My best friend from college treated me to dinner for an early birthday celebration! I suggested Old Skool Cafe since I've been wanting to come here since hearing about how they hire formerly incarcerated youth and has a jazz band. I was in my middle school band, and the school also had an after school jazz band which I'm not part of but attended their performance. I also started to appreciate jazz more after watching Soul and La La Land. The food was really delicious and atmosphere was perfect for a celebration. The short ribs I ordered were tender, and came with mashed potatoes and veggies. My friend ordered the African stew. They gave us a free appetizer of small sweet potato tarts. I really appreciate how they let us enjoy our conversations and music for more than 1 hour! We probably stayed for 2 hours since we shared a dessert. They have sofas on the second floor if we wanted to stay longer. I recommend going to the website and signing up for a free dessert. We shared the chocolate special which is mango ice cream with bread pudding and chocolate syrup. Thank you staff for a wonderful night! It was really cool finding out that the female youth went to the same high school as my bro. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great food and great service at Old Skool, Cafe. The interior decor is gorgeous, with a huge beautiful bat straight out of the 1920's. Its obvious so much love when into curating the space. The food did not disappoint. Everything was cooked to perfection and seasoned just right. Some stand out favs were the brussel sprouts, macaroni and cheese, short ribs, and the Taumoepeau Ota ! Overall, the highlight of the night was the service and getting to know the staff's stories, which they are happy to share. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is awesome! The concept is original and they're helping at risk youth in the community by providing them with training, support, education, and employment. The throwback design is a vibe. Most importantly the food was delicious especially fried chicken. read more

My Bro ordered take out for tonight's dinner. Everything he ordered was tasty. I immediately went for the Daniel's gumbo where the shrimp and rice stood out and melted in my mouth. Shrimp and grits was next on the taste buds and the shrimp was so smooth I didn't realize I swallowed the tail too The fried chicken was tasty, not greasy but flavorful Mac n cheese was rich and filling Like the collard greens and the size of the corn bread was petite, just right though I missed the butterscotch butter my Sis pointed out I made sure to make room for the lavender cheesecake with blueberry jam which was light and the crust stood out - something I couldn't discern. If there's leftovers I'll try the ribs tomorrow! Def will try again and perhaps one day we'll get to experience outdoor dining! read more

Old Skool Cafe - Packaged and label to-go order - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food is SO GOOD! Service is immaculate and it's all for such a great cause! I can't think of any reason not to go here

No no no total went down hill. The gumbo was missing salt, the mash had to much salt, the greens had a ton of sugar I thought I was drinking a soda, and as for the wings they were cooked in dirty grease and chewy. None of it got eaten threw away immediately after spending $100× high upset. Please find a better chef or whoever dropped the ball last night 03/20 read more

We first met some of the lovely kids from Old Skool Cafe at a couple of Yelp's 10th anniversary events and knew we had to return to support them, but also to satisfy our cravings for that delicious peanut butter stew! Southern comfort cooking that hits the right sports my tummy and soul. Classics like fried chicken, mac & cheese, ribs, and shrimp & grits. But without doubt our favorite dish is the humble but addictive peanut butter stew. It's rich, flavorful, and keeps you coming back for more. The flavors just meld together like a complex curry. I can come back just to have this stew anytime. On top of everything, I love the mission of Old Skool Cafe and how it provides real-life training and opportunities for the kids. Lower your expectations with regards to to service - what they lack in skill and experience they make up in spirit and enthusiasm. Looks like they've been closed for remodeling but looking forward to returning for gospel brunch. read more

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Fantastic service, ambiance and food. If you are looking for something that's a bit different and supports a great mission, I highly recommend. We'll be back. read more

