Cafe Mystique Reviews

I have frequented Cafe Mystique since it first opened, and I am so thrilled that they continue to exist (not a given in SF). They have a really nice menu and you can reserve tables on line (important to remember if it's a busy weekend). The main head waiter (owner?) is from Argentina and very friendly. The wait staff seems to rotate (since they change every 3-6 months) and they come from various parts of the world, so I'm thinking these are younger folks here working temporarily for the most part. What I really like about Cafe Mystique is the ambiance, the food and the wait staff in that order. They have endless mimosas on the weekends, which I've never taken advantage of, but will one day. The ambiance is reminiscent of a cozy latin american restaurant with it's fire place, dark wood interiors, etc. The food, for the most part, is really well prepared and there is a very eclectic mix depending on whether you want breakfast, lunch or dinner. Almost all of the brunch/breakfast items are flawless, except for the crab cakes. Maybe it was a particular period in time, but for a 6 month period, you could not get them adequately cooked. I've since stopped ordering, but a die hard crab cake fan friend of mine continues to order and she says they are improving! What I like also, is that you can do special requests....I wanted a crab omelet at one point, and although not on the menu, they accommodated. The biggest problem is with the timing for food delivery. Cafe Mystique is fairly good at judging table availability, but not food service. Specifically, you can walk in, and see very few occupied tables, get seated easily, and then wait 45 minutes from order to getting your food, WITHOUT the wait staff letting you know what's going on. Now, if you're partaking in the endless mimosas, no big deal, but if you're not....I would say that 50% of the time, the issue with Cafe Mystique has been the timing between when the order is taken and when it arrives (AND if it arrives all at once for your entire party of 3 or 4).

My partner and I weren't really sure where to eat in the Castro, and happened upon this charming place while walking. It was definitely worth the minor wait, the food was authentic and delicious. I'd recommend starting with the hummus plate. Portions were large and the staff was very friendly! It's not a very large place and the tables are someone close together which was fun considering our neighbors were also friendly and interesting people. If you enjoy Mediterranean food, not a bad choice!

Nice variety of dishes and sides. Reasonable prices for the Castro, healthy options and great coffee drinks. Hummas and Lemon pasta are excellent choices.

I visited Cafe Mystique unintentionally while touring SF. We were just looking for good sandwiches to eat, and we ended up having one of the most savory New Yorkers we've ever had. I ordered a mimosa as well, and I was very pleased with it. The ambiance is cozy, the staff is friendly, and the service was very quick. I had a nice conversation with the waiter while I was waiting for my friend to come back from the restrooms and I learned that a huge party of the staff is multilingual, which is always a plus when you're a tourist. At the end of our visit, another waitress chatted with us in our native language and I really appreciated it.

The staff here is very pleasant and welcoming. We sat at a little table near the open front windows and could enjoy the sidewalk traffic and the great weather. We had the garlic fries as a starter and they were delicious. Fresh sauteed chopped garlic mixed in with perfectly crispy fries. MMMMMMM. Then came my main course - Spicy Chicken Pasta - The sauce was amazing. I loved every bite of it, and even though I was full, I would have eaten more if there was any. I would have licked the plate if I was at home.

Café Mystique has gone down hill. My friends and I come here on a regular basis for years, usually twice a month, but the last few visits, the service has gotten worse (long wait for ordering and meals, incomplete food orders, etc.). It took 45 minutes to get our food when we visited this last time. We also couldn't get anyone's attention to get our beverages or refills. And, the quality of the food was seriously lacking (two of us didn't even finish the meal because it was just really not great). But after a recent visit, and noticing that I was overcharged was really the last straw. I had left a $10.50 tip on a $66.94 order because everything was just so awful. They had their suggested amounts, with the lowest being 18%, or $12.05 tip. I wasn't going to do that. But when I checked my credit card statement, I saw that they had gone ahead and gave themselves that 18% tip!!! Luckily, I kept my receipt, and have disputed the amount. Shame on Cafe Mystique!

After a great tour on the Love Bus, I returned to Castro on the standard trolley bus due to its vibrancy and quirkiness. Chose Cafe Mystique as their menu looked good. Wasn't disappointed! Had a plate of spaghetti with meatballs - so fresh and had a choice of spiciness. Followed up with afogatto and left a very happy old lady. Great cafe, great staff, great food. Thank you.

Overall we enjoyed this place the food was very good and the atmosphere is very warm and cozy. The service was very good but with one warning. When we received our bill we had an extra entrée added on and it's always important to check the bill to make sure it is correct. We had a lot to drink but we still always check to make sure the bill is correct at any restaurant

The taste of the food was excellent. The flavors were intense in a good way. Big portions and kinda low prices when you compare it to other San Francisco locations that serve similar food. The service was great too. I had the salmon in coconut sauce with risotto.

A friend and I come here at least once a year to try new stuff and it never ceases to amaze us. Friendly staff and not too much patronizing on "how's the food questions" , which I and my friend prefer how restaurant patrons should be treated . Excellent food choices and wine selections . Try their pomegranate chicken and Moroccan grilled chicken . Their Malbec and Bordeaux are good pairings for such dishes .

