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Categories: Greek, Mediterranean [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial DistrictMon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"In reading some reviews for this place, there are things that I agree with, the food is wonderful and there are not enough people there. I…" read more »
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Oh Sens, how I want to love you... but I don't. Sorry, it's the brutal truth. I've been here countless times for happy hour and appetizers, and even stayed a few times for dinner. It never delivers. It's a great place to meet up with friends after work and drink, the patio is awesome especially during the rare warm city evenings. Other than that, the food is marginal at best, and it can get pricey. Service can also be dicey. It's best to sit at the bar if you want any kind of prompt service.
The best thing I've ever had out of this place was dessert when Shuna Fish Lydon was their Pastry Chef for like a millisecond. One of the most divine desserts that I have ever tasted. It's a shame she is no longer there. I'd go just for desserts... and drinks.
So yeah, go meet friends for drinks, sit at the bar or on the patio, then find somewhere else for dinner. Solid three stars for drinks at the bar two stars for food and table service.
I haven't eaten dinner here, so this review is just for cocktails and appetizers.
My friends always want to go here, so I've tried it several times to give it a fair shake. I really, really want to like this place. The patio is spacious with lots of places to sit (even though they've replaced a lot of the sofas with tables). You also can't beat it on a warm SF night when you can head out onto the balcony for a wonderful view of the Embarcadero, Ferry Building, and Bay Bridge. The drinks are pretty good and the appetizers are adequate.
There are just a couple of things that disappoint me every time. For one, the Happy Hour prices aren't that happy for my wallet. $18 for an appetizer of four spreads? $4 for extra flatbread because there wasn't enough provided? The drinks aren't inexpensive either (even at Happy Hour prices). The second issue is that they always seem to be understaffed, so the service can tend to be slow. Really slow.
I just don't think it's worth the money, so I probably won't be going to another Happy Hour unless it's for someone's birthday....
Sens, oh how I love you. Warm goat cheese, you are my friend. Flatbreads? Come over any time. I won't turn you away, mezze plate. And your friends Maker's Mark Manhattan and Lagunitas IPA (in a pitcher, no less)? I think we can make room.
Crystal is the model of waitressdom (though Dawn is no slouch) - lovely, talented, and willing to put up with me. Will can run the bar like nobody's biz. San Francisco provides the scenery and weather. What's not to like?
Oh, before I forget - the hookah service is quite addictive. I managed to taste the watermelon and mint shishas between coughing fits (thanks, asthma!) - not bad at all.
***This is a review pertaining to the club night that synergy hosts on some Saturday nights.
I have no idea why they even say to get on the guestlist to get in free cover. That is a LIE!!! False advertisement!!! We waited for about an hour and a half. Suspiciously the line was moving sooooo very slow to walk into a half way full club. Right after 11:30 (when they start charging cover) magically the line moved way faster than before. The cover was a steep $20!!!! The bartender pour three shots of grey goose even though I asked for Patron. Drinks were expensive $56 for 3 shots of goose and 2 coronas!!! Music was pretty good but nothing amazing!! The bartender was rude!! I don't think I'll be back, not my cup of tea!!
This is a great spot for business lunches. The views are great and the atmosphere is stylish but not too stuffy. Haven't had dinner here, but I've always been happy with the lunch selection and pricing. My favorite dishes are the lamb burger, the halibut and the stuffed olives. The spreads are pretty good too. Service can be a little slow when it comes to picking up the check, so make sure you let them know you're limited on time if you're there for lunch.
So I went there for my friend b-day. The event was held by synery, so it was an asian town night. Me and bf were the only non asians there. Other than that, it was cool crow. The view was soo pretty, of the bay bridge and the tower. The drinks were pretty decent price. The only problem was the parking, which you would of course would have to pay for. Other than that, I will defitnely go there.
The one star is for the nice view and the VERY GOOD grilled calamari. The minus four star is for the uncooked chicken meatballs, and the VERY RUDE waitstaff.
