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Restaurant Reviews List >
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French Restaurant Reviews
Bistro Unique Reviews List
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Bistro Unique
1849 Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
Bistro Unique is an authentic, traditional French Bistro restaurant in the Heart of the Cow Hollow neighborhood, San Francisco. Diners can also choose from a sizable, mostly French and Californian wine list. The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and inviting. At Bistro Unique, you will enjoy a delicious fare with attentive and unpretentious service.
Dining Style: Casual Dining
Price: $30 and under
Parking: Street Parking
Cross Street: Union St. and Octavia St. (between Octavia St. and Laguna St.)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Bistro Unique is an authentic, traditional French Bistro restaurant in the Heart of the Cow Hollow neighborhood, San Francisco. Diners can also choose from a sizable, mostly French and Californian wine list. The atmosphere is warm, comfortable and inviting. At Bistro Unique, you will enjoy a delicious fare with attentive and unpretentious service.
Dining Style: Casual Dining
Price: $30 and under
Parking: Street Parking
Cross Street: Union St. and Octavia St. (between Octavia St. and Laguna St.)
30 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Rating Breakdown 30 reviews
5 stars
(6)
4 stars
(17)
3 stars
(2)
2 stars
(1)
1 star
(4)
Food
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.6
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(21)
- fit for foodies(15)
- romantic(8)
- special occasion(8)
- good for groups(3)
- great for brunch(3)
Bistro Unique Reviews List
Review 1 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
very disappointed. The food
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"very disappointed. The food and the service left much to be desired. The scallops we undersized to the point we believed they sliced them in half. Shocking!"
Dined on 01/22/2013
2006
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Review 2 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Charming French Bistro
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"A perfectly good representation of a French bistro, complete with charming host and wait staff. Parking garages nearby. I will go back."
Dined on 02/02/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem
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Review 3 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Great food, HORRIBLE SERVICE
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Great food, horrible service. The manager seemed annoyed that we, along with the majority of guests, had a Yelp! coupon. No one came and checked in with us once we received our meal. We didnt even get a refill on our water. Won't return due to service."
Dined on 01/28/2013
2009
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+1point
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Review 4 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service is very UN-acceptable
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Service is not acceptable. I received a gift coupon from my sister through travelzoo.com and try out this restaurant. Once we were seated, we were being rushed to order. When I present the coupon to the server (which is the owner), he is so rude saying everyone is using coupon tonight because it was the last day before it expires. I feel so embarrassing because it makes all the customers starring at you. Food is ok but they present you a check before your main course is finished and no dessert menu offer. (I guess they don't want you to spend too much so they don't have to discount you as much)
Bottom line, if the owner feel bad about customer using the coupon, the owner should not even starting to sell coupon to the customer."
Dined on 01/28/2013
2004
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+1point
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Review 5 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
We were party of four, we
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"We were party of four, we had a good time, the food was very tasty, and I would definitely go back to try more from the menu."
Dined on 01/27/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 6 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Good, but hectic
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Good food. Filled w TravelZoo couponers (us included) the night we were there, so the placed was packed and the two waiters were doing their best to keep up. As a result, service was a tad slow. We would return; hopefully on a less hectic night."
Dined on 01/27/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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Review 7 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Small restaurant, filled up
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Small restaurant, filled up fast so get there early or plan to wait. Wait is worth it! Serving staff was very friendly and attentive, even during a very busy time of the evening. Food was terrific. Great location in the City. Definitely recommendable."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 8 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
I live in the neighborhood
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I live in the neighborhood and bought the TZ voucher, looking to find a nice place nearby. Food was very lackluster, the short ribs were tasteless and drowned in sauce
..Service unattentive, I was never asked if I wanted more wine. Then I looked over my shoulder to see my server drinking a glass of wine w customers standing at bar! There were big groups celebrating and appearing to have fun. Unfortunately my boyfriend and I agreed that we wont be back."
..Service unattentive, I was never asked if I wanted more wine. Then I looked over my shoulder to see my server drinking a glass of wine w customers standing at bar! There were big groups celebrating and appearing to have fun. Unfortunately my boyfriend and I agreed that we wont be back."
Dined on 01/25/2013
2006
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Review 9 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Overcrowded & disregard reservation
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"I was extremely disappointing by the fact how poor is the restaurant handling reservations. I made a reservation almost 2 weeks ahead, however once we arrived the restaurant was overcrowded. They disregarded the fact that I made a reservation and told us that the waiting time is more than 20 min. The restaurant is very small,the only options for waiting was either standing between tables or outside on the street in cold. The tiny bar area was crowded and there was no other sitting area. I felt sorry for people who were already dining there as guests who were waiting for a table were standing above them. Definitely not a pleasant atmosphere for having a dinner. We left to find another restaurant. Will never come back."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2008
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Review 10 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
45-Minute Delay
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Poor)
1
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"Ratings are required to post, and they are low because I was not able to eat here on this particular evening. On other visits food has been good, service just fine, and overall rating certainly higher than 1 star. This is one of my neighborhood favorites, but Saturday night, despite having a 6:45 reservation, they said the wait was to be 45 minutes. My guest was jet-lagged, so we said no thank you and went elsewhere. Bistro Unique gave the reason for delay as an earlier reservation had "been late." I thought restaurants normally only held tables for 10 minutes or so in order to prevent a ripple effect that delays patrons for the rest of the evening. It seems that reservation management is weak, at least on this evening."
Dined on 01/26/2013
2001
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups
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Review 11 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
That was the second time we
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"That was the second time we came to this restaurant. the food was great, so was the service. best of all I truly enjoyed our French waitress who is super friendly, accommodating, so lively and cute! She makes the restaurant!"
Dined on 01/24/2013
2008
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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0points
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Review 12 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
My husband and I thoroughly
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our experience at Cafe Unique .... the food was wonderful brings memories back from
visiting Paris. We will certainly go back for more."
visiting Paris. We will certainly go back for more."
Dined on 01/24/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 13 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The food is outstanding.
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The food is outstanding. One knows that there really is a chef back there cooking the food, not someone opening a sousvide pouche. Just real food cooked to perfection. Best onion soup I've had in decades. Please, don't ever change. I long for more restaurants like this. Sigh.
Thank you, Sadie Kendall, Kendall Farms Creme Fraiche"
Dined on 01/22/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, late-night find, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 14 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
More of a lunch/dinner spot
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"More of a lunch/dinner spot than a brunch spot. They have a few "breakfasty" items (e.g., omelets, eggs benedict, and croque monsiuer/madame, but that's about it. Just to state the obvious, much of the lunch fare is rich, French food.
Atmosphere, service, and price/value ratio were all good. Bottomless mimosas were tasty and refilled relatively often.
Good location on Union."
Dined on 01/20/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for lunch
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Review 15 for Bistro Unique
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Very pleasant wait staff with
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"Very pleasant wait staff with great service. Our server was very helpful in explainig our Travelzoo options and made us welcome guests to their restaurant."
Dined on 01/17/2013
2005
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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0points
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Bistro Unique
Based on the average of (15) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.2
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.9
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic