The people here are really nice and seems like they genuinely care about the drinks !! The drinks are really yummy and didn't get to try the biscuit sandwich but it looked really good!! Will def be coming back again !! read more

Cassava - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Made same day reservations for lunch on Open Table ($20/ person hold) for their $50/ prix fix menu. I couldn't secure indoor seating and ended up outdoors, which was fine for me since they had heated lamps. Parallel parking in North Beach/Chinatown is not easy with high volume motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians (and especially on Columbus Ave). There are 2 structured parking lots 1-2 blocks away on Vallejo, with the Central Police Station on the same block. Upon arriving, we checked in at their Vallejo St entrance and were seated immediately. We ordered the following: 1st, starter - CHICKEN LIVER MOUSSE| Fig, garlic confit, pickled onions (5/5, although I would have liked more Fig "ketchup" to help balance the rich liver flavor) - FRIED CHICKEN| Sous vide thigh meat, chili aioli, pickles (5/5 juicy, crispy and could taste that it was brined in pickle juice) 2nd, entree - CROQUE MADAME | house pon de mie, Devils Gulch black pepper bacon, comte cheese, sunny side egg, truffle cheese fries (3/5, truffle fries ended up stealing the spotlight, sandwich was mid) - PRIME RIB (+ $10) AND EGGS | hashbrowns and two eggs (5/5, prime rib was juicy, tender and worth the extra $10 supplement, the wine reduction perfectly complimented the meat, and hashbrowns were unforgettable) 3rd, dessert - LAVENDER CREME BRULEE | house berry jam - PAIN PERDU | custard house pain de mie, stewed apple, spearmint crema Drinks - Spicy Honey Latte $9 - Lavender Honey Lemonade $9 + San Francisco Ordinance Surcharge $7.52 + Gratituity, auto-charged 20% Friendly staff and gorgeous interior. Might consider sitting indoors next time as it seems like a lovelier experience. Cassava was also nominated for the 2023 James Beard award! Would love to revisit and try out other dishes, perhaps for Restaurant Week if they choose to participate again. read more

See all

Gorgeous French restaurant in north beach! Come hungry, we ordered seasonal offerings and had great service. The interior is elegant and the service is a bit slow, but meant for a meal you take your time on. read more

ATTENTION ATTENTION: Three of us saved $105 on the wine pairing just by checking in on Yelp! It's $35/person, so if you're planning on enjoying wine with your meal, definitely check in to get this insane deal. Cassava delivers on every front, excellent food, perfectly portioned, and a staff that's attentive and professional. You can tell right away this is a "$$$" spot, not your average "$". I felt fancy and rich when they introduced a new wine with each course, presenting the bottles and pouring them with such class. The three-course meal was portioned just right, not too much, not too little. You won't leave hungry nor too full. Highly recommend Cassava. read more

Plants! Hidden! Nice staff! Great owners! These owners operated as a restaurant in two locations prior to returning to their cafe roots post pandemic. Go support them! In 2023, when they still had a restaurant, " Their leadership and advocacy for fair wages, sustainable sourcing, and a transparent business model contributed to their nomination as semi-finalists for the prestigious James Beard Foundation's "Outstanding Restaurateur" award in 2023. " They do catering! ​ read more

Very relaxing hidden garden cafe, Cassava! I really enjoyed this atmosphere and tasty cappuccino with friendly customer service. I'll try some foods next time. read more

See all

Food: 4 stars Service: 2 stars Cassava has a lot going for it, but respecting their customers is a needed change. I came for SF restaurant week to try out their $45 brunch with a party of three. When we sat down, our hostess greeted us and introduced the prix fixe menu that "comes with tea or coffee". The three of us were ecstatic to hear that and even commented how welcome that would be given that coffee in the area wasn't cheap. We had an excellent meal, but when the bill came, we saw we were each charged $7 for the coffee! While the charge is reasonable for the area, we were disappointed because we had been told the coffee came with the menu. When we brought this up to our hostess, she remarked "you all must have heard wrong, we don't do that" and that was that. Huge damper on the meal. It's not so much the $7 charge as the dismissiveness and gaslighting attempt (all three of us heard the same thing and even confirmed it in real time) that really upset us. A simple "I misspoke" or something would have been fine and we would have been fine - nope, it's all us. Now for the food. We had saw on Yelp that they had silently changed the restaurant week menu to remove the prime rib and eyes and had braced ourselves for disappointment. But when we arrived, the menu changed back and we were able to have the meal we wanted. Buttermilk fried chicken (4 stars): like a chicken karaage southern fried chicken hybrid. The chicken had a tart flavor from the buttermilk and was succulently juicy. Not a huge crunch but alright. The dipping sauce with an aioli that tasted good, but was too thick to dip the chicken into - it didn't stay. Had to really dunk it in. Enjoyable though. Prime rib (4 stars): the hash browns on these stole the show. Crispy and not too greasy. The prime rib came with a sweet dipping sauce which was different than any au jus I've had before. Pretty good though! Would recommend. I think Cassava has the potential to really be an SF institution and a destination spot. They are innovative and tasty. But they must understand that blaming customers (coffee, yelp, etc) is not a winning formula to gain a loving fanbase. I hope that changes because I would love to be able to go back and enjoy a meal where the food is the takeaway thought and not the service. read more

