- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Lucky Penny Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Diners Restaurants American (Traditional) Diners, American (Traditional) [Edit]
2670 Geary Blvd(at Masonic Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neighborhood: Laurel Heights
(415) 921-0836
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 12 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
416 reviews for Lucky Penny Restaurant
Review Highlights
"hash browns are golden and crispy and delishous."
(in 43 reviews)
"The duality of man center-stage at a late night SF diner."
(in 69 reviews)
"anywho i had two scoops of ice cream and they were huge."
(in 13 reviews)
Loading...
416 reviews in English
-
Review from J. S.
San Francisco, CA
2/5/2012
Let's be straight -- this isn't fine dining. It's a greasy spoon. And it's perfectly fine that way.
The menu's relatively cheap, the service is fast and friendly, and they're open all the time. This is all one can expect from Lucky Penny, nothing more, and at least they excel at it.
I only have two issues with the place.
First, why is half of the establishment always unused? I've heard rumors that it's overflow seating but I've seen that place jam packed and that area STILL remained untouched. If you ask me, that area is probably haunted and the staff keeps it clear as a precautionary measure.
Second, what's the story with their curry? It's an odd menu addition for them, but having added it they also bar you from ordering it except for this one odd sliver of time in the morning. Is it some sort of magical morning curry? Is it produced in the haunted area of the restaurant? Is there actual curry spices in this curry? -
Review from Mickey S.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
A terribly mediocre, barely adequate American breakfast-all-day diner. Because it's 24/7 it's better than nothing, but only barely.
Over the years -- decades! -- this has been the go-to place for dependably below-average fare. Like a highway truck stop sans the trucks, glamorous, and excellent meals.
Even the coffee is meh, but drinkable meh.
In a city of foodies The Lucky Penny provides an essential service to the desperately hungry who have no other choice. And they'll feed you just well enough that you'll survive to return another day. -
Review from Joanna L.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Whether you're tipsy or sober....Prime rib and potato skins for a late-night meal, can't go wrong. TRUST! ;)
ps, the server's/hosts are always polite and they always keep my friends and I entertained with their cute little jokes. TIP THEM GOOD!!
p.s.s
there is a parking lot at LP but spaces are limited, however there are quite a few street parking around the area. -
Review from E.N. C.
Stockton, CA
1/31/2012
The food is not good at all but it is dirt cheap to eat here and they are a 24 hr. place. After a night of bar hopping and partying the Penny can be your savior. Careful though there can be a lot of late night drunk groups durring the weekends that can get annoying.
-
Review from Jason B.
12/30/2011
Trader Joe's.
What does the store next door have to do with this open all night dive? You can continue to park your car for free after dining in case you need to grab some groceries.
You'll probably enjoy the meal you make later even better.
Turkey burger came dry on wheat as requested. Lettuce, tomato and pickle were shoved off to the side. Fruit is an option on the side but you'll pay a buck or so extra.
Waitress was quick to take my order, quick to deliver my food and quick to drop the bill. I think she was happy to see me but didn't smile once. Ten dollars wasn't a ripoff nor cheap. Free WiFi to divert your attention from the tired atmosphere.
Tofu spinach salad anyone? -
Review from Lawrence F.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012
Of all the 24 hr diners I've experienced, by far this place is the worst. The servers are so rude. I came to this place once and even before the order. The waitress asked me What do you want in a stern tone of voice. I' m like whoa what is your problem lady. That pretty much ruined my appetite. The food here is not that great either. I've had better experience in a Denny's. There are some people who believe in Lucky pennies, but this Lucky penny is certainly not one of them.
-
Review from Sharon J.
Updated - 10/2/2011
I was in the mood for fried chicken the other day and I called in and ordered ahead. when I got there, my dinner was ready, everything was perfectly packed, tasted awesome, and the right dressing was on the salad. If you are going to KFC for fried chicken, you are getting ripped awwwf.
This is actually my favorite late night place, I cannot stand the pretentiousness of Mels and imo the service is much faster. And every seat other than the counter is a comfortable booth.
