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Sushi Groove South
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
1516 Folsom St(between 11th St & Norfolk St)
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 503-1950
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 6 pm - 10 pm
Wed-Thu 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri-Sat 6 pm - 11:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Wendy Z. said: "Ever since they opened here day one! I've been coming here! I love eating here mainly because its borderline fast food but the waiter or waitress serves your food. Their meals comes with salad and miso soup and adding a couple of…" read more »
424 reviews for Sushi Groove South
Review Highlights
"They have fun and creative rolls (cilantro roll - yum."
(in 20 reviews)
"The seaweed salad was great and I highly recommend it."
(in 21 reviews)
"The menu includes a nice selection of sake too."
(in 103 reviews)
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424 reviews in English
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Review from Natalie C.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/7/2012
Ok, came last night with my friend and we sat at the bar. We had a few drinks as we waited for our food. (the wait was a little long.....but totally worth it)
We ordered:
Mussel shooters
Shiro Maguro Nigiri
Maguro Nigiri
Hamachi Toro Nigiri
Walu Nigiri
Spicy Scallop Nigiri
Spicy Tuna Nigiri
Rare Beef Tenderloin Nigiri
Ooh Ari
Simon says
Grace Squared
I guarantee if you order all the Nigiri that we did you will leave more than happy and you will want to come back to Sushi Groove South! It will become your new fav sushi spot! WOW yummy!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/15/2011
I LOVE THIS PLACE!
My boyfriend and I come at least every other week to satisfy our undeniable sushi… Read more »
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Review from Sam H.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
After passing by this place so many times I thought, hey let's give our neighborhood sushi place a try.
FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!! FAIL!!!!
There is a very good reason why there isn't a line outside. The service is SLOW, VERY, VERY, VERY SLOW. While the staff was pleasant they acted like the restaurant was jam packed. My friend and I sat at the sushi bar with another couple - that's it and it took 45 minutes to get our 5 rolls. It took 30 minutes to get our drinks and 20 minutes to acknowledge us and to take our order. Did they just open for business that they are so unorganized and overwhelmed? Come on people if you are going to starve me at least get me drunk! Maybe bar seating or small parties isn't as important as groups sitting at the tables?
The sushi was good but nothing outstanding and a little over priced for the quality and service.
Sayonara.........I'm never coming here again! -
Review from Tony S.
Durango, CO
1/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
We were not too keen on this place. Just came from Nihon sushi, which was very good. Sushi Groove was perhaps 1/3 full, yet they acted like they were too busy to deal with us. Problems:
* Refused to light candles for us (which took away from ambiance)
* No draft beer (even though there were taps)
* No hot tea (for real !?!)
* Understaffed (one host, one sushi chef, one server & one busser/food runner)
* Long waits for everything
* Unclean bathrooms
* Poorly made roll that was chewy and not fresh
That said, the grilled cheek was good... when it finally arrived at our table. The busser/food runner was a good guy and tried hard. But, that's not a real reason to return. -
Review from Alex L.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
I've been going to that place for over 10 years and always loved it. Great neighborhood gem! Right around the clubbing and bar scene district.
Patricia was great, but she left to another place. Danny is also very good. Know that guy for many years.
Good place and good people! -
Review from Judy Z.
San Francisco, CA
10/16/2011
My boyfriend and I finally walked into this place after passing by it so many times.
The music was a bit loud but it is called Sushi Groove for a reason.
We sat at the bar and here it goes:
1. Sea Urchin nigiri ( more liquidy than buttery ), Tuna nigiri ( I have seen neater cuts). It was okay , but tiny pieces ( compared to Japan ) and the temperature of it was wrong. I think the rice was a bit too warm and made the sashimi loose it's proper serving temperature.
2. Beef on lettuce topped with a lot of fried rice noodles. I see it as garnish but a little too much of a mountain. The beef was well seasoned and delicious and fun to eat.
3. Sushi roll with avocado on top and terriyaki sauce that was thinner and better than your typical thick syrupy types. It was delicious.