Cassava - Prime rib and eggs - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Super cute spot in little Italy - that's trendy and modern. It's a nice date spot or just meeting up with friends! The waiters are also very attentive and nice. I got a glass of wine, shared a salad and both did the salmon as our entree. The food was delicious and just overall loved the vibe. It also wasn't super busy where they had to turn the tables quickly so we could stay a bit after we had finished our meal. The one thing I would say is that the portion is pretty small so if you're super hungry, you'll need to get a few additional apps / shareables read more

See all

Came in for a quick bite during happy hour. I went with the recommendation and it was great! Torino Spritz -- the bite of the olive with the drink per the suggestion of Akilah was really good! The roe krisp was very flavorful. It's on a thin chip, with a dollop of crème and roe on top. Truffle fries were crispy! Overall, beautiful interior, amazing service and food. I'd come back to try the entrées! PS - Strawberry shortcake is on the reg dessert menu! read more

See all

Really favorable and well executed dishes. The atrium ambience is very cool. The service was very good and fast. We will come again read more

Cassava - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Have enjoyed cassava since its original location in outer Richmond. The Japanese breakfast is the go to for me. The small sampling platter was okay but not memorable (definitely see some nordic influences) Came during RW (but ordered regular menu) - the service was okay but not super attentive on a Sunday morning read more

Cassava - Japanese Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

My experience was a 3.5 stars. Let's start with the good stuff. Love the cute space big windows bright lighting but not too bright and comfy chairs For food, we enjoyed - summer green salad - 4 stars. Not evenly mixed but once we mixed it it was just the right amount of yumminess and freshness - dry boat scallops - 5 stars. the corn farro was surprising flavorful and spicy but not too spicy. Scallop was nicely done - chicken liver mousse - 5 stars. Really yummy and we asked for extra crostini. Now on to what we didn't like - duck leg confit - just skip. Too dry and too much duck flavor and not impressive. I was very underwhelmed. - service is slow and not passionate. I don't love the everything is great response when I asked for what they recommend and our waiter seemed to have stopped checking on us once we ordered. Overall not sure we will be back soon but it was worth trying once. Maybe back for appetizers. read more

See all

Good place to have lunch out of the office and cool ambiance. Great lattes and ambiance. read more

See all

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a mediocre experience. Had high expectations after seeing the writeup on Eater... Parking was available in the Vallejo or North Beach SFMTA parking garage a block away. Parking was also an option on the street. Made a reservation online after receiving an informational e-mail from the restaurant. Our table was ready upon arrival. The restaurant itself had high ceilings, was modern and bright. Both indoor as well as heated outdoor dining were available. The night of my visit, the restaurant was merely ~40% full. Staff that wore masks covering their nose for safety. Placed my order with the staff and opted for the fried chicken supplement. The fried chicken supplement showed up within minutes of putting in our order, more specifically before our amuse bouche and our appetizer. Staff seemed to be oblivious to the matter and kept on dropping off plates on our table which was extremely odd, considering that we merely had utensils to eat the fried chicken designed for sharing but no plates?!? The fried chicken itself was unique and different, although it was bland on the inside. The chicken thighs were very fresh and lightly fried. The amuse bouche soup was a light and unique way to continue the meal after eating the fried chicken without plates... Moved on to the salmon crudo which was also decent. Salmon was fresh, although I found this dish on the blander side. I've had more flavorful renditions of this dish. Opted for the short rib as the main course which took an extremely long time to come out. The short rib was melt-in-your-mouth tender although extremely bland, including the mashed potatoes. The sauce on the side definitely helped. The highlight of the meal was the panna cotta which was a light and not too sweet way to finish off the meal. ~$100/head after tax, 6% SF mandates and 20% mandatory service charge + tax on mandatory service charge. They accept credit cards and my credit card was presented back to me along with the bill which was extremely odd. There was no need to sign nor was there a confirmation of payment until it was explicitly asked for... read more

See all

What a special spot in Jackson Square. Neighborhood! Love the high end home made spam, egg, nori breakfast treat. A+++

