Zarzuela

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2000 Hyde St (at at Union)
San Francisco, CA 94109

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(415) 346-0800
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Zarzuela - San Francisco, CA
Zarzuela - San Francisco, CA
Zarzuela - San Francisco, CA
Zarzuela - San Francisco, CA
Zarzuela - San Francisco, CA
Reviews
( 22 )
( 9 )
( 4 )
( 2 )
( 0 )

Best

Having passed Zarzuela on the Hyde St. Cable Car for the past two years, it was finally time to heed the raves from locals on the Cable Car. We met our friends from Portola Valle...

Worst

Everything was mediocre, if that. The pisto was the only redeeming dish. They ran out of potatoes. The service was par. The place is cute. I really don't get the hype. Price...

Best Spanish in town!! 8/22/2004

I've been to Zarzuela easily 10+ times with my husband and it is truly the best tapas place in town. I've lived in Spain before, so I can say it is truly authentic. The delicious tapas my favorite gambas al ajillo ""garlic shrimp"", pan con tomate y jamon serrano and the chicken croquettes. Hmmmm to die for! Don't leave without trying their fabolous sangria. Yummy fruity, spicy winy. Delicious. I highly recommend this to my friends. Pros: Good prices, Excellent Food more
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Paella heaven, BEST SERVICE 7/19/2004

The best paella in the city. Great selection of tapas, with can't miss chorizo and try the pepper dish (several varieties of lil green peppers, I forgot the name but describe it they'll knwo what you mean, it's a seasonal special so). And by far the BEST WAITER in San Francisco. Our waiter, can't remember his name but we seem to get him every time (middle aged gentleman), is amazingly helpful and knows every dish on the menu and can articulate the flavor and texture experiences with ease. Even on their busiest nights he makes you feel like you are his only table. He should conduct a clinic on service. Pros: waiter is fantastic, chorizo!, paella more
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Perfect 7/11/2004

This is my favorite restaurant in the city. Everytime I come here, the service and food are exceptional. My boyfriend and I even brought his parents here and they loved it as well. The tapas and sangria are the best in the city and the prices are great. Throw in a great atmosphere and you have an absolutely wonderful experience. Pros: food, price, service more
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Yummy!! 7/1/2004

The seafood selection is really fresh. Really liked the prawns, scallops and fish dishes. The complementary olives and bread basket was a great touch. Liked the different flavors of olives with cinnamon added to the brine. Service was pleasant and attentive. However, parking sucks. Valet or cab! Pros: Great food, Service Cons: , No reservations more
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Had a good time, nice place, but.... 5/19/2004

Arrived late on a weekday night so seating was prompt and service good. Had a seat near the window where views of the passing cable cars and quiet neighborhood put a nice touch to the meal. Ordered the paella with a few small tapas. Overall the food was good but nothing special. The sangria was a bit watered down. The bread and freebie olives were good with the olive oil dip being the best part of the meal. I recommend this place as a one time try out but I dont think I would be going back unless I ran out new tapa places to try out in SF. Pros: Ambience, Service, Menu choices Cons: , Mediocore food, weak drink (sangria) more
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what's all the hype about? 1/28/2004

I went with a large group of people so I was able to sample a fair number of tapas, and frankly I thought the food was pretty mediocre. Nothing was particularly great, and some of the tapas were even a bit bland. The paella and sangria weren't bad, and the servers were very nice, though a bit slow. I was impressed by the creativity of the Mango Sherbert Cheesecake which actually blends sherbert and cheesecake for a very unique and pretty tasty dessert. The flan was pretty good as well. Overall, I don't see what the hype is all about over this place. Pros: nice servers, good bread more
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Bravo! 10/31/2003

Great food, great prices, lovely service, friendly atmosphere, NEVER disapoints! Thank you for staying year after year in Russian Hill - you are a gem, Zarzuela! Pros: atmosphere, prices, service more
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Great Tapas!! 4/11/2003

