Per Diem Reviews

I had a dinner there with my old friend few weeks ago. What I like here is short menu so you don't spend an hour reading through it. Mostly standard American food but with a bit of creativity. Recommend short ribs, really nice with unusual presentation. Wine list is good, wines are expensive but it is the case for all restaurants in SF. Overall very good experience.

I booked here after seeing the menu on TripAdvisor, well evidently they changed the menu and it is much more limited now. The servers were down right rude, I was told when I arrived that our table was upstairs, I asked if there was a bathroom up there and they said yes. I then went to use the restroom and the server told me it was not open that evening so I had to go back downstairs. It then took about 25 minutes before anyone came to get our drink order. We ordered the charcuterie board and truffle mushroom pizza to start, they were both great. The entrees were a different story. There weren't a ton of choices so the waitress recommended the crab lasagne, so I gave it a try. I was barely able to eat half of it, essentially it was a bowl of cream with a little crab inside, one noodle and cheese on top. It was so rich and just too much cream I couldnt eat it. I was really excited to try this place, it is right around the corner from my apartment and seemed to be getting good reviews, I wish they stuck with the original menu.

Has a new chef so different menu than earlier. Good wild mushroom Tarte Flambe and onion soup tonight, but out of one entree and one dessert.

We picked this place partially because of online reviews and partially because of its close location to our hotel but also we thought it would appeal to our family of five. I would first say I thought the service was if uneven very enthusiastic and a good effort put forth. We had a poor location close to the door and right beside a very busy bar but to be fair to the restaurant we changed our dining time and the upstairs was not available. Perhaps it would have been different had we been seated there. Overall I thought the food was terrible. My daughter's rib dish was quite good and my wife's salad was decent but my eldest son enabled had the pasta dish and I was shocked at the poor quality. As well as not being hot it was the rough equivalent of a prepackaged dish you might buy at a grocery store. The bar area looked to be where this place makes its money and they seem to have a pretty decent selection of drinks.

An SF business lunch for a vegetarian, vegan and 2 meat eaters could not have been better. Plenty of dishes for all with extra accents that added a tasty memorable bite to each dish. Especially the cauliflower, brussel sprouts, flat breads, millet and chickpea salad. Ambiance and background music were spot on and the noise level was non-intrusive. Can not wait to go back.

Loved the space and decor...led upstairs to be seated in cool room with dark furniture and shelves that are backlit. Had a department lunch....all five really enjoyed their meals...two of us had the scrumptious lasagne- yum! We started with a lovely buratta with tasty honey. Others enjoyed the bucatini and the chicken dishes. Would definitely return to Per Diem!!

If you like fennel sausage, this is the place. I ordered the flatbread pizza and it was so well done. The menu offers fresh, local ingredients and a good variety. They did a really nice job with the decor with a lively bar. The service was quick and perfect for a business lunch. There are paid parking garges nearby and this place is also near Montgomery Bart Station.

We stopped here for a light lunch during a recent visit. We had a Tri-Tip sandwich, Millet & Chickpea salad, and an Artichoke Flatbread pizza. All were very good, although I thought the salad was a little small for the price. The restaurant has a very interesting décor. We were seated upstairs, which was nice. The server was friendly and attentive. The prices are a little high, but not out of line with other restaurants in the area. Overall, a nice place for lunch.

I've been there twice. I love the Gold Rush-Gilded Age-Steampunk decor. Bartender Jacob made me feel welcome when I went in for a Rye Manhattan before my New York trip. Afterward, I came in for lunch. Ordered the FiDi (Financial District Burger), asked for it well done and got what I wanted--no pink meat but not burnt to a crisp outside either. The hostess was very welcoming and two of the other waitresses checked on me even though I was not one of their tables! The atmosphere is charming. I went upstairs to scope it out (at lunchtime that's by reservation only) and it's very cozy with books on shelves, or you can sit on a patio area which blocks the San Francisco wind. I made a reservation for lunch with my daughter in a few weeks. All told it's a wonderful addition to the San Francisco lunch scene. If you are tired of food trucks and want to get off your feet, this is a good place that looks more expensive than it is.

