12/21/08

Overrated, Overpriced for average food

by betsy8

Reviews were mixed, but we still tried it out. Nothing fancy, and I think the menu offerings are a bit on the pricey side for regular, average food. Had the fried chicken with mashed potatoes. Chicken was covered in thick bread crumbs - could have had the same quality from KFC - for a lesser price of course. My boyfriend had the burger priced at $11 - expected more than just regular ground beef considering the price - could probably have gotten a similar or better burger from a fast food chain. The restaurant is small, very dark (can't hardly read the menu), I think it's poorly decorated, no ambiance (that's why the purposely make it dark?). In summary, I'm not coming back - especially for those prices for regular and average food - I do not see the quality nor the value for the prices being charged. Sorry...

• Pros: none for me
• Cons: Quite pricey for regular and average food; poorly decorated

11/26/08

Great Cocktails, Super Friendly Staff, and Awesome Meat Dish

by jtecarro

Went to this place and the food was so good that it made me want to start a yelp account just to write it.

• Pros: Best Southern Cooking in town
• Cons: None

09/12/07

mmm collard greens!

by cabbageflower

My husband and I had heard about this place and its down-home style menu that changes, I think, weekly, and decided to give it a try. As we usually try to get into restaurants around 6 pm in this town , we didn't have a problem being sat immediately. Friendly greetings are a great start and thank God we had one because this can make or break a place for me and my husband. Wine, yes. Sancerre by the glass, yes. Delicious beer on draft and in the bottle, check. So far so good. Fried chicken for me with collard greens and black-eyed peas, cooked in ham hocks, of course. Delicious! As good as when I lived in New Orleans and ate it almost anywhere and everyday. Hubby had surf and turf which was jerk-rubbed prawns and hangar steak. Also a winner. We had a friendly and attentive server (such a rare treat in SF), great food and an overall yum-tastic experience. Go there.

08/04/07

Down Home Vibe

by sandellica5

Great Experience! Walking up to the entrance I was a little apprehensive, think someone's garage sale, but upon entering I was pleasantly surprised. The owner was very attentive and made it seem as if he had invited us over to dinner at his pad. The music was cranked up and everyone looked like they were having a good time. Great wine list and none too expensive. Good selection of French and other unique choices. We had the salt cod fritters, crab grits, and the fried chicken. For dessert we had the strawberry shortcake. I highly recommend them all. This is southern comfort food with a spicy Caribbean twist that gives it a kick. The wait staff was amiable, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. I can't wait to go back to try the other delectable items on the menu or just sit out front and have a glass of wine on one of the rocking chairs.

04/13/07

Shake n Bake It's Not...

by bhattwoman

Just had dinner The Front Porch...the fried chicken was very tasty, definitely better than shake n bake! Desserts were much better than cardboard...delicious lemon pound cake strawberry shortcake was a highlight. My friends had a burger and the snapper, braised romaine and beet salad...all delicious. Very warm service, great atmosphere -- food was a B but experience was an A...try it!

04/03/07

Expected Much More -- Chicken Like Shake-n-Bake!

by schmill1

The Chron wrote up this place very positively, but for me it did not live up to expectations. The much hyped Fried Chicken was like a good version of "Shake-n-Bake": not bad, but not Awesome either. The chicken pieces -- you get 8 -- in the $30 bucket were good quality with the breasts halved, but the skin and batter?

"It was just OK." I expected more flavor, fire, interesting Carribean tastes. There weren't any.

The other hyped dish, the crab 'n grits thing was edible. Had very little crab though and grits are grits. Also had the fried chicken livers...now those were interestingly good, on top of the brioche (bread) and a light gravy. Nice!

Ordered the slaw and trio of fried potatoes as sides and those were competent as well, nothing special.

Wine was reasonably priced and our hostess and servers were personable pros. No problems here. Just lower your expectations regarding the food. The room and decor were cozy. The bar was just beer and wine which also works.