You know I have to say...I've never even looked at the carpet so I couldn't tell you if it was dirty. But the bathroom is spotless. also I have no problem with the waitresses because I always tip and they remember me. Try that, you chronic complainers.Listed in: My Neighborhood, Top Restaurants
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/19/2008
This is the only decent place to eat after 1 am in the Richmond. Pretty typical diner food,… Read more »
-
-
Review from Martin B.
San Francisco, CA
10/28/2011
My first bad review...thought it would never happen.
Lucky Penny's...I always past by this restaurant on my way home. One day my girlfriend and I wanted to try this place out. The place is ghetto and sketchy. The service sucks. But although the place is ghetto, the food was actually really good. I odered the Eggs Benedict and my girlfriend had an amazing pancakes. So Lucky Penny is good for something, not the service though. I'm Mexican and the Mexican cooks in the back...I was like my people sure can make some good food!
Eggs Benedict taste good...add hot sauce and it's legit!
I would of giving this 5 stars if I went there when I was drunk...oh yeah I forgot they have rules people have to follow....FYI cell phone use is not allowed! -
Review from Phan H.
Berkeley, CA
12/15/2011
If Ihop or denny's had a slutty trashy older sister, lucky penny was it. The food is gross, but very very very cheap and they give you ample portions. It's a 24 hour diner, so I guess they are more designed for the drunk, high, or insomniacs. The service was fast, but very weird. And located in the middle of nowhere. Come if you are desperate, as the patrons who go here usually are.
-
Review from Kira B.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Used to go here a lot and the only thing I've ever eaten here is weekend breakfast. Typical dinery breakfast - industrial coffee, salty thin bacon, fluffy scrambled eggs, wheat toast with packets of jam, plain pancakes with artificial maple syrup, or my favorite which is good waffles with fresh strawberries and bananas and whipped cream. You always know what you're getting and what you can expect at the Lucky Penny.
The service is good, there is always an empty table, and you can fill up on breakfast for two for about $25. -
Review from Genovefa P.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2011
The owners don't care about you, JUST GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY & GET OUT! This is the first place I have ever been told, "Eat, now leave". Furthermore, the manager didn't even tell us himself...he had his waitress tell me after I'd had my very "Nothing Special" meal. He totally knew her tip would be forfeited by delivering this message. This certainly explains why the waitresses are all stressed and on edge. When I spoke directly to the owner, knowing that the waitress wasn't he origin of this message, the Chinese owner said, "Yes, I told her to tell you this". I told him I was never coming back here again. He just shrugged his his shoulders , and said, "OK", and walked off. WOULD YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND GIVE HIM YOUR MONEY?!
Don't Go HERE!!!!!!!!! -
Review from Laura S.
San Francisco, CA
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's everything you could ask for from a 24hr diner. Vinyl seats, chipped paint, a bathroom that smells like antiseptic, and totally decent, hearty, "I'm ready for bed now" grub.
I had just spent an hour in a parking lot in Orinda waiting for AAA, and owed my friends a treat for waiting with me. It was a Saturday night, but at 12:30, we were more in the mood for hot tea than Long Islands. Lucky Penny was the bright spot right at the end of our drive, and after dealing with entering the parking lot from the south (there are bumps in the median restricting left turns) we were staring down a comprehensive menu. The waitress only rolled he eyes a little when i asked for my fries extra crisp, and though they took a while, the huge plate was piping hot and really crunchy. Much better than the unaltered fries that came with my friend's sandwich.
The pecan pie was nothing great: soft pecans that had floated to the top of the granular, gelatinous syrup, topped with blindingly white whipped cream that looked more like styrofoam than food. Of course, we finished the whole piece. -
Review from Stephanie B.
South San Francisco, CA
8/8/2011
3.5 stars! =)
Great place to go to late at night, especially if you got the drunk munchies!
Lucky Penny is a nice diner that's Asian-owned I think. The people who work there are really nice! Great attitude for serving loud drunkards. In my opinion, it's better than Denny's. Seems like authentic diner food. May not be the best taste-wise, but good enough when you just want something fulfilling after midnight.