We made reservations for 5 for at 7pm on a Wednesday night. It was pretty busy, we think there was an event there earlier on in the evening and our full party arrived a little late so we got started later which wasn't bad because we got to play our holiday games. While waiting it would have been nice to start a drink but we didn't get to it. Parking can be crazy since it's busy but I like to avoid all of that and just go straight to a parking garage across the police station in North Beach. We got seated outside and the heaters are pretty warm. Service can be very slow as I hear from others too and the food was ok. A pre fix menu makes it easy to choose and we did the wine pairings but I would say that it was a little underwhelming and I didn't really enjoy the pairing, the alcohol was still good but I didn't have any wow factors. First course-- if you're not gluten free or vegetarian then the buttermilk fried chicken is worth it. I got the Dungeness crab and pear salad. There were large pieces of crab but not as tasty. The pairing was ok. Second course-- I got the Marin coast black cod and that was the winner, no bones, crispy and not too much of a fishy taste, mushrooms were good. 3/5 got the new flat iron steak and they were underwhelmed. I tried a piece and it was tender. The house made rigatoni was good too. Dessert course-- I got the Dulce de leche Panna Cotta and it was super sweet along with the wine pairing. The pumpkin cranberry tart was ok and the pear was just fruits. It was convenient with the pairing and ordering and gratuity was included but not going to lie, we were still a little hungry afterwards and weren't stuffed. Our server was great and very professional. The restaurant is located at a corner and it's cute inside and outside, perfect for a small holiday gathering. The bathrooms are gender Neutral and large. I thought this was known for their brunch in the past but I might be confusing it with another place or location. They also can only split up to 2 cards for payment. read more

See all

Brunch review. STARTERS: DUNGENESS CRAB + ASIAN PEAR SALAD winter greens, wakame-buttermilk dressing, house shichimi chili NORDIC BLU SALMON CRUDO cured and smoked, ruby grapefruit,marinated celery hearts, mint chive oil MAIN (Best) DUCK CONFIT HASH caramelised root vegetables, garlic roasted new potatoes, cornichons, rosemary-bluberry jus, sunny side egg ROASTED CORNISH HEN grilled hen with boleta azul creamy polenta, braised savoy cabbage SIDES & SHAREABLE ADDITIONS: DEVIL'S GULCH RANCH BACON black pepper bacon, 2 strips BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN brined and sous vide thigh meat, Meyer lemon aioli, lightly fermented asian pears, radish Overall, good duck confit hash. "As good as it gets." read more

So happy I was able to try out this place for SF restaurant week. They had a 3 course prixe- fixe dinner for $45 PP. That is defintely a steal. Literally can't get this anywhere nowadays .. you're getting your bang for your buck here. I was able to add myself on the waitlist which was super nice since I wasn't able to snag a reservation for Saturday. Luckily when we got there which was around 6pm they had an open table outdoors. At first I was worried since I thought it'd be too cold but was super happy when the heaters were right above us . It defintely kept us warm the whole night 5/5. Super loved how they took into Consideration of feeling comfortable & warm. For our first course we had the: *Buttermilk fried chicken:The chicken was super moist and super crunchy. The basil chimichurri Mayo went excellent with the chicken. The fermented carrot was also a nice addition 5/5 *King salmon Crudo +7 : All the elements of the pomegranate , avocado , and dill worked so nicely together. It was super light and flavorful . Lovely combo 5/5 Main: Summer squash rigatoni: I'm not a big fan of pasta but this one was superb . The fresh vegetables like the mushrooms , zucchini & fresh cherry tomatoes made this pasta super fresh & hearty. The ricotta cheese was like the cherry on top and added that creaminess element. Amazing 5/5 Slow braised lamb belly: It was decent s I really liked all the fatty bits .. think it would've tasted amazing if they charred ut a bit. 4/5 Dessert: Poached peach & creamery cheese plate: The poached peach was yummy. It was pretty light & loved the subtle sweetness. Pairing this with the cheese made a lovely savory combination. 5/5 Overall , dinner was great . The service was top notch , & the food was amazing for the price point . Would recommend! read more

See all

Came in for brunch on a chilly Saturday morning. My partner and I were sat at a table for 2 outside, but luckily under a warm overhead heater. I had arrived already knowing I wanted to try their popular Japanese breakfast and, after asking our waiter for a recommendation, my partner ordered the Cornish hen. The biggest downfall to our experience was our wait time. We were waiting nearly 45 minutes for our food and I started getting a little apprehensive when I noticed tables that were sat before us were already getting their food. When we asked our waiter about our food, he quickly responded that the kitchen was working on it. The Japanese breakfast was great in concept. The salmon was delicious and paired well with the egg over rice. I really enjoyed the pickled radish, but my favorite was the kimchi persimmon - which was the most flavorful part of the entire meal. I wish I passed on the natto despite many reviews. The miso soup was decent, though I was surprised to find cabbage in it. Overall, tasty but not entirely satisfying as I found myself still a bit hungry afterwards. From the other end of the table, my partner said the hen was flavorful. But other than that, the entire dish was just "good." All in all, Cassava isn't a bad choice in terms of experience and uniqueness to their menu. I just don't think it's a great value meal in terms of how much it was worth versus how satisfied we ended up being. read more