The menu reflects the decor - rich, varied, and interesting. One of the appetizers is bone marrow, which we did not try, but we saw it served very elegantly, in the bone. I had a pappardelle dish with braised short ribs, roasted beets and kale, which was unbelievably delicious and rich. My dinner companions tried the mussels and a pizza, and all were satisfied. My friend's sazerac was pronounced excellent, and the staff extremely helpful and gracious. The decor is very interesting - kind of an industrial rococo if that's a possibility: enormous gilded cornices support the bar, the chairs are large, heavy and comfortable, tables are big and seem to consist of old gaming tables and other found objects. There is a delightful little air well that one can peek into which has a fire place mantel mounted on the brick wall and a couple of comfy chairs. It seems to be a hot spot for large business groups.

Needed to satisfy/impress some very particular foodies, on a moderate budget, and Per Diem delivered big time. They're still talking to me about it. Great food, great drinks, great ambience, great service. Will be back!

So our service during lunch rush was solid. The food was a C or C+ -- nothing extra-ordinary but not terrible You go for the location - great interior and very good place for client lunch in downtown SF

I love this place. Met a friend for dinner based solely on location & reviews and I'm so glad we did. The atmosphere is very cool - like an old speakeasy. Very charming. Food & service were awesome as were the cocktails & wine list. Hanging out at the bar downstairs looked fun too! This place does not disappoint. Just go...

While the service at Per Diem was uneven, it was very earnest and prompt. The food was not good, the exception being my wife's salad was okay and my daughter's rib dish decent. The pasta dish my son and I both had was terrible, cold and the quality of which would be similar to what you would expect if you bought a package at a grocery store. Table location was poor next to the bar, but to be fair we did change our reservation time at the last minute and the person who took my call said we would have to sit downstairs. In retrospect, I wish she would have explained it a bit better. It does look like a fun bar and maybe a good place to go for drinks and to meet friends but in a city like San Francisco, we expect much better things for our restaurants.

The restaurant is one of the best in the financial district. The atmosphere is rustic but refined--which sounds counterintuitive but it works. The menu is imaginative. They even have avocado toast. While the toast is very good and Per Diem did a dynamite job, the appetizer wasn't the life changing experience the fashionistas led me to believe. The flank steak was very good. And their wine selection is fairly priced. The service was friendly and efficient.

Humans beware: we had yummy food, Ok service, interesting cocktails, and all was well until… I asked why they had two gendered bathroom for individual separate bathrooms… and was told not to come back and I’m banned. What are they afraid of to just have “bathrooms” and banning someone who questioned why? All I can think is they don’t want anyone who is binary or trans to eat at their establishment. Even I was not “banned” for asking… I would not go back. Apparently, they follow the Trump doctrine: don’t ask, shut up, and cancel. Avoid this place!

had a fabulous dinner there tonight. the service was wonderful! it was a quiet evening as the restaurant is in san Francisco's financial district and busier Monday through Friday. I had the risotto and it was wonderful!

It’s that good! We’ve held our company Christmas Party here for rhe past 3 years. The service is excellent as is the food and drink. The place is super cute and festive for the holidays. It’s also a great place to have lunch if you are downtown SF.

We held a team dinner here at Per Diem in a semi private room. The appetizers were wonderful, the drink selection terrific. Everyone loved their wines choices. Dinner was tremendous and each plated was beautifully presented. We love the mezzznine for a room event. Thanks for a lovely dinner

We had a great time with excellent service and tasty food. We came in for rom the east bay to visit a museum over Presidents’ Day weekend and had a great lunch here. The meatball appetizer and bursts starters were great to share amongst 4. Our main course for lunch was a variation of mussels, beet salad and a burger. Everyone’s food was super tasty and the wide variety of drinks had something for everyone. Great lunch date!

