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Marlena Restaurant San Francisco Yelp Reviews
Latest Reviews On Yelp
35 Reviews
0 Replys |
Arrived at 5pm sharp.
Service felt sluggish, yet it wasn't the server's fault; rather, the kitchen struggled to expedite orders promptly.While the dishes boasted impressive presentation, their flavors didn't harmonize well, as each ingredient seemed to vie for attention independently. Nonetheless, the restaurant maintained a pristine appearance, with meticulously set tables and spotless wine glasses. The wine selection offered reasonable prices. Overall, the experience left much to be desired, especially as we found ourselves the sole patrons in the establishment, enduring a two-hour wait for our meal's conclusion. We would recommend informing the staff of a maximum dining time of one hour.
Be the first to ReplyIf you haven't tried fine dining before in your life, you
If you haven't tried fine dining before in your life, you are in for a treat. Foliage blew me away as a beginner in the industry with staff that catered to my every need and really carefully (and thoughtfully) explained how each dish would be, including what wines best to pair them with. Each dish was meticulously crafted to perfection with an amberjack starter that accentuated the fish's amazing quality with smoked shoyu, quail and sweetbread that were so juicy without the kind if gamey smell that you get from wild meat, and a bomb a** olive oil cake that paired well with their dessert wines. Every dish felt personal with the chef's ideals and passion knowing that ingredients were locally + sustainably sourced in California and thought out in a menu that changes to the season's offerings. If you are looking for a place to impress your family, your special someone, or your office colleagues, Foliage has the food, service, and ambience that is irreplaceable for a visit in San Francisco!
Be the first to ReplyMy husband and I had dined at Foliage once before, in
My husband and I had dined at Foliage once before, in November of last year. It was his birthday dinner and we loved it. We decided to return for date night, and we made a dinner reservation for 7:30 pm on Saturday. We were so excited to dine here again since we had loved our experience the time before. We arrived and were seated promptly. Unfortunately that was the only prompt part of the entire evening. Every dish took between 20 to 30 minutes to come out. Dessert took even longer, about 40 minutes. The table next to us sat down an hour after we arrived and they got everything so quickly. We were finishing our entree when they got theirs. We got dessert served at the same time, which was after 10pm! Two and a half hours later. Two and a half hours for five dishes! This was a big fail from management. If you don't have enough people in the kitchen, fix the schedule. If you someone calls in sick, find another person to cover. If you can't find anyone, cover the shift yourself. Oh, and an automatic 18% gratuity when the service was this bad? That's outright theft. I would give them zero stars if I could.
Be the first to ReplyFirst let me say, I don't generally enjoy esoteric food at
First let me say, I don't generally enjoy esoteric food at high prix fixes. I know this is a thing and that many people do like to amuse their taste buds with such fare, but I am both a cheapskate and a little limited in my palate. But my fancy ass friend shepherded us to Foilage after a gallery opening and I was quietly trapped. The opening starter of diced avocado in a melange of marinated pineapple sitting in chili oil was tasty - both tablespoons of it. The gnocchi in cabbage with a Gorgonzola crème sauce was likewise tastyish. Despite the $15 up charge, the beef filet was an unimpressive piece of meat - perhaps it was punishment for not ordering the sole, which my wife enjoyed very much. The accompanying but unidentifiable accoutrements were fun to look at, but not a delight to my taste buds. The dessert choices were not impressive - the olive cake was certainly something I could and would make at home. The white chocolate budino with huckleberries was not improved by finely ground peanuts. The serving size was restrained and I should be grateful for that given my bulging waistline. The service was friendly and polite. The waiter was a bit quiet in an introverted way, but took the time to explain each dish. My companions who ordered the wine pairing were happy with it. As I faced the wall I didn't really soak up much of the ambience but the space seemed pleasant enough in an unremarkable way. The bathroom was out of toilet paper and paper towels. For me, this was a three star experience but I am adding a star to compensate for my bias against this type of place. So some may find this a good match for their dining requirements, but next time I'll get some Thai food or something.
