Named after Chef Perello's grandmother, Frances is an homage to refined but comfortable food and decor. Tucked in SF's Castro neighborhood, this eatery reminded me a lot of something you would find in NY's East Village. Whether it is the unique decor or the warm lighting i'm not sure, but this spot feels cozy the moment you walk in! We started with the Bacon Beignets (duh) which did not disappoint. I loved the idea of a savory beignet with a flavorful dipping sauce. Next up was the Little Gem salad. I HIGHLY recommend this salad if you are a fan of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. The cashews sprinkled in also gave it a nice crunch! I ordered the Bavette Steak as my entree. Another slam dunk. The steak was so juicy and flavorful. Cooked to perfection! Although the wait staff was incredibly courteous and knowledgeable I felt they were short staffed. It took awhile to be seated and get our check. Otherwise, we had an excellent experience at Frances! read more

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Food: Beignets - these seemed a little more like donuts than true beignets. Duck breast - decent cut of duck and was ok. Sunchokes - I think the medley was very delicious and healthy. Service: very good service and the waitstaff was very attentive. Ambiance: a nice quaint place. Good for a date night. Overall: solid place but getting a res is a bit tough. I can't say it was over the top tho. read more

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We had a wonderful anniversary dinner here! Amazing food, excellent service, an intimate setting, and reasonable prices. My husband and I shared the following dishes. (In full disclosure, we ordered way too much food, and have enough leftovers for the two of us to have dinner tomorrow...): 1) Bacon beignets - tasty, with a light, delicate bacon flavor 2) Grilled octopus - flavorful 3) Avocado and crab - excellent 4) Kuri squash soup - amazing! (A favorite!) 5) Kale salad - fresh and flavorful (Another fav!) 6) Pork chop - wonderful, but huge (we took most of this home - this dish alone could easily be a standalone meal) 7)Gulf Snapper - the fish itself was excellent, but I wasn't impressed with the veggies and sauce 8) Cauliflower side - great 9) Lumberjack cake - fantastic - it lived up to the hype (another favorite) 10) Monkey bread - good They serve house wine by the ounce, which is a cool concept. Also, don't forget to ask for the complimentary bread (it's by request only). The service was exceptional. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and took good care of us. The entire wait staff was very professional and prompt, while also very down to earth. The setting is cozy, intimate, and classy, with a minimalist style. The fact that the restaurant is tucked away on a residential street in the Castro makes it have that "neighborhood gem" feel. Also, we loved the fact that this place is quite reasonably priced. Frances is really something special! read more

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We stopped in here after Stern Grove Festival. The food was delicious and service was awesome. I had the Pork chop. It was tender and the juices were still in in the pork chop. My friend had the risotto. The nice creamy, spring vegetables accompanied her risotto. We started off with the salad and of course the bacon beignets. Little pieces of bacon in the beignet was delicious. It was definitely a great experience! read more

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Overall - forgettable experience. We went with the chef's choice of 5 courses and we weren't impressed. At the price point we paid (~$70-100/person), no reason to come back here when there are so many other restaurants out there. The theme of the meal was mint and lime juice - there was so much of it in our entree meals that it's all we tasted. Definitely would not recommend for any occasion for fine dining. Simply not worth the price range and going out of your way. Pros - the fresh ingredients were very good. Oysters were awesome with freshness and pleasant finish with the mustard. The beignets were great bites with the creamy and rich creme fraiche. The little gem salad wasn't overly dressed and was very vibrant and refreshing. Cons - simply did not feel like fine dining. I didn't taste or see any complex flavors or complex techniques in display. It was the first time I've ever seen mint with a pasta dish and it was awful. The lamb dish was sour more than anything when you expected and want a hearty and rich lamb pasta dish. The duck dish needed a sauce because it was bland by itself. The panisse fritte was simply boring and the curry dip was bland. Lastly, the desserts were so forgettable - you can literally get better and richer ice cream at any grocery store and the otmeal chocolate was coarse, bland, and just didn't provide that creamy smooth finish to the meal. read more

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Frances is the perfect restaurant to take a girl out for a classy meal without making the relationship seem too serious. It has a "we're interested in each other, but are taking things slow" kinda vibe. You see, most fancy restaurants just have too many frills with their sparkly chandeliers and sophisticated artwork. This place has got none of that, but is still able to provide an intimate atmosphere. You can also bet your bottom dollar that your date will love the food that they serve here. That's one less thing you'll have to worry about, buddy! BOUCHÉES // Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets ($8.50) - 5 stars You could really taste the smokiness on these unique beignets. The crème fraîche was so addicting that we asked for a second cup. The boys liked these better than the frites. // Panisse Frites ($8.50) - 5 stars The frites were crunchy on the outside and mushy on the inside. However, it was the aioli dipping sauce that really stood out. The girls liked these better than the beignets. APPETIZERS // Roasted Kuri Squash Soup ($14) - 5 stars Our server poured the soup into the bowl of ingredients right in front of us. It was the only dish we ordered that came with a special presentation. It also tasted amazing. // Spaghettini al Peperoncino ($15) - 4 stars I enjoyed this cute appetizer, which came with a good deal of shredded cheese on top. ENTRÉES // Five-Dot Ranch Bavette Steak ($33) - 4 stars The steak could have been more tender, but I thought the sides were exceptional. The king trumpet mushrooms, in particular, rounded out the flavors with a nice earthy touch. // Honey-Brined Pork Chop ($34) - 3 stars The pork chop was juicy and flavorful, but this was sadly overshadowed by the copious amounts of fat jumbled into the meat. Definitely would have scored higher if the cut were leaner. SIDES // Charred Broccolini ($10) - 4 stars Really well-seasoned with the Calabrian chili and garlic chips, although I wish the flowery heads were more burnt and crispy. DESSERT // Lumberjack Cake ($9) - 5 stars The acclaimed Lumberjack Cake officially earned a spot on my list of favorite desserts in San Francisco. My friends and I gobbled it up before you could say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The scoop of muscovado ice cream on the side was noteworthy in and of itself. ProTip: Frances serves complimentary bread, but you have to proactively ask for it. My buddy had 5 slices of this yummy freebie. read more

