Some complete a-hole a rude tall African-American man with glasses was extraordinarily aggressive to me when I asked him (at 1:30 AM, after I could not get in at 1:15 AM) what time Balboa stopped admitted people into the establishment. He was was aggressive and rude and would not give me a polite answer because I wanted to know what time I should arrive to be admitted in the future (I had been assuming that some reasonable time before 1:30 AM would be OK), but did not expect such rude and of putting behaviour from the door staff at Balboa. Very disappointing; unsure why employing that kind of staff would be helpful to this establishment. read more

I have heard a lot about Balboa Cafe and their famous espresso martinis. I love a good espresso martini so I came here with some friends to check it out. I got a decaf martini because I didn't want too much caffeine and to stay up. It was good but honestly I have had better espresso martinis. I also didn't love the ambiance and crowd. I might try it again on a less crowded day or time as I did go on a Friday evening. read more

I ordered a mojito. The bartender shook his head, laughed at me, and said "this is a cowboy bar." The bartenders are wearing lab coats. This is not a cowboy bar. read more

Sad to report that my last lunch at Balboa was a disappointment. I usually have the same things when I go which is often... Calamari, a Balboa Burger, a Cesar Salad, or Eggs Benedict. For my most recent visit I ordered a Cesar and a burger. The burger was on a tiny soft baguette with an unremarkable flavor profile. I prefer a crisp crust as has always been the case in the past. I also prefer the tasty flavors of Acme, Semifreddi, or Boudin to enhance the flavor of the burger. I requested Dejon mustard which is my customary choice, but, only to receive a watery container of Frenches yellow. The burger served had a rather bland taste. The fries were warm like they had been sitting under a warming light for an extended time The Cesar used to be a few spears with a delicious Cesar dressing and tangy anchovies. This time I got wilted chopped Romaine and a couple of bland anchovies Sorry to be the bearer of bad news because I love this place so much.. Maybe improvement can be made read more

This place is great, but the line gets insane after 10:30 pm so bear that in mind. The atmosphere is great, with lots of wood and old furnishings without feeling dilapidated or out of date. The espresso martinis have a lot of hype around them, and they back it up. The presentation and display were really nice and the taste was great. The social scene is also great, we met some really fun people. Definitely give this place a shot!! read more

Best espresso martini ever!! This place rocks! I love their outdoor seating especially at sunset. Such a beautiful place to sit and relax. Everything is good but really you must get the espresso martinis. I am rating the best espresso martinis in the city and I will give these a 9/10. read more

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Burger on a Baguette is just the worst idea ever! I've officially found the worst (and most expensive) burger in SF, and it belongs to Balboa Cafe. The thing that most don't realize, is that the burger has to be one with the bun. Using toasted French bread ensures that you are always biting on 3 separate parts, likely to fall apart any moment. And without any kind of sauce in the burger, it's just a disaster waiting to happen. I know you guys think you are being innovative, but good grief! The disaster... is that the roof of your mouth is just torn up and no amount of ketchup or beer is gonna save that. And $23 dollars later ($2 for cheese; $2 for bacon)... it just leaves a bad taste in your mouth. P.S. If you're going to charge $2 for cheese, gimme some friggin' cheese, not that miserly, paper-thin layer you pass off as cheese. *Added a star for service and the patty meat, which is actually good. Fix the rest! read more

BEST espresso martinis in SF !! Hands down, can't change my mind. I never come here and not order one read more

Balboa Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Mediocre/afterthought brunch place. $19 caesar salad with bagged lettuce and parm shavings from a can. The wrap was decent but presented carelessly--served flat on the plate so it became saturated in its juices. read more

This place rocks. I don't know why people have given them a 3.5 overall rating tbh. One of my favorite spots in the city for drinks/ dinner. Fire espresso martinis, great servers, and pretty solid food especially the brunch menu. I literally made a reservation here for my bday if that tells you anything. Keep up the great work guys!! read more

Came here for a quick drink and a snack after getting measured for a bridesmaids dress around the corner. Heard that they had great espresso martinis, and saw trays and trays of them coming out. Unfortunately was meeting some friends and they had been waiting for their food for about a hour - restaurant was definitely slammed, but it was really hard to track someone down to follow up on their food + put a new order in. Eventually found a waiter and ordered a gin martini with a twist, as well as the buffalo wings, and my friends food came out (which did look delicious!). Martini was strong and delicious and came out quickly. The buffalo wings also had a quick turnaround which was great, as I was nervous to put an order in. The buffalo wings were really well cooked, but they weren't really buffalo wings - they seemed to have some kind of red pepper sauce that was tasty but not exactly what I was hoping for. Service was slow, but really polite and I know it's a hard time for the industry in general. Would definitely go back for an espresso martini another time! read more

