Insider Pages Reviews for First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge

3 Stars: Gr8 place (by megha123)

megha123 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Gr8 place

4 Stars: Check this place out! (by deannapalmisano)

deannapalmisano — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I went on a date to this restaurant last week. We had reservations so that was not a problem, but I recommend having them because there was quite a crowd around the front. The lighting was great and noise level. I felt very comfortable in cozy. The decor was beautiful and the service was alright. Definitely could have been more attentive to our needs. The food was delicious and drinks were yummy.

5 Stars: Food Was Great (by Tim R.)

Tim R. — Sat, 30 May 2009 01:51:00 GMT

I really liked the appetizer menu at this place, overall good experience I would highly recommend it.

We tried a red Baklavayan Wine, that was also sensational.

3 Stars: a good place for a date (by mdroz8)

mdroz8 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

not a bad place to eat for a date on a last minute kind of thing. you wnat to go and get wine but also try the desserts and make sure you ask for the bread! they sometimes forget.

3 Stars: a good place to eat with a date (by mdro)

mdro — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

this was a good place to eat but over prices and maybe i will go there again with a friend. well i will goback when this is a better place adding more his time to test

3 Stars: Love this place (by TomBrokaw)

TomBrokaw — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Great decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decorGreat decor

2 Stars: Romantic? (by lan94588)

lan94588 — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Although services were pleasant, there's nothing romantic about this location. Perhaps, because the restaurant is in the lower floor with low ceiling and narrow surrounding, noise got trapped. It's a noisy restaurant. Food is OK. Nothing impressive to compensate for its pricie menu. Most will assuming that a noisy place is good for large group. In my opinion, this place is too noisy for large group (of 10 people). You can't hear someone down at the other end of the table!

2 Stars: Not bad (by Ines R.)

Ines R. — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:22:00 GMT

For some reason, I was expecting more. Small little place, very quiet. Older (no offense, I am getting old too!) crowd. Good wine list though and OK food. Really depends on what you are looking for

2 Stars: um, not so much (by MoCal)

MoCal — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

This restaurant just doesn't do it for me; starting with the cramped layout, to the blah wine selections, to the food. Nothing offensive, but in a city with all the options of SF, I won't return.

5 Stars: First Crush (by liltamby5)

liltamby5 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Great place for dates or a night out with the girls! Very quaint and peaceful and the food is delicious! I highly suggest their salmon...best salmon I've ever had! And their wine selection is very good!

2 Stars: Not impressed (by jennnaka)

jennnaka — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

My first visit to First Crush was a disaster and I can honestly say I will never go back. Despite the fact that we had reservations, apparently we didn't reserve far enough in advance and were seated in the bar area upstairs. There is nothing remotely romantic about this area as it is loud and there are waiters rushing back and forth with drinks, and I couldn't move my chair back because there was a pipe sticking out of the wall blocking it. We tried asking the hostess if we could be seated downstairs, and clearly she was used to people getting upset by second rate seating because she tossed her hair and gave us an incredibly rude response. In fact, I think she made me more mad than the bad seating did!

This trip really ruined our evening and put both of us in a bad mood. We should have done what we saw several other people do and leave as soon as it was clear we were getting 'second rate' seating.

5 Stars: Voted "Best for Groups" - with good reason! (by Mindy G.)

Mindy G. — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:59:00 GMT

I have used First Crush on two separate group events, both times they were friendly, accommodating, and my guests recognized this. The food is creative and good, and is reasonably priced. Definitely one to try!

4 Stars: my review.. (by more4meplease)

more4meplease — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

With so many places in SF to eat at, very few can be a memorable experience..

First Crush is not one of them. I am now a fan of this place! Although it was just me, table for one, I was treated like a VIP. Seriously, I was greeted and seated from the moment I walked in, catered to without having to famously ?flag ? my server down, and yet, with all of the attention, I was still able to relax peacefully and enjoy my flight of wine. The food was excellent and my chocolate dessert was very rich and sinful..

I Couldn't have chosen a better spot for my quiet dinner alone.

5 Stars: A crush indeed! (by marzipandoll)

marzipandoll — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Went to dinner here with my friend and I already have plans to return! Although our reservation was at 7:30pm, we showed up at 7pm, thinking that we maybe, just maybe that our table might be ready for us. It looked like a busy night there (or it could be that its a small place) but the hostess immediately brought us to our table. Not knowing what to order, we bombarded our server with questions and based on her recommendations, ordered the ribs for starters, and for dinner, the Halibut for me and the steak for my friend.

One word to describe our food: fantastic. The ribs were just perfect for the two of us, a little on the spicy side, but very tasty indeed! My dish was very delicious. Very light and extremely flavorful. I would definitely return just for that dish alone. My friend's dish must have been good as well-she didn't want to share with me and cleaned her plate.

Can't tell you how dessert was though. We were too full by then.

All in all, our experience, service and of course, dinner was a pleasant experience. I definitely will return, if not for dinner, then at least for a glass of wine. Maybe even two!

1 Stars: Worst Service Ever Actually No Service! (by julz6402)

julz6402 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:00:00 GMT

We sat for 10 minutes no one even bothered to bring us a water or ask for a drink order. The manager simply said "sorry ladies" when we walked out and complained. Prentencious! Rude! Went to the food court in the WestField Mall down the street where there was nice people and decent food.

1 Stars: Horrible waitstaff service & subpar cuisine at First Crush (by Rubikscube)

Rubikscube — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Two words, CRAPPY SERVICE. Don't waste your hard earned money on bad/rude and unmotivated servers, a ton of ugly attitude and average to subpar cuisine. What's worse was that it was my sister's bachelorette dinner party w/ a total of 14 people. Just glad my sister was happily distracted by her friends. The only good things about First Crush were the host/hostess and the bus staff. Management needs to interview their employees a bit more carefully or at least train them in how to treat customers properly. Not disappointed since there were no expectations on my part...but if you're running a restaurant that was named Best Date Restaurant, there should be a level of service that matches up to that accolade. 2 Thumbs WAY DOWN for FIRST CRUSH IN SF.

4 Stars: Wonderful and intimate (by Dawn F.)

Dawn F. — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:12:00 GMT

This restaurant is one of the better places in the city to grab a flight of California varietals as well as savory small plates. I'd make reservations on evenings where a big event or game is going in in the city.

You may miss it if you drive by, but worth parking and stepping in for a drink and a bite.

Entrees are great, large portions. We like the cheese sampler as well with flights of red. Cocktails are generous as well.

4 Stars: Wonderful, Romantic, planning my next trip soon! (by Melissa W.)

Melissa W. — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:15:00 GMT

I had a great time at this restaurant. Very intimate, you might be a little too close to the next table but the decor is very worth it. A great place to get a glass of wine and an appetizer if not super hungry. I would recommend getting their flights of wine. You get to try different types for a reasonable price. Recommended this place to all my friends for their next date.

5 Stars: Valentines Day Delight! (by KaylynL)

KaylynL — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I were looking for a resturant to go to on Valentines day, we stumbled across First Crush on City Search as it was voted "most romantic resturant". We couldnt have gone to a more perfect resturant. The ambiance was romantic yet chic, perfect! Because it was a holiday there was special menu, the food was absolutley delicious, I had the Filet Mignon which was cooked to perfection. We also chose to do the wine pairings which were spectacular. I would highley recomend this resturant for a special occasion dinner or for a "just for fun" night out.

4 Stars: Trendy, great wine (by Tracy G.)

Tracy G. — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:45:00 GMT

Located slightly below street level, First Crush is a great place to have dinner and taste excellent wine. The restaurant is small and intimate with an EXTENSIVE, all-California wine list and fresh menu. Prices aren't too bad, and they offer wines by the flight -- so if you are unsure -- you can sample many without having to purchase entire glasses or bottles.

1 Stars: horrible late night service, NOT fine dining experience (by baines32)

baines32 — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

My wife and I tried the restaurant for the first time last night and were left with a horrible taste in our mouth. We were very excited to spend our anniversary dinner there after reading several great reviews and hearing from friends who liked the place.
We went to a comedy show around 730 so we had a late dining time, a 1030 reservation. (They told me they seat and serve til midnight)
We were sat promptly but immediately our service from our waiter was awful. He never introduced himself (by name or as our server) but he was a tall, fairly young (late twenties?) and found out his name is Jackson.
He asked if we wanted drinks and after we ordered a $100 bottle of wine and the cheese plate, he asked if we were "having an entree or what?". We both thought this was a bit rude, especially since he had not spent more than ten seconds at our table up til this point.
We wanted to enjoy our wine and the menu so we had a salad and soup as our next course, followed by the scallops to finish up.
Around 1130, the scallops were dropped off and we asked him for share plates and never saw him again...until 5 minutes later when we saw him walk out the door in a different shirt.
He had apparently transferred his table (and another sitting near us) and left...without telling us a word!?!? Our new server was nice enough but she dropped off our check as we were on our first bite of scallops and said "the kitchen closed at 1130 so here' s your check".
WE WERE AND ARE APPALLED!
First of all, we were never told that our server left, never given an option of seeing a dessert menu, and never told the kitchen was almost closed until after the fact. I usually get treated better than this at Chili's, much less a well reviewed fine dining establishment in San Francisco.
Our new server half-heartily apologized and removed the cheese plate off our bill but we ultimately were left confused, rushed, unwanted and hugely disappointed.
(the busboys were amazing...)

