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Level III
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants American (New) Lounges, American (New) [Edit]
500 Post St(between Mason St & Taylor St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 929-2087
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 6:30 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 6:30 am - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Norman B. said: "What a find near Union Square! Great atmosphere, great food, great prices. The menu is limited so, in two visits, I've experienced much of it. However, I'm told it changes regularly. The menu is well-constructed so there always…" read more »
136 reviews for Level III
Review Highlights
"Best mac n cheese you'll ever put in your mouth."
(in 46 reviews)
"The Kobe beef sliders are amazing."
(in 9 reviews)
"And then there were the ice cream sandwiches."
(in 10 reviews)
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136 reviews in English
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Review from DeathandFood b.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2012
Need a place for a business diner or visiting parents or just have a group with a range of diets? Level III is a good option for you. While the food isn't the most creative every dish we had was cooked perfectly. We were a group of six and ended up being there for Dine about Town which can be a hit or miss.
They had two options for first and third course and we tried everything.
The first course was either a greens salad of a cauliflower soup. The soup was the most creative dish of the night and had a complex flavour and wasn't too creamy or heavy.
The green salad was ok but forgettable.
The entrees were all excellent. Two of us got the filet mignon which is one of my favorite cuts. I had mine medium rare and the other person had their medium well and both of our meat was cooked to order and tasted great.
The fish dish was an arctic char that was prepared well and had nice accompaniments.
The vegetarian entree was a butternut squash tortellini which probably was the most complex and interesting entree and was a dish we all agreed we would have again. It had a nice spiced almost floral sauce.
We ended with the dessert which was old fashioned chocolate cake and cheese course. The cake was super moist and creamy. The cheese was decent but the dried fruit served with it was rather anemic and should have just be left off.
Those of us that drink were unimpressed with the wine list. They did have fake cocktails which were tasty.
The service was absent. They forgot to give us a wine list when we sat down and then came back and asked if we wanted to order wine. The food came out at a good pace but the server seemed missing in action for most of the night. -
Review from Jeff H.
Burlingame, CA
1/18/2012
A generous three stars.
-The decor was pleasant but we were seated at a table where the light fixture, hanging from the ceiling, was so low and off center of the table that it was actually a distraction.
-The service was iffy. The server took our order, sans smile, and said bread would be right out. It took about 15 minutes, just prior to our soup and salad.
I had filet mignon with macaroni and cheese which was good and my wife had salmon which was OK. At no time did the waiter come back and check on us which was amazing considering there was only one other table with guests at the time.
Not a restaurant I will revisit. -
Review from Bobby L.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is unforgettable!
Highlights include...
-Nice modern decor and ambiance.
-Waiter telling us that the ribeye (featured on the DAT lunch menu) is not available and that NY steak is better anyways.
-Spotty service with a hint of attitude. Our waiter and the chef were "confused?" (we know what medium rare is!)
-The Seafood Chowder....best part of my entire meal. I've had better Risotto. Chicken was okay, like all other chicken dishes served at hotel receptions. Maitake mushrooms...I wish I had more.
-GARLIC FRIES took my attention away from the NY steak. And no Mr. waiter, It wasn't better than any ribeye I've had.
-------------------------------------------------- ------
Solid 2 stars. Unfortunately, my Dine About Town experience here wasn't a very positive one. -
Review from Hannah C.
1/17/2012 4 photos
Where do I begin.... false advertisement (NO RIBEYE on DAT menu) or a clueless waiter with an attitude.
Quite an interesting experience and was very much service related.
We were super excited to try the ribeye on the Dine About Town lunch menu. When it came time to order, the waiter said no ribeye but there's NY steak and "New York steak is better than ribeye". Are you for real??? **This just cracked us up.
Disappointed and caught off guard, a friend took an extra minute to decide on the order. During this time, the waiter impatiently said "There really aren't many choices on the menu to decide. Either one or the other". MMMM ATTITUDE!!!
So let's talk food. Among the 3 of us, we were able to sample all choices from the menu: seafood chowder, endive watercress salad, pan roasted chicken breast, and the infamous "better-than-ribeye" NY steak.
The endive salad with julienne fuji apple, candied walnuts, and blue cheese was refreshing (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The seafood chowders with clams, scallops, and crab meat also had chunks of potatoes and carrots. It was creamy and pretty good. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The chicken breast with maitake mushroom & roasted tomato risotto. Chicken was ok but the risotto wasn't good. It tasted like canned tomatoes were added. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Back to the waiter. Two of us ordered medium rare steaks but I happened to be the unlucky person to send back the well done steak and wilted fries. When I told the waiter, he accused my friend for having mistakenly eaten my steak. He also came back to tell me that the chef was confused if I wanted my steak more or less cooked. Haha really? Can we say confusion!!! He did return later with a medium rare steak. The fries were definitely better when they were crispy. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Our waiter was pretty clueless. He never stop by to check if we needed anything. Keep in mind the restaurant wasn't busy. He also didn't know how to split the bill on 2 separate credit cards and that we would have to wait for him to figure it out. Afraid of having to wait for 30 minutes, we put the entire bill onto one card. Sigh. -
Review from Anna S.
