After 25 years, the speakeasy restaurant BIX is still as solid as the first day we visited. Hidden down a narrow alley in the financial district, BIX is one of San Francisco's true gems.On our most recent visit, we walked in on a Monday night; you would never know it was a weeknight, let alone a Monday. Every table was occupied by the time we left, and the live music was jumping.Since we didn't have a reservation, we decided to sit at the bar and order cocktails and a few snacks. My wife ordered an Aviation, and we watched the bartender squeeze a fresh lemon to make the drink. It was the best Aviation she had ever had outside of our home (I make a pretty good one).We ordered the deviled eggs and the steak tartar, which were excellent. The eggs had a hint of truffle, which, just typing this, is making me hungry. The steak tartar came deconstructed with toast and was mixed by the server for us; it was delicious.About an hour after we arrived, a piano player sat down and was joined by a bass player. It was the perfect sound for the room, and everyone seemed into it; that said, there wasn't much applause, but I always feel inappropriate at a restaurant unless there is a stage.I highly recommend BIX regardless of whether you have planned ahead or not. It's an excellent spot for dinner, drinks, or a little of both in a great space with exceptional service and delicious food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Tartare
Milad Asgari
Great collection of drinks, good service, great location
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Brad Dunshee
Huge fan of this SF gem. You won't be sorry. They don't make 'em like this anymore.Dietary restrictions: They were able to make the lobster spaghetti gluten free!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti
Travel X
Super cool place. There was a live pianist playing the whole time I was there. I loved how classy and professional the service was.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Oleksandr M.
Really good vibe, and service, but average food. We ordered a bunch of different dishes: devil eggs, ahi tuna, marrow bones, steak tartare, and wagyu steak. None of these were inspiring unfortunately. 5 stars for service and atmosphere, 3 stars for the food.Also, what’s that random 6.5% surcharge they add to every bill?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
HeatherV
We were surprised to get hard bread at start of meal and lobster spaghetti was definitely off. Bread on second round was freshly baked. Been coming here for nearly 30 years. Hope it's not going downhill. Front door hostess had no smile when we arrived but she seemed in much better spirits as we departed.
Alex H
Not bad. Food okay. Service okay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
KrishnaK
I took my wife to Bix for her birthday. We loved the location, in an alleyway, next to the Trans American building. We sat outside while waiting for our table, in the sun enjoying a well made Old Fashion. The bar and ambiance was romantic and classy, along with the piano, and lighting; makes this place a great spot for a special occasion. Our waiter was friendly, and gave us some good recommendations on the food. We had the Crab rolls & Marrow Bone, and for our mains, my wife had the Lamb Pot Pie, and I had the Pork Chop. The Crab Rolls were light and delicious, and Marrow Bone was fatty and decadent, and the portion was large- they didn't serve enough bread for this dish. The Lamb Pot Pie was tasty but a bit too salty. The Pork Chop was excellent, and I highly recommend it, and our dessert was a Panna Cotta, with some gelato, and a beautifully made Chocolate Martini. This was excellent, and a highlight of the evening along with the music and the vibe. However, our hostess who greeted us when we arrived was not friendly or warm. Her attitude was short, a bit snobbish, and I was disappointed in her overall demeanor. This should not happen with a restaurant with this kind of caliber. Customer service should be top notch and provide an accommodating attitude. She did seat us downstairs per our request, but it was clear that she was annoyed. Not okay- Overall it was an enjoyable and romantic evening and my wife had an amazing time, and we may return.
AndreaD
Entrees were mediocre. The chicken dish was dry and heavy. The crab appetizer and panna cotta and coffee were quite good. The ambiance was disappointing - loud conversations, could barely hear the live music which was one pianist on a Friday night. The visual atmosphere was very lovely, soft lighting cool mural behind the bar. Staff was smoking cigarettes near the entrance as we left. It just didn't deliver on either the food or the music and certainly not worth the high price point.
mike wood
My daughter and son-in-law held their wedding and reception there. We rented the entire restaurant and the entirety of Gold Street for the ceremony (complete with a SF cable car for transporting the wedding party and guests and photo backdrop, which was separate vendor). I have only one word to describe the experience…INCREDIBLE! Top to bottom, a wonderful experience. As other reviewers have described the venue is quintessential San Francisco, beautiful architecture, ambience, and the live jazz trio all combined for a remarkable experience. The staff was remarkable, every detail covered, every want or need addressed. Amy, The Bix event coordinator was absolutely competent, professional, patient, and accommodating. Thank you Amy. Blake, The Bix manager was equally professional and helpful with addressing our timing and accommodation challenges. Thank you Blake. Now for the food, bar, table and wait staff…impeccable! We were able to enjoy three entree choices, Wagu beef, local Petrale Sole, and Chicken Hash a la Bix. No complaints, and certainly NOT wedding reception “rubbery” chicken.For anyone inclined to have a small venue wedding, or event for less than 100 people, The Bix’s should be the top of your list. Our daughter and son-in-law wanted a 1930’s Hollywood chic vibe, The Bix helped them realize every aspect of their dream on their memorable day.
