Super surprised at how good this humble food was. At first glance the menu was simple and even pedestrian but they really impressed me with how damn delicious they made the straight forward ingredients sing. The flavors were yummy, bold and well rounded. Everything had a pinch of salt just how its supposed to be! Love this place! Service was good, everything came out coursed to perfection. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was pretty good, bar vibes mostly with a touch of unique flare.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Id return and recommend. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]A cute and cozy little wine bar - nothing fancy, a bit of a hole in the wall. The atmosphere is very relaxed and great for casual drinks.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The wine selection is limited to a very curated list of small batch wines and Buddy offers a small bites menu as well. The food for me was okay. We ordered about 6 items for four girls which was the perfect amount of food. I don't know if I would come here hungry because the portions are quite small and it's definitely more of a "light bites" place. I also wish that there were more wine options to select from and that the server was more helpful in helping us choose the wine. read more

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After a mini golf game with my husband and our daughter, we went to Buddy at 6pm (I had booked a table in advance) to enjoy a glass of wine and a few small bites. We ordered the Hokkaido scallop crudo, which was very good, the trumpet mushrooms, an interesting combination that I ended up really liking, and the corn bites, which were absolutely delicious. We also really enjoyed the wine we chose. Overall, it was a lovely experience and definitely something we would happily do again. read more

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Great food, service, and ambiance. The quality of food was amazing and came with great drizzles/sauces. I would have loved some crostini or single slice of bread to mop up the sauce.. could not justify paying $9 for 3 slices of acme bread. Perfect for winding down from a long day or visiting with friends. read more

Buddy - Charred cabbage..oh so good! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Im so happy i chose to come to Buddy! This is a great place to catch up with a friend or go on a date.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is so cute.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food is amazing and the drink selection is large enough to have a choice, but not too large that you feel overwhelmed. A friend and I came to share a few bites, all of which were vegetarian and a glass of wine, and I loved every dish! We had the corn fritters, I of course removed the fish row on top . It was so nice like a doughnut and the sauces paired so well with it. It did not feel oily. We also got the trumpet mushrooms, which were just such an experience flavour wise they were sweet salty. Had Asian flavours had western flavours. I was confused in a good way. We also got the brownie which was the only dessert option and was just amazing! We were really impressed by the source on top which taste like melted ice cream, but thick. All the servers were so kind and attentive. I'll 100% be back and I would 100% order all of these dishes again! read more

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Came here on a Thursday night around 9 with no wait, they close at 10pm but we were able to order food & drinks still. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is nice and relatively quiet at this time, making good for conversation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] 20% tip automatically added. My group ordered a glass of wine each and the corn fritters, trumpet mushrooms, and cucumber and stone fruit salad. Everything was pretty solid, but the sauce of the trumpet mushrooms and the cucumber salad were perfection! read more

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I love a wine bar and Buddy scratches all of the ticks! Wonderful wine selection and their crudo is everything you want and need. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is fun and lowkey.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They play great music and the service is friendly. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Buddy is one of many natural wine bars in the city. It features a classy yet comfortable interior and an enticing menu of small bites.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Unfortunately, I left Buddy disappointed by both the wine selection and the quality of the food. For one, the wine list is quite small and not descriptive enough for newer wine drinkers (myself included). I also found the staff unhelpful in guiding me toward a glass that suited my taste. That's not to say the wines themselves are bad. I just wish they took more care in helping customers make an informed choice. The bites were another letdown. While none of them were terrible, the quality didn't justify the price. Overall, I'd recommend skipping the food and perhaps stopping by only if you already know a thing or two about wine. Corn Fritters: A warm, hearty, and visually appealing dish to start with. The garnishes are the saving grace here; the basil oil adds a herbaceous flair, while the roe brings a satisfying umami kick. Fried Chicken Wings: An unpleasant dish. The exterior forms a dense crust that's genuinely difficult to bite through, and the flavor overall is far too tart. Trumpet Shrooms: A delight after the last dish. The mushrooms are wonderfully meaty, and while the accompaniments are nice, they don't do much to elevate the dish further. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]I arrived early on a Friday evening and the outside seating was already filled.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside was lovely and intimate - a friend and I sat on a booth table.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came in for some light bites and a glass of wine. Their selection is really lovely and they let us try a couple of options before settling on an orange wine. To eat, we had the trumpet mushrooms, corn fritters, lamb shank, and panna cotta. The trumpet mushrooms knocked me out (in a good way), and I'll never stop dreaming about these. The mushrooms are a little heavier but paired with a nice, creamier sauce and a slight sweetness from the feta and the nuts were perfection. The panna cotta was also amazing - slightly tart from the passion fruit and light. The perfect end do a phenomenal meal. The service, the vibe, the food - absolutely stunning and would definitely come back with my partner next time! read more

