House of Prime Rib

As it was crowded when I walked in, I asked how long the wait would be and was told "it was moving quickly tonight" and I would be seated shortly. After 30 minutes the hostess informed me I would be seated next. Another 30 minutes passed and again I was told I would be seated next.
I told the hostess that I had already been waiting an hour and she replied she's had people wait an hour and forty five minutes before. Is that really a proper response after telling me things were "moving quickly"??? It was especially aggravating since I was standing close to her and heard her tell countless other patrons they were next. Just how many people could be next on the list at the same time? What a way to treat people. Not recommended at all. Go somewhere where you are respected and not lied to.

Pros: none

Cons: long lines, crowded, LOUD

Posted 04/17/05

Clearly the best food in the world. Too bad the're not open for breakfast.

Posted 03/24/05

As a native San Franciscan, I've been frequenting this place for about 20 years now. Even when I somehow developed an aversion to red meat, knowing that the side dishes were half the reason I went in the first place kept me going back. Yes, they do have 2 fresh fish items on the menu -- ask the waiter for the catch of the day as it changes according to season. The fish is great, too, but you come to this place for the Prime Rib. It's not a "steak joint" -- you will get mouth-watering cuts of meat that will absolutely melt in your mouth. And, as I mentioned the side dishes of potatoes, Yorkshire Pudding, fresh-baked bread, and the salad to die for are worth the trip. If you've got a hankering for red meat, this is the place.

Pros: Satisfying meal, S.F. Institution, Take outta towners to

Cons: , Valet only parking, Street parking tough

Posted 01/12/05

I love prime rib, and of all the places and restaurants I've eaten at that serve prime rib, the House of Prime Rib serves the best prime rib. The prices are fair and the service ranges from so-so to good. Be sure to make dinner reservations in advance. The restaurant is always crowded anyday of the week.

Pros: Food

Cons: , Crowded

Posted 01/11/05

I travel quite a bit... Dallas, NY, Chicago, LA...I have simply never found a better place for Prime Rib at any price. I consider it a great value as well, considering the salad is included. A bit old fashion in decor and service but there's a reason that reservations are usually made 3 weeks+ out. Great place.

Pros: awesome prime rib, great sides, wonderful ambiance

Posted 12/19/04

The best red meat I've ever had. The place was jam packed, yet the hosting staff was highly organized and we didn't wait very long at all for our reservation. Straight forward simplistic house salad that just made me hungrier for beef. Great mashed and Spinach and a framed polaroid and "Happy B-Day" for my husband by the staff. We'll be going back.

Pros: Excellent Rib, Service

Posted 11/22/04

Definitely not the best Prime Rib I've ever had, and not the best in the country as another reviewer mentioned, but a solid place with good value for the money. They serve you bread, a good salad, the prime rib cut you ordered, creamed spinach, yorkshire pudding (mmm), and if you are not stuffed at the end, they offer a second slice (which is about 4-5 credit cards thick) and some more creamed spinach if you'd like. The place was busy, but our server did not try to rush us out in any way. Overall decent service.

Pros: Lots of food, Good Value

Cons: , Parking

Posted 11/11/04

This place is over-priced. They only have one type of salad dressing-nasty. The prime rib was average to good, but the sides were below average. The service was average. Overall, not a good value. This was our second visit and both times we were disappointed. The atmosphere is old school, but not that welcoming. We know its been here for long time so obviosuly some people like it, but we will NOT be back.

Cons: , nasty salad, service

Posted 11/11/04

This place is a perrenial favorite of mine. You will never leave hungry since they will give you seconds at no extra cost if you ask. Good atmosphere, quality food, excellent staff.

Pros: Good Portions, Freindly Waitstaff

Posted 07/20/04

I can't get enough of this place. The fabulous steak, extensive wine list, delicious potatoes and salad... makes my mouth water. Make sure you have a reservation and don't even bother to find parking, valet is best. Who knew they had a place like this in a town with so many vegans?

Pros: The STEAK!, The decor, The service

Cons: , You WILL leave full

Posted 07/19/04

i love this place. i can go here for any occasion. the prime rib is always so good! i drool when i think of this place. the only bummer is that they've raised their prices =/

Posted 07/09/04

The best prime rib in the country! All of the food is of excellent quality and delicious. A very pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. Wonderful service. Im from New York, and the House of Prime Rib is a stop for me anytime I get to San Francisco.

