Blue Plate Reviews

We went with a group of six on a Friday evening and had a blast. A quirky place that serves top drawer comfort food (loved the meatloaf!) with great service and a fun345047186 atmosphere. Give it a try.

Love love love

Here visiting my daughter and it's one of her favorites! The service was perfect and the food was too! I'm a pescetarian and ordered the pasta without duck. When the plate came, mine had duck. The waitress was soo very nice and gave us a dessert and took the meal of the bill without me saying anything. The place is top notch!!!!

Tucked into the middle of a challenged but hardy ethnic neighborhood, this restaurant is a great find. Traditional American fare upgraded with a farm-to-table approach. Local ingredients freshly prepared to bring out the best in the food. Portions are hearty and accompaniments are well chosen. Interesting and appropriate variations on items like meatloaf, ravioli and fried chicken. When we arrived, I was disappointed with the menu, expecting more fascinating choices. But wait, reading deeper into the accompaniments and appetizers, I began to be reconciled. And the delivery did not disappoint. Excellent wine list and staff who were able to assist in the right selection. We brought our Bordelais friends here and had a lovely meal. Definitely will return.

I have wanted to try Blue Plate "for years" and was recently treated to a meal. "Treat" is the operative word here. Once we were seated, we were treated like old friends, dining at their home. Service was great, very attentive, knowledgeable and kind. She answered all our questions and whole heartily agreed with our choices. It's a very intimate little place, well not little, just separate little eating nooks and crannies. Tables are a bit "too close" for conversation, but we managed. I believe they are known for their fried chicken, so that was my friends 1st choice. I went w/the 2nd favorite, the meatloaf. But first we had to have a "starter or 2". We were hungry and excited to try as many choices as we could. 1st Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs, OMG, they were de-lish-us! 2nd - I think we had the Butter Lettuce salad that was outstanding. I would go just for these 2 appetizers alone. The dressing was like none other I have had before and it complimented all the ingredients beautifully. As I mentioned we had the fried chicken (which was cooked perfectly, not greasy and the best coating. Massive portion. The Meatloaf was also very good. A little "underdone" for my liking but super moist, great flavor and accompanied by Mashed taters and Blue Lake Green Beans. The only sounds coming from my friend and myself were savory noises. We also had a really nice Bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, recommended by our server, but dang, pricey $50. Glad I was being treated. I would go back just for a couple appetizers. Not cheap, but worth every singly penny. If you are in the area and are wondering, where to dine, I highly recommend Blue Plate. Their desserts are also probably outstanding, but we had no more room.

I visited Blue Plate last June and was so impressed that I chose it for my B'day bash this Oct. The meatloaf is killer. I have a healthy appetite, and cannot finish it all, which is fine 'cause I love a meatloaf sandwich for lunch. The mash potatoes and green beans are a perfect combo to this 50's classic. I raved about it so much that my crew of five friends also had the meatloaf. To a person, everyone was delighted. The wait person, (a woman, who's name I do not recall) was a gem. Great sense of humor, good attention to what we needed, and to top it off, at the end of the meal she brought out a custard cup with a candle. Excellent. Bottom line, if you like comfort food, with a bit of an upscale twist, you will enjoy yourself.

The Blue Plate’s forte seems to be comfort food that rises well above what mom prepared! Favorites like meat loaf, fried chicken, mac n’ cheese are offered along with other well-prepared meat, seafood and vegetarian options and interesting wine choices. Service is OK but dishes arrived colder than they should have been (sat around too long before being picked up and served ??) and some of the presentations were less than beautiful. Still - for entrees under $30 and a pleasant informal rxperience, it’s recommended.

Waited half an hour in the cold outside waiting for our table that we booked months ago to be ready... not a great start. The food was ok- seriously, just ok- nothing flash. I guess I eat at wonderful restaurants all around the globe so Im spoilt. My partner and i had dined at Bar Tartine and found the food and service far superior. Our waiter was a little abrupt and our request for a window to be closed slightly was rebuffed with a 'well, I'm warm in here...'- well guess he hadn't been standing outside on the street in the rain for half an hour.... So, would I go back? no... would I encourage friends to check it out? no. Seriously average food.

A friend suggested we eat at blue plate for dinner. I looked at reviews and website and it appeared like a fresh classic place trying to elevate the experience a bit. Staff was very friendly. Service was good too. Had meatloaf - which was one big piece, pretty well cooked with creamy mashed potato and green beans. Ordered dessert as I saw they had butterscotch pudding - one of my favorites. It showed up and looked like a nice slice of heaven presented in a glass jar and whipped cream on top. I bit into the pudding and first couple bites were good. As I moved further into the dish, I was over taken by what tasted like alcohol, which was strange. My husband had the same experience too. As you get to the bottom, there is even more liquid taste. Not the consistency I'm used to when eating butterscotch pudding. I asked waiter what kind of alcohol was in the pudding. His response - none. Both of these dishes had liquid in the bottom and now what tasted like fermented vanilla. The waiter came by and states that he is removing the dessert from the bill and further states that the desserts were likely undercooked. I asked if it was made fresh and his response was - the desserts were from Sunday. Today is Thursday. That is disgusting. Obviously they are bad.

Meatloaf is great, other dishes hit or miss. Great option for those in Bernal Heights.

If anyone has ever been to the The Dahlia in Seattle 20yrs ago then you will understand this twisted, wickedly fantastic home cooked style of cuisine. I cannot believe the combination of flavors we experienced. A wonderfully sinful menagerie of foods that worked to perfection. Trying to explain what we ate and enjoyed would be an insult to the chef. It's an experience that you must have. The restaurant is cozy, old school Mission Street. All wood decorative with eclectic art. It's just what the doctored ordered for a San Francisco neighborhood experience. The service phenomenal.. !! There were 4 of us and we shared 4 tapas and all had a main course... I had the fried chicken OMG!! We shared amongst many more the corn soup, the octopus, the homemade pasta and every meal a twisted flavor explosion. We cannot recommend this place any higher for a neighborhood spot. GO!!! Trust me! Casual and old school SF loved it!

We had a really great meal at Blue Plate. We had three small plates, one large plate, one side and a dessert between us and that was exactly the right amount of food. Everything was beautiful. Whatever else you order make sure you order the mashed potatoes as well. You might think mash isn't exciting but this mash is something else. Smooth, creamy, buttery loveliness. Really amazing stuff. The service was great and the wine was reasonably priced. I would really recommend Blue Plate.

Now this is a friendly place to go for dinner. Everyone who is working here seems to really like their job and serving their clientele. All the items on the menu could be considered comfort food. We started off with a very unique cauliflower soup. Since it's one of their specials I had the fried chicken with macaroni salad on a very hot plate. The chicken was great but the salad should have been served on a separate cold plate. Another special is their Blue Plate Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and green beans. It was very good but to her taste a bit too spicy. We share the key lime pie which could not have been nicer. It was a bit crowded and noisy but the staff treated us well.

A friend and I dined here on a weeknight. I loved it! The atmosphere was very non-touristy; the dining room was full of locals and the staff knew many of the customers and warmly welcomed those they did not. The tables were cozy and close together. The atmosphere was convivial--friends at tables having great conversation over great food. Our server was warm and attentive and not afraid to make recommendations. And the food!; the menu had a great array of starters and main entrees, with an emphasis on classic foods with modern twists. A peach and tomato salad to start was like late summer on a plate; the fines herbs added additional freshness and rounded out some of the sweetness. Sweet corn and mushroom risotto was excellent; it wasn't too thick and the corn added a wonderful sweetness. The meatloaf was as it should be: thick, tasty, moist, super-savory. I was really impressed. Would happily return!

