(415) 674-4343
1896 Hyde St
San Francisco,
CA
94109
37.7981
-122.4186
Neighborhoods: Russian Hill, Northeast
Years in business
Established in 2004
Hours:
Monday To Saturday From 05:30 PM To 10:00 PM Sunday From 05:00 PM To 09:00 PM
Last updated 6.23.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
What People Are Saying About Luella
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
The Scene – The L-shaped space welcomes neighborhood locals with dim lighting and walls splashed in earth tones. Mirrors above a light-green banquette reflect a petite bar area, where gray-haired couples sip wine next to 30-somethings. Further back, a floor manager scopes the scene near a semi-exposed kitchen, swooping in to assist waitstaff. – – The Food – Generous portions of mostly southern European dishes comprise a rotating menu. Diners craving a salt fix should order the cod brandade souffle, a dazzling and deceptively hearty appetizer. The tartare served three…
Editor's Tips
- Where to Sit:
- On a sunny day, reserve an outside table. Groups of around six will be most comfortable reserving the restaurant's lone booth.
- Parking:
- Finding a street spot in this 'hood is next to impossible. Go with $10 valet parking in front of the Old Alhambra Theatre (on Polk, between Green and Union streets). Staff will even drive you to Luella's front door.
- What to Drink:
- Sip a reasonably priced wine from southern Europe or California. Beer lovers will enjoy Belgian Chimay.
Great food!
by Kimby22 at Citysearch
Had dinner here with some girlfriends and have nothing but wonderful things to say about the place. The hostess was very welcoming and our server had great suggestions for food and wine. The prix fix menu is great, and the artichoke soup was to die for! Highly recommend it!
wow!!!
by inkognitoinboulder at Citysearch
We were walking through Russian Hill this morning since it was our last day in town and we wanted to check out all of the row houses and climb a few hills. We came across Luella's and my husband decided we should check it out for dinner. WE ARE SO GLAD WE DID!!! The food, the service, the neighborhood are all absolutely incredible! He ordered the coca-cola brazed pork shoulder and he didn't even need a knife to cut it. Yeah, it was that tender. Amazing! I ordered the New York strip and it was wonderful! We didn't really have room for dessert, but ordered it anyway. We had the orange ricotta fritters, and oh my gaaawd!
- Pros: food, service, ambience, neighborhood
Great food; An ideal Russian Hill Restaurant
by r3r at Citysearch
Right away, the neo-retro living-room-like vibe makes a good conversation piece. Although we made a reservation, we probably didn't need to on this Thursday night. Most tables were full, but there was no wait. Staff was very friendly.
We ordered the mini ahi tacos w/ mango salsa (delicious) and the grilled portabello mushroom (also very good) for starters. Other tables seemed to be getting good service, but our waiter was not attentive...and would disappear for 10-15 minutes at a time. Actually, the chef brought one of the starters himself, which I guess says a lot for the team work factor.
The beef filet and halibut entrees were both incredible. The fillet wasn't the best cut I'd ever had - a little fatty - but mostly tender, juicy, and flavorful.
Overall a great experience aside from the underperforming server. For groups of 5 or 6, I would recommend reserving the big green booth. Luella is a great spot for a social dinner.
- Pros: Cool, casual ambiance. Great dishes.
- Cons: At least one inept server works here
One of my Faves!!!
by issa at Citysearch
In addition to indulging in frequent wine and appetizers at Luella, it is one of the places that I take guest when they visit San Francisco. From the warm friendly staff to the great food and an amazing wine list Luella exemplifies what a dining experience in the city is supposed to be like.
Fine affordable dining, with magnificent service
by lilyvc at Citysearch
My boyfriend and I have had the pleasure of eating at Luella several times - and each time we have had a great dining experience. The service was impeccable, and thankfully helped us navigate through their wine list (we are not experts with th grape juice, so we needed their assistance each time), and they accomodated a last minute party of 10 that we thrust upon them at 9 pm. The food was delicious - Ahi tuna tacos - amazing - Coke braised Pork shoulder - melts in your mouth. And come back again, and try all the desserts!
- Pros: Food, Service, ambiance