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5 PM on a Sunday. Not too busy. Treat your guests with more respect, reservation or not. The counter area was occupied by just two diners, who ended up walking out minutes before we did. If that area was available for walk-ins and there was overall plenty of space, I really don't get the smug attitude about our sitting down comfortably, not rubbing asses with the diners squeezed into a corner, to order. The female staff rudely demanded that we move to different stools, making the seating and overall vibe so unpleasant that we immediately took the bacon beignet appetizer order placed for dine-in, to go. I can only speak to the bacon beignets, as that's all I ate. They weren't bad, but I was disappointed, tbh. Much bacon left to be desired. The description is so much more enticing than the dish delivered. Aborted dinner. The service was that bad. read more

Frances - Bacon beignets. - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sometimes your dumb date cancels and you do a happy dance cause you're already in the area and do a quick pivot towards this Castro classic and plop your butt at the bar....eat all the things. Get served perf every time and leave so so delightfully full. read more

Wonderful American Cuisine. We got this recommendation from Jennifer at the bar at the Ritz Carlton absolutely a fantastic choice We had reservations set for 930 and while we were waiting on the side walk they went ahead and took our wine order and served while we waited for our table The menu was fantastic. We had multiple appetizers along with a perfectly cooked duck confit followed by deserts that were very flavorful but not heavy. Definitely one of the best read more

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Took my fiancé here to celebrate, and it was a very nice dining experience. The restaurant is located on a fairly quiet street and parking was not too difficult to find. The inside has quite a rustic feel to it, with wood tables and burlap sack cushions that were surprisingly comfortable. The tables are spaced quite close together so you are sitting quite close to other diners. Also, make sure to make reservations in advance as otherwise it is hard to get them. We opted for the tasting menu $65 each, all members of the table must partake) and we were happy we did. We got 9 dishes and overall left quite full from all of the food. Of note, bread is not automatically given and must be asked for. Our dishes included: Oysters: fresh and acidic, without any fishy flavor. Chickpea frites and maple bacon beignets: these were very good! Hot and fresh, if a bit heavy. Brussel sprouts with walnuts, pomegranates, and blue cheese: the sprouts were tender and well-cooked, and paired well with the crunchy walnuts and pomegranate seeds. House made paparadelle with braised duck: one of my favorites. The pasta was al dente and the duck was so chewy and flavorful. Winter salad with burnt honey and Dijon vinaigrette: this was ok - I'm not a big salad fan. Roasted snapper, pearl pasta, beets, carrots, yogurt: the fish was cooked very well. I only wish there were more of it! Steak with mushrooms and potatoes: the steak was more rare than medium rare, but very flavorful. Loved the mushrooms. Lumberjack cake with ginger ice cream: the ginger ice cream stole the show. Huckleberry short cakes: my favorite dessert! Loved the whipped cream. Overall bill came to about $175 with tax and tip for 2 people. It was a nice dining experience! read more

Frances - Tasting menu ($65pp) - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Those bacon beignets are calling to me.. especially during late nights. Mmm... Their menu changes every few weeks. Can't wait to check out what's on their next menu. Their house wine by the ounce is an awesome idea. Wine pairing is a must! read more

Frances - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Most restaurants where you need a reservation 3 months ahead of time are the type you wouldn't want to go to regularly anyways (and even if you could eat at French Laundry a couple times a month you'd explode). Frances comes with none of the pretension of such places and has the feel of a comfortable neighborhood restaurant. In fact, Frances seems to have gone out of their way to rewrite the rules of fine dining. Their Pinot Noir by the glass was a Freeman 2007 a bottle which typically retails for $40, but they had it on the menu at $56. What restaurant only marks up their wine by 40%? The grilled squid, crab salad, and lamb entree were all strong. Definitely worth a try, though it appears that getting a reservation has become really difficult... can seem to book again on OpenTable. Oh no! read more

