Cafe Mystique

This was my first time dining at this restaurant, and I decided to stop by after noticing how inviting it looked from the street. The Christmas decorations were beautifully done and immediately caught my attention, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. When I walked in, the ambiance inside the restaurant was just as impressive. It wasn’t too busy at the time, with about 4-5 tables occupied, which made the experience feel calm and relaxed. The staff provided excellent service, and the food was prepared surprisingly quickly. I truly enjoyed my visit—the atmosphere, the service, and the food were all wonderful. Thank you for a great dining experience!

Great restaurant for pasta in the Castro District. Highly recommend the chicken risotto for it's great flavor. Also made me happy that they offered a large portion size for the beef and mushroom spaghetti. It can be a bit loud inside, but overall had a beautiful ambiance.

My partner and I had dinner here for Valentine’s Day and the experience was beyond amazing! We made reservations and were sat immediately. We ordered a paloma and cosmo, had a few tables asking to try out drinks, that’s how yummy they looked! The service was so good we didn’t have to wait much time in between our appetizer and main dishes, but just enough time to savor the calamari. For entrees we ordered the Ribeye Steak medium rare and Lamb Risotto spicy. The steak was cooked beautifully!! We were both STUNNED at how incredible the flavor and texture was— 1000% recommend trying it. For dessert we decided to try the fried banana with vanilla ice cream… it was the most delicious dessert we’ve ever tried. Overall, such a great experience, from the cozy dim lighting to the BART and Muni accessibility.

I should have read the signs not to eat here when one of the staff lured us in with the false promise of ' if you don't like it and don't eat you won't pay for it'. Well not only did I NOT like the food, the food is outright a joke and we still had to pay for it. We had six dishes, let me start from the top. Fried calamari, of course the calamari was previously frozen, no surprise there, but please use hot oil in your fryer! The calamari lacked crunch and you could taste the freezer burn. Hummus, SF is full of places with fantastic hummus, I don't know how you guys managed to screw this dish up, but you did. It was drenched in olive oil and pureed to the 10th degree, looked rather unappetizing and lacked the refreshing flavour. The pita bread was alright no complaints on that front. Ok off to the mains. Signature pasta, Salmon, Mediterranean salad and pomegranate fennel chicken. By name they sounded lovely. The pasta had a nice flavor but was drowned in sauce making it look sloppy. The salmon was super dry. The Mediterranean salad was alright. It came to our rescue as we didn't want to eat the last dish the chicken after the first bite. Pomegranate is tart, fennel is nutty or licorice tasting. How in the world did you guys manage to serve up a chicken which was bone dry and so sweet it could have been a dessert substitute. The couscous also didn't resemble any couscous I have seen and tasted. Sad sad super sad. On the positive we had some many to go boxes we were able to feed some homeless.

A Mystical Dining Experience Cafe Mystique exceeded my expectations! The ambiance was enchanting, creating the perfect setting for a delightful evening. The drinks were expertly crafted, a true testament to the bartender's skill. The food was equally impressive, with flavors that danced on the palate. But what truly sets this place apart is the service. Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and made us feel right at home. If you're looking for a memorable dining experience, I highly recommend Cafe Mystique.

Everything about our visit to Cafe Mystique was perfect. The service is amazing, the food is delicious and the whole experience is just great. We ordered the green beans and the garlic bread as entrees, which were both super savory. Then we continued with the shrimp pasta, which had a nice spicy kick, and the fettuccine with chicken that was an amazing mix of flavors. For dessert we had the Nutella sundae which we also enjoyed. Shoutout to all the waiters, but especially to Azat for being super nice and giving great menu suggestions.

Immaculate experience even for the high bar for venues that exist in San Francisco. The ambiance, the staff, and the food are just perfect. I ordered the Eggs Florentine and they were amazing (if eggs Benedict are your thing, there are three other options to choose from). Fair pricing and lots of good options to choose from.

Cafe Mystique was the perfect spot for a date night with a friend. We snagged a window seat for some fantastic people-watching – it was like dinner and a show! The service was impeccable, and every dish we tried was incredibly flavorful and unique. The salmon in coconut sauce served over risotto was an absolute standout. Portions are generous, and we finished with delicious fried bananas for dessert. Highly recommend Cafe Mystique for its fantastic flavors, excellent service, beautiful decor, and the vibrant Castro vibe. Put it on your list of where to eat next!

