16th Street Diner — Restaurant in San Francisco

The service was slow, though the staff were friendly and welcoming. However, “diner” implies a more affordable (granted, the city is expensive) and wider variety, which isn’t quite the case.

A two-egg omelette felt a bit underwhelming when a three-egg option would be more standard, and the portion sizes left something to be desired (see other review photos, there is a lot of blank space on each plate)

Paying $45 before tip for breakfast for two seemed steep, especially when one egg costs nearly $3. There are also small details, like typos on the menu and unclear items such as “beef bacon.” The prices, ending in .99 (like $5.99 for 3 small sausage links), felt unnecessarily inflated and a bit like a money grab—just listing the actual price perhaps with tax and tip included would be more transparent.

If I could offer some constructive advice, it would be to focus on delivering better value, larger portions, and speeding up the service.

Diners are usually about simple, hearty meals, and with so many fancy breakfast spots out there, standing out for value and efficiency would make a real difference. Skip decorative berries and fill the plate with product or cheaper sides (the potatoes were good). Offering customization would also be nice.

Unfortunately, with the current experience, we likely won’t be returning...

The food was fantastic! I ordered steak and eggs, and the steak was cooked perfectly to my liking. The pancakes were fluffy and delicious—kudos to the chef!

Unfortunately, my experience with the waiter was disappointing. We waited 20 minutes without being offered drinks. When I finally asked for something, he seemed annoyed. Additionally, I noticed him preparing my toast with his bare hands shortly after cleaning another table, which was concerning. I ordered country potatoes with no bell peppers, but received them with bell peppers instead. He then took my plate to the back and, using his hands again, dumped my potatoes into a bowl before grabbing more from a skillet with bare hands. Thankfully, my partner shared his with me.

As someone who works in the food industry and emphasizes food safety, I believe this waiter could benefit from training in proper food handling and customer service. There was only one other table in the restaurant, and he still neglected to check in for water refills, which we needed.

Thankfully the food was great! Pls give this guy...

16th Street Diner ❤️ - You guys are tooo good! I did not expect to have such an amazing experience 8380 miles away from home. The food, the vibes and the people are all just mind boggling. Here's a detailed review for all the foodies..

Food - I had a variety stuff including an Avocado toast, Burger, Fries and my friends had a French toast. The burger and fries were just YUMMMM! - Did not miss a veg burger anymore. The Avacado toast had a perfect balance and texture with cute cherry tomatoes on the top and my friends said the French Toast was one of the best they had in the States. (PS I am a vegetarian so can't comment on the French toast 😅)

Service - Also met some amazing people like Bharat and Sai who were the perfect hosts for the meal and always had a smile on their face. Hearing my requests out and giving out the best suggestion of trying their freshly squeezed orange juice

Vibe - It was a super vibe with nice holiday feeling and a nice set up.

One of the best dining experiences I have had. Hope to visit again some day to try some new stuff.

A MUST...