5 Stars: Lovely ambiance, great food and service. (by kworthy)

kworthy — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I love romantic restaurants with great food and candle light. I came here for my birthday and enjoyed the toy box salad and the halibut. The food was excellent and very fresh. Our server "D" was extremely attentive and was able to answer any question we had about the menu. The restaurant was very crowded and we had to wait to be seated. This spot is definetly worth a 15 minute wait. Do yourself a favor and eat here on your next romantic date.

5 Stars: Great Date spot great food! (by bennieb0y)

bennieb0y — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

All the food we ordered were excellent. The short ribs were delicious. I highly recommend First Crush.

4 Stars: wine (by sallysally11)

sallysally11 — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

i like this place for a wine bar, the food is ok, but not my favorite place. The set up of the restaurant is odd and often times feels a bit cramped and awkward if there are a lot of people there. Overall I am a fan of this restaurant though and have visited several times. Many people I've referred to it however wonder why I've sent them here as it doesn't always please. I would suggest giving it a try as I like it, but i guess it's not for everyone.

5 Stars: Delicious, Delicious, Delicious! (by smithy11)

smithy11 — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

We had our company holiday party here and it was perfect! The ceasar, duck and amazing bread pudding was out of this world! Of course, the baked oysters and shrimp apps were phenomenal, as well! Thank you, First Crush for such a great party!

5 Stars: Wonderful dining experience. Wine flights were fun. (by cspike)

cspike — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Whenever my wife and I are headed to SF for dinner, I like to check out citysearch for something fun and exciting; First Crush jumped right out at me. The decor was very classy, and cozy. It was a little loud when we first got there, but people were obviously enjoying themselves. The wine list is very extensive, but the option to select wine flights was what really drew me to First Crush. We ordered three flights, which allowed us to sample 8 different wines. What a fun way to experience different wines. The food was excellent as well. We split the Crush Salad, and I had the Pork Chop while my wife had the Tortellini. Both entrees had wonderful sauces, and everything was quite flavorful. The service was very hospitable; just enough attention to make you feel important with a little privacy thrown in. The only thing to note was that our server did not mention an addition to the menu for the evening, French Onion soup, but perhaps they were out. We would definitely eat here again.

1 Stars: Very Disappointing (by welove2eat2008)

welove2eat2008 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

We had our fist experience for dinner on Thanksgiving evening. Our daughter ordered the Thanksgiving Dinner; the potatoes were room temperature at best. The turkey and dressing was like something you would get at a buffet. My husband and I ordered off the "limited" menu offering. Which I must say had some potentially interesting items. He started with the crab cake which was served over too much lettuce and was over dosed with too much banyuls vinaigrette; his second course was the dry aged rib eye, served over wilted baby greens, again served room temperature with cold gravy poured on top. I started with a squash trio which was also served cold, but did have a nice flavor for my second course; I ordered the Alaskan halibut pan seared w exotic mushrooms with haricot verts and tarragon beurre blanc. The halibut was cooked perfect, but the "exotic" mushrooms turned out to be button cap with a few chanterelles tossed into the mix.

Based on the rave reviews we were expecting an incredible meal, but we left unsatisfied with an 18.5% gratuity added by the server for our party of 3!

5 Stars: Great first date spot (by bacchusfa)

bacchusfa — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Had a great dinner! It was our first time at First Crush and they made all our decisions very easy and they server suggested food as well as wine pairing for us. The wine list was huge and the menu seemed to have something for everyone. The desert flight was great as well. Three different and great tastings desserts and we had a nice port wine to go along with them. The place was packed but the service was very calm. It was a great experience all around.

4 Stars: Great Wine Flights! (by ziccc)

ziccc — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Good wine and decent staff. The wine flights are a great choice. Try and ask for a table closer to the bar or downstairs. Some of the tables closer to the entrance tend to be chillier.

3 Stars: Great Wine, Average Food (by northbay07)

northbay07 — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I went last year for the first time, choosing the location for the 'romantic' aspect. We went for our 1-year anniversary, on a Sunday night. It was packed, being the Sunday of the Nike 26.2 Marathon, so there were a lot of runners and tourists, since most stay in Union Square or thereabouts.
Our waiter was much more interested in chatting it up with the 3 ladies next to us who were in town for the race (and single) so we had to ask the waiter for something anytime we needed it.
The wine flight was GREAT. Lots of good choices and we tired wine that we had never had before.
My husband's food was fantastic, I had fish that was still raw in the middle - and it was supposed to be baked Halibut, not seared.
Overall, I found this restaurant a bit overpriced and the service was poor. Perhaps it would have been better had it not been so crowded, but we have not been back in the last year.

5 Stars: So Romantic and Great Food! (by mermaid72)

mermaid72 — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I?m always looking for good restaurants, so we had a SF trip planned for this past weekend, so I looked online for good restaurants. I came across ?First Crush.? I saw the reviews and had to check it out. We went on Saturday night and it was just great. The place is set very romantic like. We started off with great wine and the cheese appetizer platter. Then we had our meals. Their menu is divided into sections of ?small plates? and ?large plates?, (which I think is a great idea), I can never finish my plate. This way you know what size plate you?re ordering. I ordered the ?ahi tuna? which was under the small plates and it was perfect size for me. My bf ordered the ?filet mignon? and he loved it. The staff was very helpful and so friendly. I?ll never forget our time here. It was so romantic and had very reasonable prices. We?re definitely going to come back to ?First Crush.?

5 Stars: Lovely, cozy and romantic! (by trojanstace)

trojanstace — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I came to San Francisco for a little weekend getaway and I made reservations at First Crush based on the great reviews on Citysearch. The reviews didn't lie! This restaurant was adorable and cozy and charming. A wonderful wine selection and beautiful ambience. You do sit kind of close to other people, but that was o.k. with me. I loved it!

4 Stars: stopped by for a quick bite (by ericfood)

ericfood — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Had a nibble with my date. Nice spot. Wine flights were fun. Had a couple of nice appetizers. Place was hopping at 8 o'clock. Downstairs looked fun but we wanted something more intimate. Read some of the reviews and decided to try First Crush. Some reviews were helpful, others seemed funny. All in all, the service was nice and non-intrusive but professional. We'll come back for a full dinner experience soon.

4 Stars: Great date spot (by lyss61)

lyss61 — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I've only ever been here for drinks late at night, but it's a great place to sit and relax. quiet enough to carry on a conversation and really comfy if you can snag a couch downstairs. Love their flights and the wine cocktails but service can be seriously lacking sometimes.

5 Stars: AWESOME! (by negarma)

negarma — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

nice setting. romantic. need i say more? get service......amazing appretizers, great mingling. perfect night.

5 Stars: great food, nice wine = fantastic overall experience (by joiedevivre)

joiedevivre — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My mom and I came here for a girls night out...had high expectations after some of the reviews. The place was pretty busy since it was Friday night but it was a lively, but kinda swanky atmosphere. Not overly stuffy or trying to be romantic, just cool. The hawaiian dalu (sp?) fish, pork tenderloin and crush salad we had here fantastic. Service was on it ,and we received good wine suggestions, as expected. I was wondering if it would be too touristy since it's in Union Square but it a great mix of parties and couples of locals and tourists. Overall, a great spot in the city! I am looking forward to going back with my husband.

1 Stars: 2 HOURS OF MY LIFE THAT I CAN NEVER GET BACK :-( (by rockstarhottie)

rockstarhottie — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Okay, somebody is manipulating the reviews? I feel taken advantage of! I challenge you to find another restaurant with more than 50reviews... 114 is suspicious. ***HERE'S MY EXPERIENCE AT FIRST CRUSH*** <<<1. SUB-PAR SERVICE>>> ((Servers with attitude wearing dirty t-shirts resembled the homeless)) ((No server etiquette... we were greeted by the server with a rude..."areya ready")) ((The female server with the curly red hair almost knocked the cork in the bottle (for a place known for its wine I found it odd that the server seemed to have never opened a wine bottle before))
<<<2. POOR QUALITY FOOD AND MENU SELECTIONS!!>>> ((Tasteless and boring!))
((Chicken dry )) ((Salmon under cooked)) ((Menu an odd mixture of random dishes. No theme!!!))
((Very very expensive bottles of poor quality wine (we had a few of the wine samplers... tasted like it came
from a box! :-( We are huge wine lovers so this was pretty darn disappointing! :-(
((Didn?t try the dessert, after spending over an hour in that place we wanted nothing more than to leave!))
<<<3. 1-STAR AMBIANCE>>> ((Table and floor were sticky and dirty)) ((Downstairs tables circled the bathroom)) ((They put tea lights on a dirty, sticky table and called it romantic)) ((Our table was almost touching the table next to us)) ((My elbow kept bumping the guy next to me, his girlfriend wasn't happy about that. I was so Uncomfortable. We asked to move but were told we couldn't.))
**I could have overlooked the poor service, bad food and bitter wine if I could have just been able to enjoy a romantic night out with my boyfriend... THE ROMANCE DIDN'T BEGIN UNITL WE LEFT THAT PLACE!

***IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A GOOD 1ST IMPRESSION, DONT TAKE YOUR DATE HERE! ***

I WAS FOOLED BY READING THESE REVIEWS... PLEASE DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE I DID...
I WALKED OUT OF THAT PLACE THINKING... HUH.. I GUESS THE JOKES ON ME :-(

4 Stars: Great wine list, great atmosphere, friendly service, just OK food. (by sftricia)

sftricia — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We went on a Saturday night. They were busy and we didn't have reservations, but we thought we would try anyway. We ordered couple glasses of wine and a cheese plate at the bar. We became so comfortable we decided to eat our entire meal at the bar. That atmosphere is great, very cozy, nice place for a date. The service was excellent, the staff were very friendly. My only complaint was the food was just OK for the price. I used to live in Sonoma Valley and the food does not compare to the wine country restaurants. The cheese plate and the bread were pretty good, but the scallops were slightly overcooked. I will be back, but next time just for some wine and a cheese plate.

5 Stars: great date spot (by emhironimus)

emhironimus — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I was looking on CitySearch for a restaurant to take my husband for our anniversary. I wanted a place that was nice but not too fancy, had good food and wine, and a fun atmosphere. After reading the reviews for First Crush, I took a chance and made reservations. First Crush met my expectations and beyond! Not only did it have everything I wanted, but the staff made the experience that much more enjoyable. We enjoyed a flight of wines and their cheese plate at the bar (since we arrived early) and then when we finished they had a table waiting for us -- a perfect table for an intimate date or a romantic night. Everything we ordered was delicious (salad, salmon, duck, bread pudding)! When I went downstairs to use the restroom, I noticed a whole other area for dining and drinking... more like a lounge atmosphere. When we come back (which will be soon) I think I'd like to wine/dine downstairs just for a different atmosphere. What a great night to leave my kids at home with the babysitter and be romantic with my husband!

3 Stars: Good Combo (by henrycarter)

henrycarter — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Wine and jazz is almost as good a combination as Guiness and fish & chips. I enjoy both, it just depends on my mood or date for the evening (or lack of).

5 Stars: The lamb shank rocks! (by mamazboy)

mamazboy — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I get down to SF several times a year (from Portland, Oregon - a great food town these days, BTW) and try to uncover special places with particularly fine interpretations of some classic dish, or rare ones that aren't easy to find elsewhere. That leads me, for example, to Cafe Colucci in Oakland/Berkeley border for the best fulle ever (not watery); to Bombay Cuisine in Berkeley for fabulous Indian home cooking; I don't usually bother with Union Square because it's generally too pricey/pretentious for my plebian tastes (how's that for alliteration?). But when I told a friend I'm crazy for lamb shank, she suggested I try First Crush. I haven't been in the bar and usually don't have wine, so I can't comment on whether their wine's good, great, bad, or indifferent. But I did immediately like the cavernous but cozy downstairs restaurant, though they might consider pulling out a table or two to prevent that too-neighborly feel. Anyway, I decided to treat myself with a small plate and a large one. The small was the trio of roasted squash. There is nothing more satisfying than roasted squash to this jaded palate, and I was hooked by the butter-wine glaze. Wonderfully delicious. Then on to the braised lamb shank. This was tender and scrumptious, the meat falling off the bone. The truffle oil au jus enhanced the flavor. Another winner. I usually have to go to Greek places to get decent lamb shank.

I had expected to get dessert but was way too stuffed. On subsequent visits I've enjoyed grilled artichoke and asparagus and prawn spring rolls in the small plate format, but have stubbornly ordered the lamb every time. God, what a philistine I can be. I keep meaning to order something else but must have my lamb! In sum, I've had excellent food at FC and only wish they'd throw out a couple of tables to give a little more elbow room. I'm a big guy -- and getting bigger scarfing all that meat & potatoes. Service was professional and friendly.

3 Stars: MAY I HAVE SOME WINE WITH MY CORK? (by partygirl2007)

partygirl2007 — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

C'MON... I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WAS KNOWN FOR THE WINE??? SHOULDN'T THEY TEACH THE SERVERS HOW TO OPEN UP A BOTTLE? SHE JUST LEFT THE BOTTLE ON THE TABLE WITH THE CORK FLOATING AROUND IN IT! OTHER THAN THAT, MY FRIENDS AND I HAD FUN... BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE FUN! IF YOU GO FOR THE WINE...ASK TO OPEN YOUR OWN BOTTLE!

5 Stars: We found a new north cal favorite! (by truesfdiner)

truesfdiner — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I just ate at first crush last night and the reviewers are very entertaining to say the least....lol...wow! Whatever, it's all about me anyway :). My wife and I ate the shrimp spring rolls. Great sauce and very crispy. We had a nice glass of rose and then shared the salmon and the ribeye. I wanted mid rare and it was served a perfect mid rare. We had two nice glasses of cab and then had the cheese plate for dessert. We celebrated our 10th year wedding anniversary upstairs because the downstairs seemed more of a hip lounge type crowd and we wanted something more romantic. We are both from L.A. and flew up at the last minute and stayed at the Nikko and just stumbled upon this lil' gem of a restaurant. I would recommend this to anyone who wants that "connection" withn the one you love. Very romantic indeed!

4 Stars: I just had to have a glass of wine! (by superfoodlover)

superfoodlover — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I came down on business from the Bodega Bay area and didn't know any "wine bars" in the area except one that is in the financial district which was closed. I looked up other wine bars and found First Crush. I just wanted to have a couple of glasses of wine and some small appetizers and bellied up to the bar. I had a red "flight" which was very reasonable for the amount of wine you received. I had the beef short ribs which were very tender and had this great demi sauce to it. I then had the crush salad and I love blue cheese and dried fruit with my salads and this was a perfect pairing for my flight. I skipped dessert because I was feeling very warm and fuzzy and the staff were super nice, giving me directions back to my union square hotel. I waddled happily to my hotel room. I would say it was a great experience for anyone who loves wine.

5 Stars: The most romantic place to eat in San Francisco! (by giannasatine)

giannasatine — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I just moved to San Francisco a little over two months ago with my boyfriend. We have traveled and have lived all over the world. We love food and love trying different restaurants. Thus far we didn't have a lot of luck with great restuarants in San Franciso until we came across First Crush. The setting is very romantic with bistro style tables and candels througout the restaurant. It reminded us of a restuarant you would find in Europe. The servers are amazing and the food is delicious. The wine selection was off the chart. We have been in three times in the last two weeks. I hope the staff does not get tired of us because we will become regulars for sure; I guess we already are.

5 Stars: This place is wonderful! (by dionysus666)

dionysus666 — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Food and service is great! Great wine list. A must for first time S.F. diners! Cool upstairs and downstairs has a split level appeal.

5 Stars: Wonderful little spot with a lot to offer (by gwenjc2000)

gwenjc2000 — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We chose to book reservations here after seeing great things about it online & in magazines. We live 2 hours away from SF so we really enjoy making our trips there special & as unique as possible. We arrived at First Crush in the pouring rain. The host staff was great. They took our wet coats & let us dry off downstairs. The restaurant is a bit crowded upstairs but once you start enjoying your meals, it's no big deal. Our server was very attentive. The "flight" idea is the best. Who wouldn't want to try several wines for the price of one?! My husband was a little skeptical about trying the roasted squash but when it came out, we practically licked the plate. The roast pork was yummy & the filet I thought was extremely tasty with very flavorful potatoes & sauce. we couldn't resist getting the "flight" of desserts to end the evening. I would recommend stopping in for even just dessert. We ordered bread pudding, choc. mousse cake, & creme brulee which all had their own little unique twists to them. My husband adored the bread pudding which was served warm with rum raisin ice cream. The chocolate cake was nothing special. We would certainly eat there again. The price for everything that you get is not that bad.

5 Stars: Perfect Date Restaurant!!! (by lyric06)

lyric06 — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I ate here for our one year anniversary and loved it so much we just went back for our third. Just as great as we remembered it! Upstairs seems more romantic for couples and downstairs seems to be a litttle louder, brighter and for larger groups. Service is very attentive and friendly--we never had to ask for anything, they were one step ahead of us. For the price (reasonable) the quality of food and service is really exceptional. The short ribs are AMAZING. Can't stress that enough--the best I've ever had. Also, the squash appetizer and the cheese plate are outstanding. The only thing wrong was the fillet mignon--kind of lacking in flavor and a tad tough. Otherwise, one of the best dining experiences we've had and very consistent. They don't rush you and we've had such long romantic dinners here. I highly recommend it!

