Lovely's

I went there to try their burger, which is known as one of the best in San Francisco, and on a Thursday night the restaurant/bar is very busy, so make sure that you can arrive early to get a table. The service was OK and it took some time to get a spot even with a few tables available. The place itself is very nice and they have a patio in the back of the building, which is very nice for gathering with friends and having a beer or drink. The most important the food, was very good. They actually have a very good burger for reasonable prices, I thought the size was a little bit small so I recommend also ordering fries or something else. Overall, the place is very nice. It is good and I will definitely return there soon to have another burger and a beer!

Lovely’s has got to be one of the best burgers in the bay! We always go out of our way to enjoy the occasional cheat meal on the patio. There really isn’t a bad thing on the menu; though I will mention the Chillie Willie is my least favorite (despite being a fan of spicy foods) - something about the texture. Everything else is awesome: the drive thru and OG are my go-tos. Service is always friendly, tho a little slow simply because they’re so busy. Great beers and wines available. Make sure to check their hours and go early! Space fills up and there’s almost always a line out the front on weekends.

I genuinely don’t understand why this place has such a high rating. It’s dirty, overcrowded, there are rats, and the alcohol quality seems extremely questionable. After just three glasses of wine I felt awful — as if I had downed a liter of cheap vodka and chased it with beer. I honestly have no idea what they’re serving. The fries were terrible. And besides burgers and fries, there’s basically nothing else on the menu. People are packed together on cold bare concrete benches. They could at least add cushions or wooden seats so customers don’t have to freeze sitting there. Closer to closing time, when the patio started to clear out, a whole group of rats came out and started running around the benches and the floor looking for food scraps. Absolutely disgusting. Where is the health department when you need them?

Stopped by to try out the popular smash burgers. Ordered two with a side of chili fries and it was all very delicious.

Such a cute spot with great food! We ordered two of the Drive Thru burgers, a chili cheese dog and fries. Everything was perfect!

Literally just writing this review to say that they can do lettuce wrap instead of bun but expect it to be very messy and not nicely wrapped. Also don’t order the fries as they felt like an afterthought and kinda cold

Definitely worthy of a stop if you're a burger and hot dog connessouir who likes to wash them down with a beer. Smash burgers and hotdogs on the menu of this Woods outpost. Not the place for a quick bite: be prepared for a long wait for food despite the apparent crowd behind the counter which matches the upscale crowd diving into low brow offerings.

Easily my favorite smashburger in the Bay Area - maybe even the US. The OG burger combines a perfect meat-to-bun ratio (reminds me of Burger Joint NYC - my second favorite smashburger) and the soft squishy potato bun (similar to shake shack). The American cheese and the perfectly griddled onions with pickles on top makes this my very favorite! Patio seating in the back and the bar opens at 4pm (an hour before they serve food) You have to get a table to order food so best to come a little before opening and make yourself cozy with a drink before the crowds.

I'm dreaming about this smash burger every night! The burgers and fries are made fresh to order, and it was fun watching them assemble everything. I had the Drive Thru burger while my partner got the OG smash with two patties. The beef tasted super fresh and juicy. Even a single patty had plenty of flavor, unlike a lot of chains. The Drive Thru burger was perfectly balanced with pickle slices, swirl of sauce, bed of lettuce, and slices of tomato. The evening wait can be a bit long since people come for the drinks and vibes, but it's definitely worth it!!

A great brewery and a solid burger spot sharing the same space? Sounds like a dream! Just one problem: someone forgot to tell the staff. Listen, I can see why people dig the burgers -- but the staff was unfriendly to the point of being downright rude. And the dynamic between the two businesses felt like a turf war: Woods invites you in for a drink, to hang out and enjoy the back patio -- then Lovely's tries to push you out as quickly as possible, regardless of whether you're still purchasing food and drinks. It's like the Xfinity model of business where the longer you're there, the worse they treat you. Honestly, there are so many amazing smash burger places in SF. I'd rather hit up Hamburguesa Bar, or another spot where the staff actually wants you there. Or skip the burger altogether and hang out at a brewery like Standard Deviant, where the staff is friendly, you can grab a spot anywhere, stay as long as you want, and order food from whatever business is on site that day.

honestly i love this place so good with a cute back outdoor patio. prob some of the best fries ive had in a while, plus burger was sooo good. staff were attentive & very nice. can also order drinks from the bar (beer & wine only!). also allowed us to bring outside dessert for a friend's bday! ready to go back tbh

Lovely's is a super popular burger spot tucked in the Wood's at Cole Valley. The weather has been amazing recently, and eating burgers/fries in their ambient outdoor patio out back was such a good vibe. Heat lamps are provided for those chillier evenings, too. We got the Drive Thru burgers, which come with shredded lettuce, American cheese, some special sauce, and a hefty burger patty. Honestly a very standard but perfect hamburger. The fries came out piping hot and were so perfectly crispy -- we really enjoyed these. The line for patio seats can get long, so plan accordingly! You can order drinks at Wood's at sip while you wait. Apparently, you may still be able to order burgers to go even if you are unable to get a seat before the kitchen closes.

