I'd driven past this place how many times, always trying to peer in as I made a right hand turn. I finally realized it was a restaurant and when I then again realized that it was in the Intercontinental Hotel which also housed Bar 888 ( which I'd been wanting to try), so I was thrilled. Now I could kill 2 birds with one stone! Perf! So off I go to make reservations on opentable.com. My friend and I spend a little time in the bar first. Great service, great nibbles, and yes, great drinks. After we decide to see if we can get seated earlier than our reservation had specified. Fortunately, they were able to accomodate us. The decor is so swanky and reminiscent of some of the swanky and upscale restaurants in NYC. I loved it! It wasn't packed but their were plenty of people seated around us, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves too. For the food, we had started with the tuna tar tare and ocean and land. Two words, olive ice cream...stop thinking what you're thinking and head out to try it. It was different and definitely yummy. The presentation of the apps were amazing too. For our main entrees we had the Black cod with cous cous and organic linguine. Amazing, and again, the presentation of the entrees was so pretty...so much so that I hated to dig into it, but I was hungry so I oohed and awed for a minute then took a bite of my black cod and beet soaked, red colored cous cous. Deelish! They also had a lovely list of wines, but I stuck to dirty martinis that night. The service was superb too. I love it when you are free to ask any passing server for something without having them shoot you the stink eye. Everyone from the servers, the hostess, the bus boys were fantastic. I'm running out of adjectives I know but they are well deserved. Our server was full of suggestions and knew exactly how many times to come by to ask if everything was okay without being annoying. They also seemed thrilled to describe the food on our plates and even the bus boy was excited to tell us about the (well known) S.F. food critic who had dined there only days before. Now that's my kind of place. Everyone is happy to be there and happy to serve you. If there were any problems with Luce, it would be that the word about them hasn't gotten out too much yet, but it is starting to. A friend sent me an e-mail that the concierge in her apt building sent the tenants recommending Luce to them. So see, it is getting out. It might very well be my new favorite restaurant in S.F., and although I'd like to keep this gem to myself, I'd also like to see Luce do well. So do yourself a favor and get on over to opentable.com and make yourself a reservation stat! P.S. The Metreon and Century theaters are literally a hop, skip and a jump away so you can catch a flick either before or after. Also, don't forget to stop at Bar 888 for a drink before. You have to pass it to get to the restaurant so make a point of it. read more

It's not in the direct hustle and bustle of the financial district or shopping areas but close enough to have a great elegant dinner. Luce is a great spot for going out for fine dining with a small group or a group of 10. Cuisine and Service are on par with well established restaurants. Would recommend! read more

Lunch at Luce left me angry. A Madlib seemed the right way to share the details. When you run a (adverb) __________ expensive restaurant, you want your customers to be (strong adverb) _____________ pleased with the food, service, (plural noun) __________ and general (word ending in 'ing') __________ experience. A beautiful (name of room in a restaurant) __________ is wonderful, but for $60/person at (name of midday meal)_____________, service and food shouldn't be total (something icky and steaming) __________ . How in the (insert name of deep, hot place) __________ a professional waiter can not know his menu I don't know, but I saw it happen. Service was also slower than (thick liquid) __________ in (cold month) __________ . Food quality ranged from (strong adverb) ___________ disappointing (Spaghettini) to (mild adjective) __________ OK (flat steak). Atmosphere/decor **** Food quality ** Value for money ** Overall ** read more

For years now my wife and I have been going out to nice Michelin starred restaurants for our birthday and special occasions. We do this mostly because we love good food and don't want to think of buying something for each other. However it's up to the birthday person to choose. I know sounds strange but that is how we do it. This year the birthday girl picked Luce. Our evening started by getting stuck in some traffic on the Bay Bridge so I thought it would be nice to give a call to let them know we were running 10 minutes behind. The man who answered seemed like he couldn't hear me over what was going on in the restaurant and almost seemed annoyed that I called to let them know we were going to be late. Once we arrived we were 1 of maybe 2 couples seated...not necessarily out of the norm for a 6:00 seating. We ordered the chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing as we do at most fine dining establishments. The meal started with bread and an Amuse Bouche that to be honest I can't remember what it was. The first course opened with this sparkling wine (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=-du-LI4jpMdl-DRtVgCObg). I found it rightfully paired with the Sea Scallop, Trout Roe, Dashi.( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=SgDvMObp3H61vZKeHyZqNw) Our second course; a vegetable salad and third course; seared foie gras, were predictable but well-made and presented nicely. Next came our intermezzo course which was a shot of icy apple purée. This resembled a soft sorbet that was light and refreshing. Our next course was the Steelhead Trout with Spring Mushrooms, Pattypan Squash in Duck Consommé. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=xsu6Jic24DdLNdtEtE-myw) It felt odd to have fish in a Duck Consommé but it worked. And it was paired with one of my favorite wines of the night. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=AIGAfs2OKxx5rEUUpsHymg ). The next course was the Slow Cooked Egg Pearl Barley, Truffle. Now I am a huge sucker for soft eggs of any kind. Add truffle to it and I should be in heaven. This time however the black truffle fell really short. The shaving we had felt and tasted dull and old. However the egg saved the dish. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=R05y3-2r6scff_X12V1eYw ) Our last savory course ended on a high not with the Guinea Hen with Broccoli Romanesco and Leg Confit. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=AHCkcAWoOjykLcWKLP6IuA ) Our sweet course was called "Sweet Sensation" and is pictured here.( http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FDi2dELjM0T_Es8Ka-C6gQ?select=B78SlN0bqBiaVU5jCN--ZA ) The chocolate was good but very rich. I would have to say our overall experience with Luce was good but I left feeling like something was lacking. Maybe it felt a little too hotel dining roomish? After all it is located in the Intercontinental Hotel. The food was also good but nothing I ate blew me away. I kind of expect to remember at least one dish when eating at a restaurant with a Michelin star. 3 stars rounds to 4 read more

