Might as well grab your passports, because this restaurant (almost) takes you to Spain. I studied abroad in Spain for a semester, and I'd like to think that that makes me somewhat qualified to speak on the authenticity of a Spanish restaurant in San Francisco. I had an extremely pleasant time at Esperpento; everything was delicious and it brought me back to my time in Spain. My friends and I got there a little after 7 p.m. on a Friday, just before the restaurant got packed. We were immediately seated at a small table, but all of the tables are kind of smushed together so it was close quarters with our neighbors. The menu is pretty extensive, especially with its tapas selection. We ordered: morcilla (blood sausage), jamon iberico (ham imported from Spain), calamares fritos (calamari), chorizo, and patatas bravas (spicy potatoes). They all came about 20 minutes after waiting. I have to say: none of them disappointed. The morcilla is a little less seasoned in comparison to what you'll actually find in Spain, but when you dip it in the spicy sauce, it gives a good kick of flavor. Esperpento evidently takes a lot of pride in this sauce--and for good reason--as they use it as a complement for almost every tapa. The patatas bravas are probably the best that I've ever had! My favorite tapas of the night were the patatas bravas and the calamares fritos. We finished off with the Paella Negro, which is known for its black color due to the squid ink. It's not the best paella that I've had, but when you squeeze the lemon on top of the black rice, it's a pleasant bite. As for the service, I can understand why people have complained about the waiters/waitresses not being as attentive. There were a few times that we had to ask our waiter to refill our water cups. But other than that, the staff was perfectly friendly. I do have to say that being approached more than once by the live music performers was a little much, but it contributes to the lively atmosphere of the place. Whenever I'm missing Spain, I'll be sure to come back to Esperpento again! read more

Esperpento - Paella Negro - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We were only a table of two and were barely attended to they just left the plate of food and left. Then the waitress complained for more tip saying we needed to tip more. How bout actually provide service if you want a proper tip. Rude women she should be fired. read more

This review is long overdue. I went here with a few local friends before going out and I was impressed that the food was good and not terribly pricey. We split a bunch of tapas. I know we had a chicken dish, spicy potatoes, some paella and a few other items. We ate here about four months ago so I'm blanking on what we ordered. I didn't have any sangria but it looked really tasty. It's not too big inside but we didn't have any trouble finding a table on a busy Saturday night with a total of four people. When my other tapas places are crowded, I'll stop here. I definitely want to go back and try the sangria if anything else. read more

I felt like I was back in Spain, the food was very authentic. The only "give-out" was a Mexican mariachi... wish it was a real Spanish guitar. Oh, well, I'll get what I can. The place is tiny, gets very loud and cozy inside. They have a few tables outside, which can be enjoyed - weather permitting. Now, that you should come for (and I will be back for) - authentic tapas and Sangria! They have a lot of seafood prepared different ways, a few stews, vegetables, salad (which, I will guess, is one of the few "Americanized" dishes - didn't see any house salads in Spain). Also, Paella - this was the crown of our dinner - black (squid) ink paella (!!!) with calamari, octopus, shrimp and other seafood. From tapas - the one to remember - scallops and potatoes. Come in, grab a table, get some Sangria, and enjoy like it's always a siesta! read more

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We walked in because there was other business We were doing around the area. We had some tapas, quail, artichoke and we ordered as a main plate mariscada. We were four of us, the service amazing friendly and food completely speechless... delicious and the amount of food more than worth the price! This is a gem in the Mission District. read more

The ambiance here is great. The food is great. What more can you ask for? I ordered the garlic shrimp, which came with rice soaked in a light flavorful oil. Paired with some wine, it's one of the best dishes I've had in any cuisine. Definitely recommend dropping by if in the area. read more

Excellent service with delicious food. We celebrated Mother's Day. I would recommend this place.

