Great find. I must have read about this place at some point and had it on my list. Came here with a friend and it did not disappoint. Fantastic service, delicious food and cozy yet romantic ambiance. Will be back!! read more

This place was superb! All the dishes were perfect, they used seasonal produce to craft artful, tasty, and healthy plates. The service was warm and attentive. The vibe is unpretentious. We will surely be back! read more

A cute romantic french place in Mission! I came here on Tuesday night for dinner with reservation and got seated right away. First impression I got when I walked in was that this place is very romantic, cozy and dimly-lit! I got seared chicken breast ($31) and it was really good! I've never had chicken dish this good before. That creamy sauce was very flavorful and went really well with everything on that dish! I think this place is little too noisy because I often couldn't hear what my friend said. So I took off one star. I'd like to come here for a date night though because it's so cute and romantic! I highly recommend checking out this restaurant and try their chicken breast dish! Great food, cute romantic atmosphere, great location! I'd definitely be back next time! read more

Heirloom Cafe - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow, this spot was really great...I'd been meaning to try it out for years and I'm so glad I finally did. They have a menu that changes quite a bit, but I'd heard their burger was amazing - it did not disappoint. What I loved about it was that it was something very unique: cheese blended into the beef patty - one ends up biting into a very rich, flavorful and well-seasoned burger...all this is balanced by a rich house-made english muffin. This arrived a bit on the compact side in terms of size, but with the richness and incredible flavor, it ends up being a very satisfying meal. Definitely give this spot a chance! read more

For the newly launched Heirloom Pizza: https://www.heirloompizza.com/ Fantastic meal.... Alpine Pizza was flavorful with a combination of ingredients I have never had, Quattrocolore Salad was refreshing on a warm night, Pot de Creme and a great red wine capped off our Thursday. The gang at Heirloom is continuing the tradition of great food and top-notch and creative wine selections! Grab a bunch of pies and salads for your next party with each group getting their own! Can't wait to go back. read more

After many years Heirloom is still a great place to go Food is very good and the people are great read more

Charming ambiance and friendly service! The food was pretty good but nothing too memorable IMO. The wine list, however, was pretty impressive! read more

There's two people in my life that I never see eye-to-eye with: my Mom and Michael Bauer. Hmmm, actually does anyone know if Mr. Bauer is single because I think they would both hit it off. Holla! She loves them white boys... Since Yelp is not a dating site (yet some people seem to think it is), back to the Heirloom Café review. Being a Yelp addict that I am, I've never even heard of Heirloom Café. That's until several friends told me they heard that Heirloom Café has an supposedly great off-the-menu burger. The reviews on Yelp seemed promising and Mr. Bauer's most recent review was not favorable of Heirloom Café (all the restaurants he's recommended I've disliked). "Perfect. Heirloom Café is going to be phuckin' awesome", I thought to myself. Walking into Heirloom Café was like walking into someone's country home. An old Victorian house converted into a restaurant, Heirloom Café just exudes rustic charm with its dated wooden furnishings, flooring, and minimalist decoration: http://bit.ly/17k2lH4. It's great for a date and for a group dinner; there's two large family tables for larger groups. Finding street parking wasn't too bad in this area of the Mission but there's also less foot traffic here so be cautious of your surroundings at night. I've grown to love sitting at the "chef's counter" at restaurants so that's exactly where we sat. Heirloom Café's menu is small with just 7 small plates/appetizers, 5 entrees, and 2 sides. They also offer a 3-course menu with wine pairings for $65. The 3-course menu didn't interest us so we ordered a la carte. We started dinner the Bacon & Onion Tart ($12): http://bit.ly/184Qpws which was good but not great. You can never go wrong with bacon and sweet caramelized onions but I thought the crust was more dry than having a buttery flaky texture. Also, the price point for 2 slices was quite high. As a comparison basis, Noeteca in Bernal Heights does a much better rendition for just $10 and it's twice the size (http://bit.ly/17k0vGc). Thinking that the off-the-menu Epoisse Burger ($13) was a must order, I went with that and Mr. NSS ordered the Duck Breast & Confit Salad ($24). We also ordered the Kale w/ Carrot Hummus ($6) to share. After hearing SO many rants and raves about this burger, I imagined a thick, juicy patty with a perfectly pink medium rare center; a burger so good it rivals Spruce's burger which is also served on an English muffin. Instead, when my burger arrived, I stared at this plain looking burger, silently debating if it was well done or medium well because the meat was too dark to distinguish: http://bit.ly/184TPzb. It tasted exactly as it looked; boring, dry, and overcooked (I requested medium rare). Supposedly there's French epoisses cheese grinded into the burger. If there was, I couldn't tell. Sorely disappointing and utterly overrated. For those raving about this burger, please try the one at Spruce; it's like night and day. For a $24 salad, I expected Mr. NSS' Duck Breast & Confit Salad to be mind-blowing; it wasn't: http://bit.ly/165hE6f. The poached egg was a more solidified than runny and the duck duo was dry and bland. I knew the salad wasn't going to fill him up so I gave him half my burger. Not a bad salad by any means but certainly not worth the price of an entrée. The best dish of the night was the Kale w/ Carrot Hummus ($6): http://bit.ly/1bj7QJB. Oh man was this side dish was so good...if I could eat this every day, I would gladly turn into a vegetarian. The slight bitterness of the kale was nicely balanced with the creamy sweet carrot hummus. The sprinkling of the sesame seeds gave a toasty finish. Service was pleasant, attentive, and timely. I'm a wine noob but our waitress gave great wine recs that went well with our starter and my burger. Incredibly underwhelming pretty much sums up dinner at Heirloom Café. I don't mind paying for good food but the prices here are high for mediocre execution. *Sigh* So for once, Mr. Bauer and I finally see eye-to-eye (link to his updated Heirloom Cafe review: http://bit.ly/1hIoSCy). I wasn't kidding about wondering if he's single. IF anyone knows, holla at your girl! read more

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Date & Time: Tuesday May 11, 2010 @ 6pm Dining Companions: Mommy & Michael Scene: Attractive 30-40 Something Ladies in Cashmere Margaret O' Leary Sweaters, Hudson Jeans & Riding Boots & Gentlemen in Checked Shirts Vibe: Pleasant Music: French & Swing Decor: Charming European Country Home. Delicate Cream & Gold William Morris WallPaper & Antique Lighting. Wooden Communal Tables & Bench Seating Service: Very Attentive & Genuine Imbibe: Qupe Syrah Devour: French Onion Soup, Mussels, Asparagus, Steak, Orechiette(Pasta), Off The Menu: Epoisses Burger, Fresh-Baked Cookies Total: $114. 63 read more

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Sometimes you just want a nice, no-risk dinner because you have those moments in your life when comfort becomes a priority over culinary audacity. That's exactly the mood you should have when you get ready for dinner at the Heirloom Cafe set in a refurbished Victorian. Everything was presented immaculately but there was not a bit of daring to be found in any of the plates. I wouldn't have minded maybe one surprise, but none were to be experienced that evening. The service also felt a bit off. It was polite but a bit off-putting. When I sardonically asked where the heirloom tomatoes were on the menu, the server curtly told me they were not in season yet. It was like talking to my ex-wife if I had one. But sommelier-chef Matt Straus's food was still nice enough to enjoy with minimal fuss. Jamie W. and I were there to celebrate our friend Maggie's birthday. We arrived to see her seated at the head of the main communal table. Even though I had made the reservation at least two weeks in advance, I was a bit disappointed that we weren't given a private table, but Maggie didn't seem to mind so I rolled with it. We were immediately served a small tray of bright Castelvetrano Olives and Almonds, a nice contrast in texture and flavor that we found easy to pop in our mouths (photo: http://bit.ly/1qDgPjT). We decided to share an appetizer, the $13 Burrata over Roasted Asparagus with Shallot Vinaigrette and Toasted Levain (photo: http://bit.ly/X5rqH1). It was a fresh, local and very tasty starter. For her entree, Maggie had the $23 Seared Bavette Steak with Chanterelle, Potato Hash and Romesco (photo: http://bit.ly/ZmmjUu). The steak was really luscious, very tender and nicely complemented by the buttery potatoes and mushrooms. Jamie went for the $21 Housemade Pappardelle with Lamb Sugo, English Peas, Ramps and Pecorino (photo: http://bit.ly/1sVN2T9). A good, satisfying dish, just what Jamie expected which pleased him to no end. I have to admit it was pretty much like any high-end lamb pappardelle you can get in this city I decided to have one of their signature dishes, the $23 Hoffman Chicken with Herbed Bread Pudding, Mirepoix and Parmesan Consommé (photo: http://bit.ly/1qDh4va). The poultry was well prepared, still moist but with a nice crispy skin, and the bread pudding had a nice eggy texture, but there was no getting around the fact that it was a bit Marie Callenderish, not that I don't mind a good Marie Callender dinner. Dessert was in order given our celebration though ironically none of us ordered the obvious dish, the Bittersweet Chocolate Ice Cream Cake. Maggie preferred the $10 Nectarine & Blackberry Cobbler with Ginger Ice Cream, which was absolutely delicious in the same way Chow makes their desserts (photo: http://bit.ly/Zmmlfb). It was a big serving bursting with fruity flavor, and the ice cream was the ideal accompaniment. Jamie simply ordered a $2 Chocolate Chip Cookie (photo: http://bit.ly/1BFqhW6). No complaints there. I ended up ordering the $7 Straus Ritual Affogato, which was a little tumbler of bold espresso with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream as a chaser (photo: http://bit.ly/1tURvDp). Libations were comforting, no surprise given Straus's background. Maggie had a $12 glass of the rich, full-bodied Catena Malbec, perfect for the steak, while I nursed an $11 flute of Sorelle Bronca Prosecco. Refreshing. Like I said, it was a nice, risk-free dinner. FOOD - 4 stars...very well executed though a bit short on creativity truth be told AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...lovely trappings though the communal table is not my preference...their prices shouldn't come with elbow jockeying SERVICE - 3 stars...informative but a bit stuffy and then rather sporadic when the place started to fill up TOTAL - 4 stars...mostly for the quality of the dishes...but seriously, where are the heirloom tomatoes? read more

