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The Cliff House Bistro

3.5 star rating
based on 358 reviews

Categories: Nightlife, Seafood, American (New), Breakfast & Brunch, American (Traditional)  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
1090 Point Lobos Avenue
(between Great Hwy & Merrie Way)
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 386-3330
Hours:

Mon-Thu. 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun. 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Good for Kids:
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Music:
Juke Box
Best Nights:
Fri, Sat, Sun
Happy Hour:
No
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
Yes
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358 reviews for The Cliff House Bistro

Review Highlights   

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"Great view, excellent service, and the best popovers ever." (in 48 reviews)
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"We ate downstairs and the view of the ocean was amazing." (in 89 reviews)
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"Can't beat the view of the Pacific Ocean from the Cliff House." (in 197 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Russ T.

 

0

6

Russ T.

Lake Forest, CA

4 star rating
11/23/2009

We stopped in after a day of hiking and sightseeing. Despite the long wait for the sit-down dining rooms (it was early afternoon on a Saturday), we were able to grab seats immediately in the Zinc Bar and watch some college football.

The views were spectacular (of course we lucked out with perfect sunny weather during our early Nov visit), and the service was pretty good. We split an order of the Prawn-Pork Potstickers and a Mahi Mahi sandwich - both of which were really tasty.

The place is extremely busy but well work the visit for the views.

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Photo of Rick C.

 

641

236

Rick C.

Pleasanton, CA

5 star rating
10/29/2009

Breakfast at the Cliff House is truly an awesome experience that will keep you coming back.

The number one most beautiful thing about this place is the view. It is just one of a kind in the whole world since there will never be a view just like it.

The food is great. I especially love the English Muffins they give you with the breakfast. The omelette is fantastic because it is what I like to order.

Service is pretty good but nothing to really remember. Usually if I love the service so much I will remember the faces or comments of the people that work there, but I don't.

Parking is ugly because of all the tourists, but when you find parking walking in the area is nice. There is a place to even go hiking out there.

So all in all, this is a fantastic experience that you always want to go and do again.

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Photo of Ben B.

Elite '09

13

89

Ben B.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/15/2009 8 photos

After a hellish bus ride where I was packed in with half of Chinatown, transferring to another bus where the driver kicked me off at the VA hospital, and having to walk half a mile in dense fog, I finally arrived at The Cliff House.

I hadn't eaten in nearly 24 hours.  I was tired.  I was hungry.  I was drained and beaten from a day of sightseeing.  And now that I sat in a restaurant with a renowned view, I couldn't see a thing because of the fog and the darkness.

My only hope was that the food would lift my spirits.  Thankfully, it did.  I started with a cup of the "Famous Cliff House Clam Chowder."  I'd never had clam chowder before and I don't like seafood.  But since the menu here is 90% sea creatures, I figured this was as good a time as any to try it.  It was actually pretty good.  Not good enough that I ever see a reason to try clam chowder again, but I finished the cup.

Then came my main entree - the 14 oz. NY steak.  For $32, it was a big gamble.  But I decided to make this my "fancy" vacation dinner.  Damn the torpedoes.  I was going for broke.

When the steak arrived, it looked gorgeous.  And when I bit into it, I found myself in heaven.  It was just barely blackened along the grill lines - just enough to be slightly crispy upon meeting your teeth.  From then on, it was tender and juicy.  Packed with flavor.  I specifically forced myself to slow down chewing so I could savor every bite.

After a series of french fry mishaps in San Francisco, I was worried the fries wouldn't stand up to the high standard set by the steak.  There was no reason to fear.  They, too, were just slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  It was like the chef was cooking everything they way you'd toast a perfect marshmallow for a s'more.  Get past the barely crispy gates and you'll arrive in a world of melty pleasure.

When my waiter came around, he asked how everything was.  I paused, conscious of the weight of this moment.  "I've never actually said this," I began, "but give my compliments to the chef."

Yeah, that just happened.

Hell, I give The Cliff House Bistro 5 stars and I couldn't even see out the windows.  Imagine if I could have seen the view.  I would have to petition Yelp for a 6th star.

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Photo of Hanan H.

