Great date spot

by GoPlaySFBay

Love this spot for special occasions and anytime for their outdoor seating. My boyfriend is from the south and we recently vacationed in New Orleans - the food stacks up for sure!

• Pros: booths that offer great intimacy
• Cons: hard to get the booths

The food is so-so

by vdaniels96

The Manager is really great at this restaurant. She was able to accommodate us and our BIG party. The food is so-so, but at least the Manager really tried.

I miss the old elite...

by jasregadoo

This is a hard review, because I LOVED the Elite Cafe that I knew when I lived in SF from '87 - '94. This is the restaurant that I intended to visit on Oct 17, 1989, but the earthquake got in our way. We tried a wine at the oyster bar that we loved so much, we went to find the winery, and got a tour from the owner. So we're biased, clearly. I should also say that I've never eaten at the Meetinghouse. I used to live right around the corner from that location, but it was another restaurant at that time. So, last time I went to Elite Cafe, I was in for a shock.

The beloved oyster bar was gone, the waitress expected me to gush and be excited about the chef coming from The Meetinghouse, and my beloved Shrimp Etouffee was missing from the menu. I was heartbroken.

To be fair, though, the food that we ordered was VERY tasty, the service was very good (though I thought it annoying that they had to remind me that she was from the Meetinghouse...I clearly didn't care, and had never been there.)

I've looked online here, and seen comments from the restaurant, which really impresses me. The fact that they are that interested in their customers is GREAT. I would go back in a heartbeat and give it another shot if the etouffee were back on the menu. Seriously, I love that dish, and I haven't found another place around here to order it.

• Pros: Love the ambiance, and the ribs.
• Cons: Miss the etoufee. Desperately. Take your time to get it right, then put it on the menu.

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– April 27, 2008 at 21:30:39 PDT

Thank you so much for this posting. On & off we have had the shrimp etouffee on the menu. It is indeed a much beloved and missed dish. I am still in regular touch with the former owner, so when we talk in the next week or so, I will ask him if he has the original recipe for you. I promise, we'll work on it!

Please shoot me an email so I can let you know when we are ready for you to come on in and give us your feedback on our new version of your old favorite. In the meantime, I would try the untraditional New Orleans BBQ shrimp, they are my personal favorite - not the same, not a substitute, but very yummy nonetheless!

Again, thanks for these very kind words - hope to see you soon.

Peter Snyderman

peter@TheEliteCafe.com

415.346.8400 x10

Thank you for saving our place!!

by mrsmitchell

The Elite Cafe has a very special place in our heart. We have been coming here since moving to San Francisco. The last few years, until you did your remodel, everything was starting to slip a little and we stopped coming as often. But now our favorite spot is better than we can ever remember. We love the addition of the biscuits from your old restaurant the Meeting Place (we miss it, too).

Your servers, hosts, bartenders, and your managers are all very sweet and kind. Always helpful to get us a quiter table; your place can get a tiny bit loud at times.

Thank you for adding Saturday brunch, it is much easier for us to join you and not as crowded.

Congratulations and thank you for keeping Fillmore Street very special and unique.

See you soon :-)

• Pros: NICEST service, valet parking, brunch both days, biscuits!
• Cons: a little noisy, have to wait sometimes for a table

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– February 25, 2008 at 23:27:36 PST

This is exactly why we are in the hospitality business. Thank you for helping us remember the joy that comes with this wonderful restaurant!

Peter and the whole Elite family

25 years and getting better

by nbrenner

First went to The Elite while in college, late 80's - now the place is even better. They keep adding stuff: outside seating, valet parking, brunch on Saturday AND Sunday. Food is more flavorful & less heavy. Service was great, even when they were insanely busy on Sunday brunch. Sit outside under the heat lamps and you will be so toasty unless you have 40mph winds blowing. Very attentive service, just added awesome list of half bottles of wine; was perfect for valentine's night dinner. You can buy the insanely flaky biscuits to take home and bake up fresh - they are awesome and just as good at home as at the cafe. Also, they serve the smoothest, richest coffee; perfect with the beignets at brunch. I love this place!! You will too!!

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– February 25, 2008 at 23:31:24 PST

Thanksgiving Coffee Company (www.thanksgivingcoffee.com ; 800-648-6491), up in Fort Bragg, is responsible for the wonderful coffee. We use 100% Fair Trade & 100% Organic coffee, and it sure is delicious. TCC also makes our espresso, and it's wonderful as well.

Hope to see you soon!

Peter, Stephen & The Elite Family

Amazing food, fabulous ambience and excellent / fun service!

by foody27

I live a few blocks away from The Elite and feel very lucky for the close proximity. The food is amazing (I always start with the cajun shrimp and biscuits)! The decor / ambience is so charming, you'll feel like you've walked into another era. The private booths are totally great for an intimate dinner, but I also love to hang out at the beautiful bar for drinks and apps. I usually find that a restaurant is either good for dinner OR brunch, but not both. The Elite is certainly the exception. We love coming here on a Sunday for bloody Mary's and eggs (don't miss the beignets either!). Be prepared to wait for a table, but it's definitely worth it. You could also be smarter than me and make a reservation ahead of time! Overall, a great restaurant. I hope never to live out of walking distance!

• Pros: Deviled eggs, great food, service, and ambience
• Cons: parking is not always the easiest, but they do have valet

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– February 25, 2008 at 14:35:44 PST

What a wonderful review to read on a Monday morning. I am especially thrilled that you enjoy both brunch and dinner; this is a tightrope to walk and I am smiling ear-to-ear to know we made it across.

Hope to see you soon and thank you again for taking the time to post this about us.

Warmest regards,

Peter & The Elite Family

Dirty food? Lowest health Inspection score I have EVER seen...maybe NOT so Elite after all

by robynbjones

I would strongly advise you not to visit Elite cafe until they clean up their act. Let me preface this with the fact that I have eaten at Elite Cafe twice and both times I have thought that the food was pretty great, definitely something unique from what you typicly find at other SF (or Californian for that matter) restaurants. I have even recommended this restaurant to several other people...however, based on this new information I will NEVER go there again.

I am VERY concerned to find that Elite's San Francisco Department of Public Health Inspection score is a 66 out of 100! Elite was inspected at 12/7/07 was penalized for many things including "VERMIN - Rodents/Roaches/Flies" and "Inadequate/Inaccessible handwashing facilities & supplies." That is disgusting! And I just ate there in January, i think I need to go and wash my mouth out with soap.

Since discovering the health inspection website I have looked up many of my favorite spots in SF and I was SHOCKED to see that Elite has such poor ratings. Nothing else I have seen on the site even approaches Elite's low score (the next lowest score I found was 80 at Bistro Burger on Drumm st). I looked up the doggiest spots I could think of, and nothing compares.

If you decide to visit Elite despite this information, just know what your getting yourself into. At least most of their food is cooked throughly (i.e. not sushi). This is a sad day for me as I will be saying goodbye to those tasty biscuits forever.

If interested in reviewing this or other restaurant DPH scores, there is a link to the DPH website in the SF Gate article published 1.31.07 titled "Kitchen (not so) confidential". (To locate the article, google "Kitchen (not so) confidential" and then at the DPH site search for The Elite Cafe)

• Pros: Delicious Food
• Cons: You may be risking your health

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– February 22, 2008 at 18:05:31 PST

JANITORIAL COMPANY FIRED IMMEDIATELY! Replaced with a janitorial company specializing in restaurants.

NEW KITCHEN MANAGER hired to help our great Chef & Sous Chef to make sure NOTHING like this EVER happens again!

REDUNDANT SYSTEMS are now in place to monitor every aspect of the operation!

