One of my favorite restaurants! Best hangar steak I've ever had anywhere! This is the 5th time I've eaten at Isa's, and everything both my friends and I have ordered has been great. Vegetables are uniformly wonderful; the bread is perfectly warm and toasted with just the right amount of butter, every time!. Everything is fresh! Service is attentive and unobtrusive. quiet front room, lovely back patio.
Kent Y.
Stopped to look at the posted menu while enjoying Chestnut st. They had a SF restaurant week special 4 course meal. the owner greeted us and the waitstaff including John was great. Very informative and helped with a wine selection. The meal of duck, rack of lamb, crab salad, semifredo was carefully presented, flavorful and cooked to the requested degree of wellness. We were seated at the front window in side by side seating for two which worked out well for us as we people watched. Probably meant to attract attention for the restaurant. The room was quiet so we could enjoy our conversation. There is also a back patio that seats about 100 people. An outstanding meal at a reasonable price with superior service , knowledge of the foods and wine, in a relaxing atmosphere.
Taylor P.
To get to the point, if you are considering going for restaurant week, do yourself the favor, as their restaurant week menu is incredible and they have priced incredibly kindly. The yellowtail hamachi was the best 3 bites of my life, the foie gras and poached peaches were a delight, the creme brûlée was a truly sensual experience, and truly everything else was spectacular. But indeed the best part of the experience was the people, all friendly, attentive and very excited to converse and share a smile. It was honestly one of the most lovey experiences of me and my partners' 5 years in the Bay Area, and we can't wait to go back. Thanks team Isa!
Ayush K.
Note: This is the review for my SF restaurant week dining experience at Isa 11 months ago. I posted my review on Google but forgot to add it on Yelp. Better now than never. I went to Isa for SF Restaurant week. They had a 4 course set menu. First, let's talk about the place and the ambiance. The restaurant is in a nice neighborhood, so you can walk around and find some good restaurants and boutique stores close by. Parking can be tough. They have two indoor dining areas- one in the front and one in the back. The front dining area has a very minimalistic look, and it has a darker setting with dim lights. As you walk towards the back seating area, you are greeted by a lush display of indoor vines that climb up the walls and hang from the ceiling, giving the space a vibrant and organic feel. The lighting is warm and ambient, with a combination of pendant lamps and hanging bulbs that cast a soft glow throughout the room. Now let's talk about the food. My friend and I ordered all these dishes - First course- 1. Main lobster broth 2. Potato and leak soup Second course- 1. Yellowfin tuna 2. Salmon carpaccio Third course- 1. Maple leaf duck breast 2. Hanger steak Fourth course- 1. Amaretto 2. Creme brulee Both the items from course 1 were pretty good. They were served somewhat lukewarm. Both yellowfin tuna and salmon carpaccio were served with grilled bread. Yellowfin tuna had mild flavoring, so the grilled bread didn't help. Of the two, salmon carpaccio was more flavorful because of cucumbers and capers. Hanger steak, in my opinion, was more juicy and flavorful than the duck breast. Menu mentioned that duck breast has bacon in it as well, so I was excited about that only to find a few tiny pieces of bacon in the small salad portion that comes with the dish. Creme brulee was really good but amaretto was very disappointing. The service was great. Nice staff. I think it's a bit on the pricey end. I was hoping for a little bit more quality food than what we got. Overall, it was a good experience.
Winnie Tsay
Maine Lobster Broth $22⭐️⭐️⭐️Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels $19⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Dungeness Crab Salad $26⭐️⭐️⭐️Semifreddo all amaretto $9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rack of Lamb $36⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Roasted Rack of Lamb- 1 4 Rack, Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels
Jean J
The food was middling and overpriced. Jim, our waiter, particularly stood out as rude and ungracious.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Kelly Mu
Very disappointing restaurant week experience. Waitress tried very hard to sell us on the (not complimentary) bread to accompany the soup, except the bread arrived 10 minutes later than the soup. This would not be as big of a problem if the soup’s portion was big, but you could finish it in less than 10 spoonfuls.The medium rare steak turned out medium well and the medium duck turned out well done. (Didn’t take a photo of the opened steak but the duck is clearly well done just from the way it is first given to us.) They were taking so long with the food (we were one of the first customers) and the restaurant was filling up at this point so we no longer felt incentivized to send the food back. They also swapped out the Brussels sprouts in the steak dish out with zucchini with no notice.What I also don’t understand is that before we sat down, the manager gave us an elaborate overview of how this restaurant has been in existence for 25 years. I’d expect better customer service and organization from such a long-standing restaurant. The amount of food given was also pretty abysmal for a $65 per person menu. We left quite hungry and dissatisfied.
Tomodore
Excellent food and service, by the end of the meal we felt like valued long time patrons rather than just another table to serve. The mussel appetizer was outstanding and the Chilean Sea Bass was unique and delicious. Save room for Crème Brûlée.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace C.
