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Mercedes Hair of The Dog Cantina
Categories: Restaurants Mexican Event Planning & Services Caterers Nightlife Bars Mexican, Caterers, Bars [Edit]
653 Commercial St(between Kearny St & Montgomery St)
San Francisco, CA 94111
Neighborhood: Financial District
(415) 391-8717
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 3 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Owner & operator, Jorge Saldana has created a unique restaurant offering multilevel classic Mexican cuisine dining and an atmosphere that is both… read more »
174 reviews for Mercedes Hair of The Dog Cantina
Review Highlights
"Rice and beans were exceptional, not just an afterthought."
(in 12 reviews)
"I love their chips and salsa here; you get two kinds."
(in 16 reviews)
"Yes, it's busy during lunch, especially Fridays."
(in 4 reviews)
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174 reviews in English
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Review from Erica D.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2012
I had the two chicken enchiladas in verde chile and black beans to-go. Delish!
The bartender was really nice and offered me chips and salsa as I waited for my order. I also saw chips and salsa waiting at each table.
I'll probably return more often for lunch as I think it's really tasty and was able to get in and out pretty quickly. -
Review from Carol K.
12/17/2011
Came for: weekday lunch to celebrate with a group or to enjoy some time out of the fluorescent lights
Will come back for: chips & salsa and fiesta atmosphere
I've been here a many a times as this is the office go-to for celebratory lunches or when an opportunity to eat leisurely - and not at the desk - presents itself.
All the dishes are pretty decent but the notable points are the chips & salsa and their generous portions.
Service is friendly, even when they are shorthanded during busy lunch hours.
It can get really loud, so it's not the best place if you are looking for serious business luncheon.
Take-Away: It's a fun & festive place when in need some reprieve from cubicle world, but be warned of the danger of food coma! -
Review from Jin B.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've gone here a couple of times for lunch, and I have to say that they're quite speedy with their service. Not only do you already have chip and salsa on your table when you sit, you also already get the check before you get your meal! What the heck?! Umm....can I please ENJOY the food before shoving the check in my face?
The food is OK. I've ordered the tacos and enchilladas and a quesadilla before and they were pretty large sized plates. Not too pricey and it's quick. I've had better mexican food at other places, but it's close to work and convenient. PLUS...you get to see pictures of the ugly dog contest winner Mercedes all over their eclectic and colorful walls. Too bad no dogs are allowed and they don't have patio seating either. -
Review from Bob C.
Orinda, CA
2/9/2012
A very lively place for lunch with a full menu, specializing in fish. The civiche was cooked and the quesadilla was soft. Their portions are fairly large and their service is good. Their mole sauce looks good, albeit I didn't have a chance to try it. Not impressed but perhaps I'll experience the hair of the dog next time.
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Review from Stefanie D.
Vallejo, CA
Updated - 1/19/2012
After years of going to this place and just ordering the papas tacos I changed it up and had the huevos ranchers. On. Point. :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/30/2011
Papas Tacos!
Whoever thought of putting mashed potatoes in a taco is an effing genius and deserves to… Read more »
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Review from Mariela D.
San Francisco, CA
Mercedes is one of those where-have-you-been-all-my-life type of places. It's unexpected. The salsa music, outdoor tables, bright decor and kitchy dog art make you forget you're smack-dab in the middle of the FiDi (financial district).
Mercedes' menu stays true to familiar Mexican fare. You know...enchiladas, tacos, fajitas, flautas...the basics. They don't try to get all "fancy" on you. They just serve it up, in large portions, at cheap prices...with a side of salsa. (which is awesome, btw). And if that's not enough of a reason to love them, they serve up some really STRONG $6.50 margaritas with little umbrellas.
And if you're lucky, you'll get to meet Gustavo. Who is that, you ask? Well, "Hair of the Dog Cantina" is not just a name. There is a dog that runs this place, and his name is Gustavo. You can often see him outside, next to his little doggy bed, greeting customers. I swear, sometimes I make the trek up to Mercedes just to say hi to my furry buddy Gustavo!
It gets really crowded so service can be a bit slow at times. Overall, it's a great find. I highly recommend them!Listed in: Mexico Lindo y Delicioso
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Review from Kelly G.
