I created an account just to review this place! If you haven't been to Palmer's Tavern recently, you are missing out on one of the most exciting kitchen transformations in San Francisco. There is a new executive chef at the helm, and the difference is night and day--the menu feels revitalized, focused, and incredibly executed. The standout of the night was easily the Salmon with Broccolini and Romesco. The salmon was cooked to a perfect, buttery medium with a beautifully crisp skin. But the real star was that Romesco sauce; it was rich, smoky, and carried just the right amount of acidity to cut through the richness of the fish. Paired with perfectly charred broccolini, it's a masterclass in balance. The improvements to the tavern staples are just as impressive: * Short Ribs: These used to be good, but now they are sublime. They've reached that melt in your mouth level of tenderness with a deep, savory glaze that tastes like it's been simmering for days. * Meatballs: They are noticeably lighter and more flavorful than before. They're seasoned perfectly and served in a bright, robust tomato sauce that tastes incredibly fresh. * Fish and Chips: The batter is now airy and shatteringly crisp without being greasy. The fish inside remains flaky and moist, making it easily one of the best versions of this dish in the city right now. It's clear that the new leadership in the kitchen has raised the bar. The vibe at Palmer's has always been great, but now the food is a destination in its own right. Get here before the secret is out! read more

Wish I could leave zero stars. Stopped in for fries and a drink. Stayed under an hour, paid my tab with the waitress, waved goodbye on my way out. Here's where it gets interesting, while still parked around the corner, I glanced in my rearview mirror to find the bartender approaching my car to ask if I'd paid. I paid. With the waitress. Because the bartender was too busy to notice I needed the check. The fix was simple: ask one of the two waitresses on the floor. Instead, a paying customer got followed to their car and accused of skipping out... in Pacific Heights, at 7:45pm, in broad daylight. The behavior was insulting enough. The cavalier attitude made it worse. I'll leave out the details that would plainly paint this in an even harsher light for this establishment, because I believe in second chances. But do your due diligence before embarrassing your guests and yourself read more

Palmer's - Ridiculous treatment after sitting at the bar. - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Swung by Palmer's for a quick happy hour cocktail and was not disappointed! On a Saturday afternoon, this place was deservedly packed -- the decor, ambiance, and bustle make it such a staple SF institution that is good for bringing your friends (or guests from outside of SF) to! tips: make a res if coming on a weekend or during happy hour, especially if you have a larger group. staff was nice enough to give us a reserved table for ~1 hour when we came by without res. also, happy hour is 4-6pm and features discounted light bites and $11 cocktails! Both cocktails were unique and memorable. The Boulevardier is like a smoother, almost caramel-like cousin of the negroni, and the Parisian Bouquet was sweet, tart, and appropriately smelled like flowers in a really good way. Service was speedy despite the chaos of the crowd, and I was impressed that people didn't bump into each other more often. Would come back to try other happy hour offerings on the menu! read more

Palmer's - Parisian Bouquet - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Palmer Tavern on Fillmore has a lot going for it. The recent interior remodel looks fantastic, the space feels warm, polished, and inviting. The service was also very kind and attentive, which made the experience pleasant overall. Unfortunately, the food didn't quite live up to the setting. The meatballs were pretty burnt, and the Caesar salad was nothing to write home about. The chicken on it was also quite dry, which was disappointing. Food-wise, nothing really stood out. That said, I did really enjoy the Bees mocktail I ordered, it was refreshing and well made. I'd be open to coming back and trying it again because the space and service were great, but overall I left feeling a bit underwhelmed by the food. read more

Eric was an amazing server and the happy hour was fantastic!!! Will definitely come back again. The sun was shining and the wine was lovely.

This is my 1600th review to ring in the new year! I was at Palmer's with friends on NYE for dinner and drinks. I got the arancini, truffle fries, chicken schnitzel, and a coconut cake. They were all delicious! The arancini was crispy on the outside with fluffy risotto on the inside. The marinara was supposed to be spicy, but I didn't find it so. And that's fine with me as I prefer a sweeter marinara. The chicken schnitzel was thin and crispy. I really enjoyed the arugula on top, especially with a squeeze of the charred lemon. I actually dislike arugula because I find it bitter. But the arugula in this dish was lemony, even before the charred lemon, so it added a nice, bright acidity. I added truffle fries on the side and they did not skimp on the truffle oil. It was very fragrant, and the fries were crispy as well. I also got to try my friend's Brussels sprouts, which had a nice smoky flavor from the char. Palmer's collaborated with Miette next door for their desserts. And the coconut cake with caramel was delicious and not too sweet. I could only eat half, and it was even better the next day. As for drinks, I just got the sparkling rose, which was good. My friend got the Autumn in New York, which is essentially their old fashioned. That was delicious and I would totally order that next time. Service was fantastic! Everyone was really nice and accommodating. And because it was NYE, the vibes were celebratory with balloons and music. It was really loud, so I'm not sure if the noise level is like that every night. I know they had been closed for awhile, so I'm glad they're up and running again. read more

