Lot 7

I came here for Valentine’s Day dinner and I was really impressed!
We lucked out with traffic and parking and arrived about half an hour before our reservation. The hostess did her best for us and we got seated a little ahead of schedule. In the meantime we had a pretty tasty glass of cava at their bar. I loved the bar stools! They are wooden and really solid, but the seats swivel! There’s also a decent place to put your feet on the stool (one of my biggest pet peeves with bar stools all over).
They had a limited menu for Valentine’s Day, but it was still a good selection. We ordered four appetizers and their hanger steak. Unfortunately, few of these items seem to be on their regular menu, so the next part of the review is probably more anecdotal than useful.
In any event, the sweet potatoes with goat cheese for sure was our absolute favourite out of everything we ordered. Not too sweet, and just the right proportions of cheese and potatoes. We also had an excellent squid dish, and «herb-​infused mac and cheese» (which I didn’t find very herb-​y). We also got clam chowder, which was not as flavourful as I’d have hoped, but still pretty good. The steak was cooked properly, and was served with bok choy and tasty polenta.
Oddly enough, their draught beers had both run out by the time we got to our table (~9 pm), but we had bottled cider instead which was really good. In general I was pleased with their selection of drinks, and if I hadn’t been driving I would have liked to try some others of them.
We were too full to even contemplate dessert! But I bet that would have been pretty delicious, also!
The ambiance of this place was really great for Valentine’s Day, I thought. The lighting was perfect, and there was lots of white noise without anything being too loud. The service was excellent, and all the staff were friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable.
I noticed they had one long table that could seat maybe 10 people, so if you have a group of that size this place might be ideal for you if you want to find somewhere tasty in the Mission.
If you’re driving here at peak times, consider parking in the very reasonably priced Mission/​Bartlett garage on 21^st street, which is less than a block away.
Overall, a really great experience! I’ll almost certainly be coming back here to check out their regular menu.

10.05.12 || bookmarked 07.08.12
Had a quiet birthday dinner for two, starting with two glasses of prosecco and ending with a carafe of red.
We shared the uni crème brûlée (
), although I really wish I could have had this to myself. Or two. It is SO good.
The birthday boy had the black cod while I had the papardelle. I’m a sucker for fresh pasta, and this one did not disappoint.
A positive experience overall. All these new places on Valencia makes me wish I still lived in the Mission…
Total damage for two: $ 115

We were famished after aimlessly walking around the Mission. Neither of us made any gesture toward a particular establishment or had any specific food preference. We were so apathetic that it had begun to cloud our judgement. We had walked into another establishment only to learn that it was cash only, and we were only strapped with a ten spot.
Screw that.
We stumbled into Lot 7 in our haze and were pretty glad we did. I immediately ordered a cup of coffee to bowl me over until my eggs, shrimp, and grits arrived. After a few sips, I started feeling a bit more like myself. My date gave me the look that said «read that sign.» I looked over and saw those magical words: bottomless mimosas.
We were done for. Forget the coffee, I’m not wasting my dehydration on caffeine, there’s booze to be had; any not just any booze, BREAKFAST BOOZE (it’s different, trust me).
The mimosas were pretty tasty (not watered down, not 75% orange juice; just solid drinks), and the meal was satisfactory (really, nothing amazing. Just… good). (
)
I’m just glad we found this place before we gave up and walked into a McDonald’s.
Mmm, French fries…

It’s fine. Nothing memorable. Grilled squid was underseasoned. Service was good but the place wasn’t crowded.
I’d go again if I was walking by, if there was no wait, and if I had had trouble getting into the other new places in the hood.