 

15

104

Hanan H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/7/2009

I've never eaten here but have come her for drinks. You really can't beat the views or the ambiance. Came here for yummy alchy coffee drinks with some friends the other night and they were ranting and raving about the incredible view of the ocean and cozy, christmas decor. I would definitely recommend this to out-of-towners (look at me, feeling like a local after a year). At least for a drink or two and then make your way somewhere else. On my very first trip to San Fran 8 years ago (where I met my future hubby and began a years-long long-distance relationship), we came here and played old skool video games at the arcade that used to be there. So, this place definitely rules. :)

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Photo of Christine L.

 

8

106

Christine L.

San Mateo, CA

1 star rating
11/3/2009

*Shudder* I guess I had blocked out my memory of the Cliff House, until I saw a rave review of it. I am compelled to set the story straight. Now I must admit that I went to this placein 2006, and they may or may not have been having a off night. But I have to say the food was TERRIBLE. Over priced elf food. If I'm paying over $15 for a  appetiser salad, I would appreciate more than a few pieces of leaf. And not like yummy spinach or romaine. Rabbit food.
And then my entree. What would ever posess someone to serve pork chops with lentils in a pumpkin mush is beyond me. I literally stared at my plate for 5 minutes trying to figure out what to do with it. In the end I choked it down, and prayed that my night would soon be over.

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Photo of Jere C.

 

30

75

Jere C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/25/2009

A great history lesson that is fun.  A piece of history that it really is a shame it's gone.  Don't go for the food or service.  It's like ordering a drink at Windows of the World.  Sad briefly but I am better now.

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Photo of Chris W.

Elite '09

20

103

Chris W.

Boston, MA

4 star rating
11/3/2009

After being picked up at the airport my friends decided to take me here for my first meal in SF. On the car ride over I was filled in on how the place had been renovated and how they had moved the Musee and all sorts of interesting details. When we arrived we were promptly seated, and I was totally amazed at how I was sitting on the west coast. In fact any further and we would have been in the water. They brought us over a basket of popovers which were awesome. I had a burger which was good. I felt like you pay a little bit extra for your view but it was cool and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. Its definitely a great spot to hit for all the first timers arriving on the west coast.

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Photo of Samantha L.

Elite '09

106

224

Samantha L.

Pomona, CA

4 star rating
Updated - 9/10/2009

The fog was HEAVYYYY this morning. I was seated at a great table next to the window but the dense fog prevented me from seeing anything other than thick misty clouds. Even so...

Those POPOVERS made up for it! 2 cups of coffee + hot complimentary popovers with butter and strawberry jam is enough to start my morning. They also have orange marmalade (though i'm not a fan of the slight bitterness from the orange peels).

THE JOHNSON OMELET: Dungeness crab, avocado, sour cream. Sounds indulgent. Was disappointed. Crab tasted overcooked and the omelet overall was very bland. They need to add some cheese to this omelet! It was dry even with the dallop of sour cream on top.  I'd also like to know why they only put in 2 slices of avocado? I like a lot of avocado.. that didn't cut it for me.. $18.50 for this? Err, no. PASS on this and get the:

JOE'S SPECIAL SCRAMBLE: Scrambled Eggs with Sautéed Ground Beef, Onions, Mushrooms & Spinach, Topped with Parmesan Cheese.  This is 10x more flavorful than the Johnson Omelet.  It's a really hardy scramble and you get much more gratification from a dish like this.

The total plus tax and tip came out to be around $46.  This is my family's to-go place for breakfast on the weekends.  The crowd consists of families and older adults.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    7/2/2006

    Satisfying breakfasts with a nice view of the ocean.  The staff is friendly and the popovers are… Read more »

Photo of Kara V.

Elite '09

86

300

Kara V.

Reno, NV

2 star rating
10/28/2009

This is a major tourist trap if I ever saw one. I guess if you are a tourist then you need to come here. See the ocean if you don't have one where you come from. Lots of fog too. Food is just ok and sort of high priced. Ate here once, now I just come to walk around, look at the gift shop, see the tourists ...and see if anybody is speaking Dutch. Nope, just Japanese, German and French. You know its a tourist trap when theres places to park the damn bus!

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Photo of Katie S.

