This place is very sweet. It is located in a charming corner building in the equally charming neighborhood of Russian Hill and has all the qualities you want in a neighborhood restaurant. I am not always able to eat much at Spanish restaurants because I do not eat meat or seafood, but the chicken entree and the various appetizers provided more than enough options. Whatever the chicken was roasted in was so delicious, I would return just for that. The service was perfect. It has a sociable atmosphere but is not too loud, and it is right across from Swenson's ice cream parlor, a longstanding SF ice cream venue. We opted to go there for dessert, but we'll definitely try Abrazo's desserts next time we come.
Excellent food prep, presentation & staff. The paella was the best we have had. As good as we remember having in Spain, several years ago. The small plates (salad, bread & octopus), were also excellent.
Laudye Naessens
Top I came with my children a culinary joy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brad Andrews
Delicious, up-to-date Spanish food and drinks with a friendly atmosphere. Great neighborhood vibe.
Sinem Altunbas
We had an amazing experience at Abrazo with our friends! We tried a lot of tapas and all of them were simply delicious. I would particularly recommend the charred octopus, croquetas, albondigas, and gambas. The paella was exceptional, it was one of the best I have ever had in the States. I enjoyed my Rioja a lot. The restaurant had a very lovely vibe and it reminded me of the restaurants in Madrid. The people were kind and the service was excellent. So, I would recommend Abraza to anyone around.
This was our first visit to Abrazo and loved the experience. We had a hungry group of 4 so we were able to sample many of the delicious items on the menu. The homemade bread with olives, croquetas, octopus, prawns, patatas, roasted carrots, meatballs, and baccala (sp? salted fish stew) were all delicious and perfect to share. We also split the roasted chicken and paella entrees, both of which were delicious. The cocktails were excellent thanks to Johnny at the bar, and the wine list was also excellent. The service was wonderful and the food came out in a steady but relaxing cadence so we could fully enjoy the meal.
This is not an authentic Spanish restaurant. They serve New York strip, and the paella has mayonnaise on it. the food is not good at all, very salty. Avoid it if you want Spanish food.
Kentucky
This is an MMJ review! I have previously praised the Abrazo menu and wine list. The combination of small plates and excellent entrees is a core strength of the restaurant. But the addition of Mike, Maggie and Jerry (MMJ) is the secret sauce that takes Abrazo to the highest level. These three work seamlessly as a team and yet their individual personalities shine though to every patron.The result is a dining experience that is rare; unobtrusive, friendly and professional. Great job MMJ!
By far my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. I love knowing I can bring friends or recommend it knowing the entire menu is high quality. Don't miss the octopus, ahi, albondigas, croquetas, steak and chicken! And a G&T!
Thomas McKinstry
Cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and amazing tapas! The we charred octopus and gambas were the stars of the show! Impressive wine list too!
Apparently their drinks menu is good.That would make sense, because I would need some hard liquor to swallow a mediocre selection of appetizers and mains.Hyperbole aside, there are things to like about Abrazo, but the price to quality ratios are not one of them.17 Washingtons for three little scoops of bone marrow should be all anyone has to know about this establishment, but their Spanish paella was fairly good , and their other dishes were serviceable, so is it worth its price?Is anything worth its price?I don't think anything good ever comes out of answering those kind of questions. For Abrazo's other aspects, there wasn't much of a question; their service was perfect and the atmosphere both at its front and in the restaurant's hole-in-the-wall inner rooms was charming, in a Maquis-guerilla-fighter-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War sort of way. It really elevated the otherwise lackluster food.After we finished, a kind old lady stopped us and told us she really loved the place, so your mileage may vary; I certainly know ours did.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
ClaudiaC
Their small plates are excellent as well as their cocktails! Their setting and ambiance are classic SF with the cable car rolling by. Take public transit if you can. Parking is very difficult.
Kentucky
Ralph Waldo Emerson says “ Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” But for restaurants like Abrazo consistency of excellent service, food and overall ambience are the good standard. And Mike and his team deliver every time. We were four on a cool February evening. We were welcomed like old friends, food and service was fabulous. Emerson had it wrong and Abrazo has it right.
PhillipR
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, lovely setting. The owner/chef checked in several times, offered expertise on the menu items, all of which are his. Parking tough, but worth the effort.
andrewf
A true neighborhood gem! We had 4 small plates and a main and everything was excellent. Better yet, the proprietor sent us extra Bone marrow when he overheard us joking that the dish was 'more bone than marrow". The service was great, the crowd was festive. We will be back!