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B's original choice, Myriad Gastro pub, was a good place for a date but I've been there done that, which made him cringe because he wanted to take me to some place I've not been; admittedly, he says later on, it would be hard. I don't mind going to a place that is not necessarily new. As of late, I prefer going to more of an established spot that is good. He had recently moved his office and I had not seen it. Meeting here worked as parking was easy on a work evening. There are two types of restaurants: the kind you go and meet family friends and colleagues to, and the kind you go on a date to. This could be both, depending on what you are wearing. My dress of the evening was a size small Bebe green blue leopard skin tight mini dress that I just bought, and it would have made Dolly Parton proud but it was not necessarily the kind of attire you ought to be wearing out to meet an old friend on a day light savings night. That said, I put on a scarf to hide it all, so that I did not look like that I did not belong. The restaurant seemed to have a number of working tech workers that evenings. It has a good vibe, down to earth and casual. Food is very fresh, it reflected seasonality well. B chooses menu as he usually does the ordering. That leaves me with pondering about the history of the building and how this place came to be. The soup was green, very green, with a dollop of cream on top that popped. The color nearly matched my dress but I did my best not to spill the soup on my dress (Mission accomplished!). The smoked trout was well proportioned. The steak and duck both were tender as mains, not too much food nor too little. Service was quite outstanding. Water glasses were filled seamlessly, the wait staff came to check on us but not so intrusive that I felt interrupted. B and I had much catching up to do but mostly about mundane work and travel stuff: there is a level of comfort that people sink into when they've known one another for two decades. With each meeting the familiarity is renewed and bond tightened. We took our time to catch our breath, ate our food, and surveyed the surroundings. When bored, we counted the number of ladies in the dining room sporting short hairdo, B stared at my head and said, "yep, you are the only one." This is not an "it" restaurant, not in a long time. But this is a good restaurant with decent food and established menu, and the wait staff are all well trained. What's amazing about this city is that you simply can't go wrong with almost any restaurant. Sometimes it's nice to wait for the hype to die down and then you can actually really enjoy a fantastic place at ease, like we did. We've eaten in many places together and separately, but this is our very first time together at this place since he moved his firm into this neighborhood. I'd like to see more of him in this neck of woods. Hopefully in this very same spot. read more