ROMANTIC!

American Mission Comfort Food Done Right Oh my. Rocken good food tonight to celebrate my a pals bday. I hadn’t been to Blue Plate before – but it sure does comfort food with more twists than a slnky. The food could not be any better. They add just enough twists on old standards that instead of your first thought being ” this isn’t home Mom used to make it” instead it becomes now why “didn’t Mom make it this way!” Reservations suggested & worth it. Great staff and its a night to be engaged. A new American restaurant in San Francisco. 3218 Mission St. @ Valencia San Francisco, Ca. 94110 Map 415 282 6777 Mon – Thur 5:30–10p, Fri – Sat 5:30–10:30p, Sun 5:30 – 9:30p Deviled Eggs for Adults! Pork Chop for a hearty eater Meatloaf with beans and mashed Butterscotch Pudding with pecan brittle Fresh Tomato salad with a punch Fried Chicken you just can’t wait to dig into Key Lime pie Chocolate ganache tart Sardine Brucceta

First time in SF and some local friends took us to Blue Plate. Place had good vibes and the food was good. We shared many plates and everything I had was good (the fried chicken was great). I would recommend this place to people who want to check out the Mission area (15 min from Union Sq).

Guess I am writing home about it, but there's not a whole lot to say. The menu was very limited. Maybe 8 choices in total, many of which did not suit my very traditional palate. Since I am not a big fan of braised rabbit and gnoche and couldn't find much on the menu to excite me, I went with the very safe and boring "fried chicken". It and the mashed potatoes ware fine... but nothing to write home about. Others in our party got the braised rabbit, meatloaf, etc. Everyone seemed satisfied with thier meals, but don't know that anyone will remember this place or what they ate. We were seated in the front of the restaurant (a glass store front) and watched a bicycle delivery guy read his orders and prepare for his deliveries for about 15 minutes. A pretty ordinary dining experience for us.

Trout deviled eggs good Farro good Artichoke risotto with rabbit very good Mac and cheese great Butterscotch pudding very good Two ginger beer Two espressos $97

Food was amazing and the service was excellent! Menu had a combo of a few comfort foods (meatloaf, fried chicken, mac and cheese) but the rest were unique dishes. The four of us tried the meat loaf, fried chicken, osoo buco, pasta with rabbit plus four small plates. Small plates were so much fun I would go back and just have several of those -- lamb spam (delicious), chicken liver mousse, smoked trout deviled egg. We loved it all and were full to the brim but managed to squeeze in the key lime pie and butterscotch pudding. Great wine selection to top it all off. Go soon and go often!

We went to Blue Plate in San Francisco last night with 2 friends. It was outstanding! It was restaurant week in San Francisco. We got a 3 course dinner and each course was wonderful! The beet salad was fabulous. The ravioli/crab main course was also great. The key lime pie was amazing. We will definitely go back!!

We had a lovely dinner last week at Blue Plate. Our party of five - including an infant - was seated quickly at a nice back room table. Of particular note: the pork (fabulous) , the bread and the service. We found the small restaurant to be "down home" and friendly. We did not like the canneloni, however.

19 years in business & always comes through. We were 4 recently & all agreed Blue Plate continues to impress. Smoked trout deviled eggs, squid salad were very good to start. Crunchy fried chicken, hanger steak, duck, & risotto were ordered & shared, sometimes reluctantly, but with a smile. Service was efficient & friendly. BP is proof that well prepared food, attentive service, and priced fairly works in the neighborhood.

My daughters and I ate here to celebrate together- first time I had been with them together in ten years. I got super sick. I threw up immediately after I ate the food right at the restaurant. They got pretty sick, too. It was St. Patty's Day and we all had celebratory corned beef. I think it must have been the Stinging Nettles which they serve. I am wondering if it is poisonous to some people. We all ordered it because it sounded unusual. I won't eat there again.

... Off the beaten path. This is good for date night and for gathering of friends. The service is consistently friendly and approachable and accommodating. Approachable food and yet still elevated and tasty. While it's not haute cuisine, I have enjoyed every visit to this establishment. My friends have the same opinion. This is a place for the Long haul. Not a flash in the pan. Their backyard seating is lovely. Part of the interior feels like I'm eating in someone's home. But I think that's comforting and cozy. Menu changes seasonally and maybe even more frequently so I like to keep coming here.

fried oysters, rib eye steak, deana a perfect date

Fried chicken with a hint of spice and Meatloaf that makes the heart happy are just two of the wonderful dishes on the menu at Blue Plate. The Pork Chop is also a crowd pleaser and all this is prepared in open kitchen style at the front of the restaurant. My husband's seasonal salad of heirloom tomatoes and peaches was a taste sensation which started off the meal. The wait staff is friendly and professional with dishes being cleared and food delivered promptly. I also like that you can order half bottles of wine so that I can have my white and my husband his red without an issue. The desserts looked amazing but this time we did not have room for the Butterscotch pudding or a piece of Key Lime pie but they will be on the list for our next trip to Blue Plate.

My husband and I were in town visiting our son and his fiancé. Looking for a neighborhood place to reunite with an old high school friend. Blue Plate,located in the hip mission, was the place. Our server was was great; made suggestions as we were all first timers. We opted for house specials: meatloaf and the fried chicken. Both were amazing. The meatloaf was tender and flavorful. The fried chicken...boneless and all white meat...was crisp and had a hint of cayenne...delish! Our server brought us a side of their mac and cheese...on the house...due to the wait for our dinner. A bit pricy for comfort food...but not unusual for San Fransisco. Worth the wait!

Fun place to eat!

Meatloaf was the best. Tried the fried chicken and it was so good. Comfort food including Mac and cheese! We will be back!! The staff were outstanding

Had a great meal and it was actually quite affordable! Mac & Cheese was amazing; almost did not want to share it! Ratouiile Cavatalli was really yummy and flavorful. My friend's hanger steak was really falvorful too. Great ambience. reasonably priced alcohol (bottle of procsecco was $32). Would definitely go back again

Okay, before you go further, I didn't eat there. I had reservation got their and walked away. As far as a "semi-fancy" dinner as one reviewer suggested, no way! This place is, from the review of the menu of and merely a passer-by's opinion, nothing more than a glorfied diner. There is no full bar, only beer and wine. The place has no privacy between diners. It's very loud. It's in a location that's WAY out of the way for any tourist. There's nothing nearby. Now, the food might be glorious, but, it's certianly no place for a tourist like myself. Afterall, this is Trip Advisor, not, Local Resident Advisor, which might have a different review.

The Blue Plate in the Mission is on a busy stretch of street. At the local lesbian bar the lines were almost around the block in celebration of Pride the night we were there. The Blue Plate flew its rainbow while we enjoyed meat loaf, ravioli, ling cod, and two half bottles--one of pouilly fuissé and another Chehalem pinot noir from the Willamette Valley. Good place to see friends. Meat loaf is very good.

