09/22/09

i rediscovered takeout

by arisalomon

well it's been a while since i went here and i keep missing my chance because i can't get a reservation. so it finally downed on us that we can get takeout and it was great. it's true that the fries were packed with the steak and so got soggy and the boxes were too big for the portions. also they didn't have a big bag that i could carry my big meal home in.

but these are small issues and the staff has always been great when i've been there.

• Pros: great food
• Cons: too loud

07/17/08

Disappointed

by SaraLibre

I had no problem with them adding a healthcare surcharge onto my bill, because I think everyone should have health insurance. I was shocked to find out later that even though they gave out a card saying they're proud to be giving their employees health coverage, they're actually suing the city over it. I hate to think that they are using my money to take away people's health care .

11/12/07

This place is popular among non-foodies .

by phields

We gave this place a second chance after 7 years hoping it was going to be better than the first experience. However, they were true to their very average food and lack of ambience.

Menu is simplistic, unoriginal and quite boring. Nothing stood out. I had stuff I could have made at home.

We have often wondered why this place is so popular but realized that it's a place that people who don't know that much about food or want to cook go to. It's a neighborhood hang out and just very plain.

There are plenty of other great places to dine so no need to repeat ourselves by going back.

• Pros: Wait staff was very friendly and accommodating.
• Cons: Food was below average and there was no ambience. Just a very crowded and noisy place.

10/18/07

heard the food was great,went to have dinner.ended up walking out!

by misslove

We found parking very difficult in the area and had to walk several blocks to eat here-recomendations said worth it.

the restaurant was not busy we were seated right away and ignored for nearly twenty minutes.When I stood up for acknowledgement ,I was shot a nasty glare from a waitstaff person and again ignored,so we left.I returned a few minutes later to grab a hat that I had left behind in my haste to leave(having been offended)

I received no concern from the staff whatsoever,much less an apology.There was no verbal exchange from the minute we walked in.I found that very unwelcoming and unfriendly.

I called later that evening and talked to a manager Anthony,who in turn offered no condolences nor apology.So this is Delfina.I will not recommend it.

• Pros: the food must be worth all the fuss.certainly a cavalier attitude among staff.
• Cons: no parking

10/08/07

Sadly Disappointing

by nelson11

The food and the service were just awful. We're regulars at Delfina and have, unfortunately, seen both the food and service deteriorate over the last couple of years. What used to be a fabulous restaurant (deserved of all the reviews) has now just lost itself. We ordered take-out and the meal was just a mess. The salad was beyond overdressed (with slops of liquid pouring out of the bottom of the container) leaving the salad limp and soggy. And the steak (although itself good) was thrown into the same container as the french fries leaving the fries an uneatable, mushy mess. We called the restaurant just to give them a friendly heads up so they could know what was going on in their kitchen and the manager, Anne, could care less about how our meal turned out. Her response? A disingenous "sorry" for the salad and its your fault for not requesting the french fries be separated from all the au jus of the steak. It really is just so sad. With all the crowds and staff turn over, something's happened to leave the restaurant just a high-volume, revolving door with sub-par food and service.

09/04/07

A truly memorable dining experience!

by zengoddess

If you haven't experienced Delfina, go immediately, or at least as soon as you can get a reservation! I had my first dining experience there this weekend based on a friend's recommendation. The dining options in S.F. can be a little overwhelming when trying to narrow it down for a special occasion. I was in town celebrating my anniversary, and wanted the night to be perfect. Thanks to Delfina, my perfect evening was achieved! Our server Becky was truly exceptional. Her knowledge and presentation of the menu offerings was beautifully executed, and her anticipation of our needs were flawless. Now the food...WOW! These people know what they are doing! The way each simple and incredibly fresh ingredient compliments another make for a virtuoso of flavors. Bravo Delfina! Thank you!

08/09/07

Great food, lousy service

by mbelanger

Since Delfina is already a SF landmark, chances are you aren't even reading this, but what the heck.

The food is excellent. Unfortunately, the service is indifferent at best and cool at worst. Fine in most cities, but in San Francisco, you have to do better than that.

03/16/07

Excellent regional Italian - great pastas!

by tompersi

This place is excellent. Great regional Italian cuisine, with very reasonable wines! Unfortunately, they don't take any parties more than 6 people. There is a red wine with a "rooster" on the label. Very good and not over $25/btl, I think. The pastas are all cooked perfectly, since I think that they cook it all from scratch per order, so the pastas take a little longer, but worth the wait. The salt cod is amazing, if they have it when you go...

• Pros: pasta, wine, salt cod and everything else there...
• Cons: sometimes hard to get a table

03/08/07

Best Italian in the Mission.

by jeffhol

Delfina is a solid Cal-Italian restaurant that shines with their use of veggies. They recently improved their wine list and wine glassses--although their markups are high and I wish they had better and more by the glass options. I love all of their salads and sides. Pastas are often fantastic, but once in a while you get a dud, like parpadelle with duck sugo that had to much rosemary. Meats can be good or miss, but generrally the meat out of the wood oven is great. Desserts are fantastic. Service friendly. It is my second fave Italian after A16. The restaurant is a bit loud, but the only thing that keeps going more often is how hard it is to get a table.

• Pros: Great veggies
• Cons: crowded a bit overpriced

01/13/07

TERRIBLE, OBNOXIOUS SERVICE; good food; but not worth the punishment one goes through...

by mrhiggins

After all the hype about this place, I was excited to have dinner here last weekend. Until my girlfriend and I walked through the door and were not even greeted by a rude and obnoxious hostess who pointed her finger at us and said, "wait a sec", walking off into a sea full of robot servers with no personality or conscience whatsoever.

In short, the food was good; a 7 out of 10, and the service was embarassingly neglectful and poor. Not worth your time, especially when you and all the other patrons in the restaurant are elbow to elbow. Oh, and I think I may have been the only straight guy in the joint; and paid for that as a result from the not so girly girl server.

• Pros: NONE
• Cons: Rude hostess, unaware servers, a punishing affair to dine through...