We randomly found Memento while searching for dinner options so we thought we would check it out. It's a small spot in Noe Valley and we came in December so the whole place was decked out in Christmas decor. The staff here was incredibly nice and helped us pick between some options we were thinking about on the menu. The food here was delicious and we were both surprised how much we liked all the entrees. I went with the paella with mussels and it was one of the better paellas I've had in California. We'll definitely be back. read more

2.75 stars. I should've trusted my instincts. Momentarily, I questioned the reason behind Memento's low review count. Sure, sometimes it's nice to visit a lesser-known restaurant in hopes of finding a hidden gem, but the reality is -- any eatery worth Yelping about is being Yelped about. Every part of dinner further solidified Memento's status as a one-and-done deal. The mocktail we ordered was so syrupy thick, it needed watering down before we could drink it. Paella with sausage had a thin layer of crisp rice. Oddly enough, the tomatoey elements coupled with the type of sausage used reminded me of pizza. My bf reported that the steak in his surf & turf was undercooked & had a "funny" flavor. 'Nough said. As much as we'd like to support a neighborhood restaurant, it cannot be at the expense of good flavors & basic cooking techniques. read more

Memento SF - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Seriously, amazing and surprising little spot in a cute neighborhood in Noe Valley. Really great assortment of tempting dishes on the menu. Had the fried cauliflower which was excellent and also the calamari. Best thing was the lamb Wellington. Super succulent and the sauce was amazing. Even the mashed potatoes were wonderful. Friendly fast service and even a cool 80s playlist. Great vibe. read more

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Highly recommend Memento for fine dining in a small cozy place with calm music and lighting to set the mood for the evening. Been there twice now and haven't been disappointed with anything. The drinks are great btw. read more

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Solid spot for last minute dinner since there always seem to be reservations available in OpenTable. Cute interior. It's currently decorated for a Christmas pop up. Parking is easy in the area. The cocktails and mocktails were delicious! Food portions are definitely shareable. I highly recommend the beet pasta, it was my favorite dish of the night! Moqueca fish stew was really good too! read more

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I wasn't sure exactly what to expect when I came here for dinner but I was so blown away by the food that I easily consider this one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The menu is really diverse and has dishes from a variety of cuisines - it was so hard to choose just a few! They also had a lot of off menu specials. We went with the millionaire beef tacos, little gem pad Thai salad, the sausage and mussel paella special, and the mushroom risotto (add lobster!) special. Everything was incredible! The tacos were melt in your mouth, the salad was tangy and tasty, the paella rice was super flavorful (and a one person portion not too heavy), and I ate every last bit of my risotto. They have a low ABV cocktail menu and wine list as well. It was completely decorated for Christmas with special holiday cocktails so come here if you're looking for the holiday cheer without the craziness of the typical holiday bars! They have a little bar seating and tables though it's a small spot. They do take reservations. The staff is incredibly friendly and the owners were out serving the customers and making sure everyone had what they needed. Can't wait to come back! read more

Charming neighborhood spot with great food and drink. The one dish I must call out is the mussel dish. You can tell that some thought went into sourcing the ingredients, and the sauce was delicious. Would love to return. BB read more

Memento SF - Mussels! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

A very long overdue 5-star review!! My cousin and I were having a really shitty day and needed a quick pick me up. We saw that Memento was just around the corner so we literally sprinted down the hill and snagged a table right away. Alfred was so kind and helpful as this was our first time here. We needed drinks and only wanted something small to munch on. I got the Memento Mori which was absolutely stunning and delicious - perfectly sweet and a tad tart. My cousin got the Pisco and it looked awesome, with the handprint effect! For a snack we got the truffle fries, and wow! I think these were the best truffle fries I've ever had. Thicker cut French fry and perfectly seasoned and topped with spices and cheese. And the sauce!!! The sauce was delectable! Alfred came to check on us often. He asked how our day was and we told him it'd been shitty (we told him why and what we just went through lol). He came back with a slice of cheesecake *tears!!!!* so kind and thoughtful!! It definitely put a smile on our faces. We'll definitely be back soon to try their entrees and brunch! Super cute spot for a girls day and/or date night! read more