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A cute spot, cozy and down to earth. I like that it's kind of hidden - you wouldn't know it's a restaurant unless you looked in right when walking past the door. Otherwise it's very unassuming, like someone's apartment. Good food, quality ingredients, and everything tastes healthy. THE WAIT: We had an 8:15pm reservation on a Thursday night - booked on OpenTable earlier in the day. However, our table was running late and it was going to be a 20 minute wait, or we could sit at the communal table. We opted for the communal table, but we ended up being more spread out than we would have at a table of 4. Not ideal, but it worked. THE SERVICE: Great, no complaints! MUST-HAVES: Duck confit salad, & absolutely the Truffle Butter Potato Gnocchi!!! STARTERS/MAINS Menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g * Bacon & onion tart ($12) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#LZF7Xawanqt8T9WqDCLcSA Reminded me of a pizza! I liked adding the arugula on top for a hint of bitterness. It was little on the crispy and dry side for my liking. I wished the bacon slices were thicker so I could've really gotten that fatty, savory bacon flavor. * Duck confit salad (frisee, apples, croutons, poached egg. $14) - 4 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#Zsyhjzq6BCNs7CrRwBpLwA A rich variety of flavors, very tender duck, light yet filling. * Dungeness crab (croutons, oro blanco, endive, meyer lemon cream. $16) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#TJdUKpidwpIdM00Pqf901A I didn't expect this to be a salad, but maybe I glossed over the menu too quickly. I found this to be a little bland (though when you got an extra strong hint of the lemon cream it was nice) and not enough crab. Just kind of a meh dish. * Pork tenderloin (riesling-braised cabbage, spatzle, wholegrain mustard. $23) - 3 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#mqwRpHl7wwh_YHdWb1GbRw Probably the largest dish we got. Flavor-wise this was not very 3-dimensional, mostly salty. The pork was on the dry side, and the spatzle was like crunchy croutons (we were surprised - isn't it a pasta? Maybe this is supposed to be the style, but most of it was left uneaten). * Burger (off-menu item) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#0qjnGb0rZNt7qw03GkOerg They didn't ask how this should be cooked and it came out medium. While the meat was soft and juicy and the bun was fresh, it was just a kind of plain, small dish. * Potato gnocchi (truffle butter, trumpet mushrooms, sunny side egg. $22) - 5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#iGKiRrpdj7GHVzq-Rnb3gg Now this was amazing! The gnocchi had a perfectly soft, chewy texture. The truffle butter was amazing. Everything about this dish was perfection. SIDES * Sauteed kale (roasted carrot hummus, sesame seeds. $6) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#gIqAdl5DBPlgp0yXsUXjmQ The kale seemed more steamed than sauteed - heavy and soggy. Eat it on its own and it's not much to brag about. With the carrot hummus, it's a lot better! But I just like kale with a crisp. * Roasted brussels sprouts (horseradish cream, breadcrumbs. $6) - 4 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#3rvWi0MCYlY3-HFQ9N3Czw I loved how crispy these were. Brussels sprouts come out soggy way too often. The flavor was sharp and there was extra crunch from the breadcrumbs. DESSERTS Menu: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#Tocx4Pe9ADkgWAA7WMPw0Q * Caramelized white chocolate ice cream puffs, chocolate sauce, lime cream ($10) - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/heirloom-cafe-san-francisco?select=hXE5GkvJgyva94qzGbsv0g#OODd1K6Ye-enODv8aG6U8w A nice dessert - I wish the lime cream was even stronger! Solid but not overly unique or stand-out in my mind. I chomped it down but I could've done without ordering it either. read more

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Hidden gem in the mission. Very summery vibe and mostly senior citizens eating here. Very few young ppl. The duck breast and salmon are both very good. The strawberry shortcake was awesome. The chocolate mousse was too creamy and not for me. read more

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Nice, romantic, quiet dinner spot, really surprised us. It's unassuming, and tucked into a little corner on Folsom. Good wine selection. To start I had a small plate that was inventive and mad flavorful: squash, some epic typa' beans, and pecorino. For my entree I had the asparagus risotto with mint and pecorino. Rich and creamy, yet highlighted by the crunchy freshness of asparagus. Wow, who knew? read more

Heirloom Cafe - Squash, some typa' epic beans, pecorino - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really lovely ambiance. Love the decor, which has a sort of rustic French vibe. We came here to celebrate our anniversary, and it was a lovely meal, but I would try a different fancy restaurant for our next date night. The food was good, maybe even great, but not knock your socks off fantastic, and for a special occasion, I'm looking for food so good you dream about it between birthdays. read more

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Food was great, service was uncomfortable. Unfortunately, our server had the attitude of a hipster barista who was too cool for the job and treated our party as a burden instead of guests. We began asking other servers for things as ours had an attitude. Likely will not return. read more

Have loved this place since it opened and though we live in the south bay, whenever we're in SF, we can always rely on this place because the food is always very fresh and innovative, the service is relaxed and unobtrusive, and the convenience to get back home is a quick 5 minutes to the freeway home and we're back in Los Gatos in 50 minutes after a day in SF. We've tried just about everything on the menu and have never been disappointed. read more

We ordered 5 things. Everything was very delicious and delicately made. Well balanced flavors. Only thing is that they pour you so little wine when you order a glass... C'Mon, for $15-20 a glass, I get 5 sips read more

The food was absolutely fantastic and the service and wine offerings were perfect. Would put it on the list of "one of SF best".