I really really used to love this place for lunches. they had a great lunch prix fixe menu, lovely outdoor seating, and I love mediteranean food. The lamb burger was always yum.
BUT- the recent two visits have alienated me forever. The first time I went with 3 other co-workers, and we ordered the lamb burger, the paella, a steak, some sandwich entree and a bunch of appetizers. The Lamb tartar was quite good, tasting of cumin and spices rather than that sheep smell. The chicken meatballs were undercooked and the interior was pink, and still mushy. Our lamb burger came after 35 minutes of wait, and when it got to the table it was already cold. The paella was very salty, and the steak was pedestrian. This, along with a wait person that was inattentive (dropped utensils in guest lap while serving, spilling water, and failing to fill glasses when asked). I had the prix fixe lunch, and was not even served the dessert portion of the meal. Our meal totalled around $150.
We wrote a letter to the management, and received a very nice letter in response, offering a gift certificate for us to use on a return trip. The gift certificate was for $50. We finally worked up the desire to even give the place another try, after about 4 months. On a sunny day in September we tried the place again.
This time the waitstaff started out brilliantly. he was helpful, and recommended dishes and checked with the chef when he didn't know the answer to my questions. We got the grilled octopus this time, and it was great! the meat was soft and tender, the pink skin had been mostly removed from the tentacles, and the lemon dressing and the salad on the side complimented so well. We started to look forward to our entrees
35 minutes after our appetizers had been served, and all of the tables around us, whom sat down after us and ordered after us had all been served their entree. There was still no entrees in sight. I thought perhaps it was due to the paella taking longer to cook--- but I look to the next table, and they ordered about 15 minutes after us, and they had been served their paella already!
I politely asked the server over and explained the situation, that we were the first table to sit down in the restaurant, that we had ordered ahead or everyone else, and why is it that other tables had already received their entrees, and we are still waiting.
The manager came over and was very rude, he basically said- well your food is at the pass now, so what do you want me to do about it? a simple apology, an acknowledgment that the food should have arrived sooner? Anyways, we were so irritated that we returned the entrees... and left.
Perhaps others will have better luck, but twice in a roll is enough for me.
About the food - I only tried a smidge of the hummus and it was alright. Not the best hummus I'd ever had, but it was ok. We were there mostly for happy hour with small plates.
Also, in spite of the service, my friends still plan on going back because they enjoy the Mediterranean music and hookahs. I tend to work later in the peninsula most days of the week, so I won't push myself to make it to a happy hour at Sens.
I went to Sens for the first time Friday August 7th after hearing many friends rave about it. I just… Read more »
I have a soft spot in my heart for Sens, since (1) it definitely is not lacking in ambition, with a great North African/Mediterranean menu, and (2) they're in a location that, while beautiful, is not the easiest to get to, making them have to work a little bit harder than the competition. So I will be generous and give them 4 stars, even though 3.5 is probably a more accurate assessment.
The pros? A really well thought out menu, great appetizers, fantastic views of the Embarcadero and the Bay, and a great open room for happy hour/get-together type events. My employer has had so many receptions over there, and it's always a good time with groups. The cons? Service is typically on the slow side, there really wasn't a full renovation from the space's Montecristo days (i.e., not all the decor fits), and the consistency on the entrees leaves a bit to be desired. Still, it's a fun place, and I'm always glad to visit.
Well really it's 3 and a half stars. I was a bit disappointed as I've been here before for a party as the view and location along the Embarcadero is great. I'm gonna have to come in again for hookah during happy hour sometime.
I came in for lunch with a group and had the spread of flatbreads and various hummus dips which were alright. Nothing to get excited about...although do try the fried crispy stuffed olives.
Maybe I'm being critical with the 3-stars but I had the paella and the way it's described falls flat with the taste. This paella had overdone chewy free-range chicken, chorizo, prawns, with mussels and clams adorning the perimeter. The key is the stock and it seemed rather flavorless.