I just came back from here not too long ago. Originally, we were going to go to some other place, but I'm glad we came here instead. By the time we arrived the place was packed and there were a few parties ahead of us. We probably had to wait at least 10 minutes, which we didn't mind at all. The manager and waiters were very friendly and our food arrived quickly. We ordered a pitcher of Sangria (sweet and refreshing), Grilled Mussels, Grilled Calamari (YUMMM), Grilled Artichokes (a little salty, but I enjoyed it), Potato & Onion Omelette (OMG YUMM), Ox Tail Stew, Grilled Salmon (i could've done without). For dessert we had the Creme Brulee and the Flan. I really enjoyed the creaminess of the flan and the fact that it wasn't overwhelming sweet. The burnt sugar on the creme brulee kind of ruined it for me. The total was around $62 for 3 people, which was okay for the amount of food we ordered. Something about the guitar players (okay fine, they're musicians) playing music sort of bothered me. Honestly, I only heard half of what they played since the place was loud and the most half of me conversating and listening to what my friends had to say. It made us feel uncomfortable that they walked around asking for money 'for their music,' which I wasn't even paying attention to at all. I'm giving it 4 stars, maybe because I'm still a bit buzz after the 4 glasses of Sangria I had, but nonetheless I'm left feeling satisfied after some good eats! I'll definitely come back here and try some other dishes.....or maybe until I find a better tapa place.....*shhhh* read more

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This is such a great restaurant with great food and such a big verity of choice menu! We been coming to this restaurant for years and food still awesome! read more

I hadn't been here in ages, but I was having dinner with one of my friends, and this is "our place" (perhaps a close second to the House of Prime Rib). We made impromptu dinner plans, so we didn't have a chance to make reservations anywhere. We walked in to Esperpento, and it was surprisingly packed on the Thursday before Christmas. We waited for about 25 minutes - unfortunately, it looked like they were pretty short staffed with one hostess (who doubled as a waitress on a occasion) and one waiter. Maybe because of the low staffing levels, they couldn't open up the upstairs...or maybe it isn't open anymore? We finally got a table, and as soon as we sat down we ordered two carafes of sangria for two of us. The waiter refused to let us since the second carafe would get warm but promised to bring out a second one as soon as we finished the first (he did). The menu at Esperpento is extensive - almost too many choices. We stuck with tapas and ordered seven dishes. Yes, I realize that was too many, but my friend insisted that we have a wide variety to taste and try. The waiter repeatedly warned us to reduce the number of dishes we ordered - we didn't listen. We plowed through ~2/3 of our food and were absolutely stuffed. We ordered the stewed rabbit, pollo adobo, mini sausages, patatas bravas, garlic shrimp, green beans and chicken croquettes. Of those, I think my favorites were the pollo adobo, stewed rabbit and patatas bravas (mostly because potatoes with yummy aioli-like sauce is almost always tasty). The meats were juicy and yummy. Even under the stress of being short-staffed, the server was nice and friendly. It was sometimes difficult to get his attention but he apologized for the situation. The prices at Esperpento are pretty good (not as much when you over-order!) and generally not too bad of a wait considering some of the other places in the area. read more

Definite fan. I adore spanish food, and esperpento hits the nail on the head. And it's much more fun, festive and attentive (in terms of the staff) environment than picaro on 16th and mission. A gal pal and I ordered some delish tapas and a carafe de sangria to share. We ordered the classics -- papas bravas, tortilla espanola, garlic shrimp and then went a little rogue and got the oxtail stew. Everything was delicious, especially the tortilla and papas. I haven't had tortilla that delish since I lived in Madrid. Hard to come by GOOD spanish food in SF. I wanted to try the chicken croquetas, but am currently on a diet and tried to avoid fried things. Next time for sure!!! OH and the sangria is strong. was definitely more than tipsy upon leaving... a good thing i'd say. Can't wait to go back to esperpento! read more

Love this place and the food. Priced well. Nonpretentious and they are accommodating. Lobster paella, garlic shrimp, oxtail, calamari, all were delicious, and of course the sangria! read more

