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Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Outer RichmondMon-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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We had lunch here on a beautiful sunny day. I had the scallops and my wife had rock code. We also had a side of the fries. The food was good and the view was really great. Good service and not *too* expensive, considering the location.
Three stars for the food, four stars for the location and service.
I love coming here just for drinks, especially when the sun is about to set. My bf and I got lucky 2x and got a table next to the glass window.
We ordered the cheese and fruit platter- nothing special. I thought they were going to have better selection of cheese but they didn't. I ordered Belissima for drinks and the bf just plain goose on the rocks. The last time we were here we ordered a dozen oysters and sadly that was a big disappointment-they all left an after taste BLAH!
Other than that come here for the view and for sure you'll enjoy it. If you stay enough there's a live band (probably jazz) starting 7pm- we didn't stay for that because we had dinner plans.
Till next time!!
I ate Thanksgiving here.
(Yes, my family doesn't cook at Thanksgiving these days. There's not many people in my family, and we don't want to make too big a deal out of things.)
The look of Sutro's pretty well hits the mark. Plenty of memorabilia from the old Sutro Baths days. I could ask for a little more Art Deco styling but it's enough. I was perfectly happy with the food, though there was nothing to blow me away. Four stars.
3.5 stars....
Long line on a good day - think about 45 minutes for lunch.
And for their prices...the food wasn't fabulous. The appetizer crab cake was commendable, but the entree scallops was just decent. Blood orange creme brulee for dessert was creative, but wasn't that good tasting.
We went for lunch and I got the three course meal, sharing the appetizer with my friend, and my individual bill was over $60.
Parking - again, hard to find on a good day.
Sutro's has what you'd expect from a SF restaurant: sustainable food? Check. Organic items where possible? Check. Price to match? Check.
The day we went, the view of the Pacific was stunning. Coupled with the excellent service, I can see why the prices are a bit high: you're dining next to the ocean for goodness' sake! (We were spoiled here too...my cousin treated our family out for my dad's birthday.)
I had the corn chowder which was delicious with its jalapeno kick but not something I'd feel compelled to get again upon a next visit. I sampled my husband's caesar salad & thought it was very tasty.
For my main, I ordered the local petrale sole with homegrown heirloom tomatoes. But dining with a baby in tow means that by the time I got to eat my food, it was cold. Definitely not a good thing with seafood. No fault of the restaurants though!
My family enjoyed their dishes (most ordered filet of beef or scallops) but my brother did not enjoy his spinach bucatini...a little TOO al dente to the point of possible uncookedness...
For dessert, the server recommended a berry trifle with in-season locally grown berries. It sounded simple enough but was absolutely heavenly! Others enjoyed a rich blackberry and chocolate ganache cake that was wonderfully dense and also delicious. Sutro's also gave my dad a small butterscotch pots de creme on the house with candle and all! A nice touch!
All in all, it was good food, great service, and a great view. I'd definitely hope to return again!
View = 5+ Stars
Food 3 Stars - decent steak & seafood house menu.
Service and atmosphere = 4 Stars
Assessibility (i.e. parking and getting to it) = 3 stars.
On balance 4 stars and worth the view...especially at sunset!
Breathtaking panoramic view of the crashing Pacific ocean. We even saw dolphins bobbing around in the surf. So beautiful.
The food was a little lackluster. I went hoping for brunch on Sunday morning and was limited to three unexciting options and no wiggle room for ordering. It might be better for lunch or dinner. The biggest sting--mediocre bloody mary!
I came here with a friend for a nice Friday lunch. Let me just say, it's a good thing I took the day off of work, because our lunch was, shall we say, very leisurely. The ambiance is quite nice and you simply can't beat the view. Being the good friend that I am, I called ahead and reserved a window table which provided a relaxing, tranquil dining experience.
I ordered the tuna tartar to start. It was wonderful. The flavors were very balanced and there was a great clean finish. However, I would have appreciated more toast points. What can i say, I love my toast points.
Next I had the day boat scallops. I am extremely picky about how my scallops are cooked, and these were cooked perfectly. I appreciated the simplicity of the dish, as the scallops were good enough to stand on their own.
Wow I wished I had start yelping earlier. Where have I been? :( Oh well... regardless I have nice memories of this place. I've only been here once but I had a pleasant dining experience. So it was my mom's birthday and once again I tagged along w/ the parents (this was when I was in college).
