Routier

We came to Routier over the holiday break to have an early birthday celebration for my fiancé with his parents since we'd be leaving town to go back to work. We got a table in the upstairs area, which was nice and we were the first ones up there. The waiter, I think, may have been new or perhaps could work on their skills a little more. While it was nice of him to give us fair warning to order soon if we could to help get our orders out before it got really busy, he hovered a bit in the beginning and it felt awkward. He also maybe didn't seem too sure how to describe one of the dishes when asked, which is unfortunate. I think he was trying his best, but I'm not sure my fiancé's mom really got a good sense of what it was she was asking. In any case, I think he did the best he could, but maybe double check Yelp! photos if you still feel unsure. The food itself was good. The main course meal was very good and every bit delicious. As an appetizer I got a mushroom salad dish with egg. It sounded interesting and unique, but it had way more mushrooms than I was anticipating. It was passable, but I think I would pass next time. For dessert we got the chocolate mousse which was also very good. I was stuffed from dinner, but glad I made room to eat a little bit of the dessert. Overall the food was good and so were the cocktails. Unfortunately, another guest with a disgusting, awful cough was also seated upstairs. I'm not sure why he decided to go out to dinner if he's going to cough up both lungs - at least sit outside. Sometimes he covered his mouth, other times he didn't. He also had the audacity to be kind of rude to the waiter whenever he needed something. His presence, sadly, lessened the experience, but we did our best to ignore him and when he finally left it felt like a weight had been lifted.

Came for my birthday. Incredible ambiance, very cute space but more casual than expected. We got a carafe of French red (really good curated wine selection here) and only small plates + dessert since none of the large plates were jumping out at us. Of our small plates, the dungeness crab impressed me the mostDessert is why you should come here, Belinda Leong's dessert selection is not to be missed. Highlight of the meal was the rice pudding -- not too sweet and such a great texture, felt nourishing and luscious. Would also highly recommend the financiers if you can get them!Very cute place for a special event and decently affordable (for the Bay Area lol). Will return if I'm in town and have someone to bring around

I celebrated a birthday dinner at Routier and everything was incredible! From start to finish, the meal kept surprising us, with each dish somehow topping the last. My entire party was blown away by the incredible flavors and presentation.The staff was equally amazing, so kind and accommodating. I called ahead to reserve a table, and they handled everything seamlessly. Our server, Juan, was attentive, knowledgeable, and just a joy to interact with.The cocktails were absolute perfection. We're still talking about their espresso martini and dirty martini, both were crafted to perfection. For starters, the crab pavé was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, the oysters were incredibly fresh, and the sashimi paired with the beet salad was a flavor explosion.When it came to the mains, every dish was a showstopper. The lamb shoulder was perfectly tender, the beef hanger steak was packed with flavor, and both risottos were creamy and rich in the best way. We shared everything family-style, and there wasn't a single bite that disappointed.This restaurant is such a gem. It's clear they care deeply about the food, the service, and the entire dining experience. We all agreed, Routier is officially a go-to spot for special occasions, and we can't wait to come back. Huge thanks to the team for making the evening unforgettable!

I have passed this spot quite a few times on the way to B Patisserie and never realized it was a Belinda Leong partnership until my Boston fam mentioned it to me. When it is time to get together with a fellow foodie friend for a girl's night out to exchange Xmas gifts and celebrate a belated birthday, Routier immediately came to mind.Starting with a snack of wild boar and green peppercorn pate, followed by two veggie small plates of my absolute favorite that evening, honey squash with sesame pesto, Asian pear and sumac that I need to figure out how to make myself as it was so good and the hen of the woods au poivre perfect for pepper lovers everywhere, even if it was too overpowering for me. Larger plates of a creamy delicious corn risotto with crispy chanterelles that at first glance thought was bacon and a roasted beef Bavette, although rarer than what I am used to, with the most decadent cauliflower enriched with bone marrow, that even though we had no room for dessert, was completely satisfied. I did wish B Pat was still open for me to pick some up to go though.

Was invited here and the menu looked exciting and the restaurant looked nice. I was a bit disappointed with the overall experience, and nothing really wowed me here.We started off with some cocktails that were pretty good, but nothing out of this world.We then had some appetizers, the Boar Pate was surprisingly good and super unique, the Pepper and Olive Pave was.... A miss. It was just a potato with an olive and pepper on it. Decent but would not recommend getting.For our entrees, we got the farro and mushroom risotto and the pork collar chop. Risotto is my favorite dish so I was super excited, but unfortunately it was a little undercooked for my liking and not the best flavor. The pork collar chop was the worst dish of the meal. The pork was wayyyy too tough, completely flavorless, and the vegetables that came with it were also not good at all. We also ordered the potato pave, but should have passed on this as it was the exact same thing as the pepper and olive pave, just without the pepper and olive.The service was also not the best - I wish the server would have let us know the two dishes were so similar, and we occasionally went without refills for a while. Also they brought out a couple dishes and served them to our table, only to take them away a few seconds later realizing they were for a different table.I will say the restaurant itself is beautiful, but overall this was a really disappointing meal given the price. I would potentially try coming again if the menu was revamped and the prices were brought down a bit.

