While I will certainly give it another try, my first experience at Mustards Grill at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a Priority Pass restaurant in the International Terminal, was not a great one.
Mustards Grill SFO Review – Priority Pass Restaurant
I had a two-hour layover ahead of a United Airlines redeye flight and my upgrade had not cleared (and would not clear). Thus, I elected to have a late dinner before boarding. Lately, if I am taking a redeye I will skip dinner and just have a green drink at home with kale (primarily), avocado, celery, green apple, mint, blueberries, tangerines, and lemon juice. Blend it with a bit of ice and water and it makes a great treat that helps me to get my necessary greens. For good measure, I’ll add Vitamin C and D drops.
Anyway, I may have eaten healthy at home, but I did not eat healthy at Mustards Grill, a recent addition to the Priority Pass Restaurant network (your Citi, Capital One, or Chase affiliated Priority Pass Select membership entitles you to a $28/person restaurant credit – this benefit is not available with American Express-issued Priority Pass memberships).
Arriving just before 10:00PM, I found the restaurant packed, though I did not have to wait for a table (many larger parties were waiting). The restaurant is located near gate G3. If you are departing from Terminal 2 or 3, you can walk on the secure side (airside, after clearing security) to this restaurant.
Mustard Grill SFO
International Terminal Departures Level (G Gates)
San Francisco, CA 94128
(650) 821-8936
6:00AM – 11:00PM (daily)
I was seated and already knew what I wanted to order; a hangar steak. But to my dismay, I found it had recently been removed from the menu. I wrestled briefly over whether to order a lamb or beef burger, but opted for a beef burger with bacon. #protein
But no server showed up.
I waited. And waited. And waited some more.
Different waiters and waitresses kept walking by, ignoring me. Finally, I flagged one down and asked to order. She told me she would get my waitress. The waitress, who had passed me several times and never said hello or offered me a drink, showed up.
I ordered the food. Good thing I had time, because it took about 20 more minutes minutes for the food to come out.
Sadly, the burger was not great. Maybe it just had less fat than most restaurant burgers, but I thought it really lacked flavor, despite the cheese, bacon, and other condiments I added. I skipped the bread, but ate the French Fries, which were good.
By the time I was finished eating at 10:35PM, the restaurant had cleared out. I left the waitress a tip because it wasn’t her fault that the restaurant was so understaffed, but the service really was bad.
CONCLUSION
I would return to Mustard Grill at SFO (next time I’ll try the lamb burger), but I do prefer Yankee Pier and Giant’s Clubhouse, both nearby and superior Priority Pass options.
Sad to see that the airport version is tarnishing the image/ reputation of the real/ original Mustard’s Grill, which is in Napa Valley. Highly recommend going there if in Napa (but get a reservation first.)
Good to know. Thanks!
About a 10 minute or so drive down the road from the Alila Napa, where I had incredible stay in April and had lunch at Mustard’s.
All the priority pass restaurants are the same. Greasy “American” food that does not taste good.
Regarding horrible waitstaff: “not their fault” they are understaffed. So if they have so many customers they give less attention to each customer, so get less tip, and it all equals out, right? If 10 customers per hour and each gives $10 then they get $100. But if 20 customers and each gives $5, cause the server does not actually pay any attention to them, they still make $100.
I don’t disagree with your bottom line – I just know I’d never want to get into the low-margin restaurant business.
So I went there today and have been there on other previous occasions. The menu has slimmed down from when they first opened. As was stated by another poster, I recommend you visit their location in Napa Valley.
FYI, Yankee Pier and The Giants Clubhouse are run by the same group that run Mustard’s
I figured that…same looking menu with the all-day breakfast.
What’s a ‘Priority Pass’ restaurant?
Priority Pass partners with many airport restaurants to offer its members $28/person in restaurant credit. It represents a nice alternative to (often overcrowded) lounges.
It seems totally out of character for an outpost of Mustards Grill not to offer their signature Mongolian pork chop. It’s like McDonalds not offering a Big Mac and fries. Go to Napa!!
A Mongolian pork chop would have been wonderful.
I’m generally all for tipping at Priority Pass restaurants, but the minimum wage at SFO is $19.05 and I believe there isn’t an exception for workers who are generally tipped. I guess what I don’t understand is if we’re supposed to tip because workers aren’t paid a usual wage, why would the expectation of 20% remain when workers are making $40,000 annually as a base.
I actually think mustards is slightly better than Yankee pier and Giants clubhouse. But I agree nothing special. Last time, I had a long lasting so I walked over to T2 and tried Lark Creek. Not much better but all least the menu was slightly better. As sure service, it just varies. I never works sit around waiting that long is no one showed up.