I've been to several different tapas restaurant and this is by far the best I have eaten in the bay area. The waiter was a sweetheart to us and the food was great. It's a must try, especially the dishes with goat cheese. Pros: Great food Cons: Parking, Wait - weekend more
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Wonderful experience 3/11/2003

Me and my boyfriend went here and couldn't wait to come back! We ate enough for a group of people and even though we were stuffed, the food was so good we ordered more. The service was just as good as the food . . . amazing experience Pros: service, food more
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Appalled at the Service 10/20/2002

I will not return to this restaurant. My date and I arrived at Zarzuela's at 7:30pm Friday, and were told to wait about 45 minutes. People who arrived after us were seated before us, and we finally got seated at 9. Even when the host said we were the next party, another group got seated first. Then it took about 20 minutes to get our order, and the waiter forgot multiple items. Zarzuela's was a terrible disappointment -- don't go unless you're a personal friend of the owner and can some decent treatment. more
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Anything less than a 10 rating is a joke 10/17/2002

I highly recommend Zarzuelas!!! An ex-girlfriend of mine introduced me to this restauarant back in 1998 and I have been coming back ever since. With respect to the food, I tend to lean toward the tapas (e.g., Gambas al Ajilio). They are simply the best! As for wine, you can't leave without drinking a carafe of their sangria (i.e., nectar of the Gods). Be careful, you'll be sure to slip into nirvana. As for the service, you will not find a better crew. They are engaging, polite, and fast. Enjoy! Pros: Tapas and Sangria, Service, Vibe Cons: No parking, No reservations more
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Perfect evening 10/10/2002

After walking out of an empty Fina Estampa (very disappointed after the reviews), we taxied over to Zarzuela. Wow. Our waitperson was fantastic. We had spicy grilled shrimp, grilled lamb tenders, potato, spanish sausage, and a stuffed mushrooms special, accompanied by a half bottle of Novarro chardonnay. Food was fantastic, service was attentive, and Swensen's Ice Cream is jsut across the road for desert. Will DEFINITELY return. No complaints except that the time sped by and it was all too soon to leave. Pros: Service, Inexpensive more
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Great Dining Experience 9/27/2002

This place is the best and is one of the best Spanish restaurants in the Bay Area. Whatever you order you can't go wrong. The only thing I would recommend is that you go extremely early as the place fills up fast. Pros: GREAT food, GREAT selection, GOOD value Cons: No parking, Always crowded more
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BEST TAPAS IN TOWN 9/13/2002

Trust me, disregard the other ratings. This place is simply WONDERFUL. Everything on the menu is brilliant - and the sangria is perfect. Get there early - for there is always a wait - but it's well worth it. My favorites - the paella, the octopus and of course, dessert! Pros: Wonderful Food, Fun more
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There are much better tapas out there! 9/6/2002

Everything was mediocre, if that. The pisto was the only redeeming dish. They ran out of potatoes. The service was par. The place is cute. I really don't get the hype. Prices were ok. But the food-it was like cafeteria or cruise tapas. Really. Go to Lorca, Charanga, even like Picarro or Esperanto for a zillion times better taste, portions, selection, and sangria. I won't be spending my pesos there again. Not even for the pisto... more
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AUTHENTIC FOOD AUTHENTIC ATMOSPHERE 6/24/2002

Have been to this restuarants a handful of times and the servicve has always been pretty good. The food is always served hot and the waiters make good recommendations but never **push** anything on you. When they think you have ordered too much , they tell you because one can get carried away with ordering tapas! The food has always come out hot and good! Definitely recommend this place to friends or even groups! more
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Great tapas and service! 6/17/2002

Wonderful place great food. The Veal is very tasty!If you go ask for Artuto the waiter, he really cares about the food and the customers. Great place!! Pros: great food, on hyde cable line more
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Menu for Zarzuela


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    The blazing-yellow awning at the corner of Hyde and Union makes a perfect entry to this rococo restaurant. The dining room is painted with bright yellows and reds, offset by...

  • 12/7/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Tuesday To Thursday From 05:30 PM To 10:00 PM Friday To Saturday From 05:30 PM To 10:30 PM
  • Payments: Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Northeast, Russian Hill
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