Scratch (Mtn View)Great experience for an importantGreat experience for an important business dinner! Fantastic food.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was delicious. Our serverFood was delicious. Our server was informative, attentive and very pleasant. Service was very good. We will be back!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Mother's day dinnerGreat hospitality and service for my wife, two young boys and I on Mother's day. Loved the crab cakes appetizer, excellent rib eye steak and salmon main courses, and dinner bread. Can't recommend the Caesar salad, however. Unfortunately we didn't have room for dessert. Service was superb. Much more family friendly than expected ( they expedited the kids dinner without asking, brought water for the kids in a paper to go cup, etc.). Will return.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is like myThis restaurant is like my Mac. Thoughtful. Elegant. It just works. I look forward to returning!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat for couples.The food is fantastic, the four of us had fish. We had the special and the tuna. It was all very well done and tasty. The shrimp dish was a bit hard to eat but good. The waiters were there all the time and did not have us waiting for any food. Efficient. We had drinks and wine. A bottle of wine was around $50. I would say it was sometimes hard to hear the conversation as the evening progressed but nothing too bad. We were there between 6:30 and 9 on a Saturday night. I would recommend this place for couples or a small group to go and have dinner. We took a walk down Castro street after dinner and the street was packed with people eating out.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe just ate at Scratch forWe just ate at Scratch for the first time, along with another couple. The tomato bisque was spicy and delicious, and the iceberg salad our friends had seemed to please them, too. My friend had the fried chicken, and declared it excellent. Her husband had the salmon, and it disappeared in a way that said it was very good. We had the pork chop dinner, and it was superb, with an interesting sauce, delicious green beans, and a very interesting marinated pecan side. The breads were also superb. Sadly, we couldn't move on to desserts, but will plan ahead next time.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was first rate.The service was first rate. The food was decent. The local greens salad with chicken was tasty and moderate in size (so if you are making it a meal and used to big salads, order something else with it). The restaurant is cavernous but the people who work there make it inviting. They have a a prominent bar with friendly bartenders. I recommend it.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMService was polite and responsiveService was polite and responsive - we were a difficult party. One of our late arrivals wanted a table instead of a booth- moved with a smile; I left some items behind and live out of town - prompt agreement to mail them to me.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGive your review a title (optional)Went to Scratch prior to a show at the Performing Arts Center. We let them know that we were going to a show and they were great about watching the time for us. Solid service, our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. Food was good. The stand out for us was the truffle mushroom flatbread that we ordered as an appetizer for our table of 4. It was awesome! The wine and beer list was good.4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMTook my parents there forTook my parents there for the last meal of their visit. The food was excellent! The menu didn't have a certain skew towards one type of taste or another, just good ingredients prepared properly. The waiter was very friendly and bantered well with my Dad. In the end he comped the desserts since he liked dealing with us. The one knock was the noise level. The interior seems to be geared towards encouraging conversation (no TVs, couldn't really hear the music), but it was very easy to hear other tables. In fact, the loud table next to us may have played into the decision to comp our desserts, but that would only speak to the hospitable nature of the staff.