I don't quite remember what we ordered considering my intoxicated state...just that I was happy with it. I'd go here again, but probably only during late hours. -
Review from Crys L.
Western Addition/NOPA, San Francisco, CA
6/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
A real diner! Booths, harried-but-friendly waitresses, bottomless soda and coffee, ridiculously big milkshakes, greasy awesome fries.
As a former NYer, I miss my 24-hour divey diners. I was excited to find this place, the closest I've gotten to a real East Coast diner experience so far here in CA.
A couple of tips:
Don't order fancy shit. Diner menus always have weird fancy stuff on them along with the burgers and mozzarella sticks, but you're going to be disappointed every time. This kind of place is for when you want cheap fried stuff.
Late-night crowd can get pretty obnoxious; might want to avoid this place from around 2am to...5am or so. Unless *you're* drunk and obnoxious, in which case you'll fit right in. -
Review from Arturo F.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2011
I go here when I'm drunk and my favorite Vietnamese dive off of Broadway has closed down. The staff is actually pretty attentive, even into the early morning hours, but be sure to order everything you need from the get go.
That's all I can really say about this place. -
Review from Alexa B.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really enjoyed my omelet.
My friends didn't love their waffles, they weren't super fluffy.
My major complaint is that they have a $10 card minimum and that made me pretty mad. I had no cash and didn't feel like ordering two meals, especially since they are pretty heart meals. So I was struggling to order something that added up to $10, which I DID NOT want to do. :( -
Review from Charlie D.
San Francisco, CA
10/28/2011
24hr kitchen, the diner food is a little sketchy for me.
-
Review from Vithiet L.
San Francisco, CA
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sorry, I just can't go there anymore.
I used to stop there very often late night on my way home when I used to live in the Richmond.
Now that I moved, I have no reason to go back. But I did go last week end because all the other places I checked were packed.
Having to go out of my way though, I realized that this place had only one good point for me: it was convenient, because it was right there.
Now that it's not convenient anymore, all I can see is the bad service, the bad food quality, the awful patrons and the dirty restaurant.
I don't think I'll ever go back.
2 stars for "you used to be convenient, Lucky Penny" and for the older caucasian waitress with the hair helmet who seems to be working graveyard every single day; I think she's quite bi-polar but on a good day, she's funny.Listed in: Eating (very) late in San…
-
Review from Alex T.
San Francisco, CA
7/18/2011 4 Check-ins Here
We have been coming to
Lucky Penny for years! Usually very late at night, like 3 AM. Always consistently delicious. Old-school atmosphere and service.
Pancake sandwich is amazing. -
Review from ethan l.
San Francisco, CA
5/27/2011
Let's not talk about the food - it's generic fodder for those dragging their feet and slumping their shoulders over a long night...
But i'm gonna be generous with 3 stars, because this place has its charms:
Where else can you buy lotto scratchers late at night?
There's that atmosphere like someone can walk in any minute and shoot
up this greasy diner a la "Pulp Fiction". I love Pulp Fiction.
And with that, the old lady sitting a few tables away was whisper-scolding her husband for having met up with a mistress at a motel earlier in the day, while he just sat and mumbled. Yeah, we hurried out of there before the shit REALLY hit the fan...
Like some Hollywood set. -
Review from Joey H.
San Bruno, CA
7/11/2011
I arrived at 11 pm. My friend had a compulsive need to hang out at that time and he took me here. My first thought when I saw the front of the building was, "Uh oh." Then I walked in, and thought, "Aaaaaw, it's cozy and cute." I felt comfy, then I sat in a seat and thought, "I hope I don't break it."
I ordered the Eggs Benidict because I poach eggs all the time on my own, but never had the dish itself... Yum. I really liked the sauce, and it was a hearty meal that left my tummy warm. Then I looked over at my friends meal... Let's just say to warmth in my tummy went away.