Super awesome service. Like the best service I have received in a year! Must get the green beans. Get garlic bread to dip in green bean sauce. You're welcome

Came here for brunch on Sunday. They were out of espresso and just had drip coffee. Orange juice wasn't freshly squeezed so we just ordered drip coffees and teas. One person got the OJ and thought it was good. We ordered the huevos rancheros, veggie omelette, chicken parm sandwich and eggs benedict. I liked my huevos rancheros, interesting take on it but my friend thought it was so so. My other friend also really liked the chicken parm sandwich. The veggie omelette and eggs benedict were alright. The service was as quick as you wanted it to be without being intrusive. They had an interesting sense of humor, telling you here is your pasta dish, while they gave you an egg dish, a bit odd. Other than that, good spot for a large party for brunch without being rushed.

I have been coming here for years! It has improved so much and is truly a well kept local favorite. Love their food and staff.

Always great food here for breakfast and lunch! Lunchtime they have amazing sandwiches on delicious ciabatta bread. For breakfast and i had their French toast which was fluffy and sweet! My mom had pancakes and bacon. The pancakes were airy and cooked to perfection. They have garlic aioli sauce/dip which is one of the best I've ever had!

Went to lunch with a good friend in San Francisco who was familiar with Cage Mystique. Luka's recommendation was one of the highlights of my trip! We ordered a bottle of wine - Luka is in the wine business and knows what he is doing. The Latour Chardonnay from France was incredibly good! We started with an order of garlic bread and fresh green beans. The garlic bread was a typical "flat bread" that was full of flavor, the basket of bread was generously filled. The star of the day, however, was the green beans. The menu doesn't do this dish justice. "Fresh Green Beans" ... The dish was so incredible, I considered coming back and getting a couple of to go orders to bring home on my flight to enjoy again. I don't know what all goes into them - I do know there were sun dried tomatoes and sesame seeds... but man.... they were so tender and the sauce in the pan was incredible. If nobody was looking, I'd probably ask for a spoon and eat the sauce like a soup! Do your self favor and order this fantastic dish! I ordered the Lemon Chicken and Pasta, Luka ordered the Spicy Chicken and Pasta. Both were fantastic with generous portions of juicy chicken and pasta, with a wonderful sauce! I had the opportunity to meet Sam, the owner. What a nice guy! The service was fantastic and friendly. One of my new go-to places in San Francisco!

I came after a soul cycle class. It was a Sunday at 1:30pm. I was hungry and wanted to relax . This place did the job! Quick service, clean environment, great music. I ordered the balsamic beet salad and it was perfectly balanced. Not too much dressing. Tasted light and fresh. I'd order it again.

Absolutely amazing for dinner. Risotto was 11/10 and the service was amazing! Great vegetarian options, love this place absolutely coming back

From start to finish everything went great. Sat outside in the parklet (with heat lamp) as requested in the reservation and watched the passersby which is quite spectacular given the neighborhood. The food was excellent including the stews (beef & lamb) and the ribeye, and the service too - very friendly and didn't rush us out. Will be back for sure.

I love the Chicken Risotto, my favorite dinner plate from this place. I usually go for Medium or Spicy.

Just went here for dinner and got the vegetarian risotto! A little disappointed with their lack of veggie options for a Mediterranean-ish spot. Ordered the risotto which was very heavy, covered in cheese and oily. It tasted good but I was hoping for more given the price. My friend got the chicken sandwich which he raves about and it looked great. Wish there was a good sando option for the non-meat eaters.

Hmmmm the food is fine, but definitely nothing amazing. I ordered a chicken sandwich, which was good but a bit bland. The fries that it came with were also super bland. The service was good, and the dining area is really pleasant, and if you're looking for a place to eat in the Castro, this is a solid option.