Others had the flat iron steak, plum salad and the halibut, all looked great and they seemed pretty pleased with it. Especially the big piece of halibut that was given.
I think with the prices I'd rather stick with Kokkari a couple blocks away!
I want to go back to this place. We went for appetizers and hookah and we were taken away by the spectacular view. There are three options for seating there is outdoor with the nice couches and the view, then there is the heated outdoor seating that looked like a cabana and finally there is the indoor seating that reminded me of a wine cellar and/or an outdoor pizza stove because of all the brick on the wall.
We showed up at 7:20 and were able to make the happy hour that ended at 7:30 (what luck!). We ordered a little smorgasbord platter, but I definitely had appetizer envy when I saw the dishes that were delivered to other people like the mini lamb sliders, the donut holes, etc.
I can't believe I work just a block away and haven't been here for lunch/dinner!!! The restaurant is absolutely gorgeous, and the view is fabulous!
Although we didn't order it, the $19 business lunch is a great deal. I think it includes a beverage, app, entree, and dessert.
Food was impeccable. The hummus in olive they give you with bred is delish! Flat bread is a must-order. I had Manti, which was amazing!!! Meatless dish but I really didn't miss the meat. My friends got lamb burger w/ fries and mushroom linguini. Holy lamb, that lamb burger was good, but those fries w/ chili pepper flakes were to die for!!! The mushroom linguini was very nice as well.
One minor disappointment was the sangria I ordered. I thought it was flavorless. I will not order this again. However, the special raspberry cocktail was fantastic. I will order this drink again and again and again.
The restaurant is a bit hidden. I guess that's why I never came here before It's at the promenade level, which is equivalent to level 3 from the street level (level 1) in Embarcadero 4. There are 2 ways to get to this restaurant: 1) enter through Embarcadero 4 and take the escalator up to promenade level (level 3); or 2) enter through Hyatt, go up to the lobby level, and exit directly to the restaurant.
Overall, this was a wonderful lunch w/ friends. I can't wait to come back for happy hour and hookah.
My boss was nice today and took me and 2 of my coworkers to lunch at Sens. We arrived around noon on a Tuesday, with reservations, and were seated right away. The place was actually very empty so we didn't even need the reservations. It was all cute and rustic, but with a boring, monotone song on. It sounded like we were in a bad trance club. I'm not even the only one who noticed this (since I'm hyper sensitive to music), we all did. But that's whatever. We started with the Lamb Tartare, which was delicious, with equally delicious fried pitas to put it on. This was the best part of the meal! We also got a red lentil basil spread which came with some flatbread, which was very tasty too. Complimentary with the meal is regular bread with hummus, which was ok. Anyway with all of that, I was filling up before lunch even came. I got the slow roasted pork sandwich, which had a little onion carrott almond salad on the side. The salad was too oniony but take those out and it was good. I liked my sandwich, although it could have used more meat and less bread. I felt that the pork was a little drowned out by all the bread. V got the chicken lavash wrap, which I almost got. I am so glad I didn't, because she really didn't like it. She said it was too spicy yet bland at the same time...but the fries were good. A got the lamb burger, which she enjoyed, and B had the grilled spanish octopus with a side of broccolini, which he liked. I'm not a large lunch eater, so I was too full for dessert. Service was pretty good, except for the end, when the waiter dumped a dirty knife onto V's sweater. I think he could have been more apologetic. Overall, it was good, and I'd return, especially maybe at dinner when I have a larger appetite, or maybe for a drinks date. It's a pretty place, and has different flavors than I get to eat a lot. I'd also try more of the wonderful appetizers.
2.5 stars, a little disappointing -- was the regular chef off? maybe ordered the wrong thing
came here for a dinner meeting with a set limited menu
kinda had higher expectations for the food
selected the halibut with corn risotto
avocado salsa was boring, risotto was dry
salad was bland, where were the heirloom tomatoes
chocolate bread pudding dessert was dry and didn't even come with the advertised brown sugar ice cream
maybe should have had manti or lamb stew
bread with hummus/olive oil
restaurant was empty
free 4 hr evening validated parking
Great happy hour. Stunning views. Hooka!
