This place surpassed my expectations. The mushroom dish was AMAZING. The staff is welcoming and knows their stuff. You have to try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trumpet Mushrooms
Laura Brunow
This review is particularly for the Ilna pop-up on Sunday nights. Maz, the chef, cooks with so much passion. He collects the best ingredients from local farmer's markets, even using his background as a wine maker to create special ferments, and shares his family's Lebanese origins with so much care in each dish. The meatball and prosciutto are not to be missed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Max Girod
Buddy is a really nice place to enjoy with friends. The ambient is fun and staff is super friendly!
Overall, we enjoyed the food and the drinks were amazing. Can recommend as a place to get together and enjoy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Dave
Everything we had was good, but do NOT skip the chocolate brownie dessert.
Nico A
Cute little wine bar and small plates type of restaurant. Very European inspired. Nice cocktails too. Liked the vibe and food, service was a little slow.
I booked a sidewalk table. When I walked in I mentioned it to the host who replied I had not booked a sidewalk table. I assumed I was wrong and sat down inside. I checked my email and saw that I was correct. So I mentioned it to our waiter. She said if something opened up they would seat us. Insult to injury, they sat other walk ups outside, never apologized and never came to check on our table after the first round. It was embarrassing to bring friends here. I don’t like people lying to my face, so this place gets my first one star review.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Andre Domiciano
The mushrooms were delicious, cooked to perfection and tasted amazing! This is definitely my new favorite place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Trumpet Shrooms
LoMo Phillips
Wow, Buddy is truly such a gem. If you ever want a delicious meal full of flavors and textures, you gotta go to Buddy! We sat outside to enjoy the warm San Francisco weather. It was right on the sidewalk with no parklet, but it was fine. Here’s what we ordered: - Corn Fritters - pretty tasty, great crunch, while still moist. Pretty corny-tasting, but well-balanced with the creme fraiche and the saltiness of the smoked trout roe. - Carrots - wonderful crunch and even more delicious seeds and tahini sauce. A must have! - Smoked whitefish tonnato - strange flavors and texture at first, but it grew on me. Not sure if the crackers added much, but the dish by itself was a fun combo! - Fried chicken sammy - perfect crunch (sensing a theme?) and wonderful flavor. The bread was buttery and garlicky, and the chicken was moist. Our waitperson was super attentive and our food was perfectly spaced out time-wise - we had a small table, and they brought out just enough food at any one time to make sure we had room to eat. IMO, deserving of a Michelin!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich
Emily Jung
Stepping into this cozy, dimly lit venue offers a perfect atmosphere for enjoying light bites paired with a great selection of wines. The service was attentive and friendly, adding to the relaxed ambiance.
Food: -Bread & Butter: The curry butter, with its complex flavors, paired perfectly with ciabatta. A take-home jar would be a dream come true.
- Crudo Halibut: A refreshing dish with a hint of spice, served over thinly sliced zucchini, though I would have preferred a cucumber base for a more elevated crunch and refreshing taste, which would complement the wine selection even better.
Beverage: - Bambu: An elevated vodka martini with a bitter citrus twist that leaves you wishing for a larger glass.
Highly recommended for a casual wine and bite experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ms Oriz
I love the atmosphere of the place, very intimate and great for dates ! Music isn't too loud and the light is dim. The wine selection never disappoints, and the food offers a good pairing.
I'm writing this review because I cannot stop thinking about the incredible meal my sister and I had at Buddy on 6/19/24.
If I remember correctly, the menu was Mediterranean Lebanese cuisine that night by a brilliant chef named Maz Naba. We arrived around 7pm, and despite how crowded it was, we were seated by 7:05pm. Impressive. The vibe in Buddy was so fun and lively! Plus the music selection was so groovy that night!
The whole meal was a flavor adventure that was perfectly curated from the starters to the dessert. The real show stopper on the menu was the "spreads and breads". It was so simple yet so elegant. My sister even teared up when she tasted the "eggplant black on black" spread because it was the most delicious spread she had ever tasted. It was such a divine way to start our sensational feast. We were truly blown away by how much flavor and love were put into those dishes.
In addition to the food, Buddy had a special selection of wine from a local winery called Augur Wine Co. which was truly phenomenal. It was such a pleasure to pair that wine with our food that night.
I returned a week later and was disappointed that Maz Naba was only a guest chef that night. Buddy, please bring Maz back so I can bring my friends and whole extended family next time. I already told everyone I know how incredible my experience was at Buddy when Maz was the chef and now my whole social network would like to taste his food too.
