Ha, I'm The Duke and finally getting down to writing a review on Heirloom four months in. Been rocking Yelp mobile recently. And that reminds me of when Jeremy gave that speech at the Commonwealth Club explaining how in "the Future" we'd all be hooked up to our mobile phones walking down the sidewalk using Yelp. Low and Behold... So after all these Check Ins I can say with confidence that Heirloom is legit for 3 reasons. 1. Staff, exceptional service without pretension or stuffiness 2. Wine list, best in the city right now for value and depth, esp. for 10+yr old bottles. Insane deals that keep me coming back, even when I'm rocking shorts and don't have any business eating in a fine dining establishment. 3. The Cheese Burger, off list but top three in city. Have eaten this so many times it's probably changed my DNA for good. So damn wonderful it makes me tear up a little. Add Cornas from their by the glass list and you are in for something special. So far the press hasn't spoiled the experience, and I'm hoping that people keep driving by so I can keep sneaking in without a res. read more

Very nice romantic dinner for 2 on a Friday night with reservations secured on Open Table. We got in early, so we were seated closer to the entrance, which i would request to sit away from in the future as it's distracting to me. Cool space that's very open and airy, yet cozy. Lovely lighting and ambiance. Amazing wine list, I mean really extensive and full of special and expensive bottles, from France and California to start with, and good deals may be had (such as doing a wine paring with your pre-fixe meal, as the pours were generous.) I got the pre-fixe menu, with wine pairing. It came with a salad, cassoulet, and desert; and of course the vino, at $65.00. The salad and desert were my favorite part. Salad had lots of bitter chicory and yummy greens befitting the season, with cheese grated into it. Desert was a apple pie/cake concoction that I loved. Cassoulet, a bit blah. I am a bean lover, and the beans were a little undercooked in this version, not the firmness I believe in, which I define as you can push a bean up on the roof of your mouth with your tongue and it will mush slightly. The skins were too tough, and it seemed it could have just used more time cooking to infuse flavors and soften textures. The onion tart my guy had was delicious. The service was extremely nice and professional, it did drop off a little as she became busier later in the evening, but overall, i would come back here in a heartbeat. read more

What a treat. Honestly this might be my new hangout spot. I didn't have a reservation but the hostess promised to squeeze me in at the bar. The place was quiet and half empty at first but sure enough 15mins went by and it was PACKED. I mean people were being turned down left and right. We finally got sat at the bar and waited about 20mins for service, but the server promptly noticed we hadn't been greeted and offered us complementary glasses of wine. We didn't put up that big of a fight, and the rest of the night was amazing. The food is brilliantly paired with balancing tastes and flowing wine. The scallops were cooked perfectly and the gnocchi was probably one of the best I've ever tasted. The portions are small but take it slow and you'll be full by the end of the night. We split everything for 2 and ordered 5 dishes. PERFECTION in every bite. The chef personally came over to deliver each dish and told us to wait for the ceviche to finish marinating. I'm so glad we did because once again it was well worth any wait. I will be back to try and taste more and hope that each time I can feel right at home in this cozy little Cafe. read more

I came here last week for dinner and was pretty disappointed with the service. The place was not packed or crowded in any way and we had reservations. The hostess seated us right between the kitchen and a stairwell leading downstairs, we could also smell the trash bin from our seats. We asked the hostess to move us to another location, we had eyed an empty table across the room and the hostess denied our request! She said that the table she brought us to, was "specifically reserved for YOU." Very rude. That doesn't make sense because the entire time we were there, the table we wanted remained empty! Imagine having a meal and smelling dirty dish rags, it really made for an unpleasant time. I don't even know why we stayed, the food was mediocre at best, and the pricing was quite high for what it was. But we finished our meal quickly and left. For sure, we will not be returning. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 2/5 Ambiance: 3/5 read more

I used to live in San Francisco and loved eating in the Mission. I was recommended this restaurant by a friend of mine that lives here. Unfortunately, our experience was off to a bad start since we sat down and Jason gave us our first wine pour. I ordered a $20 glass of Pinot noir and let's say that my pour was less than generous. When I asked why he poured so little he said "he was a ounce short" and poured a drip of Pinot. His attitude turned everyone off at the table. He then took forever to take our order and the food turned out to be average. Jason, we are tourists and the experience a waiter gives their customers makes a big difference.... read more

