Menu
Pizza and wine were very good. Downside is that I was seated at the worst table in the restaurant - at the waiter station by the bathroom near a draft. Desiree graciously accommodated my complaint about the draft and closed the curtain. At that point I only had to contend with the noisy waiter station and people waiting for the bathroom while I enjoyed my wine and pizza.
The overall experience is nice. I got the swordfish plate. I don't think the chipotle-flavored sauce goes with it, but it didn't taste bad. It was still delicious. I think the swordfish plate deserves a more delicate and neutral sauce. That's up to the chef to decide. I tried my friend's steak, and I thought it was good. My friend got it medium rare. He mentioned it was more well-done when he ordered it to be cooked medium, but I will definitely order it next time cooked rare. Hopefully, it will be cooked at such temperature. Their toffee cake with mascarpone was not bad at all. Service was just right.
Love this place. Fun, casual, and delicious. Loved the new menu. The Squid Ink pasta was out of this world.
While waiting for our table we wanted to order a beverage at the bar. We were disappointed that the barista said it was not possible to make an iced coffee. Then when asked to make an almond milk latte, started to say it was not possible. Then agreed to make it and then came back to say it was not possible because we were going to be eating at the restaurant and we could order it from the waitperson. It made zero sense. Other than that, everything was good.
Nice. Loved the food. But felt like we were being rushed out the door
Great food, OK service. Our server was nice but forgetful.
Very tasty food, decent pricing, and not super cramped like a lot of places in the city. However portions are a little small. Cheap corkage ($15)!
Starbelly is a hidden gem, tucked around the corner from a busy Market Street. The vibe and atmosphere are friendly and pleasant. I've enjoyed the lunch menu and want to return for brunch one day. The food is consistently good and portions are generous. It's a great place to take a date, family or colleague.
Cheese Grit Sticks and Broccoli side dish are delish! I prefer to sit out on the back patio....the inside can get a tad noisy. Pizza is always good here and the cocktails are yummy as well!
It can be hit or miss. It is better for casual dining and casual expectations. Food is standard but not exciting.
Very nice ambiance in the heart of the Castro district.
Great hip local spot! (Don’t tell the tourists!)
Great overall experience, delicious food, prompt + attentive service.
Starbelly was an excellent start to a great night out in the Castro. We had an early dinner outside on the covered patio which included a charcuterie (3 of our choosing plus seasonal additions) and shared a pizza. The drinks were great and so was the food. Though we were intimately sitting with others, I did not feel like we were on top of anyone or indirectly in their conversations. I would definitely go again.
Great food, atmosphere and service! Fantastic Brunch spot.
Delicious food, as usual! The pizza is to die for, especially the thin, crispy crust. The drinks are awesome, that is, once they finally show up. We arrived for our 6pm reservation and was advised there was another reservation for our table at 7:15 pm- no problem. But we waited almost 15 mins before any water service, 20 mins for drink/food order. Our food arrived around 6:45 and still no cocktails!!! Granted, the manager did comp the drinks due to the delay. The bar debacle might be ok on a Monday day night but it’s a big no no for a Friday night crowd, not to mention loss of sales because of less orders. Can’t say whether I’d return again...
Loved the place. My wife and I sat at a high top across from the open kitchen. Excellent bar with a perfect Manhattan. For dinner we split the fried calamari with corn meal batter, delicious, and the night special was OMG Dungeness crab garlic noodles made with squid in pasta. To die for. Yes we would go back!
Starbelly was good as always. Our food was a little late (a table who was seated after we were seated received their meal and was finishing their brunch by the time we received our food). No biggie however we should have been told the kitchen was backed up.
Cute place, friendly server, but our po boy chicken sandwich was more bread than chicken, too much bread. When looking around the restaurant, we noticed that every one else who ordered the same chicken sandwich from the SF Restaurant Week menu had more chicken than bread. We discussed it with our server and she remedied the situation.
Our first time at Starbelly, so we’ll try it again.