Tapas tapas tapas! Came here with two other friends and had a great dinner over small bites and big conversation. The overall restaurant, has a very homey and family feel. You can't help but feel an energy with the mariachi setting the mood. For our meal we had: 1. Alcachofas a la Plancha (Grilled Artichoke) 2. Boquerones en Aceite (White sardines in Olive Oil) 3. Croquetas de Bacalao (Salt Cod Croquetas) 4. Patatas Aioli 5. Albondigas (Meatball Stew w/ Saffron) 6. French Bread w/ Salsa Brava (1st Order Complimentary) All were enjoyable, but the surprising star for me were the sardines! I loved the sour and salty combo and our table enjoyed it so much that we ordered another. Also, that salsa brava is delicious. I could spread that on anything and eat it up. Also, make sure to order the sangria, as it is a great element to tie the whole meal together. read more

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I went to eat there last Saturday with my family and my mother-in law. There was this busser guy with long black hair to the shoulders, who came with our water and sangria and bread. This time the bread was hard we later thanks to the waitress found out that it was the bakery who was different but my mother-in law ask-this guy who was super rude-for softer bread since she likes it that way and the guy ask her if the bread was for her or my 8 months old baby. Super rude of him to ask her that instead of just handing some new bread or just explaining to her that the bread will be the same. It was a very unpleasant moment and awkward for all of us. read more

My husband and I went to eat lunch here for Valentine's Day. The restaurant was easy to find in the Mission district and there was ample parking in the garage nearby (2 bucks an hour). The place was quaint and a casual place. Service was good. For starters, we had jamon serrano (with toasted french bread, tomatoes, olive oil), manchego cheese (which we ate with the jamon serrano), and calamares a la plancha (grilled calamari with onions and tomatoes). All the tapas came with french bread and some butter. Of course a paella was a must have and we ordered the special, the lobster paella. The paella was very good and had tasty rice; the paella had two split lobster tails, calamari, clams, piquillo pepper, peas. The size was plenty for three people. We will definitely come back here. Prices were good, the size of the dishes were ample for sharing; service was good (servers were attentive). read more

Esperpento - Lobster paella - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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How have I not reviewed this place? I've only been a regular for 12 years now. It has a really cozy, laid back vibe and the food is always on point. Also a great variety from which to choose from. Favorite tapas are chorizo sausage, blood sausage and anchovies. read more

Food was excellent, service was excellent. The only issue is that the owner will not allow the heating lamps to be on outside before 5pm. So we were all very very cold. We could not go inside because some of the people were not vaccinated. They said that it's a city ordinance that the heating lamp cannot be on before 5pm. Of course we all know that's not true. There is no such city ordinance. read more

Food was delicious, the sangria was yummy and on HH!! Service was quick, loved that we were not rushed, felt very nice to be able to hang out and eat a slower pace since we were having dinner with family. Really appreciated that. The vibes are cute, nice and cozy space. read more

I love their Paella. It is very good and the service was the best! Drinks are great, I have not 1 bad thing to say about this place. Since I was not paying, I did not even note the prices or I would comment on them. One more place to add to my list of "must repeat". read more

One of my girlfriend's favorite places to eat and drink. The patatas bravas and the lobster paella were out of this world and perfect for a party of two. We drank Tempernillo and sangria which were bargains at around $5 a glass. The paella is a healthy portion for under $30 for 2 ppl. I love cheap delicious eats. They have various combinations from the meat heavy to the seafood lovers. ALL are yummy. Service is fast and friendly without being interruptive. There is often a mariachi band or traveling singer to add to the ambiance and it is family friendly. Bottom line is that its a great place in the mission for unpretentious tapas. read more

