The Front Porch

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Kevin M.

Joined 9 months ago

The Front Porch Homey, kitschy. The Front Porch

Homey, kitschy atmosphere one part restaurant in part living room invites puts you the sampling of their compellingly cool cocktail list. Go here for the fried chicken bucket, stay for the burger and everything else in between. Don't forget the butterscotch pudding in a jar, is pure sassy southern style. You'll leave whistlin' Dixe. Ps best habanero sauce ever.

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betsy8

Joined 5 years ago

Overrated, Overpriced for average food. Reviews were mixed, but we still tried it out. Nothing fancy, and I think the menu offerings are a bit on the pricey side for regular, average food. Had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes. Chicken was covered in thick bread crumbs - could have had the same quality from KFC - for a lesser price of course. My boyfriend had the burger priced at $11 - expected more than just regular ground beef considering the price - could probably have gotten a similar or better burger from a fast food chain. The restaurant is small, very dark (can't hardly read the menu), I think it's poorly decorated, no ambiance (that's why the purposely make it dark?). In summary, I'm not coming back - especially for those prices for regular and average food - I do not see the quality nor the value for the prices being charged. Sorry...

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jtecarro

Joined 5 years ago

Great Cocktails, Super Friendly Staff, and Awesome Meat Dish. Went to this place and the food was so good that it made me want to start a yelp account just to write it.

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cabbageflower

Joined 6 years ago

mmm collard greens!. My husband and I had heard about this place and its down-home style menu that changes, I think, weekly, and decided to give it a try. As we usually try to get into restaurants around 6 pm in this town , we didn't have a problem being sat immediately. Friendly greetings are a great start and thank God we had one because this can make or break a place for me and my husband. Wine, yes. Sancerre by the glass, yes. Delicious beer on draft and in the bottle, check. So far so good. Fried chicken for me with collard greens and black-eyed peas, cooked in ham hocks, of course. Delicious! As good as when I lived in New Orleans and ate it almost anywhere and everyday. Hubby had surf and turf which was jerk-rubbed prawns and hangar steak. Also a winner. We had a friendly and attentive server (such a rare treat in SF), great food and an overall yum-tastic experience. Go there.

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sandellica5

Joined 6 years ago

Down Home Vibe. Great Experience! Walking up to the entrance I was a little apprehensive, think someone's garage sale, but upon entering I was pleasantly surprised. The owner was very attentive and made it seem as if he had invited us over to dinner at his pad. The music was cranked up and everyone looked like they were having a good time. Great wine list and none too expensive. Good selection of French and other unique choices. We had the salt cod fritters, crab grits, and the fried chicken. For dessert we had the strawberry shortcake. I highly recommend them all. This is southern comfort food with a spicy Caribbean twist that gives it a kick. The wait staff was amiable, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. I can't wait to go back to try the other delectable items on the menu or just sit out front and have a glass of wine on one of the rocking chairs.

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bhattwoman

Joined 11 years ago

Shake n Bake It's Not.... Just had dinner The Front Porch...the fried chicken was very tasty, definitely better than shake n bake! Desserts were much better than cardboard...delicious lemon pound cake strawberry shortcake was a highlight. My friends had a burger and the snapper, braised romaine and beet salad...all delicious. Very warm service, great atmosphere -- food was a B but experience was an A...try it!

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schmill1

Joined 6 years ago

Expected Much More -- Chicken Like Shake-n-Bake!. The Chron wrote up this place very positively, but for me it did not live up to expectations. The much hyped Fried Chicken was like a good version of "Shake-n-Bake": not bad, but not Awesome either. The chicken pieces -- you get 8 -- in the $30 bucket were good quality with the breasts halved, but the skin and batter?

"It was just OK." I expected more flavor, fire, interesting Carribean tastes. There weren't any.

The other hyped dish, the crab 'n grits thing was edible. Had very little crab though and grits are grits. Also had the fried chicken livers...now those were interestingly good, on top of the brioche (bread) and a light gravy. Nice!

Ordered the slaw and trio of fried potatoes as sides and those were competent as well, nothing special.

Wine was reasonably priced and our hostess and servers were personable pros. No problems here. Just lower your expectations regarding the food. The room and decor were cozy. The bar was just beer and wine which also works.

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Joanna Currier

Joined 8 years ago

Comfort food with gritty, Southern appeal--and a beverage list to match.. The Scene
Tattooed regulars rub elbows with local sophisticates (yes, some are both) at this "Southern Mission" bastion of hipster kitsch featuring a full bar and diner-style booths. "Bevies" are served with a side of dive-bar juke. Comfort touches include a tin ceiling, rocking chairs and gliders on the front patio, grandma curtains above the kitchen's exhibition window and family portraits from yesteryear.

The Food
The better-than-decent wine list is served by the box, jug, "deuce" (carafe for two), or juice box with a bendy straw. Other options include a delectable sangria the color and flavor of young peaches and a "red-eye"--a Bud tall boy with tomato juice. The menu is California-Soul-simple and rich--shallow pools of red-bean soup, buttery grits and Dungeness lump meat, deep-fried chicken livers on brioche, buckets of fried chicken and a seviche medley in an old-fashioned glass. Avoid the dessert: it's both expensive and cheap, especially the cardboard-like yellow layer cake.

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latina415

Joined 7 years ago

Well....the interior design is cool. I am not a fan of southern food....I told my friends that I wouldnt knock it until I tried it. We had collard greens w/black eyed peas and pork, the green beans, and the Red Snapper w/risotto. The Red Snapper was the best thing there for me, it was fresh and flavorful. I felt that the other items were overbearing with pepper, and other spices......If you are into eating rich, heavily spiced food, you will like this place.

Doesn't Recommend

wolkin37

Joined 7 years ago

okay food, annoying hipsters, bad service. Food is okay, fried chicken and the burger were both tasty. Wonderful black eyed peas as a side. But this is all trumped by the terrible service-- the worst I've ever seen in SF.

There were four servers and three tables sat (the place was empty) on a week night. I ordered a drink and waited 20 minutes while the servers made tea for themselves and stood around looking "hip".

Finally I went up to the bar and told the bartender I had ordered a beer and it hadn't come yet.

Without any apology she gave me the beer and charged me for it up front. So I pay her and ask her to tell my server so it doesn't show up on the bill. She said okay but I guess looking "cool" and acting "hip" takes a lot of concentration because when the bill came (we had to ask for it) the beer was still listed. My server took it off and acted all surprised no one had brought me the drink--did she seriously not see me go up to the bar myself??? Maybe the lights are a bit too dim inside--we were literally 1 of only 3 two-tops! It's too bad the staff seems more concerned with maintaining their phoney hipster attitudes than actually serving their customers.