Probably my favorite hidden gem in the city. If you are able to snag a reservation, do it. The space is small, but that is part of what makes the experience so special. It feels cozy, intimate, and carefully curated in a way that is hard to find anywhere else in the Bay Area. The food has heart behind it. Every dish feels intentional, with a story and connection woven into it. Want the full experience? Sit by the chef and enjoy the storytelling throughout the meal. As a Bay Area local who grew up around Sonoma and Napa, he has a deep understanding of California produce and a genuine passion for food that comes through in every course. Everything is thoughtful, connected, and beautifully executed. The wine pairing only elevates the experience and makes this one of the hardest meals to top. Pro tip: Skip the drive and take BART instead. Get off at 24th Street and Mr. Pollo is right across the street. read more

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$50 per person 4 course meal?!? Thought it was too good to be true but food absolutely exceeded expectations. It's hard to get a reservation but absolutely worth the wait. The restaurant is an intimate space where you can watch the chef cook right in front of you. First course: Fried fish with parsley sauce. Fish had a lot of bones so kinda tickled my throat. Nonetheless, well seasoned with a nice salty taste. Fried to perfection and was super crispy. Sauce was creamy and with the lemon made the dish feel very light. Sauce for me was not super strong in flavor so felt like it was almost missing something to complete the taste. Second course: Tagliatelle with snap peas and green garlic sauce. Pasta was a tad under al dente but appreciate it not being over. Snap peas were sweet and SUPER fresh. Sauce was not heavy at all. Would've preferred a tad more salt for me but was perfect for my partner. Third course: Black cod with preserved lemon sauce and asparagus. Cod was glistening and flakey. Truly perfection. And with the lemon sauce tasted extra fresh. Asparagus was a nice compliment to everything. Dessert: Apple sorbet with candied walnuts, caramel sauce and whipped cream. A nice light, not too sweet dessert that was perfectly balanced in creaminess, texture and flavor. Candied walnuts were my favorite part and super necessary or else it would be too soupy. Overall, a great price for amazing food! Not too heavy too. Totally recommend checking it out! Menu changes every few days so you never know what you're going to get but they base it off of whatever is freshest in the market and I could definitely tell. Come try it! read more

Mr Pollo - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place was totally awesome and an amazing value! It was like eating in someone's house. We got four dishes: 1) hamachi crudo with preserved lemon, chrysanthemum leaves, olives, 2) pasta with pistachio, pesto, percorino, 3) porchetta with herbs, polenta, and salad (really nice balance of flavors/textures), and 4) really yummy Apple Sorbet (it actually was orange b/c of the variety of Apple they use!) with whipped cream and crumble. The owner, Will, was super down-to-earth and friendly throughout. The chef, Graham, was literally making food right in front of us a few feet away. Need to know: 1) this place is tiiiiiiny! there's only 12 seats and trust me when I say they PACK you in! The SPACE between the table next to us in the corner was maybe like 8 inches and if I was heavyset I probably wouldn't have made it out LOL...we also came on a rare hot day where it was 80 degrees at 6 pm and that combined with the heat from the kitchen made it unbearably hot to the point where I had to go outside between courses...dress acccodingly. 2) it's in the Mission next to El Farolito which is kinda sketchy 3) there's street parking which is hit or miss (we were lucky to get parking immediately on a Tuesday at 6 pm) but there's also a Mission Bartlett garage about .4 miles away 4) Make reservations on Resy as they are always booked...usually release reservations two weeks in advance at 12 pm Overall, the TLDR version: Great experience and value, like being in someone's home, amazing value for a tasting menu, great service. read more