Bomb burgers, great service, fun and kid friendly environment! I've been to Lovely's in Oakland and finally got to try the Cole Valley location. Yummy burgers and fries. Highly recommend if you are looking for a place to meetup for drinks, yummy food, a big crowd, or with kids! I'll be back

Wait in line wasn't too long, just depends when people get to and if you want inside or back patio. Got in line around 6:40p, got seated by 6:57p, ordered at 7:03p, and got our food at 7:40p had to minus a star for how long it took from order to getting our food. I was very impressed with the food here! The burger was so good it's definitely a runner up to my #1 burger but it's up there. For a simple burger so so so flavorful, it didn't feel like a smashburger to me just a regular burger but hella good. My favorite tho has to be the Chicago dog. After visiting Chicago this past year, their Chicago dog may be the best Chicago dog in the city. This thing was loaded yet proportionate, flavors of everything mixed well together, and yes beef dawwwwg pls! The fries weren't my favorite, but they were still good. Service was good, parking is street parking, small place indoors with a bigger patio seating outside in the back.

My husband and I were looking for a new burger spot to put into our rotation. It was funny because we were originally looking for restaurants to eat at in Oakland, and came across Lovely's, but then found out they actually had opened another outpost in SF! Finally got a chance to try it and it was delicious. They have a small variety of burgers, basically all different types of traditional burgers, if that makes sense. I really loved my "Picnic Burger" which was a burger with cold cheddar cheese, red raw onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, mayo, ketchup, mustard, and sesame bun. I really love a burger with raw onions, and overall fresh lettuce and tomato - this was it!!!! I didn't really care for the cold cheese, would have preferred melted, but it was still a really satisfying burger. I got a single patty, which was on the medium/thin thickness side, fatty, juicy and salty. I did like the regular french fries on the side too....the flavor was salty, texture pillowy on the inside and crispy on the outside, and medium thickness, my favorite! They did seem like the bottom of the batch though, with very short fries about 1" long - I like mine a bit longer than that! My husband got the "Drive Thru" burger, which had melted American cheese and grilled onions. This was also an amazing burger - the cheese and overall taste were just extremely satisfying. It was fun to compare the two burgers amongst each other. We did get a Cult Classic hot dog too, which was quite disappointing. The sausage was a little too thin, and was too dry. I can't really remember if the bun or fixings were good, because the sausage portion was so disappointing. Service here was kind of irritating. I guess you just sit down first come first serve. But, your waiter/waitress will only take your food order. If you want drinks, you have to order them (with a separate purchase) from the bar. Why can't we just order all together in one tab? Annoying. And why can't they be open for lunch? This place is so good! They should be open for lunch and dinner! The ambiance is super cute for this restaurant though. They have a really cute outdoor seating (although it looked cold so we sat inside), and even the indoor portion is retro and fun. It feels like they took some old parts of a burger place (i.e. the ice box, the retro booth seating) and modernized other parts of it. Overall, I loved my burger and fries here, and really cannot wait to return.

Very yummy burger! All parts of the burger were solid and I definitely want to try more on the menu. We got the OG burger. The back patio is also adorable and would be amazing on a warm evening. Good vibes all around. I can't wait to come back!

Solid burger spot with great cozy outdoor seating. It gets PACKED early - it's not uncommon to be waiting for 1+ hours and they don't take reservations. They open at 5. Either get there at 4:30/4:45 for the first wave or go at like 6 to try to catch the next wave. Mostly benches outside, but it's a contained area which is nice for kids. I don't think they have high chairs though. The burger is good - smash style. Have heard the hot dog is good too!!

Was craving a Chicago hotdog and found this place near by. Hotdog was made to perfection. Even the sports peppers on the dog were spicy and tangy. My husband ordered the picnic burger and was able to make it vegetarian with an impossible patty. He kept bragging how delicious it was and devoured every bite. We also got a side of cheese fries which were phenomenal and def hot the spot. MY husband tried their Untitled Art IPA, which is non alcoholic. I tried a sip and thought it had alcohol because of how hoppy it was. I was impressed. The place itself is tiny but they have a back patio with more seating. We really enjoyed this place and will be back!