I've been to Blue Plate two or three times before, and it has never disappointed. My recent dinner with friends may have been my best experience there yet. We started by sharing a couple of orders of ahi tuna tartare deviled eggs. Although I'd give an edge to the smoked trout deviled eggs I've had there in the past, the ahi tuna ones were very good. Our group had a number of the other small plates, including early girl tomato and gypsy pepper soup, crispy octopus with french fingerling hash, summer melon salad, heirloom tomato and black splendor plum salad, and black truffle gnocchi - I had a taste of several of these and they were all delicious. Several of us ordered the herb and lemon marinated duroc pork tenderloin main dish, and we shared some of the fried chicken main dish as well. The pork tenderloin (with corn meal porridge, jimmy nardello peppers, and summer pole beans) was excellent, cooked perfectly and the combination of items in the dish worked so well together. The fried chicken was great, and distinctive too - not your typical fried chicken. My friends and I brought wine for our dinner on this occasion, but Blue Plate's wine list is well-chosen and well-priced, with plenty of by-the-glass and half bottle options in addition to regular bottles. Service was efficient and attentive but unobtrusive, and the whole atmosphere was super-friendly. Very affordable for the quality of food too. Highly recommended and I'm sure I'll be back.

Small resturant without a crowded feeling. Very cozy. The food was wonderful, we had the trout deviled eggs, sardine crostini and the mac n cheese and they were all wonderful! The foccacia served is to die for. Would definately return!

The menu here changes very frequently depending on locally available ingredients. The bread was amazing and all of the ingredients were extremely fresh. The food was wonderfully flavourful and unique. We went to this restaurant because it was recommended to us by a local and now I'm recommending it to you!

The name gives away the menu, and it's great comfort food, as expected. We loved the meatloaf, the mac and cheese, the pork shoulder. But the surprise, and the real treat, are the appetizers, which are very creative and unusual. We had a "salad" of heirloom tomatoes, mangoes, toasted granola and a yogurt based cheese. Yummy! For those who like squirmy octopus, the grilled version at Blue Plate is a real treat. We wished we had room for more of them. The staff is extraordinarily friendly and very efficient. You won't be disappointed if you give this cozy place a try.

We dined here on a Monday night and were very pleasantly surprised by both the menu, quality of food and extensive wine list featuring local and international wines. We chose three appetisers (grilled jalapeño peppers, chargrilled lettuce salad and chorizo stuffed squid) which were served to us as though it were part of a degustation menu followed by a dark chocolate mousse which is big enough for two people. The food was delicious, seasonal and beautifully presented. Service was faultless and attentive and the maitre de (owner??) was friendly and helpful. It was by pure chance that we came across the restaurant - don't be put off by the unassuming exterior - it is worth a visit and the price of the meal was extremely affordable.

The price is too high for what they are offering. The goat cheese-Mac 'n cheese is tasty though

Had a great dinner. We were a party of 6 celebrating a birthday. I had the fried chicken which was great. Others order the meatloaf which they loved.

I love this restaurant! Its wonderful. The food is amazing and the atmosphere is so relaxed and chill. Best place in SF to go on a nice summer afternoon. Check out their back patio.

This is truly one of our favorite restaurants in the city. It is consistently outstanding. Chef Sean is constantly changing the menu to feature the freshest farm to table I season produce. The meatloaf and fried chicken are by far the best in the city. The service is always top notch. The atmosphere is romantic and fun. Highly recommend!

I did not know what to expect from Blue Plate. I was visiting San Francisco for the weekend and had not heard of it. What a treat!! It has a wonderful, cozy atmosphere and the food can't be beat. We enjoyed the deviled eggs, asparagus soup, pasta, pork (one of the specialties of the house) and fish. It was all delicious!!

nice, homey. great apple pie.

its been a while but yum.

If you are looking for great fried chicken, amazing pork chops, excellent grilled squid, and an interesting wine list, go to Blue Plate.

With a somewhat small menu, this place emphasizes well prepared meals. Service is great and our server was friendly and most helpful. We had the fried chicken that is boneless and crunchy served with an outrageous potato salad. The meatloaf our neighbors looked good with mashed potatoes. We also had macro and cheese, also like homemade and a burrata app. Last was a salmon dish that my daughter greatly enjoyed. Pricing was reasonable but most important was that everything was delicious. Worth the trip.

Make reservations in advance though because it's popular and fairly small. If you like to see the chefs in action, sit at the bar or in the front room. I find it too distracting and I can't hear across the table. I prefer to sit up in the back, which is only slightly less noisy. The far back garden view room is the best if you want to converse. But it's all worth it, no matter where you sit. Known for it's amazing fried chicken, and the "Truck Stop" corn on the cob is unique and always tastey. Absolute best is the "Drunken Mac n Cheese." Never fail to order it.

Good comfort food, meat loaf is fantastic

one the hidden gems of the mish (and the city!). the food is amazingly yummy and fresh. i love the drunken goat mac n cheese and the meats are very tasty!

visited 2008 found this in a wall paper book. we got their before it opened and was in the front bar. we had a glass of wine while we waited. when it opened we walked all the way through the restaurant past booked tables. looked like someone's house. we were in the garden. it was a lovely September evening. my powers with the wine menu was lacking and with dwindling funds I did not take advantage of he wine pairing with each course. food was great forked out for a very nice glass of wine. cannot wait to go back nice to see that it is still open would be great to go with the family too

It is a house turned into a restaurant and so it has that very personal ambience that is enjoyable in an eatery. The service was wonderful, and friendly without being intrusive. Further, even though my son was given given the wrong entree it was changed quickly and with profuse apologies. As to the food, the farro appetizer was delicious and my son quite enjoyed the fried calamari. The garden is a small, tiny gem, and we moved from the house to a table by the fountain to have our dessert. The key lime pie was generous and quite good! So...why do you need to choose wisely? My entree was overly salty and I couldn't finish it-the fried chicken went home with my son instead. I did read a similar comment from other reviewers, but since I like salt, I ignored the caveat and paid the price. I recommend going, but do avoid the dishes that others have deemed too salty.

A foodie heaven. The food here is the star! Staff are knowledgable, helpful, know their stuff and are proud of the place. Atmosphere is comfy and homely. You can see the range of offerings on the website. I never thought I would rave about macaroni cheese...... yummmo. The fried chicken is moist and justly famous. The meatloaf is so light and airy, my mother definitely did not have a hand in it. The refined flavours and unexpected combinations were delightful.

Organic, sustainable and tasty; family favor: brandade gnocchi and meat loaf. it is little quieter in the back room, but you can watch the chefs in the front room

We sat in the front area with a view into one of the kitchens of Blue Plate - a cosy but upbeat restaurant in the Mission District of San Francisco. While the food is excellent, a word of warning to future clients - the servings are enormous! One of us ordered the chicken liver parfait followed by the sirloin and was quite overwhelmed by the amount of food provided. Nonetheless, we were very impressed by our experience at Blue Plate and would certainly recommend the restaurant to families or friends staying in San Francisco.

Good atmosphere with friendly people. Good diner food.

Blue Plate has quality food that's cooked to perfection. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy, and outside, it's cozy, romantic, and private! The meatloaf is a neighborhood favorite, along with a side of mac 'n' cheese made with goat cheese. The best you'll ever have in my opinion. If you're looking for a romantic dinner, sit outside. Blue Plate is a great place to bring local friends and family as well as out of towners. Blue Plate is a Bernal Heights gem where customers will leave happy!

