On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Category: American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Nob Hill, Civic Center/Tenderloin
111 reviews
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
"An establishment well suited to my alternate persona as a member of the 1950s power set (one in which women are included). Classy,…" read more »
Loading...
We had dinner in the bar area before a play at the ACT across the street. You can get a "full dinner" in the bar area but the table is maybe 24 inches in diameter so it isn't condusive to sharing a bunch of small plates. If you eat in the bar at Cortez, make sure you do it with someone that you don't mind bumping knees with.
Excellent fair here. MY girlfriend and I went there the first time for Dine About Town. And we were impressed. They have yummy and above par entrees, pricey though.
The best is the cocktails though. They have inventive cocktails that don't take it too far the way alot of SF pretentious bars do. Try the Ginger Lemonade thing... soo good, light, refreshing and it will give you a good buzz (I'm a light weight though, so it could just be me, and we may have already been drunk).
The decor is crazy here dim lights for those of us who just feel more cozy that way. And crazy ass mobile looking light fixtures.. check out the pics.
All & All this place is a hit with me. Yummy, well executed, creative, gourmet food. Great cocktails (sometimes we just go for the bar). And nice cozy atmosphere! What more do you want?!?
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
"He came dancing across the water
With his galleons and his guns
Looking for the New World
And that palace in the sun..."
Not exactly the Conquistador atmosphere I was anticipating, but Cortez definitely left us satisfied with innovative dishes and a menu conquering every food group imaginable.
The dining room is not huge, but seats everyone comfortably for a hotel restaurant. After a cucumber gimlet, cosmo, and a beer provided by the awesome North Beach-residing bartender, we were seated at a perfect table for three.
The service was flawless. The dishes were timed perfectly and our waitress gave us the perfect amount of attentiveness. She recommended a moderately-priced 2005 Edna Valley Chardonnay ("Tolosa") which I am scouring online trying to find.
The roasted heiloom beets were the highlight of the small plates. Our maincourses included the halibut with tomato gazpacho, the scallops with potato and corn risotto and the artichoke and ricotta ravioli. We also had the parsnip soup shots and the chef's crudo which I would skip if I came again...a little too strange for me and not worth the price.
I'm not sure this place packs enough punch to justify the namesake of a mass-murderer that decimated an incredible civilization...especially since it's name has nothing to do with its Americano cuisine. They still sent thee happy customers through their doors.
"On the shore lay Montezuma
With his cocoa leaves and pearls
In his halls he often wondered
With the secrets of the worlds...."
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (5)
Cool (6)
I don't know if I'm totally into the whole pre-theater knoshing protocol - spend $100* and walk out still hungry** and only slightly tipsy. If only I had a clever one-phrase genre label for this kind of food...hmmm....no, "small plates" is already quite apt.
Funny thing, the actual serving plates were huge. This detail only managed to dwarf the 6 or so bites you could get out of the actual food plopped meekly dead center of them. Whatever. I can follow protocol.
So the food was good. I would rank it thusly:
-prawns a la plancha - amazing. Best prawns I've ever had- perfectly seasoned and with a heavenly crab risotto underneath. They were a little intimidating in their giantness, even - which was out of character with the rest of the meal (and I welcomed it).
-beet salda with burrata - tender, fluffy, crispy, delicious. Perfect flavor combinations. Even inclusive of some jazzy salt!
-parmesan risotto - definitely good. But I've had better on several occasions.
-crudo plate. "big-eyed" tuna***. Lacking in seasoning. Tasted a little too ocean-y. Wonderful texture, however. And texture in crudo is very important!
The cocktails were outstanding, and our bartender was very attentive. I had the Chili-night (tequila and jalapeno taking center stage in this heartburn-accelearting, take-with-water concoction) and the cucumber gimlet (which delicately put out the fire of the previous selection - but don't eat the cucumbers!).
I like the space in here, minus those wierd cocktail olive cast iron lamps, and minus having to go to the lobby for the bathroom, which reminds me that I am in a hotel and that I am not on vacation. It's got that almost-sexy, simplified cosmopolitan Kimpton (TM) appeal.
*Hooray for being the spoiled birthday-niece for the evening! It's true, I should in general complain less about the price of things when I'm not paying.
**I only admit this in hindsight, having arrived home around midnight ravenous for some stale crackers, AKA the humble offerings of my food cabinet.