Café Mystique is a Castro neighborhood restaurant that I like a lot. It combines Mediterranean and Italian food in a very positive way. I/we ate there two times recently -- once on my own and once with a friend. My friend absolutely loved the chicken pasta for dinner. On one occasion, I had the firecracker shrimp appetizer and the garlic bread, and they both were excellent. On both occasions the waiter/waitress were attentive and superb.

We arrived around 9:30pm. They showed us to the table very kindly. When we took the order, they already told us that the kitchen was closing in a few minutes, but they never informed us that the restaurant was too. We were 5 people. Two of my friends had not finished eating, they began to remove the dishes we had finished and turn on all the lights in the restaurant, pick up the chairs and bring us the bill. When I explained to him (a Turkish guy) that he had not informed me of the closing time upon entering, his attitude changed and he was super rude, answering me terribly and practically ignoring me and leaving me with the word in my mouth. The food was good, but nothing out of this world. I will never return. The pitiful service and attitude of this character make this restaurant a place not to return to. He should have told us that we had 1 hour to order and eat. We were never informed.

This Jordanian-inspired restaurant specializes in risottos, stews, pastas, and salads. The lamb risotto I had was one of the most delicious meals I've ever eaten, and the recommended Malbec was a great accompaniment. The interior is charming. The service is personable.

I have been to this restaurant several times for lunch and dinner. The atmosphere is very nice with a working fireplace. However, some of the tables are a little close together. The food is excellent with great risotto dishes. Especially like their sangria .

Nowadays, the Castro has a tendency to be rather touristic (high prices, poor service, mediocre food). Cafe Mystique is none of that: friendly, good value for money, really surprising food. I had the daily special (a chicken red curry with basil) and it was really tasty! My partner had a lamb with mushroom sauce that was equally great. Service was really good (tipped my hat to the buzz boy who's been doing a great work throughout, to our table and the others). In summary, this is a little bistro, simple, honest, nice food, good value and friendly. Can we really ask for more?

Stopped in just by chance on a recent trip to San Francisco. Loved the menu and the way the food was both prepared and presented. Good desserts and wine list.

Went on Sunday Crab cakes, wild scallops wrapped in bacon with spicy risotto Moroccan Chicken with fresh salad cooked fresh to order good selection of wine try the William Gordon (clover field) back mid week for breakfast pancakes with poached egg and bacon again all cooked to order , went back tonight for dinner had the wild scallops again they are amazing thank you Sam and your staff for an enjoyable dinning experience, If your are in San Fransisco (Castro) make sure you go you won't be disappointed..

Fantastic food. Fresh and tasty and plenty of it. Reasonable prices for the excellent quality. Great amosphere. Cheerful, friendly and attentive staff. Our female server even ordered an Uber for us, made sure we got in it safely and refused to take any payment from us. It would be my regular haunt if I lived here. Superb. 🥰

Cafe Mystique is located in the Castro area of San Francisco. I ordered the bacon burger and it was incredible! It was easily one of the best burgers I've ever had:) Staff were very friendly and attentive - food came quickly and prices were reasonable. The restaurant was decorated beautifully, well lit and heated by a burner for those winter visits. I would highly recommend checking it out.

We stopped here for a very early dinner before going to a movie at the Castro on St. Pat's Day. What a great find! Even though we about 45 minutes out of SF I would go back to the Castro just to visit this restaurant. Beautiful place with soothing guitar/flamenco style music playing. Fine selection of wine and beer. But it's the food that will bring us back. The hummus appetizer with fresh pita bread was hands down the best hummus we've ever had. My husband doesn't even like hummus and groused when I ordered it and he ate ever last bite! Beware, though, it's a huge dish for two people if you are having dinner too. We still ate it all. Husband ordered the chicken risotto which was quite beyond description. Not Italian, but more Moroccan style if there is such a thing. I had the Moroccan chicken which was such a huge plate I took two bites and couldn't finish it. Thank Goodness for take out boxes because we enjoyed it immensely the next day. Definitely stop by this place! I can't wait to go back!

Friends and I had a late lunch here, per a recommendation. The menu is quite large. Food was great. I had spaghetti and meatballs, plus there are burgers, salads, etc. The service is fantastic, and our waiter was very helpful and genial. Prices were reasonable. There's a nice atmosphere here. I definitely recommend this as a place for a meal while in town.

I had an excellent meal here on a Saturday night. The waiter was very kind and friendly. He even took my phone into their office and recharged it while I was there. I ordered the chicken risotto which was amongst the best I have had of that dish. I also had their house zinfindel which I highly recommend. It was lovely. I was there solo and the staff took time to chat with me which I greatly appreciated.