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A friend and I came to get a few bites and taste some wines. The bread and butter were lovely, and overall we enjoyed the food and drinks. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was later when we came so it was quieter and not as crowded, which we liked.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cute wine bar in the Mission![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The wine was fine, the staff were extremely nice/helpful, and [[HIGHLIGHT]]it was a fun restaurant for a Tuesday night drink.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We got there around 7:00 and were seated immediately. Our server recommended the mushrooms and they were DELICIOUS. The mushrooms were a good texture, the walnut salsa added a little crunch and nuttiness, the french feta was soft and delicious, and the honey gave some sweetness at the end. Truly my favorite part and I could not recommend them more. read more

Buddy - Trumpet Shrooms - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Super cozy restaurant with a romantic ambiance![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Fun dishes to share with tasty flavors! Good service. read more

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Ilna at Buddy Resy Reservation: Came here for dinner under a reservation for "Ilna at Buddy" on a Sunday night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Enjoyed the vibes and atmosphere and music(somewhat loud and low lighting).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We tried the scallops & tostada(first photo), stuffed squid with duck fried rice (2nd photo), and short rib over risotto(3rd photo). Our favorite dish was the stuffed squid :). Overall the experience was great, wait staff were attentive, but small bites are just not our favorite style of meals. Can't fault Ilna, so I give Ilna at Buddy a 5/5 read more

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Cute spot! Came with a group of 5 friends and we yapped, had wine and bites. Ambiance was clean, aesthetic and the staff was incredibly attentive, offering more wine and checking in often. I'd definitely pop in again! read more

Buddy - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Buddy Bar is one of those spots I've become a big fan of. Nestled in the Mission, it's quickly become one of our favorite dining stops whenever we're in the neighborhood. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It strikes that rare balance: a casual but well-appointed atmosphere, staff who are not just knowledgeable but clearly enthusiastic about what they do, and food and drinks that are inventive without ever tipping into pretension.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We've now been a couple of times, and each visit has been a reminder of why Buddy stands out. The menu changes quite a bit between visits, which makes going back genuinely exciting. Some staples remain--anchoring the experience--but the new additions have always been fantastic, each one crafted with real thought and flair. Both times, we've insisted on what has become our go-to move: letting the staff guide us through dealer's choice. It's the best way to experience Buddy, because you don't just get food--you get the perspective and excitement of the team who know it best. Every dish they suggested was a hit. On one visit, that lineup included Za'atar Pommes Dauphine (crispy potato puffs with labneh and pickles), Yogurt Dumplings with herbs and spiced oil, and Lentils en Papillote served with mushrooms and bright pickled accents. Another night, we had their crisp Fried Chicken, a delicate Kafta Wrap tucked into phyllo with herbs and pickled onion, and the show-stopping Habibi Tiramisu, layered with cold brew, cardamom, orange blossom, pistachio, and topped with a cloud of kataifi. Each dish felt inventive yet grounded--familiar flavors given new dimension, plated with care but never overproduced. And while we usually lean toward interesting wine pairings (Buddy has a great list of natural leaning wines), at our visits we embraced the cocktail program. True to form, we left it to the staff, asking for dealer's choice all the way through. Every single cocktail was spot-on--balanced, creative, and well matched to the food--even if we don't actually know what they were called. That sense of trust, and the payoff it brings, is part of what makes Buddy special. [[HIGHLIGHT]]In the end, Buddy Bar manages to cover the spectrum. It's a fantastic casual stop when you want inventive dishes or a well-made drink. But it also shines as a spot for a date night or a dinner with friends, where the energy of the room, the thought behind the food, and the warmth of the staff come together in just the right way.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] For us, it's become one of those Mission places we can't help but keep coming back to. read more

