Tangerine
San Francisco, CA 94114
Phone: (415) 626-1700
05/04/2008 Posted by ippikiookami
After reading the reviews, I called Tangerine to see if I could make a reservation for a large group for Sunday brunch. I was told that the restaurant doesn't take reservations -- no exceptions -- and that the best way to get a good table was to arrive early. Two weeks later, I arrived nearly an hour before the restaurant opened, and waited outside. There are two nice tables near the window alcove, separate from the more crowded, noisy dining area. Right before opening the doors, a waiter put a "reserved" sign on one of the tables. We went in and explained that we'd been waiting for that specific table, and were told that two "friends of the owners always sat there" and that we couldn't have the table (the owner's friends, two people, arrived about 15 minutes after the doors opened, expecting to have the large table to themselves). I explained my side of the story and -- long story short -- we were finally able to get the table we had waited so long for, but the manager made it very clear that she thought I was in the wrong and that the "two regulars" had a right to the table. Once we were seated, the service was good, quick and friendly. We were the first ones in at 10:00, and the place was full with a line of people waiting by 10:30. We appreciated the range of choices on the brunch menu. The food, itself, was disappointing. Not bad, by any means, but certainly not exceptional or even very memorable. The concensus of our group was that diners should stick to the basics -- omelettes, pancakes and waffles, and not try the "unique" (and not very good) dishes such as macaronni & corn pancakes, fritattas, or even the eggs benedict. Given the way our party was treated by the manager and the double standard regarding reservations, I will never go back to this restaurant, and will steer everyone I know away from it. Let the "regulars" have their Tangerine -- there are hundreds of places in this city with much better food and atmosphere.
Pros: If you're a friend of the owner, you will be treated well...
Cons: ...if you're not, best go somewhere else
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