The service was SO slow- our waiter was no where to be found pretty much the whole time we were there, but the other servers were very helpful.
We shared the three dips plate, had to order more pita to finish it off. They were all delicious. Very yummy cocktails.
This is actually a 3.5 stars rating.
My Auntie and I came here for lunch. It was our first time here and we both think this place was very good. Nice Decor and view. Very comfortable seating. Nice and friendly server but SLOW Service.
We ordered an appetizer, a salad and an entree to share.
Appetizer:
Grilled Octopus - It served on a lettuce cups with fresh vegetable salsa. The presentation was pretty and the dressing was delicious but I think the octopus was a little salty to me. Other than that, it was a good dish!
Salad:
Plum Salad - This one is nothing special but I can say the plum was very fresh (fresh plum and not from the canned)
Entrees:
Chicken Wrap with spiced french fries - The portion was HUGH. It was so nice that the kitchen split the food for us. This was an extra credit to the waiter because he looked kind of slow when we ordered the food. Anyway, the wrap was so delicious. The meat was so tender and juicy.
Too bad that I had no room for the dessert...maybe next time!
I've only been here for happy hour.
Great prices for their specialty cocktails. Carafes are a good deal at $12.
Food comes in incredibly small portions. Don't bother with it. I always try to happy hour hop to Chevys in Embarcadero 2 right before 7 so I can order their $4 appetizers... now THOSE are a great deal. (but then again, it's chevys...)
Hookah is a nice option.
Great little spot on a warm sunny day as it has outdoor seating with awesome views of the ferry building/bay bridge.
Service is horrible. Otherwise, this would easily get a 5 star review. For the first hour, our waitress never checked in with us. Only after going up to another waiter did she do regular check ups. Not at all friendly.
I had a Sens-ational lunch here. There's nothing better than good food except good food that's free.
The appetizers were solid--the Crispy Olives were a bit salty but bursting with spices and the Grilled Flat Bread was doughy and delicious like a light Mediterranean pizza. My entree, however, stole the show.
I had the Paella and it was the the best paella I've ever had in my life--even better than the one I ate up in Barcelona, Spain and the one I cook up at home with a boatload of seafood, saffron, and herbs. This paella had crispy golden brown free-range chicken, chorizo, prawns, and quite a few mussels and clams. A MUST HAVE.
The happy hour is pretty good as well. Cocktails are just $6 and there's a decent spread of inexpensive small plates like patatas bravas, lamb meatball sliders, and apple turnovers. I'll be back again and again--hopefully not on my own dime, of course.
What kind of twat would try to pick up my girl right in front of me while she was holding my hand?
The kids at this club, that's who. Filthy, filthy children. I had no idea what was going on until after it happened. What happened to the clubbing scene? Everyone here was asian and had no class.
The dancefloor was super humid, and it was super crowded. We had a table and it still took us over thirty minutes to get in. Right when it hit 2am, we were getting ushered out.
Don't think I'd come back to this place. Wasn't the staff's fault, I think I'm just jaded.
*Nightclub*Synergy*
So I came here for my birthday last month and ran into nothing but headache and not the good hangover kind either... Along with the grand I spent on booze I was supposed to get my own guestlist as well as a handful of "comps" for non-RSVPed/late people as agreed upon previously with the the host-man. Sneakily, without me knowing the girl with the neon clipboard comped all my earlier guests and sent the rest to my very-special-people line, which turned out to be the very-slow-regular-guestlist line. When I took my troubles to Francis, who is the head VIP coordinator for Synergy and guy who's helping me set everything up, I was confronted by an incredulous stare and a canned reply "Oh, I thought I told you?" No Francis, you didn't tell me... He was unhelpful in getting the situation resolved and damn near rude. After watching my pockets produce cover fees to help buddies get in and listening to plenty complaining from me and my party, he did send us a bottle of champagne, like the free bottle of champagne I've seen other clubs give to their birthday guests, usually free of the hassle. Thanks, at least, for the reach around =P
Basically I wanted to have a trouble free night out with my friends, have a couple drinks and a dance or two. The club was really Asian even for me (the asian guy), DJ spun top 40, crowd was generally rude and the promotion company was scheisty. 1 star for the venue. I wouldn't mind coming back here for dinner sometime, hold the Synergy
What an amazing experience. I was completely blown away by the food. We only had appetizers and I truly recommend getting a few appetizers instead of one main dish so that you can really savor the variety of flavors they offer.
