Midi

Just when Midi was on the verge of taking off, the landing gear came back out to make for a permanent stop. And while the ho hum Hecho (
) has comandeered the space, my mind wanders back to Midi whenever I’m strolling by.
Good local friends and a stellar happy hour is how I made my way here. Soon afterward, the happy hours were followed by stellar dinners and service that most people would pay so much more for. I longed for their «quartertet» meals composed of 4 mini plates and thought their gruyère burger was worth every cent. The only thing missing to make this five star establishment go higher was some real melodies of the karaōke kind, but looking back, bad singing would have only cheapened the place.
Fast forward a couple of years and the crowds were fewer and fewer, the wait staff seemed a bit disgruntled and the food had taken a hit. It was back to happy hour again, solely relying on their $ 5 cocktails to get week day fun bell ringing. There was obviously some room for improvement, but I figured Midi would be around for the long haul.
Then just a little under 2 years ago, Midi suddenly closed. Calling it quits on the very day I landed back in SF for another work adventure, only leaving me to engage in another search for quality drinks and even better company. The tune ended for Midi a bit too quickly, almost like a one hit wonder gone too soon.

My first impression a year ago was very pleasant. It’s an enjoyable lunch spot, but a bit too expensive to be a regular stop. And with so many new restaurants popping around the city this year, it’s not remarkable enough for me to crave more return visits. Like for example, I crave going back to Baker & Banker.
Midi will CLOSE this weekend, Sunday ¹¹⁄₁₄ is their last day.

5 stars for the burger! I didn’t have anything else here but from what i understand, I chose the best item… the atmosphere– meh, just ok.
DELICIOUS cheese burgers! Quality meat, perfectly cooked with caramelized onions and sharp cheddar– you can’t go wrong. AND it came with seasoned shoestring fries… so tasty. Yes, it’s pricy for a burger, but, as other Unilocalers have pointed out, you won’t be disappointed.

My review in a nutshell: Weird layout, awkward service, pretty solid burger.
Full story: Walking into Midi on a Thursday evening, you definitely get the feeling that you are entering a hip hangout. The bar was packed and had funky lighting (think Virgin America) but once we went upstairs to the dining room, it was a different story altogether. We were one of the only tables upstairs and the vibe was much more subdued than the rave going on one floor down.
We asked if we could order from the bar menu upstairs (since I was in a burger mood) and were told we could but we were never brought bar menus. No matter, we both ordered a burger anyhow. And then when we wanted to order a glass of wine the waiter didn’t offer up a wine menu, he just listed a couple that they had available. Again, no biggie, but it’s always nice to peruse a menu to know a) exactly what options are available and b) the price of each glass.
Burgers arrive and they were pretty damn good. Cooked a perfect medium rare, topped with ripe tomatoes and sharp cheddar. And the fries were hot and crispy, as they should be.
As we were leaving the restaurant had actually started to fill up a bit but walking through the bar again, we were surprised to see that it was empty. I guess the party ends early at Midi. I wouldn’t hesitate to return for a burger but next time I’ll probably stick to the bar to avoid the awkwardness upstairs.

Disappointed and confused in San Francisco. A month ago.
My bff took me here for my birthday and we could even call it a 15 year anniversary of our friendship. Oooh la la… we’re so fancy!
Intimate setting. Nice place for a date… if you want to talk to them that is. There were maybe about 5 tables total including us. The service was kind of slow and inconsistent.
The process:
–Rib-​eye was decided while mulling over menu at home.
–Saw prix fixe with duck confit, rattled me a bit indecisive.
–Wanted fries, gluttonous thoughts, elicited waiter for help.
–Waiter proceeds to tell me rib-​eye is a lot for me, but tried to convince me to order extra miscellaneous items.
–Decision: SHOW ME THE RIB-​EYE!
–Waiter tried to pressure me into ordering more food. Order the fries, order a soup, order a salad…
–Shoo him away.
–Awkward–
Rib-​eye me! Still feeling awkward…
Sure, I admit to my sins, but he doesn’t know about my gluttony. So, why did he tell me to order more food when he said the rib-​eye would be too much for me? I am still perplexed…
Everything felt mediocre to me, but I was mainly put off by the service. Meh.
I hear good things about happy hour and I’m always down to give places a second chance… so perhaps another time…

This place was pretty disappointing. The way it looks is just beautiful, but other than that, it didn’t meet my expectations. Maybe it’s because I went for dinner instead of happy hour or lunch, but all I know is that I was expecting something better.
I came here with a friend after our long day in the city about 6:30, and it was pretty vacant. There was only one other party on the top floor, yet the service was slow. To be fair, I guess I should say it got pretty busy after an hour or so, but I really don’t think it should take more then 10 minutes to come pick up my check once I’ve left my card in it regardless of how busy it is!
My friend and I had some questions about the different entrees, but asking seemed to have been of no help because our server pretty much told us that everything was good without giving a lot of detail. I had the Gnocchi which was delicious although I do wish it came with some chicken, and my friend had the Trout. The Trout was nothing spectacular… It seemed like something that could be made at home.
To sum it all up:
–Beautiful restaurant
–Mediocre food
–Slow service!

Came to Midi for lunch with some coworkers. I was in awe about the redesign — looks so much different from when Perry’s used to be there. The downstairs is the bar area with some tables for bar bites and upstairs is the main dining room. The Midi décor is definately modern!
The reason that I chose Midi for lunch was for their tuna melt sandwich. I had fallen in love wih the tuna melt at the Palace but since its been closed for so long I had to find a replacement. The tuna melt arrived pressed on french bread i believe with melty cheese and accompanied by a side of fries. The tuna melt was delicious and enjoyed the aioli to accompany my fries.
Service was pleasant + tuna melt was great = I’ll be back!

Came here for a team lunch per my suggestion and everyone liked the food. We had no problem getting a reservation for 10 at 12pm. Service was excellent, but got a bit slow when the restaurant filled up during the lunch rush. Food is overall good.
— Halibut: a bit overcooked, nicely fried crisp on top, broth was flavorful

Splurge-​y lunch but fa-​vu-​lous!
Heather and I met up to plan our dear GF’s bridal shower. And we needed an inspiration– a pretty place with good food for maximum planning efficiency!
Midi’s colorful mural of a beautiful tropical girl
did get our creative juices flowing. Lovely chick-​inspired ideas started popping up over our delicious Midi Quarter of Snapper Po-​Boy, Citrus Salad, Pumpkin Soup and Muffin Dessert.
The complimentary BREAD WITH SEA SALT BUTTER was good and interesting. They also give you FREE SPARKLING WATER as an option.
MIDI QUARTET ($ 19) is Midi’s version of Prix Fixe Lunch. The menu changes every week.
The SNAPPER PO-​BOYS were cute little sliders packed with fried juicy fish fillets.
The CITRUS GREEN SALAD was very refreshing and fresh.
The PUMPKIN SOUP was really tasty and full of earthy Winter/​Early Spring flavors.
Sadly, I didn’t like the dessert. It was a MUFFIN that was a little dry for me. (Maybe that’s why I could not remember what it’s called.)
We did not even miss the absence of alcohol to accompany our delicious lunch when we ordered a LAVENDER drink for me (sooo good!)
and an ORANGE BUNNY drink for Heather. (I made up the name but look at the picture.)
The venue is classy with a view of FiDi buildings since Midi is on the second floor.
Our server was very nice, friendly and did not have the snooty attitude that some fru-​fru establishments seem to breed by the dozens.
It was a pricey lunch of $ 62 including 2 non-​alc drinks, 2 Quartet, tax and tip. (About $ 31 per person.)
It’s totally worth it! Our tummies were full with MIdi’s adequate portions. The place inspired us to come up with great ideas for my GF’s Big Day! *Singing: Here comes the bride… la! la! la!*

I got a weird sense of déjà vu walking into this restaurant and about halfway into my meal I realized I had stayed at the adjoining hotel a few years ago. My memory isn’t quite what it used to be as I’m approaching 30… sigh.
Based on the reviews it sounds like the upstairs dining room is the place to be, but they put our party of 4 for lunch downstairs. I ordered the chicken breast salad, which was a very healthy salad full of lettuce, chicken, apples and nuts.
The service was pretty fast and we were in and out of there within an hr. A bit expensive for lunch so probably more of a special occasion/​business lunch.