Sacramento, CA
1/31/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Happy Hour in the hotel lobby is good. Decent food and price but nothing I'd rave over. Service can be slow at times but otherwise is good.
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Review from Jaime L.
12/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The food melted in my mouth! Tasty sliders, macaroni and cheese (needed more mushrooms), and desserts disappeared as soon as they were put out at the Yelp event I attended. When I tasted these treats, I could understand why.
Level III serves unique and adequately stiff cocktails in a pretty setting. I love the red decor and the stunning view the hollow center provides - an open view of the many floors between you and the rooftop. -
Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
11/21/2011 4 photos
Pulled into the whole holiday spirit, we decided to hit up the hotel bar, get a little festive and order a nice little strong cocktail. As I ordered a Maker's Mark Manhattan from the bartender he asked me "Sweet" or "Spicy"?
Ummm, always spicy. He adds some Ancho Chile powder to my Manhattan and slips me the bill - $16. One drink, sixteen dollars? Wow, it was good but not that good. I've had better Manhattans with better bourbon than that.
Although the cocktail was delicious, it really didn't make me want to stick around for another one. Off to another place instead.Listed in: Cocktails, Dahling?
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Review from Michael L.
San Francisco, CA
"The quality of food is in inverse proportion to a dining room's altitude, especially atop bank and hotel buildings (airplanes are an extreme example)."-Bryan Miller
Maybe Bryan Millers words are true because all the Marriott's/Ritz Carlton lounges I've been going to, are on the ground floor or as in the case of Level III, it's located on (this makes sense right?) the third floor. Also the higher up a dining room's altitude, the higher the prices get.
As of late, I've ended up at Marriott hotels and it's partner company Ritz Carlton, eating at their restaurants/lounges. And I'm realizing these hotels have a really nice chic atmosphere, good food, service, and comparatively reasonable prices.
Arriving on the third floor via Marriott's cool elevators, I loved how the bar area looked. Contemporary all white upholstered benches, stools, tables laid out nice for chillaxin, and comfortable booth areas overlooking the City.
The menu looked great with entrees like filet mignon, oysters, sliders, sea bass, and Mac & Cheese. I ordered a couple beers at the bar and socialized with my friends.
Since I came during a Yelp event I was able to sample a few items from the menu:
Kobe Beef Sliders: very tasty, cooked to medium, with fresh toasted slider buns. No better social finger food than sliders except maybe buffalo wings..
Mac & Cheese: it was ok, it's hard with all the competition out there making this cherished comfort food.
I also had good desserts and of course the cause and solution to all of mankind's problems: alcohol.
So in my Level 3 voice... Here's a clip of my Level 6 voice:
http://www.youtube.com...
Level III lounge is a great place to socialize even if you aren't staying at the Marriott. BTW, you DON'T want to see me go to 10!!! -
Review from Mary T.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2011
Good place to hang out and have some drinks. Mac n Cheese is OK. Sliders a little dry. Drinks can be stiff (just the way I like)
Wouldn't crave for much here. -
Review from Gina S.
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great hang out place for some appetizers and drinks. I thought the mini burgers were good and the mac and cheese was too. The chocolate chip ice cream sandwich was really good! I'm more of a savory person, but I have to say those sandwiches were good. I also thought the cocktails they were serving were very unique and sounded scary, but they were actually very tasty and refreshing. Never would have think Jim Beam with homemade apple cider would taste good together. But yes it did! I wasn't liking how the area was so spread out, but I guess its good for those hotel lounge/bar areas. It's a big space and there's tables that are far from the bar, so the waitress (if there is one) will have a hard time seeing you if you needed something.
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Review from Jayme E.
Garden Grove, CA
12/6/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My hubby and I loved our dinner the food was amazing however one of our waiters was just ok he seamed put out by helping us and gave my husband the wrong change back on our bill. But on the up side we did have a really great waiter that sat us for dinner and helped through our meal he was exactly the kind of guy you want to serve you at a place like level III ask for Joseph he was amazing!
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Review from edson c.
San Francisco, CA
8/22/2011 Seated via OpenTable
This is like a gem hidden deep in the earth's crust. Bumping into this place also feels like that. Its hard to notice the restaurant from the exterior since there is only one sign. Sure its large and impressive but thats what this place needs, more signage. But lets get to the food and service.
