Don't let my long list of cons intimidate you...see why
Written: Aug 04 '01 (Updated Aug 10 '01)
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Pros: Delicious food, big portions, very popular, ultra-vast service, fair priced
Cons: Dingy environment, extra cost for more rice, dirty bathroom, long wait, makes clothes smell afterward
The Bottom Line: Just take my word for it and give it a try! :)
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| Chewy's Full Review: Brother's Restaurant |
Here I go with yet another restaurant review :)
Brother's Restaurant
4128 Geary Boulevard
San Francisco, CA 94118
415-387-7991
What is the fascination with cooking your own food? Is it the idea of being your own cook; knowing that you're preparing the food the way you like? Or do you not trust the cooks; sometimes cooking for too long or too short? Or is it just so you know the food will be hot and fresh when you take your first bite? Whatever the reason, any restaurant that revolves around this theme always seems to be a winner. There are the classic hot pot establishments where dipping food into a vat of oil is their forte. Then there's fondue, where melted cheese and chocolate prove to be a succulent combination. Each one provides a unique style of cooking and taste; and Brother's Restaurant is no different.
Barbeque. Good ole' fashioned, charcoal-grilled seasoned meat. As you no doubt have guessed, this is the main attraction at Brothers? Instead of using that classic huge 80s grill with wheels, however, you (not the chef) get to cook your meat and vegetables on a miniature grill fitted to the center of the table with glowing red charcoals underneath. Just simply add meat to the grill, flip when necessary, cook to your liking, and eat! It's that simple.
The genuine adaptation of the grill to the table is unfortunately the trendiest aspect of Brothers'. To be honest, I was expecting a semi-classy place; one with elegant tiling, stylish furniture, and sparkling silverware. As soon as I put my foot through the door, I found myself looking at a vacated, rundown area that could barely pass the Department of Health regulations. It's a small, one level restaurant furnished by about 15 barbeque tables, and five normal tables. The only ventilation provided was by the front door, and only when it was ajar. At the back of the restaurant was the kitchen, smelly and disgusting as with most small restaurants. And finally, in between the kitchen and the dining area was the dirty bathroom; the dirty UNISEX bathroom. Just pray that the women don't form a line if you need to go badly :)
Despite its shabby appearance, Brothers' is a cut above the rest in terms of taste and service - as long as you can get in. If you're looking for dinner, make reservations or plan to arrive before 5:30pm because the place is packed and the waiting list is long at that time. In some cases, you'll have to wait outside the restaurant because the foyer is full with parties ahead of you. If you're "lucky" enough to be waiting inside, however, you won't be sitting in a comfortable chair or even have soothing classical music to listen to. You'll even be teased with the sensuous aroma that fills the room. But as soon as your name is called, your slave-like wait turns into a royal banquet.
First off, try not to get seated at one of the two tables that are closest to the door. While you're eating, it's really unnerving to see a whole group of people one foot away giving you the "hurry up and eat so we can take your table" look. Yet again, you can return the favor with the "Ha! I'm eating and you're not!" look :) Within a minute of sitting down, you'll be served a bowl of rice and about ten small appetizers, including bean sprouts, cucumbers, Kim Chee, and something that smells like $hit - no joke! :) For those of you who have small appetites, this could probably satisfy your hunger, but I highly recommend saving room for the meat; otherwise, your Brothers' experience would not be a true Brothers' experience. As you're trying to figure out what animal the "$hitty" appetizer came from, the meat is served and you'll finally realize why you chose to eat at Brothers' in the first place. It is the tastiest meat I've ever had outside my mom's cooking :) Everything is seasoned and prepared perfectly and almost impossible to ruin by overcooking.
For advice, I recommend ordering fewer dishes than number of people in your party. I ordered two dishes for my brother, sister, and myself and we barely finished it off. I definitely suggest trying the beef and pork, but my sister was not fond of their shrimp on her previous visit. If you're like me, you'll want a lot of rice to go with your meat, but each extra bowl comes at an extra cost. The good news, though, is that even with the added cost for rice, the overall price for dinner is reasonable (around $15 - tip included).
I'm pretty sure Brothers' is not a national chain, but judging by its popularity and extreme taste, it should be. If any of you are planning to venture into San Francisco, try to make some time to visit this solid establishment. Just remember to bring a "kiss the chef" apron :)
Good luck.
Update: Sorry for those of you who read this opinion w/ all the weird characters. I copied/pasted from Word 2000 and didn't realize that it doesn't recognize apostrophes and other "odd" characters.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Best Suited For: Trendy Crowd
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Epinions.com ID:
Chewy
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Member: Andrew
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
I did it for money.
I did it to help.
I just do it.
Epinions.
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