Walnut Creek, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my second time coming here for lunch, though both times I have order to-go. The burrito bandera is my favorite so far, lots of goodies on top of the burrito including salsa, sour cream, guac, and chile verde sauce. The burrito does tend to get lost sometimes in all of the toppings, but it's soooooo good! The folks there are always very nice and friendly. Also, FYI if you're getting this burrito to-go it's actually $3 cheaper than if you eat it there. Talk about motivation for pick up!
I'm hoping one of these days to be able to go in and sit down and enjoy the chips and salsa and great service I've heard about from other yelpers.
Anyway, better get back to my burrito!! -
Review from Angela T.
San Francisco, CA
11/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a work lunch here and this place is almost like a hidden Gem in between financial and Chinatown.
I'm giving it 3 stars base on the fact that all I had here was tacos and I had much better mexico food else where, but this place is great to go to on a Sunny day and there margarita was pretty good too. -
Review from Jim B.
San Francisco, CA
12/26/2011
Best Mexican food in the financial district. Kicking myself that I haven't been here sooner. The tortilla chips are really good, and the tacos were awesome
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Review from Dave M.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
Excellent, very friendly place. Good guac and margaritas. With great dog! (see video of Gustavo Armando Lopez IV aka "Goose" the dog here: http://youtu.be/OjGCXf... )
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Review from David P.
8/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had hoped to get dim-sum in this area between Chinatown and the Financial District, but our go-to place was full, so we ended up here.
The place was packed for lunch hour, with people spilling out onto the plaza in outdoor seating. First impression of the place reminded me of restaurants in Spain, where the primo seating is "frente a la calle".
Food here was excellent and service lightning-fast. The mole enchilada was full of flavor and reasonably priced at $8.75, cheap enough to make this place regular lunch spot.
Can't comment yet on the quality of drinks or other items yet, but I will definitely be back! -
Review from Jane A.
6/10/2011
THEY DON'T SERVE DOG AND ITS NOT AN ANIMAL SHELTER!!
(3.8 stars)
Had to put it out there for those who were inquiring.
"What is up with my "tamale craving" out of nowhere?! Also, i've had quite a few people ask me "what's your favorite mexican restaurant" and my response would be **cricket cricket**. So I think it's about time to get on the ball and start figuring it out. This is NOT my favorite place but one of my most recommended places in the FiDi.
- Food, scarfing down like a mad-woman
- Prices, kind of fair (it aint taco bell!!!)
- Service, on point
- Ambiance, "bright & festive"
The most "authentic" Mexican restaurant that I have been to in FiDi (Financial District). You walk out onto the concert jungles of corporate america and into Mexico. Bright, festive, and decorated walls (like mexico). Been here on several occassions over the past 6yrs and forgot to yelp about it.
**avoid rush hour lunch, come here at 2pm**
HEFFER-STYLE STATUS.
TAMALE (one - $8.95) - Plate comes with rice and beans. When the waitress swung by to server me my plate my first impression was "messy presentation" but when is mexican food ever pretty?! I'd have to say the messier the better. But where is my corn husk? Typically when you order a tamale its wrapped in corn husk. I thought it was hidden underneath the mozzeralla cheese, rice, and black beans. Literally shoveling thru my plate to find my food! I actually enjoy unwrapping my tamale but it was already done for me. The tamale was delicious, masa was perfect - not too hard and not too mushy, However, I wish they had the option to unwrapped my own tamale and put the amount of cheese and sauce. My tamale was drenched in cheese and sauce (FYI, my system is sensative to cheese).
QUESADILLA ($8.25) - Quesadilla is a quesadilla. I think what makes a quesadilla pop are the fillings. Had this with grilled chicken and it was great.
NACHO LOUIE ($7.95) - had the half order. Half order was like a full order to me; generous portions. Like a quesadilla, it is what it is. But the fillings make it all quality.
ENCHILADAS (one - $8.95) - i've had this with shredded chicken or shredded beef. Both are tasty. Again, when the plates come to the table the servings all looked meshed together and messy looking. This place is great for drenching their plates with sauce. Enchiladas go very well with sauce. Wish they cut down the sauce and put some ontop and also in a side cup for you to add extra because I could not find my enchiladas.
Will I be back? If I am near the area and craving messy-can food!
Until the next review... -
Review from sasha h.
