Cafe Kuleto

I loved the food, service, and atmosphere. I came w/​a small group and we had ahi tuna, filet mignon, butternut squash (wasn’t my favorite), and risotto with scallops. I couldn’t remember the name of the dessert I had, but it was delish! I’ll be coming back again

Not a lot to say about this restaurant, some items were ok and others not. The tuna crudo was terrible, felt greasy. The duck bolognese was good, but the eggplant salmoreglia was dry and tasteless and the mushrooms were boring.
I like the look of this place especially the bar area, I just wished the food was up to par.

Great place to try if you are staying at the Villa Florence. They have daily specials, reasonable prices, and good customer service.

I was in SFO for a few days and stayed at Westin, Union Square so a 2min walk to Kuleto. Long story short, I had breakfast here on my last day. I decided to go back as I had dinner the night before at the Kuleto restaurant and that experience was OK with bar girl Chelsea. I also wanted to double-​check that I hadn’t forgotten my creditcard there as I couldn’t find it. I walked in at 10.15am and asked the café bar man was having an in-​depth conversation with a former employee. When he finally came over to me, he was still talking to this friend (carrying on about someone who cashed in big, a former employee) and I’m looking at him and his face is turned to the ex employee. I finally asked him if he is ready for me to order. I explained him my situation that I am looking for my card and he advised me to write my name on a paper and he will ask the manager. Another staff member took it over from that point and returned that with the advice that the manager just started and he needed time to get himself upandrunning. I found the answer odd, but decided to wait 15min after which I said I am leaving today my international flight is in 5hours and I do not live in SFO. No one came back with an answer so I left. At the Westin, I had the concierge call before I stepped in the taxi to the airport, just as a last double check and guess what Kuleto Restaurant had my credit card. The didn’t have time to call. I had to rush back there and the hostess gave me my card, I asked her why she didn’t help me earlier and sent me to the café? Also, why wasn’t I called? She apologized and handed me my card I asked to speak to the manager. She went to get him and he didn’t come. I said this is appalling and no way to treat guests at your restaurant. Kuleto’s will NEVER see me again.

Free Fly w/​Pasta
I used to come here regularly, ever since it opened, whenever I had family visiting from out of town. Until the last time:
My 10-​year old was almost finished eating her pasta al sugo/​pasta con pomodori, when she stopped, dropped her fork, and quietly whispered, «Mamma! There’s a bug in my pasta!» My 85-​year old father leaned over to look and wrinkled his nose in disgust as he passed me her plate. It was a gigantic horse-​fly!!! Curled up, dark and hairy against the bright-​white pasta, and obviously dead. I can’t imagine HOW it passed unnoticed. And to be in a child’s meal makes it all the more inexcusable. We were very discreet, probably TOO discreet, and called our waitress (Joy) over. She whisked the plate away and vanished. She reappeared a short time later and said she’d comp us the wine. But instead of comping us the two glasses already finished, she brought me a new glass of wine (that I didn’t order) and «comped» that one. «Nothing to worry about. At least it’s organic!», my 10-​year old remembers her telling her.
In the meantime, my 4 year old had fallen asleep on the banquette, so I had to scoop her up and carry her all the way to the Powell St. Station, near the cable-​car turn-​around, to catch MUNI home. (My father was staying at the hotel). It was only upon arriving home that I discovered my 4-​year old had left her favorite stuffed animal, «Peppa Pig». I immediately called the restaurant, but there was no answer, so I phoned the hotel. They answered, and were extremely nice, but told me they didn’t operate the restaurant, so I’d have to call again in the morning.
The next day, since I was going downtown to meet my father anyway, I stopped by Kuleto’s to try to get my little one’s favorite toy back. She was with me, looking sad, so they made very sorrowful noises. «Awwwww. That’s too bad. No. Sorry, nobody’s turned it in». Since they were just seating their lunch crowd, I asked if I could look for myself, under the table. «Sure», they said. Alas, no luck. I asked if I could ask Joy. They said she wasn’t there. I asked if I could leave her a note. They said fine, and I did, but I never heard from her, so I called and went back a few times. Still no luck.
WHAT KIND OF PLACE takes little kids’ toys & serves horse-​flies in kids’ food? The kind of place I will never again patronize. It used to evoke such warm memories whenever I’d pass by Kuleto’s. Now it just makes me sick to my stomach.

Great place for breakfast if you’re in the area, especially when staying at the Villa Florence. Very pleasant staff, kind customer service, and good food and coffee.