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I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I was reading over the menu. Sure, sometimes having unique items on the menu can be a good thing. But I almost couldn't find one selection on the menu that I knew exactly what it was! Haha. The things that I DID know what they were (ie. tongue, octopus, etc) did NOT sound appetizing to me! We ended up ordering the beef tenderloin. I didn't realize at the time but the waitress didn't ask how we liked it cooked. Well when I glanced at the table next door and saw they had ordered the same thing... and saw how red it was, I got a little bit nervous. I have never ordered my meat rare. When it came out, I was hesitant... But... after my knife sliced into it like it was room-temperatured butter, and I put it on my fork and into my mouth... OMGosh, haha, soooooooooooo good. SO GOOD!! I could not stop talking about that meat all night long! It wasn't a bloody, messy, animalistic tasting piece of meat like I though it was going to be. There was no blood, no mess, flavor was unbelievable, and texture was amazing. I would definitely come back solely for this item, not to mention the good service, modern ambiance, yummy olive bread and creative drinks :) read more

Great spot, happy hour specials, outstanding hors d'oeuvres and amazing bartenders. A+++++ Service. read more

Luce - Don't cross the Lime... - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

2 pointers to not look/sound dumb (unfortunately from personal experience): 1) The place is pronounced "LOO-CHAY", not "Loose" =P 2) The "door" that seems like the entrance from Mission St. can not be opened, you must enter from the hotel. Onward to my formal review! To sum it up, Luce's food focuses on the essence of the ingredient itself and adds nice finishing touches without overpowering the "star" of each dish. Personally, I was not a fan of how the restaurant was so seemlessly connected to the hotel lobby with no separating doors. The high ceiling also left the place feeling a little hollow, and the sparse number of diners didn't help. However, as I said, the food is definitely yummy and I would not let the atmosphere deter anyone from paying this place a visit. I came here on a Thursday night and opted for the tasting menu: Amuse Bouche: Ocean Trout Crudo, Kumquats, Cucumber, Crispy Buckwheat and Piment Espelette - 2 slices of fish heaven soaked in a little bit of oil and paired perfectly with the crispy buckwheat. The buckwheat added a litle crunch but the sweetness of the trout remains the main attraction. 2nd course: Seared scallop in a light broth - this was DELICIOUS. Once again the scallop stayed front and center stage... sweet and savory, while the slightly savory broth complemented the sweetness of the tender scallop. 3rd course: Spring Vegetable Garden, Mission Figs and Black Olive - a cute little medley of spring vegetables sitting on top of a creamy...califlower I believe... sauce. Besides the sauce, these vegetables were simply steamed and the natural flavors permeated through and through. I personally enjoyed the sweet carrots and figs the most. 4th course: Artisan Foie Gras "Chaud ed Froid" - this might be the most tasty piece of foie gras I've had. I can easily say this was better than the seared one I've had at Cyrus; it was perfectly cooked and, again, the focus is the simple richness of the foie gras itself. Yummy. Intermezzo: to cleanse the palette, a bite of rich mango sorbet topped with coconut tapioca. :9. 5th Course: Halibut, Uni Foam, Califlower - The halibut fell apart as I put my fork into it, and though the fish itself wasn't super flavorful, the texture was satisfying and buttery. The uni foam was a delicate touch to finish off the dish. 6th Course: sorry I forget the full name, but this dish contains some different cooked oats/wheat and was topped with a medley of mushrooms and a slow cooked egg. I personally enjoyed this dish and thought the egg was complemented very well. Creamy. 7th Course: Guinea Hen, Roasted Breast, Leg Confit, White Asparagus and Morels - I got too full to this point, and figured it's just chicken so I didn't feel too bad about not finishing. I had a few bites of the chicken, which at the end of the day is just chicken (wasn't super tender or juicy), and the underlying bed of mashed broccoli seemed a little strange to me. I wasn't a big fan, and I think my opinion would've stayed the same even if I wasn't really full. Dessert: Yuzu Tart, Grapefruit, Tarragon Ice Cream - Sorry, but this did not blow me away by far. In fact... the tart tasted and felt like something I would be able to grab from a buffet dessert line (okay maybe a fancy buffet dessert line, but still. It just felt like some cream over a normal cookie). The tarragon ice cream was differnent, but I wasn't too impressed. All in all, I enjoyed my meal although I felt like it started really delicious and then slightly tapered off. The service was friendly, and I know this place focuses on good wine, but it would be nice if they also had some non-alcoholic beverages other than just bar soda. But I can definitely see the Michelin star worthiness and hope to see more of LOOCHAY in the future :-). read more