Be the first to ReplyFirst I would like to say that Foliage is a beautiful
First I would like to say that Foliage is a beautiful restaurant and service was excellent. My only comment is based on the menu. My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and we chose Foliage based on the menu posted on the website. To our disappointment we were informed upon siting at the table that the menu was a family style with only 3 mains to choose from (brisket, sole, & mushrooms) with three sides to share for a prefix of $55.00 everything tasted good the brisket was quit fatty but flavorful. I do think the price was fitting for the offerings. Please in the future post that Sundays are a different menu from your $75.00 prefix posted. We would have chosen a different night if we had known of the menu change.
Be the first to ReplyFood, presentation and quality of the ingredients was
Food, presentation and quality of the ingredients was exceptional. One thing the restaurant does is ... not skimp on butter with the bread! May seem like an inconsequential thing but it's the attention to details that makes the dining experience go from great to fantastic. Humble and talented chef with outstanding skills. Staff was professional and friendly. Great restaurant overall. Beautifully appointed and clean bathrooms. It's the blessings in the details!
Be the first to ReplyDined at Foliage on Thursday 2/15/2024 with my daughter.
We did the wine pairing. We had a wonderful dining experience. The food was delicious and the presentation was uplifting and beautiful. David our server was very attentive, courteous, informative and professional. Chef Mo was gracious to say hello - he is so nice and incredibly talented!! We also liked the area and especially loved our table near the window. We will be returning for sure!
Be the first to ReplyWe had an early dinner so the restaurant wasn't crowded,
We had an early dinner so the restaurant wasn't crowded, and the service was pleasant and attentive. The food was good but not great. The portion size is surprisingly small, even for the mains. My husband asked for more of the complimentary bread, and was surprised to see an added charge of $7 on the bill. Another thing that surprised us was the duck breast had a $20 extra charge. We both didn't notice it on the menu since the charge is located on the right side of the menu. I'm glad we tried this restaurant but we probably will not come back since we paid $267.88 for 2 people, got so little food and went home hungry. It was not a satisfying experience. The items we ordered: - Amberjack Crudo was very tasty, the mac nut adds a nice crunch (5/5). - Shrimp Toast was crispy on the outside and had great flavor (5/5). - Ricotta Gnocchi was fine but underwhelming (3/5). - Local Black Cod was perfectly cooked, favorite dish for the evening (5/5). - Muscovy Duck Breast - the meat wasn't tough but there were a lot of veins within the meat that made it tough and chewy, and I didn't like the sauce (2/5). - White Chocolate Budino - absolutely delicious, a great dessert (5/5). I wish they offered more than one option for dessert though.
Be the first to ReplyFood was fantastic, but the service was terrible.
We had a 7:15 reservation and didn't get seated until 7:35. The waiter did not come to our table until 8 to welcome us or ask what we wanted (mind you it's pre fixed so should be faster). It took some time to get our meals, and when we did, it was not our table's order. I finally had to ask the hostess where the meal was, and she brought us our dessert instead of the main course. There hasn't been a restaurant in San Francisco that has an automatic gratuity where the service has also been good, so I blame that. Really wanted to like this place but paying premium prices for sub par service isn't worth it .
Be the first to ReplyWhile the interior and food styling is beautiful, we are
While the interior and food styling is beautiful, we are unlikely to return soon. The food was fine, but not outstanding. In particular the kale in my entree was cold, making for an unpleasant experience. Also, there was no apology when they brought the wrong dish. Service-wise, our waiter was very nice but awkward. After we were seated, no one acknowledged us for at least 15 minutes, until we had to ask for the waiter, who came over and without any introduction of the menu said "ready to order?" Also, the wait between courses was very long. Foliage has the potential to be much better than it is. Hoping it improves because we did like the interior and concept, but it has some work to do to get there!
Be the first to ReplyService was unmatched.
The restaurant is beautiful. My girlfriend and I shared all courses being a two option menu. We enjoyed all of our appetizers until we got to the broccoli soup. And unfortunately after that our entrees were pretty dry. We had the fish and the pork. I did not leave disappointed. We loved the service and most of the food. Definitely would try again. We also were the last seating.
