Tosca - Reviews

What a loss to San Francisco. Before its new owners mired it in mediocrity, this was once among the most magical dining experiences I’ve ever had. It may as well be an airport concession—uninspired, careless, pointless. Who would turn this cave of wonder into a dim tourist trap? Its new owners, with an infallible reverse Midas touch, have a gift for squeezing margins out of a menu and little else. It wouldn’t matter so much if Tosca itself didn’t mean as much as it does. We can only hope the next owners—and judging by the thin crowds, that day will come—have more to offer.

What happened to this beautiful restaurant? My experience at Tosca was marked by empty seats and a slow food service. The bar was also empty, with limited liquor options. Having dinner here felt like watching an old man dying; this once venerable and world-renowned institution seems sadly to be on its last gasp. Someone please save this wonderful place.

I was initially drawn in by Tosca's interiors and arrived last night with a couple, hoping to enjoy its art, drinks, and hospitality. Despite the restaurant not being crowded, we were denied a table for four, even though many were empty at 10 pm. This was particularly disheartening as we only wanted drinks. We felt like we were being read the rules, creating a Seinfeld-esque experience where tables were not available for just drinks. We ended up going to Comstock, which might be the best place for craft cocktails, boasting sophisticated interiors with hushed lighting. We loved their charred Brussels sprouts.

My experience at this restaurant was marred by a significant billing issue. We were overcharged $27 dollars on an order of drinks. The menu prices were not reflected on the final bill, and the staff seemed aware of the discrepancy but said nothing. While we enjoyed what we had, I don’t appreciate being taken advantage of.

My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. The food was awful, the atmosphere was decadent, and the service was tragic. The place urgently needs investment to get back on its feet.

My experience with a group of 5 people on a Saturday night was disappointing. The service vibe felt awkward, with a frantic host and multiple servers who didn't take our order promptly. The food took over an hour to arrive and was not great. There was no communication regarding the delay. However, they were consistently refilling our water glasses.

Things have gone downhill here of late. Based on the empty tables on a Saturday night, I'd guess it's no secret. The food was really average to bad. Our party of five found it super loud, and we had to keep asking people to repeat themselves. I would not recommend ordering the charcuterie; it was just three salami-like meats, four cubes of rock-hard cheese, stale crackers, and grapes for $35. The server upsold us on a housemade focaccia, and we fell for it, only to receive two orders at $15 each – it was good but too much. Both red wines by the glass tasted like they had been opened hours ago or the day before and weren't pressurized. The bucatini was al dente but dry, lacking sufficient sauce. The Pork Saltimbocca was a greasy mess, swimming in butter and soggy instead of crispy. On the positive side, the Chicken Parm was well-executed (though it should be if they can't do that right, they should close), and the Hustler cocktail was excellent. The Panna Cotta was also excellent. We ordered House Cappuccinos with dessert, an old signature for this spot, but they arrived long after the dessert was gone, so we just accepted it and left. The service was attentive, but the upsell cost them a star.

My experience at this restaurant was extremely disappointing. I came for dinner, and only our charcuterie board arrived. The waitress, who was described as "big bone, " brought our drinks very slowly, and we noticed she was talking a lot to the staff. We later discovered she had never placed our dinner orders. She claimed she thought someone else had taken our orders, but she was the only one working. Due to this significant service failure, I would not come back here again.

My experience at this restaurant was mixed. While the rest of the team was quite good, our server seemed disinterested. This lack of attention led us to leave before ordering a second drink or dessert. The food was just okay, and the portions were smallish. Additionally, we were charged an 8% healthy mandate fee, which research suggests is optional and higher than the norm. Overall, the service aspect was a significant letdown.

My experience at this restaurant was largely positive. The food was great, with the Salmon being particularly noteworthy and the Spaghetti and meatballs also being good. While they ran out of the specific wine I wanted, they offered a great selection of other wines. The service was good, and the ambience was cool. We experienced no wait time, which was a pleasant surprise.