10/12/2011
I like this place for a couple reasons but mainly bc they are one of the few restaurants in the financial district that always seats our party of 12 from the office when we randomly come in for lunch and the place is already packed. Owners are really nice and very accommodating. The food isn't incredible but it is quite good. Like the chips and salsa, I usually fill up on those too soon :(. Margaritas are good as is the guac to start you off. The portions are big, the burrito grande is indeed grande, you'll likely have a second meal on your hands. They are fast, food is fresh and service is good. They also have outdoor seating for the handful of days San Francisco has nice enough weather to sit outside without a jacket. Favorites among out group are the burrito grande, enchiladas, any of the tacos and the fajita salad
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Review from Richa A.
10/9/2011
Ordered the burrito bandera for take-out from here. It's a wet burrito served with beans + rice on the side. Decent bang for your buck (it was $8.50 which I guess is cheaper because it was take-out?) in terms of filling-ness, but definitely not tasty. One of the blandest burritos I have had in a while. I couldn't taste the guacamole, the chicken was meh, and I would've preferred more pico de gallo / salsa.
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Review from Brenda C.
San Francisco, CA
7/26/2011
No complaints here. Good food, fresh and fast. Not greasy or too fried, I especially enjoyed the Snapper ceviche and the sopa de pollo. Nom.
They have a good selection of food, and not all of it being covered in cheese and sauce (for anyone who likes fresher mex, not greasy.)
I saved my face from an extra pimple. Just sayin'. -
Review from Mark D.
1/24/2011 1 photo
The ambiance is very festive.
There was a short wait for a table (less than ten minutes). Everyone was extremely polite. Once seated, service was quick and the server was very pleasant. Nice chips with sauces came out almost immediately The order was taken quickly. The drinks came out ASAP and the food was not far behind. There were several stop-bys for water refills and to see how things were going. Considering how busy they were, the service was impressive.
I ordered a special - The SF Giants Burritos. This was a platter with two small steak and cheese burritos covered with a sauce, Mexican rice, and black beans. The beans, rice, and sauce were all very good. The burritos were good but I actually thought they could have used a little more punch or an additional ingredient or two. Maybe some fresh cilantro or guacamole. They just seemed a bit plain.
Overall, it was a nice lunch experience and I will return and try something else. -
Review from Colleen B.
Oakland, CA
11/17/2010
I didn't know this place existed, but my coworker found it on Yelp, and it's only a couple minutes walk up on Commercial Street. A place known as "hair of the dog" is my kind of place ~ I already knew I would like it!
Mercedes is a really cute and inviting place. We got there at 1:00 so we missed the lunch rush. I can see this place packing in for lunch, thank dog we missed it. We were seated right away and water brought prompty with fresh chips (hot) and salas with our menu. So far good.
I had a shredded beef taco with a chicken enchilada and rice and beans. Everything was great. The enchilada sauce was savory, but not spicy and had a nice finish, definately homemade. The taco was crunchy with moist, flavorful beef. Rice and beans were exceptional, not just an afterthought.
Prices are comparable to Chevy's, but the food is better. Adding it to my get out for lunch spots. Next time I'll try a margarita. -
Review from Brian G.
Walnut Creek, CA
4/13/2011
Good place that processes people quickly for the lunch crowd. Prices were fair for Mexican in downtown. Food was pretty good. I am still searching for that great authentic Mexican place in SF Financial District.
The staff at Mercedes was very nice and prompt. Not super chatty, but took care of us. The food was a little bland, but way better than you find on the East Coast (I'm surprised they are allowed to call some of that stuff Mexican). I'd go back here if I was craving Mexican, wanted to sit down, and be out quick. -
Review from Vikki J.
Houston, TX
9/7/2010 6 photos
We were actually headed to another Mexican restaurant in Union Square when hubby read reviews that said the restaurant charges you for chips and salsa! Who charges for chips and salsa?
So with a little help from yelp, hubby found Mercedes Hair of The Dog Cantina.
Hubby: "Let's go to Mercedes Hair of The Dog."
Me: "We are getting mexican food at a hair salon?"
Hubby: "No, it's a mexican restaurant."
Me: "Uh, okay."
I know, you are thinking, what a stupido, but that's okay. I was standing somewhere in Chinatown freezing my ass off, so my brain was half frozen!
