by Han L. on This restaurant is too cool for school. If you're feeling uber cool, eat here. It's a random brick building in the middle of a residential area. The industrial appearance of the restaurant is softened by twinkling lights and greenery on the outside. Thick velvet curtains drape the entrance. The place was PACKED when we arrived. The atmosphere was warm, but lively. I saw ox tails so I could not resist. After ordering our food, our server brought over a fancy array of bread for us. The ox tails (misnomer, really cow) itself was good, but expect the meat de-boned. My friend ordered a steak dish. I think that dish was meeh; just pequeno meat and a lot of fries, yo. The service was a bit slow, but the restaurant was so damn packed, that it's understandable. Anyway, our server was very sweet. The bathroom was too trendy and did not match the restaurant's ambience. And, they're cramped as hell. There's valet parking and street parking.
by Cassy Teyler on I have to admit that I didn't even know you could eat lunch here. I've been to the Temple Nightclub side of the place not because I'm the clubby type. Maybe cubby, definitely chubby but most certainly not clubby. No, no...I came first for a rateclubs Elite event and then for a SF Pride event with Jody ("I'm Lookin' for a New Love...yeah, yeah, yeah") Whatley ...oh and then for a big-screen airing of the VP debates when I wanted to hunt for a certain governor from a helicopter. So my only experience actually eating here was a morsel off a speeding appetizer plate as a flock of rateclubsers devoured it. It was like that scene from "Suddenly, Last Summer" when Elizabeth Taylor's gay cousin was cannibalized by Mexican street urchins. But I digress...I was pleasantly surprised when a colleague took me here for lunch today, and we could sit outside on their makeshift patio seating. What was even nicer was that they make a sensational Grilled Kobe Beef Burger on a light focaccia roll for $11. What was even nicer was the tropical twinge it had between the mango chutney aioli on the bun and the banana ketchup for the fries. It was a satisfying burger find and just minutes away from my workplace. Service was fine, though I have to admit the motley foot traffic - loud, name-tagged kids on a field trip ... even louder runners from the LaLanne gym - was a bit annoying. FOOD - 4 stars...excellent, unexpected burger with an unobtrusive tropical beat AMBIANCE - 4 stars...it was nice outside SERVICE - 4 stars...accommodating and not too slow for a busy lunch hour TOTAL - 4 stars....thank goodness I don't have to know how to dance to come back here