Cassava - Japanese breakfast (salmon) - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

For the past decade, Eater said it "has been a dining destination all the way out in the foggy Outer Richmond avenues, ambitious in terms of both its affordable prix fixe menu". Cassava's doors reopened at 401 Columbus Avenue in North Beach. But with the stiff competition such as Trestle with amazing dishes that are the champion of the world of Pre Fixe, Cassava came short on the expectation. The food unfortunately lacks flavor. The garnish from the fried chicken app and the smoked salmon dish was identical (parsley and dill), the pickled cucumber was also same on two dishes. Fried chicken was the standout but a bit under seasoned. As for the mains, we ordered the duck confit that it tasted like they forgot to put it back to the boiler to make the skin crispy. The black cod was alright, not super fresh and blend. Moving onto the dessert course, it was a pass for me, not worth the calories. The design of the whole pre-fixe was to make the budget. With the 3 courses dinner and wine pairing, with tips and tax it was $250 for 2 people for a very forgettable meal. The best part of the meal was definitely the wine pairing - $36 was great value for what you get and paired well with the food we ordered. Service was also outstanding, except the food really missed the mark, very unfortunate... read more

Cassava - Black cod was a bit blend - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

After social media "expertise" food people showcased this place. we decided to give it a try. i think its time to realize , we cant follow influencers for any recommendations anymore. the food didnt suck but it just didnt hit for the high prices they charge. maybe i need to make more money or i should just stay home n make better food for myself read more

Great dinning experience! Went for the $58 three course tasting menu, was pretty full by the end! Highlights: Potato leek soup (appetizer) - friend had it and said it's really good! Slow braised lamb belly (main) - slow braised indeed! It is a little fatty but definitely reasonable, the blend between fat and lamb meat tastes really yummy. Lowlights: Dungeness Crab Salad (appetizer) - the salad tastes a bit bitter... plenty of crab meat on top though. Desserts were okay. The dishes are very aesthetically designed (great for photos and instagram)! Service fee automatically applied. read more

See all

The last time I had a traditional Japanese breakfast was in Japan. So what a treat it was to be able to experience that in San Francisco! |PARKING & RATES| Located in Outer Richmond, we didn't have trouble finding a place to park. We did meter parking, which is $2.25/hour. Keep in mind that the total time allowed to dine is 90 minutes, according to their website. |RESERVATIONS & SETTING| My girlies and I came here for Saturday brunch on Labor Day weekend (which also happened to be Burning Man weekend). So we expected people to be out enjoying the holiday and all the techies to leave the city. In the past, my friends have done walk-ins, but we made a reservation this time. They sent us a text update when a table was ready for us. We were seated outside under the canopy, which was nice because it was starting to get warm. |SERVICE| What impressed me the most about this experience was their exceptional customer service. The two servers we had were both attentive, but the one I want to give a shout-out to is Kye! I told him about my food allergies and restrictions, which he noted. But what blew me away was when he came back to inform me that there was some egg in one of the dishes that they caught, so they'd serve me the batch that hadn't been mixed yet. I loved that he put in extra effort to come back to tell me that in the middle of preparations. Ok one last thing about Kye before this starts to sound like a love letter is that he gave my friend and I bag hooks so we didn't have to leave our bags on the ground! So thoughtful! Someone give this man a raise! *sobs* |FOOD & PRICE POINT| Everyone ordered the Japanese breakfast, but I switched the salmon with avocado and mixed greens, and the poached egg with natto. I also ordered the plum lavender panna cotta. The panna cottas do seem seasonal because I looked at previous menus and they seem to change based on what is in season. We waited about 15-20 minutes for our food, which was presented in neat trays. The part I like about Japanese breakfasts is the assortment of foods that are included. This allows meals to be more balanced and include different food groups. Like others have said, the food did turn out blander than I expected. While I do tend to eat less salt I think the flavors could be improved if they used more herbs and spices. Overall, I do think $17 is a fair price for the breakfast since it includes a lot of small dishes. Moving onto dessert! Although the plum lavender panna cotta was pricey ($9), it was absolutely divine. It was topped with bits of meringue, assorted fruits, mint, and edible flowers. This dish was a 10/10. So good! |OVERALL| Such a wonderful experience with incredible service. We all enjoyed our time here and will be coming back in the future because of it. It's also rare to find a place that serves traditional Japanese breakfast in the Bay! Just a note that Cassava will be relocating to a new location this upcoming fall because they're expanding their location! So stay tuned for that and congrats to Cassava! read more