Pros: Excellent Food, Wonderful Service, Great Deal

Posted 06/03/04

Hands down best red meat in the City! Side dishes perfect, even though I'm not a spinach fan. Scrumptious Yorkshire pudding and awesome cornbread. Meeting the Carver when he carved our dinner right in front of us was a perfect exclamation point on the whole experience. Never ending martinis and cosmopolitans. Service and attitude was exemplary. Thank God they validate parking at the gas station, but they also have valet (didn't know). $26 including your salad, entree and all your sides?! are you kidding me?! What a deal! I'm glad I made reservations, because for a Tuesday night, it was PACKED! Don't forget to say "Hi" to Gus.

Pros: Best Prime Rib, Service, Gus

Posted 04/24/04

I'll be perfectly honest: I wanted to hate the HOPR. I had this image in my head of a stale men's club where cigar smoke seeps out of the rugs. This was after hearing from my "seriously-into-being-guys" guy friends (who make a point of dining there at least once a week and believe that a meal there is a life changing experience). The moment my attitude started to lighten was when I learned that creamed spinach and potatoes-your-way (baked or mashed) come with your choice of cut. As for the meat - la raison d'etre: it was as bloody as Id hoped it would be. Two rules: you must like meat (or be up for whatever their fish special is) and you cannot be a picky eater. If youre fine with the above, this place is for you. If not, Harris is just a block away.

Pros: old steakhouse feel, service

Cons: , limited menu

Posted 02/25/04

I do admit that there's always a 10-20 minute wait for this place even with reservations but it's totally worth the wait. The food is always amazing and the portions are so big that we never had to ask for 2nds. The service is friendly but since they're always so busy, you might have to wait to get your water refilled.

Pros: great food, large portions, nice atmosphere

Cons: no parking, long wait for table

Posted 12/11/03

Food- The best! The prime rib is USDA Prime, perfectly cooked and seasoned. LARGE PORTIONS. The house salad is made at the table. It is generous and very tasty. The sourdough bread is a San Francisco classic. The side dishes are high-quality neighborhood steakhouse style. The Yorkshire pudding is great, just what you are hoping for. Big martinis.
Ambiance- funky early 70's English "Knights of the Round-Table. Noisy at times. Some diners in suits, others very casual (a few in t-shirts and shorts.)
Service- the biggest variable! On some nights- terrific, attentive and perfectly timed. On other nights, well, inconsistent at best. (One time, we had a service disaster.)
Parking- difficult, better expect to valet park.

Pros: Food quality, Value, Service (sometimes)

Cons: Difficult parking, can be noisy, Service (sometimes)

Posted 11/17/03

I've been there many times (>10). The reservation-taker always answers your questions with a "you're bothering me" attitude. And despite your reservations for 8pm, you probably won't be seated until 8:45pm.

The waiter always treats you like a subordinate. And on my last visit, they sang Happy Birthday to the wrong person, even though they recieved very clear instructions on whose birthday it was!

Go there once to experience the food, if you really want to. But you'll see why I'm not going back. Outback has very good prime rib for a lot less $, but a lot better service.

Pros: prime rib, of course!

Cons: BAD BAD SERVICE, expensive, long wait

Posted 10/22/03

This is the best Prime Ribs of Beef served in the USA.

Period!

Pros: USDA Prime Grade Beef, Silver Carts, Spinning Salad!

Cons: Expensive Parking, Crowds

Posted 09/25/03

I can not say any negative words about this place. If you want some good prime rib this is your spot. Remember that it is their specialty and there is not much else on the menu. So if you are wanting to eat something else go elsewhere. The service is great, the prices and food are perfect. Go eat there now! If you are worried about parking they have vallet.

Posted 09/19/03

Second place? What?! The only thing that is a detraction from House of Prime Rib is finding easy parking. The food is fantastic. You just can't beat it. With the atmosphere of the restaurant and the quality of the food, you'd expect to be paying twice the price. This is in San Francisco, and for around $15-20 per person (plus alcohol) you won't find a better place to dine. Every time we've gone, the prime rib was perfectly seasoned and cooked, the salad was cold and crisp, and the potatos were never over baked.

Pros: Food, Price, atmosphere

Cons: parking

Posted 08/24/03

The most consistent ambiance, food and service I have ever experienced in a restaurant. I first ate there in the early 1960's on a prom date. 40 years later the only changes that had taken place is that some of the staff had gotten older and some had moved on (or retired) and others had taken their places. The BEST prime rib anyplace - the standard by which I judge all others. Lawry's is good, but this is excellent! Attentive service, great salad, creamed spinach that will make you a spinach eater, sourdougn bread that can only be found in San Francisco, Yorkshire pudding that melts in your mouth and prime rib that is tender, tasty and cooked to perfection. What else is there to want in a restaurant.

