06/01/09

best soul food brunch in town

by GoPlaySFBay

This spot has the best soul food in town and their brunch spread has grits to die for - love the music and staff - just don't go with a headache unless you plan to drink it away! Also, don't let the hood keep you away or you'll miss a real treat.

• Pros: live jazz
• Cons: very loud

09/12/08

Great Food! Unsafe Environment!!!!

by butterfly19

The atmosphere is great, the food is great and the staff is so-so. For the neighborhood that it's in, they should have a BIG bouncer at the door to keep out and filter the riff-raff as this restaurant is in the Tenderloin or the 'Tender K*@b" as some of us call it in SF. I've been there several times, however, a patron got her purse stolen. Now, I don't know if the owner/manager compensated the couple their drinks and meals for a miserable stay at their restaurant, but when I left, I realized that there isn't a single camera nor any solid security for a place that has a 'nightclub' vibe in the middle of a compromised neighborhood! The mix of people present is great! But when you step a toe outside the door, you're surrounded by prostitues, dealers of illegal substances and other bonafide thugs. Sure, one must always be careful when they are in public and think about their public safety, but I think the ownership really needs to step up their game for keeping creeps out of the place!! The theft of that woman's purse last week really ruined my experience at that place. You just don't feel safe! I would have given this place 4-1/2 stars, but that experience took it down to 2. I still recommend this place, but bring your own bodyguard, because management doesn't seem concerned about your safety while dining in their establishment.

• Pros: Great bar menu of small plates and appetizers; drinks excellent; great full menu
• Cons: They need a bouncer to screen out jerks and theives or at least catch them on the way out.

04/19/08

Great Party Scene in the Tenderloin!

by MatthewTsou

Wow! You wouldn't have guessed it by looking at the outside of this place that it's a happening place to be. You're in the middle of the Tenderloin, and the place looks pretty dumpy from the outside, but that's where it's deceiving!

Once you walk through those doors, it's another world. At least on the Friday night I went. It's definitely a trendy and in-the-know place to be. Reservations are a MUST unless you don't mind standing and waiting for some seats at the bar, which turnover every 10-15 minutes, so it's not to bad. You should get a drink and mingle in the meantime.

I haven't tried all their drinks, but I think they're all supposed to be superb. I had the Orange Bellini (Crushed Orange Puree and Champagne), which came in a classy glass and tasted phenomenal. I wanted to try the Kiwi Margarita, but they ran out so they turned to the Mango Margarita. I asked a gal about the Strawberry Rhubarb Martini she was holding: she was ecstatic about it and claimed she was going to order "3 or 4 more!"

On to the food. I ordered appetizers only, the Shrimp Cakes and Cheese Grits. I had a Green Zebra coupon with me, which claimed Farmer Brown had the best grits in the city. I don't regularly have grits, but these were dee-lish! Sorta like oatmeal and cheese pudding, but cooked in a manner that makes it more like a porridge. Anyways, it's good! The Shrimp Cakes I thought were a little overfried, but the insides were not too bad. Soft, and the sauce was pretty good, slightly spicy for a little kick.

Overall, definitely a place to go to for its ambiance (people, music, lighting), the bartenders and service were okay, and the food was pretty good, though I have yet to try the main dishes. (The leftover fried chicken from a previous foodie looked a bit dry. I dunno about its taste.)

• Pros: COCKTAILS! Ambiance, people
• Cons: Service average