See all

For the past ten years, local foodies used to have to go all the way out to San Francisco's foggy Richmond district to sample the delectable modern California cuisine being served up at Cassava. Thankfully in the fall of 2022 they relocated to the tourist haven of North Beach on the corner of Columbus Avenue and Vallejo Streets where Trattoria Pinocchio stood for so many years. All of the credit of this lasting local institution goes to husband and wife team, Chef Kristoffer Toliao and Yuka Ioroi, who oversees the restaurant's beverage program, who collaboratively created a menu of traditional favorites with an only in California spin to each of them. It also should be of note that Cassava proudly promotes themselves as an equitable business meaning they have an equal tip split between front and back-of-house team members, full medical benefits, and a 401K with a 5 percent employer match, all rarities in the restaurant industry, which truly makes them stand out. I have wanted to come to Cassava ever since they opened in 2012 due to the fact they were offering traditional menu items served in a unique prefix style manner sold at affordable price points, which really started making waves in the San Francisco restaurant scene, but somehow finding time to make the journey to the Richmond district was never in the cards. Now with this centrally located sparkling new location and a couple of new menu items and deals that had both a friend and I intrigued and being able to make a reservation for a Friday evening for one of the aforementioned deals, of which we discovered online. Making reservations through their website through the OpenTable website was super easy to make, with the only caveat being they do make you leave your credit card number on the reservation. We came for their Foodie Friday Flights & Bites set menu, of which must be dined on either their outdoor dining area or their bar. With their bar area already full, we sat outside along Vallejo Street as the evening cooled but thankfully they had some pretty powerful heating lamps overhead to keep us comfortable. The regular menu at Cassava is separated into categories including Snacks, To Start, Sharables, Main, and After Dinner, most of which came with a Suggested Wine Pairing. But we came for their Foodie Friday Flights & Bites pre-fix meal and each decided to order each sampler for 30 dollars for food, and the flight pairing for an extra 25 per person. For our first course we enjoyed their Cassava's Buttermilk Fried Chicken, which was brined and sous vide thigh meat served with calabrian chili aioli and lemon-cilantro kosho; and this was paired with Vouvray Brut from Domaine Nicolas Brunet. For our second course we were served their Squash Blossom which were burrata stuffed, battered and deep fried and served with fermented early girl tomatoes; and this was paired with their Prosecco Superiore from Carpenè-Malvolti. And for our third and final course, we were served their House Smoked Salmon "Mi-Cuit" which was served with white peaches, Santa Rosa plums and pickled onions; and this was paired with Frizzante Nigori which was from Matsu no Tsukasa. One interesting caveat to our meal was everything was served at once from all three meals to all three alcoholic beverages. Of the three we both really liked the smoked salmon especially when served with their brined stone fruit, and of the beverage pairings, we both loved the Prosecco Superiore as it had just the right amount of sweetness that quite frankly paired well with all three of our dishes that we were served. I liked their Buttermilk Fried Chicken, but was it not the crispiest or the nicely seasoned that I ever have enjoyed, but I also lovely the acidity that came from their unique Squash Blossom creation as it the perfect amount of burrata and brined tomatoes, but my friend was not enamored of this entrée at all. Our total bill was 148.04, which did include the predetermined gratuity which our server Tony graciously made sure to mention before he presented us with the bill, and when considering the quantity and quality of the food and service we received on this evening, it was well worth the price tag. I cannot wait to come back to Cassava to celebrate their new home and the sparkling hip redo of their interior with an open kitchen and inviting bar, any meal from their signature Cheese Burger to a wine pairing with their After Dinner Cheese Plate sounds divine. Cassava is doing important work now with this main location in North Beach, and their old location becoming a Wine Bar, could only mean more locations are around the corner. A place that puts a quality dining experience and their hard-working loyal employees first, is a concept we can all get behind. read more

See all

This place is such a gem. Located in the heart of North Beach, the menu appeals to all palates. Fresh locally sourced ingredients prepared well and artistically plated. It was almost too pretty to eat. They also have an extensive wine list. The staff are so attentive and friendly. All patrons welcomed as if entering someone's home. I didn't find the menu expensive but adequately priced given the portions and neighboring restaurants. You can easily find items under $20. read more

Cassava - Pate with strawberries, fig jam and toasted crostini, dotted with fresh fennel frawns. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

