Mediocre and overpriced. We were at the bar section and was hard to get stuff attention.

JouJou is a beautiful new venture from David Barzelay, best known for his two Michelin star masterpiece Lazy Bear, which I love and have visited enough times to warrant two hands to count my visits pretty soon. The space itself is designed like a French bistro and I found the interior classy and elegant, with natural light pouring in through the front. The hostess who greeted and seated us was friendly, and the servers throughout the evening were all excellent, both knowledgeable and warm. They even brought out a stain pen when my dining companion spilled red wine on his shirt, which was such a thoughtful touch. A breakdown of everything I tried: 1. Raw Bar - I'll include all of the items here since they came out as part of the same tower, but we ordered geoduck, razor clams, two kinds of oysters, full uni, and 1 oz of caviar, which they were kind enough to let us order off menu. The oysters we chose, Shigokus and Skookums from Washington, were recommended and both were briny and rich, while the Hokkaido uni had that signature creamy sweetness, though probably worth skipping if you've had before given the elevated prices. The caviar was beautiful and came with smoked cream and toast points, though I would have much preferred the delicateness of blinis. Geoduck is one of my absolute favorite types of seafood, so I was beyond disappointed that it not only came out in such a tiny portion but what I can only describe as a scraped together mess vs the nice, clean slices that I am used to. The razor clams, on the other hand, were an absolute banger as they were plump, savory, and bright all at once and instantly transported me back to the streets of San Sebastian and fond memories of all the incredible navajas al ajillo. 2. Escargot Toast - I appreciate that they are aiming for innovation, but sometimes classics stay timeless because they do not need to be reinvented and that is precisely how I felt about this dish. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but I got very little of the thing I mainly want to taste in escargot, which is the escargot. The one bite where you do get one is pretty fantastic, but the overall toast felt underwhelming given the ratio. If executed well, I would expect each toast quarter to have at least four of the tiny snails or one to two of the plumper ones I am used to. I get what the toast is aiming to emulate but it also felt like how it was cooked dried it out and so was missing that signature butteriness you get after you've finished the escargot and dunk pieces of fresh bread into the garlicky and herbaceous beurre d'escargot in each vacated compartment. 3. Warm Grapefruit Brûlée - This was one of the highlights of the night for me. It was wildly inventive as each bite gave a different mix of flavors and textures. The brûléed grapefruit was so fun to crack open, and the balance here was spot on, with just enough bitterness from the grapefruit and chicories, sweetness from the beets and brûlée atop the grapefruit, and acid and tartness from the citronette. No notes; chef's kiss. 4. Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork - Another highlight and a super interesting dish, since I have had prime rib and pork chop many times over, but never a prime rib of pork. You can tell the pork quality is top notch, and the cook was perfect with just a touch of pink in the center. The rendered fat cap adds a depth of flavor that is often missing from pork loin because it is so lean compared to beef. The au jus adds another dimension to each bite, and the accompanying apple horseradish chantilly brings a lovely sharp richness that helps to cut through the fattiness of the pork. 5. Roasted Liberty Duck Breast - How can you dine at a bistro and not try the duck? The duck itself was delicious, cooked to a beautiful medium rare and paired with a lovely roasted sour cherry sauce, but I did wish the fat had been rendered a bit more, since some pieces were chewier than I prefer. The accompanying duck leg confit pressé was so delicious and I loved the nod to a centuries old technique (the only thing that would have made this even better would have been a tableside preparation ha!). 6. Sides - We added both the pomme frites and the creamed kale callaloo, and I would say to skip the fries since they were pretty basic and not worth $15. Absolutely, however, get the kale because it was such a unique combination of flavors and textures. The use of coconut cream and the deft use of it in the dish created a really pleasant mouthfeel that had just enough creaminess without becoming overly heavy, as many "creamed vegetable' dishes too often are. The kale still had some bite while the fried shallots on top added a much-needed textural contrast. All in all, I had an enjoyable evening here, but I am not likely to return given the unevenness of several dishes as well as the fact that at current price points I would rather spend that money on any number of other fantastic options for French food (or in general) in SF. read more