Good wine pairings, and their prie fixe menu for $85 including wine is unbeatable. Service was good. The prie fixe menu included a salad, braised short ribs, and a ginger cake, all of which were a very good size. Much bigger portions than normally you would get for fine dining. We also opted for an extra cheese appetizer. You get your choice of cheese from a cheese board - a sample of one cheese for $6. The goat cheese was quite good, and came with yummy crackers. The food overall was not memorable, but did go well with the wine. This restaurant is worth visiting once. The restaurant is located on a corner, and the decor is very understated. It is a large open space inside. read more

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Discovered this restaurant a few months before the shutdowns and was excited to be able to eat in the dining room again. I've been back twice since reopening and the food has been absolutely out of this world. I had the prix fix the first time which included a trout dish. Oh my God--still can't stop thinking about how delicious it was. Went back last night with a friend and had the gazpacho soup (to die for) and salmon (incredible). I love the experience of eating there--very cozy. Our server was knowledgeable, attentive (but not too much), and friendly. My boyfriend and I got to know some of the staff during COVID (they had zoom wine tastings all throughout and later on take out food). And Amy is just incredible--always makes you feel at home. Ok, gushing now. But really do love it here. Great food, but not pretentious. Planning my next visit. read more

Delicious food with eye to detail and sustainability in mind. Well presented and friendly staff. If you are pescatarian you can find plenty of options, vegetarians have a harder time but the chef will usually create something with food preferences in mind. Very romantic lighting. read more

I hadn't been there in years, but I was very happy to be back last night. The ambiance and the food are still fantastic. One of the true hidden gems of SF dining scene. Cuisine is American Modern. Everything was well done and service was great too. A great spot for a date or catching up with friends. Highly recommended. read more

Dined at Heirloom Cafe for my birthday and it was an all around fantastic experience. We arrived at the cafe when it opened - we had a reservation for this time which I would recommend so that you can choose your table. Some tables are set very close together, so it might get noisy there. Food and wine pairings were delightful! We ordered the prix fixe menu which is great since it can be shared by the table. This comes with 3 courses, each paired with a wine. We also got another appetizer, entree, glass of wine, and affogato. This was a good amount of food for two. Every dish was delicious! Prix fixe ($80): App: Salad with little gem lettuces, green goddess dressing, avocado, radish (Viognier wine pairing) Main: Bavette steak with beans, peppers, and onions (paired with a wine from Greece described as similar to pinot noir) Dessert: Strawberry shortcake with roasted rhubarb jam and cream (Moscato wine pairing) Additional orders: App: Ahi tuna tartare with Yukon chips ($17) Main: Seared chicken breast with corn and avocado ($30) - this was my favorite! Dessert: Affogato (Ritual espresso is perfect) Wine: 2014 Malbec ($13) Had a lovely experience and hope to come back soon! read more

5 stars for taste and ambiance, 3 stars for value and service. We had a reservation for 6 people and were seated ~15 minutes after the reservation time. Not a big deal. We ordered a bottle of wine and a few a la cart plates to share for the table thinking they were entree sized or that the server would inform/recommend an appropriate amount of food. We ordered the chicory salad, brown butter gnocchi with mushrooms, and the beet salad. The food tasted amazing but the portions were TINY. To our pleasant surprise, the beets were pickled which was perfectly balances with the feta cheese it came with (but would have loved to been told they were pickled!). For the table of 3 there was maybe half a whole beet on the plate. The gnocchi was also to die for, but again, each of us literally had 2-3 gnocchi per person. Finally, the chicory salad, while also delicious (although in writing this review a week after our experience, was nondescript) the portions again were so small! The entire table would have appreciated a heads up from the server that we should perhaps double up the orders so that we could all have more than literally a few bites to eat. We also each ordered their off-menu burger which I highly recommend. However, and this is where I dock service stars, one of the guests in our party made her way to the restroom which is right next to the service area/kitchen, and she HEARD THE STAFF TALKING ABOUT HOW RIDICULOUS OUR ORDER WAS! I mean, honestly, if your restaurant is ranked one of the best burgers in the city, please expect your guests to order it and don't talk about them "behind their backs". Anyway, despite the trashtalk leaving a bad taste in our mouths, the burger is perfectly cooked, practically melting in your mouth. The shallots in the patty lend delicious flavor to the meat while the funky cheese and arugula round out the flavor profile with a peppery umami taste. The whole thing is served on an English muffin (great choice) that is both soft and sturdy at the same time. The burger is served with pickled baby carrots which I loved (it cuts through the richness of the burger). If you ask the server for ketchup or any condiments, they will offer a dish of dijon mustard which we highly suggest you use. So, downside is that the burger was pretty small. It's about 6-8 normal sized bites. In total, we each had about 12-14 bites of food for dinner plus a few sips of wine. Our bill was $45 per person for a meal that left everyone physically unsatisfying. Be prepared to pay up for a little dinner or maybe plan to have something afterwards to fill up. read more

Heirloom Cafe is the definition of a neighborhood gem with the exception that it's based in SF, meaning that its food is better than restaurants in just about every other US city and neighborhood. Sitting at Heirloom, you feel like part of the family. It's warm and they care. read more

Went here for a tasty burger and wine. Started with the sweet corn soup which I must say was pretty good. Well balanced and hit the spot. The burger wasn't a typical burger, a lot denser than a normal burger. I wish there was a side that came w it but it was also well done. Would come here again for a chill meal. read more

Heirloom Cafe - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a wonderful restaurant! Ambiance was as great as the food itself.. would recommend to anyone for any occasion.

