The Most Delicious French in San Francisco

Aquitaine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (390) • $$

"Their happy hour menu offers a handful of options, we got the petit croque monsieur, crab stuffed mushrooms, mussels, and wings for $8 each. It was a good amount for 2 people!Service was great, friendly people and they brought out sidferent wines and beers to choose from, from the menu. The environment was welcoming and had nice quaint French decor - i especially enjoyed the couch seating and edges of wall that were lines with wine bottle corks."

Bistro La Chaumière

★★★★★ 4.5 (124) • $$

"I previously tried La Sarrasine before it rebranded to Bistro la Chaumiere. Came by in the middle of the week during a quick break to try the strawberry Nutella (or was it Chocolate?) crepe with vanilla ice cream. The crepe was good, not too thick, very sweet with the chocolate or Nutella filling. Ice cream was perfect accompaniment. Tea was great to help with the sweetness. I sat by the window toward the front with some tea. Felt very civilized and content. I should do this again when I have the time I think to myself. Maybe try other things on the menu. Ambiance quiet and service was good.Located on Divisadero and Hayes."

Galinette

★★★★☆ 4.4 (104)

"This is going to be my mid-week WFH treat from now on. I came here on a sunny beautiful Wednesday for lunch. I was craving for escargots and this place has it while I was searching on doordash. I debated whether I should order online and have it deliver or get myself out of the house (it's about 10 minutes drive from my home but I worried about the parking situation). BUT man, I'm so glad that I came to the restaurant in person and had my lunch over there!!! While the escargots were not cooked in the butter sauce in a baked dish, this place serves the escargots in this beautiful cream sauce along with flakey pastry and it satisfies my craving perfectly. I also ordered the mussels as well and THEY WERE PERFECT. I really want to try their steak tartare - I know that is something I will order next time.Parking is easier than my expectation. This place seems to get fill up quickly during lunch hour - even on a weekday (!) But the kitchen brings out the food very quickly too. I drove from Daly City (near Westlake), finished my 2-course lunch and got home just under an hour. I can't wait to come back in the near future!"

Bar Crenn

★★★★☆ 4 (140) • $$$$

"Took a late reservation at 9pm and the experience was exactly what I wanted. Two spots are the bar with velvet, comfortable stools. Excellent staff and drink recommendations for both alcohol and NA. The sound bar drives the atmosphere and Bar Crenn's chef and food speaks for itself. Sexy spot for a late date night tucked into the marina. Bonus: the bathroom has the black toilet I've been looking for my own home. Great vibes overall."

Le Central

★★★★☆ 3.5 (438) • $$$

"Iconic place with classic & delicious French food. We were warmly greeted and seated at the window table that is famous for being the favorite table of former Mayor Willie Brown, my favorite journalist, the late Herb Caen, and Wilkes Bashford (fashion & clothing). Their French onion soup is the best, with perfectly cooked tender onions and melted cheese over a slice of baguette. The mussels are to die for - cooked in garlic and served with toasted slices of French bread. The burger & fries (frites) are also very good served in a generous portion as everything else here. Their sliced up chicken roll is tasty but we were already getting too full to finish it. For dessert we had the Apple Tartine which had a buttery thin crust topped with lots of spiced apples slices. Overall it was an excellent meal in a nice & relaxing and environment with good service. I can certainly understand why folks like coming here again and again."

Grace at SFMOMA

★★★★☆ 4.4 (53)

"It's been years since Gayle and I have visited the SF MOMA. And here we were a few days ago on a excursion to experience the Amy Sherald: American Sublime exhibition. After a deep dive there, it was time for Lunch at the in house restaurant - Grace.We both a agreed afterwards is that the burger/fries combo that others were having looked amazing. Our own choices were fine as I went for the Surf Mac & Cheese (torchietti pasta, cheddar, Gruyère, butter-braised Dungeness crab, and Ritz cracker crumble), while Gayle had the French Onion Soup (caramelized onions, cream sherry-infused veal broth, toasty baguette, comté) and bread. Both were "rich" choices which was maybe a little too much comfort food.I had a nice glass of lemonade, while Gayle chose wine. Seating was pleasant, as was the counter and food delivery service. The visible kitchen area was busy and our fellow diners were also having a nice time and outing in this well lit casual ambiance."