 

6

20

Katie S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/20/2009

Came here for the $20 prix fixe of salad, lobster, and apple crisp. all three were delicious and service was very quick. I do believe they only do it on tuesdays and wednesdays, but it's worth it to make the trek out there.

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Photo of Frank W.

Elite '09

119

286

Frank W.

New York, NY

5 star rating
9/7/2009

An amazing view, a delicious mound of little shrimps from the Bay in a cocktail glass, attentive and friendly service, and a glass of Fat Tire, which a friend assures me is the most overrated beer in the country...but I rather like it!

I wish I could have lingered longer, but I had promises to be kept and miles to go before I slept.

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Photo of Susan D.

Elite '09

204

584

Susan D.

Sunnyvale, CA

5 star rating
8/29/2009

So after hearing mixed reviews about this place for more than a year, I finally got to try it a few weeks ago.  We went for the sunset view and nice bar but, in the end, the food was the star of the show!!  We had a great experience so, I'm surprised to see it only rates a 3.5 on Yelp.

My friend and I ordered the duck and then salmon.  Both were great!  The duck was served in 2 ways, with a leg and with a few steak-like cuts.  It was so tender, juicy and tasty that it scores as almost my favorite duck from a restaurant.  The salmon was nicely prepared too.  It was served on top of a unique hummus ravioli and we enjoyed that and the mustard-ish drizzle that finished it.  

Our drinks were great as well.  The bartender (Nick?) was friendly and knew his stuff so we ate at the bar.  We loved that they had some classic creations and great bottle selections.  Only miss was the pinot noir... we got the higher end choice and it was no bueno.  

I'm a fan... I'll definitely be back!  It's pricey but, worth it for special nights out.

See ya there!

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Photo of Arvin D.

 

12

55

Arvin D.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
10/26/2009

Reasonable food, decent service, good views obviously, but not worth the drive all the way out here, may as well spend a little more and eat downstairs. Plus, the tiling makes being in the bistro look and sound  like you're eating in a high-end bathroom.

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10

92

annie c.

San Mateo, CA

5 star rating
10/27/2009

i really like taking people from out of town here for brunch - the view of the water is amazing especially when no fog - i took my brother here once and we saw dolphins jumping out of the water! how cool is that?
the free popovers are really delicious! i always forget about them until the next time i come and they are soo yummy
i always get the same thing - eggs san fran - poached eggs with dungeness crab - friends and family get other dishes but they always prefer my dish (because it's so good!)

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Photo of Michael H.

 

2

7

Michael H.

New York, NY

5 star rating
8/13/2009

5 stars for a stellar Cioppino and excellent staff and service.

My bff and I chose this restaurant as first-timers and for the Summer Wednesdays prix fixe meal and of course - THE VIEW. I mistakingly made a reservation at Sutro's downstairs when in fact, only the Bistro upstairs was offering the prix fixe special. The manager immediately reseated us with the manager upstairs and everyone from the management to the servers to the hostesses were professional and on point. Also, the server's wine suggestion was brilliant. I would definitely return to the Cliff House.

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Photo of Aaron k.

 

3

14

Aaron k.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
10/1/2009

I love my mother, that's the only reason I go here.
My mom comes to town, and that's when it starts.
So when are we going to the cliff house.
My daughter looks over at me, and shakes her head no no, looking at me to say something, but its my mothers place, a place she has taken me my whole life.
A place I have given my hard cash to and wished it would burn down.
Ok not burned down, but very close.
They have never been able to get a chef that could cook.
I have never had a meal there that I could say was even passable.
I am astonished that with all the great chefs in this town, they have manged to find the most over rated, small minded, worst attempt at cooking that will ever be.
They bring me a piece of meat the size of a quarter, a leaf from a dwarf tree grown only in Tibet, and then ask me for $75.00
They also make me wait till the leaf clears customs, before bring it to the table.
Now to be fair, the waitress tried everything she could to make us happy, and we tipped her very well for that.
But someone needs to stand and say enough is enough, we are not going to hire some hack to cook overrated crap, just because we have one of the best locations in the world.
This place is so beautiful, and its disgusting to serve what they refer to as food to the public.
To rely on the hotels to give them tourists, and use there older customers who want to remember a time way back when to extort money for crap.
The cook they have now should be ashamed.
I would rather eat  something from the dish washer, I mean that.
I'm absolutely certain it would be better.
There were five of us at the table that night, and even my mother said, "well we come here for the history not the food"
This place makes me think of all the rip offs around posing as  legitimate establishments.
They could bring me a burrito from the mission, charge me $25.00 , and I would be fine with that, just to fill my history obligation.
But no, they feel the need to take my money practically by gun point in a dark alley.
We had reservations, but when we got there the maitre'd made it a point to be rude to my mother, who is hard of hearing, when my mother turned around my daughter whispered In his ear something that got us seated right then.
I asked her later what she said, she said it was something out of her character, but I was mad she said.
Its sad that this is what the cliff house has come to.
I just hope someone will take it over some day that wants to at least try to be a restaurant.