We shared the grilled octopus which was nothing short of magic. I definitively know I'll be ordering this again next time. We also shared the lamb meatballs (yums), basil/lentil spread, and crab cakes (I know... crab cakes... boring and overdone, but the waiter recommended it to us and it didn't disappoint, the sauce is great!).
The service was stellar, we didn't have to wait for a table and the food came out lightning fast.
Can't wait to come back!
Tried this for Dine About Town lunch in San Francisco 2009:
Great wait staff, great recommendations from the menu from waiter, water was always filled without asking.
Lamb burger: perfectly cooked and their fries are very fresh. Good balance of the meat and cheese.
Eggplant crostini: wonderfully flavored, nice caramelization of the onions to give that nice sweetness.
Split pea soup: nice touch with the olive oil and maybe a bit of yogurt in it. A classic soup with Mediterranean flair.
Creme Brulee Catalan: citrus flavored creme brulee - very smooth.
Banana crepe with chocolate and walnut ice cream: nice touch that it was still hot when it arrived at our table. But Crepe may be a little tough. But I still liked it as it was still warm.
I've been to Sens several times and love coming back. The crispy olives (excellent with a cocktail), the flat bread with dates, and the mezza plate are my favorites but many items on the menu are very good.
The views are serene and I really like the expansive stone interior. It has a rustic feel and an interesting layout that adds mystery with alcoves, a separate lounge area, and a patio. This is an ideal venue for an event.
The pièce de résistance is that parking in free in the Embarcadero garage after 6:00pm with validation.
This little place is great - only issue is, I didn't know it existed for the longest time!
I went here first for a party - where I swear we were oldest people there, but what an ego boost when the guys there were like "you can't be that old!" Awesome.
So for the restaurant, great great food. It's really fresh and you can taste that. We ordered a few things, the dip-tasting, all 4 dips. 3 of the 4 are great and one is ehhh. Lamb lettuce salad, I didn't even know wtf lamb lettuce was, but now I know, it's great! So flavorful and balanced. We also ordered the ravioli - you can skip this actually and get the market casserole instead (for vegetarians).
We also ordered the Sangria, red because they ran out of white, and it was pretty good too.
The best part? You can go out on the patio for some hookah. Why's this so great you may ask? Because for $15 you can smoke some hookah while looking at the Ferry building and sitting above Justin Herman plaza.
Such a great night for a group of close friends.
Club Venue Review Only
Sutra was ridiculously packed on a Saturday night, so a bunch of friends and I switched plans at the last minute. I'm glad I did, because I enjoyed this club and look forward to coming back someday to try the food.
Parking was relatively easy. If you are not on the list or whatesoever, $20 cover. Synergy was promoting the night I came, so Asians galore as usual. Loved the music, very spacious, and a spectacular view of the city. If you get bottle service, get the booth inside the club with the view overlooking Embarcadero (Best location throughout the whole club, trust me). Bar area is not cramped and getting drinks is easy.
It gets a quite stuffy in certain areas and they played about every new Britney song on her recent CD (no lie). It almost seemed like Britney came up after every few songs, but I loved how they mixed a little bit of the old school hip hop jams too. The best part about this club is that it is located in the Embarcadero 4 center, which means tons of space/benches to sit outside and get a little breather when it gets too steamy to the point where the windows even fog up in the club (Ugh, not a good mix when inebriated). Overall, lots of space to pull that good lookin' girl/guy aside to sit and chill out. =) The best of all, loved the music!