I love these mission driven restaurants especially when the execution is as good as Old Skool Cafe. We loved that they have their own parking lot right in front of the door. The decor is great. 1920s with red leather banquettes that seat 6. We got seats closer to the bar. It's not a big place so use Yelp reservations. We started with the calamari. It was perfectly crispy and fresh and well seasoned. I wish the portion size was larger. It came with aioli and a sweeter sauce. The house wine was awful so switched to the better wine. We had to have the fried chicken. A drumstick and 2 small breast pieces and a cup of coleslaw. The meat was moist and the outside crispy. Flavor was nothing special. For $19 I thought there should have been more. My better half had the gumbo. Came with 3 shrimp and great sauce. The best part was the great service and the live music. We'll be back if we're in the area. read more

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In October I took my best friend to San Francisco. Wherever and whenever we travel we seek out comfort food restaurants. My search yielded Old Sokol Cafe. As soon as we peaked around the corner and got to this Louisiana-Style type restaurant, the spoiling of us began. Well it was still during COVID and only had outdoor dining in a chilly early evening. They served us with a couple of cocktails while they moved closer a tower heater and laid signature Red Blankets on our legs and they were complimentary. We dined, laughed and was serviced by a very young staff of teenagers as they were positively employed by this restaurant toward future career decisions and preparedness. They were so polite, professional and we could tell that they took their craft seriously. Such a pleasure. I pray they become a chain with this positive program coupled with wonderful food and specialty drinks. The East Coast would be a good idea. The Lavender Cream Cheese Cake for dessert was PERFECTION !!! read more

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The chicken, mac & cheese and biscuits here was very good. The servings were big for the price and we had way too much food. We could have 2 orders of Fried Chicken and it would have been plenty for the 3 of us. The service is a little slow but I think it's because of inexperience. Plus the neighborhood isn't exactly the best. The interior was nice and we would like to come back when they have live music. read more

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Such a great experience! We loved the ambiance, delicious food, and of course great service. Will definitely be back soon.

Wonderful service I loved the food and the atmosphere. It definitely is a place I would recommend to friends and family. I loved it overall

I went to the restaurant about a month ago. I had shrimp and grits. The shrimp was seasoned well and the grits were creamy. Customer service was great read more

We ordered the family meal for two. It includes your choice of two main dishes and two side dishes. We decided on fried chicken, gumbo, Mac n cheese, collard greens. The fried chicken looked like something out of a magazine. It was nice and crunchy, not oily, and super moist. The gumbo had nice plump prawns and balanced flavors. The Mac n cheese was cooked perfectly. The collard greens tasted fresh. The mashed potatoes are super buttery which balanced out well with the crispy crunchy chicken skin. Everything tasted like it was made to order. You'd have no idea that it was take out if I plated it in our own dishware. Everything was picture perfect. read more

I think this place would definitely get more business if it was in a nicer area. The area is pretty rough so be prepared. I've been here before but I don't remember the area being the way it was today. PROS: - Nice, relaxing, and lounge-like atmosphere. - They have live music and it's good. - I'm not a mac and cheese person, but it's good here. It comes with bacon and sausage so it better be good right?! - The sweet potato biscuits are yummy. It has a honey flavor. - The baby back ribs are tender and flavorful. - The shrimp and grits were good. Needs Improvement: - The service was EH. I felt pretty rushed once we finished our food. - Their could have been more ribs for the short stack. It only came with three ribs. - The tables in front near the performers are too close to each other. - Although the ribs were tender and flavorful, some parts were also tough. read more

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Where do I start? I love the fact that the servers and cooks are reformed troubled young adults. They are efficient, well trained and professional. Meal was perfect. We started with a bottle of wine, and they let my father in law sample the wine before picking the one we wanted. Loved that! I ate everything that was served but I ordered the shrimp and grits. They were amazing, whoever was cooking them that night did a phenomenal job. The young man or woman can really cook some grits! There was not a single complaint at the table. Just look at the picture I attached, the plating was beautiful. During our meal the owner personally came over to our table and thanked my husband for his service in the Navy. She blessed his next deployment and told us how she appreciated all the men and women who protect our country. This was a personal touch I have never experienced anywhere else! It's obvious the owner has a heart of gold and cares about the young adults she employs but also her customers. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Grits, fried chicken, wine! - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