Atmosphere: Space had an elegant yet friendly and rustic atmosphere. (The kitchen is also open and visible to guests.) Our waiter was very patient and offered us advice on appetizer/entree pairings, as well as allowed us to split our main dish. Great wine list. Food: 5 Roasted Asparagus, Gioia Burrata, Meyer Lemon Salsa, Crostini: 5 - generous portion or burrata, meyer lemon salsa subtly balances out the whole dish Josey Baker Bread with Hope Creamery Butter: 5 - totally worth the additional $5! Roasted Chicken Breast with Avocado and Corn: 5 - pefectly cooked and balanced Housemade Potato Gnocchi, Braised Lamb Shoulder, English Peas, Mint: 5 - absolutely delicious; luscious gnocchi with salty tender lamb is perfect with the peas and mint Strawberry Shortcake: 5 - piping hot out of the oven and tastes just like grandma made it Affogato: 5 - local coffee and ice cream read more

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(See pics) More of 4.5 stars. Was in the neighbourhood 2 days in a row as I missed the linen place yesterday and by chance saw this place. Made a mental note to come back when they opened. As "i"-Phone were winding down with the overflowing never ending emails, and suddenly realized I was missing a movie screening, all I could think of was I like the drapes that I just bought, and hope this meal be better than missing a screening. While they do serve a prix fixe menu, all items are also ala carte. They also have most wines by the glass. Something that I have been looking for at most restaurants. The de-shelled PEI mussels dish was with good salty broth and a couple slices of solid fresh bread, even in general I preferred whole shells. The nibbling nuts and olives were actually a great bridge between meals. The halibut with cauliflower puree was good and while the fish tasted fairly fresh, firm and was properly grilled, it could use a bit better seasoning. The puree was an excellent compliment. The side of peas was a simple touch. I took their recommendation of Muscadet, which I think was good but do think a French Chardonnay would have been a better pairing for the fish and Sancerre for the mussels (they only carry Sancerre as the whole bottle but with really good pricing.) The lemon curd with Canadian province cookies was good. I was quite curious of "which" province they tried to present. Being a Canadian and seeing 2 dishes with Canadian resources warms my heart. The cappuccino was fantastic, on the other hand, with cocoa that made it smooth and sweet. Service was on the slow side but since this was their opening evening and they were very nice to actually apologize while they try to get the rhythm going. A solid Californian cuisine style place to start and am looking forward to seeing it growing better and more wine pairing. read more

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Corner-restaurant Heirloom Cafe blends into the residences on the blocks. Intimate & homey, due in part to its being housed in a refurbished Victorian. Close-together tables, an open kitchen, & subdued lighting also provides that cocooned feeling. We shared their pasta dish ($23) as an appetizer: pappardelle, butter, parm, & shaved black truffle. Simple, yet decadent. These textures & tastes are my definition of comfort food. I ordered the off-menu burger ($13), its ground beef patty has pungent, gooey cheese (called epoisses) running throughout. Topped with arugula & onion jam, there is plenty savory, flavorful goodness sandwiched between their bun of choice: the English muffin. A unique burger experience. I was thankful for the side of pickled carrots -- it had the right amount of freshness & acidity to cut through the burger's richness. As far as dessert, Heirloom's pitfall is the same as many other great restaurants -- the flavor doesn't match up to the standard set by savory offerings. We left half our chocolate cake w/ vanilla ice cream ($8) mostly untouched, though I did enjoy the sweet stickiness candied tangerine peels lent. Would absolutely return to try their surprisingly affordable $65 prix fixe with wine pairing. read more

Heirloom Cafe - Off-menu burger--yum! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Heirloom Cafe has served many purposes, as it's great for groups and just as nice for a date. My introduction to this sweet spot on the corner of Folsom and 21st came by way of several lovely ladies with whom I first dined there. We partook of the unmissable bacon and onion tart and plenty of wine. Next I came on Halloween to cheer up a pal nursing a broken heart. The live band brought in for the holiday made it a little hard for him to hear my consolations but like the first time, the food and wine were laudable. And a glass of bubbly has a way of helping heal, doesn't it though? Most recently, I came with a big group of colleagues (we took up the whole communal table). On this trip I discovered you can't really go wrong with any of the wines on their list - we did a light red as well as a more full-bodied bottle and everyone seemed pleased with the selections. I've become a big fan of the housemade fettucini with braised shortrib, kale, and horseradish breadcrumbs and the paprika-agave carrots with St. Benoit yogurt. read more