If it's possible for a terrific meal to sneak up on you, that happened recently for me at the Heirloom Cafe. There are, to be certain, so many exceptional eats to be found around San Francisco that I admit I occasionally only barely paid attention when someone suggested Heirloom Cafe, and I'm glad that things worked out the way that they did, as my dinner here was pretty outstanding. The wine list, while not expansive does the trick, and our table picked up a couple of bottles of red, a 2008 Catena Malbec and a 2007 Rayas Cotes-du-Rhone 'Pialade.' Both proved solid calls. But the real star of my meal here was the butternut squash soup with rye croutons and walnut oil. One day I'll hopefully learn that great soups occasionally make for questionable appetizers, since I rarely seem to have the drive to finish all of an expansive entree thereafter. But this soup was outstanding, and went down easy. Time for the entree meant the Hoffman chicken, herbed bread pudding, mirepoix and parmesan consommé. All in all, a superbly prepped meal in an idyllic setting with clever chatter throughout. That's a fine call any way you line it up. read more

I've been wanting to try the Heirloom forEVER. I had walked by it a zillion times, and I swear it was always closed -- gate locked and stuff. Way closed. I just figured they weren't open -- like, hadn't opened for business, period -- yet. Lo and behold, I actually call them and discover they ARE open. And hey -- 107 people have already yelped us! Well, here goes number 108. This is a total date spot. More than I want to spend on a dinner, but it's certainly worth it (I'm just cheap). My future in-laws came to town and wanted to do dinner, just the three of us, while SuperFiance was busy, and I though -- "bingo." That's how I ended up here. Because SuperFiance and I don't need to go on dates any more. We're practicing for married life. But if YOU've got a hot date, you should go here. The ambiance is cozy and delicious, like the soup I had for dinner. We ate at the counter, and I was actually really in to watching the chefs. I am not much of a fan of the kitchen, but I was feeling these folks' rhythm. Food was excellent and I can't believe I'm going to say this -- this is totally un-me -- they had a great wine list, especially if your in-laws are buying (I guess some of that finer-shit is actually starting to stick in my brain). I'm going to go crack a cheap beer and wash the taste of that wine list comment out of my mouth. But you -- go to the Heirloom. They are definitely open for business, and better at it than a lot of places in the neighborhood already. read more

Great dinner and service at this local gem. The corn soup and bacon and onion tart were standouts, and the wine selection was very good. We also loved the strawberry shortcake for dessert. We'll definitely be back to try a few more dishes soon. read more

Seriously, this is my favorite restaurant. Not just in San Francisco, or the Bay Area, or the US... but my FAVORITE RESTAURANT! I haven't had a less than stunning meal here. Every time I eat here (4x now) I keep waiting for the let-down. It hasn't come. What Heirloom is REALLY good at is "Rustic California Cuisine" (I made that term up, so don't bother googling it). It's all fresh - the ingredients, the prep, the options. San Francisco overflows with excellent dining choices. Many seem to take a left turn after about a year, and this little gem just keeps on getting better. You can typically see the chef/owner Matt Straus in the kitchen - and it's reflected in the food. The vibe is SOMA neighborhood/hood. Parking sucks, and the restaurant is about 1 block outside of most people's after dark comfort zone. But don't let that deter you. Walk into a warm, friendly bustling foodie mecca. My favorite dishes (from 4 visits) - sweet corn soup: possibly the best I've ever had - seared salmon: and I don't even like salmon very much - gnocchi: if they have ANY VARIATION - get it!!! - sea scallops, roasted chanterelles, cauliflower puree - paprika-agave carrots - chicken: they do really amazing things with the bird By far, the gnocchi & the paprika carrots are my 2 top of the list items. Hubby & I did order the hamburger once & it wasn't our fave. It' more like a meatloaf. But that was our only miss. Other people swear by the burger. I swear by the gnocchi. Also a highlight? The communal table. Even if you can't get a reservation, the table usually has a spot. We've dined there 2x, and it's far more colorful than a secluded table for 2. The wine list is high-end & on the pricey side with a fair amount of non-domestic options. Typically, we go for a red blend and spend about $50.00. The wait staff is very helpful here. Don't be shy - tell them your preferences & your price - they'll get you taken care of. Some of us Cali peeps (OK me) are less familiar with the Euro options. Take your friends, take your out of town guests. This place has a small menu that is seasonal, perfected & will knock your socks off. read more