I recently visit balboa caffe I love it even though it was full the food was fast and the drinks were fantastic read more

Balboa Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Always a good time with great food at balboa! It's always super packed which is fun and the service is always great ! read more

Balboa Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Stopped by to grab a drink at the bar since it seemed poppin. Was met with some racist remarks from a couple of white dudes while ordering drinks and also while waiting for the bathroom. Didn't like this place's clientele from this shitty encounter and prob won't be back. Such a shame too since area seemed cool read more

Classic old style San Francisco bar. We had eggs and calamari for appetizers while we sipped our Moscow Mule cocktails. They were so good we had to have 2 each. This was a perfect stop during our San Francisco trip. We will be back! read more

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The Wednesday chicken is OP. Super crispy and flavorful. Definitely my favorite thing on the menu and arguably a good enough reason for me to trek across the city on a Wednesday. read more

POC beware. I'm Asian, I look young - even though I'm 32 - that's fine, but our server was annoyed that i was there without an ID (i lost it and wasn't intending on drinking anyways and relayed this already) and he made sure to tell me that I absolutely cannot drink from my friends drinks lol. Additionally he felt the need to look long and hard at my girlfriends ID cards to check they were of drinking age (28 and 29 yo) yet couldn't bother to wish one of them happy birthday. My girlfriends ordered drinks and I ordered water, he came back 30 min later with their drinks and not my water. He chatted with patrons next to us about how he did acid or shrooms for 20 min and then left and still - never brought my water. I eventually just made my way into the bar to ask for water and could not get anyone to give me a cup UNTIL a white male patron had asked on my behalf (mind you I am not timid nor shy when asking for things). We were there for over an hour and our waiter never once checked up on us though he made eye contact with me plenty of times and saw I got my water. We eventually just left and paid our bill with the hostess and let her know the situation. Never coming here again willingly, but if I had to, I would not waste the time or effort on tipping if I had to subject myself to that sort of experience again. It was pretty clear that we were singled out. - former director of operations in hospitality and past server/manager of several restaurants the last 10 years. read more

The Balboa has a special place in my heart. It was one of the first places my boyfriend brought me to when we started dating. I never come to San Francisco and don't go to the Balboa. It's a great corner bar, the patrons are interesting, there is a lot of light and the bartenders are great. We mostly stop in for a drink during the day but a couple of visits ago we popped in to meet up with friends on a weekend night and it was packed. The scene was definitely different. Totally a pick-up place. I don't have a problem with that. If you are single and want to mingle what's the issue? I am slightly offended by the repeat reviews referencing cougars. Why is any woman over 35 and single a cougar? Men date younger women and that's just fine but if a woman prefers younger men they are labeled? Double standards perpetuated by other women? What the what? Mind your own business and do your own thing. What two naked people do together behind closed doors doesn't interest me in the least. Carry on cougars. read more

Balboa Cafe - Rose is my summer 2017 drink of choice - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

My boyfriend and I were on the way back from the Golden Gate bridge and decided to stop by this cafe. We came around 8pm on a Friday and the place was PACKED! But somehow, we were able to get a table for 2 outside as soon as we arrived (though I feel we won't get the same luck if we were to go again a second time). I really enjoyed how lively the restaurant was and the energy was pretty infectious. We had great service the entire night; although, at times, it did take a while to flag down a waiter. As for the food, my boyfriend ordered the Balboa Burger while I got the Fish & Chips (their special on Fridays). The burger was quite small and served on a baguette, which I'm not sure is the best option for a burger. It made it a little difficult to bite into since the bread itself is quite tough. Probably would've preferred a brioche or potato bun. The meat also wasn't the greatest and is something I could've prepared at home. For a burger that cost around $20, it definitely wasn't worth it. On the other hand, I thought the Fish & Chips were great. The fish was nicely breaded and not too oily. The tartar sauce was great as well! The chips/fries were also yummy, and comparing it to the shoestring fries that came with the burger, it was at a whole different level. However, it was still your typical Fish & Chips dish and there wasn't anything particularly special about it. So like the burger, I don't think the quality was enough to justify the price. Overall, good experience, but I wouldn't come back. read more

Balboa Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The restaurant is kind of a local place that has the usual customers. Mostly, wealthy socialites and well-to-do business types. The clique vibe was kind of a turn off as the old furnishings and interior that looks as if it could use a complete overhaul, but the food and service is very good. I've even had good conversations with some of the regulars who I've been seated next to. The salmon is some of the best I've had, as is the ahi salad. The bread they bring out before the meal is delicious. They have an artichoke appetizer that is amazing as well. I've noticed many people order the burger there, so I imagine it's quite good. Next time I go I'm getting the salmon, however. Time after that, I'll try the burger. read more

