Grand Cafe

I just bought a building (for my office) in Union Square. Was looking for a daily go to white table cloth in the area. Grand Cafe I thought . . . wrong.

Decor - Beautiful

Service ? Unsophisticated waiter with heavy Hispanic accent trying to describe ?Brasserie classics.? Disaster. Ketchup came with my wife's burger, but not my fries. When I asked for ketchup, no response. Then I asked again and finally got some ketchup. Waiter did not once do the obligatory "howyadoing." My individual teapot had top turned up for 15 minutes - no refill. Took me another 10 minutes to flag someone else?s waiter down for hot water. My waiter gives me credit card slip to fill out, I sign. Takes me 10 more minutes of looking around the room like I'm an idiot for the waiter to finally see me so he can come get the signed credit card slip.

Final Straw - Coke was $3.50 ok I can live with that. Tea was $5.00! Don?t remember last time tea was more than Coke. Moreover, anyplace that charges $5.00 for tea better provide a hellava lot more than the Grand Cafe.

Management - If you're reading this. Visit was on 1/21/09 1145a-1245p. Either lower your prices or improve your service. Try you again in a year.

Posted 01/20/09

I travel to SF often on business, and usually entertain clients at dinner. So I worry about my restaurant choices. I'd heard some interesting comments about good things happening at the Grand Cafe, and decided to try it. It was a wonderful experience! The room is beatifully designed and interestng, whith it's high ceilings, and open kitchen.The food was authentic French Brasserie. I found the servers attentive, but not overbearing, Our waiter explained intricacies of the preparation on request, and made some great suggestions. All in all, a great experience, and the food was the star!. I'd eaten at Les Halles, in Paris, and this was as authentic but far more sophisticated. The charcuterie, the puree of cod potatoes and garlic, and the skate wing stand out in my memory, but everything was done to perfection. A great evening!

Pros: All aspects of restaurant service were there, food, service and decor

Cons: None that I found.

Posted 09/25/07

The Grand's dining room is so beautiful - it speaks to another age when a room could take your breath away.

The new Chef has given the food the attention & flavor to match. During a recent trip to Paris, we dined in all the famous brasseries, this one really takes the cake (or foie gras).

I love eating at this restaurant!

Pros: the hip & busy bar, the splendor of the dining room

Cons: hard to get into on busy theater nights

Posted 09/24/07

i visited grand cafe two years ago with a group of my friends; surprisingly the waiter that was catering to us was extremely RUDE, rushing us and expecting us all to order right when we sat down! the food tasted great but the service i can say striaghtout...sucked. my friend typed an email to the manager the week after and she replied back with apologies and compensation for the waiter's rude service. we went back to grand cafe a few weeks later and the managre provided us with the utmost respect + best service possible. our new waiter was extremely cordial, food was amazing, and i must say Grand Cafe hired a wonderful manager that knows how to treat a loyal customer. Try it out, i don't think you will regret it....the past few times i went the food was always delicious!

Pros: interesting furniture, designs, has a home-feel but fancy at the same time, awesome manager, TASTY food

Cons: first waiter i had was extremely rude, thats it.

Posted 04/19/07

We came here in 2002 and remembered an evening with great atmosphere and food. Unfortunately, on return this evening (five years later) it fell well short of our expectations.

The service was excellent but the fayre from the kitchen was consistently poor?

Main issue was with the main course ? We both had fish, I had Salmon and my partner had sea-bass?. both were absolutely swimming in butter which totally ruined it.

We both had Fois Gras as a starter which tasted OK but was piled-high (maybe we?re a bit European but that isn?t the done thing for a starter where we come from!) and the flavours were over-complicated.

And I haven?t even mentioned the bread which had us masticating for ages?.

Such a shame.

Posted 04/03/07

The only positive during this dining experience was our server, who did a great job. But what is good

service worth when the food is horrible! There was not one person out of a group of 10 who enjoyed the

meal. Simply a huge dissapointment and worst of all a huge bill. Dining establishments that charge prices

like these should serve much better food!