This great neighbourhood restaurant was recommended by a friend from London and we were so pleased we visited. Warm and friendly atmosphere with sime excellent food cooked, presented and served with love. You know, that type of place where the staff seem to genuinely enjoy working there and are proud of the food & wine they serve. Devilled eggs were great, Squid with chorizo (yummy with a chilli kick) OssoBuco just as it should be &a lovely plate of lamb. Great; try it..you will enjoy ;)

The Blue Plate is a great restaurant for a semi-fancy meal. The menu is always fresh and adventurous (and their foccacia is to die for). The dining areas are noisy but cosy, and the back garden is the best place to sit. The one con is their lack of vegetarian entrees - only one.

I love the food here. Always a great place to take my mom who likes home cooking. Accommodates me and my family, but also I go here with friends and have birthday parties here as often as possible!

Not Recommended for Vegetarians!

First of all the staff is wonderful and give you just the right amount of attention that makes you feel at home and special. The food was superb with every dish a delight. Deviled eggs, stuffed calimari and yes, meat loaf, better than mom's. But the piece de resistance was key lime pie, simply yummy with a perfect crust. What more could you ask for? This is my new favorite restaurant in San Francisco. You will be delighted.

Eating at Blue Plate is like going to your best friend's for dinner, if you best friend was an innovative, thoughtful chef and expert sommelier. Every meal I've had here has been tasty. Starting with the bread (free - when did restaurants start charging for something that used to be a throw-away?!), which is warm, buttery, salty and fresh. The dishes are rooted in the season and the region. The waitstaff is friendly, well-informed and helpful without sitting at your table and gabbing like you've teleported to Johnny Rockets. And the wine list is well curated.

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I can't explain to you why anyone would NOT like this restaurant, but that's better for me and my husband anyways so we can always get a reservation. Everything is original, light, and so tasty. They are known for their meatloaf and fried chicken but I haven't even had that since the first time I dined here. We tend to eat off the small plates menu (get 3-4) and one main entree and we are good. The one they can never take off the menu is the Toasted Farro & Slow Egg. Unbelievable! The new one they had as of last weekend is the Burrata and Field Greens, that is sooo good. You really can't go wrong here, it's so quaint and the service is perfect.

Excellent comfort food. Wait can be long.

Super local place if you live, work or spend time in the Mission District. Love the ambience--wish it had been warm enough for the beautiful pocket-garden seating out back. Food is nicely plated and quantities are what you would want. It was slightly loud on a weekday night with one unruly child running around and throwing herself in the floor, practically tripping the waitstaff. It is not the appropriate place for kids who need to run. Been several times and have always loved my choices.

I do love good food and this place delivers. The gnocchi with pork belly was supberb, as were the devil eggs. Equally delicious were the fried chicken and ravioli. The granita was interesting. The wines are good, the service really good nd the atmosphere very good. Do yourself a favour and eat here, it is really good and a gem.

Small, cozy atmosphere with great service and spectacular food. This is a great find in the Bernal Heights neighborhood. Parking can be tough, but it is worth it. I came here with my friend last Saturday and we scored to split a few dishes. We started with a small plate - toasted farro and slow egg. This had slices of porcini, Parmesan, Meyer lemon pistou, all combined with the farro and gooey sou vide egg on top. The first bite on the side of toasted bread melted in our mouths. It was considered a small plate, but the richness of the meal filled us quickly. Next we had the artichoke risotto with oyster mushroom. Another fantastic, melt in your mouth dish that had crunchy Parmesan meringues on top for the contrast. We were so full from both dishes but we made room for dessert. We finished our meal with the key lime pie which had a luscious layer of light and airy cream on top and just a hint of tartness of lime. We were floating on air after the meal!

Pretty good comfort food.

Love the gourmet homestyle cooking. Best meatloaf and drunken mac n cheese in town.

We walked by during the day on Friday and liked the menu. We tried to get a reservation but none was available. My son called and the server said she could probably work us in around 7 pm. Well, everyone showed up (and were late for their reservations). So we ended up waiting in the tiny doorway for 40 minutes. The hostess got us wine while we waited, which made it easier to bear (first world problem, that). Finally three spots opened up at the far right of the bar. It turned out to be a great place to sit since we could watch the chefs do their magic making many of the dishes. Everything we ate was excellent. Make a reservation! Way in advance!

I have to admit, the name deceived me at first. My inner-snooty-foodie wanted to bypass this place as being a little too basic for a date night out. One glance at the menu quickly put me in my place...I was instantly wowed. "Smoked pork belly and seared albacore coriander, blood orange, aioli, green onion" What?! Yes, please. The food that leaves the kitchen is truly a work of art. My husband and I sat at the bar which would be called the "chef's counter" in a white table cloth joint. We had front row seats to the kitchen magic unfolding in front of us and really enjoyed watching the food being prepped. As added bonus, we had the privilege of chatting up the chef behind the line as he created his masterpieces. We ordered four starters and decided to split a main dish and a side of mac and cheese. The deviled eggs serve as vessels for smoked trout and castelvetrano olive tapenade and are some of the best I've ever had. The pork belly was slightly overdone for my taste, but the flavor was delicious. The farro was incredibly heavy - weighed down by a rich Parmesan creme, egg yolk, and overabundance of oil. An edit of one or two of these ingredients would make this dish a star. Any one of them would be amazing, but all together are just too much. The pork chop was prepared perfectly but the bacon made for another uber rich dish. Because of this, we really weren't able to pair the mac and cheese with it and opted for a to go box. For a restaurant to be a home run, it has to wow me with novel ingredient pairings and spot-on preparation. Blue Plate has definitely piqued my interest with their genius combinations and has left me wanting more. We will definitely be back.

My daughter thought we'd enjoy the menu, so she reserved us a table at the Blue Plate. While the menu is limited, the selection is impressive and the food we ordered was outstanding. Unlike most restaurants, the waiter offered us a choice of sparkling or regular water at no charge! We started with an amazing Bibb salad with pistachios, strawberries and avocado served with tahini dressing. We also ordered a few other great "small plates" and then ordered and devoured their salmon, fried chicken and beef ravioli! This is a great restaurant and I understand they also have a few other locations in LA!

We dined at the Blue Plate as a large group and it was a flawless experience. The food was so amazingly good and the service was spot on. Because there were several of us, we tried very many things and each of us was very very pleased with our meals. We did have the mac and cheese and let me tell you, you'll kick yourself if you're anywhere near the Blue Plate and you miss it. I had the salmon served with cheese grits with truffle oil. It was so beautifully plated, I almost hated to disturb it, but it tasted even better than it looked. Others had the meatloaf, salads and sirloins and everyone was blown away by the presentation and quality. We shouldn't have ordered dessert, but we did anyway and it was just as fantastic as the meal itself. Key lime pie, chocolate toffee cake and homemade sorbets. Out of this world. There is no way I'd visit San Francisco again without visiting the Blue Plate.

Salty food: octopus and Brussels sprouts. We also had the sturgeon but they put too many thing with it, which was overwhelming. The fried chicken was a disappointment, we couldn't find a pleasant taste. Noisy. We wouldn't go back.

One of my favorite hideouts in SF. Great comfort food and wine list, out of the way and cozy for a quiet solid meal. A little trouble to find parking but worth it.

We had meat loaf, beet salad, mac and cheese, fish special and chard side. Had our 4 year old grandchild with us. Service was prompt and very considerate of having a young child with us. Meat loaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes were outstanding.