Love the trendy modern décor. The bar looks HAPPENING downstairs and I always like the bar and restaurant in hotel theme. As this is a joie de vivre hotel, it is very boutiquey.
The dining room is upstairs. The service was great and they whisked away our coats. We ordered wine by the glass and they came in their own little decanter bottles. Liked that. I decided to try the dine about menu and ordered the duck broth soup (rich with little chunks of duck, flavorful), the chestnut squash ravioli (flavorful but a tad bit salty for my taste) and the cilantro mango sorbet (two huge scoops that was plenty for the three of us). My brother had the pork which fell off the bone. My mom had the halibut (which she said had this weird green sauce). We also started with mussels (which were ok) and the endive and pear salad (no complaints).
All in all, we liked the ambiance. The food was good, nothing wrong with it, but not a «wow’d» caliber. I’d come back to check out the bar and the happy hour menu.

Sometimes it’s the company more than the venue that makes or breaks your experience. Tonight was one of those nights. Once again I met up with up super Unilocal mega star Alexandra and her 3^rd degree black belt boyfriend for drinks and bites. After walking aimlessly around the block we decided on MIDI.
The bar sits in the former Perry’s space, but I will tell you right now this is nothing like Perry’s. They have done a great job updating the interior and making it more modern yet still cozy with excellent service provided by the bartenders.
The cocktail list is extensive and it took Alexandra a bit to decide, she finally went off menu and ordered up some rum drink with lime. I could tell by the expression by her face that it did not lack any alcohol and I advised she wait for the ice to melt before continuing. Ben ordered up a Grey Goose martini and it looked mouth watering.
We ordered just some light bites fries served up with three different sauces. YUM! all three tied as my favorite. Alexandra’s bf did order a burger and it looked amazing. He was even nice enough to share bites with his beautiful and super cool girlfriend.
We shared stores about snakes and Philly pizza and had a great time. I am already looking forward to a return visit.

3.5 stars.
Bar downstairs, dining room upstairs.
Good ambiance. Love the surrounding bold artwork. Great customer-​service from beginning to end, made us comfortable.
We shared the following:
(1) Pear and Endive salad ($ 9) — fresh, organic, delicious, especially with the blue cheese
(2) Homemade butternut squash ravioli ($ 20) — 4 pieces? $ 5 a ravioli? Overpriced, but filling was good. Ravioli was slightly under-​cooked, too al dente.
(3) Brasied short ribs ($ 20) — reasonably-​priced considering the portion, the meat was slightly dry and salty, but overall, tasty
We were too full to indulge for dessert ($ 7), but perhaps next time.
I am a fan of their downstairs bar, so will have to go there again.
Good restaurant and recommend.

Trendy ambiance, reasonable prices, diverse crowd, yummy food, and amazing service. A bit more focus on the natural flavor of ingredients rather than sauces would have easily pushed Midi up to five stars in my book.
I had the best service EVER on a recent dinner trip; I left feeling so great about dinner. Our waiter was just so personable, water glasses always filled, no rushing, no pressuring, genuine smiles, knowledgeable recommendations, and no judging or attitude when we asked for lemons in our water or a takeout box because we wanted to ration for lunch the next day. I think one of the chefs even came out to ask how our food was, which is old-​school and rare these days, but still very much appreciated.
The bread and butter (IMO, always a tell to how good a restaurant is) was creamy and fresh tasting. My friend had the pork chops, which was tender, sweet, and delicious. My braised lamb and squash was quite good too but slightly drowning in unknown sauces. The beignet-​like dessert came with a duo of dipping sauces was hot and satisfying, but probably not something I would order again.
Overall, a place I would wholeheartedly recommend to a friend, and a prime candidate for my next happy hour or lunch date.

A really nice little bar, and I definitely need to come back for the restaurant. When I arrived her, the restaurant was already closed, and so we had to settle on bar food. But the bar food included a huge burger (which was good… I stole a bite) and Raclette. The Raclette was good, although a little salty. The waiter was nice, helpful, but not overbearing.
All in all, I liked this place and definitely think that I need to come back for some «real» food.

Midi is a decent place for a quick busines lunch and not really a good place to take your sister who is visiting from out of town. I went here with my sister on Thursday afternoon. I ordered the Midi Quartet and my sister got the Grass Fed Burger with caramelized onions and guyere cheese. The Midi Quartet came with Asparagus Cream Soup, Apricot Walnut Salad, Pancetta and Brie Sandwich and a Strawberry and Vanilla Mousse Cake. The presentation was very good… if only the food tasted as good as it looked. I would have to say the soup was the best part of the quartet. I should have passed on the quartet and just got one of their sandwiches.
For the value the place isn’t great. The two of us spent $ 55 total for lunch which included a glass of Pinot Noir. The experience was good but there are tons of other places I want to try before I go back to Midi.