Nice spot for seafood in the mission — a cuisine you don’t see much of in this neighborhood. The atmosphere is cozy & romantic. Glad Bloomspot gave me an excuse to come. An ABSOLUTE MUST-​HAVE on the menu is the uni crème brûlée! Damn that was freaking amazing… everything else was good to great, but this one is a specific dish I’d definitely come back for.
* Uni crème brûlée — 5 stars!
(bragg uni /​yuzu tobiko /​salmon roe /​paddlefish caviar)
No idea how they got this wonderfully whipped, soft, and light texture and made it taste so heavenly with sea urchin. I was already a fan of sea urchin, but I had no idea it could be so delicious spread on a slice of bread! The caviar added the perfect amount of texture with that tiny bit of crunch. We wanted it to last longer and even asked for extra bread to eat with the last bit of the uni, which they kindly gave us!
* Dungeness crab mac ‘n cheese $ 14 — 3.5 stars
A good mac n cheese — the pasta shells were cooked through and soft but still had a good bite. I didn’t think this was too extraordinary when I ate my half and was wondering why the crab flavor was so weak, but I later realized that the crab meat was all in one place in the center of the dish! The crab was fresh & had good texture — I just wish it was more shredded and mixed throughout the mac n cheese.
* Scallops (special for 2012-​10-​04) — 4 stars
A nice dish! The scallops were done just right, slightly rare in the middle, and the fennel (I believe) and mandarin slices were a nice touch of flavor.
* Rare grilled ahi tuna — 4 stars
(w/​roasted artichoke and potatoes /​meyer lemon emulsion/​pickled garlic. $ 19)
Another well done dish, but I’m just not a big fan of artichoke. The cauliflower was a bit lackluster as well. Otherwise the tuna was perfectly pink in the middle, fresh, and soft.
* Chocolate mousse dessert — 3 stars
This was nice, and the cookie quite buttery & delicious, but I just prefer heavier (and colder! I was expecting more of an ice cream) desserts. You’ll like this if you like lighter chocolate desserts.

I came back to Lot 7 a couple more times and found that the menu had changed significantly. One thing that stood out was that there were only 2 – 3 entrée options to choose from per night, which seemed slightly limiting. (The menu on the website is not up-​to-​date.) None of the entrees appealed to us on either visit, so we filled up on appetizers. Almost everything we got was solid.
* Oyster (Kumamotos, Shigokus, Kusshis, Fanny Bays) — $ 3 each
All the salads were refreshing and showcased great ingredient combinations.
* Cucumber salad with feta, tomatoes, olives — (forgot price)
* Smoked trout salad with mache and potatoes — $ 14
* Maine lobster couscous tabbouleh — $ 16
* Cod fish + chips with gribiche sauce — $ 14
The cod and the fries were perfectly moist.
* Steamed mussels with curry, cream, lime, cilantro — (forgot price)
Also tasty. Not dried out like steamed mussels often are. I was a fan of the curry cream sauce.
* Deviled eggs with bocquerones — $ 7
Three halves with pickled onions and bocquerones. Didn’t really stand out, as far as deviled eggs at restaurants go (Park Tavern!!), but tasted just fine.
* Artichoke fries with saffron bread sauce — $ 9
Slightly rough on the mouth, as artichokes often are, but lovely flavor.
* Smoked salmon terrine, with bread and arugula salad — $ 10
Less salmon flavor than I expected. I’m not sure if there was any salmon in the terrine itself, which tasted a bit gamey, but there was salmon wrapped around it.
Service was great both times. I’m still a fan of the ambience at Lot 7 too, with its nautical theme and warm dim lighting.

(3.5 stars, really)
First of all, THANK YOU for not having a tv in your restaurant. For those of you looking for a place to watch a goddamn game, go to a fucking sports bar. Seriously. What the hell is wrong with you — does Lot 7 *look* like a sports bar? No? I didn’t think so.
Second, thank you for showing old Bond movies from your projector. Fabulous.
We wandered into this place after walking around the mission trying to find a place for dinner.
Heirloom tomatoes and burrata!
Shrimp cocktail!
Dungeness crab mac n cheese!
Papardelle with yummy veggies!
Prosecco! Wine!
Our dishes were quite good, my favourite being the tomatoes and burrata.
Our service, while lovely, was a wee on the slow side and unfortunately, did not know enough about big California wines… even though we’re in California…
The space itself is cute and there’s great people watching.
Not bad for a Saturday nite random pick!