I would say, "They've almost got it." Personally I would prefer a different selection, can't really put my finger on it. We started with the Peppers and the truffle and goat cheese brandade. Both very good, actually my favorite part of the meal. The meat lovers were thrilled with their rib eye for two and another companion was pleased with the salmon. I had the fried chicken. All were good but not outstanding and all a little too salty for my taste. My biggest complaint was that I tossed and turned all night following this meal.

great food. great atmosphere.

Small, intimate, really flavorful food and impecable service. Must tries are the farro app, meatloaf and fried chicken entrees. Basic but incredible.

We had an idyllic brunch at Blue Plate this morning. The patio was lush and charming and the food was delicious. Juicy fried chicken with jalapeño buttermilk, faro with slow egg and a just-right pea salad that was green, fresh and delicious. Topped off with a blood orange mimosa and we all felt pretty happy. The hostess honored our request to be on the patio, and all the staff were warm and friendly. Love this place!

My husband and I have been coming to Blue Plate for years! Meatloaf, fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese, never fails to send us home happy and with full bellies! This visit was no exception. We tried the gnocchi and the key lime pie this time too, wow so delicious! One of my very favorites! 😘

Love this place! If you get to see grilled squid on the menu, GET IT! Also, make reservations for dinner!

My favorite restaurant in the city for so many different reasons. The food here is as good as any in San Francisco, and I've had meals at places like Lazy Bear, Saison, and State Bird Provisions. It's not Michelin star stuffy though, and the dish offerings are more down to earth like Fried Chicken or Meatloaf. I think the appetizers almost always are the star feature of the establishment since the culinary team is able to pack so much flavor into every dish. I would always highly recommend getting the soup even if it may sound somewhat bizarre. Asparagus soup with sour cherry? Seems odd, but it will most certainly amaze you! The place is limited to beer and wine, but that doesn't limit them from having some more esoteric offerings to go with a few token California wines. You can order obscure German wines which come in unusual shaped bottles, or go for some Greek Assyrtiko. It's not hard to find interesting wines to pair with your food. Keeping with the down to earth nature of the place, you can also always order a $1 can of beer. This place is perfect for both extravagant meals and stop in for a quick snack that won't break your bank. There's a reason this place has been around for 18 years, and here's hoping it'll last forever!!!

Reservations are suggested as when we arrived the place was packed. This was our first time here. Overall, we enjoyed the food and ambiance. A number of the plates are certainly for sharing. Check with your server. There seemed to be a large gap in time between our drinks and appetizer. However, without saying anything, our server ordered another appetizer on the house for us. This was most appreciative.

OK, OK, I know. Meatloaf? Really? Yes, really. Forget everything you think you know about meatloaf. Forget all those dense, dull, tasteless, ketchup-slathered slabs from your school cafeteria, from good or bad Airstream-y diners, maybe even your mom's home-style version. Blue Plate's meatloaf is like no other, in both taste and texture. Taste: well herbed with wafts of onion, spicy hits of cayenne, and . . . bacon, yes . . . but somehow the bacon is subtle in the loaf itself, then the bacon gravy/broth just turns the whole thing up to 11. Overall, the taste <<suggests>> meat, definitely a major protein here, but there's absolutely none of that solid ground beef feel or taste. The texture: I just don't know how to describe it. It hangs together as a "slice," but only until you threaten it with a fork. Then a bite-size piece or two just sort of comes apart from the rest. It doesn't "crumble," exactly. More like a bite just kind of tumbles into the gravy broth. I've really never had anything like this. It's like the perfect meat creation -- it's clearly meat but there's no sense of eating "flesh." With excellent mashed potatoes and blue lake green beans, it's a perfection of non-pretentious simplicity. I've had other dishes there. Generally, this is a very solid neighborhood trattoria. They seriously care about every dish. Service is friendly and casual. Wine list is short but thoughtful and clearly on the inexpensive side. But the meatloaf, oh my god. I travel to San Francisco several times a year, and while I can't always get a table at Gary Danko I know I'll eat very well indeed at Blue Plate.

YUM! Chicken!! My son has talked about this place for months so when I visited it was a must do. We started with some stuffed eggs, a real winner. Then, of course, had the chicken. It did not disappoint. Crispy, boneless, tender, full of flavor......and no greasiness. Came with just a perfect little side of green salad. We had a reservation and were seated as soon as we walked in the door. Had a nice window booth. We rounded out our meal with a nice bottle of wine, and a coffee drink with a scoop of ice cream for dessert AND a square of the best shortbread I have ever eaten.

The first time we came to the Blue Plate was about two years ago and on our daughter’s recommendation, we returned on our recent trip to San Francisco. The menu was similar with dishes like meatloaf and fried chicken, which are the “comfort foods” they are famous for preparing. I regrettably gambled and ordered the cod, which I found to be rubbery and disappointing! One of our friends offered me a piece of her fried chicken which was delicious and cooked to perfection! We also ordered a few desserts and the peach pie with the vanilla ice cream was a terrific way to end the dinner. I’m not sure I’d rush back given all the other great restaurants in the San Francisco area but if you stick to ordering the fried chicken, you’ll still be very happy with your dinner.

Amazing food in a tucked away part of San Fran that most tourists probably miss but I am certainly glad we found it. Everything we ordered was great, the service was great and in no way pretentious. I will be back if I get back to SF. Highly recommended.

My daughter suggested our group dine at this location as she had been there previously. She does not give praise lightly. She was dead on. Such a great place. Much smaller than I expected, with a great interior vibe. Most at the table got the meat loaf, which was spectacular. I got the short ribs, which is always a gamble. Even the best establishments can mess them up with fatty cuts. Not here. Fork tender. No fat. Yummy mashed (almost creamed) potatoes. For apps, the Dungeness crab fondue was great. As was the toasted farro and slow egg (for those who like that kind of thing). My only disappointment for the evening was the saffron cured tuna tartare. I LOVE tuna tartare, but this one left me wanting something more. Sides were spot on.

Charming little restaurant with fabulous Food and Friendly attentive staff, the Fried Chicken was cooked to perfection.

Great Food. Mac N Goat Cheese is amazing. One of the bests I've ever had!

We visit San Francisco 3-4 times a year and try to make sure Blue Plate is part of our dinner plans each time. The food is both delicious and beautifully presented. If you eat meat, you should definitely try the meatloaf. Outstanding. There's always a wait so be sure to make a reservation. Prices are reasonable for San Francisco.

lovely fresh delicious. gorgeous back yard. try the grilled romaine salad.

We had this place recommended to us by a local and it didn't disappoint. We arrived late and were the last ones in the place on a Thursday but it wasn't a problem at all and we didn't get that 'please hurry up!' feeling you can sometimes get from the front of house staff. We shared a starter, had a main each and a bottle of wine and it was all delightful. The home style fried chicken was a joy and the padron peppers and goats cheese too good for words. We will be back on our next trip to SF!

Cute, cozy and awesome food! Great goat cheese mac 'n cheese.

Great spot! Delicious fried chicken and meatloaf. Friendly service from start to finish. Can’t wait to bring friends and family to Blue Plate.

very, very good!

Blue Plate is one of my "go-to" restaurants whenever I'm in the City. Blue Plate has delicious food, an amazing wine list, and great service. The restaurant is setup in levels so the dining experience is very unique-- you can people watch while you're enjoying a great meal. I will warn you, the food (especially the Fried Chicken and Deviled Eggs) are so delicious you will have to lick your plate. Definitely wear your comfortable pants.