I absolutely love this place. I've been here three times and can't wait for my next time. It's set up like a speakeasy, serves southern food and has live jazz on most nights. What's not to love? Oh, and they're getting prepped for a full bar! It's great for solo night at the bar or date night at a cozy booth. Come for Happy Hour (get the wings and ask for the best hot sauce) stay for live music (performed by local youth) and dinner (served by local youth that are part of a training program). You can read all about this hidden gem in Bayview at https://www.oldskoolcafe.org/ read more

After seeing Old Skool Café on Check Please! and the positive experiences of the reviewers, I had it on my "To Try" list. It is a youth-run, jazz themed supper club to help youths as a vocational training ground. On a recent Saturday, we had dinner reservations at 5:45. Since I was not familiar with the area, we arrived a little earlier and was able to find a parking space at the corner. Walking up to the restaurant, there is a plaza area in front and there are parking spaces for customers. As you enter building, you proceed down a long entryway before you reach the restaurant. As you enter the restaurant, it appears that you are transported into a 1920's speakeasy. The hostess checked us in and walked us to our table. We were greeted by Chris, our waiter. We chit chatted with him about his schooling (CCSF), the restaurant, the live smooth jazz band that was performing, the drinks and his favorite dishes on the menu. After placing our drinks and dinner order, he brought two sweet potatoes biscuits. They had a slightly sweet glaze on them and they were delicious. Could have eaten several. Jordan's Fried Chicken - consisted of a breast, thigh and drumstick. They are buttermilk brined, the batter was not thick with a nice crisp and the key was that the breast was moist. Very tasty. The order came with coleslaw. I not usually a coleslaw fan, but this one was very good. It did not have the typical mayonnaise dressing. Short ribs - nice portion of short rib in a red wine sauce on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes. The meat was tasty and fork tender. It was an enjoyable dining experience. Good food, nice music and service was personable and friendly from Chris to the person bringing out the food, refilling our water glasses and clearing our table. Dining for a good cause. read more

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My wife and I had a pleasant evening at Old School Cafe. The food, the service, the decor, the young entertainers, and the organization's social mission and impact. I highly recommend and do plan to return. read more

Amazing food, service, music and ambiance. We ordered the fried chicken and gumbo. Both were fabulous! Our friends had short ribs, also delicious. Thank you!! read more

I'll start by saying that I love the story behind this restaurant and everything it stands for. Visited yesterday for the first time with my boyfriend. Here's a breakdown of our experience: 5/5 live music: let there be JAZZ!! Oh my, the young adults jamming out were so incredibly talented. Nothing beats eating comfort food while listening to live jazz. 3.5/5 Taumoepeau Ota: I expected this to be more flavorful and the portion was awfully small, only about half a cup of ota. For $11, we expected more than that. Not worth the price and probably won't order this again. 5/5 Peanut butter stew: this was the star of the night for me! It reminds me of massaman curry from Thai restaurants. It's rich in flavor and has a great consistency, not too thick, but not watery. 4/5 shrimp and grits: the grits were fantastic! They melt in your mouth. The shrimp was flavored with the perfect amount of seasoning, but were slightly overlooked and therefore, a bit rubbery. Don't forget to check in for soft drink! I suggest their sweet tea. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Shrimp and grits! - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow! We had an amazing dinner here! Excellent food, good service, an old school jazz club vibe, and a great mission serving at risk youth - what a fantastic combo! There were so many tempting items on the menu that my husband and I got quite a few and shared: 1) Honey glazed biscuits - complimentary and amazing! Not overly buttery, with a hint of sweetness. 2) Fried okra - a special that we loved! The spicy dipping sauce was outstanding. 3) Chicken drummettes, served with honey mustard and buffalo ranch sauces - pretty good. Well seasoned chicken and cooked perfectly, crispy on the outside, tender inside. 4) Kale and Brussels sprout salad - quite good 5) Gumbo - incredible, with a good kick! Our favorite dish! 6) Peanut butter chicken stew - a good take on a classic West African dish 7) Ribs - decent, though the weakest link. The meat fell off the bone but the sauce was a bit too sweet. Our waiter and servers (all at risk youth employed by this great organization) were very polite and attentive. The food came out quickly, and we appreciated the fact that they proactively offered to stagger the dishes. The setting is pretty neat - elegant and traditional, with a jazz club feel. We were told that they typically have a live jazz band playing every night, but they were not there the night be went. (These musicians are also students / at risk youth, from what we gathered.) We understand that the cafe gives vocational training and other support to at risk youth, which we found very admirable! Truly a great spot - we can't wait to go back and try the rest of the dishes on the menu! read more

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Fun atmosphere, good food and drinks, and a fantastic mission supporting local youth!

