Colibri Mexican Bistro
438 Geary St
(at Mason St)
San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 440-2737
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:30 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri 11:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
165 reviews
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
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411 Reviews for Colibri Mexican Bistro
I'm not sure how I feel about Colibri yet..Eating off Rachel C. and Gwynnie's place was delicious, and when Siamak S. picked up the bill the second time I went, that was great, too.... If I have to pay the next time it may be another story.
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I was distracted by the bizarre Mexican movie playing on the TV above the bar. It was a horror movie, starring a Mexican wrestler - complete with leather head mask like Nacho Libre but no shirt. Someone had hired him as a PI/bodyguard to recover some woman who was going to be sacrificed by some ancient cult.
The guacamole was amazingly good, the tortillas impressively fresh, the margaritas deliciously deceptively strong, the huevos rancheros tasty and generous. I'm glad I found this place on yelp while people watching in Union Square.
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Food was delicious . . . again, YUM on the guacamole and homemade tortillas. Could have been 4 stars if we were judging on food alone. . .
BOOOOOOOOO on the service. Is there such a thing as zero stars?
When I say awful, I mean AWFUL. Granted, our party of two came in at 10:15 but we called before coming in and they said they close at 11:00. The hostess was absent and the bartenders (2 of them!) glared at us. A party of 6 sat right before us freeing spots at the bar so my general feeling is. . .sit at the bar, smile, be nice and order quickly and all should be fair and good in the world, right?
Wrong. I think our bartender rolled his eyes at us upwards of 4 times. When we asked for suggestions, he knew nothing, he offered nothing. Isn't it a bummer that I'm going on and on about eye rolling when I should be talking about how yummy the mole tamales were? That's what sucks about bad service. It manages to ruin everything.
We asked for the bill as soon as the food was served because we were over having to deal with the servers. My friend talked to the manager (a youngish girl with short hair who seemed more interested in hanging out with the servers eating than talking to us) and her excuse was that they were almost closed. Duh. We got that.
Though the food was terrific and my friend who recommended the restaurant warned me of inconsistency, we'll go to Lolo's next time where apparently the food AND the service allow you to enjoy the company of friends rather than talk about how you can't wait to yelp how bad the service is. Nuf said. . .
This place was the bomb! Chilaquiles were awesome and the guac was made right in front of us to our preference and they gave us more jalapenos to make it spicier!
Loved the handmade tortillas and various salsas! Ooo and you absolutely cannot forget the Mexican Hot Cocoa lava cake. SOOOO good! I've never been to a place with better Mexican food. And I didn't feel vile after leaving.
Definitley a fan.
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I love this restaurant. We stopped in before going to a local concert and the food was great. I think its best to sit in the back. The front can get really cramped. The food was amazing. I loved the fillet mignon with goat cheese. We ordered the guacamole made to order at our table..Yummy and the caiparinas where great.
Nothing like classy Mexican food. Mmmm, the cuisine here is truly good and authentic, flavors of Yucatan in the dishes...rich sauces, very nutty and savory. Everything is portioned to perfection, not too much or too little. Tortilla soup here is my favorite as well as the carnitas!
The only disappointing thing are the drinks, not very good but the food is well worth it!
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So, we're staying at the Mark Twain and want to try something different. We stumble across a relatively new Mexican restaurant whose menu proved promising.... mole poblano, guajillo chiles, handmade tortillas, etc not you're average taqueriila! After some deliberation, we enter. At first glance, the place is beautiful! Handcarved wood bar, massive mirrors that suggested a much larger space, and a charming hostess... the vibe was great.
To start, we're served handmade tortillas with 3 fantastic salsas ranging from hot to sweet. Okay, we're in for a treat.
Our waiter was accommodating, but definitely green. We ordered: tamales with mole, tortilla soup, enchiladas with a tomatillo-jalapeno sauce, and a side of rice. He then described to us the order in which the food would be served. We expressed to him that we were hungry and the order wasn't of concern. He brought it all at once. Not the biggest deal, but still sort of weird.
The tides turned when the soup came to us lukewarm. Lukewarm! Not hot. Not cold. Lukewarm. Okay, whats up?
