Honestly, we wanted to order the entire menu. Everything sounded so good, and it did not disappoint. The tapas are perfect for sharing, everything we tried was flavorful, and the octopus was definitely the star. The strawberry tres leches pudding was fire. Great vibe, great sangria, and our server was amazing and super attentive. You can tell he really cares about the experience. Such a fun spot for a date night, dinner with friends, or even a family meal where everyone can share and try a little bit of everything. Come hungry, because the hardest part is deciding what not to order. read more

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Canela Bistro Bar was my first stop after checking into our hotel next door, and wow... what a way to start my trip! If you're looking for authentic Spanish tapas with incredible flavor, this place is a must! We went without a reservation and were seated almost immediately. Our server was incredibly kind and attentive. I had asked if they had an orange wine, and at first they thought they didn't, so I ordered something else. A little later they realized they actually did have one, and they were happy to switch my wine for me. It was such a thoughtful gesture, and I really appreciated the staff here. For food, we ordered the bone marrow, which was rich and savory. The scallop served on toasted bread was another standout, but the octopus completely stole my stomach. It was unbelievably tender, almost like a tender steak, and not chewy at all! If you're an octopus fan, do yourself a favor and order it. Overall, this was a fantastic surprise tapas spot with amazing food and wonderful service. I'd come back! read more

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A friend and I came to Canela Bistro Bar for their $45 Happy Hour for Two deal at 5pm on a Saturday. There were a few other parties also waiting when they opened, and we were all seated relatively quickly. We chose to sit outside since it was a nice day in the Castro, and the parklet was nice and clean. The Happy Hour deal comes with 2 drinks and 5 small bites from their abbreviated happy hour menu. I got the white sangria, which was light and refreshing, while my friend got the Rosa wine - though it came out looking like a white wine so not sure if we received the right thing. Regardless both were tasty. We opted to get 2 orders of croquetas and 2 orders of the bacon wrapped dates - each order comes with 2 of each, as well as a trio of churros which came with chocolate dipping sauce. While everything was good, nothing stood out or was super memorable, and we were definitely still pretty hungry afterward. We ordered one beet and chorizo flatbread, which was pretty disappointing since it was cold, and the flatbread felt like it could be storebought and put together at home - we actually didn't end up finishing it. The mushroom skewers were a bit more unique and we enjoyed the pickled minced veggie topping that it came with, and the mushrooms had a good texture. After adding on the flat bread and skewers to the $45 Happy Hour deal, our bill came out to about $120 for two, and we weren't too full - since the food didn't really standout I can't say that I'd recommend coming here. read more

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I think this place is better than most places I tried in Spain! Every dish we tried (in a big group party) was phenomenal and I'd definitely go back read more