An overall great experience! The food, drinks, and service were top tier. The ambiance did not disappoint!

Thank you for the great experience and singing happy birthday (with the free dessert) to my sister. Wonderful service, excellent food, and love love the atmosphere. Keep up the great work! read more

Food was soooo good and the vibe was on point. I highly recommend to experience this place at least once in your life.

All the food was delicious and artfully presented. The interior was unexpectedly gorgeous. And the entertainment was fantastic! I couldn't believe how reasonably priced this place was considering all this. I came because it's a great cause (servers, chefs, entertainers, etc. are all at-risk youth who are learning valuable employment skills and discovering their talents - and they are definitely talented!). But even without the cause, the food and ambiance is enough to merit 5 stars. Well, maybe 4.5 because service was a bit spotty. But hey, they're youth who are still training. Recommend: - Abu's peanut butter stew (from Sierra Leone): mmmm... my mouth is literally watering thinking of it - Ribs: could not believe how tender and tasty they were... I guess I didn't have high expectations because of the price - Mac & cheese: solid, yummy comfort food - Shrimp & smoky cheesy grits: award winning for a reason! - Sweet potato pie (individual size) w/ coffee whipped cream... surprisingly fantastic combination! - Coconut rice pudding & mango: like a mushier form of mango & sticky rice... YUM Good, but not quite as great: - Spinach salad: fine and healthy, but not something I'd get again (I am a salad snob though) - Burgers (comes as 3 sliders): a bit spicy, and not my favorite... but I'm also just not big on burgers - Panna cotta: beautiful presentation and enjoyable for me, but some people might not be crazy about the unique taste (someone described it as a yogurt/cream/cheesy taste - basically a mix of every dairy product you can think of) Definitely worth the trip out to Bayview! There's ample free parking nearby too. read more

Old Skool Cafe - Beautiful decor - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

FOOD - Complimentary bread: sweet and soft! I wanted more but I wanted to save room for the entrees. 4.5/5 - Daniel's Gumbo: sausage, shrimp, chicken, and Dungeness crab, topped with a scoop of rice and green onions. Hands down the best gumbo I've ever had. Sooooo good! 5/5 - Jordan's Fried Chicken: 2 huge pieces of fried chicken with a side of mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The chicken was tender, juicy, and flavorful. The mash was creamy and well seasoned. 4.5/5 - Babyview Baby Back Ribs: marinated ribs with a side of coleslaw. The meat was tasty and fall off the bone. Delicious! 5/5 - Pan Seared Shrimp & Smoky Grits: flavorful shrimp and creamy grits, topped with chorizo and green onions. This was my first time ever having grits so I don't have anything to compare it with. I just know it was good. 4.5/5 - Blackened Catfish: filet seasoned with cajun with a side of almond couscous and cranberries and collard greens. The catfish was very flavorful, a little on the salty side. 4/5 SERVICE We were immediately greeted and seated. Our server was very friendly. She constantly checked on us. I really enjoyed the live performance. The artist even let me come up and duet with him. It was awesome! 5/5 FINAL THOUGHTS I love everything about this place. The food and staff were amazing! I, also, love the fact that the restaurant gives the youth an opportunity and the skills to better their lives and helps guide them on a good path. read more