5 Stars: I love this place! (by henhobbs)

henhobbs — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I just love eating in the city. I also love to eat at places that know how to take care of me. I come to First Crush frequently. Not as frequent as I'd like being from Marin, it's a small trek to get to the restaurant. The last visit was superb. It was our six year wedding anniversary and the manager made sure it was memorable. We sat upstairs in the corner booth. There were candles on all the tables and the place definitely had a romantic feel to it right off the bat. We started off with two glasses of Champagne. There list is great. All California. We both tried the spring rolls and the caesar. Great. I decided to be more rustic and try the lamb shank which was really good. Very flavorful and rich. My wife tried peppercorn duck breast. Man the sauce was amazing and the duck was cooked perfectly medium rare. We didn't op for dessert but decided to do the cheese plate "flight" and it was nicely presented and we had two glasses of dessert wine to go with it. Our server was very attentive the support staff cleared our plates and made sure our waters were filled at all times. Every detail was perfect for our anniversary and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Bon Appetit First Crush!

5 Stars: Don't listen to Sfguy1982, THIS RESTAURANT ROCKS!!! (by foodcrazedchef)

foodcrazedchef — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I am puzzled when people write reviews but do not research the places they eat at and then suddenly are shocked with the stark reality that where they chose is completely the opposite of where they've eaten. For example of the previous reviewer. I love First Crush. The restaurant is business casual with a funky and hip lounge appearance to it. The servers are all crisp in their black shirts which fits in perfectly with the dark appearance of the restaurant. Folks, this isn't a fine dining restaurant. It is a fun and exciting place to eat with a very upbeat crowd that loves to have a good time. We had the oysters, shared the crush salad and I had the tenderloin and my wife had the walu and everything was great. The service was outstanding and the wine list is to die for. It is also very easy to eat there on a budget. There is always a buzz when we eat there and the crowd is young, hip and beautiful. If you really want that quiet fine dining experience, I suggest open table's website and do some research before you delve into the depths of eating out.

1 Stars: NEVER EVER EVER GO HERE!!!!!!! (by sfguy1982)

sfguy1982 — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Service was done by someone who looked like they were pulled off of the street and threw on a black T-SHIRT!!! Yes, no collar, no nice white tables nothing like that at ALL!!!! Second of all it is sooo loud in there that you cannot hear the person in front of you talking, so if you acutally want to have a conversation this is not a place for it. Food was ok but for the 2 hours that I was there, it was not worth the wait. Unless you want some 18 year old girls screaming in your ear for two hours, after paying over 200 for a meal, go here. If I wanted to go to a place that like - I would have just went to the Cheesecake factory.

3 Stars: Great if You Eat Hair (by dina4queena)

dina4queena — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I went here with six others for a reward dinner - wish I could take back those 2 hours of my life. We got there and they seated 7 of us at a table made for 4. The appetizers were really good - scallops, ahi (interesting approach with a kind of tomato vinegarette) and some eggroll thing. They were paired excellently with the wine (they have a great selection. This was all fine until we got our main courses. I got the lamb, which, while very tender didn't have much flavor. Very boring. I then switched with a friend to finish her duck, which was awesome although the mashed potatoes were flavorless as well. I get to my last bite and a long black hair got wrapped around my tounge. At this point everyone at my table was too drunk so I didn't get much sympathy. We got desserts which were kind of bland as well. Creme brulee was pretty nice, with a lavender flair. All in all I'd say this place was decent but not amazing. Go here on a date not a group outing though...

1 Stars: Mediocre Service/ Horrible Salmon / Wouldnt recommend (by miller31)

miller31 — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

The service here is not great. Staff is friendly however I noticed that different customers were serviced better than others. The upstairs dining area was bar-like and seating is very cramped. The salmon was undercooked and raw in the middle, when I asked the staff to cook it a little more it can back overdone and tough. I have dined at many restaurants in the city that are less expensive and provide an overall more enjoyable dining experience.

5 Stars: The best (by jesismith)

jesismith — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

This is by far my favorite restaurant. It is expensive but worth every penny. Excellent place to take out-of-towners. Very fun place to eat.

5 Stars: the best (by jennyjaymie)

jennyjaymie — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

one of my favorite restaurants in sf. great service, food, ambience, and the prices were still reasonable.

5 Stars: good place (by audreyjl)

audreyjl — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Per the previous review - I'm not from out of town and I found First Crush to be quite nice. The wine selection was very impressive, we all got very good recommendations. The appetizers and main courses were also tasty. The prices are sort of high, but nothing too bad. Ther service and atmosphere were good too. Oh, and the desserts, although nothing to amazing, were yummy. The lavender vanilla creme brulee was very good. We will definitely be back!

1 Stars: Why Out of Towners shouldn't write City Search reviews (by ofthefunk)

ofthefunk — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I went here for an anniversary dinner with high expectations based on City Search postings. I should have known better that because of the location, most of the postings HAD to be from out of towners!
They sat us on the top floor in what is more like a bar than a restaurant....I had no idea until I went downstairs for the bathroom! The scallops under seasoned and overpriced as was the raw fillet of salmon I had to send back. My boyfriend was served the New York steak that was barely recognizable beneath the mess of cafeteria style gravy that covered it.
I will say that the wine flights were good, and I would recommend the shrimp and oysters. Our service was actually quite good. Go for a drink and an appetizer, but stay away from the $20+ Sizzler quality entrees.

4 Stars: A little pricey, but great appetizers and wine (by mrshermanoaks)

mrshermanoaks — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Get yourself one of the wine flights and a couple of the appetizers. It's about $30/person, but plenty of delicious food. The grilled artichoke, cheese plate, and asparagas/prawn springrolls were excellent.

5 Stars: great place to wine and dine (by chenyu768)

chenyu768 — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

great food and great service and great atmosphere. i went for the first time last month and the food was great. i loved the atmosphere, very romantic great date place. i am definately planning my return trip

5 Stars: Best EVERYTHING. (by makeoutbandit)

makeoutbandit — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Great food, great service, great atmosphere, lovely wine, romantic, and value. I recommend this place for a date or a dinner with friends.

4 Stars: good date spot (by arowe00)

arowe00 — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Ate here last weekend. My wife and I both enjoyed our apps and entrees. Service was average, wine list very good. The setting is dark and rather loud. Good for a date but would not take in laws or clients.

5 Stars: Great date restaurant! Delicious dinner! (by elinar)

elinar — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I am truly mystified by the mediocre and poor reviews for First Crush.
I had my first meal there for my birthday, and it was absolutely fantastic! The service couldn't have been better, and the food was spectacular. The spring rolls, grilled ahi tuna (no matter how clich this dish may seem to some) and the filet mignon were perfect and I couldn't have asked for better wines. We had immediate seating with a reservation (made using OpenTable[dot]com -- so easy!), a fast, courteous and charming waiter, there was a great atmosphere and the price was reasonable for a fine restaurant. I couldn't complain if I tried.

I highly recommend it!

1 Stars: Make sure the fish is cooked (by sarenson)

sarenson — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We had a horrible expereince with the Salmon. Make sure to get the Salmon cooked, not raw to medium.

5 Stars: Romantic Hideaway (by jennaaro)

jennaaro — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I loved First Crush! Walking into the restaurant and walking down the stairs felt like I was walking into a wine cellar! It was such the romantic spot! The Macadamia Crusted Halibut was excellent and tri dessert platter was excellent. It is such a romantic restaurant; private and service was outstanding!

5 Stars: Great Union Sqaure Restaurant! (by keilasf)

keilasf — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I try to stay as far away from Union Square as possible, BUT I will make that acception to dine at First Crush.
The service is AMAZING! My boyfriend and I dined there for our anniversary, and the waitress brought us champagne! It was a wonderful start to a fabuolus meal.
The cherry glazed duck was delicious, and make sure to try the ceasar salad!
The desserts were okay, but I would go with the cheeseplate instead.

4 Stars: excellent service, good food (by angelasjackson)

angelasjackson — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I just dined here this Thursday for a company dinner, and I have to say I was quite impressed. Being a local, I rarely venture to Union Square to dine. However, the service staff was quite impressive for how busy they were; we sat downstairs in a full room, yet we were taken care of as though we were the only ones there. I will highly recommend this restaurant to all of my clients for the wine and service (some of the dishes need a little work, though).

5 Stars: Great small plates and service (by dopeyone)

dopeyone — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

First time and what a treat. Always looking for something in the Union Square area and now I have found it. We only had small plates for our party of three but they were all GREAT!
The artichoke, short ribs, prawns, spring rolls, oysters and salads were very tasty and had a great presentation. The only drawback is that the tables are a little close together, but you're
in the city and have to expect that.

4 Stars: Great downstairs dining room (by ssb07)

ssb07 — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The upstairs and downstairs have distinctly different ambience. The upstairs is far more casual, and almost a bit rundown. The dowstairs is very elegant, with wonderful lighting and decor. The wine list is great, without being snooty, and dinner was very good and reasonably priced. This is a nice date place- we went with another couple and had a wonderful evening. The service was attentive but not overbearing.