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Good selection of wine but the food could be better. Our waitress was great and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the vibe of the place is really nice to just chill with friends[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Maybe I'll come back and try their other things read more

Buddy - Bread and butter - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Since moving away from SF, I think about these trumpet mushrooms at least biweekly... Buddy is a gem of a wine bar with delicious cocktails and tasty bites. The place itself has quite a cozy, intimate ambiance at night and it's a great location to catch up with a friend or for a date. Service is super friendly and the staff is very knowledgeable about menu offerings. read more

Buddy - Trumpet Mushrooms - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I recently came for happy hour and ended up getting food and calling it dinner as well after seeing the exciting food menu. We started off with a glass of their red wine and shared the corn fritters, halibut crudo, and cauliflower hummus. Everything was delicious and I especially loved the shiso leaf with the crudo. We were pretty full already but got the chocolate brownie as well which was the perfect sweet ending. Loved the crunchy halvah sprinkles with cocoa nibs on top! read more

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Great wine and even better food! I came here with a group of friends and had a lovely time. The service was quick and the drinks were delicious. I enjoyed all the food but especially enjoyed the trumpet mushrooms and the crudo. Genuinely may have been one of the best crudos I've ever had! I'll definitely be back again. read more

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Chef Chris and the team at Buddy are doing some really great stuff. My family and I sat at the bar and were able to get the full experience of how everything works. We started with the scallop crudo and radicchio salad which were extremely fresh and refreshing. On a cold, rainy evening in the city, you want something warm and comforting so we had the cioppino. I never knew a warm dish could also be refreshing but Chef Chris killed it with this one. The porchetta with black eyed pea gravy was fantastic. I was afraid the gravy would make the dish too heavy, but it was super flavorful and light which cut the porchetta perfectly. My favorite bites were the corn fritters and brownie. The corn fritters were warm and sweet, accompanied by a cold crème fraiche and salty caviar on top. The warm brownie was topped with a cold butterscotch cream with a cocoa nib crunch and a sprinkle of salt. The bitterness of the cocoa crunch and the sprinkle of salt balanced out the sweetness of the dessert itself. I don't drink much natty wines but Chef Marcus gave a few recommendations that were very bright and light which allowed me to enjoy the food but also bring the whole meal together. They're doing some amazing stuff here and I'm hoping to come during a different season to see what else they can surprise me with. read more

Lots of eccentric small plates to choose from. Wouldn't recommend for dinner but a good place to catch up with wine and small bites. Roasted trumpet shrooms are a must try. P read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Really lovely wine bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Came here around 9pm and unfortunately they were all out of food, but definitely bookmarking this place to come back another time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The drinks were good and I loved the ambiance inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Unfortunately, our server was a bit standoffish and seemed annoyed at us, but then we later had a female server who was much more friendly. read more