Pros: good service

Cons: terrible food

Posted 02/17/07

The food is surprisingly good for such a big brasserie in such a touristy location (Union Square). The decor is striking, too. Unfortunately, the service is lamentably poor. Not bad. Just poor.

We recently had a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon in the dining room of The Grand Cafe. Our order ostensibly got lost in the computer lines between the waiter stand and the kitchen. Meanwhile, the managerette and 3 waiters were picking croutons out of the salad of some diva at table 14. Yet not even a scrap of bread was offered to us to quell our hunger. No investigation was made by the waiter as to why it was taking the ktichen 25 minutes to compose an order of eggs benedict and a burger; he offered a paltry "Your food should be right up" in lieu of anything resembling real effort.

When the managerette finally came by to apologize to us for the delay, she asked if she could get us anything, to which I replied, "Bread 20 minutes ago would have been nice." Then she rushed off to get a plate of crab cakes for the two divas at table 14. (To her credit, she did bring us some hard bread and eventually two comped glasses of wine, the tray quivering in her hand under the obvious strain of having to deliver a round of insufficient apologies.)

I don't expect anybody to kiss my butt when I go out to eat. But as a paying guest, I expect them to pay some attention to our table, our order, our enjoyment or, barring such an excessive degree of expectation, our minimal comfort. In a stylish setting like the Grand Cafe, you'd expect a degree of style in the service. I think that's the problem with this place. Despite the surroundings, the service was graceless.

We'll try it again. Once. But only once. Everybody has an off day, restaurants included; and maybe we got the one so-so waiter in the place. One bad visit can cast suspicion over an entire place forever, however. And in that industry -- in any industry -- that ain't good. So we'll see..

Pros: Decor

Posted 02/02/07

The room and the booths are very romantic.
We had an amazing tiger prawn appetizer. I
had the cassoulet, which I wasn't blown over by.

Posted 11/02/06

This is a great spot for a fancy family dinner or a cozy and romantic date. The food is absolutely delicious and the desserts are perfection. Try the banana cream pie dessert or apple galette. I love this place!

Posted 10/25/06

We went for a holiday brunch and at $50 a head you'd think quality--instead we got greasy and inedible food, sloppy service, and generally poor quality. Would *not* recommend!

Posted 04/17/06

food is so great ! service is reallyu good and competitive prices for being downtown. You want a groumet breakfast ? stop by at the grand cafe. Try their chantarelle truffle omelette,it's amazing ! also the sandwich lobster was a great find !

Pros: food, ambience, service

Posted 02/19/06

My wife and I arrived to the Grand Cafe and were greeted promptly and politely and escorted to a very nice booth in a beautifully decorated ball room. It was all down hill from there. First, we sat for far to long before being served. Then, our appetizer arrived and the plate scalded my wife's fingers when she tried to move it closer (the server did NOT mention the plate was hot). We both had the highly recommended Onion Soup; it was bland and tasteless. Now the entrees: while my wife's steak was very tasty, my salmon was just as bland as the soup. Another note regarding the poor service, we started with a female server and with no explanation in the middle of our meal a male server started coming to our table. Apparently, he was our new server but he never told us. Just impolite and unprofessional.

Pros: Hostess/Host, Romantic

Cons: Service, Food, Professionalism

Posted 01/25/06

I celebrated NYE with some friends at the Grand. We made reservations earlier that month and I had to expand the party number closer to NYE. No problems with increasing from 4 to 8; quite unexpected! The atmosphere, service and quality were fabulous and I have to mention the value ($55 prixe fix menu), which judging by most of the other 3 star restaurants in SF, was a bargin! Our server was top notch and we weren't even charged corkage for the '90 magnum of Pommery Grand Cru brought in to help toast the holidays with. We sat for the first seating and dined laguidly, what a treat on this day! There's alot of restaurants that come and go in SF, but the Grand is truly one of the few establishments who cater to those who demand unpretentious quality French dining in elegant surroundings at a reasonable price.