I'm definitely coming back at some point. I enjoyed the old diner feeling. My food was good, and aside from the appearance of his food, my friend said his was good as well. -
Review from William D.
San Francisco, CA
12/23/2011
I hadn't eaten here for years because I remember eating a mediocre meal here. Today my friend said he wanted to eat here so I went along with him. I ordered the Denver Omelette with egg beaters and a green tea. The denver omelette was good-sized and fine, the hash browns were perfect and plentiful. It was a fine simple, reasonably-priced breakfast. I might go back to try other items from their menu. I kind of like the vinyl booths and the old-time, regular feel of the place. It's a change of pace from other eateries here in San Francisco.
-
Review from meg w.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I've wondered about this place for years and suddenly, there I was. Eating eggs benedict. Not bad. The hash brown portion wasn't very generous, but they listened when I said extra-crispy.
Then there I was again about a week later, this time a hamburger and fries. Again, not the worst I've had.
A good place to go after the bar, or the next morning.
Parking lot - yay!Listed in: Three Point Oh!
-
Review from Jessica t.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/16/2010
Le sigh.
Why must it be like this Lucky P?
Why?
You have soooooo much potential!
You're vast.
Your bathrooms are moderately clean.
Your staff are quirky and rock old school diner outfits.
So why?
Why - with the wealth of crazy talented chefs in this city - with the abundance of fresh produce - must you serve up such lackluster food?
In fact not even lackluster...almost downright inedible.
My pancake this past Saturday early morning was chewy and almost gelatinous. There was no fluff about it. Not one ounce of love in that pancake patty. My dining partners' meals were all left uneaten.
We came in ravished with hunger - and we all - couldn't help but leave our plates - barely touched.
I will still visit you on those late nights - early mornings. I still appreciate your cozy booth seating. Your staff have always been kind to me. For that I can't help but give you three stars (I am all about keeping 24/7 places alive in this city)...
But I can't in good conscience recommend you as a food spot in this city. You (the reader - ie - avid partier) and your stomach will be much better off - holding out for a couple of hours and walking down to your nearest grocery store or local breakfast diner - than spending money on food here - which won't nourish your soul or body.
Trust.Listed in: Late Night Spots in the City!, Late Night Dining in San…
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
3/15/2010
Stopped in here last week, after the Galactic show - for French toast.
French toast is hard to mess… Read more »
-
-
Review from Sara K.
San Francisco, CA
1/26/2011
People can whine about the quality and service all they want, but if they take that holier than thou stick out of their ass, they'll realize they have it pretty good to have a place like Lucky Penny nearby. Seriously, where else can you sit your drunk ass at 3 in the morning to eat some hash brown and eggs? It's cheap, it's greasy, and they never close... be grateful!
The service has always been friendly here. There is admittedly nothing impressive about their food, but come on... what do you expect? Yeah, that's what I thought. -
Review from Jiordan C.
San Francisco, CA
Lucky Penny is only good when you're drunk, delirious, or so ravenously hungry in the wee hours of the morning that you'll eat anything anywhere that's open (and at any price).
The fries are good, the waffle "sandwich" (just a gooey egg thrown on top) is weird, and the turkey burger is so-so. I feel like everything is great until you're halfway through. And then it hits you - you're at Lucky Penny and what you're eating tastes like crap.
Also, if it's 4am, whether or not you're drunk, the servers will treat you like you are. This includes, but is not limited to: rolling their eyes when you need an extra minute to look at the menu, never checking on your table (and I mean never), and offering you really bizarre substitutes when you ask about things they don't serve. Really though, if you're in a place that suggests you order potstickers when you wanted chicken fingers, get out.
The only possible upside to Lucky Penny is that it's always open. But is that really an upside? Depends on your condition at the time. -
Review from Cherylynn N.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2011
DRUNKIES U-N-I-T-E!!!!