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My cousin and I had senior dinner (5pm) on a sunny Sunday. We made reservations and many yelp reviews say that this is essential for a weekend. However, if you decide to go at opening time (4pm), you should be okay. It's not HOPR. I happened to arrive 30 minutes before my reservation so I decided to sit at the bar. No happy hour, yet they toyed with the idea of a "social hour" which is around 8-9pm to make use of their bar space. The bar pretty much occupied half of the restaurant. It was this light-filled green room sprinkled with various plants and floor-to-ceiling windows which let in A LOT of natural light. Reminded me of a greenhouse. It was my kind of vibe. I ordered the Roseraie (non alcoholic) at the bar; it was this burgundy-colored tart drink, the tartness might've been the hibiscus. I would say it's okay. Would I get it again? Probably not. As for the FOOD, we ordered: -bread and butter (complementary)-- house-made French butter with acme bread, what's not to love? -sliced celery root salad with candied walnuts and nocino vinaigrette-- delightfully pleasant and I don't think I've had celery root before so it was a positive first experience, the nocino made it nutty which ofc complemented the candied walnuts -liberty duck confit-- the duck breast was a challenge to cut into, but the flavor was amazing; I love duck tho, so other than duck where it's hard to chew through because of the bones, I'm a fan. For me, it was the piece de resistance sealed with a *chef's kiss -gnocchi Parisienne-- did not know it came out like a wheeled pastry, so to my dismay, it did not taste as expected. it was unfortunately my least favorite dish -side of creamed kale-- we LOVED this! overall: 3.7 because the interior knocked it out of the park for me and service was excellent, but the food left much to be desired. Also $$$$ (20% gratuity included). I may come back but for a special occasion or if a friend from out-of-town loves Lazy Bear food but not the price tag. read more

JouJou - French Near Me - San Francisco, California

Expectations weren't high going in, given the reviews and high price point, but this was definitely a disappointment, mostly the food. Service was fine. In general the quality of ingredients and/or prep was the issue. We started with the Frisco - the shrimp, crab and uni were all pretty flavorless, clearly not high quality seafood. Oysters were good, no issues there. Escargot was terrible, two tiny escargot on a piece of toast, all the flavor was soaked in the toast. Escargot itself had no flavor and was rubbery. Beet salad - the beets were wrinkled and wilted, not sure if they were old, or heated? Regardless, it was not how beets should appear in a salad. Seafood omelette - egg was overcooked, flavor was fine, mostly just salty. Free bread - stale and also tasted old read more

Food - I savored every bite of the Black Cod A L'Ananas, and I would eat the Creamed Kale Callaloo every single day. My companion also enjoyed the more classic leaning Pan Roasted Chicken Breast and the Pommes Frites, elevated by a green garlic Mayo. We completed our meal with the simply sublime double vanilla ice cream, mine with a lovely not too sweet warm strawberry confiture, his with gooey melted chocolate. Service - I would give 5 stars for Riley who delivered his knowledge and charm to our table along with the American Whiskey flight, and for the beverage program in general, my cocktail JouJou was elegant without overwhelming and we found wines by the glass to be well paired to our choices. We found our server to be professional and friendly but not readily available to answer our questions about some of the menu items but assistants were more engaged when bringing courses to the table similar to Lazy Bear which was great to experience. Ambiance - We dined at a corner table in the Rose room looking back out into the main dining area and marble bar, intimate but connected to the vibe, reinforced by the playlist and service staff who were fun to watch working through the entire space. We looked into the second bar room and the private dining room on our way out and the restaurant is also well suited for flexible event entertaining. Overall - solid 4, almost 5 stars read more

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I had dinner here with my husband and our little girl last Thursday. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful in terms of decor, very well done. Second, the service is definitely on the higher end, but still friendly and comfortable, which made the whole experience feel relaxed even with a child. Then the food. We ordered a few plates to share. The escargot toast was good, although I did not really taste the escargot because the pesto flavor covered it a bit too much. The crustacean omelet was very good. Then we had the cod, and the fish was literally melting in the mouth, plus the trout, which my daughter ended up eating most of, and that was very good too. Prices are definitely on the high side. For some plates it feels justified, for others maybe a bit too much, especially the sides. I also do not love when restaurants automatically add a twenty percent service charge, even if they clearly state that no additional tip is expected. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would like to come back and try more dishes to see if the quality stays consistently high. read more

