Dalida Restaurant — Restaurant in San Francisco

As avid Top Chef fans, we were super excited to try Laura's restaurant, which was also intriguing given the interesting dishes throughout their Eastern Mediterranean menu. It was super interesting to be sat right in front of the kitchen, and almost immediately we were starstruck when we saw Laura cooking and delegating throughout the open kitchen just feet away from us.

Given the variety of items on the menu, we decided to do the Chef's Menu, which was a super reasonable $75 per person (especially given the large amount of items they bring you).

Starting with drinks, I got the Saturnalia while my partner got the Dalida Coffee Martini. The Saturnalia was a delightful blend of flavors, which a slight sweetness that was balanced by the pistachio and lime. The Dalida Coffee Martini was also very tasty, and served up in a fun presentation to look like a hot cup of coffee, while still being a cold drink.

Soon, the food began coming out rapidly and we were pleasantly surprised and shocked at how much food they gave us for just $75.

Some of the starters included fried squash blossoms with a light, yogurty sauce, bites of sweet potato with spices, salted melon with cheese and olive oil, and a walnut paste wrapped in pork. These were all delightful and set our expectations high for what else was to come.

We next were given a cod dish with an herbed butter sauce, which was very tasty but our least favorite of the meal because of all of the bones.

Next, we were given a roasted cauliflower dish, giant platter of skirt steak with sauces, vegetable medley/salad, a freshly cooked pita with hummus, babaganoush, and other sauces/condiments, and a tahdig.

The roasted cauliflower dish was cooked beautifully, although the flavor could have had a little more of a kick to it (although it was great when dipped in the numerous sauces spread throughout). The vegetable medley salad was bright and flavorful, a refreshing side to the meal, while the steak was rich and super tender, and the sauces gave it a nice boost and interesting flavor. The pita bread was also super soft and the hummus was phenomenonal. The tahdig was huge and cooked nicely with a crispy crust, although it was a bit milder than we expected but tasted great when paired with the other dishes and sauces.

To finish, we were served a slide of cake with a rhubarb (can't remember) sorbet. Although we were already pretty full by this point, we both loved the cake, which my partner scarfed up and the rhubarb sorbet was a nice, light finish to the meal.

Overall, even with our high expectations this was an amazing experience that we will always remember. From the beautiful atmosphere to the presentation of the drinks and bounty of the chef's menu, it was a night to remember and would be a great place to go to celebrate an occasion or to just get a great meal.

Thank you to Dalida and the...

-- UPDATE -- I recently had a less-than-perfect experience at Dalida. However, I want to commend the owner for their excellent response. They were genuinely concerned. I let them know about the issue, and they went above and beyond to correct the situation. I recommend giving them a shot - they proved to me they take customer satisfaction and allergies very seriously. I'm grateful that they prioritized our health and safety. I will be giving Dalida another visit in the future.

-- ORIGINAL REVIEW -- We had one member in our party with a couple allergies. When we ordered they assured us he could eat almost everything and said they are very accommodating to this. However when the food arrived I would taste butter or nuts before he ate it and asked them again and they changed their mind and said he couldn't eat most of what we've ordered.

Over and over they would drop a dish off, tell us it's fine for us to eat but after further questions- they would backtrack and say it was not allergy friendly. So insane! They didn't listen at all and our server was unapologetic and said it was a big menu and she shouldn't be expected to remember. When ordering she mentioned the rice had butter, no problem! We ordered a dish with the same rice for others to eat, when she gave us the dish she said it was perfectly fine for him to eat and I had to remind her that the rice had butter. If I can remember, shouldn't she?

With this miscommunication, of course he had an allergic reaction. The chef came by and tried to help us identify what it was and found that the waitress told us completely different information. We ended up going to the ER due to this place.

We regularly eat out and are pretty adventurous, his allergies are not severe unless he eats it DIRECTLY. Cross contamination did not cause this, their lack of attention, poor communication, and frankly lack of care led to this preventable situation.

In response to the comment- since I cannot comment directly back. He did throw up once at the restaurant as he felt an allergic reaction quickly and got worse as we left. We are currently in the ER. I’ve tried calling and texting since leaving while the restaurant was still open to help doctors identify what he could have eaten. I did not get any response. We tried to not make this a big deal at the table given we were trying to celebrate a birthday and recent engagement. We still tipped generously but we will not be coming back or recommend this to new diners. There were several other examples of poor service outside of the allergies- another example is that the server spilled very hot tea, directly from the kettle on my mom. It’s very unfortunate because we did enjoy the food and ambiance. We would come back only if they had a very serious change in...

My friends and I had an absolutely delightful dining experience at Dalida. From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with exceptional service, delicious food, and a wonderful ambiance that set the stage for an unforgettable evening.

We opted for the Chef's Menu, and it turned out to be the perfect choice for exploring the restaurant's finest dishes. The starters, including the Midye Dolma, Octopus and Sujuk, and Lobster Puff, were all superb. I particularly loved the unique twist on the Mussel-stuffed dolma, which added mussels and a beautiful presentation to this classic dish. The Octopus and Sujuk with pita crackers stood out as our favorite starter, impressing us with its harmonious flavors.

Additionally, we indulged in a beef short rib skewer that was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The Caviar we ordered as an extra treat complemented the Chef's Menu seamlessly, leading us smoothly into the main courses.

The white sauce scallop and mushroom pasta was a culinary masterpiece, and the star of the menu, the swordfish topped with olives, tapenade, and trout roe, was truly divine. Cooked to perfection, the swordfish was undoubtedly our favorite main dish. The accompanying shoestring fries, seasoned with umami salt, added a delightful crunch and enhanced the experience. However, by this point, we were already quite full, and despite our reluctance, we savored every bite.

The cocktail selection at Dalida was equally impressive. The "Efendi," a mezcal-based concoction with tamarind, served in a stylish metal goblet, was smoky and refreshing. Fans of Espresso Martini would adore the "Dalida Coffee Martini," boasting the perfect consistency and an alluring spice.

For dessert, we were treated to a trio of delights - a tres leches cake, marash style ice cream, and the highlight of the evening, the chocolate muhallebi - a rich hazelnut cream infused with Turkish coffee cream. The chocolate muhallebi won my heart with its perfectly balanced sweetness. The "Mehtap" cocktail, a cognac-based creation with a pleasant bitterness, expertly complemented the sweetness of the desserts.

Throughout the entire dinner service, the staff was attentive and offered excellent recommendations whenever needed. Meeting the executive chefs, Laura and Sayat, was a delightful surprise, and Sayat's personal touch in sharing the cooking process and ingredients of the dishes we enjoyed made the experience even more special.

Dalida's welcoming ambiance, beautiful interior design, and its location nestled in Presidio Park all added to the overall charm of the evening. I can't wait to return to Dalida and indulge in its culinary wonders again. Whether for a special occasion or a delightful night out, I highly recommend Dalida for an extraordinary...