First of all, this place is more of a bar than a cafe, but I guess if I was 40+ I'd much rather tell my significant other I'm going out to "the cafe" than to the bar on a school night. With that said, this pretty much sums up the demographic on Sunday - Thursday nights. Though as the weekend comes, it becomes a mixed crowd - Daytime you'll see families of grandparents, toddlers and strollers enjoying the cafe, nighttime you'll see both young and old adults enjoying the bar. Great drinks, great people watching, and their calamari looked phenomenal. read more

We went to Balboas last week and sat outside to watch the Blue Angels practice. It was my first time at this restaurant. The service was OUTSTANDING. From the hostess who sat us to the waiter who helped us relocate our seating to get a better view of the air show practice, I cannot say enough about how impressed we were. And the food was great! Outstanding service, great food, and exceptional ambiance, Balboa's Cafe is a wonderful spot for a meal in the city!! read more

Oh my dream of pork poutine was routinely dashed by a Sameeth of dark complected nature. Unbesot I beset my box of delectable select, covered in whole by the viscous of garganola. Upon ingest, the tarantula or pork made contest witheby prickly protest, "Doth thou eateth meat, Sire?" To which I genteelly set it down and dissected the belly for the real meat. Woe is those that seek to be satisfied by a swine roast on a Sunday dine- I shall repose to Poe, forevermore. read more

Balboa Cafe - Pulled pork - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

First of all, you have to review the type of people that work for you. I went to Balboa to have a good Sunday as I did so many times before and your security guard (tall, black and curly hair) said it was fake. I have a real ID from Illinois which I'm always flying with - TSA wouldn't say this shit is fake. It's interesting that's this is happening with a LEGAL immigrant: I'm wondering if you guys treat American people like that too. Anyway, I'm not coming back - and if you're an immigrant with an US driver license, you shouldn't too. read more

I was turned away for having an out of state license. The door guy said it was fake "based on a feeling", no evidence and asked for my passport. I'm 25 and have a state issued ID, I'm not carrying around my passport. Incredibly rude and management was useless. read more

OK - seriously.... most welcoming & friendly restaurant in SF so far! No "attitude" (like many restaurants have around here) Mark greeted us (hello, crush!) Claudia our server (adorable- DUH she's from PORTLAND like us) Food was great, atmosphere lovely & festive! But my favorite was that they provide an envelope on the table to buy a Xmas gift for a child! Live that!!! read more

Balboa Cafe - Chicken sandwich - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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First time eating at this establishment. For my 29th Birthday, I decided to head into the city with the FAM, my husband, and three kids all under 5. We don't usually dine out, but we gave it a try since the morning manager was super hospitable. He even offered to pack us a picnic to go! As a mother of 3, I'm always looking for a place to cater to the grown-ups and to the children. I felt the love, the food was delicious, and I had a chance to try Mum champagne! We ordered; tuna nachos, a couple of burgers, grilled cheese sandwich for the kids. My husband had the buffalo chicken sandwich (BTW the buffalo sauce is homemade). I had the soup of the day (Mushroom bisque). For the dessert, I enjoyed the flan with the berries. Super delish! overall we enjoyed our experience at Balboa Cafe. We will definitely be back. Honestly, a big bonus for being kind to my children! With covid, they don't get the most social stimulation, so I'm super appreciative and grateful! read more

Amazing spot for lunch in the city. Great atmosphere and wonderful staff. Freddy was super fun and friendly. We came for my post-birthday lunch. Highly recommend. We will definitely be back soon!! read more

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They say second time is a charm. Though it wasn't the case for me and my friend. Having been here before, we definitely like the food. But it didn't make up for all their other faults. What we didn't like though is - 1. No outdoor heating - Seating people without a heater in the far end dark section of the street when it's 40 degrees and windy outside in SF was outrageous. There were literally three heaters and 10s of propane tanks inside the restaurant, which could have been easily put to use but probably the restaurant was trying to save propane costs by letting customers freeze outside instead. When we asked if you could move us somewhere close to heat, the server said we can't do that. When we asked can you bring the heater where we were sitting, the server said we can't do that either. To be honest, it sucked to eat in cold. 2. Really Bad Service - The server just plainly sucked. We waited 15mins for someone to ask us for the drinks. Then 15 more minutes when the beer was brought. Then 20 more minutes before someone took our order. No one asked if the food was alright or if we needed more drinks or food. Even when we asked for the check, it took them entire 20 minutes. I have eaten at other subtle racist places before and I honestly wish you guys to do better. It should suffice to say that we won't be visiting here anymore. read more