My first visit was a business discussion on the terrace overlooking the Ferry Building, Bay Bridge, the Farmers' Market and the foot of Market Street. I drank a gorgeous Merlot which I'm embarrassed to not be able to name, toked on their hookah a bit (I had no idea peach-flavored tobacco was so delicious), and nibbled on olives, oil, and bread. The afternoon was balmy but not too cold; in short sleeves I was comfortable.
Today's visit was a business lunch, and that's exactly what I ordered: the Business Lunch, which started with bread, oil and hummus. I drank a great Pinot Griggio (again---forgive my woeful absentmindedness; I cannot name the winery) which was perfectly matched to the Turkish kabob. Alongside the kabob was a crêpe filled with asparagus and other mixed veggies---yum!
The Business Lunch included dessert, a tort with cold chocolate mousse, whipped cream, and rasberries on top...decadent!! For $19.00, the food quality was excellent, delicious, and the perfect quantity to avoid returning to work feeling bloated. Service was attentive, quiet, and incredibly agile, considering the depth of the booth in which we were seated. It takes talent to refill my wine glass over two other people seated closer to the server!
For their location and price point, Sens impresses me. I look forward to dinner there some evening soon, with only pleasure to discuss with a friend!
LOVED THIS PLACE! Came here on a really sunny and warm Tuesday for lunch. The server was super nice, the pinot grigio he suggested was perfection, and the view of the ferry building & farmer's market was awesome. We sat on the balcony but the inside of the restaurant was really nice and had a great vibe.
Had the lamb tartar and it was to die for! Also had the ravioli and it was stuffed with deliciousness. I think it had beets, onions, cheese and pine nuts.
Can't wait to go back!
*For club venue*
Located on the 3rd floor of the Embarcadero 4 center where street parking is plentiful if you go a few blocks out.
The entrance line moves at a snails pace so get there early if you are on the gueslist and want free admission. I say be at the line by 9:30 if you want to get in by 11pm. Yeah, no kidding. In addition, they have a strict dress policy. Vegas style, therefore, no tennis shoes or ghettoness haha.
SFPD on duty and posted in the front.
First thing I noticed was how big the place is. Plenty of walking, sitting and standing space. Dance floor is a tad small and will get really crowded as the night goes on. The view from the dance floor is awesome. Look out of the big windows and onto Embarcadero/Port of SF. Enjoy it because the windows will be entirely filled with condensation through the night.
The bar is right there and behind it is the vip lounge. First club I've been to that offers self-serve water with cups. That is a rarity. I am sure everyone appreciates the free water.
Modern day hiphop bumping all night long.
The only beer they had was Bud light. :/
The line to the guys restroom was longer than the girls. This is sad. :(
My friend and I had a very odd experience here, thanks to our very brusque waiter. We think he may have been a barman or sommelier filling in for the night, but he was an odd guy. Never before have I been told that I wouldn't like something (said to me when I tried to order the white sangria). One the one hand, I appreciate a waiter who tells you what is good on the menu, but its not befitting to the restaurant to have someone who is too honest. The diplomatic way for him to have handled this situation would have been to suggest something that he likes better, rather than saying that I would not like something, when he has no idea who the hell I am and what the hell I like. On top of that, he was far more attentive to other tables than to ours, which is probably because I defiantly ordered that white sangria he told me I wouldn't like.
As for the food, I didn't eat anything revelatory. I enjoyed my starter salad with fatoosh, and I did not enjoy about half of my market casserole entree. I generally expect a vegetarian entree to be cohesive, rather than a strange melange of individually prepared vegetables, hastily thrown together in what I must admit was a very tasty tomato sauce. Frankly, I expected a lot more than what I got here.