Finally had a chance to grab a reservation for the Jules Pizza pop up at Buddy and I'm incredibly happy that I did. Jules specializes in a very thin, wonderfully charred and perfectly crispy crust that carries a distinct sourdough-y tang in every bite. These pies have zero flop and are among the best-executed thin but crispy and uniquely flavorful slices I've ever had. I'm usually one to prefer a more basic pizza over a more complex one, favoring a Margherita style that emphasizes simple flavors over an abundance of toppings, but Jules is the rare exception. The Marone, their most classic pie with tomato sauce, garlic, fresh mozzarella, pecorino toscano, and caciocavallo, is very good, and allowed the distinct-ness of the dough to really shine, but it wasn't the star of the show. Pizza of a Girl on Fire was the one that really surprised me, with early girl arrabbiata sauce, smoked mozzarella, cacioavallo, jimmy nardello peppers, pickled gypsy peppers, spicy Italian sausage, and basil. This pizza was incredibly complex but never overbearing. The spice level was never too much to blow out my palate but left a pleasant little tingle after each slice. There's a lot of toppings, but not too much of each one, which allowed the crust to hold its structural integrity from the tip to the very end for one of the more surprisingly pizzas I have had this year. It's no shocker that Jules has garnered enough hype to raise the funds to open a brick and mortar location, which I look forward to checking out in the first half of next year on Fillmore street. As a space, Buddy is pretty cool, too. The service wasn't amazing but it was very busy and during a classic SF October heat wave so it was definitely understandable that the staff was a touch overwhelmed. I could see this being a great date night spot within walking distance of plenty of other fun places, including Holey Moley mini golf right around the corner!! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Curb side seating was not great, seemed uneventful and dark.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The deviled eggs for $16 i would imagine 4 pieces (like 12 eggs are cheaper than that). The service was not that great either, wine collection could have been better for a wine bar they only had 3 red options. The worst part, they had 20% service charge for just 2 people who didn't even order entrees and were not even seated inside. read more

Unreal wine bar! Staff is excellent. Abraham, Ochoa and Alvaro are awesome. The corn fritters were great, balanced and tasty. Their milk punch is to die for. They also run a good happy hour. Ambiance is wine bar casual. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great spot in the Mission. read more

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Service was very accommodating. The staff is awesome. Food is...weird. Giant plates, tiny food, big bill, still hungry afterwards. The mushrooms were undercooked and still rubbery with an off putting super sweet garnish. Corn fritters were over fried hard cornbread. Hamachi was covered in watery dressing. Potatoes were undercooked and uneven. Nobody had a favorite dish. read more

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We went to Buddy's for orange wine and Jule's and absolutely LOVED both. The two orange wines we tried were both delightful - light and refreshing - Bodegas navarrsotillo $14 - La clarine farm $17 Jule's was the reason we learned about Buddy so of course we had to try the pizza! We got: - Spicy Ronny (tomato sauce, mozzarella, caciocavallo, pepperoni (LOTS), park (of course), ajika chili flake, calarian chili (LOVED) $22 - Peppa Lamb (tomato sauce, mozzerella, caciocavallo, fiore sardo, sf cookshop lamb bacon (YUM), shishito peppers (delicious), charred onion, oregano $24 The pizza came out quickly and they were baked in the Ooni, needless to say, we were very impressed Jule's pizza is thin, crispy on the bottom, the crust was a bit chewy, kind of a perfect balance. We also got some fermented garlic honey ($3) which was such a yummy add. We dipped our pizza in the honey, especially crust, and highly recommend We will definitely be back soon! read more

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This place is so disappointing. The wine selection is mediocre and the service is awful. We ordered a glass of Riesling and Bordeaux. The white was so sweet and left an awful aftertaste in my mouth. We also ordered some nuts to share as finger food. When I placed the order with the server she looked annoyed, and when she served us the food she plopped it down on our table without a single word and left the table abruptly. The nuts itself tasted so bad. They overdid it with the tamarind and threw off the entire flavor of the dish. To make things worse, they charge a mandatory 20% service charge which is absolutely ridiculous. I don't mind tipping and paying the staff if the service is good. However, the staff barely served or checked in with us and in turn we had to endure nasty attitude from them. Will not be returning. read more