4 Stars: Romantic spot for date (by juju_nhan)

juju_nhan — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Love the ambiance. Great to take a date. The time I came here was when there was the Dine about Town menu. I got the crab cake which came this this mustard sauce and leeks which was pretty good, for entree, I had the pan roasted chicken, cooked perfectly and was not dry at all and came with a crispy potato cake, also very good! Lastly for dessert, I had the smore's pie, good but not great. The service was friendly

5 Stars: GREAT MENU SELECTION (by routewrecker)

routewrecker — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

GREAT FOOD, FAST SERVICE, WINE SELECTION IS SECOND TO NONE. EVERYTIME WAS PERFECT . DINNER MELTED IN MY MOUTH. THE DESSERTS ARE TO DIE FOR.
GET YOUR TAILS OVER TO THIS RESTAURANT NOW . ENJOY YOUR DINNER

4 Stars: Slow service but the food was delicious (by jenninge)

jenninge — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Good food. I highly recommend the macadamia nut crusted halibut. The wine flights are a good value and a great way to try a few different wines.

5 Stars: It has it all: good food, ambiance, great wines (by groverloaf)

groverloaf — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Quite an excellent place. The food was really quite good, especially the cheese plate, the duck and the lamb chops. The wine list is extensive and the tasting flights were really fun to try out a bunch of different wines. It has a nice ambiance, but don't expect it to be too quiet. Lots of people having lots of fun was the atmosphere.

I had great service--the waitress knew some good wines to suggest and the staff kept our water glasses fun, bread was plentiful, and the waitress was there whenever I needed her.

5 Stars: What a night!!!! (by td1831)

td1831 — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I chose this restaurant as a romantic night for me and my first crush. In town for only the weekend, I had to make the right moves.....and I did. The restaurant it self might have been a bit on the noisy side, but the dim lighting allowed us a feeling of privacy. Amazing wine, great food and a very helpful staff made it a night to remember.

4 Stars: Great wine selection and cocktails (by forkster)

forkster — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

We went to First Crush for the first time after reading the reviews and rating from CitySearch.
We initially ordered one of the restaurants cocktails and found them both delicious, but we couldnt resist not ordering the flight of wines. Overall food was okay (e.g. sea bass was a bit tough and pork chop was okay), and would not be the best in SF. Probably biggest con of the night was the tight quarters between the dining area and bar on the top level. Trying to have a romantic dinner doesnt help with people yelling behind at the bar.

3 Stars: quite average (by slevoe)

slevoe — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Food was quite average, nothing special. Wasn't a bad dining experience, just nothing special about the food, service, or ambience. There is better by far in the city. Paid $12 for a glass of wine that sells for $11/bottle @ Bevmo. Check your tab as ours was incorrect and it was not at all busy. One excellent item-the crush salad. Great!!

5 Stars: In Love With First Crush (by phillykara)

phillykara — Mon, 15 May 2006 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I were visiting San Francisco from New York City, and picked this place for a romantic dinner on our first night in the area. Surprisingly, this place was not crowded at all on a Saturday night! The service, food, wine, and ambience of First Crush was outstanding. We'll definitely dine here again next time we're in town!

5 Stars: Love it! (by lizzieboo)

lizzieboo — Fri, 05 May 2006 02:00:00 GMT

I went to First Crush for a company outing and it was a great experience. Great service and ambiance. The food was excellent. Definitely need to go back there for a date night.

4 Stars: Very romantic, but small portions (by flovid)

flovid — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The ambience was very romantic, dim lights and candles at each table. The food was good, but portions were quite small for the price. Wine list was impressive. The waitress was kind and helpful.

4 Stars: A Nice Time.. (by quintessa)

quintessa — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Was told about First Crush before visiting SF, and when I finally dined there , I was pleasantly surprised. It was a nice change from all of the loud and trendy restaurants that we've been to during our business trip to SF. The service was perfect. We were greeted, seated promptly and was attended to immediately. The wine list was great. Everyone was warm and welcoming. The food was delicious! My group was very happy and full! And, THANK YOU to our server who took care of us and others in a huge dining room downstairs...By HIMSELF!

5 Stars: great restaurant, horrible waitress (by saranoble)

saranoble — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

we stopped in here looking for a bite to eat after a very long day and had a lovely meal. the ambience is great, perfect for a date or an intimate dinner with friends. the food was good, and the wine list was interesting (only californian wines on the menu, but a great variety). overall the service was good, but i would rate our experience as below average due to our terrible waitress. she was loud, obnoxious, condesending, and unattentive. the other waitstaff did pick up her slack for the most part, but it took about 15 minutes for our plates to be cleared after the main course and we waited for 20 minutes after having to ask for our check. we were one of two remaining tables in the restaurant but our waitress was very unattentive, the worst waitress i have had in recent memory.

4 Stars: Wish I could like it more (by thrasherbill)

thrasherbill — Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This has the makings of a great place and the other reviews got me interested. When we walked in, I was amazed at how small and dark and intimate it was. The two men playing soothing jazz guitar and bass set the mood very nicely. The service was OK although no great efforts were made. The menu could have benefited from a couple more selections. The ribeye steak was chewy and cut a little too thin but otherwise tasted ok. The shrimp fritatta was nice, I could've eaten 3 orders of that. The wines by the glass looked awfully small and I don't think it was just because they came in these huge glasses. This is a good date place so if you're concentrating on each other more than on your dinner then you'll still have a decent time. We may try it again.

5 Stars: First Crush is Absolutely Amazing (by bnesby)

bnesby — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I had a wonderful dining experience late into the evening at this swank and friendly restaurant. The entire staff including the manager was wonderful, not to mention the fantastic wine selection which complemented the entrees perfectly. This will be a mandatory stop for every visit to San Francisco I make.

5 Stars: The Food was Fantastic! (by foodie_in_sf)

foodie_in_sf — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Who knew, a restaurant that we have never heard of before and it was phenomenal. We were there for the Valentine fixe menu and the food was unbelievable! I had the best risotto, ever. Unpretentious good food, definitely worth the trouble of finding parking downtown. Service was good although the first couple glasses of wine that paired with the food didn't come with the food... problem quickly fixed once we notified our waiter.

4 Stars: Bad Server, Great Food and Drinks (by rsonwebb)

rsonwebb — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

My first experience with this place involved a bad server, great hostess, good food (although make sure they don't over cook your filet if you like it medium well) and great drinks. Nice spot for a romantic date, not so much if your looking to be loud and crazy with a large group of friends. I would go back for sure as long as I didn't get the same server (you know who you are).

5 Stars: Even Better (by finickyflower)

finickyflower — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I had been to the one in Marin, and this one is even better. The service was friendly and prompt. The flights of wine were great. I recommend the heavier reds, like cab.

We were in more of a drinking mode but did have some apps and they were excellent. The cheese plate was perfect with our flights of wine, as well as the marinated olives.
Great for later night dining, as were didn't even get there until 11 pm.

1 Stars: Bad Service (by bigtax)

bigtax — Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

In sum: the service was terrible, the food was fairly good, and the wine list is great. It took my wife there for our anniversary, and told the reservation taker just that when I made the reservation over two weeks in advance. I inquired as to the noise level and requested a quiet table and was informed there was downstairs and they would take care of us. We showed up about five minutes early and waited over 20 minutes for our table. The table was next to a crowded bar and as noisy as could be. We asked to be moved and after a lot of excuses they moved us... ten feet over and just as noisy. Our waiter was non-existent, we waited over 30 minutes to get our drinks and it was almost an hour before our entrees came. We will never go back.

5 Stars: Take Flight at First Crush! (by thatblondgirl)

thatblondgirl — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I've eaten at this restaurant several times and always been impressed. The tables are a little close together (like in most trendy spots), but you hardly notice it. The servers were well educated on the wine list, had great recommendations, and flights of flavors for the tasting just in case you can't decide. EXCELLENT wine. The food is also outstanding. The pork is tender, and the duck is bursting with flavor- I haven't tried the steak yet, but I'm sure it's delicious.

5 Stars: Not the traditional SF feel (by shane94116)

shane94116 — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

A friend and I went to First Crush last week and both were pleasantly surprised.
The menu reminded me of a few places I've eaten at around the city, but the service, drinks and cheese plate gave it a clear distinction.
The first bottle of wine we ordered didn'ttaste right by either of our standards and after sending the bottle back the waitress only seemed more willing to make sure everything else was great. After finishing our meal we had a few cocktails with the cheese selection and the fireworks began. For not being fine dining, the cheese display was quite unexpected and the scotch list only put a nice ending to the whole affair. Being in the restaurant industry myself I strongly recommend this place. We each spent a little over 100, but was wealth worth it and could easily dine here for much less and still be satisfied.

4 Stars: Large Parties Beware!!!! (by sandraalice99)

sandraalice99 — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I made a reservation for a larger party several weeks ago for my boyfriend's birthday, and I ended up receiving about a thousand phone calls from some woman telling me I had to choose a prix fix menu option through her if I wanted to keep my party size! I've dined here on several occassions with groups who were not forced into this option, and I'm apalled that she would feel it necessary to badger me with so many messages. We ended up dining on a different night, since I did not want to choose this option. Danny and Melissa provided awesome serivce, but I'm not sure about booking there again, to save me the harassment.