Pros: Prime Rib, Yorkshire Pudding, Service

Cons: parking

Posted 08/08/03

if you have never tried the prime rib at the house your missing out.ive tried many steak houses,ive ever been to las vegas and tried lowerys steak house every thing was exactly like the house ..even down to the special silver carving stations and the special spinning salad.but the meat didnt compare.it was good but not like the house..its priced not too high and every things included not ala cart ... so check it out you wont be disapointed..ive been goin since 1989.also make rev 1 to 2 weeks ahead....or you wont be eating

Pros: vallet parking, under $30 per plate, great bar

Cons: na, na, na

Posted 08/05/03

House of Prime Rib is always bustling with customers, so making reservations would be wise. The prime rib really is the best in the city and those hundreds of customers couldn't all be wrong. The prices on the menu may seem high, but free second smaller slices of prime rib are provided when you order the house cut, king cut, or english cut. The most succulent taste comes from the english cut. The sides are not that great. The salad is a bit inconsistent and the yorkshire pudding is not superb. The deserts are mostly over-alcoholized and the mousse cake is a bit too rich.

Pros: Fantastic Prime Rib, Top-Notch Service

Cons: Bad Desserts, Incosistent Side Dish

Posted 08/03/03

This is probably my favorite place to eat steak AND able to get seconds??!! *yum* I am never disappointed whenever I eat here, except for an occasional rude waiter but that was only one time. Other than that, I love the salad, fully loaded baked potatoe, and rasberry sorbet to top it off. Don't forget to ask them for seconds because sometimes they do not offer it. And I ALWAYS make sure to ask the waiter for a doggy bag full of bones for my dog. Sometimes they give me 5+ but make sure to rinse them off before.

Pros: seconds on meat, salad, best prime rib

Cons: parking

Posted 07/22/03

This place was hands down the best place to get prime rib! The food was great, service was top notch, and the resturant was high class.

Pros: Great Food, No Roudy groups, Helpful

Cons: No Parking, Busy

Posted 07/01/03

If you like prime rib, you should like the HOPR. The meat is excellent and consistant. If you are, for some reason, still hungry, ask for more. The side dishes are a matter of taste. I love the Yorkshire Pudding and like the spinch (not generally among my favorites.) The salad I could do without but others in my family love it. The service, once your seated, is fine. Don't expect to be seated promptly. It's never happened to me.

Pros: meat, table service, Yorkshire pudding

Cons: seating on time, crowded

Posted 07/01/03

Way overated the prime rib was inconsistent
we had a party of 10, some orders were good others were ok the salad was bad. seemed like a 10 year old kid made up the dressing and forgot to add something. the spinach seemed like something the owner came up with to fill up space on the plate.

Pros: portions, clean forks

Cons: taste, expensive, no room

Posted 05/28/03

Outstanding food (the creamed spinach is amazing), good service, terrific atmosphere, superb wine list...can get a bit cramped but a minor detail.

Pros: Great food, atmosphere, service

Cons: parking, sometimes cramped sea

Posted 05/15/03

The prime rib is magnificent. The mashed potatoes are devilishly devine. The bread is warm and soft. The butter spreads wonderfully. The wines complement the meal beautifully. The Yorkshire pudding is a 10+++! The creamed spinach is quite tasty--even though I dislike it, which says a lot! The salad is one of the best I have ever had! The baked potato is great too! I love it here!!!!! And you will too!

Pros: Prime Rib 10++++!, Ambience is wonderful, Service is great!

Cons: Absolutely none!!!!

Posted 05/15/03

This is the best prime rib! And the salad is delicious. This restaurant always has excellent service. If you have to wait for your table, go to the bar and try one of their famous Martini's. My favorite is their Lemon Drop.

Pros: Valet Parking, Excellent Food, Large Portions

Cons: Crowded

Posted 04/23/03

Wonderful prime rib, great sides too (especially the creamed spinach and yorkshire pudding). There's usually a crowd, so book ahead.

Pros: value, food, service

Posted 04/22/03

A few words to describe "HOUSE OF PRIME RIB"-Great Food, Service, and absolutly marvelous experience......

Posted 03/17/03

What a great place, great food and great service. If you are hungry and want your monies worth, this is the place. They have te best cream spinach and great salad, and nevermind the Prime-rib-Out of this world. Great for groups, but it is a little $$ and small cocktails.

Pros: Delicious, Valet

Cons: Busy, Wait

Posted 01/18/03

Bar is crowded and noisy, but that adds to the fun. All beef dishes at our table were excellent and the salad is well presented (it's fun to watch the waiter toss) and salad tastes great. We had a 7:00 p.m. reservation for 6, arrived at 6:30 p.m., but did not get seated until 7:50 p.m.--what's that all about? Once we got seated, table service was fine, but reservation/host service was terrible!!!

