Elite Cafe
San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (415) 346-8400
- Price:
- $$$
- Best of Citysearch:
- Cajun & Creole 2005
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 6pm-10pm, Fri 6pm-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10:30pm
Message from Elite Cafe
Contemporary American Restaurant & Bar with a New Orleans Accent
- Full Bar
- Private Booths
- Valet Parking Available $9.
Paid advertisement by Elite Cafe.
Editorial Review for Elite Cafe – by Marcia Gagliardi
The Scene
The historic space feels like a spiffy and gleaming gentlemen's club, complete with secluded mahogany booths, lazy overhead fans and a friendly bar warmly lit with small lamps. The crowd embodies a classic San Francisco well-heeled mix, with couples both young and older; larger groups in the center add to the celebratory atmosphere.
The Food
The homey bayou dishes exhibit a West Coast sensibility, so a N'awlins classic like gumbo includes scallops with yellow and red peppers, and barbecued shrimp arrive in a bath of seasoned butter instead of the traditional unseasoned margarine. The pork chop and hominy-crusted catfish are favorites; desserts include a decadent and moist pecan praline bread pudding and a "Napoleon" with pointy hunks of chocolate and peanut butter mousse.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
ParkingValet parking is available nightly, starting at 6pm, for $9.
The ExtrasThe perfectly flaky and buttery biscuits are famous citywide, so don't abstain. You can even get a batch of frozen, raw dough to go (24 for $24).
Where to SitThe coveted booths are a great hideaway for couples, but the lengthy bar also rates high on ambience, and is a great place to graze through the restaurant's shared plates section.
User Reviews for Elite Cafe
04/02/2008 Posted by jasregadoo
This is a hard review, because I LOVED the Elite Cafe that I knew when I lived in SF from '87 - '94. This is the restaurant that I intended to visit on Oct 17, 1989, but the earthquake got in our way. We tried a wine at the oyster bar that we loved so much, we went to find the winery, and got a tour from the owner. So we're biased, clearly. I should also say that I've never eaten at the Meetinghouse. I used to live right around the corner from that location, but it was another restaurant at that time. So, last time I went to Elite Cafe, I was in for a shock. The beloved oyster bar was gone, the waitress expected me to gush and be excited about the chef coming from The Meetinghouse, and my beloved Shrimp Etouffee was missing from the menu. I was heartbroken. To be fair, though, the food that we ordered was VERY tasty, the service was very good (though I thought it annoying that they had to remind me that she was from the Meetinghouse...I clearly didn't care, and had never been there.) I've looked online here, and seen comments from the restaurant, which really impresses me. The fact that they are that interested in their customers is GREAT. I would go back in a heartbeat and give it another shot if the etouffee were back on the menu. Seriously, I love that dish, and I haven't found another place around here to order it.
Pros: Love the ambiance, and the ribs.
Cons: Miss the etoufee. Desperately. Take your time to get it right, then put it on the menu.
Response from this business
02/25/2008 Posted by mrsmitchell
The Elite Cafe has a very special place in our heart. We have been coming here since moving to San Francisco. The last few years, until you did your remodel, everything was starting to slip a little and we stopped coming as often. But now our favorite spot is better than we can ever remember. We love the addition of the biscuits from your old restaurant the Meeting Place (we miss it, too). Your servers, hosts, bartenders, and your managers are all very sweet and kind. Always helpful to get us a quiter table; your place can get a tiny bit loud at times. Thank you for adding Saturday brunch, it is much easier for us to join you and not as crowded. Congratulations and thank you for keeping Fillmore Street very special and unique. See you soon :-)
Pros: NICEST service, valet parking, brunch both days, biscuits!
Cons: a little noisy, have to wait sometimes for a table
Response from this business
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