My dad made a Sunday night reservation so we drove up from Fremont. We took some pics outside because it is a pretty view and then we went in to eat (I thinik we even got there a little early). But no problem the waiter accomodated us and so we sat down. Let's see... do I remember what we ordered? Not really, but I got some grapeleaf dish with like.. some vegetarian thing. I think my dad ordered some seafood dish and then my mom ordered some pasta dish. Um, unfortunately we did not order wine but overall I liked the dining exprience and the waiter was pretty friendly. So yea I would definitely be back in the future if it was a special occasion. Obviously this place is not cheap but the views are super gorgeous
10/11/09, 1:11pm
Went to Sutro's today for lunch with my GF and walk out with my wallet feel a bit lighter after. Total came out a bit over $100 for 2. Ok let me break it down of what we had.
Coffee $2.75
2006 Rosenblum Zinfandel (nice full body with mouth feel) $12
Crab Cake (4**** love it) $16
Grilled Day Boat Scallops (2** not so good) $26
Steak Frites (3*** good portion) $25
Orange Creme Brulee (4**** you got to try it) $9
So, we're not to happy with our main course, but the appetizers and the creme brulee was great.The bar was a bit uproar when the game is on. To sum up, I'm not a huge fan of the Sutro's. oh!! by the way they only have 2 restroom on the floor. You have to wait in line sometime. I can't imagine when they have a full house.
I think, I'm paying for the view. That it, it was all about the view and the ambience at the Sutro's. However, next time I'll try Sunday Brunch at the Terrace Room. Three weeks in advance for reservation. WOW!!!
The Best Place To Eat & Enjoy The View....
Love This Place....
Excellent Food/Service/View
The only thing good about this restaurant is the view. The service is slow, the menu is limited and expensive. Feels like a retirement home's cafeteria during the lunch hours.
2 Tuna Tartar..........was good, good presentation, flavorful, probably one of the better tartars out there.
2Bacon Cheeseburger........it was a little temperature cold and I do not like sauteed onions that are cold as well. bacon tasted precooked and not made to order.
2Ceasar Salad......was nothing special, had an anchovie on the side and 3 croutons
Fried Calamari.....was well seasoned
A glass of pinot grigio
View was fantastic
124.00
If the service was just a little bit quicker and the water was refilled this could be a solid 3 star restaurant. This is a 2 1/2 star restaurant.
My brother, sister and I brought our mom here last year for her birthday and I was disappointed. I expected much better food for the price. My boulliabasse was forgettable, and my daughter said the parmesan was so heavy in the risotto it was impossible to finish.
On the plus side, mom liked her scallops, and everyone enjoyed the stunning veiw of the sunset over the Pacific. The service was impeccable; they get an extra star just for the waitstaff. Another reviewer said they have a new chef, so may be worth a second try for a regular dinner, to see if they'll be suitable for a special occasion again.
The view is spectacular! We went there for a Sunday lunch and the hostess got us a window table. 5 stars!
The service is good. the waiter is friendly and the other service person is very efficient in serving our food.
The food quality is above average, but not WOW! I found some tiny sand in my scallop main course! Too much sesame oil in my ahi tartare.
Over all, it is an enjoyable lunch, good view, good service, good food with nice companion!
My experience at Cliff House was rather spectacular. There is great scenery in Sutro's, although it was slightly foggy that day. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very romantic and fancy. The dim lights and the table accessories (candles & flowers) were pretty lovely. Great for first dates! :D Servers were well mannered & food portions were perfect in size. Everything is pricey, but that's what fine dining is about. (You can always just order cold water and watch the scenery as other people eat of course. Haha)
Here are some delectable dishes I've tried:
(I uploaded the pictures onto Yelp)
- [[ Dungeness Crab Cakes ]] Appetizer
tomato confit | charred jalapeños | cilantro aioli
- [[ Seared Day Boat Scallops ]] Entree
"classic scampi sauce" | poached laughing bird shrimp | saffron pearl pasta
- [[ Cedar Roasted Loch Duart Salmon ]] Entree
maple-ginger glaze | baby bok choy | mushroom-green garlic broth
- [[ Strawberry Trio ]] Dessert
Give them a try! ^^
I came here about a year ago and was pretty disappointed, went back last week and had a very different experience - I heard they got a new chef - I haven't looked into that, but I can certainly believe it. We had a very good meal, excellent service. There are certainly better places you can go for the same $, but if you factor in the view, this place is pretty great, especially if you have out of town guests. It's a little like eating a nice meal in the observation tower at the De Young.
This was a parents-focused trip and it works well for that.
Best: The service here is excellent and we were seated at the corner window--best spot in the house.