***I'm sorry...that's the actual, legitimate name for a kind of tuna?? Can somebody tell whoever translated the Latin name for this fish that eyeballs are none too appetizing?
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (4)
Cool (6)
1 of my best friends recommended it so my boyfriend & i went here for our anniversary. food was really good...my boyfriend had kobe beef and i had salmon n it was delicious. place is nice & trendy but pricey!
Great dinner at Cortez in the Adagio Hotel. The service is excellent even though they use the team style so its a little hard to figure out who is waiting on you. The decor is eclectic and fun with music in the background but not too loud. My friend Holli A had the haddock and I had scallops. We shared a fantastic dessert of Beignets and Venezuelan chocolate Fondue. The Beignets were perfect. The price is right too total bill with tip was $77 (no wine or drinks) The bar is nice too and they have a solid selection of Tapas (small plate items)
Taking my customers out since they took me to some of the coolest spots in Austin last month, I decided to come to Cortez since it's right across from the Hilton! Located inside the Hotel Adagio off of Union Square, 1 Michelin starred Cortez is a surely a busy spot for travelers rather than locals.
This narrow layout restaurant with a modern design, flattering soft lighting, warm natural wood with earthy look. A really cool cork covers dining room columns & wall. A nice mahogany bar is great for a quick bite & some delish cocktails.
They serve organic ingredients from local market, with seasonal Mediterranean cuisine and a touch of New American inspired! We love the small plate options, a little bit for everyone, generous portion, & well price. Decent wine list, good price point for wine by the glass.
So here is what we had:
Small Plates:
Foie gras pâté with black tea gelée, rhubarb-poppy jam, herb salad & toasted country levain $19 - my customer's choice. I only eat Foie Gras when it's pan seared, & when it's pâté, I only have it with "Vietnamese BA'NH MI` (baguette sandwich)". My customer actually adored this dish!
Katafi crusted crab cake with citrus marinated cabbage & caper-tarragon aioli $12 - the crab was prepared really well that you can even taste the fresh crab meat, juicy & fresh with caper-tarragon, but didn't care much for the cabbage!
Braised Pork Shoulder & Belly and Lamb cheek sugo with riccia pasta, tomato confit, broccoli de ciccio & pecorino $16 - by far this is the BEST dish! Pork belly is 1 of the 2 weaknesses I have... & the way they prepared it, bright red outside & so tender inside, simply fattening good! (I had this dish all for myself, because my customers can't eat pork! YUP!! Lucky me!)
Prawns A La Plancha with creamy crab rice & lemon garlic butter $14 - I never really care much for prawns in general, so I didn't try this one out! my customers thought this was a lovely dish!
Mustard Seed Roasted Monkfish Loin, Ankimo Brandade, Buttered Cabbage, Green Mustard & Tamarind $14 - I love Monkfish, 1 of the rarest one, still didn't care for the buttered cabbage!
Entrees:
Citrus Baked Black Cod $27 - perfectly cooked!
Painted Hills Hanger Steak Painted Hills hanger steak with creamy braised greens, pommes sarladaise, oyster mushrooms & Bordelaise sauce $29 - My customers couldn't stop raving about this dish!
Desserts:
Seasonal Sorbet Trio - Mango, Coconut and Guava $10 - I love all 3 of them, all tropical fruits, but Coconut sorbet is the best!!! Maybe because it's my best friend name ;-)
Chocolate tartine with green olive ice cream $10 - I don't care for chocolate, but my customers liked this one.
I love all Michelin restaurants, but I find it hard to give this place more than a 4 stars, because none of the ingridients were rare enough, nor flown in from another part of the world, not the States!
The end!
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (7)
Cool (10)
When I'm in San Francisco, I always look forward to having a cocktail at Cortez. The bartenders make the perfect martini! The bar area is comfortable, warm and not too noisy - a great place to catch up with a friend or grab a night cap. Plus the lighting makes everyone look good! I've only eaten here once and the food was good --they really pay attention to presentation and the portions are the perfect size. I like this place. One thing that throws me is the brown carpeting on the floor. It's otherwise a cool space but the floor makes it feel a tad bit dated and stale.
the food was really good. &we received fried goat cheese-compliments of the chef. i came here for DAT a year or two ago and the atmosphere was really nice, dark, romantic. but a little pretentious. everyone was dressed in suits and black. for dine about town its worth it.
Went to Cortez to see the people, drink the drinks, and taste the food.
The small plate trend is dying in the bay area and Cortez seems to be catching wind of this now.
Basically, I hate small plates.
Good value or not, I always feel like the chef's laughing at me for paying good money for a thimbleful of food.
Service is good though.
Now stop laughing at me...
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
I went there on Friday night with friends from Spain and what a great enjoyable night. We had booked for 6 originally and I got a phonecall that afternoon from the Restaurant to confirm. However 2 friends cancelled at the last minute and we were left with 4. This was no problem whatsoever and the host was very gracious about it.
We ordered pre dinner drinks while the host arranged for seating for 4. The cocktails are delicious.
The food was just wonderful. For the smaller plates, we had Pimentos Del Padron (hot!), Prawns a la plancha and Kennebec french fries. For the larger plates we had Halibut, Scallops and NY steak...all perfectly cooked to order and delicious and all topped off with a bottle Rioja Reserva.
Unfortunately we just didnt have room for desert but if they are as great as the appetisers and the entrees, I cant wait to go back and try them.
The only hic-up of the night was some mix up with our servers as we had two! We basically had to tell them to speak among themselves to see who was going to serve us.
Overall an excellent evening with great food and great beverages. I cant wait for my next evening to go!
Cortez is a terrific restaurant in the Hotel Adagio right in the heart of the theater district.
One of the coolest looking restaurants in the city with a very "New York" feel to it. We have always had wonderful food and service here.
Even though they have changed ownership and chefs, the food is always consistently delicious!
For our most recent meal we had:
Cocktail - Pimm's Smash, I don't remember what was in it but I know it was good!
Appetizer's - we had several and they have a wonderful selection of small plates for your first and/or second course - hamachi w/ fennel, green olive tapenade and blood orange, arugula salad w/ prosciutto, strawberries, cheese and balsamic dressing, the "fuzzy" crab cake w/ spicy aioli - all of these were fresh and absolutely delicious!
For entrees we had prawns w/ crab rice and short ribs w/ peaches. Again, both were tasty and so flavorful w/ very unusual combinations that worked great! We also had a side of their fies w/ harissa aioli which are not to be missed.
Dessert - warm gianduja cake w/ cinnamon ice cream and beignets w/ warm valrhona fondue. Yummy!
Our server was Rusotto, who hails from Venice, Italy and he was warm and gracious and always there when we needed him.
Cortez is not inexpensive but the quality of the food and the service are well worth it.
I usually really enjoy restaurants that serve "small plates" because I'm a variety type of girl, but at their prices, I could afford two small plates and I'd leave hungry. That being said, I wouldn't go here if I was to pay, instead I'd find a cheap tapas place where I could get the variety I expect with small plates.
However, if someone wanted to take me here on a date, I'd have no objections! The food was good, especially the soup shots - they were interesting. Definitely went along with the small theme, as you can imagine.
This is obviously a very nice restaurant.
Hit or miss if you ask me. Four of us ordered 5 small plates and 3 big plates to share.
Favorites:
Small Plates: Prawns a la plancha, Soup shots
Main: Scallops! Scallops! Scallops!
Dessert: Chocolate truffle cake with Cinnamon Toast ice cream
Cocktail: Pims Smash
Not a Fan of:
Small Plates: Crab cakes (I usually love crab cakes but was rather disappointed)
Main: Duck (way too salty)
The service was also a bit on the slow side. We felt rather neglected.
We asked our waiter for a wine recommendation. He came back and said "Eric" was not available. He recommended two whites, the first he described as "waxy" and the other as "ashy". Sounds wonderful...NOT.
Overall, the meal was not bad but for a restaurant with one michelen star I expected more.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
We came here on a weekday to grab some drinks and snacks. We had wine and the ravioli, fries, soup shots and the sorbet dessert. It was all delicious and the service was excellent.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cortez is stylish. Cortez is with it. Cortez has lighting that is out of Miro. Quite the scene. Even early in the evening. But lets back up and enter the place. I enter, look about for someone, anyone. No one. The hostess is not up front, but way in back blabbing with the bartender. After a bit she condescends to come up front and none to nicely take me to a table. My server. My server. My server is at the bar talking to the bartender. And the hostess. Eventually he comes by. Nice fellow. But he could use some direction as to what he is here for.
The food is better than the service and even when it misses it's interesting. Prawns ala plancha over crab rice. Fresh prawns over some milky rice. A nice plate of food with interesting textural justapositions. Halibut cooked sous vide over asparagus and mushrooms. My first exposure to sous vide cooking (low temp for a long time). The fish is pristine and has a lovely texture I have only encountered when fish is poached. Good and interesting food. Creme fraiche cheesecake is just cheesecake to me, but at least its not overly sweetened.
There has been a recent change of ownership and chef. Perhaps there will be a change for the better in service.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
No mistaking the quality of the food at Cortez---fabulous
The octopus,roasted beets, and duck sampler small plates were great
BUT
When you are located a block away from a major theater, and when the Oracle convention is in town, it is mandatory to have enough staff on hand to handle your diners.
The service was actually unacceptable.
dirty dishes sat on the table, drinks went empty,and the attitude of our waiter was less than gracious..in fact he blamed the kitchen for things not running smoothly.
The table next to us had to cancel their last item because things were moving so slowly and they were afraid they'd miss the opening of Spring Awakening
All in all the poor service and attitude of our waiter really turned a restaurant serving above average food into an unsatisfying experience, and its questionable whether I would return.
Whenever I have out of town guests I send them here. The fish is fresh and delicious and the presentation is memorable from the shot-glass soup to dessert. Short-notice resos are easier to come by than other local restaurants of the same caliber. The servers are super friendly and typically give my guests tips on places or events in SF they should check-out. I appreciate the help!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
I came here for Dine About Town. I was impressed. The salad, the farro, the short rib, the grapefruit tart with a piece of chocolate with Pop Rocks baked into it (brings back memories!) - I couldn't find a problem with anything. Even more, service is great here, even though I came in wearing my "Califartnia" tshirt. Portions are a bit small but a three-course meal is exactly enough to satisfy you. Remember, you're here to enjoy your meal, not get fat.
JONASAPPROVED!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
This is the sort of restaurant I quickly become a big fan of: a little off the radar, a bit assuming, great food. I started with the soup shots of the day - two shotglasses filled wtih a corn chowder made wtih no oil or cream on the day I went there. Fantastic. For an entree I had duck breast rubbed with star anise over lentils in an orange sauce. I'm not the world's biggest fan of duck but something about the way this one was written up convinced me to and it was well worth it.
The decor looks a little like the old science ride at Disneyland with molecular structures of atoms hanging over our heads. And the hostess was not exactly friendly. But all in all, this place was hands down worth it.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
I'd give the bar area a sold four stars and the dining area about 2.5 stars. I love sitting at the bar and enjoying a drink and a small bite to eat - its not cheap, but you can linger and hear each other. As for the food - its just too crazy. I'm not a picky eater and I'm willing to eat just about anything - this place though, seemed like it was operating on bets: "I bet you $2.00 that no one will eat this..." "Oh yeah, I see your two bucks and raise you a tuna flavored milkshake" (Okay, that wasn't on the menu, but the milkshake flavors are usually very odd when savory). My advice to this restaurant? "you do food well, so please, lay off the technique food a little."
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (3)
Sometimes I take things for face value, I definitely should have read the menu PRIOR to my arrival, b/c I thought it was Latin. WRONG. New American.
Attached to the lobby of a small boutique hotel: Adagio & there is $8 parking right across the alleyway. Convenience is key for me.
Hostess has a wooden face, no smile, no expression, uh, why are you a hostess?
Table service, on the other hand, was pleasant and non-intrusive.
The DAT entree was short ribs, so we opted to order off the standard menu.
* Lamb cheek sugo with lemon cavatelli, tomato confit, broccoli de ciccio & pecorino romano $16, thoroughly enjoyed this dish, it was fragrant, the cheeks were marinated well, loved the broccolini, and the SAUCE, wonderful.
* Painted Hills hanger steak with creamy braised greens, pommes sarladaise, oyster mushrooms & Bordelaise sauce $26, tender, temperature was medium rare and done perfectly.
* Seared Japanese octopus & scallops with lemon-artichoke puree, marble potatoes, parsley, Kalamata olive soil & tomato saffron emulsion $28, the octopus was cut in large meaty pieces, the seafood was fresh and the marble potatoes were delightful.
*Rhubarb semifreddo with cucumber jasmine consomm & black sesame tuile $10, light and the flavors balanced each other out. Consomme was delicate and exotic.
*Grapefruit tart with tarragon ice cream, white chocolate & black pepper $10, fresh, the shortbread crust was delicious, custard underneath the grapefruit was a great partner with the citrus.
Getting to the bathroom is a little irritating: shared with the hotel lobby.
There were a lot of items on the menu that caught my eye, many different combinations of food and I have to give props to the pastry chef, innovative!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
Date & Time: Friday May 23, 2008 @ 8pm Various Dinners
Location: Hotel Adagio
Company: Christina & Peter. Tonight with Michael
Crowd: Cute Couples & Mixed Chic Groups & Young Professionals
Atmosphere: Contemporary & Energetic
Decor: Chic Bar & Lounge Area Leads to Dining Room with Tightly-Packed Tables & A Semi-Open Kitchen & Impressive Wine Display.
Service: Professional
Imbibe: Americano, The Industry & Hangar One Citron
Devour: Soup Shots, Hamachi Carpaccio(seasonal), Pork Short Ribs for Starters. Seared Scallops, Duck, Steak for Entrees. Milkshake Shots & Beignets with Chocolate Dip for Dessert.
Notes: En route to the restaurant last year with Christina & Peter we saw Neil Young & Entourage Checking In and he was So Cool!
People thought this was:
Useful (10)
Funny (9)
Cool (10)
Cortez is sort of a mixed bag, but still enjoyable. Like an over-accessorized woman, certain aspects of this restaurant, such as the decor and a few bizarre menu items, could use some editing. On the other hand, their more simple fare, such as the chef's crudo, is consistently delicious, although I'd welcome a more generous portion. The table service is pitch perfect, and it's a convenient spot for a mellow weeknight dinner.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
I was in town for business meetings and was dining alone and wanted a nice meal. I wasn't disappointed! The beet starter with blue cheese mousse was fabulous. Then I had the newly added scallops dish for a main course which was deliciously prepared with a number of other sides. Note that a smaller portion of scallops are also available as a starter. My server was very delightful and extremely attentive. The service was top notch all round. I was pleased to be able to order a half bottle of wine from a vary reasonable selection of wines to accompanying my meal. And I completed the meal with a very delicious chocolate treat. All-in-all a great experience!
This was a last minute b-day dinner choice after I had a small situation with my attire (it's my birthday, I'm allowed a little craziness).
Cortez did not disappoint this birthday girl. We were able to make a reservation with no problem even on a Saturday night. I was surprised it wasn't booked, especially after our experience. The decor is simple yet contemporary. I had a really interesting rhubarb cocktail that our server suggested which was surprisingly tasty, considering the randomness of rhubarb in a cocktail and that it had gin, which normally I'm not a fan of. Our server was really friendly, attentive, and seemed really genuine.
We ended up getting a few of their small plates, which is usually what my bf and I like to do so that we're able to try a few different things. Nothing was a disappointment. I think my favorite was the foi gras which had an interesting presentation...it was served in a little jar with a yummy jelly and toast and almost reminded me of the richest PB & J I've ever had. It was fabulous. We also had their french fries, a salad and a raw fish chef's special that was amazing.
Great wine list, nice selection of small plates and a great dessert menu to boot. I don't throw around 5 star reviews, but there really was nothing wrong about my experience at Cortez. It's a great restaurant which is a rare find in the area it's located in.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
This place is amazingly delicious. I went here with a few friends and I guess it was our night, cause we kept getting free "compliments" from the chef. I had the peking duck and it was the best duck I have every had in my whole life. It was perfectly cooked and tender with almost no fat. Their cauliflower mousse is friggin amazing as well! I could have made a meal out of just that.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Ok, I admit I stole this from another review - but yes, the lighting looks like Miro designed it. Very cool. There is a very modern but inviting & warm feel to the restaurant.
I started out with a the "Toy Box Cocktail". I am usually not a vodka drinker, but the tomato, grapefruit, maraschino combination intrigued me. The drink was good, but not great. I very much enjoyed the bartender - he was attentive, interested and knowledgeable and all this - in a warm and very friendly way.
I love small plates - I am commitment challenged, I want to try everything good - so this place was perfect. I was hoping the plates were small enough to order several without feeling guilty. I know this sounds funny, but I am actually serious.
I started with the crudo of the day - Ahi Tuna, with tomato water, pancetta and avocado - it was delicious - fresh, enough acidity - and the smoked tomato water pulled the pancetta and ahi flavor perfectly together.