If I could give more stars I would. This place has the best food I have had so far in the Castro. I usually get the perfectly cooked/seasoned steak with creamy mashed potatoes and a side of veggies, and it hits the spot every time. I have tried other things likes the salmon which is not dry, well seasoned and very delicious. The shrimp or chicken risotto is also fantastic. Recently I ordered the beef stew and I was pleasantly surprised! It's not something I would usually order, but knowing how good this place is, I felt confident that it will not disappoint. The flavor and tenderness of the beef exceeded my expectations, and it is one of my favorites now. The cocktails are also very tasty. The food is amazing but let's talk about the customer service. The staff here is supreme. I am always greeted with a welcoming smile and I never have to wait too long to be attended to. Narmela and Ali specifically have made this place a staple for me because they are always ready to make my experience here great. They have spectacular service. Besides the food and service, the vibe of the restaurant is relaxing and nice! It's very clean and decorated nicely. I like the dim lighting and overall feeling of it. Bathrooms are always clean and available. Come to Cafe Mystique!! It will not disappoint I promise.

Had to update my review to take 2 stars off. Called to get a salad to go and they hung up the first time. Called back and they said it would take 50 minutes to get a salad to go for pick up. Not the nicest, was wondering why they had low stars, well there you go. (((Kale salad with chicken was perfect! The salad was chopped up and tossed with light dressing and didn't overwhelm the kale. I added avocado (extra charge) which was fresh and chicken (also extra charge) but it was a big portion size and was great if you don't eat breakfast and like a big salad like me. Split the garlic fries with my friend, which were crispy and had chunks of garlic. Was happy to get a sparkling rose (not too sweet) to pair with everything.

Such a fantastic restaurant in the Castro! Food is absolutely delicious. Service is perfect! Went for a work holiday party for lunch, everyone loved the food! Ambiance also fantastic, cozy but airy. Highly recommend.

I ordered the mushrooms and Goat Cheese omelet! It was OK but the potatoes were hard, greasy and burnt. Service was not great, my plate came with toast and I had to ask for it after I was served my food to where the waiter had said it didn't come with toast but I knew from the menu it did. Still took a while to get it to me.

My friend said this place had great risotto which I have been craving recently. Scallops Risotto: This was really well made. The rice had the perfect consistency and the scallops were cooked to perfection; juicy and perfectly grilled. 5/5 Their alcoholic drinks were really good as well. The ambiance of the restaurant is also really nice.

Just took a few friends to lunch there. Sad the lunch menu is so "limited" now. Wish you would bring back more options. We all ordered the Mystique burgers. They were all cooked perfectly, but dang they were so greasy. That's all I have to say.

This was such a cute spot to eat in the Castro. The ambiance is very nice and the service is phenomenal. The garlic fries are flavored to perfection and were nice and crispy. The garlic bread was to die for, so much flavor! The steak was actually really good for not being a steakhouse! They cooked it just right! The shrimp pasta was also delicious and flavorful!

I think it's just fine, nothing to write home about. Food was good, and it's nice they still have outdoor seating.

Pretty interesting menu. I went here for a breakfast lunch(brunch). I had the California eggs benedict and it was good. Saved the potatoes for later. I was rushing to go and the waiter was a bit annoyed. It's a good restaurant in the Castro.

My partner and I came here for our Valentine's Day dinner, and the service was excellent! The food was delicious and the space was really comfortable. I've been here for brunch and remember it being delicious as well. Highly recommend!

Let's start with the positives: 1. Edible food 2. Good iced coffee 3. Pretty views from the sidewalk or the window box 4. The weather was absurdly nice the day I went. 5. Honestly? Pretty affordable. Good? Great. They took more than an hour today to serve us two entrees and an iced coffee. All I can think is those pitchers of mimosa must be mighty strong. The service is so bad that getting blackout drunk is probably the only way customers sit through it. It actually took a solid 20-25 minutes just to bring us water and coffee. I **pre-emptively** asked for the check after that; Knowing the sort of dunce-level competence I was dealing with, I figured asking for the bill now meant it could maybe arrive around the time our food did, and we could get out of there. So instead, they forgot our order existed at all. The waitress finally noticed the issue and realized she couldn't even find what we ordered. She had to get our receipt for reference. And something like 20 minutes after that, she said sorry, the food wasn't here still, but it was because of MY error of asking for the check early. ... fml. A reminder I didn't ask for it until a half an hour sitting there. Literally every other table served while we sat and the restaurant cleared out. Never say never, Cafe Mystique, but I'm never coming back ok? Best of luck to you.