Frances - Crab salad - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Me and Frances, we just didn't have a good first impression of each other. In fact, it was the kind of blind date where you give out your phone number but switch the last four digits around. Oh, I expected a whole lot given all the advance praise. Someone at work told me it was the best restaurant he's been to in San Francisco. I don't question all the five-star ratings, but I do have to say the tight quarters at Frances really makes it essential to recognize that timing is everything. Jamie W. and I could only secure a 9:30PM reservation on a Friday. I made it on Open Table about three months prior, but we unexpectedly had a great meal with friends the night before at Zazie. Despite rumor, I don't usually go out for a nice dinner two nights in a row unless I'm traveling. What am I made of? Money? So alas, we arrived with some trepidation and saw the place abuzz with hip singles and other assorted foodies.... people crowding in the iddy-biddy bar area as you come in, people dining at tables snugly placed against the right wall. We were seated smack dab in the middle of those gulag-style tables. Hell. Pure hell. There was a blowzy, tree-trunk-thighed blonde in a too-tight black dress sitting to one side with her bellowing Aussie boyfriend. Alcohol-infused beyond reason, this couple spoke in such a high decibel you would have thought they were stage-trained. Her screechy, squealing voice made my ears bleed and broke all the stemware on our table. On the other side of us were the beginnings of what looked to be a Branch Davidian-type of commune with very skinny people in skanky outfits apparently multiplying and crowding the waiters out of their serving paths. Jamie and I could barely hear each other due to the squealing blonde who kept ridiculing our dining choices with the subtlety of Michelle McGee's tattoos. We managed to order two of the $6.50 appetizers above the din - the Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets with a Maple Creme Fraiche & Chive and the Crisp Pork Trotters with Sauce Gribiche & Pickled Baby Vegetables (see photos). The former was tasty though I couldn't really taste the bacon, and the latter was similar to crab cakes in texture. Next came the $10 Grilled Asparagus Salad with a Walnut Vinaigrette, which was marginally disappointing with the chicories doused in the dressing on top (see photo). The entrees, however, were top-notch if a bit small in portion. Jamie had the $16 Watson Spring Farm Lamb with Butter Beans, Artichokes & Olives (see photo). Tasty, savory, and it really was a nice match of flavors and textures. I went more conservative and ordered the $11 Organic Chicken, served in roulade fashion with Green Garlic & Spring Vegetable Ragout and Parmesan Pudding on the side (see photo). The poultry was genuinely succulent, and I savored every morsel. Still, despite the attentive waiter, the dining experience was a disappointment since we couldn't just sit there to be enraptured by the food. Instead, I had to hear big-mouth Barbie's detailed account of her BFF's liposuction procedure as she wolfed her food. Next time I'm coming early and bringing a Taser. FOOD - 4 stars...quite scrumptious most of the time AMBIANCE - 2.5 stars...Frances' weak area, just isn't fit for a romantic dinner for two unless there was more crowd control SERVICE - 3.5 stars...very attentive but I was hoping he could see our pain and move us when he had the chance TOTAL - 3 stars....I might try Frances again but not until blondie's car-alarm voice is completely out of my head read more

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Wow. At the time of this review, this is officially my new favorite restaurant in the city. The moment I stepped inside, I fell in love with the vibe. The space is small and extremely intimate without being claustrophobic. You know it's a good sign when the majority of the diners are older folks and locals. I made a reservation weeks in advance since the place is small. We arrived at 6:20PM and people were already finishing their dinners, which goes to show how popular this place is. The maximum party size is 6 and most tables are for 2. The ambiance is very warm and cozy and feels like you're in your room own dining room having a nice meal with friends. Service is phenomenal and food is top notch. Dress is casual. When we heard about the $65 per person tasting menu, we were sold. It comes with a large variety of food options and you end up full but not disgustingly so. Our favorites were: the brussel sprouts + applewood smoked beignets bouchees and Atlantic cod entree. We weren't fans of the linguine since the pasta was too hard and salty. The dessert was so delicious. Portion sizes were very reasonable and filling. They also adjust portion based on your group size. Takeaway: Do the $65 per person tasting menu. I highly recommend the Truchard Cabernet as well (new favorite red wine). Great spot for a date without being too bougie! read more

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For months, I kept walking by this restaurant, and my curiosity grew. Eventually I had the opportunity to come here with a good friend of mine because she wanted to try their Lumberjack cake. When we first arrived, I learned that they don't seat you unless your whole party is present. Lucky it was just the two of us. The bar seating area is super cramped. I was practically touching the guy sitting at the main bar behind me... but I guess I understand that Frances is trying to maximize seating in such a small and cramped restaurant location. As soon as we read the pay-what-you-drink wine policy, we just couldn't resist. They give you a carafe of the wine you choose, which has tick marks on the glass. They don't charge you for whatever you don't drink, which is dangerous... because I'm used to finishing whatever alcohol is sitting in front of me. As for the food, none of the entrees caught my eye, so we just ordered a few appetizers. The Bacon Beignets were disappointing... they were fresh and fluffy but the only thing bacon about them was the way they smelled. Definitely not what I was expecting. Fortunately the Panisse Frites made up for this. They were amazingly tasty, and I'm glad our waitress recommended them. The poblano romesco dipping sauce made the perfect pairing. Lastly was the Lumberjack cake. I was personally not a huge fan, but my friend liked it. After all it was the whole reason why we came. I'm not sure that I would come back to try their entrees (not tempting enough) but I have definitely recommended this restaurant to friends who wanted to bring their family or significant others here. Overall it was a great experience with incredible service. read more

Frances - Lumberjack Cake - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Tiny little restaurant in the Castro which make wonderful dishes with BIG flavor! Definitely believe the hype of this place...simple, elevated comfort food that satisfies the palate and the senses...these dishes were not small and simply pretty but definitely generous portions with flavor/textures. Ordered for family-style: * Linguine al Pesto - Charred Rapini, Poached Egg, Aleppo Chili and Pangrattato * American Red Snapper - Butter Beans, Charred Broccolini, Smoky Clam Broth * Grilled Bavette Steak - English Peas, Ramps, Fingerling Potato and Crème Fraîche * Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Crimson Grapes, Bulgarian Feta, Hazelnut, Dill Desserts * Chocolate bread pudding - rich, creamy, chocolately * Pink lady hand pie with buttermilk ice cream - more on the savory and not too sweet All items were extremely yummy but would probably skip the linguine with pesto next time...it was tasty but not memorable...It's been a awhile since finding a place that has such delicious food, wonderful service in a quaint space in the City with available parking! Came here on a weeknight and the place was packed...very telling and glad we got to try it. I will definitely keep this place in my dining rotation!. read more