Second: Black cod with oysters, pursulane, green olives tapenade - loved it (don't tell anyone, but I took a straw to get the last drop of juice from the plate). Third: Padron peppers, fried with smoked salt - this has always been one of my favorite tapas, this preparation however did not bring out the flavor of the peppers as well as they do at Ceasar's in Berkeley or the Alembic on Haight. Too much oil and a little bit over fried.
Fourth: Japanese Octopus & local squid with lemon shavings. Very substantial, great texture - very good too.
For dessert: Rhubarb Semifreddo in cucumber-jasmine consomme, which was beautifully presented and the combination of flavors was creative and worked well, however the semifreddo tasted a bit old. The suggest pairing with a Chateau LaMothe Sauternes was a nice finish for a masterfully prepared dinner. I will be back.
Very good restaurant. This restaurant always seems to change chefs! I bet its that CORPORATE kind of opereration that runs the scared. I'll just have to go back and try it again.
It's hard to review a place half a year after the visit. I want to write something now only because it's a piece of memory.
Stepped into the restaurant, I've already impressed by the atmoshpere and settings. Contemporary and elegant decor.
It's good to be there with someone really knows about food, because I know I can expect great food. And it's bad to be there with someone really knows food, because I can't remember any names of the dishes since he ordered everything. And the fact that I'm not a native English speaker, it's even harder for me to remember the names of those dishes even he told me. None of that matters, it's the taste of the food matters. On top of the taste, the nice presentation of the food is a big plus. He ordered 4 small plates, and they're all very impressive. Trying to recall what he ordered, I can only confirm two of them, one is Prawns a la plancha with creamy crab rice & lemon garlic butter, and another one is Foie gras pâté with black tea gelée, rhubarb-poppy jam, herb salad & toasted country levain.
It's a little bit pricy, but well worth it. I don't think it's a place I will go back any time soon, but will definitely go back some time.
Yikes - no Dine About Town on Fridays - but we stayed anyway
Amuse bouche- goat cheese, peach, toasted almond, mint - an explosion of tastes in a little bite. Damn good.
Shot of soup - mushroom soup topped with creme fraiche - made with three different shrooms - tasty but a little salty
Green garlic & mascarpone ravioli - creamy, tasty and surprisingly light
Fennel-glazed Pekin duck breast - succulent juicy and tender, amazing.
Smoked & seared beef short rib - very good and tender, nicely paired with the peach puree (but too tart on its own)
Chocolate truffle - excellent if you are a cocoa lover
Creme fraiche cheesecake served with a riesling sorbet - fantastic, the sorbet was amazing! Nicely paired with the Moscato dessert wine!
For the fancy schmancy- you get the high end plating, the shmears of sauce on the plates, and thankfully the attentive, skilled server.
If you're a vegetarian you're screwed - no veggie main courses, a couple of choices for apps, but not much
Drinks - just a'ight for 10 a pop I was hoping for more
After an amazing play at the ACT, my friend brought me to the bar. The place was filled with some nice looking folks, on the younger side. I had a great drink (pomegranate and ginger). Nice ambiance except for that drunk couple making out a bit too loudly in front of us.
If you like foam, you'll love Cortez.
My friend and I came here last night for dinner. Our reservations were at 6:45, and though we were seated promptly, we didn't get out of there until 9:30, and not because we were lingering. Perhaps last night was a bad night, but reading through the other Yelp reviews, it seems like service here is either spot on, or just off. Ours was off.
First, the good news: drinks here are awesome! very creative, innovative, but still tasty (you know how sometimes a cocktail is trying to hard and it just falls flat). I had a "Lady in Red" which was a tasty combination of pear flavors over cava, with a dash of pomegranate seeds for an extra zing.
Now, the not so great news: I think I am learning that the types of meals I really prefer are somewhat "basic" in that they are created to let the flavors of the individual ingredients shine. Cortez, like its Michelin star sister, Range, takes the opposite approach. They like to mashup as many crazy ingredients as possible so they can *show off* how creative! unique! innovative! foam loving! they are. As a result, everything is complex, with too many competing flavors, and as a result dishes that should be wonderful sort of implode.
That is not to say they were bad- far from it- but for the price, and for what they are trying to accomplish, I should have been wowed. And I wasn't. Poor me, another high end San Francisco dinner, ho hum.
