Mission Rock Resort

First time here earlier around 4PM and was seated right away, outside on the patio. The view was definitely breathtaking. I read the reviews on here before I came but I wanted to see how it was myself.
Our server was grumpy, seems like he hates his job and his life. I don’t know why he was even hired in the first place. He’s white, tall, curly hair, with long side burns. No smile, no hi. Only thing he said was «you guys ready to order?»
So we ordered crispy calamari, two clam chowder bowls, and the oyster po’ boy.
The crispy calamari was the only thing that was good. The clam chowder was definitely MICROWAVED. The po boy oysters tasted extremely slimy.
While we were eating, there was a Hispanic man going around «cleaning» tables outside, he looked like he was trying to break the dishes lol.
Anyways! Two stars for the view! NO STARS FOR THE GRUMPY BAD WORKERS!
FYI, if you actually want customers, you should brighten the fuck up.

Came here on New Year’s Day to have brunch, and even around 1:30−2 the place was still pretty packed, with planned seating wait times of 45 min. Luckily there was a table big enough for my party to fit at the bar so we sat down pretty quickly. Soon we would discover that they had run out of not one but two dishes our table wanted. That elusive breakfast biscuit sandwich! You looked so good and one day I will have you and your cheddar filled crumbs. The pork schnitzel was pretty tasty though and the rest of the food fine (incl some tasty chowder I am told) but just know that the shrimp for cold bar basically comes down to $ 4 each for a shrimp! Perhaps my experience would have been plus one star if we had sat outside or eaten earlier in the day, but I could see it being an even better experience with a few tweaks. Don’t understand why they don’t use the downstairs space? But next time will angle to sit outside and enjoy the sea breezy view.

My introduction to the Mission Rock was years and years ago — back in its previous incarnation as Kelly’s Mission Rock. I cut my teeth in the rave scene at this venue. I DJ’d dozens of times and made many fond memories at Kelly’s. I was sad to see it go.
So I naturally had to check it out once it reopened as a swanky restaurant. I first went for dinner. The view is still breathtaking — with or without pounding house music blasting on the deck. The place always had a nice ambiance, and the way they rearranged the space only emphasized it all even more. The food is great and eclectic. They have classic high-​brow seafood fare — like the crab roll and fresh oysters — and a few unusual dishes, like the salmon banh mi.
And then… I noticed that they had bottomless brunch. I HAD to bring my friends who had also known the place from their raving days. So we went back. The brunch was good as well. I had the crab benedict, which was great. I liked how it was just straight crab on the benedict — not a crab cake, not crab salad. Just crab.
The only thing about the Mission Rock is that it seems a little pricey for what and where it is. The brunch was around $ 50 per person, and dinner easily topped that. The place is a bit out of the way. These prices seem appropriate for Momo’s (a sister restaurant), but that’s right across the from the ballpark. However, I did like how it wasn’t overly crowded since it’s off the beaten path.

This place is great because it has everything you want from places on the pier without the gaggles of tourists. The servers are always nice and friendly. The food is pretty good and they serve a lot of seafood choices. Now don’t come here is you are looking for stellar, creative, SF food. This is not your place. This is a great place to start a sunday funday or recover from a long night. You can sit right on the water and have a pleasant meal without being booted after 60 minutes. They also have a good happy hour!

The food is great, but the service is shockingly horrendous for SF. I can’t believe the attitude that we get from waitresses here!
We typically are served by someone who seems very irritated that they have serve customers, including answer questions, and use a nasty, negative tone when speaking with us.

Meh food, Great spot.
I’ve been here a few times — the deck is great.
The food on the other hand, is really lacking. It’s fried and uninspiring. I would not come here for a meal — come for a beer and a hang out.
Service is friendly, but doesn’t scream high end.

What a delightful way to spend a Saturday evening with our party of six. Parking was an ease, and we were promptly seated. Good attentive service. Excellent selection of oysters. The crab roll was amazing, as well as the other items.
The only thing disappointing was their Grand Shellfish Plateau, when they listed Dungeness Crab as an item, I was expecting actual crab with shell for me to crack. So it was a bit underwhelming to see some crab meat placed in a tiny mason jar, sharing space with some lettuce shreds to fill space (less crab).

We threw a surprise birthday brunch for my boyfriend here. We sat outside and the views were outstanding! Portions were small, but the excellent service made up for it. They handled our 11 top no problem and didn’t hesitate to split the check. The servers and even the bussers were all in a jovial mood. I wasn’t terribly hungry so I just got ceviche. It wasn’t amazing, but it was pretty good! Will def come back again on a nice day soon!