We were hungry and tired. Got to Castro and needed to eat b/4 we took in the place. Decided to walk in here. We received a Really Warm welcome from our Waiter-We had a bottle of New Zealand wine-Cold and well refreshing. Calamaris we shared-Well cooked and lightly crumbed. I had the salmon dish of the day. Coconut infused sauce wth cus cus. We also had chicken-pomegranate sauce with cus cus. All three were delicious. I ask you to Stop and Enter. We were Well Surprised at the whole experience. Go in Hungry.The portions are large. John

Due to an recent surgery, I am unable to "get out of the house" just yet. A friend offered to bring me dinner or rather "us" dinner. I suggested Cafe Mystique, one of my favorite go to places for exceptional food. We ordered the following: Shrimp Risotto Green Beans Moroccan Chicken He ordered on line and when he got there the food was ready and "still hot", a rarity these days. The food was exceptional and so plentiful, I now have leftover Shrimp Risotto for several days. My only issue and it's a big one is the to go food was put in cardboard boxes. Granted they are compostable but they were super greasy on the bottom and sides due to all the oil in the food. Unfortunately my friend did not notice this when he put all the cardboard boxes on my dining room table and all the boxes left grease skid marks on my tablecloth and table. I know, he should (my friend) have noticed, but this is a shout out to Cafe Mystique, change your way of packaging really wet oily food in containers that don't leak.

Looks a bit grudgy on the outsie, but it's very comfy inside. It was a Monday evening and only a few people there. We met for dinner and I had the RainbowTrout on rice. It was delicious. The other meals were good too. The staff were friendly and the service good. I would eat there again.

Don’t let the tired installations of this place fool you. It is a good place for breakfast with good portions.

It was a cold, windy day and I was contemplating strangling my husband if he made me climb another hill when we walked by this restaurant. They were actually having the window replaced at the time so, i leaned over the ledge and asked the server if they had any hot drinks. He said come in and I'll make you whatever you like, so we went in. The window was replaced almost as soon as we were seated(thank god!) and my hot drink arrived in next to no time. We ordered the lentil soup which was fantastic. As Canadians, when we hear pea soup we think thick, green and with chunks of ham. This pea soup was nothing like that. It was surprisingly different and delicious! We also had the garlic fries - very good, regular fries but with chunks of garlic for a nice added bonus. The service was excellent and the food was great.

Really good service and a well rounded mediterranean style menu. The firecracker shrimp and eggplant appetizers were very good, but the highlight of the meal were the entrees. If you like pasta the Mystique Gourmet Pasta and Spicy Chicken Pasta were excellent. The Moroccan Spiced Grilled Chicken Breast was excellent as well.

Middle of the road dinning experience! What brought us in was the sandwich board on the street advertising the "special of the day," SOD on our first night in San Francisco - Chicken Parmigiana My parter ordered it and it was a good dish. But it lost its appeal when we noticed the it was the SOD every day we were in SF. (5 days in a row!) I ordered a Salmon Burger and fries (with no Salt) because of sodium restrictions: they got it right!!!! APPLAUSE But the best was the homemade Sangria, fresh fruit and a tasty red wine- it was worth the whole experience! Aside from that it really was just an average meal in an average cafe.

I went here with a friend for dinner and the food was incredible. The first visit I had the hummus appetizer and the beet salad, both excellent. The second visit, I had the vegetarian risotto. Excellent dish bursting with flavor and ample portions. There were many restaurants in the area where we were staying but we enjoyed this one so much that we went back.

O The place is small and well decorated. The attention was reasonable. The food was good, but the dish was asked to come without pepper and it didn't happen.

A real find after a long day in the city. 1st night - shrimp risotto and the special chicken in the vodka sauce- absolutely divine. Generous portions and a great Tempranillo wine. Host / owner is chatty and helpful. Decor nice and not over crowded. So good we returned a 2nd night, grilled prawns and salmon- perfect again. Couldn't fit in the deserts but they looked great. Among the many eateries in Castro, one of the best!

Loved this little place right in the heart of Castro! The server who helped us was the nicest guy! He even gave us some advice on things to visit and see. The food was delicious and the prices were ok. Loved the coffee! Hope I can go back someday.

We ordered the garlic pita as an appetizer and the spicy chicken pasta. Neither disappointed. They were very good. The pasta includes large tomatoes that IMO probably could have been cut smaller, but the pasta was cooked well, it had plenty of delicious sauce, and the chicken was the star of the show. It was super spicy but super tender and delicious. The waiter was attentive and friendly. Nice atmosphere. Moderately clean.

Stopped here mid morning for breakfast. Inviting atmosphere, gracious waiter and delicious food... Ricotta pancakes, bacon, home fries... Yum! Varied menu for the rest of the day-- and I'm sure all just as delish! A definite don't miss!

Discovered this place while walking down Castro. Very courteous staff and nice menu selection. They will make the risotto to order and the chicken parm special was fabulous. Free refills on soft drinks too!! Perfect for lunch or dinner with some nice breakfast items on the menu too. Glad we stopped!

Ate here several times in my recent stay - large portions of very tasty Morrocan (?) Cuisine as well as the usual american fare. Friendly staff. A little slow if busy but well worth the wait.