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Photo of Liz S.

 

21

52

Liz S.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
8/24/2009

I love fish and chips. I have ordered fish and chips at many different places. The fish and chips at Cliff House Bistro based on taste alone would get two stars from me, but being that they were $17, they get 1 star from me. Okay, fine, you pay extra for your food because you have an ocean view. But come on dude, $17 for mediocre battered fish and french fries??? Not okay.

I gave an overall judgment of 3 stars because I only tasted my entree and my boyfriend's entree (which was pork chops and I don't like pork chops to begin with) but our friends' entrees looked pretty good. They both ordered a pasta dish. I also did 3 stars because the view is pretty. It wasn't a clear evening but you could still see the ocean and that is a pretty awesome view to have while dining. Service was okay. My $10 glass of their house Cabernet was good. I wouldn't go out of my way to go back to Cliff House Bistro but if  a bunch of my friends were going and invited me I would give it another chance and try something different from the menu.

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Photo of Stacy Y.

 

6

40

Stacy Y.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
8/30/2009

Lets face it, we go here for the view and the history that this place holds in San Francisco.

I've been a number of times and usually I'm dragging a visiting family member inside with me who has Ooo'd and Ahh'd as we passed the Cliff House on our very planned site seeing route.

The large windows  allow you to take in a panoramic view of the ocean as well as what's left of the Sutro Baths.  Tons of black and white 8x10 photos of Stars who have possibly sat in your very seat are  covering the walls of the Bistro.

A full bar and a tasty menu are out shined by the Cliff House itself.  Tourist are plentiful and I'm sure they would keep this place in business even if the menu sucked...which it doesn't.

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Photo of Lyndsay S.

 

0

55

Lyndsay S.

Fairfield, CA

3 star rating
10/26/2009

I normally try to eat somewhere twice before reviewing a place, but since this place is so out of my normal price range, it only gets once.  

I was here during lunch, and they still had the breakfast menu available.  I'll be honest, I was expecting much more in the way of selection, and it's a very limited lunch menu, but  I guess it made for easy descisions.  

I had a cup of clam chowder and the Eggs San Francisco.  Clam chowder was okay, but the popovers were the greatest thing I've eaten out of a bread basket.  The Eggs San Francisco could be one of the greatest breakfasts ever invented.   Both myself and the boyfriends mom agreed on that one.

Boyfriend ordered a burger and immediately wished he'd gotten what his mom and I did.   That's how you know it's good.  

Would I be back, maybe, but for dinner, and only if I hit the lotto.

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Photo of Billy Dee R.

 

0

50

Billy Dee R.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
9/30/2009

I love the Greygoose martinis.  If you go here expect things to be really busy and to wait.  The food is pretty good once you get a table, (if you like hamburgers and sandwiches), but if you don't get a window seat you are just wasting your time.  No window table, stick to the bar and enjoy your drink.  If you don't drink, skip it altogether and do some sightseeing.  I don't recommend this place at night, there is no view, and there are much more exiting places to be.

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Photo of Shannon L.

Elite '09

18

131

Shannon L.

Orange, CA

3 star rating
7/7/2009

I went to The Cliff House Bistro this past Sunday with my family. The ocean view during our lunch was absolutely amazing! I want to give an extra star for the view......but I can't! My rating is based on the food and prices. (Overall grade: C+)

I ordered the grilled pesto chicken sandwich with garlic fries. The sandwich tasted okay, but was a little dry. The garlic fries were fine. My sister said her fish & chips were just okay.