Bouche

★★★★☆ 4.3 (961) • $$$

"Honestly, I felt scammed during my recent experience here for multiple reasons, but we'll get to that.My friends and I came for a makeshift holiday party and the ambiance was quite nice and homey. Our waiter was also super friendly throughout the whole meal.We all ordered the $55 tasting menu, and it definitely seemed like some choices were better than others. I had the Cauliflower soup, the Lamb, and they ran out of the chocolate dessert, so I had the cake instead.- Cauliflower Soup: This was a bit of an underwhelming way to begin the meal. I felt like it was lacking flavor and seasoning, and the soup tasted "gray" if that makes sense.- Lamb Tenderloin: Absolutely delicious. Everything on this plate was perfect from the cook of the meat, the seasoning, and the garnishes. I had the bone marrow add on, which was also tasty and well made. They knocked this one out of the park, and this is what I was excited for. This definitely made me forget about the soup while I was dining, and I was excited for dessert.- Dessert: Unfortunately my excitement disappeared after tasting these (I had a bit of both). The chocolate was super runny and it seemed like it didn't set. The cake was a bit on the drier side, and the fruits it came with seemed unintentionally dried out. And now, the scam! They offered us bread with butter which we assume is complimentary, given it is not on the tasting menu as an add-on like other items were, and the server had not told us. We asked for another plate of bread after our first round, and the server said he would bring us two - this to me implies that something is complimentary, because if something cost money, you don't just assume that the customer wants more than what they ask for - you should ask or check. At the end of the night, we had a $36 bread charge for 6 plates. Overall, this was a meal with some really high highs (the main!), and some lows (mid appetizer, bad dessert). I would come back if I could order the main lamb dish a-la-carte, but the bread charge leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

ONE65 Bistro

★★★★★ 4.5 (146) • $$$

"I'm glad to see The Bistro at ONE65 reopen after a long break! I'm a fan of their amazing Patisserie on the ground floor but had never ventured upstairs til this month. The Bistro is a more "casual" California/French dinner restaurant on the third floor with an open kitchen. ONE65 is also home to the Michelin-starred fine dining concept O' by Chef Claude Le Tohic and Elements Bar.ONE65 Bistro currently has three set menus - two, three, and five courses. The prix fixe menus are a bit on the pricey side, but depending on what you order, they can be more in line with typical San Francisco pricing. We opted for the three course menu (two sets total) and were quite full, especially after the irresistible complimentary bread. We started with some refreshing appetizers - vibrant kampachi ceviche and seasonal heirloom tomatoes with basil and burrata. Finishing the leftover sauces with baguette from the bread plate was a must. And the decadent croissant - perhaps the most buttery I've experienced - was sinfully good on its own.The main courses were both substantial. I chose the campanelle pasta with romesco mascarpone sauce and mushrooms. This was quite enjoyable, with the hearty sauce easily picked up by the al dente campanelle ruffles. He got the grilled half lobster, and though I think lobster is generally overrated, I found myself impressed with the tenderness of this one. Our server indulged our request for more bread, so we got to also try the brioche, another winner! And if that weren't enough bread, we opted for the cheese plate with walnut bread for a savory dessert course. The other dessert was a spin on a peach melba, with poached peaches, strawberry sorbet, and a crispy almond cookie.Overall we really enjoyed the meal, the friendly service, and the counter seating open kitchen view. When I'm feeling splurgy, I definitely want to try O' given how strong this bistro menu was"

Cafe Du Soleil

★★★★★ 4.5 (461) • $$

"This is my absolute favorite spot to get lunch when I worked downtown. They have the most amazing lunch offerings. inside there is a wonderful places to sit. It is a small café so seating is limited. It did remind me of being in Paris.Sandwiches are made fresh and to order and I absolutely just die for the ham with brie on a baguette.All the ingredients are fresh and the cashier is prompt and courteous . I always recommend Café de Soleil whenever anyone ask me what is the best spot to eat in the city."

