I love Esperpento! Their lunch specials are cheap and good. I use to work in the area and whenever I wanted something light - the grilled chicken plate saved me! I would definitely recommend. I will return soon to try the paella! Definitely come here for lunch. The sangria is also amazing by the way! read more

The food is amazing and the staff is very nice! Love the Parrillada and all the tapas. It's very authentic. read more

This is my favorite spot in the city. Sure, it's not perfect- but damn. I've had MANY parties, dinners and at one point, dates at this spot. It's best to order a paella in advance (40 mins) and then get a ton of tapas. I recommend: - Chicken croquettes - Potato pancake - Batatas bravas - Artichoke - Calamari - Morcilla (blood sausage) - Quite literally anything on the menu is delicious Also- do yourself a favor and get a pitcher (or three) of sangria read more

My husband and I LOVE this place! When in the city, we try to come here for paella, tapas and sangria. It is a very small cute place with great service. The neighborhood....ehh...but so worth the trip! We had the kids with us this time so we couldn't order our regular spicy dishes. We decided on both the seafood paella and the squid ink paella since we were also with another couple and their toddler. Order those right away because as stated in the menu, it can take 30 mins to come out. It is well worth the wait! And do yourself a favor, get the sangria to go with it! Great sangria! I dream about it often. Between the two paellas, we liked the squid ink a tiny bit more than the seafood, which was surprising to us because we love seafood. For the kids we got the garlic chicken and potatoes with garlic sauce. The chicken melts in your mouth. Kids loved it. Of course being kids they wanted French fries, so the closest thing we could find were potatoes. They were excellent potatoes! I wish we could have ordered more, but trying to wrangle my kids while eating is quite a feat! LoL If anyone thinks there's a better tapas place, please let me know! For now, this is my go to spot! read more

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We were only a table of two and were barely attended to they just left the plate of food and left. Then the waitress complained for more tip saying we needed to tip more. How bout actually provide service if you want a proper tip. Rude women she should be fired. read more

Came here for my third time in the last few months last week. Something was just off they were super busy and luckily we got seated right away. We started with the mushrooms and garlic tapa which was great but everything that we ordered was super salty that night. Like wayyyyyyyyyyyyy to salty. We had the chicken and garlic dish along with the potatoes brava and several other small tapas all of which it seemed had been salted way too much. read more

Whatca fabulous place! Delicious food! Big portions! Attentive staff! I will be back!

Great food, but beware of tip theft. If you read through the Yelp reviews, you will see many folks complain about poor service and yet when they give a low tip on the payment slip, they will be confronted by the management demanding a higher tip, or that a higher than expected charge comes through at the credit card company. I took a pic of my signed receipt a couple of days ago, and sure enough, when I checked my credit card after processing, the waitress had given herself an 18% tip. Pay with cash and show up early. If they confront you, call the police, because tip theft is wrong. Much too bad, because the food really is good, they could run a good business. read more

How have I not reviewed this place? I've only been a regular for 12 years now. It has a really cozy, laid back vibe and the food is always on point. Also a great variety from which to choose from. Favorite tapas are chorizo sausage, blood sausage and anchovies. read more

Amazing Spanish food and great service. We've been going to this restaurant for 25 years and it's our family favorite in San Francisco. Very reasonable for SF. So glad they have remained open through the pandemic. Love this restaurant. Cheers. read more

Food was delicious, the sangria was yummy and on HH!! Service was quick, loved that we were not rushed, felt very nice to be able to hang out and eat a slower pace since we were having dinner with family. Really appreciated that. The vibes are cute, nice and cozy space. read more

The food was ok. We were seated (four of us) and told we had to be done by 7pm because they had a reservation coming. I've never been a restaurant that talked to clients like this (it was 5:30pm). We ordered patatas bravas and jamon serrano and ropa vieja which were good but the garlic shrimp we ordered were overcooked and not deveined. The main course we ordered was paella carne for four. It was ok but hard to enjoy because the waitress brought out a portion for 6 and insisted we pay for it even though it was her error. So we were charged for two extra portions we never ordered. I asked for a refill on water three times but didn't get any until after the meal when we were told they needed us to leave because they needed to seat the reservation. Then they added a $24 tip themselves to the bill. Like many other reviewers have stated this is THEFT. They ruined what would have been a nice evening for our party. I would strongly recommend folks steer clear of this place all together. I would give this place zero stars if it was possible. read more

