Asia de Cuba at Clift

03/16/07

AWFUL EXPERIENCE, DO NOT REPEAT MY MISTAKE!!!

by katerinka at Citysearch

WHEN I SAW A 1000 POINT PROMOTION FOR ASIA DE CUBA ON THE OPENTABLE, I DECIDED - WHY NOT? I WAS WARNED BY COUPLE OF FRIENDS THAT IT IS OVERPRICED AND THE FOOD IS AVERAGE, I ALSO READ THE UNPLEASANT REVIEWS ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST COULD NOT BELIEVE IT CAN BE THAT BAD!!! I SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN ALARMED BY THE STAFF BEING SURPRISED BY OUR RESPONSE THAT WE ARE NOT VISITORS - APPARENTLY EVERYONE LOCAL SHOULD KNOW BETTER THAN COME AND EAT THERE. BEAUTIFUL SETTING, STAFF WAS VERY NICE, BUT THAT IS WHERE ALL THE PROS END! I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT IN SAN FRANCISCO, WHICH SUCH A COMPETITIVE RESTAURANT SCENE, A PLACE LIKE THIS CAN EXIST! TUNA TARTAR APPERTIZER WAS BELOW AVERAGE AND THE ENTREE ($95!!! COBE BEEF AND LOBSTER TAILS PLATE) WAS ALMOST UNEATABLE! THE WAITER DID NOT MENTION THAT LOBSTER WILL BE WRAPPED IN BACON(!!!) WHICH ABSOLUTELY RUINED THE TASTE OF SUPPOSEDLY SWEET AND TENDER MEAT. COFFEE IS $5 A CUP AND IS SERVED IN CHEAP 25-CENT CUPS. MANAGERS RESPONSE TO US SAYING WE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE - "I AM SORRY YOU DID, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE EAT HERE AND LIKE IT"!!!

• Cons: EVERYTHING!!!

03/03/07

Asia de Cuba (a.k.a. TGI Friday's)

by nlmeyer79 at Citysearch

This is the first review I've ever written. I was motivated to do something after this terrible dining experience. I can honestly say this was the worst meal I've ever had in SF. To be fair, this was lunch, so maybe they had the 2nd team chefs or the dish washers in the kitchen. Yeah, that was probably below the belt, but it was just a really disappointing meal. I started off with a mojito, which cost $13. For that price you'd think you'd either get something creative or at the very least be served in a 21ounce glass - you know what I mean? - instead, it was a little on the sweet side and more like 6-8 ounces. I went with the "Cuban sandwich of the day", which was the steak sandwich. Again, I was expecting something with some Cuban/Asian flare, but rather I got a plain USDA choice-quality steak on a bun with lettuce and tomato. It was bland, a little cold, and the meat too tough for $19. My wife had the fried calamari salad ($21). We could tell the calamari had been cooked several minutes before it was served as it was cold and the breading soggy. The salad dressing literally tasted like bubble gum... it was the weirdest thing. The service was okay, but then again there were only 3 occupied tables... that should've been our first clue. The menu reads great, but the chefs can't handle it. It just too bad Cortez (across the street) wasn't open for lunch... now there's a good meal!!

• Pros: None... seriously
• Cons: Food!!! and Price

04/03/06

THE FOOD IS NASTY...STAY AWAY!!!

by ms_kali_kat at Citysearch

Didn't meet expectations. EXTREMELY disappointed. Go for cocktails, but that's all its good for.

Portion and presentation well appreciated, unfortunately it's inedible-very bland. Lobster potstickers DOA (I see a trend). It's a shame I ate my side of coconut rice more than my entree-the Cuban Chicken.

Food is mediocre! Like bad homecooking you had to eat to be polite. Quality that I expect was not there, fusion of elements were more like a science experiment, than delectable and tantalizing. I agree with fusion, but it just didn't flow. Some ingredients are not meant to go together.

