forget Sangria, it was the best I've had in quite some time.
The entire meal was like a graceful and well choreographed dance. They really understand portions here and how to balance flavors. I envied every plate I saw being served to the people around me even though what I ordered was also beautiful. I am skeptical of Peruvian food but no longer from here.
If only I had more room in my stomach!
Service was exceptional.
I don't remember what the restaurant looked like because I was too busy admiring my food. -
Review from Anna C.
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I am going to seem off since this establishment received so many hot reviews- I know what you are thinking: 'oh this chick is mad cuz the waiter gave her water 5 min late'. No.
I am giving it 3 stars because I got sick. So did my bf. We ordered the seafood paella and I can sense the seafood was a little overdue. When we left the restaurant, before we even reached Japantown's plaza (by foot) both our stomachs were churning. I was not happy.
Ambiance is nice and the crowd is mostly fancy types. Very low lighting and limited seatings. Even if you come at 5ish, you will be immediately offered a bar area seating. Apparently, it is booked.
The appetizers were ok- I have to say, it is way too salty for my taste. Salty as in- my tongue was tingling from the salt burn. You know what I mean?
In summary- food was too salty and be warn about reservations. -
Review from Jason S.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Delicious food, good service, and great ambience for a good valued price. Just a bit expensive to come here all the time for casual dinners (I would if I could), but just right for a date you're looking to impress without looking like you're trying too hard. Wish they would bring back to $35 prix fixe!
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Review from Cody M.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012
It is truly amazing that I've never eaten at Fresca. Went this afternoon for a late lunch and was not disappointed in terms of the food. Definitely delicious, especially the lomo saltado. The service, however, left much to be desired. I don't blame the servers because they were busting their asses. I blame management because there were only two servers on the floor in a packed house. This is the only reason I cannot give Fresca a perfect five.
I definitely look forward to future visits. -
Review from Carpe D.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012
The menu is creative and the execution is great there is a public parking around the corner, bottomless mimosas for brunch and the waiter doesn't drag his feet for refills.
I removed a star because the frame on the painting above me was so dusty that it made me wonder about the cleanliness of the kitchen... -
Review from Cindy M.
12/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I really like Fresca. I've been to this restaurant various times.
I've been to the one in Noe Valley and the food presentation is different, fancier. But the food tastes the same. This is modern Peruvian, rather than fully authentic. The lomo saltado for example has the fries served on the side, where at a more authentic Peruvian restaurant I've been to, it had the fries tossed in with the steak and onions. Either way, you can mix it in yourself and it's no biggie. Just an example.
The lava cake is Ah-mazing. And the lucuma ice cream is DEE-LISH. -
Review from Tiffany T.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
Went there with a friend during lunch time for the first time and it was alright. When we had arrived the chefs were still eating (sorta felt awkward cause we were the only customers in the restaurant). I ordered the chicken pesto on ciabatta bread and it was alright.. I've tasted better . The garlic fries were seasoned pretty well. Overall, it was an a-ok experience.
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Review from Lily K.
Sausalito, CA
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
4 stars to the food. Ate at the Fillmore location and had the lomo saltada. Flavor was phenomenal! Haven't had onions that were that pleasant to eat in many places. I do have to say that the fries were not quite as great as they looked. The sangria on the other hand was so worth it.
Atmosphere was enjoyable. Small, quaint, and it was quite fun to be able to watch the kitchen erupt in flame every once in awhile from where we were seated. After that, the atmosphere declined. It was full of people and with a central table, every time someone walked by they would knock into me. Also, as it got more busy, service declined greatly.
Use the yelp deal for lava cave dessert.
It took over a half hour to get our dessert and there were times where there was temptation to get up and leave because it was taking so long. The lava cake was very good. Just about worth the wait. -
Review from Lynn N.
Santa Clara, CA
11/27/2011
Great service, great food...great experience coming here
for a friends bday! They arranged a pre-set menu for us that was fantastic!
Ceviche and Seafood Paella were delish!!! -
Review from Stephanie C.
San Francisco, CA
My boyfriend and I came into Fresca on a Saturday night - it was very busy and after calling in ahead of time to see what the wait-time would be, we were promised seating at the bar. I'm pretty happy that we sat at the bar because you could see all the food being prepared!
I have been to Fresca before, at their West Portal location, so I knew what I wanted to order - lomo saltado. My boyfriend and I were starving so we definitely had 'hungry eyes'. We ordered:
-Ceviche Mixto: shrimp, clam, calamari, cilantro, onion and lime with a side of plantain chips; really refreshing and a great option for an appetizer
-Papas Rellenos: potato and beef croquettes with pickled onions and miso glaze; we both really liked these, it was crunchy on the outside and the filling was savory
-Lomo Saltado: steak strips, tomatoes, onions, french fries, and jasmine rice; DEFINITELY our favorite of the night! Steak was juicy and cooked just right and the french fries were crispy!
Service was great - our server always came by the check on us and the chefs preparing all the dishes even asked us how our food was. Everyone was really friendly!
This Fresca is dimly-lit, intimate and lively - definitely a different crowd from the Fresca in West Portal. For date-nights, I'd recommend this location! If you are a fan of Peruvian food, I'd definitely stop in.Listed in: Date-night!
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Review from marianne w.
San Francisco, CA
We were walking down Fillmore Street and decided to stop in for dinner on a Friday night. I was surprised when we got seated right away because there were several large groups outside.
For starters we ordered the Civeche trio (octopus, tuna, halibut) which was all very fresh and yummy. I ordered the ribeye which was cooked perfectly and came w/ mashed potatoes and an egg and the BF ordered half a chicken which came with fries- not dry! The wait for the entrees took a bit, but we were enjoying our company along with a pitcher of sangria- it was really good!
Our dinner took about 2 hours before we left. Service was good, though our server was really busy running around.
Note* check-in with your phone and get a free Lava cake for dessert! -
Review from Derek N.
San Francisco, CA
Another
...great
...meal
...at
...Fresca (on Fillmore)
I ordered the Salmon BLT,
with a side-salad instead of the fries.
Kudos to the THICK slices of bacon.
Diet Coke to wash it all down.
Consistent quality at this location.
Nothing but LOVE! -
Review from Anelya S.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Went there twice, first time with friends, where I was able to order pretty much all left side of the menu -- all ceviche and all appetizers. We skipped main course.
Appetizers are -- ok, kinda blend.
Ceviche is to die for! Came back next week with husband to take him on the "ceviche adventure" -- got two 3- ceviche tastings, soup and trout benedict -- will be back!
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