The fried chicken here is to die for ! Always a fan of this place since the balboa village days and now look at this gorgeous space in North Beach really close to my office in the landmark Transamerica Pyramid center. Thanks Yuka and Chris for being part of the neighborhood and revitalizing of financial district read more

Cassava - Fried chicken - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Cassava's new location is on Columbus and went last night to support Yuka and her team. WOW! Talk about an upgrade from the Balboa location. Beautiful restaurant with bar seating, outdoor and indoor seating. The staff was all in black blazers, very professional and accommodating. We had reservations at 645pm but arrived around 615pm and got seated early. We opted for bar seating by the windows towards the back of the restaurant but we got to see all the action in the kitchen. This was SF Restaurant week so we got a 3 course meal for $45 each person not including drinks and gratuities. We both ordered the fried chicken, my hubby had the summer squash rigatoni and I had the black cod. We finished with the plum vanilla panna cotta and the poached peach. The fried chicken was the winner of the night! Boneless chicken thighs with sauce and radishes. Fingerfood! The rigatoni was hard as we were used to a softer pasta but Yuka explained that they make the pasta fresh in house so that is the texture. Black cod was good though I always skip the skin. The desserts are a must! The panna cotta and poached peach were both sweet and layered with syrup and fruits. A perfect end to dinner. I left feeling full but not stuffed. The last time I dined in was before the pandemic and I remember the food & service was on point. Yesterday night did not disappoint. Same great food and service. More staff than before as it is a bigger restaurant. The owner, Yuka, came by after every course to check up on us. She is relentless! She keeps going servicing every table! This new location is in a popping neighborhood in the North Beach and will do very well! Congrats on all the success! read more

See all

Made reservations for a birthday dinner on a Friday night at 7:15pm. Arrived a few minutes early, the table wasn't quite ready so our party waited at the bar. We were seated promptly at 7:15. Beverage: Green tea - really nice, brought out individual cups with loose leaf tea that team can refill with hot water as requested Non alcoholic brut rose - delicious, bubbly, tart with a subtle sweetness, this was a little birthday pour which was so nice Food: Toscano bread - olive bread that's been grilled and buttered served with nori butter, so good Butter fried chicken - a really hearty portion of boneless breaded fried chicken that's served with kimchi pears, favorite dish of the night, only critique is chicken could have been salted a bit more Wild arugula salad with ricotta - this was okay, typical salad nothing really special Pan Seared Scallops - fresh and really well prepared, definitely a small portion at two scallops for a $23 but a tasty bite of you want to add something extra Housemade rigatoni - al dente pasta with a creamy but light sauce, overall good but a tad too al dente for me and wish this were a tad saltier as well Dulce de leche Panna Cotta - favorite dessert of the night, nice creamy texture, great balanced sweetness Chocolate pot de creme - very rich and decadent, lots of chocolate flavor, liked the added crunch from the cocoa nibs Service: Excellent, warm and friendly, staff was knowledgeable and checked in regularly. Truly made the experience special. Overall seasoning was a bit hit or miss throughout dinner, there is a lot of care and quality put into the food but several dishes could have used a bit more salt. Service was absolutely outstanding and would potentially come back to try a different menu. read more

See all

Great food , great service n super dog friendly , the duck is excellent . Pasta is great too read more

See all

We were invited to tag along to dinner at Cassava before the restaurant relocates to North Beach. We gladly accepted after looking at the menu and reading about the restaurant. Where else in SF can one get a 3-course prix fixe meal for $48? There were seven of us, so we had a table outside on the sidewalk. It was a chilly night in the city so we were grateful for the portable heaters. Service was excellent and attentive. The server immediately asked if anyone had any allergies he needed to be aware of. My son has a peanut and egg allergy so after ordering, he came back to tell us the starter he ordered came with aioli which he asked if okay to replace with ketchup and also told us the dessert he picked contained egg and offered him a different option. This was truly the highlight of the meal for me as most restaurants will make note of food allergies, but don't take that extra step to make sure the person with the allergy is still able to enjoy their meal without potentially suffering a life-threatening reaction. Sadly, the food did not live up to my expectations. Everything was average, even bland in some cases. Buttermilk fried chicken - one of the better starters Summer peach and herring salad - lacked flavor Summer melon and tomato salad - lacked flavor Burrata toast and grilled Spanish octopus - we got these as a shared plates for the table - both were okay Slow braised lamb belly - my main dish - average Rockcod (this was on the menu instead of the salmon but served the same way as the salmon) - son said dish didn't have a lot of flavor Duck leg confit - hubby said dish was okay We had all three desserts - strawberry tarte, plum lavender panna cotta and poached peach - the tarte and panna cotta were okay, the poached peach was probably the best dish after the fried chicken Corkage fee is only $25 and street parking is fairly easy for a Saturday night. A 19% gratuity was added to our bill. Cassava still gets four stars from me because of the great service and the reasonable price. I wouldn't go back for the food alone. read more