Very nice café. Great place for breakfast in Union Square area. Relaxing and elegant atmosphere.

Stayed at the Villa Florence on my last San Fran trip and this place can’t help but catch your eye when you walk in the lobby. Oh the smells when we would go to our room; I knew I had to get in there and try this place out, three times in three days in fact. A few of my favorite things from my visits: Mortadella, Carpaccio, Minestrone, Braised Cannellini beans. So much to eat so little time.

I love dining at Kuleto’s when I stay at the VIlla Florence. It has a romantic and European vibe to it. It gets crazy busy but the staff is always warm and friendly. My favorite item on the menu is Gnochii which melts in your mouth. Large portions and reasonable prices. A great place for a business meeting or dinner date.

2 of us went there on day after Thanksgiving which as per the host is the «busiest day for the rest. the entire year»! Well suffice to say, service wasn’t very good.
We had 2 salads which was ok and a Manhattan which was good.
Liked that we were seated at the back next to the nice atrium area.

Excellent excellent excellent. Bar staff was great and attentive, salads were phenomenal. Decent beer on tap and plenty of wine. Highly recommended but a bit pricy.

Walked in in a Sunday at about 5:00pm: told we’d have a 10 – 15 min wait. After about 5 min., noticed that the restaurant was only half full and a number of people just arriving were seated immediately. Upon questioning, seated by an African-​American, female staffer who proceeded to tell us life was «too short» to be upset about being passed over for seating: «this happens sometimes» was the excuse. She was condescending and inappropriate at best — wouldn’t recommend this place at all. Hostess function was poor and confused — «manager» was rude and condescending.

had dinner here last night, and I thought the food was pretty good. I had the short ribs and they were tender and flavorful, my husband had the halibut special for the night, I thought the fish was slightly undercooked, but the green sauce that came with it was awesome. The service was superb. I appreciate our server being really nice and helpful and not intrusive. I think the service is what really impressed me because everyone was really friendly, the bartender, the other servers, even the water person. We had bread pudding for out dessert, it was good but I had better one before. Overall, I thought it’s a nice place to have a date night.

Pretty good overall. I liked the waiters as they were professional and yet had a sense of humor too. They seemed to have some grass fed beef options although I wonder if they were being truthful about that. The food was tasty overall, nothing amazing but high quality and well prepared.
Huge plus is that once you are inside the noise and chaos of the city melts away.

Beautiful restaurant with two large rooms and high ceilings, with an active bar up front. Friendly, attentive service and great food. Several of us at our table ordered the pasta special — fettuccini with braised pork in a light ragu — and it was superb. We nearly licked our plates! My partner had veal scallopini and he loved it. We shared the tiramisu cake for dessert and it was light and luscious. Excellent wine list. Five stars all around.

The food, service, and wine were all great.
A very nice place for dinner.

Prices are to be expected for being right in Union Square area and food doesn’t disappoint. Didn’t have that extra something to deserve 5 stars though. Overall, I would recommend if you’re in the area and want some good Italian.

LOD 5
Good food, cool location in the midst of Union Square. Service was solid and a place you cannot go wrong.

This place seemed to be a slam dunk. It got terrific reviews (put it on our list before we came up here) and it was across the street from our hotel.
The food was good, my husband really enjoyed the minestrone soup. I had the Little Bib Salad which was OK (but honestly, and I know it’s a chain and it’s uncool to say so, but the Sonoma Goat Cheese Salad at Louise’s is way better). Our son had the fried Calamari (it was the only thing on the menu he could eat, this is not exactly a kid-​oriented restaurant, which, btw, is fine).
1. it is NOT inexpensive. Main dishes average $ 26 (we had to order off the appetizer menu and our waitress, who was intermittently nice and grumpy, didn’t seem happy).
2. Make reservations. We sat in the «café”/front/bar area because we did not.
Would be willing to try this place again, if we visit with more $ and we make a reservation. It seems extremely popular and was very crowded.

My friend David insisted that I would enjoy the best tiramisu in the WORLD (nay, the UNIVERSE) at Kuleto. I had my doubts, but I’m game to try anything once.
BEST TIRAMISU I’VE EVER TASTED!
The key is that it’s got way more mascarpone cheese than cake. That’s very different from most tiramisu. It’s creamy and oh so tasty. And they also pour cream over it. I’m telling you, this is heaven in a piece of cake. I think another Unilocal reviewer described it as «a religious experience.» But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself.
My advice for date night — get one piece and split it. And order a couple of Irish coffees.