-Tapas tapas tapas! On a Wednesday evening it was PACKED! It was SO HOT in there!!! Place was CRAMPED. Ugh not very enjoyable. -Service was super slow. My group and I sat upstairs and the waitress only came by when food was ready. Pray that you get a table downstairs, or just go in small groups. -Food took so long to come. Heck, water took 20 minutes! I was so hungry... bread wasn't going to do. Oh did I mention free bread and butter :) +Tapas came fast... 10 mins ish? Small plates but very good. Garlic shrimp was good. The leftover oil made a great bread dip. The spicy potatoes were good too! Paella took waaaaaaay longer than the stated 30 minutes. When it arrived, it was pretty good but I wasn't happy with how oily it was. The rice was like slippery thanks to the oil. I wouldn't come back here because of the environment and such oily foods... Food overall was delicious though don't get me wrong but not my style. read more

This is the best food i have eaten is sf thus far. Def recommended the mussels from the tapas menu and the paella. Come hungry.

Esperpento has been one of my favorite Tapas restaurants since I moved to the Bay Area several years ago. I used to frequent this restaurant really often; indeed, I used to eat here at least two or three times a month. My last experience was by far the worst one since my very first time and most likely will be the very last one. Three of my friends and I came here to celebrate my birthday and the restaurant was really slow. We expected it to be slow since we were there on a Tuesday night, right before the end of the month (it was the last week of June). We got a bunch of appetizers (Shrimp, Fried potatoes, Ham, Ropa Vieja and Croquetas). The food had a stale taste but we could not really tell what's going on. We did notice that the glasses and silverware was disgusting (our glasses had fingerprints and I found pieces of rice stuck in my forks). After the appetizers we got two Paellas and we had the same feeling -- DISGUSTING! Without a few minutes the waitress approached us to let us know that if we wanted desserts we had to order them right away because the owner wanted to close the restaurant early because the dishwasher and 2 bussers had not shown up to work. Before leaving the table, the waitress smiled and told us how happy she was to see this happening because the owner had been mistreating the staff members on a daily basis -- all this was happening as we were trying to celebrate my birthday! I am not talking any person's side -- maybe the employee is wrong and the owner is an amazing person, I do not know it, and I do not care about it either. One way or another, her inappropriate remarks were enough to ruin our dinner. I recommend the staff to discuss these issues with the owner or the manager or anyone else BUT NEVER WITH THE GUESTS. I know Yelp is not a place to discuss employment related issues -- and I want to point out that my review has been written to reflect my personal experience with the restaurant, and has nothing to do with the wait staff and the owner. Do I recommend Esperpento? Well, you'll love this place if the following applies to you: - You like stale food - You do not mind dirty silverware and glassware - You are fine to wait for ever to get your food - You do not mind having to leave early if the staff decide to take the day off - You are into gossiping and appreciate listening to all this employment crap that I was never interested in hearing about. Otherwise, you will probably be better off somewhere else. read more