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We had such an amazing, worthwhile experience here! The restaurant is so cozy and intimate, with a speakeasy-like and from most seating areas you can get a great view of the chef as he preps everyone's courses. Our menu was a summer selection, focused on local specialties and ingredients. Chilled melon soup with a savory yogurt sauce and olive oil; miso eggplant cannolicchi; salmon with a roasted corn and pickled Peruvian pepper salad; and a warm strawberry peach cobbler to finish off. Genuinely, banger after banger. Flavors and textures were fresh, bold, and complemented each other amazingly. So much intention in the food that you can taste (make sure to ask the host/chef if you get a chance to hear the interesting choices behind the curation!). As someone who's passionate about home cooking, this was such an informative and inspiring experience! Both the chef and the host were so friendly--you really feel the spirit of community, meaningful connections, and shared joy for food in this spot. Hands down will be looking to return for this high-value, fulfilling dinnertime adventure! read more

In one word... outstanding! Yes, this is a hidden secret. I'm tempted to keep it that way because this is one of those IYKYK. The quaint, eclectic, almost on the verge of wanting to be Bohemian, but not quite there. Mr. Pollo is truly the best! I'll just get this out of the way, reservations are made 2+ weeks in advance. It's San Francisco so parking is what it is. Mr. Pollo should be in the Michelin Guide. Michelin people are you reading this?? When you make reservations, there is one seat, seating, and one seating only. Be on time! As laid-back and comfortable as the restaurant is, it's obvious that everything is timed because the ones seating, which again makes us perfection. The menu is constantly changing, and every meal is sure to be mouthwatering delicious. When you were seated, you're handed a light wine menu to select from and your evening is off! This is a tasting menu, and I can assure you you want to have it all! Our menu was: Cold Spanish soup with fermented grapes, fried almonds, with a beautiful drizzle of olive oil on top. The soup was magical. Can I describe it in any better words? No. All I know is that I could not get enough of it. The second dish: This over the top house-made pasta that enrobed with this garlic, cream sauce, sausage, sun-dried, tomatoes, with a generous portion of Parm and breadcrumbs, and if your mouth isn't watering... It really should be. I wanted to dive into the bowl. The third dish: Braised duck. If anyone wants to learn how to make duck into the most tantalizing delicious dish, this one's for you! I don't know what magic is going on in this restaurant, but keep doing what you're doing. The duck was served over a bowl of tasty grains, with pieces of fresh apple, squash, and herbs and OMG remember it's not polite to lick a bowl/plate in public. The fourth and final dish: Dessert. I thought that each dish was a surprise, and then dessert was served. Keep in mind at this point I was beyond full, but who's going to ever turn down dessert?? Pear Moscato ice cream. It was served with this made fresh in front of us whipped cream that was spectacular just on its own. This is the whipped cream that you definitely want your own bowl a spoon and a sit quietly in a corner and be left alone while you enjoy every drop of it This sat all on a bed of Moscato honey syrup. This is the dessert that you could enjoy all year long. I was stopped and I walked away wondering what it would've been possible to have taken dessert home because I wanted this again. Hell I wanted this whole meal again! These guys have created such a wonderful space, and they make it look, just absolutely effortless. I know that it's not, but this was probably one of the most magical dining experiences that I've had in a very long time. Thank you for a wonderful dinner and I can't wait for the next time! read more

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Yum! A great four-course for its price point, tucked away in a small room close to the 24th Mission Bart. I made a resy a few days in advance - would recommend since there's limited seating inside. I really enjoyed the cozy, dim lit atmosphere inside and everyone cooking and prepping the food was very friendly (it was open kitchen, and folks at the bar could interact directly!). Our first course was seasonal fig which was a great palate opener. Next up was the arepa which had a nice texture -- the avocado and pickled onion also cut through. (Personally I would have liked if this one was beef more, since it did kind of just taste like a normal sandwich). The money dish was the shrimp risotto... the corn and leek, the texture, the taste was all amazing. I was literally savoring this one and thinking about it after. Last came dessert! It was a nice chocolate ganache over pear crumble/ice cream and really liked the combo of rich creaminess with a tiny bit of tartness. Overall would love to come back to Mr. Pollo and try new seasonal flavors on their menu! Good hidden gem. read more

