by Leah B. on The Endup.... from what I remember it was dark and interesting like out of some low budget movie. The ginormous outside patio was the best feature. The house music that was playing that evening we definitely on point.
by Johanna Collamore on FLIP is pretty good. The scope of the concept is pretty limited (i.e. basically burgers and sides), but hey -- it's called a "Burger Boutique." I view this place a lot like Taqueria del Sol in that their food is solid, but I can't see myself coming here very frequently due to other factors. One of the factors, though, is that I just don't eat burgers all that often. The atmosphere is kind of hip/trendy, but it's not particularly fancy. I like the ability to get something at the bar while waiting for a table; the waits can be decently long during normal dining hours. Things I liked: * The philly burger was ridiculously messy, but it was amazingly tasty. * The fries I had were delicious and cooked just right. * The pumpkin pie milkshake was just awesome. The pumpkin seeds inside were a nice touch. * I like the fact that I can get a side Caesar salad. I like anchovies on Caesars, but the little fried ones didn't really do much for me, though. They weren't warm (it would probably wilt the salad), and I thought the breading added nothing when they're cold. Other than that it was fine, though. Don't care for: * The wait (but it's not as bad as Taqueria del Sol). * The parking lot. * The noise inside. * The inside group-style table seating. * Their more conventional burgers. The standard flip and the bacon and cheese were good, but they didn't really stand out in any way over burgers from many other places. I also don't care for FLIP sauce -- it tastes like a mixture of mayo and barbecue sauce to me. Anyway, I'd come here once and a while for their unique concept burgers and maybe some of their more unusual sides. Oh yeah, and the milkshakes.
by Magaret Meloy on So I finally had the opportunity to check out Bimbo's and was quite impressed. I never would have guessed by the looks from outside that a place with so much character and history existed here; it's like they preserved one of those old clubs from the Rat Pack era of the 50s-60s. This is such a classy old school venue that has managed to keep its identity over the years (the bathrooms, bars, lobby and main area have all been kept to true form). Upon entering, you feel like you've taken a trip through time. I was so grateful to finally check out Issac Delgado (labeled King of Cuban Cool - NYT) play here recently (it was long overdue as I missed out last years' shows); the wait was definitely worth it. The sound here is amazing - the music carried to all four corners of the club and was so smooth. This venue was the perfect venue for an artist like Issac Delgado who is known for captivating audiences with his contagious rhythmic music that will eventually get you up and out of your seat and salsa dancing out on the floor. Keep in mind that for standing room shows here, if you grab a seat up front (center) you may have a blocked view of the stage. This place is a cash only venue (ATM inside though). I'd gladly pay higher ticket prices if that meant fewer tickets are sold for shows like the one I saw - the dance floor was crowded (shoulder to shoulder) that there wasn't really any room to dance. Nonetheless, Issac Delgado (perhaps the greatest modern day Cuban singer) and Bimbo's is a winning combination - I sure hope SFJAZZ continues to make this an recurring annual event.
