Cortez--CLOSED

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550 Geary St
San Francisco, CA 94102

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(415) 292-6360
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Reviews
( 28 )
( 9 )
( 8 )
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( 10 )

Best

I don't typically write long reviews, but the food in this place is simply awesome. I have eaten at many different fine dining restaurants in San Francisco, and this is one of my ...

Worst

The food and service was bad enough to write a review about it. We were brought our food before we had even been brought our pre-dinner cocktails. The food was only average tasti...

romantic food adventure 6/6/2006

I usually opt out of small plates (mainly for my midwestern appetite and in fear of the elevated bill) -- but Cortez is an exception. The variety of really creative and consistently delicious dishes that you can try in one meal makes it a great value for a fine dining experience. I'll never forget the scallops or how perfectly the meat dishes were cooked. not to mention the soup shots, which were so rich and flavorful that you didn't need more than a shot. the wine list was great -- and they had great coffee to boot, which is a critical end to any feast. on top of all this, the place isn't so noisy that you have to yell sweet nothings across the table. more
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No bad apples! 5/7/2006

Our group went through eleven(!) dishes and three deserts, practically sampling the entire menu. The big suprise for me however, is the fact that each and every one of the dishes and deserts were an absoloute joy to eat. I just found it downright odd in fact (in a good way), that such wide array of differing tastes could all be so palatable, and all in one place! I'm adding this one to the (extremely small) list of places I'd go to and be willing to order anything (and maybe everything) on the menu! Simply a tremendous dining experience. Pros: FOOD!, Service, Ambiance more
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Great Space 5/4/2006

I stopped by Cortez for a drink while waiting for a friend, and WOW, what a great spot! I had no idea it would be so cool inside! I had a wonderful glass of sauvignon blanc and a bowl of yummy popcorn while lounging in the bar area. The menu looked awsome, unfortunately I had reservations elsewhere that night or I definately would have stayed for dinner. I plan to return SOON! Pros: Cool Place, Trendy, Nice Staff Cons: None that I saw... more
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Great Date Night! 4/25/2006

So my boyfriend and I do date night every once in a while and tonight we went to cortez for the second time. When we got there they sat us at the most romantic table in the corner next to their wine celler. It was great! Our server David, knew the menus well and was very helpful. I had some drink with Kumquat (never knew what the thing was) in it and it was so clean and refreshing. I guess they have new managment or something becasue a manager came over to our table and welcomed us to cortez, he was very friendly and knowledgeable, helped us with our wine selection. He was kind enough to give us a few tastes of different wines by the glass before we decided on the long fellow pinot noir. Pros: Romantic, FOOD, Drinks Cons: a bit dark more
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unfortunately not worth it anymore 4/15/2006

ex favourite hot spot of mine. we went when it wasnt very busy. they sat us an forgot all about us. we finally get to order drinks and they sat at the bar for 20 minutes before the waitress picked them up. she spoke to us like if we stunk of garbage. food took forever . the prices have gonne up and the food is a lot less refined. towards the end of the meal the manager came up and asked how everything was and I told him. he said its been happening a lot lately and comped 20 off the bill. which was very nice of him to do and since we were to scared to order dessert they brought us little milkshakes as an appology. OH MY GOD! im not really a food snob but these tasted like chauk and celery. undrinkable. never again Pros: truffle popcorn, decor, lighting Cons: service, food, chaulk milkshake more
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Another good time 3/27/2006

With the new young chefs running the kitchen I was a little hesitant to go because I did't want my experience to be spoiled in a place that i like. This time around there was a new tasting menu being offered for $65. The chef sent us a tomato and garlic soup as a gift, for the first course i had the sweet shrimp crudo while my partner had the sunny side of a organic egg which was a great play on a classic breakfast dish. , and I loved the sweet bacon!!!. Next was a cod in a coconut clam broth, next was a poussin and was awesome, super moist and really crispy skin, next was the confit of shortrib which is hard to wrong. For dessert we started with a tangerine mimosa and i had the beignets while my partner had the chocolate terrine and beet sorbet. Pros: trendy, good food, great drinks Cons: loud, trendy, dark more
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Great restaurant for special occasions 2/10/2006

