Xebec

7 or maybe 6.5 hamachi crudo was the best appetizer. Eggplant ppetizer was plain. Cauliflower was great. Ceviche was solid. Salmon entree was good but a little disappointing (wild rice was a litttle hard)

Xebec is a standout spot for Mediterranean-inspired Japanese cuisine. The restaurant's design is modern and welcoming, setting the perfect space and vibe. The menu is creative and filled with delicious options that are beautifully presented. What truly sets Xebec apart is the service—the staff were friendly and attentive, and the owner was incredibly humble, personally checking in to ensure we had a great experience. It’s clear they care about their guests, which made our visit even more enjoyable. They also provide space for private parties and special occasions, making it a great choice for any event. Highly recommended for anyone looking to try something unique!

Amazing spot for drinks and apps! The hamachi and uni were incredible! Staff was so friendly and the atmosphere is great. (I loved the art from a local artist). Can’t wait to go back.

Nathalie Kardjian

It was a such an experience to have dinner last night at Xebec in San Francisco. The fusion of Mediterranean and Japanese-inspired flavors was both unique and delicious. The atmosphere was stylish and very comfortable, making it perfect for a relaxed evening out. The fresh ingredients really stood out, and the diverse menu offered something for everyone. Excellent service! I'll definitely be back!

Charlotte T

My friend and I dined at the bar last Friday night, and despite the restaurant being busy, the food and service were impeccable. We enjoyed perfectly crafted Xebec margaritas and shared the delicious patatas bravas, an insanely good kale salad with fresh tuna, and a must-try sea bass dish. The portions were generous, leaving us happily full from these shared plates. It’s a gorgeous restaurant with a beautiful private room AND parking was easy in this part of Hayes Valley, so there’s really no excuse not to give Xebec a try!

Gabriele Heilek

We tried a number of the small plates to share. Everything tasted wonderful. The Wagyu brioche was a small serving. It would be better as two little slides to share. The arancini were crispy on the outside, soft in the middle with the bitter orange sauce a great bite. Only the promised Uni was more or less absent as the tiny dollop on top got lost . Cocktails were well prepared. Service is super attentive Would go back again .

Shan Reddy

Phenomenal new spot in Hayes. Our new favorite dinner date spot! Interesting combinations of Japanese and Mediterranean flavors and ingredients - they work beautifully together. Highlights were the patatas bravas (the sauce is to die for), the focaccia (the puttanesca sauce is cooked down nearly into a paste - delicious and strong), the hamachi (high-quality fish atop a balanced sweet/sour ponzu), and the burger (delicious aioli). We’ve been twice since they opened two weeks ago and will be back very soon - go soon before reservations start to fill up. (Note - it’s also priced very reasonably relative to restaurants in the area. The burger is $19 and most entrees are in the $20-30 range - I would bet they’ll up the prices over time so head over quickly!)

Elena Huang

Edit 10/2024 The owner, Georges, is a kind individual and skilled chef. He reached out to us and apologized on behalf of the staff member who acted independently in mishandling a mistake. He invited us back for dinner and we had a lovely time, enjoying refreshing and well balanced cocktails (highly recommend Rumble on Gough and Mediterranean Haiku) and food. Highlights of the meal were the hamachi and sea bass, as well as the must try patatas bravas. For dessert, the apple tart with matcha was a surprisingly delicious flavor combination, and the chocolate mousse with meringue was silky and not too sweet. Xebec is an excellent restaurant with a unique perspective to offer on flavor and presentation. I highly recommend! Original 09/2024 What a disappointment. One of the few restaurants that I returned to, this time bringing friends for a thank you dinner. Our initial visit was extremely positive and I was so excited to return and share the night with friends. The food remained good, but the cocktails lacked the flair, flavor and uniqueness of our first visit. As a side note, the burger was a repeat entree we ordered and it was less great than the first time we dined there. They also made a mistake on the side order that a friend made, but we ignored it. Despite that, the second round of drinks we ordered didn’t arrive even 40 min after we finished our entrees. After we cancelled the second round of drinks to continue our night elsewhere, we paid our bill and left a 20% tip. While at another location, I received a highly accusatory phone call indicating that we left without paying our bill. I don’t think it helped that we were a full table of color- Asian, Mexican, Black, Middle Eastern, in a full restaurant of white people. I responded with a credit card receipt, a screenshot of my payment, and their emailed receipt as proof. They then called me and informed me that they made a mistake, giving us the receipt of a different table that had ordered similar items, and requested that we pay the difference which also happened to be the exact amount of the tip that I left. I have never been so offended by a restaurants service and handling of a mistake ever and have never left a one star review. Such a shame for such a promising new restaurant to have such awful customer service for a mistake that they made.