Food: The appetizers (corn soup, salad) and desserts (butterscotch pot de creme) were very good, but the main entrees missed the mark. We ordered two steaks rare and they came medium, which killed all the flavor, and the scallops were less than fresh (but it was Sunday). However, the server took one steak entree off the menu and comp'd us dessert, which is why they get three stars here. I read later that they were looking for a new Executive Chef, so that may have explained the poor entrees.
This is my dad's favorite restaurant in the SF Bay area, so when he came for a visit from the midwest recently, we booked a Saturday evening dinner there.
First, parking is a problem. There was only one disabled parking spot for this large building. In fact, I believe it's the only "official" spot for the entire place, so if you have someone in your party that has trouble walking, particularly on those uneven sidewalks on the hill, be prepared to battle limos and others to try to drop them off as close to the door as possible.
I love the remodel and thought the atmosphere was bright and exciting. The views out of Sutro's are just phenomenal.
Our waiter was friendly and attentive. Drinks did take a LONG time (even the iced tea), but I can only assume the bar was the issue, because our waiter seemed very keyed in.
I had the duck, which came with a wonderful wild rice pilaf with cherries and apricots. The duck was succulent and came prepared two ways - one crispy, the other roasted. Delicious!
My mother ordered the scallops, which came with a shrimp on top of each one. The scallops were tender and light, and perfectly prepared.
My husband dined on the pork tenderloin, which he ordered done well, and it was still juicy and tender.
My dad had the prime rib special, because they had no crab on the menu (his favorite thing to eat while visiting either coast). It was okay, though a rather fatty cut of meat (even by prime rib standards).
We each ordered dessert, and were not disappointed by any of them. Honestly, though, at first, none of them actually sounded very good, as their descriptions were short and vague on the dessert menu. When we asked the waiter to give us details on one of the desserts (the trifle, which was not at all like an English trifle), he gave such a tantalizing description that we asked for more items to be expounded upon. When he was done, there was something each of us had to try. Even though we thought we were full when our desserts arrived, not one of those plates went back with a morsel of chocolate or a single berry on them. :-)
Sutro's could do themselves a big favor by having our waiter write their dessert menu, and give up on trying to be "high class" with the obtuse language.
Oddly enough, this large, completely rebuilt restaurant has only two toilets downstairs. Not sure how that passed regulations, but be prepared to either go upstairs to the Bistro or to wait in a long line (they are unisex, so guys have to wait, too!)
The only thing that kept me from giving 5 stars is that the food was served on cold plates - by the time our plates arrived, several items on them were already getting cold. My duck breast was only lukewarm, while my wild rice pilaf was HOT (obviously added to the plate last).
At these prices, all food should come to the table at the correct temperature.
Oh Yelp, why can't I be allowed to give two and a half stars? Oh well, I'll just round up.
I came here with the family for a going-away dinner. My pescetarianism limited my choices, but even still, the fried calamari was salty -- I think I ate three days' worth of sodium just picking at the appetisers. And the giant hummus ravioli with salmon? Hummus? In a ravioli? With salmon on top? That didn't really seem so "New American" to me.
Other notes:
- We ordered a merlot and a sirrah and we ended up with two merlots.
Twice, after asking to switch the wines.
- There was a very, very limited menu. This is not for the picky eater.
- It's not REALLY REALLY expensive, but I certainly don't think I got what I paid for.
The sort-of-undeserved half star can be attributed to the beautiful sunset, I guess. It's really their only going point.
What a disappointment!
We came for lunch. Obsequious service (think Uriah Heep) yet very slow. Prices very high, 3 scallops on a plate with a couple of tablespoons of chopped veggies for $26 a la carte. The rock fish ($24) had no taste at all, just overly salty, super-greasy, and a strange gray. The accompanying salad had no dressing. I basically had bread for lunch.
We met friends who'd made a reservation for a window table and the hostess, after much discussion, stuck us in a back corner with a bunch of plants. Boo. The view for two of the four of us would have been all right (the other two got to look at the jungle and the wall) but the windows were all smeary.
Altogether, a lunch for four that had very little food and cost $164 should have been a better experience. We had to fuss to get a coffee warmup--it was cold by the time the desserts, ordered at the same time, arrived. Dessert was the best part of the meal but that isn't saying much; the bread pudding was dry as dust and the chocolate mousse was more sweet than anything, didn't much taste like chocolate.
Oh, and the restrooms are unisex, and the one I happened to use was awash in "water." The puddle on the floor was so big I had to put down towels to get near the potty without getting my shoes soaked.
