Curio

“The food was very good, and my chupacabra (drink) was a good compliment to my quesabirria taco's and broth. We had a good conversation with lots of laughter.”

“Great place for some live jazz and a quick bite! The grilled mushroom main is particularly good and the fried chicken strips come with a good set of sauces.”

“This neighborhood joint has some surprisingly flavorful bites that make for an enjoyable night out in the Mission. Standouts include the spicy sweet potato tempura (we subbed this $8 side dish as an alternative to one of the $14-20 appetizers and were surprised at how filling they were) and the coca-cola ribs. The cocktails were also home runs and worth the $16 price tag. The spicy jack burger was decent but a bit too dry and not quite cooked to order, especially for a $20 burger (and mind you, it doesn’t come with sides). If you’re deciding between the burger and another entree, I’d recommend gambling on the non-burger option. We were surprised when sitting down for a 7:30pm reservation that several items were already out for the evening, including the calamari, the mixed green salads, the oysters, AND the braised short rib. It was a bit of a bummer as we had wanted to order the calamari and the short rib, but maybe it’s a sign that these items were so popular and definitely worth trying next time!! The garden patio was darling and opened to Valencia Street, where we got to watch the bi-monthly salsa community dance in the street. Definitely a romantic and charming spot! The tables in the garden looked capable of hosting decent-sized parties without too much hassle. Service was eager, if not a bit chaotic — our drinks were taken immediately, but it took some time before we could order our meals. The staff was very friendly though, and it seemed as though they may have also had duties in the other connected rooms to Curio (the indoor bar and the Chapel music venue next door), as they would rush between them. Ultimately it was a good time and worth the try. Food was mostly hits, and the location made it easy to go bar hopping after for another cocktail.”

“We were there for brunch to meet up with a friend. When we checked in, the host seated us at the parklet out on the street, even though there were plenty of open tables in the patio area and the restaurant wasn't busy. At the time, I didn't think much of it. However, shortly after, I noticed other guests being seated in the patio, which made the situation feel a bit off. It would have been appreciated if the host had been more thoughtful or at least explained the seating arrangement, rather than directing us outside without any context. The parklet dining experience was honestly not great. Cars and bicycles were constantly passing by while we were eating, which made it loud and uncomfortable. The greeting and seating process felt impersonal and could definitely use some improvement. They had an Easter Sunday brunch special, and we ordered the Monte Cristo Sandwich, a brunch burger, and some mimosas. The sandwich tasted decent, came with ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese, with a dusting of sugar. And the brunch burger tasted just ok. On a positive side, our waitress was very sweet and attentive, checking in frequently. Overall, the service from our server was great, but the host left a poor first impression.”

“One of the very worst dining experiences I’ve ever had in San Francisco. Curio was freezing, and we were placed in a section where the heater didn’t work despite many other open tables (we were a group of 5–6). We mentioned the temperature issue during the meal, but it wasn’t resolved. The food was dreadful — dry, overcooked salmon and oily, bland vegetables. Picnic-bench seating felt cheap and uncomfortable. Tons of better places at similar price points”