Balboa Cafe — Restaurant in San Francisco

As someone with a peculiar passion for unique flavors, I recently found myself at the Balboa Cafe in San Francisco, lured in by whispers of their delightful libations. While I can't vouch for their food (as I indulged in only drinks), I must say that my visit was a distinct and flavor-infused experience.

Upon entering, I was greeted by a warm and cozy ambiance, reminiscent of the cozy embrace of a Mediterranean grove. The space, particularly by the bar, was a tad snug, with patrons clustered together like a gathering of friends. It was an intimate atmosphere, perfect for those who enjoy close encounters and conversations.

Speaking of unique flavors, the cocktail menu at Balboa Cafe did not disappoint. I couldn't resist trying their martini, and oh, what a treat it was! The bartender's skillful mixing of gin and vermouth yielded a drink that was as smooth as a serene evening. The subtle brininess of the garnish added a delightful twist, much like the unexpected joy of discovering hidden treasures.

For those who prefer their libations a bit sweeter, the themed drinks continued to impress. The Dirty Martini, with its essence, was a reminder of the savory allure of these little green gems. It was as if they had taken the essence of a Mediterranean sunset and distilled it into a glass.

The service was as efficient as can be, and the staff's knowledge of the drink menu was impressive. They ensured that our glasses were never empty, and I appreciated their attentiveness.

While the Balboa Cafe may be tight on space, it's undoubtedly rich in character and flavor. So, if you're like me, and have an affinity for unique and delightful experiences, you'll find this place to be an inviting spot. It's a hidden spot where you can savor creatively crafted cocktails while being comfortably surrounded by fellow aficionados of life's rich...

Its a shame that I don’t like this place, my parents used to go here in the late ‘90s. I’ve been here on multiple occasions and almost every experience is the same: incredibly crowded bar, poor customer service, pretentious people/bouncers, overpriced drinks and leaving asking ourselves “why do we even come here?”. Well Super Bowl Sunday was no exception. We watched the game at another establishment but two of my friends left to finish the game at Balboa, with the intention of us joining them after the game ended. My boyfriend and I quickly make it over to Balboa, but the bouncer tells us “you can’t come in wearing 49ers gear, because we can assume you’ve been drinking all day…but you don’t seem drunk to me…”. My boyfriend and I were both wearing brand-new, clean 49ers hoodies, we weren’t looking sloppy or reckless. We weren’t let in but I see, through the restaurant windows, 6 different people wearing red clothes. Also, my friends were let in even though we’ve all been out drinking, they just aren’t wearing 49ers gear. I remembered as well that Balboa café advertised on Instagram that they were open for the Super Bowl. I quickly took off my jacket, put it in my car then tried again. The bouncer let me in. Next thing I know, as we are ordering our drinks, 15 different people were let in wearing 49ers branded jerseys, hats, jackets. I wish I was kidding! 1) you are telling customers that they can’t support the niners and wear 49ers gear in the city of San Francisco, on Super Bowl Sunday, 2) If you aren’t a regular, they don’t care about your experience, and regulars get blatant special treatment. A regular is seen wearing 49ers gear on the Balboa instagram, promoting that they’re watching the big game there. I finished my drink and left. Once again, I’m leaving asking myself “why did I...

I’ll start off by saying I usually like coming here. Around 2pm today, my friends and I came here to have a couple of drinks. A staff member came out and tried to take away one of my friend’s drink, citing he was too drunk. Our group was shocked since he hadn’t even had his first drink yet, and we were left upset. The same staff member came out and said they got the wrong person, not even apologizing.

The same staff member then told another member of our group he was too drunk. Again, this member of our group was completely coherent and definitely not too drunk, and staff didn’t offer to refund the money for the drink. They ignored us when we asked if someone else in the group could take the drink since it was completely full, untouched. Again, this was during the day today on Saturday, so it’s not like it was rowdy at night where I understand things can get out of hand.

I’m very disappointed. I didn’t see Balboa staff bothering any of the other groups in the area. To top it off, I had some takeout food in a box since I had just had lunch earlier, and another staff member came out to tell me that outside food wasn’t allowed. I hadn’t opened the box, I had just picked it up because my Uber had come and I was about to leave. Again, I’m very disappointed in how we were treated today. I did not have any alcohol today before or at Balboa, so I had a pretty clear view of...