Everytime I'm walking through Castro and getting hungry I stop @ Cafe Mystique! They have a great Happy Hour from 3-7pm offering a delicious glass of Sangria (4,95$), draft beer (3$) and all appetizers for half price! The hoummus plate is highly recommandable! Service is very friendly abd quick! Outstanding place, always worth to stop and sit down!

We were tired and cold by the time we made our way to the Castro distric for dinner. We stumbled upon this place as we were walking down the street and decided to give it a try. We had a tag team wait staff that was really on top of things. They suggested their Sangria and though I'm not usually a fan, I was surprised and delighted by it. I had the Ribeye steak and my girlfriend had the Bacon wrapped chicken breast. Both were excellent. The atmosphere was dark and cozy. We would definitely come back.

Really good menu options. Really good food and service. The "blue burger" is incredible and the cocktails options are great. Good Sangria. 100% recommended

I stumbled across this little gem of a restaurant whilst on holiday in San Francisco with my husband. We had spent a few hours wandering around The Castro and this place really caught our eye. It's located right in the heart of the district and looks very cosy and inviting. The atmosphere is perfect - small place, dimmed lights and warm decor. Our waiter was friendly and conversational. We ordered garlic fries, spaghetti and meatballs and a risotto. It was all delicious! For dessert I asked for a small ice cream and it came very nicely presented. The prices were totally reasonable too. Would highly recommend Cafe Mystique for a romantic dinner for two. Definitely our best meal in San Francisco.

My friend and I stumbled upon Cafe Mystique and it was hands down one of the best meals we had in SF. It wasn't a formal lunch and the food wasn't particularly fancy but it was excellent and also great value. Service was friendly and attentive.

We wanted to explore the Castro. We took the subway and walking down the main street we bumped into this restaurant. It was not busy and we decided to stop by. The place is small, nice and simple, with its rustic style with some oriental, Middle Eastern accents. Nothing particularly special, though. Tables were kind of small and very close to each other. Easily (if you are interested !) you can hear the conversation between customers seated next to you. First we had coffee, then we ordered our lunch. The menu looked varied and interesting. We got the chicken apple omelette with potatoes and tuna sandwich.We were pretty satisfied and prices were fair. It took almost half an our to get our orders. The service was extremely slow. We returned some days later for dinner, but this time we were given a very limited menu. We had no other choice but to order. We got the Mystique gourmet pasta and the spicy chicken pasta with some garlic herb pita bread.. Long, long wait again. Pasta dishes were just OK, a little greasy and messy, not really that great and tasty. We were so sorry for not finishing them. The check was on the high side. Recommended as a breakfast/brunch cafe.

Nice food nice wine selection and almost mediteranean for the US Nice tables near window to watch the passing trade

I visited Cafe Mystique for the first time last week with a group of friends. Oh my goodness what a fantastic night we had, we were served by Tony who was just outstanding, so friendly, chatty and knowledgeable about the food that we let him suggest our appetisers and he didn't disappoint, we had the calamari, humus, green beans and garlic chips which were all lovely, he recommended the sangria which was the best I've ever had, really lovely with fresh fruit and a cinnamon stick. We had chicken risotto for our main course which didn't disappoint. A lovely bottle of Malbec completed our evening and we came away planning our next visit.

After a dental conference always like visiting the Castro Mystique Ive been to many times but today is the last Staff barely speak english Adkedfor a bottle of wine with my steak which was well overdone rather than medium rare Got a glass instead Quite cold and very noisy with the state sponsored "homeless" youth outside riding their skateboards and shouting, obscenities and begging for cigarettes GET A JOB Asked if it was possible to close the window the hispanic staff dont undertand is it possible to close the window and even though they said yes they brought the bill and didnt bother closing the window

Ate a late lunch at this lively cafe. Chick pea salad with shrimp was tasty and nutritious, mushroom beef burger delicious and the garlic fries left us wanting more they were so good! Only down side was the slow service, so bear this in mind if you are on a time schedule. Luckily we weren't so it didn't spoil our afternoon. Highly recommended.

My husband and I came here with another couple for pride weekend for brunch. It was such a lovely place. Friendly staff and amazing food. The pasta was excellent (vegetarian), burger was gourmet and my Eggs Benedict which came with lots of potatoes was good too.

One of the best fires I have ever had. The American Garlic Fries are superb with raw chunks of garlic. I strongly recommend. And the price is cheap for such a big portion. It costs like McDonald's large fries price but comes 3 times more content.

Gem of a restaurant, Sangria as good as Spain, top class hummus and green beans. Friendly staff and a quite oasis in the bustling Castro!