I will definitely go back.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA nice addition to Castro St.Nice for a special occasion. I celebrated a birthday with my spouse and a friend, and most everything was good. The service was attentive without trying to turn over the table in 30 minutes, and nearly all the food was good or excellent. The only quibble I can think of is that I had to trim a good bit of fat off of my lamb chops in order to get to the meat. The lamb itself was very good, not gamey at all. The other guests enjoyed the Salmon and a vegetarian risotto. The raw oysters were great.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreatGreat! Not cheap by any means, but... SOOooo good. Tonight was all about fish, as two of us ordered the Simple Fish and one ordered the Seared Tuna. Three very happy customers. I should note that the description of the artichoke/tomato side included with the Simple Fish is rather misleading, since the artichokes are only decorative--charred to an indelible texture and apparently not meant for consumption. Two of us ordered the soup, which this day was an intriguing yellow pepper & pear. I had the bacon-wrapped dates, wonderful as always. We all shared the chocolate mousse. Perfect!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMI was there for a businessI was there for a business lunch, so can't comment on evening/dining experience. The service was great, and the food was delicious. I'll be back!4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFun dining experience greatFun dining experience great place to end the day. Food is exceptional with a comfort theme twist. Service is outstanding. Attentive staff, never rushed no matter how crowded.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMAttentive service and veryAttentive service and very good food, but the noise level is almost too much. Recommend going either early or late when it's not so hectic.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMI went to Scratch on a SaturdayI went to Scratch on a Saturday thinking that it would be packed, but managed to get a nice table located close to the kitchen. Our server was friendly and professional, and he checked on our table multiple times to make sure we were satisfied. The food was outstanding ranging all the way from the appetizers down to the dessert. Will definitely give this place another visit and I recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice meal with their significant other.
P.S. A word of advice, if you are going to order the Oyster Rockerfeller appetizer, order two, it's just THAT good. Trust me.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a group of 5 old friendsWe had a group of 5 old friends visit on a busy Friday night and received excellent service for dinner. We stayed 3 1/2 hrs chatting and eating and drinking and loved every minute of it. The waiter never rushed us.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMStellar food, and an intriguingStellar food, and an intriguing beer selection (specifically what was on draught).
In particular as well, the bourbon and rye list are impressive including such notables as New York based Tuthiltown's small batch Hudson bourbons – Baby and Four Grain both.
The pork chop was divine, with a heavenly Macaroni & Cheese on the side - comfort food defined.
And you can't miss the Chorizo Stuffed, Bacon Wrapped Medjool Dates as an appetizer – quite literally, as a fellow diner said, "meat candy".4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great dinner at Scratch.Another great dinner at Scratch. Bacon wrapped dates were amazing as always. There were 7 of us, and the wait for food was reasonable. The only downside that evening is they were out of a couple beers on draft.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Scratch burger is outstanding!The Scratch burger is outstanding! Delicious hamburger with cheddar and bacon on a housemade brioche bun, accompanied by grape tomatoes and bread and butter pickles. French fries were disappointing -- not the least bit crisp -- sort of limp. Dessert was okay but not memorable. It was billed as New York cheesecake. I've had New York cheesecake at the late lamented Lindy's and the Scratch version is more like glorified Sara Lee.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMVery pleasant at lunch becauseVery pleasant at lunch because it is not too crowded...but dinner is VERY NOISY.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThere were 6 of us for dinnerThere were 6 of us for dinner and we arrived early to have drinks. The bartender was wonderful and we enjoyed our drinks (like the focus on American products). Everyone enjoyed their dinners, especially the two of us who had the fish of the day with the choice of 3 different sauces, wonderful. The recommendations from the waiter and bartender were spot on. Thank you.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMOur go to restaurant. ThereOur go to restaurant. There is no 'bad' dish at Scratch. Service is friendly and professional.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMLove their spicy margaritas.Love their spicy margaritas. The bar staff is friendly and very courteous. The waitstaff is attentive. I've been here many times and twice, order entrees for dinner and was not impressed. Food was nothing to write home about. Now when I go with my friends, we all order off the appetizer, flat bread and salad menu and share. Appetizers and Flat breads are delicious.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMA Surprise!Absolutely wonderful food. Try the bacon wrapped dates. We could not get enogh of them.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMHost staff was fantastic!Host staff was fantastic! Vodka selections were amazing!3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMIt was another great eveningIt was another great evening at Scratch. We love the food here. It gets noisy, but the unique restaurant experience makes up for it. Love this place!3/15/2013 12:00:00 AMI like to come for lunch onI like to come for lunch on special occasions or with a group. I have found the food to be consistent and the service is always good.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMThe service was prompt, theThe service was prompt, the server was knowledgable, the food was very good. We will go back soon.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AM