D & A Cafe — Restaurant in San Francisco

Disclaimer: I deliberately waited over 24 hours before writing this review as I am trying to write this review as impartially as I can.

When we visit the establishment, we normally dine in. However, we figure since we were in a hurry to get home, maybe try their takeout.

I probably should, but I typically don’t examine the itemized receipt for accuracy. I thought maybe I will try examining it one time, and behold, it was inaccurate.

I was charged $53.80 for a $45 meal before taxes: San Francisco doesn’t have a sales tax that is nearly 20%!

When I brought this issue to the store owner and the three waitresses and waiter who were present, instead of issuing a refund of the overcharge, I was yelled at, not that I understand what they were saying, since they were using Cantonese, a dialect which I don’t speak. The only waiter who could speak fluent English, however, has for unknown reasons chosen not to help.

The foursome insisted that they don’t calculate the numbers on the receipt, that someone else told them to charge me $53.80 for a $45 meal after tax, so they did. The male store owner in particular insisted that the math isn’t wrong, that a $45 meal should be $53.80 after San Franciso tax, yelling the entire time—although he didn’t calculate the numbers, and that he was told by someone else. Strangely, the store owner suddenly decided to give something back, but then as suddenly decided not to give them back, back and forth a few times, each time giving less and less of the overcharge back.

I thought to myself, that it was only about $5 overcharge, so while I don’t want to tip for such bad service (who enjoys paying to be yelled at?), I was just going to let it slide and take my order as soon as it was ready.

So when the final dish came, I just walked out of the restaurant, ready to drive home since I live afar.

When we got home, we were shocked to find that, the last dish, which was the topmost box, was wrong: I ordered fish with bitter melon but it has not a single piece of fish in it! This has never happened with the dine-in. Someone I was eating with suggested that this can be their retaliation since it was the last dish that was delivered after I inquired about the overcharge, where the store owner was yelling at me. I readily dismiss the possibility: maybe it’s just a coincidence, although to be fair, they have never messed up the order before, during the countless times we were eating there. And the place wasn’t busy that day either but I still refuse to believe that they would do such a thing on purpose.

In sum, I would advise not ordering takeout at this place. As for dine-in, usually the food is fresh, but on a few occasions, it wasn’t fresh at all, and when the people I was eating with complained, it was readily dismissed. I guess I should known back then that this establishment doesn’t treat its customers with due respect.

In sum, I think the service isn’t acceptable, the food can be good if they visit them on a good day, and the atmosphere is reasonably quiet. I however am unsure if I can recommend this place after...

Do you enjoy mediocre Chinese/Hong Kong food? Are you on a super tight budget? Do you mind possibly unclean, probably unsafe food practices? This is the place for you!

Their happy hour specials are super cheap! The happy hour times are 9AM-11AM, 3PM-6PM, and 10PM-1AM; basically any hour that isn't rush lunch or dinner time. Specials range in prices from $2.88, $3.25, $3.95, or $4.95. You can get french fries on the super cheap end or honey walnut shrimp on the more pricer side of the happy hour menu. They also have great drink specials at $1.79 during happy hour, though I would not recommend the hot milk tea, which tasted like tea and powdered baby formula... They did have great drink specials posted on the walls, like watermelon juice with boba for only $1.88! Complementary hot tea comes with every meal.

The only item that I would highly recommend from the happy hour menu would be the salt and pepper tofu, crispy and crunchy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, lightly dusted with salt and pepper and tossed with sliced green jalapenos and chopped green onions. The $4.95 plate is large enough to share with friends as an appetizer or snack.

I would also recommend the BBQ pork cheung fun (rice roll), four rolls with minced BBQ pork tucked inside of soft rice rolls, drizzled with light, sweet soy sauce and garnished with green onions. FOr $3.25, this makes a good munch for a quick bite.

The only thing that would deter me from eating here (though not from ordering take-out!) is the ambient volume. On top of the two TVs playing some ABC evening drama and FOX sitcom, in addition to the Chinese pop music blasting from the Bose bluetooth speakers, patrons seem to keep the place feeling busy by speaking at THE LOUDEST POSSIBLE VOLUME. Alas, this has been a conundrum that has stumped mankind: which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this case I can't tell if people speak loudly to top the volume of the two TVs and music, or the two TVs and music are loud in volume to top the sound of...

I was getting over a sore throat and had a craving for shrimp dumpling soup. I knew there had to be a place on Clement. After a 20-block search, I found D&A Cafe and their varieties of soup.

I asked the women behind the counter if I can sit anywhere since it was just me. They said yes, and I seated myself at the nearest available table. After a few minutes I was given the menu, and awhile later my order was placed.

I ended up getting shrimp and wonton soup and it was exactly what I wanted and needed. The dumplings were good, and the broth was flavorful and not too salty. And for $5, I thought it was a good deal since it was a big bowl with about 5 of each dumpling.

I will agree with the other reviews that it is a long wait to get service. The woman who waited on me apologized and thanked me waiting so I can't complain too much.

The menu is extensive and they have specials at specific times throughout the day. It's one of those hole-in-the-walls that's worth checking out if you're...