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Frances is so romantic. Such an intimate spot. I came once for a birthday dinner 3 years ago, and decided to make it my birthday meal again this year. Still great! RESERVATIONS Made about a couple months in advance for a Monday night. However, they ended up being closed that night and had to call to change my reservation. This was a couple weeks ahead, and they were able to give me a Friday 8:15pm table for two. SERVICE A great balance between being formal yet friendly. Our server was the essence of calm and always there when we needed her. COST $141.38 before tip for 2 drinks, 2 starters, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. REFRESHERS * Lillet Lemonade (Strawberry, lillet blanc, lemon. $12) - 5 stars This was delicious. Super fresh, with bits of strawberry. Tangy yet sweet. Refreshing, and well balanced. Comes out in a beautiful thin glass in a bright red color. BOUCHEES * Grilled Beet Salad (golden nugget mandarin, blue cheese, hazelnut. $8) - 3.5 stars Good, but not amazing. The beets are definitely juicy, but this was pretty simple otherwise. APPETIZERS * Linguine al Pesto (summer squash ribbons, mint, calabrian chili & burrata. $15) - 4 stars I love that there is a pasta in the appetizer section! This is a great, small sampling, just the right volume to entice your appetite. The sauce was light, though I wished for a bit more tanginess in the flavors. The burrata was great. Loved the crunchy crumbles. ENTREES * Five-Dot Ranch Bavette Steak (grilled asparagus & radish, charred onion aioli. $31) - 4 stars The steak was crazy juicy. The sauce was very intense. The texture of the steak was soft, but it was just a tad tough if I'm being picky. The veggies were great. * Monterey King Salmon (serpent cucumber, fingerling potato, yogurt & dill. $32) - 3 stars I personally like my salmon slightly rare in the middle, but this was just evenly cooked throughout. I really liked the crisped skin. For me, the tart yogurt + dill flavors were way too overpowering and I couldn't eat more than a bite. However, my boyfriend thought this was the best dish of the night. DESSERT * Meyer Lemon Pavlova (poached rhubarb, rose geranium chantilly, candied lemon. $9) - 4 stars A very unique dessert! Basically a big meringue - soft in the middle, the outside a bit more stretchy with a light crust. Loved the lemon filling. The whipped cream was fantastic. The rhubarb was cut into strips, and still a bit fibrous in my opinion (but my boyfriend loved how different it was from rhubarb in any other dish he'd had). read more

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Last year, the roommate and I were going to be in the area for a friend's event. Since it was going on right after work, he mentioned we should have dinner afterwards nearby. Lucky for me, I found a table for two on OpenTable a couple days before the event! Of course I snagged it right away since finding a reservation for Frances back then was super difficult. Drinks: Market shot ($3) Frances white wine ($1 per ounce) Frances red wine ($1 per ounce) The Market shot was super fresh with just a hint of booze. Not really my type of drink, but I wanted to try it. Their house red and white were a great value as you get a bottle with ounce markers and are only charged for what you drink. And the quality was pretty good for a house wine at $1 per ounce. Food: Baked cherrystone clams ($7) Squid ink tagliatelle ($13) Applewood smoked bacon beignets ($7) Creamy spinach soup ($12) Salad of spring greens ($12) Sonoma duck breast ($27) Five-dot bavette steak ($27) Yes, two people ordered all this food! I really enjoyed the clams, soup and our entrees. The clams were a nice size and I do love my shellfish. The soup was delicious! Nice and creamy with great spinach flavor. The entrees were cooked perfectly. I love my meat and these dishes didn't disappoint. The roommate liked the bacon beignets since he's the bread eater. And who doesn't love bacon?! Frances is definitely a must try when in SF. So glad I was able to get a reservation! read more

Had an absolutely fantastic meal here. My partner and I did the chef's tasting menu for a special occasion date night. It was described by our waitress as a selection of the best that Frances has to offer, and she certainly wasn't kidding. The chef's tasting is a four course menu for $65 a person (pretty reasonable for SF). Each course was at least two dishes (the first was four), so there was plenty of food to go around. Highlights were: the beignets (obviously), the steak, and the panna cotta. The baked clams were an unexpected hit - beautiful presentation and delicious preparation. My only qualm with the clams was that the dish only came with two (I.e. each of us just got one). I wanted more! And a quick shout out for the uni butter spaghettini - my partner and I usually both dislike uni, but this pasta was divine. In addition to the food, the service was also great. Our waitress's wine recommendation was on point (their selection in general seems fantastic), and she made us feel taken care of from beginning to end of the meal. All in all, Frances is worth the price tag for a special occasion, especially if you go for the tasting menu. read more

