Cinderella Bakery & Cafe
(415) 751-9690
436 Balboa St
San Francisco,
CA
94118
37.7773
-122.4633
Neighborhoods: Inner Richmond, Northwest
Reviews & Ratings for Cinderella Bakery & Cafe
7 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-7 of 7 reviews
If my friends want to try Russian food I take them to my grandmothers house or I take them to Cinderella
by thecorioliswind
February 17, 2007
I was born in Russia and even though I have lived most of my life in America I have still eaten mostly Russian food from my family, my friends, their families, and of course the few Russian restaurants on the west coast. As far as food goes, this place is as homey and fantastic as you can possibly find. The Borscht is just how i remember it, so is the rye bread, and especially the Kvas (which is pretty hard to find). Everything I have ever gotten in the restaurant has been amazing. The Service, however, is not the best and i think that you can mostly attribute that to them having (what seems like) only 1 waiter who is there pretty much all day. If you go there in the afternoon he will be attentive and pleasant, but by the evening he seems worn out and a bit out of phase. I would not say the service is rude by any means, but i can understand how it can come across as such at times.
Overall, if you want to try real, great, homemade Russian food, this is most definitely the place to go.
- Pros: Food, Atmosphere
- Cons: Hard to find parking and service needs improvement
A taste of Russia!
by asblanco
December 26, 2006
We love the food! We have never ordered anything we didn't like! We have never been to Russia, but the food seems very authentic and most of the other customers speak Russian when ordering. My favorite is the piroski and borscht. It is true that they can close at random times, but we have learned to have an alternative restaurant just in case....but it doesn't happen very often. Also, you can try calling ahead of time to have them reserve specific menu items because they sometimes run out later in the day.
- Pros: great food at a great price!
- Cons: parking is a little difficult
Is their foods worth then bad service???
by kn_sf
December 25, 2005
We made a reservation for Christmas eve. They recommended coming at 6:00 because the kitchen would be closed at 8:00. When we arrived, the restaurant looked dark, then we entered they said that they did not have such a reservation. They didn't call us for cancellation neither apology. Our eve night plan was totally screwed.
- Pros: Foods
- Cons: Service, Dessert, Parking
Thats Russia for you
by bushong69
July 17, 2005
Okay, so the thing to remember about Russians are that they are a "hard" people. A friend of mine took me here because my family is Russian and she got the recommendation from her Russian friend. The waiter was incrediably aloof and I guess you could characterize it as "rude" behavior by most people's standards. She started to get upset and take it personally until I explained that it is just how they are. Believe me, my Russian grandmother acts the same way to me, and I'm her granddaughter!!! You just have to go to this amazing bakery purely for the food not the service, and trust me its worth it.
- Pros: GREAT food, quiet
Expect the Unexpected
by kiki94110
May 27, 2003
Various factors are in play as to whether or not you will enjoy your time at the Cinderella. As long as you are not in a hurry and are good-humoured, you are in for a nice evening or afternoon at the Zolushka (cinderella) cafe. We've had supergreat service, okay service, and downright strange service all in the same month. (Yes, I love Russian food...) The Pelmeni and Pirogi are wonderfully homemade, and the Breads are as fabulolus as the ones you get from the XLE6 Truck in the streets of Moscow. The Borscht is authentic and a STEAL at $3 a cup. Order a bowl if you can, and order all the bread you like! and take a loaf home, as well! Russian Black Bread is SO much better than that 'sourdough' stuff.... and i like sourdough! Ok, that's it, I'm going again tonight!
- Pros: great prices, ok parking, homemade meal
- Cons: service can be iffy, and they don't care, russian discopop
I'm Russian - I know!
by agentred
January 08, 2003
Ok, I'm Russian so I know what this stuff should taste like. The barley soup was OUTSTANDING! The waitress was prompt and courteous. I can understand why Americans would think the service there is rude because these employees do not brown-nose like most American waiters do. That's how all of Russia is, so deal with it. The poppyseed rolls are FANTASTIC if you get the large fresh ones. Lest you think I am an insider, I spoke English to them the whole time with no accent so they didn't know I was Russian. (and I look Irish) You can also sample the salads in the deli case. Their buckwheat kasha was perfectly cooked and they served fresh Russian bread with the meal-yum. Very simple decorations and menu in English. Good value on most items. Also, very clean and cozy with nice lighting-sunny in the afternoons.
Steer clear of boorish bakery staff!
by Bwtam
October 28, 2002
The goods look delicious, but the service was rude. The staff watched us silently and didn't respond when we asked a question (no one else was in the bakery). Personally, we thought it was b/c we were Asian... I'd say to steer clear of this place until their service matches their baking skills!
- Pros: Fresh bakery items, Fancy desserts
- Cons: Rude, sullen staff, Chilly service