Lovely experience through and through. A bit of a line but worth the wait and the line moved steadily. Great food and especially great burger. Came here right before a show at the Fox Theater and was exactly what I needed. You order outside and have the option to eat at picnic tables or eat at the bar which is next door.

Lovely patio space in the back, staple selection of burgers and dogs. Lively atmosphere on a friday night - waited ~40min to get inside then another wait to find seating (free for all). Took some time for someone to take order (system was down?) The burger patties were thick and i appreciated the size. The OG burger was standard no frills, an elevated McDonalds-tasting burger. The drive thru burger was lacking the schmaltz onions and the special sauce needed more tang. The chicago hot dog had a bit too much relish, enjoyed the pickle spear in it though

Came right at open of the restaurant at 5pm and the place was already packed! The burgers were phenomenal and the fries were delicious. Except to wait a long time for a table to open up. The cult classic hot dog was just fine but the OG and drive thru were so flavorful and delicious. The outdoor vibe is phenomenal.

I came on a weekend so it was pretty busy. Burgers start at 1pm on Sundays and I got there at about 1:15pm. The tables were all full and there was an area reserved for a birthday party so we got some wine at the counter and waited for a table outside. There was a host who let us know when a table was open. It took about 25min which wasn't too bad. Definitely expect to wait a little if you come on the weekend! It's not a bad wait since you can order drinks to sip while waiting. Got the drive thru burger with an extra patty and fries! It was so good. Reminded me of In N Out since it came with a similar burger sauce. It was a bit messy because of the sauce and melted cheese but it was delicious. I'm not a big meat person so I could have done without the extra patty. I was stuffed after finishing it off. I also really enjoyed their fries!

My roommate wanted to check out this place from seeing it viral online! We came on a Thursday around 6:00 PM, and the place was busy. Because it's a brewery, you have to get your ID checked as you come in. For outdoor seating in the patio, there's a line that forms in the back. The wait for us was about 15 minutes. Smaller parties can get grouped up together at larger tables. The waitstaff back there were very busy but happy to help if needed. I got a Drive Thru Burger and split an order of regular Fries with my roommate. The burger was pretty solid -- loved the sesame bun, and the smash burger patty was nice and crispy. It was a very wet burger, however, and the paper wrap got soggy after a short time, so look out for that. I really liked the fries! They're like a battered fry crunchy texture but not too heavily coated. Overall, a nice place to go after work and catch up while enjoying a beverage as well!

Love the patio vibes. Grab your friends, a few drinks, and a lovely's burger and it's guaranteed a great time. Been here multiple times and never disappoints! Note: patio seating may take a while but you can grab a beer/wine in the meantime at woods tavern

I've been on a quest to try all the best burger spots in SF, and Lovely's/Woods was next on my list. I've passed by before, and there's always a line out the door. The area is really lively, which is nice, and I went around 7 PM on a Saturday, so I was expecting to wait, and wait we did. It took about 20 minutes to get into the bar to order a drink, and another 20 minutes to get a table. Once we were seated, it took a long time before anyone came by. I didn't mind waiting for the table, but once we were seated, I would've appreciated more attentive service. We ordered the Picnic and the Drive Thru burgers with a side of fries. The food took a while, but the heaters kept it comfortable, and the ambiance is very energetic. The burgers did not disappoint. They were filling without being greasy, and the toppings actually tasted fresh, which a lot of burger spots overlook. I really liked the sesame bun too. Overall, it was a good experience. The food was great, the staff was friendly just slow, but the setup of the place makes the wait pretty pleasant. I would definitely come back, I don't mind waiting for the right spot.

Lovely's is a "pop-up" inside of the Woods in Cole Valley, though I think it might just be a permanent fixture now? Regardless, the standard flow is that you wait, if there is a line which there usually is, for a spot to open up on the outdoor patio and then there is table service for ordering food (you go up to the bar to order drinks), so pretty organized flow once you get the gist of it. Menu wise this spot basically does burgers and fries (I see that they had hot dogs but have never tried them personally) and the gets for me are The Drive Thru (the schmaltz onion and secret sauce are *chef's kiss*) and any version of the fries as they are all fresh and crispy (I like the chili cheese myself though would opt for the regular hand cut if looking for something a tad lighter). And of course don't forget to pair your meal with any of the delicious offerings from Woods itself to wash it all down!