Just so you know, there were NO vermin whatsoever NOR even any evidence of ANY vermin on the premises! We were simply asked to put steel wool in some crevices which could become future points of entry.

We have addressed all violations. We will never put any of our guests in that position again. Nothing is more important than a restaurant's cleanliness & safety; I was personally & professionally devastated when I realized the situation ? EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

THANK YOU & I hope you will come back. I would be grateful for the opportunity to discuss this with you; please contact me directly.

Peter Snyderman, 346-8400 x10

peter@TheEliteCafe.com

Well-appointed restaurant with comforting dishes from the Big Easy by way of California.

by Contributor

The historic space feels like a spiffy and gleaming gentlemen's club, complete with secluded mahogany booths, lazy overhead fans and a friendly bar warmly lit with small lamps. The crowd embodies a classic San Francisco well-heeled mix, with couples both young and older; larger groups in the center add to the celebratory atmosphere. The homey bayou dishes exhibit a West Coast sensibility, so a N'awlins classic like gumbo includes scallops with yellow and red peppers, and barbecued shrimp arrive in a bath of seasoned butter instead of the traditional unseasoned margarine. The pork chop and hominy-crusted catfish are favorites; desserts include a decadent and moist pecan praline bread pudding and a "Napoleon" with pointy hunks of chocolate and peanut butter mousse.

I'm confused . . . dining room cameras!?

by sfbikedog

After a delicious New Year's eve dinner that included exemplary service, I decided it was time to visit the Elite again. My partner and I dropped in without a reservation early one Saturday evening recently. Hoping only to score a seat at the bar, I was delighted by the solicitous attention that hostess used to get us a table. We were, after all, unannounced on what was clearly an extraordinarily busy evening. No attitude up at the front door -it was clear the staff did not consider us an intrusion.

Again, this visit was characterized by sophisticated food and impeccable service. Our waitress was savvy and warm. Food tempature is important to me, and imagine my delight at being served a meal that was neither barely warm nor scorching hot. Clearly, our meals were ready in concert and served immediately.

Two friends are visiting from New York city and I decided to take them to the Elite. When I mentioned this to a friend who is there all the time, my impressions were confirmed-with one exception. I learned there are cameras throughout the dining room. I clearly do not remember seeing any signs nor do I remember reading about it in the italicized notes at the bottom of the menu. Why, then, are there cameras in a dining room? Whatever for? What kind of ambiance is that? Really, it feels plain stupid. Why am I being watched? Are they for loss prevention? If the staff can't be trusted, do I really want to be giving them my credit card? If I did not know about the cameras, what else do I not know about? Dropped catfish on the floor that is put on a plate?

Really, my only reaction is to groan. I'm undecided as to whether i will go back.

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– July 23, 2007 at 13:51:26 PDT

First, I am so glad that you were pleased with our food & service. That is always our goal & it makes me very proud of the amazing staff we have.

With respect to the cameras - there are three reasons why the cameras are in place:

1. the safety of our guests

2. the safety of our staff

3. insurance premium benefits

Originally there was a window sticker stating there were cameras on the premises - when we had the white & yellow gold leaf window treatment installed, we put the notice about the cameras on the sign in the window along with our hours of operation, phone #, etc.

We specifically didn't "hide" the cameras because we didn't want anyone to feel as though we were trying to pull the wool over their eyes.

I am so sorry that you felt uncomfortable. If you would like to discuss this, PLEASE FEEL FREE to call me at 415.346.8400 x10 or email me at peter@TheEliteCafe.com

Thank you for your kind words above and I do hope you will come back soon.

Peter Snyderman

Not only great food, but the best Martini in SF

by alansuss

Sit at the bar and watch the magic. If you have any concerns, see Peter and he will make it right. "My Saterday would not be complete without Brunch at the Elite."

Response from this business

pbsnyderman– May 07, 2007 at 21:24:41 PDT

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us what a great time you had. Hope to see you very soon.

All the best, Peter & The Whole Elite Team :-)