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I booked a table for 2 in the dining room on a Friday at 5:15pm to celebrate a birthday. I highly recommend making reservations as the restaurant was completely packed by the time we left. It's a big restaurant too. There were a bunch of different seating sections, some dark and some under natural lighting with glass ceilings and walls. We were seated in the "rose room" in the far back which seems most of the couples were there too. If you were a group of 3 or 4, you would be seated in the main dining room with booth seating. Then there is the bar area which had a patio feel to it because of the glass ceilings and walls. These sections were very loud when it was full. The rose room was much quieter, good for couples. We just felt this room was disconnected from the rest of the restaurant like an afterthought. The fake roses on the wall felt tacky and the rose curtain gave a "country" feel mixed with chic. They also had 4 ceiling fans that were on high and it was drying my eyes and cooling down our food fast. We started with 2 cocktails: Hypnotise - $18 and Charentais You Say? - $18. I liked them both and I would recommend them if you like fruity drinks. It was just the right amount of alcohol. Our meal started with complimentary bread and whipped butter. I don't think the baguette was made in house or was fresh. It was inconsistent. It was crispy the first time but when we asked for more bread, and the second time it felt like it was microwaved. For our first course we had the steamed mussels - $25. This was a big portion, served in a, Le Creuset. Mussels were cooked well and it came with 3 pieces of toasted bread. This was when we asked for more baguette to soak up the yummy seafood broth. 4.5/5 Next we had the crustacean omelette - $43. This was brought out by the head chef himself. I was hesitant to have breakfast for dinner but wow, this dish was amazing. It's packed with seafood and the omelette was delicate and creamy. It's also big enough to be an entree. However we did find a couple pieces of crab cartilage. 4.5/5 For our main we had the black cod - $43. It was tender 4.5/5 and we paired it with a side of creamed kale 5/5 and morels with carrots 4.5/5. The morels were also brought out by the head chef who said we were the first to order it from the menu. Both side dishes were rich and flavorful. The service was great. We found the staffs all to be friendly and attentive. They were constantly near by checking on tables, filling water, folding napkins and clearing dishes. Service did start out fast but slowed down a bit as it got busier but we didn't mind. For dessert we had the banana foster with macadamia ice cream. It was made with, Gros Michel bananas which were smaller, sweeter and creamier than standard bananas. It was slightly caramelized. The roasted macadamia ice cream flavor was definitely there. They should offer it as a stand alone menu item. We found the caramel was very sweet as expected. 4.5/5 For the birthday boy they offered a canele with a birthday candle. read more

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My friend and I had a great Sunday dinner at JouJou. We shared the SF bay halibut, butter lettuce salad, crustacean omelet, trout almondine, prime rib of Berkshire pork and tarte tatin. All of the dishes were excellent. The stand-outs for me were the crustacean omelet (it was amazingly fluffy) and Tarte Tatin. I also really loved the prime rib of Berkshire pork with the apple-horseradish chantilly. In a SF food scene that's dominated by Asian and Italian cuisine, it's nice to add a really strong French restaurant in the mix. Service was good and attentive. The space is nice but the inside dining room is a little dark. They occupy the former Grove location in the design district. With tax and tip, this was about $140 per person. If you are itching for some French food, this place is highly recommended!!! read more

