Fresca

i don't understand how so many people dislike the food at this place. maybe they haven't had a lot of peruvian food. of the peruvian restaurants i've been to, this has the best food. the ceviche is very good.

but, the service is horrible. really bad. the hosting is particularly poor. i've been made to wait 15+ minutes for each reservation i've had so far, and made to feel LUCKY that i was seated. and since there is no place to wait, you feel stupid looking at all the other people eating while you're just standing there.

the waiters were a bit dismissive, but can be possibly forgiven because they are usually so busy.

i'm willing to put up with a lot for good food, and the location is very central to a number of activities. but, be prepared to put up with a significant amount of grief.

Pros: very good food, good area, ceviche

Cons: poor service, attitude, poor service!!

Posted 05/12/03

From the moment we walked in the service was bad. The hostess was rude and acted as if we were putting her out. The food took about an hour to arrive at the table. I ordered the ribeye. The steak was good , but the fries and plantains were cold and had no taste. Finally when the bill came we had to get change for the tip. The bill was $80, we handed the waitress $100 asking for change for a $20. The tab came back with the $20- no change. We were told that the restaurant couldn't break a $20. A restaurant that can't break a $20??? I couldn't believe it. Not going back and not letting any friends go either.

Posted 03/27/03

This place needs improvement. Food was not bad but not great either. Service was poor. Two and a half hours for dinner from start to finish is ridiculous. 40 minutes to get appetizers, 50 minutes to get entrees. The kitchen cannot handle the load when it gets busy and the sign of a well-run restaurant is the ability to handle Friday and Saturday night levels of business. For the price ($7-10 apps, $15-18 entrees) you would expect more from a restaurant competing in this segment. segment.

Pros: Appetizers

Cons: Service

Posted 03/22/03

I was looking forward to my dinner at Fresca...then I arrived.

My reservation was for 8pm but was told "I am not sure when we can seat you". I had to ask if I should go to the bar and she said "the bar is really crowded" and then just stared at me. I ask her if I should leave...then she replied, "yes why don't you come back later". I was so disappointed with this response and service.

The restaurant was really crowded and the table that MAY become available was two inches from the hostess stand and front door.

They really need to work on the service aspect. I heard rumors of the service problems but this is too much. I ended up heading down to Elite Cafe and had a wonderful dinner.

Cons: bad service, crowded, restaurant layout

Posted 03/21/03

My new favorite restaurant in SF. I have been there 5 times now and tried something new every time. Service is tremendous as well!

Posted 03/17/03

We parked in front of the restaurant and thought, Peruvian food? So we had some time to kill and we went in at 5:30pm on a saturday.
We ordered the Aji de Gallina (spicy chicken something). Me and my friend were shocked at how good this thing was. The food was amazing.
We walked back at 9pm and the place was packed outside with people trying to get in. It look like a SOMA club, young trendy cute people dying to get in for, Peruvian food. What a kick.
We are going back to explore the menu.

Pros: food is amazing, good service, ambiance

Cons: haven't found any yet

Posted 03/04/03

Order any of the ceviches (they have nearly 10 on the menu) and you'll go away happy. Very light and refreshings. And although the chicken stew sounds like the most simple dish on the menu, it was one of our favorites.

Service is efficient but not over-bearing. Prices are great (ceviches are ~$10 and will feed 2) and entrees are $15-20.

The only downside is that they ran out of the ride pudding that so many other reviewers loved when I was there.

Posted 02/28/03

I've tried some good ceviche at other restaurants in the city, but Fresca on Fillmore by far has the best Ceviche. Not only that, everything on the menu is excellent. we tried are usual Ceviche sampler, grilled Ahi Tuna with a mango mustard glaze, the best lomo Saltado ever, and the Trucha Encebollada. And for dessert, I recommend getting the warm rice pudding, and the peruvian cookies that come with a small milk shake. You definetley get your moneys worth at this place, I highly recommend!

Pros: FLAVOR!, FUN, Friendly

Posted 02/19/03

Fresca is the freshest new restaurant in SF. The kind of place that puts you in a good mood and delights your senses. I especially enjoy their array of ceviche for starters. Fun to share with friends along with a good Peruvian beer. My favorite entree is the Pescado a la Macho. Delicious!
A must at good value!

Posted 02/18/03

We went to the new Fresca last night and were not disappointed. The food was really great. The only disappointment was dish that is made of potatoes and crab meat, at the other Fresca it is made with fish? and that one tasted much better. But the ceviche was tastey and the fish a la macho was even better. I do recommend this place!

Posted 02/08/03

I highly recommend this new Peruvian place on the Fillmore. Just what the fillmore needed. I think I've had the best Lamb Chops, served with mashed potatoes and a tasty chimicurri. The Ceviches from the Ceviche bar are incredible! MUST CHECK OUT!!!

Pros: Fresh Food, Service, Atmosphere

Cons: none!

Posted 02/07/03

What an incredible experience at the new Fresca location. The food was excellent and very affordable. We've tried almost every ceviche from their Ceviche bar, my favorites being the Ceviche Mixto, ceviche Chino, and the tiradito. Another dish that stands out is there lomo saltado, steak strips with onions, tomatoes, fries, cilantro accompanied with a pyramid of white rice. I've had lomo saltado at other peruvian restaurants in the city, but none compare to Frescas. They also have lots of great Seafood entrees, everything is just truly amazing!

Posted 02/03/03

In a word Perfect, a great exerience from the greeting at the door to the wait staff that is both freindly and very helpeful. The food is amazing, by far the best Peruvian food I have ever eaten. Perfectly priced, Everything that i have ever ordered, From the delicatley layered Seafood Paella's down to the Best Ceasar salad i have ever had, are prepared to perfection. Weather you are a vegitarian or love meat, or if you want to eat healthy or spoil yourself rotten with wonderfullfoods rich in flavor, this place has something for everyone. Fresca's is a must. See for yourself.

Pros: Amzing food, Great value, Wonderful atmosphere

Posted 11/30/02