Views/atmosphere: 4.5 stars (great place to take guests from out-of-town)
Service: 3 stars -- friendly, competent, occasionally slow (the wait between the appetizers and the entrees was WAY too long -- about 30 mins)
Food: 2.5 stars / Marginal -- the server told us the oysters were Kumamoto, but they were WAY TOO BIG to be Kumamotos, so I asked her to ask the chef, who told her that they were farm-raised Kumamotos from . . . someplace weird like Turlock or Gilroy. Huh? Is that like bioengineered broccoli? And then I was strongly advised to order the prime rib special "medium" which the chef translated into "medium well" apparently -- it was dry and tasteless and such a waste of a beautiful cut of beef. The lemon chiffon dessert was good, though, and so was the wine.
Overall: Worth it to take in the breath-taking views, but not the best food, especially in a city with such a wealth of fabulous eateries (but I'd bet that your friends from anywhere in the U.S. but SF, LA or NYC won't know the difference because they'll be mesmerized by the gorgeous views and the delightful airy interior).
This place is decadently gorgeous! The view is breathtaking no matter where you sit. The quality of light is crisp and clear and soo beautiful, even on the foggiest of San Francisco days.
At first I was hesitant just because it's so "new" but once you break open that warm piece of bread and spread the butter on, there's no turning back.
I had the salmon with one hummus ravioli, which was really interesting and surprisingly good. I think next time I want to try the other pasta dish because I'm such a sucker for handmade pasta!
Others in my party enjoyed the Pork Tenderloin with some fancy sauce drizzled on the place and the Scallops with mini pastas. ... 5 stars of yummy all around!
I suggest you get a drink in the upstairs bar since they have a wider selection. I recommend the Ocean Beach - a zesty concoction of vodka peach and cranberry.
I wish we weren't too full to pass up the dessert menu because it looked amazing... maybe next time?
Sutro's is the place to go when you want to impress some out-of-towners.
Sutros Restaurant at The Cliff House is First Class!
Delicious food and excellent service. Yet be prepared to pay top dollar. Appetizers are the price of entrees and entrees start at $28.00
To start, I had the watermelon gazpacho. It was served cold with a salsa mixture and a avocado mousse. Sounds fancy and it was with a wonderful service presentation. Very tasty! It was $12.00
This is not an any night of the week type of dinning experience. When you go there be prepared for a bit of elegance. Table clothes with cloth napkins, polished flatware and tall water glasses.
View next to the window overlooks the ocean and Seal Rock.
The atmosphere is very pleasant and staff is friendly and very efficient.
This was a treat for me as it was part of a journalism business meeting dinner. Very much appreciated! If I had to pay for the entire meal it would have broke my wallet for sure.
Regarding the food itself, this is what I would refer to as "new fusion" dinning. For me the portions are seemingly controlled. They are very decorated with drizzles of particularly selected sauces and flavors to compliment the entree. The flavors were wonderful as everything, including garnishes were set on a square and elongated plate in a pattern display.
For me there was not enough food. I wanted more on my plate.
Yet in light of new research on the American diet, eating more modest portions is perhaps healthier for us all.
House red wine is delicious, it was perfect with the pork entree I had.
Oh and save room for dessert. The desserts are yummy and like the entrees very decorative. The multilayer chocolate cake is very rich and oh so satisfying for chocolate lovers.
The coffee and cafe latte is good too. Reservations are recomended.
Next time, if I am able to do so I will try the Bistro Restaurant upstairs. Yet, when I make my first million dollars I will return to Sutro's it is well worth the visit.
I think my sister, Regi K. says it best. It's "Definitely special occasion kind of place for dinner" I wouldn't just come here because I felt like seafood on a random night, but it would have to be someone's birthday at the least, or in this case, Father's Day.
And just for clarification, the new Sutro at Cliff House has been changed over the last few years and is now run under the Chef George Marrone.