Waiters: Pretty, friendly, and awesome at their job.
Food : I wouldn't come back here for it alone.
Place: Filled with people at night, no wait, nice lighting and atmosphere.
Perhaps too loud for a first date. -
Review from arlene d.
South San Francisco, CA
This place is fun!! Made reservations for about 10 people for my sisters pre party dinner. She said she was in the mood for sushi so she got sushi. They had our table ready on time and everyone from the hostess was so friendly. They have great people working here. I really liked how they have a live dj spinning really fun and the sushi was good along with the drinks. We had a great time!!
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Review from angela r.
San Francisco, CA
6/15/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I was exited about going to this place because I've heard good things about it.
The environment was ok. The tables are way too small and wobbly-- a terrible combo for somebody clumsy, like me. Luckily, I didn't spill anything because I used the table next to us for extra space.
I like the live DJ set idea and all, but this guy was blasting techno that you would hear at the after, after, after party at 8:00 A.M. Honestly, I was surprised there wasn't candy ravers with pacifiers and Elmo's all around us. Asides the inappropriately loud and obnoxious music , the vibe was great. So, don't expect to have great conversations in this restaurant.
The server was very attentive, nice, and cute. The only thing is that our appetizer was the last plate. And I hate when that happens!
The drinks were ok, I ordered a glass of nigori sake, which came in a huge martini glass. So, points for that.
The food wasn't something out of this world.
The best thing to order is the cilantro roll. Its flavors and textures were balanced-- the roll was spicy, crunchy from the Halibut tempura, and refreshing from the cilantro sauce.
The worst thing to order is the Jungle roll because it was kinda whack. The textures and favors did not go together The Yellowtail was sahimi style, which is slimy already.The papaya was ripe, which made the filling of the sushi double slimy. The spicy sauce that was supposed to give it a kick was no where to be tasted. Overall, this roll tasted like rice, sea weed, and big loogie in the middle.
The chicken yakitory was burnt, like charcoal. Big disappointment because I love yakitory.
All and all, the food no very good, not good for conversations or big groups. -
Review from Shiu R.
South San Francisco, CA
11/6/2011
Are You Kidding Me? We have a 6pm reservation, show up at 5:55 and they won't let us inside (did I mention it's pouring raining?) **STRIKE ONE** Sit down at the table to order drinks, sorry bartender isn't here yet, we can offer sake or beer. Fine, sake it is please. Party all arrive and we are ready to order please. Server tells us they don't have three of the items listed (of course the sea bass was one of them which we all wanted). STRIKE TWO! Fine, we order a few other items (nothing worth mentioning). We order a second round of small plates, oh sorry we don't have the lettuce cups either. REALLY? Fine, we order a round of cocktails as the bartender is here now. Drinks come out one at a time, over the next 20 minutes (did I mention there are probably less then 20 people in the restaurant?). End of the meal and we would like dessert, she offers some type of creme brûlée only to come back two minutes later to say they don't have it. STRIKE THREE!!
One star is for the fact that our water glasses were never empty, they sent us a free sake (at the end of the night) and they offer sushi in soy paper for my friend who is allergic to seaweed. -
Review from rew c.
Santa Rosa, CA
6/20/2011
I went here a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng time ago w/ my groupon and had invited a winemaker, Dan Tudor and his girlfriend here 'Bow'. We all sat down and this guy waited on us that looked like he was homeless - he had an outrageously huge beard - so much so that you could barely see his face.
Turns out he gave us a great service and we enjoyed some excellent sushi and rolls. I think the place is outstanding - not the prettiest area to bring children or visiting familys, but just fine for us regular folk. -
Review from Denise S.
7/26/2011
I dig Sushi Groove.
I have had dinner here a few times and really enjoy their menu. I won't even begin to try to and list what I have eaten because I don't remember, but I can tell you that it was all very good. They also have a great selection of wine and awesome cocktails. I have tasted a few of their sake cocktails and they are very very good.