Memento SF - This cheesecake was phenomenal!! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a delight! My wife and I came here for our 21st wedding anniversary and Raf met Suhair treated us like royalty for our special occasion. The food was outstanding!! The truffle fries were SO good and the millionaire tacos were delicious. Raf is gifted as a mixologist and my wife and I had the Ghost Rider and the Talk About the Weather. Both cocktails had so much depth and flavor. Super fun drinks prior to our meal. Thanks for giving us so much love (and attention) on out 21sr anniversary and our hop over from Pacifica to Noe Valley! read more

Memento SF - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Place was cute, just food and cocktails were not to our taste. The salmon tartare had so much going on, as did the curry chicken with coconut hummus. Low abv cocktails were very sweet and also had a lot going on. Not our favorite, but clearly very popular in Noe. read more

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Just came here for dinner tonight and I gotta say I was really impressed. The salmon that we ordered was perfect; the calamari hit the spot and also they had a really interesting rigatoni with beets on the menu that ended up being a really interesting dish. The service was impeccable and I was thoroughly happy with the experience. I definitely recommend it if you're in the neighborhood. They'll take good care of you! read more

Memento SF - Salmon - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

AVOID AT ALL COST. Terrible experience. The food was extremely overpriced for the horrible quality, and the owners were shockingly rude and discriminatory. When they made a mistake on our bill and we tried to clarify it calmly, one of the owners immediately spoke down to us in an aggressive tone, blaming us for their confusion and the crowd in our group. Then the other owner came over and told us, QUOTE "We don't want people like you in our restaurant"--clearly racist towards our "crowd" because we spoke a different language, and unacceptable remark. he called our crowd as "low people". Absolutely appalling behavior. read more

My wife and I enjoyed a lovely dinner this past weekend at Memento SF. We started with the Shishito peppers and the Cauliflower bites, loved it! The cocktails were especially great, we tried about 4, and liked all of them, especially White Lotus and Defying Gravity. The mains- Pork Chop and the Ribs (not in the online menu)- were excellent, and although we were stuffed and didn't have room for dessert, we ate up the delicious pistachio cake they brought to the table as a special treat for my wife's birthday. Thank you to the wonderful servers who were so courteous and welcoming! Was a memorable evening, and we will be back! read more

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Wow. Just wow. This place absolutely blew us away. From the moment we sat down, everything was perfect. We started with the tacos, empanadas, and mussels, and I could have stopped right there and been happy. The mussels were incredible. The sauce was thick, creamy, a little spicy, and completely addictive. The empanadas were golden and packed with flavor, and the tacos were unreal. Then came the special of the night, the lamb shank Wellington. The lamb was fall apart tender, wrapped in buttery, flaky pastry. Rich, savory, and unbelievably good. Their Genie in a Bottle cocktail was just as fun and unique as it sounds. Beautiful presentation, super smooth, and one of the best drinks I have had in a long time. The owners and staff were amazing, so warm, genuine, and clearly passionate about what they do. The atmosphere was cozy but lively, the kind of place that makes you want to stay for just one more drink. Memento is a total gem. We will absolutely be back. Thank you Memento for an unforgettable night! read more

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Great service. Food was great! Nice wine list and wine pairings. Love love love love the guava cocktail. The passion fruit mousse was an amazing way to end the meal. Wasn't a fan of the salmon tartare, but the Chardonnay pairing really uplifted the dish. Date night ambiance. Street parking. We'll definitely be back. Thanks!! read more

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We had a lovely family dinner here on a Saturday night. Everything from the food to the decor to the service was top-notch! I ordered the special (lamb wellington), and enjoyed left-overs for two additional meals. The calamari was incredibly crispy and fresh, my daughter devoured her mussels, and we especially enjoyed the caramel.flan for dessert. Halloween is my daughter's favorite holiday, so she had extra appreciation for the creative and fun Halloween decor! read more

Cool new spot in Noe for an upscale dining experience. Service was spectacular right from the time we got there and loved that they welcome everyone with a complimentary shot (tasty and not too strong). For appetizers we ordered the flatbread, salmon tartare, beef and cheese empanadas, and zucchini fries (special for that day). The salmon tartare was my favorite as it had a generous portions of salmon and avocado. The flat bread kind of reminded me of a soggy microwave pizza and was my least favorite. For mains we had the beet rigatoni and the curry chicken. I appreciated the originality and presentation of the rigatoni, but it was somewhat light in flavor. The curry chicken also felt like it was missing something. For desert we had the lime mouse and the flan. Both were excellent and were devoured in minutes. Overall, they have good food and even better service. We enjoyed our meal and would consider coming back. read more

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The ambiance and food were both quite good, great place to grab a bite in the Castro, where is a bit difficult to find high quality cuisine.