And overall, the food was absolutely great with the exception that the $5 extra per plate was for the nice view out to the ocean beach. The service was great, and I think the decor is excellent. Dinner is great especially since you get to see the sunset while sipping on a wine or biting into the first appetizer. I love eating with my family since we're always down to try anything and everything. Granted, the plates were for personal serving, we always manage to make it family style and cut a piece or two for each of the others around. It was one of the best dinners and perhaps expensive ones i've been to, but I wouldn't say its not worth it. Just look at what we ordered:
Appetizers
-Mussels in Saffron sauce - always good with the bread
-Mushroom and Spinach salad - light and loved the shrooms
-Crab Cakes - nothing spectacular, but plenty of crab
Entree
-Duck Two Ways - Duck Confit, roasted Duck Breast was moist and nicely roasted
-Petrole le sole roasted - they helped debone and it was also nice and moist
-Prime Rib Veal - surprisingly really tender and flavorful for veal
-Filet Mignon and Foie Gras - my sister's and best choice.....foie gras was that the cherry on top
-Scallops with laughing shrimp. - i wasn't laughing by the shrimp, but did happen to smile at the medium rare accuracy they cooked the scallops with
Dessert
-Butterscotch Creme - Similar to what Town Hall had and not my favorite
-Strawberries Trio (Milkshake, Poached strawberries on poundcake, Strawberry sorbet) - a nice trio that was after realization, a nice presentation of some simple all time favorites
-Lemon Souffle - my favorite dessert dish of all as it was moist and just sweetened right
-Chocalate banana walnut bread pudding - 2nd favorite, but also very delicious
The Cliff House is amazing! How could my friend and I pass up having drinks at this lovely spot one summer afternoon?! Both having grown up in the city, we were anxious to revisit the newly renovated San Francisco landmark. We were quite surprised, and convinced we need to return for a full on meal.
We sat at a table in the bar area that also overlooked the beach. Definitely romantic in the sexy sense, but also just in the general loveliness of it all. Love the swanky, yet welcoming and friendly vibe of the venue. Young, old, dressed up, down...the place welcomes all.
We shared the cheese plate and crab cakes. Our waitress was excellent in explaining the cheeses and even suggested an order in which to consume them given the sharpness and bite. We both don't usually care too much for blue cheese, but the one served was palatable. All but one cheese was to our liking (too nutty perhaps), and we both thought while the crackers were nice, they had too much seasoning (altered the cheese taste?). The crab cakes were delicious as were the sauces atop them. Would definitely order those again, though an order to myself, as it's a small order.
The wine and cocktail list is very extensive. We both settled on a pinot noir from Anderson Valley...very classic pinot! Liked it so much I ordered two glasses.
Again, will have to go again and update my review real soon.
Went here on a fantastic date after a crazy day...it's very relaxing to be seated by the big ocean-view windows, and to be served so cordially and sincerely by the staff.
The food was pretty good, fortunately for me my special date's food (duck) was way better than mine (pork medallions), so she was very happy. Also, the appetizer we had (fried calamari) was especially delicious, with two interesting dipping mayo sauces (curry and lemon)..
I understand that none of these items are on the current menu anymore....but it's a sure bet. Fellas, take your ladies here for a nice, quiet, good dinner that will make you happy.
oh, and the service...real good!
Around $21 for an appetizer, salad, entree and dessert at Sutro's? Sounded completely intriguing to me until I discovered that that special had just ended a couple of days before I arrived. If only it had waited for me...
Well, of course I wasn't going to be cheap and leave the restaurant right away when my family and I had just been seated. We decided to suck it up and pay those couple extra dollars for the entrees. Started off with the crab cakes, but wait, $17 for just 2, no really, 2 crab cakes. Ordered it anyway because they were delicious. Crunchy, and the crab melts in your mouth. Ordered another appetizer - the cocktail shrimp for $14. Beautifully presented though.
Now for the entrees. My mother ordered the steak frites. The steak was tender and juicy and those fries that come along with it are to die for. They're like ballpark fries except not as greasy and not as messy. My brother ordered the fresh local fish, which I forget what the fish was that day but it was good as well. Soft and filling. My boyfriend got the mussels, and they gave him a pretty big bowl filled with them. He finished them quickly because they were tasty and easy to digest. And lastly, I ordered the hand-cut fettucine and I normally don't finish my pasta but they gave the perfect amount...and the perfect amount of sauce too. I finished it with my stomach happy.
All in all, it was a really good experience, especially with the ocean right out of the window. If you're looking to spend a little more than usual on some good food in a good setting, give Sutro's a go.
I took advantage of SF Dine about Town and made reservation at Sutro's. My delightful date and I were there during lunch time. We were a tad early for our reserved time. The restaurant was quite busy; however, the host was kind enough to seat us early and within five minutes. We had a nice table overlooking the picturesque Ocean Beach. The view was spectacular, especially on a beautiful Sunday.
The service was perfect. All the servers were attentive. My water was always full, dishes/platter were cleared after we finished each course, and genuinely friendly service.
I had the pre-fixed menu: three course meal for $21.95/ lunch. First course, baby gem 'Caesar' - the Boquerones (another fancy name for marinated white anchovies) had a robust texture, lightly sour from being immersed in vinegar and olive oil. It didn't smell fishy until you savor the skin. The sauce was fairly rich but the tangy lemon flavor and the crisp lettuce evened out the salad.