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Wow! My daughter and I were shopping in the city and wanted a nice dinner afterwards. Discovered this place and fell in love. We arrived on a Sunday around 5:30pm and were pleasantly surprised by the $45 Happy Hour for Two deal. We were SO hungry and took advantage of the deal and then in addition ordered a paella and a few other items. Our order (with some going home) - The Jamon Croquettes, Torta Espanola, Patatas Bravas, Gazpacho, Pan Tomate with Chorizo, Jamon, and the Chicken and Chorizo Paella. Everything was delicious and service was very kind and friendly. We will definitely be back. read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Paella - Chicken and Chorizo. With flowers from their garden. - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing restaurant, dimly lit, nicely furnished, and with a cozy comfortable setting. They have a friendly and knowledgeable staff with a robust wine menu! Mostly Spanish wines. The paella was excellent and all tapas portions were larger than expected! You might need to call ahead to reserve paella. Not one dish disappointed! Probably the best tapas in the city. read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Paella - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came to Canela for a work dinner and had a pleasant time! recs: bacon-wrapped dates, seared scallops, pulpo - Patatas Bravas: A heaping portion! Super good for sharing. I do wish the sauce were a bit spicier/more flavorful, but it's a good and filling carb to have on the table. - Seafood and Chorizo Paella: The presentation is beautiful, and the portion is more than enough for six. We had quite a lot left over by the end of the dinner since we ordered this along with a ton of other appetizers. The toasty rice at the bottom of the pan was the best part. The flavor of the rice is light, and which lets the flavors of the seafood, chorizo, and sauce shine through. - Seared Scallop: Cooked perfectly! A nice and tasty bite. (I love corn but was confused as to why it was an accompaniment since it just falls off the skewer...) - Pork Empanada: Soft, creamy, and savory and topped with a crisp salad. Also easy to split and good for sharing. - Pulpo: Perfectly small cuts of smoky octopus that are also good for nibbling on as a group. We were full by the time this came out but still demolished it. We made a same-day reservation during dinner hour for a party of ~6, but the restaurant seemed to fill up soon after we arrived, so it would be worth making a reservation if you're coming with a larger group. Food comes out in waves, so make sure you aren't super full when all your dishes haven't come out. Service was super friendly, and our waiters took the time to explain dishes and bring plates. The only reason it was slow was because the restaurant was full and there only seemed to be two waiters -- they were running around the entire time. :' ( Super glad to have had the chance to try this neighborhood spot -- its seems popular for a reason! Would come back to try their happy hour. read more

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Went here yesterday as a group of six to celebrate a birthday. It was fantastic! Our waiter was lovely, incredibly personable and attentive and nice. He even treated our group to a birthday glass of Champaign. On top of that the food was fantastic. We didn't have a single thing we didn't like and several things where we argued good naturedly over who got the last bite. Definitely a winner of a restaurant! read more

4.5 Stars We had a wonderful date night at this tapas spot. Drinks: Our first time trying orange wine :) ($13 a glass on Wine Wednesday). I opted for a dry cider ($6). Food: -Cheese Plate ($17 for 2) - beautifully plated -Bone Marrow ($8 for one bone) - perfectly cooked, served with a herb sauce -Tortilla Español ($12) - this was fine -Bavette Steak ($29) - I loved the roasted vegetables on the side, the steak was a bit too lean for me but BF liked it The interior is dimly lit and sophisticated. Staff are very polite & attentive. read more

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Delicious Spanish tapas. Came here with a friend on a Friday of Lent when we couldn't have meat; this place has a good variety of seafood and vegetarian options. Also super convenient spot to get a bite to eat on Market before a night out in the Castro. Parking can be tricky. read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Squash toast - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

A couple of weeks a go we went to Canela for the first time. What a fun place! Fabulous ambiance, very friendly personnel, attentive to details and helpful. The food is very interesting, with a wide variety of ingredients, and loved the presentation of the different dishes. My favorite were the artichoke flowers. Meat very well cooked, and the sea food very fresh. Desserts were also fabulous, especially the decadent chocolate cake. I can't wait to go back again and try more of their dishes. Worth our trip from Palo Alto. read more

I recently went to Canela with some friends. It was my birthday. We ordered some Grenache wine and had different tapas including patatas bravas, artichoke, pulpo/octopus, ibérico jamón, squash with goat cheese on a toast, scallops. All the dishes were really good. I enjoyed the artichokes a lot but my friends like the pulpo, squash. Our server was quite helpful she basically suggested what we should order. The space is quite nice for a date or celebration. If you go there for a birthday, they'll give you a hook where every birthday has an anecdote. Highly recommend read more

Visited this establishment that has been in business for 15+ years and enjoyed it. We had Potato bravas Shishito peppers Anchovies 5/5 Scallops 5/5 Polpo 4/5 Bone marrow 5/5 For dessert we tried the tart, banana pecan ice cream and churros with chocolate (this was my fav). Modern and homey space with great service. read more

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Great date night spot in the Castro! Been here several times and always great service, good food, and lovely time. Definitely a little more on the expensive side for tapas but IMO it's worth it. This spot is also good for groups too. They offer gluten free bread for my celiac folks and have a parklet if you are looking for outdoor dining. Favorite dish of the night was gambas al pimento! We will be back read more