The first time I visited Lot 7 was to use a Bloomspot credit. It was no trouble finding a seat for 2 at the bar (although they pretended they would have trouble seating us when the bar was half empty…), and the food was pretty good, albeit expensive and small in portion.
I returned for happy hour because they have $ 3 beer on tap, $ 5 duvels /​wines on tap, $ 1 oysters and other discounted small plates. Strictly speaking happy hour, it’s a pretty good value; the oysters are one of the better ones I’ve had, creamy small and tasty.
However, the service was atrocious in all ways. The hostess looked like I was bothering her when I walked in. When I asked her what beers they had for on tap for happy hour she obnoxiously retorted, «DUVEL.» Clearly she was irritated with the question because she pointed it out on the menu like I couldn’t read. So I repeated my question, equally slowly and obnoxiously with an emphasis on «ON TAP.» The entire meal going forward was pretty much the same — the waiter gave me attitude when I asked for a taste of the wine on tap. the bus boy dropped a piece of bread on the table before setting it down, and without an apology, put the piece of bread right back into the basket of clean bread!
Everyone here seems very angry, and it was early in the day.
Usually, service plays a small part in my patronage of restaurants, but I doubt I will be returning to such an angry establishment when there are plenty of other happy hour options nearby. I kinda wonder what kind of health standards they abide by when customers aren’t looking.

A solid Mission dining experience. We walked in randomly because the restaurant we wanted to try was so slammed that expected at least a 2 hour wait. Around 8:30 when we walked it was about ¾ full, and it filled up soon after.
We shared:
— Octopus Salad
— Mac and Cheese
— Tuna tartare
The M&C was good and the tartare was above average. My dining companions complained the octopus was overcooked, but my main issue was that there just wasn’t a lot of it.
For mains we shared the steak which was perfectly cooked medium rare and the onion rings were also tasty. We go a beet salad to accompany it. Dessert was chocolate mousse which actually had some of the best texture Ive ever had for mousse. The waiter was pretty friendly and very accommodating when my friend wanted to try a wine or two before deciding on one.

Probably a 4.5 of 5. A wonderful eating experience. Very quaint… Hipster décor. Love the kitchen being in the main room. It did get a bit hot at times but it wasn’t too bad. We had a great table in the back corner.
Food was great! We had the grilled squid app, the lobster bisque (to die for), and the lobster Mac and cheese special. Amazingly fresh. Great amount of lobster in the Mac and bisque.
Fun location, in the heart of a very trendy street.
Prices are pretty moderate.
Con: The service was pretty low. Water wasn’t refilled often… Our waiter wasn’t very personable, and between our table and the others, the waiters didn’t seem to know where anything was supposed to go. They tried to deliver our food to others a couple times and tried to give us other food a few times. This happened with others drinks too.

The seafood chowder was awfully salty. It didn’t come with bread or anything else to make it more palatable.
My mushroom pasta was sour and mushy. It tasted like leftovers gone bad. I gave most of it away to my hubby.
He did like his steak and potatoes. However, he received only three small pieces of meat and his food was room temperature.
Note that both of our entrees have increased in price by five dollars each from the Aug. 9 menu that I printed out. My mushroom pasta was 11 dollars on Aug. 9 and it was 16 dollars today (only 20 days later). For these prices, the food was extremely over-​priced.
Service was really slow. It took more than half an hour to get our main dishes even though there was only one other diner there who looked like she was friends with the bartender. He kept her entertained.
The staff is nice but the food is just sub par and overly priced. I didn’t have a problem with portion size. It was mainly the flavors either being overly aggressive or lacking in personality completely. A miss and hit. Unfortunately, more misses than hits.