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Had family friends visiting from So. Cal and wanted to take them to a good eats that would have them coming back to the Bay Area again, and again, and again. (yea, I'm selfish, like that). Called restaurant that morning to book reservations for 6 people - would they be able to accommodate this group at last minute? Oh yes, give us your name and we will expect you. Wow. Ok, let's see if they are good to their word. Arrived at said place, a few minutes before our rsvp time. Gave them my name, kind greeter (?) acknowledges our reservation, offers us a drink (heck yea - sangria please), and asked us to wait a few minutes while they get our table set up. Took roughly 5 painful minutes before we were seated. Now, other establishments would not seat us until all parties were present. Not so with this place. They seated us peeps that were present, while we waited for others. In the meantime, while multitasking (read: wait and read menu) - we decided to order a few tapas to get the night started. Man, oh man, oh man!!! Deliciouso. Ok, wait. Let me start backwards. Sangria - Yum! Right mixture of fruits and wine, but careful..keep drinking that stuff and you'll be wobbling out of the restaurant. It's a creeper, that one! Tapas: Pollo Al Ajillo (garlic chicken), Croquetas De Pollo (chicken croquettes), Albondigas (meat-balls stew with saffron), Rabo Toro (Ox-Tail Stew), Pollo Adobo (Spicy Exotic Chicken), Calamares Fritos (fried calamari), Almejas A La Marinera (clams in spanish " marinara " sauce, with sauteed onions, garlic, parsley and white wine), and Mejillones A La Vinaigrette (steamed mussels in picaro's vinaigrette) - were the picks from menu for this hungry group. Our favorites were the Ox Tail, the Chicken Croquettes, the calamari, and the meat balls with saffron. Now, the other selections were good as well - but these were the stand outs. Also note that the steamed mussels and clams, although nicely presented, were not "meat-plentiful" - so if you order this, don't expect to get "bite-size chunks of seafood jewels" not so with these dishes. We also ordered the seafood paella. Now, I've had paella, and so the expectations were high. With that said, although this dish was spectacular in presentation with assortment of (large) shrimps, mussels (small), clams (small) red peppers, peas etc - and the flavor was good. The biggest question stood out. WHERE WAS THE SOCCARAT?! Overall - I'd rate this a 3.5 - with a creeping 4, solely because they seated us right away, the price point with the food, the tasty eats - not to mention - a parking garage conveniently located 1 block from the restaurant (on 21st street). So, Would I come again? Sure. read more

Esperpento - Seafood Paella for Four - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Friday was my first visit to Esperpento and I went in thinking, oh its like Picaro part II but I left enjoying it even more. The prices were very reasonable, the garlic shrimp was tasty and the Sangria was delicious. The host was even kind enough to hold a table by the door until I got my slow butt over there. For two people, 4 drinks and 7 plates our bill came to $55. I should note the Spicy Chicken Adobo is less spicy and more sweet (tasty nonetheless) and the clams in white wine sauce actually come in a redish sauce. If you want some casual mission dining with outdoor seating be sure to check out Esperpento and then walk across the street to the Latin American Club when finished. read more

MAKE RESERVATIONS.... or prepare to stand in line (even on a Thursday evening!!) The food is aight.... The LOBSTER PAELLA was not as good as I thought it was going to be. Lacked the right flavor, was a little soggy, and too stingy on the seafood. The famous SPICY POTATOES tasted like potato wedges with a tangier buffalo sauce. The GARLIC SHRIMP APPETIZER was good, but if you like that, maybe you should come over to my place for dinner because I'll give you a better deal. Esperpento is decent, but I don't agree with the "Michelin Recommended" award. read more

What I love here is the quality of food, quality of wine and quality of service. The prices make me want to run back! A small tip: if you use a card to play, the little folder swallows the card when you get it back and you can end up leaving without it very easily. Be warned read more

Though we'd been here once before nearly two years ago, this was an occasion recent enough to decently recount. Only craving a "luner" (lunch + dinner), my date and I trekked nearby into the Mission District for something simple. Tapas it would be at Esperpento! We started with a pitcher of sangria. Never a bad way to start! Sharing everything, we ordered Jamón Serrano (sort of like thicker prosciutto), Boquerones Fritos (deep fried anchovies), and Gambas Al Ajillo (garlic shrimp) as appetizers -- my favorite to try were the anchovies. All were very good. Our main dish for 2 was the Paella De Monte Or Caza, which consisted of rabbit, quail, hints of herbs, mushroom, and asparagus. While I thought the rabbit seemed a bit dry, the quail was moist and decent. And, for someone who's not a fan of mushrooms, those things actually tasted surprisingly great. The actual Esperpento restaurant has two levels of seating, though it's mostly on the ground floor. Not too fancy, more focused on flavor. Some dishes are more hit or miss, but many hits. read more

Esperpento - Boquerones Fritos (deep fried anchovies) - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place has way too friendly prices, four of us, a pitcher of sangria, four tapas, one paella, and the bill is still below 100. But again, you get what you pay for, the quality and taste is just ok, the jamon is too think and dry, the shrimps on paella are not quite fresh, sangria is made with cheap alcohol. But again, I think I get what I pay for so that's fair. The ambience is lively, in a somewhat rundown place, with Dali and Picasso for wall decor, there will be a wait during busy dining hours such as Friday nights. read more