Everything is yummy. Great for vegetarians who like cheese. Super yummy and sweet sangria. The bread and aioli that comes with everything is absolutely perfect. I try to come here as often as I can read more

great food, generous portions and relatively reasonably priced for SF. Good quality tapas even in take out.

nice little place for our birthday dinner. came here bc it had good reviews, and the food was very good. would recommend the crispy potatoes with spicy sauce, very delicious. wine is also a good addition to the meal. nice service and nice workers. would come again and would recommend. they have a doggie that came to say hi too! read more

Esperpento - crispy potatoes with spicy sauce, eggplant with onions, and potato/onion/cheese omelette - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love their paella and tapas! I prefer the peppers and the sauté calimari! Service is friendly and very accommodating. Excellent beer imported from Barcelona too! read more

We walked in because there was other business We were doing around the area. We had some tapas, quail, artichoke and we ordered as a main plate mariscada. We were four of us, the service amazing friendly and food completely speechless... delicious and the amount of food more than worth the price! This is a gem in the Mission District. read more

Excellent service with delicious food. We celebrated Mother's Day. I would recommend this place.

Love this place and the food. Priced well. Nonpretentious and they are accommodating. Lobster paella, garlic shrimp, oxtail, calamari, all were delicious, and of course the sangria! read more

This is such a great restaurant with great food and such a big verity of choice menu! We been coming to this restaurant for years and food still awesome! read more

I went to eat there last Saturday with my family and my mother-in law. There was this busser guy with long black hair to the shoulders, who came with our water and sangria and bread. This time the bread was hard we later thanks to the waitress found out that it was the bakery who was different but my mother-in law ask-this guy who was super rude-for softer bread since she likes it that way and the guy ask her if the bread was for her or my 8 months old baby. Super rude of him to ask her that instead of just handing some new bread or just explaining to her that the bread will be the same. It was a very unpleasant moment and awkward for all of us. read more

Food was excellent, service was excellent. The only issue is that the owner will not allow the heating lamps to be on outside before 5pm. So we were all very very cold. We could not go inside because some of the people were not vaccinated. They said that it's a city ordinance that the heating lamp cannot be on before 5pm. Of course we all know that's not true. There is no such city ordinance. read more

