Highlights
- Great coffee
oChef » Poached – San Francisco
Poached - San Francisco
Photo from Poached
Poached at a glance
San Francisco South of Market
- 🍽️ Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $61–$70
mentioned by 29 of the guests
#2401 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#254 Restaurant out of 254 in San Francisco
Poor
2.5 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
145
Reviews
4.8%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Helpful server
- Friendly greeting
Frequently criticized
- High price
- Poor food
- Pushy service
The restaurant Poached, a welcoming spot in San Francisco’s vibrant South of Market neighborhood, offers you a casual dining experience. You’ll find yourself drawn to its inviting atmosphere, especially if you appreciate great coffee.
This restaurant is a perfect choice whether you’re starting your day with breakfast, enjoying a leisurely brunch, or looking for a satisfying lunch or dinner. It’s a place where you can relax and enjoy quality offerings.
Overview: Introducting Poached
Poached presents a mixed picture. While some guests appreciated a helpful server and found the atmosphere acceptable, the overall experience often fell short.
Many found the price to be disproportionately high for what was offered, describing the food as basic and uninspired, leading to significant disappointment.
Poor
2.5
out of 10
145
Reviews
4.8%
Satisfaction
111
negative
27
neutral
7
positive
Looking at the numbers, Poached registers an overall Restaurant Score of 2.5 out of 10, which places it firmly in the poor category. This sentiment is echoed by a very low Customer Satisfaction of 4.8%.
These figures, drawn from 145 customer observations, with a significant imbalance of 7 positive against 111 negative remarks, suggest a challenging experience for most diners. Delving deeper, the Value (1.7) received particularly low marks, indicating guests felt the cost far outweighed the offering.
Food (2.9) also struggled, with many finding it uninspiring. Even Ambience (3.2) and Service (3.6) didn’t fare much better, suggesting a need for considerable improvement across the board.
What people like
- Helpful server
- Friendly greeting
What people don't like
- Exorbitant pricing
- Mediocre food
- Pushy service
Considering the overall feedback, Poached struggles significantly with its offerings and value proposition. With a Recommendation Score of 1.9, it’s clear that most guests would advise against a visit.
If you’re seeking a satisfying breakfast experience that justifies its cost, you might find this establishment disappointing. It appears to be a place to approach with caution, if at all.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Poached
Food (2.9 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to the food, the overall score is a rather low 2.9, and customer satisfaction sits at a mere 4.6%, indicating significant room for improvement. While a tiny handful of 3 comments did praise the food quality, with one even rating it a perfect 5, these positive remarks are few and far between. However, the vast majority of 43 comments painted a grim picture, with many describing the offerings as a worst buffet or basic hotel breakfast.
Common complaints centered around greasy grey sausages, stale items, and powdered eggs, highlighting a widespread disappointment with both the quality and variety of the dishes.
Food
65
Reviews
4%
Satisfaction
43
negative
19
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
What people don't like
- Greasy, stale food
- Watery, powdered eggs
- Poor buffet selection
Often praised
- better optionsThere’s better options
- foodfood:4
- food qualityfood quality, which I rated a perfect 5
Frequently criticized
- breakfastMy experience was that there was way too much money spent for the lack of atmosphere and the free budget hotel breakfast quality. I've paid less for a breakfast buffet that included caviar, carving stations, omelette stations, and a view than I paid for this dried up food.
- breakfast buffetthe breakfast buffet. Fine. Granted, I should have asked how much it would cost
- buffetMy experience at this restaurant was quite disappointing. For 48 dollars, I expected a much more substantial buffet. It consisted of only 4 different fruits, scrambled or hard-boiled eggs, bread, ham, and cheese.
- foodMy experience was that there was way too much money spent for the lack of atmosphere and the free budget hotel breakfast quality. I've paid less for a breakfast buffet that included caviar, carving stations, omelette stations, and a view than I paid for this dried up food. I would skip it.
- oatmealThe oatmeal was thick and dry
- powdered eggsUnless you look at the sign outside, this is a normal, mediocre free hotel breakfast buffet. Then they hit you with a $57 bill after having a plate of bland powdered eggs and sausage. Avoid this place at all costs.
- sausageCold sausage with a gelatinous film
- Eggs BenedictAdding to the frustration, there was a built-in 15% service charge/gratuity. To make matters worse, they didn't even have Eggs Benedict on the menu. The place truly lives up to its name; I wouldn't recommend getting poached at Poached!
- bacon and sausage linkslow quality bacon and sausage links
- basic hotel breakfastserves basic hotel breakfast
If you're prioritizing a satisfying meal, especially for breakfast, this spot might leave you feeling underwhelmed. The food quality consistently falls short, making it hard to recommend for a good dining experience.
Service (3.6 out of 10)
mentioned by 31% of the guests
While the overall service experience seems to have its challenges, a few guests did find some bright spots. There were 3 positive comments out of 15 total, highlighting a very nice and helpful server and generally nice staff, including a pleasant greeting from a lady escorting them. These individual interactions show potential for warmth and attentiveness.
