Bodega Bistro

07/22/08

Great food, great price, great service!

by playlandsf at Citysearch

My junior high school locker partner from Luther Burbank Junior High back in the 60s and I have been here several times over the past couple years. We never get tired of it. In fact, we have brought friends who love it too. Our favorites include the Nom, Shaking Beef, garlic noodles, and a seafood dish with noodles! Yummmo! Can't wait to go back again. I live in Washington State so we always go here when I'm in town, which lately has been almost every month.

• Pros: We are always treated wonderfully.
• Cons: Never a bad experience.

06/06/08

Not worth it

by smpugh at Citysearch

I used to eat at this restaurant all the time, the prices were great and the service was pretty good.

In the last few years Ive seen the prices go up, the quality of food go down. I ate there again on Monday 6/2/08. My friend and i paid $30. for a simple lunch that was lower quality then the greasy spoon just around the corner. I just can not see myself paying for this low standard of food and service again.

I was very displeased and will no go there again.

12/22/06

Horrible service, frustrating experience!

by yeefung at Citysearch

I went to this restaurant with my coworkers, and it was not a pleasant experience overall. First of all, one of my coworkers ordered item #11, beef crispy noodles, and it took almost half an hour for him to get a dish of wide rice noodles, which was not what he had ordered. They messed up even though he had ordered by the item number. When we told the waiter that the order was incorrect, he did not even apologize. He only said "Eight Minutes!" Well, let me tell you it was not eight minutes. Eight minutes became ten minutes, ten minutes became 15 minutes, 15 minutes became almost 20. On top of the delay, the crispy noodles were not crispy; they were soggy. Secondly, one of my other coworkers asked for a glass of water. Did he ever get his water? Nope, never! Thirdly, I was not done with my noodle soup, and the waiter came by and grabbed my bowl without even asking if I was done. He also dropped my spoon into the soup, did not offer to give me a new spoon, did not apologize and just walked away. Also, I asked the waiter if they had the vietnamese drip coffee, and he said yes, so I ordered it. In like a minute, he brought the coffee already mixed in with the condensed milk and ice. They must have a very fast coffee dripping machine, because in every other restaurant that I've been to, the coffee takes about 5-10 minutes to fully drip. Anyways, service was extremely poor. We were expecting they would offer to give us the crispy noodle dish for free, but they didn't. We had to ask for it.

• Pros: Portions
• Cons: Definitely service

11/28/06

good sit down restaurant

by mgv94102 at Citysearch

I ate here a while back and I can't say it was amazing or a one of a kind place. The service was friendly, but somewhat anonymous, the food was good, but nothing to die for, and the atmosphere was pleasant. Having read numerous positive, in fact raving reviews I guess I expected something spectacular...which it didn't deliver. This is a place worth checking out don't get me wrong, but don't go in expecting a life changing experience. Try Mangosteen next door too...I prefer that place. The wait staff is friendlier as it is a smaller, cozier restaurant.

• Pros: good food
• Cons: kinda pricey

08/01/06

I LOVE this place!

by tayenaka at Citysearch

Yes, it's in the Tenderloin, and yes, the service can be off at times, especially if they have large groups, but this is the best Vietnamese restaurant for the money, anywhere. The green papaya salad with Vietnamese beef jerky is great, clean and bright tasting; the salad roll with the shrimp and pork omelette is fresh and delicious; the shaking beef was a revelation. I didn't know beef could be that tender. The jumbo prawns and the duck a l'orange are amazing. If you just want a bowl of pho, there are plenty of other places in town, even in the same block as Bodega Bistro. If you want an amazing meal, then go see Jimmy, the chef-owner. And make a reservation. Then you'll get a white tablecloth and cloth napkins. And be ready to be totally surprised when you get the check. A GREAT value!

• Pros: The great food and the value
• Cons: Neighborhood, parking, service can be slow