Good food but limited menu and far too expensive. To the owners of 'Heirloom Cafe' : WTF? Look, I know your food has been prepared with love and care, and all locally sourced, and I'm sure the rent is killing you, But your menu makes me uncomfortable just sitting there. With just a fixed $50 menu and the possibility of 1 maybe 2 other plates on offer, you aren't giving us a lot of leeway. And, if we get past that, and the 2 of us split a salad, get 1 glass of wine each, and the bill still comes to $80+, that IS a problem. I really want to support my local eateries, but I'm going to go broke if this is all I have to work with. there are a lot of other places that manage to offer food and atmosphere just as good for less of a wallet breaker. Why can't you ? Is this what i have to look forward to in the area now ? Places like this and flour and water ? read more

There is nothing wrong with Heirloom Cafe. Period. The owner is a former GM and wine snob from L.A. - I love him. The kitchen is wide open, if you are a fan of "kitchen tables," they have a great (though tiny) bar from which you can watch the magic happen. Smart young chefs prepare SMART and always delicious meals, the somm has a palatte that will lead exactly where you need to go for each dish, and the small, quaint ambiance make this a perfect date spot to boot. Whether it's their flat iron cooked to perfection with a basket of fries, a duck breast served over duck pate, or a visit on "sandwich night" (Wednesdays, I believe), there is something for everyone. The corkage policy is genius as well...$10 if you bring in something older and worth of this great food...$35 if you have a bottle of Bogle and are afraid of digging into their amazing cellar. This is a must-stop in SF...whether I'm traveling solo or thinking my date is "the one." "Excuse me, somm, would you happen to have an oxidated chard with a little age on it in the cellar?" "Why yes, yes we do..." "Thank you." read more

It seems every place I went in this city had a ton of personality, and Heirloom Cafe was no exception. An expansive Victorian living room, converted into a dining space with a huge open kitchen, this spot is perfect for a meal both cozy and delicious. We sat right by the kitchen and had the privilege of watching most of our dishes being prepared on their way out to us. We started with the crispy duck frisee, a nice combination of texture, saltiness and fat, tied together with a runny poached egg. Our second item was probably the best thing I ate all weekend: the bacon & onion tart. A flaky, buttery pastry crust, with a rich mixture of caramelized onions and bacon pieces baked on top. We spent a good deal of time trying to figure out what else went into making this dish and how exactly to recreate it at home. Sadly it disappeared from our table rather quickly before any samples could be taken to the lab. We had two more highlights from this meal. The gnocchi was a very creative dish, huge fluffy potato pillows that had been seared to caramelization on the outside making for a really nice texture. They served it with some powerful fennel sausage and (cremini?) mushrooms, all of which made for a fantastically savory and earthy combination, and went quite nicely with the bottle of pinot that we brought. And finally, the apple galette, a reimagined american classic, with apples baked into pastry, and served with cinnamon and nutmeg vanilla ice cream. Bravo getting so many of the apple's favorite buddies into one bite; this was a great dessert. I think we spent around $70pp for what was one of the best meals of my trip to SF. Would eat again. read more

I can't believe I haven't already left a 5-star review for Heirloom! This is one of my favorite restaurants of all time. Delicious and creative food, a lovely atmosphere, and staff that delight in delighting you, their customers. There is a community feel that was once common, but is rare now in San Francisco. Sit, sink in, enjoy, and feel the good vibe. Bonus: They also have great special events. read more

Very limited vegetarian options. Based on the name, I'd expected there to be more. Otherwise it was quite good, but service was very slow.

Sad and disappointed. And sad about feeling sad and disappointed. After looking at a bunch of options for my birthday dinner, I decided upon Heirloom after reading the reviews on Yelp. It sounded like just the ticket. A neighborhoody, cute spot with delicious, unpretentious food. Sweet, I'm in. I was a bit worried though, because the majority of the negative reviews focused on the same thing, stuffy service. After working in the industry, that's my number one pet peeve. But, the positive reviews far outnumbered the negative ones, so I made a reservation and started to get excited. I work late and wifey's in grad school, so these days we only hit the town for special occasions. I was sure those negative nellies were just uptight city foodies. Heirloom, here we come! We opened the front door and were blown away by the space. High ceilings, funky wallpaper, an open kitchen, lots of happy faces, wow, I thought, this place looks awesome. Then were shown to our table ... right next to the front door and the coat rack. Awesome. We made a reservation, noted that it was for a birthday, and we're tonight's welcoming committee. Now, I realize that seating can be a crapshoot. Sometimes a server needs another table, all the better 2-tops are taken, etc, and if we weren't celebrating my birthday, I would have just gotten over it. But what's the point of even writing in the open table note box if you're still gonna get the table next to the front door? And the hostess' response to my asking if there were any other options didn't help, "Oh! If I'd have known it was going to be you guys!" ... um, we made a reservation two weeks ago and said it was for a birthday, you DID know it was going to be us ... so yeah, a bad first impression, to say the least. Then our server arrived and she seemed just as unhappy to be waiting on the table by the door as we were to be sitting at it. Double score. Luckily, the night improved once the food started to arrive. The bacon and onion tart, as others have noted, was yummy. The scallops were delicious. The burger was great, though I was a bit thrown off by the pickled carrots that came with it. "Where are my fries?" I asked my wife. I think she said it came with carrots. "Oh," I replied. Guess my grouchiness blocked that out. Long story short, the negative nellies were right. Maybe they're not always, because it sounds like a lot of folks have had a great experience at Heirloom, but mine was anything but. Good food abounds in this city, good service is what puts places over the top. Sadly, Heirloom was one for two. I will not be going back. read more