Be the first to ReplyI was really looking forward to having dinner at Marlena's
I was really looking forward to having dinner at Marlena's considering it is a Michelin star restaurant with a reasonably priced prix fixe menu. I am leaving a mixed review as there were both good and bad elements. To begin with, the service was amazing! Very attentive without being intrusive. As a vegetarian, I appreciated their willingness to change the menu a bit for me. First course was beet tartare. I found it to be very nice, which is surprising as I'm not a fan of beets. Second course for me was their kombu and heirloom carrot veloute. This was probably my favorite course. Delicious! Third I had nettle ravioli. It was just ok. Nothing remarkable. Dessert was a pistachio cake, with rhubarb jam. It was pretty dry and lacking flavor. My favorite bite was their milk bread. Made in-house, these luscious rolls were warm, sweet and had a sprinkling of salt flakes on top. We had three servings! They're $2.50 each, but a must have while dining here. The wine (Turley Zinfandel) was lovely. The downside absolutely had to be the portion sizes. Other reviewers have also mentioned this. Without the milk bread, we would've left hungry. Because of this, and a few dishes lacking flavor, I probably wouldn't return anytime soon. However, don't let that dissuade you. I hate to disparage any business these days. It is certainly worth a visit if you're in the area.
Be the first to ReplyNo other restaurant that my wife and I have visited has
No other restaurant that my wife and I have visited has food that tastes as good as Marlena. We visit Michelin-starred and Michelin-recommended restaurants several times a year in various cities, including San Francisco. We initially visited Marlena when they opened in September 2020, and easily gave it a 5-star rating. In 2021, Marlena earned a Michelin star.In 2023, we returned and found that the food and service had somehow improved, which we didn't think was possible because we already liked Marlena so much.During our most recent visit, we particularly enjoyed the Roasted Corvina, Grilled Sakura Pork Collar, and Saffron Tagliatelle. The Mascarpone Semifreddo is literally the best dessert of any type I've ever had. This isn't an exaggeration - I felt like I had my mind blown and I had to sit quietly for a couple minutes to think about it: Out of the thousands of desserts and hundreds of dessert varieties I've tasted, that I could come to an agreement that the Mascarpone Semifreddo was the best dessert I've ever had. The yogurt cake was slightly sweet, the crunchy pistachio gave it the perfect texture, and the winter citrus added even more depth. Co-owner and pastry chef Serena Chow is a genius. Oh, the $2.50/person for unlimited milk bread and cultured butter is also amazing.$75/person for a 4-course meal at a Michelin -starred restaurant is a ridiculously low price, especially when we've enjoyed it more than Michelin star restaurants that are several times more expensive.
Be the first to ReplyI dare you to find a better 5 star experience with a
I dare you to find a better 5 star experience with a pre-fix menu here in San Francisco. With outstanding service, trendy vibe and secluded location Marlena is an awesome experience. The menu changes weekly so it will be fun to go back. This week was a cool fusion of an uni appetizer the bursts with flavor, jaw dropping first course of fun soup, hearty meat that melts in your mouth and soothing deserts to cap it off. By the way their wine selection is robust too!
Be the first to ReplyThis was our second visit.
We had a great experience back in December that we had added Marlena to our rotation. We had arrived 5 minutes before our reservation time at 6:55pm. The maitre d was in the middle of something. He asked us to wait few minutes, then seated us promptly. The restaurant was about 1/2 full at the time. The wait staff was efficient but not too engaging the entire evening. The dishes were well thought through and well executed.We had finished at around 8:05pm and the bill came at 8:06pm. I placed my card on top and signed the bill within a few minutes. As my wife was finishing her drink, I went to the restroom and came back. The maitre d then came by and said, "you need to go. The next reservation is here." My wife had to gulp down her drink. When we left, it was 8:15pm, a mere 1 hour 15 minutes. And I think the maitre d could have asked us in a nicer manner.There were other patrons still sitting in the restaurant that arrived before we did. Not sure why the maitre d targeted us. The restaurant page indicated reservations are scheduled two-hours apart.We love the food. My wife wanted to come back to celebrate her birthday. But after this experience, we will not return. I had written to the restaurant in private, but didn't get a response. I hope their service improves. We'd love to revisit some day.
Be the first to ReplyOverall, the food here ranged from average to pretty tasty.
