Fish and Farm

01/30/2008 Posted by finevine

Dinner on 1-26-07. Attentive service. Lamb was incredibly tender. oysters fresh. Great wine list and glassware. This place was full until closing time. I would go back anytime. Great vibe. And, if you can make these dishes at home, you should open your own restaurant.

01/21/2008 Posted by escarlata

Went here the other night and with high expectations - unfortunately it did not live up to standard. Food quality was average, taste was average - but nothing was exciting about it. I could make the dishes at home and they would taste the same. Very hard to recommend this place to anyone - I don't forsee it lasting too much longer in the SF dining scene.

Pros: corkage fee $5!!!

Cons: everything else

01/04/2008 Posted by kenbutori

Being a native, and not a fan of "Foo-Foo-Trendy" food, I was more than pleasantly surprised with the dining experience I received when my family dined here one evening. We arrived around 6:00 and were greeted immediately by a young woman who welcomed us into the restaurant . She seated our pary at a rear corner booth, just a short distance from the kitchen, usually not he best seat in the house, but in this case it wasn't noticeable. It didn't take me long to settle into the mood, as a few moments later a young waitress approached and asked if we would care for a cocktail. Within a few minutes a smooth Belevdere over was quenching my thirst. It seems that within five-minutes of being seated, we had received beverages, of various type, outstanding French bread & creamed butter, as well a listing of that evenings spepcials. I selected the bone-in Rib Eye steak with mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetables. My wife opted for the Fish & Chips. I ordered a tray of appetizers, which were quickly delivered, by a knowledgable, no-nonsense, friendly(and really cute) waitress. These were soon devoured and were quickly followed by another order. There were four equally delicious items on the platter, two fish & two meat. I also ordered a special "Pork belly" appertizer with beans which was also delicious. A wine recommedation was made which was perfect with our meal. When our entrees arrived, they looked fabulous, reminding me of a Gourment magazine cover. My steak, done medium rare as ordered, was one of the best steaks I've eaten in years. The potatoes and vegetables were perfect accompanyment. My wifes fish was also perfectly cooked and lightly battered. Some little homemade breadstick things drove us wild! We were brought more as soon as I commented on them. There is also a small bar which was packed when I left. We had a great meal, in a friendly enviornment with great staff at a very reasonable price. Small & comfortable, I can't wait to return!

Pros: Great fresh foods, excellent staff, owners on premesis, attention to details.

01/03/2008 Posted by finickyflower

With no reservations and a bit of a late start (around 8PM) we had read reviews for Fish and Farm and thought to give it a try. I was a little skeptical as it is attached (very peripherally) to a not so fancy hotel. Anyway we got lucky with street parking and walked up -it was packed. The host and hostess were very friendly and suggested to go to the bar where we could also order food. We walked through a bustling cozy restaurant and went to the bar area. Everyone of the employees was friendly and helpful,. Also- the food was GREAT! We will absolutely be back and most likely in the next two weeks. We had the fava beans (you can eat the whole thing) squid and fish and chips and asparagus. Really really great. Oh and the wine and rink list is good. I should be paid for this review- but It is sincere AND we are picky about good food and service. We were happily surprised and will absolutely go back.

Pros: can eat at the bar too!

12/27/2007 Posted by sabw

When it comes to restaurants, I am very picky, but Fish & Farm was fabulous! Their housemade papardelle is to-die-for, so are the hand-mashed red potatoes. For my main course, I chose the Prime Rib. It was juicy and delicious. Overall, I had a great experience at Fish & Farm and would recommend it to anyone looking for a great dinner in San Francisco.

12/23/2007 Posted by kodani

good fresh food that tasted very healthy. Lamb and bass were very good. great service and pleasant, yet different decor. everyone seemed very happy to be there including the staff. good house cocktails and great 100 mile concept - all ingredients are sourced within 100 miles of the restaurant.

