Sheba Piano Lounge Reviews

Fantastic Ethiopian food with live jazz. Go family style and enjoy the spice and flavor of this cuisine while people watching and relaxing to the sounds of great music. The crowd is lively and the drinks are delicious. Put your preconceptions aside aside and enjoy a delicious adventure.

Net, the owner had me at “Hello”. I was very reluctant to try Ethiopian after a disaster in Chicago years back. But I am glad I did. The food was flavorful, not spicy and the speciality drinks were tasty! I can’t wait to go back!!!!!

The food here was incredible. Our wait person was friendly and helpful without being overbearing, letting us linger far longer than we probably should have :) The food was authentic and delicious, our drinks were interesting, and the music was great. We would have stayed longer to listen if we could have. Beautifully designed space. Strong recommend to those in or visiting San Francisco. Make a reservation.

We have recently developed a taste for Ethiopian food and have tried it in London, Kenya and California. This is by far the best we have tasted. We had the vegetarian combo and lamb tibs. Worth noting that if you are celiac the Injera here is not 100% teff so there will be some . There was a live band on Sunday evening.

I have been going to Sheba Lounge over the years. And now I have been going with my Ethiopian friend and we both love the food and atmosphere. Great place.

Beautiful decor, fabulous food! Two vegetarians and two non vegetarian had a great time. ---

Stopped by for a drink and some jazz. Got both and left smiling. All in all pretty good place. The live music is pretty loud which makes any sort of conversation difficult. And the jazz was real heavy and an awesome guy on the sax

The fact that this is an Ethiopian place featuring live Jazz music, makes me want to go back again and again. We went there on a Friday night and were pleasantly surprised by the fun and lively ambiance. They served some really well tasting traditional Ethiopian food, and had a good variety of vegetarian dishes. We ordered the Ethiopian Chicken Drumettes, The Spicy Lentil Sambussa and a couple of servings of the Veg Sampler. LOVED the variety of dips and sides on the Veg Sampler, which came with soft rolled bread or sorts. Would have liked to try the Ethiopian beer, but they were out of it. The full bar makes some interesting cocktails with an Ethiopian twist. I would highly recommend this place for a fun evening with friends.

My wife and I visited San Francisco for a few days and were so impressed with the Sheba Lounge that we ate there nearly every night of our trip. The food is delicious, the music highly professional and entertaining, and the service superb. Highly recommend the Sheba Lounge!

The bar service is unsurpassed by Julian & Juan. We sat at the bar for a light dinner & drinks & could not have asked for friendlier or more attentive service. The hostess and (possibly) manager/owners were equally helpful & fun. This place is a hidden gem for drinks, food & --- have I mentioned-- awesome music?!? The band tonight 3/31/17 was super talented! It was such an unexpected night. We will be back!!

Never having eaten ethiopian food, we were looking for some place to have late dinner and to listen to some jazz music. Walking on Fillmore St. we found Sheba, where we tried great flavours and watched skilled performers jam as if they had been born to play those tunes.

We went to Sheba restaurant and Piano lounge two days ago for dinner.Got seated promptly even without a reservation .The ambiance was great and the piano music was soulful. We went for a veggie platter after having a Hakim cocktail and samosa for appetiser. The authentic Ethiopian food platter with Injera soft bread was very tasty and well presented.For desserts, ee went for Baklava and Chocolate mouss.Overall a great gastronomic experience. .

I ordered the GOMEN, a dish of sauteed collard greens and spinach, anf a side of wings. The wings were ok but paled in comparison to the Gomen. A bit dpicy but excellent taste. I would love to have it as a side for one of the other dishes but it is not available. Sheba is definately on my list to visit the next time in San Fran.

An intimate, friendly place which we discovered unexpectedly. Staff is extremely friendly and helpful, the food is amazing (Out of Africa) and the place has life music every evening, 'Keeping the Fillmore Jazz alive'! We spent a great evening ans were able to bring a 12-year old without any complications, tough the place is rather set-up for a grown-up audience.

We loved the food , the music and the friendly service. The place itself is not too cosy bit the owners and the whole team are great.