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4.5 STARS French food...moody lighting...intimate half-moon booths...*clutch your pearls* risqué wallpaper...couples feeding each other pommes frites. You know where this is going and it's not bible study after dinner... Bow Chicka Wow Wow! JouJou is one of the most highly anticipated openings in the city from the chef-owner of Lazy Bear (two Michelin stars) and True Laurel. A former attorney, Chef Barzelay is a self-taught chef. After being laid off, he started a supper club in his apartment and here he is today! While they reserve the counter and menagerie for walk-ins, my friend overheard it was an hour wait at 6 pm so def make rezzies! M E N U French brasserie, classic technique with modern twists - raw bar, seafood towers, apps, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Full bar. 20% service charge added to all bills (add'l tip is optional). No SF mandate. D R I N K S Complimentary still and sparkling water. * The JouJou: French Gin, Blanc Vermouth, Rouge Vermouth ($18 x2) If you like Aperol spritz, this will be your jam. * Hypnotizé: Eau-de-Vie Blanche, Passionfruit & Mango, Vegan Meringue ($18) Creamy, sweet-tart. * Charentais You Say: Cognac, Canteloup, Tarragon, Citrus ($18) Smooth, citrusy-herbaceous. F O O D * Complimentary House Baguette + Butter (Unlimited) Warm, crusty and soft with an incredibly rich, slightly fluffy butter. * The Frisco: 1 Dozen West Coast Oysters, 6 Gulf Shrimp, 4 Crab Legs, 1/2 Uni ($115) // 4.5 Stars Fresh, pristine assortment of perfectly shucked oysters, firm shrimp, sweet crab, and custardy uni. Mignonette and aioli needed more acid tho. * California Big Eye Tuna w/ passionfruit, fresh cane juice, radish, macadamia nut ($21) // 4 Stars The flavors and textures were nicely balanced, though the crudo could have benefited from a bit more cane juice to add moisture and bring everything together. * Vichyssoise w/ half-ounce golden osetra caviar, pommes gaufrettes ($49) // 4 Stars Chilled soup that low-key reminded us of sour cream & onion dip...made bougie with umami-rich caviar. * Chicken Liver Mousse w/ sauternes gelée, strawberry, sorrel, brioche ($21) // 4 Stars Rich, velvety smooth with the accompaniments providing a sweet-fruity contrast. The mousse ran too salty. * Warm Grapefruit Brûlée w/ roasted beets, orange, mandarin, chicories, tarragon citronette ($19) // 5 Stars Wildly creative with excellent textures and a refreshingly balanced mix of sweet, tart, and bitter flavors. * Escargot Toasts w/ green garlic & snail butter ($18) // 5++++ Stars A must order, incredibly buttery crispy brioche toasts with a fresh, mild garlicky note cutting through the richness. * Steamed Mussels w/ saffron, coconut milk, thai basil ($25) // 5 Stars Plump mussels bathing in a creamy, aromatic broth. Request extra baguette for sopping up all the brothy deliciousness! * Black Cod à l'Ananas, brûlée with pineapple, tokyo turnips, scallion ($43) // 4 Stars Silky, buttery cod with a hint of crunchy sweetness, tho my friend unfortunately bit into a few bones. * Steak Aux Poivres Exotiques: 8 oz Filet Mignon w/ spring alliums, wild pink peppercorn sauce ($71) // 4.5 Stars Perfectly medium rare, the peppercorn crusted filet, SO soft you can slice it with a butter knife. * Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork w/ apple-horseradish chantilly (not shown), calvados au jus ($53) // 5 Stars Juicy and flavorful with a natural porky sweetness and kiss of smoky flavor. The fat cap adding a rich silkiness. Served with cloud-like chantilly, lightly sweet and sharp. * Creamed Kale w/ coconut cream, crispy shallot ($13) // 5 Stars Savory and earthy, not overly creamy. Like pinoy laing. * Glazed Chanterelles w/ carrot spring alliums ($31) // 5 Stars Meaty, full of savory sweet umami! * Pommes Frites w/ green garlic mayo ($15) // 3 Stars Ordinary with some soggy parts. * Haricot Verts dry-fried, with anchoïade, crispy olive ($15) // 3 Stars Ran very salty. * Tarte Tatin w/ pink lady apples, caramel, brown sugar chantilly ($17) + Double Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream ($13) // 4 Stars Classic French dessert pairing - warm, sweet, and balanced. * Baba Au Rhum w/ whipped coconut, pineapple-rum flambée ($21) // 3 Stars Small yeast-based cake soaked in rum syrup...I'm not a boozy sweet kinda person so not for me. S E R V I C E Friendly and polished with well-paced courses. Chef Barzelay coming by, asking our favs - nice touch. A M B I A N C E French glam, spacious resto that seats over 100. Ideal for solo dining at the bar, date night, and GNO. P A R K I N G A rarity, street parking is easy. Overall, while the city has no shortage of French restos, JouJou is a great addition to the dining scene serving French cuisine with creative flair and twists you won't find anywhere else! read more

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Had a 6:30 reservation and got seated right away. The waiter took quite sometime to ask if I wanted a drink. I timed it at 23 minutes. By then I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the raw oysters, chicken liver mousse, and the 8 oz steak. The oysters came with a tiny tabasco sauce and seemed to be fresh. The liver mousse was great. The brioche toast paired perfectly with the flavorful mousse. Put some kiwi jam with it! The steak on the other was NOT good. Although it came with a sauce, it was dry. Very very dry. in fact, I had a hard time swallowing the first bite. I had it packed up to go. The bathrooms were not clean. It was gross. Their website states they have a "dress code", but when I walked in, there was people with t-shirts and shorts on. This seemed to be very casual and not a chic and upscale establishment. read more

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Walked in without a reservation and was surprised that we were able to get seated right away. They have plenty of bar space at the front and in the back for walk ins. We got the Dungeness crab salad, the French onion soup, and the steak with a side of fries. The crab was the standout dish and it was fresh and flavorful. The rest of the meal however was lacking. The French onion soup was pretty ok - there was little too much bread in it. The steak came with some weird peppers on top that were too sweet and threw off the flavor of the entire dish. We took it home because we didn't want to waste it but we still couldn't get ourselves to the leftovers the next day. read more

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Was super hyped to try JouJou but left sadly disappointed. I usually give new restaurants some leeway but I felt there were many kinks to work out. Service felt lacking and not warm, sommelier recommended a wine we didnt like too much, cocktails had some weird shrubbery. These are the things you can kind of expect when you go to a new establishment so we were willing to look past it. Where we were surprised was the food. Right off the bat, the table bread was soooo stale. Really hard to bite which is a shame because the butter was amazing. Big eye tuna with passionfruit was a miss with the fruit overpowering the fish. Lobster bisque was standard. The mains of pork and cod were well executed but I wasnt a fan of the flavor profile which was on the sweeter side. The hits were the oysters, crab louie and fries. Vibes were good, loved the space and how they remodeled the old Grove restaurant. read more