The tamales: Cold. Way too much Nestle Abuelitas chocolate in the mole. Reminiscent of burnt cinnamon. The rice: Decent. But cold. Ugh. The enchiladas: Neither tomatillos or jalepenos were present. I'm still not sure what the hell that was. We didn't finish it. The soup: As I mentioned, lukewarm, however, the waiter made an effort to rectify this by bringing a hot pan of soup to pour over our already cold soup. This did help the situation, but, not by much. All in all, we're not going back.
Maybe you'll have better luck? The previous ratings were kind of high? 2 stars - 1 for the hostess and 1 for the decor.
The food at Colibri is really super delicious. The margays aren't half bad either. The mole on our chicken tamales last night? Like butter. The chile relleno? Yummo. The tres salsas that came with the cute as a button tortillas? Scrumptious.
If you really want to sit at a table and have a grown up meal, make a reservation. Do not expect it to be a quiet and sedate affair. You can eat at the bar too.
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Colibri Mexican Bistro is another one of those places where you wish you were a kid again so you could lick your plate when your Mom wasn't looking!
It is a shame to leave even a small morsel of this food behind!
We shared the -
* Tamales Oaxaquenos
* Chile Relleno
* Ensalada Cesar
. . . . . with 2 Margaritas de la Casa and a glass of Sonoma Cutrer.
I would not hesitate to order exactly the same thing again, time after time.
It was that good.
Only drawback to the dining experience at all was the fact that it is not a drop in place . . . . the hostess told us that, if we wanted a table we would have needed to make reservations 30 days in advance. I assume they don't get many tourists?
So, as all good San Franciscans would do . . .we sat at the bar!
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Well I am surprised of all the reviews giving less than four or five stars, from reading them the main complaints are:
#1 Service
#2 Small Portions
to compliant #1 as much as I dislike to agree since I've loved this place for a while, I have to agree but not entirely. There could be bad service on occasions but in a mild way.
Complaint #2
People PLEASE, read before you GO SOMEWHERE and have a little more knowledge and less ignorance.
Mexican BISTRO!!!! what does BISTRO mean? for one more $$$
and, they portions are TAPAS style, hello!!! small portions.
so why is this place getting lower stars for your ignorance.
If you are a junkie from the Mission who expects the typical big fattening plate of sour cream and guacamole , DONT GO
NOW... I AM FROM THE MISSION myself and I love that big plate of sour cream and guacamole as well and probably eat it more than the more educated palate of Colibri due to the price but you cannot compare apples and oranges.
This is authentic Mexican food and is the food served in "Restaurants" the tacos and burritos are from street corners in Mexico.
They are BOTH DELICIOUS!! to my taste but cannot compare the two and definitely not for a review.
back to service, the first time I went to Colibri it was moderately new and I remember checking their reviews back then, definitely five stars.
I agree, lately (maybe because of the popular traffic) I been served by two servers whom I did not like.
I'm sorry to say this but they were both American servers and for service I like my waiters to be Hispanic or Mexican. American servers are just not as friendly and are more rushed to behave a certain way for their tip, in comparison with Mexican servers who seem more genuine.
Wait I have to add that I like my servers to be gay Hispanic, the best!!
They used to serve the Guacamole at our table and recently they have not done so, the last time our waitress was not checking on us.
Why I give five stars?
Still THE BEST MEXICAN FOOD in town for a more educated palate.
I came here for appetizers with a friend. Just the two of us, we wanted to eat but didn't want meals just something we could split and enjoy... it didn't work.
The servers never really spoke to us, they kinda seemed like they were doing there own thing.
We ordered the quesadilla appetizer and something else that I can't even remember because I have pushed it out of my mind, and I was instantly upset with my choice.
We spent enough money to cover two meals at other resturants and ended up getting little tiny baby quesadillas that were gone in a bite. I'm not sure what people mean by authentic, but the quesadilla had what seemed like part of a mozzarella stick half way melted inside it with a sliver of a pepper...
Maybe I just don't appreciate authentic Mexican food... but just the appetizers ruined my thoughts about the place.
I haven't had the dinners so maybe those justify eating here, just stay away from the sample size appetizers.