I went there tonight to celebrate my birthday with my husband. Like everyone mentioned, it is expensive. I wish that they would at least put more food on the plates. I realize that it's tapas, but I think it's a little over priced. That being said - the food was wonderful. I especially enjoyed the halibut and grilled prawns. The dessert I had was the chocolate truffle cake. I love chocolate and this was one of the best desserts I've ever had and I work with food and am around desserts often. Nice atmosphere and good service. I would definitely recommend this restaurant particularly for special occasions. Pros: good food, good service, nice decor Cons: parking, expensive more
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Special Treats 2/5/2006

Cortez is a lovely spot with creative food. Ok, it's pricey but if you were trying to save money you'd be at El Farolito tonight. I love the soup shots; they're small because they're rich. The salads are interesting, the meat dishes so tender. The waiters really know the menu, even if they aren't always the most elegant in town. Go here for a special night to celebrate with special people, don't hurry, and try a new wine. You'll go home wanting to become a better cook. I've gone back several times. Pros: cozy, lots of butter, delicious Cons: lots of butter more
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A perfect evening... 1/31/2006

I had the most wonderful evening at Cortez the other night. From the innovative cucumber gimlet to the savory smoked trout salad to the scrumptious desserts I truly couldn't have been happier or my belly more full. Plus, we had excellent service from an informed (and cute too) server who led us down a path of culinary treats and explained wine details that I have been curious about for years. How perfect to have small plates so that you get to try more items on the menu. I loved everything we ordered and highly recommend the Duck, the Scallops, and the Hangar steak. This is a place I will go back to as often as I can. Well worth every penny. Pros: Service, Wine List, Ambience more
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Consistently smart, interesting food 1/28/2006

We've been in twice now. When you have such creative dishes coming out of the kitchen, it can be a gamble, but both times it was just smart food combinations presented beautifully. A little expensive but worth it if you like to have a meal that isn't rushed and is full of delicious surprises. All the better if you can sit on the banquettes and watch the kitchen hard at work through the open restaurant. We would recommend this place to anyone who knows and loves food. Pros: lively atmosphere, amazing cocktails, cozy on the couches Cons: a little pricey more
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Mediterranean meets local chinese take out 1/24/2006

Where to start: Service was abysmal, at first my date and I thought it was funny that it took 10 minutes after her wine glass was empty before the waiter saw it but when it took 30 minutes for him to see my glass was empty well...you get the picture. hint: if the waiter does not ask you for suggested food courseing tell them you want this first this with that etc...the order of our entrees was random at best. Some dishes had mediterranean inspiration, the fries with harrasa ailoi for example but chicken breast reminded me strongly of moo goo gi pan...after over 2 hours dinning during mid week when it was not busy we skipped on dessert. Pros: location, bar Cons: service, noise more
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30 minutes between plates 12/18/2005

We had a bad experience at this restaurant. The food was excellent. The service was terrible. The kitchen staff and the wait staff were working hard, but the food wasn't coming out of the kitchen in a timely fashion. Perhaps the restaurant is too big? It's nice not to be rushed, but 30 minutes between small plates is not good. Our waiter seemed pleasant, but he was inattentive. We could not recommend this restaurant. There are other small plates restaurants that make memorable food and get it to you more
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An overpriced, overrated disaster! 11/14/2005