It was kind of pricey: chicken sandwich $17, fish & chips $16, crab sandwich $25, and a bunch of items that were more expensive. The service was excellent.

I think people go here for the ocean view and not really for the food.

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Photo of Karen C.

 

7

66

Karen C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 7/27/2009

I went back on a colder night and there was no fly problem. The clam chowder was great and so was my frutti de mare. The portions were very big. Normally, i'm able to finish everything, but this time i was only able to finish half of it.

The frutti de mare had plenty of crab and other seafoods.

The bread was different this time. Maybe that bread I ate earlier ws a brunch bread, but htis time the bread wasn't empty inside.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    4/20/2009

    First off, I don't know whether it was because of the extremely hot weather (in the 80's, which is… Read more »

Photo of Evelyn L.

Elite '09

32

110

Evelyn L.

Temple City, CA

3 star rating
6/18/2009

Expensive food... good service.

The pop overs are awesome! They're like cream-puff shells and crissont bread. (sorry for the poor spelling)

The shrimp salad on rye bread with avocado and tomatoes with a green salad was great.

I ended up getting car sick on the drive down and threw up the food (TMI I KNOW sorry. hahahaha) 16bucks down the drain.

But while it was in my stomach it was good.

Oh, and the views? Awesome. Pelicans, sea gulls, waves, boats, beach, and rocks covered in bird poop. :)

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Photo of Christy L.

Elite '09

20

94

Christy L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/24/2009

One of the most romantic beachside spots you'll find in the area.  The food is decent, and if you like calamari, then you will love the calamari plate here... Actually, you should probably be smacked over the head if you don't try it because it really is excellent.

The bar's not too shabby either.  I tried one of their "Ocean Beach" cocktails and ended up ordering another round because it was so delicious.  They also have a decent selection of beer on tap if you're not in the mood to toss back the hard liquor.  Service is quick and friendly, and if you don't see something on the drink menu that you want, tell the bartenders and they'll go out of their way to concoct something fun for you.

Some people tell me that I'm a sucker for loving Cliff House because everything here is pricey.  But you know what?  I don't care.  Maybe I am paying extra to stare at the ocean, and maybe the view of the sunset makes my food seem to taste a million times more delicious, but this is as close to picture-perfect beachside dining as it comes in San Francisco.  I can't wait to come back and watch the breakers as I munch on seafood and drown myself in potent cocktails.... All the ingredients to a perfect SF evening!

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Photo of Adam Z.

 

30

273

Adam Z.

Mission, San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
7/19/2009

Finally got a chance to visit this local institution for Sunday brunch. Only had to wait 30 mins for a table. The staff were great.

The food was not nearly as good as the view. The clam chowder, at $10 for a bowl, was just okay, as was the french toast. Everything is similarly pricey. We ordered a crab cocktail that was excellent. My "Joe's Special Scramble" was soggy, wet, and nearly flavorless -- why put ground beef, well enough that much of it, in a scramble to begin with?

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Photo of Bryce K.

 

0

93

Bryce K.

San Mateo, CA

3 star rating
11/9/2009

food taste = 3.5
price / value = 3
service = 3.5
environment = 3.5

very popular, but i'm not sure if it's because it's a tourist destination.  definitely a crowd here.

taste of the food is good.  unfortunately, the price of the food is high.  avg $18 for a sandwich.  then it's $25-30 for an entree.

i will say that their "pop over" bread is delicious.

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Photo of Eileen H.

Elite '09

95

191

Eileen H.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
5/11/2009

I can't believe I've never reviewed this place before.  I've been here a number of times, but having an early Mother's day breakfast this past Saturday reminded me I need to 'Yelp' it.

I had the eggs benedict, which is what I always order if it's on the menu.  It came with potatoes (only four teeny wedges!) and fresh fruit on the side.  It was deeelicious, especially the hollandaise sauce.  If the eggs had been cooked just a tad longer it would have been perfect.  My daughter loved the potatoes, and the fruit was plentiful and perfectly ripe.

The service was excellent, our coffee cups were never empty, and our server remembered that I wanted half caffeinated/half decaf.  