We were on a food adventure without a destination. As the clock inched closer to 9 and the Yelp Elite party at Nombe was wrapping up, we took a final sip of our beverage and bite of our eats (way to rock the chicken wing, btw) and plotted our next stop. A few ideas had been tossed around. I said Heir and she finished with Loom. We were off. Stepping into this unassuming corner in the deep reaches of the mission, we were immediately welcomed. No reservations were made, but the late eating time was favorable to our situation. After a short wait a table became ours. Kudos to the friendly wait staff for putting up with our conversing rather than ordering, and after a few check-ins, we finally got down to business. Amazing. Unbelievable. Unforgettable. Divine. Radiant. Succulent. Delicious. Mind blowing. That was just the zucchini soup. Perhaps it was a very good choice of a Lebanese rose (who knew?). Or the way the salad was ravished with some of the tastiest tomatoes I've ever had. Or how the gnocchi somehow brought the sausage and corn and mushrooms in to some divine creation. Or the perfectly grilled salmon with a side of cream of corn I'll be talking about for quite some time. Or maybe it was that soup. Whatever it was, surrounded by a modern vs. vintage decor, balancing each other out nicely, and service that was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive but not intrusive, it was amazing. No wait. It wasn't all that. It was something else. After a few hours of five star conversation that somehow turned 9 into 12, with the kitchen long closed but still being given the chance to linger, we put an order in for a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie. This cookie, the simplest thing on the menu, arrived on it's own, devoid of a fancy presentation, but warm to the touch, with an intoxicating smell. Broken in half to share, each bite savored, it proved to be the perfect end to the perfect meal. read more

The quintessential dining experience. Country-style charming. The menu is quite simple. Not too many vegetarian options, but I was so charmed the minute that they were willing to accommodate. The food is incredibly fresh and delicious. The style is very farm:table-esque, magnified. My friend and I shared -Pole beans with pickled dates and parmesan. -Bacon onion tart (sans bacon! GASP. Yes, that's how we do it!) -Heirloom tomato salad, of course. -Plum and white nectarine crumble. What a lovely place. Simplicity says it best. read more

Wow, I really liked this place. I hadn't heard too much about it, but it happened to be near where we were going afterwards. I was pleasantly surprised. I would classify it as a very good neighborhood restaurant -- reminded me in some ways of Firefly in Noe Valley. We did family style and ordered: the cheeseburger the cioppino the the gnocchi with sausage the chicken with savory bread pudding All were delicious! I think the gnocchi was the table favorite -- it melted in your mouth. However, I would have been happy with any one of those dishes. I'd never had a cheeseburger served on an English muffin, but it was amazing and really showcased the burger. The service was great as well, and we will definitely be back to visit. read more

I try to avoid this place because I live too close-- don't want to make a habit of a somewhat pricey place that happens to be on the corner of my block... but that burger is worth every penny. True: none of the menu items are huge portions, but I'm usually not leaving hungry, even if I've never left full. I really enjoy that the service is both casual and graceful. No one's pretentious about whether you have a reservation or not, though I'd probably recommend one for a group larger than 2 or 3. The wine list is rather comprehensive-- I can't imagine what a 1987 pinot noir would taste like (probably vinegar), but they listed it for $350-- but not entirely inaccessible; there are several sub-$12 glass options on the regular menu and bottles as cheap as $40 (sure, that's not really cheap, but... it's a restaurant). I've also never seen this before, but the corkage fee depends on the age of your bottle: anything younger than 2002(ish) is only $10, and older than that is $20. Overall, it's probably not affordable for a regular stop unless you stick with the off-menu burger (which is awesome), but if money's not an issue, I haven't tried anything I didn't like yet. read more