I'm a big fan of seafood, especially lobster. So when my friend Daniel L. suggested that I try their popular Lobster Paella, I knew I had to check this place out before leaving SF. I love my paellas, whether it be the traditional Valenciana or the Mixta (meat & seafood, the best of both worlds!). I've been craving for a paella fix for quite some time since my last binge, the added tapas menu sealed the deal for me. We made reservations on my last night in SF. Our reservation was for 7:45pm but we had to wait a while because our table was still occupied. No biggie, I was still stuffed from my snack a couple hours earlier at Hog Island Oyster Co. Our server was very apologetic & even gave us free Sangria for the wait, sweet! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=jZq2dxyRcUoJfO78-c4rhQ Overall, the food was okay. There were a couple items that I liked & would probably order again. But the overall experience and 30min wait for the paella left me a bit disappointed. Everyone was done with their appetizers and entrees, but I was still waiting on my paella. The restaurant is not that big, pretty crowded w/tables being closely spaced, to the point that my chair would get kicked by servers during passing (I even got an elbow to the shoulder as one server was carrying plates of food pass me). My point: There's just no room for an in-your-face Mariachi band. Street performers needs to be just that, street performers. Yes, Esperpento lets this Mariachi band in to play music (per some of the regular patrons). Free entertainment for the restaurant. I don't mind them playing music, but when it's blaring right next to my ears and raining spit while I'm eating....that's when I get irritated. The worst part is that they rudely walked around to each of us at our table & shoved their tip bag in our faces, saying nothing more than "tip please"... WTF?! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=HE6VEuaHiQjV2zXNnNhBww Okay, now that I've got that out of my system, let's talk food. I'll start with the good (indicated w/ *): * MEJILLONES A LA VINAIGRETTE ($6) Steamed mussels in a spicy-garlicky butter sauce. The sweet shallots & chili flakes complimented the very plump, well-cooked mussels. I should've ordered 2 of these. I also wished that there were bread to sop up all of that goodness on the bottom of the bowl. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=1WsMI5GslpqXbI4oiE8_nQ * ALCACHOFAS A LA PLANCHA ($5.50): Thinly sliced artichokes are grilled with garlic and parsley. My 2nd favorite dish of the night. The artichoke was nicely charred and crisp, the perfect salty-garlicky treat! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=I0vZXzmJZ7dIvAz-6Xy0mg * CALAMARES A LA PLANCHA ($6.50) Tender calamari pieces were tossed in an olive oil/garlic/parsley mixture & grilled to perfection. So tender! The grilled onions & tomatoes lacked seasoning, a pinch of salt would've made it perfect. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=WqgbuGA270_uGnUJXyd5Fw CALAMARES FRITOS ($6.50) You all know how much I love my fried calamari, I couldn't pass this up. Wish I did though because it was a soggy-greasy mess. I prefer my fried calamari to be crisp and not soft. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=2xCaESzL1G46CYLw79RJ2w PAELLA DE LA LANGOSTA/LOBSTER PAELLA ($28 for a portion big enough for 2, $50 for 4 people & $75 for 6): Ours had 2 small lobster tails (split into 4 halves), clams, calamari & peas. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=ruJ0AaBcoJjfsl4_PX_x0Q This was suppose to be my entree. It was the last to arrive bc it took more than 30mins, so by then we were all done with everything else & just sat around waiting. It turned out to be a disappointing dish, not worth the wait. The lobster tails were overcooked & dry. It was funny to see some of us fighting to get the meat out from the shell, it was pretty tough & stringy! The calamari was thin, it's like chewing on rubber bands. In this pic, you can see how thin the calamari rings were, almost the same diameter as the peas. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=TUVOMbKAbk_dJCHvVJZsNg The most essential part of a great paella is the rice, the protein & veggies only adds flavor to the dish. The 'socarrat' is what I look forward to in a well-made paella. It's the crusty-crunchy rice layer that forms at the bottom of the pan, where all the flavors of the ingredients are the most concentrated. This is only possible when the pan is cooked over very high heat or an open fire. Cooking in an oven will only give you soggy risotto like this: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=qRbH0Pxi8M67mihOp63fjQ I didn't get a saffron kick at all. If there were any saffron in the pan, it was very weak. The paella was more like a risotto dish. Thank god for post-dinner Fernet shots at The Rockit Room! read more

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Thanks to Marti L, I was very happy to return to Esperpento with fellow Yelpers that included her, Maybelline C, Danny L, Jonathan W, Karen Y and her boyfriend. The décor hasn't changed from the previous visit but the early evening sunlight filtering through the windows had kept the interior colorfully vibrant while the evening crowd was just beginning to grow. Our server, Eric, was very friendly and enthusiastic in providing a list of recommendations to consider, and we ordered six forms of tapas with a pitcher of sangria ($17) to share. The major highlights of the meal included Patatas Bravas ($4.75) which arrived with delicious serving of potatoes with a layer of spicy sauce. We all loved this dish has it came with major wow factor which was consistent with my previous visit. The Rabo Toro ($7.50) came with tender oxtail s served in a stew and it was so tender the meat was falling off the bones. The sauces from both dishes were fantastic for bread dipping, and one can never leave here without trying their delightful sangria which was a major hit. I really wanted to try their Lobster Paella for the longest time ($50). It came with seven half pieces of juicy lobster tails with large calamari rings, shrimps and clams to induce an aromatic lobster seafood flavor which was steeped into the rice. I really enjoyed this dish and servings were enough for everyone to get a nice portion. If there is a place to have paella in the City, Esperpento would be the restaurant to consider. The Calamares Frito ($6.75) was decently fried but nothing special or tender like the ones at Blue. The Gamba Al Ajillo ($7) provided a sizable amount of jumbo shrimps with a hint of garlic, and Jamon Serrano ($6) served with Spanish cured ham on toasted French bread with touches of ripe tomatoes and olive oil were very good too. Service was excellent! We were attended to frequently at the right moments and Eric was very responsive to our requests. The atmosphere was great throughout the night and it was another fine dining experience with San Francisco Yelpers. I expect to return for many more visits in the near future. read more