Lucky Penny or "LP" as my friends and I call like to call it has become our post-clubbing go-to spot for the past several years. Sadly, I've been to LP 3 times in the last week and thought this review was LONG overdue. Let me say that unless your taste buds are shot, this is NOT a place to go to during the daytime and/or sober. The food is as mediocre as a desolate diner on some random trailer country highway. So WHY 4 Stars? Two Reasons: 1) Sandy, the Rockstar Waitress; and 2) All the fond drunken memories my friends and I have had at LP.
In the last 2.5 years (when I haven't blacked out), I HAVE...
*Built a fortress on my friends' heads that have passed out with utensils, napkins, and sugar packets...LEGO!!!!
*Threw crumbled saltine crackers in the air attempting to "Make It Rain"
*Been called an "Infant", screamed at, and put on a time-out at the corner of LP
*Whispered in my inside voice like a 5 year-old would during nap time only to find out my friend and I were S-C-R-E-A-M-I-N-G like belligerent drunks across the table at each other (Sorry, to those who were there that infamous night)
*Endured multiple bruises and rug burns from slipping, tripping, and crashing into tables/chairs
*Attempted to carry a former bouncer friend who passed out, only to feel we got body slammed by an WWF wrestler...talk about Asian Girl EPIC FAIL!
The aforementioned drunken debauchery among the other belligerent drunks at LP is not an easy thing to handle, but Sandy does an awesome job of it! She's quirky, funny, and so down-to-earth. Upon walking in, she always greets us and quickly seats us. Even before we have to look for someone to order she's at our table ready to write down our orders. If we've been waiting for more than 10 minutes for our order, she always checks in with the cooks. When our food is ready, she also comes fully armed with all the condiments (ketchup, mustard, Tabasco, etc), so we don't even have to bother asking. Last week, one of my friends was sleeping in the car, and Sandy placed one of our to-go orders right when my other friend and I were finishing eating, so the food to-go would be hot. Also, she knows one of my other friends is a saltine cracker monster and always provides extra packets of saltines for her. SERIOUSLY, LP WOULD NOT BE LP IF IT WEREN'T FOR SANDY!
As for the FOOD, stick with the fried chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, bacon potato wedges, breakfast items, sandwiches and burgers. It's not good by any means (2 STARS), but it gets the job done when you need a Crisco tub of grease to soak up all the copious alcohol you've just consumed. Stay away from the dinner entrée items as they tend to taste like they've been sitting under the heat lamp at a convalescent home cafeteria. Oh yah, unless you like Filipino (sweet) spaghetti, skip the spaghetti or anything with marinara sauce.
Thank you, LP and Sandy for being a host to our drunken debauchery and offering me fond memories I will still remember when I'm 80 and swaying in my rocking chair while *SMH* in disappointment (of course with a BIG smirk on my face). Hee Hee...Listed in: LATE NIGHT DRUNK MUNCHIES!, I CLUCK FOR WINGZ!
-
Review from Remy-Anne V.
San Jose, CA
4/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
1st STAR- Bc their open 24hrs.
2nd STAR- Bc they were the first 24hr spot we found to eat after an awesome KATCHAFIRE (Hawaiian/reggae) concert.
So as u can imagine... Due to our surrounding we ended up with the MUNCHIES lol
The restaurant itself was EH, mediocre. A run down Dennys i would say. And based on all the previous reviews...apparently everyone else couldn't find a Dennys which is why they ended up here. Quite dirty and questionable...Pass the Anti-Bacterial please!
Food was blah. I ordered a club sandwich. Sorta just picked at it. And could have saved myself $10bucks and made it at home. They have RULES! wtffff... NO TALKING ON CELL PHONES!?! Yes, read it and weep. wth kinda rule is that. Is that even legal??? My phone was dying, so not much I could do about it hahah...
Overall, if you don't care about the venue, food and just need somewhere to sober up...I guessssss you can come here. I would have much rather picked up some Jack in the Crack and ate in the car while sobering up.. Ehhh.. To each their own! -
Review from Karen S.
10/26/2010
2.5 STARS
Why on why oh WHY do I come back?? Blame in on the logistics... drinking down on Geary....the Makers Mark and the fact that Video Cafe on 25th Ave was packed to the gills and had a 30 minute wait!! !