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Another delightful and cozy spot offering exceptional service, food and beverages! If you're in the mood to satisfy your craving of Spanish delicacies... I recommend Canela Bistro and Wine Bar! Where you're treated like family and leave with wonderful memories. First off the food. I'd say the pork empanada and the chicken skewers were memorable and highly recommended. There's simply so much to choose from! If you feel adventurous...try the Chef's Tapas tasting menu. It's a great option and also comes as a vegetarian option. Dessert is a must! We had the churros with a chocolate dipping sauce. Absolute perfection. The wine. SO MUCH WINE and me with so little time to enjoy them all! Ha! Canela does have a great selection and also offers crafted drinks. Guess I'll need to come back. Misc... I highly recommend you arrive by taxi, ride share or public transit. Parking can be tough to find during peak hours. But if you're a tourist like us...circling around the block a few times was well worth it! Reservations are also recommended. Overall: If you're from the area...lucky you! If you're visiting this wonderful city, put it on the top of your list to receive a wonderful dining experience! Cheers! read more

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We visited Canela Bistro & Wine Bar for my friend's birthday dinner. They were able to accommodate his 12-person reservation, and we were seated at a huge table in its own seating area. The interior had a warm color scheme with patterned walls and colorful wall art. For drinks, we ordered a few rounds of red Sangria for the table, and the servers just kept it coming - very tasty! My friend also pre-ordered a few appetizers, including an assortment of cheeses (awesome selection, paired great with the apples and honeycomb), Flash Fried Shishito Peppers, and Patatas Bravas (tasty, flavorful). We ended up ordering the rest of our items family-style as well. The Croquetas de Jamon were a big hit, although I didn't try these. The Gambas Al Ajillo were one of my favorite items! I've tried many different versions of this dish, and Canela's was really impressive. The shrimp were cooked perfectly, with the ideal amount of garlicky flavor. The Baked Cana De Cabra was pretty good as well, but sounded better in theory. My other favorite item was the Lamb Pinchos - perfectly cooked lamb skewers with delicious brussels sprouts on the side. Service was friendly and our servers did a great job keeping up with our large party. Would recommend! read more

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Came in for a group dinner, and we ordered so many different dishes. We had a great time and perfect place for date night or group outings. Below are some thoughts on the items I tried: Jamon Croquets 3/5: was hoping for more flavor, but neither the cheese or the jamon flavors came through. I did like the texture Patatas 4/5: I loved the strong smoky flavor of the sauce, and it was a perfect combo to the potatoes flatbread 3/5: we tried both the eggplant and the chorizo, both forgettable Seared Scallops 5/5: fresh scallops with a nice corn relish, I ate 2 of these, but it was not cheap at $17 a pop Roasted Bone Marrow 3/5: was hoping for more flavor, it looked sooo good, but lacked flavor Chuleton 3/5: over cooked, some pieces was too fatty and hard to cut Paellas 5/5: LOVED the mushroom paella it was super flavorful with a slight char on the bottom. This does take a while tho, so be prepared for a wait Desserts 4/5: tried different desserts, some was average, but their churro was perfectly paired with their dark chocolate sauce. Churro was pillowy on the inside and crisp on the outside. Can't remember all the drinks we tried, but everything was tasty, I had 2 pots of tea during our 3 hour dinner. read more

This was such a wonderful experience all around! We were celebrating a friends birthday and reserved a table beforehand - they suggested we pre order some food and it was absolutely perfect. All the food was perfect / there wasn't a single tapas plate or paella left untouched or unfinished. Bacon wrapped dates were a huge hit and so was the seafood paella (not pictured). Service was absolutely impeccable and rivaled Michelin-starred service. One person running the whole floor and she didn't miss a single beat - food timed perfectly, attentive without being overbearing, great suggestions for wine and food, and she remember everyone's preferences for wine so all we had to do was enjoy celebrating my friends birthday! Nobody rushed us to get out Atmosphere is so lively and a few birthday celebrations were going on so it's great for bigger groups. Saw some smaller groups and solo dinners - everyone was either ordering the bacon wrapped dates or croquetas as well. Pricing was super reasonable for the amount of food we had as a group and nothing was served cold. Will be coming back soon and for future celebrations :) can not recommend this place enough. read more