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I came about 45 minutes before closing on a week day and they sat us with no problem. The only downside was that it was too late to order paella. We ordered a whole bunch of tapas dishes and literally everything we ate was amazing. Let's do a play by play so you can really understand how good it was. First, bread and a spicy aioli sauce to dip in. Simple but really really good, even after we got our food, we asked for more bread and dip. The sauces in all the seafood plates are highly dippable and the spicy dip is highly spreadable on anything. Next was grilled clams in olive oil and parsley. We couldn't decide between the clams with marinara sauce or olive oil and the waiter suggested the olive oil. The sauce was ridiculously flavorful. If everything else weren't so good, I would've been content to eat a whole plate of bread dipped in that sauce. Jamon Serrano. What to say here? It's salty cured meat on a piece of toast. What is there not to like? We had also ordered anchovies, so slap one of those on top of the jamon and slather some of that spicy dip and it's even better. Oxtail stew was savory and comforting. The chunks of meat were so tender, they fell right off the bone. Grilled quail with rosemary potatoes. The skin was perfectly crisp and the flavor was on point. The potatoes were also the bomb diggity, exploding with flavor. Grilled artichoke was one of my favorites. The pieces are sliced through the whole artichoke, not just the heart, so you can see the layers of leaves. The grill flavor was wonderful. I have never seen this before and will probably order this over and over again. Grilled scallops came with three large pieces on a skewer with yellow rice. The flavor was good but the portion was a little skimpy. All in all, we were totally stuffed. Did we over order in a panic that the kitchen was going to close? Maybe. Do we regret it? Not one bit. The service was great and not once did we feel rushed. The kitchen closed at their stated closing time but all the other patrons in the restaurant continued to hang out and enjoy their wine. This is the best tapas I've had since eating in Spain and most of the dishes are very reasonable priced. This is our new favorite place. read more

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I have loved this place for years, and I had not gone for dinner in over 10 years . I was not surprised that people have discovered this gem . The service : It is a small place and usually crowded . Very clean . The bathroom needs some help . They sat us quickly and the waitress' were very kind and prompt . The food : Bread and butter/spicy sauce : yummy can't get enough! But wait if you don't know only the first basket is free . WTH ! Carne Asada dinner combo : we ordered this for the kids they loved it and what a deal at $9.50 . Papas Bravas : spicy delicious sauce you can just dip your bread for ever Championes Al ajillo : yummy ! A must get ! I love the flavor in these mushrooms Paella de mariscos : we ordered the size for 2 and it is more then enough for 2 . I love the seafood medley and the rice crispy on the bottom such a great combo . Must get ! This is an authentic Spanish restaurant and the mariachi playing add to the atmosphere . I would rank this 4.5 only taking a .5 away because now they charge $1.75 for bread ! WTH ! This was always unlimited before and with kids bread is a necessity for a peaceful dinner . read more

Esperpento - Sangria for 2 - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This restaurant is good stuff! It offers things like paellas, fried potatoes, creamed spinach and possibly more. Great restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

Lively place! Delicious food! Fast, friendly service! Great for groups, great for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike (though, probably not for vegans). Try the spicy potatoes, the artichokes, and the garlicky mushrooms....YUM! read more

