El Metate es Muy Bueno!
I just plunked down $24.95 to renew my online Zagat subscription. It’s already paid for itself.
Mackie and I were hungry, on a budget and didn’t feel like driving far. I pulled up Zagat on the web, did a quick search and found El Metate. Food score of 23, cost of $9, located at Bryant and 22nd, a short drive from our SoMa condo – score!
Positive karma rode with us. As we drove up, Mackie spotted a car vacating a parking spot right across the street from the entrance. It was a good, and accurate, omen.
We were a bit faked out when we walked in. We saw a busy counter and two tables. Mackie grabbed the open one, thinking that’s all there was. It took a few minutes before we noticed the passage to a much larger dining room. Doh!
Mackie went for the chicken Milanesa ($6.75). She received a large plate packed with breaded, fried chicken, refried beans, rice and some shredded lettuce topped with guacamole. Her food was great and, although she started very hungry, she couldn’t come close to finishing. How they could put that much good food on a plate for less than $7.00 is beyond me.
Normally, I’d kvetch about the extra charge for Mackie’s flour tortilla ($0.75) but the prices are so rock bottom that if that’s what they’ve gotta do, it’s what they’ve gotta do. The tortilla was a good wrapper but nothing special.
I went for the seafood platter ($10.25), which heaped shrimp, mussels, large yet tender calamari rings, tiny clams and fried fish on a bed of rice. Tomatoes, onions and green peppers added color and flavor. Big thumbs up on the shrimp, clams and fried fish. Not so much on the calamari and mussels but I’m not a big fan of either under most circumstances. Squid and bivalve lovers may have a different opinion. Corn tortillas were better than average – they actually tasted like corn.
For a beverage, I had an excellent strawberry agua fresca ($1.50).
Dessert was flan ($2.50). It was a slice rather than an individual portion. Nice custard taste, firm texture. It was so good that Mackie threatened me with bodily harm if I took too much of the caramel sauce while I devoured (more than?) my share.
We exited believing that El Metate es muy bueno and, at $24.75 including tax and tip for two people, a great value to boot.
El Metate
2406 Bryant Street
near 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-641-7209
No web site
Food inspection score: 86
Symbol of Excellence: No
woot!! woot!!
i love el metate!
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