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The food was only outdone by the service. We were celebrating our 10th anniversary and were treated with great recommendations that arrived well prepared. The staff toasted us with a celebratory favorite as we left past closing time. We will talk about this experience for the rest of our lives. read more

Food ordered for delivery, paotatoe bravas, jambon croqueta, iberico ham. The potatoes were over done and looked like they were the scrapings from the fyer. Iberico ham sliced nicely but no slices of bread . Thia place used to be good. Hopefully they are better in person but I will not be going back. read more

Great tapas place, one of our favorites in SF! Food is always great, cozy atmosphere great for a date night and also a party of 6! Service is also always fantastic! read more

sangria and cheese plate good / started off strong but the other tapas such as the patatas bravado and pulpo and the main dishes paella was just fine read more

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What a fantastic experience! We came here for a restaurant week and could not be better. We did the chef's tasting menu and we were so full at the end! Our favorites were: almond and pear gazpacho - it was so delicious and so savory! I would go back just for this. And the pork empanadas, and the gambas al ajillo. Jamon croquetas and dates were good also. One of us could not eat fish but they kindly replaced it to another tasting menu. Highly recommend and easy the best spanish tapas place ive ever been to! read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went here for SF restaurant week! Had such a feast and shared amazing tapas with my friends. Service was a bit slow towards the end but overall super friendly. Good ambiance on a Sunday night! You can't go wrong with any of the tapas! I enjoyed a nice white sangria with my meal. read more

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I thought I had left a review after having dinner here with my friend about a month ago, but guess that only happened in my dreams, and the food was definitely good enough to end up in my dreams. My friend and I got here around 7:30pm, and while it's was pretty busy, we were seated right away. Since it was our first time trying out this place, we went with the tapas tasting menu. We thought about having paella, but it was recommended to call ahead so the kitchen has sufficient time to prepare. Anyways, the tapas dinner was so fun and tasty. Of all the 10 dishes I had, none were bad at all! My top 3 from the menu were the shishito peppers, grilled shrimp, and the ice cream that tasted like horchata! The shishito peppers and grilled shrimp were so nicely seasoned, I could eat a whole bowl of them. The other tapas were great too! The anchovies were fresh and the orange slices gave them the right hint of sweetness and acidity. The gazpacho was a great palate cleanser to start the dinner. I definitely need to return to try their paella. Our server also made recommendations for us to try on our next visit. read more

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This place is FABULOUS! The food is so delicious and is the standout. Ive been to a few tapas bars in the city, and this is definitely one of the best. We ordered the bacon wrapped dates, bone marrow, paella, flat bread, and scallops. Everything was mouth watering. I dream about those dates and scallops. I would even forego the paella just to have all the small plates. They sell and stock Spanish wines and also have a little market to purchase Spanish products. The ambiance is a bit out-dated but don't let that stop you from coming in. The service is friendly and so attentive. I hope they stay around for a long time! read more

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This place has been on my list for a while. Excellent food and cute, welcoming ambiance. Highly recommend the pulpo, coquettas, patatas bravas and artichoke flowers. Shishito peppers and Sangria Blanca were also great! Cocktail menu looked delicious. read more