When you enter the MARRIOTT HOTEL, one can start to smell the intellectual gastronomy in the air. My wife and I had to take a very modern elevator to, yes you guessed it, LEVEL III. The place was not too busy. Vibes of working people getting off work for a late afternoon drink. Nice. Plenty of people with suits and business attire. My wife and I were seated right away and our server (Mike or Michael) recommended the famous HAPPY HOUR drinks and small plates. It was a great afternoon chatting and trying to pick out the tourist from the locals. After drinks and appetizers, our server spoke about the changes made to LEVEL III and how the menu rotates from week to week. If you never been there, check it out. I think you would be pleasantly surprised. -
Review from Carol K.
7/7/2011
Rarely when I am in a city do I eat at a hotel restaurant. After all- there are tons of other places where i can eat. But during my recent trip to the Bay area- Level III was a logical choice for a couple of eating occasions.
If you go- go for the heirloom tomato salad. Three to four kinds of tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella and garlic toast crumbles all drizzled with balsamic dressing make for a great first start to your meal. This is my favorite of all the items I tried.
I also had the NY strip (okay but coming from Chicago I guess I expected so much more). It was thin, well prepared but a bit tasteless and I found the mashed potato and pea combination a little odd.
At another visit I had the tuna poke, that while very artfully arranged, was a bit tasteless. It needed more soy sauce and Wahhabi or anything that would give it some flavor.
The atmosphere is trendy, the service spot on but know that Level III has fine dining prices. Dinner with drinks ran almost $70 a person which felt steep for a hotel restaurant, although I get they don't want to be considered a "hotel restaurant". They do have a prixe fixe special of a starter, entree and dessert which probably would be the better deal than ordering a la carte.
Level III has good food, served by friendly people. I guess I'd just prefer if I am paying those kind of prices to be at some trendy place across town! -
Review from Green Y.
San Francisco, CA
6/26/2011
How many different ways are there to say the word "awesome"? If it wouldn't annoy people, I'd list them all for this restaurant.
They are never crowded, it seems, which makes you worry they must not be good, but don't let that scare you off.
The restaurant is on the third floor (naturally) of a hotel.
The food is FANTASTIC. I got these scallops as an appetizer and they were so good I asked the waiter if they'd consider making them into a main course. He told me many other patrons have asked the same question. The service is stellar. A manager always comes by to make sure you're enjoying your meal.
This is a place that truly wants you to enjoy your experience there. They will allow almost any substitutions you request. Love it. Oh, and the bathrooms are across the lobby, and very clean. -
Review from Nicole M.
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I met a friend who was in town for a conference here for dinner. As a person who often wanders around larger hotels aimlessly until I get oriented, this place is ridiculously easy to find. It on the third floor, or more precisesly, on level 3 just as its name implies. I especially love the dramatic decor, that includes vibrant splashes of color and a large scale fountain with a ring of dancers frolicking around it. Service is friendly, and the food is good. I particularly like the mac and cheese. With the addition of some lobster, the small portion was a decadent morsel. It was so rich, I'm not sure I would have been able to eat the large.The fish tacos are also excellent. It seems like a quite spot in general, and it was great for conversation.Some of the menu options seemed intriguing. If I was going to ACT or something else around Union Square, I might give it another go.
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Review from Rada I.
1/26/2011
At first, I was a little disappointed that this place was physically on level 3 at the Marriott. But then, the fun/ slightly swanky yet trendy and vibrant decor turned me back on. They have decent house music which was a plus.
The food was good. Sliders were excellent.
Not sure if I would come back though... -
Review from Steve S.
Gilroy, CA
3/12/2011
It really is on the III level of the Marriott, so I was thrown off just a bit when we first arrived. I did set reservations but really didn't need to because we walked in to a ghost town.
The experience once we on to the III floor was great , the location looked very modern which set the mood. The custom service was excellent, our waitress was extremely attentive. The food ( Fix Menu) was extremely well done!
over all we left satisfied and extremely confident that this was a good choice our a special dinner ! -
Review from Thomas D.
San Francisco, CA
3/11/2011
We stopped in for drinks after having dinner in Union Square. The bar and restaurant are quite trendy looking and reside in a large open space. I enjoyed the look and took the time to appreciate the design that someone created. ( an idea suggested in the book A Whole New Mind).
Drinks were well mixed by a personable local mixologist. Conversation flowed easily. It was nice to get out of the comfort zone of one's regular haunts. -
Review from Amanda B.
9/11/2010 1 Check-in Here
************* REVIEW 258 ****************
Located inside the Marriott Hotel. I haven't been here for awhile so when my relative in town & stayed here, I figure might as well. The place is still nice & the bar was busy with loud sport watchers as usual.
What we ordered:
- Kobe Sliders - & I asked for extra pickled, so yummy!
- French Onion Soup - a bit salty.
- Mixed Green Salads - nice & fresh dressing.
- Mussel - was nice side, but the broth was good for dipping.
- Stripe Bass with risotto & veggies - the cream sauce was a bit much over the rice. It was almost like a risotto, except the
- NY Steak - was also over cooked for my cousin.
