Baraka

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288 Connecticut St
San Francisco, CA 94107

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(415) 255-0387
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Reviews
( 25 )
( 18 )
( 8 )
( 9 )
( 2 )

Best

New ownership recently took over and have kept the same food and atmosphere, but the wine list is dramatically improved. Great selection of Calfornia wines in addition to the Span...

Worst

Very small portions. The food looks good but taste flavorless. Pros: Apealling menu of Morrocan Food Cons: Very small portions, Overpriced

Good but Over-hyped 5/26/2004

Stopped by for a first dinner, went with five small plates and one large plate. Had the lamb tartare. soft-shell crab, roasted dates, seared scallops, squab and monkfish tagine. All had good taste (best was the dates) but were inconsistent for my palate and a bit small. Decor is good (not great) and service is decent but at these prices I expect more. Room is a bit crowded and noisy with the tables quite close together, not very romantic. Overall an ok spot for the $$$ but I prefer Aziza... Pros: Interesting Tastes Cons: , Good but not Great more
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Great Service 5/4/2004

The service was excellent and very friendly which suits the atmosphere. The restaurant looks great at night with the colors and lighting giving off a warm glow. The restaurant is small so dont expect a lot of leg room when you get seated. Overall, the decor is warm and inviting. The food was very good, I tried: lamb kebob (best small plate I sampled), swordfish kebob (ok), stuffed dates (very good), scallops and squid (both very good), fava beans (good), almond rice pudding (very good) and the caramel creme was good. I didnt try any of the large plates. The portions are a little small on the small plates for the price, but if youre there more to socialize and have drinks with some little tapas its perfect. If you want to leave feeling full, then stay away from the small plates and order a large plate. Pros: Great Service, Warm atmosphere more
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Baraka Rocks 4/20/2004

I've eaten here about 4 - 5 times now and Baraka has consistently provided a tasty, pleasant evening. The service is top-notch when it is not busy, though a little bit strained when it gets jam packed, which seems to be most of the time. The small downstairs room is a great addition, providing an intimate loungy space with the same great menu as upstairs. A tad expensive for small plates, as the bill does add up quickly, but Baraka makes for a very nice evening, so in my view it is worth it. Pros: Deep flavors, romantic, cozy Cons: , pricey more
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great new find! 4/4/2004

Last night I dined at Baraka with a large post-theatre group. We were seated in their lounge which is located in the building below the main restaurant. The decor was stunning (jewel red walls, velvet cushioned banquettes and candlelight) and the size of the room is percfect for a private party of 20. We were a group of 10 seated along with other smaller groups. The food was definitely the spotlight of the evening. I think we tried everything as we're somewhat partial to 'family-style' dining. Some of our favorites: scallops, baked goat cheese, mussels with chorizo (AMAZING), braised shortribs and halibut. The beignets looked wonderful but I was too full to try a bite. They're on my list for next time! Service was a bit unattentive + disorganized and the sangria was voted ""least strong drink in S.F."", but neither aspects were able to detract from our great experience! Pros: food, atmosphere, food (again!) more
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What are you people talking about? 3/29/2004

I have been to Baraka four times and have always found it to be fairly priced, the food beautifully prepared food, and having a gorgeous and serene ambiance. I've never been rushed through a meal. I've never had to wait on a reservation. The food - all of it - has always been delicious. I am sending all my friends to Baraka, again and again. This restaurant is unlike anything else we have in the City. Pros: amazing food, reasonably priced, friendly service more
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exceptional 3/17/2004

My husband and I had a wonderful time at Baraka. The service was impeccably expert and friendly; and the food was amazing ( try the pistachio-crusted goat cheese with some flat bread, or the monkfish tagine with couscous). Our waitress was really kind and helped us picking a great wine, that was corresponding to what we wanted. This was our first visit and it will certainly not be the last. I highly recommand Baraka to anyone who wants to have a special dining experience. Pros: romantic, great food, service more
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Pushy 2/23/2004

I have to say the food was great but Very Expensive for the portions you receive. When we first arrived they told us we had to eat in 1 hour and when we were deciding to eat elsewhere they insisted to seat us, the whole time during dinner we were rushed by our waitress pouring our wine everytime we took a sip and even began clearing plates with food before we were done with them our waitress also tried to clear my last sip of wine before I took it back from her and on top of that they shorted us $20 from change we requested on our bill although, we told them about the mistake and they corrected it happily. Needless to say I don't think I'll be going to this restaurant again but it was a good one time deal just for the experience. Pros: ambiance, Wine, Food Cons: , Service, Service more
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Disappointing 1/20/2004

Like some of the previous reviewers, we also made a reservation. The restaurant called us 3 times to confirm nevertheless, we waited for 40 minutes, together with some other guest cramped into the bar area where a steady flow of waiters tried to deliver meals literally ""through"" our group. Finally seated, the waitress was very nice; yet some of the items ordered never made it out of the kitchen. The food was ok, yet for tapas way overpriced. I personally found the seat very uncomfortable, but that might be just me. After having eaten here, I don't understand the hype that surrounds the place. Unless you like to pay a lot of $$$ to receive little food after a long wait, BUT to be able to say you ate there. Try Zarzuela's and you'll get more food, more authenticity and more service than here. Cons: Long wait, tapas too pricy, loud more
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two times better 1/1/2004

I dine at BARAKA a couple nigths ago and i spent the best evening i had so far in SF. I am spanish and if the food is as good in spain i havent find the restaurant yet. Service was accurate and friendly, the atmosphere was very romantic even if it gets a little noisy when it's crowded. Last thing to say keep up the good work guys you are the hootest place to eat in the city. Pros: food, service, atmosphere more
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OVERATED 12/17/2003