Lot 7 receives 3.5 STARS
*Who doesn’t like to wine and dine?
*Located off Valencia/​Mission area
*Open space bar, but not many tables. Simple, sleek restaurant.
*Lot 7 offers Shellfish, Crudo, and International flavor to the neighborhood. The focus is on freshness, with limited-​run ingredients (caught day of) transformed with techniques from Louisiana to Egypt.
As you know, I like celebrating bday/​special occasion dinners with many friends and in result we love to order the whole menu LOL ** NOTE: order the starters!
My faves:
Oysters ½ dz 15 | dz 28
Tomalas Miyagi’s (CA) /​Blondes (CA)/ Hood Canal (WA)
Crudo
Yellowtail hamachi, black garlic, meyer lemon, avocado, chili oil
Uni crème brûlée-​Ft. bragg uni /​yuzu tobiko /​salmon roe /​paddlefish caviar
Ahi Tuna Tartare w/​ginger /​toasted sesame /​sweet chili sauce
Mussels w/​kale /​ancho /​fennel
Dungeness crab mac ‘n cheese
Blood orange marinated beets w/​walnut and goat cheese fritters /​wild arugula
Decent:
Cheese
humboldt fog /​lamb chopper /​point reyes bleu /​pepato /​crottin /​purple haze /​schlosskranz /​camembert /​quince
Batter fried rock cod and chips w/​gribiche sauce
Seafood Chowder w/​clams /​crab /​rock cod
Baked oysters w/​rockefeller
Desert: Bread pudding
Happy hour is your best bet, if you don’t want to pay $$$
HH-​Tues-​Fri 5p-​7p

3.5
Parking sucks (as usual), happy hour is okay.
I wouldn’t necessarily make this a destination spot unless you love uni.
I had pretty high expectations and they were definitely kicked down a notch or two.
We arrived before our friends so we started ordering tons of oysters. I forgot what they were but they were just «a-​ok.» They were only $ 1 each so whatever.
We ordered a ton of food but I didn’t try everything. What I did try was:
Fish & chips — the batter was surprisingly stellar. extra crispy but not overly battered where you barely got any fish. avoided the fries though
crab & artichoke dip — copious amounts of crab in this! LOVE. they definitely didn’t skimp.
salmon crudo — pass. wasn’t impressive. salmon was cut a little too thick for my liking and barely had flavor.
favorite of the night:
UNI CREME BRULEE. (Uni Crème Brûlée w/​Ft. Bragg Uni, Yuzu Tobiko, Salmon Roe, Paddlefish Caviar) $ 15
Although small, it is extremely rich and worth every penny. This was the sole reason for my visit. Smooth brulee with a crisp top and sweet nutty uni while bursts of salty roe and caviar married into the yuzu tobiko finish off with a sweet note. I was struggling to finish this since it was rich and they do give you bread to accompany it with. (I had already eaten a ton of bread with the crab & artichoke dip, shame on me)
We also ordered something else, but never received it and had to have it taken off our bill.
Service was spotty here and there. They’re still new so I’ll give it a little while before I return back for more uni crème brûlée.

