Blue Jay Cafe

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919 Divisadero St (at at McAllister)
San Francisco, CA 94115

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(415) 447-6066
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Reviews
( 6 )
( 13 )
( 4 )
( 8 )
( 8 )

Best

I went there on Friday night with 3 friends around 8 p.m, it was slightly busy, but we were seated after a 5 minute wait. The atmosphere is very casual with a ""helpful"" and fri...

Worst

i keep not going back to this place because the catfish breading sucked up the water from the yams it was served on -- waterfish! my date's pork arrived cool to the touch. and we ...

Gone Nasty 3/12/2009

I used to love this place like no other. But, based on several visits I can't face it again. I've revisited about 3 times after my first bad experience hoping that that latest visit would absolve it of all past sins. Nope. And I'm not really a fussy eater. Greasy spoons have their place in the world and with me. This place didn't even do comfort food close to passable. Cold biscuits and gravy? Raw potatoes? I think maybe there was a disgruntled chef (ok, cook) or something for it to be so obviously bad. \r \r I make these comments because I would absolutely love it to get turned around and not just shut down. PLEASE CHANGE BLUE JAY! Pros: Close to my home Cons: Cold & bland more
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Great comfort food! 4/13/2007

When you are looking for food to make a bad day go away- heavy and hot, then Blue Jay is your local answer! Fried chicken & mac and cheese in a slow, down to earth environment. The lighting is dim and the music is hip- a great place to stay hidden when you want to go out, but not be ""scene"". Pros: great comfort food Cons: don't go on a diet more
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Good, very cool and so tasty 11/10/2006

I went there on Friday night with 3 friends around 8 p.m, it was slightly busy, but we were seated after a 5 minute wait. The atmosphere is very casual with a ""helpful"" and friendly feel (the server who waited on us seemed very happy to be there, not a typical San Francisco server attitude). Now the food, it was GOOD. The menu is where you pick your desired meat or fish with a sauce and you get to choose two side ingredients (that is the fun part because you can tag a bite from a friends plate). My friends and I ordered lots of different things and we had a blast trying the different things, I suggest the Snapper with the green beans and mashed potatoes. We then shared a pecan minature pie, it was to die for. For the tab... I felt it should have been more for the service and food I got. Downside, the bathrooms are kind of unusual. I will return soon Pros: service... friendly, great tasty food, fun Cons: no parking, more
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Good food, casual atmosphere 11/9/2006

Friendly service, live jazz, casual, and unpretentious. This is not a fancy place. You don't go here for pomp and circumstance, you go for simple good food. I've been several times and taken several different friends. The fried chicken is consistently the best thing on the menu. Pros: Casual, friendly Cons: Parking more
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WHAT AN IMPROVEMENT!!!! GREAT BRUNCH 9/1/2006

Yes... what an improvement. I went there about a year ago a couple of times because it was the local buzz and I was very disappointed in the rude service and average food (not to mention, so slow to get anything). I vowed to never return until a friend convienced me about a owner change that had made it so much better. Brunch with three other friends was so ""overallly"" good, friendly and sincere service, very tasty food (especially the blueberry pancakes) that took no time at all to get and great orange mimosas. I was amazed at how fast the place moved but was never rushed. Pros: GREAT BRUNCH... VERY FUN Cons: NO PARKING more
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Probably wouldn't go back 8/29/2006

I heard great things but was I pretty disappointed. The food was cold and the wait staff was pretty clueless. They were nice people but forgot multiple items and left us sitting there waiting for the bill. I probably wouldn't go back. Pros: Good menu Cons: Cold food, forgetful staff more
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Dirty counters, stale muffins, cold food 8/1/2006

