Mamacita Restaurant & Bar
San Francisco, CA 94123
Phone: (415) 346-8496
- Price:
- $$
- Cross Street:
- Scott Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Bar Scene 2007, Margarita 2007, Marina Restaurant 2007
- Hours:
- Kitchen: Sun-Tue 5:30pm-10pm, Wed-Sat 5:30-10:30, Bar: Daily 5:30pm-12am
Message from Mamacita Restaurant & Bar
Voted Best Mexican Restaurant 2006
- Full bar
- Authentic Mexican dishes
- Variety of margaritas
Paid advertisement by Mamacita Restaurant & Bar.
Editorial Review for Mamacita Restaurant & Bar – by Gina Goff
The Scene
Two towering palm trees wrapped in twinkling white lights beckon diners into this signless eatery. Inside, the cabana-chic decor is at once striking and festive. Black-and-white photography and beautiful glass vases filled with long-stemmed flowers adorn the baby blue walls, while starburst-shaped amber chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Hints of Mexican influence include cacti perched around the kitchen's adobe walls, rough-hewn, dark wooden tables, and a weathered tin bar overflowing with well-heeled neighborhood locals.
The Food
Eschewing the notion that Mexican cuisine isn't worthy of gourmet preparation, the kitchen turns out elegant renditions of traditional dishes. The ever-evolving menu includes standout small plates like carnitas stuffed with slow-cooked pork, avocado, salsa verde and chile sauce, and spicy chilequilas--soft, warm tortilla nachos piled high with Chipotle cream sauce, shredded chicken and pepper rajas. A tender Meyer skirt steak marinated in guajillo butter is a favorite among heartier appetites, but sweet-toothed diners should save room for the cinnamon-dusted churros.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
What to DrinkTry the signature pomegranate margarita, made with infused La Pinta tequila.
Save TimeReservations are a must. Walk-in diners have been known to wait over an hour for a table.
When to GoDiners looking to share quiet conversation should arrive early; the hubbub from the bar grows as the night wears on.
Know Before You GoAlthough the bar stays open until midnight, the kitchen stops serving at 10:30pm.
User Reviews for Mamacita Restaurant & Bar
01/19/2008 Posted by monkies
this isn't your typical burrito joint. this is a new age mexican place, and i think it gets better each time i go. it's a bit pricey for what you get, but the food quality and originality are great. when i go for a restaurant experience, i want something i cant make at home. the ahi tuna tacos are great, as well as the queso. they do twists, with a tapa style, to standard fare and it's a fresh change. atmosphere is fun too, just a casual place.
Pros: original variations of mexican fare. every dish is very good and unique
Cons: prices a bit high, but i'll pay up for quality anytime.
12/26/2007 Posted by ledbeetle
Okay - so this is my first review of a place, and I never go out of my way to say anything about a restaurant unless I have such an unpleasant experience that it ruins my evening. I have been visiting Mamacita's restaurant since it first opened and have always enjoyed the great food and vibrant atmosphere. However, I must agree with several other reviewers that as the restaurant has become more popular, the service, and attention to that "friendly, neighborhood atmosphere" has gone south. With my parents in town for the holidays, I decided to take them there, after convincing them what a great place it was. We were told that the wait would be about 20 minutes, 30 minutes at the most. At about 30 minutes in, I asked the hostess where we stood and she said we were next. At 40 minutes, I politely asked again, highlighting that we were told it would be 30 minutes at the most and seeing about 3 or 4 other parties get seated ahead of us. At that point, the hostess very rudely said it had been only 30 minutes since we were logged in to her seating chart (which is irrelevant since I know we had been there 40 minutes) and basically made it seem as if we were lying about how long we'd been there. I was shocked at the treatment and actually asked for a comment card (which they don't have) so that I point this out. The bottom line is that this place continues to have great food but the service can either be good or terrible. Our server was fantastic, charming and took good care of us, but the hostess experience had already put a taint on the overall dinner experience. I hope that they pay more attention to how the host / hostess treats their patrons as it was very disappointing to have been coming there for years and be treated this way. I can no longer recommend this restaurant as a "go to" place for great Mexican food unless folks also have an appetite for poor service.
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