10/27/08

Yummy Paella

by audreyjl

I came her for the first time the other day for lunch and it was nice. Anywhere in Belden Alley is usually a good choice and this was no exception. It was a wonderfully warm day so we sat outside. The service was very good, they gave us good wine recommendations and most of the food was great. We each tried a different Paella and both were good. Their garlicy shrimps were a good appetizer but the other that came highly recommended by our waiter was very disappointing. The one we didn't like and I wouldn't recommend it was the anchoives, nothing special, a little bland we each had a few but ended up sending them back. Overall I would definitely go back.

• Pros: paella - outside dining

10/17/07

Love Tapas Here

by sallyvjj

I love Tapas, so B44 is a great place for me! The clams here are fresh too. Service here is very nice as well. The Boquerones is my favorite dish here. Anchovies with pear and cheese are the great combination!

01/05/07

Disappointing: horrible service.

by kesb

I've been to this restaurant several times, and the appetizers have been consistently good. The entrees are hit-and-miss depending on what you order. That said, I had horrible service on my last visit with a group of friends celebrating the holidays, and am a bit put-off about returning again.

My main complaint was that the bus boys bused dishes (apps, entrees AND desserts) without first asking any of the diners at my table if they were finished before taking the dishes away. In my case, I had a half dish of paella that I intended to take home with me. I was chatting with a friend from my dinner party, and suddenly found the bus boy had picked up my (still unfinished dinner) and stacked it on the bottom of the stack of dirty dishes he had in his hand... all before I could even get out the words, "I'd like to take that home." I was never asked if I was finished, if I wanted a box, anything... the dish was just taken away. Moreover, my dinner companions all had similar experiences. When we complained, the manager came around and laughed it off with a response, "he was so eager to get you to the next course" - which I found to be an unacceptable response. When the bus boys once again bused our dessert dishes before we were done, the manager finally gave us one free dessert (for a table of 16!) Furthermore, I found a critter at the bottom of my wine glass and intended to notify the waiter, but the glass was also whisked away whilst I was speaking to my dinner companions.

Not worth the money if this is the way this restaurant treats its patrons.

• Pros: outdoor seating, good appetizers
• Cons: bad service

12/04/06

Tasty and authentic Catalan-style fare amid Belden Place's French bistros.

by Contributor

The Scene
A Spanish standout along the tiny downtown alley that has become San Francisco's own Left Bank, this spot is jammed with a Financial District crowd at lunch and a slightly more Union Square-ish throng at dinner. The chic, spare restaurant is popular for anything, from a quick bite and touch of wine to a full-fledged dinner.

The Food
The Spanish and Catalan fare is authentically satisfying and robust. Start with succulent fish cheeks with roasted garlic or homemade sausage with white beans and a spicy aioli. Entrees are divided evenly between a wide array of paellas and regional meat and fish dishes. California-style entrees include ahi seared with warm white bean salad.

10/14/06

God Food, great drinks

by arashbabaki

The place is nice and romantic, a litle loud though. It's in the beautiful european Belden PL. The food was good. I loved the wine selection. Great place to take your date.

• Pros: food drink ambience
• Cons: parking

10/01/06

good food and great service

by natasha2000

I went to have dinner on saturday 3 weeks ago with my husband and my parents in law. Our server was a very nice spanish girl. She really took care of us although they were pretty busy. She recomended us a very good spanish wine not expensive at all. We had never had spanish food before so she recomended her favorite dishes. As apetizers we had garlic prawns, peppers stuffed with crab meat and oxtail. Everything delicious. As entree she suggested paella cacadora so it was my choice. It was amazing, i can't wait to go again. The hostess was spanish and very nice as well. All the staff looked cool, the manager was kind of weird though.

• Pros: service, food.

07/17/06

There's better places on Belden Lane...

by racheldean

I have to say this place was disappinting. The waiter was nice but the food was a little... I guess the best description is "sparse". Got the cheese plate to split with a friend, it was unfortunately boring without much flavor. We decided to go for desserts and try the "Pina Colada" which sounded great. It was pretty much a few slices of pinepple (about as much as you would use to garnish a drink) piled up with a sauce over it. I'm still not sure how that matches the description on the menu. Although the cost of the food seems average for SF it's too expensive for what you get.

• Pros: prompt service
• Cons: the food, the price.

02/17/06

Ambiance good - food bad

by cw2006

Olive oil-balsamic dip for bread was salty. Squid appetizer tasted ok, but did not look appetizing. Romaine heart salad was served in whole leaves and a bit challenging to eat. Their signature B44 paella was disappointing. The chef tried to make up for flavor by adding salt. It was a mistake.

• Pros: Ambiance
• Cons: Food

01/30/06

Avoid this place

by corythornton

This place is terrible. The appetizers were just OK, but the paella was truley nasty. Not only was it ill-proportioned but it was served cold and oddly burnt to the pan. We dropped some serious bucks in here the other night only to be treated rudely by snooty waiter. I will never return here again. The only reason this place is still in business is because of their location.

• Cons: rude, bad food

01/29/06

Please do not waste your time

by mmcmillen

The food was mediocre and while my waiter was great, other members of the staff were awful. Teribly awful.

Don't waste your time.

• Cons: staff, management, staff