There is a great little bar area near the entrance with a DJ playing music, a sushi bar, a lounge area and then tables toward the back. The music isn't overpowering and adds to the dimly lit, very mellow atmosphere and great décor, Every time I have eaten here I've arrived on the earlier side, stayed for awhile and watched the crowds roll in and out. It get's very busy but they have a lot of seating. Sitting at the tables feels crowded when it's busy so I prefer sitting at the sushi bar; it's much more private.
I'm a fan. -
Review from Anthony S.
San Francisco, CA
11/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Its ok ... reminds me of a lounge that does Sushi ... food was average but the staff was friendly ... its walking distance from my place so it was a quick option .. all in all it was fine but I dont think i will frequent again ..
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Review from Mai R.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy yummy in my tummy!
A friend and I went there after happy hour at Wish and we were pleasantly surprised. Live dj, cool decor, attentive sushi chefs offering friendly smiles and delicious free concoctions...
... a little pricey, but a chill spot worth checking out! -
Review from Nicholas R.
San Francisco, CA
8/5/2011
Many fruit flies ... many
Ginger was old
Over priced
Miso soup was ok -
Review from Pete W.
San Francisco, CA
7/20/2011
I've been there a bunch, though it has been a few months (writing a review to add venue to a list).
Good fish, decent service.
Sushi Groove South is a fun place. It's definitely more dimly lit than the Russian Hill counterpart, and I think the music might be louder. It's usually kind of noisy, but not in a bad way, just in a "there's more people here" way. Feels much more like a night spot than the original. -
Review from Delilah B.
San Francisco, CA
This is a great place to meet up with a bunch of friends prior to starting your night off. Having some drinks and grabbing a bite to eat.
I wouldn't say it's the best sushi I've ever had and I wouldn't necessarily go there for a late night dinner date. The music gets extremely loud and you won't be able to hear each other once the music gets going. (it gets pretty loud)
But like I said, it's a great way to start your night with a bunch of friends. -
Review from vimal p.
3/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was here with Jason P, we had a party of 8 people, arrived about 9pm, and left around 1030pm, and had to go to the crepe place to eat dinner! really bad experience.
Quick review
-3 stars: for taking 1 hour to get our apps
+4 stars: staff was nice, waitress kept telling us kitchen was backed up, waiters filled up water continuously, and after waiting an hour for the apps the food we got was actually pretty good!
Note to owner(s) / manager, you guys a running a restaurants in SF, come on get with it!! You have good food and looks like good staff, just get it organized....there wasn't even a supervisor/manager there during a dinner service...or call one of those "restaurant makeover" TV shows for help! -
Review from Sharon T.
San Francisco, CA
3/6/2011
I have a rule where I only eat at places with 4 stars and above on Yelp. This usually works out great. Rarely do I go to a place that has high ratings that just disappoints (like Chou Chou or Papalote's) and rarely do I go to a place that has less than 4 stars that seriously impresses me.
Sushi Groove is that exception. The rolls here are so good! The cilantro roll and G-spot roll are some favorites. I only come here for the rolls and I always leave satisfied! -
Review from Sarah Z.
3/2/2011
Considering how tiny and trendy this sushi spot is, I first recommend making reservations to be sure you're not stuck around the bar for as long as my group was.
Moving past the initial gripe, everything else about Sushi Groove South was enjoyable - cheap drinks, good food, good atmosphere, and a very short walk from nightlife to continue the evening.
I really like the idea of a "Sushi Groove North" and "Sushi Groove South". I liked the Sunshine Roll - salmon and tempura topped with a small slice of lemon (that's the best part!) so much that I can't wait to try Sushi Groove North! -
Review from Jen H.
10/18/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Sadly, I feel like this place has steadily gone downhill, and my guess is everyone else is catching on to that too. It's way easier to get in now than in years & months past (I've been here many, many times). Sushi used to taste fresher, crowd & atmosphere used to be cooler, I don't know - just seems like it has settled into an It's-Not-Bad steady state of sushi equilibrium.
Our server was kind and put up w/ a couple of guys in my party that, well, have been more sober in their lives. (Sort of.) The food came out nicely-paced. Was really excited about the Hamachi Toro, and it just came out blah; everything else we ordered was ok good, but seriously nothing was memorable. Nothing horrid either. Just ok. -
Review from Sheldon L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/2/2011
I returned to Sushi Groove again after a great experience a few years ago and I must say I was let down. It was OK, but it wouldn't be on my list to return right away.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/19/2008
Very good sushi. Service was "on". Cool, lounge-like environment. Definitely will go back and… Read more »
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Review from Shelly D.
Berkeley, CA
9/25/2011
I loved this place! The experience itself is awesome because of the underground atmosphere and the cool edgy sushi chefs, plus the special rolls I had were to die for and the cocktails are good. A+!
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Review from Julie M.
2/1/2011
Hipster alert!!!!! This place reeks of "I'm such a hip restaurant you can't even find me and we have no distinct sign outside the place!!"
But much to my surprise, I really enjoyed the look of the place and it had great ambiance. Call me a hipster, I guess...
Had a couple rolls called the Gee-Spot and Dynamite and some small plates of yakitori, seaweed salad, fried calamari with fried jalapeno rings and some prosciutto wrapped asparagus. Everything was divine, especially the fried calamari with jalapeno rings.
Service was friendly and we never went without, prices are on par, and I would say I'd definitely come back. -
Review from Sally A.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
One word... YUM!
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Review from T M.
Foster City, CA
3/1/2011
I was a bit disappointed by this place for a few reasons:
1.) food was overpriced and while some maki rolls were good, others were lacking.
2.) service was slooooowww- i think the waitress forgot about an order that we placed so I do give them credit for giving a free dessert but overall we felt like we were flagging down people to help us.
overview of food:
- sea bass: very tasty BUT kind of a small portion for $15
- warm prawn salad: reminds me of the honey walnut prawns that you get at chinese banquets, but this salad only had the prawns (5 total)
- sushi: most of the sushi was good but we had to order a ton of rolls just to get full
this place was packed and pretty busy for a tuesday night, but they should have had more servers helping out. -
Review from Taryn M.
Round Rock, TX
3/30/2011
I was visiting San Francisco this past weekend and always make it a point to try sushi. I was surprised to find this place.
The vibe was great for dinner and a good stop before you go out for the night. You can dress up or dress down, either way you are good.
Food:
I loved the cilantro roll, the only thing I would have changed is to not put tempura on the halibit because I think it overpowered the cilantro. The Caterpiller Roll was fantastic and the California Roll was standard.
Also, they only have wine and japanese beer.
Overall, I would recommend this place for good sushi and nice vibe. -
Review from Karen C.
San Francisco, CA
1/22/2011
Sushi Groove South was on my list of places to try for a while, due to the rave reviews of sushi-loving friends. We dropped by tonight and were seated at the sushi bar immediately. We ordered the following items:
Hamachi nigiri - an old standard. Was good, but fish wasn't as fresh as it could be.
Suzuki (sea bass) nigiri - my favorite sushi fish. Also good here at Sushi Groove South, but again, not stellar.
Hamachi Toro nigiri - I expected more from toro of my favorite tuna. It was just meh. Haven't had it before, so not sure if it was the restaurant or just the kind of fish.
Walu (butter fish) nigiri - this was GREAT. My favorite part of the meal.
Tamago nigiri - another standard. A bit too sweet but otherwise good texture and taste.
Dynamite roll - this was the other good thing we had. Just the right amount of spice, and nice mix of fresh ingredients.
Tempura Prawns - we wanted one hot dish, and got this. The quality of the shrimp was so-so; I enjoyed the fruit/sweet chili sauce, he didn't (he's not really a sweet + meat guy). Definitely could have forgotten this dish.
The only really good thing about the meal was the waitress. She was very nice, friendly, helpful, and pleasant.