The absolute best thing about our breakfast (aside from the view) were the hot out of the oven popovers with butter and jam!  I could eat a whole basket by myself (I didn't, but I COULD).  I notice a couple of other reviewers complained that they were served 'hollow bread'.  Hello!  Popovers are supposed to be hollow!

I also need to mention that I organized a retirement dinner here a couple years ago for one of my co-workers.  It was a little difficult getting in touch w/the catering manager/dept., but once I did, the planning was a breeze.

The dinner turned out wonderfully and everyone was impressed.  Some drunk guy ended up 'crashing' the party and spilling red wine on my friend's husband's pants, but the management intervened and diffused the situation before things got ugly, and they even paid the dry cleaning bill for his pants.

The view is lovely, especially on clear beautiful mornings like last Saturday.  I definitely recommend going here.  I know I'll be back--those popovers are to die for!

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6

17

S K.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/25/2009

Service - excellent!  Our waiter was super cute and charming, which never hurts.

Food - plentiful and tasty.  The portions were generous and the popovers were AMAZING.  

Ambience - Ocean view.  Killer.  'Nuff said.

Everyone else who gave it fewer than 5 stars - you're drinking the wrong Kool-Aid.

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Photo of Deborah C.

 

19

43

Deborah C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/26/2009 2 photos

i LOVE their Johnson's Omelet!!!
it is filled with the following:
*dungeness crab & avocado topped with sour cream

who knew that this combination would be great to the little taste buds in my mouth?  this is a GENIUS idea for an omelet. :D

it comes with fresh fruits on the side--watermelon, red grapes, cantaloupe & honeydew. also, they also give you perfectly seasoned potatoes too!!!

simply, i have to tell you that the price of this omelet is pretty steep: $17.95. because i told you the price, it's the BEST omelet!

honestly, you will get what you definitely pay for:
*delicious, fresh & generous amount of good-quality crab
*gorgeous ocean view
*friendly & helpful waitresses

what more can you ask for?

still don't believe me?  check out the photo!!! just one look, you want to eat Johnson's omelet! it's totally worth eating! =P

[added bonus] again, the ocean view from the inside of the restaurant is spectacular!!! AND they provide complimentary cream puff bread, but without the cream.  this is SO awesome! :D

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Photo of Matteo C.

 

0

14

Matteo C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/2/2009

So this is a San Francisco classic if your a tourist your here, i have eaten at the upper portion and the lower more expensive portion i prefer the u

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Photo of Christine G.

Elite '09

147

255

Christine G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/15/2009

We went here for my husband's birthday this morning and we had a great time!

The host  was hilarious.  He gave us our "beeper" for the table and told us the wait would be about half an hour to forty five minutes.  We said, cool we can hang out in the bar area and grab mimosas and bloody mary's.   And so we did just that.  After sitting in the bar for about 20 minutes or so, our beeper started to vibrate so we figured our table was ready early! Woohooo!  

But when we went back to the host, he said "No It's wrong, no no no... that thing must be broken.  It wasn't supposed to go off!"  And sent us back to the bar.  Whatev, I went back and finished my drink with the rest of the fam.  After 5 minutes, our beeper went off again and we were finally seated.

I loooooooooved their complimentary bread basket called "popovers".  Absolutely delicious!  I ordered the San Francisco Scramble which was the fresh crab, eggs benedict on sourdough bread. It was delish!  I loved it.   Our waiter provided great service.  We had a lovely view of the beach, prices were reasonable and food was wonderful.  I will definitely return!

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Catherine U.

Los Altos, CA

5 star rating
7/10/2009

The Cliff House bistro is not getting the reviews it deserves!

Granted, all of my experiences with this place is romantic evenings with my boyfriend. Watching the fog roll in at dusk and the waves lapping the rocks is very relaxing.

We have an old black and white photograph of the original Cliff House up in our living room. This place is more than just romantic and upscale, its a historical monument!

As for the food, I have ordered their salmon before, poached with a side of risotto, and my boyfriend had the steak. My food was perfectly seasoned and cooked. My boyfriend said his steak was the best he's ever had- the marbling was a thing of beauty.

And the desserts? We had a trio of creme brulee that made me want to cry it was so rich and delicious.