However, the general sentiment paints a picture of poor service, reflected in a score of just 3.6 and a very low customer satisfaction of 20%. Many of the 9 negative remarks describe frustrating staff interaction, with some feeling staff were unhelpful or even rude. Issues like a lack of menus and being asked numerous times about payment or having plates taken prematurely were also noted.
Service
15
Reviews
20%
Satisfaction
9
negative
3
neutral
3
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Nice server
- Friendly staff
- Welcoming greeting
What people don't like
- Unhelpful staff
- Rushed service
- No menus
Often praised
- lady escortinggreeted by a lady escorting me
- serverOur server was very nice and helpful
- staffThe staff is nice
Frequently criticized
- Google reviewswish we looked at the Google reviews before going
- HiltonHilton, do better!!
- StaffStaff grunt at you and reluctantly bring you a water or coffee
- asked numerous timesasked numerous times how I planned to pay
- given the billThey only offer a buffet style meal which is over $50 per person, featuring basic continental breakfast fare that was stale. Within ten minutes of sitting down, I was repeatedly asked about payment and given the bill. Before I finished eating, my plate was twice asked to be taken.
- menusNo menus, just one posted outside
- other staffthe other staff not so much
- staff interactionshe kept getting closer and then said “can you move?”
- take my plateasked twice if they could take my plate
If youre considering dining here, be prepared for a potentially inconsistent service experience. While some individual staff members might be pleasant, the overall service quality suggests you might encounter significant frustrations. Its probably best to manage your expectations or look elsewhere if service is a top priority.
Ambience (3.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 34% of the guests
It's quite a puzzle when it comes to the ambience here! Despite a low score of just 3.2, which falls into the poor category, customer satisfaction for the overall feel is surprisingly high at 9.1. This excellent satisfaction suggests that while the atmosphere might not be universally praised, some guests still find something appealing, with one opinion specifically mentioning the atmosphere in a somewhat positive light.
However, the general consensus, based on 6 negative opinions out of 11 total, points to significant room for improvement. Guests frequently mentioned issues like table cleanliness and sanitary practices, with one even describing the restaurant as an abomination. The noise level was compared to a high school cafeteria, and many felt there was no atmosphere at all, especially noting an unkempt buffet area.
Ambience
11
Reviews
9%
Satisfaction
6
negative
4
neutral
1
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
What people don't like
- Poor table cleanliness
- Loud noise level
- Unkempt buffet area
Often praised
- atmosphereAtmosphere:4
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereno atmosphere
- noise levelAs loud as a high school cafeteria
- restaurantan abomination of a restaurant
- sanitary practicescleaning the counter with her hands. More worried about presentation than actually keeping things sanitary
- table cleanlinesstable we were seated at was mostly clean except they left the last people’s orange juice and milk there
- unkempt buffet areathe unkept buffet area
If you prioritize a quiet, pristine, and well-maintained environment, this spot might disappoint. However, if you're okay with a lively, potentially loud setting and some cleanliness quirks, the surprisingly high customer satisfaction suggests you might still enjoy your visit.
Value (1.7 out of 10)
mentioned by 97% of the guests
When it comes to value, the feedback is overwhelmingly clear: there are simply no positive comments to be found among the 54 pieces of feedback. With a score of just 1.7 and a customer satisfaction of 0%, its evident that guests feel this establishment offers poor value. Many guests felt they were scammed or overpaying due due to outrageous prices and hidden fees, often including a mandatory tip.
The consensus is that the cost far outweighs the quality, leaving a strong sense of disappointment and making the bill' a major point of contention.
Value
54
Reviews
0%
Satisfaction
53
negative
1
neutral
0
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
What people don't like
- Outrageous prices
- Hidden charges
- Mandatory gratuity
Often praised
No positive aspects so far.
Frequently criticized
- priceMy experience at this restaurant was that of a predatory restaurant that fails to warn you of their outrageously high price for a buffet breakfast. The price was over $50 per person for offerings and qualities that were only average.
- billThen the bill comes and... surprise...$115 for two people
- costthey don't tell you or it doesn't say anywhere before what the cost is
- moneyMy experience was that there was way too much money spent for the lack of atmosphere and the free budget hotel breakfast quality. I've paid less for a breakfast buffet that included caviar, carving stations, omelette stations, and a view than I paid for this dried up food.
- service feea 15% service fee (is this the tip?)
- valuefor the price you get unfortunately not nearly the corresponding value
- $114 for two peopleHowever, the price cast a shadow over everything else, especially for a hotel breakfast buffet. Charging $114 for two people is absurd.
- $50 costAlthough I didn't eat anything, the sight of the greasy grey sausages and the unkempt buffet area communicated a profound sense of despair and hopelessness. If you were to choose this establishment, I'm sorry, but you kind of deserve the $50 cost as a penalty.