So, armed with our handy dandy gps navigation on our cell phones we headed off into the unknown.
15 minutes and 1 pit stop later we landed at Mercedes Hair of The Dog. It is a little off the beaten path.
We arrive in the middle of lunch hour and the tiny place was packed with business people, none of those damned tourists in sight, oh wait, that's what we are. The owner told us later that they don't get many tourists and can spot them right away.
As we were seated we were told it was the last table in the house, I felt so special!
We were given chips and salsa (red & green) and water right away and I ordered margaritas. The margaritas were kick ass and potent! Very, very good! The chips were good and crunchy, just right for the salsas. The red salsa was very spicy and you could taste the peppers, good flavor as was the green salsa.
I had the cheese enchiladas w/ verde sauce that came with rice and I got the black beans. The white cheese was very creamy and not stringy like some cheese. The enchiladas had a distinct flavor and was seasoned, not sure with what but they were very flavorful. There was sour cream and guacamole on the enchiladas. The rice was good as was the black beans. The beans were seasoned really well but not to the point were it overpowered the flavor of the beans. I had two enchiladas and couldn't finish either one of them, had to pass them off to hubby. I was stuffed!
Hubby had shrimp with mushrooms and green onions in a garlic sauce. The shrimp was very tender and not overcooked, you could taste the garlic in the mushrooms which made the shrimp even more flavorful. Hubby is more picky than I am when it comes to his mexican food, but I have to say this is the first time that I have ever seen him finish off everthing on his plate!
We had a very good meal/experience here. We meet the owner and she was very nice as was the service and the waitstaff!
We are from Texas so we are supposed to know our mexican food, right? Well, it depends, but we do eat our fair share of mexican food in TX and we are very picky people.
Hubby and I both felt the after effects of the margaritas and wanted to just fall over and take a good siesta, but knew we must be on our way.
On our way out we told the owner that we would try to make our way back before we leave on Saturday.
I must tell my friends that I found a good mexican restaurant in chinatown in San Francisco.
A mexican restaurant in chinatown, who'd a thunk it! -
Review from Karen Y.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2010
Mercedes Hair of the Dog...interesting name for a Mexican joint but my friends had a gift certificate from http://Restaurant.com so why not? It was tucked away in a narrow street but people were spilling out of it so that was a good sign. We got there a little after noon and the wait for 3 of us took around 20 min...it was packed and cramped in there! Reminded me of Chevy's with the bright colored walls/decor and had a Tex-Mex feel.
We were seated all the way in the back corner so that meant being neglected. Service was ok but the waitress seemed swamped the whole time we were there. At least we got a complimentary basket of chips with 2 kinds of salsa (green and red that were pretty spicy) but the chips were a little too oily for my taste. There were almost too many menu items and the entrees ranged from $9-$15 so definitely not the cheapest option for Mexican food.
I ordered one of the daily specials...2 carnitas tacos with fresh mango/pineapple salsa, plus rice and black beans ($12.50). The portions were HUGE but the quality of the food wasn't anything special. The tortillas were really greasy and the carnitas meat was seasoned well but not tender and shredded like I had expected. I really enjoyed the spicy and refreshing tropical salsa though! The sides were blah but I liked the cheese they sprinkled on top of the beans.
Luckily, it was a great deal with the discount so I only paid $6 plus tip for my share! Not my preferred place to go but would come back to try their other options (with a gift certificate of course) and for the lively ambiance. -
Review from May Y.
San Francisco, CA
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
The fish tacos and the chicken tostada salad are very good and the prices are reasonable. The service is very fast but you still have to get there early, between 11:30-12:00 to avoid a wait. Once the restaurant starts to fill up, it can get quite noisy so it's harder to hold a conversation.
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Review from Larry G.
San Francisco, CA
8/23/2011
Found this place by accident walking back to the office from lunch and decided to go back and try it. I went a little before 1 p.m. and was seated promptly. The service is quick, the chicken fajitas were good, love the chips and salsa (verde was my favorite), beverage refills were prompt--it's just a really well run place. The prices are what you would expect for a sit down restaurant. I'll definitely be going back.
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Review from Learnee L.
Emeryville, CA
10/10/2010
a pretty good spot for lunch when you're craving for Mexican food.