See all

I liked how light and bright this place seemed. As you walk in it feels good in there. I liked our seating ok but I made a red and the place was pretty empty for Fri night. Not sure why they seated us in the corner but we did get a side view of the chef area. The food was decent and well seasoned. I loved the apps. This place is different for the neighborhood and a good find. I image they would be awesome for brunch!!! read more

WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE! So I bought a coffee as I was waiting for a friend. My friend brought bagels and when he asked for hot water the lady refused to give him or even sell him water because "you cant have outside food" and "its not on the menu so I cant sell it". If I had known I would have left but no one said anything. This space is outside with multiple businesses surrounding, like a waiting area, so I didn't even think about it. Hate to say it but not sure if it had anything to do with us being POC bc this all made no sense to me. She later threatened to kick us out. Never going back! read more

A small cafe, just a window in the wall, cute surrounding in a small alley way. I had onigirazo and an egg salad sandwich, both were tasty and healthy. It's a little on the pricey side. read more

In the bustling culinary landscape of San Francisco, Yuka Ioroi and Kris Toliao have forged a formidable presence within the elite culinary scene of this foodie city. The culinary prowess of this duo garnered attention from the esteemed James Beard Foundation this year, even after boldly moving restaurants during the pandemic. Support from enthusiastic locals sustained them through the pandemic, and despite an exodus of city residents in recent years, their food retains an exuberant vibrancy and, undaunted by adversity, they remain steadfast in their unwavering optimism, knowing that the storm will pass. Cassava is a true gem in the heart of the city. Chef Kris has masterfully woven together menus that conceal lightness within seemingly hearty meals -- a fun bit of magic played upon their unsuspecting guests. And the result is nothing short of magic, truly. From lamb roulades to sashimi, this hip restaurant's foundation is an inventive fusion of Japanese, French and Italian influences. Note the graffiti painted walls, a stroke of vandalism symbolizing and mirroring the diverse foods on the menu. All the while, Chef Kris performs beautiful graffiti art on each plate. There's a controlled chaos to his creations. An anarchistic artist's touch that sets Cassava apart. Starting with the burrata-stuffed, fried squash blossom, swimming in a perfectly acidic pool of fermented early girl tomato sauce, our palates were primed for a rollercoaster of a culinary adventure. It was a bold opening act, yet it drew us in rather than sending us running for cover. I was invested. When a Chef has the audacity to slap a customer in the face with strong flavors like this in an appetizer, it foreshadows an extraordinary dining experience to follow. Second course was the Rancho Llano Seco pork chop, a 12 oz behemoth of delectable delight, smothered in a vibrant stone fruit salsa packing a serious bite. All of this resting elegantly atop a bed of roasted Brentwood corn succotash. To my surprise, I found that I wasn't feeling overstuffed. This dish, with its lightness and refreshing quality, reminded me of a beautiful blue sky. So fresh and rewarding. We were so lucky to taste this offering, as this was the last of the Rancho Llano pork that would be served. The ranch will be closing soon and the stock that is currently in restaurants is what is left. We finished our culinary journey with the extravagant Strawberry Vanilla Shortcake- a desert so sublime that words barely do it justice. Upon the first bite, I was so overwhelmed, I literally got up, walked over to Chef Kris and declared it the finest dessert I've ever encountered at a restaurant. A bold, but true statement from someone who specialized in making creamy decadent desserts. It wasn't overly sweet, with the strawberries striking a delicate balance of tang and sour. The cake was moist with a tender crumb and all was rounded out with a vanilla chantilly that left a lasting smile on my face. Cassava was excellent; a beacon in a city where restaurants are many and constantly on the move. Kris and Yuka have planted their flag in the culinary landscape, and are holding their ground with a fearless commitment to bold and unforgettable flavors and style. Theirs is a story of perseverance and integrity that demands admiration and respect. And many return visits. read more

See all

My friends and I were intrigued by Cassava's restaurant week menu, so a couple days ago we decided to check it out. Since we had booked our time for a Sunday night, many of the seats were already taken and so we had to take a table for outside dining. Thankfully they had heating lamps above the tables so it wasn't too cold, but it would be nice if they had some structure to block the wind for us. Besides this, the service was excellent and the waiters were extremely attentive. For the restaurant week menu, I decided to get a Buttermilk Fried Chicken for my first course, the Slow Braised Lamb Belly for my main, and a Plum-Vanilla Panna Cotta for my dessert. The fried chicken was excellent, as it was juicy inside while having a crispy outside that wasn't greasy. The cilantro chimichurri mayo that came with it gave it some additional flavor, and for an appetizer it was a decent size. The lamb belly was also great, although according to our server it is around 60% fat. While I still enjoyed it a lot, some other people at my table thought it was a bit much so it depends on your preferences. The panna cotta was the star of the show in my opinion, as it had very interesting flavors and the fennel pollen meringue they added gave really nice texture. The presentation was A+, and I could tell the restaurant spent quite a bit of time developing the dish. Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant and although it was a bit on the pricier side I think that the restaurant week menu was pretty worth. We all left satisfied from our meal read more