Chef Crenn Dominique Beats Iron Chef Michael Symon! As I watch Chef Crenn beat Michael Symon I am compelled to finish my review on her restaurant Luce. Hands down it was the best "Dine About Town" experience I've had and that's saying something. Usually the dishes are watered down versions of what the restaurant has to offer or the less desired menu items. Restaurants rarely offer their signature dishes. If what Luce offers for DAT falls into one or both of the above categories I can't imagine what the regular menu has to offer. Our party of four did share a Lobster dish from regular menu and it was both beautiful and delicious. If you take a look at the website you'll see how beautiful and amazing Chef Crenn's mouth-watering dishes look. If that is not a draw the fact that she beat an Iron Chef is! read more

Are you kidding me? Michelin-star food at this price in San Francisco is unbelievable. I enjoyed this meal far more than my last outing to Baumé in Palo Alto, at 1/5th the price. Yeah. I was stunned when I saw the bill. Am I biased by the fact that I was dining with the woman I love, or that I had a bottle of 1999 Salon Champagne to drink alongside it all? I don't think so. Perfectly crusted scallops with abalone, a killer Maine lobster in spices reminiscent of Indian curry, guinea hen three ways (roasted breast, leg confit, and sausage), and ridiculously tasty sweetbread ravioli, finished off with earl grey panna cotta with candied ginger and citrus... well you get the idea. This was a phenomenal meal. Can't wait to go back! read more

A friend of mine recommended this place and since I always trust his judgement I checked it out pronto. I'm so glad I was dressed up for this the day I came here. It just screams fine dining everywhere. Attentive service. I like the modern look, earthy colors, straight lines. Decent lunch menu selection if I should say. Looking at the prices I thought they were reasonable too. Well, at least until I saw the portions. It's all small portions. You don't come here hungry unless you order the burger or sandwich. I feel bad for my friend who I knew can eat more than what was being offered...oh well. We started off with the beet salad and I got the scallops and him the arctic char. Both are really really good dishes. I love seafood and soup. I just wished it came with a heavy side of anything carbs. I never skip dessert so the chocolate pot de creme it is. I finished it all by myself, I almost didn't wanna share - need I say more? I'm torn I'm torn! I really believe this warrants another visit. I didn't really get where the Michellin rating came from. Luckily, I'll be staying at the Intercontinental Hotel next month so Luce will still be in my radar. read more

