Heirloom CafeExcellent food - very wellExcellent food - very well prepared. Extensive wine list. Friendly and professional service.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMA special findNon-descript from the outside, the inside packs a punch. The food is amazing! The service spectacular. My husband and I like to share dishes and without us asking, they split the soup and the salmon dish into portions for us each. A very nice touch.
My one note (and please note that I am an interior designer with a picky eye) was that the fluorescent lights over the open kitchen were unappealing. Appreciate what it does for the environment, but I just can't stand the light it provides. Other than that, the decor was wonderfully put together.
We'll definitely be back!5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMConsistently very good.Matt and his team offer such a consistently great experience; I have never gone there and been disappointed. The food is great and reasonable for the quality offered; the wines reflect Matt's deep and sometimes quirky experience (meant in a GOOD sense) and there's no pretense, just warm, welcoming and great food.
My only beef relates to taking a friend there one time, a restaurant/lighting architect, who couldn't get past the somewhat glaring industrial hanging lights in the kitchen. So now I see those whereas before I was blissfully overlooking them.
Go for the food, go for the service, go for the small but great wine list.
It is a neighborhood gem.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food; a little cosyReally fantastic entrees; my Halibut was divine and accompanying english peas were very flavorful. Deserts were beautifully presented, especially the rhubarb tart, and tasted great.
Groups of five are tough to sit I guess, but there was not much room on the end of the long shared table for the odd person in our group. Also, should a restaurant really add a mandatory 20% tip for a group of 5? Not what I would call a large group. Usually expect this on groups of 6 or more. The service was very good, but I would like to have been able to differentiate by setting my own tip level.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food... waaaay too noisy!The dishes were divine. Everything we ordered was excellent and memorable. Our guests from New York were very impressed.
Also memorable, but not on a positive note, was the noise. Guests was yelling and screeching to be heard, the music was too loud, the acoustics are terrible. Comfortable conversation became impossible and we left without dessert. With such fine quality of food preparation and service, it would be nice if the ambiance were more sensitive to the enjoyment of this experience.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA hidden gem?On the basis of a review in the Financial Times by Nicholas Lander, we ventured into the Mission District, an area we did not know though we had visited San Francisco previously. The Heirloom Cafe is popular even on a mid-week evening. A simple menu, including a prix fixe option, with a delightful range of possibilities. The duck confit salad was a light main course served at just the right temperature. The lamb stew was full of flavour and served as a generous portion. A thoughtfully chosen, predominantly French wine list. Excellent service, attentive without overpowering. The only quibble was that the lively conversation of our fellow diners did dominate the space, perhaps they were just carried away in their enjoyment of the meal.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great restaurantThis is a great restaurant, my only complaint is the seating. I know I'm a big guy, 6'3" at 250 lbs but the seating is really not comfortable not only for me but other's smaller than I in our group of 4l4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMToo easyHeirloom Cafe, your vibe is just enchanting. It's about good food, really great wine, and a laid-back style. I hope we get to come again to try the burgers or brunch!4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMAcoustics bad. Noise was aAcoustics bad. Noise was a problem -- cycle of shouting louder and louder to be heard over the shouting.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMMy experience was great -My experience was great - delicious food, excellent service, and the atmosphere had a European feel. Would highly recommend.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was delicious - wonderfulThe food was delicious - wonderful vegetarian options, great wine.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMRelaxed, delightful, great foodRecommended by a friend. I'd go back, and take friends. Knowledgeable waitstaff, interesting and varied wine list, great food. Loved it.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMEveryone at the restaurantEveryone at the restaurant was sweet and gracious. The food was fresh and delicious.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMHeirloom is one a number exceptionaHeirloom is one a number exceptional restaurants in SF that most people don't get to know. I like it that way. Happy for the staff as it was jammed on a Monday night, but you still don't have to reserve way in advance. It has the most civil corkage policy, lower for fine old wines.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic meal and wonderfulFantastic meal and wonderful service. Beautiful space and open kitchen. The duck and mushroom risotto were amazing. Would come back again and again.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful birthday dinnerMatt and team once again presented a wonderful experience. We went here for my birthday this past weekend and thoroughly enjoyed our food and wine - everyone loved each dish and Matt provided some superb wine recommendations. I chose Heirloom for my birthday dinner because they always make us feel like family, put out solid, consistent food, and always have a wonderful wine offering for any budget or flavor profile. The fact that it's a 5-min walk from my house is just icing on the cake. Matt has built this place on good old fashioned customer service, execution and flavors; nothing flashy but always excellent.
Bravo, Matt and team. Thanks for a great birthday celebration.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent RestaurantThis is an excellent restaurant that i have been to many times before, but always enjoy returning. They never fail to exceed expectations with the food, wine pairing, and service.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGood Food and good ambiance.They play real Jazz... not, staff noise to keep customers moving along...
And we appreciate that.
Food is outstanding and the build out is flawless.
Good wines, as well with helpful staff.
Up there with Olivettos, Zuni, and Delfina.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMA neighborhood gem!Such a neighborhood gem. Very romantic and food is excellent. The night we went, I found the food a little salty. If the food was a little less salty it would be perfection.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food and a charmingGreat food and a charming space in the Mission. Bright, fresh flavors. Loved the green garlic soup and the spring lamb stew, which was not heavy but, instead, came with lots of vegetables and a light, flavorful broth, accompanied by a delicious biscuit to soak it up. The roasted cod was also very good in a saffron, tomato and fennel broth. Nice selection of wines by the glass at reasonable prices. The "menu" seemed pricey at $65.00, so we opted for a la carte. Portions large, except for dessert--we shared a very small, but good, rhubarb tart.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMDeliciousTook some work colleagues from abroad- both worldly types. We sat at the communal table, which is not everyones cup of tea, but was kind of nice. They had a short chat with the folks next to us. We ordered several a la carte plates to share. They were impressed with the food, and so was I. I'm eating mostly vegan these days, but made an exception because the food was just too special to pass up. Very fresh and lots of flavor.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely SpotA new place for me and it was perfect for my girlfriends dinner. The decor is very pretty and even sitting with random people didn't feel like we were crowded. The food was great and our waiter was good at making recommendations. It would be good for date night or a small group of friends.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMI must say it is 3.5 starsI must say it is 3.5 stars and keep on reading as I explain why exactly.
It is a great restaurant with an interesting menu. The ambiance however is the best part of the place. everything we had was very good but not excellent (small portions I might add). With the prices they charge, I expect excellent especially in SF. Our table got the duck dish/salad, Cod and spring lamb stew. Everything was about $5-10 over priced, it will add up quickly hence my 3.5 stars rating. Given there are so many great restaurants in the City, I won't go back any time soon.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWe brought our friends hereWe brought our friends here and they loved it. The coffee braised lamb was incredible.3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMOur second visit was justOur second visit was just as pleasurable as the first. Since there were three of us,
we were seated at the head and end of the communal table. This was creative seating, we thought, and well suited for conversation. Loved the food and the service was impeccable! Price was reasonable. We are now recommending it to all of our friends...3/14/2013 12:00:00 AMHeirloom perfectionExcellent in every respect! Warm and welcoming. Excellent food; very interest and good wine list, especially by the glass. The chef/owner expediting was great, as were all of the servers and staff. Perfect. My New Year's resolution is to become a regular!12/15/2012 12:00:00 AM