I tried this place for lunch yesterday with some colleagues… great to have a new place near our building at 555 California.
Positives:
— Very quick and attentive service.
— Reasonably priced for the neighborhood.
— I had the burrata & shaved vegetable open-​faced sandwich, which was tasty — the cheese quality was top-​notch.
— French fries to die for.
— Clean, modern atmosphere — the bar looked like it would make a great happy hour spot.
Negatives:
— Too few vegetarian choices. There was only one entrée selection and one sandwich selection, and the entrée was basically a variant of the typically unimaginative pasta primavera — which they were almost out of!
I’ll be back, although of course not as often as if there were more veg options to pick from.

E, L and I joined Monica for lunch at Midi on Friday. I originally thought it was going to be a long trek from the office, but seeing how we were efficient and fast walkers, we made it there in under 15 minutes.
We arrived at Midi before our reservations, but were promptly escorted from the downstairs bar area to the upstairs dining area. The restaurant is very chic and modern, which made me feel slightly out of place with my Giants jacket. But never fear, once I took it off, we were on our way!
We all started with the Fuzzy Bunny — an extremely refreshing, sparkly and tangy non-​alcoholic beverage.
Then, onto the entrees:
Steak — cooked medium rare, over a side of watercress and radish.
Tartine — with burrata and veggies.
Chicken — one of their most popular items on the menu.
Salmon — one of their newest additions to the menu.
The portion sizes were perfect for lunch, and it leaves us with room for dessert.
Semolina —
And…the best thing of all, the chocolate pot de crème. So good I finished mine, and Monica’s. Yes, the inner fatty prevails.
They are also open for happy hour, which we’ll be sure to return and check out. They have a drink called the 209 Jenny! Holler.
I didn’t use the restroom, but apparently it’s a long trek. Be warned.

Maybe it was the remainders of the Giants opening day buzz, or the unexpected sunny afternoon amid a sea of forecasts of rain for the day, or maybe it was the warm glow from the Manhattan I sampled here in the late afternoon. Whatever it was, I enjoyed my dinner at Midi.
It was a fairly long day with Opening day festivities, walking around the city taking pictures of interesting people while my wife had her hair done (after the game). So I stopped in here after picking up a few bottles at John Walkers next door for a libation.
Since they carry R (i)1 Rye whiskey, I went for an old school Rye Manhattan. It was very nicely made. Looking around (and at the menu) I definitely made a note to come back for dinner at a later date.
Turns out that the later date was to be 2 hours later when we decided to have a bite before going home. So after a quick call to the kids to tell them to heat up the leftovers for themselves, a semi legal uturn, and a lucky find of a great parking spot, we grabbed a table in the downstairs bar area.
We had the roasted beet salad and the warm seafood & fried baby artichoke salad. Then we split fines herbes pappardelle. Not a single speck was left on any of the plates. Very well prepared. The service was friendly, efficient, but not overbearing in any way. And I like the sleek décor with the view of the kitchen area through the glass.
My only complaint is that the bread served upon request is a standard dinner roll. I was expecting something more interesting and flavorful. Oh well, maybe they will read this and fix the only flaw we had in the experience here.
And another plus is the coupon I picked up at John Walkers earlier that day for (I think) 25% off the food. In today’s economy, I’ll save $ 12 if I can. Remember though, if you use a coupon, make sure you tip your server based on the pre-​coupon amount.

Midi is going to fit nicely into my business lunch circuit. They’ve done a complete revamp of the space (hard to believe Perry’s was here before!), and it’s a sleek one at that. Only trouble is getting to the bathroom, which is in the adjoining hotel.
You enter at the ground floor bar area, and the dining room is upstairs. I had lunch the other day, and had some choice seating by the window, a perfect vantage for watching Fi-​Di button-​downers and midday shoppers passing below.
The easy (and most fun) way to try out Midi is with their quartet, a serving of four small plates — soup, salad, savory and sweet — that can be eaten in order or mixed together, well not counting the dessert plate I suppose. It’s a cool way to go big without necessarily spending a fortune, and the items do change so regulars benefit from repeated visits.
I“m also envisioning Midi as a nice place to grab an after-​work drink. The cocktail menu is spot on, and they carry Pliny the Elder, one of my new favorite beers. Order up some bar snacks (truffle and sea salt popcorn, baked cheese with toast crisps, etc.), and you’re set for a for-​midi-​ble good time!