Comments on: The Slanted Door: Reviews http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/ regular people review Bay Area restaurants Mon, 21 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Laura http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 Laura Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:30:25 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-1399 So very disappointed in this place. I have never had such horrible service anywhere-and was shocked considering I had heard good things about this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go somewhere special for Valentine's day so we made a trip to San Francisco to go to the Slanted Door. We were unable to get a dinner reservation even at a month's advance, but since a 2pm reservation was available, we opted for a lunchtime experience. The worst part about the meal was our server. She did not welcome us or wish us a happy valentine's day, just asked us what we wanted. We decided to try a variety of things, the Vietnamese crepe, barbecued willis ranch pork spareribs, pho bo- Vietnamese beef soup, grilled lemongrass pork, and an Atlantic char fish. We were very excited, thinking that we were going to have a real treat-but no. Right after our server walked away we were presented with an unusual entree, which we couldn't tell what it was right away but knew that it was not ours. We informed the deliverer that this was not our food, so he immediately took it away, went back to the kitchen for a second, and brought it out to the table next to us. It was a good thing we didn't eat any of it! When our Vietnamese crepe arrived it was flaky and not very flavorful, accompanied by a bunch of greens that did not mesh well with the crepe at all-merely a decoration really. When we finished they cleared our station, not asking us any questions (how are things? did you like it?) and completely ignoring us. The rest of the food was not very exciting either, not bad, but just nothing special at all. Our server walked by us many times and said nothing, it was actually uncomfortable. It was not like she was even busy, there were many open tables and she had time to hang out with other employees at the service station where she talked and laughed with them-we did not get the same courtesy. To make things worse, many of the servers went behind a glass wall and sat at a table with their lunches, so we could see them sitting there eating. Our server returned to our table chewing on her lunch, said nothing, just took away our plates and presented us with our check. I was shocked, I could not believe that the entire time no one ever asked us how our food was. Even when we left, and we did leave the minimum tip, which I still question if we should have-the thing is, I used to be a chef and just feel that no tip at all is just rude-on the same level as our extremely rude and unfriendly server. Will not be returning here, was not special at all and did not feel it was worth our trip. BOOOOO Slanted Door-you suck! So very disappointed in this place. I have never had such horrible service anywhere-and was shocked considering I had heard good things about this place. My boyfriend and I wanted to go somewhere special for Valentine's day so we made a trip to San Francisco to go to the Slanted Door. We were unable to get a dinner reservation even at a month's advance, but since a 2pm reservation was available, we opted for a lunchtime experience. The worst part about the meal was our server. She did not welcome us or wish us a happy valentine's day, just asked us what we wanted. We decided to try a variety of things, the Vietnamese crepe, barbecued willis ranch pork spareribs, pho bo- Vietnamese beef soup, grilled lemongrass pork, and an Atlantic char fish. We were very excited, thinking that we were going to have a real treat-but no. Right after our server walked away we were presented with an unusual entree, which we couldn't tell what it was right away but knew that it was not ours. We informed the deliverer that this was not our food, so he immediately took it away, went back to the kitchen for a second, and brought it out to the table next to us. It was a good thing we didn't eat any of it! When our Vietnamese crepe arrived it was flaky and not very flavorful, accompanied by a bunch of greens that did not mesh well with the crepe at all-merely a decoration really. When we finished they cleared our station, not asking us any questions (how are things? did you like it?) and completely ignoring us. The rest of the food was not very exciting either, not bad, but just nothing special at all. Our server walked by us many times and said nothing, it was actually uncomfortable. It was not like she was even busy, there were many open tables and she had time to hang out with other employees at the service station where she talked and laughed with them-we did not get the same courtesy. To make things worse, many of the servers went behind a glass wall and sat at a table with their lunches, so we could see them sitting there eating. Our server returned to our table chewing on her lunch, said nothing, just took away our plates and presented us with our check.

I was shocked, I could not believe that the entire time no one ever asked us how our food was. Even when we left, and we did leave the minimum tip, which I still question if we should have-the thing is, I used to be a chef and just feel that no tip at all is just rude-on the same level as our extremely rude and unfriendly server.

Will not be returning here, was not special at all and did not feel it was worth our trip. BOOOOO Slanted Door-you suck!

]]> By: jessica payne http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-932 jessica payne Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:07:48 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-932 I took my mom there today by accident because I'd just seen the episode with Butterfly (at pier 33) and thought that this was the place (we'd forgotten the name). The food was mediocre. The glass noodles and crab was something we could have made at home (for more like 5 bucks instead of the 18 that i paid). The chocolate cake was like something you'd get from your local grocery store (not like, Whole Foods quality; more like a stop and shop or a safeway or lucky's. The halibut was fresh, but bland. We eat Vietnamese food pretty frequently. If you want good Vietnamese, go to The Vo's or Le Cheval in Oakland. Or just stop by your local Pho shop. It'll be much better (and less expensive) than this joke of a place. Nice views though. OH! And I certainly didn't mind paying 22 bucks for the EXCELLENT Hors d'oeuvre we had (chilled oysters and grilled lamb sausage). Now that was good food! I don't know what they were thinking when they made the main courses. They must have switched chefs on us or something. I took my mom there today by accident because I'd just seen the episode with Butterfly (at pier 33) and thought that this was the place (we'd forgotten the name).