Bombay Brasserie

★★★★☆ 4.3 (30)

"Ate here using my $100 credit from booking a room.Food wasn't bad, I've definitely had better Indian food but this place was decent. We were walk ins to dinner and the server asked if we had reservations and we said no. She stated that she could seat us but we'd have to be gone within the next hour and a half. That's fine with me because we ate within 45 min. I ordered the curry prawn with basmati rice, I'd skip next time considering the curry came with 4-5 pieces of shrimp is an orange curry sauce. I think next time I'll opt for the Bistro menu instead of eating Indian food."

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"Growing up in Calgary I feel like I really took it for granted how often I saw French onion soup on menus. Living in the US, I realized it's a special item that you can only really find it at French restaurants (and the frozen food aisle of Trader Joes lmao). Needless to say, I was eyeing the FOS as soon as we picked this spot for brunch. Overall chic French bistro vibes. Sorta upscale feeling but still fairly lively.The French onion soup was true to the original. It was perfectly cheesy and I was struggling to cut the cheese pull with every spoonful. Underneath was a rich broth with lots of onions. It was the perfect consistency and flavour (not too salty, and not too watery).The salade lyonnaise was quite light, with a strong aroma of olive oil. The ratio of mushroom + shredded duck + pancetta toppings to the salad was pretty good. Each bite was exciting with the combination of all the toppings coming together."

Blush!

★★★★☆ 3.9 (338) • $$

"Service was the key for me here. The bartender had great opinions and conversation while I waited for my friend. The overall place had a wonderful classy, but still had regulars, vibe. Prices were also pretty good for the area."

Zuni Café

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$$

"Came by for lunch on a weekend, I booked a reservation in advance online. I found parking pretty easily nearby just a block away. Cool corner restaurant/bar. They have a wood-fired brick oven in the middle of the restaurant. Tables spread out in kind of an interesting layout, and a second level with some seating. Their menu changes pretty frequently because they use seasonal and fresh ingredients. There are some staple menu items though (like the chicken which I heard multiple times about before coming here... I knew it was a must get!). We noticed that just about every table had the shoestring potatoes (fries) so we had to get an order of those. They were deceptively addicting, thin and crispy. Great portion for sharing.Little gem lettuce salad with local dungeness crab, pomegranate seeds, and herbed buttermilk dressing - they kindly split it up into 3 plates for us. Light salad, tasty little appetizer. Bowl of polenta with parmesan - absolutely delicious, comfort foodPappardelle alla Bolognese - really enjoyed! The chicken! This is what 2 people told me to get, and I read about it in an article. It takes a whole hour to cook so you have to order it right when you get there, and then essentially either hang out for an hour or order a ton of other menu items like we did. It's possible the hour wait helps build anticipation (and hunger!) for the dish, but it was quite delicious. The chicken is incredibly tender and flavorful. Comes with a little salad in the middle. Now do I think the dish was worth $75... that's debatable. But it was delicious.Great meal and fantastic service! If I lived in the area, seems like a great spot to stop by for a cocktail too."

Portola Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.1 (35)

"Being in Palo Alto for the evening, we quickly stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for restaurants in the area. The restaurant is located in a small strip plaza. The lighting and ambiance was nice, cozy, and quaint for a special occasion.On the menu, I appreciated the wide variety of more casual items like Salads and Pizza to more formal dishes like Steak and Salmon.They provide bread that was nicely heated and a spread.The French onion soup was a nice sized portion and great balance of flavors! The steak tartar was good, however, we wish it was accompanied by a few more pieces of bread to eat it with.The beef dish was delicious. The broth/soup was very beefy and full of flavor. The accompanying potato it was topped with was nicely presented, however, rather dry. The seafood pasta was made al dente and quite delicious!Overall, we were satisfied with our meal! Good service. Nice ambiance. Fair pricing. Great for special occasions- and they sing happy birthday too!"