Especially if you want to sneak out of the office and grab some good margaritas.
food is good, service is pretty good. lunch is crowded.
margaritas in pitchers: good. -
Review from Vicky L.
4/9/2010
Once upon a time, there was a girl from sunny Orange County who moved to San Francisco, a land where warm weather and good Mexican food are scarce.
"Why couldn't we have gotten to-go and sat in the park to eat?"
"Because we wouldn't have gotten free chips and salsa!"
Oh yeah? Too bad the chips and salsa kind of sucked. The salsa verde was a lot better than the salsa rojo, but both were watery, a bit bland, mildly sour and had a hint of peppery spiciness. I would've preferred a bowl of pico de gallo with the chips, but at least there were free chips and salsa I suppose.
We beat the lunchtime crowd by going to Mercedes at 1. We waited about 5 minutes for a table, and most people around us were finishing up their meals. Everything on the menu is $10+, which is understandable for the Financial District, but seriously, it's Mexican food. That stuff costs $0.74 to make. The rest of the money is used to pay rent, I guess.
E ordered two enchiladas, and I decided to go with the Mercedes Burrito Grande, which was a HUGE burrito stuffed with chicken (or steak), black beans, cheese, rice, and salsa fresca. It was made "wet" with salsa rojo, a dollop of sour cream on one end, and a dollop of guacamole on the other end. It sat on a plate with a somewhat wilted green salad, which was topped with what looked and tasted like Thousand Island dressing and some chopped tomatoes.
The burrito was bland. Period. It was about 70% black beans, and the rest of it was slight portions of chicken, lumped-together cheese, rice and pico. The tortilla was rubbery and really hard to cut open, even with the knife. I got about halfway through until I decided that I was going to be physically sick if I ate any more. Furthermore, wet burritos are inefficient, because I can't pick them up with my hands and devour them greedily.
Right this second, I can't think of a bigger waste of $11.50, besides throwing it into the air and watching the wind carry it into the bay.
Total came out to $15 plus tip, and a breakdown of what I could've done:
$2 BART ride to the Mission.
$7 burrito from Taqueria Cancun, or any other Mexican place in the area.
$2 BART ride back.
Total = $11.
OMG NOT EVEN BREAKING EVEN. I hate myself for agreeing to have lunch with my friend. Next time, I'm picking. *disgruntled*
And they did not live happily ever after, because both their stomachs hurt after lunch.Listed in: Financial District Lunchtime
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Review from Tammy C.
Updated - 4/16/2010 4 photos
(See pic)
Came here for lunch again and this time we all had flautas. It was good but I still prefer chimichanga. The rice and beans were very good.
It's a great lively business lunch spot to hang out with your outgoing and sporty coworkers. It's okay priced considering it's a sit down place.
Also love the big basket of fresh chips and salsa. It makes a long workday worth something to look forward to.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/3/2010
(See pic)
Very much of 3.7 stars.
I loyally read yelp reviews and keep my expectations expected… Read more »
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Review from Alison C.
7/20/2010
My brother and I recently took a vacation to San Francisco and one of our goals was to sample one of the famed burritos from the Mission District. However, he had reserved our first lunch for a meeting with his work counterparts that were based in that office. While the ladies were rather delightful, their restaurant recommendation was less than stellar. In fact, this crowded Mexican spot was actually a waste of a San Fran culinary experience.
Sure it was a weekday lunch hour, but having to wait for our table was rather irritating. Our meal began with bland, nearly unsalted tortilla chips and an extremely mild salsa, which did not improve my spirits about tolerating the delay.
Our shockingly large lunch platters were delivered rather quickly, but barely satisfied us. Though the server highly recommended that I order the Tacos Pescado, I found the red snapper chunks pretty dry and irredeemable even with toppings of salsa fresca and guacamole. The homemade tortillas, however, were deliciously light and flavorful. My brother's massive, brick-sized Spinach Burrito was filled with a mixture of fresh spinach and mushrooms in a garlic sauce with black beans, cheese, and salsa fresca. He decided to add grilled chicken into the blend, but the meat turned out rather dry. A large side salad accompanied the already filling platter.