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A new French restaurant by the team from Lazy Bear and True Laurel. The interior design is stunning with four different rooms that are all unique and beautiful. The food as you would expect is unique and delicious. This was our first visit so we haven't made it through the menu but the escargot on brioche was a real highlight. read more

JouJou - Chicken liver pate with strawberry jam. - French Near Me - San Francisco, California

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These photos accompany my last review post! Everything was delicious - highlights included the pork chop and vanilla ice cream. Great martinis too. read more

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This is a very pretty restaurant in the design center with wonderful food and service. I would recommend it for a special ocassion or just sitting at the bar and ordering. read more

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Get the Grapefruit Brûlée salad - incredible. The Coconut Creamed Kale was also excellent. Beautiful restaurant.

Went to JouJou with friends on March 20 and had a fantastic evening. The food is beautifully presented and thoughtfully executed. The wine list is compact but well curated, with selections that clearly pair with the menu. We ordered the Alice et Olivier Chablis, a small producer not widely available in retail or on restaurant lists, and it showed really well with the food. Everything we tried was excellent. The seafood tower stood out, with very fresh shellfish, including raw spot prawns, and the accompaniments, from the tartare to the ketchup and mignonette, were all well balanced. I had the chicken, a classic preparation done simply and right on point. Everyone at the table was impressed, and my friends are not easy to please. Service elevated the experience, Our server was thoughtful and offered spot-on recommendations, and the sommelier was knowledgeable, approachable. Both had a great sense of humor. We sat in the windowed dining room, which had a great atmosphere. It's on the pricier side, but well worth it for a special night out. read more

JouJou in San Francisco is such a cute find! The space feels stylish but still cozy, making it perfect for catching up with friends over cocktails or enjoying candle lit dinner. The menu has a great mix of options, and everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. Service was amazing and attentive without being overbearing, and the overall vibe felt welcoming and lively. It can get a bit busy, but that just adds to the energy of the place. I was told by the manager towards end of April/ early May they will offer brunch, which I'm excited for. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

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JouJou is a classic French restaurant from the folks behind Lazy Bear. We like Chef David Barzelay and his 2* spot and gave them a month to get dialed in before we dined. Rated 4.1 on Yelp, 4.3 on Google. Beautiful restaurant with multiple dining areas and large bar. We came on a busy Tuesday, when an AI conference was in town. Most of the food was not up to standards we'd expected, nor was the service. At over $100 per person, it was not a great experience. We hope they dial in their cooking. We went to Arquet 1 month after it opened and it was superb. For good French try Chapeau or Routier. Safety Pluses - Online menu. Food Review: Roseraie NA Cocktail ($18) is the same price as regular ones. Nicely done, not overly sweet. 8.5/10 THE FANCY ($185) Seafood tower with 1 dz oysters, 2 spot prawns, 4 crab legs, 1/2 uni, 6 gulf shrimp, 1/2 maine lobster is not cheap but everything served was fresh and spot on. 9/10 BUTTER LETTUCE ($17) fines herbes, meyer lemon vinaigrette was overdressed and a bit sour. 7.5/10 PRIME RIB OF BERKSHIRE PORK apple-horseradish ($53) chantilly, calvados au jus is served a la carte and is a nice thick portion. It was overcooked and dry. 7/10 BLACK COD À L'ANANAS ($43) brûlée with pineapple, tokyo turnips, scallion was a ridiculously tiny portion size plus it was also over cooked. 7.5/10 PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST ($43) pan sauce à la minute with fines herbes was average, also slightly overcooked. 7.5/10 POMMES FRITES green garlic mayo ($15) took forever to arrive and came after we finished entrees. Also overcooked. 7.5/10 CREAMED KALE coconut cream, crispy shallot ($13) was probably the best dish of the night. Inventive. 9/10 HARICOT VERTS ($15) dry-fried, with anchoïade, crispy olive were just average and a bit soggy. 7.5/10 Overall - Good Food - Good Decor - Excellent Service - Good Value - Fair Would we come back - No read more

Wow, Joujou was delicious! I'm a sucker for seafood towers and they served their most basic tower with a dozen oysters that you get to choose, 2 pieces of uni, several good sized prawns and Dungeness crab legs. They didn't have the standard oyster chooses like Kumamoto or miyagi, Fanny bay etc. it was refreshing to try types that I hadn't had before. Ichiban were the standout for me. Small, sweet and crisp. Yum Every dish we had was executed very well. Black cod was so delicate and rich, pinned frites were crisp and light but with enough starch to make them fries. Creamed kale was a better version of creamed spinach and not overly sauced. The canele was one of the best I've ever had. The shell was crusty without being too thick or waxy and the interior was creamy. Service still needs some kinks to work out but was done with respect. The ambiance and seating is perfect for a date. Individual banquettes, well spaced, dim but not dark. They did run out of lobster bisque and chanterelles so we will happily come back to try those and more! read more

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Went a few weeks back. Overall,,Food wasnt that good but Very expensive. Cod entree was tiny tiny portion and way too sweet, all i tasted was pineapple/fruit sauce. Smallest amount of cod i've ever eaten anywhere. Wine suggestions were great though. I'd go back if there was better price for oysters by the dozen, as i'd simply get oysters and wine. Cocktails were meh compared to most places in SF. The chron review from june was spot on. I just wouldnt recommend. However, anyone complaining about the service charge... it is very evident on the website and menu, and even the font on the receipt it is comically large and bold. Most fine dining places in SF have the healthy SF fee/percentage and autotip/service charge. You can look it up ahead and budget accordingly. The reviewer who called out their cake slice fee (fee per slice), wow, that is a hilariously obscene crazy rip off. read more

My partner and I popped in while waiting for another reservation and were pleasantly delighted by the bar! It was beautiful and peaceful, and felt like we stepped into a pretty greenhouse. We each had a drink and I thoroughly enjoyed the Charentais, You Say? We really enjoyed the vibe, but it was pretty pricey. read more

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Second visit to JouJou... reservations will be impossible to get here in the very new future... the depth of flavors and variety of dishes, preparations, presentation and execution are seamlessly integrated with the entire experience of the feeling of the entire restaurant. Warm and welcoming from front to back of house... thank you JouJou... read more

We were excited to go to JouJou to celebrate a friend's birthday. I messaged the restaurant the day before with a special request and got an immediate and very nice response from the owner. Our reservation was early, and the restaurant was not yet busy. I was the first to arrive, and the hostess greeted me warmly and even mentioned my friend's birthday. The space is absolutely gorgeous, and I was pleased with our table and the fact that, unlike many restaurants, the tables were spaced well. Water was served immediately, and I mentioned that I'd like to order a cocktail while I waited for my friends. Ten minutes passed, and though I tried to catch the eye of staff who was passing-by, I wasn't successful. Finally a nice woman, who was not our table's server, said she'd be happy to place my cocktail order with the bar. All good. My friends arrived, and our waiter appeared. He was stone-faced, even looked a little grumpy. No greeting of any kind, not even a smile. He took our orders, and soon my friends were served their first course. I assumed my salad was coming, but by the time my friends were nearly finished, it had not yet arrived. I asked our waiter if mine were ready, and with no apology, he said he'd forgotten it. He then brought it, but as I said, my friends were nearly done. The rest of the meal was delicious, and we enjoyed our dinner and the beautiful space. We're all pretty easy-going and never asked for anything special or even remotely said anything that could have explained our waiter's attitude. But throughout our dinner, he never cracked a smile or uttered one word of pleasantry, let alone mention my friend's birthday. Not wanting to put a damper on the birthday celebration, I didn't mention his attitude to my friends. But then, they brought it up, and we all agreed that we were stymied. In summary, beautiful space, great food. But for this experience: terrible service. What would have been a five-star review, had our waiter been at least pleasant, is now a two-star review because a restaurant of this pedigree, stature, and price-point should have staff that cares, not just places food on the table. A 20% service charge is included in the bill, which is fine (and I wish more restaurants would do this). But a modicum of baseline service should accompany that service charge. And of course for great service, it's the diner's discretion to add more. But not this time! read more