- Scallop & cheese ball over a a bed of zuccini salad - nice.
- Duo shortrib & Filet - The shortrib was nice, but the filet was medium!
Service was just OK this time. Our server tried, but he didn't bring out the dishes at the same time. He didn't really know where the ingredients come from when we asked for it. He had to get back to us. That just fail me right there. The service seemed lacking the smoothness, compared the last few times I was here which was a year ago!
Overall: 3.5 stars
For value: 4 stars
For Food: 3 stars
For Service: 3.5 stars
For ambiance: 3 stars
For Crowd: Too crowded, we were near the bar!
For location: Valet is only! -
Review from Joel S.
Milpitas, CA
11/7/2010 5 photos
The Good: The food was amazing, the desserts are to die for.
The Bad: The food took a long time to arrive.
The Review: Let me first say that I do not usually eat at fine dining restaurants so I was a little out of my element here. Level III has a great deal called the Prixe Fix Menu. It is $39 and includes your choice of one appetizer, one entree, and a dessert. Considering the prices of the entrees this is a really good deal. I had the scallops, the portobello ravioli, and the Apple Grunt. The scallop starter was exquisite. I don't know what was in it but trust me when I saw it was delicious. The ravioli was good, but I felt it was too much...as in the sauce was a little overpowering, the portobello raviolis were delish though. If a delicious cheesecake and a scrumptious apple pie made sweet love their baby would be the Apple Grunt dessert. It was decadent. I also had a few bites of the filet mignon, man it was so good.
The ambiance was really nice, as the restaurant just flows from the lobby area. Our table remarked that it could have been a little more dim to set a better mood. The service was great, they came by often to refill our drinks and check on us. Unfortunately the kitchen didn't follow suit. The food took a really long time to get out there. It took a good while before we got our first appetizer, and then it seemed like we were waiting awhile for our entrees. That aside the food really made up for this. -
Review from Jessica K.
Roseville, CA
10/22/2010
Jeeeesus Christ, this place is amazing. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good place to get together with a couple girlfriends, a couple cocktails and a good time flirting with waiters if that floats your boat. The restaurant is off by the windows and because of the wonderful way it was decorated, you could hardly tell you were in the lobby just inches from the lobby bar.
I have to say these five stars go to the black truffle mac n cheese. Oh my goodness, the mac and cheese is unlike anything else I've ever had before! There's something special about having black truffles in each and every bite of mac and cheese. The appetizer is served in a cast iron pan thus ensuring each bite is rich and hot 45 minutes into dinner. I have dreams-no nightmares about how good that pasta is. I hate the chef who thought up this dish 'cause he's ruined me for Southern Comfort food now.
Okay, so besides that, we also had:
Chicken sticks: This is basically Thai satay chicken right down to the skewers and peanut sauce.
Flight of Kobe Beef, Crabcake Sandwich, and Pulled Pork Sandwich: Honestly, I was too stuffed from the appetizer to really dig into it too much but the presentation was beautiful and the gherkin pickles they found to adorn the tops of each burger made it that much more delightful.
Flatbread Pizza: This is a classic Italian style pizza with just the right balance with fresh arugula and tomatoes. I love how the arugula gives the pizza a kick that put it over the top.
So I'll come back to this place one day when I lose the 10 lbs. I gained from inhaling all that mac and cheese. I'll see it in my dreams tonight probably...damn it. -
Review from Tamar D.
12/5/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I've never been in the JW Marriott and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a really nice space. It's a bit confusing when you walk in on level 3 because you're at Reception for checking into the hotel when you get off of the elevator. It's not totally obvious that the restaurant is just past it.
We wee there for lunch and our group ordered the mac and cheese, the seafood chowder, and the sample plate of three desserts for ten bucks. The mac and cheese and chowder received rave reviews. I was the one who ordered the dessert and I picked the butterscotch pudding, peanut butter chocolate crunch bar, and creme brulee. The pudding and brulee were tasty, though not the best I've had. The bar was so rich that after one bite I was done. I didn't like it at all so then I asked if I could have the chocolate cookies instead. Those weren't all that special either.
For ten bucks total, overall, I got a good value. The booths were super comfy, and you could certainly hang out for hours chatting with your pals. The server, I believe his name was Drew, was exceptionally nice and took great care in making sure we were served well. We were 1 of only 2 tables taken in the place, so I'm sure that helped :-P -
Review from braden k.
11/27/2010
WHERE: third floor of the marriott hotel. POST st.
interior decor was on point. christmas tree/ornaments/lights, fireplace, had the game on, full bar nearby... scrumptious.
$$: prix fixe menu was $40.