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Frances has been on my list of "must try" restaurants for quite some time now. I must say that I am glad we finally made a point of getting there. Frances has the upscale downtown vibe to it, and the neighborhood charm that makes you feel right at home. There are many wonderful things about Frances, but ..... First let's start with the staff. Everyone, from the moment we called to make our reservations, through dessert, was friendly, charming, and professional. The wait staff works together like a well oiled machine, with a quiet dignity befitting this style of dining experience. We got there early, and it did not take Frances long to fill up. On this Friday, walk-ins were shown the counter, and/or offered an opportunity to make a future reservation while they were there, but all the tables were long ago spoken-for. Try to sit forward of the kitchen area because it gets busy back there, which might be distracting for you. The open kitchen is, however, very quiet... no dish banging, no loud chatter, just a well synchronized choreography. Wine service was impeccable. To celebrate my partner's graduation, we brought a serious bottle of Pomerol from our own collection. It was carefully decanted ($25 corkage) well before dinner started, which made for the perfect accompaniament for dinner. Frances has a focussed, yet thorough wine list, and staff had a sharp knowledge of each of the wines on that list. We also purchased a bottle of French Chardonnay that our wait staff recommended. It was just as described, at the perfect temperature, and matched the starter courses for our meal. Bullseye! Notably, they had the right stemware for each wine, but hey, I'm picky about that. On to the foods.... everything was carefully sculpted, and visually quite appealing, with flavors that charmed the senses.... really. Nothing was intrusive or bombastic, rather all the courses were somehow innovative while still being familiar and approachable. I tend, here, not to go through every dish we had because you will always be drawn to what you like (and things change daily at Frances). Others, here before me, have raved, and rightfully so, about the Beignets, and the Salmon, and the Steak, each of which were a hit with our foursome, and were cooked to perfection. What I would say, which is most important, is that ALL the foods were to our great enjoyment, without exception. You'll relish the meal, so don't rush; savor the experience, and enjoy your company. Frances will do the rest to make sure it is a memorable experience. Now, for the "but".... We took staff's advise and ordered the chef's tasting menu. ($65pp.-- everyone at the table must participate -- which is typical) Our only knock on it was that some of the portions were a bit less than a "taste". Except for the "main", tasting portions were combined for us to divvy up at the table. Portions all looked wonderful but were, let's say, "slimming". One item came with only one shrimp, for the two of us, sliced down the middle. We felt that was a bit penurious. Likewise, the pasta course could have used just a bit more pasta. We saw rich looking bread go by, but were never offered any. I thought we were going to leave Frances like we got there, hungry, but the main course filled in the spaces of our appetite, and the dessert (Lumberjack Cake with Molasses Ice Cream) took us to the top. Frances Tip: For your first visit, especially; plan in advance, make a reservation, and be in the "dining experience" frame of mind. read more

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I read Jeremy S's review on Frances and vowed to come here one day. That was back in 2010, and since then, Yelpers Bailey Z and recently David G had great experiences. Not knowing where to eat the day after Christmas, I suggested we head out to the Castro. We were also taking a gamble since reservations are a must. However, they do have counter seating, and we lucked out and only had to wait about 10 minutes. Our friendly and sweet server, Melissa, was a little excited that it was our first time dining. We started with a bottle of Santa Giustina wine, Barbera/Croatina, and the signature bacon beignets. Both were a great start to an amazing evening. We both ordered the Bavette steak and it came out on top of seasoned farro, and it was very tender and flavorful. And for dessert, I had the lumberjack cake and the partner had the chocolate stout cake. Both were delicious, but we did like the chocolate one more. It reminded me of chocolate souffle. We also ordered two espressos and it was a great way to end the meal. One of the things we loved was after each course, a young woman came by to wipe the area clean. The inside is pretty cozy. Reminded me of places in New York where you're sitting almost in each others laps...LOL! There is only one bathroom but it is nice. I love the individual cloth hand towels! I made two new friends that evening; a gentleman when we sat down because we were sort of back to back, and after they left, a young woman in the same situation with me. But both were friendly...C'est la vie! Frances is located off the beaten path and it looks like it is frequented by many locals and neighbors. I can't wait to return and visit my new friend, "Frances." read more

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We were disappointed and I was bummed. After having eaten here a few times just pre-COVID, we were excited to go back. While not my fave, I was open to price fixed menu as a chance to try new things. The appetizers were really good (great variety) and the servers were all attentive. The food was slow coming out and the salad overdressed. But the biggest disappointment was the main course. When it was next in order (well over halfway into the meal), we were told the fish (main) was changed. They said they were migrating from this week's printed menu (early on a Sat night) to next week's menu, so we would be served a different protein (I assumed they ran out?). I had been looking forward to the menu and don't love the substitute, but I understand that things happen and was fine with a different, delicious fish. But when it came, the substitute fish wasn't delicious at all - it was overcooked (ahi - it was tough), lacked seasoning and was disjointed within the dish. I wondered if it was tested in the kitchen: I didn't eat it, it was that unappetizing. No one else around us was served the ahi. As we were paying at our table, a couple was seated next to us. They talked with their server about how they wanted the salmon cooked - the original fish on the printed menu. Not sure how who gets the last-minute menu substitute works, but it has ultimately worked against our coming back. read more

OK -- not anything to rave about. The prices didn't meet up to the standard for every dish. Portions were extremely small! You'd expect that with small portions and high prices, the food would be the bomb.com, but it wasn't. The most memorable and tasty dish was the salmon (actually worth it). My friends ordered the steak, and they said it was good but nothing wildly delicious. The two sides we ordered were literally forgettable, lol. I can't remember what we got because I tried a bite of each and didn't need to try more. The appetizers we ordered were the duck sausage (second fave) and bacon beignets (too heavy for me and not tasty enough). Wine was good. We ordered a couple bottles, which went well with dinner. Then for dessert, we ordered 3 Madeiras (One of them was too acidic for me and tasted like straight alcohol). Overall, they had had a nice selection for dessert drinks. Service was nice -- friendly and attentive waiters. They brought out cookies and a candle to celebrate my bridal shower / birthday so that was sweet. I don't think I'd come back here though. :( read more

Frances - Bacon beignets and duck sausage -- beignets were ok. Sausage was yum. - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Frances is one of those restaurants you might expect in Chicago or somewhere else on the east coast. The longer-than-wide room, the dim lighting, and a crowd that seems a bit more educated and stylish than other places. Well, we are in the castro. Good food and good wine and good company. The surprising par about Frances is not the deliciously succulent duck, but the reasonable pricing attached to all the menu items. You can have a rather nice date night at a good price, without compromising the quality and taste. Definitely get the duck. It is quite perfectly cooked and seasoned. read more