We had a wonderful time at Canela Bistro Bar last night. After finishing a cooking class next door, we decided to stop by for some drinks before calling it a day. We asked to sit at the bar, but the waiter suggested another spot, which was fine. We ordered a half carafe of red sangria and were able to pour two glasses each (with ice), which was the perfect amount for us. We also tried the Patatas Bravas, which were essentially roasted potatoes topped with a flavorful aioli sauce. It's a nice little something and goes well with our drinks. The waiter was very nice and checked in on us often. I hope his attentiveness wasn't because we didn't order much else--regardless, he remained friendly and professional throughout. The overall ambiance of the restaurant is dim and relaxed, making it easy to enjoy a conversation with friends. If I'm ever in the neighborhood again, I would love to check out their dinner menu for the full experience. read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Red Sangria by the Bottle - Full or 1/2 Liter - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was delicious, although service from host very disappointing. Arrived on time 5:15 for pre Sam Smith show for birthday dinner. Had additional third person join. Was told that could not be accommodated and to go dine instead at restaurant across the street. What? Went on Open Table and immediately booked a Canela reservation for 3 at 5:30 without a problem. Poor way to be treated and turned away as a customer : ( read more

Canela Bistro is a sophisticated gem tucked just a short walk away from the bustling Castro nightlife. It's the perfect spot for a group dinner; they had no problem accommodating our group of 7. The staff were friendly and attentive & the atmosphere incredibly romantic and upscale. Of the 11 tapas we ordered, there wasn't a single one we disliked; everything was high quality and flavorful. Standouts include the Gambas al Pimenton (spicy shrimp) and Pulpo (octopus) -- in fact, our table enjoyed the Pulpo so much that we ordered a second plate! The texture of the octopus was melt-in-your-mouth tender and was plated with some thinly scalloped potatoes, adding a nice heartiness to the dish. Of course, everyone's favorite was by far the Seared Scallops -- each one was presented on a miniature crostini with saffron aioli and a tangy piparra pepper. The only downside was the $8.50 price tag for each individual scallop, but they were so memorable that we all felt the cost was more than worth it. Each tapas has the option for a small or large plate (the large sizes are exactly double the price). Most of the small plates still had enough for everyone in our group to try a bite, so I would recommend only ordering the large size for the real crowd pleasers (like the Patatas Bravas). We ended our meal with the tres leches strawberry bread pudding to celebrate a birthday, and they made sure to bring the cake out with a candle. Our waitress also brought a house copy of "The Encyclopedia of Birthdays" for us to read to the birthday boy, which was a really charming touch and made the evening even more special. Overall, we were extremely satisfied with the entire experience, from the service to the food to the little dispenser of mouthwash in the restrooms (you'll need it after all the garlic! ). We can't wait to be back next time we're in the mood for Spanish cuisine. read more

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What went well? Everything. We absolutely love this place. We live a few blocks away so maybe we're biased but my goodness the food here is amazing and the staff is so incredibly friendly. Honestly, one of the biggest reasons we keep coming back is the staff. Trinity here is amazing. We always look forward to catching up with him and he always makes us feel like regulars. He's amazing. And our server from Barcelona is so thoughtful too! We've been here with our baby and she remembers us every time and makes us feel at home. We always feel like our stroller is such an inconvenience but she lets us relax and enjoy ourselves. Now for food...patatas bravos, octopus, croquets de Jamon, flatbreads (any!) are so good. We've been here maybe 15 times. Can't wait to be back! read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here with a group of 10 and this place was great for a group dinner - the table was pre heated and the table was outside at a private event! Good: - Great tapas style place - We got a bottle of white wine as well to go with our dishes and they poured it all out really nicely for us - My favorite tapas were the pulpo, the meatballs, the bacon wrapped dates, and the empanadas Bad: - The wait times were long between some of the initial dishes, but then got quicker over time which was good! - The service was slow to come outside to help - The shishito peppers were way too spicy! Overall, what a fun place to take a big group, and festive! read more