Yum. As others have stated, the guac is a must. I wasn't super hungry, so I just ordered the sopes: three "two-bite" sized corn boats of deliciousness. I opted to get two veggie and one chicken. The veggie was by far the standout; I've been dreaming about it since. Also tried the jicama salad, which I thought was as close to perfection as one can get with the dish. Others in my party raved about their dishes, which included the cauliflower bake and sauteed cactus (nopal), among other things.
We did have an issue with the service. Two peoples' food did not come out until after the rest had finished eating, and the server--while nice--didn't make a solid attempt to make up for it until one of the girls (after having asked after the food twice already) said to just cancel the order, whereupon he offered them each a drink on the house. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, though, and all-in-all it was a pleasant experience with very tasty food.
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First time there and had the lamb shank dish - I don't usually eat lamb but this was delicious. Had a margie too - very smooth and yummy. Decent prices for the area with great food - definitely a must go. Very nice service as well.
Colibri is always a favorite. Starting out with the Guacamole is a MUST, it is perfectly balanced and luscious. the Jicama salad is always delightful. Pato en Pipian is duck in an incredible pumpkin seed mole sauce, and on that note the Chicken mole is fabulous as well. The carnitas are as good as they come... i could go on... and on. for a side, get the nopales, they are cactus leaves marinated in olive oil and lemon juice with portabello mushrooms. for dessert go for the tequila flan, it's outrageous. The Margaritas are in a class of their own, my favorite drink is the mango mojito. Enjoy!
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Went here for dinner on a Saturday night and it did not disappoint. The ambiance was nice, but nothing too special; the bottles of tequila in the window are a nice touch. Speaking of tequila, they have an incredible selection of authentic Mexican tequilas. The margaritas were strong and tasty, but a little overpriced. If I were to do it again, I would get shots with salt and lime rather than a margarita.
On to the food. We started with the guacamole, which they prepare at your table to the level of spice you ask for. It was delicious and fresh with perfect texture. They give you hot, fresh tortillas rather than chips, in addition to 3 homemade salsas that are excellent. I could have a whole meal of mini tortilla-salsa-guacamole sandwiches and be completely satisfied.
The tortilla soup was very good. They bring a bowl of avocado, cheese and tortilla strips and pour the soup over it on the table. Much better texture and taste than your average tortilla soup. I ordered the Mole Poblano and was mildly impressed. The sauce was interesting; it was a bit too chocolaty for my taste, but the texture and complexity were good. The chicken it was served with ranged from satisfactory to very tender; the tenderness of the meat on the drumstick redeemed the dish for me. My date ordered the Chile Relleno, and I was blown away. The cheese and other fillings were delicious, and it was perfectly spicy; one of the best Mexican dishes I've ever had. The bill came to $100 with tip, but it was worth it for me; I'd never had gourmet Mexican food before, and the drinks and ambiance made for a very good dining experience (and some of the best guacamole I've ever had).
Note: cheesy awesome live music on Mondays!!!
Contrary to some of the other reviews I saw here, our group of four (that became five), found the service to be quite good. They did have to kick us off our table after three hours in order to accommodate another party's reservation, but we commented to each other about how they were really, really nice about it. (I can admit that sometimes that "other party" is me.)
Order the guac "hot"; medium had no heat so we all added the chopped up jalapenos they left with us in case someone had a penchant for hot. It also needed a pinch or two of salt, but otherwise was sheer pleasure.
The ceviche is the bomb. We all shared that as one of our starters, and then my friend Chris ordered that as his entree as well.
The tamales with adobo sauce were a hit or miss; a couple of us thought they were "pretty good" and a couple of us didn't dig 'em.
My boyfriend has the scoop on the best margaritas--do try the Centanario (or something like that).
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Came here with a group of friends after an event who frequent the place and it totally lived up to their rave reviews....We ordered 2 appetizers, 3entrees, and 2 desserts, we had 5 people and the portions were just right.
The guacamole was out of this world along with the salsas to accompany it. We also got the sopes, they were tiny but tasty. We ordered the carnitas, the steak, and the shrimp....Wow..I can't explain how savory everything was and the presentation was beautfiul to match.
The servers were friendly and their description as they brought out each dish made it even more enticing.
