Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

We LOVED this restaurant. We sat inside so we couldn’t see the movie, but that wasn’t really an issue. The restaurant itself was stunning. Our server David was absolutely lovely. He really made our experience. The food was great, we got the smoked salmon, burrata with pears, sesame chicken, and pork chop. Everything was delicious. For dessert we got crème brûlée and a sort of chocolate mousse. Fantastic. It’s an expensive date but you pay for the food and the experience. Would go again!

Everything was fine except for one thing. The food and service were good, but for some reason, even though there was only one other table of customers in the restaurant at the time, they sat us right next to them, and then sat the next group, a large party of eight on the other side of us, when we had clearly asked for a quiet table so we could conduct business.

Absolutely fantastic! Our server was so attentive, just like waiters in every restaurant used to be in the old days. He seemed genuinely interested to engage with us, and he really cared about our ordering process and our enjoyment of the meal. LUCA went out of his way to make sure we had a most enjoyable time. After every interaction with him, he ended it with “thank you“. Very classy in my opinion. I loved it that without our really realizing it he would gently sweep away the crumbs that had accumulated on the table cloth. Our dessert wasn’t to our liking, even though he had suggested it, and he comped it for Us That is so great. The overall ambience is very tasteful the view of the Bay and the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge is stunning. I wish the hostesses had been a little cheerier …these young ladies they can’t even break a smile. Yes it is expensive, but the food is top-notch, absolute quality, and the service is stupendous. Five stars and two thumbs up!

Nopa is a really special place. It does everything SO well. I will start with the food. Their menu stays interesting over time with new dishes regularly introduced with the seasons and what’s seasonally available. The ingredient quality and preparation are really next level and I don’t think there is a single thing on the menu that anyone would not enjoy. The flavor of every dish is always surprising in a wonderful way with interesting combinations and textures. And plating is, of course, just beautiful. And my god, don’t just order one dish per person; share! You will be wowed. Their mainstay burger should not be missed either. If you’re into mixed drinks or wine, again, Nopa is standout. And even if you don’t drink, there are mocktails that I’m confident you’ll enjoy. Next let’s talk about the staff. Nopa has such a special and wonderful culture. Their entire staff is very well versed in the ingredients and preparation of their food. They’re also extremely kind and accommodating. There seems to be a genuine enthusiasm and shared belief that they make great food, and I would agree. They have opinions and can definitely suggest wine and beverage pairings to what you order. They know where ingredients were sourced from. And their attention to detail is also remarkable. I made a note on our reservation that we’d love a table instead of the high table if one came available and true to form, they came through. Someone took time to read the comment I had left! If you have a chance to dine here, take it. Even if you don’t have a reservation, there is a high table and bar area that may be able to accommodate a drop in. It’s a lovely atmosphere and always a joy to be a patron here. Thank you Nopa staff for the unique place you’ve created here.

Food and service were excellent. Lunch: We had Breaking bread (pita with about 6 spreads-don't miss that.) Spring tabouleh which was so unique and much better than what you usually get at mediterranean restaurants. Excellent flavor and texture. Criapy lamb riblets. a stuffed onion dolma which was fantastic. the only dish we were not crazy about was the turkish lamb dumplings in a tomato sauce. Service was impeccable and friendly. Highly recommend this and eat family style so you can taste alot.