Buddy - nuts - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great wine bar with sophisticated and elevated food selection! They curate both wine and food here really well, and you get to enjoy the thoughtfulness of their craft here! Also a great place to pick up bottles of wine read more

Buddy - Happy hour menu - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

excellent neighborhood wine bar with pop ups. [[HIGHLIGHT]]it's lovely, cozy, and feels like you're having pizza with some close friends.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] a gem of a place just try not to get there too late - they sometime run out of food. read more

Buddy - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

We arrived eager for a 7:30pm Valentine's Day res for an outdoor table and to our surprise the host said there was space inside if we waited for a bit (15-30min). We grabbed a drink across the street, and got the magic text for our table. Buddy's menu and Valentine's specials menu did not disappoint! [[HIGHLIGHT]]I enjoyed their natural wine vibes, the cozy seating. Small plates and wine were such a mood.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The crudo was light, citrusy. The fried chicken was STUNNING. I don't know what the sauce was spread on the chicken and mash, but it was amazing. The star of tonight's show was the trumpet mushrooms. I've never had anything like it! Sweet, spicy, hardy. The sauce drenching the mushrooms and the generous topping of crumbled cheese was phenomenal. If you're craving that sweet treat, the brownie does not disappoint. Topped with this butterscotch cream and cacao nibs, it was the best way to end this meal. The service was also amazing overall. They have a 20% gratuity tagged on the check, but for such great service/food/drinks, we had zero issue. If you're planning a cute date night, maybe something a little special, head to Buddy!!! read more

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ILNA This review is particularly for the Ilna pop-up on Sunday nights. Maz, the chef, cooks with so much passion. He collects the best ingredients from local farmer's markets, even using his background as a wine maker to create special ferments, and shares his family's Lebanese origins with so much care in each dish. The meatball and prosciutto are not to be missed! read more

Buddy - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow i love this place!! Drinks are DELICIOUS and the food was amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great ambiance[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. I can't wait to come back and also check out some of their pop ups. read more

Cute place for a nice glass of wine with friends. Came here on a weeknight and thoroughly enjoyed the chill vibes. Their cocktails are interesting and they have a grand selection of organic wines. We ordered a few items to share and the hubs loved the chicken sandwich. Overall--would recommend for a quick neighborhood weeknight dinner. The ambiance was so great for a first date situation. Not too loud, not too intimate. read more

A delightful little date spot spot to grab a pre-movie drink and appetizers or to just spend an evening. The staff was friendly and laid back. We enjoyed the wines we tried...i love a Lambrusco and they had an unusual one. The food was amazing. We inhaled the Trout Gougères and the Crudo...the strawberry hibiscus made it stand out from what is a pretty popular dish in this city. My husband questioned my ordering the pan roasted corn dish because he couldn't understand why a corn dish would be $14 but once we saw it underway, cooking it in front of us, and all the work that went into it and how very delicious it was, we understood. read more

Buddy - Crudo - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow, Buddy is truly such a gem. If you ever want a delicious meal full of flavors and textures, you gotta go to Buddy! We sat outside to enjoy the warm San Francisco weather. It was right on the sidewalk with no parklet, but it was fine. Here's what we ordered: - Corn Fritters - pretty tasty, great crunch, while still moist. Pretty corny-tasting, but well-balanced with the creme fraiche and the saltiness of the smoked trout roe. - Carrots - wonderful crunch and even more delicious seeds and tahini sauce. A must have! - Smoked whitefish tonnato - strange flavors and texture at first, but it grew on me. Not sure if the crackers added much, but the dish by itself was a fun combo! - Fried chicken sammy - perfect crunch (sensing a theme?) and wonderful flavor. The bread was buttery and garlicky, and the chicken was moist. Our waitperson was super attentive and our food was perfectly spaced out time-wise - we had a small table, and they brought out just enough food at any one time to make sure we had room to eat. IMO, deserving of a Michelin! read more