If this wasn't enough...man their desserts are deadly. We got the churros and the crepes....so sweet but so good. Caramel is the theme as the churros are filled with it and the crepes are drenched in it.
Definitely loved my experience here and I recommend everyone try it! You'l love the food and the ambience.
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This is a favorite of mine! The hot freshly made tortillas, the gooey-cheesy queso fundido, the guacamole made tableside, the tasty ceviche, the nopales cactus and portabello mushrooms, and of course, their margaritas!... all of these with the ambience and central union square location make this place a treat!
Great for dinner after the theater or after a day of shopping in union square! First got introduced to this place on a date.... not a bad place for a first date (unfortunately the food and service was much more memorable than the date... can't remember his name... but I still crave the tortillas with the guac or queso fundido from time to time!!!)
If you take the wine list out of my hand and then take TWENTY minutes to bring me a drink while my food gets cold, I will not be a happy girl.
...Regardless of how delicious your guacamole is.
(Around $50 for 2 drinks, an appetizer and 2 plates at brunch.)
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Definitely more bistro than I'd like it to be, Being of Mexican descent Their food is pretty mild and mostly suited for the mild palate, people with limited experience when it comes to Mexican cuisine. I ordered a spicy guacamole and it was good just not spicy lol... They do however have an impressive collection of Tequilas, would probably be better off as a Tequila bar than the "Upscale" aka Gringo style Mexican food it tries to be. But take my word with a grain of salt. My expectations of Mexican food in restaurants is probably wayyyyy too high. Something that does steal the show is their blanco y negro desert, if you like dark chocolate you will not be disappointed.
Party of 4, 8:30 reservations. We over-ordered - guacamole was tasty, nice balance and buttery smooth. We shared 5 dishes, duck, chicken mole, scallops, shrimp, and carnitas. All were ok, scallops overcooked, carnitas dry. A round of strawberry margaritas were above-average; the fresh strawberries a highlight.
Service was fair with the only strong performance put in by the water-filler, who was completely on top of her game. Trying to clear our dishes while we were still eating...big no no.
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Its a bad sign when you look at your visa bill and can't remember what the charges were for and don't recognize the restaurant name. The food was ok. I was pretty hungry when I ordered so maybe I didn't need the queso fondido with my soup but it came out and congealed into a solid mass pretty darn quickly. The drinks were good as I recall. Needless to say I've had better elsewhere.
My expereience at Colibri was really good! Now, it could be because we had made a reservation and even though we were VERY late, we were able to get seated in 5 minutes and that made my night!
This place is small and cozy and a bit dark, but the food was awesome, the tequila was really awesome and the service was not so bad. Also, the B&W Mexican movie playing on the bar wall was fun to watch in between servings.
I agree! The guacamole is delicioso and was kind of disappointed there was only two of us because there was quite a bit left over. The quesadillas appetizer is really yummy! They are made with their hand-made tortillas (we are talking three two-bite quesadillas), jalapeno slices and some tasty melted mexican cheese. The jicama salad was simple but boy, did it have flavor. Jicama slices stacked with avocado and garnished with a tangy tropical relish made from mango, pineapple, cilantro and lime juice. The Camarones in Tamarindo Mole was absolutely fenomenal!! It was sweet, tart, and spicy all in one bite. Wasn't too crazy about the Chile Relleno - it needed more Queso!
I was very happy with their tequila options. If you are up for a tequila shot with dinner (or two, or three) try the Cabo Wabo silver; this stuff goes down so smooth - you'll be craving another ;-) If you are into sipping tequila, I found out they carry Sotol tequila from Chihuahua, Mexico (my parents used to drink this stuff after dinner) and it is a nice sipping tequila served in a cute champagne flute.
Key things to try at this place is the guacamole, their appetizers, and go ahead, explore their tequila options or try one of their tequila flights to start with.
Yes, the guacamole is superb.
Yes, the drinks are tasty and well-crafted.
Yes, the entrees are delicious, perfectly executed, and quite tiny.
Yes, the decor and atmosphere is rustically elegant and lovely.
And yes, the service is TERRIBLE.