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Esperpento has been one of my favorite Tapas restaurants since I moved to the Bay Area several years ago. I used to frequent this restaurant really often; indeed, I used to eat here at least two or three times a month. My last experience was by far the worst one since my very first time and most likely will be the very last one. Three of my friends and I came here to celebrate my birthday and the restaurant was really slow. We expected it to be slow since we were there on a Tuesday night, right before the end of the month (it was the last week of June). We got a bunch of appetizers (Shrimp, Fried potatoes, Ham, Ropa Vieja and Croquetas). The food had a stale taste but we could not really tell what's going on. We did notice that the glasses and silverware was disgusting (our glasses had fingerprints and I found pieces of rice stuck in my forks). After the appetizers we got two Paellas and we had the same feeling -- DISGUSTING! Without a few minutes the waitress approached us to let us know that if we wanted desserts we had to order them right away because the owner wanted to close the restaurant early because the dishwasher and 2 bussers had not shown up to work. Before leaving the table, the waitress smiled and told us how happy she was to see this happening because the owner had been mistreating the staff members on a daily basis -- all this was happening as we were trying to celebrate my birthday! I am not talking any person's side -- maybe the employee is wrong and the owner is an amazing person, I do not know it, and I do not care about it either. One way or another, her inappropriate remarks were enough to ruin our dinner. I recommend the staff to discuss these issues with the owner or the manager or anyone else BUT NEVER WITH THE GUESTS. I know Yelp is not a place to discuss employment related issues -- and I want to point out that my review has been written to reflect my personal experience with the restaurant, and has nothing to do with the wait staff and the owner. Do I recommend Esperpento? Well, you'll love this place if the following applies to you: - You like stale food - You do not mind dirty silverware and glassware - You are fine to wait for ever to get your food - You do not mind having to leave early if the staff decide to take the day off - You are into gossiping and appreciate listening to all this employment crap that I was never interested in hearing about. Otherwise, you will probably be better off somewhere else. read more

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It was a Thursday night with a party of 6 at 8pm and there was no wait at all. Granted we did choose to sit upstairs where it was stuffy on a warm day but we didn't mind too much. The worst part was that it was difficult to get our server's attention from up there and it took a while for our order to get taken. I guess that was kinda our fault but at least the food was above average AND affordable. I love tapas places for the fact that I can try a bunch of different dishes and Esperpento had tons of options! Now on to what we ate: sauteed garlic mushrooms ($5.25) - Big chunks of mushroom with lots of garlic flavor. This dish was gone fast! We used the sauce for dipping our bread in too. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=Jso-rnKSMgbKkcDs_YuUTg) spicy potatoes ($4.50) - Mmm one of my favorite plates of the night! The potatoes were cooked perfectly so that they weren't mushy or too firm. The spicy sauce was awesome! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=bw42o1VjAnN-6NfzpiFeHQ) roasted eggplant, peppers, and onion ($5.75) - Nothing special about this dish and was drenched in oil. It came with a section of a hard-boiled egg too which I thought was out of place. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=nsT6WbjgnYJ--m1PUBxxEg) chicken croquettes ($5) - Crispy, fried pieces of yummy mashed potato but where was the chicken? Maybe it was minced so fine that I couldn't taste it. The spinach dip on the side was good too. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=NsosRB_HEyfx8zBoVaHbiQ) fried calamari ($6.50) - This was one of the smaller portions even though the rings of calamari were bigger than normal. They weren't breaded enough and the aioli was just OK. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=tdtbnLHPpOAMJ0h9BF7kdg) seafood paella ($68 for 6 person order) - WOW...this entree was humongous and could have fed more than 6! It came with succulent pieces of lobster, shrimp, clam, and calamari. The rice was delicious and flavorful too...might have been a tad over-cooked though. Prepare to wait about 30 min if you order paella. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=AOv2DMSCLUkdy_HRDKESWQ) creme brulee ($4) - Bleh! This was pretty horrible creme brulee. First of all, the dish wasn't even filled to the top like it usually is. The layer of torched sugar was non-existent and the cream underneath didn't taste remotely like creme brulee. Don't order this! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=iOTH9CN44UBezER6FWsyrQ) That was the perfect amount of food since the tapas portions were adequate and we even had leftover paella. Overall, I would say pass on the roasted eggplant and fried calamari, but definitely skip the so-called creme brulee. I would come back to try some other tapas and for their paella! read more