A lovely restaurant providing great food prepared in front of you. The place was busy and easy to see why. The burgers where fabulous, the chilli chicken to die for. Well worth a visit

Really nice food, good prices and really lovely staff :) we went at happy hour 3-7pm weekdays and it was great value $3 beers and half price appetizers:)

Live in the neighborhood and love their food so much, it's our number one go-to place. Mostly Mediterranean-influenced menu, but plenty of other things too. Have tried most everything on the menu and love it all, but especially suggest to not miss these: *The best lentil soup and the best hummus we've ever had anywhere *The best risottos we've ever had *Really good calamari, lamb burgers *Surprisingly great spaghetti meatballs (has a nice little kick to it) *Good tasting Hulumi cheese salads and sammies *Good dessert crepes Breakfast and unlimited mimosa brunches are good too. Staff super nice

This is a very nice restaurant with a wide choice of menu. The Moroccan Chicken was delicious and the fried banana to die for. The interior has a pleasant ambience and the kitchen is open so you can see the chef at work. Our waitress was a delight with the biggest smile and a great sense of fun. I think she said she was originally from Iraq. A lovely evening.

We had a delicious lunch here yesterday. The friendly server recommended the Cafe Mystique chicken sandwich in part because the naan is homemade. Very tasty.

This was our first stop in Castro. We did bottomless mimosas which were great. I am not a hummus person but this was by far the best hummus I've ever had! I ordered the mystique, which is scrambled eggs, salsa, fresh jalapeños, and potatoes, it was very favorable and a bit spicy(which was warned when ordered). My friends ordered the Philly cheese steak and the Asian chicken salad. Everyone enjoyed their meal! Waitress & waiters were VERY friendly.

Very friendly staff who served us a lunch dish which was fresh and tasted wonderful. Don't be fooled by the interior; this restaurant was definately something to remember!

Went with friends for a quick bite around six p.m. The place looks nice with an appealing ambience. Told the waiter we were in a hurry and he did a nice job of getting our orders out quickly. However, the food quality was simply not there. The calamari was chewy, the salmon was bland, and the crab cakes were just bad. I'd have to say no on a return visit.

We were walking around and stopped to get something to drink but by the end we decided to have dinner! It was very well done and well served like one vegetarian risotto was perfect to share between 2 people.

This place is right in the middle of Castro and has a good array of brunch and lunch options, including a mix of cuisine influences. Service is friendly and helpful and it's a nice spot to pop in and enjoy a casual meal.

Located on Castro St. right between Market St. and 18th St. (across from Cliff's Variety) you'll find Cafe Mystique - my reliable, neighborhood go-to. Whether with my husband on date night, lunch with friends, or the entire family (w/ toddler) for brunch on the weekends, Cafe Mystique offers a wide variety of menu items in a comfortable setting. The open kitchen may not appeal to everyone, but I really feel it adds an extra layer of charm to the overall relaxed ambiance. As far as the crowds go you'll find all types -- gay, straight, locals, tourists, families, parties of one -- the friendly staff and cooks always make you feel right at home. Food items I'd recommend include: the hummus plate, firecracker shrimp, calamari, Mystique chicken sandwich, spicy risotto w/ scallops (in lieu of shrimp), the pastas I've tried have been good, Eggs Benedict and most egg dishes. (They've also got a nice selection of beer and wines (with generous pours.)

Very good restaurant on Castro, excellent service and good food at reasonable price. Would definitely go back here again.

Their American Fries (regular French fries with saute garlic) is the best I have ever had. Remarkable. One of the best things in San Francisco, it is on my top 10 of memories. Haha.

Visiting the City for vacation and stumbled upon this restaurant in The Castro. Found the atmosphere cozy and the staff friendly. The lamb risotto flavors were amazing and really enjoyed the Moroccan Chicken was excellent too. Stick with the mild versions of both unless you like really spicy food. Prices were more than fair.

It was a group of four of us, Food was outstanding and atmosphere is friendly and pricing is great. Matre'd even gave me the secret to her Rissoto. I would give a 10/10 for every dish that was on our table.

This place has the best lamb burger ever! Holumi grilled cheese is also quite amazing! Sit by the window for some great people watching

they used to have good vodka martinis. now they are terrible and don't appear to have any vodka in them.. i couldn't get a straight answer about why they have become so bad, almost undrinkable.....

Excellent dinner and I tried the lamb risotto at the servers suggestion and it was out of this world! I’ll be back 🤔🤗👍

My friends and I decided to visit the thematic suburb Castro and we like the appearance of the Café Mystique. We´re very warm welcomed .The waiters were so kind and helped us to choose different dishes. Everything was delicious. The beer was very cold and I loved the red wine. I really recommend 100% porcent.

After photographing the Castro Theatre across the street, Maral and I stopped here for lunch. Delicious chicken and coconut special and also a fine angus burger. Delightful eclectic atmosphere and friendly staff. I highly recommend Cafe Mystique.

We visited this cafe due to recommendation of trip advisor. And we are glad that we did so. Very friendly personal, great cousin and big portions. Part of breakfast we took away and eat during day. Taste was fantastic. I defenetely recommend this cafe.