Main course, black mussels steamed with Harissa. My date and I had no clue what Harissa was until the dish came out. It was simply mussels steamed with creamy red sauce that are normally found in Moroccan's cooking. The flavor was buttery and bland. It didn't add any spiciness to the mussels. I didn't smell any cumin from the sauce either. Disappointingly, the dish had plenty of caramelized onions.. At least the mussels were fresh and steamed correctly. *rolls her eyes* The side dish was Kennebec potato fries .. hmmm.. think In-N-Out Burger fries but coarse sea salt were used instead of regular salt.
Dessert was a classic bittersweet chocolate mousse topped with English toffee and Chantilly cream. The mousse was flawlessly whipped to an amazingly light and fluffy texture. My date adored the Chantilly cream. I thought it was mediocre. The whip cream wasn't as sweetened as I was hoping, but it was well whipped that it did not have any grainy quality.
Overall, for the price we've paid and the incredible view, I will without doubt be back next year for dinner during the Dine about Town week.
The upstairs bar area is the place to be when catching the views of the sunset. It was a bit crowded when we got there but we snatched up a table. There were no busses so the dishes and glasses from the previous party were still on the table for a while. There was one waitress and when we flagged her down we were told that we had a different waitress whom she'd give our order to. A few minutes later we decided to order a cheese plate. No waitress im site except for the one we had flagged down earlier. We asked her for a cheese plate and to add it to our order. She then replies that she is NOT our waitress and that she would let our waitress know. Well, WHERE THE HELL IS OUR WAITRESS THEN? Finally, she came and cleared the dishes and glasses off the table. We told her we already placed our order with the other waitress. She said she'd grab them as soon as possible. Service here SUCKS. Be prepared to sit at tables w/ leftover silverware. Be prepared to flagged down waitress to place and order. Be prepared to miss the sunset views to find the right waitress to get you a drink.
You may have to drive to the edge of the earth for this one, but it's worth it.
Everything ordered was amazing, the wait staff was very attentive.
The dining room is elegant, and the view is magnificent.
Who cares if this is somewhat of a tourists' destination?
Came here for a family dinner on a sunny day with the sun going down. It was great watching the reaction of my niece from Central Oregon. She enjoyed it so much. That's what a place like this is for, impressing out of towners and enjoying the view.
The food was great. Overpriced, but you're paying for the view. Appetizer tomato salad (a couple of large tomatos sliced on a plate with a few bits of mozzarella) was $15. It was delicious, but it's the same thing I could eat at home for free from my friend who grew too many tomatoes' garden.
The service is ultra professional, hovering and anticipating your every need. Perfect for special occasions. We were there on a Thursday night early, so perhaps we got better service than we would on a busier time.
So a guy that I had met decided to take me here to Sutro's for our first date. Erm nice place, beautiful view, food was so-so, date...boring and bland.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed the view. We had a window seat at sunset, which was nice. But when we were seated, he decided to seat himself facing the sunset, and I had a nice big column and a wall blocking my view. I had to lean over to see it. This was a bit odd. I think he was trying to go for the romantic edge with the dinner at sunset thing, but instead he seemed to be enjoying the sunset all by himself. Fine for him, I enjoyed munching on the bread and butter!
Service was pretty attentive once it got going. But it first took awhile to get our sever to actually take our order.
We shared the Crab Cakes for our appetizer. It was very tasty, with Japaleno and Cilantro Aioli, it was also sitting on top of a mango salsa. Pieces of cakes were pretty thick but skinny in diameter. A bit expensive for the price at 17 bucks.
Entree's, I had the Lemon Dill Fettuccine in a Pesto Sauce. Average. Pesto was very plain. Barely any lemon flavor to me. The flava beans and peas were nice though. Haven't really had these in a pasta before. My date ordered the Scallops. And finished it within less than 10 minutes as we barely had anything to talk about. Quite awkward, while I was slowly trying to eat my pasta which didn't really taste good at all. He mentioned to me that he found 5 bucks on the street earlier that day, and was going to invest it in buying Lotto tickets. Clever, but not something to be talking about on first date, other things are more interesting to get get my attention. Great way to get me intereseted. Heh, then again maybe he wasn't trying?
Erm, overall, I definitey give Sutros love for their beautiful huge windows displaying the view of the ocean. But I wasn't able to enjoy the view so much as my boring date seemed to enjoy it much more than engaging in conversation with me. Needless to say, that will be the last time I ever see him.
Not so sure about returning here to Sutro's again either. Prices were a bit high for the small portions.
