Waterfall cevicheria — Restaurant in San Francisco

The seafood is fresh, the recipes are unique and inventive, which isn't always a compliment, but the flavors work in every dish I've had on the menu (all of them). Walked out of Waterfall exceptionally satisfied every one of the five to ten or so times I've been.

Of note: With regards to the experience described by Darryl in the review above: I can say that I had an eerily similar experience to the one his wife is described as having. I was naturally a bit put of, but luckily maintain a loud, filterless east coast demeanor, and therefore spoke with the owner/chef about the interaction. He let me know the woman who handed me the menu wasn't exactly fluent in English and is a bit afraid to have someone try to engage her in English, as she'd be unable to help and doesn't want them to think she's actively disregarding them. Maybe (probably more like certainly) there's better ways someone in the server's position could handle this scenario, I'm just saying that of all the things I am, African-American I clearly am not, and I was treated in the same manner as Darryl's wife, at least insofar as he describes the situation.

The owner went on to assure me that no disrespect was meant, and that he's working with his employees to make sure that no one ends up feeling slighted, and so that every customer's first impression is a positive one, regardless of their race, ethnicity, birthplace, whatever it is they like to wear (as long as they are actually wearing something), or even if, God forbid, they are Dodgers fans (which I personally think he should actively disrespect, demean, and eight-six whenever possible).

I don't expect my experience to change the way Darryl nor his wife feels about the interaction they experienced, but I do hope that knowing that the actions they described also happened to my pasty white gay jewish butt helps reduce, even if only a little, any feeling that the server's actions were motivated by race, and maybe, just maybe, it persuades them to give Waterfall another chance, cause that ceviche...

One wanders into countless eateries in search of something that might pass as seafood and emerges, more often than not, with the faint suspicion that Poseidon himself has filed a grievance with the management. Not so here. On a Friday, with time to squander and a hunger to appease, I found myself in this modest cevichería — an establishment that, unlike so many, knows precisely what it is about.

The staff were still fussing over their final arrangements: a server restoring tables to a military neatness, while behind the counter a man whose craft deserved the title of “ceviche master” assembled my tostada with a surgeon’s confidence and a poet’s precision. What arrived was not mere food but a brief holiday for the palate — sharp, fresh, mercilessly honest. Each ingredient announced itself distinctly, yet together they formed a harmonious conspiracy of flavor, tangy without being sour, sweet without being cloying.

There was, too, the civilized pleasure of watching the dish take form before my eyes while engaging in the small but necessary art of conversation. And let it be said without embarrassment: seafood is at its most truthful when accompanied by beer, and I availed myself accordingly.

In sum: a revelation at midday, and one that compels me to return by night, when beer can properly become a companion rather than a side note, and when the sea — or its ambassador behind the counter — can once again remind me why one eats in the...

This place is a little overrated, some things are good, some are not.

So the cons:

-The tortillas and chips are pretty weak. If you use cheap gmo Guerrero tortillas, it's an automatic loss of a point for me. You have la Palma tortillas around the corner, La Finca and Mi Rancho close by. So, for what they charge for tacos, they should be handmade, but good quality at minimum. They can work on the chips, too.

-Fish tacos were alright. Nothing memorable, but a nice portion. Better tortillas and more veggies, please.

-They dont have a happy hour. While everyone has happy hours, they don't, so I'd rather go elsewhere during these times.

-Many things are overpriced. $3.50 for oysters. Come one, this is not a waterfront location.

-Service was ok, nice people but understaffed. The host was my server, my bar tender, and my chef. Didn't check on me the entire meal and only one other other table ordering food. Only one other guy in the back washing dishes.

The pros:

-Great Micheladas! Super solid! 👌🏽 -Nice people

My family is coastal Pacific Mexican, so my standards are high. I wouldn't call this an authentic experience, but it is as close as it gets in the mission.

This place is newish, so it still needs a little work. The demand is there, and I wish them the best. I'll come again and try other things...