One of my business colleagues took me here for lunch. It is a gem. I loved everything I tried. Best brussell sprouts ever and the grilled salmon sandwich with fried green tomatoes was superb (a special that day). It is in a great location, has a friendly staff and an interesting menu. I can't wait to go back there for dinner sometime. Staff was also friendly and well-trained. I highly recommend this place.

Very nice cozy restaurant that is just a half-block off of Market. The menu is varied, but all the dishes we got were very good. The service was outstanding. Wines were good. Prices were very reasonable.

This slightly difficult to find hole in the wall offers a delightful, unique lunch menu and great service. Good prices. I will return and suggest you check it out.

Spending time in the financial district we took in the bar area and restaurant. A two story eatery with service staff that were extremely friendly and accomodating. Loved the poutine in the bar, and all the food was comforting!

Per Diem is located in the Financial District on Sutter Street just off Market Street. The restaurant is smaller in size with an upstairs dining area that is quieter and cozier than the downstairs bar and dining area. I’ve been twice in the past month for lunch and both times our group had a great experience and were all happy with the food. The asparagus tempura appetizer is fantastic. The burgers, tri-tip sandwich, salads and pastas are all very good as well. They have a full bar downstairs with a nice selection of micro-brews and wines on the wine list. We will go again.

Per Diem's location in the financial district and its name both highlight that this is a great place for a business lunch. I found it a great place to meet a friend for lunch. the menu is not extensive but there are enough choices that you should be able to find something you like. My lamb burger was one of the best I've had. My friend wanted to add a chicken breast to the beet salad, and the menu didn't list that as an option - no problem and at a very reasonable cost. Service was top notch. We'll be back

The ambiance is one that you will take notice of as it's an interesting combination of wood and concrete, as well as unusual lighting, and it all works. Service was fabulous, but the food was truly amazing, with combinations that I haven't seen elsewhere, but would love to try again. The only issue with the menu is trying to decide which one to choose. We loved all the ones that we tried.

We met with friends for a meal here and really enjoyed the food. Tasty and good value. The portion sizes were a bit odd and some were massive and others small and a better balance would be good. Staff were friendly.

Both food and service are excellent! The rustic interior is also interesting. Not to be missed even though you are just staying for a night.

I don't usually bother reviewing restaurants unless they're undiscovered greats, but this one was weird: a lovely building in a good location, excellent service, nice wine, but the food was near-inedible (despite not being cheap). The main-course salad with fish I ordered had absolutely no flavor, no dressing at all, and iceberg-type lettuce. The American-style coffee (all they had) was like dishwater. I should've been suspicious since many menu items featured quinoa and kale!

Had a business lunch at Per Diem today. I noticed that the restaurant was not nearly as noisy as many of the restaurants in the city. The service was fast and friendly. The food had creative twists on standard fare. The tomato horseradish aioli was had nice flavor. Food came out fast and hot. The only thing would do differently would be to add some fresh fish to the menu and perhaps toast the bun a little more (it fell apart but the sandwich was still good).

this is a fun place with a lot of energy, a friendly professional waitstaff, and a delicious although limited menu

The ground floor has a bar and a few booths. The upper floor had a cozy living room ambience that felt great on a cool August night (and must be even better in cooler weather). At our table of four we had a pasta dish, the duck breast, the chicken breast, and the sole. No complaints around the table. Service was efficient and friendly. Prices as expected. All in all, a definite plus for evening in this neighborhood.

Met up with a friend I had not seen for over 30 years and we went in here just on spec. We both like good beer and this place offers that both on draught and in bottles. Not just US craft beer, but also good European beer - particularly Belgium. Prices, given that this is in the financial district are OK. We didn't eat, but the menu looked interesting and appetizing and the aroma from the tables where those that were eating was mouth watering. I'll be back on my next visit to San Francisco.