The Lucky Penny looked exactly as it did last time I visited...bad lighting, stuck in the 1970's (not by design) smelling of old potatoes. Originally this diner was the Copper Penny (I was just a wee lass back then...but even at that age my powers of perception were honed and recall thinking "gee, why we in THIS dump?") When the place changed over to "Lucky Penny" I could not say...but the fact they put "lucky" in the re-name is a nice touch of irony.
The food is just so/so...and probably only percieved that way when a person is..shall we say "overserved?" I really can't say how it would seem to a perfectly sober person...then again, a sober persion would most likely not choose this place! And on that topic, late, laaaate night dining options in this town are extremely limited!
Our little enclave noshed on:
- Buffalo wings: Tasted like frozen wings from Costco, microwaved and not quite long enough! The wings were not even remotely spicy but were meaty! The ranch dressing that accompanied the wings was decent and the celery stalkers were cold/crispy!
- Toast: Burnt! Big deal you might think...but yeccch, who likes burnt toast? The waitress did make a new batch and those came in significantlly better. Lame bread selection...no rye/English muffins...just white or wheat)
- Pancakes: Best thing sampled, yay Bisquick! AND they had a righteous array of syrups...maple/blueberry/raspberry!
- Scrambled Eggs: Watery and rubbery, no thanks
- Bacon: Ah bacon...even when you're bad you're good...wasn't quite crispy enough for me but..."any pork in a storm", you know? =) Oh shut up, don't judge me!!
The waitresses, God bless 'em, seem pretty zoned/spiritless..no witty waitressy banter here! On the flip side, they were pretty fast with getting the orders out, coffee/water refills and getting the replacement toast out...they don't need to entertain as well! (Surveying the clientele should provide plen-TY of entertainment....cautionary tales, that sort of thing..pass the Tabasco!)
Did I mention this place has a parking lot?? They most certainly do!
To sum it all up: If you find yourself nearby (as in, you closed down every dive bar in a 1.5 mile radius...OR...you've just emerged from the Kaiser ER with stitches and you determine you simply MUST have some greasy diner food or risk keeling over on Geary Blvd...why yes, by all means, stop by!! -
Review from Sonya R.
San Francisco, CA
7/12/2011
I am a native San Franciscan and used to go to this place every weekend during high school when it was still called "Copper Penny." In those days, it was a clean, cheerful, friendly place where you always felt welcome, and always left happy.
Boy, have things changed since the 1970's. Nowadays, the owners, a husband and wife team, seem to have their shoes glued to the floor in front of the cash register as if afraid their money might run away. When you first walk in, they glare at you with their jaws visibly clenched. If you don't get the urge to immediately run, and actually stay for a meal, you will find that the service is slow, the waiters seem on edge, and the food is really overpriced considering how cheap the ingredients are.
Let me tell you what happened the other night when my daughter and I visited this establishment for a late-night meal. I ordered a salad with a price tag of nearly $9.00, and my daughter ordered a sandwich which was even higher. Since I knew from past experience that they automatically give you three packets of saltines with the salad -- and I hate saltines -- I politely asked the waitress if it would be possible to substitute a little dinner roll. The rolls they serve measure exactly 2" by 2", so it wasn't an outrageous request. The waitress told me not to worry, no problem.
Imagine my surprise when she came back 10 minutes later (yes, we were still waiting for our food) to tell me the owner had said I could NOT have a roll instead of crackers. Incredulous, I asked her why not. She said he had said 'no,' and that was it.
I got up, went over to where the owners were still glued to the floor by the cash drawer, and asked the husband whether he thought it was going to significantly reduce his profit margin to substitute 10 cents' worth of crackers with a 15-cent roll. I mentioned I have been a restaurant owner for years, and that he was taking the wrong approach trying to nickel-and-dime his customers, that customer service should be his priority. Finally, I asked him whether it was worth losing a $30 check that night, and my business for the rest of our lives, over a lousy roll. He answered that it surprised him that I could suggest such a thing being a restaurant owner myself, since business has been so bad lately. Hullo???