I went to the Bluejay once months ago, for breakfast, and I loved it. The atmosphere is classic SF casual hip, and the menu was full of organic ingredients appealingly prepared. Recently I was in the neighborhood and stopped in excitedly for an early dinner.Though the places were all freshly set, the counter beneath them was sticky and dirty. The corn muffins were stale and tasted as if they'd been stored in a plastic bag in a big smelly fridge. The chicken somehow came off it's rotisserie with pale, flabby skin which was not so cleverly disguised by an over-use of parsley garnish; it tasted reheated yet it was cold in the center. The beef dish was ""tough as old boots"" and swimming in a watery tomato broth. And the bathroom! Don't get me started. Our waitress didn't bother to ask about the food, but I suspect she already knew. It was a terribly disappointing experience for a place that had such promise, and it made me sad enough that I had to open a Citysearch account and write this review. Pros: artful decor, funky Cons: depressingly bad food, dirty more
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Great Southern Fried Chicken...reminds me of home 5/10/2006

I am from the South...the real south and found the fried chicken to be second only to my mom's. The mashed potatoes were hot, thick, and had a few lumps that confirmed they were made from scratch...just wonderful! My wife had the skirt steak which was done to the correct temp and tender. We loved the corn bread and the casual atmosphere. The prices cannot be beat. We will be back again often! Pros: Great Value, Easy Parking, Good food more
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I'D RATHER EAT WORMS!! 4/25/2006

Ok, where should I start. 1)The small menu selection should have been a clue but since I paid 3 dollars to cross the bridge I stayed. 2) It took forever for us to get menus 3) I asked for my bacon to be crispy and they brought it out dam near R A W and when I brought to the servers attentions he did not seem to understand what I was saying. Ok, he took it I guess to cook it and never brought it back. 3) The grits taste like paste with cheese. 4) QUESTION? Should I always have to ask for a coffee refill? Basiclly. after eating at The Blue Jay Cafe I would rather eat worms!! more
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suckfood, delivered indifferently 4/19/2006

i keep not going back to this place because the catfish breading sucked up the water from the yams it was served on -- waterfish! my date's pork arrived cool to the touch. and we had to ask for butter to put on the cornbread. so yeah these guys don't really get it. more
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Disappointed 3/27/2006

Yuck. I've had a few meals at the Blue Jay but tonight was the worst. Biscuits? They were served cold, and tasteless. I guess if you want a good biscuit, you have to get up early and head to Eddy's across the street. The gumbo had one shrimp in it and was 90% canned stewed tomatoes. Again, just yuck. To top it off, the manager (owner?) refused to come out to talk to us when we asked to meet him - we're a non-profit in the neighborhood and want to bring out board in for regular pre-meeting meals and also had a letter to drop off about an annual silent auction. After our taste test tonight, we'll be heading somewhere else for our weekly meetings. more
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GOOD FOOD GONE BAD 3/20/2006

Despite the painfully slow service in the past I have continued to dine at the Blue Jay Cafe. The food although not true southern was still quite satisfying and the price was right. After my last visit though, I will not be returning. The mac and cheese used to rival the dish that is served at HOME at Church and Market. Now, it is a sad watery dish of powered cheese and noodles. I ordered creamed corn tonight and what arrived was a boatful of canned corn floating in a sea of coffee creamer. The catfish, decent but nothing to brag about. Overall, I was really disappointed that the quality of the food has taken a horrible turn for the worst. So, combined with poor service, exceptionally long wait for food and sad presentation of ingredients I will not be going back. Pros: atmosphere Cons: apathetic service, food quality more
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Great Spot For Good prices 2/28/2006

I like this place, the food is great and atmosphere is fun. The chicken is their signiture dish however things come out slow. I have been there few times and i seem to keep going back, something is good about that place !! more
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Seriously Grubbin! 11/17/2005

If you like fried chicken then this is the place for you! I have never had better! And the biscuits! And the cornbread! This spot is great for a weeknight dinner of comfort food. I take all out of town guests here when they are visiting. The restaurant also rotates funky art so there is always something new to look at. The wait staff is always super friendly (and I do concur that they are mighty cute-darin0831) And don't be afraid to take whatever you don't eat home, even the leftovers are heaven! No pretension, just nice people and good food! Pros: food, food, food more
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Yum 9/13/2005