Server shouldn't be pushy and upsell. Annoying! His service couldn't compare to Levende Lounge, Bouchon, Postrio, Oola, Anzu and The Slanted Door. They strive for excellent customer service, that's what makes a customer return and the experience memorable. I tipped, but it wasn't well deserved. =(

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Food is gross, Pushy servers, Expensive

04/02/06

Horrible Food but Great Service...go ELSEWHERE!

by tower2323 at Citysearch

There are 3 key areas of a fine dinning experience:

great service, great ambiance and MOST importantly great food.

Asia de Cuba DOES NOT MEET 2 OF THESE

1 - Food is not worth 1/3 of the cost

2 - Tables are so close your private romantic dinner is shared with everyone else. The decor and scene very trendy.

3 - Service very good

My tip go there for a drink and use the same amount of money for a real dinning experience. (Try Gary Danko)

• Pros: Service
• Cons: Tables too close, Overpriced food

03/12/06

disappointing

by freshfigs at Citysearch

Picture it: throbbing music that you have to shout over to be heard as it vibrates the chair you are sitting in, insultingly overpriced entrees that you are encouraged to share but come to the table sized for 1, mediocre food whose elaborate presentations mislead you into thinking they'll actually be tasty. Too bad this restaurant will always be full with out-of-towners who don't know any better.

• Cons: food, prices

01/15/06

terrible

by jared4553 at Citysearch

The food was overpriced and the service was terrible. You would think the dine about town special would be a nice way to introduce their restaurant but it was not up to my expectations. I heard great reviews from friends about this restaurant only to find it a so so place. How can you service cold food that's overcooked, have no presentation, and charge so much?

12/20/05

Highly Over-Priced, Average Food, So-So Service

by jrushin at Citysearch

Our small group knew of the high prices going in, and would have been forgiving if the food lived up to the expense, but it was average at best. And, if the service were stellar, we could have justified some of the expense. But, the service was nothing special. Definitely not the level that you would expect with $30 entrees and $12 cocktails.

The biggest insults:

- $42 tab for WATER that they kept pouring but never mentioned a cost or even asked if we wanted more (would they open another bottle of wine before asking?)

- 25% automatic tip for groups (which borders on stealing, even for above-average service).

Bottom line: Asia de Cuba is an extremely over-priced restaurant with average food and so-so service. In a foodie city like SF, with so many better options, there's absolutely no reason to visit this restaurant.

• Pros: Lobster mashed potato, Creative cocktails, Neat space
• Cons: EXPENSIVE, Average all around, Bad lighting

11/13/05

Will go for a drink but never for food

by jadeluo at Citysearch

I went to Asia de Cuba with 5 other friends and thought we would have a enjoyable dinner. The food is really bad and I'm normally very forgiving so long the ambiance is good. What a waste on a great ambiance. The service was ok, our server was a bit superficial. I've been in the restaurant business for over 15 years own and I'm very forgiving on service as well but our server was not good.

The only good thing is their cocktails like their mango mojito is really good and the ambiance is really nice as well. So I will go there for a drink with friends but I will never go there for food. There are just too many good restaurant in SF why waste your taste bud!!

12/10/04

DO NOT GO!!!!!!

by brklyn76 at Citysearch

I am in the restaurant buisiness, and this has to be the absolute WORST dining experience I have EVER had! Not only was the food horrible & made absolutely no culinary sense, the service was exceptionally bad (throwing plates down, and demanding that we order b/c he was busy). We were a party of 8, and our server added items to our bill that were never asked for or served! You would think that an $850.00 later (not including gratuity) we would get proper service and food.

They also add 20% to your bill & you are TAXED on it! Gratuity is optional or "suggested", for larger parties and when service is this bad YOU DON"T GET A TIP!

• Pros: NONE

06/18/04

Not worth it

by antibes23 at Citysearch

The food here is just so-so. It is outrageous that they charge so much for food that can be overcooked, dry, and just very plain. The only reason to go here is the scene. The service is OK, but certainly not good enough for this expensive of a restaurant.

• Pros: Scene
• Cons: , Price