Anyway, we had a piece of foam as an amuse bouche, the chef's crudo (tuna tartare on Japanese mint leaf topped with clam strips) and the beet salad (heirloom beets! with blue cheese mousse, pecans, chermoula and argon oil), Prawns a la plancha (with creamy crab rice & lemon garlic butter), and Wild stinging nettles & mascarpone ravioli (with olive oil froth [read: foam], fresh garbanzo beans and pickled spring onions). Of all of those, I liked the beets the best, the prawns second, and then I wasn't a huge fan of either the crudo or the ravioli. And I like nettles!
And for the bad news: the service was very spotty. We got our first small plate, and then as we finished, our second. So far, so good, I thought. Great timing. However, a very, very long time passed before we got out third and fourth small plates, which then arrived at the same time. Then, we were more or less abandoned by our server (someone else came and took our 2nd drink requests), even though he was giving ample attention to the table full of buxom ladies next to us. We waited again, for a very long time, before he deigned to give us dessert menus, and then, finally, we were able to get our check, wait some more, and sign our CC slips.
So, the three stars really is a reflection of the service. I'd have given it four stars because the drinks and the desserts were excellent, and the small plates, while not my style, might be for someone who likes that kind of competing superstar ingredients/foam thing.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
I was finally able to try this place out after 3 unsuccessful attempts (2 failed walk-in attempts and one closed for renovation). Sadly, I can't say it was all worth the wait. The food isn't BAD, it's just not great for the price. I wouldn't say I wouldn't go back, but I don't think I would suggest it. Nothing on the menu was too original, but I will say everything was of high quality. But with a city full of great restaurants, I don't see the need to come here.
This review is for the bar/lounge:
Love it! This place has a cool vibe and is very chic. The service is fantastic and you really feel like you can enjoy a drink with your friend/friends and escape. They also provide some amazing gourmet popcorn - trust me, you have to try this stuff.
If you're looking for a cool spot to have a nice cocktail or glass of wine, this is a great palce to go.
This isn't like a Gary Danko five stars, but it's a solid five stars. I went to Cortez with my gf for her birthday, and we had a great meal. I was actually amazed how empty it was, because the food, service, and ambiance were pretty great.
I decided to come here because we had a "dress emergency" which caused us to miss our reservation at Firefly. Yelpers mentioned how slow the service was, so I decided it was the place for me. My biggest problem with any restaurant is feeling pushed out the door.
They have a cool cocktail menu which incorporated seasonal fresh ingredient. Huge plus. They have a solid wines-by-the-glass menu, which had some solid wines, including, some of my favorites: Albarino, German Riesling, and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano.
We went with the small plates, and they were good. They had a special of some weird Thai fish served raw with black garlic, basil aioli, and cherry tomatoes...killer. We also ordered a salad with a date vinaigrette, preserved lemon, and almonds...also great. We decided to go with the Foie Gras pate with black tea gelee. It was like the rich man's version of PB&J. I also had to try the fries, because I love fries. They were good, fresh, small gauge fries, with the skin left on. Tasted like actual potatoes and were served with two aiolis.
Service was astute, friendly, and knowledgeable. A little slow at times, but I was into enjoying my company and savoring my food, so I didn't care.
I think this place would be hard-to-get-in if it was in a better food neighborhood, but staying at Park 55 and partying in the Tender-Nob, it was in a perfect place.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Great service and good food. I definitely enjoyed our dinning experience as we were able to take advantage of dine about town. The mixed greens salad was just OK but the short ribs and grapefruit tart dessert were to die for! I think I finished every single last bite and even licked the plate.
Their flavors are unique and their ingredients are not to be overlooked. The white chocolate on the grape fruit dessert had pop rocks that caused tingles in my mouth... Amazing! The menu is a bit pricey but the food and ambiance are worth the price tag. This is a great place for a special occasion but not too large of a group (no more than 6). The one Michelin star is well deserved!
Went here as part of a large dinner party, so it was nice to be able to try all the different dishes. Good Mexican cuisine, but I felt a little lame traipsing all the way to Union Sq. for Mexican food when I live 2 blocks off of Valencia St. Anyhow, the guacamole is excellent, the bartenders attentive and nice, and the filled churros dessert had me wanting to come back the next day. Would recommend if you are in the neighborhood.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
