Comments on: Handline Restaurant No Fish Story in Sebastopol

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 21:37:05 +0000

By: Tess

Tess — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 15:14:01 +0000

Finally we all went to Handline.

First the fish smell was so strong that you can smell it from the parking . They claim they serve “fresh fish” well…something died way before they got it……

The people were very nice and professional, they knew their food. BUT……The food arrived one by one between 10-15 minutes ea. order, So the first 2 burger sat in front of us for longggg time. So we had to send it back because the food was getting cold. And then we had to wait again to get for the burgers was sent to keep warm in the kitchen and the people at the table were almost finish with the meal, when they burgers arrived again….. So the serving system doesn’t even get one star!!!!
Food was OK: Salad, fish tacos and fries very good. Fish and chips was good also. Burger OK.
Not good selection of local wine

We were 6 people and the bill was about $200.00, pretty high for a burger joint……

Will be back??? NO!!!!!. Across street the food is better and the price reasonable

So in general they get 1 star from the 6 of us!!!!

By: biteclub

biteclub — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:38:46 +0000

In reply to Jizell. I'm really surprised at the negative comments. I was back a couple weeks ago (no one knew I was there until after I got my food), and was impressed again. I did NOT have the burger, so I can't speak to that. It is pricier than a typical fish taqueria, but they are sourcing sustainably, and making a lot of the food in-house.

By: Redwood

Redwood — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 01:34:40 +0000

Guess I got lucky.

Three of us ordered, and all liked the food. The fish sandwich included perfectly good fish and a sauce that was good as well.

The portion wasn’t big, but the fish fit the bun.

Fries were O.K., but the “cook ’em twice in duck fat” trick only works when timing is perfect. I’ve had better fries at many other places.

The fish tank is worth a visit, even if you only got a soft serve cone and an order of fries (call it a health food snack; one veggie and organic milk in the cone.).

By: Jacq Agata

Jacq Agata — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 23:14:17 +0000

As a south end Sebastopol resident and long time restaurant worker, I was really looking forward to the opening of Handline. My last visit to Peter Lowell was literally my last visit because of the horrible parking situations so I am disappointed to read that Handline has not adequately addressed this issue either. Other longstanding businesses in the area are negatively mpacted by Handline’s customers using spaces designated for them and suffer the subsequent loss of customers, i.e Hole in the Wall and Himalayan Tandoori for example. And I have not heard one personal review that does not complain about the service and small portions for the price. To ask for an 18% gratuity up front only makes bad service more intolerable. And despite what another reviewer said, not all kitchen staff smokes cigarette butts, especially picked up off the ground. That alone is a serious health code violation and I would fire a cook/chef who did that. All I all it seems like the owners are suffering from apathy toward customers and bottom line syndrome and I think I’ll take a pass on trying this restaurant. So thank you to all the honest reviewers for saving many of us money and aggravation.

By: Duane

Duane — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 23:47:59 +0000

I think I’ve read three positive reviews for this restaurant in the PD now. I tried out Handline twice. The food is under seasoned, portion are small, parking is impossible, and the service is terrible. The absolute worst part is the food doesn’t come out all together. I took a business friend to lunch and they were completely done with their food before mine arrived. It was an awful experience. How can the author of this article keep claining that Handline is something special when the vast majority of the comments clearly disagee? The author’s continued praise for this restaurant makes me seriously question her credibilty. If you want a real treat, go try the spicy tan tan noodles at Ramen Gaijin a couple blocks down the road.

By: Fierce Marigold

Fierce Marigold — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 21:20:52 +0000

Cerviche was very small serving and loaded with way too many jalapenos. I ordered rockfish tacos without any spicy sauce, and after waiting 40 minutes at my table twiddling my thumbs, (while my daughter was finishing her burger), my tacos finally arrived – drenched in hot spicy sauce that I had asked not to be there. Also, the dry shredded cabbage that they fill the tacos with are not exactly my thing either. We had spent enough time there (daughter waited 30 minutes for her burger) , so I packed the food and we left. Oysters at 1.50 each were the tiniest oysters I have ever seen. Everything is overpriced. And it galls me that they ask for a minimum 18% tip up front at the cashier/order window!

By: B.S.S

B.S.S — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 22:23:43 +0000

My question is…being that 90 percent of the commenters are expressing that this place is not worth the visit–how could the author get it so wrong?

By: B.S.S

B.S.S — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 22:21:51 +0000

This place is so incredibly under-whelming. I LOVE Peter Lowells…so i was very excited for the next endeavor being Handline. What a HUGE disappointment. The food is below average…at best. The last try there i had to send my burger back twice and left on the third one. What a shame…beautiful space and a great opportunity squandered on horrid execution!

By: Food Love

Food Love — Sun, 19 Feb 2017 17:07:04 +0000

Very underwhelmed. Service staff had attitude. Really?? Great Decor. Poor execution.