Highlights
- Great wine list
- Great beer selection
oChef » Wilder – San Francisco
Wilder - San Francisco
Photo from Wilder
Wilder at a glance
San Francisco Cow Hollow
- 🍽️ Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $41–$50
mentioned by 41 of the guests
#1380 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#161 Restaurant out of 254 in San Francisco
Good
7.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
352
Reviews
73%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious food
- Great value
Frequently criticized
- Slow service
- Loud atmosphere
The restaurant Wilder, a popular spot in San Francisco’s vibrant Cow Hollow neighborhood, stands out as a true culinary gem. Known for its inviting atmosphere and a great wine list, this establishment offers a delightful dining experience.
Whether you’re seeking a casual meal or a trendy evening out, Wilder provides a perfect setting for locals and visitors alike to enjoy delicious food and drinks.
Overview: Introducting Wilder
Wilder offers a generally pleasant dining experience, often praised for its appealing aesthetics and a menu that delivers on taste, particularly with its main dishes and unique cocktails. Many appreciate the generous portions and the overall quality of the food.
However, some visits to Wilder have been marred by inconsistent service, with reports of slow attention or issues with staff. The atmosphere can also be quite loud, which might detract from the dining experience for some guests.
Good
7.3
out of 10
352
Reviews
73%
Satisfaction
69
negative
26
neutral
257
positive
Overall, Wilder earns a solid 7.3 out of 10, reflecting a generally positive reception from diners. Customer satisfaction stands at a respectable 73%, indicating that most guests leave content with their experience.
These figures are drawn from a substantial 352 customer observations, with 257 positive remarks outweighing 69 negative ones. Diving deeper, the Food (7.8) is a clear highlight, frequently praised for its quality and variety.
Value (7.2) also scores well, with many finding the deals appealing. The Ambience (7) is often appreciated for its visual appeal, though some find it can get quite noisy.
Service (6.4), however, presents a mixed picture, suggesting room for improvement in consistency.
What people like
- Delicious food and cocktails
- Appealing aesthetics
- Excellent happy hour deals
What people don't like
- Inconsistent, slow service
- Loud, unwelcoming atmosphere
- Dry desserts, salty dishes
Wilder presents itself as a solid choice for those prioritizing a vibrant setting and generally well-prepared main dishes. With a 7.7 recommendation score, it’s certainly worth considering if you’re looking for a lively spot with good food and appealing drink specials.
However, be prepared for a potentially noisy environment and service that can be inconsistent. If you value a quieter meal or flawless service above all else, you might find aspects of Wilder less satisfying.
It’s a place with definite strengths, but also some areas to navigate.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Wilder
Food (7.8 out of 10)
mentioned by 88% of the guests
The food here generally hits the mark, with a 7.8 score indicating a good culinary experience and a strong 81.3% customer satisfaction. Based on 161 positive remarks, diners frequently rave about the delicious espresso martinis, fresh oysters, and the standout Whiskey Glazed French Toast. Many also praise the flavorful Bolognese Pasta, making for a truly enjoyable meal.
However, out of 198 total comments, 20 opinions point to some areas for improvement. A few guests found dishes like the French Toast to be soggy bread and some items, particularly the Brussels sprouts, a bit too salty. There were also mentions of inconsistent food quality and a lackluster truffle mac, suggesting some dishes might miss the mark.
Food
198
Reviews
81%
Satisfaction
20
negative
17
neutral
161
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious cocktails
- Fresh oysters
- Flavorful pasta
What people don't like
- Salty dishes
- Soggy French Toast
- Inconsistent quality
Often praised
- foodThe apple turnover and chocolate cake felt like a steep decline in quality from the food; they were a little dry and had sprinkles on them which felt amateur. Overall the food was solid, but dessert not so much. Honestly, it wasn't a super memorable experience, but I did enjoy the food.
- drinksThe service was slow, and to my disappointment, our glasses were dirty and didn’t seem like they were clean. However, the drinks were good! Despite the positives, I wouldn’t go again due to the service issues.
- pork choppork chop (skipped the mash and replaced with sauteed veggies for no additional cost)
- burgerThe burger was delish
- cocktailsAlthough it was quite loud inside, the great food and cocktails made up for it. Their cocktails were very unique, and their food paired quite nicely. The noise level almost felt like a club without music.
- portionsportions were sizable for SF standards
- FoodFood:5
- avocado toast🤣 Absolutely enjoyed the tastiest toast while out to brunch at Wilder with family and friends! We enjoyed the scrumptious egg dishes, ricotta blueberry pancakes, avocado toast and other delicious brunch foods. Plus, I loved that it was restaurant week so I personally combined the delish toast with a scrumptious veggie egg dish.