FOOD: two orders of fries, not on the prix fixe, not too soggy, a tad salty, but good garlic:fry ratio.
pan boat scallops were a bit under cooked, tasty though. ahi tuna tataki had avocado slices and the sauce? ..CRACKEN!
seared salmon was ehh.. kind of bland? came with garlic sauteed spinach and bits of crab. and the butter based organic chicken breast was a little dry. was on a bed of cheese risotto which was delicious, and a mushroom gravy sauce?
too full so i didn't even try the dessert. we left and it wasn't finished, i assume it was 3/5 stars. our waitress michelle was very friendly and redid a gin martini that was a little watery. restaurant was empty and our water glasses stayed empty also.. for too long
OVERALL: for the price, i'd try somewhere else next time. the company was spectacular and its in a great location so still had a great time! -
Review from Colleen M.
Clayton, CA
12/6/2010
Good place, not excellent. The mac & cheese is the best thing on the menu. Flat bread pizzas are really good too. The Kobe beef sliders are amazing. Go at least for the drinks. Specialty drinks created by a local mix-ologist are excellent.
Oh and get the french onion soup. One of the best I've EVER had. -
Review from Ed L.
Yes this is a hotel restaurant but the fact that nobody knows about it is a great plus. I came for dine about town and was pretty impressed with the service and food. You get top-notch hotel service and high-end furniture which already makes the experience very positive. Throw on a great seafood chowder with chunks of crab meat and a nicely portioned steak frites and it becomes a surprisingly well-rounded meal.
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Review from Maile N.
4/13/2010
3.5 stars rounded up because of the nice service!
My bf was definitely not in a good mood tonight as he's doing his taxes at the last minute (I'm the opposite, did mine in February). Ugh, so I left the house to get some air and a quick dinner. An acquaintance once told me that the Happy Hour at Level III at the Marriott was worth checking out.
It's not far from my place - somehow I found myself there tonight. Nice ambiance and friendly service. I just made it in time for the tail end of the Happy Hour (M-F 4-7PM). I ordered the Mac and Cheese (with gruyere, mascarpone, and parmigiano reggiano topped with toasted breadcrumbs) - pretty darn decent and it filled me up quick! I also ordered artichoke dip (a-ok) with house tortilla chips and the house pinot noir (smooth, just what I needed). Ahhh, I was hungry and that all hit the spot, especially the pinot.
Thank you, Level III for saving my evening and giving me a good break from my grumpy, tax-stressed bf - ugh! ;)
P.S. He's in a slightly better mood now - thank goodness!
2 Happy Hour dishes+1 glass of house pinot noir+tip+tax = $28 -
Review from Genevieve Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/10/2009 11 photos
Date & Time: Sunday May 10, 2009 @ 6pm
Location: 3rd Floor of JW Marriot
Company: Sister-in-Law Ivy, Niece Vivian, Mommy & Michael
Crowd: Just Us & A Couple of Other Families Celebrating Mother's Day w/ Mommy's in Burberry
Atmosphere: Pleasant
Music: Dance & Techno
Decor: Contemporary. Vibrant Orange & Mustard Palette. Sleek Bar & Lounge . Semi-Private Banquettes that Seats Up to Cinq, Communal Tables & Banquettes for Deux or Quatre
Service: Attractive, Attentive, Friendly Servers in Brown & Orange Attire
Imbibe: Vesper
Devour: Small Plates of Oysters on Half-Shell, Vegetable Tempura, Mac n' Cheese. French Onion & Seafood Chowder Soup. Braised Short-Rib Pasta. Chocolate Fondue, Strawberry Short Cake, Mini Ice Cream Sandwiches
Total: $258.42
Note: Happy Mother's Day for All The Wonderful Mommy's Out There!!! Love you!!! -
Review from Nish N.
12/22/2008
Ok, so what if it's in the Marriott? Level III has helped redefine the new hotel lobby. It's a lounge, a restaurant, a meeting area and workspace all in one. It's wide open, yet intimate when the occasion calls for it.
Drinks are not inexpensive, but with a menu from H. Joseph Ehrmann (of Elixir fame http://www.yelp.com/bi...), they do deliver on quality and originality. The Harvey Milk Punch comes in 3 levels of the Big Easy classic; I'm not sure who's ordering the level 3 cuvee du cent-cinquantenaire at $90 a glass but let me know if you do, but the level 1 at $15 is a relative deal. The Shaghaied at $15 is also tasty, and the description of the cocktail lets you know that "you'll go willingly on this Chinese journey," and I want to believe them.
But I'd say the real pleasant surprise for me was the food, namely the bar snacks. Items like: bistro fries seasoned with salt and pepper; a mac and cheese made up of gruyere, mascarpone, and parmeggiano reggiano; and kobe beef sliders on mini brioche buns. Mmm!
Whether it's after a hard day of work or shopping, definitely keep Level III in mind. It's a place that deserves to be more of a destination. I'm also intrigued by their Take 3 Happy Hour: 3 reds, 3 whites, 3 beers, 3 cocktails, 3 plates, 3 hours, 1/2 price, 4-7 Monday-Friday. Three is indeed the magic number. -
Review from Gil S.