3rd Cousin

★★★★☆ 4.1 (512) • $$$$

"3rd cousin has such a special charm! The ambiance, experience, creativity, service... everything about this spot has made this meal so memorable. Definitely in my top three restaurants of all time here in the SF Bay Area, and I can't wait to come back. We came by for a birthday celebration and opted for the five course menu ($89pp) along with the wine pairing ($55pp). Loved the variety of flavors as we ate our way through each course. A couple wow factors: the smokey dashi broth for the crispy black cod dish, refreshing sharpness of the thai basil in the campenelle, and the rich hojicha fragrance in the perfectly textured panna cotta. The uni brûlée is also a must ($38 supplement). One thing that stood out to me was how friendly and warm 3rd cousin felt. We were warmly greeted by the chef and owner as soon as we walked in, and the service throughout the meal was top tier. For example, as we finished the toasted bread slices for the uni brûlée, two separate servers came up to us immediately to ask if we'd like some more, free of charge too. For a restaurant of this caliber, it's hard to stay warm and cozy without the feeling of being pretentious, however 3rd cousin truly makes you feel like family the moment you walk in the door. Highly recommend!"

Florio Bar & Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (385) • $$$

"Great neighborhood spot for food and wine. Staff is always friendly and accommodating, never making me feel weird when I want a table when dining alone (a lot of places say oh well the bar is open...)"

ChouChou French Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (111)

"The night started out really well and the service was amazing, until the end.Started out with people constantly checking in on us and seeing how our food was, refilling our waters, the usual great service you would expect from a high caliber spot such as this. The dessert took some time to come out and then our server simply disappeared. There was a couple next to us that got there way after us, got their dessert before us and their check. After a while, when another server came to reset the tables, we asked her if we could get our check. She said she would find our server. A few more minutes passed by and the same server ended up bringing us our check. So a really great service ended up finishing poorly.On top of that, we were there for my birthday, the wife called ahead and made sure they knew on the reservation, as well as when we got there but no birthday writing or anything...not a big deal but attention to detail is good.Would we go back? Probably not, and not because just the service but the food, was just ok, good, but not great. Nothing to write home about.The French onion soup, as much as we love it, was pretty bland. Presentation was good and true to the soup but definitely missing a LOT of flavor.For the most part everything we ordered was just mediocre."

Chapeau

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"My friend made reservations for my birthday and I was so glad she did. This place was absolutely amazing!!! I would definitely recommend making a reservation because they do get quite busy, especially on a Friday or Saturday night. Our server was very sweet and he recommended the 3 course tasting menu so we could try a bunch of different items since it was my first time there. So we did that and everything tasted so delicious!! We even had a couple desserts to share, which were amazing! I definitely recommend getting the French toast to top of an amazing meal."

Maison Alyzée

★★★★☆ 4 (266) • $$

"Nice presentation, but uninspiring and just bland. My colleague had Tiramisu and I had the Signature Chocolate Tart. I dropped my colleague, a chef, back at the Westin and I continued on home to Berkeley in anticipation of what I had purchased. I was thinking maybe I can add this to my reserve list (e.g. B. Patisserie) of patisserie's I frequent when not preparing pastry myself. I was extremely disappointed as well as my colleague who presents Chef Tables at Sky Lounges all over the US."

Douce France Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (706) • $$

"This is such a great spot to have a quick bite and get your morning coffee! I really enjoy their outdoor tables and the dining space here. I love grabbing a book to read sitting outside because they have lots of tables available. Their salmon crepe is my favorite here, and I love how soft their crepe batter is. The iced vanilla soy latte is my go-to here, and everything tastes delicious."