With our recent, long awaited dining experience at this Michelin star restaurant, we finally get to check Luce off our bucket list and it gets its spot as review 200th. Luce is located in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel. Their bar area, which was in the entrance area, was quite vibrant this evening with convention goers from the nearby Moscone Center. The restaurant area is open, modern, and elegant with floor to ceiling windows. Checking in with the hostess, (I guess the Penelope Cruz look-alike, at Mike C.'s visit wasn't working this evening), we were seated at a nice window table. Our server, Joe, greeted us and described our dining choices on the menu. We opted for the tasting menu with the wine pairing. With our uneasiness with the sweetbread course, Joe said for us to give it a try. Should we not enjoy it, he would have the chef replace it with another dish. That was a nice offer since the menu said no substitutions. Joe said for us to sit back and enjoy the dinner. Courses: Amuse Bouche - Mini Parmesan and Chive Mandelines (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#5bXqJDirxKMb-aQ9yAq2Pw). Nice starter. Bread basket, where we were offered the choice of rolls, olive, rye, and white. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#P0Fmjjy5F9XF9oT7s0MzkQ) If you like olives, the olive roll was delicious. The roll had plenty of olives in it. Fennel flan with pistachios (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#VdFG2LzYun94tOv60J6wvA ). This was actually a bonus course as it was not listed on the tasting menu. Chilled Prawns, Lightly Marinated, Blood Orange & Saffron, Winter Radishes (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#dGauP4vlswoalaSU_MkEVg ) with 2011 Dolcil Loureiro. A light, refreshing starter. Prawns were sweet. Season Asparagus & Meyer Lemon, Toasted Quinoa, Brown Butter, Sorrel (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#xYHQNkGSKJ7NIVbGk_tO_w ) with 2011 Andre Vatan Sauvignon Blanc. Another tasty light course Crispy Sweetbreads & Quail Egg, New Potato, Mustard, Truffle (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ) with 2011 Masolino Barbera. The lightly fried sweetbreads were creamy tasty. Joe didn't have to worry about us returning this course. Beets & Buttermilk, Savory Granola. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#D9n73jAPSfsZiaACvspYGg) A refreshing palate cleanser before the main courses. Maine Lobster, Poached in Salted Butter, English Peas & Cocoa, Fresh Ricotta Agnolotti (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#wfNJJ1_qqnkAQGDviasY-g ) with 2009 La Fenetre Chardonnay. The lobster was tasty and perfectly cooked with three mini raviolis. It was dusted with a light cocoa. Sounded weird, but it actually complemented the lobster. Roasted Squab Breast and Leg Confit, Burnt Onion, Medjool Date, Cauliflower (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#vZbGMc1SbyHFUsndLOmC1Q ) with 2011 Siduri Pinot Noir. Perfectly cooked medium rare that went well with the medjool date Carrot Papaya Sorbet, Cocoa Nib. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#J-g2niDgpkM9Tdk9d62R4A )Nice fruity palate cleanser. Strawberry & Chambord Opera, Thyme Sorbet, Lemon Curd (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#qAAcG0gSgi3k2yL7bFOLXA) with 2007 Inniskillin Icewine. Nice cake, but didn't find it special. The thyme sorbet was actually pretty tasty. Mignardises - Four mini macaroons, two chocolate and two pistachio. (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/luce-san-francisco?select=-Yhm3d0nLr51zl2LdaQVxQ#a4dzRid6Mn9sPmFVX-j6dw ) The macaroon were tasty, but were tiny (quarter sized). Overall, we had a nice dining experience at Luce. Nice, classy atmosphere and great service from Joe and the other servers. Most of the wine pairings went well with our courses. Oh, the sommelier needs to loosen-up and we did our best to get him to crack a smile each time he described and pour the wine for each course. I think we failed in our task. Some of the courses seem to be a little on the small side. After recently dining at another Michelin star restaurant, Luce is just a step below in terms of value for the price charged. read more

Wow. I mean, talk about not expecting much from a place then being surprised. Here's why: - While the restaurant itself is awkwardly close to the lobby, they've got a great, private room in the back, which could be better decorated and really doesn't need the flat screen TV but nonetheless serves a useful function when having a big group dinner. - Though the back room only plays jazz music, if you're drunk enough, it can be quite entertaining. - Tried their white asparagus soup and the halibut...wow. I've never had reason to like Halibut all that much but Luce changed my mind. The soup was also delicious. - The nutella pot de creme was alright. I didn't try any other dessert but if it's anything like the pot de creme they can do with another pastry chef. Not bad but..come on..nutella pot de creme, that shit should have been fantastic. Overall, come here for a drink and apps in the lobby/bar area or for a big group dinner in the back room. If you come for dinner otherwise, ask to be seated away from the lobby/bar. read more

What a disappointment. I was staying at the Intercontinental, and seeing the high reviews of this restaurant thought Id just stay in for dinner. Big mistake. Dining alone, service should have been prompt and efficient. Particularly in a hotel restaurant, staff should know this. I was able to read a good 30 pages of my book after perusing the menu before I was approached by the waiter. My appetizer, the arancini, was actually quite good. Prompt, tasty, and nicely presented. But my entree did not arrive until literally 30 minutes later. I understand that some dishes take longer to cook than others, and roast chicken might be one of them. But 30 minutes is ridiculous, especially without any warning. The chicken was presented in an extremely odd way. On the bone, hacked into little pieces scattered around a salad of greens, bacon, and a sunny side up egg. But the worst part was that the chicken was pink and undercooked. After waiting so long, I didnt have the patience to send it back. While waiting, my wine glass went unfilled. When my entree finally arrived, I was asked if i wanted a second glass of wine. That did not come until I reminded the waiter, and I was already done with my meal. I should note the restaurant was fairly empty, so no excuse there. The chef kept coming out of the kitchen to say hello to various people. She would have been better off overseeing actual cooking. WIth such failed basics as undercooked roast chicken, she has no business leaving the kitchen for a second. read more

I expected much more from Luce, given its high price point and Michelin star status. It was okay, but not outstanding in any way, and pretty disappointing. - Food - General taste was fine but presentation was lacking. The black squid ink carbonara tasted good, but the presentation was unappetizing (little black strings all over the place topped with an egg). My beef tenderloin also tasted fine (although not better seasoned than steak/beef that I've had elsewhere at much lower cost), but I could not stand the parsnip puree that it came with (the puree was left uneaten). Portions were tiny. And desserts (chocolate ganache, apple tart, hazelnut cake) were ok, but not that great, and had the worst presentation of everything. - Service - I could not stand our waiter and refused to engage with him after awhile. He kept making snarky, dry comments that I'm sure he intended to be funny, but I just found to be really off-putting (and I have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor myself). He put down the hazelnut dessert that we wanted to order - his words: "I don't find that dessert to be worth anything", but he also acknowledged that he didn't like hazelnuts at all. Uh, a little biased, no? I love hazelnuts, what the f. He wasn't very welcoming at all, got our drinks wrong, and without explanation, did not bring us one of the desserts we ordered (to his credit, he brought us two other desserts on the house b/c it was my bday but there was no explanation as to why he didn't bring the other). Overall, not worth the money. Explains why there were so many empty tables. read more