This review is long overdue. Heirloom is our go-to, favorite restaurant in the city. We have a two-year-old, so date nights are fewer and farther in between than we would like them to be, but when we get the chance, we almost always come to Heirloom. We always mean to try different things on the menu, but end up getting the burger every time. My husband will vehemently defend it as the 'best burger in San Francisco.' I'd have to agree. The wine list is great, service has always been wonderful, and it is the perfect balance between casual and special. read more

We had heard about Heirloom from a random couple we met at dinner at Frances years ago and they raved about their meal at Heirloom so we were really looking forward to finally dining here and we were not disappointed. It's located in what looks like an old hotel or apartment so it has a nice charm to it. If you're with a large party they'll sit you at their communal table but the whole place is pretty open and you can see right into the kitchen. I had the fixed menu which included a nice wine pairing with each dish. It was started off with the burrata and asparagus which had a great flavor to it. Next was the chicken which was nice and moist and had a delicious bread pudding. For dessert it was a light poppyseed shortcake with strawberries and lemon curd. My wife had the bacon and onion tart to start and had the special burger which was excellent. It had been a while since we finally tried this out but it won't be that much time until we head back again. read more

Went to Heirloom last night with three friends (2 from out of town) and had a really wonderful evening. The food was memorable, the atmosphere jovial and the service was beyond great!!! From the time we got there until the moment we left, the service stood out for me as being the best part of the evening. I can't speak more highly about our server, Gideon. Between the four of us, we had one of almost everything. I'm guessing their 'new restaurant' status is the reason behind the very small menu, but maybe not? There were about 5 apps and 5 entrees to choose from, 3 cheeses and 3 desserts. Favorite dish? Gnocchi. Without a doubt. They are amazing. We were told about their secret ingredient that allows it to really melt in your mouth. The famous epoisse burger was incredibly juicy, very thick, perfectly cooked and undoubtedly full of epoisse. I'm kind of glad I only had some of it and not a whole burger. The richness is off the charts! The pickled carrots were good, but other than that the plate looked a little sad. I thought everything was very reasonably priced. The portions are just right (read: not gigantic), but we were still able to share everything and be satisfied. Wine list - interesting! Verrrry interesting. Definitely makes you think. Bone up a little on the Jura before you go. We did have a reservation and were seated about 20 minutes late because the party before us had two people show up 45 minutes into -their- reservation. The management was very apologetic about this and made up for it in a nice way ;) read more

Amazing!!!! From the service to the food. For starters we had the buscetta which melted in your mouth. Then had yhe nettle soup which was very earthy not heavy at all and then had the blacken cod and it was delicious. Wine was a little pricy but Will definitely be back. read more

Remember two things while reading this review: 1. I'm a pescaterian and 2. the meal sizes were medium to small at best. I went there last night for a reservation a friend of mine made for 8 of us, some of us had appetizers while other didn't. My boyfriend and I shared the cheese platter, a bottle of red wine, while I had the salmon for entree and he had the gnocchi for his. For dessert, we both had the coffee with vanilla ice cream, which was divine. Here is the reason why I'm giving this establishment only 3 stars. For just those items listed and the $60 dollar wine, we spent $173. This included a 15% gratuity which sorry, but the waitress forgot I had ordered a glass of white and messed up twice our wine order. Not only this, but my salmon seemed slightly undercooked, but tasted fresh and went well with the potatoes and corn. Don't get me wrong, this is all local, fresh ingredients but for what I received, I don't think it was worth $22. Also, no one ever informed us- not even on the menu- that the cheese platter is $4 per cheese type- BIG MISTAKE- i only liked the softer of all four cheeses and my boyfriend could not stand the olive and walnut bread which was mediocre at best. Mind you, I do agree that they have a very limited menu and if you're a pescaterian you have to tell them this in advance so they can omit the large number of menu items that include red meat. Sorry, but in this very limited menu I did not see one single vegetarian option, which in this city screams death. How can you not offer a simple vegetarian dish? These are by far the easiest people to cook for and yet you are simply leaving them on the side. Overall, this is a great venue for your cow eating friends, but for those of us who would like a little bit more variety for less than triple digits for two people, then go elsewhere. Besides, this is the Mission where plenty of other places serve just as great food. ON a last note- the bill came with a note in Spanish at the end that read " be careful in the dangerous streets", by the way, I'm Southern American and this was slightly offensive to me. Are you trying to say that because you're in the Mission you should watch out for our neighbors or are you giving all of your non-SF patrons a warning about any common urban environment? Anyone else find this off putting? read more