- burrataThe inside is beautiful, but we decided to enjoy the patio seating outside because the weather was so nice. We ordered some delicious steak, pork buns, pork burger, garlic fries, Mac n cheese, and burrata. The quality was amazing and our server, Angel, gave some killer recommendations!
- chocolate cakeespecially loved the chocolate cake
Frequently criticized
- foodI had a horrible experience dining in. My party of 4 experienced an issue with their food, and though it was brought to the management team multiple times, they still decided to ignore and neglect assistance. Perhaps they’re not trained to handle and own issues when they arise.
- Bolognesethe Bolognese had way too much meat
- Brussel sproutsI would happily order all of these again, and their sauce game was pretty good. The one negative aspect was that everything was a little salty, especially the Brussel sprouts, though they were cooked to perfection. The staff was super friendly and provided great drink tips.
- French ToastFrench Toast which tasted like soggy bread
- apple turnover and chocolate cakeApple turnover and chocolate cake felt like a steep decline in quality
- breakfast burritosbreakfast burritos with absolutely no flavor at all
- calamaricalamari was a bit over done and too chewy
- drink menudrink menu offers a number of options marked as "to share"
- drinksMy friend and I had an initial experience that was not so great, but it was redeemed by Linore/Lenore. We ordered drinks that were just too strong and sent them back. Our original waiter rolled his eyes and was put off by the request, which made things unpleasant and awkward.
- food menufood menu is all over the place as far as cuisines go
If you're looking for a spot with generally good food and standout drinks like espresso martinis and fresh oysters, this place is worth a visit. Just be mindful that some dishes might be a bit salty or inconsistent, so choose wisely.
Service (6.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 62% of the guests
Many guests have enjoyed the service here, with a score of 6.4 indicating an average experience, and customer satisfaction at a mixed 56.7%. Out of 67 total comments, 38 were positive, often praising the friendly staff and attentive servers like Linore. Guests appreciated killer recommendations and how the team could accommodate orders for groups, making for a great visit.
However, 26 negative comments highlight areas for improvement. Some found the service to be slow or noted a lazy effort from staff. There were concerns about inattentive waiters and management not addressing issues or dietary concerns properly, with a few even mentioning aggressive staff or difficulty getting attention.
Service
67
Reviews
56%
Satisfaction
26
negative
3
neutral
38
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly, attentive staff
- Great recommendations
- Accommodating requests
What people don't like
- Slow, inattentive service
- Management ignored issues
- Aggressive staff
Often praised
- serviceI loved this place and would totally come back. The food and drinks are good, and the service was excellent despite how busy they were. Linore was very attentive and checked in on us several times.
- staffGreat staff who accommodated my group of 7 without complaint
- ServiceThe Omelet was just fine, not as special as the other items (3/5). Service was good. Visually, the restaurant is cute, but it was soooo loud inside; I couldn't hear my friend or the staff talking.
- friendly staffGreeted by all their friendly staff
- LinoreThe food and drinks are good, and the service was excellent despite how busy they were. Linore was very attentive and checked in on us several times. There’s a big bar area with lots of tables indoors and outdoors (with heaters).
- ServerServer checked on us frequently
- Shane and LinoreShane and Linore have been especially great
- WatersWaters were always full
- accommodate our orderable to accommodate our order
- bartenderpossibly the coolest bartender I've ever experienced
Frequently criticized
- serviceWhile I absolutely loved the vibes and the atmosphere, the food was just okay to me. The service was slow, and to my disappointment, our glasses were dirty and didn’t seem like they were clean. However, the drinks were good!
- assault a touristsaw them assault a tourist taking video
- staffStaff extremely aggressive
- ServiceBland Service but no biggie.
- anniversarythere for our anniversary and told them that and got nothing for it
- assistanceI had a horrible experience dining in. My party of 4 experienced an issue with their food, and though it was brought to the management team multiple times, they still decided to ignore and neglect assistance. Perhaps they’re not trained to handle and own issues when they arise.
- bathroom attendantworst part about this place was the attendant in the bathroom
- dietary concernsPlease don't go if you have dietary concerns. They will not honor them.
- effortJust really lazy all around
- management teamdecided to ignore and neglect assistance
Service here seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. If youre lucky, youll encounter friendly, attentive staff who go the extra mile. But be prepared for potential inconsistencies, as some guests have experienced slower or less responsive service.