My friend was excited to celebrate her birthday at one of SF's hottest new restaurants, JouJou and managed to snag a Friday night reservation. First impressions walking in: undeniably cute and chic... but very lighting was very dark. We were seated as a party of four at a table that felt far too small for the kind of ordering we had in mind. When we asked to move to a booth, the staff didn't seem thrilled--but given how many dishes we planned to share, the original table simply wasn't going to work. We started with the Frisco seafood tower (oysters, shrimp, crab legs, and uni). The oysters were perfectly chilled, bright, and fresh; the shrimp were impressively large, firm, and sweet. The crab legs looked too small to bother with, and the uni--served in a separate bowl--was a bit confusing. The crustacean omelet, another recommendation by our server was a complete let down. The omelet was overcooked - cue the scene where Gordon Ramsey throws it in the trash and makes you re-fire it. The lobster bisque was even more disappointing. It tasted like concentrated seafood stock rather than a true bisque--thin, so seafoody - in a bad way, and something I would have been embarrassed to serve. The chicken liver mousse was rich, smooth, and generously portioned, though it only came with two pieces of brioche. It would have been much better paired with the complimentary baguette instead. Escargot toasts were tasty but too salty--and at $18 for one slice of toast cut into four pieces, each topped with a single escargot, it was a rip off. The black cod was buttery and reminiscent of miso black cod, though slightly under-seasoned. We initially ordered the sole but decided to swap it for steak. When the sole was still brought out, the interaction with staff became extremely awkward. They seemed visibly annoyed when we pointed out the cancellation and service noticeably declined from there. Pommes Frites: the server said they were crispy and delicious. At French restaurants, they usually are, but Joujou's were just so-sos. Overly salty and soggy. The creamed kale was surprisingly the standout: reminiscent of Filipino laing or Hawaiian squid luau, but less creamy and kale was al dente. Parisian gnocchi: to be fair, we were warned that this was nothing like Italian gnocchi. I didn't know what to expect, but I didn't expect Taiwanese scallion pancake in a cheese sauce for $42. Portion could feed a toddler. By the end, the service missteps left a sour note. We wrapped up quickly, skipped boxing leftovers, and headed out. Even the lack of a small birthday gesture didn't bother us at that point--we were just ready to leave and agreed, didn't warrant a return. read more

There's no surprise JouJou is going to fire on all cylinders based off the fact that Lazy Bear has been for years. The standout for me is the bisque and martini. We didn't get a chance to try the dessert but looks amazing! Can't wait to try the bar seating next time during evening with that beautiful lighting and thoughtful drinks menu. Hope they do a bar/canapes menu there too! read more

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When I heard the creators of lazy bear were opening something new I had to check it out. Lazy bear is one of my fave restaurants in SF. It's changed over the years and I still miss the OG LB but it's still really good. So I came in with high expectation. Went with the celery root salad which was surprisingly good ! I've never had celery root before, the way it was prepared def order that again. I went with the almondine trout which was ok. Not too much flavor. The escargot toast on the other hand is a MUST! If you love escargot especially. This was buttery delicious. The presentation might be off putting bc of the snails but the taste more than makes up for it. The big eye tuna was very sweet, to be expected but personally not a fan of sweet and savory combined. The side of kale was delicious and def worth getting!! As for drinks, went with the blonde which was really good and the for our second drink we left it to the bartender to make us a special drink based on what we like. It was also very good. This place focused on wine so they have an extensive wine list and sommelier ready and waiting to help you decide. The cannelas were a great dessert to make us feel special. Overall a great experience. The vibes are super cute and chill. The service is great! It's not lazy bear that's for certain but a lot of attention to detail which I appreciate! read more

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My wife and I had a great dinner on a Sunday night. The restaurant was full. We were greeted warmly, seated immediately, and the service was excellent and well paced. The food was beautifully presented and the portions were generous. Although the waiter suggested side dishes, the mains had enough accoutrements on the plate that we felt side dishes were optional. We started with halibut crudo and escargot toast. Both were excellent. For mains we had trout and black cod. The trout was good, but the black cod was fantastic! Listen to the other reviews and go for the black cod. Unfortunately due to the very large portions, we had no room for desert. We had wine by the glass. Both the white and red Burgundies were excellent. But the pours were small and the prices ($24 each) high. We loved JouJou and will definitely return. read more

I fail to understand why this place is getting the hate it is getting. And I also fail to understand what peoples expectations are. Everything is expensive, and so is food. Anyhow this place is pretty good. It ain't a bistro, like some reviewers have stated. It is a fine dining restaurant with a pretty cool bar. The food is good, and so are the drinks. We had the Halibut from the Raw Bar, which was YUMMY. Their Chicken Mousse and Lobster Bisque were delicious too. The Canele is Europe level perfect, and the Vanilla Ice-cream is to die for. Special mention for the complimentary butter - I'll give it a 10/10. The only thing I didn't appreciate is the wallpaper in their restroom because it ain't quirky for me. Couples dine with their children across age groups, so being mindful when decorating a public place is good practice in general. read more