I've passed by this restaurant several times and finally visited on a Saturday night without a reservation . We got a table but opted for the bar. We ordered the trio of cheese platter and the meatballs . They're both very good appetizers. I heard this place is packed for happy hour during the weekdays. Great bartenders - our bartender who was not familiar with the drink I ordered was willing enough to make my drink by checking it online. Now that's great service .

Pros: Service was good, stripped-back venue looks cute and cosy, plenty of choice Cons: Food was over-seasoned, more home-cooked than restaurant standard, dry chicken First impressions were good. Per Diem looks attractive both inside and out, and the waitress was always on top of things. But that's where it ended really. The food was more like over-seasoned home cookery - it lacked any wow factor and, save for the liberal salting of each course, was otherwise fairly bland too. The salad starter tasted of salt and nothing else, while the chicken main was over-cooked, lacked sauce and, again, was over-salted. The beer and wine worked a treat, but I cook better than this at home each day, hence the score. Maybe the pizzas are the wiser choice as other diners seem to suggest. I'd go back just to wave at the waitress.

4 of us came before a show on Wed. The salmon, wild mushroom pasta, and bolognese were well seasoned, cooked right, and hot. I want my Manhattan with a DUSTING of Vermouth and they listened! My friends enjoyed their wine and meals....and these people hate to go to restaurants - they were happy. The servers checked in which is a service I see less of in restaurants. Clutch the pearls! When we said we needed to leave, they were quick on the check. The only thing that makes me want to go to the Financial District is this place.

The title kinda says it. The food here was good, well above average. Good beer and wine list as well. But the service, early dinner time, was inadequate. Long wait for service, food and orders to arrive. They even forgot some items and brought others twice. My sense is this is more or less a business lunch or casual, post-work hang out place, not sure I'd return for dinner.

We had the flatbreads (pizza by another name), which were ok. Not terribly generous in size, you might want a side salad or a starter/dessert.

Uninspired menu yields boring food....tomato soup was ok but not noteworthy. Flatbreads were weirdly textured. The service was empty and lacked energy. Our reservation was initially for 6 but turned out to be 5. The server put a mandatory 20 gratuity on the bill since that's the policy for six....really??? Average iis a generous rating.... Would not return

We were visiting San Francisco for the Christmas lights, were wandering around mid-afternoon, and serendipitously wandered into Per Diem. We had a delightful meal amongst eclectic surroundings. I enjoyed my Avocado Toast and a dark microbrew. But I will echo others in stating that the best meal amongst our party was the Tri-tip sandwich - yum! Unfortunately, after we arrived home an hour and a half away, my wife discovered she had left her prescription glasses at the restaurant. A call to Vernon confirmed they were there. I offered to pay for shipping, but he wouldn't hear of it. He safely packed them up, took them to the post office and paid out of pocket to ship the glasses to us. We are very grateful and impressed by their conscientiousness and customer care! I will be beelining there my next visit to SF to have a whole Tri-tip sandwich for myself!

We the food at Per Diem to be very fresh and flavorful. The beet salad and bread was enjoyable. They have a nice wine list as well as wines by the glass. The ambiance is cozy and interesting. We will return.

Just off Market Street in San Francisco, Per Diem offers an expected mid-end dining experience with great food and cocktails within easy reach of bustling Market Street. Very easy to get in and out of and the staff are very attentive and friendly.

A friend suggested we meet here for drinks. My friend had to cancel, but I went anyway and at at the bar. There is a great happy hour menu, with cheese and meat trays, as well as drink specials, at happy hour. I ordered off the dinner menu at the bar and my pasta with a ragu was delicious. At a cost of $17 I thought the potion was great, the taste amazing. The bartender was friendly, suggested items off the menu, and helpful, but not too helpful. The restaurant isn't huge, but there is ample space. Food is delicious. Great place to have dinner if you are on your own or to meet friends. Wine list was solid. The bartender seemed very knowledge when it came to cocktails, Food is great! Service was great! I would rec to a friend or business associate.