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Ilna This is a review specifically for Ilna (though I also love Buddy as a bar!) Ilna has absolutely beautiful food. The chefs draw on a deep and intimate understanding of the flavor notes and textures of ingredients from several food cultures (Middle Eastern, European, and East Asian)--to combine elements in ways I haven't seen before. The ingredient quality and flavor profiles land significantly above their price point, and it's the first menu I've seen in a while where I genuinely wanted every single dish. I've already started texting friends to plan future visits so I can work my way through the entire menu. Today, we ordered a scallop crudo, smoked fish labne with pita, duck fried rice-stuffed squid, and yogurt dumplings. I need to gush about each of them (but forgive me, some ingredient details may be slightly off since I'm going from memory. I refuse to be the person who takes photos in restaurants). Scallop Crudo -- This dish combined scallops, persimmons, a small mushroom, a mystery leaf, furikake, olive oil, and vinegar to create a beautifully balanced crudo. I'm a sucker for fruit-and-fish pairings, so this was my must-have dish going in, and it did not disappoint. The scallop was incredibly soft, and the interplay of vinegar and persimmon acids with the richness of the olive oil, plus a touch of umami from the mushroom, made for gorgeous bites. The bits of salt and funk from the furikake added depth. As our first dish, it started to illustrate Ilna's whole thesis: traditionally, crudos use fat from fish and oil plus acid from fruit and vinegar, but the umami usually comes from something soy sauce-based. Here, the mushrooms filled that role but brought a lighter, more delicate balance. Labne with smoked trout, cured ikura, buttermilk bulgur, and dill with squid ink pita -- This was perhaps the most classically flavored combination of the dishes we got, but again it had that masterful balance: tangy yogurt with the gentle smoke of the fish, the freshness of dill, and a wonderful textural element from the buttermilk bulgur that added tang, crunch, and body. Squid stuffed with duck and date fried rice with creamy chili sauce -- This dish had the most intriguing use of ingredients. It nodded to Chinese flavors by using duck to create a beautifully crispy fried rice, but instead of sweetness from something like hoisin, it relied on dates to sweeten the rice and add a pleasant chew. The squid (again, very high-quality) encased the filling and contributed another layer of texture, creating a really delightful dumpling-like bite. The dumplings rested in a Calabrian chili-aioli-like sauce reminiscent of Spanish patatas bravas, which cut through the richness and contrasted nicely with the sweetness. Yogurt dumplings with beef and za'atar pepper crunch -- This dish continued our little food journey. Its structure felt most reminiscent of Eastern European dumplings, but the use of a gorgeous olive oil and crunchy za'atar added flavors and textures that really lifted the dish. Overall, I am super excited to return and try everything this chef's team dreams up. I love food, but only so many dishes truly captivate me--Ilna definitely has some I'll be thinking about for a long time. read more

Excellent service. Marcus is a kind and knowledgeable manager. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The glasswares and plates are savage[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Vibes are contagious here. A+[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Honestly it's so cute and I wish I was here during Jule's but we came for a drink and the interior was so cute and the wait staff was really nice. we asked about a few of the drinks and they let us try a few wines before we decided to order. we also got the whitefish tonato which was suppppper yummy and highly recommend that you get. didn't get that many items or any photos but would definitely come back here again!! read more

Buddy surpassed my already lofty expectations - I loved the vintage-chic decor, the music, and of course, the wine. My friend and I dropped by after having lunch in the area and it wasn't crowded at 2 pm. I ordered a white wine, Bodegas Hidalgo-La Gitana, and it wasn't too acidic. She got a sparkling wine that was really good. We also split a chocolate brownie, and each bite was pure bliss. The butterscotch, cocoa nibs, and halvah on top created the perfect texture and flavors. I'm still thinking about the brownie! It tastes just as good as it looks. read more

Buddy - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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