- $50 per personMy experience at this restaurant was disappointing. They only offer a buffet style meal which is over $50 per person, featuring basic continental breakfast fare that was stale. Within ten minutes of sitting down, I was repeatedly asked about payment and given the bill.
- $57 billhit you with a $57 bill
If you're looking for good value, this might not be the place for you. Guests consistently report feeling overcharged for what they receive, so be prepared for a hefty bill that many found disproportionate to the experience.
How are the prices at Poached?
On average, you’ll spend around 65 per person – from 29 guests. That puts the restaurant in the $61–$70 category. For a Restaurant in San Francisco, that’s mid-range, maybe slightly above.
While the average hovers around 65, the prices are quite spread out, with many guests opting for experiences in the $51–$60 range, but also a good number enjoying more premium options up to 100 $.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 29 reviews.
See how this restaurant’s value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Considering its a Restaurant in San Francisco, we think the pricing feels quite fair. Theres a good range of options, so you can likely find something that fits your budget while still enjoying a quality meal.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Poached
Price per Person
- $81–$90
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
1
Shockingly Expensive Breakfast Buffet
I wish I could give this "restaurant" a negative number of stars. I have never felt so utterly ripped off. This morning, the only option was the breakfast buffet.
While I should have inquired about the cost beforehand, I've stayed in nice hotels where comparable buffets were no more than $30. The buffet offered typical items found at free breakfast bars in mid-cost chains, which was disappointing for a Hilton. The offerings included oatmeal, rubbery pre-made pancakes, scrambled eggs from a carton, low-quality bacon and sausage links, stale bread and baked goods, and fruit.
The cost? A staggering $46, plus a 15% service fee and other charges that pushed the total bill over $57. I am still in shock.
- atmosphere3
- breakfast buffet1
- food quality1
- bacon and sausage links1
Price per Person
- $91–$100
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
1
Terrible Value, Avoid This Place
My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. I was initially drawn in by the long line and packed house, but the value was by far the worst I've ever encountered. What was advertised as $46 quickly became $57 after the addition of tax and a service fee.
Even if the meal had been free, I wouldn't return. Paying $60 for this experience felt criminal. While the staff was nice, the overall value for money was abysmal.
I strongly advise staying far away and not getting tricked into this establishment.
- staff7
- value1
- tax and service fee2
- meal1
Price per Person
- $91–$100
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
2
Overpriced Hotel Breakfast Buffet
We decided to have breakfast at the hotel restaurant during our stay. To my astonishment, the cost was $57 per person, which included an automatic 15% gratuity. The food was a typical, run-of-the-mill hotel breakfast buffet, but the prices were ridiculous.
I was truly astonished by this. I strongly advise against eating here unless breakfast is included with your room. You would be much better off finding a breakfast cafe nearby; I guarantee it will taste better and cost a third of what they charged here.
- breakfast buffet5
- prices2
- cost2
- gratuity3
Price per Person
- $81–$90
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
5
Great Food, Expensive Experience
My experience at this restaurant was primarily defined by the food quality, which I rated a perfect 5. However, the overall value was questionable unless the cost was covered by my company. The price was quite expensive otherwise.
The service and atmosphere both received a moderate rating of 3.
- food quality10
- service6
- atmosphere6
- price3
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Tourist Experience
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
5
Breakfast Buffet: Okay, but pricey
My experience with the breakfast buffet was just okay. It's a decent option if it's included in your room rate, but I found it to be quite expensive if you were to purchase it separately. The food quality was satisfactory, and the atmosphere was pleasant, but the value proposition for the price is questionable.
- breakfast buffet5
- food7
- atmosphere7
- price3
What Poached offers
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
Crowd
- Tourists
Payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Solo dining
- Lunch
- Breakfast
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Dine-in
- Takeout
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
Is Poached accessible for all guests?
Absolutely! Poached is designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring a comfortable experience for everyone. You will find a wheelchair accessible entrance, wheelchair accessible seating, and a wheelchair accessible restroom, making it easy for you to navigate and enjoy your visit without any concerns.
What dining options and services does Poached offer?
Poached provides a comprehensive range of dining options throughout the day, including breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, along with dessert. You can enjoy comfortable seating with full table service for a relaxed meal. For your convenience, both dine-in and takeout services are available, fitting perfectly into your schedule.
How does Poached generally perform according to customer feedback?
Poached receives a Restaurant Score of 2.5 out of 10, indicating a poor overall experience. Key areas like Value (1.7), Food (2.9), Ambience (3.2), and Service (3.6) all scored poorly, contributing to a low Customer Satisfaction of 4.8%.
What are the main concerns customers have about Poached?
Many customers express significant disappointment with the high price for what they perceive as mediocre food quality, often described as basic or stale. There are also concerns about pushy service regarding payment.
Are there any positive aspects mentioned by diners at Poached?
While overall sentiment is low, some guests did note positive interactions with a helpful server and appreciated a friendly greeting upon arrival.