12/2/2008
Level three has so many things going against it, and they haven't overcome that.
Let's start with the building. It is a ridiculous building, a hideous mid budget glass elevator monstrosity with exposed duct work that has always reminded me above all else of the atrium from the death star.
And then the setting, it is a Mariott. Mariott has never stood for hip or cool, I'm not sure what it stands for but clueful is not it. Mariott doing ultra lounge is like tuedo on a monkey. Maybe I would rather see the monkey.
And Union Square, that's tough competition. Within a few blocks are the Saint Francis, Campton Place, Fairmont, Sir Francis Drake, Mark Hopkins, Ritz, Omni, plus any number of boutique hoels. If you come to San Francisco and your boss puts you up in the Mariott you've got rocky times ahead my friend.
Amidst all this, somebody studied the success of the W and all the boutique hotels and said, lets do this! In fact, let's take it up a notch!
So now there's an utterly sprawling, vast restaurant lounge lobby that takes up the entire surface (other than the news stand and the elevators) of the main floor of the hotel, floor 3. They have every conceivable amenity and seating arrangements - formal tables, couches, bar seating, bar tables, banquettes, long Cat 5 enabled computer hookup tables, Internet pay stations, semi-private flat screen roomlets (at least a dozen of those), fireplace seating, and beds. Yes, you can even plop yourself down in one of their lobby beds and order from there. It's nuts I tell you.
For all this, service is slow and haphazard. Food is middling to terrible, menu is not thought out well. Drinks are well designed but not well executed (names like Harvey Milk Punch, Marina Margarita, Emperor Norton's Mistress, Dirty Harry). The prices are unconscionable - $8 for a draft beer???? Hello, this is not the Saint Regis. At happy hour they have a small number of half price options which just makes it a normally priced bad meal instead of something you kick yourself in the head wishing you didn't.
The best part of the place is the design and layout. It is pretty cool to lookout, and not bad to hang out. If only the food, service, vibe, and prices were at that level. But even the design, it's still in the lobby of the death star, it looks as if somebody put an ultralounge in Darth Vader's palace. -
Review from phil h.
Updated - 10/29/2008
I just found my dinner receipt in my pocket* and realized that beers at Level III were $8 a piece. $8! I don't have a problem paying $8 for a beer at a concert or at a cool Belgian bar but in a glorified hotel restaurant? No thanks!
No wonder the place was almost empty on a Saturday night. I will definitely not be returning unless it's during happy hour when everything's half price.
*great filing system, eh?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/26/2008
I'm a creature of habit. Usually whenever I go to a show at the Warfield* I hit up Farmerbrown… Read more »
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Review from Quinn S.
6/12/2008
One star per level. Sorry for those of you who read this earlier, but I was writing from my phone.
I stopped into this gorgeous, bright room for breakfast before working a university orientation across the street. The hostess table is a little hard to find, but the concierge was there to point the way. High ceilings, glass elevators and a blend of modern and classical deign elements make the room seem glamorous, despite the odd quadrant system. Servers still don't know the menu, but I'll wait until they are open a full day before I complain.
The coffee is crap, the buffet looks great and my eggs benny were far from the best I've had in the city, but the eggs were cooked perfectly, even if the sauce was bland, generic and too thick. They're offered as full or half order, which was a nice touch and they came with limp yet tasty asparagus and a grilled tomato. It's fun to think that being here a half hour after they open for the first time, I probably ate the restaurant's first Benedict. -
Review from Sue L.
Updated - 6/20/2008
So I came back here for dinner last night. I was craving the mac & cheese that I had at the opening party so that's what I ordered--except instead of a tiny little taste of it...i had an entire plate...for dinner...all for moi!!! So far, I have to say...it's the best mac & cheese I've tasted.
Also, I made a new discovery. This is a great place to go for a pre/post- theater dining. Not too many people know about it yet since it's fairly new and inside the JW so it won't be super crowded like Colibri or the Grand Cafe.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/16/2008
Luxury + Modern + Elegance = 3 Levels Fine Dining
Thanks to a really awesome person, I had the luxury… Read more »
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Review from Katie W.
9/17/2008
Take it to the next level?
Times when this question is ok to answer:
In an Ice Cream Shop
When picking out a piece of jewlery. Or Cake.
NOT ok:
When it is asked by that Creepy Guy at the end of the bar. You know the guy. No amount of beer is going to make him pretty. Get out of there Riding Hood!!
Also Ok:
Level lll.
I happened upon their menu, saw lobster mac on the brunch menu and set the date. That's all it too. Cheese. Macaroni. Lobster.
The scene: Floor .... what, what floor could this possibly be on? hmmm...
Odd for brunch, I see gathering here as a first stop on a night on the town. Made for lounging with all the Ladies, or ditch those whiney bitches and get your Guys to go. TVs to keep their ADD riddled minds at ease and plenty for you to watch.