Pros: Atmosphere, Crowd, Food

Cons: Parking

Posted 01/01/06

Tonight was my first of what will become many visits to the Grand Cafe. The elegant dining room is well accompanied by a classy, knowledgeable waitstaff and tasteful background music. My party tried the grilled sea bass and the short ribs while I chose the feel good French favorite Cassoulet. There food was amazing! Mine was better! Brought in on an old-school pot, the Cassoulet with duck confit was cooked perfectly and the white beans, braised pork and bold garlic sausage really helped tie all the flavors into a sharp, filling meal.

Pros: Ambience, Variety

Posted 12/21/05

I love Grand Cafe. I've taken out of town friends there 2x, the first by chance, the second because the first experience was so good. The food has never disappointed, and the bar is so friendly, we toasted a drink together. It does get crowded and noisy by the bar, but the food was excellent, esp the desserts. If you can get inside to the dining area, you will have both excellent food and the ambience for good conversation.

Posted 12/15/05

However, my friends and I decided to dine in the bar area before the theatre. We all had different types of salads and they were virtually tasteless. They really need an overhaul on their salad offerings. The dressings (they only offer 2) were tasteless, the feta cheese (or so they claimed, but we think it was simple goat cheese) was tasteless and the chicken was as dry and tasteless as can be! The rest of the menu looked great, and I've eaten in the main dining room many times, which has always been fabulous. Decor is always great. Check it out at Christmas time. Beautiful. Just stay away from the salads!!!

Posted 09/21/05

Went for saturday brunch. Not crowded at all, great service except they forgot my bacon. Overall a outstanding experience!

Pros: food

Posted 07/31/05

We made reservations at the Grand Cafe for our first meal, on our first time in San Francisco. We were not disappointed at all! The restaurant looks and feels very opulent but is very laid back. The service is excellent, food is really good and we never felt rushed. Lots of people came and went but we were able to take our time and enjoy the night out and the fabulous dinner & drinks. Great location, very close to the Hotel Diva. We'll be coming back again.

Pros: staff, great tasting food

Posted 11/30/04

On the advice of a coworker, my husband and I dined here on our first wedding anniversary. The Grand Cafe was superb in every way: The food was delicious (try the hangar steak) and the staff went out of their way to honor our special evening. We felt like royalty!

Pros: Wondeful service, Excellent wine list, Beautiful environs

Posted 10/03/04

I used City search to locate a great place to eat "pre-theatre". Grand Cafe was beautiful, exactly as pictured. The service was prompt, professional, and helpful. Great place for a girls night out and romantic getaway.

Posted 03/14/04

The grand cafe is truly grand, and a place I often recommend, even above restauraunts at the same price range that have far better food. Why? The place is gorgeous. The staff is in touch. The concept works. It is one of the quintessential dining experiences in SF. One thing about dining, it is about more than the food on your plate. If I were to choose a wonderful evening in town it might start here, with its 30-foot ceiling, wonderful sculpture, etc., over an esoteric quiet place with brilliant execution. So for the foodies (on this block) I might recommend Cortez or, for a walk, Campton Lane. But for people who want the consummate dining experience, Grand Cafe, definitely. You must order the bananas for desert.

Pros: Ambiance, Great concept, A true institution

Posted 03/05/04

This is a great restaurant. I went here for my birthday and recieved a birthday card from the manager. My food was excellent and all of the service was excellent as well. Highly recommended.