With sodas, the meal came to about $75. Not bad for so much food (we were starving having not eaten all day) and we definitely left full. That said, the quality of the fish was just so-so. I wouldn't go out of my way to return. -
Review from Nichole S.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Have you ever had amazing sex on the beach... Your feet teased by the waves as they rush up the sand towards you and your lover... the smell of the ocean filling your lungs and the softness of her lips, sweet and warm... ?
Well this has ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with Sushi or does it? I have only been to SGS once. Yes once and it was a lasting impression. Kind of like that memory we made on the beach. ;-)
I met a few friends there one rainy night after work. We were all moist and cold... some of us more than others because we are not from here and have not gotten into the habit of carting an umbrella around. But I digress. My on experience was really good. One of my friends knows the chef and well we just sauntered in and ordered chef's choice. The food arrived little by little... it was a busy night. But OMG it was a sushi-gasmic experience.
The atmosphere is hip but not pretentious. The tunes were chill and the service was very good. Our table was a tad crowded but we crammed a large group in to a space made for 4.Not a problem when the food is freaking awesome. And it was. I left that night satisfied. Only the beach and my girlfriend could have made that experience more memorable. -
Review from K P.
Walnut Creek, CA
2/21/2011
Let's start off with the good stuff!
We were 20 minutes late for our reservation without calling ahead and they didn't mention it and were able to seat us without any fuss.
Now moving forwards from that...When we were seated it was a good 5 minutes before we got water. When we were finally able to order drinks it took well over ten minutes for us to get two cokes; and one of them got spilled on the table albeit our server was very fast to apologize and very fast to get us another coke.
Now the food...the edamame was pretty bad. They'd put a few green ones on top but after those 3-4 they were brown and squishy and just old.
The rolls weren't put together well and crumbled very quickly without us even dipping in soy sauce.
The hamachi Kama was ok - perhaps cooked for a little too long???I'm not sure I couldn't place my finger on it but it definitely wasn't up to par.
We've been here before but that was 3 years ago. I doubt we'll go back! -
Review from Salvatore G.
Van Nuys, CA
8/21/2011
Let the nay-sayers cry. I have been coming here for years and it consistently has some of the best sushi in town. I felt like I needed to write my first review on yelp just because it seems like people only do it if they are unhappy. Well I am happy. Sushi Groove rocks.
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Review from Sharon W.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2010
I was psyched to spend a Groupon that I thought was a better deal than usual. The atmosphere was cool, a restaurant that felt like a club, but the food and service were not worth the trip at all.
I went on a Friday night, when I figured that there would be enough turnover that the fish would be fresh. Well, the fish was just okay, but what made the sushi rolls so bad was that the rice seemed stale! Maybe that's because it took, like, 40 minutes to get any of the food to my table. -
Review from Erica H.
San Francisco, CA
7/7/2011
It was good many years ago, but that shark has long since been jumped, sloppily sliced, and served to unhappy diners.
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Review from Shannon B.
San Francisco, CA
3/25/2010
After living a block away from this place for more than a year and a half, I finally made it in here with my Groupon and my favorite (platonic) date, Hannah S.
My first impression was, Whoah, they pack a LOT of people in here. I think we may have drowned out the awkward couple right next to us since they hardly talked at all during their meal, and we were rather loquacious.
The service was impersonal, and I wasn't a huge fan of their miso soup (it just lacked a little bit of punch). We got some yellowtail sashimi, which was fantastic, and a variety of rolls which were good (including the SOMA Roll - I mean, I had to!).
I've had better sushi and cheaper sushi, but with the discount this was a pretty good deal. I'd go back again with a coupon, or when I'm not paying. Hehe.
Food: 4 stars
Value: 2 stars
Service: 3 stars
Ambiance: 3 starsListed in: Get Your Groupon
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Review from Gary C.
San Francisco, CA
6/2/2010
I'm not happy to say this review was written after rushing home to brush my teeth and rinse my mouth. Sad.
Over the past 10 years or so (yes, I'm getting old) I've dined at Sushi Groove no less than a dozen times. The current operation is a pale shadow of the dining experience of the past.