I honestly don't see how this Michelin Star restaurant 4 years in a row can have a 3.5 star rating on yelp. You guys are ridiculous. This restaurant is on the ground level inside the inter-continental hotel in SF. Pronounced "Lu-che," it threw me off since there isn't an accent mark over the C. American cuisine with Asian influence is what I got from a lot of the dishes using Yuzu, soy sauce, ginger, etc. We had a 9pm reservation because we wanted 1000 points on Opentable but when we arrived early for our reservation they were able to seat us immediately. We enjoyed that after having a drink at the bar beforehand. We sat down and we wanted to do the tasting menu. They cut off the tasting menu orders at 9pm sharp so if you want that, you have to show up before 9pm stating you want the tasting menu. I suggest you get it. We sat down and were given the menu anyway even though we knew we wanted the tasting menu. They also give you an extensive wine list that comes with it's own table of contents, it's a little overwhelming but I love variety which they have in spades. The waiter we had was fantastic and very helpful with menu and wine questions, describing each course and just having an overall good personality. The tasting menu comes with 9 courses and you can add a cheese course for an extra $12. You could probably go without the cheese course but I love cheese so I had to get it. Each course had a purpose. The starters were good and then in between that and a main course was a course meant to re-fresh the palate. You can tell the menu was very well thought out in a way to make the courses flow after one another. Each dish was very pretty and the presentation was flawless for all the dishes. The flavors were unmistakably what they were suppose to be and the combinations were great tasting. Since there were so many courses it's hard to remember each one but it was a great dinning experience. I've had other Michelin Star Restaurants such as Gary Danko and Keiko a Nob Hill and each one is Michelin Star worthy in their own right. Gary Danko earned theirs for being flashy, Keiko earned theirs for being small, intimate and great flavors in their dishes. Luce earns theirs because it surprises you. Most hotel restaurants have a bad reputation but Luce kills all those preconceived notions. Dinner with the tasting menu is great and the wine list has something for everyone with great suggestions from the staff. They took care of us and the food was great as well. One complaint about the food was there was too much flower on the sorbet before our other dessert course but other than that, near perfect execution of dishes and presentation. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very hip and modern and I really liked the plates on the wall near where we were seated. The seats were also very comfortable and we enjoyed sitting and waiting in between each course. They replace your silverware after each course and give you options of the type of bread you can get instead of giving you just one option. Overall a great tasting menu experience. The thing is you can't over hype things before you come. Let the restaurant show you what makes them unique and great instead of comparing it to another restaurant you've had before. Each restaurant is different and unique and that is what makes the dinning scene in SF so amazing. read more

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We had an Open Table deal here for a 9 course tasting menu with wine pairing for $200, so I decided to take my husband there for his birthday. We arrived at 7pm and promptly seated. Water and the amuse bouche came out quickly after. And that's when things went down south. It took so long between each dish, and the wine and food didn't come out at the same time. At one point, they poured our sparkling chilled white wine to be eaten with a fish dish. The dish did not come out for 35 minutes after the wine! If we didn't drink the wine, it would be warm and flat by the time the food came out. If we drank the wine and asked for a refill when the food came out, they would get snooty with us, saying it was just a tasting. Which is completely fine. I just thought wine PAIRED meant the wine actually came out with the food. Also, they did not bring out our intermezzo when they should have. It was supposed to come out after the salad and before the fish, but it never came out. We had to ask for it 3 different times before it finally came out. Also, about 3 out of the 8 dishes did not have wine pairing, which I felt was false advertising. The whole dinner took a total of 4.5 hours. We did not leave until 11:37pm. Even with validation, parking was $16.75 because we were in there for so long. If the dishes were excellent or memorable, it wouldn't have been so bad. But the food was just ok. Compared to our 8 courses at EOS the week before, EOS had a lot better tasting food, though Luce had better ingredients. Would we come back? No. Would we recommend this to anyone? No. Total out of pocket on top of the $200 was another $150 for tip, an appetizer, and 2 glasses of wine since we had to wait so long between course. It would have been under $200 for a great dinner at Alexander's, and we wouldn't have had to drive up to the city! read more