The food was mediocre. The glass noodles and crab was something we could have made at home (for more like 5 bucks instead of the 18 that i paid). The chocolate cake was like something you'd get from your local grocery store (not like, Whole Foods quality; more like a stop and shop or a safeway or lucky's. The halibut was fresh, but bland.

We eat Vietnamese food pretty frequently. If you want good Vietnamese, go to The Vo's or Le Cheval in Oakland. Or just stop by your local Pho shop. It'll be much better (and less expensive) than this joke of a place.

Nice views though. OH! And I certainly didn't mind paying 22 bucks for the EXCELLENT Hors d'oeuvre we had (chilled oysters and grilled lamb sausage). Now that was good food! I don't know what they were thinking when they made the main courses. They must have switched chefs on us or something.

]]> By: Connie http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-931 Connie Sat, 31 Jul 2010 01:52:42 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-931 I agree with Theo. I had lunch there. I'm not Vietnamese but I love Vietnamese food. Our waiter was very professional, but the food was mediocre. I had the glass noodles with crab. It was tasty, but I could have gotten them at any Viet restaurant in Oakland for less than half the $18 I paid. My daughter had the halibut ($24) and it was on the dry side. The chocolate cake with cream on top was nothing special and at $9, we were expecting at least a whole foods quality chocolate dessert. We did have an excellent appetizer, mesquite grilled lamb sausage and kusshi oysters, with chinese black olive and preserved lemon relish. It was so good I found the menu online so I could give the full name. The lamb was succulent, the relish was delicious and the raw oysters had what I took to be a lemon, daikon, chives and caviar dressing on them. Perfection! I agree with Theo. I had lunch there. I'm not Vietnamese but I love Vietnamese food. Our waiter was very professional, but the food was mediocre. I had the glass noodles with crab. It was tasty, but I could have gotten them at any Viet restaurant in Oakland for less than half the $18 I paid. My daughter had the halibut ($24) and it was on the dry side. The chocolate cake with cream on top was nothing special and at $9, we were expecting at least a whole foods quality chocolate dessert. We did have an excellent appetizer, mesquite grilled lamb sausage and kusshi oysters, with chinese black olive and preserved lemon relish. It was so good I found the menu online so I could give the full name. The lamb was succulent, the relish was delicious and the raw oysters had what I took to be a lemon, daikon, chives and caviar dressing on them. Perfection!

]]> By: Le http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-597 Le Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:40:41 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-597 Thao Tran - don't be a hater. This is a lovely restaurant. Why is it the norm to spend over $100 per person for European food but not for Vietnamese food? Slanted Door provides a great ambiance for a lovely and civilized dining experience with Vietnamese food - and it IS Viet food, evolved Viet food which includes quality meats and fresh local/organic ingredients. Eating shouldn't just be merely about food - we are civilized people after all, it's the entire experience which includes nice presentation of the food, service by properly trained servers, and drinks which round out everything. So stop being such a hater. Thao Tran – don't be a hater. This is a lovely restaurant. Why is it the norm to spend over $100 per person for European food but not for Vietnamese food? Slanted Door provides a great ambiance for a lovely and civilized dining experience with Vietnamese food – and it IS Viet food, evolved Viet food which includes quality meats and fresh local/organic ingredients. Eating shouldn't just be merely about food – we are civilized people after all, it's the entire experience which includes nice presentation of the food, service by properly trained servers, and drinks which round out everything. So stop being such a hater.

]]> By: Thao Tran http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-594 Thao Tran Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:07:46 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-594 Not so Vietnamese, "Vietnamese" food for the not so Vietnamese people who don't know better. Not so Vietnamese, "Vietnamese" food for the not so Vietnamese people who don't know better.

]]> By: ERIKA http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-595 ERIKA Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:05:23 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-595 My daughter is a vegeterian in a household of non vegeterians. This is one of our favorite restaurants to go to where we can all enjoy the food. We have tried many dishes here and loved them all. My daughter is a vegeterian in a household of non vegeterians. This is one of our favorite restaurants to go to where we can all enjoy the food. We have tried many dishes here and loved them all.

]]> By: Vic http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/comment-page-1/#comment-596 Vic Fri, 02 May 2008 20:33:46 +0000 http://blogs.kqed.org/checkplease/2008/04/25/the-slanted-door-reviews/#comment-596 My wife and I went there 4 days ago and we both agree the food is mundane. The clay pot chicken was way too salty. The papya salad was mediocre at best. The chilled jumbo shrimp was spongy. I got the seafood plate with rice noodles. The seafood looked like it was bought from lucky's in their seafood variety pack. I've had better spring rolls at the mom and pop viet restaurant down the street. The only good think food wise was the spinach. On a plus note the staff was very good and attentive. Overall an inflated price for very mediocre food. My wife and I went there 4 days ago and we both agree the food is mundane. The clay pot chicken was way too salty. The papya salad was mediocre at best. The chilled jumbo shrimp was spongy. I got the seafood plate with rice noodles. The seafood looked like it was bought from lucky's in their seafood variety pack. I've had better spring rolls at the mom and pop viet restaurant down the street. The only good think food wise was the spinach. On a plus note the staff was very good and attentive. Overall an inflated price for very mediocre food.

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