Ooof. Saw the great reviews and really wanted to like this. Ordered the chicken ramen for delivery, and the packaging nearly disintegrated by the time it arrived. The paper bowl was caving in and absorbing the soup and I had to transfer it into my own bowl, and no utensils were given.

Packaging aside, the ramen broth was so salty I could not keep going. The chicken was also extremely salty and I'm just wondering if it was an off day? That was really not enjoyable, and much flavor (besides salt) was left to be desired. I had three bites and now am drinking water like a madman.

If you've ever heard of Sanford Meisner, you might know he was one of the most influential acting teachers of our time. You may not know that before his passing, he hand chose one of his own students to take the torch and present his teachings as authentically and true to its origins as possible. That student was Jim Jarrett.

My two years at the Meisner Technique Studio with Jim have been transformative, empowering, and unforgettable. Jim is a once in a lifetime teacher who pushes you to challenge your own self doubts, limiting beliefs, and comfort zones to break through and own who you really are. I came into this class with the goal of learning the craft of acting, but I left with so much more than I expected. To be a good actor is to be a good listener, to be sensitive, to be extremely focused, to accept oneself and give zero fs about what others think about you. These skills don't come overnight (just as old narratives and limiting beliefs don't disappear overnight), but are developed brick by brick over time with skillful reinforcement and genuine encouragement. Don't let anyone fool you, good acting takes work. Just like learning the piano or singing, you've got to put in the work and Jim will hold you to it.

Jim and his daughter Kyla both have the special gift of teaching and infectious enthusiasm for life. Thank you for sharing your invaluable lessons, industry expertise, and humanity with me and so many others.

If it's always been your dream to pursue acting, if you've always felt in your bones this was what you are here to do, do not pass up the chance to audition for this class. It will meet you exactly where you are, and change your life. The class was hands down one of the best experiences of my whole life, and I've had a good many! I feel so incredibly blessed to have had Jim as my teacher, and to have this world class training under my belt.

You'll probably want to know about results too. Well, I'm proud to say that I'm a represented actor who has landed significantly more auditions and bookings since graduating this class. The proof is in the pudding.

And while I wish I were joking, I have to say that the Meisner Technique was a WAY better investment than getting my UC Berkeley degree--oopsie!

My dad started feeling really ill a few hours before our reso and decided to sit it out to be safe. Our party went from 4 to 3 people, and before even greeting us, the manager (Asian male with glasses) informed us that my dad's portion of our pre-paid deposit would not apply to our final bill. When I told him that my father was sick, he said "people get sick all the time," implying that this wasn't a valid exception. I asked him what was, and he said "a life threatening emergency or something like that." I would totally get a no refunds policy if we just completely did not show up, costing the restaurant the time and preparation, but since we had booked an a la carte, general reservation, there was no cost incurred for them (manager even agreed with this). The three of us still sat at a four person table, and the only "cost" on the restaurant was removing one table setting. I was genuinely surprised that the manager handled the situation this way, and this naturally colored our experience even before we sat down. Everyone comes to a restaurant like this ready to spend $$$, and not being flexible or understanding of the situation is extremely short-sighted for customer service and future business. For a restaurant of this purported caliber, the lack of general warmth and humanity from the manager was pretty dumbfounding.

Service:
The two stars are for food and waiter service. The waiters were a welcome contrast to our regrettable encounter with the manager, and they were all warm, attentive, and exhibited actual customer service. I can only wish upon a star that the many un-applied deposits go to them.

Food:
5/5 - Beef Tongue: show stopper and melts in your mouth. So good.
4/5 - Galbi: everyone says you gotta get this and it's definitely the most tender galbi I've had, but fat content is very high so may not be for everyone
4/5- Tteok: simple, chewy, and flavors just right.
4/5 - Banchan: rating is for delectable potatoes. The radish and tofu weren't bad, but also not game changing.
3/5 - Veggie bibimbap: this was tough because the flavors and seasonal vegetables were so spot on, but the dish was extremely greasy and the bottom of the pan was wet and shiny with oil.
3.5/5 - Blood Sausage pancake: unique and novel, but also was a bit greasy. Blood sausage also isn't for everyone, and has a gamey taste and almost mercury like tongue-feel.
4/5 - Lettuce assortment: you gotta order your greens separately and they're good quality, but paying like $8 dollars for a few pieces of lettuce is just a generally weird feeling lol.
3.5/5 - Chestnut Soft Serve dessert: a simple and satisfying dessert, though you can't taste the chestnut or the red bean.
Food overall was good, but not memorable enough to come back for.

I'm a native of this city, and it really pains me to encounter people so caught up with their hype and $$$ that basic humanness and understanding are just pushed to the side.

Oh, and do remember: if a member of your party can't make it, you better be ready to show a death certificate if you want their deposit to be applied to your final bill.

Massage Grotto is the BEST in SF. As a San Francisco native with a love of massages, I've tried many a place in this city-- from high end to affordable. I've just gotta say the massages here are the best, yes even better than those I've received from high end spas.

Justin is the best and is so intuitive with a gift for bodywork. I always feel brand new after his massages. I've also had Krisi a few times, and she is wonderful as well. Both are great listeners and understand the body. I aim for a massage every two weeks and will be a regular forever! Highly recommend!