Called in for brunch on a Sunday after a long walk up to, and then down from Twin Peaks. Food excellent and the bottomless mimosa was really welcome. Excellent quick service. Would I return YES

Ok its new years day so you have to give some sympathy, but just a few tips for this restaurant...but before I do this let me set the scene. THREE TABLES COMPRISING OF 8 PEOPLE IN TOTAL WALKED OUT. In summary we waited over an hour for our eggs sausage and bacon which never came and some were waiting longer. It was like the cook was laying the eggs himself. The waiter was quite sweet but a gentle tip...please inform guests when they walk in that the restaurant is short staffed so that you will have to wait more than an hour for food. It gives them the choice to move on. The wait time was unacceptable despite the waiters assurance that it was all organic freshly prepared. I suspect the cook was simply incompetent. I cannot give a fair assessment of the food because we didn't eat any however looking over at the one customer who got food, the portions looked large but it looked rather greasy and fatty to me...anyway I would advise that you ask how long food is going to be if you do choose to eat here. Ambience was nice though.

Got one of the few tables outside on a beautiful day. Great food, great for people watching, and the service was fantastic! Can't wait to come back again.

The green bean appi was amazing….and the atmosphere & service was very good…they need to get a better selection of wine & drinks on the happy hour menu.

I have been coming here for years and mostly enjoy the food and service. However, it can be hit or miss. I agree with one reviewer - I believe "bread" should be served "free" with any of their pasta's or Risotto. Bread is the one thing grocery stores throw away in abundance, so it's not like it's gold. They do offer "their version" of garlic bread, at a price of course. And frankly, it's not that good. Before you can even finish the bread, it becomes rock hard and cold. Now for my experience of just a few days ago. I too saw the chef not wearing a mask. Overall the our (brunch/breakfast) was decent enough. But here is my gripe and not just for this restaurant but most of the restaurants in the city and other places as well. I swear they cook the toast the minute the order is placed and there it sits cold and dry until the rest of the order is ready to deliver. This time I asked the waiter to "wait and give me the toast" right after my meal has been delivered. Therefore maybe ensuring it's hot. The waiter said, it comes with toast. Which again, I tried to explain, but it's never hot, so I'd like it to come right after the meal is served. I also asked for the toast well done and usually it just grazes a toaster and therefore is not really toasted but barely warm. Well my request went nowhere. The meal arrived and there was the one skimpy piece of heal of sourdough (not toasted, cold toast). The butter just sat that like cold lard on my toast. Oh and the butter is ALWAYS rock hard, try spreading that on your toast! Because they only give you really a 1/2 slice of toast, I asked for 1 more piece. It too was cold and also an end / butt piece. Really!!!! Would you serve your guests cold toast w/their meal. WHY is this so dang difficult! When I worked as a server, we NEVER did the toast until the meal was ready to be served. Therefore ensuring the toast was HOT. So how do I get this point across in the future. Groan!

Although I do like the food here, the speed of service when there are more than a few people in the restaurant is PAINFULLY slow. And the bottomless mimosas? They are bottomless because there is hardly any champagne in them. Plus, we had to keep asking for refills. I think if a place offers bottomless anything, they need to be on top of it and keep your glass filled. Today, after waiting forever for our food, our waiter came up and said "would you like your check?". I said "we'd like our food first." C'mon guys,,,

Ever since this place opened, I've been coming here. I like the menu, there's so much to choose from. The kitchen staff is consistant and the service is warm and helpful. The brealfast specials are always a draw. Come here and have a very good meal and enjoy!

Great spot for a scramble with a view. We sat in the front table with the windows open. It was a bit cold, but it was perfect for the view. Love the open kitchen concept. Overall I would come back here, and actually I think its like our third time here.

We walked up to Castro from JapanTown. A kind of pilgrimage to Harvey Milk, whose Camera shop we visited later in the evening. We loved the Castro but especially this little Café. The staff were charming and the food so good we made sure that we visited again before our journey home the following day. Cannot recommend it enough.

This is my 3rd and last bad, no awful experience at Mystique over several years. I hold much compassion for the hospitality industry. It's been hard on owners and staff this last year. But as eateries begin to reopen (and menu prices inevitably creep or shoot up), there is NO EXCUSE for inferior, carelessly prepared food , inattention to sanitary practices and subpar apathetic, service. Our last visit: * With only 3 other small parties in the restaurant, It took 25 minutes for 2 dishes to arrive. *"Roasted Beet salad": spinach and leafy greens, a few chunks of beets (canned?), drowned in balsamic vinegar. I returned it to the kitchen missing the feta cheese and walnuts. It was returned dusted swith a white substance more resembling Parmesan than feta, and pine nuts *"Eggs Benedict w/ Country Fried potatoes": cold un-toasted, soggy muffins, topped with grisly ham slices, HARD BOILED eggs, a teaspoon of yellow 'stuff' that disintegrated into an oily puddle, and gray soggy, boiled potato chunks on the side. Ugly to look at and nearly inedible. *Service staff never refilled coffee / water, nor checked back. *Meanwhile, much attention was showered on the dogs allowed to cavort about on an adjacent dining table. The same table got a damp rag wipe down afterwards.