My experience here was exquisite. I had a glass of Chardonnay with the Maine lobster soup and a side of bread, and I finished with a glass of Pinot noir and the flourless chocolate cake and vanilla bean gelato. The Chardonnay was crisp and bright without being too acidic, and the Chardonnay was smooth with notes of cherry and a hint of smokiness--just to my liking! The bread and soup were absolutely delicious and perfect for a person like me who doesn't enjoy massive American portion sizes-- while not being too small, either. The dessert was absolutely to die for. They make the cake for you on the spot and it is DELICIOUS, and the vanilla bean gelato is better than any ice cream I've found. The ambience on the outdoor patio is absolutely lovely- I wanted to enjoy a glass of wine in the first light of spring, and I found myself in a very comfortable, yet polished space with brilliant lighting and nice greenery. The waitstaff were friendly, helpful, and present. I was also greeted by whom I presume was an owner or manager who seated me and gave me a brief history of the place, since I hadn't been here before. highly impressive. Shortly after my meal came, I texted a friend saying we should come. I cannot recommend enough!!
We had a wonderful dinner for 6 people. Food was delicious, service was supper attentive and the ambiance was lovely. Isa provides its customers with the old fashion personalized attention to every detail. We were impressed
Second time coming here and it didn't disappoint. We sat in the back patio and it was so cozy and intimate. Hearing the raindrops hitting the roof just added to the ambiance. Great place to have a date or a birthday dinner. I came with a group of 4 and we all enjoyed our entrees. Every dish was so good and flavorful. I had the ribs this time. It was so tender and melted in my mouth. Had the crème brûlée for dessert and it was amazing! I'm looking forward to the next time I come out here!
SFGal
Fabulous food, wonderful service and a lovely atmosphere for dinner last night (even though we were a party of 12.) Everyone raved then and afterwards about what a great restaurant it is, and that they'll be back again. Several friends said the lamb was the best they'd eaten, the scallops were sweet and tender, and even the grilled bread was an elevated experience. My new fave place in SF (I want to try the extra-charming back enclosed patio next time.)
Tomasina B.
delicous. The best meal on our trip. It was a happy accident as the place were headed to was out of power. As we wandered the neighborhood we came across this beautiful gluten free gem. Made the night.
Rachrob
This is our go to place when we travel from Marin California to see jazz at geelou near Isa. Owner is so great. Experienced waiters like John. They have a full bar. I love the high quality food and service. You won't be disappointed.
MontecitoJoe
We have been to Isa many times over the years -- this was probably my 8th time there. It never disappoints. We started with oysters, then the crab salad, then the baked brie and prawns for appetizers. The potato wrapped halibut is always a highlight and it didn't disappoint this time either. The hangar steak and the scallops were also great. The pace of the arrival of the food was perfect. It's absolutely one of my favorite restaurants. Period. I wish we had one in my hometown.
One of my favorite restaurants! Best hangar steak I've ever had anywhere! This is the 5th time I've eaten at Isa's, and everything both my friends and I have ordered has been great. Vegetables are uniformly wonderful; the bread is perfectly warm and toasted with just the right amount of butter, every time!. Everything is fresh! Service is attentive and unobtrusive. quiet front room, lovely back patio.
Stopped to look at the posted menu while enjoying Chestnut st. They had a SF restaurant week special 4 course meal. the owner greeted us and the waitstaff including John was great. Very informative and helped with a wine selection. The meal of duck, rack of lamb, crab salad, semifredo was carefully presented, flavorful and cooked to the requested degree of wellness. We were seated at the front window in side by side seating for two which worked out well for us as we people watched. Probably meant to attract attention for the restaurant. The room was quiet so we could enjoy our conversation. There is also a back patio that seats about 100 people. An outstanding meal at a reasonable price with superior service , knowledge of the foods and wine, in a relaxing atmosphere.
To get to the point, if you are considering going for restaurant week, do yourself the favor, as their restaurant week menu is incredible and they have priced incredibly kindly. The yellowtail hamachi was the best 3 bites of my life, the foie gras and poached peaches were a delight, the creme brûlée was a truly sensual experience, and truly everything else was spectacular. But indeed the best part of the experience was the people, all friendly, attentive and very excited to converse and share a smile. It was honestly one of the most lovey experiences of me and my partners' 5 years in the Bay Area, and we can't wait to go back. Thanks team Isa!
Note: This is the review for my SF restaurant week dining experience at Isa 11 months ago. I posted my review on Google but forgot to add it on Yelp. Better now than never. I went to Isa for SF Restaurant week. They had a 4 course set menu. First, let's talk about the place and the ambiance. The restaurant is in a nice neighborhood, so you can walk around and find some good restaurants and boutique stores close by. Parking can be tough. They have two indoor dining areas- one in the front and one in the back. The front dining area has a very minimalistic look, and it has a darker setting with dim lights. As you walk towards the back seating area, you are greeted by a lush display of indoor vines that climb up the walls and hang from the ceiling, giving the space a vibrant and organic feel. The lighting is warm and ambient, with a combination of pendant lamps and hanging bulbs that cast a soft glow throughout the room. Now let's talk about the food. My friend and I ordered all these dishes - First course- 1. Main lobster broth 2. Potato and leak soup Second course- 1. Yellowfin tuna 2. Salmon carpaccio Third course- 1. Maple leaf duck breast 2. Hanger steak Fourth course- 1. Amaretto 2. Creme brulee Both the items from course 1 were pretty good. They were served somewhat lukewarm. Both yellowfin tuna and salmon carpaccio were served with grilled bread. Yellowfin tuna had mild flavoring, so the grilled bread didn't help. Of the two, salmon carpaccio was more flavorful because of cucumbers and capers. Hanger steak, in my opinion, was more juicy and flavorful than the duck breast. Menu mentioned that duck breast has bacon in it as well, so I was excited about that only to find a few tiny pieces of bacon in the small salad portion that comes with the dish. Creme brulee was really good but amaretto was very disappointing. The service was great. Nice staff. I think it's a bit on the pricey end. I was hoping for a little bit more quality food than what we got. Overall, it was a good experience.