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Loved this cozy prix fixe dinner, super casual but quality food, a surprise menu of whatever the chef is feeling or finding at the market. Would try for a counter table in the future - that's definitely more the vibe. Server was really sweet. Would definitely recommend and plan on a return visit soon! read more

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Love coming to Mr Pollo in the mission! 4-course tasting menu is always unique and leverages in-season produce and fruits. Nowhere else in the city can you get a 4-course meal for $49. This place is legit. Reservations only on Resy and it's an intimate 12-person sitting. It almost feels like you're hanging out at a friends place :) it's a good thing! Owners are super nice and the food is amazing! We've been here 4+ times. In January 2025, the menu was (in my simple terms): 1. Spiced squash soup with lemon cream. Spices were perfect 2. Pasta with apples and chicken 3. Short rib with cauliflower. SO tender and flavorful 4. rum cake with caramel. Delicious ending to our meal I have to admit I do miss the arepa, but excited to see how the menu changes each time we go. read more

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It's a tiny place so they release (required) reservations two weeks at a time. I've seen this on several lists as one of the best affordable chef's menus in SF and I'd agree. The experience is pretty fun and intimate. I think they seat only up to like a dozen people and you see the chef make everything behind the counter. I don't think they can easily cater to individuals' dietary preferences, so this is best for omnivores. The courses included: a delicious heirloom tomato dish; a cheesy gnocchi; an entire (!) buttermilk fried quail with a summery salad of golden watermelon, avocado, cucumbers, and pickled onion; and a pretty dessert of ingredients I can't remember, but were delicious together. Very fun and interesting to see the chef show you what he's got. read more

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Great tasting menu in the city! Went for a weeknight dinner and absolutely loved it. The restaurant is in a fairly busy neighborhood, but once you step inside it feels peaceful and intimate. Service was friendly and efficient, and you can tell they've perfected the pacing of each course. The tasting included four dishes, which I believe rotate over time. We started with a vegetable string bean appetizer in a delicious red pepper vinaigrette, followed by pasta cooked perfectly al dente, then a beautifully prepared salmon dish, and finally an apple dessert. I might be off on some of the exact details since I don't recall all the ingredients, but everything was excellent. I was definitely full by the end. It would be nice if they provided a small menu card listing the night's dishes, but that's just a minor preference! Overall, I would come back to see what new dishes they create next. They offer only two seatings each night (6pm and 8pm) and reservations fill quickly, so plan ahead! read more

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I got to try this restaurant thanks to a random 6pm Tuesday night reservation opening up, and I was excited about the 4 course menu for $50. There's only 12 seats in the very small interior and I was at a table in the corner, although I wish I got to sit at the chef's counter as it looked fun to be able to watch the cooking up close and chat with the chef. The menu for my dinner was a sformatino with goat cheese, a ringlet curl pasta with octopus, braised lamb shoulder, and an apricot sorbet with an almond cookie. Overall the meal was good, but not as special as I expected especially with the hype I've heard for it and how it's always booked up. I also thought all the dishes besides the dessert had too much parsley, both in quantity and in size of the leaves. In the end, the sorbet and the pasta with octopus were my favorites. While enjoyable, I'm not necessarily rushing to go back or labeling this spot as a must-try for me. read more

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Excellent food and service. Tiny place - need reservations for sure. I can't wait to go back. read more

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I thought this was a super unique dinner! They only do two dinner seatings each night and it is a different menu depending on the chef's choice. Two guys own it and are the only ones that work the space, which is super cool! The food was well done and definitely had a different twist on it. I highly recommend for a cool experience - there's 4 courses! read more

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I've been wanting to go to this place for forever and I finally got the chance in October 2025. They have a seasonal fixed menu at a reasonable price. It is a fairly quick service since it's quite small and they do two services a night with one person cooking and one serving. It's an efficiently run business making full use of the limited space they have. It does get a little stuffy in there with the number of people + kitchen, but the food was excellent. read more