I was surprised to see so many tables and seats available when we arrived, especially since online reservations showed the restaurant as fully booked. I'd recommend just coming as a walk-in. The restaurant is nicely designed, but your experience will definitely vary depending on where you're seated. There's also plenty of street parking outside, which is a nice plus. Service was a bit chaotic and disorganized, but they just opened recently, so that's understandable. It took quite a while for someone to take our order and for the food to arrive. What's less understandable is the gap between the high prices and what you get in return. Fifteen dollars for French fries you could get for $6 elsewhere, $40+ entrées with no sides included, etc. I have no problem paying more when it feels worth it, but here everything seemed about 30% overpriced. Having been to Lazy Bear before, I have a hard time believing the team behind it would be happy with what's going on here. Eating at JouJou will cost around $150 per person total (with the 20% gratuity included and a single glass of wine with your meal). At that price point for a bistro, it really has to be close to perfect. As for the bread, like many others have said, that remains a mystery. Think of the worst, cheapest old mini baguette you could buy at Lucky supermarket. They could source it from almost anywhere else and it would be better. On the positive side, the food was tasty overall, the desserts were original, the front desk staff was friendly, and there was no wait to be seated. I don't think I'll be back but I hope they'll address these issues. read more

Wonderful French addition to the city! Beautiful interior and attentive staff. The array of oysters were fresh. The Dungeness crab salad was interestingly presented and delicious. The star of the show was the Glazed Black Cod as well as the Steak au Poivre! OMG! No room for dessert sadly. Be patient with the team as it feels like they are still figuring out the place. read more

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Fabulous new restaurant in the design district. Superb design, cozy despite the large scale, the food was exquisite, the staff uber friendly and attentive, the white burgundy French wine mineral and perfectly paired to our sea food small plates. The baba au rhum was over the top! I Food: 5/5 | Service: 5/5 | Atmosphere: 5/5 read more

nothing exceptional about the experience, would not go back. Service was fine. Som was nice but mid recommendation. Don't get the tuna- no business putting passion fruit on a good piece of fish. The "French" bread was objectively bad. Butter was good, but that feels like a base minimum. read more

I live in the neighborhood, am glad they opened and appreciate what they're trying to do. Certainly needs some "break in" time to work out the newness so be patient and especially be nice people. Sat at the bar ordered a delicious Paper Plane and some fries to nibble on. Constructively the fries weren't good, ie, greasy, limp, kinda warm, heavily salted w lotsa "dark bits" at the bottom. Green garlic aioli was really good. Heard owner wanted Balthazar vibes but imho they've got a ways to go. I don't say that to be a dick but I think Balthazar is special and has withstood the test of time. Oh and just cuz I'm a bit of a bar rat I wish they'll add a proper baguette burger down the road. Gigantic round of applause for investing in SF. read more

JouJou - Perfect Paper Plane plus they have Evan Williams bourbon in the well. Nice touch. - French Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My husband & I came here to enjoy some delicious seafood, and we loved the vibes, drinks & food! I will say the service still needs some ironing out (new restaurant = typical), but I thoroughly enjoyed JouJou and will definitely be back! * VIBES - JouJou is a cool spot nestled on the corner right next to Niku Steakhouse. The lighting is dark, feels romantic and lively. The bar is beautiful. * FOOD - We loved the lobster bisque, escargot toast, black cod & gnocchi. The dishes were melt-in-your-mouth good and we spent a bunch of time ranking our favorites. * DRINKS - Delish! I got The Blonde (vodka-based cocktail that was floral & refreshing) * SERVICE - This is an area for improvement. We waited a long time between courses, sometimes in the 20 minute+ range and we never got to order more drinks b/c I think our waiter quit during our dinner? (I'm kidding but he literally never returned once service started.) But either way we enjoyed JouJou & can't wait to go back! read more

It was a visually appealing layout and comfortable seating choice available. Friendly and welcoming staff. Food and service had moments but not great overall. Will try again later after they iron out the wrinkles. read more

Showed up with no reservations and were lucky enough to grab a seat at the gorgeous bar. It's such a beautiful space with an elevated yet welcoming vibe. The food was fantastic, especially the crustacean omelette and escargot toast, and the drinks were just as great. Shane behind the bar, along with Edgar's recommendations, truly made the experience, they made my fiancé and I feel right at home from the moment we sat down. Came in casually, left impressed! We can't wait to come back again soon. read more

The vibe and the service were outstanding. The food was good but the sauces made it above average. The cocktails were weak pours and at $28 each, really not worth it. read more

Amazing atmosphere! Excellent interior. The place has a lot of potential. Food was good. Some items are hit and miss. No doubt a staple for years to come in sf! read more

Waited over 90 minutes for a cold wet green salad and dry & cold mini baguette. We were celebrating a special nite - and had to leave when there was no estmate on when we would get our lobster bique and entrees. We Wasted 2 hours on a friday nite at SoSO JouJou - we went for food not ambience. Manager was useless also !... and so we paid for our champagne, went to another resturant and had a great dinner elsewhere in 30 minutes flat (Mochica). We hope this improves - they are still new - but would personally not return. read more