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Every time I pass this place, there is a crowd waiting outside. I usually take that as a mental note that the food must be good. So this weekend, I finally got to try Esperpento. The decor is bright and festive. I like how they use alternating jewel toned and brick colors throughout. My husband and I shared: - Ropa vieja (beef) with rice - Gambas Al Ajillo garlic shrimp - Patatas bravas (spicy potatoes) I also had the sangria which was delicious. It had fresh bits of apple and orange in it. Mmm :) My only critique about the food is that the beef was a bit tough and the shrimp were drowning in butter. The shrimp were delicious, don't get me wrong. But butter does not agree with my hips. I wasn't blown away, but I have a feeling maybe this is the kind of place that will grow on me over time. read more

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This is the best food i have eaten is sf thus far. Def recommended the mussels from the tapas menu and the paella. Come hungry.

You know that overused Yelp cliche, "I really wanted to like this place"? Well, I really wanted to hate this place. Made a reservation for 6 @ 7pm on a Sunday night. We got there just before 7pm and from the street we saw a similar sized group just walk in. When we walk in, that other group gets seated at a nice big roomy table. I go to give my name and the waiters/host huddle amongst themselves and tells us about 15-20 minutes even with my RESERVATION. I overheard that the other group was a walk-in W/O reservations. Really? When a table finally opened up they put two tiny circular tables, that's meant for 2 people, together right in between some pillars. Really? Talk about squished, but whatever. The interior - . (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=tTwO84P0Yj2JMAJqzK7F5A) Their Spanish food was their saving grace. There was even a guitarist that plays some songs, so have some dollars ready. Food for 6 - BREAD AND OLIVES - on the house. SANGRIA - 2 x $17 - I liked the fresh bits of apples and orange. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=eJPF_iAO9z1fnU_-r9n_Jw) PARRILLADA DE CARNE - $22 Griddled meat platter. Nothing says SF tapas than stuffing chorizo down your mouth! (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=Z6f2SsKYZhiO0LlItZN1GQ) LOBSTER PAELLA for 6 - $74 - There were 11 half-tails so almost everyone got a full tail. Really good flavor on the rice, not too runny and salty. Clams, calamari, and like 1 or 2 shrimp. (w/flash - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=Z1i71eccBxCSAZzaAoOhDg) w/o flash (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/b3mmxh_9aw25vkMmujG9jQ?select=HcWp41IuOtFMSWcgX44b1g) ----------------- w/ tax and tip = $28 per person. Yes, I'd bring friends here and I have to agree with Daniel L that if you're going to be doing paella in the city. This is your place. read more

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This place gets packed, as in packed, by 6 pm. We just made it in time to even choose our table. We started off with a pitcher of Sangria. I had 4 glasses, so that says a lot. Appetizers of anchovies in olive oil and the Jamon serrano, which was cured ham on french bread. Both were really good, super yummy. If you're on a date and you order the Jamon serrano, make sure you cut it with your knife. It's pretty challenging to bite both the meat and the bread with your teeth :) We had the seafood paella and soup. I wasn't a fan of the soup but the paella was super. And I kept digging in. It was so good! And was actually a big portion. But at $23, good for 2, I thought the paella was a little expensive. Desserts of course! We ordered crema catalana and chocolate mousse - both were winners! Oh and did I tell you about the man with his guitar who serenaded our table? Good times! read more