This review is for Christmas buffet lunch. The experience was less than impressive. We had reservations at 11 and arrived 10 minutes early. We were promptly seated however the food was not even set up yet. You would think everyone would be quickly trying to set up but I just saw a lot of people SLOWLY setting up with no sense of urgency (ie decorations and signage for the food). We did not even get acknowledged by a server for at least another 10 minutes. Once the food was finally out we noticed serving utensils were missing so we had to wait again for someone to bring them. It did not look like they were short on staff but service was EXTREMELY slow from bringing out drinks to clearing away dishes from the table. The food was disappointing as well. I expected more for what they charged. The menu was very basic and nothing special. There were only 3 desserts, all containing dairy. I did not find the options appealing and skipped dessert altogether. Even the coffee was inconsistent...cool and lukewarm. I regret choosing this restaurant ...there are better options available for this price. I will not be back. read more

Very exquisite food here. I am not used to eating such delicate cuisine. The food is subtle and it seems like there was good bit of care taken in pairing the flavors. Every tiny bite is something different. The bites are very tiny, so speak softly and carry a small fork. I came here with three friends for Dine About Town. Dine About Town isn't the best indication of a restaurant's cuisine, but it is a good opportunity to enjoy fabulous atmosphere and sample some good cooking. A good entry point for the fine dining novice. The atmosphere is ornate but still light and airy. Come here to impress a date. The Dine About Town menu featured three courses with three options in each course. The first course was a choice of salsify, a raw vegetable platter, and a another dish. The raw vegetable presentation was artistic and colorful. The main course choices were branzino with quinoa, my choice, a flank steak, and pulled pork belly. The steak was my favorite. The branzino was plated beautifully and had a red quinoa with a few sauces, one which had a starchy potato sauce. Everything is small and every dot on the plate is composed with thought. The food here is like art. We didn't have the pulled pork at our table. For dessert, we had a choice of nutella pot de creme and a yogurt and fruit, bit delicious. A diner at the table next to us was enjoying a special tasting menu and writing copious notes. I surmised that he was a food critic and struck a conversation. He was a friend of Chef Dominque Crenn, the executive chef, who we also met. Lovely lady. Beautiful and talented. I ogled his food and made a note to come back to try this tasting menu. Next time I will be back for the tasting menu if anyone would like to come along. read more

Not to be confused with LuLu one block over...or is it? I've had similar-price, similar-quality prix fixe power lunches at both of them now (the price being $20, the quality being hit-and-miss: in Luce's case, the risotto and vietnamese pork belly sandwich were the only true highlights). Yes, my obsessive exploration of all Soma lunch spots can be an expensive habit at times, but it's a relatively cheap way to bask in the swanky hospitality of the Intercontinental Hotel for a while (so *this* is what SF looks like to the tourists--note the huge window looking out at 5th and Howard, and its huge blinds ready to be pulled back just as soon as it gentrifies a bit more.) Ultimately, it would've been a solid 4 stars were it not for the typically "hotel" service: an army of waiters, sommeliers, hostesses, waterboys, (plus some fussy and important-looking dude who came by to straighten out our silverware), who still manage to be quite slow and (in the case of our wine order) prone to mistakes (you know I rarely breathe a bad word about service, but seriously, it's like Keystone Kops in here). read more

Had a really good pan seared arctic char here, served with a potato pancake, tomato confit and lemon beurre blanc. Everything was perfectly cooked, i'd come back to try more. The chef is competing in the Next Iron Chef series. read more

BUMMED that my friends didn't like this place (Hi Diana!) but I sure did! Came here post spa treatment for a romantic dinner with the beau. We opted out of the tasting menu since we both *hate* foie gras, and went a la carte instead. Our server, James, was probably one of the first indicators that this was going to be a fantastic meal! He was so warm, knowledgable and cheerful. We instantly adored him! To start, they give you some sort of pea gelatin with crispy bits on top (its more delicious than I made it sound) and delicious little breads to nibble on while you peruse the menu. The menu is a bit short (about 10 items total) but I love how they use only the most in season and freshest ingredients. Then, off to your main course! Amberjack- LOVED this crudo style dish. The fish was fresh, tasty and beautifully presented. The avocado mousse that comes with this is perfectly balanced, and not so dense that it outshines the fish. I could have eaten 10 of these! :) Scallops and pork belly- I'm Asian, so I love pork. I also love scallops. Scallops + pork belly is ALWAYS a win in my book but this was so beyond delicious I could barely handle it. The scallops are perfectly done + seasoned and the pork is flavorful with the yummiest crispy crust. We literally wanted to lick the plate! This is definitely a must try if you're going the savory route. Steak- YUM. Perfectly done, reminds me of the steak from Benu. Salmon- I remember this being the most underwhelming dish of the night. Not because it wasn't cooked perfectly (it was) but because Salmon is just always somehow really disappointing when you get it at a restaurant. Chocolate and cherries dessert- cute, fun, with modern presentation. Good but not anything to write home about. All in all, Luce was a solid experience. Their wait staff is seriously amazing- and all the guys made me crack up at least one! They sure know how to make a girl feel special. We'll be back! :) Warning: Portions are a bit small. So you may want to order 5 dishes for 2 people, since we were definitely still a bit hungry after. You've been warned! read more