Posted 01/13/03

One of my favorites places especially when you are in the mood for prime rib!! Wonderful settings with great service! Prime rib to die for, not to mention the tasty salad and great wine selections too.

Posted 01/13/03

Love how they come to your table and make the salad, and then the Chef with the wonderful silver domed cart and carves the piece at the table.......
Excellent

Pros: good decor, old fashioned service, great food

Cons: Dining area is loud, no parking, need reservations

Posted 01/13/03

Best prime rib. Salad and sides are included with the price as is an extra slab of beef (for all but the city cut). The service is just OK but the good food and strong bar drinks make up for it.

Pros: best prime rib ever, strong drinks, reasonable wine list

Cons: waits, crowded waiting area

Posted 01/13/03

For that mega beef, no holds barred, wonderful
San Francisco dining experience.
Worth the trip into the city.

Pros: large portions, best prime rib, real San Franciscan

Cons: somewhat crowded, parking

Posted 01/13/03

Best splurge dinner I have had in years. HOPR still has the touch. Prime Rib to perfection. I love this place.

Don't forget to have a martini before dinner.

Posted 01/08/03

Absolutely the best prime rib I have ever had. So extremely delicious and so tender it melts in your mouth. Everyone I was with had not one complaint about anything. We were all very happy with The House of Prime Rib

Pros: Delicous, great service, wonderful ambiance

Posted 01/03/03

Been to HOPR three times in the last year and it's always a good meal. The menu consists of 4 prime-rib dinners in slightly different cuts from $23-$29. Each meal includes a salad, mashies or baked potatoes, creamed spinach and yorkshire pudding. There's one fish entree for those who are not in carnivore mode. The prime-rib is served from a large, ornate silver cart that gets pushed around the dining room and the meat is tender, juicy and flecked with just the right amount of salty crust. We got a good Hess 2000 cabernet sauvignon for $20. The service is very professional, water glasses are filled constantly and they took a picture of our group for the occasion. The dark interior makes you feel as if you're sitting in a country club. A great spot for a family occasion or if you're just in the mood for beef.

Pros: Delicious Prime Rib, Great Service, Reasonable Prices

Cons: Nothing

Posted 12/21/02

The best beef in S.F. period. Great servie at a reasonable rate.

Posted 12/19/02

The prim rib was the best that I had ever had. The atmosphere was superb and the service was out of this world. I would highly recommend this to everyone.

Pros: excellent

Posted 12/04/02

The best restaurant ever. Great food, service, price, and everything else! The place gives you a reason to live.

Posted 12/04/02

Best Prime rib anywhere in the city. Simplicity is the key.

Posted 11/14/02

By far, the best place for Prime Rib!! Good value too!! Good sides!! They do just one thing, and do it great!! Also check out Broadway Prime, in Burlingame, supposedly operated by ex House employees. Excellent service! Several celebrities can be seen almost any day.

Pros: MEAT!!

Posted 11/14/02

My wife is the prime rib lover of the family and she loved it.

The prime rib was great, some people have complained about the salad and it was maybe a little limp but I thought it was great for a change.

Only 2 negatives come to mind, the person taking my reservation put down 4 instead of 2, when we arrived we were made to wait until a table for 2 became available. Over 20 minutes, plus another 40 minutes because we were that early.

The other issue was it was very very loud, the waiter could not even hear to take our order.

All in all we will go again

Pros: Great Prime Rib, price Ok for the food

Cons: Service could be bett, Drinks pricey

Posted 11/08/02

Yes, the prime rib is to die for. The problem is , the rest is a little tired. The creamed spinach is very disappointing, if you know what the good stuff tastes like. The salads are huge, and o.k. The interior design is dated, though it can make you sentimental for the late '70's.

Posted 10/31/02

I've never had such an incredibly delicious Prime Rib in my life! The varied portions are generous no matter what size you choose and are cut right at tableside! And the side dishes: yorkshire pudding, creamed spinach, salad...all numby!!!

Pros: valet parking, great service, fabulous food

Cons: touristy

Posted 10/24/02

I never fail to go here at least once a year but I wish I could go more often. Be sure to make reservations if you go on a Fri or Sat. Their English Cut is the best. I love their salad. They have the best Tiramisu and cheesecake except I always ask for the cheesecake without the raspberry (or was it cherry) syrup. It gets pretty loud when it gets crowded. They won't seat you until everyone from your party arrives. Service is great also. They never fail to make sure everything is okay. Great price for great food.

Posted 10/22/02