Comments on: Esperpento: Restaurant Info http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/ regular people review Bay Area restaurants Mon, 21 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dean http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/comment-page-1/#comment-440 Dean Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:09:10 +0000 http://mail1.kqed.org/wpmu/food/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/#comment-440 I never even made it to the restaurant. I called to make reservations for two and the woman who answered the phone curtly informed me that reservations were not necessary and promptly hung up on me. So I went elsewhere. I never even made it to the restaurant. I called to make reservations for two and the woman who answered the phone curtly informed me that reservations were not necessary and promptly hung up on me. So I went elsewhere.

]]> By: jhw http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/comment-page-1/#comment-439 jhw Thu, 13 Sep 2007 20:02:28 +0000 http://mail1.kqed.org/wpmu/food/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/#comment-439 We visited here on a Tues evening, after being intrigued by the CP-BA show. Parking-- very, very difficult; we eventually found a spot about 2.5 blocks away, which I didn't think was too bad. The place was ~80% full when we got there (7:30pm)-- had to wait briefly for a table for two. We were pleased with the meal and the value-- you had better like garlic, if you go here-- 3 of the 4 dishes we ordered had a lot of garlic in them (shrimp, artichoke slices, and grilled calamari). The calamari was the best by far-- tender and flavorful. The shrimp was swimming in butter and garlic, which, we should have expected, actually. The artichokes were also very good, but felt a little too salty (we've trained ourselves to cook at home with very little salt, so maybe our frame of reference is off). Last dish was the potato tortilla-- a great starch complement to the meal, along with the basket of bread. We're not drinkers, so the two of us ate for under $30 and felt very full. We visited here on a Tues evening, after being intrigued by the CP-BA show. Parking– very, very difficult; we eventually found a spot about 2.5 blocks away, which I didn't think was too bad. The place was ~80% full when we got there (7:30pm)– had to wait briefly for a table for two. We were pleased with the meal and the value– you had better like garlic, if you go here– 3 of the 4 dishes we ordered had a lot of garlic in them (shrimp, artichoke slices, and grilled calamari). The calamari was the best by far– tender and flavorful. The shrimp was swimming in butter and garlic, which, we should have expected, actually. The artichokes were also very good, but felt a little too salty (we've trained ourselves to cook at home with very little salt, so maybe our frame of reference is off). Last dish was the potato tortilla– a great starch complement to the meal, along with the basket of bread. We're not drinkers, so the two of us ate for under $30 and felt very full.

]]> By: Garrett http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Garrett Fri, 06 Jul 2007 23:13:39 +0000 http://mail1.kqed.org/wpmu/food/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/#comment-438 I've been enjoying tapas at Esperpento for over 8 years, and the food has been consistently good throughout. Once in a great while one dish or another may not be in its best form, but the next time it will be up to par. Although I welcome the restaurant's recently discovered success, I lament being able to stop in on any Friday night and be seated without a problem. It's great that a deserving, long-standing, family-run Mission restaurant is recognized, but it's a real drag for old timers to have to wait in line, fight the crowds, and experience a decline in food service. This is the problem with the "Check, Please" phenomena - eager foodies flood the neighborhood haunts after favorable reviews and the character of the restaurants change forever. I've been enjoying tapas at Esperpento for over 8 years, and the food has been consistently good throughout. Once in a great while one dish or another may not be in its best form, but the next time it will be up to par.

Although I welcome the restaurant's recently discovered success, I lament being able to stop in on any Friday night and be seated without a problem. It's great that a deserving, long-standing, family-run Mission restaurant is recognized, but it's a real drag for old timers to have to wait in line, fight the crowds, and experience a decline in food service. This is the problem with the "Check, Please" phenomena – eager foodies flood the neighborhood haunts after favorable reviews and the character of the restaurants change forever.

]]> By: Jess http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Jess Mon, 23 Apr 2007 19:28:18 +0000 http://mail1.kqed.org/wpmu/food/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/#comment-437 The food was yummy! BUT our server was like on break or something. The place was packed. Everyone else’s server was moving around and friendly, but ours was like non-existing. She also charged us for something that we didn’t order! I'll go back but I hope we don't get her as a server! The food was yummy! BUT our server was like on break or something. The place was packed. Everyone else’s server was moving around and friendly, but ours was like non-existing. She also charged us for something that we didn’t order! I'll go back but I hope we don't get her as a server!

]]> By: Kingston http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/comment-page-1/#comment-436 Kingston Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:25:05 +0000 http://mail1.kqed.org/wpmu/food/2007/04/05/esperpento-restaurant-info/#comment-436 One of the WORST dining experience my wife and I have had. We went there on a recent Tuesday night and was subjected to mediocre food and subpar service. The topper was the gratuitous tip the staff left for themselves. We left no tip (due to the service) but found out two days later that we were charged 15%. Went back to talk to the owner but he has yet to respond. One of the WORST dining experience my wife and I have had. We went there on a recent Tuesday night and was subjected to mediocre food and subpar service. The topper was the gratuitous tip the staff left for themselves. We left no tip (due to the service) but found out two days later that we were charged 15%. Went back to talk to the owner but he has yet to respond.

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