If liquor isn't necessary to blind your date to your faults, there might not be a better option for a romantic dinner. Located in the Mission (although you'd never know it from the quiet corner), Heirloom Cafe is a tasteful, understated place with a focus on quality food, impeccable service and excellent wine. For the indecisive: the servers are knowledgable about both the menu and what wines might best complement your choices, and they'll even laugh at the lamest of your jokes. That menu seems to change frequently, but everything I was fortunate enough to sample was quite good, from pastas to proteins to the irresistible broccoli and carrot sides. My inhibitions tend to melt away with a bit of bourbon, but if you bring me here for a bottle of Barolo, a bacon & onion tart and the (off-menu) burger, I'm yours. read more

When a few colleagues heard some teammates and I were headed to Heirloom Cafe for dinner, they only had wonderful things to say. And it was all true! The menu featured a three-course dinner for $65, along with about 15 other a la carte options ranging from sides (paprika-agave carrots) to ridiculously-hard-to-decide entrees (duck confit with poached egg; winter vegetable stew). Unfortch, I didn't have much of an appetite, but I couldn't resist the butternut squash soup topped with giant rye croutons and a lil' walnut oil. Oh my. This was a giant bowl of piping hot hearty, earthy and tastebud awakening soup. Do order. Do order. I also had the iceberg wedge salad - I can't resist ordering it when accompanied with a nice glass of red. This was your typical wedge salad, although a lot smaller in size than I expected. Again, i wasn't too hungry, so not a big deal. But something you might want to note in case you think it's a meal's worth. The highlight for me was stealing a few nibbles from my tablemates' plates. The crispy, juicy, sweet and salty Liberty Farms duck breast made me moan. What? Yes. I did. And I'm a sucker for gourmet-prepared veggies, so the long-cooked broccoli with Calabrian chiles, pine nuts, and parmesan - and the paprika-agave carrots - both left me, well, hungry for more. Can I have those recipes? Please? (I did detect bacon fat, so it must have been cooked in it.) As for decor and atmo, the restaurant is cozy, dark with candlelight, antique-ey but with touch of sexy - almost French country but more chic. I really felt at home here. read more

Often it's the little details that can make or break a dining experience. At Heirloom Café they get all the little details just right. I really love the space itself. It's bright and airy with a combination of elegant (the wallpaper) and rustic (the light fixtures) touches that make it feel homey. I will get to the food (yes, it's delicious) in a bit, but I want to start with the service in this case because it's where I'm most often annoyed. No annoyance here. In fact, it was just the right ratio of attention to time left to your food/conversation. The server didn't hover in the beginning when I was sitting by myself and the dining room only had a handful of guests (thank you!), nor did she try to give my friend and I the bum rush as our meal was winding down (by which time the restaurant was really bustling). Best yet, our server actually brought the check, gave us time to do a bit of math (my friend and I usually wrangle a bit about who gets to pay - this time it was a draw), and wrapped things up fairly quickly (thank you, again!). I'm never offended when that happens, in fact I prefer it. All too often servers seem to disappear into the ether at that point and my friends and I are left staring at each other while we sit and wait and worry about making our 8pm curtain. We also got a bit of personal attention from proprietor, Matt Straus. That was appreciated and really added to our overall experience. Now, for the food, my friend and I both went the ala carte route and ended up eating most of the seafood dishes on the menu. We both really got a kick out of the grilled marinated squid. The squid was perfectly cooked and the composition of the dish was a really nice mix of textures and flavors. We also had the eggplant side dish as a starter. It had a wonderful texture and a nice balance of flavors as well. In fact, I would say "lovely texture" and "well-balanced flavors" were the themes for the evening. I loved my wild king salmon with roasted fingerling potatoes and tomatoes. The potatoes and jewel-like orange tomatoes were cut into bite-sized pieces that offered an opportunity to have some of everything in each bite (the little kid in me is always happy when I can do that). Her scallops were plump, perfectly cooked and delicious. Each dish seemed to be served on a bed of pureed something that added to the overall yumminess of everything. My friend and I both also enjoyed our wine, a slightly earthy Cotes-du-Rhone for me and a subtle, refreshing Marsanne for her. We also both really enjoyed the Riesling we had with dessert. I can honestly say our dining experience was relaxing from start to finish. Lily and I left smiling and ready for our next adventure. On a side note, I took one of Heirloom's gnocchi-making demo classes not too long ago (you can register on Eventbrite). It was really fun, and with only 12 participants just the right size. Matt's really engaging, and the best part is you get to eat the gnocchi (otherwise known as potato-laced bundles of food love). I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for something fun to do on a Saturday morning. read more