Nice neighborhood spot--been wanting to try with a group of friends for a while now. The service was a hit-or-miss but likely because it was so busy. I ordered the coney and the flavors were good. However you can't really truly call a hotdog with meat sauce a coney without proper diced white onions with plenty of yellow mustard

Lovely's is rated one of SFs best smash burgers. We got the 'drive thru' which was a traditional diner burger. Great bun to meat to condiment ratio. The sesame bun and sauce the was my favorite part and the cheese fries is made with a homemade sauce! I love the outdoor seating which is literally as big as a typical SF backyard. Very homey and exactly what you'd expect from a little SF hole in the wall.

Delicious burgers, solid fries, great relaxed environment. I always look forward to coming here. It semi-recently opened but feels like it's always been there. Have also tried the hot dog here but the burgers are definitely where this place shines. You order food from your table but drinks you order at the counter. It can get very busy on the weekend but you can enjoy beer and wine from Woods while waiting. The wait is worth it.

The ambiance and food at Lovely's is spectacular. With a bar in front, seating in middle, and patio in back, there's three different environments in one. The drive thru burger was DELISH. The bun soft and v chewy, the meat amazing, and the lettuce crisp and thinly sliced. However one thing was that it was hard to get seated and the place was bustling. After we got inside I had to get up and flag two different people twice. Other than that it was great. Thanks again!

Burger was spectacular, I got the drive thru. Fries were great (think thick cut in n out). Wait for food was long, 40 min so come prepared to chat with your group or bring a deck of cards. Absolutely will be back!

Burgers are delicious! Service was great, friendly, fun atmosphere! The honey beer from Woods was really good.

Lovely's is known for their amazing burgers in Oakland, but they opened inside of Woods in Cole Valley. I'm not sure how long they'll be there, but it's such an amazing spot- especially their huge outdoor patio in the back (with lots of heat lamps). You can enjoy a unique selection of beers and large, juicy burgers! I got the picnic which was a classic, delicious burger. It was fresh, and the cheddar was soo good! They also have vegetarian options. Their fries are crisp. Overall, nothing was super greasy, there's a lot of love in the food! It was very very busy on a Sunday afternoon, but the service was still fantastic!

Such a cute spot with great food! We ordered two of the Drive Thru burgers, a chili cheese dog and fries. Everything was perfect!

I had the og burger and it was legitimately the best cheeseburger I've had in SF. Everything that a burger should be, done perfectly and nothing more. Vibes are cool on the the patio. I brought my puppy for his first birthday and they had a puppy patty for him. Will be back many times

Such a great place!! Burgers were 10/10 and everything is really reasonably priced. Great ambiance.

Incredible burger!! Their basic smash burger has so much flavor, I think about it every day. This place is very hip and trendy. The space is more of a bar, but an amazing cozy bar with a huge warm back patio. And they have a gluten free bun . Obsessed will be back again and again

Burgers: 4/10 Service: 10/10 Space: 10/10 Deeply disappointing in taste. Quality was ok. Flavor & presentation very subpar. If you want a good smash burger go to The Laundromat on Wednesday's in the Richmond District or SmackBurgers -- look them up on IG to see where they're popping up, typically in Alameda.

The food is awesome here! Only reason it isn't a 5 star is because it was a pretty long wait for food and we did have to wait out in the rain. But we would do it again! The fries with the cheese sauce is great, and the burgers were perfect! We had a great time, the vibe is very casual, unless you have a big party you will likely be sat at a big table with other customers. But the food is worth it!

I've been here a couple of times in the past few months, and it has become mine and my friend's favorite smashburger in the city. The patio vibes in the back are fun, and the food is phenomenal - I've tried the OG, Drive Thru, and Chili Willie. My favorite at the moment is the Drive Thru, but all of them share the same beautifully seared patty edges & fantastic flavors. My only critique is the ordering process. You're directed to the back patio to find a table, and a server will come to you there - but you can't order drinks with the server, and also can't order food at the register. Kind of confusing. But the quality of the food (and the beers at Woods) far outweighs this. Overall an excellent burger, I'm so happy it's moved into the neighborhood!

Lovely's is frequently busy, with a line stretching out the door. Oddly, they have vegetarian but no vegan options. How hard is it to make a sauce with veganaise and keep a package of vegan American cheese in the fridge? Pretty hard, I guess.

Terrible service on a busy Sunday. The only server decided to chat it up with 2 patrons for at least 10 mins when it's damn-well a packed house. Find time to do that on your off days. Advice to owner: Have a QR code system in place like most places that can and will expect an influx of guests.