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Outstanding service and beautiful location. We were so happy for Frances to reopen after the pandemic. The pork chop is outstanding and the drinks and unique and delicious read more

A memorable, delightful and most delicious experience. The staff' is amazing and we had so much fun meeting with the patrons while sitting at the counter! The food is prepared exquisitely and the tastes are outstanding! I cannot wait to come back when in San Francisco! And to the staff...."hi"...sending you lots of love, Kelly and Steven. read more

Pretty great. Reservations weren't too difficult (lots of people cancel when closer to the time). Very nice server who was accommodating to my allergies. Food took awhile to come out. We had: free lightly roasted almonds - this is like crack for me. i used to make something similar all the time :) bacon beignets - my dinner mate said they were pretty damn fatty, but tasty. The creme fraiche sauce tasted a lot like a sweet ranch to me. baked clams - pretty damn tasty. salad with crispy shallots and cheese - The salad had super fresh crisp greens. Loved that part. I think the acid in the sauce was grapefruit, and I prefer my dressing a bit less sweet. Mainly, I got this for the cheese that was mentioned, but I completely forgot it was suppose to even have any till the last few bites, where I tasted 2 small slivers. Was sad about that, as it would've rounded out the dressing better. Maybe my dinner mate somehow got all the cheese. I was also hoping they could just fry some shallots without breading, but it wasn't possible so I didn't eat it with that element. sole - super super light and pretty tasty. I wanted more salt (as with everything). The green sauce was really light but tasted great and lightly of the sea (I drank the remains :). Perfectly cooked fish with great texture. The smallish mussels were nice too. bavette steak - A bit chewier than I hoped for. Sauce/gravy was tasty though. I preferred the fish. yellow flower green tea - this was awesome. It was very similar to a very light dragonwell (one of my fav teas)/white tea hybrid. Chestnutty, creamy, sweet, savory. Omnomnom... Great experience here. Unfortunately both of us got a bit of a stomachache afterwards, I'm not sure if it was a coincidence. Eh, worth it. read more

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WOW. It's no wonder this place is rated at 4.5 stars with so many reviews. Reserve 3 months in advance to get the optimal seating time. The FOOD was simply amazing!!! We got the Bacon Beignets, Tagliatelle with mushrooms, a Quail Entree, a Steak Entree, and a Chocolate Walnut Torte with Salted Caramel Ice Cream -- all were delicious. I would describe each, but I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. DRINKS!!! Wine was done by the ounce, an interesting concept considering I don't drink much to start. Their house white wine was mildly sweet, and perfect for my dish. I saw many people getting the house wine, so don't be shy!! SERVICE!!! - We arrived 1/2 hr before our actual reservation and we were seated right away. - Costas was our main server. He provided great service and sold me on the dessert. He even took a picture of us and got down on his knee to take the picture from the best angle possible. Needless to say, it turned out to be my favorite picture for the night. - Although this model may only work in small restaurants, I found their service to be highly efficient and on top of their game. Despite Costas being our main server, it didn't matter which server passed by our table. Whenever a plate was empty, it was picked up. - We also didn't have to hold our coats or place it anywhere! The hostess placed our coats in a closet and Costas knew exactly which ones were ours when it was time to leave! Read the Bon Appetit article here! http://www.bonappetit.com/columns/the-foodist/article/the-10-best-new-restaurants-in-america read more

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Apparently, reservations for Frances are harder to get than a snow cone in hell. I'm not even sure that's a proper idiom, but go with it. A few days before I headed to SF, I was idly surfing open table and chatting with my good friend Helen. "I can never get reservations!" moaned Helen. I inputted some dates and voila, I got 9pm res for 2, the day after Cyrus. Apparently, that NEVER happens. It was turning out to be one gut busting weekend. Love it. If there's one thing you can't forget, it's the famous bacon beignets. Applewood smoked bacon beignets, maple creme fraiche and chive AKA bacon pillows- They completely lived up to their hype and then some. Earlier, we went to brunch at Brenda's and had their famous crab beignets, which were pretty awesome. Then I had the bacon pillows. My life changed. Spugnole (?) Pasta, asparus, edamame (?), walnuts, in a creme sauce-Pretty dang good pasta. Northern Halibut, chanterelle and english peas ragout, bacon, cipollini onions - I swear on the holiest piece of foie gras out there that this was the most perfectly cooked piece of fish ever. Really delicate stuff. The pea ragout was a skip in the garden. Overall, it was a fine meal with terrific company. I wouldn't hesitate to go back next time I'm in the Bay Area. read more

Frances - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

We loved and enjoyed our dinner at Frances. The service was spot on, and the food was perfect. Our server picked a delicious wine that paired perfectly with our dishes. It was a true pleasure to be in a restaurant that had knowledgeable servers that enjoyed their work. read more

