Zuni Cafe

  • 3.72727 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
 
3.7 rating over 3 reviews

1658 Market St
San Francisco, CA
(415) 552-2522 View the Menu
Website

View Hours

Description: Zuni Cafe is a Californian, Mediterranean, and Modern European restaurant where most Menuism users came for fun with friends, paid between $10 and $25, and tipped between 15% to 18%.  Tags: , , and
   
Stats:

This James Beard Award winning restaurant with a clientele as diverse as San Francisco opened in 1979. A vibrant Parisian-style standing-only copper bar greets you as you enter on Rose Alley. Zuni's menu changes daily with dishes inspired by traditional Italian and French recipes. Nearly all of the produce, meat, and fish served at Zuni is farmed and harvested in a sustainable manner.

Even without a reservation, bar tables are available on a first come, first served basis and the full menu is available. The bar also serves traditional cocktails made with top-shelf ingredients; refreshments at its best in an environment of effortless hospitality. Whether you dine early or prefer to dine after theater, Zuni is a welcoming haven.
-Judy Rodgers, chef/co-owner
-Gilbert Pilgram, co-owner

Do you own this restaurant? Contact us to connect with your diners.

Reviews Write a review

  • 3 reviews
  • First reviewed by cliff

August 28, 2006

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
+6 0
Helpful-counter-up-btn
Helpful-counter-down-btn
+6
6 Votes
 

Excellent, and open late!

Went to Zuni last night and tried a LOAD of their dishes. Service was great, atmosphere is nice (but a bit cramped) and the food was very good. Note that I didn’t have the hamburger (yes, the hamburger), but I heard it was stellar.

Dishes I tried:

polenta

  • 3.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Almost a pudding-like texture, different than most polenta. Very cheesy, but not a strong cheese taste. A little too light IMO, lacking in flavor.

bean and bacon pasta

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Excellent pasta, similar to carbonara but with small lima beans in it which worked surprisingly well. A little buttery, but I think that worked well.

Halibut cheeks

  • 3.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Good quality, in a buttery sauce, but nothing too remarkable.

Roast chicken for two

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

While I’m not a chicken fan, this was about as good as roast chicken can get. Comes also with some roasted bread-ish croutons underneath that get some of the chicken juices…very good.

Gateau Victoire chocolate cake

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

A VERY strong, not too sweet chocolate cake, which is how I like it. Oneof the better chocolate desserts in the area, though it would be better if it were served warm IMO.

Bass, with avacado and potato/tomato

  • 3.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Good, though actually a little disappointing for sea bass (which I usually love). The flavors were a little lacking, though what flavors there were (cream, avacado) worked well.

Link to this review

Add a Comment

May 17, 2007

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
+4 0
Helpful-counter-up-btn
Helpful-counter-down-btn
+4
4 Votes
 

Roast chicken and burgers!

After hearing rave reviews on Chowhound of their roast chicken and burgers, I just had to try them. Man, this place is crowded. We came in on a weekend around 1pm and were told we had an hour wait. But thankfully, after 15 minutes of standing in the packed bar area, the host came and told us we had a table. We ordered the roast chicken, burger, and a side of fries.
The roast chicken lived up to expectations, as did the burger. The fries were good, but nothing to write home about. All in all, we had a very nice eating experience. I definitely want to come back here to try other dishes on their menu.

Dishes I tried:

Roast chicken for two

  • 5.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Perfectly seasoned and the toasted bread salad below it soaks up all the flavorful juices. I love it even though I hate eating whole chicken.

Zuni Burger

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

Excellent meat quality and a unique flavor. Not the best in the world, but very good.

Link to this review

Add a Comment

December 13, 2007

  • 3.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
+3 0
Helpful-counter-up-btn
Helpful-counter-down-btn
+3
3 Votes
 

expensive, but good food

the food is good, but if you’re looking for a cheap eat this probably isn’t the place for you. the ambiance is casual elegant and the service is friendly & professional. a very upscale place to dine, but still casual.

i felt as though the menu didn’t offer anything that caught my eye, and the higher prices will probably make it less likely that i’ll return.

Dishes I tried:

Frisee Salad

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

i’d give this salad 5 stars if it were a bit larger. the size is more consistent w/a small appetizer. very tasty though, and flavorful, light.

Shoestring Fries

  • 4.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

a medium sized mound of thin fries. very salty. enough to split between 4.

Link to this review

Add a Comment



Upload Pics Pictures

Loves It (6)

Dkyulozg4r26aoaby-gaa7

chicanery

San Francisco, CA
+116 useful

Small_foodha_square

erikl415

San Francisco, CA
0 useful

Alupcyryir3b3caby-t3n_

VML

San Francisco, CA
0 useful

Small_foodha_square

slimmyd95

Richmond, VA
0 useful

Small_foodha_square

relprime

Los Angeles, CA
0 useful

Small_foodha_square

rachelz

Richmond, VA
0 useful

Wants to Try It (9)

Blwfnag4ir3rnkaby-m7zj

justin

Chicago, IL
+880 useful

Cavb--grar27c6abblkses

john

Seattle, WA
+717 useful

Small_foodha_square

so_i_go

+34 useful

Small_foodha_square

Channing

Novato, CA
+45 useful

Small_foodha_square

yoyo28

San Francisco, CA
+5 useful

Small_foodha_square

AaronRackoff

+1 useful

Small_foodha_square

sweetazian

+6 useful

Small_foodha_square

websusan

San Francisco, CA
0 useful

Small_foodha_square

randygaw

San Francisco, CA
0 useful

Nearby Restaurants

Cav Wine Bar
  • 0.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Contemporary American in Downtown

Top Rated Californian Restaurants

Restaurant Gary Danko
  • 4.8 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Fine Dining in Russian Hill
Range
  • 4.38462 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
American in Mission
Boulevard
  • 4.55556 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
American in Financial District
Campton Place Restaurant
  • 5.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
American in Downtown
Rue Saint Jacques
  • 5.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Californian in Nob Hill

See all Californian restaurants in San Francisco, CA

Top Rated Mediterranean Restaurants

The Dining Room at The Ritz Carlton
  • 5.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
French in Chinatown
Canteen
  • 5.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Californian in Downtown
aziza
  • 4.42857 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
African in Outer Richmond
Kokkari Estiatorio
  • 4.25 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Greek in Financial District
Zazie
  • 4.33333 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
French in Haight-Ashbury

See all Mediterranean restaurants in San Francisco, CA

Top Rated Modern European Restaurants

Zuni Cafe
  • 3.72727 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Californian in Downtown
Cortez
  • 3.0 star rating
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
Mediterranean in Downtown

See all Modern European restaurants in San Francisco, CA

Menuism-review-contest-300x250