See all

Was really excited to go and pictures on Yelp looked good. Unfortunately, the food was subpar (or they just had an off day). I ordered the Japanese breakfast and my friend ordered the pork bowl. Flavor was lacking across both dishes. The pork was seasoned well on the surface but none of the flavor penetrated into the meat itself (there was also a fly on one of the leafy greens, which we brushed off and just laid to the side). The Japanese breakfast was also lacking. The fish was solid but the rest of the pairings lacked depth or didn't complement well (not talking about the natto re: Alan's reply). Food was forgettable / really not worth mentioning. I wouldn't be posting a review here if it not were for the bad service. Would say it's one of my top ten bad / weird experiences. Our server looked / sounded angry and annoyed the moment we came in and tried to get seated. She was extremely dismissive the entire time. For example, when we were ordering food or when I asked for a slice of lemon for my water she looked visibly exasperated and impatient. We thought the entire interaction was really odd (also was never checked in on) - she did the same thing to another couple. They came in asking to be seated and as our server was speaking with them, they did a double take and actually had to ask to confirm if she was angry at them... in addition, I don't think it's fair to have tip included for a party of two at a mid-tier restaurant that was fairly empty if the service was going to be so horrible. read more

Cassava - Japanese breakfast - don't get - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends and I went to Cassava for Sunday brunch. We made an online reservation, but the place wasn't as busy, so walk-in would have been fine too. The walls of the restaurant are adorned with bright hues, and the large, expansive windows fill the space with an abundance of natural light, making it very warm and welcoming. We tried quite a few items from the menu- 1. Bread basket 2. Fried chicken 3. Baked egg skillet 4. Pain perdu 5. Mussel & fries 6. Barley tea The bread basket was decent. It came with butter and house berry jam. The beryy jam was good but very watery and didn't have the traditional jam like consistency. The croissant was very light and flaky. The mussels were fresh, sweet, and buttery. The fries were the highlight of the meal. Baked egg skillet lacked flavors. The fried chicken was okay. The aioli sauce that it came with was very salty and tangy. The pain perdu was a bit underwhelming. The bread/toast was dry and dense. The service was good but it can be better. There were times when we needed utensils and extra plates, and there was no server in our section of the restaurant to ask for help. read more

See all

The fries were yum n drinks were excellent. The tomato starter was well flavoured and perfectly balanced. I just wish there had been a little more than 3 tiny pieces of burrata to balance the amount of tomato's on the plate. The mains were alright nothing bad but nothing amazing. I would come back for drinks and starters. The service was fast and friendly. Ambiance isn't that of a super fancy place nice casual date venue. read more

See all

Stopped by for restaurant week since we were in the area. Happened to be the week of APEC so there was no wait at all! Food: Thankfully even though we were doing restaurant week, Cassava had a lot of options for us (unlike many SF restaurants). I ended up getting the burger which was delicious and quite a generous serving while my gf got the rock cod, which had an interesting... presentation (see photo). I also tried the honeycomb apple for dessert which was ok (didn't find that the combination did much). Service: We were the only ones in the restaurant so we got a lot of attention. Ambiance: The restaurant is very aesthetic. Definitely fits the Italian vibes of the North Beach neighborhood. Great date night spot. Overall solid spot in North Beach. I'd like to come back to try their main menu sometime. read more

See all

Food: Great optionally here. Cassava has a pre-fixe menu, a tasting menu and an a la carte menu. makes the spot perfect for a more formal date night (esp. w valentine's day coming up!) or a nice dinner with friends. I really enjoyed the flavor of their food and they have an interesting take on some classics, like the caesar w/ poached egg. Service: Really fantastic. We were served by several folks and they were all very attentive. They noticed I was chewing gum before dinner and offered me a paper napkin in case I wanted to dispose of it in a subtle and thoughtful way. similarly, our table was by the window with no spot to put a bag, and was given a purse table hook so I didn't have to put it on the floor. The little things add up! Ambiance: Cozy, on the corner of a street in North Beach. Tables are spaced to give you enough privacy and the space itself was very welcoming :) neat little spot - will definitely be coming back! read more

See all