Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: (415) 536-5800
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- Folsom Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Vietnamese Food 2006
- Hours:
- Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 5:30pm-10pm
Message from Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge
Representing the Cutting-Edge of Vietnamese Cuisine
- Wine Bar
- Champa Lounge
- Award-Winning Restaurant
Paid advertisement by Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge.
Editorial Review for Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge – by Joanna Currier
The Scene
"Bong su" is the Vietnamese phrase for plumeria, and the seductive, imported beauties are used throughout this sumptuous space. Long and narrow, the gauzy dining room soothes with sandstone carvings, Buddha heads, bamboo screens and a palate of earth tones ranging from bittersweet chocolate to dusky orange. Behind the hostess station beckons a stylish, modern full bar and lounge.
The Food
Chef Tammy Huynh has crafted a menu of refined regional creations from across her native Vietnam, with each dish marked accordingly (North, Central, South). Standout sides include the Empress Rice--small pillows of soft grains topped with ginger and raw quail egg--and a whole, stuffed, honey-roasted quail. Tangy salads come plump with refreshing shreds of mango and papaya. Dishes are strongest when not too sweet, such as the lemongrass bass enhanced with a subtle kick of turmeric. For dessert, banana-stuffed beignets are warm pockets of delight.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
The ExtrasAll guests are served complimentary lotus tea and a candied seed to nibble and cleanse the palate.
What to DrinkTry the Earl Grey tea-infused rum boxcar, blended with pineapple juice and apricot liqueur.
Know Before You GoThe fabulous wine collection here is beautifully displayed in a glass room behind the bar.
User Reviews for Bong Su Restaurant & Lounge
10/16/2007 Posted by gegori
A group (7) of us decided to try Bongsu Saturday night in SF and while expectations of the service we would receive were low, due to our experiences at Tamarine, we in no manner set the bar low enough. We had OpenTable reservations for 8pm and started ordering at about 8:15pm once we were seated. I didn't time it because I didn't realize our meal of appetizers and main courses would take over 3 hours, but after we ordered, I am estimating our first appetizers did not arrive until around 9pm. Then we had about another 1/2 hour until our soup arrived (9:30). Then, our main courses probability arrived around 10:15 to 10:30. When it was time for dessert, I asked the manager (in a suit) that if we ordered dessert would we have it for breakfast. He said he would send someone right over to take our order. About 5 minutes later our server showed up and took our dessert order. At around 10:45pm when nothing had arrived, I told her to forget the desserts that were done. Oh..she told me she would not charge us for desserts! Throughout the night, it was obvious that there was a major breakdown in the service. The table next to us ripped into the manager for about 5 minutes regarding the poor service they had received. I am not a restaurateur, but Bongsu has a serious gap between Core vs Context. Why are the servers wasting time folding napkins when one leaves the table and replacing used beer glasses when empty serving plates sit on the table for 20 minutes and food is not arriving. Is 3 hours a reasonable time to be served only appetizers and main courses? By the end of the night, around 11+ pm, we were about the only table left and when we tried to get our coats from the coat check, nobody was to be found. That took about 5 to 10 minutes, eventually the bar tender helped out. Other items: -empty beer bottles and dishes left on the table -waiter/manager never apologized for poor service/issues. I think they had gone to bed by the time we left
Pros: Zero..
Cons: Horrible services destroys whatever might be good about the food
09/23/2007 Posted by cgreenend
Bong Su is a great date spot. We were there on a Sunday evening and enjoyed the atmosphere, decor and service. The 'Shaking Beef' dish was my favorite and was tender and well seasoned. The appetizers and "family style" service made for a great evening...highly recommended.
Pros: Delicious food, Knowledgeable and helpful wait staff and great decor
Cons: On the expensive side
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