This place has a great relaxing old school lounge vibe. We sat on the second floor in the back in a big booth. Live piano music was playing for most of the night and it was perfect background ambiance. We were 6 and able to talk, catch up and have a great time.Service was pretty attentive, except they did take away my half eaten piece of bread without me seeing and I wasn’t done with it.We ordered a variety of appetizers. There wasn’t one that blew me away. The bread was just average too. The crab on top of the toast was good but it’s not worth the price. The deviled eggs were pretty good. If I were to get an appetizer again I would get that. They also can match the serving size of the appetizer to how many people are in your party.My entree was amazing. The snapper was meaty and delicious. I could eat the skin too because it was crunchy. The greens with it were a nice touch. It was very big and filling. Expensive at $55. I tried my friend’s truffle burger and that was delicious too. That was a huge meal and I think $36. The truffle wasn’t overpowering and the rye bread added a good heartiness to it. I tried the sole also but it didn’t compare to my snapper, the flavor of the snapper was more mild, like chicken and just meatier and better. But I think that’s just because I prefer Snapper.We got a bunch of desserts. The bread pudding tasted more like a dense rich brownie. It had whipped cream on top but really needed ice cream. The best dessert was the panna cotta, it had more complex flavors to it. It was very delicate and the texture was spot on.I got the pisco punch to drink, and it was sour and sweet. It didn’t say what was in it except that it had tears of cherubs or something like that. So I mean I had to get it.There is an extra San Francisco fee they charged to the bill. It was around $120 a person, though we did order a lot of food and drinks.Great place to have a fancy dinner for a special event or to bring a client.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs
Akivet
Always loved Bix as a special occasion venue and I'm happy that the gorgeous decor, and yummy food and beautiful well-stocked bar and the live pianist are still as expected. The service is attentive and pleasant and I love knowing I have a wonderful reliable place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or just a splurge for a well-deserved date night.
Tiburcio de la carcova (Trouble Maker)
The place is really special, food cooking (simple) and cocktails for the price, love the surprise of being in that alley. What I might work out is the fish smell that punches you in the face as soon as you come in.
I've been going to Bix for as long as I can remember. Love everything about the restaurant from the martini to the live music, art work, service, and quality of food. It is a staple and consistently delivers. This recent trip, was the best meal I have had. Everything was spectacular. Always start off with steak tartare as it is the best in town. The lobster spaghetti was out of this world! Friends had the pork which I tried and we all agreed it was a 10/10. Cant wait to go back.
After 25 years, the speakeasy restaurant BIX is still as solid as the first day we visited. Hidden down a narrow alley in the financial district, BIX is one of San Francisco's true gems.On our most recent visit, we walked in on a Monday night; you would never know it was a weeknight, let alone a Monday. Every table was occupied by the time we left, and the live music was jumping.Since we didn't have a reservation, we decided to sit at the bar and order cocktails and a few snacks. My wife ordered an Aviation, and we watched the bartender squeeze a fresh lemon to make the drink. It was the best Aviation she had ever had outside of our home (I make a pretty good one).We ordered the deviled eggs and the steak tartar, which were excellent. The eggs had a hint of truffle, which, just typing this, is making me hungry. The steak tartar came deconstructed with toast and was mixed by the server for us; it was delicious.About an hour after we arrived, a piano player sat down and was joined by a bass player. It was the perfect sound for the room, and everyone seemed into it; that said, there wasn't much applause, but I always feel inappropriate at a restaurant unless there is a stage.I highly recommend BIX regardless of whether you have planned ahead or not. It's an excellent spot for dinner, drinks, or a little of both in a great space with exceptional service and delicious food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Steak Tartare
Great collection of drinks, good service, great location
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Huge fan of this SF gem. You won't be sorry. They don't make 'em like this anymore.Dietary restrictions: They were able to make the lobster spaghetti gluten free!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lobster Spaghetti
Super cool place. There was a live pianist playing the whole time I was there. I loved how classy and professional the service was.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Really good vibe, and service, but average food. We ordered a bunch of different dishes: devil eggs, ahi tuna, marrow bones, steak tartare, and wagyu steak. None of these were inspiring unfortunately. 5 stars for service and atmosphere, 3 stars for the food.Also, what’s that random 6.5% surcharge they add to every bill?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
We were surprised to get hard bread at start of meal and lobster spaghetti was definitely off. Bread on second round was freshly baked. Been coming here for nearly 30 years. Hope it's not going downhill. Front door hostess had no smile when we arrived but she seemed in much better spirits as we departed.