Mercedes Hair of the Dog Cantina might seem rather traditional, but there are much more authentic options in San Francisco. The portions are large, but hefty plates of bland food do not warrant a visit or the wait for a table. -
Review from JulieAnna M.
Albany, CA
7/27/2011
I'm giving Mercedes 3.5 stars because (1) It's hard to find good mexican food in the financial district (2) great carnitas and pinto beans (3) the owners & staff are soooo nice.
When I first came to Mercedes I was turned off because the owners were Caucasian (plz don't hate me for saying that). The fact that I'm Mexican, it has always irritated me to see white, asian, etc. owners yet they have Mexicans cooking in the kitchen....BUT....by the time I left Mercedes, I felt bad for having that thought. The owners are fabulous!! Great food & great service!!
Negatives: (1)The food is a little pricey but hey what food in the financial district is not pricey (2) Their rice is bland.
FYI...if you order your food for pick-up it's cheaper (example: $12 burrito is about $8.75 if you order it to go). -
Review from Melissa B.
San Francisco, CA
10/13/2008
I had forgotten that food could be this bad.
Now, I haven't Yelped in a while, but what I just ate/pretended to eat for lunch today was so mind-blowingly awful that I am compelled to share.
This is officially the worst, most flavorless, poorest-quality, least fresh pseudo-Mexican food I have ever had. Limp, slimy, sad lettuce. Sour cream surely full of stabilizers. Chicken reeking of hormones, ineptly "grilled", cartilidge-y and bland to boot. Black beans: zero seasoning. Guacamole: more watery than I thought possible. Even the iced tea was undrinkable.
Why was I here? Because I have an impossibly cheap boss, who thought it fitting to welcome our new regional sales director with a "get to know you" bargain lunch (shamelessly rebuffing my suggestions for Kokkari, Perbacco, etc - despite the fact that we were expensing this!)and side order of food poisoning. There has got to be some sort of hidden agenda here, because I can't believe anyone would possibly choose this place for the food. -
Review from Liz S.
6/4/2009
It's FIDI style Mexican, but it works.
The service was especially nice, as were my Tacos al Pastor (with chicken, which was new for me). My friend had a generous and very tasty plate of Huevos Rancheros - among the best in SF.
Plates bigger than your head, prices on the high side, but overall a nice place to get your fix of Mexican food. Skip the rice and beans and have more chips and salsa. -
Review from Matt H.
Berkeley, CA
12/28/2009
Here is why you should go to Chevy's instead:
Mercedes charges $12 for two tacos. $8 for a bowl of that weird jelly-like premade guacamole. $4 for a small Coke. Chevy's is the same price only with bigger tacos, fresh guac, and a coke that comes in a container that looks like it should be loaded into artillery.
Mercedes has the exact same FiDi crowd (read: more money than sense or time) only lacks Chevy's team of smiling automatons who are terrified for their jobs if you are not orgasmic about the service. Instead you will get folks who are friendly, but are also slow and inept.
Mercedes managed to deliver two chicken tacos when the order was two beef tacos, then delivered a single beef taco sometime just after everyone else was done eating. Chevy's will replace your whole dish pronto if something is wrong.
Mercedes might refill your Coke with Diet Coke without asking, whereas Chevy's gives you enough Coke in the first place to pour on the floor and kayak home.
I'm not saying Chevy's is good, mind you. It sucks. But it's better than this place. -
Review from Jared S.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2009
Four stars for the food... but NINE stars for the bartender who topped our margaritas. Yeah, you heard me. He topped them off when we were almost done with our first drinks. I would come back here simply for him alone.
Oh yeah, and their margs are strong and tasty. I had 1.5 and was a little loopy for a few hours.
This place is on a small street and gets crowded fast, so try to get here before peak hours. We ended up sitting at the bar up front. It was pretty loud and hard to hear each other (and people felt the need to wait for their friends practically in our laps), but it also meant we got to be served by that awesome guy... so all's well that ends well.