Michael & I met dear friends at Heirloom Cafe last night in the Mission. While the Mission is being gentrified, that hasn't fully happened yet. We both had the pre fix menu without the wine because we just don't drink that much. The baby gem lettuce salad was exquisite, the bavette steak quite good with truly wonderful beans, and our stone fruit shortcakes were good. Service was fine. read more

I live on the same block as Heirloom, and I had passed by its unassuming door many times before realizing that it is a very legit establishment with a rotating customer base of well-to-do local hipsters and slightly confused, "What is this neighborhood and why am I in it?" older couples. I had to give it a shot! The wine list is very extensive, so boyfriend and I split a bottle of prosecco that did not disappoint. We also went halfsies on the PEI mussels (served out of the shell with a rich broth and gigantic, buttery pieces of toast), the cod, and the duck breast. For the latter two dishes, the kitchen went so far as to split each entree and serve them to us on beautifully presented plates, which was a very thoughtful gesture. (Have you ever tried gracefully halving an entree after consuming three glasses of prosecco? It is very difficult. None of my attempts to-date have been successful.) The food was all delicious, and well-portioned for my admittedly smaller appetite. Finally, props to the waitstaff for not making moves to kick us out, even though we were the last party in the restaurant. We hustled ourselves out in a timely manner, but I appreciate that we never felt rushed during our meal. I'll be back soon to try the tasting menu; $65 for three courses with wine pairings? Yes please! read more

I don't eat out in the Mission often, but I may need to start! Dinner at Heirloom Cafe was fab. Our party of four shared 3 appetizers. All were stellar. Dungeness crab salad, burratta with English peas & bacon and onion tart. Delish and good sized portions to share. For entrees we ordered the burger (off menu, but always available), scallops, duck confit and chicken. Outstanding. For wine, we ordered a Hanzell Chardonnay and a special Burgundy that was also available for retail purchase to go. Our server mentioned that the owner was just in Burgundy (like just the day before!). He came buy and chatted about his visit and why he loved the wine we ordered. Besides chatting about Burgundy, they also have a unique corkage fee, $10/bottle for wines older than 2003 ($25/bottle for other). Love restaurants that have an affortable list but also let you bring a special bottle. We had room to share 2 desserts, a warm chocolate chip cookie and an almond cake with salted carmel ice cream. Yum. All the food and wine were big hits tonight. read more

I was sadly underwhelmed by the food. The decor is nice, and the service was fine. But there wasn't any dish that stood out, or that I would come back for. To be fair I've only been here once, but I won't be making another visit. Too many other wonderful places in SF to eat. read more

If you know me, you know that it takes a lot to impress me in terms of American cuisine. Heirloom Cafe, however, knows how to keep me interested. This cozy, 'lax, locals "secret" spot has it all. Delicious food, excellent service, and not crammed & crowded on a wknd night. Nice. I ordered the generous Butter Lettuce, Citrus, Avocado & Fresh Herbs Salad, which was a refreshing starter. Then came the Sliced Duck Breast, Farro, Carrots, Confit Cabbage w/ Port Sauce. It was absolutely dee-vine! The duck was velvety, and so so soft- cooked perfectly overall. The flavor was on point and the Farro & veggies were perfect complements. Finish off your meal w/ the Oreo dessert, which isn't comprised of actual Oreos like one would think, but dark cake and a heavenly whipped cream. There was definite food envy going on around us.. with laser beam stares shooting across all neighboring tables and whispers inquiring what dishes were what. That's always a good sign. Our server never left us hanging- filling up our water glasses as necessary and check-ins well timed. Looking forward to going back for a Round 2! read more

We came on a Saturday with a group of five, and immediately decided to get three cheeses from the cheese plate, and a bottle of wine. The cheeses were not well curated--we ended up getting two that tasted almost identical, and one that was so bland that it barely tasted of anything at all. We were disappointed, but had high hopes for the rest of the meal. I tried the gnocchi and the burger. The burger was well cooked and just superbly easy to eat. I think for price and quality, I made the best choice of the table. The gnocchi was good--garnished with some veggies and parmesan cheese--and hidden at the very bottom of a giant dish. Seriously, no adult with a healthy appetite would have been satisfied by the tiny serving. Everything we ordered, except the burger (which was not on the menu), was in the $23-25 price range and came in a ridiculously small servings. Overall, the quality of the food was good, but the servings tiny and the price point borderline ludicrous. We ended up getting pizza later in the night--we were all impoverished and still pretty hungry after dinner. read more