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Amazing four-course meal featuring seasonal ingredients, unique dishes, and wholesome home-cooked flavors. Super intimate 12-seat dining space with attentive service! price: ~$50/person for the four courses - Eggplant with Black Sesame Dressing: I don't normally love eggplant, but this was phenomenal. The eggplant was tender and the sauce was perfectly nutty. The mint stood out super well in contrast to the rest of the flavors. - Chicken Arepa: Comforting, soft, and not too overwhelming. The avocado was delicious! - Pork Loin with Corn and Zucchini: I normally feel sick eating most pork, but this was so delicious. The pork was a bit on the tougher side, but every bite was delightful and the savoriness paired super well with the sweetness of the seasonal corn and zucchini. - Vanilla Ricotta Mousse with Cherry Puree and Almonds: I was stuffed at this point but this was too delicious to leave behind. The vanilla is light and sweet and pairs well with the slight tartness of the cherry, while the almonds offer a nice dark textural contrast. Service was excellent and pinot noir was superb! Thanks for the great dinner :-) read more

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I was lucky enough to snag a reservation on Resy at 6pm on a Tuesday for my husband and I just a couple days ago. I assume someone must've cancelled since reservations are extremely hard to come by. The restaurant only seats 12 guests at a time. Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I walked in. The inside was dark but felt very cozy and intimate. We decided to seat at the counter because we wanted to watch and engage with the chefs, which we did and had a blast! Mr Pollo was established in 2010 and used to be a fast food Colombian restaurant. They offer a 4 course tasting menu for $49 that changes every few weeks based on what's in season. Each dish was simple but had a unique twist to it. Our first course was the asparagus ricotta tartelette. I was a bit thrown off at first since the tartelette reminded me of an egg tart, which is supposed to be sweet. It was actually savory and creamy from the ricotta. The second course (my favorite) was the pork arepa . I loved the house made sauce and the crunch of the arepa. The third was the halibut and it was so soft that it practically melted in my mouth. The snap peas was another ingredient that tied well with the dish. We also had blueberry clafoutis and fig leaf gelato for our last course, and wow did not expect the fig leaf to taste like coconut. We had a wonderful experience, and I'm so glad I was able to stop by and give this place a try. Also very impressed with how smoothly this place runs with only the 2 of them. Loved the ambiance and vibe! Would love to come back again to see what else they come up with! read more

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Came here with my sister on a recommendation from a friend. The appetizer was pretty tasty. I never had straciatella cheese before but I loved the creamy texture. The asparagus was cooked perfectly. I was not a fan of the cubeb garnish. The arepa this week, which the protein changes weekly, was shrimp. I was very disappointed that this was served cold with a cream sauce, it was messy to eat and did not taste good to me with the cold, hard arepa. I was looking forward to a warm bite, maybe not pork like my friend had but something warm. The entree was a halibut with butternut squash smear and a variety of greens. I enjoyed most that was on this plate, the butternut squash was a bit too sweet and I would've enjoyed the dish more without the mint and hairy bean pods. The halibut and snap peas were cooked perfectly. The dessert was probably my favorite. It is a vanilla bean ricotta mousse with cherry puree, dark chocolate chips and toasted chopped almonds. Yum. read more

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Dishes are delicious and creative! The portions are just right and the chef and manager are very friendly! read more

Place is super small. Expect that first so don't get disappointed later. You can call it intimate but the room has a large bar on the size making the maneuvering difficult. They serve 10-12 people at once. Food is prepared right there in front of your eyes. Four course tasting menu. The first two are small salad/starter items. I wouldn't call it inventive or different. Not bad and tastes good. Main dish was a quail - I liked the tenderness and juiciness. Noticed not every one else's looked as good so could be a hit or miss what you get. The last was the sweets - cobbler in this case. For the price of fifty something, it's a good deal. The last may not matter to others but the cook was touching the food with bare hands - I didn't like watching that in front me but then I am an almost germaphobe. read more

