R & G Lounge Restaurant Review, San Francisco

R & G Lounge is a popular Hong Kong style Cantonese Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. Since 1985 they have been serving top notch Chinese food in Chinatown. They have been mentioned on Anthony Bourdain’s television show, No Reservations. This place is especially busy during Chinese New Year, typically in late January or early February. Our last visit was in May 2013.

Decor, Vibe – R & G Lounge has been remodeled over the years to modern, clean decor. Lots of families, tourists, some business folks, and locals were eating at this busy restaurant.

R & G Lounge Menu Pictures

Website R & G Lounge menu

If you are challenged with what to order, stick to the items with pictures. They are all specialties. Almost everyone orders the Salt and Pepper Crab on their first visit.

R & G Lounge Food Picks:

Baked Black Cod ($38) is a signature dish. Massive golden red fish that is tender and flaky.

Live Crab with Salt & Pepper (AQ) is their signature dish with deep fried battered crab seasoned with salt and pepper. The crab is still tender and juicy inside.

BBQ Platter ($22 for small) with BBQ Pork, Jellyfish, and Soy Sauce Beef was fairly expensive and had decent but thickly sliced BBQ Pork. The beef was a bit on the salty side.

Peking Duck ($20 for half) was surprisingly good for a Cantonese Chinese restaurant. They were a bit skimpy with the amount of meat provided.

Honey Spareribs ($12.50) were a bit zesty and sweet. Fantastic although low on quantity.

Prawns with Honey Walnuts ($18) Deep fried prawns lightly coated with mayo and served with candied walnuts is a staple at many Chinese restaurants.  Their version has less mayo.

Sauteed Scallops & steak cubes with macadamia nuts ($17) is a bit peppery and spicy. The meat was a bit uninspired.

Soy Sauce Chicken ($14 for half) is a signature dish here, it proved to be solid but not exceptional.

Fresh Black Mushrooms with Mustard Greens ($18) was a solid dish with some huge mushrooms and slightly bitter greens.

Clams with Black Bean Sauce ($15) is a classic dish with lots of clams hot off the wok. Fresh clams and good sauce.

Beef Brisket and turnip claypot ($16) is another signature dish done right.  Tender beef and veggies in a nice broth.

Deep Fried Fish ($20) was a whole fish fried to crispiness and topped with a light sauce. Fresh and very good.

Roast Squab ($15.50) roasted to golden brown crispy skin, served with seasoning salt on the side. Perfect execution of this poultry dish.

Small cold sea cucumber ($18) is for those who like this dish.  Pure, simple, cooked well.

Dried scallop and egg white fried rice ($10.50) hit the spot. Much more interesting than plain rice.

OK:

Princess Chicken ($15) specially marinated with ginger and onion sauce. It was pretty average, decent quantities but nothing special to it. Chicken was on the bland side and really needed the dipping.

Pea shoots ($13) were in good quantity but were pretty standard issue.

Pans:
None

R & G Lounge’s service was slightly above average for a Chinese restaurant. Servers were hustling by but needed some prompting. Free Red bean dessert soup to those who ask. This restaurant and Great Eastern on Washington St remain the two best bets for Chinese food in Chinatown. Also consider City View for dim Sum lunch in Chinatown. They have both been around for many years.

Compared to other top notch places like Koi Palace in Daly City, R & G Lounge offers competitive cuisine with Koi Palace, we have to rank Koi Palace higher due to superior food quality. Koi Palace serves dim sum lunch unlike R & G.

$25 Dining Certificate for $5

R and G Lounge Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating:	(Very Good)
Service Rating:	(Good)
Atmosphere Rating:	(Very Good)
Value Rating:	(Good)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:	Full Bar
Attire:	Casual
Hours:	Daily 1130am-930pm
Parking:	Street
Reservations:	Yes
Prices:	$6 - $60