Why? Let's see, maybe it was waiting 45 minutes for our food while sitting at the Sushi bar with a plate full of Nigiri inches away from us. Inches away for over a half an hour as gnats hovered over and landed on said Nigiri. My wife and I were thankful the plate of food was destined for someone other than us.
To our right was a couple running down their list of why their meal and the service lacked redeeming qualities. Their list was consistent with my experience on this evening, sadly the last time I dine at Sushi Groove. Things like waiting seemingly forever for exotic items like water and, oh right, high priced low quality sushi at a restaurant located in a city overflowing with options.
The restaurant was understaffed end-to-end with the math looking something like this: 1 bartender, 1 DJ, 1 busboy, 1 hostess, 2 waitresses, 2 sushi chefs and about 70 diners. That's right, 70 diners and two sushi chefs. That is a management error that hurts the staff and diners.
The quality of our food was marginal at best, at a minimum not anywhere close to justifying the time and money spent dining at was once one of my favorite sushi dining experiences.
The survival of Sushi Groove is a testament to unsuspecting out of town and/or new foodie youth stumbling into the perfect storm of bad dining at 1516 Folsom Street. -
Review from Anish B.
San Francisco, CA
5/25/2010
Sushi's fresh, ambiance is good- overall, pretty chill place. Good for a first date, and the trendy dj and butterfly roll might even make it a tolerable break up place. Yeah, def get that butterfly roll, great stuff-super fresh. Unfortunately they didn't have it the last time I went there.
Also recommend the Soma roll, the Japanese mussels are two per plate, with raw egg (quail I believe)... eat it all in one bite... and savor it. mmmm. -
Review from Toro E.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2007 12 photos
Toro's Sushi Tip#601: When you see 'Sake Bomb - yeah Baby!' on the menu of a sushi bar, don't over think the situation - just walk out.
I didn't follow my own tip, so I ended up burning $60 at this bad sushi bar in SOMA. So, why did I go to a sushi bar with 'Groove' in the name? Well, around late 2005, Sushi Groove was very hot on Yelp. Since then, I was curious about the rave, but didn't have the courage, until I finally manned up and gave it a try in Aug 07.
BUILDING/DECORE: I drive on Folsom all the time and never knew that this non-descript building across the street from Public (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) was home to Sushi Groove. Their sign is so small that you wouldn't see it from your car. The building looks almost looks like a club. Inside, decor was hip and modern. Without the sushi counter, you wouldn't know it is a Japanese restaurant.
SUSHI: Rice is the heart and soul of sushi, so if rice is bad, you cannot make up for it with good fish or try to cover it up with spicy sauce. I must admit that reviewing sushi rice is half art as it is subtle and hard for regular amateurs like myself to rate. However, rice at Sushi Groove was clearly poorly prepared. It was unfortunate, because the one guy who makes nigiri did a pretty good job. You can see from my pic that it looks pretty good.
PRICE: Comparing sushi prices is difficult, but I felt that Sushi Groove was a bit pricy for what you were getting. Their specialty rolls were not very big. You'll get a much better deal at Sushi Zone (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) in Castro.
WOULD I GO BACK? Never again - yeah Baby! -
Review from tinna h.
2/10/2008
Trendy. It's a scene. Expect to spend.
For this type of establishment, I would order the fancy sake drinks and jive ass rolls [http://www.yelp.com/bi...]. I would not seek authenticity, just a tasty treat. The Orange Blossom [sake + OJ] wasn't the yummy libation I had hoped for. From their specials menu, the Awesome [part of its name on the menu] Tuna [tempura'd tuna + avocado + green onion in a roll with a dab of mayo and Sriracha] needed an extra kick. The sushi chefs behind the counter hooked it up. YES - Sriracha to the rescue! Also picked at a few other items that my companion had ordered - the sea bass and tuna sashimi were pleasant to the palate.
Not too fond of the service. They did not notice the guy and gal in the entryway for several minutes. Being 6' tall, barely visible, right? It took a while to be acknowledged, but seating was prompt once they realized we were there. Picked up on a few other annoyances during the meal, but perhaps I was overly sensitive.