Ambience (7 out of 10)
mentioned by 62% of the guests
The vibe here is generally quite positive, earning a good score of 7 for ambience. Many guests loved the family friendly and cozy place feel, especially with patio seating and a cool speakeasy lounge. With 48 positive observations out of 72, it seems many found the aesthetic and overall vibe to be a real highlight, even noting it's dog-friendly.
However, customer satisfaction sits at a mixed 66.7%, indicating some areas for improvement. A significant number of the 20 negative comments pointed to issues with acoustics and the noise level, often describing it as loud. Some also felt the music was too much or the lights were too bright, impacting the desired atmosphere.
Ambience
72
Reviews
66%
Satisfaction
20
negative
4
neutral
48
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Cozy and aesthetic vibe
- Outdoor patio seating
- Dog-friendly environment
What people don't like
- Loud noise level
- Poor acoustics
- Bright lights
Often praised
- atmosphereMy experience at the restaurant was amazing 😻. It was so beautiful 😻. I went there on Mother's Day with my friends and we had a blast 💥.
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:5
- Mother's DayWent there on Mother’s Day with my friends.
- Paws and Palomas eventawesome Paws and Palomas event to raise money
- Private Denhad our wedding reception in their Private Den
- TableTable was always clean
- aesthetic and tasteThe aesthetic and the taste are out of this world
- aestheticsLove the aesthetics here
- brunch spaceVery cute brunch space
- city vibeVery much a city vibe.
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereMy experience at the restaurant was not ideal, especially as someone visiting from out of town. The atmosphere was dominated by what I perceived as young, liberal Gen Z individuals, which made it feel unwelcoming. I wouldn't recommend it if you're not from the area.
- Marina crowdTypical Marina crowd
- TVTV kinda killed the vibe
- acousticsThe acoustics were bad... Was really loud
- barthe bar was playing sports game so it can get a little too loud sometimes
- dog insideA dog was allowed inside the restaurant
- door openthey kept the door open all night. It's San Francisco, it's cold
- experiencehow just okay the whole experience was
- glassesWhile I absolutely loved the vibes and the atmosphere, the food was just okay to me. The service was slow, and to my disappointment, our glasses were dirty and didn’t seem like they were clean. However, the drinks were good!
- lighting/decorbad lighting/decor
If youre looking for a lively spot with a great aesthetic and outdoor options, this place is worth checking out. Just be prepared that it can get quite loud, especially if youre sensitive to noise or prefer a quieter setting.
Value (7.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 19% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot has some real gems! Many guests rave about fantastic deals like the $1.50 oysters, $5 slushies and mimosas, and a lively happy hour that makes it an affordable place to enjoy. With a solid score of 7.2, it's clear that 10 positive remarks highlight some truly worthwhile offerings.
However, not everyone is convinced, as customer satisfaction sits at a 66.7% – a mixed bag. A few voices, 3 to be exact, felt it was a waste of money and even overpriced. While some find great deals, others perceive certain aspects as not living up to expectations.
Value
15
Reviews
66%
Satisfaction
3
negative
2
neutral
10
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great happy hour
- Affordable deals
- Special promotions
What people don't like
- Can be overpriced
Often praised
- pricesYou can’t beat the $5 frosé and mimosa deal offered from 10 am to noon. The food is good, and the prices are comparable to other places around. I found the Caesar wrap to be decent, though I personally prefer wraps with the tortilla toasted.
- $1.50 oystersthey were still serving $1.50 oysters. What a deal
- $5 slushiesAnd you can't beat their $5 slushies, frozen rose served with gummy bears in a cute bear mug
- $5 slushies and mimosasthe $5 slushies and mimosas definitely worth it!
- affordable placelooking for an affordable place
- brunch specialGreat value as you get to essentially pick 2 entrees
- frosé and mimosa dealcan’t beat the $5 frosé and mimosa deal
- happy hourHappy hour from 11-1 with such fun drinks!
- restaurant week dealit costs $25 total for restaurant week (such a good deal)!
Frequently criticized
- OverpricedOverpriced
- spotit’s over-hyped spot in the city
- waste of moneyTotal waste of money
If youre savvy about catching their specific deals like happy hour or special promotions, youll likely find some excellent value here. However, if you go in without a plan, you might find certain items a bit steep for your wallet. It's worth trying if you do your homework on the specials!
How are the prices at Wilder?
You’re looking at roughly 44 per person – reported by 41 diners. That puts it in the $41–$50 category. For a Restaurant in San Francisco, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
Interestingly, while the average sits here, we see a wide spread in what people spend. Many diners enjoy options in the 21 – 40 $ range, suggesting some great value. But theres also a notable group opting for more premium experiences, spending 101 $+.