Two Stars on Yelps = "Could've been better" and this rating is spot on. This is a restaurant that you go to socialize, not to actually consume food that is flavorful and delicious. Eat something before getting here so that you can have drinks and something to snack on. Otherwise, the food isn't worth it and honestly the service could've been better too. I used to live not too far from Balboa Cafe (i was over in Cow Hollow) and never once dined while I lived in the neighborhood but honestly I wasn't missing much. read more

Old favorite for lunch and dinner. Good wine list and drinks. Very friendly staff and great antique Bar

Balboa café is a hidden gem of SF. You think going into a café there will be coffee and it wouldn't be a full restaurant. It is actually a very classy place, the bathrooms are super clean and decorated very well. The spicy tuna nachos or to die for, my bourbon cocktail was appropriately strong, and watching the SF sunset was beautiful. I'm giving four out of five stars because it was a little cold, I wish the heaters were allocated buttered to the tables, our service was a bit slow, and unfortunately we did not eat our peppers appetizer because the dish was way too spicy. We asked the waitress how spicy they were going to be, and she said you never really know, we were unable to eat them. We did end up eating the cauliflower, and we ordered a side of potatoes to complete our unconventional dinner. read more

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We were seated very fast for a busy Friday night and that was the only good think about this place. Service was very bad. We got our food and 10min after we got drinks. Never saw our server after we ordered food. Hostess helped us more then our server. Ordered second drink but it took more then 15min so we just canceled and left. Hostess was great, she helped us with ordering drink and with our bill, server never came to check on us. read more

Classic spot, especially for espresso martinis and good people watching. I'm a big fan of the poke nachos lately. They have a nice brunch here. I usually take friends visiting for dinner or a place to begin our night. read more

Balboa Cafe - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The espresso martini is a must have and there's a reason the line is so long to get them -- so so yummy and goes down smoothly! It was definitely crowded on a Saturday night, but my friends and I were able to find a nice spot outside to chat and sip. read more

Traditional place. Busy as usual. Had the espresso martini...yum!! Deviled eggs are my faves. Great food, great spot. A must visit.

Update: - Seared scallop was a bit salty but the corn and veggies helped. - Chicken Fried Steak was also salty due to the parmesan. The veggies and tomatoes helped. - The Crab Cakes were not bad, though a bit soft. - The Tuna Tartare seemed fresh and went well with the slices of toasted baguette. - Friend and I both got the famous Balboa Burger. It was a lot of beef patty served on a those French baguettes. It came with all the fixings (nice touch on the pickled onions, the pickles were not the crunchy kind). It was a big meal when factored in the fries that came with it. - The Calamari Fritti is worth the share. - HC liked her lamb shanks a lot and it was called "Lamb Lollipops". - HC's sis, BC, ordered a roasted veggie soup. HC was not too fond of it. - HC's bf, KL, ordered the one of the specials of the day; a Pasta Carbonara. It was a right amount of creaminess that was not too rich and "cheesy", nor was it watery. The noodles were not too soft and not oily, so the sauce stuck to every strand - one can really taste the complement of noodle-sauce at the same time. That dish was awesome (I would get that next time). The atmosphere on a Wednesday evening was crowded with yuppies and old-money folks - types in a newspaper's Lifestyle's section. Props to our friendly hostess Emily and the waitresses (Karen and Jill?). Note a few times a year Balboa Cafe hosts the Blood Centers of the Pacific's blood-donor truck. You get a free burger gift cert out of it! read more

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Was staying in the area, walked by this place, decided to walk in and try it as it look inviting from the outside. My friend and I sat at the bar the staff was nice, but a bit on the silent side. Their white overcoats made it feel a bit creepy as if they were going to perform surgery on my food. We decided to stay as it was freezing out and we were starving! Anyways, the food was delicious and my glass of wine was nice. The servings are large so my bestie and I shared the risotto, which was perfect for the both of us. And the flavors were mouth watering, it tasted of truffle and mushroom, which are both my favorite. Both flavors complimented each other so well. I must admit it is by far the best risotto dish I have tasted. read more

Balboa Cafe - Mushroom Risotto with glass of Pino Noir - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Date & Time: Lunch and Dinner Company: Ex-BFF's and Michael Crowd: Moneyed; Men in Blazers and Jeans Ambiance: Loud and Lively Decor: Old-School Charm Service: Professional Imbibe: Cocktails Devour: The Balboa Burger and Oysters read more

Up the hill, down the hill, all around the hill. I got my 20,000 steps in and with that, I needed a break. The Balboa Cafe hit that spot. There was a seat at the bar open, there was a bartender to bring me a beer while I rested my feet and there was some sort of sports on TV to distract me from the yuppies behind me who wanted hot toddies and were willing to block the entire front entrance while they had them. Other than them, it was a nice spot. The food my neighbors enjoyed looked great and my beer was super cold. read more

Balboa Cafe - Balboa Cafe in San Francisco - Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California