The Commissary

This was my first time to eat at the Commissary. I went to dinner with my co workers and had a delicious dinner. Our server was nice and Sid, he entertained us and very generous and welcoming. Look forward to another caus it again soon. Thank you!

What a fun find in the Presidio! Headed here for dinner after date night at House of Air (don’t ask). We sat at the kitchen bar and enjoyed a few cocktails. .. and ordered the bomba queso, patatas bravas, steak and chicken entrees, fried eggplant, and brussel sprouts. The food was well timed, and it was really fun to watch it all being prepared and plated. We were to stuffed to the brim to check out dessert, but it’s on the list for next time.

My husband, myself, and a good friend had dinner here and all I can say is… it was REMAKABLE!
One of the best dinners I’ve had in my entire life!
Everything about it was perfect.

Food was good, just not for the price. Definitely would not recommend for groups because they really take advantage of you with an ‘admin’ fee plus an even more over-​priced menu.

Amazing place. Service was excellent. I suggest sitting by the bar because it is nice to enjoy your meal and watch the chefs in action! My gfs and I tried practically every tapa they had and were stuffed (shared between 3 people). My favorites: 1) Bomba queso (not too sure of the name but they’re little fried cheese balls whose flavors literally cause a party in your mouth!!!) 2) Apple Salad? again… so yummy, the thin slices of Apple w/​a light acidic sauce n the cheese just go so well together; 3) civiche (fish was really fresh and melted in your mouth) Everything was just so good! Other tapas we had that were also yummy were octopus, cauliflower, and a chickpea type of pancake. I really wish we had room for the main entrees but since we didn’t, one day I’ll be back! As for desserts… I honestly wish I liked goat cheese because they’re cheesecake is rated as one of the best. Unfortunately it wasn’t to my liking because I’m just not a goat cheese type of person. The rice pudding, however, was delicious!!!

Sometimes I put off places because it’s too far from me and I just don’t want to get myself over there. The Commissary was one of those places. The Presidio is just too damn far and there’s no reliable public transit that way from the Castro, but one Friday night, I was feeling like I wanted to complete some more items from the 7×7 list since I felt like I was behind for whatever reason.
I ordered the roasted chicken (dish on the 7×7 list) and it was delicious. I had heard bad things about it through reading reviews, but it was juicy, and the favorite part of me was the pairing with dates and these delicious almonds. The little toast with some chicken liver mousse? Amazing couple of bites. I thought I was going to get some lame dish, but it was definitely list worthy — though far from most restaurants in SF. I also got the seasonable sorbet (quince) and I was really able to experience the apple-​pear tasting fruit. It was definitely delicious. A glass of white sangria rounded out my experience. The bar was a great place to sit, no reservations needed and a great space to talk to strangers.
Protip: get the roasted chicken. It’s a pretty decent sized portion of delicious chicken.

After 11 living in New York for 11 years, I’m constantly wanting a spot with the New York energy, awesome food & cocktails, and a scene that energizes me. The Commissary, a new Presidio restaurant by award-​winning Chef Traci Des Jardins that features Spanish-​influenced California cuisine is just that. Amazing food. Awesome scene. A fabulous team. All in a charming Presidio location. And, the Presidio is essentially in my back yard since I live in Pacific Heights. What’s more perfect than a fabulous restaurant close to home!
The Commissary — After reading about the hype of The Commissary I was ecstatic when it finally opened. I was even more ecstatic to score a reservation for dinner with my Mom and my dear friend Katherine. The Commissary seemed perfect for the occasion. I made a reservation «requesting» the Chef’s counter (It’s a request since they can’t guarantee the Chef’s Counter you can just request and hope). Upon arriving and checking in we were told there would be a bit of a wait. I had expected this since the Chef’s Counter is always hard to score at restaurants. We all agreed it was worth the wait to be able to witness the creating firsthand. Luckily, an old friend Malcolm (or a restaurant pal I should say) was taking fabulous care of us so when I realized the General Manager Malcolm was helping make the Chefs Counter happen I knew we were in good hands. We were seated at the corner spot of the Chef’s Counter (Spots #1, 2 & 3 which I later learned are the best seats because of the prime kitchen views and the privacy of the corner seats). We had a view of the entire Kitchen and the two hot Chefs (as in the Chef’s that prepare Hot Dishes); Chef Eric and Chef Preston. After meeting Eric & Preston I soon realized not only was this going to be a fabulous tasting meal but also very engaging and fun. Both Eric & Preston were working extremely diligently, but also engaging us replying to questions and requests. You have to give the Chefs props as on open Kitchen complicates their job tremendously. Not only are they expected to create fabulous food, they are also facing distractions from the Dining Room and Guests just a few inches away.
Overall, the food was amazing. Between the three of us we tried a ton. We started with a simple yet deliciously Fresh Green Salad, a Diced Beet Appetizer with Cheese, a Fried Pea & Cheese Ball (unexpectedly one of my favorites), White Beans with Diced Tomatoes, Cauliflower and two Entrees: The Steak & Chicken (loved them both equally and will definitely order again if they’re still on the menu next time). After consulting with the Pasty Chef we chose (or shall I saw the Birthday Girl) chose the Chocolate Fondant for dessert. Also amazing, no surprise…
I’m thrilled to report that what I thought would be a one time visit to a fabulous new hot spot close to home became me falling in love with a new neighborhood gem. A gem with fabulous food, an exciting lively scene, and an awesome team lead by a legendary chef. The only way to top this visit would be to meet Chef Traci on another visit! A girl can always dream… 101 Montgomery St, San Francisco, CA 94 129. (415) 561‑3600.
Thanks for checking out my post I hope you enjoy dining with The JetSetting Fashionista. Emily

I went to The Commissary on a catch up date with someone I dated 4 years ago who I didn’t like then and definitely like less now. The food was amazing, my company was not. I was annoyed up to the gills with this guy and slammed back two delicious tequila cocktails (SO PERFECT). The chicken entrée is their signature dish and it’s so tender and tasty. Small portions otherwise — prices are high but the restaurant is really cute with dark wood and the parking is SO easy in the Presidio.
A great spot for a date… with someone you actually LIKE (or don’t like). I am glad I went here and not somewhere else because I probably would’ve lost my temper had it not been for how nice the ambience was.

The atmosphere is great for dining. A big open area and the tables are spaced apart. They have a private room with this great barn door but since we were sitting close to this room, I wish they’d close the door fully so we didn’t have to listen to the loud noises from the large group. It sounded like they were either watching a sports game or playing a video game.
Our waiter was efficient. Our appetizers and entrees in a timely manner but the dessert took a really long time such that even Jr. Unilocaler was complaining about the wait. This happened when the restaurant started to fill up (after 7PM) with customers.
Our choices:
The cod fritters were OK, $ 12. It was slightly salty but when you bit into these balls of flaky fish, you could tell it was fishy tasting. I wouldn’t order again.
The fairly large size of empanada, $ 7, was pretty good. Hubby said there were raisins in it, I could not tell from the bite I had.
Entrees:
1. Trout — I loved this dish. 2 fillets of tender, orange fish with a nice crunch to the pan-​seared skin. Didn’t like the vegts. served with it. A bit too tart. $ 32.
2. There were 2 orders of the roasted chicken — pieces of tender, moist chicken. I only had one bite but it was delicious. Jr. Unilocaler said portions were too small.$ 27 each.
3. New York steak, $ 35. 2 chunks of med rare steaks which looked a bit more rear than med rare. The meat was also tender.
Hubby and I had sangrias. Red for him, White for me. I really liked the White Sangria, but would’ve liked a bit more fruity flavor to it, $ 8 each.
Dessert: We were all full but decided to share an order of lemon ricotta.
The lemon ricottas, 4 small donut holes coated with sugar. I couldn’t taste the lemon flavor but the dessert was good. And they gave you 4 tiny pieces of jelly pieces.
What I like about this restaurant is the atmosphere, ability to find parking and the quietness of being in a federal park. It’s a gem in the middle of urban chaos.