Not bad. Food okay. Service okay.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 2
I took my wife to Bix for her birthday. We loved the location, in an alleyway, next to the Trans American building. We sat outside while waiting for our table, in the sun enjoying a well made Old Fashion. The bar and ambiance was romantic and classy, along with the piano, and lighting; makes this place a great spot for a special occasion. Our waiter was friendly, and gave us some good recommendations on the food. We had the Crab rolls & Marrow Bone, and for our mains, my wife had the Lamb Pot Pie, and I had the Pork Chop. The Crab Rolls were light and delicious, and Marrow Bone was fatty and decadent, and the portion was large- they didn't serve enough bread for this dish. The Lamb Pot Pie was tasty but a bit too salty. The Pork Chop was excellent, and I highly recommend it, and our dessert was a Panna Cotta, with some gelato, and a beautifully made Chocolate Martini. This was excellent, and a highlight of the evening along with the music and the vibe. However, our hostess who greeted us when we arrived was not friendly or warm. Her attitude was short, a bit snobbish, and I was disappointed in her overall demeanor. This should not happen with a restaurant with this kind of caliber. Customer service should be top notch and provide an accommodating attitude. She did seat us downstairs per our request, but it was clear that she was annoyed. Not okay- Overall it was an enjoyable and romantic evening and my wife had an amazing time, and we may return.
Entrees were mediocre. The chicken dish was dry and heavy. The crab appetizer and panna cotta and coffee were quite good. The ambiance was disappointing - loud conversations, could barely hear the live music which was one pianist on a Friday night. The visual atmosphere was very lovely, soft lighting cool mural behind the bar. Staff was smoking cigarettes near the entrance as we left. It just didn't deliver on either the food or the music and certainly not worth the high price point.
My daughter and son-in-law held their wedding and reception there. We rented the entire restaurant and the entirety of Gold Street for the ceremony (complete with a SF cable car for transporting the wedding party and guests and photo backdrop, which was separate vendor). I have only one word to describe the experience…INCREDIBLE! Top to bottom, a wonderful experience. As other reviewers have described the venue is quintessential San Francisco, beautiful architecture, ambience, and the live jazz trio all combined for a remarkable experience. The staff was remarkable, every detail covered, every want or need addressed. Amy, The Bix event coordinator was absolutely competent, professional, patient, and accommodating. Thank you Amy. Blake, The Bix manager was equally professional and helpful with addressing our timing and accommodation challenges. Thank you Blake. Now for the food, bar, table and wait staff…impeccable! We were able to enjoy three entree choices, Wagu beef, local Petrale Sole, and Chicken Hash a la Bix. No complaints, and certainly NOT wedding reception “rubbery” chicken.For anyone inclined to have a small venue wedding, or event for less than 100 people, The Bix’s should be the top of your list. Our daughter and son-in-law wanted a 1930’s Hollywood chic vibe, The Bix helped them realize every aspect of their dream on their memorable day.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This place has a great relaxing old school lounge vibe. We sat on the second floor in the back in a big booth. Live piano music was playing for most of the night and it was perfect background ambiance. We were 6 and able to talk, catch up and have a great time.Service was pretty attentive, except they did take away my half eaten piece of bread without me seeing and I wasn’t done with it.We ordered a variety of appetizers. There wasn’t one that blew me away. The bread was just average too. The crab on top of the toast was good but it’s not worth the price. The deviled eggs were pretty good. If I were to get an appetizer again I would get that. They also can match the serving size of the appetizer to how many people are in your party.My entree was amazing. The snapper was meaty and delicious. I could eat the skin too because it was crunchy. The greens with it were a nice touch. It was very big and filling. Expensive at $55. I tried my friend’s truffle burger and that was delicious too. That was a huge meal and I think $36. The truffle wasn’t overpowering and the rye bread added a good heartiness to it. I tried the sole also but it didn’t compare to my snapper, the flavor of the snapper was more mild, like chicken and just meatier and better. But I think that’s just because I prefer Snapper.We got a bunch of desserts. The bread pudding tasted more like a dense rich brownie. It had whipped cream on top but really needed ice cream. The best dessert was the panna cotta, it had more complex flavors to it. It was very delicate and the texture was spot on.I got the pisco punch to drink, and it was sour and sweet. It didn’t say what was in it except that it had tears of cherubs or something like that. So I mean I had to get it.There is an extra San Francisco fee they charged to the bill. It was around $120 a person, though we did order a lot of food and drinks.Great place to have a fancy dinner for a special event or to bring a client.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Deviled Eggs
Always loved Bix as a special occasion venue and I'm happy that the gorgeous decor, and yummy food and beautiful well-stocked bar and the live pianist are still as expected. The service is attentive and pleasant and I love knowing I have a wonderful reliable place to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries or just a splurge for a well-deserved date night.
The place is really special, food cooking (simple) and cocktails for the price, love the surprise of being in that alley. What I might work out is the fish smell that punches you in the face as soon as you come in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Daily Selection of 1 2 Dozen Oysters, Bananas Foster, Lobster Spaghetti, Caviar & Buckwheat Blini, Marrow Bones
I've been going to Bix for as long as I can remember. Love everything about the restaurant from the martini to the live music, art work, service, and quality of food. It is a staple and consistently delivers. This recent trip, was the best meal I have had. Everything was spectacular. Always start off with steak tartare as it is the best in town. The lobster spaghetti was out of this world! Friends had the pork which I tried and we all agreed it was a 10/10. Cant wait to go back.
Go for the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5