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This is absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in SF if not anywhere! It's tiny (I think seats maybe 12 max) with an open kitchen in the corner with a couple high top seats where you can watch all the action and chat with the chef. You get a four course meal with the menu already planned out by the chef with whatever they find fresh at the farmer's market. It's great because you don't have to spend time thinking of what to order - you just come in and have a great time. The food itself is absolutely phenomenal - the last time I went they had divine baked oysters, pesto pasta, duck, and a sublime pear ice cream with fresh whipped cream for dessert. They have beer and wine as well. The price is unbeatable (I think less than $50) and the whole vibe is super casual and friendly. read more

Wow!!! Must go. This intimate restaurant is run by two very friendly owners. The food is made to order and each course is served once everyone has finished. The menu changes as well so I would definitely go again. Every dish was wonderful. read more

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I'm going back. Unique experience for a pre fix 4 course meal. Make sure to RSVP early cause the dates do book out. The lavender soda was made fresh in front of me which was cool to experience. Peppers were good. Gnocchi was solid. The octopus was soooooo good. Dessert was gone from my plate before I even realized it and was hoping the table next to me had leftovers. Staff was attentive, super friendly, and chatted with us. read more

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Love this place! Very cool concept - 4-course tasting menu for only ~$50. I went twice in June 2025 - once by myself and ice with some friends. I actually really enjoyed going by myself because I got to chat with Graham (chef) and Will (owner) quite a bit; they are both super friendly. The food tastes super fresh and homemade (obviously). The ambiance is a bit dingy tbh but it's part of the charm (everything was clean though). read more

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Really enjoyed this spot - a 4 course tasting menu for $54! There are only 12 seats - we were able to sit at the bar and chat with the chef. We had a roasted eggplant with sesame, a chicken arepa, and pork loin with fresh veggies (corn is in season!) and finished off with a ricotta mousse. Overall everything was delicious, but I really enjoyed the pork loin with an apricot jam the most. We made a reservation ~20 days in advance when they were available. read more

Love Mr Pollo!! Definitely make a resy since there are only 12 seats inside. 4 course dining experience (appetizer, arepa, entree, and dessert) for $49/person. There menu does change depending on what's in season. We got to try their goat cheese pomegranate salad, chicken arepa, brown sauce pork with orzo, and their blueberry panna cotta. Everything was so delicious and I was stuffed after the meal. Definitely bang for your buck! read more

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Had a great time getting dinner here. There are only a few tables inside and they serve the courses to everyone at the same time. Wasn't a huge fan of my first course (asparagus was pretty bitter and heavy on the olive oil), but the next two were great. The dessert was unique and tasted incredible. Also worth noting their price is very affordable, so even if you don't like a course you are still definitely getting your money's worth. The server was super nice and it was overall an amazing experience. read more

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Mr Pollo is one of our favorite dining places to show visiting friends and families. It's a uniquely San Francisco experience at a very reasonable price point. Walking through the stealth and minimal doorway is like entering a portal to a private kitchen. The hosts chat with us like friends and family. Food is always well made and on a seasonal menu with innovative twists. This time we had a warmly seasoned carrot soup drizzled with toasted honey that was my favorite of the four courses. I do miss the second course arepa since it recently changed to pasta. read more

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yummy food was fun, had the 4 course service was good Ambiance is fun, classic music only nitpick i have is the server is dressed down, super casual, i was worried about a dress code but its extremely casual, you're basically at home. best for friends & dates for the longterm. just a minor culture shock for me! Would come back to try whatever else is in season! read more

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Had a date night there and it was amazing! It's an intimate space with just two staff (the chef and the server). The ingredients are from local farmers and the chef creates the dishes based on what's in season! Reservations are hard to come by so snag them while you can! read more

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Went here for dinner last weekend with 3 of my friends. It was delicious! Small intimate indoor seating. Host and Chef were great but I could be biased since I sat down, looked up and saw a banner from my home city, Worcester. But even without the home city connection the food was amazing! The lamb shank was delicious! I will definitely be back when the menu changes. It is a fixed menu, we went to the 6 pm service. Definitely recommend read more