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Friday night in the Mission, ready for dinner at 8pm, 2 hour wait at Limon. Where to go?? We were the first party of 4 on the waitlist, so ordered sangria and sat outside in the (ridiculously-cold-why-aren't-I-wearing-a-down-jacket) spring eve. We were ushered inside a mere 45 minutes later (I-own-wool-sweaters-why-are-they-in-my-closet-and-not-on-my-body) and seated at the window. We were promptly forgotten, so flagged down our waiter a mere 45 minutes later (about-to-eat-the-tablecloth). We'd come for the paella, but since we weren't able to order until 9:30pm and it was a 60 minute wait for the paella, we decided to get a mess of tapas. We tried: morcilla (blood sausage), gambas al ajillo (shrimp in butter), judias verdes rebozadas (green beans), patatas bravas, arroz, butifara con judias blancas (catalonian sausage with white beans), and parrillada de carne (a giant platter of grilled meats - chorizo, chicken, carne asada). A major theme here is the spicy sauce that comes with just about everything on the menu - it's delicious, perfect with the crispy, fried patatas, and great for sopping up with bread. All of the food was savory, rich with flavor, and decidedly delicious. However, the restaurant was incredibly loud and service was incredibly slow. The mariachi guys aggressively come around to the tables demanding tips, which feels awkward during a nice dinner (we tipped 3 times but that apparently wasn't sufficient?). We got much more attention from them then we did our waiter, who forgot our water, wine and paella order. If you decide to come here, 1) make a reservation well in advance, 2) decide what you want before sitting down, 3) order your (hour-to-prepare) paella before anything else, 4) be prepared to yell at the top of your lungs in order to be heard, 5) get really drunk and REALLY enjoy your food. read more

If "Cha Cha Cha's" had a mother - it would be Esperpento! i like to think of this place as a home cook version of cha cha cha's. Don't get me wrong i love cha cha cha, but they get really busy. This place is much slower and intimate. You can bring a date here, whereas you go to cha cha cha to get drinks and get drunk. The food menu is very cha cha cha's. it is slightly more expensive here, but i think you can taste the differences in authenticity. Here you can tell its work has been put into these dishes. Paella is always a favorite for big groups as well as the potatoes. I do prefer the sangria from cha cha cha, its not as sweet as it is from here. Overall i like this place better. I highly recommend it if your looking for a good tapas place in the mission. read more

Esperpento - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Caveman and I have eaten here half a dozen times; Sunday being the most recent occasion, as we were taking The Niece around town. We found ourselves in The Mission and hungry... at kind of an odd/late-ish lunch hour, this is where we ended up. I always try to drink the young Spanish vino here because it seems like the right place to ingest alcohol. And then I remember that I'm (a) an Asian chick who (b) cannot metabolize alcohol and (c) weighs a buck and change - far too late and my cheeks are flushed, my head is spinning and I'm always on the cusp of doing something regrettable that might return, captured on film to haunt me. So, this is the closest I ever feel to living my life as Darin I. for a few hours. Forgive the brusque run down; the menu is rather large and we've sampled a fair number of their staples. Anyhoo: The patatas alioli - wish they were crispier and the garlicky mayo served on the side... but that doesn't stop me from shoveling them into my mouth. But it's definitely a brush-and-floss as soon as you can situation; best to pack some breath mints. Manchego - served COLD in a drizzle of olive oil with a resigned marinated pepper in the middle. Disappointing, because this cheese really is delicious - I prefer to eat it with membrillo, which they do not offer, which is a pity. Albondigas - we like to scoop the saffron-jacked sauce up with pieces of bread; the meatballs themselves, not so much. I think they are heavy and dense for my taste. Alcochofas (artichokes) a la plancha: these are actually special; thin sliced baby artichokes with garlic and olive oil... we order these every time; they're lovely. Calamares fritos: this dish is delicately battered and served with a big side of alioli. The Caveman never regrets putting tentacles in his mouth when this plate arrives at the table. (I said tentacles, not testicles, Darin!) Chorizo Salteado "Cantimpalitos" - ordered it once and hardly touched it; refer to my pic - they looked like smoky links and tasted very much like something my WASPy Mother would try to pass off as an actual appetizer after zapping a package in the microwave. Icky. Gambas al Ajillo: The shrimp was frozen and/or waaaaay overcooked, drowned in garlic and olive oil. This is a very simple dish that can be such an epiphany with fresh ingredients; a real disappointment. Ropa Vieja... the ingredients in this stew were overcooked and their flavors muddled; the beef component was tough and made it difficult to enjoy the dish. Ditto for the adobo stew we had a few visits back. Quail a la plancha - I was really looking forward to this tapa, but the quail was so small and... not plump; I had a difficult time attempting to cut any of the meat off the bird. I felt almost defeated because I hardly got a taste of the actual dish; it was kind of an exercise in futility. The portions are generous and it's best to go with a group so that you can share. It's emotionally difficult for me to concede that the food is pretty middle of the road because they don't feature seasonal specialties, which is what I'd rather have them do. Smaller menu, with in-season highlights, instead of a vast selection that depends upon frozen and otherwise stabilized ingredients. I'm skewing high in my rating of this place; I'm a bit sentimental about it. This was the first restaurant that the Caveman and I ate up here together, before we signed the papers for our loft (and just a few weeks before we got hitched)... So... there you go. I have exposed my soft, sentimental, [full] underbelly. Don't hate me; I'm feeling vulnerable today. Seriously. *big sigh* read more