Sunday Brunch, however, is quiet. We were quite late for a brunch, but still we almost had the place to ourselves, which was fine, 'cause I broughts my appetite and I came to play.
First Level: pastry basket instead of bread. Sweeeet.
Second Level: Drinks. Mine? Bloody Mary Baby, extra Bloody. Honestly, who knows what the fuck that means, but it sounded cool.
I love a spicy kick-your-ass-Mary, and they have it so a Gal can customize here, so I chose the jalapeno-infused vodka with the kamikazi twist, includes ginger, wasabi and special spices. This was done RIGHT. Sure as shit better be, at $12.
Level 3: Brunch. Since the Lobster Mac was a given, I was having trouble deciding between the crabcake benedict or the chicken salad when I saw ratattoui. I am a sucker for eggplat, and so that's what was placed before me. Mama got the Cuba Cristo with spicy home fries and we settled in to our Mary's.
Food came out quick, lobster mac was first. I dug in with shame at a Level 0. Topped with toasted breadcrumbs, and creamy bechemel, this dish looked like a winner. LOOKED. I was disappointed in the flavor. Or lack of. I know that with seafood, you got to be subtle - but this had no soul.
Ratattoui was better, I ate every last bite. Mama's Cristo was done on brioche, but the overall taste of all the dishes? A little canned. Kinda salty, kinda processed.
I would go back for a take 2, but I'm going at night, wearing my ruby slippers and gettin me some more of that Mary! That's where the Levels are at - the BAR. -
Review from Gloria H.
1/6/2009 2 photos
Strictly for their Happy Hour: M-F 4-7pm
We were going to shop in Union Square and I yelped ahead of time for some Happy Hours to hit while we are in SF to take advantage of them. Level III was the first of three that day.
It's a cool lounge. Plenty seating throughout. Very open. Nice bar. Bartender was a bit aloof. Great Happy Hour menu. We had:
American Kobe Sliders - three mini delights served with crispy cipollini
onion rings, sonoma pepperjack, tomato and fresh brioche buns - $6 - nice presentation and tasty mini burgers. We had it medium rare and that was exactly how it was served. A slider never tasted better.
Bistro fries - house seasoned fries served with parmesan and parsley - $3.50 - very crispy but was salty. Addicting but got too salty after a while. As hubby said - it's a bar, that's how they sell more drinks!
I had the shanghaied - square one cucumber, canton ginger liqueur, and organic lemongrass syrup, shaken and served up with an english cucumber slice on the rim - $6. A bit too sweet for my liking but interesting. Hubby had the Anchor Steam draft for $4.
For a Friday, it was a bit slow. After an hour, there were only a few patrons but it was time to head out to other Happy Hours. If we are ever in the neighborhood, we will definitely return.Listed in: Happy Hour in SF, Hotel lounges
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Review from Fannie S.
3/13/2009
Food = mediocre. A bit overpriced if you ask me. *shrugs* But I guess it doesn't matter. They do have a happy hour...which may entice you.
Drinks = decent list.
Decor = Simple, warm hues, modern but cozy feel. I'd ask for more tables though in the 'lounge-y" area, since they serve food there, but there is no way that you can eat everything on regular plates on your lap.
Service = friendly enough.Listed in: Happy Hour Hurrah
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Review from Jared S.
San Francisco, CA
9/26/2009
Did you know this place existed? Neither did I. Neither does the entire population of San Francisco, apparently.
My friend made a reservation here for his birthday for a party of 6. We were running late and I immediately went into typical "being late for a restaurant in SF" mode of "OMG, they're gonna pass up our table, we'll have to wait another hour, we're missing 1 person so they won't sit us until we get there" and so on.
The joke was on me.
We got there, rushing to the restaurant and barely appreciating the gorgeous open atrium of the hotel, when we found the check in table and started looking around.
"Huh. The restaurant must be somewhere behind all these empty tables and chairs. I wonder why they're walking us through them. Oh. They're seating us here? At this table. All alone in the entire place. Maybe it's just a waiting area. Yeah, maybe the real dining area is hidden in a secret place. Oh, no. They just brought us menus. This really is Level III. Well, let's hope we make it out alive."
In all honesty, the place is pretty cute but the food was average. I've never used the word "meh" to describe something, but this place feels like it deserves a "meh."
MEH. Meh. meh. meeeeeehhhh.
They have a prix fixe menu for $39/person including an appetizer, dinner and desert. From what I tasted of others' meals, I'm not sure it was entirely worth the price. I ended up choosing the halibut tacos and Caesar salad. Neither were memorable. AND the fish was fried. So weird! Who puts fried fish in fish tacos. What a let down!
But kudos to our waiter. He was pretty awesome, patient yet attentive, and even brought the birthday boy a glass of champagne. -
Review from tasha s.