Pros: fresh and green concept

Cons: small space

12/20/2007 Posted by trisheats

Our group of four absolutely fell in love with this place. After hearing all the buzz we made reservations. Seated only 5 minutes late on a busy Thursday so not so bad. First off, the decor is striking. Cool tiffany blue offset by rich chocolate booth seating. Two original mural pieces frame one wall and the mirrors on the opposite wall give it a "bigger" feel. We all found the menu solid with many choices--lots of fresh fish to choose from. The white chowder actually has local clams, oysters, and squid in it. So I would say that is a clear statement of intention. Local, local. The grilled sardines were cooked perfectly and nice and crisp off the grill. We also shared a grilled "wedge" salad with again, local blue cheese. Entrees included, again, local churro lamb from Pt. Reyes with creamy potatoes--yum, yum, yum. We also chowed down fresh ling cod line caught off of Bolinas. So these folks really have their local attitude down and wear it on their sleeve. We came on a night when both owners were there. One handles all the wine service and offers little tastes of things he and the co-owner appear to be drinking. The other owner seems like the designated greeter who charms everyone. What a pair working the room. I loved the wine list. 40 wines under $50 and all fantastic in my book. Ten wines by the glass--all unique and not really offered elsewhere. The previous reviewer called them pedestrian but I don't get that at all. There was an obscure French Rhone and a great Loire Sauvignon Blanc and a nice Riesling by the glass. They also offer one "hard to find" wine by the glass every night. Our night was a Ridge York Creek Zin. Overall we were very happy that we had great service for once. And no one tried to rush us out. We give them an A+ and will go back. It's so hard to find such good service in SF and here we found it.

Pros: great ambiance, wine prices and selection, service, sharp food

Cons: low light

12/16/2007 Posted by tertiarydog

Let's get it out of the way that the service was good. The folks serving us did a nice job and were very attentive. So, one would think that this restaurant would have some special assimilation with the farm or use products used by local farms, but it's not true. Thoughout dinner, we were trying to figure out what exactly this restaurant was trying to carve out for itself as a special place. The cold soup we were given to open up the meal was a puree of celery root and pear, but all of us agreed that it had a fishy odor. We found the sardines to be good - but lacked something with flavor and this is possibly in the way they were prepared. They were pan sauteed and lacked anything reminiscent of their cousin's preparation in the Mediterrean. Possibly throwing them over charcoal would have helped. The waiters urged us to try the fish and chips - a specialty. Good, but not special. I would have rather had this at some pub. The fries were fresh and properly salted. The salad- pretty much as good as boxed salad from Whole foods with a very light and nice dressing, but clearly overdressed. The salad, while so simple, was disappointing. No one was impressed with this restaurant in our party. The restauranteurs were nice enough. The blue walls and awful pleather seating only made you feel as if you were in some bad scene in a movie from the 60's. A few farm murals and pieces of farm equipment on the walls only reminded you that it was the only assimilation to the farm theme that we could figure out. The fish part of the menu lacked originality. Desguising a western black cod as a sablefish lacked originality. Supposedly all the ingredients arrived fresh, but the menu didn't qualify where any of the ingredients came from so it left us with a vacant feeling about what this restaurant was all about. The bottom line is that the food was good, but nothing special. The wine list was average at best. The wines by the glass were pedestrian.

Pros: accessible, unpretentious

Cons: very average and dysfunctional menu

12/12/2007 Posted by katietalbott

We went here for our anniversary and had the best time. The staff was so attentive and friendly and the atmosphere and decor welcomed us in from the cold night. It is in the heart of San Francisco, right up the street from the shops of Union Square. The food was so good. I dare say the best I have had in the city yet. You have to try their pumpkin and oyster salad-to die for! I had the San Francisco Martini which had infused rosemary and it was decadent! Both of our entrees were so good. The pork chop and sablefish were filling without being too hearty. I love a good cheese plate for desert-they had one. Simple-with local cheeses and yummy. However, my secret desert was the Pumpkin Sweet Cocktail that we wrapped out meal with. It was SO good! I can't say enough about Fish and Farm except that I can't wait to go back!

Pros: Great Location, Great Service, Great Food

Cons: None

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12/11/2007 Posted by mriles1

A good friend recently recommended Fish & Farm for dinner, but I was somewhat hesitant as they often like cool, trendy, but less filling restaurants. Fish & Farm manages to appeal to both the cool/hip crowd, but also the crowd looking for an outstanding and filling meal. The Seafood Chowder is exceptional, the cod fritters are very good. For an entree, we had the lamb and salmon. Both are outstanding. I highly recommend Fish & Farm. In addition, the bartenders can make a great cocktail! Somewhat similar to Salt House, but with better food.

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