B-Side

Make a reservation. This place gets super busy on event nights. Great small plates and good wine. We will go back.

Beware the server named “Jason” He is the evening server for whatever the popup is here. Right now it’s a Colombian restaurant. The food is amazing but Jason was a terrible waiter. I am Colombian and finding Colombian empanadas in sf isn’t easy. So I was super psyched to visit Pacifico and finally get some. The fotos of the empanadas looked correct and I saw “empanadas” on the dinner menu so I didn’t think twice and ordered them. I was shocked when regular flour baked empanadas arrived at the table. When I pointed this out to the server he told me the ones I saw in the foto were from the brunch menu but that both were “Colombian”. This is a crazy statement because if you look at both menus they clearly distinguish between “Colombian empanadas” (corn masa, fried) and the regular “empanadas” (flour masa, baked) at dinner. However again when I pointed this out - he doubled down!! The audacity of correcting me on my own culture, especially when it’s very clear on the menu. I could have dealt w the disappointment if he hadn’t gaslit me. This difference isn’t just a preference it’s cultural accuracy. As someone from this culture it was disappointing to have a server confidently contradict my knowledge of my own country’s food, especially when their own menus correctly make this distinction! The pop up food is incredible but Jason works for the parent restaurant (b-side) and seems totally disinterested in the actual food or cultures being served by the popup.

the menu as shown, displaying burgers, Brussels, chicken sandwiches, salads etc. is not what is offered. they have no more than 7 items available and they are advertised as “Venezuelan” food. Yuca for fries, which to me were yucky— lazy shocked skewers that were very green but offered limited flavor. And if felt like being at a college football game by the way that they served everything. Also— I arrived earlier to take advantage of a two-for-one drink special and the cashier informed me that I could only get half off my drink as they didn’t start until 8:30p. It was roughly 8 ‘o’clock. soon after a line began to form behind me and others asked about the special and I noticed from my seat that she honored them—at this point it’s about 8:15p. I paid $40 for fries a few bland chicken skewers , ice cream( which was the best thing) and a beer. would’ve been worth it had there been any flavor or tact behind the meal. however, I would’ve preferred to have had fast food given the quality and experience. For the price of the tickets and caliber of artists to come to through SF Jazz you’d think it would be a better vibe. also, I wouldn’t have been as disappointed had the menu been updated to reflect the lack of food. I planned my entire evening around the venue based on what their website showcases and was gravely mislead. False advertising at its finest.

Really rude staff. They would not accommodate a friend who joined us, even though there was plenty of room at the table. They pushed us to order so that we would be out for other parties even though we had a reservation. Very unfriendly staff. And the food was mediocre an waaaay too expensive. I miss the old place. Don’t bother. I’ll never be back.

Good food, especially the sautéed brussel sprout appetizer and burrata. Wonderful maitre'd, but our server was really untrained and forgetful - it shortened the experience.

The food is awful. The eggs were tasteless and the corn cakes are laden. Mimosa 18 bucks. Don't waste your money.

I have been going to B Side for years and have seen alot of changes in the menu and management during that time. My last visit left me scatching my head a bit as the new menu seemed dis-jointed. For example, you can get an empanada but also a burger or roasted Cauliflower? The B Side needs to decide if they want to be a Jazz restaurant thats true to the genre in terms of what Jazz goers would enjoy or an eclectic vegan and Latin restaurant in Hayes Valley which is fine just not a good fit for SF Jazz Center. I would love to see them research the menus of what Jazz crowds were eating in the 50s, and 60s and really wow us with some authentic and vintage Jazz inspiring cuisine.

This review is of the newly changed, and much for the worse, B-side. I have been a regular at SF Jazz and have had dinner at B-side before a performance probably 12 to 15 times a year. When I walked in, I noticed that this previously pleasant place had been stripped of all personality, and no longer had table service. There’s sort of a strip mall vibe or maybe a little nicer than that. You order at the counter. Some of the same staff were there and I imagine they were embarrassed. They have a nice bar and very capable bartenders and used to have a full dinner menu with good food. Now the food is snacks, and I would never come here for a drink;, there is no atmosphere at all. They brought my food to my hightop table with disposable utensils and bowls, but never checked on me otherwise. I paid $12 for arepas, which consisted of three approximately 2 inch disks with almost all dough that did not have much flavor. A Caribbean bean salad was pretty good. I will not be back. I am so glad I didn’t bring a friend or a date to this place which used to be inviting and pleasant, but has nothing to recommend it now.