Really amazing food; excellent service; great atmosphere. Right in the middle of the Castro. Such a wonderful experience!

Excellent fusion food, freshly prepared and great service. We loved the Castro atmosphere, yet this offered something different amongst the other diner type eateries

Another awful experience at this restaurant where the woman who claims to be the manager became verbally rude and abusing tonus because we asked why she charged us for a overpriced wine bottle when we asked for a different Malbec. This owner woman becsme crazy and started physically hitting my spouse and said: Don't come here again if you don't like the price. She has done it now three times in a row when we will ask for a wine priced at $35 and she will bring a $54 wine and serve us and then say we ordered this bottle. This owner woman is verbally aggressive and please avoid this restaurant at all costs. This woman is crazy and doesn't know how to be professional and courteous to her customers.

Almost perfect! Service was great, attentive and prompt at taking orders. Only downside was delivery of food - which took around 40 minutes. However it was worth the wait. Garlic bread with lemon chicken pasta was so tasty and filling. Good wines on offer too - New Zealand Sauvignon which is a big hit for me! Friendly waiters and nice surroundings! Will return next month when back in town!

Found myself starving while wandering the Castro district. Happened upon this lovely cozy spot. Limited wine list but makes up for it with friendly service and delicious food. The lemon pasta was amazing -light buttery hint of lemon with tons of flavor. My partner and I each had a drink and an entree and bill came to around $50

From the street front this place looks like any other dive restaurant along the tourist fed main drags in popular tourist areas in SF. This place is anything but! The ambiance is one that I would want for a romantic dinner, and it was such for our last dinning out in our stay in SF. The food was excellent and over portioned. Starting with our American Chili Cheese Fries - the best of this variety we have had in a long time. And our Mystique Chicken and Mystique Lamb Burger were nicely done and well worth it. This a place that we had in the Northern Virginia area to go back to again and again...

pleasantly surprised at the amazing quality of food. staff are very friendly and helpful. prices reasonable

Fantastic Place. Whatever you guys are doing go right ahead and keep doing it. How do you improve a perfect place? Add Perfect service good food great atmosphere and nice view onto The Castro. 10 out of 10!!

Enjoyed the lunch here. Wait staff very attentive. Good suggestion for an appetizer. Entree was quite tasty.

Always reliable for good food and good service in the Castro. Offering different specials during the week, favorites being the Risotto and assorted Pastas. Our favorite server, Nedim is always welcoming and quick to serve. Nice place for after theater dining, and delicious Sangria to add to the fun.

They take the time to get to know. And work hard at making you feel like guests, not just a meal ticket. Always a welcoming place with creative and intresting specials. Great for brunch or casual friends dinner. place. Be creative and explore the menu. The specials often rock. Great Sangria as well. For those of you that shy away from eating soli-this is the place for you. I make a piont to come in for lumch to get the Halumi Cheese Sandwhich!

We went here based solely on Tripadvisor reviews, and loved it. We actually took the streetcar from Fisherman's Wharf to the end of the line in the Castro district, and walked a block. The setting was fine, and the server was excellent. The food, in particular the lamb stew, was absolutely tasty. Strongly recommended.

We went for lunch and it's wasn't very busy, very nice place, service was great. Had bottomless mimosa, we ordered the huevos rancheros and the mystique chicken sandwich.. Both really good.

Loved it! The salad I had was wonderful. The service was great and the staff was friendly. Just a fantastic location and place to have lunch.

Cafe Mystique is great for a date night, a casual night alone, or a with friends. They specialize in large portions of rice and pasta dishes. They always have a daily special that is amazing. Honestly most everything Ive ordered here has been a huge portion, flavorful, and reasonably priced. I would recommend the risotto (many kinds), and the sangria. They also have a fantastic brunch!

Great location, warm staff and good food. We order steaks and burgers and everything was perfect! Fair prices and good coffee.

A nice ,small resturant , good food and good service. We were there twice for dinner and breakfast and both times every thing was great .

My husband and i have just had THE nicest meal since arriving in the U.S at Cafe Mystique in the Castro district of San Francisco. The actual resturant is so comfortable and cosy, such a lovely atmosphere. The guy who took our order Tony was excellent. Very helpful and friendly. We got the garlic and herb bread which was fabulous then for mains i had their special of the day Spicy chicken with basmati rice and a vodka sauce with mushrooms and Tomatoes and my husband got the Spicy Chicken pasta. Once the food came we hardly spoke to each other we were too busy stuffing our faces!! Food was perfect, the portion sizes are really good especially for the price. We are planning to pay Cafe Mystique another visit before we leave the city. Highly recommended.