So my daughter and I drove straight to Mel's Drive-In on Geary, ordered the same things as before, and when I asked the waitress what came with the salad, do you know what she answered? "Crackers, rolls, whatever you want. I had two of them, thank you. Served with butter and a smile. I wonder why Mel's had so many customers that night and Lucky Penny was so deserted??? -
Review from Mark N.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2010
Overheard: "if the United States had lost the war and become a Soviet Bloc country, this is the kind of food we'd be eating in the diners."
And it's true. This is horrible stuff. It's where food goes to die. (Twice.)
As the door swings open, the lone waitress for the whole restaurant coming and going from the kitchen with her arms full plates of bad food, you actually see the rows of supersized generic-label cans of vegetables that supply the diner. Yes, you certainly do have a choice of sides here, and they all have shelf-lives in the dozens of years. Copper penny carrots, grey-ish kernels of corn, mushy green beans, you might remember any or all of these from the school lunch program with which you grew up. Yuck. There's a memory I didn't want.
For my main, I ordered a hot turkey sandwich because, well, I used to like those growing up. The one presented to me here was a nightmare. The slices of deli turkey were dried out. There was a greenish tinge to some of the edges. The slices of white bread were a little stale, too. The gravy (canned of course) was bland, covering the sandwich and the mashed potatoes on the side. They were instant mashed, but by now that was expected. Ok, you can't really mess those up; I added salt and butter margarine.
The service was awful. Not that the waitress was mean. She wasn't. The part of her psyche that could get angry, sad, or be plucky, was probably long dead. She was more, blank.
Some restaurants harken back to the past with sort of nod to nostalgia. Not this place. It's just that old, and hasn't been renovated in that long. The vinyl booths are torn, and discolored, so try not to touch that vinyl with any exposed skin. -
Review from Lauren S.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
What. In. The. Fuck.
OK so while writing this I am somewhat to very intoxicated which is fucking fitting for this place because there is no other way I would go here. This place is generally a terrible, terrible, terrible idea. For some reason I really needed a goddamn bacon cheeseburger (ugh gross and yeah there goes being a vegetarian, was fun while it lasted (not)) at 2:30am. This place happens to be close to my house so I went here with a couple dudes and I got a shitty bacon cheeseburger with shitty fries and a shitty milkshake and luckily for my health I subsequently puked all of this up, which may have been more due to the open bar earlier in the night than the food itself. The service kind of sucked because it took hella long for the waitress to come take our order, and by the time she did we were all ready to eat the first small child that walked in there at 2:30am (there were no children but plenty of weirdos who looked like they were about to drunkenly shank someone at the moment the voices in their head told them to). When we left, this group of Asian dudes got in a fight with a group of white dudes in the parking lot and the Asian guys pulled guns on the other guys, which I mean was kind of cool to see even though it seemed to happen for absolutely no reason. Pretty quickly a bunch of cops came in to the parking lot and started arresting these guys with their guns drawn.ee
------------------
I'm pretty proud of how coherent this was considering how many Don Julio margaritas I had at the bar last night (my new favorite drink suggested by my new favorite person), so I'm going to post what I was able to write before passing out. -
Review from Tina L.
San Francisco, CA
12/24/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Good drunken food. And it's also 24 hours, who can beat that?
The waitresses are a bit unattentive at times, and it takes a few minutes to wave them down. I usually come during their down hours, so they're busy watching tv. Haha! That's okay though, I guess I would be doing the same thing if I was in their shoes.
However, when they do pay attention to you the service is okay. I love the food though, superb! -
Review from Ed L.
8/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
24 / 7 you can always count on LP for a good hot meal. I am a big fan of the chicken fried steak there. Crispy as can be with thick gravy onm top. Comes with a large side salad and fresh veggies to make you feel a little healthier. Hearty meals like this are hard to find and the fact that they run 24 hours a day is awesome. Great service too for a diner.