This place is very sweet. It is located in a charming corner building in the equally charming neighborhood of Russian Hill and has all the qualities you want in a neighborhood restaurant. I am not always able to eat much at Spanish restaurants because I do not eat meat or seafood, but the chicken entree and the various appetizers provided more than enough options. Whatever the chicken was roasted in was so delicious, I would return just for that. The service was perfect. It has a sociable atmosphere but is not too loud, and it is right across from Swenson's ice cream parlor, a longstanding SF ice cream venue. We opted to go there for dessert, but we'll definitely try Abrazo's desserts next time we come.
Excellent food prep, presentation & staff. The paella was the best we have had. As good as we remember having in Spain, several years ago. The small plates (salad, bread & octopus), were also excellent.
Top I came with my children a culinary joy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious, up-to-date Spanish food and drinks with a friendly atmosphere. Great neighborhood vibe.
We had an amazing experience at Abrazo with our friends! We tried a lot of tapas and all of them were simply delicious. I would particularly recommend the charred octopus, croquetas, albondigas, and gambas. The paella was exceptional, it was one of the best I have ever had in the States. I enjoyed my Rioja a lot. The restaurant had a very lovely vibe and it reminded me of the restaurants in Madrid. The people were kind and the service was excellent. So, I would recommend Abraza to anyone around.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Paella Individual, Croquetas, Charred Octopus, Meatballs, Grilled Octopus
This was our first visit to Abrazo and loved the experience. We had a hungry group of 4 so we were able to sample many of the delicious items on the menu. The homemade bread with olives, croquetas, octopus, prawns, patatas, roasted carrots, meatballs, and baccala (sp? salted fish stew) were all delicious and perfect to share. We also split the roasted chicken and paella entrees, both of which were delicious. The cocktails were excellent thanks to Johnny at the bar, and the wine list was also excellent. The service was wonderful and the food came out in a steady but relaxing cadence so we could fully enjoy the meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Croquette, Seafood Paella Individual, Neuronal House Bread, Croquetas, Roasted Chicken, Meatballs, Grilled Octopus, Roasted Carrots
This is not an authentic Spanish restaurant. They serve New York strip, and the paella has mayonnaise on it. the food is not good at all, very salty. Avoid it if you want Spanish food.
This is an MMJ review! I have previously praised the Abrazo menu and wine list. The combination of small plates and excellent entrees is a core strength of the restaurant. But the addition of Mike, Maggie and Jerry (MMJ) is the secret sauce that takes Abrazo to the highest level. These three work seamlessly as a team and yet their individual personalities shine though to every patron.The result is a dining experience that is rare; unobtrusive, friendly and professional. Great job MMJ!
By far my favorite restaurant in the neighborhood. I love knowing I can bring friends or recommend it knowing the entire menu is high quality. Don't miss the octopus, ahi, albondigas, croquetas, steak and chicken! And a G&T!
Cozy atmosphere, attentive service, and amazing tapas! The we charred octopus and gambas were the stars of the show! Impressive wine list too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Charred Octopus
Restaurantji Recommends
Apparently their drinks menu is good.That would make sense, because I would need some hard liquor to swallow a mediocre selection of appetizers and mains.Hyperbole aside, there are things to like about Abrazo, but the price to quality ratios are not one of them.17 Washingtons for three little scoops of bone marrow should be all anyone has to know about this establishment, but their Spanish paella was fairly good , and their other dishes were serviceable, so is it worth its price?Is anything worth its price?I don't think anything good ever comes out of answering those kind of questions. For Abrazo's other aspects, there wasn't much of a question; their service was perfect and the atmosphere both at its front and in the restaurant's hole-in-the-wall inner rooms was charming, in a Maquis-guerilla-fighter-in-the-Spanish-Civil-War sort of way. It really elevated the otherwise lackluster food.After we finished, a kind old lady stopped us and told us she really loved the place, so your mileage may vary; I certainly know ours did.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Their small plates are excellent as well as their cocktails! Their setting and ambiance are classic SF with the cable car rolling by. Take public transit if you can. Parking is very difficult.
Ralph Waldo Emerson says “ Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” But for restaurants like Abrazo consistency of excellent service, food and overall ambience are the good standard. And Mike and his team deliver every time. We were four on a cool February evening. We were welcomed like old friends, food and service was fabulous. Emerson had it wrong and Abrazo has it right.
Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, lovely setting. The owner/chef checked in several times, offered expertise on the menu items, all of which are his. Parking tough, but worth the effort.
A true neighborhood gem! We had 4 small plates and a main and everything was excellent. Better yet, the proprietor sent us extra Bone marrow when he overheard us joking that the dish was 'more bone than marrow". The service was great, the crowd was festive. We will be back!