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Stopped in this small Spanish tapas restaurant for my friend's birthday and to try the SF restaurant week special. For $65 you are served a delicious variety of dishes including a Spanish cheese board, flatbread, Caesar salad, mushrooms, pulpo, bone marrow, steak, and dessert! They have an extensive wine menu and staff were very knowledgeable and willing to give recommendations. I would call this place an Elevated casual dining with well attentive staff and dishes well timed out. All the food was amazing but the standouts and what I would return for would be the Spanish Caesar salad, pulpo and bone marrow. The lamb on the flatbread seemed a little overcooked so I'd skip this one time. The churros were light and fluffy with a cinnamon crisp to it. Great end to the meal! Overall, solid that makes me feel like I'm in Spain. Our waiter, Trinity, was amazing and made our dinner special! If you love my food reviews, you won't want to miss my hand picked selections on my San Francisco Food Guide: https://www.thatch.co/guide/2wvy4127jj86e/view?s=Ub4baw7kAgWP41IcYrZ6an3xEVp2&s_f=e&s_t=ios_share&s_b=n read more

Canela Bistro Bar - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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First time here and had a fabulous time. We didn't order the Paella tasting menu in advance (which is required) but our waiter worked it out so we could. I would highly recommend reserving it. So the tasting menu consists of cheese sampler, two tapas plates each ( which we shared) the paella (which we chose seafood, but you can get chicken or veggie) and then a dessert choice for each. There was so much food, way too much to review, but suffice it to say it was all fabulous. Service was also great. Our server was eager to provide input on the many choices. Made great wine recommendations and was very cordial and engaging. Part way through our meal, the chef came by to ensure we were enjoying our evening. Definitely we will be back with friends so we can try even more delectable dishes. You NEED to go! read more

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Thank you Mat for the incredible tapas and paella tasting! Incredible! Each course more delicious than the previous. Hospitality and service above and beyond! Location is absolutely gorgeous as we loved being on Market street in the beautiful Castro! We can't wait to return and eat our way through the entire menu! Thank you for the wonderful homecoming meal! read more

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Honestly a great experience, food was delicious only critique the potatoes were a little undercooked. Services was great , checked in when needed, ambiance was also great! No further notes. Will be coming back again! read more

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Canela is a Spanish tapas restaurant in the Castro neighborhood. Luckily, we were able to find parking on 15th Street. We had made a reservation for Restaurant week and was seated in the back of the restaurant. What I noticed first was the friendliness of the staff, as everyone greeted us as we were being escorted into the restaurant. Since we had come for restaurant week, the menu was prefixed. Although I had wanted to try the patatas, our waitress assured me that the restaurant week menu would likely be more than enough food. She was right! While we enjoyed the food, it felt like the tapas were rushed to our table one after another. Our next dish had usually come to our table before we finished the previous dish. I suspect it's due to the timing of all the guests ordering restaurant week items, but it made the experience feel rushed. I think Canela is has really great ambience and was great for a date night. All the staff were courteous as well. Overall, the experience was 'A-OK'. read more

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Very easy to miss walking by, but every dish was well worth it, as was the service. We got the: * Spanish Caesar Salad * Flash Fried Shishito Peppers * Marinated Spanish Olives * Patatas Bravas * Gambas al Ajillo * Empanada The Gambas al Ajillo and Empanada were clear winners that we'd both come back for on their own. Everything else was very good to the last morsel, too, including the pickled shishito peppers as an accompaniment to the Marinated Spanish Olives (too bad you only get about 5!). All the food was fresh, clearly made to order and of high quality ingredients, well flavored. Service was very attentive. Only suggestion would be changing up the radio based music. read more

A group of coworkers and I were here for SF restaurant week. For starters, we were 15-20min late to our reservation and the restaurant was pleasant and accommodating about it over the phone. Their customer service continued to be excellent throughout the night as they served us our food and gave us recommendations for their drink menu. As soon as we entered, we noticed the dim light and felt the chill, relaxed, mellow ambiance. The food was solid and overall we had an enjoyable experience. (My favorite was the bone marrow.) read more

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Cute restaurant. A good variety on the menu for exploration. Attentive service. The pulpo (octopus) was cooked & seasoned perfectly. read more

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