• Pros: Wine list; fried chicken livers
• Cons: Overhyped fried chicken; crab-gritz dish

01/25/07

Comfort food with gritty, Southern appeal--and a beverage list to match.

by Joanna Currier

The Scene
Tattooed regulars rub elbows with local sophisticates (yes, some are both) at this "Southern Mission" bastion of hipster kitsch featuring a full bar and diner-style booths. "Bevies" are served with a side of dive-bar juke. Comfort touches include a tin ceiling, rocking chairs and gliders on the front patio, grandma curtains above the kitchen's exhibition window and family portraits from yesteryear.

The Food
The better-than-decent wine list is served by the box, jug, "deuce" (carafe for two), or juice box with a bendy straw. Other options include a delectable sangria the color and flavor of young peaches and a "red-eye"--a Bud tall boy with tomato juice. The menu is California-Soul-simple and rich--shallow pools of red-bean soup, buttery grits and Dungeness lump meat, deep-fried chicken livers on brioche, buckets of fried chicken and a seviche medley in an old-fashioned glass. Avoid the dessert: it's both expensive and cheap, especially the cardboard-like yellow layer cake.

01/11/07

Well....the interior design is cool

by latina415

I am not a fan of southern food....I told my friends that I wouldnt knock it until I tried it. We had collard greens w/black eyed peas and pork, the green beans, and the Red Snapper w/risotto. The Red Snapper was the best thing there for me, it was fresh and flavorful. I felt that the other items were overbearing with pepper, and other spices......If you are into eating rich, heavily spiced food, you will like this place.

• Pros: You may be seated promptly
• Cons: The waiter may forget your order and interrupt your conversations.....

12/12/06

okay food, annoying hipsters, bad service

by wolkin37

Food is okay, fried chicken and the burger were both tasty. Wonderful black eyed peas as a side. But this is all trumped by the terrible service-- the worst I've ever seen in SF.

There were four servers and three tables sat (the place was empty) on a week night. I ordered a drink and waited 20 minutes while the servers made tea for themselves and stood around looking "hip".

Finally I went up to the bar and told the bartender I had ordered a beer and it hadn't come yet.

Without any apology she gave me the beer and charged me for it up front. So I pay her and ask her to tell my server so it doesn't show up on the bill. She said okay but I guess looking "cool" and acting "hip" takes a lot of concentration because when the bill came (we had to ask for it) the beer was still listed. My server took it off and acted all surprised no one had brought me the drink--did she seriously not see me go up to the bar myself??? Maybe the lights are a bit too dim inside--we were literally 1 of only 3 two-tops! It's too bad the staff seems more concerned with maintaining their phoney hipster attitudes than actually serving their customers.

• Pros: location
• Cons: service

11/13/06

Inconsistent though generally tasty; undeniably adorable

by mightypow

This newish place is great to look at, and the food was generally quite tasty and reasonably priced for what it is, though I'm a little mystified at the fact that there was an hour and a half wait for a walk-in table on Friday night... We had a res and still had to wait 1/2 hour for our table (though the host was very gracious). Can the Mission really be hurting that much for good food in a hip setting? I mean, it was good but not nearly worth the hype that was in evidence by the insane crowds. That said: yummy drinks (though the drinks menu is really self-conscious and cutesy), lovely salads, very good ceviche, great fried chicken, delicious brussels sprouts. The negatives: both burgers, ordered medium rare, were tough little hockey pucks, and I didn't think the crab & grits thing was all that exciting. But the bucket of fried chicken was incredible and fed three people, with leftovers. We didn't order dessert, as Mitchell's is around the corner. The Front Porch would be a great little neighborhood place if it wasn't so damn mobbed. I'd go again, but on a weeknight, and early.

• Pros: Generally tasty food, funky setting with lots of character
• Cons: Reservation necessary, insane crowds, not quite worth the wait