Small place but with great atmosphere and good live music. We had the shareing dishes from which the chicken dish was particarly nice. The service was efficient and friendly and made for a pleasant evening. Went on a Sunday night and was full.

We had the best waitress ever who worked for Sheba a long time but now is working somewhere else. That night she was helping out her old boss. And we were the lucky ones. Food is very good and very well presented. The only thing I didn't like are the small round tables close to the podium: very unstable and very close to each other. Asking for trouble. And yes trouble happend. Another waiter spilled a full cocktail over my wife and wed but very satisfied we left the bar. Do something about those tables and we will be back. Lovely place

Charming owner, exotic dishes, heartwarming ambience, good music - what else one would want for? Especially cool are big leather chairs next to fireplace. I just loved it!!

My wife wanted to surprise me since I love live music. We walked into Sheba and one of my favorite songs was being played by the Jazz band performing that night. I fell in love with the stress free ambiance and beautiful Ethiopian decorations. I also fell in love with their signature drink, Solomon's Swizzle. You really only need one to get you to where you need to be. The main plates are traditional Ethiopian plates that are to die for! Great customer service and I highly recommend for date night or if you're in town and you want to try something new.

I have been here a few times but mostly on weekends. Ambiance is great and as always Ethiopian food has good vegetarian options. Ambiance is 8/10, Food is 8/10 (Points cut as no eggless dessert and no Shiro Wat) and service is 8/10 (the waitress kept coming back too quickly repeatedly for taking the order) . Music was average on a weekday but much better on fri / sat night. Great place for a date / romantic dinner.

I was new to Ethiopian food and I loved it! The food seriously tasted home made. So yummy - if I could go back today I would! Ambiance was fun and they had live piano players!

Great food, lovely ambience and reasonable pricing . Go a little later ( after 730 ish) if you want to listen to the music

The jam session (Monday) was pleasant old fashioned Jazz and the food is Abyssinian, interesting and tastes good. The staff are very friendly and helpful with the menu and how to eat the food !

What a fantastic night! The whole experience was one of the best meals of our 4 week vacation. We read about this place in Australia and booked ahead - just as well... people couldn't get in. The Ethiopian food is spicy but oh sooooo delicious. The band was just awesome. But the biggest shout out was to our wonderful server who explained the menu, recommended great dishes, and made it all such a fun night. Dinner, drinks and incredible laid back jazz in a lovely cozy atmosphere for only 35 bucks a person. How good is that!

I walked by this place dozens of times and was always curious what exactly happened here. I walked in on a Sunday night thinking it was empty to find the place packed! We opted to not wait for a table and sat at the bar and ordered cocktails and a couple of appetizers. The theme is a very 70s interpretation of modern, so refreshingly unhip that it feels like a real refuge from all the pretentious eateries sprinkled throughout San Francisco. The music started a short time after we sat down and it was a very relaxed jam session of jazz and blues musicians. We were there for all of 90 minutes but it seemed as if during that time 3 or 4 other musicians came in and played a song with the band then went on their way. The music was loose and casual yet technically proficient. It was a delight to witness. The menu is Ethiopian and American. We didn't try any of the entrees but it was nice to see Tibs Wat and a hamburger on the same menu. The sirloin sambusas were delightfully spicy and rich. The meatball dish was an odd yet pleasant combination of cheesy and sweet. We tried a few of their specialty cocktails which all had an Ethiopian theme and found them delightful, the Axum was my favorite, sweet and refreshing. We capped it off with a scrumptious fudge cake split between the two of us. A fun and unexpected experience. I can't wait to do it again.

I came very late, after the kitchen closed, so I can’t speak to the Ethiopian food. I loved the dark, cozy nooks and the option to sit outside. I loved the pianist, Alicia Wan, who plays improvisational classical jazzy tunes. This is my idea of a piano bar!

I absolutely adored this place! I went alone to find it jamming on a Saturday night and took a seat at their communal table in the center. I was going for the live jazz but had the good fortune of discovering great Ethiopian cuisine. I didn't know what to order and the very welcoming hostess, who was from Ethiopia, helped me decide... the meal was so flavorful and earthy with a home cooked feel to it. This place has so much to offer... very reasonably priced fantastic food, talented musicians, a diverse clientele, a great atmosphere and totally laid back vibe! I went alone but didn't feel alone and was soon chatting with customers and musicians alike... shout out to the very entertaining Sugarman ;) I've been back twice now and they never disappoint!

