Essencia
(415) 552-8485
401 Gough St
San Francisco,
CA
94102
37.777
-122.4232
Neighborhoods: Central North, Hayes Valley
What People Are Saying About Essencia
The Editor
Lorraine Sanders
Citysearch
In Short
By day, light from generously sized windows brightens this restaurant and its 12 redwood tables as diners enjoy lunch fare like cumin roast pork sandwiches and a spicy-crab-and-potato-cakes salad topped with avocado and red onion. By night, patrons dip into ceviche and starters like yucca fries before indulging in entrees that emphasize organic and locally produced ingredients from a leg of lamb simmered in cilantro sauce to baked halibut atop chick-pea puree. Homemade desserts sweeten the deal.
User Reviews
elianna123
May 16, 2009
This place is amazing. I love food, but recently came down with a wheat allergy, so it is really annoying or embarrassing to eat out. The waiters found out the ingredients in everything for me, and I could eat almost anything on the lunch menu. They were incredibly accomodating. The ceviches were particularly good. The people watching is great. The lighting is a little dim. The wine selection is alright. The food is very good.
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aeisner007
April 03, 2008
Despite the raves I have just read, our experience last night was just the opposite. First, the tables are tiny...the bread plate and wine glasses took up most of the table and we were on top of the diners on both sides of us. The wine list is absurdly expensive, and interestingly the wine list on the website is at least $10 per bottle less than at the restaurant. The cheapest wine was $42 and most were $50 and $60; and that with $15 main courses! The Chupe I ordered (shrimp "stew") turned out to be shrimp soup with 4 small shrimp and little else. I just looked online and it is described as soup; at the restaurant it is a main course called "stew". We have been to Peru and to most of South America. This food is truly vile. My wife ordered pulled chicken.It looked like dog pooh and was inedible. The final straw was that the food was tepid. These folks may be nice people, but the food is poor. It's about time people took off their rose colored glasses and saw reality.
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monabella
November 09, 2007
My favorite restaurant ever. I've been twice and they were both wonderful experiences. There's no other way to describe Essencia... the experience was the perfect send-off for my best friend --- she was moving to Paris at the beginning of 2001 to attend the Cordon Bleu culinary academy. Magical: a night of transcended tastebuds...hold Essencia as their TRUE dining experience
read full reviewThe Details on Essencia
What to Drink:
The "chicha," made from spiced purple corn and fruit juice, partners perfectly with champagne.
Where to Sit:
Snag the corner window booth for a comfortable seat that comes complete with a view of the hip Hayes Valley neighborhood passersby.
Know Before You Go:
There is a $15 corkage fee.
Wine List:
The wine list concentrates on bottles from Portugal, Spain and Argentina.
Upscale Casual Dining:
Essencia boasts the cuisine of a fine-dining joint, but maintains a homey, local feel with a casually dressed clientele.