So I roll up to Colibri at 5:30 on a Sunday with some friends, and we tell the hostess we'd like to have a drink or two at the bar and then move to a table. She assures us it'll be no problem and puts our name into Open Table. We settle down to the bar and savor some perfect margaritas and caiparinhas. An hour goes by, and we let the hostess know that we'd like to sit. The manager comes over straight away and takes us to a table in the very back of the restaurant, right by the waitstation and the bathroom. Not really wanting to be in such immediate proximity to the surprisingly dingy and dirty bathrooms, we inform the hostess we'd like to wait for another table. And here's where everything starts to fall apart.
The heavily-cologned manager comes over and informs us it will be thirty minutes before we could be seated at a different table. We say sure, no problem. Thirty minutes will be fine. He asks us again, are we sure we don't want the other table? Again, not a problem, we say. But your bar seats are already gone, he replies. Are we sure we want to wait thirty min? Hmm.... starting to feel like he's threatening us to take the lousy table! But no, we will wait thirty min. We'll have another $12 margarita.
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER : 5 walk-in tables have been seated. We watch them walk in, watch them be seated. Frustration mounting!!! We inquire at the host desk. Apparently the hostess marked us as No Show in OT. One of my dining companions gets a bit stern with the manager ( a rarity for him) and we finally , finally get seated. We were very close to walking out, but didn't want to wait for a table somewhere else.
Once we were seated, the server was extremely attentive. It would have been nice for the manager to send us a round of drinks, or an amuse, or SOMETHING, but he apparently was unconcerned with fixing a bad situation. Ah well. The guacamole was delightful! I love the dipping sauces for the warm tortillas they serve in lieu of tortilla chips.The sangria was ok, and the entrees tasted....perfect. I had the filet mignon, and it was cooked excellently. I would def recommend getting an appetizer as well as an entree, because the portion size it T-I-N-Y. This wouldn't be a problem if they were advertised on the menu as small plates or tapas, but I was expecting a full entree. Hrm. Dessert was average.
All in all, Colibri could be great if they got their management situation figured out. The bathrooms were unacceptable, the hostess was demonstrably flaky, and the manager himself was rude and incompetent. Oh, and he reeked of cheap cologne-- a major no no for anyone in the restaurant biz. I might go back here, but I'll sit at the bar and restrict myself to drinks and guac.
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I'm completely enamored with Colibri. It's a fun stylish mexican lovers dream. The server's are mucho-friendly and the hostess was a doll. She gave us a great booth even though we wanted to drink at the bar before being seated. The queso fundido was yummy and I like that they didn't give us too much (cos you know GF would eat all that shit), the Pechuga de Pollo was juicy and flavorful and the Filette Mignon melted in my mouth. For desert we had the churro with cajeta ice cream!! To Die For...for reals I didn't want the churro to stop surely they could make them longer, no? And make sure to get some Sangria, it's refreshing and yummy-strong!
Haiku review:
Guacamole yum
But the service was no fun
Maybe for the drinks
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People either LOVE it or HATE it ... I was OK with it.
Out of my party - I had the tastey food dish - something with fish. My friends on the other hand didn't like their food as much, and the chile relleno was stuffed with vegetables but mushrooms were a large part of that - so I guess mushrooms are a veggie?
The desserts were good - something with the churro & caramel ...
The drinks were good (very expensive though) ...
So for the prices came to $50/per person with tip ... I think they could give a little bit more food, and lower the prices on the drinks for goodness sake - $10 for a margarita?
Would I go back? Probably not - yes the guac. is good like most everyone says but everything else was ok.
The service was ok - others have said they had rude service - but we didn't encounter that.
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Dodge a homeless dewd and come in!
This place has killer food and the interior is a nice respite from the grit that can come out at night on that part of Geary.
We ate here a few times during a trip here. It was great every time. I think we had everything on the menu between the 4 of us and our multiple trips. It was great...everything.
The margaritas were super tasty. Definitely get one or six. The bar is also a good area to grab a rita made from one of the million tequilas they have there.
Don't half step. This would be a great start to an evening that wanted to start off "civilized".