Been here twice. Love the vibe, intimate space, you can watch the chef prepare food and chat with them. You can book the whole space for an event. Seasonal ingredients, sensible and not overly complex recipes. The staple is the arepa, juicy and crunchy. Would keep coming back. read more

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Planned a random weekday date night. Was seated on the only 2 counter seats in the restaurant right in front of Chef Graham. Restaurant was tiny, loved the art on the walls, but it did get a little smokey as most of the cooking appears to come from the griddle. Enjoyed all 4 courses ($45pp). Menu changes every few weeks I believe. Would've loved if they either provided a menu or had it written on a white board or something. We had a chilled melon soup with whipped yogurt, half a pork arepa, a local bass, and a blueberry peach cobbler with house made plum gelato. It was all delicious. I'm a little shy so didn't engage in too much conversation with the chef but had a great time learning about how he and his business partner ended up with the restaurant concept, local restaurant recommendations, and his life experiences. Reservation was made via Resy. read more

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Mr. Pollo was a solid dinner right by 24th Street BART next to La Santaneca. Perfectly cozy and tasty food showcasing local produce. I booked on Resy, and apparently the reservations for the week open at noon on the Thursday before, so that's the time to snag a 6 pm or 8 pm seating. Just 12 seats for two seatings a night, so you can book out the place with your friends for a special evening. We knew we were in good hands when the starter was a butternut rugosa prosciutto croquette. A Thanksgiving squash we were familiar with, and Graham noted there was a farm in Nicasio that grew them. Spoiled about the arepa, but those maitake mushrooms and the pickled jicama-like veggie was so good, with some avocado to make it all creamy. Third course was the duck leg on barley, we ate up everything. And finished on a simple cake, candied kumquats. There's one pair of seats at the counter if you want to watch Chef Graham Bellefeuille at work. Definitely will be back! read more

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This place never disappoints! Will is very easy going and makes everyone feel welcome. The food is delicious! We like the small feel of the space and the interactions with the host and chef. They have a great selection of drinks too. read more

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We were welcomed with a tasty melon gazpacho, followed by a crunchy arepa. Our main dish was a salmon fillet with a tasty corn sauce. Dessert was a scrumptious blueberry gelato paired with a lemon mousse and topped with a crunchy cookie crumble. The restaurant is cozy, with a nice view of the kitchen and the chef preparing each dish. It is a tiny establishment, but that is part of the charm. We did arrive a bit late, but that was a non-issue. We were greeted with a smile and served our first entree immediately after taking our seats. This place is a must if you are looking for a delicious, fresh, and satisfying meal with a great ambiance. read more

This was one of my favorite dining experiences in recent memory! Mr Pollo is a super laid back pre-set 4 course menu for $45 a person made by two chefs who were super chill and chatted with all the guests all night. You have to book ahead since they only have a few seatings a night but I was able to get one on a weekday fairly easily. Since the place is so small and intimate, you can watch them prepping each course. I loved getting a sneak peek of the next course and trying to guess what was coming up next. Our four courses involved a simple but delicious asparagus dish, an arepa, seared swordfish, and grapefruit kumquat posset. Everything was made with seasonal ingredients and local produce, and you could really tell. The dishes were all pretty simple but really well balanced and seasoned perfectly. In all honesty though, the dish I still continue to think about this day is the arepa. I've tried arepas before in other spots in the Mission but this was one of the best arepas I've had in my entire life. I wish I could come back and just order four courses of it. This place is really easy to miss, but you should definitely have it on your radar because it was such a cool vibe! read more