Me and my partner and our friends were walking around the Castro looking for a place to eat and I spotted this place from across the road, after walking around we decided to go in there to eat. I was amazed by how tasty the food was and how quick it was to get to the table! Can't wait to come back

I was on vacation with my husband and teenage niece and nephew, and it was our last night in San Francisco. The kids wanted to see the Castro district, and so did I, so after quickly perusing TripAdvisor, I picked out Café Mystique. Excellent choice! First, they gave us 9PM reservations when we called at 8:30. The restaurant is small and comfortable, a lovely atmosphere for relaxing and enjoying your meal. Our waiter was a really nice man who made us feel very welcome. I ordered sangria and it was so good I had to get a second glass. Just had to. And the food...oh, the food. We got a hummus plate to start with, with warm pita with salt and spices sprinkled on top. We liked it so much we ran out of bread before hummus. The waiter brought us some garlic pita to finish up our appetizer, which was so good. My nephew got a delicious chicken dinner that came with garlic potatoes. It was a huge portion and he ate very bite. My husband ordered a risotto and (I think) lamb special, which he loved and ate the leftovers the next morning for breakfast. I got an amazing spicy pasta and chicken dish that was delicious. The chicken could have been cooked a little more, but the sauce was outstanding just enough spice to keep you on your toes but not too much to overpower you. My niece ordered a lamb and pita dish but pulled a picky teenager act and didn't eat much. We brought it back to the airbnb and heated it up the next night as a snack, and it was very good. I don't even like lamb and I enjoyed it. I wish we had ordered dessert but we were too stuffed. Nice, Tuscan-like atmosphere, great waitstaff, delicious food for not outrageous amounts of money...definitely a winner.

We waited over 50 minutes for our burgers!!! Other ppl who came after us were served before. No apologies from the waiters either. When the food finally came out, my sandwich was not edible, oil was dripping out of it. The bun was totally soaked with oil. All it tasted of was grease. It was supposed to be a grilled! chicken sandwich!! When I sent it back, instead of an apology, the waiter stated that that is how it's supposed to be?! Well if inedible is what they are going for, well done! To top it all off, they automatically added a graditude to our bill, when nobody planned on tipping. Terrible!!!!!!!!

We had Raisin & Roasted Pecan Pancakes with a side of bacon, a cheese omelet and a couple of tall coffees. The waiter was very nice and the music was classic: Andres Segovia is excellent music for breakfast in my book.

We popped into this Castro hotspot for a quick lunch upon arrival in San Francisco. The place gets quite busy with limited seating, so we were lucky to find a spot. Appetizers are quite pricey. We also ordered the Mystique burger and chicken sandwich. Both were fairly average for the price we paid. Nice atmosphere. And the server was friendly and helpful.

This is one of my favorite weekend brunch spots in the city! The food is good but it's really the atmosphere that makes this place special. The staff is always friendly, it's easy to get a table, and the front windows open wide to let in a nice breeze on warm days. On weekends they offer bottomless mimosas, a San Francisco classic, and all the classic brunch favorites.

Good but not amazing. Grilled Romaine salad was not my favorite. When you grill lettuce it takes on a slimy texture. Add some bacon bits to the top of that and a little bit of melted blue cheese and it seems like you're eating a plate full of grease. I had grilled shrimp added to the salad. The shrimp was okay but it did not taste especially fresh. The burger was good although I asked for it without avocado and it had avocado. Still I ate it and was pleased. I am not at all a fan of those spiced curly fries. They remind me too much of something you can get at Costco. That said, as curly fries go they were pretty good. Service was outstanding and price met expectations for an artsy little restaurant in the Castro. I probably won't eat here again but I wasn't completely disappointed.

First night at SF, we were looking for something nice to eat quickly and we were greeted warmly. The setting is cool and the food was good. Beef burger and lamb burger, real moscow mule. The service was nice! First meal of the successful stay!

I've read the other reviews, so I guess experiences here can vary. The wait staff does seem to not really care whether you get served or not. When we got there, our waiter was wonderful. Very attentive and our food came out quickly. Halfway through our meal, he just left. Not sure what that was about, but after that we had to ask for the check from someone else, go take the check back to her, and wait for her to return. She really couldn't seem to care less. However, the breakfast foods that we had were exceptional! Scrambled eggs were perfect, tasty bacon also perfectly cooked (just a little crisp, not crunchy, not soggy), buttery toast, and really good home fries. It was like being home in the South! My best advice? Don't go if you're in a hurry and definitely have breakfast, which they serve all day.

Had lunch here. Generous portions and tasty. Worth a visit. Quite busy. Good cocktail list! More for lunch the dinner.

My wife and I read the menu outside - Looked in and saw the welcoming well appointed atmosphere and were greeted by the friendly waiter. We had a most wonderful meal and experience. The waiter was helpful with our questions about possible dishes and helped us with our wine selection. The food was exceptional!! Their Malbec and Zin were perfect additions! We enjoyed their grilled romaine salad - wow and the Beet & Haloumi Cheese salad - both a wonderful treat. The real show stopper was their Lentil Soup - one of the BEST soups we've ever enjoyed!! It was a delightful pureed texture with subtle flavors. Their Garlic Herb Bread was a great addition and the perfect medium for sopping up the remaining sauces and dressings. If we lived here in San Francisco, we would return and work our way through their entire menu based on their perfect score on these choices.