La Société Bar & Café

★★★★☆ 4.3 (86) • $$$

"I had club lounge access at the attached Hyatt Regency and it included a full voucher for the breakfast buffet (available to be purchased separately).Overall pretty tasty stuff! My most favorite thing that I had was the pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant). Was just like something you'd find at a good patisserie; nice crispiness (not stale!) with a rich dark chocolate shaving in the center, yum. The hash browns were perfectly light and crispy. Flavorful chicken sausage. On the flip side, the spicy lamb in a blanket was a little dry and the European soft scramble was a bit of a letdown as it was less silky than anticipated.Service could've been better. Although most of the staff was really polite, there was one particular male who was a little *too* socially jumpy.....Don't get me wrong, I didn't expect staff to be overly posh here, but he was very chatty at the restaurant and became agitated when I didn't promptly tell him which plates needed to be cleared from the table. He stood out from the rest of the crew, basically, and not in a great way.Breakfast buffet without Hyatt Regency club lounge access is $39 per person, sooo do I think it's worth that price? Ehh, based on my visit here, price is maybe a tad too high. If you're still curious about the offerings though (whole breakfast buffet menu list is on the website!) than I'd say go for it."

Restaurant Jeanne D' Arc

★★★★☆ 4.3 (447) • $$$

"Exquisite! A fun, over the top atmosphere with over the top medieval French decor. Shut down during pandemic, then reopened with new owners who brought back the French chef and staff. We started with the tender escargot and house salad, which paired well together. For the mains, we had the duck breast and lamb -- both were flavorful and perfectly cooked and even the sides were great (not an afterthought) -- potatoes and green beans. For dessert, you HAVE to get the Grand Marnier souffle (allow for 20 minutes) and the creme brulee. We found street parking after circling once, on a Tuesday night. Get yoursel there for a date night!"

Zola + BarZola

★★★★☆ 4.2 (571) • $$$

"Good food, small portions. We came on Valentines weekend, ordered oysters and French oinion soup for starters. My husband got the monkfish and I got the gnocchi. Both were good. Dessert was a raspberry bomb, which was nice."

Mijoté

★★★★★ 4.5 (177)

"Amazing spot for a dinner! They have a rotating wine glass selection, but also a wine pairing for an extra $40.The meal was incredible - I love the appetizers. We had a yellowtail / watermelon radish that I was thinking about the whole meal. The other standout was the lamb loin - so tender!!Great service and ambiance, and you can watch the staff put together the meals at the bar."

Atelier Crenn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (932) • $$$$

"I've wanted to check out this restaurant for a while, and I finally made it happen last month. As we sat down at our table, the server walked us through the tasting menu. It's written like poetry, with dishes delivered as interpretations of lines from the poem. The dairy-free, pescatarian menu showcases Chef Dominique's memories and inspiration from the sea, as well as the finest local ingredients from the Bay Area. The entire flow of the dinner was seamless, with each course elegantly presented by the hospitable staff. Overall, the flavors were more subtle but creative. We also opted for both the wine pairing and the non-alcoholic pairing. I enjoyed the NA pairing more, especially some of the house-made options. It was definitely a better value as well!I also want to highlight the desserts by Pastry Chef Juan Contreras. My favorite was the Sugar Bee Apple, which, compressed with yuzu, sake, and ginger, was very refreshing. It also helped cleanse the palate and transition from savory dishes to sweets. The dessert courses, holistically speaking, harmonized beautifully with the preceding savory dishes. We enjoyed all of them.Thanks for a vibrant culinary experience! Congratulations to the entire team for maintaining 3 stars from Michelin Guide this year!"

Cote Ouest Bistro

★★★★★ 4.7 (271)

"No SF mandate, no surcharges, no B.S. Straight to the point delicious food at great prices.We had a reservation for brunch and were glad we made one as it is a popular spot. I went in wanting the Eggs Provencale but it was not available unfortunately... We shared deviled eggs, croissant french toast, and the mushroom omelet. The deviled eggs were slightly different than usual as the hard boiled part of the egg was left in but still had a cream/mustard sauce piped on top and A LOT of it. This dish also included homemade chips. I was worried that the croissant french toast would be overly sweet or rich but it was perfectly balanced and delicious. The mushroom omelet was great and extremely filling as well since it brough a ton of potatoes. Definitely will be returning for dinner!"

Bon Delire

★★★★☆ 4 (74)

"Excellent place for date night/weekend brunch with friends. Think French bistro meets modern city cool with a waterfront setting. Indoor and outdoor seating. I work nearby, so I come here at least once a month. Love their selection of bistro classics, cocktails, French wines, and very attentive and speedy service. Kais (owner) is always so warm and welcoming. Great price point for the Embarcadero and you can come for cocktails, light bites, or a full-on dinner/brunch. A lively ambiance with vinyls spinning. Finally a spot near the ferry building worth going to. Can't miss:- Caesar salad - Truffle fries- Le Burger- Madeleines (served warm) for dessert - French 75 cocktails"

Le Parc Bistrobar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (28)

"4.5 STARSYou know the rich rich that you vicariously live through because you aren't ballin' or have a sugar daddy or OF money?I remember my friend posting their tab for Baumé (Palo Alto)....$1,400+ for two (before shrinkflation). And, half of it was for wine because wine pairing was apparently required and they can't even drink wine. So, basically they dropped $700 pp for the food BEFORE tip.Oh you know, just a casual weekday dinner for them.WILD.Well, the Owner-Chef Bruno Chamel of now defuct Baumé has opened an affordable French bistro in the city with most entrees in the $30s. And, wines by the glass at $13 max.Now we're talking...a STEAL from a chef who in the past was awarded two Michelin stars eight years in a row!Soft opening is Le Parc Bistrobar in the Galleria Park Hotel (formerly Gaspar Brasserie). Currently open for dinner only with lunch service to come. Starting July 15th, they'll have happy hour from 3 pm - 5 pm.Rezzies available on Toast but walk-ins are accepted (large space).M E N UFrench Bistro Cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients.Full bar. Corkage fee: $45. 6% SF mandate.F O O D* Tartare de Saumon: Salmon crudo, lemon, taro ($21) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/jjf93j93Salmon poke nachos with cucumbers, a dollop of citrusy foam, and crunchy taro chips (a little too thick tho). The salmon was hella fresh and buttery... such an unexpected app coming from a French bistro. * Pot Pie D'Escargot: Escargots, garlic, parsley, brick ($19) // 3 stars: https://tinyurl.com/r5uh48ekTender snails simmered in a brothy sauce and topped with [brick] cracker. It was fine but too salty and I would have preferred the puff pastry crown (noted on online menu).* Queues de Boeuf au Vin Rouge: Braised oxtail, red wine, carrots, pomme puree ($35) // 5 stars: https://tinyurl.com/bddnzz4wA rustic dish, the braised oxtails were meltingly tender in a flavorful red-wine sauce with soft carrots and crisp bokchoy. Served over deliciously rich, creamy potato puree. Simple, hearty, and satisfying. * Bavette de Bouef Grillé: 8 oz. Grilled Flap Steak w/ béarnaise sauce ($38) // 5 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/mr2fawdw--Requested medium rarePerfectly red and tender with a good sear from the grill. As flap steak can be chewy, I was pleasantly surprised at how it nearly melted in our mouths. The silky smooth béarnaise with a kiss of tang made it even more bomb. They ran out of the obligatory side of frites tho. =(* Oeufs à la Neige: Floating island, anglaise sauce, caramel ($12) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/43wyhdjyA classic French dessert - fluffy clouds of poached meringue floating over a vanilla-y sauce. Enjoyed the almonds for texture. You're basically eating air so it's almost calorie free! J/k!S E R V I C ERefined, very kind, and approachable staff. It was nice to see owner-chef's wife greeting guests at the hostess stand. Prompt food service for 5 pm dinner rezzies (in/out in an hour). A M B I A N C ESexy date night vibes with vintage fixtures and dark burgundy leather banquettes (similar to their predecessor). Two-level resto with two bars that can accommodate over 100 people.P A R K I N GHotel valet: $27 for 90 minutes + $6 for every 30 minutes thereafter. Garage next door is $7 every 30 minutes. Overall, I know a lot of people have been avoiding going to Union Square (*raises hand*)...but if you never had a chance to taste Chef Bruno's food, now you can without breaking your wallet!"