Cute little place, was still able to order breakfast food around 2pm, servers are smiling at all times, great friendly service

Greeted at door and immediately led to a table.Waiter was friendly, attentive but not too much. Service was very nice and quick, but only thing I would have liked, but granted I failed to ask, was how big the portions were! we duplicated on one order and should have just ordered one to share so we could have tried something else on menu. Portions are plentiful !! food was tasty! Would return.....

Excellent food and cocktails (at a good price!) in the heart of the Castro. Shady sidewalk dining and hip decor inside.

This place is excellent! Great service, really nice atmosphere, I honestly can't think of anything negative to say. All around, great experience. Would highly recommend.

Love this Castro restaurant! Yummy comfort food. I always get the spicy pasta but the risotto is bomb too. Good wine selection and good cocktails too. Huge portions so you can easily split or have leftovers. I'll be back again!

Food, service, ambience... absolutely delicious! Glad Alitalked us into staying for dessert. The rib eye was the best

Enjoyed an early dinner at Cafe Mystique last night with my husband and a friend. Service was friendly, and quick. The menu has so many great options, I wanted to try everything. Ended up ordering a cheeseburger, it was just that kind of night. Both my husband and friend had the lamb risotto. Cheeseburger was great, nicely seasoned and cooked perfectly. The lamb risotto had wonderful flavors and nice heat. I can't wait to go back to try more of the delicious dishes.

Great service and the food is delicious. We had the ribeye with mashed potatoes and it was delish.

Narmela was absolutely amazing!! Made our day! Such a fun time and mimosas were never lacking. Best time in the Castro

We took a spontaneous trip to San Francisco last weekend and had to make a point to stop by Cafe Mystique. It had been a few years since we'd visited but the food was amazing and the staff was very attentive. The crab Florentine and bottomless mimosas were on point. Can't wait to go back as we're already planning another trip hopefully soon!

Tried many of the dishes, my favorite is Spicy Chicken pasta...Delicious food, great cocktails, awesome friendly staff

I wish I could give an actual review based on the meal, but my visit didn't even get that far. Do yourself a favor and find another place to spend your money. At this time, there aren't many options for brunch it seems in the Castro and my friend and I decided to stop at Cafe Mystique. Upon entering the COMPLETELY EMPTY former mainstay at roughly 10am on a Saturday, we asked for a table for 2. We were told to sit anywhere we'd like. Again, completely empty. No other patrons. We both have mobility issues and there wasn't any visible ADA seating. We asked to push two tables together so the two of us could sit on the booth side and was refused immediately. We asked to sit at a nearby larger table and were again refused, saying that the table was for a larger party in a rather condescending tone. The failure to accommodate my disabled friend was a shocking example of their sour customer service, and is clearly why this place is hurting for business - and why we turned around and found a better option.

The spicy chicken pasta was delicious. Lots of Parmesan and 2-3 chicken breasts. It could be a meal for 2-3 people.

Tasty food (lots of lamb dishes), very friendly and attentive staff, convenient hours, and great location. Cute atmosphere as well -- very cozy. Have passed this place so many times, glad to have finally stopped to eat.

Excelent service, great selection of mix drinks, excellent selection of dishes ambiance and great location, highly recommend

We came here just for appetizers, and we thought it was wonderful! Highly recommend the garlic bread and calamari. The spicy margarita is SPICY! Terrific service, outdoor seating, and across the street is where Hot Cookies is, so it's possible you see a few *almost naked men walking around. But, it's the Castro!

Food is always so tasty. I love the cocktails, and the ambience. The complimentary bread was a great surprise too!