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The FIFTEEN MINUTE cookie. My GF and I came for an 8:30 reservation on Friday May 14th. Our first impressions were of a clean, minimalistic and well organized restaurant. The sealing is 20+ feet with a very open feeling which gives way to an extremely loud conversation shared with the open kitchen. I ordered a Pacifico and she a glass of the Qupe Marsanne. She tried the onion soup gratinee and it was great. The waiters kept a close eye keeping our water full and when she was done with her soup our meals arrived shortly after. She had the PEI mussels, roasted tomatoes, shallots and sherry. I thought it was amazing but she missed pulling each mussel out of the shell. I loved the idea that I would be given a bowl of mussels with nothing to dig through but I guess opening each shell can be fun, sort of like pistachios. I had the Epoisses Burger. It comes served on an English Muffin. This isn't a Thomas's English Muffin it's something far superior. The beef was great, super juicy and was that extra butter on my muffin? Awesome! Over all the meal was great and the wait staff gave us time to sit and talk after our meal, nice. Then, because we kept a menu, we asked for a cookie, oops. The fifteen minute cookie. I waived down our waiter and ordered a Chocolate Chip Cookie. After I requested said cookie he mentioned it would be 14 minutes because it needed to bake. We didn't pull out our stopwatch but it was the better side of fifteen minutes for one little cookie. When we received our little cookie it was about an inch in diameter and not that great. Can you please put "15-Minute cookie" on the menu so that we can order it before we are done eating? We will be back, but not for the cookie. TOTAL: $51.08 read more

Heirloom Cafe - The Receipt - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place was a total surprise to me as I was taken here on my birthday. Warm and homey, it was welcomed switch from the energized, noisy crowd I had been immersed in the night before. Everything about this place--the decor, the service, and the food--was simple. There were no frills, nothing fancy or over-the-top, just good food and decent service in a warm, comfy environment. Sometimes it's all one wants. We began with the bacon and onion tart as a starter. I'm not a fan of bacon, and I usually avoid it whenever possible, but this tart was damn good. If they would make it bigger and call it a pizza, I would be happy having it as a meal on its own. My main entree was a burger, not listed on the menu. It was served on a muffin-type bun with carrots on the side. Yum. My companion had the potato gnocchi. The few bites that I had were really rich, but he really enjoyed it. For dessert, we had a peach pie, birthday candle and all. It was okay, but a little too tart for my taste. read more

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Had a really great meal here Prosciutto with pole beans was beautifully presented and had great flavors. Bacon & Onion tart, comforting, flaky crust, delicious Steak perfectly prepared (medium rare that was actually truly medium rare). Never, ever had Cod that was as delicate and flavorful. Excellent wine selections (Gideon was super knowledgeable and helpful) Great vibe to this place, easy, comfortable, very friendly and attentive service. A new favorite to add to the lost for sure! read more

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My friends and I ate with Matt and the Heirloom Cafe crew again last Saturday and once again walked away very happy. Not only does Matt and his team execute well on a very simple menu, but he is phenomenal at wine pairings. I often will have the fixed menu just to explore his wine pairings. This time 1 of us had the fixed menu and the other 3 had the pasta with pork ragu. No misses on any dish. When the past dishes were placed in front of us, we all looked at each other: hmm, small portion. When we were done we were more than sated. The flavors were rich and enormous, making the portion size just right. Matt recommended a 2004 Barolo, which I was skeptical of because Barolos really need a long time to soften up. He decanted it and by the time our entrees arrived, it was drinking very nicely with the pasta dish. Bravo Heirloom Cafe! We look forward to many more exceptional dinners with you. read more

Can I just say how amazing this place is? My friend introduced me to this neighborhood gem, and I was a bit skeptical when I first heard the name. However, the first bite turned me into an Heirloom Cafe convert. Everything I've tried so far has been delightful. Flavors that you would never imagine together (almond butter and beets? Really?) meld together beautifully, and nothing is ever too over the top. Great wine list too. It's a great space with an open kitchen and cozy decor. There's a fair amount of table seating and about six seats at the bar, where you can watch the chefs at work. I'm already planning to take some friends back here because the food and the service and the wine are just that good. As a final note, parking in the area isn't too bad either. Edit: Holy mother of whichever-deity-you-believe-in, the off-menu burger is INCREDIBLE. read more