Al-Masri - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was absolutely disappointing. The food was very mediocre and not at all close to authentic Arabic cuisine. The hummus was yucky; I’ve had better from a grocery store. The main course lacked any taste. The only saving grace was perhaps the coffee. I will never ever go back again.

I visited this restaurant last Friday with two friends. Despite the place being nearly empty, with only one other patron, the food took a surprisingly long time to arrive and was not good. It seemed like only the rice was prepared fresh, and much of the food had a bitter taste. To add to the disappointment, a 20% gratuity was automatically added to our bill. When we questioned the waitress about this for a group of three, as their menu stated 18% for groups of four or more, she claimed it was a city requirement. A friend living in San Francisco confirmed this is not a rule. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience.

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. I highly recommend going when the belly dancers are performing, as it creates a very lively atmosphere with great music and performances. However, the food was quite disappointing, scoring only a 2 out of 5. While the atmosphere and service were excellent (both rated 5/5), the culinary aspect did not meet expectations for a dinner priced between $50-100 per person.

My experience at this charming Egyptian restaurant was wonderful. I was very glad we went. The restaurant offered a unique blend of vibrant flavors and a cozy ambiance. The live band and belly dancing performance were fantastic!

My experience at this restaurant was wonderful. The host was incredibly kind and helpful. Even though we arrived as they were getting busy and had a prix fixe dinner menu, they still accommodated our request for a small snack. The coffee was EXCELLENT! We also enjoyed the live music and belly dancing – thank you for the show. We had a great time and wished we could have stayed longer.

My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing, primarily due to the food quality and the chef's attitude. I ordered Koshary, but it bore no resemblance to the authentic dish in terms of taste, ingredients, or preparation. It was overloaded with overcooked rice, lacked chickpeas, and the sauce was merely unsalted tomato purée. When I expressed my dissatisfaction, the chef, an American woman claiming Egyptian heritage, became defensive and rude. She insisted her preparation was perfect and dismissed my feedback, even making a comment about my plate being messy, which I explained is how Koshary is meant to be eaten – mixed together. Her aggressive demeanor was a stark contrast to the nice and friendly waitress. Overall, it was a horrible experience from the food to the quality of service.

My experience at this restaurant was shockingly bad, easily the worst meal I've had in San Francisco. The food was a major disappointment. The chicken tasted like fish, and the fish itself was served cold. The vegetarian dish was uninspired, consisting of just potatoes and eggplant in a lukewarm tomato sauce. On a positive note, the belly dancing was amazing, and the atmosphere was enjoyable.

I'm glad we found this unique gem in SF. The restaurant had a very unique aesthetic unlike anywhere else in the city, and the belly dancing performance was fantastic!

My experience at this restaurant was primarily for the entertainment, not the food. The venue itself is gorgeous, and the live band and belly dancers were truly amazing. However, the food was a significant letdown. We were shocked by the price of five falafels for $25, and the food in general was beyond mediocre in both quantity and quality for the high price. I ordered the grilled chicken kebab and grilled lamb, a famous Egyptian dish, but the chicken was either baked or boiled with almost no seasoning. My husband, who is vegan, ordered the eggplant dish with rice. The eggplant dish was just 'okay, ' and the rice was incredibly bland. I highly recommend coming here for the fun and entertainment, but I cannot recommend it for the food. Despite the food issues, I still had a blast.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The food was so good I scarfed it down in minutes. The rice included with my dish was uniquely shaped like a pyramid. The service was nice, and the atmosphere made me feel like I was stepping into Egypt, complete with great belly dancers. It's truly a gem of this city.