Yes, it is pricey, but come on! It's the freaking Cliff House people not Jack in the Box! You want burgers and fries? Maybe that's where you should go. You want fine, upscale dining in an establishment that's an integral part of San Francisco history? Then come to the Cliff House...but don't forget to bring your cash or credit cards.

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Elite '09

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Luke M.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
8/2/2009

No better or worse than a bar and food joint in any decent hotel.  In this class I think that getting a 3 is pretty good, but I am knocking Cliff House down to two.  And this punishment is based completely on their beyond lousy cocktail sauce. Pretty shameful for a sea food joint.

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Catherine N.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
7/14/2009

We were staying in Sf and decided to have breakfast out for once, and thats when we came across the Cliff House.

Its so nice in the morning to sit there and eat while watching the seals outside diving in and out of the waters and fishermen fishing by the cliff. It was gloomy weather as expected in the mornings in SF, but its so nice and warm inside the bistro, a really nice atmosphere to be in. And on the walls are many photographs of actors in the early 1900s, which is quite an entertaining sight.

As for the food, lovely... it was really just right for me. But I must say the popovers were the best!!! Nice and hot fresh from the oven... this should be worth the drop in!!!

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Becca P.

San Mateo, CA

5 star rating
9/24/2009

Are you craving breakfast? Are you willing to spend a little more than usual for it? GO HERE! I wish I could go here all the time. It is that good. I forget the name of the dish I ordered once but basically was really good sourdough toast topped with egg, fresh crab and a sauce. It was sooooooo good! The potatos they serve with it are equally amazing. Also, the popovers are worth the trip. Spread a little of the jam inside and you have a delicious pre breakfast meal.

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Chili B.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
6/22/2009

I went just for drinks - No Happy Hour to speak of.

The service was lousy and slow. The drinks were nothing memorable at all and totally overpriced. Of course you go here for the view - if you get a great table - other than that I'd skip this place.

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Gavin S.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
2/27/2009

The Cliff House of my childhood and the Cliff House of present are so different they are like two different restaurants.

Regardless of that, the food now is, sadly, just okay.  The menu consists of a lot of old fashioned items, as well as attempts at more contemporary dishes.

These days, if I end up there, I always get one thing: the fish and chips.  They make their beer batter with anchor steam and they always cook it perfectly.

What really irks me now, though, is their Cioppino.  If I wanted overcooked fish, bay scallops, crab, and shellfish, all covered in reduced Prego sauce... well... the point is I'd never want that.  When I think of Cioppino, I think of a tomato-based soup broth, olive oil, garlic, parsley, fresh succulent seafood, and lots of toasted bread or crostini.  Not what they serve; not by a long shot.

On a good note, they make pretty good drinks.

Service has always been solid and remains so.  There's one host there that I avoid like the plague because he's a little premadonna who doesn't show respect for guests or staff, but the rest are fine.

I recommend The Cliff House for lunch over dinner.

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Miriam G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/1/2009

I was taken here for my last birthday.  While it was very pricey compared to what I'm used to, the food was wonderful!

We had the Potstickers, Fish & Chips, and Frutti de Mare.

The Potstickers had a thin, tender dough, and smooth, soft and flavorful filling.  The Fish & Chips were light and not greasy at all.  The Frutti de Mare was both light and rich, and surprisingly filling.

The Ocean Beach cocktail wasn't bad either.

Only on special occasions for me, but I look forward to having another one.

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Peter D.

San Jose, CA

2 star rating
9/20/2009

If you go at night, then the view is nothing by waves. Sorry I had to talk about the view rather than the food first, because the food wasn't up to par with the magnificent view.

The food was really salty. My beef short ribs were drenched in their thick sauce. I didn't finish it. It was that bad for me. My girlfriend's penne with seafood was salty as well. However, the fried "spicy" calamari was pretty good.

Don't think me and my girlfriend will come back again :[

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Elite '09

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881

aspasia s.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
1/28/2009

This place is a who's who of the latest Richmond District Matrons!

Two days ago my son and I chilled out at the bar, we laughed.  As we witnessed the drove of Richmond District matrons that proliferated, we realized, "This is a neighborhood, Bridge n Tunnel, and American tourist destination venue, right?".

Bar service is ok although the hostess was not enthusiastic at all, on the contrary she was happily chatting away with another staff ignoring the incoming patrons.

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