Frances is loud, packed, hip, cool, and intimate. Frances feels like a Manhattan restaurant, namely Gabrielle Hamilton's "Prune", teleported and dropped down on an otherwise quiet side street in the Castro. Word is out and Frances is certainly no secret but I'll admit to spending a lot of time in this area and, before making a concerted effort to dine here, had never even noticed the place. Heard of it, certainly, but seen it? No. A friend and I participated in an interesting research study which awarded us each a small Open Table gift certificate for our time. Choosing Frances was like someone who wins a free dinner in New York then pays for a flight there to attain it: the cost of dinner at Frances was apt to far outpace the size of our gift cards. Luckily, we were satisfied with wine (by the ounce, an excellent fine pour of house red ran a mere $9) and an assemblage of starters and sides. We hadn't set out to be cheapskates but found that we were well satisfied with the complimentary levain (upon request) and: * Addicting and delicious Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets with Maple Chive Crème Fraîche ($9), a signature starter; * A rich Chicory Salad (with Winter Citrus, Duck Confit, Crispy Skin Dukkah, and Citrus Vinaigrette; $13); * Melted Onion and White Cornmeal Spoonbread (with Apple Butter and Aged Gouda; $10) was a star. The waiter tried repeatedly to take this dish away but I made my way through it slowly. Few things in life cause quite as much delight to the taste buds; and * Roasted Star Route Brassicas (a mix of small vegetable bits with Pine Nut Butter, Brokaw Hayward Kiwi, and Cured Yolk; $10) was bitter in flavor and not favored by my dining companion. More for me, I say, and I needed it too, if only to cut the richness of the Beignets and Spoonbread. By the time we left we'd had a wonderful sampling of Frances' kitchen and engaged in an interesting discussion with the couple seated beside us (tables are very close together, practically inviting comment between diners). As I sipped the last of my wine I drank in the symphony of noise which patrons were creating; my, does it ever get loud in here. I like this sort of place: A San Francisco slice of Manhattan. Frances is no secret but it is definitely a find. read more

It's rare that I give any place 5 stars, it takes meeting my expectations, superior performance at all levels, from the kitchen and service to front of house, timing and overall ambiance. Frances fulfilled all my expectations and the brilliance coming from the kitchen is amazing. The menu is not fussy or overly complex, it simply reflects the shortest distance between farm and table. The chicken liver mousse is a must as are the bacon beignets. During my last meal here I had the halibut with morel mushroom and English pea ragout with bacon and cipollini onion and the flavors complimented one another so well I was amazed. We also had the grilled asparagus and warm potato salad and they added toasted farro to it and gave it a completely different texture and added depth of flavor without overpowering the asparagus, very impressed with this dish. The wine list is great, some amazing small production bottles listed, the house Rose is a must. Yes its hard to get in, with such a small space and a huge following it does make dinning here difficult, but its worth the wait and if you don't mind late night dining then your odds of scoring a table improve big time. Cheers and Enjoy! read more

I've been wanting to try Frances for a while now, but it's been difficult to get reservations via phone or Open Table. The SO and I were initially planning to eat at Anchor Oyster Bar, but it was an hour wait and we didn't feel like waiting. I knew Frances was in the area so I decided to test our luck and see if we could get a table. Parking was surprisingly easy. The SO found a spot a block down from the restaurant. When we got to the restaurant, all the tables in the dining area were filled up. However, there will still four seats left at the bar. We were told by the manager (I believe) that the bar serves the full menu and it's quieter than the dining area, which I agree. However, I'm not fond of the seating arrangements. The seats are so close together that you have to get up to allow others to sit/leave. I wanted to be blown away by Frances after hearing such great things, but sadly I was disappointed. The only two things I liked most was the Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets w/ Maple Creme Fraiche (appetizer) and the Chocolate 'Clafoutis' (dessert). The beignets were delicious and unique. Anything bacon is good though, right? The entrees were good, but it didn't WOW us. The bf ordered the Five Dot Ranch Bavette Steak. I ordered the Northern Halibut. I liked that the halibut was moist, but other than that, it wasn't spectacular. Overall, the service was good. Our waiter came back every so often to see how we were doing. Would I come back? Maybe read more

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WHOA. frances had me at hello... now let's cut to the chase and get to the food. 1) applewood smoked bacon beignets - ugh...so freakin good. probably the best beignets i've had in the city. they were crispy on the outside...soft on the inside...and the maple chive creme fraiche was the perfect complement. a must order!!! 2) spugnole pasta - say what? served with porcini mushrooms (delish) and English peas. i pretty much licked the plate when we were done with the pasta. the pasta was cooked perfectly...the peas were real! and the mushrooms gave the dish some texture. a 2nd must order! and probably my favorite dish of the night. 3) baked cherrystone clams - baked with lacinato, fennel, bacon, and white corn. also very good and fresh...but i think i could pass on this item next time. comes in an order of 3 but you can add more. we ordered 4. 4) five dot ranch bavette steak - another winner! steak was cooked perfectly...the white corn polenta was the best polenta i've ever had! the sauce was magical...soooooo good!!! 5) spring onion and asparagus gratin - a perfect side to our main course. ok...the acme bread...a guy walks around with piping hot sliced bread. he'll ask you if you prefer and outer or inner piece. just leave the whole loaf at my table please! i heart acme bread...especially when it's steaming hot like that. drool! for dessert, we ordered the buttermilk panna cotta. served with marin wildflower honey, seascape strawberrry granite, and pistachio sable. i'd have to say this was the only disappoint of the night...although it was good, i'd rather skip out and try something else. for drinks, wifey ordered a jalisco sunrise. strong...but tasty and refreshing. i ordered a shot of something...i can't remember what they called it. anyhoo, it changes daily depending on what's fresh. my shot was with some red wine and berries. $3 for 3 ounces...totally worth it. the service was decent...all of our food was spaced out perfectly and they kept our table very clean. the water was never empty. although he seemed a little flustered, he got the job done. no complaints really...just nothing memorable. but really, that's all i ask for. =D this has to be my new favorite find in the city. make sure reservations are made as this place was already packed at 5pm. it took me 3 months to get a reservation through open table...so plan ahead! read more