Esperpento - Caveman + a lotta tapas that he ate... and I paid for, since he always "forgot" his wallet. - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

30-June, Sunday There was definitely an abundance of saffron throughout the duration this meal, I can only imagine how pigmented my stomach lining must have became afterwards. The seafood Paella was very fresh, and they definitely did not skimp on the shell-fish, the saffron rice was intensely aromatic and rich in flavor, and was definitely a good value for the price (the portion was immense, and easily provided left-overs for the following days to come) -Rabbit Stew: flavorful, slowcooked. Tasted similar to poultry but slightly more rich a tad more gamey. -Albondigas meat-balls in a saffron based stew has a subtle earthy flavor to the base, with a lot of aromatic. read more

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Dining at Esperpento will assault your senses - sound, taste, smell, and sight. I guess you could feel the food too if you really wanted to, and it would probably be great x] The service here was friendly and helpful. Whether we had questions on what to order or wanted to know more about a certain ingredient, the waiters always helped us with a smile. The atmosphere was casual, inviting, and fun without being kitschy. A big party near us was happily celebrating something while a man played guitar and sang Spanish songs. Just a very nice environment to be in. JAMON IBERICO (Iberican Ham): If you've had this before, you know it needs no introduction. Well-aged, smooth, and buttery, the marbled parts of it will melt in your mouth. It's on the sweeter rather than saltier side and goes well with just a simple slice of bread. GAMBAS AL AJILLO (Garlic Shrimp): Maybe the only dish we tried that I'd suggest skipping. The flavor was a bit forgettable and there are many more interesting things to try. BOQUERONES EN ACEITE (White Anchovies in Olive Oil): If you love anchovies or similarly strong fish as much I do, this will be a treat. The anchovies are filleted and served simply with olive oil, some salt, parsley, and lemon. That's all they need to highlight the fresh fish flavor. PATATAS BRAVAS (Spicy Potatoes): This dish is a MUST here or at pretty much any tapas restaurant, but especially here. Esperpento serves them as a good-sized portion of fried, cubed potato smothered in their pimenton-based sauce. The sauce is creamy, spicy, smoky, and really damn addicting. You'll probably want to be ahead of the game and just order 2 of these to start with, since you'll end up doing it later anyway. They sell the sauce separately as well, and we ended up buying one (we use it to dip bread in and it's amazing every time). SANGRIA: At $15 a pitcher, it's a good deal. Theirs is on the sweeter side but still very tasty, especially paired with the heartier tapas fare like patatas bravas. Overall: We shared a couple other dishes, but these are the ones I remember most clearly. Most things are about $5-10, so spend carefully or it could add up. Still, it's better priced than many other places. Even with the high number of tapas restaurants in SF, I'd highly recommend Esperpento and would happily return. read more

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A+, 5stars, excellent food experience. Highlists: Patatas Bravas: Similar to country fries Salsa Bravas: spicy, tangy aioli. Go buy a container of this stuff to go! $5, worth every penny Arroz Negro: Squid Ink Paella is to die for! Yummmmm I wanted to check this place out for the sole purpose of trying out the Arroz Negro, I'm a fan of squid ink dishes and this place did not disappoint. $4.50 Sangrias, $5-$10 tapas including calamari, Patatas Bravas, grilled asparagus etc. The only downside I experienced is when the bill came. The total included a hand written gratuity on the receipt. I repeat, it was handwritten, when everything else was printed. First reaction, oh hell nah! Hahaha I don't mind paying gratuity, even if the norm is 6or more people, yet there was only 5 of us. I brought it to their attention and asked for them to either take it out or include that in my bill as a printed item on a receipt. They came back and it was removed. Other than that scandalous mishap, our dinner was excellent read more