Run, don’t walk, to happy hour at Mission Rock Resort! From 3−7pm on Mon-​Fri, oysters are only $ 1 each, house wines are $ 7 and beer is $ 5. The oysters are pretty fresh and cleanly shucked.
The mussels with bacon and fries were also good, but the mussels were tiny. Everything else on the menu looked pretty pricey, so I wouldn’t come here otherwise.
They have nice outdoor seating on the deck, with great views of the bay. Service was prompt and food came out quickly. Not bad for an after-​work happy hour.

What I ate: Oysters, calamari, fries
Visit date: May 1, 2015
First time? Yes.
Hostesses were not on point. I was not greeted or asked if I needed assistance (trust me, I looked lost). I had to ask if I could be seated. But after that the service was just fine.
The oysters were fresh and served with your traditional marinara and vinegar sauces. Delicious! Our table also ordered shoestring fries and calamari. The calamari was my preferred dish with a good ratio of tentacles to rings. I also had a variation of a Moscow Mule; it was alright, a little watered down.
There is ample street parking (note one side is metered; the other has a two-​hour time limit). You can sit indoors or out. The ground floor of the restaurant may be closed during happy hour making the whole restaurant look closed — go right on upstairs!

Came here for Sunday brunch with two friends. The place is pretty big, so even when it’s busy the wait shouldn’t be too long. They have a large deck area at the back that’s right on the water. Even on a windy November day, the combination of sun and heaters made sure we were comfortable.
I got a latte, which was very nice. Rich, smooth, and not too large. I then got a Bacon Bloody (essentially a bloody Mary with strips of bacon inside) which was unfortunately really salty and hard to drink.
My friend and I shared the Eggs Benedict and the Stuffed French Toast. The benedict was perfect, and came with some really flavorful potatoes. The French toast was a cool concept, and came with large pieces of strawberries and blackberries, but the syrup was really thick and sticky/​stringy. It would have been much better if they had used real maple syrup.
Overall the atmosphere was great. Some of the food was perfect, and some of it needed a few tweaks. It’s a little pricey given the above, but it was an enjoyable meal.

I usually only come during their happy hours where you get $ 1 oysters. Otherwise this place is a bit over my budget. Regardless, it’s a fun place to get drinks, enjoy oysters, and get some fresh air at the outside tables. Warning — bring an extra jacket because it will get chilly outside. Also the past few times I’ve been, service wasn’t the best…
Random note but their plate of fries is huge. I think four people can share it and still not be able to finish the order. Their clam chowder is decent. I prefer Hog Island’s though. But the oyster po-​boys are good!
Come here for good $ 1 oysters. This is where it’s really at. The oysters are fresh and you can pair it with cocktails while you enjoy the view of the desolate waters in Dogpatch /​Mission Bay…
Mission Rock Resort is really easy to get to. Take the T and walk 5 min. You’ll see it since there aren’t any other restaurants on that street.

Have been here a few times now since getting introduced during the Unilocal elite event. Best part is sitting at the bar or outside and feasting on a few varieties of oysters. Bar also has great rail drinks and a reasonable beer and wine selection.
Parking is easy out front. Free parking a cross the street. Or pay at the kiosk if you park on the same side of the restaurant. It was cheap though. Less than a dollar for 2 hrs.
Once you go in head upstairs where the restaurant is. Downstairs is often closed except for special events. Upstairs has a large patio with heaters and great views of the bay and ship yards across the way. A rowboat or sailboat passes occasionally.
Once I came for the Saturday Bunch which was served until 3pm. Had a decadent salad and had a fried oyster eggs Benedict. Sauce was very good but fried oysters were way too breaded. Not sure that I even saw the actual oyster. Will try one of the many other eggs Benedict options.

Mission Rock Resort is at such a fantastic location, that regardless of any little blips that I may have experienced recently, it still warrants a visit. I mean, really, what could be more delightful than enjoying a cocktail on a balcony overlooking the San Francisco Bay?
So yes, scenery-​wise, this place is a total gem. Service, however, can be a little hit or miss. The boy and I swung by for Happy Hour recently, and despite sitting at the counter (and making direct eye contact with the staff), we were ignored for some time. When our order was taken, it took around 10 minutes for 6 shucked oysters and a glass of wine to come out.
I definitely appreciate a place that has a laid-​back vibe, but such slow (and a bit sloppy, as our oysters hadn’t been cleaned/​shelled properly) service is a little frustrating. The guy sitting next to us kept trying to make small talk with his server, but it did not end well for him (different story there, I guess).
Overall, I would come back if in the neighborhood and not on a schedule. Otherwise, you might run a bit late!