This place let me down. We were seated 50 minutes later than our reservation. The hostesses promised us ""something special from the kitchen,"" which were tiny soup shots also given to the other enraged people waiting. The scene is loud and badly designed. You must squeeze by the bar to get anywhere. Bathroom locations require a map. Drinks took twenty minutes, and ONE dish arrived a half an hour later. It continued like this all night. Portions are tiny and EXPENSIVE. The food was pretty good, but it felt like a ""small plate"" gimmick. Each of us got one or two bites of each dish, which were mostly $12-17. Our bill was 350 dollars, with only one round of drinks. We tried to fill up with bread, but they ran out! Our server tried hard, but service was very spotty. We left three hours later, still hungry, and very frustrated. Pros: hanger steak, crab cakes Cons: very late seating, service, price more
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Perfect 9/5/2005

My husband and I decided on Cortez to celebrate or 5th wedding anniversary, and I can't remember the last time I had had such a pleasant and satisfying dining experience. From the ""Happy Anniversary"" card that was waiting on the table as we arrived, to the beautiful open kitchen, to some of the most superb and cordial service I have ever recieved, there was not a single flaw in the whole evening. And how could I forget the food. With some help from our waiter we ended up selecting about 6 dishes, and my absolute favorites ended up being the frisee salad, the steelhead, and the pan roasted hanger steak, all cooked to perfection and complimented perfectly by a beautiful presentation. Thank you! It was unforgettable, beginning to end, my husband and I will be back soon, and I'm going to start recommending Cortez to everyone at work. more
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Excellent 9/4/2005

If you've read any of my other reviews, you can see I eat out a lot! Good food is like a slice of heaven to me, and Cortez has served that slice to me:-) I couldn't say which plate is my absolute favorite, though the steak with spinach and onion ring is to die for. My boyfriend loves their unique tasting halibut dish, their pasta dish and loves the peanut butter and chocolate bomber desert. The place can get loud, but only because their always busy, and for good reason. Pros: food, service Cons: parking is a pain more
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My new favorite 2/23/2005

Went here in a group so we could try everything, and we did. Everything was sooo good, especially the tuna tartare. I loved the ambience, the hanging mobiles are very chic and the chairs very comfortable. We had a great time. Milkshake shots for 2 alot of fun! more
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Good first time experience 2/20/2005

We had a good first time experience here at Cortez. We had dinner reservations at 5:30 pm the Sunday before Valentines Day. We we greeted by the guest and were seated shortly. So to ordering...our Mediterranean style meal consisted of Scallops, Tiger Prawns, Halibut, and Mint crusted Lamb medallions. The first three had a nice tart, sweet, and mildly salty taste. All very good and hot. Lamb Medallions came late, cold, and too rare (a disappointment). The best part of the meal was the Peanut Butter and Chocolate mouse and ice cream. Crunchy, smooth, and mildly sweet. Overall, a very good experience despite a couple of minor instances (lamb medallions, and given sparkling soda instead of water) Price: for a filling meal, expensive, but worth the quality. Service: very good. Food: tasty. Ambience: nice mild mood with decorative lamps. Pros: Food, Service, Ambience Cons: Lamb Medallions, Miscommunication, Price vs Quantity more
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hidden gem 1/6/2005

I can't believe I waited a year and a half to try Cortez. The food was some of the best in the city and the place was so lively and fun. Can't wait to go back! Pros: Food, decor more
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disappointing 11/14/2004

The food and service was bad enough to write a review about it. We were brought our food before we had even been brought our pre-dinner cocktails. The food was only average tasting and very expensive for what you got. more
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WONDERFULL 11/5/2004

Cortez is probably the most interesting, real food restaurant experience in San Francisco. It' s not overdone or trendy with an attitude and it' s all based on incredible and creative food, very well served in a great atmosphere. We loved every bites we had and minutes we spend. Wonderfull !!! keep the good work ! Pros: The all experience more
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Menu for Cortez--CLOSED


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Editorial

  • Expense-account groups, in-the-know tourists, moonstruck dinner dates--and now serious foodies--enjoy chef Jenn Puccio's lineup of Cal-Med seasonal small plates at this swanky spot in the Hotel...

  • 11/5/2008 Provided by Citysearch
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