The Spanish Colonial interior takes you back a century. The wrought iron gates and chandeliers, the rustic wooden chairs and tables evoke the charm of a place old and familiar. Ironically, Mexico isn't what's familiar in this self-styled "Mexican Bistro." Instead there is a whisper of Havana in the air.
If Hemingway drank tequila, he would have his own seat at Colibri. At the bar the tequila sun also rises in a splendid corona of over 200 artisan and commercial agave nectars ready to liven your mood.
The personality of tequila as I have gathered over years of friendship is that it's a little bit mischievous and a whole lot irreverent. On the wall behind the Colibri bar you'll see a tequila bottle shaped like a Dick Tracy gun, another comes in a caterpillar bottle where the head is the cork stopper, and when you begin to chuckle inside, you're beginning to understand what I mean by irreverent. The tequilas here span the range of color and depth from lustrous bronze to autumn yellow to ether clear. Whatever shade of flavor you desire, or, didn't know you desire, you can find it here.
If you're lucky on your venture to Colibri, you'll catch "Adrian" tending bar. Don't be ashamed to request him by name, he enjoys his celebrity as much as you will his drinks. Have him make you a "consuelo" (it means solace) where a medley of fresh squeezed citrus including grapefruit, lemon, lime, and orange go into an adobe bowel filled with ice, then topped with a select reposado tequila. Sipping this refreshing concoction is a step closer to finding your inner joy.
Accompany your tequila buzz with some delectable latin fusion tapas. The fillet mignon in a smooth ancho sauce over a bed of mashed potatoes is a crowd pleaser. The sweet and mild ancho penetrates to the core of the steak in a powerful flavor boost. The fish tacos of white flakey fish hot from the grill is topped with a cool mango salsa. Add a little lime juice, take a bite and you'll be clamoring for another order before you're done chewing.
To off set the spicy food and the acidity of citrus, a sweet finish to your meal is in order. Don't miss the caramel filled churro with caramel ice cream. The decadent double serving is the perfect way to leave Colibri on a flurry. But, of course, it's always more fun to have one more tequila before you go. Just one more...
I'm not certain if it was the chiles or the atmosphere, but our group of 15 seemed to agree that the atmosphere was caliente. I'm a veteran of spices so I really believe the heat was due to the proximity to the kitchen. The restaurant could greatly benefit by increasing the number of vent/exhaust units.
Queso fundida with chorizo and mushrooms was filling and tasty. Sopes were nothing memorable. The carnitas entree was tender yet crispy on the outside. Churros with caramel ice cream were fantastic. The lamb shank looked delicious, so I'll have to try it on another visit. Overall, it's a great venue for birthday events, but if you're in need of basic mexican food you're better off at one of the local taquerias. People will favor Las Ramblas for tapas, but check out Colibri for a decent change.
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After a busy day in the office, we were too weary to venture down to the Mission for some real Latin Food.....so we settled on Colibri. Yes, you do have to dodge the voracious homeless crew.....Dinner Entrees were from $14 to $18, but they arrive in Tapas portions. Fortunately, that yummy FRESH quacamole that they prepare at your table is worth the trip. We also celebrated the arrival of the Ceviche, which was a perfect compliment to the warm corn tortillas that came with the guac.
The interior is nice and cozy. I feel comfortable bringing a client or a foodie here, and am happy to know that there is some sit-down-Mexican food near the financial district.
I am a fan of the Guacamole. Might go back for drinks cause the food was OK and the service SUCKED.
What is with the rudeness, not to mention the constant drift of cig smoke flowin - as they keep the door open and allow patrons to pretty much smoke within the restaurant - GROSS.
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Such a cool small plates joint. I had the blackberry margarita which was as delicious as it was strong. All the food was amazing, but it is definitely SMALL plates. we had to order more. Would be really good for a birthday celebration. My new favorite place in Union Square.
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I think this place is a hidden secret.
Their menu is extensive and I just wanted to order everything on it.
I can't wait to dine there again.
I was really amazed to find this bistro lurking practically around the corner from Union Square. The dishes are small and almost tapas style, but the quality is amazing. I had the Pechanga Ranchero and Mexican rice, with a few other appetizers that were passed around my party.
The drinks were fresh and I wasn't disappointed at all when it came to everything.