And why have I not heard of Mission Rock Resort before?! It’s such a hidden gem right by the beautiful San Francisco Bay! The views are breathtaking from every level and every side. Mission Rock Resort is HUGE with both an upstairs and downstairs seating area, two bars, and a spacious balcony on each level. My boyfriend and I came here for Happy Hour and enjoyed ourselves so much that I can definitely see myself coming back for a nice Brunch overlooking the bay.
If there is one item you must order from their selection of Happy Hour Specials, I would say order the 99 cent oysters. Squeeze a lemon and splash some Tapatio and you got an aphrodisiac in your mouth. In addition, the best cocktails to try are the Pisco Punch and the San Franciscan. Pair a cocktail with the oysters for a Big Kid’s Happy Meal (better than McDonalds) at Mission Rock Resort!

I’ll give this place 4 stars because the view is beautiful, and also because there are few places in the city that are accommodating to very large groups! Brunch tends to turn into a 15-​person affair sometimes, and Mission Rock Resort is great for that. I suggest making a reservation for large groups.
We came here with ~20, with a reservation, for a birthday party. Bottomless mimosas are great and plentiful, but not on the menu. Just ask for them! Other breakfast drinks look great as well.
The food here is okay and over-​priced. I ordered the fish and chips, which was good, but nothing I need to get again. Most entrees are around $ 20 for brunch — just know that you are paying for the view.
The service was great here, though. I would love to try this place out for happy hour.

Chill spot for drinks and apps. Can’t beat the oyster deal for 99 cents for happy hour (4−7pm). We also ordered the calamari which was sooooo good. Gracious bartenders and servers. Ancho Chile Margarita was yum!
We were able to snag a spot on the patio but if not a nice clear day, the Heat lamps make it quite cozy!

A group of friends and I had brunch today at Mission Rock Resort. This was my first time at the restaurant.
The location is pretty cool. Right on the Bay but, unfortunately, not easy to get to on public transportation. Most of my friends drove and there is parking for 2 hours opposite the restaurant on the street that’s free (!).
We got there just as it was opening and our table was ready upstairs inside a room.
Although I had been told by my co-​organizer friend that there would be 15 people, it ended up that we had about 10 (my original reservation was for this amount). I hate it when people flake.
The good news was that the staff were really gracious. When I left a note up in front check-​in counter with my name and my co-​organizer friend’s name, the manager introduced himself to me since we had spoken over the phone two days ago. Nice.
When people flaked I was a bit concerned, but no one at the restaurant made a fuss!
The service was really prompt and there was just enough attention given to us (drink order, water glasses refilled, dishes came out all at once).
I ordered the crab eggs benedict with pan fried potatoes. My friends had an assortment of dishes: fish & chips, pork cutlet, huevos rancheros, salad, smoked salmon eggs benedict.
My eggs benedict dish was okay. The eggs could have been warmer but, maybe, the cold fresh Dungeness crab atop the eggs made them cooled. Yummy fresh crab! I understand that gathering 10 orders of food and getting them out is a challenge for any kitchen. My friends liked what they ordered and everyone seemed happy.
Btw, the portions for the fish & chips, salads, pork cutlet were huge.
For a Sunday and a group, it’s challenging to find a place that one can make a reservation for greater than 4 people. MRR is a very nice space, the food was good, the view on the water was terrific. Parking was a breeze.
Overall –
Food: 3.5 stars
Service: 4 stars
Ambiance/​View: 5 stars
Accessibility of Location: 3.5 (not easily accessible by public transportation and it’s in a developing area along the shore near UCSF Mission Bay; by car, pretty easy if there is no AT&T Park traffic holding you up)