We came in for a cocktail before our dinner rezzy so this review is only for the cocktails and service at the bar but it was great! I got a spicy margarita, tajin rim. My fiancé got an espresso martini and he compared it to the one at Balboa Cafe, he said the coffee tasted fresh. Ambiance was cute, Ralph Lauren sort of vibes, and the bathroom wallpaper was amazing! read more

Have been once since the reopening and was disappointed with the food and service. The server took our orders then disappeared for the rest of our visit. The food was brought out by someone else and we waved down another server for refills. We saw the original server at the end and mentioned not having anyone around, she simply responded "yeah, I went on break." The consensus about the food was that it was very underwhelming and in some cases downright bad. We had a group of four people so we ordered a variety, and everyone had a look disappoint on their face. MEATBALLS - Cold on the inside. Room temperature on the outside and not enough sauce. SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS - Cannot actually be smoked as there is ZERO smoke flavor. Seemed to be oven baked then lightly sauced. FISH & CHIPS - Soggy and greasy. BEEF CARPACCIO - Lacked citrus. The arugula and frisée mix overwhelmed the plate and attempted to hide the paltry amount of beef. TUNA CRUDO - Tasted fresh and has a nice balance of flavor. read more

Palmers is a fun spot to grab drinks and dinner before a night out with a lively, upbeat vibe. The sour cream and onion dip is really good and worth ordering. read more

Palmer's had mussels in October and it was so good! Unfortunately they've taken it off their menu. So we opted for all these other various things, Mac n cheese was mediocre and not particularly cheesy surprisingly. The meatballs can easily be made at home. Kid enjoyed the burger but wish there was an option for a salad instead of fries. The tuna tartare was the best part of the meal in my opinion because they put bacon in their tiny serving of Brussel sprouts. Server was nice and we didn't have to wait long for our food. Since it was NYE they had a million balloons and they just kept popping and scaring everyone. read more

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Bringing the vibe back to Fillmore Street! Palmer's was missed and the food/interior has improved since reopening. Apparently there's a new chef that just came from Bix (another SF fav). Great place to go for a lively night out and Doug makes a fantastic dirty martini. read more

Environment is amazing, waiters are great. The food is just not great. Ordered the Schnitzel and Tuna tartare and the schnitzel was drenched in the wet arugula salad placed on top. Overall solid read more

Came here for date night and it was packed! We arrived at the right time and got seated immediately. We ordered two cocktails and the burgers. The drinks and meal were filling but decent, nothing wowed us. I will say it was super packed to the point where I had to squeeze between people when going back and forth from the restroom. This place has great vibes and would recommend everyone to check it out when in SF! read more

Palmer's - Palmer's Burger - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Leah was so sweet and attentive! We also loved Eric, he went the extra mile when we kept asking questions. Loved this restaurant/bar!

What a great place! We have been coming here for a long time to enjoy appetizers and drinks and finally had dinner. Awesome! We had happy hour beer and wine with deviled eggs and then had the ravioli and the cheese burger which was the best burger I've ever had in the Bay Area. We sat at the bar with Chloe as our server and she was wonderful. We visit up here twice a year from Arizona and we will be back! read more

pretty pricey fare for average food. the actual interior was nice and cozy but it was too loud where you had to shout over one another. service was great but food was just ok. the chicken schnitzel was tough and dry (albeit a huge portion). the french dip was pretty normal, I liked the fries. read more

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I was pretty excited about the reopening. But unfortunately, it did not live up to what I was expecting. It was hardly loud clearly in the remodel. They did nothing about sound abatement. The staff were all nice but overwhelmed and service for drinks was extremely slow. No roll ups on table. Food flew out once ordered. Not sure if that's good or bad. The schnitzel was OK but very dry. The burger was good. The fries also. The carrots were a little overcooked. Generally I would say I'm not sure it was a relaxing meal due to the chaos and the noise. Probably a good place to get a drink during the day, but not a place for a relaxing dinner. read more

Palmers is back and nice to have in the neighborhood again. The food I nice but the old menu seemed a bit better but it's just reopened. The bar and restaurant are cozy fare and the service is amenable. I am glad it's returned read more

