San Francisco Other Cities

Welcome to Citysearch!

Find what you were looking for? (Hint: You can use the search box in the upper left-hand corner to track down anything you want. We're here to help, so click around.)
 | close

Best of Citysearch

San Francisco Look Hot, Feel Good 2008

More

Vote Sponsored By

My Summary

Recently viewed

Recommended for you

More

Essencia Restaurant

401 Gough St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 552-8485
Essencia Restaurant
Price:
$$
Cross Street:
Hayes Street
Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm, Sat 5:30pm-11pm

Editorial Review for Essencia Restaurant – by Lorraine Sanders

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.

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.

Insider Tips

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.

User Reviews for Essencia Restaurant

1 Star Rating: Not Recommended

04/03/2008 Posted by aeisner007

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.

Pros: none

Cons: the entire meal was a waste of money and made us ill.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/09/2007 Posted by monabella

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

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

Users Like You Also Viewed

Spruce
3640 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94118

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes St
San Francisco, CA 94102

Related Searches

Editor's Review

Peruvian cuisine comes with a hint of West Coast attitude at this cozy Hayes Valley boite.  See the full editorial review.

Insider Tips

What to Drink

The "chicha," made from spiced purple corn and fruit juice, partners perfectly with champagne.

More Insider Tips

Restaurant Information

Parking

  • Street
  • Metered

Hours

  • Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm
  • Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
  • Sat 5:30pm-11pm

Cuisines

  • South American

Payment Types

  • MasterCard
  • Visa

Meal Price

  • $$

Amenities

  • Lunch Spot
  • People Watching

Site Links:

Citysearch is a registered trademark of Bluefoot Ventures Inc., and is used under license.
© 2008 Citysearch.com All rights reserved.

Partner Sites: