09/23/08

Lovely food, great location, odd service

by sazza42

We thought this would be a good place to treat ourselves to a fancy meal on a visit to San Francisco and overall it was a success. There were only a couple of other tables occupied, but as we were shown to our seats, our waitress suddenly decided that we couldn't sit where she had placed us and moved us to another table with no explanation. Our original table remained unoccupied for the whole of our meal. The food was lovely, if a little expensive, but the portions were rather small. This just gave us an excuse to order dessert, which was superb - the cheesecake was one of the best I've ever eaten. The only thing that we didn't like was the speed of the service. I have never been hurried through a meal so quickly in my life. We were hoping for a long, chatty, romantic dinner, but the wait staff kept arriving at our table and hurrying us along to the next thing. If we stalled them, they came back two minutes later. Maybe they are more used to business customers rather than tourists?

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Service is hurried

05/15/08

Market Bar - Embaracadero & Ferry Building.

by lindymann

I meet someone for a business lunch about a month ago, service was okay. My guest had the sole that was served to them in a small cassrole type dish, the fish had been deep fried. I thought for the $14.95 price he was getting a complete lunch, no ! It was ala carte.

I had a small house salad that was okay, but $ 9.50 that's pushing it. This isn't the place for value and the day I sat their it was windy. I'd go look for something else thats not a tourist trap.

01/03/08

Very bad service and overpriced bad food.

by patricklogan

We went in for lunch after shopping. I asked if there was a place to hang our coats after the hostess sat us. She ignored us and walked away. We then waited for a waiter but none came. I watched as several workers were joking and laughing together. I couldn't believe with the few tables they just didn't seem to care. When we finally got our drinks my single malt scotch was on the rocks!! I told the waitress it was ruined and she told me that is how I ordered it. I told I have been drinking scotch longer than she has been living. I NEVER would ruin a scotch by watering it down. She told me, it wasn't water but ice. I had to tell her the water melts when it hits the warm scotch. And it ruins the flavor. I couldn't believe I was having this conversation. When the food arrived I was shocked by the portion size. Also the pizza crust was burnt. Not to mention the sauce was too thick in one place and non existent in another. We also ordered the pork and bean casserole. It was nice and bland. And a little bit cold. After our nasty lunch we weren't even offered dessert. Instead the check was just dropped off. I will never return to this dump.

• Pros: None
• Cons: food, service, value

09/18/07

Unpleasant food experience.

by sanjay

We went at the Market Bar for brunch on a Saturday and were very disappointed by the quality of the food. Waiters were nice and understanding but inefficient. We ordered what was supposed to be some ?eggs with roasted potatoes and bruschetta?. Instead, we got eggs, ashbrown, and toasts. When asked about the toasts we got instead of the bruschetta, the waiter responded that the bread for the bruschetta had not arrived (there is a huge street market outside the restaurant and I am sure the staff could have arranged some bread delivery, especially if this kind of bread is on the menu). Regarding the potatoes, our waiter did not seem to understand the difference between ashbrown and roasted potatoes. Last but not least, we thought this place was very expensive for the service provided: we paid about $60 for two for this very mediocre brunch.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Very expensive for the quality of food/service

09/15/07

great service and food recomendetions

by benjirose

Yesterday my friends and I had lunch, the restaurant was really busy but the greeting very polite from the hostess who got us a table in no time were our server Jahem was great, he answered our question and he recommended dishes that I don't usually go for but don't regret getting, they were delicious! and the food is so fresh.

He insisted on having glasses of wine with our meals..next time.

thanks

08/14/07

You get what you pay for.

by vontobel_m

Yesterday my friend and I went to Market Bar for lunch. The host service was average but or server was really nice and friendly. We ordered the pre-fix menu and like I said you get what you pay for. The first course were Steamed clams and butter lettuce salad and those were really good. our second courses were "grilled" italian sweet sausages, those were too dry, you could tell they poached them first before running them through the grill, they were garnished wit a green cilantro sauce which later I learned that they try to tell you is green mole, but like I said is nothin but a cilantro sauce.It was also garnished with snow peas (overcooked) and toasted almonds. The other plate was seafood risotto and it wasn't creamy as I would have expected, it was more like mexican rice with seafood. For dessert we had the rice pudding, which was very bland. And I had the "fresh" fruit salad in wich you can find canned pineapple and very sour berrys garnished with an undercooked cream sauce, I could still taste the egg. In conclusion for $28 you can't expect that much.

• Pros: Very friendly service
• Cons: Average food

07/04/07

Nice location, good seafood platter

by glunardi

Our experience wasn't nearly as bad as some of the reviews say about the service but you should be warned. They are not exactly the most professional wait staff I have met.

We had a large seafood platter which was tasty and lots of their toasts (tapenade spread). Overall it was a nice lunch. Not sure I would go there again though unless I find myself by the Ferry building.

There was a farmer's market outside the restaurant when we went. Sitting outside on the terrasse was nice.

When: Lunch on June, 16th 2007

• Pros: Seafood platter, bread toasts, outside dinning
• Cons: Service, wait

04/29/07

Horrid Service, where do they get these waiters?

by patrickbad

The food was OK. Not worth the price and the scenery is very nice. But, where do they get these servers? I was told my table was set for four. When we sat down it felt like it was for 2. The table next to us was very loud and I asked the waitress to ask them to quiet down. She told me in a very rude way, "What do you want me to do"? The food took forever and was OK, but not worth the time or the noise or the rude staff. Stay away. And by the way, the second bottle of mineral water I never recieved . I was still charged for. Too bad this place bites it has so much potential.

• Pros: There is only one
• Cons: One is enough, parking, staff

04/07/07

Insulting waiters

by tertiarydog

If you want average food in an average place in a touristy location with waiters who tell you that you changed your order to save face, then this is the place to go. If you want your order to come out at different times for each person in your party, then this is the place for you. If you want $15 eggs and toast, then this is the place for you. I've eaten here about 1/2 dozen times and this is the last time I'll dine at this place. Just because it has nice yellow awnings doesn't mean the food or service is good.

• Pros: it's in the Ferry Building -that's all it's got going for it
• Cons: the waiters are not professional

11/16/06

Great Bloody Marys

by lkcoops

The Bloody Marys are worth the trip. The outside patio is a huge plus in the summer. The menu is limited, but the food is tasty. Service is fantastic. It's a better brunch location than dinner location, simply because of the limited menu.

• Pros: Bloody Marys, Patio, Location
• Cons: Limited Menu, Pricey