3.5 STARS
Wanna know my favorite diet?
THE SEAFOOD DIET!
It’s simple, all the food you «sea»…you eat. Sh*t, no wonder I have a triple muffin top…
Coined as «The Bar Crudo of The Mission», I didn’t have high expectations for Lot 7 because I’m not a fan of Bar ‘Crude’ (my review:
). Also seeing a Bloomspot deal for Lot 7 (I didn’t purchase) after I made reservations for my friends and I, lowered my expectations even more. I understand we’re in tough economic times and its a marketing tool but most solid restaurants don’t need to offer deals to attract customers in my opinion.
Lot 7 was a tad better than I expected. Just a tad. However, everything was a hit OR a miss. Stick with the appetizers as the entrees didn’t sound appealing and the one that we did order was poorly executed.
The best time to come to Lot 7 is during HAPPY HOUR (Tuesday-​Friday 5pm-​7PM) to take advantage of the deals.
Even then, our bill was $ 62/​person (including HH wine, tax, and tip) for a group of six which wasn’t so «happy» after all.
H I T S
*Uni Crème Brûlée w/​Ft. Bragg Uni, Yuzu Tobiko, Salmon Roe, Paddlefish Caviar ($ 15)
The sole reason for our visit, the Uni Crème Brulee did not disappoint. The velvety brulee was rich in in sweet oceany nuances and the additional fresh uni gave that extra indulgent layer while the tobiko, roe, and cavier trio gave a burst of crisp saltiness.
*Crab & Artichoke Dip (HH Special — $ 7)
Decadently creamy, the dip was chockfull of crab with very little artichoke which was pleasantly surprising. I wish the bread was toasted though.
*Fish & Chips ($ 7 HH Special, Regularly $ 14)
Lightly battered and fried to a honey golden brown, the cod had a delicate crunchy exterior with a flakey soft interior. A squeeze of lemon gave a lovely pop of citrus. I didn’t try the chips.
M E D I O C RE
*$ 1 HH Oysters (4 Dozen)
They were small and lackluster. You get what you pay for which was true in this case.
*Baked Oysters (HH Special — $ 7, Regularly $ 14)
The baked oysters were just as mediocre; the breadcrumbs needed more seasoning and herbs.
M I S S E S
*Spicy Thai Chicken Wings (HH Special — $ 7)
Tasted like Foster Farms Chicken Honey BBQ Wings from my freezer with sambal chili sauce thrown on top.
*Pan Seared Halibut w/​Crab, Spinach Risotto, Winter Citrus, Shellfish Reduction ($ 21): Sorry, I could’ve reach across the table to take a pic but the halibut was overcooked, dry, and overly salty.
*Yellowtail Hamachi w/​Black Garlic, Meyer Lemon, Avocado, Chili Oil ($ 14)
My friend ate one and said it was inedibley salty. No one dared to touch the rest (two orders) but the hamachi garbage disposal himself.
*Local King Salmon w/​Peaches, Micro Red Mustard, Hazelnuts, Burnt Orange Olive Oil ($ 12)
Although the salmon was fresh, it was thirsting for more orange olive oil and red mustard to brighten up the monotone flavored dish.
S E R V I C E
Friendly and knowledgeable, one of the staff members went through the entire menu with us and made some recommendations. Service was attentive in the beginning when it was pretty dead then tapered off when it got busier.
A M B I A N C E /​D E C O R
Contemporary yet rustic, Lot 7 has a lot of 1920s memorabilia
along with country tables and furnishings, communal tables and an open kitchen.
There’s seating for about 40 people in the dining room with bar seating and counter seating at the open kitchen. It can get pretty loud inside so it’s not a good date place.
P A R K I N G
Street parking. Nearest garage is one block away on 21^st/​Mission.
Diets suck. And that’s WHY spanx where invented ladies and gentlemen. Yes, they even have it for men…

Just adding to the love I already have for Lot 7…
We tried the new grilled octopus appetizer. Oh man, it was deliciously tender, and perfectly seasoned. Radicchio, a little bit of pesto, garlic, marbled potatoes and some of the best tasting octopus you can get in the city.
To complete the meal we ordered
— the half carafe of house red wine off the Happy Hour menu. ($ 7– great deal)
— Yellowtail Himachi — I don’t think I could go to Lot 7 with out ordering this, the avocado, and jalapeño really compliment the fish, and it’s got a nice salty bite to it.
— Seared Ahi Tuna — Always a melt in your mouth treat
AND always remember to save room for dessert!
— Bread pudding! Moist, sweet and just the right amount of crunch.
Yummy!

I can’t believe this place has been open for 3 months and I’ve just now noticed it. Happened to be walking by while looking for a place to grab brunch with a friend, and we decided to check out the menu. hello — bottomless mimosas? Instantly sold.
I ordered the crab cake and egg dish, and my friend had the crab benedict. She definitely won. My dish was okay; the crab cake was a bit on the smaller size though it was tasty. I think she got more bang for her buck. The mimosas, however, were truly bottomless. Every time I looked over, our glasses were full again. Like magic. And maybe it’s because I’m a bit of a lightweight, but I was definitely buzzed afterwards.
We originally were going to sit inside (as my albino-​like skin doesn’t take well to exposure sans sunscreen), however once we sat down we noticed how loud it was — mainly due to music — so we opted to sit outdoors instead. This made for some fab people watching down Valencia. And yes, I got a bit of a sunburn. But the servers were knowledgeable and friendly and attentive, and this to me can make or break a restaurant. So go get your mimosas! You won’t regret it.