My party ordered the entire menu and shared dishes to try.Highlights:- Hiramasa: I don't eat raw fish but my party said it was great- Tagliatelle: Citrusy and the black trumpet mushrooms were unique and delicious- Corvina: Skin was crispy and not over cooked- Dessert - Service: Servers were attentive and even brought out a (very) mini cake/candle for the birthday we celebrated, which was greatly appreciated.Meh:- Carrot veloute: I didn't think this was particularly tasty, it seemed to basically be a puréed veggie soup. The plankton tuile was tasteless and seemed to be there mostly for garnish/texture. - Pork collar: I feel like it's hard to make pork taste bad but this was dry and not very well seasoned. If this was a large portion, we might've sent it back.-"beet" tartare: I ordered this because I don't eat raw fish and the other option was hiramasa. It was decent and the beets had a natural sweetness but I feel like I could easily make this myself.I think this restaurant would've been four stars, if not for the portions. I was treating two others to a celebratory dinner, and was frankly a bit embarrassed by how small each dish was. Everyone in our party left a bit hungry (maybe hangry is the better term), which really spoiled the otherwise nice experience. I saw some others left this feedback as well, so I hope the restaurant takes this into consideration. I would rather pay more for more courses and/or larger portions. Will probably not go back unless this changes.
Be the first to ReplyI've been hearing about Marlene for sometime, but finally
I've been hearing about Marlene for sometime, but finally made my way to Bernal to try it for myself.The food is wonderful, the service impeccable, and the price cannot be beat for this neighborhood gem. If you haven't tried it, make your reservation today! I can't wait to go back.
Be the first to ReplyMoody, Modern, Minimalist, Marlena.
The 4 M's.I've been waiting to try Marlena since last year, but they were closed for the summer due to renovations. They finally opened back up a few months ago, and I'm happy to say that the vibe is SO good. A little bit of back story, Marlena was started by a husband and wife chef team, the Fishers. A few of their restaurants that are part of their background include: Bird Dog (Palo Alto), Sorrel, Pearl and Ash, and Backhaus, all of which are reputable establishments. Since opening, Marlena has already earned itself 1 Michelin star! I was searching for a new restaurant to try when I came across Marlena. I quickly noticed how affordable their tasting menu was: $75 for 4 courses, with the option to supplement. They seem to change their menu quite often, so you'll always have something to experience when you go! You have the option to choose one dish vs. another dish for each course, so if you're going with a date, you can pretty much try everything on the menu! That's what my husband and I did. Our dinner: -Slow cooked beet tartare-Cured kampachi*-Saffron Tagliatelle-Kombu and heirloom carrot veloute-Marlena milk bread w/ cultured butter (supplement)**-Sea urchin chitarra (supplement)*-Roasted Corvina****-Coffee & cardomom cake* -Mascarpone semifeddo Bonus: a cute little funfetti bday cake for my husband's bday!Everything that I * were some of my faves. ESPECIALLY, the CORVINA. Omg, I did not know fish could be that great. I was floored lol. Also, their milk bread + butter was to die for. Anyone else eat a 50:50 ratio of bread:butter? Because that's pretty much what I did hahaha. The servers were so friendly! I think they are still training some of the staff because the restaurant is still new. Would 100% go again! If you haven't tried Marlena yet, you must go.
Be the first to ReplySmall portions, one or two nice things but to be honest not
Small portions, one or two nice things but to be honest not worth the cost. I wouldn't recommend. $515 for four people and a bottle of wine. Maybe if the total bill came to $350 or so I would score this higher. Ambience was fine, some of the framed photos were peeling out of their frames which was weird.On the positive side, there were lots of happy and friendly staff which I appreciated. Service was excellent. Seems like a great place to work. I left feeling pretty foolish and morally bankrupt. I really could have put that $515 towards something more worthwhile than some okay food. Maybe one day I'll eat something that's worth that amount, but it wasn't today.If you take pride in spending a lot of money on "fine dining", you might like it, but if you don't, don't come, you're not really missing out !
Be the first to ReplyWhat a gem! Quaint and charming restaurant tucked away in a
What a gem! Quaint and charming restaurant tucked away in a primarily residential neighborhood. I'm so glad to have found this lovely place! Service was great and food was even better. Considering all the sophisticated flavors packed into each plate, their seasonal four course menu is an amazing value. I'm definitely going back for more!
Be the first to ReplyProbably closer to 4.
5 stars. Very good overall, everything was well-cooked. I would skip the beet tartare and veloute, but in terms of the main dishes and the dry aged beef, those were very phenomenal and the desserts were good too.