I want to love this restaurant. It's decor nails the ideal of a neighborhood steak house that lingers in my mind. The patrons are lively and plentiful. I had had some mediocre meals there before it was forced to close for repairs, but I returned, hoping that during months of closure that they could reimagine their kitchen to live up to the atmosphere. Sadly, I ordered the chard ravioli and it was one of the worst dishes I have ever been served, worse than a can of Chef Boyardee heated up in the microwave. Perhaps I am just being punished for not ordering meat at a steakhouse, but my guess is that my experience points to a total lack of professionalism in the kitchen that raises doubts about whether they can cook anything that would pair with the atmosphere. I will be going to Chex Maman or Florio's in the future. read more

I had to create a yelp account just to write about this terrible experience. Being in the service industry, I was pretty appalled. I really wanted to like this place, but my experience was pretty disappointing. First, I want to say that the servers themselves were great. They were friendly, polite, and clearly doing the best they could. The problem seemed to be with management and how the restaurant is run. The servers looked extremely overworked and each one appeared to be handling way too many tables at once. Because of that, the service ended up being very slow--not because the staff didn't care, but because they were stretched too thin. It honestly gave the impression of a pretty stressful or toxic work environment. Watching the staff rush around nonstop while still trying to stay positive was uncomfortable, and it felt like the restaurant was prioritizing packing in as many customers as possible instead of supporting the people actually working there. The environment didn't help either. The place was very crowded and extremely loud, which made it hard to enjoy the meal or even have a conversation. Unfortunately, the food itself was also pretty underwhelming. Nothing we ordered really stood out, and considering the wait and the chaotic atmosphere, it just didn't feel worth it. Overall, the staff deserves credit for trying their best, but the management and overall operation really need improvement. Until things change, I probably wouldn't come back. read more

Okay, very unfortunate experience here. We started with the Caesar salad and the shrimp cocktail which were great. We ordered 2 drinks each and they were also very good. However, as my friend and I were eating our burgers I noticed something strange as I was chewing. I took it out and it was literal bone. I could tell by the first bite the meat was bad because I was pulling grizzly pieces out of my mouth. I should have know by that first bite that something was wrong and shouldn't have continued eating it and boy was I right. Absolutely disgusting. Don't even get me started on our waiter. The entire night he had a bad attitude. He was making condescending comments and jokes the entire time. When I told him about this bone in the meat he did not handle the situation well. He asked my friend if she wanted her meal also off the bill, she said yes because she clearly was turned off also and he just walked away. He never sent the manager over with an apology. It's upsetting because everything else was good but this situation turned us off completely. So I will not be coming back and I hope that if this waiter has another situation like this he handles it differently and loses the damn attitude. read more

Was so excited for the reopening. Interior remodel looks good. They had an opportunity to hire a (real) chef and get it off to a good start. It was not to be ! ATTITUDE is also bad the moment we walked in. We sat at the bar, ignored at first until I flagged someone down and then it was ATTITUDE. They don't care. Won't return until we see reviews (food) improved Go for overpriced cocktails (too loud to talk) if you like but sit outside for a conversation. So unfortunate..... Get a restaurant marketing foodie to help get it right ..... read more

Niçoise salad was gritty... like sand in it ... or dirt .... Happens when you don't wash lettuce. I sent it back and got something else. Not great ... just ok. In the end there was no apology and full fare charged for the meal. I'm bummed because I live nearby and want to like this place. 2 stars is generous. But Fillmore has a ton of options so I won't starve read more

Amazing fries. Their french toast bites were awesome. Nice ambience, service was just ok

I am genuinely appalled by the service at Palmer's. Despite multiple open tables and plenty of staff on the floor, I was completely ignored. I stood at the front for several minutes, made repeated attempts to get someone's attention, and was deliberately looked past every time. No greeting, no explanation -- nothing. The only conclusion I can reasonably draw to being ignored is because I am a teenager. The " hospitality" at Palmers is insulting and unacceptable. Hospitality does not get to be selective based on appearance. After this happened, I had to check if this place was only 21+ and it's not. I am appalled. I ultimately left, not because the restaurant was busy, but because being treated as invisible is not an experience I'm willing to tolerate. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere. read more

Welcome back Palmer's! Seems like they're still working the kinks out, but we'll come back and try again. Took a while for the server to come by and get our drink order, and drinks came out a short while later. Server finally came back to take our food order, she seemed kinda stoned or something. Food took a long time to come out, and it was good, but a bit on the salty side. After that, server had to be flagged down to get more drinks and finally some water, after we had finished eating. Price is comparable to other places in the area, but service was lacking. We'll be back to try again though! read more