Heirloom Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (526) • $$$

"Snagged a last minute reservation at the bar for dinner before Día de los Muertos. Bacon and onion tart arrived promptly and quite tasty (sweet/salty) on a soft pastry base but was slightly undersized.Gnocchi (with sausage, chives, kale) were pillowy, charred with melt-in-the-mouth goodness.Duck confit very thoughtfully prepared: juicy, unexpectedly tender, well-portioned duck meat (perhaps intentionally under-salted) dusted with crispness on top (sans skin). The presence of maitake mushrooms, pole beans and sweet mission figs presented a delectable dilemma: how best to create a forkful of contrasting taste.Dessert: chocolate pot de creme consisted of crisp wafer crumbling on a sea of luxuriant chocolate custard under softly whipped cream.Bresca Dorada (vermouth) has an unusual golden hue, infused with herbal freshness, an unmistakable bitterness, almost like a subtly mixed drink.Service was prompt and unpretentious."

Zazie

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Yum! Great ambience, warm outdoor patio, friendly staff and excellent food.We went for dinner and everyone in our party of 6 left happy!"

La Cuisine Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (126) • $

"Excellent French-ish Paris cafe in the center of town near Civic Center. Delicious breakfast sandwiches and coffee freshly made. French music in the background and authentic atmosphere - though our server could be a little friendlier but I guess that's French too lol. Recommended!"

Le Cafe du Soleil

★★★★☆ 4 (761) • $$

"I cross the Bridge every single day from Marin to get my breakfast.Nice people out there also they have one the best French bakeries and equator coffee beans, oh yummy!!!, you should come to try what I'm talking about."

Cafe Jacqueline

★★★★☆ 4.2 (728) • $$$$

"Outstanding experience!Did I say delicious food and excellent service?! Well, let's check those boxes too!I have lived in the neighborhood for over twenty years and have always heard wonderful things about Cafe Jacqueline, but I had never eaten there until over a month ago. And here is the bummer! They will be closing their doors soon! Jacqueline, the owner, and chef, is in her mid-eighties and will be retiring.The place is a small, charming space on Grant Ave in North Beach. The two gentlemen who work the floors are true professionals and very friendly if you try to be so! Regardless, they will make sure you are getting top-notch table service. soufflés are their thing, but we started with Onion Soup (outstanding) and Spinach salad with goat cheese. We then tried two different soufflés (Salmon & Asparagus and Lobster) and finished with a dessert soufflé (Lemon). We had an outstanding experience and really enjoyed our time dining. If you plan to go, remember that you must make a reservation way in advance. Try earlier days of the week and earlier dinner times. And do it before they close their doors."