Be the first to ReplyVery impressive - I was able to snag a reservation here for
Very impressive - I was able to snag a reservation here for the day after Valentine's Day, and there were absolutely no regrets. Marlena has definitely earned their reputation + Michelin Star, and I can't wait to see what they achieve in the future.Let me start off by saying you're getting an amazing experience at a fraction of the cost of other starred restaurants. Their tasting menu was $75 per person, which I thought was very reasonable for the quality and amount of food we got.We started off with the milk bread ($2.50pp) and this was one of my favorite parts of the meal. The bread was so soft, and was the perfect amount of sweet + salty. The butter just melted in and made everything so much more delightful too.After this, we had the hermosa, which reminded me of a Yuzu Yellowtail Sashimi, except take away the yuzu, add orange instead, and add some texture. Delicious.For the second real course, we had the tagetielle, which was tasty and well made, but probably not my favorite off the menu. It had a citrusy flavor to it, but the noodles were a bit too soft for my liking. Would probably skip this one next time.We added the uni/seaweed/caviar carbonara as a supplement ($35) and while the portion size was smaller than expected, it was delicious, as you should expect with all those ingredients :) I'd probably pass on this too if I come again, just because I felt the price was too high for this.The main was definitely the star of the show. We got the black cod with miso butter glaze and it was perfect. The flavors all worked together, and the items on the side (I think it was a brussel sprout, clams, and some caviar) all complemented the dish wonderfully. Would definitely get this again.And to top things off - dessert! Both desserts on the tasting menu (coffee cardamom cake + mascarpone semifreddo) were absolutely delicious. So much varying texture, and the flavors were just right, not too sweet.All in all, this was an amazingly executed prix fixe menu that really showcases a lot, at a very reasonable price. Highly recommend.
Be the first to ReplyThe more I think about it and recently go out,The more I
The more I think about it and recently go out,The more I feel this restaurant deserves one less star.The food as a whole wasn't bad, but for 100-130 dollars there are SO many options in the Bay Area that I personally prefer wayyy more.Some examples are state bird provisions, the progress, alto vino or belotti For a way lower price you can also get a similar experience at Trestle.The portions are comparatively small even to other niceish restaurants and the dishes are generally creative and delicious, but overall the only ones that stick to mind are the pastaOur bottle of wine we brought in got broken by our server which was a bit of a downer but I wouldn't say that's why I gave them this review I just somehow think the food was ultimately not that great and the competition at this price range is very high.
Be the first to ReplyIt's a nice restaurant and the food is good, but not great!
It's a nice restaurant and the food is good, but not great! We were here for Valentine's this year. I'd say the experience was just okay! The food is NOT amazing and not Michelin level. It was not bad at all but didn't impress me at all. One weird thing was to see all the staff wearing their regular cloth and by them walking around on a busy day inside the restaurant looked like a busy bar/club. Everyone had their own jeans and sweater and shirt like the guests sitting. It was hard to say who is guest and who is working there. I'd usually expect a fancy restaurant making their staff wear similar cloth (usually dark ones) to make it more professional but that was not the case at this place. It was just weird to me! Is it a new hip thing I don't know about?! I'd come back here maybe in a few years if they're still open but the experience didn't make me wanna try it again anytime soon!
Be the first to ReplyCame here for a Friday girls night out.
For the 4-course prix-fixe offered that night, I ordered the Cylindra Beet, California asparagus, seared black cod, chocolate/coffee, and the Marlena milk bread (extra $2.5pp). Overall I think the price was decent especially considering the restaurant has earned its Michelin star this year. Out of the courses, my favorite was the beginning and ending courses: cylindra beet and chocolate/coffee. The entry course brought out the natural sweetness of beets, which was a very refreshing start. The final chocolate dessert course I got was really a work of art in terms of presentation. The chocolate topping was rich with the subtle hint of coffee aroma. In terms of the entree though, which was a piece of seared Black cod, I can say it was decent but nothing else about it stood out to me. My least favorite was the California asparagus... which was farro topped with a thick layer of smoked hollandaise sauce. I really couldn't convince myself how the texture works together in this dish, plus the hollandaise sauce was very rich and in my opinion disproportionate to the amount of farro. Toward the end of the cup, it was just not really enjoyable. I would indeed recommend the milk bread though for the table. The bread is served hot, fluffy, and went really well with the salted butter. Overall I did enjoy my night here, but the food wasn't exactly my favorite. I personally would probably not return, but for a small fine dining experience without having to break bank, it could be worth a trip.
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