First time back after their remodel. Friday early evening reservation nice greeting from hostess but slid downhill from there. Server did not offer any useful suggestions. Asked to split wedge salad which came in its entirety and an extra plate for two to divide. Creamed spinach side came out before mediocre steaks but server did return to bring back later. Autumn In New York cocktail not bad first time but inconsistent in a bad way the second time. Loud in dining room, probably best for those who like drinking and less interested in the food. Place was busy so someone is having fun! read more

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Absolutely wonderful service we came in as a party of seven for my friends, bachelorette vacation and we were accommodated for very quickly wonderful service very friendly staff and the owner made sure that we were fully satisfied before we left. Definitely come here and get the burger too cause the burger is so good and I really love the fries as well. read more

It's a place of two tales: the start is a joy, the finale is a flop. Let's start with the charm. The cocktails here? Absolutely top-notch. Whoever's behind the bar deserves a round of applause because each drink is a little masterpiece in a glass. And the appetizers? They're like a delightful overture, making you think you're in for a perfect culinary symphony. But then, the main acts arrive, and the music kind of falls flat. The Caesar salad? It's like someone decided to serve a bowl of dish soap instead of a salad. The salmon's a bit too, well, fishy for comfort. And the short rib just doesn't quite charm the taste buds. As for the French dip, calling it that is almost a comedy... one slice of meat in a roll? It's basically a very expensive sourdough roll. In short, come thirsty and come for the starters, but maybe sneak out before the main course. read more

Service was excellent Oscar was an amazing bartender. The place had amazing vibes and the drinks were amazing. We asked for a food to come out coursed and Oscar was very accommodating. Highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Food is ok but did think the meatballs were pretty good. The sliders are roast beef or pulled pork but not burger sliders as we expected and were also just ok. They did rush us out of bar tables since they reserve them...so you will encounter pressure if you're sitting at any of the tables in the window and you haven't reserved. Last note is about the bathrooms...no hooks for purses, coats, or bags and no toilet seat covers!!!! And there are only a couple or three. Won't be coming back...way better options. read more

Welcome back Palmers! So nice to sit at the bar again - best cockails in Pac Heights! Never seen yelp used as a neighborhood complaint forum lol Haters gonna hate read more

The inside is perfect to catch the game! Great food & drinks. Staff is very friendly.

Stopped in today. They did a great job on the remodel and the place was hopping especially for a Sunday afternoon. One of the bar tenders, Doug, is just a great guy and makes an excellent cocktail! read more

i really enjoyed the cheeseburger and caesar salad i shared with a friend! it was busy and lively, which was fun for a friday night.

The food here was great and they look great after re opening! I had some great pasta and a cold snack beer. Will be back again soon - glad to have a reliable spot read more

Love this place and so glad they're back. Only thing is it seems like they've done away with the happy hour menu? I hope it comes back.

Awesome little spot in Pacific Heights. We stumbled upon it while exploring the city, and were very happy we did. GREAT HAPPY HOUR. Walked in and were immediately greeted and seated. Very friendly staff. After being seated, we checked out the happy hour menu and decided to order from that. Great beer and wine prices. They also had a bunch of food options at great prices. We ordered snacks, and the service was great. Our food came out quickly, and our server was very attentive. We sat outside, so we were able to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city while still being able to have enough quiet to easily hold a conversation. We were surrounded by couples on dates, the after work crowd having a drink, and friends meeting up. Palmers truly feels like a place that is a part of the community. In the end, great spot, great service, great prices, great selection. What else is there?? Check 'em out read more

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Cozy, awesome decor, and delicious. Great stop if you're looking for a place to eat. Be sure to come early so you can take a seat at the bar with Doug. He's a fantastic bartender and conversationalist - he told me some awesome stories while I waited for my friends to pop in for our reservation. We all loved the grilled cheese, grilled salmon, and drink options ( so many bourbon mixes on the menu ). Will happily be back. Thanks, Doug! read more

Palmer's - Bar (not pictured, Doug the GOAT) - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This has been a bar that I've been wanting to try but was never in the area when they were open. Came here on a Friday night and got lucky with bad seats. The bartenders were attentive and friendly, they even made small talk. It was my first time there and the ambiance was not as loud as typical bars and not as crowded either. A great selection of liquor and they even have a TV at the bar. Another city gem. read more

Palmer's - American Near Me - San Francisco, California