Hmmm..... some of these reviews make me want to doubt my next potential visit. Maybe there are some genuine bad experiences but give this place a try for yourself. Some of these reviewers seem like a bunch of haters. I loved it there. The food I had was the egg sandwich. Really good biscuit. The decor, the staff, the ambiance, I all loved. Maybe I have low standards but I am pretty damn picky and have a hard time believing it was a fluke. All my friends say to try the fried chicken, which I plan on doing during my next visit. Pros: Cute wait staff, cheap food, good selection more
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This Is Not Southern Cooking 8/21/2005

So many things wrong; not enough room to go into detail. Service is slow. The o.k.; fried chicken (dry/battery); sweet potato pie (missing bottom crust). The bad; burnt biscuit; sweet cornbread; overseasoned crabcakes w/sweet sauce; mac/cheese (overcooked pasta/undercooked white sauce); seafood gumbo (shellfish yes;catfish no). The worst; red beans/rice (from vegetables not being cooked w/beans to zucchini/mushrooms that SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN BEANS to optional shrimp being offered. Walk a couple of blocks down to the fast food place instead. Pros: music, carafes of water, price Cons: red beans w/shrimp, r more
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A True SF Jewel 7/25/2005

I just moved to the hood, and discoved this great Restaurant. I've been there for brunch and Dinner and the food is outstanding. The service is very good, and the decor is funky. The food is real quality and not very expensive. The desserts are home made. Pros: Food, Prices, Atmosphere more
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Great comfort food and very reasonable prices! 7/21/2005

I've been here several times since I've moved into the new hood. Everytime it's been very good, both food and service. Finally a SF joint with good food that doesn't charge 15.95 to 21.95 for everything. The food isn't excellent, but it's very good and satisfying. Although I have to say their fried chicken and mac and cheese is pretty darn tasty and addictive! Pros: food, service, price more
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Blue Jay is a gem!!! 5/17/2005

I just don't get the negative reviews this restaurant gets-this place is great!!! My husband and I have gone quite a few times and have always had good service. I do admit it could be a little slow but this joint is laid back. Jay has personally served us and he's a cool and laid back kid of guy. I think the key is to sit at the counter not the tables and we've never sat at the tables. The food is sooo good especially the sweet potato souffle with marshmallows. We've almost tried everything on the menu and never had a bad meal. The live DJ is a treat and spins some cool fat beats. Pros: great comfort food, good value, live DJ Cons: little slow sometimes more
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Soooooo sloooooow! 5/11/2005

Lunchtime today. We arrived at 12:15pm. We ordered. The place had just cleared with the exception of one other table. It took 50 minutes to get our food! After 40 minutes of waiting, my co-diner was informed that there was no meat for the sandwich she ordered. (Why didn't they know that *before* 40 minutes had gone by? There was nobody else there!) The worst part was, there was *no* acknowledgement of the slowness. Nobody came up to our table to say, ""Sorry, we are running behind"" or ""Sorry we have a new chef"" or WHATEVER. Nada. Tooooo slow for lunch hour and too much lack of interest and awareness of hte customers. We had dined here before and it has slowly but surely gone downhill since it first opened. What a disappointment. Pros: decent food Cons: slow service, inattentive service more
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Menu for Blue Jay Cafe


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Editorial

  • The Blue Jay Cafe is a cute little diner that serves up delicious cuisine for brunch, lunch and dinner. The best part about Blue Jay Cafe...

  • 9/20/2012 Provided by KidScore
Additional information
  • Hours: Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Lunch: Mon - Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm Dinner: Mon - Sat 5:30pm to 10pm, Sun 5pm to 9:30pm
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Northern Park, Central North
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