Luce's squid ink trofiette "carbonara" pasta is simply the best version of carbonara pasta I've ever had in my life. Ever ever ever. 10 stars! Other dishes that are also delicious and beautifully presented: lobster dishes (a couple months ago, it was lobster and foie gras with soft pillowy gnocchi; on a recent visit it was lobster with carrots and uni) and spring garden vegetable dish. In my book, Luce is one of the best restaurants in SF - yet still relatively undiscovered. Eat at Luce! read more

I enjoyed my dining experience at Luce. We had drinks at the bar prior to our seating. The bartenders were nice and the drinks were quite tasty. Once seated, the waitstaff and the sommelier were quite knowledgeable suggesting key dishes and wine we should try. We had the surf and turf which was a mixture of of meat/seafood carpaccio. I had the lamb while my date had the John Dory. Both were excellent presentation and taste wise. The atmosphere itself screams "hotel guest". The design was "very modern" and a little bare at times. But I guess that's the theme of the Intercontinental Hotel. So I should give it props for sticking to one central theme. read more

I don't understand what all the hype is about. Chef Crenn was there cooking while we ate and the food was still just okay. She came out and said hello and seems friendly enough and the service at the restaurant was good but the food was just not up to par. I have seen chef Crenn on the iron chef, next iron chef, etc... I just don't see why she is so popular, and i have eaten at Michael Simon's restaurant "Lola" and it was 100 times better than Luce so I don't understand how she won on Iron Chef. I would try a different restaurant with so many great choices in SF read more

Amazing atmosphere and great place to have a lunch meeting. The noise is low and it's easy to hear conversation. The food is delicious!!!!! read more

Luce - Squash risotto with chanterelles. Nom!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Oh...where do I begin? The husband and I tried this place on a whim and went home satisfied and pleasantly entertained. We opted for the 5-course tasting menu and ended up with about 11 different items!!! When the server said, "If you have the time, the 5-course menu would be worth your while.", she wasn't kidding. And here we go... #1 Amuse-bouche of three different items: melon consomme with one little melon ball, a small dollop of fresh peas and white peach, and (my fave) the heirloom tomatoes with bacon and fried basil. I was amused. #2 Figs and Strawberries served with "Strawberry Soil" (it was actually pop rocks!!) and mascarpone cream. It all went very well together and it was so awesome to find a place for Pop Rocks in a high-end establishment. #3 Foie Gras on toasted brioche drizzled with Duck Consomme. Yum Yum Yum. This was just heaven melting in your mouth. Is it wrong to slurp up the consomme when you're all done with the foie?! #4 Palate Cleanser: Apple Cider with Apple Sorbet in a champagne flute. Refreeeeeeshing! #5 Poached Lobster with a melon consomme, tapioca "bubbles", and basil oil. The combination of flavors and textures was complex and makes you want more! #6 Pan Roasted Quail with pickled onion, chanterelle mushrooms, and brioche veloute. There was also a light sprinkling of sea salt on the quail that really hit the spot. This was my first taste of quail and it was de-lish! #7 Grappa with preserved apricot in a shot glass: a very nice transtion from the quail to the next dish. #8 Pork Two Ways: pork belly with bacon chips over greens and pork tenderloin with a soft quail egg, apple sauce, and granola. Both ways were awesome and the granola was a surprisingly nice touch. #9 Cheese Plate: triple cream brie, pecorino, and another hard cheese (I forgot the name) served with muscat raisins, white peaches, and the tiniest apple cubes I've ever seen. They all went very well together and I didn't need the bread that it came with. #10 Pre-Dessert: Melon Granita served with ricotta cream (tasted like coconut milk) and basil oil. This was one of my faves. The flavors were bright and playful in my mouth. #11 Dessert: Mini cannelloni, raspberry/basil sorbet (the flavors really pop!), tasty maple crunchies, and raspberry coulis and foam for dipping. It was a sweet and refreshing end to a very indulgent meal. Not too shabby for $65/person, eh? It was a pretty cool 3-hour adventure. On top of all the food, the service was great and our server was kind enough to allow us to sample our wine before ordering a full glass. The decor is classy and elegant without the stuffiness you'd expect from such an establishment. We'll be back for more. read more