Lot 7 was decent. Can’t say it was amazing, or less than 3 stars but it was decent. The service was friendly and the waiter that served us was knowledgeable and attentive. I could’ve used a bit more water at the table but then again I was drinking like a fish so I can’t complain if he couldn’t keep up. the décor was simple and quiet. It was dimly lit and the ambiance was trendy with the clientele visiting at surrounding tables.
The food was good, but I’ve almost already forgotten about it, which is never a good sign when it’s only been a few days since your last visit. We started out with the salad of butternut squash, buratta, and market greens. The whole dish felt like a plate from costco. My colleagues disagreed but it was passable. I’m a big fan of buratta and I just felt as if the squash was flavorless, the market greens did not taste of truffle balsamic vinaigrette as promised, and the cheese wasn’t supported. With that being said, the Dungeness Crab mac ‘n cheese was superb and corrected the bad taste in my mouth from the beginning.
The foraged mushroom tagliatelle was probably the highlight of the night with great earthy flavors. The grilled Wagyu flap steak was flavorful and cooked perfectly through at a chef’s recommended MR. And the pan-​seared Halibut was a bit too solid. Felt as if the fish had been overcooked. Although there were no bitter tastes in our mouths there were no lingering flavors either. Once our meal was done we had already moved on.
Give us something memorable Lot 7.

(See pics) Review #1133. More of 4.3 stars. Mainly seafood but understandably also carry a couple meat and vegetarian dishes for friends who prefer otherwise.
Coming to Lot 7 was like watching a movie without reading a synopsis since apart from the chef’s blog, there’s no where to find a menu online. They are still working on the website. So I am posting the current menu here but note that it’s changing.
Crudo is a must try. They just put this on the menu about a week ago (3÷2÷12) and has been running out since then. It’s definitely the most impressive dish– buttery yellowtail hamachi was tender and black olive oil with aioli was perfect complement but the secret excellency was the little slice of jalapeño on top that just brought a very nice kick that gave the finish a high note. The bottom was with small micro bites of avocado that gave a nice touch.
The seafood chowder with nice bites of clams and rock cod and was less thick than the traditional New England ones. While it’s creamy, it’s on the saltier side.
The pan seared halibut was very tender with the nice crab chunks. The lobster shellfish reduction sauce was very nicely infused into the risotto and it was more like a lobster dish than a fish one.
The server was very friendly and knowledgeable and suggested a Patient Cottat Sauvignon Blanc which paired quite well its crisp taste for the crudo. The slightly stronger Voignier was a good pairing for the halibut. He also explained Lot 7 as that block the restaurant is on, the 7×7 SF, and 7 as many see as a lucky number. Cute!
For dessert, the poached pear was done in cubes instead of the whole and was prepared with red wine infused. It was mixed with oatmeal bites and was on the filling side with a scope of ice cream. Probably would try chocolate mousse or crème brûlée next time.
The chef came out out to greet for feedback (a big plus) and the owner was around the whole time to make sure everyone had a great time.
It’s a lovely dimming, relaxing, warm fuzzy and cozy atmosphere, a slightly less common style in this eclectic and mostly funky neighborhood. It felt like a wine bar with the wines lined up happily.

With doors opening just 2 weeks ago, this place is pretty impressive. There is a strong seafood focus, but lots of other things to satisfy veggie and meat fans.
Nice open feeling to the space, warm service.
Oysters were very fresh, but the shucker left some grit.
Chowder was fantastic, as was the Yellowtail Crudo.
A nightly special of pork shoulder over horseradish mashed potatoes was very nice, but was somehow I expected more of a pulled pork disk rather than what looked like a port roast. We polished it off in minutes, so the dish was a success.
I was very impressed with the careful seasoning of each dish, no adjustments needed.
Beer and wine only for now.

Date & Time: Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 9pm
Wait Time: Half-​Hour
Dining Companions: Mommy & Husband
Scene: Mission Dolores Couples & Small Groups. Guys in Zip-​Up Cardigans & Girls in Little Dresses, Tights & Boots or Slinky Black Tops, Skinny Jeans & Louboutins
Music: World
Décor: Urban Tavern. Dim-​Lighting + Candle-​Light, Dark Wood, Exposed Beams, Black & Whites Photographs & Open-​Kitchen
Service: Very Nice, Genuine, Professional 5 Star Service
Imbibe: Vino
Devour: For Starters: Butternut Squash Salad & Fish+Chips. Entrees: Ahi Tuna, Tagliatelle (Mushroom Pasta), Wagyu Flap Steak. For Dessert: Crème Brulee
Total: $ 88.88