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Excellent spot--the service and ambience (beautiful 40s decor) were amazing. Met Ryan who gave us some history and Gerry/Gerardo who served us. Best of luck to Gerry with his additional skill in welding. Very professional and the food was delicious-the sea bass and fried chicken entrees were excellent. The Mac and cheese, per my husband, was slammin'! Cocktails were perfect. We will definitely share with our friends in Vegas and return soon! Chef Jeff has started something similar in Vegas-hope it can one day be just like this. read more

After a few drinks at speakeasy brewery, my roommate directed me to this place because we were hungry and it was super close by. I'm not exactly sure where I parked, but it was fairly close by. Parking was free (or metered, but we went at a late hour). During this late hour on Friday night, the restaurant was fairly empty. There was a small group, but other than that, I think it might have been just us in the front room. There is more seating in the back. The restaurant has dim lighting, and had some pretty old school decorations. We were served, but for the most part were left alone. We ordered: Old Skool Ceviche - I enjoyed this. My roommate thought it was a bit bland, but I thought it was perfect the way it was. Maybe a hint of salt would have enhanced the flavours just a bit, but it's better than it being over salted. We ran out of chips and asked for more. There was no extra charge. Pan Seared Shrimp 'n Smoky Cheese Grits - My roommate ordered this, I didn't really read the menu. Good choice. Those pieces of shrimp were so divine. They are perfectly seasoned and perfectly cooked. I have no other words to describe how amazing they were. The grits balanced the shrimp flavours very nicely. Looking at the menu on their website right now. The description says it's award winning, and I believe it. Blackened Catfish - served with couscous and spicy greens. Compared to the shrimp and grits, this dish was just okay. The fish was tender, and well seasoned, but honestly I wouldn't have mind skipping this dish for another shrimp and grits. This wasn't a bad dish, it just happened to get caught in the shadow. There is a free soda check-in offer from yelp. The mood was set nicely with two live female singers. It wasn't the best singing I've heard, but it was pleasant enough. I have a tendency to leave my credit card at places after I paid for my meals or drinks. I just sign and leave my card... so I ended up doing that here too. I left a message and contacted them through their website. It ended up taking a few business days for them to get back to me. Despite their opening hours being only in the evening, the office hours are open during the day. I believe I met with Chef Kevin, who was such a genuinely nice guy. He shook my hand and thanked me for coming in and asked if my experience was good. It was. I highly recommend this place for dinner, and I really hope I'll find time to make it back for that shrimp. read more

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I loved the African coconut soup with potatoes and chicken which they served at Monday night's the Yelp Literati event! Indian meets African all in a cup of soup. Definitely OSC serves good food and they do good too! Check 'em out. read more

"Best catfish I've ever had". a quote from my younger brother also trying this place for the first time. I feel that is setting the bar a bit high but this place does make it a good debate. All the food was perfectly cooked and seasoned. Simple menu but it is executed perfectly. You also get a great vibe once your inside. The outside as noted in other reviews can be intimidating but once you step through the doors the mood is nothing less than inviting. The chef Kevin checks on all the tables personally so plus points for quality control. Blackened Catfish: Delicious. Comes with collard greens and cous cous Mac & Cheese: Freshly made and brought right to the table. Give it a minute or risk a burned tongue. Excellent amount of cheesiness..hmmm is that a word? Peanut Butter Stew: Works on alot of different levels. Can be a meal or added as a side. Bayview Babyback ribs: no utensils required. You can pull the meat off with your fingers; enough said. This is going to be tough but try to save room for dessert. The rice pudding is a great refresher and I'm saving the fifth star as a formality for after my next couple of visits which will be very soon... read more

