Boxing RoomGood againBeen here before. Just down the street. The food would not always be what I choose because it is specifically cajun or creole or spicy in ways I like occasionally, but my daughter in Sonoma always likes to come here when she visits. She loves the oysters and one particular wine. Because she has culinary training, I am interested in her opinions. She likes Boxing Room a lot.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMBrilliant, againThe service was perfect: friendly, informative, timely. The food was exceptional: great flavors, a mix of old favorites and new discoveries. The wine was perfect with the meal (thanks to the server's tips). The vibe was friendly: not at all stuffy, the music was perfectly upbeat without being overbearing.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWe'll Go BackThis was our first visit to Boxing Room and we enjoyed our meal, had a great waitress, and are curious to go back and try more menu items. Our openers--oysters and salads--were fantastic as were our desserts (beignets and rhubarb cobbler). My main course (the trout) was very good but less extraordinary. (I found the olives to be a bit overwhelming when the fish was so tender and subtle.) The beer list looks great though we had wine (a nice, crisp white the waitress recommended).5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMFun and funkyThis old shirt factory turned restaurant (it's in the room where they boxed the shirts, hence the name of the restaurant --the Boxing Room), is near the SF Jazz Center and the Symphony Hall. I've been there for lunch twice and love the ambiance which is fun and funky. There's a long list of beers and fresh oysters (at $1 apiece!). I think the oysters are the best deal. Did I say already say $1 apiece?! We've had the muffaletto, fried chicken po' boy, and crayfish bread (appetizer of the day --crayfish and rice baked in a cornbread) . Service is friendly and knowledgeable. I bet it's a lot of fun at dinnertime. I'll be back.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food, great service andGood food, great service and wonderful ambiance. We enjoyed trying new foods and talking with the manager.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMFun, interesting food--a bitFun, interesting food--a bit on the spicy side. Good service, hip atmosphere.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThe first impression was veryThe first impression was very negative due to the rude, snooty woman who was at the desk by the door. Although the restaurant was basically empty and we had reservations, she steered us to the farthest-most, darkest corner of the room, on the opposite side from the few guests that were already seated. When I asked if it would be possible to sit over more by the window, she nearly rolled her eyes, spun around and walked us there with nary a word or a smile. Very bad for the first encounter in the restaurant and the first visit.
Luckily, after that, things improved. The wait staff was somewhat nicer, although could have been better. The food and iced coffee were superb, so I would go back and give it another go. A beautiful space!4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMVery helpful and friendlyVery helpful and friendly service. Food good and well prepared. Only negative was the music on the PA system: too much booming, thudding bass.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThe atmosphere of this placeThe atmosphere of this place is wonderful. The food is an excellent mix of classic Louisiana and contemporary California.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is fun. The foodThis place is fun. The food is good and very new Orleans. I had the fried chicken and hush puppies. I want to try other items on the menu.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMDefinitely Visit...Our visit to the Boxing Room met all expectations. We started our meal with the fried alligator and fried green tomatoes (not very diet friendly) and both were very enjoyable. There was a bit too much breading on the tomatoes for me, but the flavor was still very good. We decided to try out a few entrees to be split between our group. We went with the catfish po'boy, craw fish etoufe and jambalaya! All had great flavor and the food was served hot which is a must for me. They have a large wine list and wines on tap. We split a carafe on tap and was quite satisfied in the flavor. The best part was definitely the beignets for dessert. Fried dough that melts in your mouth, yes please!!!4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrific food & serviceThis was our first time at Boxing Room and we would recommend it and return in a heartbeat. Otto our waiter was terrific. We let him know that it was our first time dining there and he made suggestions and helped guide us through the menu. We ordered the Boudin Balls, cup of Gumbo, cup of crawfish etouffe, fried chicken, and coffee and beignets for dessert. All of it was quite good but the Gumbo, fried chicken, and beignets were a standout. The Gumbo had a smokey flavor with a caramel undertone to it. It was so good we would order it as an entree. The fried chicken was crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside and not overly breaded or greasy. Beignets...nothing more to say. Overall an awesome experience!4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat location if you areGreat location if you are going to the Opera House or Davies Symphony Hall. They are very accommodating when you are going to a show.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMContinues it's quality over time.We've been going there before the symphony performance ever since they opened. While the Sunday Brunch menu has slimmed down a bit, I consider it to be the best overall bang for the buck in that area. Cajun menu. If, on top of that, you
