Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation
(415) 677-4405
161 Sutter St
San Francisco,
CA
94104
37.7898
-122.4033
Neighborhoods: Downtown, Northeast
Reviews & Ratings for Medicine New-Shojin Eatstation
14 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 14 reviews
User review by jimd
by jimd
April 22, 2006
The kitchen is very slow in getting out the food when it's busy. The staff seem use to apologizing for the delays in the food. That said, the food is good. It's interesting, unlike anything you will find in San Francisco. The place feels like the latest hip LA scene. The selection of organic wines and sake is also good. Yes, it's in the Crockery, which I kinda like in a strange way.
- Pros: Food
- Cons: Slow Kitchen
bad service since the host to the server
by kaantong
February 07, 2007
I don't understand how can this place be crowed...service was bad. the host seated me after a guy who arrived after me but there were couples of available seats so I didn't tell her...I've been waiting to order about 10 mins...the guy who arrived after me he's already started his meal. Can you believe that? the portion was quite small for the price...and they include gratuity even you come alone...I had to wait for my change almost 10 mins...the worst thing was while I was waiting for my change there was one server gave the change to a customer who just arrived and not even order yet...won't go back 100%
- Pros: lacation and ambience
- Cons: service and pricey
Maybe takeout not such a good idea there...
by cookingsanfran
June 14, 2006
I am still trying to stomache down the "popular dish" of curry udon... the vegetarian ooze tastes somewhat like curry, but has no broth in it and is topped with extremely oversalted deep fried Japanese veggie fritters. The result.... if you let it sit for 2 minutes, the fritters dissolve into the paste and you are left with curried baby food. The noodles are very over done and with the rest of the ingredients, dissolved in my mouth (not in a good way). I unfortunately encouraged 2 of my co-workers to order there with me--both have gotten second lunches since. Maybe the dine-in is better?... About the service, you don't really get much for counter service, but the girl was very very spaced out and said that the food would take 5-10 minutes, 10 minutes when really busy. I looked back into the restaurant... we were the only ones there.
Epilogue: I couldn't believe that this place existed successfully in the Galleria, so called them to let them know (constructively) about our experience. The assistant manager apologized but maintained that it was a favorite dish (I dare you to try it), and offered a gift certificate.
- Pros: concept, decor, organic
- Cons: tastes bad, strange service
Horrible Service Overshadows A Decent Meal
by manishak
May 09, 2006
If you have service as bad as we had, you can't even concentrate on the food! I took relatives there (first time for all of us) to celebrate a birthday. Boy, what a mistake! Three of the 7-8 things on the menu were not available, our waiter was rude and condescending; abrupt and curt; temperamental and impatient. He sent others to help us, who were not as rude but still uncourteous at best. The prices were deceptively high - all the menu items look cheap until you realize how much you have to order to somewhat satisfy your appetite! Then, you get hit with a big bill (for what you get). In addition, a couple of items we ordered came immediately while others came almost 25 minutes after we'd finished eating. The service was soooo bad and food was average. I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone!
- Pros: bright, good location
- Cons: rude, slow
Good Food, Expensive, Didn't get Change
by jverse
April 27, 2006
Food was good but came out to be pretty expensive for lunch. Waiter stiffed us on our change so we chalked it up to a "tip". Later we realized we had already paid a service change in our bill...
- Pros: Interesting Food
- Cons: Bad Service, Expensive
Carnivores will enjoy
by ghettogourmet
April 26, 2006
As a die-hard carnivore, I was very suspicious of this place. Surprises came fast and furious as each dish was amazing. The soups were fantastic and the artichoke is amazing. The dumplings missed, but everything else blew me away. Subtly flavors, umami aplenty, and friendly service (I went on a slow Tuesday, so can't complain) led to a true find. The ambience is horrible, but everything else is easy to recommend.
- Pros: Food, Soju Cocktails
- Cons: TV in dining room, Crocker
terrible, clueless service and bad value
by noefoodie
February 17, 2006
I had high hopes for Medicine since it's the only restaurant in SF serving Kyoto cuisine.
While the flavors were fine, the service was bad and the prices high for the portions. I ordered the Jade Nuggets ($5) and got 3 tiny triangles. Something like this should've cost $1. I also ordered the squash dumpling ($15). It was a small squash stuffed with mushrooms, eggplant, and avocado. The portion was small for the price.
Service was the worst offense. The servers aren't rude. They're just completely clueless. My appetizer came ONE HOUR after my friend's. In fact, I had to chase them down. They offered no apologies and didn't offer to comp anything despite the lag between the 2 appetizers. They have no incentive because there's that mandatory 17% tip.
I'm never going back. If you're vegetarian, spend your money at truly worthy places like Millenium or Greens.
- Cons: terrible service, skimpy portions
unique, organic, 100% VEGAN
by veganeve
February 06, 2006
The majority of restaurants offer unrealistic portions (MEDICINE offers well-balanced meals)...If we have leftovers we are offered too much food.
MEDICINE uses only natural ingredients. When they spend the extra time, money and effort into only buying sustainably harvested, organic vegetables, picking out exotic vegetables almost on a daily basis-it's almost difficult to even be successful making a profit. The dining experience, and the work environment are said to incorporate loving-kindness.
Many restaurants use ingredients that are pre-packaged with toxic, unhealthy chemicals, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, etc. MEDICINE makes everything from their sesame tofu as well as their almond milk from scratch.
There is also no other place in the city (or anyhere), that offers a completely vegan Zen Buddhist Japanese menu that also incorporates organic seasonal produce. Japanese food is hardly even vegan. I encourage everyone interested in Japanese or Zen traditions and/or healthy vegetarian food to check it out!
- Pros: unique, Bart nearby, organic produce, vegan
- Cons: really busy at lunch, semi-weird location
17% MANDATORY TIP!
by msattorney
December 27, 2005
I went here during lunch with another friend and was charged a mandatory 17% tip (doesn't matter how many are at the table). Who usually pays 17% for a quick fast food like service? Plus the amounts are tiny so you'll need another meal an hour later. For better value for your money, eat at the other restaurants in the food court that don't charge tip and give you larger portions. What's sneaky is that they don't tell you about the mandatory tip so the first time I went I paid a tip not knowing that they had already charged me for it.
Sleek cafe in the Crocker Galleria serves new-shojin temple cuisine to a health-conscious crowd.
by Gina Goff
December 21, 2005
In Short
Operating under the Zen philosophy of Japanese monks, this ultramodern, minimalist restaurant serves a brand of vegetarian cuisine believed to promote both physical and spiritual health. The organic menu features "foundation sets," groups of well-paired, light entrees like artisan tofu, simmered vegetables (pumpkin, tomato and white asparagus) and chilled soups with cucumber and sour plum. An extensive list of side dishes--including mushroom tempura and yuba (soy) sashimi--supplement foundations for ravenous diners.