Made a reservation for three for my parents and I here on a weekend right after they opened up for dinner. The place was quite empty as they'd just opened, but slowly (not obnoxiously) filled up with [mostly older?] people. The interior of the space is gorgeous. Classic Southern decor with a modern exposed kitchen in the back. The service was really fantastic. Definitely top 10 service experiences. And it felt really genuine too; didn't get the fake personality vibe from anyone. The food was all perfect. We shared all our plates. The mussels were amazing. The cheese plate was wonderful. A bit pricey, but definitely worth it. Also note: they have a killer wine selection. read more

Decided to go here based on the reviews of Yelp. Bacon and onion tart was ok (3 out of 5). Got the beef and pork plates to share between 2 people. The mustard sauce with the pork was overbearing and took over the taste. The red sauce added a bland compliment to the bland beef. The baked celery root side was interested. Dessert: Toffee cake - was just so-so, nothing to write home about. I was more interested in the candied kumquats, but they were just diced and swimming in a jelly paste. The cake was tall and almost a meal in itself. Edelflower tea was nice. Service was ok - offered good suggestions, but not that prompt. Wasn't very busy either. We sat at 9pm I don't mind spending $$$ for a good meal, but I think given the quality, it doesn't match the price. read more

We had a lovely dinner at Heirloom Cafe with a party of 4 for our monthly "One of Everything" dinner club. The decor is your typical shabby chic/hip/rustic farmhouse feel and paired well with the food offerings. LITTLE GEM SALAD - I mean, how can you go wrong with Little Gem, unless you put some god awful creamy gorgonzola on here? Luckily this one had some delicious Green Goddess and was dressed perfectly (for a party in my mouth). BACON AND ONION TART - Hard for this to taste bad although I have to say this was probably toward the bottom of my list. To be fair, the list was pretty deep but this "tart" was slightly soggy. More like a flatbread/pizza thing than a tart. Good flavor though. DUCK CONFIT SALAD - I don't remember exactly what this was called on the menu. It had a unique flavor and texture; the duck was well cooked and delicious. SEA SCALLOPS with CAULIFLOWER PUREE - The absolute *star* of this dinner show. Perfectly good, so tender, and wonderful. Scallops can be tricky and these folks got them to shine. Absolute must. MARTIN'S OUTRAGEOUSLY DELICIOUS SPIGARELLO - Good, but didn't blow me away. Good addition if you feel like you need some greens. LAMB LOIN - I tend to be pretty pick about when I like lamb; sometimes it's just too gamey for me. This though, oh no, this was wonderful. Medium rare, not chewy, full of flavor; Another star next to the scallops. HALIBUT - It had a nice crispy sear to it, but it seemed slightly overcooked and dry. The biggest miss of the night. DESSERTS - Yes, we ordered four of them, ha ha! LAVENDER CUSTARD - LOVED this dessert!!! The lavender flavor really shined and I just wish it had more custard. There was a whole mess of stuff on top that took away from the actual custard. I mean the mess was good as well (candied nuts, grapes, etc) but I was craving more custard. AFFOGATO - I mean, duh, it's good. WARM CHOCOLATE CHIP OATMEAL COOKIE - See above. I think our final dessert was a chocolate cake of some sort. Obviously not memorable enough. It's true, the portions are not large so be ready to order a lot of dishes. On the positive side, you get to try almost everything! For 4 people, we had 2 starters, 2 small plates, 1 side, and 2 entrees, plus 4 desserts (no, seriously) and I don't even think that was enough. I wasn't hungry when I left but I also wasn't full. I would say one more small plate or entree would have been perfect for us. Their thing is wine but apparently they do have beer (though not listed). We had a lovely bottle of Viognier to accompany our meal. As for the service, I have to agree with some recent reviews: polite but not super warm. Not rude or "too cool" like most SF restaurants I've been to lately but again, didn't make a huge positive impression on us. Difficult to review exact dishes since they will probably change in a few weeks. But as a whole, very few misses and a solid, delightful meal. read more