First the drinks: f'ing amazing. Food: awesome. Service: exceptional. I hope this restaurant is able to stick around in this challenging corridor. Parking is usually available. Btw, did I mention the amazing drinks? Among the best specialty drinks in the city. read more

This place was great! Try the curry chicken!! They're so welcoming and the food is inventive. Wine menu is very reasonable.

We had their Memento Mori Cocktail (5/5), Salmon Tartare (4/5), Truffle Fries (5/5), Millionaire Beef Tacos (5/5), Mussels (4/5), and Flan (4/5). The millionaire beef tacos and Memento Mori Cocktail were exceptional! I highly recommend them. Service and ambiance were lovely. Our waiter was particularly funny and bubbly, which livened up our evening! read more

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Everything about this place is great. While it's a neighborhood place, it's 'world class'. The dishes are varied and amazing. And definitely fresh -- like, from 'my mom's garden', or "we got these on a trip to Monterrey". The service is amazing. The staff is really well versed in the food, of course, but interacting with them is a delight. Chef came out to say 'hi' t us. Really can't recommend it enough. read more

There was no, I repeat, NO, offer to comp the cost of my pork chop. There's an apparent disconnect in the information flow between our server and the proprietor. Nor did I enter the place in any kind of bad mood . We went in because it looked charming, the menu posted outside seemed creative and we frequent a lot of Noe Valley restaurants, having lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years. We liked the ambiance, and again, we like to support Noe Valley businesses. The food stood, or fell, on its own. read more

I came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday and we had a wonderful time! The servers were extremely hospitable and very helpful is answering any questions we had. Because we were celebrating a birthday, we got a free cheesecake and a cutely signed card which really made our night! The ambiance was nice and romantic, perfect for a date night. Though the place is on the smaller side, they were still able to accommodate two big parties at once. The desserts were absolutely amazing! Caramel Flan - 5/5 thick and creamy and possibly the best flan I have ever had! This dessert is something you definitely shouldn't miss. Lime mousse - 4.5/5 delicious with a generous portion, but towards the end it became a little too sweet. The dessert is also quite tart at the same time so if you don't prefer sour desserts I would stay away from this one. Mussels - 4/5 a bit on the sour side, I personally didn't love them but my boyfriend enjoyed them a lot Mushroom burger - 4/5 big portion but the bun was a little dry Smash burger - 4/5 also a bit dry, but still good Overall, the food didn't blow me away (other than the desserts), but the service was so wonderful that I think they deserve 5 stars! A nice place for date night with easy to find parking on a Saturday night! read more

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This has been an outstanding experience. We sat at the bar and ordered. - shishito peppers. Outstanding with an umami rich sauce - curry fried chicken - delicious - mussels - one of the best mussel dishes I have ever had - truffled fries - fantastic I cannot remember a better, tastier meal. 5 stars. Please come and support this restaurant. I want them to succeed. Noe Valley is the better for them being a part of this community! Outstanding. Also- a shout out to Alex behind the bar. He could not have been nicer! Wine was also outstanding! read more

Memento SF - Mussels - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Raphael was great! Food , ambience and service is excellent!!!! Would definitely come back and tell our friends about this place.

This review is for the new weekend brunch service that began today! I had the French toast that came with a creative pandan crème and was delicious as well as a pretty presentation. My companion had the eggs Benedict soufflé that was accompanied by an arugula salad that was tasty judging by the few shared bites! The mixed berry mimosa was delicious. My request is to add a Bloody Mary beverage because I like a savory cocktail. The owners have designed the restaurant space to have a lovely vibe. read more

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Such a lovely new addition to the neighborhood. We were seated at the bar and had a great time conversing with the owners and other patrons. Raf is an artist behind the bar and takes great care in his preparations, while Suhair is the life of the place! We had the Zucchini sticks and Salmon tartare for appetizers, the Crispy chicken was a main course followed by the Flan. Everything was delicious but the standouts for us were the Salmon tartare and the Flan. The drinks were also very well made and we will back here soon! read more

Memento SF - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is IT! The perfect neighborhood eatery. The food is delicious. Approachable but elevated. And you MUST save room for dessert... We were lucky enough to be invited to the soft opening. Now I can't wait to be here every Friday after work for snacks and cocktails! read more

Memento SF - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Memento is consistently superb! The atmosphere is beautiful and Raf and Suhair are fantastic hosts! They make you feel as though you are dining in their home. Raf's cuisine is bright, fresh and innovative. His cocktails are over-the-top delicious, intriguing and gorgeous to look at! They are masterpieces! You absolutely must go and experience Memento for yourself! Alfred's service is wonderful! Memento is a gem in the heart of Noe Valley! read more

Was looking for somewhere new to try with my partner and I stumbled upon this gem! Service was warm and friendly, ambience was very sleek, and overall we were more than satisfied with all the dishes we got. Even though I loved everything we ate, I'll forsure be thinking about the filet mignon and coconut fudge cake long after this meal! We most certainly will be back and are so excited to try the other dishes this restaurant has to offer! Definitely a restaurant worth checking out! read more

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What an amazing new restaurant in Noe Valley. The couple that own it are just lovely. Both working hard to see that the guests needs at taken care of. We sat at the bar and had dinner and wine. Our meals came on hot plates so that our food stayed the same temp through out. Portobello burger was perfect . My friend had the salmon and loved it. We also had the shishito peppers to start. The person next to us raved about the mussels. They are going to start live music every other Saturday . Did I mention that the outdoor patio is great! And the art on the walls is a lovely touch. read more

Memento SF - Portobello burger - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Every dish we got was exceptional. The millionaire tacos were to die for, as was the pork chop and empanadas. My partner doesn't usually like tartare, but I ordered the salmon tartare as a starter and we both devoured it. They offered us an off-menu Albariño since we couldn't decide on a wine we both wanted. It was perfect! The service was also impeccable. Friendly, fun, and fast. We will absolutely be returning. read more

We were lucky enough to experience Memento SF opening week and it was very special. They have a great location with easy parking (which is not easy in the city). I'll start off with the list of creative and delicious cocktails that they have are top notch, it was so difficult to decide which one to try first, my personal favorit Black Noir, a smoky and unique drink , I wanted more. I had the Salmon Tartare and the Crispy curry chicken AMAZING and I was able to try more that were delicious. Overall it was an amazing experience, great restaurant , ambiance and service. Date night or dinner with friends this place is great. read more

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Excellent food, ambience and service. Will return again soon. This is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood read more

Unique menu and great service. Was around for vacation and it was within walking distance. I would recommend

Great food! Amazing service! The staff was attentive. Try the filet. This place will take off soon, go before it's hard to get in. read more

I moved to the neighborhood a few months ago and had been wanting to try this rest since then. Came here over the weekend after much anticipation. However, we were throughly underwhelmed. We started with the empanadas, got a mix of beef and cheese. The cheese empanadas were crunchy but very bland. I ordered the black cod and was shocked that a 2 oz price of fish and a pile of mushrooms goes for $40+. The fish was tasty but definitely not worth the price point. The table also ordered the crispy curry chicken, and while he said he liked the dish, mentioned nothing special and it was his least favorite part of the meal. We ended with the coconut fudge pie, which was tasty but super gooey. Our server was a bit odd, and had a hard time keeping his eyes open. When asked questions about the menu, his only response was "it's really good" but couldn't give any other information. The inside was all grey, not very inviting. I had super high hopes in this place and perhaps that's why I was extra disappointed. I don't see myself coming back and couldn't recommend to anyone. read more

Just came with 4 people and everything was so so good. We shared the truffle fries, zaatar flatbread, millionaire tacos, tomato arugula salad for starters. Then we got a couple of the crispy chicken with curry and the pork chop and a bunch of cocktails. The food was so good that by the time I thought to take a photo, we had completely devoured everything. I'm not big on fries but the truffle fries were so seasoned, I wished that we ordered a second serving. The flatbread didn't skimp on the zaatar either. The crispy chicken curry dish was one of the most unique dishes I've had. It's hard to describe, instead of a polenta or a creamy grits base it was seasoned garbanzo beans like a ratatouille curry hummus mix. Something I'll try to replicate at home. Although we were all super full we pushed through and got the pandan cheesecake and some kind of chocolate mousse because we knew it was going to be delicious. It was the right choice even though I needed to roll myself out the front door. The service was great too. I will definitely come back especially for date night read more

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We enjoyed a really nice shared meal of small plates, fabulous cocktails and an entree. Loved the ambience and decor. Raf also had a stellar playlist that made the experience perfect. Thanks!!! read more