What a great place to get out of the cold city air and have an awesome cocktail with a friend. The cocktail list is extensive and the atmospheres is warm and inviting... I did not want to leave. The appetizers all looked good but the Salumi platter is beautifully presented. . The burrata is good too but very dessert like.. I think it would be great at the end of the meal... Except .. don't pass up the crème Brule its perfection. If you luck out and Have Elizabeth for your server let her pick out a great Port.. She knows her wines. The location , just up from Montgomery Bart makes it too easy not to go often , If you are from the East Bay this is a great place to BART in for lunch or dinner. The salads were amazing.. Come here to relax , Don't go if you are in a rush.

The ambience was great, the food was amazing and the service, notwithstanding the guy next door got the chicken breast I ordered and I, his duck, which I was all to happy having, was exceptional. This place is a gastropub, so you can enjoy a few drinks, as well as simple some delightful dishes. There are an abundance of great eateries in the Union Square/Financial District - This is most definitely one of them.

Had dinner here with friends and it was a highlight of our trip. The menu is a good size with options for everyone and the staff accommodated our restrictions without any hesitation. We sat at the bar and Brie and Jacob were approachable and engaging. The atmosphere is cool... it's an elevated old-world/steam punk vibe. All the dishes ordered were delicious! The ice cream is a must for dessert - it's unexpected!

Just dropped in for our first visit here and the food was really fabulous. It's kind of nice that you can actually think and carry on a conversation at this place. The bar on the first floor was great - and the decor was really pretty inventive with it's mash up of old classic wood and modern lighting. The Burrata appetizer was very good - but more so for the almonds and honey than the actual cheese. Pretty scrumptious. I followed this with the Bucatini, as suggested by our waitress and I was not disappointed. Desserts sounded good, but we passed on that. Definitely will return with friends.

I stumbled on this little gem. The service was great and I got a great seat at the bar which was like having a show while I ate lunch. The food was oh so so so good. Will definitely return!

Went here for a friend's birthday, had a great time. The food was great and it was a fun and lively atmosphere. I would return here for sure.

Looking for a quick, quiet lunch. Per Diem showed up on map app. So we went to give it a try. Results: very satisfied. Had a french dip sandwich with delicious caramelized sweet onions and very thin sliced beef on great grilled bread Yum. Skip the fries, nothing special. BTW, iced tea was excellent.

My husband and I had no reservations, but were in the financial district and went on Open Table to find a last-minute choice that had an opening for Valentine's Day. What a wonderful surprise this restaurant was. We loved the upstairs dining room ambiance - very old world, intimate, not noisy and wonderful service. Every bite of the menu was superb. There were two choices for each of the 4 courses. The duck prosciutto salad was delicious, the risotto with chunks of lobster was terrific, the filet mignon was of excellent quality, the au gratin potatoes on the plate were to die for. I don't know how I managed to finish off the coppo dessert with the mascarpone cheese/whipped cream topped with chocolate curls and a chocolate syrup on the botton. We will definitely return.

We had lunch here and it was excellent. The crab sandwich came with melted cheese, not too much mayo and on grilled bread rather than toasted (now my new favorite way to have a sandwich). We had a salad with rucola and berries that came with gorgonzola fritters that were so crunchy, crispy and tasty. The dressing was perfect too. We had the soup of the day which looked a bit bland but had a lovely flavor. Will come back soon for lunch again and dinner.

Had a lovely drink with business partners. Fast service. Excellent cocktails and wonderful food. Highly recommend to any business visitors.

The food, ambiance, service, atmosphere, everything was spot on Best meal we had in our week in San Francisco (party of 6, all agreed). We loved everything about it and cannot say enough good things about this place. You won't regret it.

My friend & I popped in just as we were passing for a few drinks, ended up with a sharing platter also... Food was fresh & good, girl serving Us was really friendly!

We stopped here for date night. The food was great and the service was great. We didn't have a reservation but still got seated. If you can, sit upstairs. It is very cool upstairs.

Booked a table for 10 at this beauty of a spot. They sat us upstairs in this antique chique room that made us feel comfy and special. Every drink was a specialty cocktail and you can not leave this place before you try the lobster fries.