I thought this place was pretty good. The food was delicious and the service was very friendly. But, there was nothing that made the setting or the food stand out beyond the romantic neon lights and iconic placement on Castro Street. Ratings - 6/10 @ 7:24 PM of March 9, 2022 Quick Tips: - Ideal for dates, getting together with friends, family, etc. - Portion sizes for pasta are pretty big so come hungry - Outdoor seating with heaters is pretty warm even on a chilly day What I've had: - Spicy Chicken Pasta - Aperol Spritz - Sangria - Garlic Bread Full Review ---------- ///// Taste - 8 - The spicy chicken pasta is their best seller and I can see why. The in-house garlic cream sauce was the clear highlight, with its rich creamy flavor. The dish had a good level of spice that added to the flavor without being overwhelming. And it was served with an ample layer of Parmesan cheese and a hint of tomato that added a slight nutty-sharp sweetness to an overall savory dish. - The garlic bread was pretty mediocre. Too much oil on top of what felt like store bought bread but it was complimentary so I'm not complaining. ///// Personality - 4 - The menu did not feel special to me. There was nothing about the food or the plating that portrayed the chefs or the restaurants personality. It felt like I could walk into another store down the block and get a dish that looked mostly the same. ///// Ambiance - 6 - We sat outside on a cold SF night. But the warmth of the nearby heater (with actual fire) and the dim glow of the neon Cafe Mystique sign added a subtle romance to the place. It wasn't too crowded and the volume wasn't too loud - perfect for relaxing conversation. But, at the same time, nothing screamed personality or uniqueness. ///// Service - 8 - The service was excellent during my visit. All seats inside were taken and a handful of people were sitting outside (maybe 60-70% total capacity). The waiter checked in on me every 10 min as I waited for my date to arrive which was great - they offered a seat and water which I declined. After my date arrived and we sat down, the waiter got to us quickly, took our order, and left us to talk. Food was served quickly and fresh with all food coming at once - awesome timing. After we paid, the restaurant let us talk uninterrupted while we finished our drinks.

I discovered this amazing little eatery in the Castro on a trip to SF with friends in 2018. We were all blown away by how delicious the food - especially the Chicken Parm - was. Now, on every trip to SF, Cafe Mystique is a must. The family and staff that run the restaurant are kind and courteous. This is my favorite restaurant in SF.

Anytime we're in the city this is our go to spot. The service and food is amazing. Even though we only get to come a couple of times a year the staff always remembers us. Absolutely love the spicy pasta, salmon and cocktails.

So confident in my rating! Service was SUPERB! We had reservations for 6:30 but traffic from the East Bay was horrible so we called to say we'd be 30 minutes late. While our table was given away, they made sure we had the next available table. SO KIND! The food was amazing. We shared a Caesar Salad and shared a bottle of Argentinian Malbec while waiting for our meal. So yummy! My hubs ordered Lamb Stew and said it was "exquisite." I ordered salmon linguini and I'm finishing it at home as I write this. So delicious!!! We had to get to a show at the Castro Theatre so they made sure we were on time and we finished with an AMAZING Espresso Martini! Delectable! Highly recommend!

Tasty and reasonably priced, hard-working, family-owned. Love this place and I need to type something to get this over 85 characters for Yelp.

Definitely recommend their dinner menu over they brunch. They have some great dishes that pack a lot of unique, delicious flavors. My all time favorite is their risotto. You can choose a different proteins, but my go-to is the shrimp. It's delicious and the portion is huge! Their salmon dishes are great as well. They have 3 different kinds and they are all amazing! Spicy chicken pasta is another great dish. For appetizers, I definitely recommend the fresh green beans! Great flavor and goes well with the risotto. Since food is fresh, it does take a while for it to come out. I would recommend knowing what you want and ordering as soon as you sit down.

This is the place to go when you are visiting San Francisco. Everything in the menu is delicious and the beverages are so good. The stuff is nice and always in a happy mood. The prices are good.

My son and I ate here yesterday. We ordered the minestrone, crab cakes, fire cracker shrimp and mimosas. Everything was delicious. The minestrone was the best I have ever had. Our server, Igor, was friendly and efficient. Plus, he was very nice. I would definitely recommend Cafe Mystique to anyone who likes a delicious meal at a reasonable price. Eat outside, as we did, and watch the people go by. It was such fun that we are going back there again.

Fantastic spicy chicken appetizer and spicy chicken pasta entree. Good location. Friendly staff. Beware of the hordes of drug addicts at this spot that will scream at you if you sit outside.

Cafe Mystique is a great neighborhood restaurant. It's in the heart of the Castro and has a very gay clientele which I love. The food is Persian and Mediterranean. They are known for large plates of pasta or rice. It's not a fancy or modern restaurant, but it makes for a casual night out with a date, solo, or with friends. They also serve brunch. The service is always great and attentive. The restaurant now and pre covid was always busy, but I could always get a table. They have a daily special. It's not really unique for the day, but they have a standard list of specials that rotate. I've had a variety of different items and am always impressed. It's an open kitchen so you can see everything is made fresh. The portions are big so make sure you plan ahead or share. A must try is the sangria!!