Parham Hakimi

Xebec is a standout spot for Mediterranean-inspired Japanese cuisine. The restaurant's design is modern and welcoming, setting the perfect space and vibe. The menu is creative and filled with delicious options that are beautifully presented. What truly sets Xebec apart is the service—the staff were friendly and attentive, and the owner was incredibly humble, personally checking in to ensure we had a great experience. It’s clear they care about their guests, which made our visit even more enjoyable. They also provide space for private parties and special occasions, making it a great choice for any event. Highly recommended for anyone looking to try something unique!

Brittany Sanders

We got in at the bar without a reservation. The bar tender was so friendly and the hostess was also quite attentive. The drinks were amazing and I'll be dreaming about that wagyu bruschetta for a very long time.

Karan Singhal

7 or maybe 6.5 hamachi crudo was the best appetizer. Eggplant ppetizer was plain. Cauliflower was great. Ceviche was solid. Salmon entree was good but a little disappointing (wild rice was a litttle hard)

Justin Simon

Amazing spot for drinks and apps! The hamachi and uni were incredible! Staff was so friendly and the atmosphere is great. (I loved the art from a local artist). Can’t wait to go back.

Lisa N

Dined here with my girlfriend last Wednesday for her birthday and everything was SO good! All the dishes exceeded my expectations - everything was incredibly fresh and prepared with care. You could taste the quality and the dishes were flavorful, cooked perfectly and unique. My favorite was the ceviche with handmade crackers which was super fresh and bright. All the ingredients are prepared separately and only put together to order. The uni risotto with peach sauce was perfectly complimentary and the cauliflower with harissa was perfectly balanced. The homemade apple tart was not overly sweet and was also so good! The chef who I believe is the owner came out to talk to all the tables several times and even got us a round of drinks to thank us for coming when he found out it was my friend’s birthday. Not to mention the drinks are delicious!! I was also pleasantly surprised at the prices here compared to other places in the city. It is a great addition to Hayes and truly a gem for the quality. Can’t wait to go back! Service - 5/5 Ambiance - 5/5 Food - 5/5

Amy Higgins

Delicious! We ordered a bunch of starters and split a main dish. That way we could try a bunch. Everything was fresh and had a mix of flavors. They have a small wine menu. However, I love their creative craft cocktails! The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive- which is a nice change of pace. 😀 My only nitpicky thing is that the bathrooms are small. There’s no place to place your purse or hang up your jacket. But if that’s my only complaint, I’d call the place a win!

iyad

This restaurant on Gough Street in San Francisco is a culinary playground where Mediterranean warmth meets Japanese elegance. Recommended by a friend, my first visit was so impressive that I’m already planning my return. From the moment we walked in, we were treated like royalty, with impeccable service that made every part of the experience unforgettable. The spotlessly clean restaurant and meticulous attention to detail were evident in everything from the decor to the food. The menu skillfully marries Japanese and Mediterranean flavors with both elegance and boldness. Each dish was a unique fusion, pushing the boundaries of both cuisines in taste and presentation. The decor managed to strike a perfect balance between cozy charm and Michelin-star sophistication. What truly stood out was the genuine warmth of the owners, who clearly pour their hearts into crafting a memorable culinary experience. I’m spreading the word about this gem and can’t wait to return for more.

Leonard Suguitan (Len)

Chose this place to celebrate our wedding anniversary, and it was a great choice. The atmosphere was cozy, and it had a positive vibe. Our server was attentive. The staff refilled our water several times without us having to ask. The food was plated well, and the prices were very reasonable. We ordered the potatoes, sushito peppers, hamachi sashimi, Chilean sea bass, and the papardelle pasta. The flowers gin cocktail was tasty. They gave us a hand signed anniversay card & ice cream! That was a nice surprise! We'd visit this restaurant again to try other appetizers and entrees. I'd recommend going to this restaurant. Thank you Xebec.

Loved that the menu is so different from your typical Spanish restaurant menu. We loved every single dish we ordered! But the fattoush stood out the most- it's different, tasty and you feel good eating it. Service was friendly and the restaurant is nicely decorated.

One of the best meals I've had in the city! The ceviche and grilled octopus were outstanding, and the halibut and pasta dishes we got as entrees were also absolutely delicious! The cocktails were also pretty good. The ambience is perfect for a date night or an intimate dinner with friends. Very friendly staff round out a fantastic experience!

Angshuman Kar

One of the best meals I've had in the city! The ceviche and grilled octopus were outstanding, and the halibut and pasta dishes we got as entrees were also absolutely delicious! The cocktails were also pretty good. The ambience is perfect for a date night or an intimate dinner with friends. Very friendly staff round out a fantastic experience!

Lauren Hathaway

The cocktails and staff were absolutely amazing! The food was delicious. We had a large group of 9 and shared all of the apps and mains. I would recommend this restaurant!

Xebec came highly recommended, but my experience didn’t live up to the hype. For a 7pm reservation, they were already out of oysters, which was the first red flag. We pivoted to a selection of appetizers and shared plates since none of the entrées looked particularly appealing. The Wagyu Bruschetta was underwhelming—while it’s supposed to highlight high-end ingredients, the beef was sliced so thinly it was nearly flavorless, and the supplement overpowered what little Wagyu was there. The Uni Risotto didn’t deliver either—I couldn’t detect any uni flavor at all. The hand roll tasted like a plain veggie roll, with no trace of seafood. The octopus lacked any flavors or texture that would make it stand out, and the ceviche was a low point: stale rice crackers and indistinguishable seafood that made it hard to even tell what I was eating. The only dish that landed was the sashimi, which was decent, though nothing exceptional. My advice? Don’t take “Japanese-Mexican-Mediterranean fusion” too literally. Japanese cuisine shines in its clarity and restraint, allowing quality ingredients to speak for themselves. At Xebec, competing flavors and overly fussy concepts ended up drowning out what should have been the stars of the plate. Service was good.

Grabbed some appetizers before concert. Food was decent, combination of Latin American and Japanese. Definitely interesting to try. Seafood was very fresh. Presentation definitely elegant and pleasant. Be aware that the entrance looks like a hotel. Easy to miss. The service was attentive but when I finished meal and plan to pay cash, I was told there is no change available. Very strange for a restaurant located in a decent neighborhood.

Went with my husband and friend. The dishes were really flavorful, loved the raviolis and tuna crudo.

Anderson Angkeyile (Flying Sailor)

Xebec came highly recommended, but my experience didn’t live up to the hype. For a 7pm reservation, they were already out of oysters, which was the first red flag. We pivoted to a selection of appetizers and shared plates since none of the entrées looked particularly appealing. The Wagyu Bruschetta was underwhelming—while it’s supposed to highlight high-end ingredients, the beef was sliced so thinly it was nearly flavorless, and the supplement overpowered what little Wagyu was there. The Uni Risotto didn’t deliver either—I couldn’t detect any uni flavor at all. The hand roll tasted like a plain veggie roll, with no trace of seafood. The octopus lacked any flavors or texture that would make it stand out, and the ceviche was a low point: stale rice crackers and indistinguishable seafood that made it hard to even tell what I was eating. The only dish that landed was the sashimi, which was decent, though nothing exceptional. My advice? Don’t take “Japanese-Mexican-Mediterranean fusion” too literally. Japanese cuisine shines in its clarity and restraint, allowing quality ingredients to speak for themselves. At Xebec, competing flavors and overly fussy concepts ended up drowning out what should have been the stars of the plate. Service was good.

Jenn Jiang

Grabbed some appetizers before concert. Food was decent, combination of Latin American and Japanese. Definitely interesting to try. Seafood was very fresh. Presentation definitely elegant and pleasant. Be aware that the entrance looks like a hotel. Easy to miss. The service was attentive but when I finished meal and plan to pay cash, I was told there is no change available. Very strange for a restaurant located in a decent neighborhood.

AJM

Went with my husband and friend. The dishes were really flavorful, loved the raviolis and tuna crudo.

Excellent service Some tasty flavors but needs much improvement overall. Two burgers were ordered medium rare both were cooked well no sign of pink. Too much salt in salad dressing. Niçoise salads served without the included olives. No toilet paper roll holder in bathroom. That’s a major omission.

Pamela Wellner

Excellent service Some tasty flavors but needs much improvement overall. Two burgers were ordered medium rare both were cooked well no sign of pink. Too much salt in salad dressing. Niçoise salads served without the included olives. No toilet paper roll holder in bathroom. That’s a major omission.

We went to the Valentine's prix fixe; the food was good but the service was very poor. We were seated quickly but did not see a server for 20 minutes; it was 45 minutes before our first dish came out. Of the five dishes on the menu, the first three then came within 10 minutes of each other (out of order, and we had to remind our waiter that we were missing a dish). Then there was another drought of about 45 minutes until our last two dishes arrived. Our waiter/server never checked in with us, and honestly we barely saw him on the floor the entire night. Foodwise, everything but the dessert was very tasty. Service was terrible, though, especially for a night like Valentine's when you are hoping for something a little nicer.

Justin B.

We went to the Valentine's prix fixe; the food was good but the service was very poor. We were seated quickly but did not see a server for 20 minutes; it was 45 minutes before our first dish came out. Of the five dishes on the menu, the first three then came within 10 minutes of each other (out of order, and we had to remind our waiter that we were missing a dish). Then there was another drought of about 45 minutes until our last two dishes arrived. Our waiter/server never checked in with us, and honestly we barely saw him on the floor the entire night. Foodwise, everything but the dessert was very tasty. Service was terrible, though, especially for a night like Valentine's when you are hoping for something a little nicer.