While coming into town to visit some girlfriends for a one of their birthdays we stumbled across this place through word of mouth. Fantastic service! Wish I remembered our servers name because service like that is so hard to come by but she was a dime a dozen, super knowledgeable and guided us in the right direction with food and drinks. Food was crazy good and the atmosphere WOW. Simply gorgeous. No wonder there’s soooo many positive reviews. We had the pleasure of meeting the GMs Chris and Naomi, such lovely individuals, even added a free surprise dessert for my friend’s birthday and gave us a tour of the place because my friend is an event coordinator. It was such a vibe!! Can’t wait to come back!

I visited San Francisco with wife from 31 March to 6 April and set about organising a gourmet marathon. We dined on seven successive nights in AQ, Gary Danko, Garibaldi, Per Diem, Slanted Door, Bushi Tei and Velvet Room in Clift hotel. I am writing up a separate review for each for comparison purposes. They can be found by following the Raysy reviewer link under each restaurant name. Our fourth Restaurant was Per Diem in the FiDi (what a terrible contraction for financial district). We were four for dinner. The very helpful concierge in the Clift Hotel recommended this restaurant as one of the most recently opened restaurants in San Francisco. It is a rather strange mix of styles of decor, perhaps resulting from an ambition to appeal to a number of different target market segments. We arrived on time but had to wait as our table was not ready. We were, however, offered a glass of Cava each to sip “on the house” while we waited. They displayed a couple of characteristics of a new restaurant. We experienced some difficulty in attracting someone to take our wine and food order. Eventually the wine waiter took our order and disappeared for a time before returning to tell us that they didn’t have the wine we had ordered. We ordered three different pinot noirs before we picked one that he had. I think the owner was hovering behind us, listening to our order as he played “wine-lotto” to see would we pick one that he actually had in stock. The white wine posed no problem as we picked a simple Italian Greco grape. The dinner menu is rather limited, but ok if you have a broad “catholic” taste. For starters we shared the jumbo prawns, (not cheap at $15 for seven chilled prawns), and two salads. For mains we had the Cioppino (just like bouillabaisse), which was spicy and delicious, Brisket which was good, Market fish, which was a delicious halibut, and a vegetarian dish. For dessert we shared two desserts, an ice cream and something “chocolatey”. overall an interesting experience. Would we go back ? Hmmmmm?

We decided to come here a bit early since we didn’t have reservations. We did end get a table right by the window which was nice. The server was nice but refused to take our full order because we were too early to order food. We ordered drinks and waited which was fine since we were not in a rush. I fail to see the point though in making us check with the server if the kitchen was ready or not to take our food order. It would be a much better guest experience to take our whole order but simply mention the kitchen isn’t ready yet but will put your order in once they are. We ordered the arancini balls for appetizers which were really good. For the main dish I had the chicken and my husband the flatbread. Both or our dishes were really good and overall we really enjoyed our evening. Except for the beginning part and difficulties ordering I would still recommend this place.

My friend made a reservation for three. The earliest she got was 12:30 pm. The restaurant opens at 11:30 A.M. I came little bit early the receptionist was friendly and accommodating. She directed me to the 2nd floor. I've asked for the 1st floor table due to my knee problem. Have to wait for couple of minutes caused there was no table available. The place is soo noisy, tables are close too each other, you could hear what the people at next table are talking about. Their Tri-Tip sandwich and Kale salad are one of the best on their menu. But have to watch out Kale salad and fries as sides are not included on the price of the sandwich. An extra $3.00 for each sides. Surpringly both of my friends ordered the same thing the Tri-Tip sandwich instead of salad theirs are fries. Good Tri-Tip sandwich, kale sandwich and fries. They have a big sandwich. The restaurant is easy to find. Busy on lunchtime. Prices are very reasonable and good food.