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Came here on a Friday night with a group of four around 7:30pm and was worried that the place was surprisingly empty. We got a nice seat next to the window and proceeded with an pitcher of Sangria. Girls: "I like this Sangria, it's nice and sweet" Guys: "I'm not sure there's enough booze, but it's still pretty good" 8:00pm rolls around and suddenly the place is packed. So much so that they are taking tables to a small place two doors down, like someone's apartment or something, and people are eating there. As our food is coming in waves, we start eating and it's so crowded that some chicks ass is practically in my face cause I'm sitting next to the door. The place is insane now however the bulk of the food is here and I concentrate on that. The memorables: Tortilla Espanola - best I've had yet of the number of times I've had this Oxtail Stew Rabbit Stew Grilled Artichokes Albondigas The decents: Paellas Mariscos Eggplant Grilled Asparagus Spinach bechamel So overall the veggie dishes weren't as good as the others. The old guy who was our waiter seemed a bit aloof too but the other staff were pretty friendly. The place is definitely cheaper than most places I've been so it's a good value. With the dearth of Tapas places in the Mission, Esperpento makes for another choice in the quiver. Just get there early! read more

Originally, my friends and I thought we would have a night out, including a nice dinner in the Mission. But we didn't make a reservation anywhere because we just wanted to wing it. Unfortunately, our first choice, a restaurant a couple blocks away, was completely packed, and the wait was going to be 1.5 hours. So we stumbled on this place by accident. And what a wonderful accident it was! There was only a very short wait (like ten minutes) for a table of four on a busy Saturday night. To start, I recommend the Sangria - not the glass, the pitcher. At first, I thought there was not enough fruit or alcohol. But I simply asked for more fruit, which they brought out in a bowl, and believe me, there was definitely alcohol in there, which will sneak up on you if you're not careful. For tapas, we ordered the Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp). It was probably my favorite dish of the night! Juicy shrimp in a warm garlic sauce that is actually perfect for dipping the bread that they bring you. We also had the Croquetas de Pollo (Chicken Croquettes). Normally, I'm not a fan of croquettes, but these just melted in my mouth, and the sauce was amazing as well. Finally, we had the Patatas Aioli (Garlic Mayonnaise Potatoes), which they mistakenly thought was Patatas Bravas (Spicy Potatoes), so we actually got to try both. For our entree, we ordered the Paella de Mariscos for two. There was a bit of a wait for it, but it was well worth the wait! Seasoning was absolutely perfect, and they were very generous with the seafood. The only downside was that we couldn't finish it in one go, so we had to take it home and of course it wasn't as good the next day. All of the food was reasonably priced. The restaurant had a very authentic feel and we even had a small band come around the tables and play at one point during the meal. Also, our server was very warm and friendly. He did mess up a couple of our orders, and it took a while for things like drink refills, but we still loved it all. I'm really glad the other place was packed and that my friends and I were able to try something more off the grid. read more

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Asian people be aware, they having something against Asians. We have been here twice and the same treatment. Food is ok but service sux azz. If you will. We had to ask for additional hot sauce 4 times before they gave it to us and the restaurant was emptied at 2pm it's not like it was bz. I hope this restaurant owner would take another look at who is working for them. Will never come back again. You've lost my business. read more

Esperpento - Evidence! - Spanish Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had to knock some stars off for the slow and uneven waitstaff service. After we poured the last glass of watered-down sangria we discovered a piece of plastic wrapper in the glass. It looked like a cigarette box wrapper, uh yuck. When we let our waitress know she just offered another glass of sangria. The replacement glass tasted better. I could make a better sangria. We were a party of 12 people. Tapas dishes we ordered never materialized but were on the bill. Some of the dishes namely the Gambas al Ajillo were over cooked. I did enjoy the Spicy Potatoes Patata Bravas and the Chicken croquettes. I wonder if the food is consistent. I don't know if I will be back. read more

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