I was in San Francisco for a few days and just wanted to find a place by my hotel with jazz and decent food. I ended up getting much much more than that. This was by far the best food I have had in 2017 and the music was good too. Usually I go to a jazz club and enjoy the music more than the food; in this case all I could do is focus on the food. If you never tried Ethiopian food, make sure you do here. It is served in a family style and my recommended order based on what I got is below. Enjoy! (Also, their cocktails are fanstastic) My order: VEGETARIAN SAMPLER A selection of Sheba's vegetarian dishes above $17.90 BEG ALECHA Tender pieces of lamb braised slowly in green peppers, flavored w/ Ethiopian herb sauce, ginger, rosemary & jalapeno peppers. $17.90 TIBS WAT Sauteed prime beef simmered in Berbere sauce and a touch of Nit'ir Kibe (Ethiopian purified butter) and cardamom $17.90

We were expecting a true piano lounge and instead, listened to a very mediocre reggae trio. All songs had the same beat and sounded exactly the same. We did not dine here, just wanted to listen to some good music and were sorely disappointed. Additionally, our waitress informed us immediately after delivering our drinks that she was closing out her checks, at 9:00 pm?, and we needed to pay. She stayed until we left 45 min later. We are not a check walker and were insulted. Go at your own risk. $20 for 2 lousy drinks.

I wanted interesting food and a good jazz trio, and was not disappointed. Authentic, delicious Ethiopian food. Great ambience. Only thing to watch is the spiciness of the food. Ask about the dishes, and if they say "not so spicy," still be careful. The pomegranite meatballs were delicious, and mild!

This was our first experience with Ethiopian food and we were completely blown away. The service by the owner was wonderful and humbling. We will always go back when we are in North Cali!

Best injera we've had since Ethiopia! Flavors are terrific in all the dishes, Service was outstanding. We went early for dinner with a friend and the place began to fill up soon after. Nice live music as well but the star of the night was the Great food that was served.

We were looking to go to Johnny Foleys Piano Bar but as it was closed on that evening we then googled Shebas Piano Bar and what a great place. From the moment we entered we were looked after outstandingly. Both the waitress and lady owner of the business took considerable time to explain the various dishes so we were not disappointed. The service and food were outstanding and although the piano player's interpretation of jazz was not entirely to our case his jazz was well suited for the evening and gave a relaxing feel and vibe. If we are back in San Francisco we will certainly return as it is rare that you get the level of service and attention that is provided at Shebas. It was our first experience of Abyssinian food and we thoroughly enjoyed the food which was very tasty. The owner suggested that as there were four of us that we get a combined platter with 4 different selections all of which we really enjoyed.

Searching for a great restaurant as a vegan can be challenging, but after spending about an hour exploring my options, I kept circling back to Sheba Piano Lounge. I decided to give it a try with some non-vegan family members, and I’m so glad I did! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance and decor immediately impressed us, and the staff was warm and welcoming. Even on a busy Saturday night, we were promptly seated at 7:15. Our server was attentive, quickly taking our drink orders, which arrived in no time. To start, we shared four delicious mushroom samosas that set the tone for an incredible meal. For my main course, I chose the vegetarian sampler, and let me tell you—it was perfection! Every bite was flavorful and satisfying. The drinks were equally amazing, rounding out a fantastic dining experience. The live music added to the already great atmosphere, making the evening even more enjoyable. Sheba Piano Lounge earns a solid 5 out of 5 from me, and I can’t wait to return! Great job, Sheba team!

While waiting for a show to start over at Yoshi's, we took a walk down the block and discovered this great little spot. They've got great atmosphere, the drinks are well-prepared and reasonably-priced, the food is tasty and the service is quite good. The owner interacts with the customers which is fabulous. More restaurant owners should do that. It really personalizes the restaurant experience. It's also a nice place to sit and listen to live music--cozy, comfortable and lit perfectly. n fact, it feels just like one of those cool places in the movies where you might slip away to meet your paramour for a cocktail and a little repartee--reminiscent of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca--before you discover a strange character who has been sitting at the end of the bar has been paying an inordinate amount of time glancing your way. Could he be a private detective hired by one of your partners to get the goods on the two of you? Perhaps. Alas, you may never know.