We were not in a rush (luckily), other tables of guests went looking for wait staff for service. Had incredible Poutine for appetizer. The Cioppino was outstanding. Ordered a Chardonay which was served WAY TOO COLD and the female server was entertaining to watch her mangle several bottles of wine - they should train their staff better. We would return for the wonderful food, but hope the owners get the wait staff to stop standing around and gossiping, and become attentive to those they are waiting for their dining experience.

I enjoyed dinning in Per Diem. Such an amazing taste and hospitable environment. I ordered the Lobster with filet mignon steak. The only thing I didn't like is the seating tables & chairs. I believe they could setup the inside to have a more comfortable table/chair sets

I REALLY wanted this restaurant to be GREAT... but it is good. Average. Fine. Meh. The interior is wonderful, the location is great - fantastic ambience but the food is just so-so. That's a sin in San Francisco. To have a great location, great interior and just "meh" food... c'mon!!!! Try harder Per Diem - please ... I am rooting for you! You need a few 'remarkable" items that we can all rally around every time we show up... and then just do everything else really, really well -... you are just not QUITE there - yet.

Superb food - the escargot and bone marrow was especially wonderful. Also recommend the Old Fashioned cocktail. Nice, traditional decor. Great service.

We recently had a private event at Per Diem. The service was impeccable. Leo took care of us from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. I was surprised to learn he is a server and not a manager. Excellent food, great atmosphere, highly professional. Check this place out if you would like to have a private event in an affordable and central/hip and up-scale space in San Francisco!

Wow. What a place. We only arrived at our hotel at 4 pm from Manchester , England. Per Diem at 7 pm. We were greeted by “ Max “ : so warm and welcoming. Gave us a great table. We are on our 30 th anniversary trip and we were looked after from start to finish. Julio then also explained things about the menu ; he was amazing too. The whole place has a cool but fantastic vibe. They obviously have incredible staff and are a credit to the establishment. Food was fabulous too. Although we were tired / jet lagged we didn’t want to go. Ten out of ten guys. Thank you Max / Julio abd the team. 😍😍😍🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

This is an Italian restaurant in the Financial District. I wish the pasta in North Beach was still as good as this, but alas, it's become too touristy. This is why I loved the pasta here so much! I ordered the bucatini, which is the shape of spaghetti, but very thick. I think it was handmade, but if not, it tasted as if it were. My husband ate short ribs, which were very good, and he liked his wedge salad, which had some unusual additions. I must admit I didn't care much for my salad, a "panzanella," as it was extremely under-dressed and plain. Panzanella is a bread salad with nice vegetables, but this panzanella just tasted like it had stale croutons. Because this salad was so mediocre, I wavered between rating the restaurant three or four, but gave them the benefit of the doubt because of the pasta and the atmosphere. The decor is interesting, dark with backlit shelves and funny oddities. I felt like I was sitting in someone's old-school library, sort of like a haunted house. It's very pretty though and an enjoyable place to be.

We stopped in for a couple of drinks for happy hour. This is a small, quaint place with great drinks and good music. Loved the atmosphere!

Per Diem in the San Francisco Financial District is a rare gem. The food is excellent, great wine selection and first class service. Great decor as well. A rustic elegant American look and feel. I’ve been there a couple times now and enjoyed both times. There is an upstairs and a downstairs. Downstairs serves a full menu but is also the bar. Upstairs is for sit down diners only. Both areas are actually well served and quite fun. The bar is usually packed and louder. I prefer the upstairs as it’s more relaxed and that suits my tastes better. As I stated in the title the menu is probably the most reasonably priced around at this top quality level. Also a tip is that there are 2 dining menus. One with the usual dinner dishes and another with a pub menu. The pub menu features the best burger deal in the Financial District. It’s huge and perfectly cooked to order. Char grilled with cheese etc for $15. But you have to ask for the pub menu upstairs or down. The wine selection by the glass isn’t huge but the choices are just superb. The wine prices are quite good too just like the food. Per really beats the competition in the area with this. Most places charge $16-$25 for an “okay” glass of wine. Per Diem has plenty of better choices below $16. My favorite is their Napa Merlot at $15. It drinks like a Cabernet but goes with everything.