Hayward, CA
8/14/2008
I just want to say ... I kind of wish I was a yuppie with lots of money & time to wander around to the all the new lounges/bars, etc.
I feel like a tourist coming back to my home-town, when I went out in the day - we went to Casa Loma or Covered Wagon ... but now it's all about the lounge, the sleek bar ... whatever it's called, it works.
And since I'm not in the dating scene, I can come & enjoy myself with my girlfriends, get loud, get silly, have fun - and not feel the pressure of "will i meet someone here tonight?", "should i hang out here more often"? etc.
So with that said - before we went to the play (sf playhouse ROCKS - cabaret was fun!) - we picked this place for drinks, food. Little did we know it was also a gala event for a group of young professionals who like the symphony ... so we got lots of eye-candy (everyone was beautiful - like i said i wish i had spent more time in the yuppy/social elite crowd), mingled with a really nice fellow who was just an all-around nice guy looking for some real honesty in women (women, listen up - call the guy, this could be the one). We had some nice chats about people, dating, marriage, schools.
And the bartender ... like i said eye-candy. Here is a hat-tip to you ;)
Our waitress was also cute - hat-tip to you as well ;)
So as for the food ... a little pricey, and the drinks are too expensive (can you bring a flask in?) ... but the sliders are great, the ham n cheese is yummy too. But really the ambiance is great - but then again we were there on a special occassion night ... so I don't really know what it's like during the week/weekends. But really makes the night? your friends ... I'd go anywhere with my girls - we just have a good time together :)
When is happy hour??? -
Review from lindsey l.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2008
A fun, trendy place that delivers!
The old Pan Pacific hotel has been remodeled to a luxury hotel that can compete with the best of them. Level III is a lounge/restaurant that offers full service whether or not you sit down in the lounge or eat at the restaurant. I was there for the grand opening and the menu was delightful comfort food -- mini sliders with onion rings, mac and cheese with truffle oil and shavings... fantastic.
The space is designed in a contemporary and luxurious style -- it offers a mix of quiet corners that are more intimate --perfect for date night-- or open, loungey areas -- perfect for ladies night out.
I got a chance to chat with the manager, Steven for a bit. Even though he's opened some hot spots in town - Tartine, Blowfish Sushi -- he's very warm and down to earth. I think I've found the next 'hot spot' in town. -
Review from Kimberly J.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2008
Although it sits in the tourist-heavy Marriott hotel in Union Square, locals will fall for Level III. With their unique martinis, excellent food and calming ambiance, Level III is the perfect place to relax with your friends next to the fireplace drink in hand.
During happy hour (4-7 PM Mon-Fri), they feature their 3 signatures cocktails, 3 red and 3 white wines and their appetizers for half-price. Their HH menu includes kobe beef sliders, parmesan fries, handcut potato chips with blue cheese dip, and mac and cheese. With their delicious "Shanghaied" organic lemongrass and ginger vodka martini and kobe sliders both priced at $6, the only thing you'll be splurging on are calories!Listed in: My (almost) LUXE Guide to the…
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Review from Span D.
San Francisco, CA
11/27/2010
A shockingly mediocre experience. Every few years, I have a definingly mediocre dining experience that then becomes a reference point for all others, until it is superceded or has finally worked it's way through my system. Level III is my new level 4 bad dining experience and the one that inspired me to finally sign up for Yelp just in order to lay down some feedback.
I don't know how any restaurant with this remarkably low standard of service and quality, can survive in a competitive San Francisco market. I think it must solely survive on the captured hotel guest clientele that are too lazy to venture down the street, though I see other reviews here that suggest people intentionally come here. My mistake, as last minute Thanksgiving travel plans imploded and we found ourselves instead at a Union Sq hotel restaurant and at the mercy.
So, our expectations were low to begin with but we were in an appropriately celebratory mood going in. Level III took care of that in a hurry. Stiff, unfriendly, unprofessional, lacking in basic social and service skills, from host, to waitress, bus boy. I'm pretty sure our waitress had not worked in that capacity more than 2 days before bumbling through our evening. We had to flag her down almost a dozen times just to keep water in our glass, a fork on the table, "we still have entrees coming right?". Even our visa card at the end of the night went missing for a time. The staff couldn't get out of their own way, let alone ours.
The food? I would coin it cafeteria-lousy. It was so poorly executed (and I'm not a food snob, really) that we sat across from each other, politely picking through our dry, tendon-laden Thanksgiving meal, before finally requesting an extra ladle of gravy just to be able to grease it down our throats. Seriously, I've had better dinners at Pinewood Derby award dinners.
We walked out of there not only embarrassed to have overspent for a thoroughly mediocre experience, but also challenged by a 2 hour struggle that threatened to suck the life out of the rest of the evening. The final kick in the head came with the bill to learn that our small, weak cocktails (Saphirre & tonic) were $12 each! Level III = Lousy Lesson Learned.