4 Stars: Loved the Food and Service (by christinesacagwen)

christinesacagwen — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I dined at First Crush last Tuesday and had an excellent time. The bartender Oscar and waitress Melissa were excellent; we sat downstairs at a couch and received very good attention by both of them. The ambiance was perfect, and the wine list was more than we expected for an all California wine bar. I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting a nice, romanitc dining experience.

5 Stars: First Crush did not disappoint! Love it! (by michelleannmeyer)

michelleannmeyer — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We late arriving in town and had to change our reservations. They were very accomodating. We had a great time with Oscar, the bartender at the downstairs bar. The flights of wine were a wonderful way to sample some good/unique California wines. After our friends' plane arrived even later than ours we were seated and served very well by the friendly and welcoming staff. The halibut and salmon were some of the best prepared I've ever had. I think the steaks left a little to be desired but I don't know why my husband orders steaks in a restaurant like this. I chose this restaurant based on the city search user reviews and I'm so glad I did. My husband and friends thanked me for finding such a fun spot.

5 Stars: Great place for a date! (by jamaj79)

jamaj79 — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

So First Crush was definitely an excellent place to go. I took my girlfriend there on our 4th date and we had an excellent time. The bar is a bit small and usually full, but their downstairs seating is quite nice if you can grab a chair. In addition, I really enjoyed the food, we started off with the artichoke and it was fabulous. Main course included salmon and scallops and it was fantastic. My favorite part of the dinner was dessert, we enjoyed the creme brulee and and I must say it was the best one I ever had. The restaurant is very quaint and the service was pretty good. Our waitress was very nice and provided us with top notch service.

Definitely a place I will go to again.

3 Stars: Expected More (by stagpuder)

stagpuder — Mon, 17 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I heard about this place a few times and went to dinner the other night for a friend's birthday. We were downstairs, and it was a group of 14. I had the crabcake as an app, the ribeye and the chocolate cake dessert. The crabcake itself was pretty good, but it was laid on top of poorly cooked leek. The ribeye was ok, most of us had the steak and i think only about 2 were cooked properly. Overall, the steak was poor quality beef. The dessert, described as "cake" was no more than a blob of choc pudding, the waitress never did ask anyone if they wanted coffee...terrible. Overall, I wouldn't go back...not worth the $$$.

5 Stars: Amazing! (by sgaddy)

sgaddy — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My husband and I had an amazing dining experience here. We did not have reservations, but were able to snag a table. We were informed that the table was reserved for later when we were seated and were politely moved to another spot for our dessert. The wine list was fabulous. We each opted for one of their wine flights. The food was incredible - from appetizer to dessert, it was a wonderful experience. Our waitress was beyond fabulous. The ambience is perfect - the ultimate date spot. We cannot recommend this place enough.

1 Stars: my horrible night (by missiinda)

missiinda — Tue, 13 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

the service was horrible, the workers were horrible, and I will never come to this restaurant again

5 Stars: great first date spot (by sjones5)

sjones5 — Sun, 21 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Went on a first date last Friday and had a fabulous time! We sat upstairs at a window table near the bar. Our waitress was friendly and was patient with our lack of wine knowledge. She made excellent pairing and food suggestions. Highly recommended and will definitly be back.

5 Stars: I admit I was a little weary... (by annachu)

annachu — Sat, 20 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

when I read the last two reviews, but our experience was completely opposite. The food was excellent, cooked perfectly, and the wait-staff was very knowledgable and friendly, even on a Saturday night. Sure they were busy, but we had excellent service, and the downstairs basement is a great atmosphere, especially for the size of our party. I highly recommend First Crush; I'm just sorry those others had such a bad experience.

1 Stars: make sure the waitress writes your order down! (by yvonnecheng)

yvonnecheng — Sun, 07 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Basically, we had a really bad experience! The waitress took too long to take our orders...she was busy at the bar taking shots! When she took our orders, she didn't write anything down. That's fine, but when the entrees came out, 5 out of the 6 steaks were cooked wrong. Hard to rate the food because my steak was overcooked. I was going to try my friends steak, but her was so rare that is was walking off her plate! To top off the evening the wait staff talked back to us!

4 Stars: Could have been really romantic (by iloveshoes74)

iloveshoes74 — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My fiance was not in the best of moods and our waiter/bartender/host did not provide the best service. It was a Tuesday night and very dead, so I would have expected him to be nicer or in a better mood. I hate it when people are in bad moods and bring it to their jobs. The food was good and I'm sure this place could have been better. If our server would have been more upbeat it could have made my fiance in a better mood but instead made it worse. Too bad because this place could have been really romantic and lovely.

4 Stars: Service was great but please fix the door! (by apple415)

apple415 — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We were seated near the entrance. There was a problem with the door which was making noise. After requesting to switch table, we were taken to another table right away. Food and wine were wonderful. Cheese plate was good but it was too big for two people.
One of the review on this site said there were not many tables at the restaurant. There were over 15 tables.... There were ground level and basement.
The picture of the restaurant on the City Search is the basement. Atmosphere at the basement seems better. I do recommend to make and reservation and if you do, request a table at the basement or back of the ground level.

5 Stars: Fantastic Party Space (by manderz)

manderz — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We had a company party here this past Sunday, and everything was beyond fantastic. Our waitress was extremely friendly and informative; the food was fantastic, and the space we had was perfect. They met, and went, beyond, our expectations. I had several associates from Japan and Germany in town, and they were all impressed. I definitely recommend this restaurant for any event. Everything was perfect!

5 Stars: First Crush (by aiastelemonian)

aiastelemonian — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I got to try several excellent wines I had never heard of before. The food was good and the staff was nice. Make reservations because they don't have very many tables.

3 Stars: get the duck (by smith40364)

smith40364 — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I went on July 4th with my girlfriend and had a great night. The service was good but the whole experience wasn't perfect. At some point they turned the lights up really high and kind of killed the mood. then we asked for them to be turned down and they turned the lights off completely in our section. I could barely see my food. However the food was extremely good the duck is incredible and have one of their salads as well.

5 Stars: Excellent Service, Decent Food (by jckfrst)

jckfrst — Sat, 25 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I just experienced the best service we've had in a long time in San Francisco. Most upscale dining places have waiters and waitresses that are as snotty as the restaurant's reputation; but recently we joined a group of friends for a birthday party at First Crush and the little blond waitress we had was awesome. The food was pretty good as well, though definitely not French (where did they get that from?) and overall our experience was great. We will be returning for sure!

5 Stars: Great Date Spot, Great Wine (by kingfish1013)

kingfish1013 — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We fly up for the weekend and found this place on city search. It was within walking distance of our hotel. We had a wonderful evening. The wine was reasonably priced and they had an ample selection. The food was terrific and our waitress was a lot of fun. There was live music which was a welcome treat. Lastly, the atmosphere was very romantic!

5 Stars: Great place for a party (by deanosaur)

deanosaur — Mon, 16 May 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I celebrated my birthday here and it couldn't have been better. We had a huge group of 20 or so people and the staff was super accomodating of our boisterous gang. The food and wine were both EXCELLENT! It is a little on the pricer side.

5 Stars: Good food, good wine, great for dates (by fassa)

fassa — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I went there on a date and the place was just the right amount of nice, but sort of casual, kind of dark, kind of intimate. The wine flights, where you get to sample 4-5 different wines, were really good and also fun. We ordered a few small plates instead of a big meal and they were all really good.

5 Stars: Good Wine, Great Food! (by renmarc)

renmarc — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

After a few friends suggested First Crush, I finally made a reservation. Even though the place was full, our service was wonderful. Our waiter was very knowledgable and accomodating. The spring rolls and ahi were both very good, and the lamb and sea bass were perfect. The wine list is amazing, and their flights are a lot of fun. I thought the menu was reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was perfect for a Saturday night.

1 Stars: So disappointing! (by kwestfall)

kwestfall — Thu, 07 Apr 2005 02:00:00 GMT

From reading the reviews, I was looking forward to an amazing dinner at First Crush. Unfortunately, this restaurant disappointed on every level. While the wine list has some interesting choices and the markup is reasonable, we sampled two flights in which all six wines tasted terrible. Foodwise, we ordered from the small plates menu and found all our choices except the goat cheese (and is it possible to mess up goat cheese?) were bland (e.g., ahi) or worse, over-sauced (e.g., scallops). And then there was the service...maybe it was a "bad night" but our server was disdainful and rude. This isn't Paris or even the dot-com 90s! With all the wonderful restaurants in the City, I'm never bothering with this one again.

5 Stars: Great staff + value (by griotta)

griotta — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

After dining several times at First Crush, I thought I'd finally weigh in. The restaurant has consistently delicious food and a cool setting, but I have to rave tghe most about their staff. Those two British guys working there are probably the friendliest waitstaff I've met in the city. And Oscar, who served us last time, is great too.

BTW -- filet is awesome, sea bass equally so.

5 Stars: Sunday Jazz (by byoung36)

byoung36 — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My wife and I ate at First Crush on a Sunday evening, and it was really great. They had a jazz band, and of course the food was great. Our waiter suggested some wonderful wine to go with our meail, and the jazz was just perfect for a Sunday evening.

4 Stars: Great Service, Sketchy Management (by jdsf)

jdsf — Tue, 22 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I wanted to thank the two female servers we had this past Saturday night. They provided an exceptional dining experience; the wine was awesome and dinner was great. I asked to see a manager, however, to let him/her know about the wonderful time we'd had, and to let him know how great the staff was. Unfortunately the server told us he'd left for the evening. It's unfortunate that a manager was unavailable on a busy Saturday night; I'm just glad everything went excellently, I would hate to think no one would be around to handle any serious concerns.

5 Stars: Great Party (by youngl)

youngl — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My friend held a birthday party here on a Friday night with close to 30 people. The food was very good, I had the ribeye, which was prepared perfectly. I think everyone enjoyed their desserts. The wine selection was great, too. The staff was very accomodating for a party so large. I think everyone had a good time.

5 Stars: Best Crab Cake (by jonesbc)

jonesbc — Mon, 07 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My wife ordered the crab cake for her first course, and it was so good that I had to order another. I had the macadamia crusted sea bass for my entree and it was prepared perfectly. Our waiter suggested some wonderful wines and the creme brulee for dessert, which turned out to be the pefect ending to a perfect dinner.

4 Stars: Trendy (by foodielover)

foodielover — Sun, 06 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

The food was good but not sensational, nor will it wow you by any standard. Our group liked their braised ribs, spring roll and crabcakes appetizers. They give you wedge slices of foccacia bread and olive oil/balsamic vinegar for dipping. There's a selection of salads but no soup. I had roasted free-range chicken (ok, not special) over a delicious crispy fried risotto cake. We would recommend passing on the roasted lamb. The duck was good. Desserts were not innovative and I skipped it. Our waitress was friendly and sweet. Service was slow for a Saturday evening because every table upstairs was full. You would think with all the business, they would get the unisex toilet that rocks when you sit on it, fixed. Excellent wine selection, we had a bottle of merlot from Cinnabar, a bit more tannin than we'd like.

1 Stars: worst dining experience in SF! (by saraheddd)

saraheddd — Sat, 05 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

3 of my friends and I had reservations on a SUNDAY night at 830pm and we were not seated until 9pm (c'mon!). So began the horrid experience. It took the waiter 20min to bring water and bread and to take our orders. He was SO bad that we left a $4 tip! He never came to ask us how we were, he never filled up our drinks, he brought out 3 of the dishes 5 minutes before the 4th....it just got worse and worse. Luckily, I had good company among me, otherwise - since the food was mediocre I was going to have a fit. I don't recommend the duck, it was the worst I have ever had, barely cooked. For the prices one expects MUCH better. We didn't leave until 10pm b/c of this horrendoud service. Worst dining experience in San Francisco - don't even think about it!

5 Stars: Great Date Spot (by jamesr85)

jamesr85 — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I made reservations at First Crush for a third date on Thursday night. It was perfect. Not too loud, but enough people to make it a fun place. The food was great, especially the spring rolls. We shared some flights of wine, which turned out to be very good. The staff was very friendly, without be intrusive. Great place for a date.

3 Stars: Great wine selection, poor on food (by collettette)

collettette — Thu, 27 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I was disappointed in the food. Flavors and spices were all wrong and way too much onions on everything. Not all the food was cooked properly. Mediocre taste. They have a great wine selection but the food really needs help. Service is decent but not the level of upscale professional service.

5 Stars: Delightful (by harnie45)

harnie45 — Mon, 10 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

My second time at First Crush was even better than the first. I had dinner with a friend from out of town, and he loved it. We were both impressed with the wine list, and with the staff. I had the Halibut, which was great. Crab cakes are also very good. It was perfect for an out of town guest.

3 Stars: so-so food and service (by sfwunder)

sfwunder — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

After a pleasant drink at the upstairs bar, we were seated in an almost empty downstairs, which was cold and felt like being put in the basement. What's more not even the staff seemed to be down there. Salads were good. Main courses had some good flavors to them, but seemed as if they'd been under the heat lamps too long (my mashed potatoes were getting a crust).

5 Stars: Wine Lover's Dream.... (by mambo2005)

mambo2005 — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I visited First Crush SF after hearing about the Mill Valley location from a few friends. The place was hopping when we arrived and although we had to wait about a half hour for our reservation, the manager was very curteous and brought over a glass of wine for my friends and I. The dinner was fantastic, especially the small plates, the crab cake was to die for. We tried several flights of wine and the server was very helpful in guiding us in matching flights with the food we ordered. If you like great food and wine it's a must try.

5 Stars: First Time at First Crush (by ameliascroll)

ameliascroll — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

This was my first visit to San Francisco, and also my first visit to First Crush. What a wonderful restaurant in a wonderful city. The food, atmosphere and service were perfect. I hope my second time around will be just as good.

5 Stars: Party Perfect (by fabbluedress)

fabbluedress — Wed, 22 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

We had our work holiday party at First Crush, and everything was wonderful. The staff made our party feel very comfortable, and the food was perfect. The prices were reasonable, and the wine selection was great for our budget. I think First Crush is great for any size party.

5 Stars: Best staff (by chichimanga)

chichimanga — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

I've eaten at First Crush about five times. Their staff are some of the friendliest in the city. They make great wine recommendations as well. The restaurant is casual, the food is solid (crab cake is still my favorite), but the waitstaff are what make my experience every time.

1 Stars: First Crush / No Crush (by smillen)

smillen — Fri, 17 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

My fiance and I were highly disappointed with our dining experience at this restaurant. We will not be returning. If you are a couple and you want some kind of privacy the level floor will not do, its too cramped and small. You will sit fairly close to another party. The level floor wasnt too spectacular and the 1st seemed more appealing, . Regarding the food, it was bland. I had the steak, my fiance had the chicken. Both dishes were quite dry and not flavorful at all. The appetizer was good, but it was not worth the price. The salad was basic and again not worth it. The waiter was nice, but the service was not stellar or anything. Overall, the food was subpar, the service was average, the restaurant was unimpressive. I would not recommend FC for a date, romantic dinner or anniversary.

1 Stars: No dessert here! (by doug carnahan)

doug carnahan — Sun, 12 Dec 2004 01:00:00 GMT

This place is again HIGHLY overated by City Search! The place we sat at was sooo dark we could not make out the menu. The couple next to us kindly loaned us a candle to see a lil better. The waitress had issues of her own and did make us feel welcomed at all nor did she offer any specials..

The meal portions were waaaaaay undersized and overall 1 big dissappointment for me and my date. I wil never go here or to the Mill Valley location again.

4 Stars: Nice ambiance, good food, great wine (by penntrack97)

penntrack97 — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 01:00:00 GMT

I recently had my husband's surprise birthday party there & First Crush did a fantastic job. We had a party of 20 people and everyone commented on how much they liked the food. They have an extensive & reasonably priced wine list. The service was a tad slow (it was a busy night), but we were a big group and it gave us more time to mingle. The staff was all very responsive & helpful. I would highly recommend the restaurant for groups, but it should be noted that after a group of 12 I think they need to split you into 2 tables & it's not a private room. Our tables were very close but we definitely blocked the patient waitstaff throughout the night.

2 Stars: Not worth your money. (by juniper)

juniper — Thu, 18 Nov 2004 01:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I went last night for an anniversary date. The waiter was unattentive and slow. The pumpkin soup was really bland. The main entrees were average. They cooked the duck and rack of lamb perfect to our liking yet there was nothing particular about the dishes that made me want to come back for more. The rack of lamb also could have been seasoned more. We didn't feel like we got our money's worth.

5 Stars: Delightful! (by taylak)

taylak — Mon, 15 Nov 2004 01:00:00 GMT

My husband surprised me with a weekend trip to San Fran and dinner here was one of the highlights. We love to eat and First Crush did not disappoint. We were lucky to get a table since we didn't have reservations on a Saturday evening, but the staff was wonderful. I enjoyed my meal from the small plate of artichokes through our flight of desserts. The wine flights are wonderful and well priced. The only disappointment was the unimaginative bread they serve. The upstairs atmosphere was intimate without being uncomfortably close. Definitely has a hip vibe and the goods to back it up.

5 Stars: Finally got a table! (by marktomas33)

marktomas33 — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I have been trying to get a reservation here for quite awhile, and I can see what all the fuss is about. The squash appetizer was perfect and the filet was outstanding. Service was perfect for a business dinner -unobtrusive. Our wine server was very knowledgeable about our selection, which was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed my dinner and my wine very much, and so did my clients.

4 Stars: Perfect late night dinner (by patuli)

patuli — Fri, 01 Oct 2004 02:00:00 GMT

We were seated upstairs - very friendly waitperson - the service wasn't rushed. We started with the warm goat cheese appetizer - the roasted garlic on the the crisped bread topped with the goat cheese were delicious. I had the Syrah wine flight, l liked the first two, not the third. That one didn't seem to go with the duck breast I had. But, the duck was quite good, and I'm very particular about duck - my dad made the best. My husband had the filet - it was cooked to perfection. Absolutely loved the Smore's pie dessert.

4 Stars: SHE SAID YES! (by newyorkshire)

newyorkshire — Mon, 13 Sep 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I choose this place to propose to my girlfriend, without knowing anything about this place. On a Friday night, from the moment we entered, we were treated like the only people in the restaurant. The service was impeccable! I have never heard of wine flights, and we enjoyed them so much, that we returned to have more flights in their lounge the next night. The food was delicious! We're from the East coast, and on the flight back, we ended up handing out their bussiness card to a couple heading to SF. Four stars on service, food, and romance!!!!!

5 Stars: The best of the best! (by easilyengaged)

easilyengaged — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I just recently moved to the Bay area and about once a month venture into the city. Last night we went and ate here and it was the best of the best. BEST SERVICE! AMAZING DRINKS! (the bartender catered and bought us several drinks on the house) Incredible food, we got the duck and pork! The food is worth every penny! We will go back again for sure!

5 Stars: HIDDEN TREASURE!!!!! (by ikke34)

ikke34 — Fri, 20 Aug 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I was recommended by our hotel to visit this spot, and on a Monday night, it was packed! We didn't have reservations, but the hostess was very hospitable, and got us a nice table-Thank you!!! We had a great time. The food and wine flights were AWESOME-try the lamb.....YUMMY. We love the chocolate cake!! Kudos to the chef. We will be back when in town again.

5 Stars: Awesome place (by dantoon)

dantoon — Tue, 03 Aug 2004 02:00:00 GMT

We were really late for our reservation due to bridge traffic and the hostess was awesome and still gave us a table. The service was great. The food was amazing. My husband and I loved the flights of wine. Moving here from Seattle and reading horror stories about dining in SF made us worry until we were there. Great Place!!!!!

5 Stars: Little downtown nugget . . . (by chickabacka)

chickabacka — Thu, 22 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

I may regret sharing this becaues I don't want to make this place any busier than it already is (we waitied about 20 minutes for our table), but I have to give First Crush some props. I've been there three times now and the staff is one of the best I've seen in the city. My date and I shared the spicy prawns and tried a bunch of wines from their flight menu. She had the Salmon which was great, then I had my own steak -- a thick filet for $24 I think. I'll definately keep going back. Desserts were OK. I keep thinking about the steak!

1 Stars: Totally overrated!!!! (by wpong)

wpong — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

This restaurant is totally overrated. Their small plates were pretty good. All alcoholic drinks are pretty good. But their main dishes....they need to change chef right now. I ordered rack of lamb and I'm sure the chef forgotten about salt at all. The meat and sauce were totally blend. Totally disappointing. My fiance had halibut and he said the fish was not fresh at all. My friend kept adding salt and pepper to his steak. Bad main courses. The b-day cake came out when a friend was in the bathroom. She missed the entire candle blowing moment. Sure I won't come back for this.

5 Stars: Very Enjoyable Meal (by jimbos1015)

jimbos1015 — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 01:00:00 GMT

Our first night in San Francisco was spent dining in this great restaurant. We took the advice and did wine flights. The only misstep was that the waitress ordered the wrong entree for me and I had to eat after my wife completed hers. But she made up for it with a glass of my favorite wine from the wine flight. Food was very good, well prepared and presented with flair rather than over the top. Servings were very large and satisfying. Great time.

4 Stars: Service mediocre (by tonkatoy)

tonkatoy — Mon, 08 Mar 2004 01:00:00 GMT

The food was good. We split 2 appetizers and a main course. However the service sucked. They didn't bother to actually split the main course for us, we had to do it ourselves.

4 Stars: Worth checking out (by lewisak)

lewisak — Mon, 16 Feb 2004 01:00:00 GMT

Did this place suddenly start advertizing like mad? There's all this buzz lately but apparantly it's been around for awhile. Regardless, we dropped in unannounced and were seated promptly on a weeknight. My recommendation for two is to order a bunch of appetizers and split an entree so you can taste a whole slew of things. My only beef was the nine-dollar crab cakE (note: singular) appetizer we were served -- would have been nice to have been notified of that when ordering since we were obviously going to share it (still, it was amazing). Exceptional wine list. Really, everything we ordered was fantastic. I'll be back.

4 Stars: Nice (by food911)

food911 — Sun, 08 Feb 2004 01:00:00 GMT

Yum to the lavender creme brulee! Nice wine and cheese as well. If you're looking for small plates, this place is decent. Lot's of 1st courses/appetizers to choose from. Service can be slow at times but gracious.

3 Stars: late night, not (by sffoodee)

sffoodee — Tue, 13 Jan 2004 01:00:00 GMT

Everything was good, not exciting by any means.
However, service was good up until the check was dropped before we were even asked about dessert. I guess they wanted to close. There are subtle ways to inquire if a guest is interested in dessert if the kitchen needs to closed down.
I would not return, because of the service.

5 Stars: Superb!!! (by lola2568)

lola2568 — Wed, 05 Nov 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I visited First Crush SF last tuesday and was overly suprised by the quality of the food for the price. I had heard great things from friends and my own experience was truly wonderful. The wine tasting menu was a great idea and the combination of the food and wine made the whole night superb.

1 Stars: Soggy french fries (by kittyslair)

kittyslair — Mon, 27 Oct 2003 01:00:00 GMT

How would I say this,,,, Mediocre at best and maybe thats being too kind. Totally overrated. The slivers of apples for the First Crush salad were soo thin that I never knew that there was any. My main course was so bland I dont even know what I had. My husband ordered the rib eye medium and here was not a hint of pink. The horrendous fries tasted like that the cook, chef or whomever must of nuke them. The waiter must have be annoyed that we didnt order any wine since I kept on running out of ice tea. I even placed the glass at an obvious place where he was sure to see it. I swear one time he did and just ignored it. He was definitely more attentive to the party next to us who did order wine. The only thing going for this place is nothing.

4 Stars: Sunday night jazz (by septwed91402)

septwed91402 — Sat, 20 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

First Crush was a great place to go with a loved one and the jazz just added to the wonderful night. Great atmosphere and good food. Highly recommended for a special night between two lovebirds!

4 Stars: Nice Downtown locale (by DJF)

DJF — Wed, 17 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I rarely make it downtown for dinner, so this was a treat. The restaurant is very comfortable and has a good vibe. It is a nice place to go for a few appetizers and a flight or two of wine. I particularly liked the scallops, ahi, and the blue cheese dip appetizer. The salmon entree was good, but not unusual.

The service is attentive. You can expect to spend $100+ a couple if you are in for dinner and drinks.

5 Stars: Party in a restaurant (by ethocrat)

ethocrat — Mon, 08 Sep 2003 02:00:00 GMT

My girlfriend and I decided to try out First Crush and thought that the place was a great deal. She and I split this melted cheese appetizer that went great with the wines the server suggested. Our reservation was at 6, and by 7:30 the place was packed. Would definitely go back. The server helped us pick out things we wouldn't normally try -- and it was all fantastic!

5 Stars: Wow! (by merivel)

merivel — Mon, 18 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

Where to start!! Great location just off of Union Square. Cozy, trendy and romantic atmosphere. Our waiter went way out of his way to find a bottle of wine everyone at the table would enjoy! He brought us at least 5 different sample glasses on the house and even opened a bottle that they don't typically sample just for us to try! I had an excellent apple and blue cheese salad followed by the best pork tenderloin ever! I had to stop myself from humming it was so yummy! We had to be at the theatre after dinner and our waiter did a great job of taking care of us and getting us out the door in time to catch the show. 10 points!

5 Stars: great food, service, wine, host, server (by food_love_sf)

food_love_sf — Mon, 11 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

we went to first crush for the first time for our friend's birthday. we ordered couple of small and large plates (filet, chicken, scallops and the lobster pasta) to share and the cheese plate. the service was prompt and the food was great. the host even served up some awesome champagne for the brithday girl. the wine list was great and the server was always right there to make sure we were having a time of our life. we would definitely go back there - over and over again!

5 Stars: . . . (by enyas)

enyas — Mon, 04 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

I'm a regular at the FC. I was in yesterday, and once again, the server was relaxed, friendly and super-knowledgeable with wine recommendations. My duck entree was fabulous. My girlfriend loved her filet. The crowd was loud, in a fun way.

4 Stars: Loved it! (by fstop44)

fstop44 — Mon, 04 Aug 2003 02:00:00 GMT

My friend and I shared the crab cake appetizer and enjoyed the chicken. The chardonnay "flight" I tried prompted a full glass follow up.

The service was superb, and we were able to enjoy the meal without being rushed, and made it to the Orpheum theater in time for the opening notes of the overture.