Great Eastern

Our first visit was pleasant. Ordered 3 dishes. Our favorite was 136. Stewed Lamb with fried bean curd in clay pot. Would make a return trip just for that. Also had a catfish dish. The fish was nice, but the sauce was a tad sweet for us. For veggies, we had Chinese Mustard Greens with fried tofu and mushrooms, which was also very good. The service was good. The restaurant was comfortable, and looked appealing. Next time we're in SF, we'll probably go again.

The food here is very good but sometimes the service is not so great. The Mongolian Beef is one of the best I have had. As far as the service goes the tourists are seated on the left and the locals are seated on the right who seem to get friendlier service.

I read the review earlier about curt service and expensive prices, but I found it as the opposite. One of the professional service I had and I travel all over the world to find the best Peking Duck in the country. Clean place that is presentable to invite our President to and great flavor in the BBQ plate and clams with black bean sauce. You pay for what you get and there are cheaper places, but this place is a sure thing. Don't be cheap!

As a native Chinese, I'm an avid fan of dim sum and have eaten at quite a few restaurants, but I don't have anything good to say about Great Eastern. The food was only average (the shrimp dumplings fell apart when we picked them up, everything was lukewarm, and there was layer over our porridge after it'd been sitting out too long), the decorations shabby, and the service was unpleasant. The waiters were downright curt with us, dumping our food on the table with a scowl before they whisked off somewhere else. No joke - I think I've been treated that way only once or twice in my life. My suggestion is to try a smaller, less-hyped restaurant. The food here is only mediocre, and it can be had for a lot cheaper at a family restaurant. (Yes, they look cramped and shabby, but the owners love their customers!) My $7.50 quail egg porridge is usually only $4 anywhere else I go - the prices are so inflated because they know they can get away with it. Ugh. I'm sure many people have had great experiences, but I would never go back to that restaurant. This place is popular for food that I could get anywhere else for better service, less wait time, and probably a cleaner restroom as well (although in SF, that's hard to find).

We ate there two times during our our stay in San Francisco, and must say that this is the best Cantonese restaurant we tried in the city. Excellent hot pot dishes (try the one with taro, duck and pork in coconut sauce for something different), fresh seafood and also very good chow mein. Attentive service, very clean, definitely value for money.