Old Skool Cafe - Blackened catfish w/collard greens & cous cous - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lisa and I finally made it to Old Skool Cafe and were sorry we didn't go sooner. We'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu. We started of with the Butter Lettuce Salad. I was doubtful that the pears and walnuts would make it too sweet for my tastes but the dijon vinaigrette, red onions, and feta cheese were nice and tangy making for a nice balance of tastes. The Roasted Cauliflower was excellent and complimented by the arugula salad with red peppers and almonds. Finally the, the more traditional Gumbo didn't disappoint and left us with a warm comfort glow. The andouille sausage made the top of my head tingle and I broke a light sweat making me feel like I was knocking on heaven's door. I guess that's why they call it soul food. The staff was very personable and attentive. It brought back memories of when I moved out of my parents house at 16, dropped out of high school and worked in a restaurant for 7 years while I went to art school. As a waiter and a cook I learned multi tasking, timing and rhythm, to show grace under pressure, deal with difficult people, and to truly serve. As a waiter I had to do math on the fly adding up the tickets, really listen, and think quickly on my feet. The jazz band at Old Skool reminded me that it was learning the arts that saved me from delinquency and led to a career as a visual artist affording me to raise a family in San Francisco. The Old Skool Cafe is giving youth a chance to learn real world skills, learn the joy of serving and pleasing people, and connect with the community serving excellent food that soothes the soul! read more

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Wow ! Fantastic, creative menu along with a beautiful setting. What else could you want. If you have a gluten allergy or prefer a vegetarian meal, it's all here. We have been coming to SF for many years and this is clearly our favorite place. Well done! read more

A classy gem hidden away in the bayview district. One would never think to venture in that area and find wholesome and soulful food. Run by youth that are given a second chance at assimilating into the world, this establishment is both hopeful and appetizing. A must visit. You will not be disappointed. read more

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I loved EVERYTHING about this restaurant; the decor, the staff, the youth jazz band, and most importantly the food!! We started with the catfish fingers (melt your mouth), followed by the peanut butter stew (so flavorful), and the short ribs with mashed potatoes and veggies ( meat so tender, so good, i highly recommend!! if in the Bay Area you must stop by Old Skool Cafe to support the youth all while having an absolutely delicious meal read more

Old Skool Cafe - Short ribs and mashed potatoes - Soul Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My wife and I heard about this place and the amazing jazz band they get to perform. The vibe is great and the music and food were excellent. We had a wide range of dishes and all were well prepared and tasty. On top of that they are making a difference in the community by giving local kids an opportunity to learn skills. read more

Walking into Old Skool Cafe is like stepping into a speakeasy. First there is the mood lighting. Then it the leather banquettes and red and black decor. I don't know if they always have live music, but the jazzy that was wafting down from the balcony during our visit really added to the ambience. They stared us off with complimentary sweet potato biscuits. They are delicious two bite wonders coated with homey. From there, we went on to drinks, lavender soda for my friend, pineapple for me, and dinner. She is vegetarian. After mulling the peanut stew, she opted to have collard greens and mac and cheese. The mac and cheese was really good and generously portioned. I decided to try the shrimp and grits. It had Blackened shrimp, bell peppers, and chorizo The grits was super cheesy and had a nice consistency and the chorizo gave it an added dimension of flavor. The portion size was just right too. No meal would be complete without dessert. After pondering the options, I decided to break from my chocoholic ways and have the lavender cheesecake. It was served with strawberries on the side with a lovely lavender syrup and a bit of balsamic. It wan't to sweet and had a rich, creamy texture. i am not the biggest graham cracker fan, but the crust was really good two. it was a really good ending bite. The food was good. But the best thing about Old Skool is the mission. It is run by local youth who act as the kitchen and service staff. Our server Elijah was very polite and told us his story. He had worked in the kitchens for three years and was trying his hand at the front of house. They must be doing something right, because it can be hard to gt kids to stick to anything. I was impressed. The have a small lot if you drive and are right on the T if you don't. Old Skool is definitely work a visit. read more

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Was in Bayview for the first time and hungry (not for the first time). SO glad yelp pointed us here. The decor is adorable and "old school," staff was well-trained and courteous, and wow the food. Started with ceviche, which admittedly lacked some flavor but it was the biggest serving of ceviche I'd ever had. Then the catfish, perfect with the collard greens... the couscous was whatever. However, the SHRIMP AND GRITS was to-effing-die-for. Apparently award-winning. OOH that perfectly seasoned shrimp and the cheesy yet light bowl of grits. Thank god we chose this dish. OH! Also they had singers in there to add to the mood. Love the mission too. I'll come back and support them again any day. read more

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