01/21/09

All Form - No Substance

by JLSFUnionSquare

I just bought a building (for my office) in Union Square. Was looking for a daily go to white table cloth in the area. Grand Cafe I thought . . . wrong.

Decor - Beautiful

Service ? Unsophisticated waiter with heavy Hispanic accent trying to describe ?Brasserie classics.? Disaster. Ketchup came with my wife's burger, but not my fries. When I asked for ketchup, no response. Then I asked again and finally got some ketchup. Waiter did not once do the obligatory "howyadoing." My individual teapot had top turned up for 15 minutes - no refill. Took me another 10 minutes to flag someone else?s waiter down for hot water. My waiter gives me credit card slip to fill out, I sign. Takes me 10 more minutes of looking around the room like I'm an idiot for the waiter to finally see me so he can come get the signed credit card slip.

Final Straw - Coke was $3.50 ok I can live with that. Tea was $5.00! Don?t remember last time tea was more than Coke. Moreover, anyplace that charges $5.00 for tea better provide a hellava lot more than the Grand Cafe.

Management - If you're reading this. Visit was on 1/21/09 1145a-1245p. Either lower your prices or improve your service. Try you again in a year.

09/26/07

An authentic brasserie in a great setting.

by alanop

I travel to SF often on business, and usually entertain clients at dinner. So I worry about my restaurant choices. I'd heard some interesting comments about good things happening at the Grand Cafe, and decided to try it. It was a wonderful experience! The room is beatifully designed and interestng, whith it's high ceilings, and open kitchen.The food was authentic French Brasserie. I found the servers attentive, but not overbearing, Our waiter explained intricacies of the preparation on request, and made some great suggestions. All in all, a great experience, and the food was the star!. I'd eaten at Les Halles, in Paris, and this was as authentic but far more sophisticated. The charcuterie, the puree of cod potatoes and garlic, and the skate wing stand out in my memory, but everything was done to perfection. A great evening!

• Pros: All aspects of restaurant service were there, food, service and decor
• Cons: None that I found.

09/25/07

Beautiful Parisian Brasserie

by hblume11

The Grand's dining room is so beautiful - it speaks to another age when a room could take your breath away.

The new Chef has given the food the attention & flavor to match. During a recent trip to Paris, we dined in all the famous brasseries, this one really takes the cake (or foie gras).

I love eating at this restaurant!

• Pros: the hip & busy bar, the splendor of the dining room
• Cons: hard to get into on busy theater nights