Fun place which was very accommodating of our large group. Highlights were the Mac and cheese, the deviled eggs, and the tuna carpaccio. I had the gnocchi with rabbit which had a delicious jus, but could have done without the layer of cheese. I think the small plates were better than the entrees, although my friends enjoyed the rib eye for two. The meal was also very reasonably priced.

Stopped in to Blue Plate for a slice of key lime pie after eating sushi at Ichi a couple of doors down. Place was packed at 9pm on a Wednesday night but they offered to let our party of 6 sit out back. Although it was a bit chilly, the setting for the 4 tables there was beautiful, amid fruit trees and a small fountain pool. My sisters were there for the 7X7 100 dish thing that runs in the city every year, so had the key lime pie for that. I live in North Carolina now, where key lime pie is plentiful and I can honestly say this is the best key lime pie I have ever had. The lime flavor was present but not overwhelming as it can sometimes be. The pie filling was light but substantial. And the slices were about the side of 1/4 of an 8" pie. Huge. I would go back just for the key lime pie. I had the coconut creme pie, which had all of the same characteristics as the key lime. Rating is based only on the dessert we had. Looking forward to coming back for a full meal one day.

Excellent proteins with the cali twist. Beef and mash with garlic and fennel was awesome. Carrots were over cooked though. Roast chicken was great as well. A little trendy-feeling, but welcome to modern SF!

We visited this restaurant on a Sunday evening for a special occasion. The wait staff was excellent. We brought along a 30 year old vintage wine which they handily decanted and strained for us as the cork did separate a bit. This was a magnum so two decanters were necessary and a corkage fee of thirty dollars was applied. Along with the appetizers we ordered, we received a complimentary farro appetizer as a nod to the occasion. The wagyu steak on the menu was ordered by two of the group and they raved about it. Also ordered was salmon, pappardelle, and their signature fried chicken as well as the meat loaf. The only negative comment was about the meatloaf being too salty made by an individual who does like salt in food. A very pleasant dining experience with very attentive service all the while allowing us to enjoy each other's company in a very relaxed way. This is a small venue and reservations are recommended.

Bit of a strange decor, but the staff and service were lovely. They also have a beautiful garden in which to dine on warmer evenings. The food was excellent...meat loaf and mashed potatoes, veggies, innovative salads and appetizers, prepared perfectly. Was underwhelmed by a pie and ice cream dessert, however.

Maybe it is because i am from new York. I thought this place really tried too hard. My lamb meatballs were mushy and not very good. Salad was large and fine, but nothing special. Wine was mediocre. I have been generally disappointed by highly rated SF restaurants. This was one of them.

Small place in the mission/Bernal corridor. Cozy and tight space. A little noisy. The food on the other hand is spectacular. Dark meat fried chicken. Yum. Meatloaf with mashed potatoes. Yum. Desserts are great too. Highly recommend for the classic "homemade" dishes.

I went with San Francisco with my wife. We met up with a friend who has been living in the Bay Area for the last 12 years. He recommended the Blue Plate. It's a great spot. The ambiance was nice but the food was outstanding. I highly recommend the meatloaf. It is the best I have ever had. They also have a good wine selection. Enjoy! You won't regret it.

Cool to be able to eat at the bar and see you food freshly prepared in front of you. Great advice from staff - delicious scallops and amazing lime pie!!

This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco and I've been going here regularly for nearly 10 years. I'm always pleased with what I order there. The menu changes seasonally, but you'll always see certain dishes, like the meatloaf and the fried chicken. The chef is imaginative and the staff is hard-working and very good at what they do. My favorite place to sit is at the bar in front of the small open kitchen - I love watching the cooks work. I like ordering a few of their small plates so I get to try a greater variety of tastes. Oh, the desserts are really great too - their key lime pie is a thing of beauty.

Had dinner there to celebrate my son's birthday and it was a fantastic meal! I had the asparagus risotto with pancetta, and it was wonderful. The six of us shared samples - crab ravioli, meatloaf and multiple appetizers - and they were all great. The staff was efficient and pleasant. I'd definitely go back.

It was very cold outside, and the blue plate welcomed us in. People sat everywhere, so we felt lucky to get a table. The food was what you would expect in San Francisco, CA: interesting-sounding CA/Latin America/home-cooked something fusion. I recall liking one dish, and not liking the other at all. The one we did not like had: gnocchis, shredded dried cod, duck confit, and raw cranberries. The wait staff was kind and weirdly surprised we didn't love the culinary creation. The vibe of the blue plate was warm and neighborhoody.

This is fresh, honest food served by honest people who go out of there way to be accomodating. Given the place is small, for the best experience, MAKE A RESERVATION! The menu changes based on what's fresh and available, and is always interesting. My wife and I finished dinner late one night and liked the fact that once the last customer paid, the staff gather and eat like a family from the same delights served to the customers. It is definitely worth going here - entres range from $15-25. The grilled calamari is excellent, the grilled hearts of romaine, the meatloaf is brilliant. If duck is on the menu - you'll love it.

It was a bit of an adventure for us Brits to get to Blue Plate on Bart but we're so glad we did. Food was fabulous: would highly recommend the melt in your mouth squid and Padron peppers to start but the star of the show was the green tomato bouillabaise - loads of fish and incredible flavour from the tomatoes. My husband - despite jet lag - made it to dessert and polished off the peach bread pudding in a nano-second. Wish they had restaurants like this in the UK!

Second time here, this visit to help my brother celebrate his Birthday. I will say the service by Kamryn was impeccable, spot on, super friendly and an absolute delight. We arrived @ 5:30 and were only 1 of 2 tables in the dining room. We started with the Smoked Trout deviled eggs (which I previously raved about), sadly had no trout taste at all. We also had the CRISPY ARANCINI WITH GREEN GARLIC AND PRESERVED LEMON. The smoky tomato sauce was to die for and they were delicious and piping hot. They could have used a wee bit more sauce "on the balls". Mains were "2" Meatloaf dinners and "1" Fried Chicken. The Fried Chicken was off the hook, so good, with a wonderful smoked jalapeno dipping sauce. One side, the Spanish Goat Cheese Mac and Cheese. We all wanted more of that. Cheesy, smoky, goaty, it was exquisite and the best M&C I have ever had. Plentiful serving for the 3 of us to share. The Meatloaf dinners both arrived lukewarm. And the meatloaf was swimming in some tasteless watery brown "not gravy". I returned my meal to re-heat, which only semi worked. I didn't feel it was up to their usual par. In the past I have loved all the food I have had here. We all had a separate dessert of the 3 choices. Winners were the Butterscotch pudding and the Limey Key Lime pie w/the best crust I have ever had. Brownie sundae came in 3rd. Dish is very shallow and very had to dig into the brownie w/out knocking all the ice cream and whip cream off the top. All this for $200 which included 3 non alcoholic beverages.