like craft beer and oysters then this fills your needs. Wine list also good. Total of three courses and desert (shared for two) along with tea ran about $62. Excellent flat bread and dip appetizer.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMSpacious, modern restaurantSpacious, modern restaurant with both southern favourites on offer, as well as more inventive dishes. A very impressive selection of beer and wines to match. However, it doesn't have that much personality, so is fine for taking out clients, but has a hard time squaring up next to other southern venues like Front Porch. Overall, a good place to catch a relaxed meal, but not one to rave about.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMThe hamburger with bacon andThe hamburger with bacon and cheddar was good but nothing special. The steak fries, however, were outstanding. In spite of polishing off the lavash/cheese as well as the burger, I ordered dessert. It was delicious -- rhubarb cobbler with buttermilk cake and black pepper ice cream. Love the desserts at Boxing Room!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful;not for the gluten free.We had a lovely lunch before going to the ballet. The food was wonderful. My only complaint is that the menu is limited and not especially friendly for those of us who need to have gluten free food. There were very few gluten free offerings.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent gumbo and jambalayaExcellent gumbo and jambalaya and other regional specialties! Noteworthy draft beer selection! We will return!!!4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOysters and fried chickenOysters and fried chicken YES! Too long gap between when we ordered our beverages and the server returned to take our food order.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had my husbands birthdayWe had my husbands birthday here a few weeks ago, we had a great time. We had a very large group, everyone we invited attended. The boxing room was not very well equipped for large groups, anything over 10. They did however to everything possible to accommodate our group, with the exception of th 30$ cake cutting fee for the cupcakes we brought in the prices were reasonable, and the staff was exceptional.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMComfy and consistentEverything we had was very tasty! Would definitely go back to try more things off the menu. We had the Boudin balls, hush puppies, pork belly, risotto and a pair of ales - ALL were seasoned well and yummy. My only complaint would be portion sizes seemed a little small. Boudin balls were spicy yet light; pork belly could have been a little more tender, but smokiness was good; risotto had wild mushrooms and broccoli and was just ok. Service was excellent - very friendly and consistent. Lots of good choices for beer and wine. An easy-going, comfortable vibe that was perfect for unwinding after work.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMI went for lunch and had theI went for lunch and had the special plate which comes with a drink and dessert for $15. That's a good value. My husband had the muffalletto and liked it very much. They have an extensive beer list too. Did I mention that fresh oysters are $1 apiece before 4:30? I'm going back to try the duck jambalaya.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe starter lavash crackersThe starter lavash crackers with cheese pimento spread is delicious, you'll need two baskets of them :) Appetizers and desserts are excellent too! Unfortunately our main courses of the lamb special and the gumbo were not up to par, but I'm looking forward to trying other entrees next time!3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMGood beer selection.Wait staffGood beer selection.Wait staff was knowledgable about beer and food offerings.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMMany places try to do whatMany places try to do what BR does without succeeding. Their deft touch to not overcooking delicate seafood is dead on. If you want fresh, especially crawfish BR is your place. I'm not sure who supplies the bread, yet its a close to New Orleans as Ive encountered in the bay area. I also like how the menu changes from time to time to take advantage of available foods by season. All in all after my 4-5th visit I have never been disappointed by any dish/creation from them.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMFood is always good, whetherFood is always good, whether you are going canjun fusion or not. I had Trout with artichokes, excellent, wife had risotto and loved it. Boxing Room is one of the few places set up for drop in food at the bar which is fun when going to the ballet or symphony or running around Hayes St. We had reservations for a table pretty early and it was hopping shortly after. Fun place3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMgood fried chickenIts a good place to go. And I had to move my reservation twice and they weren't mad about because they weren't that busy. Food was good. I'll go again3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food is authenticallyThe food is authentically southern without being corny. Little gem salad with country ham is excellent!3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMThank you for such a wonderThe other day my girlfriend and I had lunch at Boxing Room to celebrate my birthday. The host sat us down right away. Very gracious, friendly service. There was a 3-course lunch special for $15 which my friend ordered. I had the catfish po'boy $16. Plus 1 doz oysters $1/each. There was plenty of food; which we shared. Our server was excellent, very friendly, gave good suggestions as to the menu and wine. We had a delicious cava $5/glass with our meal. I had been to Boxing Room before. The restaurant still is a favorite, and I look forward to my next wonderful meal there.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a good time. CrawfishAlways a good time. Crawfish with the potatos, corn n mushrooms this time of year.
Great Oysters. Outstanding po-boys.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat southern menu. TheGreat southern menu. The Duck and Sausage Jambalaya was as good I have had any where including New Orleans. Can't wait to go back and try the Fried Chicken. It looked amazing.3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMI like this place more eachI like this place more each time and apparently I'm not the only one who feels this way. There was quite a good-sized group of diners at brunch on Sunday. Service was professional and attentive. I had the shrimp po'boy with tons of delicious fried shrimp, perfectly dressed on a lovely baguette. The hushpuppies were divine. This entree was preceded by lavash with a delectable spread. After finishing both the lavash and the po'boy and the 3 hushpuppies, I was still able to polish off my dessert. I had the apple cobbler which arrived steaming hot in a skillet and was topped with a scoop of ice cream. Yum! I will be back.2/17/2013 12:00:00 AMVery relaxed brunch priorVery relaxed brunch prior to visiting the new SF Jazz venue. Food, tasty as always. Service always excellent.1/19/2013 12:00:00 AM