So, youve got choices!
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 41 reviews.
How does this restaurant’s value stack up against similar spots in San Francisco?
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Restaurant in San Francisco, especially given the variety of price points available to diners.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Wilder
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Casual Outing
Group Type
- Friends
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
9
Great Staff, Diverse Menu, Affordable Prices
My experience at this restaurant was fantastic, especially concerning the staff who were incredibly accommodating to my group of 7 without any complaints. The menu offers something for everyone, ensuring a wide variety of choices. Additionally, the prices are inexpensive, making it a great value.
- staff10
- menu9
- prices9
Price per Person
- $81–$90
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Moderate
2
Disappointing Food and Inconsistent Experience
My experience at this restaurant was largely negative. My biggest complaint is the quality of the food. I found the truffle mac to be flavorless and considered it inedible, ultimately discarding the leftovers.
It seems there's a need to improve how truffle dishes are prepared. Additionally, the restaurant kept the door open all night, leading to a noticeable breeze indoors, which was uncomfortable given the cold San Francisco weather. The drink menu was also confusing, with many options marked for sharing, making it difficult to ascertain if single servings were available.
The food menu lacked a cohesive theme, offering a wide range of cuisines like burgers, pasta, seafood, and curry without a clear identity or connection to the atmosphere. Finally, the presence of a dog inside the restaurant raised concerns about hygiene standards and what other tolerances the establishment might have, as this is not the norm in the US. Overall, I believe the restaurant needs to define its concept and stick to it.
- quality of food1
- truffle mac1
- door open3
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Breakfast
5
Cute spot, but food is a miss
My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag. The drinks were good and well worth the price, and the esthetic was super cute. However, the food was a major letdown.
I ordered the French Toast, which tasted like soggy bread, and a breakfast burrito that had absolutely no flavor. Overall, the food quality was a 3/10.
- drinks8
- esthetic9
- food3
- French Toast2
- breakfast burritos1
Price per Person
- $51–$60
Visit Type
- Special Occasion
Group Type
- Large Group
Group Size
- Large Group
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
10
Amazing 40th Birthday Celebration!
I wanted to express my appreciation to Wilder SF for accommodating my 20-person party on short notice after a not-so-great situation at another restaurant. The hostess was amazing and so kind to us. All I wanted to commemorate my 40th birthday was to have an espressotini tower.
It was beyond my wildest dreams and tasted delicious! Thank you for a great experience!
- hostess10
- espressotini tower10
- tasted delicious9
Price per Person
- $51–$60
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Noise Level
- Loud
8
Unique Cocktails and Great Food Despite Noise
I stumbled across this restaurant while walking on Fimore street. Although it was quite loud inside, the great food and cocktails made up for it. Their cocktails were very unique, and their food paired quite nicely.
The noise level almost felt like a club without music.
- food8
- cocktails9
- food paired8
- noise level4
What Wilder offers
Planning
- Accepts reservations
- Dinner reservations recommended
Crowd
- Tourists
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Offerings
- Late-night food
- Wine
- Coffee
- Beer
- Small plates
- Cocktails
- Vegetarian options
- Alcohol
Dining options
- Catering
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Outdoor seating
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Parking
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Trendy
FAQs
Do you need reservations to dine at Wilder in Cow Hollow?
Yes, Wilder accepts reservations, and dinner reservations are highly recommended to secure your spot at this popular San Francisco restaurant. Planning ahead ensures you can enjoy their casual and trendy atmosphere without a wait.
What kind of food and drink options are available at Wilder?
Wilder offers a diverse menu featuring small plates, late-night food, and excellent vegetarian options. Complement your meal with selections from their great wine list, extensive beer selection, or a handcrafted cocktail. Coffee is also available.
How does Wilder generally rate as a restaurant?
Wilder holds a respectable overall score of 7.3 out of 10. Its Food (7.8) is highly regarded, and Value (7.2) and Ambience (7) also score well, though Service (6.4) is noted as an area for improvement.
What are some popular deals or offerings at Wilder?
Many guests appreciate Wilder’s attractive deals, such as the $5 frosé and mimosa specials, $1.50 oysters, and $5 slushies, which are often highlighted for their excellent value.
Is Wilder a good choice for a quiet dining experience?
Wilder can be quite lively, with some guests noting a loud atmosphere and acoustics that make conversation difficult. If you prefer a quieter setting, this might be a consideration.