Four stars alone for the view! On a clear, fogless day, Mission Rock Resort can be one of the most relaxing places to dine. Umbrellas cover outdoor tables and the cool bay breeze can counter a scorching sun. Ice-​cold margaritas and bloody mary’s excel here. I had a mezcal-​based margarita here, the spice of the ancho chile enhancing the smoke from the spirit.
Food is OK. Dungeness Crab Mac and Cheese came adorned with a generous helping of jumbo lump crab meat, but it lacked truly deep crab flavor (but the macaroni was perfect). Mussels and frites was served with an addictive cream sauce, and the fries were crispy and small, but mussels seemed a little small (maybe they’re not in season?). The fried calamari appetizer was a heaping portion with a great ratio of tentacles to rings, but I wish we had more marinara sauce than one tiny cup. Even my friend’s fried chicken sandwich sat mostly uneaten.
But the service is impeccable (they brought out a doggy bowl with water for our puppies), the view is awe-​inspiring, and the atmosphere is spectacular. For the drinks and view alone, I’d definitely return.

3.5 STARS
If it isn’t already apparent, we’re crazy furparents. One day while we were in a pet store, I came back from the restroom to find Mr. NSS taking a selfie video with Tater Tot WHILE they spun around the store in circles. I thought it was cute. Other customers? Not so much. We were recently at a park and there was no one in the playground so we placed him on the baby swing for fun. Surprisingly, he liked it so we pushed him in the swing for a while. People then started to trickle in. They would chuckle and whisper something to the person they were with. I couldn’t hear them but they probably said, «Dude needs to knock her up». =/​
Needless to say, I’m always on a search for dog-​friendly restaurants to bring Tater Tot along. Unilocal’s info is not always correct so I usually search for places that have outdoor patios and then call the restaurant to confirm if they’re dog-​friendly. I came across Mission Rock Resort which I’ve had bookmarked since they’ve opened. They’re the same owners as Momo’s and Pedro’s Cantina near the ballpark so don’t expect stellar, life-​changing eats. And, like most restaurants with a waterfront view, the food is mediocre and you’re purely paying for the view (this is a $$$ place NOT $$). Just fine by me as long as they’re dog friendly which Mission Rock Resort is:
.
Since we came during happy hour (Mon-​Fri, 3 pm-​7 pm), we started out with a dozen of their 99 cent oysters:
. They were paper thin and meh but you get what you pay for. We made the mistake of ordering the Oysters Rockefeller w/​spinach, bacon, pernod cream ($ 16):
. When I order Oysters Rockefeller, I expect fresh ocean sea breeze meets creamy decadence. All I could taste was bland, overcooked spinach for $ 16.
Redeeming the not so great oyster dishes was the bowl of Clam Chowder ($ 9):
. Like a solid bowl of chowder, it was nicely thick and creamy with a good amount of clams. I liked the sprinkling of crushed potato chips for a textural contrast.
For my main, I ordered the Dungeness Crab Mac & Cheese w/​shellfish butter, cheddar, jack, gremolata ($ 25):
. Unfortunately, it looked better than it tasted. It wasn’t bad but it was very bland and the pasta was a bit overcooked. Being a heavy dish, I only managed to get through 1/​3rds of this so I think this would be better apt to be shared among a small group.
Mr. NSS ordered the Grilled New York Steak w/​fries, broccoli rabe, sauce au poivre ($ 32):
. He said it was OK. I didn’t try it but for the price, I think it should have been a ribeye not a new york steak.
Our waitress recommended the Vanilla Bread Pudding w/​bourbon caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream ($ 9):
which turned out to be the BEST thing we had that night! A must order, the bread pudding was fluffy, moist, and lightly custardy. The caramel sauce added just the right amount of sweetness (not cloyingly sweet). And, you can never go wrong with a la mode for that contrasting warm and cold mouth feel.
Skip the cocktails ($ 12) on the menu. I had two which I can’t remember their names but they were weak. The moscow mule was served in a wine glass?! For my third, I just ordered a Hendrick’s tonic and that fared better.
As for service, I don’t doubt all the negative reviews. I saw several of the waitresses who rather socialize amongst themselves than do their job but we lucked out with our waitress, Chelsea. She was friendly, prompt, and attentive. She was the only waitress that I saw bust her ass so if you can, I would request to be seated in her area.
The former Kelly’s Mission Rock (nightclub) makes for one spacious, multi-​level restaurant with two large outdoor patios. The waterfront views aren’t as gorgeous as the Embarcadero but you still get a great view of the bay and the old shipyard.
Parking in the area is easy but meters are enforced until 10 pm and the area is kinda sketch at night. We saw lots of broken glass in the surrounding area so do NOT leave your valuables in your car. Better yet, if you’re going for dinner, take an über there.