-
Review from Sunny Joy B.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2010
I come here when I want to feel like Im on a road trip.
Expecting nasty food. I sat in here for 3 hours and did my homework. No one kicked me out. I ate the veggie sandwich with real potato skins. It was so good! Impressive. -
Review from Savannah L.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2010
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by this retro-looking 24-hour joint!
* Plenty of Free Parking
* Friendly service
* Salad: Fresh, bountiful (no iceberg lettuce here), good assortment of veggies and attractive
* Hamburger: pretty good, like a good backyard BBQ
I'm not a fan of Grubstake or Sparky's, so if it's 3AM and I'm hungry, I'll be at Lucky Penny. -
Review from Geoff H.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2011
Lucky Penny is a solid late night diner. The staff is super friendly and remembers me when I go in there.
They've got good alcohol soaking-up greasy breakfast food at all hours of the day or night. -
Review from Jane A.
Updated - 12/1/2010
NOMINATES THIS PLACE FOR SF'S BEST DINER FOR CLUBBNED OUT DRUNKS 2010.
(3.75 stars)
If i can give awards, i'd give an award to this place for being one of the best dinners i've been to after a night out in town. And i'd give an aware to the lady who doesnt take shit from nobody that's been working here since who knows when. I think i can write an elite yelp review about her because she looks mean but delivers great service.
I've had several dishes here but feel that this place is better for breakfast dishes. I've had the spagetti and chicken patty (i think) and it reminded me of a TV dinner but not, or a dinner made back in the 60's, and it was okay. Yah, i'll stick with the breakfast dishes or those cheap baked steak dinners.
Will i be back? i'm hoping so
*Price - fair
*service - if that one lady is there, tip here well she's great
*Taste - you get what you pay for
*ambiance - diner style with a bunch of clubbed out drunks.
Until the next review1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/4/2008
It's the best place is SF but after a night at the clubs/bars/lounges and your too lazy to fight the… Read more »
-
-
Review from Tom R.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 5/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
I can't believe I went back to Lucky penny and what's worse is that it was my suggestion.
This is the night that I was with a group of people and we closed Jonell's, It's a horseshoe BTW http://www.yelp.com/bi... and we all wanted a little food. For some reason that I still can't understand the words "How about Lucky Penny" came out of my mouth.
It's an odd scene late at night; there were frat types chugging some kind of honey liqueur out of a bottle and several couples that looked like they were guys taking their high end call girls out for a post or pre coital meal.
Our waitress was the most world weary looking character I've seen in a long time, and I hang out in dive bars for Christ's sake!
I saw eggs Benedict on the menu and if you know me you know that I have to order them when they are offered, it's a compulsion. I also saw that they had "potato skins" and since I was feeling retro I ordered those as well.
The "potato skins" were boring, probably frozen and then microwaved with sour cream. The Benedict on the other hand tasted all right but it made me sick, in fact this was the only time food has ever made me sick before I even finished eating.
Will someone please stab me if I ever suggest going back to this disgusting dirty germ hole?1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/23/2008
I have a friend that for some reason used to prefer this place for after bar eating. I didn't like… Read more »
-
-
Review from Henry F.
San Francisco, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Oh my goodness, I have been to this restaurant many times over the years, 35 in fact, but hadn't been there in more than 2 years. I have no idea what happened during that time, but Lucky Penny has turned into a blah! This place used to be THE place in town to go to after a night out in the wee hours of the morning, or just because is was just across the street from the old Mervyn's strip mall. The wait staff was horrible, getting a refill of my diet coke was like pulling teeth. The food? We ordered our food and it arrived within 10 minutes, wow right? Nope! it was all cold. Now how can eggs be as cold as these were? These were not lukewarm cold, they were sitting out after being done for 30 minutes cold. I asked about them and my friends cold plate and the were redone. When the replacements arrived they weren't much better, this time we just let it go. This wait staff never once bothered to check on us to see how we were doing, in fact they looked real happy to have jobs, I of course I am being sarcastic here.
