Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar

We were invited to Laurel Court for Christmas dinner. To our surprise, it was a buffet - though it was a pleasant surprise. In addition to a carving station, they had seafood, dimsum, a variety of salads, chicken and pasta, a "kids" area with grilled cheese and sweet potato fries, and a very large dessert station. The dinner also included complementary bottomless champagne. Our server Carlos was very attentive and kept those glasses full. The setting is lovely. The Fairmont goes all out on holiday decor. And inside Laurel Court, the domed ceilings to the intricate tile floors make for a very classy environment. Unfortunately, it can be noisy inside, especially with the addition of live music.I believe the cost was approximately $170 per person plus tax and tip. I'm not certain whether I would return but it made for a fun and festive Christmas dinner out!

A Holiday Tradition Ruined I brought my family to the Fairmont for high tea, hoping to recreate the impeccable experience I had in Seattle in 2018. What we encountered, however, was a far cry from excellence--a disjointed, disappointing afternoon that has ensured we will not return.From the start, the tone was set by a dirty plate at my place setting, complete with food residue baked into the surface. Service was no better. We waited 20-30 minutes for water and agonizingly long stretches between courses. To make matters worse, a gardener came to replace flowers at our table during tea, leaving dirt on the tablecloth. His unkempt appearance and strong odor clashed sharply with the elegance one expects from high tea.The food was just as lackluster. Desserts tasted stale and sickly sweet, while scones--delivered a baffling 30 minutes before our tea--were cold and uninspired. The handling of alcohol bordered on careless; after casually asking if anyone at our table was 21, drinks were served, even though only one person wanted them.The waitstaff displayed complete indifference, brushing off the delays and offering no apologies. The automatic 20% gratuity clearly does nothing to encourage attentive service.This was meant to be a magical holiday outing, a continuation of a cherished tradition. Instead, it was an exercise in frustration, marred by poor service, subpar food, and a total lack of care. The Fairmont's Christmas tea has lost its charm, and so have we. This tradition ends here.

Customer service was good! The bacon was excellent, but overall the brunch was just ok for the high-in price!In addition, The life-size Gingerbread house and the museum was totally worth the hotel tour/visit.

Went in for dinner on a Thursday evening and sat at the bar. Ordered the salmon which was presented beautifully. The salmon was prepared perfectly and was delicious.

Stayed at the Fairmont and decided to try this place out. Food is very overpriced for the quality. Like two fold, but I guess it's the price you pay for the fairmont. The prime rib was really chewy. However the burger was incredible. Best burger I've had in a little while. It's a bit bright in here as well, but still the burger was the saving grace.

I wanted so badly to redeem this place and provide a good review. But it really sits at 2 stars for me, maybe 3 if I'm super generous. I will try to give them the benefit of the doubt that it's holiday season and there's a lot going on. That being said, the whole experience felt very mismanaged. Though we had a reservation, we stood in the check in line for nearly 15 min. We got seated and the atmosphere was lovely! The tables are spread out enough that it feels private even though you're amongst dozens of other diners. We got the Brussel sprouts as a starter which were really the only redeeming piece of the experience. My husband and I are big water drinkers, and unfortunately our glasses were constantly empty. The food when it came was lukewarm which was challenging to get past for me, especially considering the high prices.Recommended improvements would be consistent water refills, organized wait staff by table proximity, more flavor and variety in the food (besides the Brussel sprouts), and bringing the food out right when it's ready. I won't be back and unfortunately I wouldn't ever recommend this spot for dining.

Date of Visit: 12/5/2024We visited the Holiday Afternoon Tea at the Laurel Court in Fairmont Hotel San Francisco on Thursday afternoon. Last time I visited for the Christmas Tea was back in 2018. Once we walked into the lobby, the fancy Christmas Tree welcomed us and followed by the gingerbread house. The gingerbread house was built with real gingerbread and candies, which smelled very good!The afternoon tea was $155, and will charge 20% of tips on top of the bill. The waiter served us champagne, but before he poured I asked him whether it is included in the afternoon tea set and he said yes. But the final bill another $30 was added. Overall the atmosphere was nice, but the sandwiches and the cakes were not as tasty as I remembered and used to have the balloon person who made customized balloons for every table back in 2018, which does not have it any more.

Avoid the holiday tea like the plague. What was supposed to be a fun and festive experience turned into an outrageously overpriced disappointment. The sandwiches were unforgivably stale and old, and the bread was practically inedible. The sweets were mediocre at best--forgettable and certainly not worth the $155 per person price tag (plus a mandatory 20% gratuity!).To make matters worse, the presentation was messy, the portions laughably skimpy, and the even though the servers were nice, the service was slow and inattentive. The entire experience reeked of laziness and greed. For this kind of money, we expected at least basic quality and effort. Instead, we left feeling ripped off and regretful. Don't waste your time or your hard-earned cash here.The photos attached show everything that comes with the holiday tea (for 3 people) minus the tea itself.

The Christmas buffet at Laurel Court in the Fairmont San Francisco offers decent food but comes at a premium price, clearly catering to ultra-high-net-worth clientele. While the ambiance and service are luxurious, the buffet selection pales in comparison to Vegas buffets, which provide ten times more options at half the price, often with equal or better quality. If you're seeking variety and value, this might not be the best choice. However, if you prefer to avoid waiting in line and don't mind the cost, it could be a pleasant buffet experience.

It was such a treat to enjoy brunch at the Laurel Court Restaurant inside The Fairmont during our vacation in SF. The tables were turned- whenever we're sat at a table where we have the opportunity to sit next to each other instead of far away, we will. They had no problem turning the table to give us more useful space to eat next to each other. Is it really brunch without coffee or mimosas? No, the answer is no. And they brought a carriage of coffee and individual mimosas. The mimosa was adequately strong for my husband but not too strong for me. I'd say they got it right. Normally we drink or coffee black, but because we were on vacation (and it may have needed it) we each added one creamer to our coffee. That made it the perfect indulgence. The food was SO good, I wish I had more room in my tummy and I would have ordered seconds!! I will dream of those pancakes and this begins the chase. I'm afraid no one will be able to live up to those Lemon Ricotta and Blueberry pancakes. The pancakes actually had blueberries in them, it wasn't just a compote on top. The ricotta was perfect for this lemon- lover, and even my husband who isn't a big lemon-fan, thoroughly enjoyed them. Next was the Ham and Brie Omelette with roasted potatoes and sourdough toast. We had never had an omelette with brie in it and it was the perfect compliment. All of the ingredients that the Laurel Court restaurant used were so fresh, perfectly prepared and paired together. This is not just a convenient restaurant inside a hotel, this is a treat worth experiencing if you're in San Francisco. Although I would highly recommend staying at the Fairmont, even if you're just in town, splurge and have brunch at the Laurel Court Restaurant!