Back room in winter is quite unpleasant, despite heat lamps. Kitchen staff made multiple trips through the room with trash going to bins outside. Door was left open. I don't enjoy garbage passing by my table while eating. Burger was overcooked and tasteless. Salad and veggies were good. Drink competently mixed. Excellent staff. Responded to complaints by adjusting the tab without being asked to do so.
From the beginning I had a feeling this wasn’t going to an especially great experience. The server responded unenthusiastically when I asked how she was doing. I specified a special birthday for my niece (turned 21) in the reservation but the waitress was not aware. She tried to issue me a check rather than asking if we wanted to see the dessert menu so I had to pull her aside to request a candle in one of the desserts. I had to ask for the water bottle to be replaced a couple times throughout the meal and finally got up and replaced the water on my own when all 5 glasses and two bottles were empty and our server could not be flagged down. Perhaps they were short a staff member, but for an early evening meal when they were still folding napkins when we arrived, I’m not sure. The food was delicious, a couple of the cocktails were a bit too strong, but overall a good experience; I just wish we had outstanding service to match the quality of the food.
Awesomeness
Its way too loud. You have to yell through your whole meal just to be heard by your dining partner.
They didn’t give me my open table reservation points!!!
Have heard good things about Starbelly for quite some time and finally tried it during Restaurant Week. Maybe it was too busy due to that, but the fries I added on to the Fried Chicken Po-Boy (really is a Bun, not a Po-Boy) were barely lukewarm. Service was distracted. Too bad. I'd hoped for better.
Restaurant week menu was a great value. The vegetarian in our party said it was the best veggie burger she's had. Portions are well sized. We enjoyed the layers and depths of flavor particularly in the spaghetti entree.
Wouldn’t recommend the Calamari - but everything else was delicious
I have not stopped thinking about the Romesco sauce on the swordfish 😋 the food was tasty and left you feeling light and comfortably full after. I had the squash dumplings, the swordfish and the chocolate mousse with salted caramel and a rosemary cookie. All three courses were great, solid music, and friendly staff. This was my favorite restaurant week find
Went to Starbelly on 1/22 with a friend to catch up and were delighted to be there for SF Restaurant Week. We had a delicious soup, Entree, and desert for $15, it was great value and delicious food.
The food and server were GREAT! But expected, since I had been once before and already knew what I was getting into. I took my mom for SF Restaurant Week to introduce her to this place and she enjoyed their Chicken Po' Boy. My personal fave is the pate. The only downside to this experience were the unwelcoming hostess and bartender, two of the first faces you see when walking in.
As always, the food was absolutely wonderful. The service was friendly (if not the fastest). To their credit though, it was a holiday Monday and the place was HOPPING. So nothing took longer than would be expected for how busy it was at the time. The food and ambiance (and their great new full-liquor drink menu) more than make up for it.
Great atmosphere, good drinks, and the food was awesome. Bacon spaghetti was amazing
LOVED the cheese & grit sticks appetizer. Mushroom pizza was delicious as well. We ordered 2.
Service was absolutely awful. Our server was never around and never checked on us
Consistently awesome. I would die for those ricotta dumplings. 🤤
Loved Starbelly. Great local menu selection of drinks and food alike. Great energy and vibe within the restaurant. Highly enjoyed the swordfish. Would definitely return when in SF again!
I like Starbelly. I like their food, and I like the place. The service could be improved, but as long as there aren't egregious problems, I'll overlook just average service. I live in the neighborhood, and I'm inclined to support our local businesses.
One thing that *really* bugs me: They charge for refills of decaf coffee. No charge for refills of regular coffee. They serve decaf in a small French press, which is nice, but it would be better if they just had brewed decaf coffee and not charge for refills.
Love Starbelly. Never disappoints.
Consistently delicious food and drink at fair prices.
So loud i couldn’t hear myself think let alone talk with my friends. Service was uneven—kept having to find and flag down our waitress. Food was excellent and lots of it. Pricey but it’s SF, so expected. Cocktail was great. I’d go back, but I’ll learn sign language first.