Dessert was interesting, though. I ordered something called a basque cake, which had rhubarb coulis. The cake was very dry, but I can't really comment on it as I am unsure as to whether it was supposed to be that way.
Moderately enjoyable. And, by the way, the white sangria is fine. It's just nowhere near as good as the white sangria at Andalu. Tastes more like a white wine spritzer than a sangria.
It was a private party event, so it was super crowded.
It took forever to get the drinks.. The bartender wasn't too nice, pass me over several times.
Nice decors, and the set up was good. The whole restaurants were 'kind of' section into 4 parts - sitting area, outside patio, bar, and small dance area (after they clear the tables)
Overall: 4
I wasn't expecting much here since so many other restaurants have been here before but this place completely exceeded my expectations. Out of the 5 places I went to during DAT, Sens probably was the best deal.
Food: 4
I really enjoyed the seafood stew, which is very similar to cioppino. For my entree I chose the halibut which was cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with a white Greek wine. I finished up with the banana crepe which was just OK.
Decor: 4
Great views. If you're looking for a nice date place Sens really offers a couple of options: A great view of the Ferry Building and a candlelit rustic feel.
Service: 4
The server was Greek, I think, and was very attentive. His suggestions were quite helpful.
Value: 5
Big portions and one of the few restaurants where I didn't feel like I got gouged because it had a view.
LUNCH SPOT...Love the DECOR, Love the BACK PATIO....LOVE THE BUBBLY!!! Love coming here for LUNCH and sitting in the veranda and having a prosecco...shhh j/k :)....It's posh, sweet and beachy like on the outside, the inside feels like I'm in the stone era where there is a stones everywhere but still beautiful...
The food may not be to everyone's pallete but it defintely plays with mine :) I like noshing and all their appetizers have been tantalizing...at least for lUNCH :)
Keith and I came here for our quarterly lunch. Our first impression was of a beautiful, creatively decorated space, which set the stage for a fun and delicious three hours. The menu was innovative and varied, and everything sounded delicious, so of course we ordered lots. Every dish was as ultra-tasty as it sounded, with attractive presentation to boot.
Even though the place was crowded and bustling, the waitstaff was friendly, engaging (in a good way) and professional.
I can't speak to the night / bar scene that other Yelpers have described, so I'll just say you can't go wrong for lunch.
Great spot for private parties or an after work dinner. The views are nice and the patio is a plus.
The food is delicious and the selection of drinks are plenty.
http://www.flickr.com/...
Sens is in the space that previously was occupied by Splendidos, back in the nineties when times were good!
Splendidos was a rustic Mediteranian-fusion themed restaurant which had luscious and rich decor, as well as the best sesame and ginger encrusted seared ahi over garlic wasabi mashed potatoes you could ever hope to die and go to heaven for!
Yes, I know; run on sentence. I just got so excited I couldn't stop to take a breath.
Of course, that was back when dot coms were booming, real estate values were through the roof, and no one snickered if you ordered "cigars" for dessert.
You also couldn't get a seat, or a parking spot, or a reservation even.
Times were just so optimistic everybody was everywhere spending everything they had like there was no tomorrow.
Well, as we all know, times have changed.
I was relieved to see the old interior has transformed quite seamlessly from bohemian chic Italian influenced fare to bohemian chic Greek and Turkish influenced fare. I love the bourgeois Bohemia sensibility of San Francisco, and this restaurant space has always seemed to capture it well.
It also was a bit sad to see it so sparsely populated; trying so hard and sincerely to get the crowd going, but the crowd just wasn't to be found.
Not just the restaurant, but the whole Embarcadero Center.
It's times likes these that I say, "Come on, guys. Let's get a group of good people together, and let's eat!"
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We began our meal with their sample platter of Mediterranean spreads served with warm -and-soft- on-the-inside and crispy-on-the-outside pita. The feta-aleppo pepper spread was like crack cocaine. After just one bite I was ready to pimp my babies for more.
(I don't have babies, so that's easily said.)
http://www.flickr.com/...