You know it's good when I want to gatekeep. The most romantic (somewhat hidden imo) gem. Perfect for the girls and for date nights. Food looks simple, but the execution and balance of flavors is impeccable. And on the sweetest curated selection of vintage plates. Truly no misses. I think the duck spread is a tiny bit overhyped, but delicious nonetheless. Get the napoleon!!

Very nice ambiance, every detail of the decor adds to the romance. The second floor is quieter than downstairs. They have a pretty big selection of dishes, we ordered a lot of appetizers and small plates so we can try everything and skipped mains. I loved all the veggie dishes here. They are exquisite, from texture to flavor profile to presentation. It's a really enjoyable dining experience here, time slows down a bit and you are in a relaxed and nostalgic mood.

It's funny when I buy a gift card for a friend and I end up using it... no, I'm not that kind of guy.My thoughtful friend invited me join her and her mom for a weeknight early dinner here. It was our first time here and I was looking forward to this experience. I met the chef while shopping at the Ferry farmers' market and we've become friends. I started with a mocktail, the Persimmon chamomile punch (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=IeedO8hVbC3dldYfG0z-cQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q), which was fruity with a slight tang. From here, it was a journey of flavors.Here's what I tried:Snacks, all shared:1. Yellowtail rillettes (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=uz73a5CJumQvyYlMGXkXsg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - This came with herbed cucumbers and crackers. The spread was delicious and the cucumbers contrasted the richness of the tuna very well.2. Dungeness crab pave (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=imNqahqDtadqKx8hnZuq8w&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Served with a small dollop of spiced mayonnaise on top, this was my favorite of the small bites. This is one dish of the original dishes on the menu since the restaurant's opening.3. Chilled prawns, off menu special (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=lMVB3tQ3oEj0hsSF2W-kkA&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) -Served with a mayonnaise based sauce, the size of this impressive but it wasn't particularly memorable.Small plates, all shared:4. Local tuna sashimi (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=i2Q5RMBIE0DJEbZCUoUJig&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Served with golden sesame oil, hazelnut, pomelo, and celery, I enjoyed how the ingredients melded together.5. Chilled spinach salad (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=kTLldT_tAS4SnadgHVEHXw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Sesame dressing, sorrel, Asian pear, and oro blanco grapefruit. Get this if you like bold flavors.6. Hen of the Woods mushrooms "au poivre" (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=SlXpd3NW0spZERa2HOM3Vg&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Another menu original, this was mixed with egg yolk and crushed potato.Main:7. Duck confit (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=bPM3HAj1ddb6K5DjXsnRcw&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - Crispy and slathered with a sauce that reminds me of l'orange (orange sauce) accompanied by baby carrots. I haven't had this in years and it brought back nice memories.Dessert:8. Caramelized pineapple "Napoleon" (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Hy6V4OEsdZhjgzDjrqqFGQ&userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q) - This came with lime mascarpone, lime confit, and coconut macaroon. With one partner being a renown and award-winning pastry chef, this was a must and rightfully so.The dining room was about half full when we arrived and steadily filled up as we enjoyed our meal. Trish (Patricia) was very helpful, friendly, and courteous in guiding us through our meal. It was seeing JP in the kitchen but he was too swamped to talk for long. Thank you for the meal bonuses and we'll catch up at the usual Saturday spot. Needless to say, looking forward to my next visit here.

Date: Sunday, August 27th, 2023Time: 5:30pmParty of: 6Meal: Triple Birthday DinnerReservations Made: via Resy about a month prior*Baguette Beurre Diable ($4.50)*Anchovy ($15)*Duck Terrine ($18)*Dungeness Crab Pave ($22)*Caviar Pave ($75)*Wild Boar Pate ($15)*Chicken Liver Mousse ($16)*Broccolini ($13)*Padron Tempura ($14)*Mushroom Au Poivre ($19)*Beets ($16)*Sashimi ($20)*Tomato ($17)*Corn Risotto ($29)*Scallops ($37)*Shortrib ($37)*Nicasio Square ($15)*Chocolate Mousse ($13)*Peach and Blackberry "Napoleon" ($13)*The Dignitary ($16)*Port Tawny 20 Year ($23)*Espresso ($5)*Corkage ($45) x2*Healthy SF Mandate 5% ($29.46)*Large Party Gratuity 20% ($117.85)My family has a triple birthday celebration every year. Why? My hubby, me, and my father, all have birthdays one right after another. (Like literally three days in a row.) So it's easier to celebrate by having one big dinner. Looking around, we decided to try Routier. My dad used to own a french restaurant, so my fam has a soft spot for french food.If memory serves, my favs were the chicken liver mousse, caviar pave, and scallops. The mousse was creamy and savory. The caviar salty and decadent. The scallops were cooked nicely and tender. Service was fine. We were a big party so I always feel bad when it takes a while to decide on what to eat. But our server was nice and patient. (I will normally make a list and then tell the server everything. We do everything family style anyways.) They also put bday candles in all our desserts since there were three of us.Fun place for a bday dinner.

An excellent (and higher-priced) French-influenced restaurant. The entrees we ordered were flawless - but some of the sides were disappointing (particularly the tempura, which was a little drier than I'd have liked). I ended up with a tuna tartare as a starter, but wish we'd have had the option of beef tartare; that's harder to find. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the pate.Service is that perfect visiting-occasionally-but-reading-the-vibe. I probably wouldn't return, given how many food options there are in the city. But it is a great neighborhood stop.