Polker's Gourmet Burgers

08/31/2007 Posted by hedykay

i lived around the corner from this place, at a 'motel' that is anything less than desirable. i went to polker's several times. for dinner, for breakfast, by myself and with someone else. never, ever did i get terrible service despite not being one of those people who likes to wait for tables or put my name on a list. i went in when it was crowded even, and the service was always fine! but burger wise, excellent. breakfast wise, excellent (their coffee is strong and good). i think what i noticed most about them is their gourmet burgers, but more importantly how well they stand up. most the time i am left with pieces due to poor choices in buns. not them! they stand up well until i am finished. i would recommend this place to anyone wanting a good burger. been to burgermeister, but not darla's. i would say their drink selection could be less priced or have a 'happy hour' like burgermeister does.

Pros: everything

Cons: expensive drinks and no specials for a burger place

06/20/2007 Posted by perskeptic

Polkers has the very worst service I have ever experienced. I lived a few blocks away and would have liked to eat at this restaurant often but no restaurant is worth horrible rudeness from the waiters. I even sent a letter of complaint to the owner but got no response. So, I guess they don't care. There are long lines on the weekends - but I don't know why. There are so many good restaurants in SF why bother with this place?

Pros: Don't see any

Cons: No parking, rudeness, mediocre food

12/13/2006 Posted by nathaliefellner

I live above Polker's Burgers - literally - so I pass it every day and have eaten there many times. Not because I love it but because of convenience, hours, extensive menu, and my immense capacity to forgive bad service. Every few months I think to myself, maybe I forgot and it's actually not so bad. But then I go there and realize, no - it IS that bad. Sometimes, like tonight, I order take-out because I don't want to deal with the terrible service, but I can't even tolerate their take-out service. They ignore you when you come in, and barely acknowledge you as you stand around and they just walk around you pretending you're not there. Worst of all, tonight I found THREE HAIRS in my food. It was sick and disgusting. They were short black hairs - completely different from my long brown hair so I know they weren't mine. Starting tonight, I officially will never eat here again. As another reviewer stated, I would much rather eat at Rex across the street, which actually has good food and much, MUCH better service. Bottom line: It's NOT worth it - despite what the long lines on weekend mornings might lead you to believe.

Pros: extensive menu

Cons: Service, service, service, and inconsistency of food quality, parking, ambience

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

07/23/2006 Posted by victoria_

The worst service, long lines, rude waiters. The food is not worth it. I was treated really rudely. People were served ahead of me when I was ahead of them in line. I was there early and there were tables available so it had nothing to do with tables available for larger parties. I don't ge it. You can get better service and food at Rex across the street.

Pros: Nothing - I was so upset I didn't see any advantages

Cons: Rude waiters. Noisy. Food not that great.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/12/2006 Posted by sfnative78

The food is always great at this neighborhood joint and you can't get meals at this price anywhere else in the area. The breakfast/bruch can't be beat...especially the omlets, but in all honesty you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The staff is friendly and relaxed.

Pros: breakfast, burgers, price

Cons: parking

06/03/2006 Posted by raybabby

i eat there 3 times a week and i can't get enough the prices are good and the food is the best i have hade everything on the menu and it is goooooood. i recc, them especialy for brunch

Pros: great prices, good food, good service

10/21/2005 Posted by jamn

my friend and I went for brunch this sunday , we had a great burger and the best blueberry pancake .the service was friendly but not too proficional

Pros: inexpensive, fun, great

Cons: bad parking, loud

10/09/2005 Posted by ecrosta

This place is just horrible. We went there for breakfast this morning -- it is the third time I have been there over the past 2 years -- and I have never had good service and I will NEVER go back again. The service is abominable. The wait staff spends most of their time chit chatting in the service area. It took 15 minutes before we even got water. The food was passable at best. It then took another 15 minutes after we were finished to get the check. And, god forbid you try to pay the other waitresses. Overall, the experience was atrocious - the WORST restaurant on Polk St. With so many other winners in the area you don't need to bother with this sad excuse for a restaurant.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

06/01/2005 Posted by cadamsesq

I eat here a lot -- probably hold the record over the past 4 years that I've lived in the area. It's not "Fleur de Lys" folks, it's a neighborhood diner. And by that standard, they do a great job. The waitstaff is always prompt, helpful, very friendly and even entertaining. The food is always good, and served pretty fast. It's a mob for weekend brunch, when the straff is overworked -- the owners should hire someone just to bus tables to free the waitstaff to do their job.

Pros: great staff, inexpensive

Cons: no parking

05/16/2005 Posted by shuey7

admitted, the burger here are really tasty... but the waiters/waitresses there are consistently rude and service is quite slow, even on a weekday.

Pros: tasty burgers

Cons: TERRIBLE service

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful