by William M. on I have been to this place 3 times now and I'm a big fan. I love how it is hidden on the third floor where you really have to know about it to be able to find the place. I usually take my friends here for the special they have every day between 4-8pm where you get an entree and a martini/glass of wine for $10!! You can't beat it! The food is good and the martini's are great! I recommend this place for those looking at trying something new or for impressing friends.
by Rosio Valery on The Music Cooks, The Food Rocks!!! WCL is a great place to catch a show or a quick bite. There are 2 venues in the building, Upstairs Live (Walnut St. Street Level) Bar and Grill type atmosphere, great for up and coming artists and acoustic performances. Downstairs Live (31st Lower Level) is the main venue. This is an awesome place to see a show, there is no bad seat in the house and the acoustics's in the room are out of this world. No matter where you are in the room you are no more than 70 feet from the stage, with clear sight lines from every angle. Trust me see a show down there and you will be amazed. Doors open early if you wanna catch some grub from the kitchen. The menu is fairly simple and has daily and weekly specials, prices are about average in terms of restaurants.
by wanugee N. on Yoshi's SF is a great, intimate old style Jazz club with a lot of modern interpretations of the classic Cabaret. First, the design is well thought out, with really no bad seat in the house. There is the main floor in front of the stage with about 4 rows of tables in a fan shape around the stage, and 2 more elevated behind that, then there are upstairs 2 more rows with a great view to the stage, like Grand Tier seats at the SF Ballet. This is where I sat to watch Keiko Matsui on Father's Day. It is a Cabaret style seating, so there are small round tables with 4 seats with each, A,B,C,D going counter clockwise from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock. Lighting is excellent, with a spot light over each table so you can read the menu and eat. You can go on their website and see the table seating arrangements. Your seats are assigned when you book, first come first serve, so you don't have to rush in line, which is very civil and perfect for the smooth jazz lover, who likes things mellow. The only drawback upstairs is if you are only 2, then you will share the small table with another couple, which is fine, but if you get seats A and D (next to the railing) then they will get B and C, which are behind the table and it maybe more difficult to see the front of the stage from B and C unless they scoot right up behind you. Our tablemates were nice and friendly, but were unhappy with the arrangement; fortunately for them, they found another table available. Sound is excellent and the decor is simple and modern. Unlike most larger concert venues, you can eat great food here. There is a large drink menu of sakes, wine, and drinks, and a "small plate" food menu. We went with Edamame (large bowl, heated and salted $5), Chicken Kara Age ($8), Nigiri Go (5 pieces of 5 different Nigiri, about 70% of normal size sushi $13), Miso soup $3 and a bowl of rice $2. Sapporo Draft was $6 and soda $2. Perhaps not great for a restaurant, but at a concert? A real treat to nibble edamame and sip a beer while waiting for your favorite jazz piano musician to appear. Like the rest of the Yoshi's restaurant and the Filmore Heritage Square, the venue is elegant but simple, and caters to adult sensibilities, although kids of all ages are welcome to enjoy the music in a smoke free environment. No green iridescent necklaces, not screeming pre-teens, no parking lot fights, no underaged drunken or drug induced stupors, no wave or rave, no smoke with a funny smell, just great music! If you like good music, especially jazz, and Japanese sensibilities, and want to get in a joyous mood, go here. If you want to get crazy into an altered state, go to your favorite star-of-the-month concert at a baseball stadium.