Maine Lobster Broth $22⭐️⭐️⭐️Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels $19⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Dungeness Crab Salad $26⭐️⭐️⭐️Semifreddo all amaretto $9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rack of Lamb $36⭐️⭐️⭐️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Roasted Rack of Lamb- 1 4 Rack, Steamed Prince Edward Island Mussels
The food was middling and overpriced. Jim, our waiter, particularly stood out as rude and ungracious.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Very disappointing restaurant week experience. Waitress tried very hard to sell us on the (not complimentary) bread to accompany the soup, except the bread arrived 10 minutes later than the soup. This would not be as big of a problem if the soup’s portion was big, but you could finish it in less than 10 spoonfuls.The medium rare steak turned out medium well and the medium duck turned out well done. (Didn’t take a photo of the opened steak but the duck is clearly well done just from the way it is first given to us.) They were taking so long with the food (we were one of the first customers) and the restaurant was filling up at this point so we no longer felt incentivized to send the food back. They also swapped out the Brussels sprouts in the steak dish out with zucchini with no notice.What I also don’t understand is that before we sat down, the manager gave us an elaborate overview of how this restaurant has been in existence for 25 years. I’d expect better customer service and organization from such a long-standing restaurant. The amount of food given was also pretty abysmal for a $65 per person menu. We left quite hungry and dissatisfied.
Excellent food and service, by the end of the meal we felt like valued long time patrons rather than just another table to serve. The mussel appetizer was outstanding and the Chilean Sea Bass was unique and delicious. Save room for Crème Brûlée.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My experience here was exquisite. I had a glass of Chardonnay with the Maine lobster soup and a side of bread, and I finished with a glass of Pinot noir and the flourless chocolate cake and vanilla bean gelato. The Chardonnay was crisp and bright without being too acidic, and the Chardonnay was smooth with notes of cherry and a hint of smokiness--just to my liking! The bread and soup were absolutely delicious and perfect for a person like me who doesn't enjoy massive American portion sizes-- while not being too small, either. The dessert was absolutely to die for. They make the cake for you on the spot and it is DELICIOUS, and the vanilla bean gelato is better than any ice cream I've found. The ambience on the outdoor patio is absolutely lovely- I wanted to enjoy a glass of wine in the first light of spring, and I found myself in a very comfortable, yet polished space with brilliant lighting and nice greenery. The waitstaff were friendly, helpful, and present. I was also greeted by whom I presume was an owner or manager who seated me and gave me a brief history of the place, since I hadn't been here before. highly impressive. Shortly after my meal came, I texted a friend saying we should come. I cannot recommend enough!!
We had a wonderful dinner for 6 people. Food was delicious, service was supper attentive and the ambiance was lovely. Isa provides its customers with the old fashion personalized attention to every detail. We were impressed
Restaurantji Recommends
Second time coming here and it didn't disappoint. We sat in the back patio and it was so cozy and intimate. Hearing the raindrops hitting the roof just added to the ambiance. Great place to have a date or a birthday dinner. I came with a group of 4 and we all enjoyed our entrees. Every dish was so good and flavorful. I had the ribs this time. It was so tender and melted in my mouth. Had the crème brûlée for dessert and it was amazing! I'm looking forward to the next time I come out here!
Fabulous food, wonderful service and a lovely atmosphere for dinner last night (even though we were a party of 12.) Everyone raved then and afterwards about what a great restaurant it is, and that they'll be back again. Several friends said the lamb was the best they'd eaten, the scallops were sweet and tender, and even the grilled bread was an elevated experience. My new fave place in SF (I want to try the extra-charming back enclosed patio next time.)
delicous. The best meal on our trip. It was a happy accident as the place were headed to was out of power. As we wandered the neighborhood we came across this beautiful gluten free gem. Made the night.
This is our go to place when we travel from Marin California to see jazz at geelou near Isa. Owner is so great. Experienced waiters like John. They have a full bar. I love the high quality food and service. You won't be disappointed.
We have been to Isa many times over the years -- this was probably my 8th time there. It never disappoints. We started with oysters, then the crab salad, then the baked brie and prawns for appetizers. The potato wrapped halibut is always a highlight and it didn't disappoint this time either. The hangar steak and the scallops were also great. The pace of the arrival of the food was perfect. It's absolutely one of my favorite restaurants. Period. I wish we had one in my hometown.