This place is a GREAT restaurant if you are going for one of the following:
1. Dinner with your parentals
2. Dinner with "his/her" parentals/ Meeting the parentals
3. Romantic dinner with your significant other
4. Date (not first, maybe 3rd or 4th) with someone you are REALLY into.
The view is amazing. The food is good. What more could you ask for?
I came here for the first time last month with my Mom for her early birthday dinner. She was really pleased with the ocean view. It was a clear day and we caught about an hour of light and then saw the beautiful sunset. We had a really intimate dinner and she couldn't stop commenting on how beautiful the view was. She was a happy camper, and I was happy she was happy.
Round two was last night with the boy's parents. The dinner went really well. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food. They also couldn't stop commenting on how beautiful the view was. "Great view, great food, great company" - YES, SUCCESS!! :)
All jokes aside, the food is good. It's not the best I've ever had.. but paired with the atmosphere and view this place provides, this place deserves 5 stars. I can understand why some people might've given the place 3 stars based on the priciness of this place.. but I think if you are going for one of the top 4 occasions, this is a 5 star place.
1. Ahi Starter - I don't usually do raw fish. Definitely without the boy asking me to just "take a little bite".. but after tasting this I went back for seconds ON MY OWN! THIS SAYS A LOT. Trust me, you gotta try this starter.
2. Crab Cakes - This was good, but for $17.. I'd rather get something else or wait until the next time I go down to SD and hit up crab catcher..
3. Corn Soup - I LOVE chinese corn soup (you know, with the egg, creamy corn, chicken broth, etc.)... and this is totally different. Half white and half yellow corn..thicker... but SO GOOD! I'm a huge fan. The only thing was they put this spicy seasoning where the white and yellow soup meet..and that kept hitting my throat and making me semi choke. THIS IS GOOD.
4. Filet Mignon - PERFECTLY cooked. I just didn't like the sauce all that much.. too peppery/spicy.
5. Duck - had a nibble, cooked perfectly as well - good taste.
6. Strawberry trio - milkshake was good, nothing special, the cake was moist with strawberries on top (strawberry shortcakey) .. and didnt try the sorbet
7. Milk chocolate Fondue w/fresh fruit - fun + yum!
8. Bear & Lion Old Vine Zin - Once again, I'm a total wine noob but I really liked this! I was actually the first one to finish my glass of wine..the boy's dad refilled me... then i realized my face was probably lit up with asian glow so I slowed it right down.. but I liked this wine!
I know I don't do a great job on reviewing the "taste and "flavor" of the food.. but all I have to say is that no one is going to convince me this place ain't 5 stars if you go for one of the top 4 occasions listed above. WHAM BAM THANK YOU MAM.
Go hear for the views (and if you're really into overpriced food and tourists).
No, but really the views are stunning and it is nice to slurp down some oysters and shrimp cocktail with a crisp glass of wine while starring out at the sun bouncing off the Pacific.
Seems like a nice date spot or good place to take someone who is new to SF or if mom and dad are in town (and paying).
Service was solid from start to finish and the food was by no means bad.
This review will contain a lot of buts. Not fun butts; the buts of "it could have been good, but..."
SEATING
I don't see the point of reservations here. A got them 1.5 months in advance and was informed that window seats cannot be reserved as they're very popular. We showed up at 6:50pm for our 7:15 pm reservations and were told it would be a 45 minute wait for a window seat. I already figured I'd never come back, so I was willing to wait for a window seat.
Plus side: it took less time than expected. In about 5 minutes, we were seated. Downside: only one of us got to face the ocean. And we got a nice view of a concrete walkway-fabulous. But we did get to watch a fashion show of sorts. It looked like art students doing a class project together. The model was wearing a poufy black and orange strapless dress with a black and yellow wrap...made me think amateur and bumblebee.
FOOD
Appetizer: $16 crab cakes. Meh. It was ok. Came on top of tomato confit that made me think of bruschetta. I was very uncouth and dragged my bread, politely ripped into bite-size pieces, through the tomatoes.
Entrée: $28 duet of organic chicken. The pot pie looked huge, then you lift up the crust: 80% empty space, 20% food. The filling was good; the crust too salty. Even the bottom layers without salt flakes on it were salty. Chicken leg and breast confit: way too salty. Maybe it's my fault for not understanding exactly what confit is: "food that have been immersed in a substance for both flavor and preservation". Does confit = salty? In addition to salty, A said he could tell the chicken was dry by looking at it.
The chive potatoe puree: the amount of salt overwhelmed my poor taste buds. And I have nearly none to speak of! Not creamy, not delicious. The only thing worse would be instant mashed potatoes. I took a few bites, then gave up eating it. The entire plate was bad enough I didn't bother to ask them to box up the leftovers (and there were plenty).The chicken would need to soak for several hours to be rendered edible by reverse osmosis.