Live DJ. Loud. A good excuse to lean in a little closer if you happen to be looking for such a reason. Start off the night here, grab some drinks at Wish, and then find some place quieter once comfortable. -
Review from Nicole G.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2008
This is my friend's standard first date place, so I decided to give it a whirl. She assured me that the place would be poppin', the DJ would be spinning and by the end of our meal we'd be feeding each other sashimi with chopsticks over the candle-lit table.
True to her word, we walked into Sushi Groove South and the place was packed. I was expecting a Marina-ish crowd, but the place turned out to be very San Francisco with a mixed hipster-slash-yuppie crowd, mostly on dates and some with groups of friends.
Sushi is in most cases sexy, and SGS did not disappoint in that department. The seaweed salad was crisp and light and the miso soup warmed me all the way through. The veggie sushi rolls were a little bit of a disappointment, but I'm pretty sure that's because I'm more of a fish than a veggie girl.
I only have one comment on the sashimi platter -- BUTTER FISH! It should be called butta fish, not butter fish. It's got that silky smooth texture and sensuous fresh taste like it just jumped out of the water and into your mouth. Mmmmm. I can't believe it's not butta.
Why the 3 stars? The sashimi (aside from the aforementioned) was just average and the house music was too loud for my taste. Just picture it -- "Huh? You were recently deployed to Iraq? You want to lick my back? You think I have a nice rack? ... Oh, you think this DJ is whack." Gotcha, phew.Listed in: Sushi in San Francisco
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Review from Johnna B.
3/20/2009
Although I had a horrible dining experience here, I am giving Sushi Groove 2 stars because I could see myself going back... WELL before the time they close.
The GOOD:
This is a great place for a hot date...
*You can replace your "long walks on the beach" prerequisite with long walks to and from your car. Just make sure you're really into whomever you take here.
*The food ain't that good so you won't have to worry about stuffing your face in front of a potentially good mate.
*You could feasibly make out without anyone seeing you.
*You can tell by your man's reaction to the bill whether he's a cheapskate. (Not necessarily a dealbreaker but a good thing for a gal to know.)
You see people, I am all about positivity, the silver lining.
The BAD:
The service sucks. You will wonder: "Is my server a tweaker?" Don't close this place down. DO NOT.
The UGLY:
Sake is 13 dollars. It makes me want to hurl. No hard alcohol, and no Jameson.
So that's the good, the bad, and the ugly. Do with them what you wish. -
Review from phil h.
2/23/2008 3 photos
I always thought of Sushi Groove South as one of those sushi places that relied more on style than substance. The decor was uber hip, the music slammin' and the crowd much better looking than myself but you know what? The food was fantastic!
I don't mess around when it comes to sushi - you can have your all you can eat places and bargain bites...I want fresh fish that melts in your mouth and innovative rolls. As luck would have it, the butterfish special was melt in your mouth goodness and the rolls creative without being too wacky. Cilantro paired with halibut? Yes please! Tempura asparagus with fresh crab? But of course! The ahi tartar appetizer was tasty (although nothing will live up to Scott Howard's) and the meal ended with a bang - vanilla and strawberry flavored mochi. Mmm, mochi.
There are many great sushi joints in the city but I wouldn't hesitate to return to Sushi Groove South. And when I do I hope to God that they'll have the butterfish on the menu!Listed in: Raw, like sushi, My birthday week extravaganza
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Review from stephy s.
San Francisco, CA
6/21/2006
OH
MY
GOD
I've found the one and I am moving to San Francisco!!?!?! Actually I am moving into this restaurant because last night I met the sushi of my dreams! It's so funny, when you least expect to meet the perfect sushi it just shows up and brings you mouth-watering halibut, tongue-tickling yellowtail and succulent and oh so satisfying scallops!
Now I am a good girl, a lady even and even when this sushi got fresh with me, I just couldn't resist its charms and gave in! So yes, Sushi Groove South and I are an item now. I'll keep ya posted on the wedding date ;)Listed in: Travel Destinations, San Francisco Sushi