Maz Naba, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I think you're so talented and you have a small cult following now. But in all seriousness, tasting your food made me realize that food can also be an art form. Thank you ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Park
Truly a phenomenal experience. Wandered in on a weeknight, was sat right away. Every dish was vibrant, creative, diverse in texture, influence, and overall manifestation. We tried 7 different things and each one was memorable and immaculately done, noticeably high quality of ingredients. If this was a white table cloth, reservation only meal that cost twice the price I would have left just as impressed and happy. The staff was attentive, informative, warm and adorable. I’ve been thinking about the mushrooms with salsa matcha and truffle honey every day for a week now. Not really a sweets person and I ordered a second brownie to go after how good it was. Wish I had gotten more. The music was great and progressed in tempo as the night went on. Best part is I left feeling nourished, they clearly didn’t pump everything full of fat and sugar to impress in the moment. I was blown away, honestly couldn’t have asked for more.
Cute small bar, outside tables are tiny, their mushroom appetizer is delicious, beer could’ve been colder, cocktail w/ less ice/water also would’ve been better. Avoid the $8 roasted nuts.
Parking: No bueno
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Trumpet Mushrooms with Truffle Honey and Salsa Matcha
Danielle Veluz
New favorite spot in the Mission - and I'm not even a wine person! We ordered the following dishes along with a couple of cocktails. As for food:
Crudites - a plate of bright and fresh summer veggies
Little gem salad- crisp greens slathered with a generous serving of blue cheese dressing- not my favorite but I'm sure blue cheese fans will love it),
Charred cabbage- very interesting flavors! Loved the tamarind in it, complements the smoky charred cabbage well
Roasted trumpet shrooms- this everything I had hoped for- a simple dish with sophisticated flavors ranging from sweet to earthy with amazing textures all throughout (I am still dreaming of the honey + feta + salsa macha flavor combo as I write this before going to bed lol)
Chocolate brownie - delicious and moist butterscotch brownie with dessert wine poured over it (+$9)
Even without the draw of it being a wine bar, this place is worth checking out for the amazing veg-forward options, welcoming and casual ambience and great drink options. A bit on the pricey side considering the automatic +20% added in but the whole experience made it all worth it. Would definitely go back for more.
This place surpassed my expectations. The mushroom dish was AMAZING. The staff is welcoming and knows their stuff. You have to try it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Trumpet Mushrooms
This review is particularly for the Ilna pop-up on Sunday nights. Maz, the chef, cooks with so much passion. He collects the best ingredients from local farmer's markets, even using his background as a wine maker to create special ferments, and shares his family's Lebanese origins with so much care in each dish. The meatball and prosciutto are not to be missed!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Buddy is a really nice place to enjoy with friends. The ambient is fun and staff is super friendly!
Overall, we enjoyed the food and the drinks were amazing. Can recommend as a place to get together and enjoy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Everything we had was good, but do NOT skip the chocolate brownie dessert.
Cute little wine bar and small plates type of restaurant. Very European inspired. Nice cocktails too. Liked the vibe and food, service was a little slow.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Trumpet Mushrooms
I booked a sidewalk table. When I walked in I mentioned it to the host who replied I had not booked a sidewalk table. I assumed I was wrong and sat down inside. I checked my email and saw that I was correct. So I mentioned it to our waiter. She said if something opened up they would seat us. Insult to injury, they sat other walk ups outside, never apologized and never came to check on our table after the first round. It was embarrassing to bring friends here. I don’t like people lying to my face, so this place gets my first one star review.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
The mushrooms were delicious, cooked to perfection and tasted amazing! This is definitely my new favorite place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Trumpet Shrooms
Wow, Buddy is truly such a gem. If you ever want a delicious meal full of flavors and textures, you gotta go to Buddy!
We sat outside to enjoy the warm San Francisco weather. It was right on the sidewalk with no parklet, but it was fine.
Here’s what we ordered:
- Corn Fritters - pretty tasty, great crunch, while still moist. Pretty corny-tasting, but well-balanced with the creme fraiche and the saltiness of the smoked trout roe.
- Carrots - wonderful crunch and even more delicious seeds and tahini sauce. A must have!
- Smoked whitefish tonnato - strange flavors and texture at first, but it grew on me. Not sure if the crackers added much, but the dish by itself was a fun combo!
- Fried chicken sammy - perfect crunch (sensing a theme?) and wonderful flavor. The bread was buttery and garlicky, and the chicken was moist.
Our waitperson was super attentive and our food was perfectly spaced out time-wise - we had a small table, and they brought out just enough food at any one time to make sure we had room to eat. IMO, deserving of a Michelin!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich
Stepping into this cozy, dimly lit venue offers a perfect atmosphere for enjoying light bites paired with a great selection of wines. The service was attentive and friendly, adding to the relaxed ambiance.
Food:
-Bread & Butter: The curry butter, with its complex flavors, paired perfectly with ciabatta. A take-home jar would be a dream come true.
- Crudo Halibut: A refreshing dish with a hint of spice, served over thinly sliced zucchini, though I would have preferred a cucumber base for a more elevated crunch and refreshing taste, which would complement the wine selection even better.
Beverage:
- Bambu: An elevated vodka martini with a bitter citrus twist that leaves you wishing for a larger glass.
Highly recommended for a casual wine and bite experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love the atmosphere of the place, very intimate and great for dates ! Music isn't too loud and the light is dim.
The wine selection never disappoints, and the food offers a good pairing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I'm writing this review because I cannot stop thinking about the incredible meal my sister and I had at Buddy on 6/19/24.
If I remember correctly, the menu was Mediterranean Lebanese cuisine that night by a brilliant chef named Maz Naba.
We arrived around 7pm, and despite how crowded it was, we were seated by 7:05pm. Impressive. The vibe in Buddy was so fun and lively! Plus the music selection was so groovy that night!
The whole meal was a flavor adventure that was perfectly curated from the starters to the dessert.
The real show stopper on the menu was the "spreads and breads". It was so simple yet so elegant. My sister even teared up when she tasted the "eggplant black on black" spread because it was the most delicious spread she had ever tasted. It was such a divine way to start our sensational feast. We were truly blown away by how much flavor and love were put into those dishes.
In addition to the food, Buddy had a special selection of wine from a local winery called Augur Wine Co. which was truly phenomenal. It was such a pleasure to pair that wine with our food that night.
I returned a week later and was disappointed that Maz Naba was only a guest chef that night.
Buddy, please bring Maz back so I can bring my friends and whole extended family next time. I already told everyone I know how incredible my experience was at Buddy when Maz was the chef and now my whole social network would like to taste his food too.
Maz Naba, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I think you're so talented and you have a small cult following now.
But in all seriousness, tasting your food made me realize that food can also be an art form. Thank you ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Truly a phenomenal experience. Wandered in on a weeknight, was sat right away. Every dish was vibrant, creative, diverse in texture, influence, and overall manifestation. We tried 7 different things and each one was memorable and immaculately done, noticeably high quality of ingredients. If this was a white table cloth, reservation only meal that cost twice the price I would have left just as impressed and happy. The staff was attentive, informative, warm and adorable. I’ve been thinking about the mushrooms with salsa matcha and truffle honey every day for a week now. Not really a sweets person and I ordered a second brownie to go after how good it was. Wish I had gotten more. The music was great and progressed in tempo as the night went on. Best part is I left feeling nourished, they clearly didn’t pump everything full of fat and sugar to impress in the moment. I was blown away, honestly couldn’t have asked for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Trumpet Shrooms, Chocolate Brownie
Cute small bar, outside tables are tiny, their mushroom appetizer is delicious, beer could’ve been colder, cocktail w/ less ice/water also would’ve been better. Avoid the $8 roasted nuts.
Parking: No bueno
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Trumpet Mushrooms with Truffle Honey and Salsa Matcha
New favorite spot in the Mission - and I'm not even a wine person! We ordered the following dishes along with a couple of cocktails. As for food:
Crudites - a plate of bright and fresh summer veggies
Little gem salad- crisp greens slathered with a generous serving of blue cheese dressing- not my favorite but I'm sure blue cheese fans will love it),
Charred cabbage- very interesting flavors! Loved the tamarind in it, complements the smoky charred cabbage well
Roasted trumpet shrooms- this everything I had hoped for- a simple dish with sophisticated flavors ranging from sweet to earthy with amazing textures all throughout (I am still dreaming of the honey + feta + salsa macha flavor combo as I write this before going to bed lol)
Chocolate brownie - delicious and moist butterscotch brownie with dessert wine poured over it (+$9)
Even without the draw of it being a wine bar, this place is worth checking out for the amazing veg-forward options, welcoming and casual ambience and great drink options. A bit on the pricey side considering the automatic +20% added in but the whole experience made it all worth it. Would definitely go back for more.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Warm Savory Cheesecake, Roasted Trumpet Shrooms
Exceptional wine with an amazing food menu. I love this place and happy to have the addition to the neighborhood!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Trumpet Shrooms
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