As a neighbor of Potrero Hill I have been to this restaraunt about 3 times and everytime there is a wait for your table no matter what night it is. The food is great but you feel like they are trying to push you out the door to just seat another party. We ordered a bottle of wine and our waitress seemed to keep pouring our glasses every other minute which was quite annoying. She was morevconcerned about the party of 12 next to us. If you want to enjoy a relaxing dinner don't come here because before you know it your plate or wine glass may be gone before you have even finished it. Just because this was in Time magazine doesn't mean it is a great restaraunt. Pros: food, ambiance Cons: Service sucks, Long wait more
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Even Better than Expected 11/1/2003

I just ate at Baraka for the first time and was happy to find that it was even better than I had expected, despite having heard great things. All of the dishes were excellent, and some like the apricot tarte desert were plain spectacular. The service was a bit slow but otherwise pleasant, and the ambiance was very nice for a neighborhood spot. Finally, for any vegetarians out there, there are plenty of options, despite many of the reviews here mentioning more of the carnivorous dishes. Pros: Food, Menu, Desert Cons: Service slow more
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Best of the Best 10/27/2003

i am dinning out 3 to 4 times a week in SF.After my first times at BARAKA i can tell you that this is the hottest tapas spot in the city. The service was outstanding (4 stars). The food is an amazing blend of delicate spices from the mediteranean countries. lamb kebbab tender and tasty, rabbit tajine with a side of couscous so delicate that i had to return a second time the next day. Beautifull wine selection from spain. This place is for sure a great price value in the city. Pros: food, service, atmosphere more
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Most expensive small dishes ever! 10/22/2003

OK, granted that the food is very unique and tasty, the portions are really small and hides the fact that you are paying too much for the food. If you are price sensitive, stay away from Sangria, which comes in a bottle for four small wine glasses and costs about $30! You are better off ordering en expensive wine from the menu... more
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Memorably Good! 9/22/2003

I dined at Baraka for the first time last night and had a lovely experience. The service was gracious and attentive, and we were seated promptly (with a reservation). In spite of how crowded the restaurant was, it managed to feel intimate, thanks to the warm decor and low lighting. And then there was the food, which was excellent and full of surprising flavors and textures. We had a succulent duck salad, dates stuffed with chorizo, cucumber salad--refreshing on a hot night--and luscious meatballs and lamb kebabs. We tried the creamy, almond-infused rice pudding for dessert, with wonderful mint tea. The flavors of every dish were bright and complex, and I only wish we could have sampled more, but we were too full. Pros: excellent food, excellent service Cons: crowded more
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Fabulous 8/26/2003

The food was wonderful, ambiance was romantic and the service was maybe the best I've had in the City. Tawfiq was the gentleman who sat us and took care of us, what a doll! more
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WORST SERVICE EVER! 8/14/2003

After making a 9pm reservation and showing up on time, we had to wait for ONE HOUR, right by the kitchen. The WORST part was that when we suggested that perhaps they could invite lingering diners to have a drink at the bar, so as to seat waiting guests, we were told not to be rude, and that ""things aren't done that way here."" Frankly, I can't rate the food or the atmosphere, as we got up and went to another restaurant. Cons: Terrible Service, Rude Owner/Manager, Unreasonable Wait more
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owilde1 6/19/2003

I have dined out in many and varied restaurants in the Bay Area (including all of the tapas restaurants), and this one has entered the top 10 of my list. Service was knowledgeable, particularly the wine descriptions, the wines were wonderful (try the spanish selections), our waitress was charming, and the food...scallops with a currant/pinenut/caper sauce-perfect; swordfish kabob delicious, meatballs delicately spiced. We were greeted warmly at the door, and the feeling lasted throughout. Pros: food, service, ambience more
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Impressive, just short of spectacular 6/15/2003

Great new find; cozy place that combines flavorful, slightly exotic dishes with first rate service in the often overlooked 18th street potrero corridor. Try the Lamb kabobs, monkfish or Veal cheek over couscous. French influence differentiates this place from the now often replicated ""small-plates"" style menu. Desserts are fantastic - 9 dessert wine choices by the glass is big plus. The semi-private booth near the back is a must for party of 6. Staff was knowledgeable and well orchestrated. Pros: First Rate Service, Nice Array of Dishes, Nice Ambiance Cons: On the Smaller Side, Some AC would be nice more
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Excellent Service! Great food 5/25/2003

Good atmosphere, the staff was very nice Lamb meatballs were tasty! (on a truly minor note: the bar stools were a bit awkward) Pros: Staff more
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This was my worst dining experience ever 5/25/2003

We waited 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES to get seated (and we HAD a reservation). there is no formal waiting area, so when we were standing near the kitchen and the wait staff bumped into us as they walked by because it is so cramped. Once seated, they forgot to bring us water (we had to ask them twice for it), and we asked them twice for sangria and tea. They didn't have some of the dishes listed on the menu because they ""ran out"" in the kitchen: they wouldn't have run out if we were served ONE HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES BEFORE. What bothered me the most is that they never apologized for the wait. A sign of bad management is that they didn't even offer us a complimentary bottle of wine/dessert for waiting so long. HORRIBLE SERVICE. Pros: decent ambience Cons: rude waitstaff, rude waitstaff, and rude waitstaff more
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Menu for Baraka


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Editorial

  • A little French, a little Mediterranean, a little local, the menu at this cozy-meets-posh Potrero Hill restaurant (owned by Potrero Hill local Michelle Hughes) attracts locals, regulars, and daters...

  • 8/18/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sun-Thu 5:30pm-10pm; Fri-Sat 5:30pm-11pm
  • Payments: Master Card, American Express, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Potrero, Central East
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