4 1/2 stars for this spanish tapas restaurant Grub Crawl 10-26-2010 second stop the menu consisted of 7 items and bread every item offered was devoured literally in a few minutes with it being set down on the table. I have eaten here prior to the grub crawl maybe about 4 yrs back, just to let you know the spot has not changed, food is excellent, price is always in good means, service also excellent. here are some of the items we were able to sample during the grub crawl Champinones al Ajillo/Garlic Mushrooms - full flavored, juicy and not rubbery when biting down Ensalaa de Pimientos Rojos/ red bell pepper salad - this one I can honestly say I could make at home but I give it a passing grade cantimpalitos/ chorizo- mini chorizo same size as lil smokies the kind u get a luckys or safeway but 10 times better haha every dish just as good as the first for a group of 12 they acutally had room for us straight down the center, the waiters were on point gettting us sangrias quickly, food great for groups portion wise not so great but taste wise good on every bite food **** price (grubcrawl 10-26-10 second stop all included price 3 restuarants 1 price) service ***** ambiance **** spot was homey, loud, walls also loud pictures very different read more

geez...the service here was absolutely horrible! we had a party of 5 and got a table immediately upstairs. after receiving our menus, no one was to be found for the next 30 mins. no water, no server, nothing...we had to walk downstairs and wave down a server. finally, someone brought us water and took our order...20 minutes later, we started getting our starters. we had some chorizo, oxtail stew, mushrooms, and mussels. out of the 4, the oxtail stew was the best. it was perfect to dip your bread into...super delish. the others were just meh...service was still super slow. for our entree, we ordered the meat and seafood chorizo for 6...it had absolutely no flavor...no saffron...but it did have massive amounts of seafood. the portion was huge...probably enough to feed more than 6. worth the price? yes...but worth ordering again? no. the sangria was quite good...perfect balance of fruit punch and wine. oh, and the mariachi was beautiful! other than that, the service really screwed up our experience...and i wouldn't recommend coming back here again. read more

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Came here with two of my friends when we were pretty buzzed after a few too many drinks. I remember the tapas being really good, although I dont remember what we specifically ordered. We had a total of 5 plates among 3 of us, with a jug of sangria. The bill worked out to be about $22 per person which is pretty decent for the amount of food and drinks. Would definitely love to come back here again to try the paella. read more

Very good squid ink pasta and sangrias. Happy hour is a plus and it is not so crowded if you get there early enough.. All tapas are excellent! read more

Esperpento - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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(See pics) I love tapas, especially if you want to sample out a lot of food and not get overloaded. Eggplants, grilled shrimps and potato cakes were all so good! The paellas properly sealed at the top to keep them all moist. I did not know they can be this tasty. We had the seafood (lots of it!) and another one which I can't remember and both were very delicious. Sangria, on the other hand, was so so. And all these are very decently priced, probably because it is in the Mission, and with a touch of Valencia style -- colourful, cute and warm ambiance. read more

Esperpento - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I had my 30th birthday dinner here and I was not disappointed. I tried really really hard to pick the perfect place... Success!! I made a reservation just one day in advance for Saturday night. There were about five of us. We ordered lots of sangria (and one boozy lady had a bunch of other cocktails). We ordered lots of veggie tapas (and some boozy friends had some fishy tapas, which they seemed to like). I am vegetarian - no meat, no fish, dairy ok - and enjoyed the Spanish tortilla, manchego cheese, spinach, veggies, lots and lots of little bread, and other yummies. There were at least two other birthdays, and the mariachi man was kept busy singing to all of us. There were lots of special occasions and it felt like a P.A.R.T.Y. Everyone had fun, I think (except maybe the girl who got splashed when the waiter popped her champagne bottle directly on to her -- and everything else nearby). A good time was had by all of us, at least. And when we walked the few blocks to the flamenco show I would not be surprised if we were a teeny bit wobbly. So really what I want to tell you is that if you want to plan a birthday dinner, this is the place. read more

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I came here with a friend who was visiting and wanted to try tapas. This place is a new favorite in the mission because of it's neighborhood atmosphere and good food. My favorite dishes were the ropa vieja, patatas bravas, camillones. The atmosphere is perfect for dates or groups. The only annoying thing is that guitar players will play them ask you for tips. If I recall correctly this is done in Spain. A word of warning the wait can be long if you come and it's crowded. SF life I guess. read more

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