I had a business lunch here and it was delightful. I had the tomato soup and Avocado Toast. My colleague had the Watermelon and Heirloom salad. Everything was delicious. The Avocado Toast was a very generous portion for 2. Service was good and everyone was friendly. I would definitely go back.

Very satisfying lunch. The mushroom pasta was delicious with a kick from red peppers. The mushrooms were varied and hearty. The burrata appetizer is amazing. I replicated it as soon as I got home. The crab melt sandwich is really just a glorified grilled cheese sandwich - very good, but not what I would have expected. Love, love the atmosphere and décor here. The waiter was terrific.

Popped in after a long day of sightseeing. Was offered some good choices for wine and their suggestion did not disappoint. A good selection of food was ordered as we were a hungry group. From French onion soup, rustic flatbread with cheese and arugula, Sonoma garden salad, grilled fish on a bed of sweet potatoe mash with lemon grass foam and the grilled chicken. The fish dish was surprisingly lean on protein portion comparably and being that I was famished we ordered a grilled veg side and it was SCRUMPTIOUS. I never enjoyed my carrots as much as I did that night. We ordered one of each of the desserts except for the apple dish as they had run out, but they did serve us a large bowl of the salted caramel gelato to go with our other desserts. We were all very happy. Just a note, they accidentally forget one of our French onion soups and they brought it within minutes of us asking after it and proceeded to comp us for the cost of the soup. Exceptional customer service all around. Polite, friendly, personable and the perfect combination of art your disposal and leave you to enjoy the meal and the company you are dining with. We sat upstairs, it was a little dark but comfortable and very intimate. We left sated and would recommend it to a couple or a group.

You will find a Very homey restaurant that looks like it could be a library as well… Dark walls… Menu quite good… Something for the vegans in the family… Steak for our steak lover…delicious tagliatelle with mushrooms… Very friendly servers… The only thing that bothered me was that we had three different birthdays and that’s what we were celebrating and I asked three different times to make sure we would have candles for the desserts and we didn’t get them…

Good restaurant, ambiance, service , but very noisy, and the meal was ok Wines were good Overall good impression, the biggest problem was the dining area is far too noisy so having a conversation is a challenge after 10 minutes at the table

Per Diem is a wonderful space located on the edge of the Financial District. While it is undoubtedly a crowded venue during the business week, it is slow and quiet on the weekend. It is easy to park almost in front after 7 pm on the weekends. The space includes two floors, with dining upstairs. While the ambiance suggests the likelihood of a wonderful dining experience, the reality misses the mark by a long ways. The food is confusing between almost a bar menu and a real dining experience. The food is typically overseasoned, underseasoned, or simply off. We started with a ceasar salad and asked for light dressing..It came with none, and the wait staff had to be asked to bring any. The asparagus pizzeta came with a raw egg on top, making a mess of an otherwise crispy and nice appetizer. The bucatini was really a larger spaghetti with a pork based ground meat sauce...hardly a san francisco bucatini, which is classically made with hogs jowl, garlic and olive oil. The dessert, a pana cotta, came with plenty of cream and nice chopped fruit, but thoroughly limp otherwise. All around this place has lots of potential, but doesnt deliver.

We barely stumbled over this restaurant. From the outside it mostly looks like a San Francisco bar - but wauv. The know how to cook. Try some of their starters.

We ate here on a Saturday night. The place was comfortably busy. We got a table despite not having a reservation. We sat for a bit before anyone acknowledge us. Finally, a server who clearly was from another section came to help as “our” server was not coming by. This first server was quite nice. It was clear he was covering for the other server. At some point the first server must have clocked out. After that we were ignored. In fact, not only was the service horrible it was down right rude. He ended up literally throwing the bill on our table. Unless they can corral the clearly un-deserving and overpaid staff this place is doomed. The food was pretty good but it cannot make up for vindictive service.