Flore on Market — Restaurant in San Francisco

It’s been a couple years since I’ve been to Flore. I appreciate the new owners trying to revive a tired, old horse. Sadly it’s just not good.

During my Saturday night visit, the restaurant was dead. I think there were 6 people total during my visit. And half of them were friends with the bartender. Service was good at the start then quickly fizzled away. Over hearing the conversation, it sounded like the servers personal life was more important then her job. I received my appetizer after my entree. She never came back to refill my water or check in on how my food tasted. Bartender was very nice and attentive. I think he should work alone next time.

Food was mediocre. It has so much potential but fell flat. The blue cheese fries appetizer was an interesting concept. It could have been amazing, but the fries tasted like they had been reheated.

The chicken sandwich I had came with a mound of hot fries (thank you). But the sandwich was meh. A dry crusty roll, with a thin slice of lettuce, tomatoes, and over cooked chicken.

Here is some advice: Of your looking for a decent sandwich or burger try Super Duper, HiTops, or Hamburger Marys. If you want a lively atmosphere on a Saturday night try Hamburger Marys or Harvey’s.

The thin thread still hanging on for Flore is the patio breakfast. Now only if they could bring the atmosphere back that Cafe Flore was known for. Drink specials, live music, good food, and good service...

I hadn't been to the Flore in years, but heard about the new owners so I went to check it out this morning. I ordered a single Americano. The bartender filled the cup almost to the brim, which was a red flag: not only was there no room for cream, but my wobbly table made the coffee spill over repeatedly, onto the saucer, as well as the fact that there was zero crema in the cup- it looked like mud. It tasted horrible, worst espresso I've ever had in the city: bitter mud. I immediately asked for the check- then I noticed I had been charged $2 extra for "Double"!! I specifically asked for a single. I just left the money and ran. This place used to serve some of the best coffee in the city back in its day- people would line up out to the street on weekends. My advice: teach your baristas how to make real espresso. And I have to say, the new decor sucks- the chairs are way too over the top and the seat cushions on the benches look and feel cheap. There is no inviting warmth or...

The food could be better and the service can be WAY better. No one likes to be greeted (or not greeted I should say) with a frown and not so much as a "hello" or "whenever you're ready, I'll be here to help". Instead you typically get a royal queen who is uninterested in what you want to order or helping you in any way. Maybe he hates his job...? Aside from that occurrence (Almost every time I've visited) the food comes out in appropriate timing and fashion and it's pretty tasty for the simplicity of the meal. Nothing fancy, so if you're in for a culinary masterpiece - go elsewhere.

The reason why Cafe Flore will always remain a Castro staple is the outdoor seating and barn-like tavern in which you grab drinks and eat inside if it's a little too hot out. Make sure to grab a table along the outside of the space close to the sidewalks if you can. Great people...