I'll definitely come back. And I'll bring friends. And a sleeping bag so I can get whatever drinks are leftover at the end of the night. -
Review from Blair S.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2010
We had a wedding rehearsal dinner and welcome reception for our out of town guests at Mercedes Cantina. This was obviously an important event, but we wanted to have it at a place that would be fun, large enough to fit our group of about 70 people, that wouldn't break the bank and in a convenient location. After looking at several different options we chose Mercedes Cantina. We had a fantastic experience. The food was really good, the margaritas and beers we served during the open bar was delicious, and Kate and the crew was extremely helpful in making it a great event. What's great is, you can rent out the whole place on weekend evenings with all the furniture, the utensils, plates and cooking gear all for a reasonable rate. They even made us some to go plates since we didn't have time to eat!
For a fun event like we wanted and had, I cannot recommend Mercedes Cantina highly enough. Thanks again Kate and crew!! -
Review from Kingpin X.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2009
We got a table right away - but we were lucky - it was a slow day and it got very busy before we left. The food was fresh and very tasty and plentiful. The staff were helpful and charming - even the busboy cracked a joke about the largest complimentary serving of chips I have ever seen! The margaritas went down too easy, given theat it was a lunchtime on a "school-day"- made with quality tequila and fresh juice.
But the kicker can be summed up in two words - mashed potato tacos. Let me say that again... "MASHED POTATO TACOS".
Oh Yes! I will be back! -
Review from Fannie S.
12/23/2008 7 Check-ins Here
This is my boss' favorite place for Mexican, so I finally went with my co-workers for our secret santa luncheon.
Food = Good but lacking seasoning.
I tried the Chili Colorado (beef) which was delicious, delicate and nie flavors but lacked hotness. They start off the table with fresh tortilla chips (sans grease) with salsa rojo and salsa verde. The verde was decent but the rojo needed spices and salt. My co-worker's taco pescado (snapper) was very, very bland, even though the accompaniments were fine. My other co-worker ordered the arroz con pollo which was very good--full of robust flavors and great for such a cold day.
Drinks = Good margaritas. (Perfect mixture of sweet and sour and a hint of the alcohol, without ruining your palate for the rest of the meal.)
Service = fast but somewhat inefficient. They gave my co-worker black beans instead of refried which she asked for in the beginning, and they gave me flour tortillas instead of corn as I had asked for. Service was a bit too lax, but I'm willing to concede that it is before the holidays and they were slammed with four tables 6+ persons.
Prices = decent for the portion sizes.
Decor = dimly lit, outdoorsy feel to the furniture, and bright colors everywhere.
Overall, I'll go back to this place for lunch, as I work near this area. -
Review from Caroline C.
San Francisco, CA
10/1/2007
For Financial District Mexican food standards this place is pretty good! It's super crowded every time I've been here. The chips are always warm and the salas are always spicy! Just the way I like it!
I've had the potato tacos and most recently had their spinich enchilada special. Both entrees were tasty, but their vegetarian selection is pretty limited.
Get there early, around 1130, and you'll beat the lunch crowd. The lunches are pretty huge, served with rice and beans. Service is pretty good, considering how crowded it gets.
Fun, loud place to go for decent, tasty mexican food in the FiDi. -
Review from Amy S.
3/12/2009
Where the hell is my review? I yelped this place before and now its gone!!!
I came here on my bday and wrote a review right after so i could remember my bday lunch! my memories are gone forever! -
Review from Teri C.
11/3/2006 5 photos
It was my second visit to Mercedes Restaurant and I'm still not sure why it's always so packed.
When our party of five arrived, we were told that our table was almost ready. (There was a party still sitting there. They had paid their check already, but were still figuring out the money thing among themselves. We were told that the party was informed that they has another party waiting after them, so they should hurry up. I actually felt bad about that. I would hate to be told that I need to hurry up because they are other people after me.)
Meanwhile, we were given menus so we could get our orders in early. I decided on the Enchiladas Tampiquenas with Black Beans for (one chicken & one cheese enchilada topped with Mercedes' tomato cream sauce & two strips of carne asada.) $11.95.
We still waited quite awhile for our food to arrive when we were finally seated. Meanwhile, we stuffed ourselves with chips and the hot sauces provided. There are two, the green and red, and they are both on the spicier end.
My entree was alright. It was decent, nothing really special about it.
I felt rushed the whole time I ate there. Yes, the noise level is loud and you get the sense of urgency while eating there, so you feel the need to rush too. I don't like feeling this way when I'm having a meal, especially when I have to return to a quiet and slow-paced office environment.
