Cortez
(415) 292-6360
550 Geary St
San Francisco,
CA
94102
37.7869
-122.4125
Neighborhoods: Northeast, Tenderloin
What People Are Saying About Cortez
The Editor
Patrick Heig
Citysearch
Expense-account groups, in-the-know tourists, moonstruck dinner dates--and now serious foodies--enjoy chef Jenn Puccio's lineup of Cal-Med seasonal small plates at this swanky spot in the Hotel Adagio. Striking mobiles of glass globes dangle from the high ceiling, while the cork-lined walls soak up diners' din in this narrow, sexy dining room. Farm-fresh creations such as roasted heirloom beets, greens, blue cheese mousse, candied walnuts, chermoula & argon oil give way to heart-stopping dishes like parmesan risotto with slow cooked Jidori egg & shaved Perigord truffle, while mains like seared sea scallops with corn and potato risotto, crispy house made pancetta, Super Sweet 100 tomatoes & nastrurtium leaves straddle the healthy/decadent divide. A long list of both local and international wines is complimented by polished, anticipatory service--a quick glance at your server will bring her tableside in moments, often bearing the exact item you were going to ask for: more wine, most likely.
User Reviews
Anonymous
January 14, 2009
Good place to meet for dinner and cocktails. I had fish for dinner, which I usually dont order but it sounded really yummy so I went with it and was happy with my meal.
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abowles0602
April 30, 2008
My parents came into town for the weekend last friday and i took them to Cortez. this was one of the best dinning experiences i have had in San francisco to date. we walked in and were emediately greeted by a lovely hostest who sat us promptly with our reservation. the service was amazing all the food came out in a very timely mannor. the food its self was amazing. my parents loved that the menu had small plates and entrees as well. i had the green garlic ravioli. it was great! my mother said she would recomend the faro dish to anyone, and my father raved over the hanger steak. to finish the night we pick two of the many deserts to choose from and they both held true to the rest of the night, AMAZING. i recomend the molten chocolate cake. all and all it was a great experience and i will return often. THANK YOU CORTEZ!
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philippage
February 15, 2008
Why do I bother? After previous Valentines night dinner debacles at Shanghai 1930 and other alleged ?romantic? SF eateries, we ate last night (Feb 14, 2008) at CORTEZ. Now, wasn?t Cortez (Hernan Cortes) the murdering invader who brought disease and oppression to 16th Century Mexico? And didn?t his most famous victim, Aztec King Monteczuma spawn the euphemism ?Monteczuma?s Revenge? for an unpleasant stomach disorder? I digress. The ?special? dinner last night was a $350 melange of unprofessional service and poorly-executed food. It started badly, with us being kept waiting 20 minutes before we were shown to our reserved table, and went downhill from there. The Chef?s canapes were untidy and unpleasant, Jersualem Artichoke & Lavender Soup was reminiscent of an elderly Victorian?s handkerchief, the Scallop and Uni caused Monteczuma to stir, the Beet salad tasted like a shovel-full of earth, the Kurobuta Pork Belly with pickled red onion marmalade clashed with everything we?d already tasted, and so on. The wine ?pairing? was a joke, seeing as not one of the 5 wines arrived with its advertised companion. When we were served our Muscat (supposed to be with the scallop) along with our Beet, we complained and got marginally better attention, but that just meant glasses were piling up around us. I know I'm comparing this tasting menu and wine pairing with the much-missed Elisabeth Daniel and the still-here-still-great Farallon and Coi, but the chef and staff at Cortez have to be prepared for such scrutiny. We left before dessert, but after paying about 3 times what the meal was worth. My wife has told me to send her this review so that next year, just before Valentines night, she can play it back to me and convince me that we?d be better off dining at home that night rather than put up with sub-standard food, shabby service and a slapped-together, overpriced experience at one of San Francisco?s most overrated restaurants.
read full reviewThe Details on Cortez
Look Good:
Dress to impress here; the restaurant attracts a sophisticated crowd.
What to Drink:
Take a cue from the restaurant's artistic wine wall and ask for pairings from the impressive, international list; save the strong, flavorful cocktails for a night at the bar only.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Hotel Restaurants, Fine Dining, People Watching, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene
