First Crush Restaurant Wine Bar & Lounge

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!

Pros: service, food, wine

Cons: lights

Posted 07/13/05

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.

Pros: great wine list

Cons: small space

Posted 07/11/05

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.

Pros: great food

Cons: not very professional

Posted 07/11/05

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!

Pros: Service, Wine, Value

Cons: no French Food

Posted 06/25/05

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!

Pros: Good Wine, Great Food

Posted 06/02/05

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.

Pros: Food, Wine, Service

Cons: parking

Posted 05/16/05

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.

Posted 04/13/05

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.

Pros: Servcie, Wine List, Small Plates

Posted 04/11/05

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.

Pros: wine markup fair

Cons: rude/mean server, mediocre food

Posted 04/07/05

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.

Pros: good food, chic spot, staff

Posted 03/28/05

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.

Pros: Jazz, Wine, Service

Posted 03/15/05

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.

Pros: service, wine selection

Cons: management

Posted 02/22/05

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.

Pros: nice staff, good food

Posted 02/09/05

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.

Posted 02/07/05

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.

Pros: friendly staff, business casual

Cons: food good, not great, parking difficult, make reservations

Posted 02/06/05

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!

Cons: service, value, food

Posted 02/05/05

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.

Posted 01/28/05

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.

Pros: wine menu, large selection

Cons: food flavoring, loud

Posted 01/27/05

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.

Posted 01/10/05

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).

Pros: Good Wine List

Posted 01/07/05

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.

Posted 01/07/05

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.

Posted 01/04/05

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.

Posted 12/22/04

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.

Pros: small plates, great waitstaff, wine flights

Posted 12/21/04

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.

Pros: Prompt seating, Wine list

Cons: , parking, small/crowded

Posted 12/17/04

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.

Pros: Clean table

Cons: , small portions, over-priced

Posted 12/12/04

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.

Pros: great wine list, nice food, friendly service

Posted 11/22/04

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.

Pros: Flight Wines

Cons: , Overpriced

Posted 11/18/04

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.

Pros: Good value, Delicious Food

Posted 11/15/04

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.

Pros: food , wine, service

Posted 10/28/04

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.

Pros: good service, wine knowledge, atmosphere

Posted 10/01/04

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!!!!!

Pros: service, food, wine

Posted 09/13/04

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!

Pros: Mouth watering food, service, trendy

Posted 08/28/04

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.

Pros: food, service, wine

Cons: , crowded, noise

Posted 08/20/04

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!!!!!

Pros: Service, Wine, Food

Posted 08/03/04

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!

Pros: Servers are friendly, Wines

Posted 07/22/04

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.

Pros: Nice music, good small plates, good wine list

Posted 07/20/04

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.

Pros: Ambience, Wine choices, Great Food

Posted 03/15/04

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.

Pros: Atmosphere, Wine Flights, Location

Posted 03/08/04

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.

Pros: great-tasting food, lengthy wine list, cool ambiance

Posted 02/16/04

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.

Pros: creme brulee, small plates

Posted 02/08/04

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.

Pros: atmosphere

Cons: service

Posted 01/13/04

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.

Pros: food , wine , space

Posted 11/05/03

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.

Pros: still looking

Cons: very slow service, rude service, flavorless food

Posted 10/27/03

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!

Pros: atmosphere, food

Posted 09/20/03

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.

Posted 09/17/03

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!

Pros: Not boring, Great crowd

Posted 09/08/03

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!

Pros: excellent service, great value, phenominal food

Cons: NONE

Posted 08/18/03

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!

Pros: great wine list, cozy settings, awesome service

Posted 08/11/03

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.

Pros: Consistently great, Fun waiter, Upbeat

Cons: Not French Laundry, (but who thought it, was?)

Posted 08/04/03