Pros: Food, Atmosphere, Great Service

Posted 02/29/04

I took my Fiance to the Grand after proposing. I told them on the phone that we were celebrating our engagement, and given the reviews I had read I was a little dissapointed with our seating. The tend to pack couples into rows of other couples. If you want romantic, make sure to specify a better table. HOWEVER, the food, ambiance, and service were great. The price isn't to bad if you stay away from alchohol. We got out at $60 with salads and entrees.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Posted 02/29/04

I made a mention of the occasion being our honeymoon at the time I made the reservation. (That was 5 months in advance.)
Once we were seated, several staff members came by to congratulate my husband and me on our recent nuptials. We were also greeted with complementary glasses of champagne (not the cheap stuff either) as well as some special tasters from the chef. It seemed as though all efforts made that evening were specifically for us (and the restaurant was pretty full due to theater performances).
The food was wonderful. The portions were perfect sized and tasted marvelous. (The lamb was phenomenal.)
The food here is moderately pricey, but worth every penny.
I cannot express the value of our memories that the restaurant made for my husband and me.

Pros: service, food taste, value

Cons: none

Posted 10/28/03

Grand Cafe truly deserves top marks in all categories...this is one of the finest dining experiences in San Francisco, with delicious dishes, sumptuous service, divine decor, and a remarkably cosmopolitain ambience that cannot be matched at other bistros in town. Most of all, this wonderful experience is due in large part to a particularly wonderful bartender by the name of Tolentino, who brightens up the entire restaurant with his impeccible manners, friendly attitude and, might I add, drop-dead good looks. He makes a strong cosmo and knows everything about any wine you can imagine. Bravo to the bartender and everyone else at Grand Cafe~

Posted 10/13/03

Had the prix fixe lunch special which is really a bargain at 19.95. The salad was perfectly dressed w/a lemon peppery vinaigrette topped w/feta and the creme brulee dessert was excellent. The chicken entree was tasty but could have been more tender. My friend had his usually order of mussels which was delicious and they served it with very good herbed french fries--that was an interesting combination. Friendly service. This place is easy to get to by public transportation; the 38 muni stops right in front and BART is close by.

Posted 07/10/03

This restaurant is a favorite for many reasons. The food is wonderful, the service is great, the atmosphere is romantic, and the decor is incredible. This has to be one of the best restaurants I've ever visited.

I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Pros: Great food, Great service, Great Decor

Cons: No parking

Posted 04/03/03

Another outstanding dining experience in SF. The lamb was some of the best lamb I have ever had. The service was impeccable. It does get a little loud since it is really one big room, but don't let that stop you from trying this wonderful restaurant.

Pros: Food, Service

Posted 02/21/03

Even as a lone diner here, I had a great time. The atmosphere is wonderful, colorful yet sophisticated. The food was flavorful...don't miss the restaurant's signature banana cream pie. It's not quite your traditional version. Entrees are about $15-25.

The only thing I could have done without was the many tourists. It's right off of Union Square, so expect plenty of them!

Posted 01/23/03

Wonderful restaurant designed to mimick La Coupole in the Montparnasse District of Paris. Meals have always been wonderful, especially at dinner time, the mood and atmosphere are terrific.

Pros: Banana Creme Pie!

Cons: Rough neighborhood

Posted 10/03/02

The Grand Cafe is a beautiful restaurant and the food is wonderful! My husband had the Sonoma Duck Breast and I had the special Halibut w/mushroom risotto and they were both out of this world!! Our server was also wonderful and very helpful too - we highly recommend this restaurant and will make it one we come back to whenever we're in town!!

Pros: Beautiful decor, Wonderful food, Romantic

Posted 08/25/02

Whether you want a romantic dinner or to celebrate with friends, this is the place to go. The staff of attentive, food was great, and the atmosphere was relaxing.

Pros: Beautiful, Great food, Good location

Posted 07/08/02

I went to Grand Cafe on Saturday for pre-theater dining and it was amazing. The atmosphere, food and service were all excellent. The restaurant is beautiful, unlike any other I have seen in SF and the food was incredible. Great selection of wines as well. I recommend ordering a dessert as well.

Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Food

Posted 06/30/02

I love this place. Everytime I visit the Bay Area this is a must go place to dine. The space is beyond beautiful with the high ceilings and the statues. The food is always fantastic. My compliments to the Chef!

Posted 05/22/02