I think the service could have been a bit more responsive, but to be honest at a place like this I don't intend on going in, quickly eating and leaving. I would rather sit and chill for a while with a group of friends and ruminate for a while over some very tasty food.
If you go in with a mindset like that, then the restaurant will be a much better experience.
This place was surprising. I tend to stick to the cheap mexican food - the taqueria stuff. I've tried fancy mexican before (Tres Agaves) and was not thrilled. Thus, this was a gamble. I had queso fundido at the request of my friend as an appy on corn tortillas - two misnomers for me - cheese and corn tortillas. I LOVED it. Then, I had a chili poblano for dinner, also amazing. And a margarita of course. The price tag shocks you - for me and him it was $50 a piece, but it was definitely worth it, again, unlike Tres Agaves.
This place is fabulous. I ate here once when I took a trip to SF with my friends and we stayed in the hotel right next door. It was really busy that Sunday night but we managed to get a table after waiting for 20 minutes. I ordered the posole sopa and the cactus with mushrooms side. Both were awesome, our waitress was super nice, and my two friends also loved their food (filet mignon and white fish). I would definitely go there again the next time i'm up north!
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If you were to tell me I could go to a Mexican restaurant, eat an entire meal without any rice, chips or beans and tell me I'd leave satisfied, I'd say your full of _ _ _ _. Nonetheless, I did happen to enjoy my meal here, but there's still a void left inside of me several days after my dining experience.
After I've had plenty of time to reflect - I can't help but feel somewat cheated. It's like if you took your kids to Chuck E. Cheese's and told them they don't serve pizza at that particular location. Better yet, let me paint a better picture; it's like if you were to go to Mas Sake and have a guy serve you; not just any guy, a guy wearing a pit-stained, belly shirt with a plumber's crack showing. What I'm getting at is that when reality does not match your perception, it kind of throws you off balance.
Anyways, aside from the order of carnitas (extremely good, moist and right touch of spices; chile de arbol that came with it was the perfect touch) and the order of guacamole, everything else I sampled was for the most part items not found in your local typical taqueria. Then again, I specifically set out to find an upscale Mexican establishment and after many failed attempts, this was my last hope.
The guacamole was good - made at the table, but it's something I could do without next time (nothing special). The queso fundido was excellent - it's such a simple dish (two ingredients - chorizo & cheese - yet so many places mess it up). Only complaint about the dish was that it needed more chorizo. Also, be prepared to chase down your server every so often as the small serving of fresh tortillas is clearly not enough for any appetite.
Since the items on the menu are served a la carte, I perused the menu several times trying to find the perfect sides for my meal. After some battling back and forth I went with the torta de elote (savory corn bread, chile pasilla, onions and bacon, with a poblano pepper cream sauce) & papas al gratin (potatoes au gratin with poblano chile cream). I'd definitely order both sides again without giving a second thought to trying the other items (which I would normally do upon my 2nd visit to a restaurant as I like to sample a lot of items).
The portions are on the small side (but they make it up with plenty of flavor). If that still is not enough, order some sides and appetizers to round out your meal. If you can't get pass the fact that you will be dropping more than $30+ for some Mexican food, then I would not come here. However, if you've eaten more burritos, tacos, and tortas than you'd care to admit (either on the street or in a run down joint) and want to try something unique and flavorful (as opposed to being served food by the quantity), then definitely check this place out.
On a final note, my experience here is bittersweet as I've come to the tragic realization that there is no such thing as a 5-star, upscale Mexican restaurant anywhere - PERIOD
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mexican tapas and small plates are delicious and a great place in the city for some drinks and appetizers with friends. the dishes tend to be on the small side for what the cost, but they do have a very wide selection of tequilas so they are quite equipped for a good time.
the table side guacamole is simple and delicious but we wished they gave us more tortillas. everything had great flavor. even though the spice meter is a little on the low side, it's no real loss since they make up for the lack of heat in many other ways. we loved the torta de elote and the filet mignon. my brother-in-law ordered a few more dishes that i can't remember what they were exactly (a chicken and a pork dish) that was thoroughly enjoyed as well.
service is friendly but sparse and they get really busy so know what you want and need well in advance because it could be a while before you get it.