What a great surprise! My husband had visited the Blue Plate previously in the week, and wanted to take me there on our way home from Monterey. We brought our daughter and her friend, who is a vegetarian. No problems for her on the menu at all. It was a hot day for SF, so I nice little bit of Chardonay by the glass, and we got down to business. I had 2 of their "small plates"--the heirloom tomatos and peaches (toasted barley. . . who knew?) and this lovely mix of farro, porcini mushrooms, something called a preserved meyer lemon pistou, and an egg. Oh my. . . AND butterscotch pudding. Every one else raved about their meal too. . .

tasty tasy tasty! Can't wait to go back

Cozy, intimate restaurant in the Mission serving straight forward delicious food. The deviled eggs are amazing. Fried chicken and steak entrees were tasty with generous portions. Reasonable wine list. Service was a bit slow but the waitress comped our wine to make up for it.

Just went again recently. I love this place! Everything, food, service, comfort were top notch. And the wine list is tough to beat, too.

The food was tasty (try the pork belly), the service was reasonably attentive. I liked it but it wasn't outstanding

One of my favorite comfort food places.

Pricey but very tasty :)

This place really surprised me! Service was slow, but the food was excellent!

A wonderful place. The food was excellent: heavenly deviled eggs, tasty beet salad, world-famous meatloaf, a flavorful duck ravioli, and more than old-fashioned fried chick. This Blue Plate is more than Special. The ambience (see photo) reminds us of what SF used to be.

Food: Excellent. The Meatloaf and Fried Chicken were outrageously delicious! 1) Heirloom Tomato Salad (Appetizer) - Great. Chopped heirloom tomatoes, peaches, eggplant and feta in a balsamic dressing with basil/garlic/olive oil tapenade 2) Meatloaf - Ridiculously good meatloaf! It was so moist and had a great flavor. It came with mashed potatoes which were OK (a bit too blended for me) and green beans which were cooked well. 3) Fried Chicken - SOOO GOOD! Super moist with a bit of a kick and--best of all--boneless. It came with potatoes and kale which was also very good. The sauce was buttermilk based which was OK although it didn't really even need a sauce. 4) Cherry Limeade - Great! Not too sweet and just the right amount of tartness. Service: The hostess got us a table for 2 with no reservations on a Saturday night. The waiter was very good and efficient too. Value: It came to about $70 for an appetizer, 2 entrees, and a limeade which is pretty standard for 2 people in the city without drinks. Atmosphere: We sat in the middle part of the restaurant which was fine. The front area of the restaurant looks cool and the back part has nice big windows overlooking a garden area. It was a bit loud in there but it was a Saturday night. Conclusion: Excellent food (amazing fried chicken) in Bernal Heights.

Come for the food, stay for the food. This is a spot worth visiting, The food is consistently very good. The menu has a few classics that stay while the rest changes up periodically. Sit in the restaurant with friends, the back patio for a feeling of seclusion, or at the counter to watch the magic happen. I'll recommend this spot any chance I get!

We had a VERY delicious meal here. We always forget about it though. Want to go back.

After a day of travel we found this a relaxing and delicious meal. We all ordered the fried chicken, which was deboned and very crunchy. The macaroni and drunken Spanish goat cheese was a sophisticated version of Mac and cheese, and really great. Nice atmosphere.

Yes, it is a small spot and mostly locals know about it, but the food is soooo good you need to scream it to the world. This is a seasonal restaurant with an ever changing menu, but one of their staples is the mac n cheese made with Spanish goat cheese - Yumm. I also love their cute patio, which has heaters and is perfect for a romantic date. Took one of my chef friends here and he was very impressed with their bone marrow plate, although it is not my cup of tea, he even went to the kitchen (which is open and the first thing you see when entering), to thank them.

Found this recommended on yelp and so visited this evening. Outstanding food. Quirky menu with great choices, even for the pescatarians in our party. Brilliant, friendly service and we weren't rushed to leave the table. Highly recommend a visit for dinner.

Great neighborhood gem. I had two starters as my main meal. The waitress was very helpful with her suggestions. Starter - sea scallops that were perfect. 1/2 bottle of Galician Albarino. Then the chef brought out a sample of the lamb ravioli. And that broth was sublime. Next came the farro with poached egg and cheese sauce. Comfort in a bowl. Heaven. I'll be back

This is our go-to place for a special and/or great meal in our neighborhood (Noe Valley/Mission District area in San Francisco). In addition to really good comfort food (meatloaf, fried chicken, on the menu since they started more than 15 years ago!) they offer amazingly creative combinations of ingredients and flavors in their appetizers and main courses. The decor is funky chic, with a nice little garden area in nice weather, and the staff is knowledgeable and very friendly. And, the wine list is good and not overpriced. Street Parking is not too bad, but there is a (after hours) paid lot right next door in a Bank of America parking lot. We actually try to go there once a month, that's how much we like it!

I m not one to go for 'American Comfort Food' as it tends to mean too much of high fatty, salted dishes even when made at the best restaurants. The 'Blue Plate' is of that genre but they do find a middle ground of serving comfort food with an innovative touch. The restaurant has a wonderful ambiance but if you want to be heard and want to 'dine'...I suggest the back room. If you are with friends and having a GT...sit in the front. The 'Mac and cheese' appetizer looked amazing as it passed me by but I went for the local produce salad which was wonderful. A nice reasonable wine list was available and we had an inexpensive Ca Sauvignon Blanc that was very good. The Pork confit short ribs or the fried boneless chicken was a hard choice (I couldn't worry about cholesterol at this point) but I went with the chicken which was crunchy, juicy not dripping with oil and it had a great kick that made it a 'scooch' exotic. Our table shared the house special of 'Mashed organic yukon potatoes'...wow! Bravo. The service was perfect and the servers warm and knowledgeable. Dessert for me was an amazing caramel bread pudding and an organic Verbena tea. If you are in the mood for 'Comfort food' that is elevated to a fine form....this little popular restaurant is definitely for you. $250 for 4 people with a bottle of wine.

I love that this place serves excellent quality and extremely tasty comfort food. Great steak, pork chops, fried chicken, meatloaf etc. All cooked to perfection. Delicious tasting side dishes and excellent service. All at very reasonable prices. Will be going back here again and again !

I am here for the Blue Plate special that is the restaurant known as Blue Plate, which has been serving traditional homespun American fare in the Outer Mission area of San Francisco for over twenty years. I have wanted to try Blue Plate for some time now and finally got the opportunity when a group of friends and I all agreed that this was the place to try out with their options of Hangar Steak, Fried Chicken and their signature Meatloaf dish as their entree options, we were sold. Blue Plate is located in an area where parking was tough, even late on a Sunday evening when I tried to make reservations for four people, which thankfully after I spoke with their fantastic host Shannon she managed to move up my scheduled reservation via OpenTable up one hour to 7:30 p.m. The first thing that you notice about Blue Plate is the diner vibe in the main dining room with its sleek counter top and intimate mood lighting, and the fact that it is very cramped in said dining room once you open their front door and check in with the aforementioned Shannon. We thankfully we placed in one of their back dining rooms, which seemed little lived in with their narrow corridors, but nicely overlooked their outdoor garden patio area. Our first course was to order the Butternut Squash Soup topped with herb croutons and black truffle oil, the Smoked Beets and Burrata mixed with winter chicories, fennel, crispy quinoa (which tasted a little too charred for my taste) and topped with Cardamom Vinaigrette, the Toasted Farro with a Slow Egg with porcini, parmesan, meyer lemon pistou and served with two slices of toasted bread. My favorite of their small plates was the Brandade Gnocchi topped with duck confit, cranberry, preserved lemon and aleppo breadcrumb which was a creamy yet heavy delight full of flavor. It was easily the richest dish I was going to have all night long. Thankfully I had plenty of water to wash down my meal as the complimentary fresh foccacia bread was too salty for my taste. As for our main courses, all four of us knew we wanted the three major protein entrees, among them the Grilled Hanger Steak served with panzanella, romesco, cippolini onion and ruby red mustard greens; their signature Fried Chicken served with a pomegranate arugula salad and smoked jalapeno buttermilk dressing for dipping; and their signature Blue Plate Meatloaf served with mashed potatoes and blue lake green beans. The Fried Chicken was juicy yet still crispy delight, and the meatloaf, although relatively plain ingredients-wise, was moist and flavorful. I was so glad I ordered the Hanger Steak, which as usual was the belly cut of the cow that hangs really low hence the name, cooked medium just the way I like it and served with its own juicy marinade and plenty of fresh veggies like onions and greens. It was a feast for the eyes and mouth thanks the amount of food that was on my plate and how well prepared the dish was. We were all thoroughly satisfied after feasting on our entrees. But of course we still had our dessert course to go, with choices of their Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Hazelnut Semifreddo, and their Butterscotch Pudding with Pecan Brittle, I went with the latter while others opted for the pie, the dessert chef was so frazzled with so many orders all night long that we were left with five desserts, two pies, two puddings and one semifreddo despite only being four of us at our table. Talk about taking the extra steps to make sure we were all full! I loved the hint of booze in my butterscotch pudding which was perfectly presented and not too sweet, as were the pie and semifreddo which was a fun spin on an ice cream cake with whipped cream. Blue Plate has great service and a solid variety of food at affordable prices set in an old-school atmosphere.

We were invited to a family event and had been forewarned that the initial impression might put us off a bit. We were so impressed after our culinary experience and warm family gathering in the back room that we would go back! What to detail first? The response from the wait staff was inviting as we arrived a bit early for the event. We were graciously escorted into the back walled garden which turned out to be filled with marvelous trees, a fountain and the biggest lemons I have ever seen. It was San Francisco nippy and we were glad that coats had been brought, although the Blue Plate staff thoughtfully provided blankets for those that did not think of the cooler weather. The staff brought the beautifully decorated deviled egg with smoked trout for our first appetizer. The garden proved to be a delightful place for the senior member of the group to offer a toast to the bride and groom. Then we went up to the back room and prepared for the feast to follow while make lections from the menu which provided both vegetarian and meat dished. I elected for the strawberry ravioli despite being lured by the fried chicken. pork plate, freshly caught cod and painted desert steak. The strawberry studded sauce was amazing and I felt no regret! This dish was so filling that I almost didn't have space for the amazing dessert selection. Warning: You may want to select early as the coconut cream pie sold out early! But I had my eye on the decadent chocolate and it did not disappoint. Wine was poured throughout the meal and we could all visit and toast the newlyweds.

On a friend's recommendation we dined here on a Saturday night in June. Opening the door, and stepping inside to announce that half our party of four was here for our 8 pm reservation, I had to reduce my stride from it's usual 3 feet to 3 inches as there, in the doorway was the hostess and another couple. The reservation computer was an iPad attached to the wall as there was no space for a hostess stand nor a hostess. We were almost cheek to cheek. Our table wasn't ready yet. We relayed this to our friends-the recommenders-when they opened the door behind us. Would we like to come and sit at the bar? The cramped bar area offered no escape from the mighty din within the main dining room which may have once been someone's parlor as this was once a house I'd surmise. Or would we like to sit outside in the back patio where it would be quieter? We'll choose that one! Outside we wouldn't have to yell as the other diners had to do to their friends packed shoulder to shoulder. I looked around for the Fire Marshall-nowhere to be seen. Never there when you need him. The patio was a lovely spot or would have been but for the chilly breeze a blowin' in the wind. Blankets were offered which was a nice touch. The hostess did a great job of keeping us informed, stopping by every 5 minutes with updates on the people currently at "our table"...they're finishing dessert....they are finishing their coffee....they are preparing to leave.... After 30 minutes, during which our recommender recommended a few other restaurants as he was tired of waiting in the cold, we were invited in to sit at a small 4 top just inside the back door and next to the pass where waiters pick up the vittles. There was some space around our table therefore and we were glad of that. No complaints about the warm and attentive service nor indeed the food although the meatloaf I ordered was a "loaf" without enough binder to stop it falling off the fork and if "mushy" is a word then I'll use that. The other 3 at the table enjoyed the deviled eggs while I sipped on a cold Stella. Would I return? Well food and service was fine but not enough of a magnet to endure the cramped and noisy rooms. We didn't linger to chat which had to have been good news to the next foursome waiting for their reservation to happen at the time they planned for. Saturday night at 8 pm is something I would avoid-midweek and early or late service would probably yield a better experience.

I guess the Mission has gathered a bunch of really good restaurants, but it's still surprising to see the still rundown appearance of the neighborhood and then get to a place that is just so delightful and serious about food and friendly and serious about food and relaxed and serious about food. What a nice place this is. My wife had the meatloaf and I had the salmon - hers was great, but I think my salmon was even better. Ever hear of heirloom carrots? I hadn't. Now I'll be on the lookout for them. Boy, were they delicious. The salmon was so tender yet crunchy on the outside. The meatloaf was spiced just right. And then there was the apple pie my wife had for dessert, but "needed help with." If you're in that situation, be sure to help. And I liked our waitress. This is a seriously fine restaurant. The bill was $80 for two, which makes it a good value, I think. Worth a little trip!

We were wooed into dining at this restaurant one night waiting for our reservation at Emmy's Spaghetti Shack. The Spanish wine and the grilled squid and macaroni and cheese we had to quell our hunger were excellent. We ended up canceling our reservation at Emmy's, buying a bottle of the wine we were drinking, and ordering some of the dishes that were making us salivate at the bar (it's an open kitchen). I ordered the wagyu steak, which was decadent. My dining partner was very pleased as well with his sausage dish. I loved the creative combination of ingredients: the squid was presented with giant fava beans and the steak with coffee grounds and a delicious reduction. I raved about the experience to a friend, and I took him out to eat there. I felt a bit foolish. His meatloaf was, he reported, not very interesting. My pasta and cauliflower dish was very salty. The appetizer we shared was salty as well, and, believe it or not, the dessert was overly salty. At $120, it was upsetting to have such a dinner. The first experience was five stars, and the second two stars, so it averages three stars. The place is, as the name suggests, casual. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They love where they work, and they believe in the product. I may give it another chance.

Beautifully funky atmosphere that combines the best quality of Bay Area cuisine without the fussiness of a "fine dining" restaurant. It's the kind of place to take someone from out of town who says "I'd like to go to a quintessentially San Francisco place." Everything from starters to dessert was superb.

I find myself back in this amazing city seeking great food and drinks. When I lived her years ago I never spent time in the Mission District. This visit I am finding it has some of the most amazing establishments, and this restaurant is tops! Rather than a typical entrée, we decided to go with several small dishes as to experience more flavor burst. Each dish is prepared in front of the bar area by this top notch chef and his quality staff. Presentation is stellar, but doesn't compare to the taste, which is simply amazing! Staff explains each dish rather than simply dropping it off. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual to dress is acceptable. On the outside I may not have tucked in to this place, so reviews are vital to get the word out that this restaurant is worth going out of your way to enjoy. I will be back!