My daughter and I just parked our car in a parking garage for the weekend and were walking back to our hotel, when we spotted this little restaurant. We went inside and the ambiance was very relaxing. Low light, soft R&B music playing in the background, candles on every table. The waitress sat us right away and was very friendly. She even made suggestions. I wanted to try some Ethiopian spiced food, but she warned me that it would be very spicy, if I wasn't used to it. I can't really handle a lot of spice, so I got some kind of chicken dish and a champagne drink. I wish I could remember the names of the things I ate, because it was so delicious! The drink was unusual, but very tasty! We were too early for the live music, but I am sure it is quite nice. Our hotel was only about a block away and I wanted to come back there to eat again, but we got busy with a lot of sightseeing and never returned. I will definitely return the next time I'm in San Francisco for sure!

We stumbled upon Sheba while in search of some Jazz the other night. Boy did we luck out. Got a great seat at the long bistro table towards the front and enjoyed, drinks, dessert and some great Jazz. Servers were really friendly and helpful. Can't wait to visit again so we can try the Ethiopian cuisine.

I was recommended this restaurant by a staff member at the hotel. I had a table booked for 8-10 people, a handful had never tried Ethopian food before. We arrived and were greeted by the bartender - he was awesome in service and personality. We sat in a lounge seating area where we drank and ate the food. Everyone enjoyed the food, one guy in our group drank the Ethopian beer. The live music started and we were plesantly surprised - a guy on the piano - and he was exceptionally good - he played a couple of requests. This is a rare combination of a restaurant that has Ethopian food and live Jazz music and it was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

A sensational place in the heart of SF. Piano jazz blues Ethiopian restaurant ... how much more fusion can you get?? Great Ethiopian food, full of interesting spices. Great beer and cocktails. And some cool tunes on the piano accompanied with trumpet

We spent a bit of time trying to find a good jazz lounge on the famous Filmore Street. We were intrigued by the fact that this doubled as an Ethiopian Restaurant. I have to say we were very impressed on both fronts. The music was great – cool laidback jazz. The food was impressive and reasonably priced – we’ve tried Ethiopian a few times and this was probably the best we’ve had. Would definitely recommend.

Have been going to Sheba Lounge for over a decade now. We were all considerably shocked at how this place has declined. The crowd size was very telling too - we went on a weekend night, and the place was barely occupied. So what did we find? For starters, the entire place was very hot inside, and we were all sweating. Clearly, they were saving on their electric bill by turning off the air conditioning. There was also a pervasive stench of meat everywhere, which was quite disgusting. The food, which used to be their strong point, is no longer flavorful or tasty. The drinks were all priced at $15 or so, clearly not cheap. And the service? The bartender was rude, the waitress took over 30 minutes to get the bill, and had the temerity to add an 18% gratuity to it. Huh? Every restaurant has a shelf life. I think Sheba Lounge is clearly now exist ing past it's expiration date. They need to shut down their business, and open up the space to a restaurant that cares for its customers, and conducts business professionally!

We just happen to walk into Sheba Lounge on Fillmore Street. It was crowded but we found three seats at the bar. We ordered the Vegetarian Sampler. My girlfriend and her friend both said it was the best Ethiopian they ever had. It was my first time eating Ethiopian cuisine, and I couldn't believe how good it was. Plenty of Injera (bread used to scoop up food). The spicy cabbage was the biggest hit. The Jazz: we could actually talk while a wonderful trio played in the background. What started out as a trio quickly grew as special guests soon joined in. The atmosphere: cozy lounge areas near fireplaces at one end, regular tables on the other side of a dividing wall. It's a small place and fills up easily. The owner was helping out. She was very nice. Staff was friendly.

My first experience with Ethiopian food, and I loved it. We ordered lamb, beef, and chicken dishes, with the spongy, fermented bread. One eats with their hands, and uses the bread for scooping up the dishes. Very filling, and satisfying. The live music was an added bonus.