We walked over to Canteen for a Sunday breakfast and the food and service were excellent. There are only 20 seats and they make great use of their space.

We walked over to Canteen for a Sunday breakfast and the food and service were excellent. There are only 20 seats and they make great use of their space.
Less

walked by canteen several times trying to find it to meet my friend but glad i did. the design is great...somewhat of a departure from the adjacent hotel in that it is less loud. retro but simple... More

walked by canteen several times trying to find it to meet my friend but glad i did. the design is great...somewhat of a departure from the adjacent hotel in that it is less loud. retro but simple layout, as is the menu. the food, is not simple however. corned beef hash with poached eggs was fantastic - hot, savory and just the right amount. we tried the omelett with albacore tuna, which was surprisingly good. the cafe latte is hot, strong and just the right balance of milk and foam. the staff lets you sit and enjoy (doesnt rush you out, despite the rush at the door). PROS: food, design/decor, service CONS: wait and size. it is popular despite its being difficult to find
Less

Really enjoyed brunch at Canteen last weekend. The place itself is tiny with about 5 booths (tight for more than 2) and 10ish counter spots, so probably not good for parties larger than 3. The... More

Really enjoyed brunch at Canteen last weekend. The place itself is tiny with about 5 booths (tight for more than 2) and 10ish counter spots, so probably not good for parties larger than 3. The decor is urban/trendy with the vibe is casual neighborhood diner. Loved the bright green counter top. I had the Albacore and tomato omelet. I was super weary of mixing eggs with tuna, but the really nice waitress encouraged me to try it. In retrospect it was more of a dare... either-way, I was not disappointed. It was really good! My friend has the cornbeef has which she enjoyed as well. Overall a great departure from my typical eggs and bacon brunch. Highly recommend!
Less

Poor service. We waited for a two-top table for nearly two hours while larger parties were seated before us. Overall experience, AWFUL.

Poor service. We waited for a two-top table for nearly two hours while larger parties were seated before us. Overall experience, AWFUL.
Less

I recently had a friend in town, and we ate dinner at the 9:15 pm seating. The staff was friendly and fun, and the food was extremely good. i want to avoid comparing it to other restaurants b/c it... More

I recently had a friend in town, and we ate dinner at the 9:15 pm seating. The staff was friendly and fun, and the food was extremely good. i want to avoid comparing it to other restaurants b/c it will mess up your experience. this place has its own vibe that seems to be noticed by many who enter it. If you want to have a good time, don't expect it to be a 5 star restaurant with small seating space, and laxed dress code. Just go in expecting good food.
Less

We had dinner on Saturday night (9:15pm seating), and absolutely enjoyed every aspect. The food was all very fresh and incredibly tasty. The dishes were quite unique-- very creative takes on... More

We had dinner on Saturday night (9:15pm seating), and absolutely enjoyed every aspect. The food was all very fresh and incredibly tasty. The dishes were quite unique-- very creative takes on somewhat traditional dishes. The menu is small- 4 appetizers, 4 entrees, 4 desserts, but caters to different tastes and preferences. The vanilla souffle for dessert is one of the best souffles I've ever had. The wine list is ok, but the corkage fee is only $15 so we took our own very nice bottle of wine, which they pleasantly served to us in Riedel stemless glasses. The only real downside was that we were kept waiting for 20+ minutes to be seated, but we waited at the bar (The Red Room) 2 doors down, and one of the waitstaff actually came to the bar to fetch us when our seats were available. Definitely sit at the counter as opposed to one of the small booth tables, if you have the option. The staff was personable and interactive and added to the experience. Pros: Excellent food, good service, unique dining experience Cons: Very small space, kept waiting for table, ok wine list
Less

Although even smaller than I had expected (despite repeated warnings) I can easily say that Canteen is one of the most memorable restaurants I have eaten at. I've dined at Gary Danko, Boulevard,... More

Although even smaller than I had expected (despite repeated warnings) I can easily say that Canteen is one of the most memorable restaurants I have eaten at. I've dined at Gary Danko, Boulevard, Farallon, Fifth Floor in San Francisco, and the now-defunct The Restaurant run by Marco Pierre White in London. This place is even more amazing. From the exquisite care taken on the amuse-bouche at the beginning of the meal, to the delicious souffle at the end, nothing disappoints. I tried very hard to be critical of everything I ate, but could only manage two tiny quibbles (the soup had just a touch too much wine that hadn't burned off, and the souffle was the tiniest bit too buttery). Trust me, I racked my brain to identify those criticisms. Every morsel, every bite, was a transcendent experience. The restaurant is small, but the service is excellent, the wines fantastic, unusual, and very reasonably priced (we even found a Chinon from the same vintner we'd visited on our honeymoon 15 years ago). There may be criticism of how Canteen operates - set times for food, the small spaces, etc. If you are looking for the white tablecloth experience, then this is not the restaurant to have that meal at. If you are looking for a man who understands food, how it can be combined, what cooking methods show it off, and how to procure great ingredients, then Chef Leary is your man. If you are looking for a restaurant that is an hommage to great food, fantastic cooking, and a superlative gourmet experience, then Canteen is the restaurant for you. I was truly overwhelmed by our meal, and look forward to a return visit.
Less

Well it looks like a few foodies about town have sat a bit too erectly in the wee booths. No slouching! This is food, and they mean business. If only they would slouch over to the... More

Well it looks like a few foodies about town have sat a bit too erectly in the wee booths. No slouching! This is food, and they mean business. If only they would slouch over to the counter, prop up their elbows, and start swinging to the beat. Because it really is about the food, so good that the Iggy in the air seems to kinda fit. Oh, oh, the things I've tasted, and felt. That is SOME mouthfeel. Best. Diner. Ever. Pros: Food. Casual. Cons: Uptight foodies
Less

Canteen is one of the great unique restaurants in San Francisco. There are dozens of small wonderful restaurants for foodies like this in New York but for some reason they are a rarity here. Its... More

Canteen is one of the great unique restaurants in San Francisco. There are dozens of small wonderful restaurants for foodies like this in New York but for some reason they are a rarity here. Its an extremely small restaurant and its difficult to get into, which turns off a lot of folks. But, those who persist will find themselves rewarded with imaginative gourmet food at very reasonable prices. This is Chef Dennis Learys playground and if you go in with an open mind and leave your attitude at the door then you are bound for a great experience. Pros: Atmosphere, Food, Prices
Less

Went to Canteen with an out-of-town guest for Sunday brunch. Seemed like a beautiful fit. Utterly wrong. As a big booster for San Francisco, I was embarrassed by Canteen. The food was okay, tad... More

Went to Canteen with an out-of-town guest for Sunday brunch. Seemed like a beautiful fit. Utterly wrong. As a big booster for San Francisco, I was embarrassed by Canteen. The food was okay, tad pallid, not hot enough, dubious taste mixtures. But the service was horrendous. Long wait, food unprofessionally delivered/removed, and attitude in abundance. The staff, one almost my age, were rocking like teenagers to questionable 80s-style booming dissonant rock that was clearly making every guest surveyed uncomfortable. We politely asked about the volume and mood and were told by the waitress that the staff were "very alternative." My date, who is a nationally-recognized NYC art photographer, almost spat up her tea at the pretentiousness to a gentle suggestion. In short, most of the staff seemed indifferent to customers' needs, food serviceable but unspectacular and tepid, poor value, the wait unmerited. So many better spots in our lovely burg. Pros: Offers brunch Cons: Bad service, Mediocre food, Poor value
Less