Hawthrone Lane--CLOSED

I went to Two recently with a large group, I haven't been there since it was Hawthorne Lane. The specialty cocktails were very nice, unfortunately they were out of the one we really wanted. Many of the things they had listed on their website they were not serving. The food was excellent, I had Monterrey Sardines, then Lamb Sugo Parpadelle, and for dessert Blueberry Jam filled Donut Holes. The bar and decor were very nice. Many of the guests were VERY loud. Overall we had a very nice time. more

Celebrate the Double Gold winners of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition at a special dinner hosted by noted wine & spirits personality Anthony Dias Blue and The Tasting Panel Magazine. Enjoy a welcome reception tasting of 20-30 Double Gold wines and spirits, followed by a dinner paired with Best in Show winners at TWO Restaurant, a dramatic new restaurant concept in the former Hawthorne Lane space. Executive Chef Bridget Batson and Proprietor David Gingrass will prepare an exclusive menu paired with a selection of Double Gold winners. Mr. Blue will provide a course-by-course narrative.\r \r Tickets: $250 (wine, tax and gratuity included) \r Payment by American Express preferred.\r To order: 800-338-7819 ext 4\r more

We did the chef's table here one night and it was an amazing experience! If you can get in, give it a try (but you can't be a picky eater). the bar drinks were great and the restaurant is very ambient. I can't wait to go back and try the dining room next time. Great for dates or a group. Pros: great atmosphere more

Lately, my husband and I have been experiencing some disappointments in SF, keeping us within the safety of the same handful of restaurants. We know this is no way to live in a city like ours, so last night we braved the night again and ventured to Two. I'm so happy to say, we have finally found another favorite. First, the service. We arrived 10 minutes late for our reservation, but the hostess was gracious and seated us within minutes. Our server was very friendly, warm, knowledgeable and attentive, but not overbearing in any way. She was very patient as it took us long to decide what to select from their fantastic menu - it all looked very appealing. Our water glasses were never empty and plates were cleared swiftly as needed. The room - cozy, yet very stylish. Now the food - it's ala carte, but make no mistake, the portions are generous. To start, my husband had the hearts of romaine salad, very fresh and crisp. He also had the steak burger, which he said was juicy and tasty. I had a pizza with duck confit, carmelized onions, crispy sage and fontina - rich and delicious. I could only eat a few slices, it was not tiny. In fact, we could have shared the pizza and a salad and be perfectly satisifed. But I digress. We also ordered a side of grilled radicchio with pancetta and balsamic vinaigrette - a delicious and savory combination of flavors and textures. We ended with a margarita sundae - vanilla ice cream topped with a lime granita and tequila caramel sauce and a cookie crust throughout. Cool, creamy and oh-so-good. The wine list is quite extensive. They have a well-rounded selection of wines by the glass. I had a luscious chardonnay. My husband had a big, spicy shiraz. We were enjoying Two so much, we decided to move over to the bar after dinner and linger for a while. The bartenders were very friendly. We chatted it up with Andrew until closing. Upon departure, we were bid farewell with smiles from everyone. We look forward to returning again very soon. Pros: great food, great atmosphere, great service, great wine list Cons: umm..the light over my head was a little bright, but that's all I can think of. more

Perhaps this hippity-hop new establishment needs to work out the kinks, but waiting over an hour for our reserved table was a bit much to ask. We were told that our table ""was finishing up dessert,"" but can dessert really take an hour? True, they tried to extend an olive branch by offering each of the four of us a glass of champagne, but it seemed more like an obligation than a conciliatory measure. We would have been better off going elsewhere, as the food was certainly not worth the wait. The hearts of romaine salad came swimming in dressing, the fried calamari was soft and mushy, rather than light and crispy, the chopped vegetable salad was pretty, but looked wilted and overdressed. For our main dishes, we suffered through an overcooked, tasteless $10 burger that was supposed to be seasoned like beef tartare and was requested to be cooked medium rare. It came with a mystery yellow sauce smeared across the stale bun and the traditional set-up of tomatoes, onion, iceberg lettuce and sweet pickles. Very uninspiring. Perhaps it was a bad choice, but when the menu raves that it's ""Luis' famous burger"", it seems worth trying. 21st Amendment has a burger 21x better, and doesn't tout it as ""famous"". The sea bass was over-salted, the pan-seared chicken was served in a stylish cast-iron skillet, but looked like it had been seared for a week. The duck confit pizza was probably the only dish worth eating, as it was the only dish to be finished. The service, while friendly, did not show much menu knowledge and was flighty and inconsistent. The only thing that didn't require an enormous wait, was the delivery of the bill. Unless you enjoy long waits for below average food, take my two cents and spend it elsewhere. Two bad. Pros: Interesting lights Cons: Everything else more