Everyone ate their lunch respectively, but there were some errors. One friend ordered one taco and got two. (And she was charged for two, as well.) Another friend ordered a half order, but was given a full order instead. (And she was charged for the full order.) Usually, I would have insisted on paying for what I ordered, but my friends couldn't be bothered at this point with the error.
It's not what I would recommend or having a craving for in the future. Future suggestions were for us to haul ass on BART and head to the Mission if we want some better Mexican food. I may just have to do that the next time.
Side note: If possible, always make reservations. With it only being open for lunch, it's always crowded and you can wait your whole lunch hour for seating!
Update! 09/28/07 - Just came back from lunch there again and didn't get a chance to check out my own review before going! This time our party was really smart and made reservations for 11:45 am and got there on time for them. This is EXTREMELY important as the tables fill up VERY quickly when the clock strikes twelve. Not only that, you have to get your orders in before they big rush, otherwise you'll be stuck waiting.
Two baskets of warm tortilla chips and two salsas were placed on our table. Hungry little bees we were as we dove into the chips head on! I ordered the same thing as we before, the Enchiladas Tampiquenas. Funny how I went for the same thing again. The strips of carne asada are good, especially if you cover it up with the salsas. My enchiladas were okay though, I ended up leaving the rest of my chicken one. The rice is okay too and the black beans are decent. I think I should just stick to the Carne Asada order from the Grill part of the menu since three people from my party ordered that. There aren't too many options for vegetarians though.
Service was better this time, quick and efficient with no errors. I feel that my two star was a bit harsh, and since I will probably go back if someone suggests it, I'll move it up to a three. Mercedes does so well because they are one of the few, if not the only sit down Mexican restaurant in the Financial District. (Not including chain restaurants like Chevy's.)
I should note, it's been a little over an hour since we've finished eating and I'm ready to fall asleep! See what happens when you overeat on Mexican food during your lunch hour!
(And of course I updated the business profile with pics from our recent dining!) -
Review from James M.
Oakland, CA
8/14/2006
I've been to Mercedes for lunch a few times. The four stars covers all lunch experiences, but the review was inspired after lunch last Friday.
We waited a long time for a table which was okay because my companion and I were not in rush. We also arrived a little after 12 without a reservation. There was a hostess mix up so we were left off the list. Had we been in a rush (to get back to work), that could have been annoying. The hostess was very apologetic and offered to cover two of our margaritas. Did she? I don't know actually come to think of it.
This was a three margarita lunch so what I remember was this. . .
-Chips were awesome as was the salsa (chips are huge with me!).
-Margarita special is with Herradura Silver which was very good. Companion and I are both margarita snobs and we were pleased with the drinks.
-Whatever we ordered was good although I don't remember because I was too focused on my lunch companion, er maybe it was the three margaritas...no no it was my companion.
If you work downtown, this place is great for a fun lunch. Good mexican food, decent prices, and festive ambiance.
Me gusta Mercedes! -
Review from M The C ..
Northern, CA
7/14/2006
I read a bunch of the reviews on this place, and while most of them are upper-star reviews, I did see a few lower-star reviews ...
I give 4 stars because the place was brand-spanking new to the scene when we went. Packed to the gills and the staff handled us with care and consideration.
The food was quite good; albeit our lunch companion was a whiny little snit 'allergic' to corn (I didn't know one could be allergic to corn!), so our order came slower than the rest so they could kill a different vegetable for her.
Our food was fresh, hot where it should be hot and cold where it should be cold. The beverages were quite good and I didn't leave feeling weighted down by what I'd eaten.
The price was in the $22 pp range, which is par for the FiDi. -
Review from Linda C.
A bit hidden in the alley, but not a bad place for lunch. Gets busy during the lunch rush. The place is colorfully decorated with papel picado and is good for large groups. Service was extremely slow and we had to ask for our drinks 3 times before we got them. Plus, the server forgot to order my food. Everybody was done eating by the time mine came out. She had the audacity to blame it on the kitchen and said they messed up my order after she asked what I ordered and I saw her punch it into the system.
Overall food is pretty good food but all the food was salty. They aren't cheap about giving you a large mound of chips and refilling the salsa. Service needs a lot of work.
- Steak Burrito & Chile Ruellno Combo: very cheesy but good, flavorful burrito and saucy