Dessert: the one highlight of the meal. The $9 butterscotch pots de crème was soo good! Very sweet, which I liked. Thick, delicious. The garam masala lacey was a bit weird, but it helped cut the sweetness of the butterscotch.
SERVICE
Service matched the food: medicore. No one was rude, surly or snotty, but the waiter didn't ask us how the food was. Five minutes after we got our entrees, she asked us if we needed anything and that was it. She didn't come back until after our plates were cleared. After giving us dessert menus, there was a long lag for her to return to take our order. (A informs me that some would call this ambiance.) On the bright side, the lengthy waits allowed us to watch the sunset. And the person filling our water was good at it; I didn't get thirsty. Give that person a raise.
PRICING
Overpriced. Nearly $30 for salty, dry entrees. To be fair, A liked his salmon and thought it was very fresh. But it was unimaginative. The service didn't match the pricing either. I normally don't give a crap about service, but for $30 there needs to be service.
IN SUM, don't eat here. Not for a one-time thing. Not even for the view. Pack a picnic, park by the restaurant, and enjoy the view for free. There are places with better food, prices, service and larger portions. Writing this review has been my favorite part of eating here.
Our evening at the Cliff House was fantastic. The scenery in Sutro is absolutely spectacular. The atmosphere of the restaurant was very romantic. We celebrated my boy friend's birthday and the cuisine was fabulous. The server recommended great dishes and their wine selection was terrific.
It's hard to beat the view at the Cliff House.
Grabbing drinks here was a great idea.
However, the service wasn't the greatest.
It took a little while to get noticed.
The server walked by many times without checking in.
After that we were able to get our drinks, which were awesome.
No Vespers, but they know how to make a Bloody Mary, extra spicy.
Modern design with great views and good drinks makes this a great place.
Next time there will be food.
Fantastic ambiance for brunch or a sunset meal/drinks.
Great (not fantastic) service, excellent menu (mainly seafood focused), and acceptable wine list (not enough variety for my liking).
We came here last Friday (for the first time) for a romantic Birthday dinner and were very impressed. Seated by the window we watched the sun set over the Pacific as we sipped our champagne - great way to spend a special occasion.
Pricewise it was a little on the expensive side - but given the higher than average quality of food (and service), as well as ambiance, that's to be expected.
We'll definitely be back!
Only holding back the star because of the cost. Had lunch for four and it was $150 including tips and no alcohol. Yipes!
However: My wife and I had perfectly cooked scallops on an interesting couscous that I loved. One son had the salmon on a bed of bok choy and mushrooms that was great, and the other had a big bowl of mussles that he enjoyed.
The waiter was perfect, being helpful and communicative without being condescending or imperious. "May I bring you sweetener for your tea?" has such a more professional tone than "Do you want sweetener?" That, and the subtlety of looking at the table and then first to my wife, asking her what she'd like to order. It's the first time in years that anyone's done that proper, polite thing.
So, as a place to take a guest to the city (you can read other reviews about the view to the ocean, and the nearby Sutro Baths), this is a very good - albeit expensive - choice.
Definitely special occasion kind of place for dinner. I made reservations for 6 on Open Table requesting a corner table by the window and that is exactly what we got when we arrived. Service was impeccable. The server was friendly and helpful. Our water was always filled, and dishes were cleared at a timely fashion.
We came for Father's Day and my parents picked the restaurant after seeing raves about their food in the Chinese paper.
We had the following for 5 people (1 infant):
Appetizers
2 orders of Crab Cakes
Mussels
tuna tartare
spinach salad
Entrees
Duck confit and roasted duck breast with grilled peach and roasted cherries
Pan roasted Sole - whole (waiter deboned fish)
Scallops topped with shrimp
Prime Rib Veal
Tenderloin and this is why I ordered it. The side was foie gras on top of spinach and potato cake. Sooo good. The tenderloin melted in my mouth... and of course the foie gras did as well. Made perfectly medium rare. yum yum... I had my some of hubby's veal which was quite tasty dipped in the creamy horseradish. The duck breast was quite good and so was the sole. The scallops perfectly cooked... was very tasty.
Dessert
Strawberry trio - milkshake, poached strawberries on top of lavender pound cake
Butterscotch creme de pot
Banana Walnut Bread Pudding
Frozen Lemon Souffle
My brother brought a great bottle of cab. Corkage fee was $18.
Great food, awesome wine, and beautiful view... We were there for a good 3 hours and there was never any rush. Luckily the little one pretty much slept through it all.
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