Impressed, and now hopeful, my expectation was high.
They only had two vegetarian entrees; so I chose the Turkish Style Raviolis. I love Turkish "mens". Them so sexy. I had hoped their raviolis would be sexy too, but instead they were just... slightly cute.
They didn't exactly sing in my mouth like a hott kiss, which was disappointing considering how well they were presented and the seemingly amazing ingredients used. I mean, when you boast of using garlic yogurt and harissa oil, to name a couple... you better make that a long, deep Turkish french kiss. I wanna be smiling for days afterwards.
It was just okay.
Kinda like the present times.
The "cigars" however, not only led to snickers and memories of the beginning of the end of the good times under Republican tyranny, but they also gave me hope that Sens could pull it off one more time.
Simply put, the delectable, delicate, crispy, scrumptious, light-as-air cigars, served with just a dollop of Cinnamon infused whipped cream, were the highlight of the evening!
Maybe I ordered the wrong entree.
Maybe they haven't invented their signature dish yet.
Maybe I should come back in a few months to see if their entrees have caught up with their brilliant starters and desserts.
Maybe it's necessary to get through the so-so in life in order to get to the so so good!
As we exited the interior we took a moment to pause and admire the view. The ferry building is one of the only structures left standing from the great SF quake. I guess if you're solid, no matter what happens around you, you'll endure.
http://www.flickr.com/...
Still amazing.
The hookah was delicious (guava), and the drinks were fantastic (just $6 for happy hour).
You CANNOT pass this place up! Hookah, amazing drinks, and an awesome backdrop?!
Will definitely be coming back!!!!!
This place is freaking GORGEOUS.
My $6 happy hour citrus zucchini martini was just what I needed to…
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I enjoyed my experience here. Not authentic med food, however, certainly tasty! Restaurant itself is beautiful. Formal dining indoor, beautiful lounge with orchids (fake) and relaxed couch seating. Patio seating was nice overlooking the bay. Waiter seemed new and was talking too soft, couldn't quit hear him. Menu suitable for both meat eaters and vegetarians. Prices reasonable. Will go back again!
Enjoyed a supplier work-with dinner here last night with Lindsey C. Just about everything we had from the Lamb Meatball Sliders to the Rock Shrimp Crab Cakes to the bottle of Carneros Pinot Noir we shared were flawless. The Chicken Kebabs on the happy hour menu were just alright.
My first glass of wine; a Crianza Tempranillo, was well rounded and had pronounced licorice flavors.
Definitely try the Ventana Due Amici (2 friends in Italian).. a sustainably grown Super Tuscan blend of Cab Sauv and Sangiovese from the Arroyo Seco AVA in Monterey. They just added it to their happy hour list and I love it.
Sens is about to start serving HOOKAH in their outdoor lounge area, where you get a great view of the Ferry Bldg. Great on a sunny SF day. Can't wait to return for that!
I am a fan of ordering a bunch of appetizers to sample all the flavors! Sens is a great place to do this:
1. Crispy Olives
2. Mediterranean Spreads - order all the spreads, it is worth the $18
3. Lamb Riblets
4. Octopus - I don't see this on their current menu, but had it in the past and it was good, not rubbery!
3.90 stars.
Reviewing the place as club venue... This is not a review about any of the club promoters.
This is a very nice place. By the back (DJ booth), there is a nice big window that overlooks the waterfront. It is soo beautiful at night. When this place turns into a club venue, the tables are mostly stored away somewhere, but there are a few seats and tables. The bar is fairly sized. it's relatively long, so it can hold quite a few of people seeking drinks.
The dance floor area is not too small, but people usually drift off out of the dance floor and dance elsewhere anyways. And for some unknown reason, the guys' restroom always has a long line while the ladies' restroom rarely has a line.
And lastly of course, the drinks. The drinks are good (fairly strong) and relatively priced.
1/2 Price Wine Special
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Happy Hour Mon-Sat 5PM-7PM
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Restaurants
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Chinese
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