SUCH a cute little place. I felt like I was in some secret restaurant down in the south - loved the beige paisley wallpaper and the antique chandelier and wall lights. Really, a very cute set up and atmosphere. Wait staff was extremely friendly. This place IS a bit pricey. 4 of us + 1 bottle of wine = $300+ w/tax & tip. Not a place you go for a random dinner unless you plan to spend some dough. WARNING: PORTIONS ARE ON THE SMALL SIDE. If you're in a group of 3+, I'd say GO FAMILY STYLE. It's a good idea to order a few appetizers and entrees to share. Best way to try a little bit of the different things they offer. After a good half hour of debate, we decided to go with: Apps: 1. dungenous crab salad - good flavor but disappointed that there were prob only 3 TINY pieces of crab. 2. bacon and onion tart - the pastry was flakey and made really well! good, but don't think i would get again...very small pieces. 3. salted cod on toast?- probably one of the less impressive dishes. The salted cod is mashed, so its sort of a weird texture on toasted bread. Entrees: 1. daily special - cheeseburger - REALLY REALLY flavorful. ORDER THIS IF THEY HAVE IT. Surprise surprise, it's a rather small burger, but . AMAZING. 2. pea risotto - everyone LOVED this! ORDER THIS. 3. braised beef and bacon cassoulet - pass for next time. a lot of white pinto beans.. to be honest ... DO NOT ORDER THIS. 4. scallops - YUM! comes on a sweet potato (or yam) mash...ORDER THIS. Would definitely come back again.... :) read more

I loved the food (merguez sausage and cabbage soup, housemade pappardelle with shortrib, meyer lemon pot de crème) though their selection of white wines could be better. But our server patiently allowed me to taste three wines until I found one I decently liked. But I brought a bottle of red, and the corkage was reasonable at $25 for younger bottles of wine. The service was great, and we were served promptly after every dish. I will definitely return in the future, especially for that soup! It was spiced just perfectly. read more

Hey Heirloom. I want every date to take me here. The food is delicious, the tables are far enough apart so you don't have to get close to the stranger opposite you... but it feels like home. The waiters and waitresses kneel by your table and get close and are super helpful if you just want to peruse their wine selection. The crowd here is on the refined and understated side which I love. Not too many hippies you'll catch chlamydia from here. read more

Ok...here's a snapshot review. Decor good. Like you're in someone's Victorian for dinner. Staff totally sweet and helpful. Menu a lilttle limited but you can order the prefixe a la carte. Plus the "off the menu" burger. The food was tasty. May be a pricey to become a regular stop but, all in all, solid considering it was opening weekend. Now the bad, the owner ended up sitting next to me towards the end of our meal. We congratulated him, welcomed him to the neoghborhood and gave him a thumbs up on all fronts. He, almost begrudgingly, said "thanks" then turned away. Don't know about you but I would've been a little more friendly. read more

Definitely worth a visit. or 5. Roommate and I went after seeing some great reviews (and rated top 10 on diner's choice list on opentable). The two of us had a tough time deciding between 4 dishes that looked delicious (gnocchi, salmon, duck confit, falafel - how often do you see this?) Ultimately settled for the server recommendations (and reviews from yelp and foursquare) and went on to share the bacon onion tart (YUM. I hate onions normally but the way they made it was not offensive at all), Salmon (the sauce was so good. we both licked our plates. their "smashed" potatoes was the perfect texture), and gnocchi (fennel sausages was absolutely delicious, especially if you also like cumin flavoring). Can't wait to go back! Apparently the off-menu epoisse burger is to die for. read more

Dear Heirloom Cafe, I am compelled to tell you/announce to the world that I quite possibly had the best burger ever, last night. O.M.G. Plus, that homemade English muffin bun was so light and fluffy. I almost ordered second burger before my friends told me that might be over the top. I am tempted and might just go back for more tonight. YUM! The pappardelle with lamb sugo cannot be forgotten either. The thin silky pasta enveloped in tender lamb sugo...mmm, DELISH! Thank you so much. See you soon, Stephanie read more

Heirloom Cafe is absolutely fantastic. We planned a family birthday dinner there for my brother's 40th, and reached out to them to plan a special prix fixe for us for the occasion. They were so accommodating, and the menu they came up with including wine pairings was dynamite. Due to a little intra-family miscommunication, we decided we didn't want to do the special menu, but never actually told the restaurant that before we arrived (although we thought we had). We were mortified when we realized they hadn't heard back from us. Understandably, the hostess was rather cool to us about it. She made a point to mention our faux pas more than once during our time there, which kind of sucked, but we understood why she might have felt annoyed. In general the staff was incredible and we felt welcome--it luckily was not a big deal in the end. We ordered off their usual menu, and were just blown away by the fare. The wine list is extensive and unique, and the staff is quite savvy about their offerings. The food was impeccable--seriously, every bite was a delight. We will definitely be back and can't wait to recommend Heirloom Cafe to more people. It is now a top 5 highlight of 10 years of dining in San Francisco. read more