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Dinner review. Bacon beignets - 5/5 - Very light, perfect with chive creme fraiche Panisse chickpea frites - 3/5 Linguine al pesto - 4/5 Duck confit - 5/5 - Great apple soubise sauce Lumberjack cake - 5/5 - 7x7 Dark chocolate bread pudding - 3/5 Overall, very good. Bacon beignets are "as good as it gets." read more

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food was good , bar average , seating was great and customer service is good. Would go again read more

*** In Short *** Finally, a restaurant that manages the holy trifecta! *** In Depth *** Okay, so, that summary probably means nothing without some prior context, but the trifecta here refers to appetizers, entrees, and desserts. I've long been a believer that restaurants excel, at most, in some subset of the three: usually appetizers and dessert, appetizers and entrees, or just one of the three. Heck, after the hundreds of places I've eaten at, I didn't even believe it was possible for any one restaurant to do all three well! That is, until my dinner at Frances last night, where they killed it in every one of these courses (with some caveats). Items worth trying? Everything, probably, but specifically, the panisse (chickpea) frites, sakura pork chop, dark chocolate pudding, and lumberjack cake. Honestly, even the dish with the aforementioned caveat, their bavette steak, was super tasty, with the only problem being that we were unaware that it'd be such a chewy, sinewy cut, preferring something a bit more tender. But even that blemish was countered by our fantastic waiter, who continuously asked and offered to swap out that dish for another, since he'd noticed my mom wasn't super in love with it. And when she insisted that it was okay, and that she was enjoying the taste, he still went as far as giving us a slice of their lumberjack cake to take home by way of apology. Great food, and amazing service? Yeah, I'll be back. ***Accessibility Info*** Venue - The entrance has a short and slightly steep incline, which can make opening the door a tad difficult, especially since the automated open didn't seem to work when I went. The inside of the restaurant, while narrow, is pretty accessible, with a combination of bench and chair seating. Reservations are recommended, so just be sure to leave them a note when booking. Bathroom - Didn't try them. read more

At Frances, the food steals the show. Every single thing I've tried has been amazing, and I would honestly say that Frances is the best food I've had in San Francisco... yes, even better than any of the highly sought after Michelin starred places I've tried. Frances is nestled inside of a small space just a few blocks from the Castro. From the moment you step inside, the inside is warm and inviting. The staff is courteous and pay close attention to detail with everything from wiping down the table between courses to folding your napkin when you stand up to go to the restroom. It's those extra details that take a dining experience from average to stellar. And ah, the food. The menu changes frequently, but the Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets are always on the menu, and a MUST TRY item. Their house wines are pay by the ounce, so you can get exactly how much you want. I've had the pleasure of dining here twice, and I can't recommend it enough. SF is a minefield of bougie restaurants offering $100 tasting menus, but Frances is actually worth the money (no tasting menu required). Frances is one of the most delightful dining experiences you can get in the city... or probably anywhere. read more

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Been waiting to try this place for a while now. Finally got a reservation and it was for my best friend birthday. Overall my experience was pretty good. Service was good. Small and tight spaces but overall the ambiance was good. I like restaurants like this. We started out with their daily Juice Shots. Watermelon juice special, spiced and spiked, yum! They had two specials that night. A Tomato Tart and a also Salmon Belly dish. Both were filled with lots flavor and they were delicious. So lucky I asked our waiter because it was just added on. My reservation was at 630pm, prefect timing. We also ordered the Applewood Smoked Bacon Beignets, which was not greasy and you can taste the bacon. Awesome! Our last appetizer was the Chanterelle Mushroom Linguine. Not heavy and just enough flavor to carry us over to our entrees. As for our entrees my best friend had the Marin Coast King Salmon. He really like his dish. Very flavorful, moist and worked well with the combination of radish and creme frachie. I had the Stuffed Tolenas Farm Quail. The Padrón Chile was amazing and it went so prefect with the Quail. For the sides, we got the White Corn Spoonbread and Caponata. The cornbread was super yummy but the caponata was okay. Was hoping for a little bit more flavor aka in the eggplant. We ended the night with the Lumberjack Cake for me and the birthday boy got the Plaisir Sucre. You must get the Lumberjack Cake! The cake was warm and awesome with the yummy Muscovado ice cream. Super delicious! read more

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4.5 stars. We had dinner here last Saturday at 5:15pm, at which time they were about 1/3 full. By the time we left around 7pm, the place was packed. The Good: - super accommodating to our toddler. They gave us the last table by the kitchen/bathroom, which typically, people don't want. However, it was the most spacious, with a wrap-around booth and lots of pillows that were perfect for our son, who had just fallen asleep during the ride over. - service was so friendly and the staff was unassuming - decent wine and cocktail list. I was bummed I didn't get to try the market shots or the wine by the ounce. - tasty small plates, which I prefer over large entrees (though they did have a few entree items) - inexpensive Michelin-star dining - parking was easy (lots of metered parking around the restaurant) The Bad - hmmm, were there any? I mean, if you are claustrophobic then you might find the tables too tight. The dishes I ordered and got to taste (my hubby ordered his own so I can't speak to those): - beignets - nice and warm, not heavy at all - chickpea fritters - this was on many tips I found and though one tasted good, eating five was just too much. The texture is super dense, kind of like a denser rectangular block of tofu. I would say skip unless you share with the table and you eat two, max. - mushroom soup - really nice, creamy and tasty. Loved the dollop of creme fraiche but the fried oyster was just ok. - side of broccolini - the farro texture was amazing! - lumberjack cake - the BEST item of the night. I almost didn't order this as the description made it sound so heavy, and I already was beyond full. By the time I took my first bite, I was hooked. I tried to eat as fast as I could, before my brain caught up to my tummy. I am telling you, order this or you'll regret it! read more

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