I still love this place, but need to take it down one star for a couple of reasons:
After having had several cocktails here over 3 visits. It is a little inconsistent. Depends on your bartender I think. Stick to wine or beer.
The main course menu albeit delicious, is a little limited. Chicken, Beef, Fish or Vegetarian, and they were sold out of the fish option by 8:45p on a Saturday night.
The service is attentive yet casual. But despite being careful, my friend had an allergic reaction (nuts) to the cube of bread that garnished the chicken. They were extremely sorry and handled the situation well, but I think we all learned that if you aren’t 100 percent certain what is in the food, don’t risk it!
BTW, I’ve had the fish, chicken and steak and they are all very good. They don’t rely on heavy sauces, and everything has clean and balanced flavors.

If I could give 2.5 stars I would. The food was solidly good, but not outstanding — definitely at least 3 stars but the service was incredibly inattentive and our overall experience wasn’t a positive one.
I was happy that we were seated a private table for 2 as I was really surprised to see on here that even if you have a reservation you are sometimes seated at the communal table (wtf???). It took our server a really long time to come over and get our drink order and then another long stretch to actually get our drinks. When she finally brought the drinks, she didn’t ask if we were ready to order or if we had any questions about the menu — she was about to leave again and I had to basically stop her from walking away so we could get our order in. I’m glad I did because our food also took forever to come.
Long story short, she totally forgot our bread order (we had to ask for it halfway through the dinner) and the food came out very very slooowly. She also never once asked if we wanted more drinks (we had both finished ours before the meal was over) and even the dessert which was not something that had to be cooked took forever to come out of the kitchen.
The food itself was good, but not great. For a Traci des Jardins restaurant I expected more in terms of service, quality of what you get for your money, etc. It’s worth mentioning that the weekend evening that we went the crowd was skewed heavily toward the older side (50s-​60s and up). There were several tables taking very bright flash photography repeatedly (it looked like it was someone’s birthday) as well as a table of older folks who were using super bright flashlights to see the menu and kept accidentally shining them in our faces (it wasn’t that dark in the restaurant). For being a tapas restaurant I also expected it to be romantic, candlelit and cozy or fun (upbeat music, etc) and it was very quiet.
It was not the fine dining experience I had in mind. If you go, you’ll likely enjoy the food although perhaps not the service or the overall ambiance.

I was introuduced to this place by a friend who had read a review about this new restaurant called the The Commissary in the Presido. We have been eating lunch there for about 6 plus months.
I love this place it was once my second favorite restaurant to Bar Jules (being number 1) until they closed their doors. The ambience is great. I prefer the Chef’s Counter because I have a chance to see the Chef’s prepare the meals and I can ask a lot of questions and actually see the dish before ordering it.
I also like the counter because the Chef’s are engaged with the people who are sitting there and talking to them eventhough at times it’s extremeley busy. They never miss a beat! Always a smile on their faces. My friend harrasses them all in fun and they are not phased, only join in on the fun. With the exception of the dessert lady, I have never seen her smile but her desserts she prepare are delicious! Therefore she must be a happy employee :)
Yes, it’s a little pricey but the ingrediants they use are local, in season and fresh. I’m sure that plays a part in the menu price. Everything we have ordered (we share dishes) have been tasteful no complaints.
It’s a place to try when your in the area

I went here on Friday with my cousin and her husband. We had a reservation at 7, but arrived early and were seated promptly.
We ordered cocktails — which took a bit longer than expected… no big deal. For appetizers, we did the bacalao fritters and octopus. Both were delicious and finished right away. For entrée, I had the chicken. This was fantastic — cooked beautifully! The addition of medjool dates and liver mousse were superb.
It was my birthday in a few days, so the waiter surprised me with a cantaloupe melon sorbet. A tasty and refreshing palate cleanser to end the meal.
This is located in a beautiful area of the Presidio too. Walk towards the water and you’ll see the Golden Gate up close!

Briefly put, The Commissary has unschooled service and quite good food.
On entering I was led to the Chef’s Counter in the back room. It was empty save one group of ladies and the host seated me immediately next to this group. Uncomfortable. And the server assumed I was part of that group for some considerable time. After a bit I asked if I might move a seat over; after considerable consultation that was permitted. But the next group in was seated immediately next to me. Again, uncomfortable. There is a certain mindlessness going on here. But the food can compensate, at least in part.
A salad of little gems came with some cherry tomatoes and fried bread. Very fresh, very good, but it left me wishing that there was a bit more on the plate for the price.
A main of alaskan halibut was nicely seared yet remained moist. Two large shrimp were also swimming in the the complexly seasoned broth and these likewise were moist and tasty.
A side of roasted corn was coated in corn nuts and was prepared with some cheese or other that separated from the corn. Not to mind, the cheese was nice anyway. Likewise the corn.
All in all, good food that deserves better service.

Chic space, fun vibe, great service, and inspired food. I love meals where I can taste the chef’s artistic experimentation, where the dishes are presented like works of art. I love crafting the perfect bite from those meals, knowing a lot of thought went into designing the right complimentary flavors. Like the gorgeous halibut: perfectly cooked and with a crisped skin, a subtle flavor with some flake and some crisp that was complimented by the crunch of beans, some acidity & sweetness from slow-​roasted cherry tomatos, and moistened by a decadent, rich, savory broth. Washed down with their Albarino (their wine list has some great Spanish finds), every bite was bliss. My dinner companions had the chicken (which was roasted so perfectly that every bite, even of breast, was juicy, and with just a hint of dates and almonds), and the steak (an ideal medium-​rare). The nectarine-​plum sorbet was like Summer in a Glass Bowl, and the ice cream sandwich was very good, though the cookie was a bit too hard for one’s fork to dig easily into.
The reason it gets 4 stars and not 5 is for price – for the portions, the prices are pretty steep. Everyone’s entrée was appetizer-​sized, and yet the cheapest was $ 27. The expensive appetizers are minuscule, and the sorbet is two, tablespoon-​sized scoops. You even have to pay $ 5 for bread. I get that they’re in an expensive space and that their food is art, but I think at this early point – before they’ve really established their reputation – they need to be careful of pricing out some of the very customers they wish to target. Don’t forget, Commissary, that most San Franciscans right now are emptying their wallets on rent – when we have two pennies to rub together we’d rather a full belly and some free bread.

Opening the door here for the first time gave me two first impressions:
1. This is really a historic military installation and it feels like a ‘lived-​in’ space — you can close your eyes and imagine military personnel eating here a century ago. This is particularly augmented by the historic photographs lining the walls of black-​and-​white windows into what the Presidio was way back when.
2. Just before prime lunch time, the place was about 10% full when we walked in (~11:45AM). When we walked out (1PM), it was about 33% full with all the outdoor seating taken. I wish we had the option to sit outside, but apparently every table in the place was reserved (by ghosts?).
The food here was really good, and it was obvious the chefs have a good amount of skill. My appetizer was the pâté de cerdo, pickled onion, whole grain mustard, grilled bread (pictured), and I got the mushroom escabeche montadito with arugula as my main course (also pictured). I also tried a bit of the pan roasted chicken breast, artichoke, kale, and chorizo vinagreta that was also ordered at the table. Every dish was nicely plated and had just enough to leave you sated (but probably still have enough room for a dessert).
A few cons made it fall short of a solid 4*:
— comparing the two things I got, the value didn’t match up — the pâté appetizer was $ 10 and the main was $ 13, but the main had significantly more food on the plate (I didn’t finish it — more on this next)
— my main (mushoom escabeche montadito — good luck pronouncing that right the first time) had good flavor and the mushrooms were cooked perfectly, but it got monotonous and was a bit rich/​heavy halfway through the 2^nd half of the open-​faced sandwich. Whatever cream-​cheese-​like spread they used, I didn’t want to keep eating it the whole way through.
— the kale in the chicken dish was overcooked and soggy
— there was also a burger ordered at the table, which was cooked to the wrong side of medium
Overall I enjoyed the food but I probably wouldn’t come here again due to the price. The Presidi-​tax strikes again!
(3.5 stars)

I never knew this place even existed in the presidio. Very undercover, but a pretty fantastic find. I started off with a glass of bubbly and tombo tuna app. It was so delicious I could’ve eaten 2 of them. For an entrée I had the fresh halibut and clams which was also delicious. I’m excited to come back and try some of the other things on their menu.

What a random place in the middle of a old base. Literally looks like you’re walking into a true commissary at first — but the interior is very pretty and inviting. The host/​owner was very kind and seemed super accommodating when we told him that we were in a little bit of a rush, since we had to get back into the city at a certain time. But the food didn’t really seem to rush out — in fact we had to push back our arrival time in the city.
Overall, our experience was pleasant. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the place — it would be perfect on a clear day for brunch. I expect the view to be spectacular (unfortunately we were there for dinner on a fogy night).

Wow!
This place it out of this world fantastic!!!
Elevated Spanish influenced Californian cuisine with a large selection of fantastic wines at a wide array of prices.
Award-​winning chef Traci Des Jardins— understandably so!
Located in the heart of the presidio… you can totally walk to the bay & view The Golden Gate Bridge from here! (super romantic) & located in a former mess hall that has been transformed into a comfortable modern & elegant restaurant.
Servers were excellent, knowledgeable, & available if needed.
The food was like I said, out of this world! I dined with a party of 6 so we tried most of the menu & everyone was very pleased!
Items we tried & loved (that I can remember)
— Salt cod fritters, lemon aioli
— calabaza croquettas, charred orange aioli
— Quesos: st. george, caña de oveja, txiki, membrillo
— Crispy new potatoes, salsa brava
— little gem salad, manchego, cured anchovy, fried bread
— octopus, potatoes, olives, lemon— I have since had better octopus but it was decent
— roast cuttlefish, arroz verde, squid ink
— jamon wrapped trout, trumpet mushrooms, sherry, tarragon
We had wine that are server recommended after letting me sample a few & his suggestions were fantastic! We will definitely be going back here again for a special occasion meal!

I experienced superb wait and wine service from Ryan and staff. Therefore, I am awarding The Commissary a 4^th star.
The restaurant has a super location (on the Presidio parade grounds, very close to the Walt Disney museum) and ambiance. The place is huge, so capacity and parking on a Saturday night during Fleet Week was not a problem.
The Commissary is a good place for single diners who want to sit at the bar or by the kitchen. There’s lots to see, do, and discuss. Also, this is a great place for a date, the lights are low and the noise is compatible with conversation.
I found the cuisine to be sophisticated and delicious. Not at all your normal fare.
I recommend:
* Pasenau Priorat Ceps Nous 2010, a Spanish/​Catalan blend of Garnacha, Mazuelo, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (dry, rich flavor, nice nose, and smooth finish)
* Albondigas (meatballs) appetizer
* New York Steak, broccoli rabe (leafy green broccoli rabe has 6– to 9-​inch stalks and scattered clusters of tiny broccoli-​like buds), potato-​idiazabal gratin (Spanish goat cheese), mojo verde (a blend of garlic, bell peppers, olive oil, vinegar, cumin seed and salt)
* Stone Valley Farms pork with eggplant, escalivada (smoky grilled veges) and black coco beans
* Fried Brussels sprouts with chorizo
* Dessert:
Torrijas with huckleberries, bay leaf ice cream, and marcona almonds
Ricotta cheesecake, figs, burnt honey
Enjoy!