SPQR (San Francisco)

05/17/09

Nice Try but Food Won't Cut It

by summerdog at Citysearch

With the stellar reviews that this restaurant received it is hard to believe that they are really in the food business. I haven't had pasta this bad since college in the dorm. I was stunned by the low grade of food from appetizer to pasta. The dessert was passable, but then it was only sorbet! A real waste of money and time. Thank goodness our dining companions who kept our minds away from the food! Stay away!

• Pros: They didn't screw up the wine
• Cons: Highly Uncreative and Awful Food

08/26/08

great appetizers and wine selection but u will eat at the bar!

by samemeht at Citysearch

I liked SPQRs food, though it took me 3 attempts to eat there without waiting for 90 minutes. I also thought the travelvixen review was pretty snobby. I've travelled everywhere and the food culture in London is only recently developed; and who cares if you have a place in Paris? that doesn't make your standards higher on desert, trust me. but i guess a snob like you thinks the rest of us just don't have your palette so the desert is okay for us. jesus.

• Pros: good apps
• Cons: the wait

03/09/08

Best part was leaving.

by robertspcorp at Citysearch

I felt as though I missed out on the good food at this place. I sat by the kitchen and saw some very creatie looking dishes being prepared and I was enjoying this. But I was very dissappointed after having one of the worst italian meal I had in san francisco. I tried two appetizers, the first one was recommended higly, but it tasted like baby food farina with tasteless mushrooms on top. I give it a good grade for freshness though. More tasteless than authentic English food.

The next appetizer, the ribs, was digustingly fatty. Maybe I got the bad straw, maybe I did not look young enough to get the good cuts for this place since I am over 40, but I had too push the food aside and kindly ask for the check since I have tasted enough.

This place does have pretense, but thankfully, not as much as A16, where people think they are better than everyone around them. Much like places in NYC, been there, done that.

I perhaps missed out on good pasta, but I think I will not be passing the ever so friendly vivande restaurant or other Italian restaurants a few blocks away before stopping to try the pasta here. Still, the cooks cooking the meals were very nice and showed me there finished products. Could have been an everthing that could have gone wrong did go wrong night, but then again, I almost never experience that in San Francisco.

• Pros: Looks of restaurant, good counter top dining, nice selection of wines by glass
• Cons: Food -- tried two appetizers