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I had a lovely time at Mr Pollo; the setting is small and intimate but cozy, the food is no frills and delicious, and overall such a nice vibe for a semi-nice dinner. It's a two man show of owner and chef! The whole place only seats about 12, and you definitely get close to your table neighbors since it's a squeeze. We chose the bar seating and it directly faces the kitchen and the chef. The chef was so nice and talked with us the whole night, sharing stories about his 22 year career or describing ingredients and where he gets them locally. You can really tell he cares about food and is so knowledgable! Apparently the menu changes every few days, but turns over completely every 2 weeks ish. We had a chilled green bean salad, chicken arepa, pork loin entree, and french apple pie for dessert. We also tried the daily pineapple guava soda. I left feeling full but not overly stuffed, and it's such a nice place to chill and have a lovely dinner w a friend or partner. Everything was delicious and plated right in front of us! The owner Will was also gracious and cheery. read more

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perfect perfect perfect!!! Book this restaurant from resy, and I got lucky that I found a spot a day before! (Weekday will be easier to book) Even my guest is a vegetarian, I called the restaurant earlier before dinner, they were able to quickly switch the ingredients to vegetarian options! Every dish is so tasty! And price is really good!! Drink menu is also simple and they will also give you wine paring recommendation! I like this restaurant's setup, even it is small, but I can see the chef cooking and enjoy the food! This is one of the best restaurants I've been visited this year! Highly recommend this place! And check back during fall season! read more

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Despite it's name, Mr. Pollo is not a chicken shop. "Mr. Pollo" is a relic from a previous Columbian rstaurant at this location. Walking into Mr. Pollo will either make those who are claustrophobic uncomfortable, or it will amaze those who appreciate the compactness and efficiencies of such a small place. I was amazed by how well-run the restaurant was given that the dinner set was managed by just two people. Most probably because the restaurant had two 12-person max seatings per night. The atmosphere is very casual and laid-back, and the unexpected playlist pumping out the likes of Linkin Park was pretty cool. Been around since 2010, owner Will McGuire has been running this establishment under a couple of different chefs. Will sets the tone to this place and runs the front of the house efficiently. We were fortunate enough to snag the two counter seats, where we enjoyed Chef Graham Bellefeuille's company throughout the meal. Graham was one of those guys who would explain every dish in where it was sourced, why he chose the ingredients, and how it was prepared. To me, there's no better tasting food than knowing all about it before taking a bite. His menu was created by simply going to the markets and using what was freshly available. Nothing is preconceived, just whatever comes to mind with the ingredients available that day. He explains the dishes he prepare are best described as New American but not hesitate to fuse in some things he learned along the way from his training in Italy and the California Culinary Academy, and various restaurants (i.e., Contigo). First course was a cardoon croquette and lemon aioli. Cardoons takes a lot of preparation because of a thick midrib which is peeled and roasted. Served freshly fried crispy with a molten lava hot creamy filling -- just delicious! Second dish was the braised beef arepa. Previously, chicken was used but beef is a better choice for arepas, in my opinion. I could eat this along as a meal. Then came the main course comprising of a braised Muscovy duck leg served on a bed of sauteed escarole, potato fingerlings, Seville & blood orange sauce, and pistachios. The skin on the duck was crisp despite the sauce spooned over it. The duck meat was braised perfectly - moist and slid off the bone. This dish is like an American (New) version of the snooty Duck à l'Orange. Dessert was a Mandarinquat Budino chocolate pudding with whipped cream. The first few scoops was a wonderful reminder that this amazing meal was about to come to an end. Maybe it was a larger serving, but it started to get a bit too sweet for me after a few bites. Nevertheless, I appreciated the pieces of mandarinquat in the budino and freshly hand-whipped cream. Clever operation and a winning recipe with these two guys. Simply a meal I won't be forgetting anytime soon. read more

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Had a terrific return visit to the restaurant this week. The food and service were top notch and the meal featured (apologies to the owners for the lack of detail or any inaccuracies): - coppa, peaches, burrata with an apricot/serrano chile sauce and arugula - a second course departure from the usual arepa but equally delicious traditional Italian fresh pasta with red peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, grated cheese and a few other ingredients I'm forgetting - perfectly cooked octopus over a succotash of fresh veggies - a fig ricotta vanilla tart read more