The criticisms from reviewers here are a bit ridiculous on options and wait times. It's not a large space, the burgers and beer are fantastic. You won't be disappointed. The wait can be long at times, so be prepared.

Recommendation: AVOID Was very excited to try this place, alas it really did disappoint. The burger was ok. It's a smash and generally I love a smash but after more than 2 hours of lines... Cold fries at a burger place feels pretty inexcusable. More than that, it feels like the place is set up to trap you in this opaque funnel (more on the many lines later) and encourage you to buy drinks to pass the excessive wait times. Over all I think there are places in SF that offer better burgers, much better fries and infinitely more pleasurable experiences. Honestly this place is less of a restaurant than a collection of lines. Anatomy of lines Line 1 - The door (15 minutes) The door is your first opportunity to wait. This line looked like it was moving quickly but once you get to the front, it really slows down. Line 2 - Drinks (15 minutes) Just a few steps in the door is line number 2, ordering beer from Woods, the other business that shares the space with Lovely's. It's unclear if this line is optional. The door person seemed to suggest it was not even though we did not want beer. He told us we'd be able to wait for a table after we got a drink. Line 3 - A table (25 minutes) After ordering drinks you stand in an entirely separate line to get a table. The door man told us this would be 15 min. It seems like you could actually just have walked straight in and gotten in that line but maybe the door guy works for the bar not the burger place? Line 4 - Ordering (25 minutes) It's clear from the moment you sit down that you've now entered another line. Waiting for a server to come over and take your order. It was clear that even though we knew what we wanted, we had now entered another line and would not be able to order until it was our turn. When we finally got the opportunity to place an order, we were told we were not allowed to order doubles. Line 5 - The food (35 minutes) We then had to wait another 35 minutes to get our 3 single burgers and 2 orders of fries. The fries were freezing cold.

My favorite smash burger in the city - love that the bun isn't squishy like other ones. Nicely toasted. Great patio with heaters. It does get busy so can take a bit, but lovely environment to enjoy a burger

I had double drive thru burger and it was top tier! great service, great outdoor seating.

Exceptional quality! My first time ordering was a huge mistake, because we didn't order enough! The OG is a simple, yet savory burger. Order the extra patty if you're a hefty eater like myself. The place is clean, well kept, outdoor space is huge and a vibe overall. Staff was also kind. Will be back here asap!

Everyone is out of their mind. This is the best burger and any complaints feel nonsensical once you've had a bite.

Thursday night July 3rd around 8:30pm my friends and I ate here, all getting burgers and not sharing any food. Later in the night, we all went home with stomach pains and diarrhea. Please, if you had the same experience this night or around then, let the restaurant know or share with others on Yelp. There must be some mishandling of the food or something similar...

great bar food and great ambiance. would get drunk and eat here almost anytime, you could call it... lovely

I love Lovely's. I've always trusted their quality in food so I was excited to see their new location in San Francisco. Lovely's trumped all other food choices at this point. I was, however, making an unintentional comparison to the Oakland location. My expectation was the same service quality as the Oakland location. This new spot is confusing upon entering. Confusing on finding how to sit. Confusing where to even stand in line to wait to be seated. I was confused whether to feel invited because of the "sit-down casual" vibe. I didn't feel welcomed at all and may be that's to say I've only experienced traditional restaurant hospitality system. But I get it. It seemed Lovely's SF is trying to achieve a different food service system/model and may be testing it. Who knows. I'm only providing my perspective and comparison based on a previous experience from the same restaurant. If I was coming in as a new customer I wouldn't even bother leaving this review. I am now because I LOVE Lovely's food and embarrassingly passionate about it because it's SO GOOD. I expected to NOT be disappointed but safe to say I was so I left with the optimism of only going to the Oakland location from here on. I'm from the East Bay so it's convenient. I'm leaving this review with one star for the service (or lack thereof) and only that because that was the only experience I left with. Womp womp.

Great ambience and food! Wish it was easier to find a seat, sometimes it feels too chaotic to the point I don't wanna go there sometimes. But love it otherwise!

This place rules! Smash burgers are so much better on a sesame bun. The patio set up is great and they have tons of heaters for when it's cold

The Smash Burger I've been looking for!! I went mid-Sunday so I was able to find a seat and get drinks pretty easy - I can imagine how chaotic it is during any swell lol. All things considered - I heard the cook's having a great time, tons of communication (which makes for great food every time!). There are some lovely staff members handling drinks - the inside and outside are cute - no wi-fi (also, didn't ask for password). I'll definitely be back!! Order: Picnic - no mayo, no ketchup / Chili Cheese Fries (perfection!) and 2 Hazy IPAs