O' by Claude Le Tohic

★★★★★ 4.6 (222) • $$$$

"This review is based on a 9 course Summer Grand Tasting with wine pairing in August 2023. Bring your appetite. You will not leave hungry. In a city where Michelin stars dot the culinary landscape like twinklings in the Mojave night skies, chef Claude Le Tohic lights up San Francisco's tastebuds with his interpretation of modern French cuisine. In culinary vernacular, "modern" suggests a chef stretching their culinary core in every direction, leaving all options on the table. As my old jazz guitar instructor once said, " hey man, if it sounds good then you're in the right key." Here the chef at times used seemingly dissonant ingredients but somehow orchestrated them into delicious harmonic bites.What do I mean? Abalone in seaweed butter with curry and daikon on top of crispy rice. The velvety butter with a mild hint of seaweed and curry coats the tastebuds as the tender abalone melts in your mouth. The crispy rice serves as a blank palate for the culinary artistry and added a wonderful contrasting texture. A nod to eastern flavors with French technique. Caviar on Dungeness crab with heirloom tomatoes, avocado on top of top of Melba toast. Bringing fresh local ingredients and flavors to the party. The nutty briny caviar paired perfectly with the clean crisp slightly sweet Dungeness crab. Yeah I know the caviar purist will say don't taint my fish eggs with anything but Champagne. To that I say, hey man this is San Francisco. The birthplace of the hippie movement where free culinary love can be expressed at the corner of caviar and crab. Plus the heirloom tomatoes added a wonderful drop of acid. The tasting menu came with Quail but for an additional $95 each you can opt for A5 Hokkaido Waygu . We shouted YOLO and opted for the latter. It did not disappoint. Not sure if this dish can be categorized as French, Japanese or other worldly, but left up to me ...it's pure fine dining carnivorism. If beef grew up to be butter, it would taste like this. Just make sure you close your eyes while chewing as to not get distracted by trivial things like space and time. Wine pairing:You have choice of the Standard ($150) or Grand ($350) pairing. We opted for the Standard because well... my jet plane was in the shop and I heard the mechanic was bidding on a 6 bedroom in Marin county. Although my gf is not much of a drinker, I insisted that she got her own pairing because when it cones to wine, sharing is not caring, ie... take your cute little fingers off my wine glass. We were absolutely blown away at how magnificently well the wine pairing complimented each dish to the point where she drank every drop and got drunk as a skunk ( light weight). At the end of the meal, we discovered from the waiter that our wines were selected and poured by a Master Sommelier and that there are only about 300 of them in the world because the exam is so darn difficult to pass. Obviously they haven't taken 10th grade algebra. Desserts:You get to choose from a jaw dropping Mignardises Cart. Refer to attached photo. Nuff said. We made our selections and the fine waiter graciously boxed them for us. FYI, I heard they're terrific with a hangover in your hotel room the next day. The Service:Impeccable! Along with the Captain Waiter and Master Sommelier, there was an entire team that worked very well together. Places like this can seem super formal and somewhat stuffy but our waiter welcomed my bad jokes to break the ice. At the end of the meal he actually thanked us for allowing him to interact and be less "robotic". The Ambiance The entry was well lit which helped to showcase the mignardises cart. The dining room was minimalistic and dimly lit with lots of dark wood. Until we eat again...Cheers!"

Quince

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$$$

"Classic Elegance As a long time fan of Cotogna, I was thrilled to get a chance to dine at Quince, the 3 Michelin star restaurant of Chef Michael and Lindsey TuskThe restaurant is located in the quaint Jackson Square and we lucked out with parking just in frontOutdoor diners were happily dining at next door Cotogna when we were invited inside to the holiday themed interiorWhat followed was a trio of meticulously crafted appetizers followed by a nuanced and delicious tasting menuService is warm and friendly and the overall pace and cuisine is healthier and less rich than somewhere like French LaundryHighlights included the spiny lobster, squab, the Binchotan smoked porcini mushrooms, and the supplemental beet root spaghetti with caviar (order it!)We really enjoyed our meal and I'm thrilled that Quince is back after a long absence and remodel Winter Menu ~ $390/person ~ Chilled Marin Miyagi Oyster, kohlrabi & finger lime / Warm Kumamoto Oyster, vermouth & wild fennel / Catalina spiny lobster, sea urchin, Tsar Nicholai caviar / Porcini mushrooms, white truffle fondata, crosne, young spinach / Spaghetti cooked in beet root juice, Tsar Nicholai caviar, yuzu vodka (supplemental) / smoked egg yolk tagliatelle/ Guinea hen bottoni / Paine farm squab cooked in hearth, field pumpkin & fuyu persimmon / Quince, bay laurel, & kishu mandarin / Chestnut coffee white truffle gelato / MignardiseQuince SF (San Francisco, CA)Seating is indoor only and reservations are highly recommended on their website a month in advance although walk-ins are allowed at the bar. All credit cards are accepted including AmEx"