Michelin Star? Are you kidding me? I wanted to like this place; not even close. Arrival: We were seated promptly on arrival. Modern decor is very clean and pretty. Waitress let us know that if we wanted to do DAT, everyone at the table would have to do DAT. That's fine with us. Service: Waitress seemed annoyed with us. While ordering dinner, we had some questions about the menu. Like, what is kampachi? Do you know if this merlot or cabernet is any good? Her reply was short, "Merlot is a little fruity, Carbernet is more full bodied." Sigh, I know what these type of wines typically taste like, I was expecting a little more of a description or just a simple, " I am not familiar with those wines." While we waited for the appetizers we had some bread, they were great! Appetizers: We all ordered the kampachi, but someone gets the beet salad instead. Luckily, I volunteered to take the salad. It tasted like a how a normal beet salad should taste, a little better than what I made for myself at Fresh Choice last weekend. The kampachi on the other hand tasted tired, slightly fishy, not very good. Second Course: Food arrival timing was good. I had the pork belly and cheeks, a friend had the tenderloin, another friend and my wife had the Bouillabaisse. Pork was fine, not great, TINY portions though, beware. Tenderloin was great. Good size, very tender, good flavor, and matched well with the egg. Bouillabaisse was TERRIBLE almost inedible. Soup stock that they poured was luke warm, fish was fishy, prawns were cold and slightly raw. Dessert: I ordered the chocolate with berries. Wife had the hazelnut cake with Tangerine Sorbet. Chocolate with berries was good. Hazelnut cake was so so, the foam was pretty, and the tangerine sorbet was probably store bought. After the desserts arrived, they asked if we wanted coffee It would have been nice to have coffee WITH our desserts, but we ordered it anyways. 10-15 minutes into our coffee, they ask us how we were doing with coffee. They take one french press away, I'm guessing they ran out of them in the kitchen? Not sure, its fine we still have two at the table anyways, but a little tacky. Anyways, I'm glad we didn't try any extra appetizers, I would have felt more annoyed than I already was, feeling like I over-payed for sub-quality food. read more

This review concerns only the breakfast buffet. $25 a head is steep but they deliver. Four kinds of sausage (veggie, pork, chicken, and turkey), joyful fluffy eggs, an Italian-style cured meat section, lots of good fresh berries, an immense section of pastries (sadly, not baked in-house and so not fresh that day but made to spec), really juicy succulent smoked salmon with all the fixings, some very very good coffee.... It is a continental breakfast on steroids. Service at 6AM, was attentive and thoughtful without being obsequious. It was nice to be tended to by someone who was not only more awake than me, but seemed to really care that I enjoyed my breakfast.Who is up at 6AM anyway? I would snarl and bite a few customers on the leg. At $15 I would be here twice a week with friends or business colleagues. Good enough to be a regular place even though it's just a hotel restaurant. $25? Well, only if I score a coupon. read more

The food was excellent. We came here for Dinner AND Breakfast! Dinner: I could barely understand the menu but our waiter was decently helfpul and we pretty much just ordered random things just to try them. So we started with the "Ocean and Land" surf and turf carpaccio with black olive ice cream. Delicious. We weren't sure how to eat it at first (lol) but it was delicious! Got a free glass of white chardonnay thanks to the waiter screwing up. Girlfriend ordered the Gary Sinksey red Merlot from 2005.I ordered an Eau De Vin from the 888 bar. They were all delicious. For the main course I had the "Sonoma Farm Lamb Loin" with mint scented tzatziki / tomato marmalade / braised artichoke and she had the Flat Iron Steak with Ox tail / Asparagus / Baby Potato / Bordelaise. Both were out of this world! For desert we were going to order the sponge cake but our waiter advised us against it. He said "Do you like burnt milk?" to which I replied "I dunno? I barely understand half the menu!" he then said it was a very acquired taste and suggested the Rhubarb Napoleon with Mascarpone / Honey Caramel / Basil Gelato. AMAZINGLY GOOD! For Breakfast: We had the buffet. It was also out of this world!!!! Eggs, potatoes (done well), cold cuts, smoked salmon, tarts, cheese croissants, toast, watermelon, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, orange juice, tea, you name it it was there, and delicious. A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ read more

This place gets three stars because the food itself was really, really solid. In fact, there wasn't a food misstep. If there had been, this would have gotten bumped down to two because everything else was just so damn annoying. And by everything else, I mean our waiter. Three friends and I went because their Web site touted the Sunday Night Supper as being "Chicken and Waffles." Being that two of us were from the South, we were all very excited at getting back to our roots, as it were. Imagine our dismay when we showed up and were handed the Sunday Night Supper prix fixe menu and it contained neither chicken nor waffles. The waiter rolled his eyes and said, with a touch of disdain, "We haven't served that for months." Really? Then perhaps you should have whomever is in charge of your Web content CHANGE YOUR WEB SITE. Perhaps your Web designer should spend less time on the annoying background music and more time making sure the menu is current. Considering we had all pretty much gone to Luce strictly for the chicken and waffles, we considered leaving. I joked with the waiter since we were the only table in the place, perhaps the chef would make an exception and whip up some chicken and waffles for our table. He again rolled his eyes and said "Why would you come HERE for that?!" My friend said it best: "Why then would I go to Fish and Farm and order a burger when I could go to Carl's Jr? Why would I go to Boulevard for macaroni and cheese when I could go to Boston Market?" Indeed. This town is delightfully chock full of high-end twists on low-end food. We gobble that shit up. The waiter then stayed and stayed and stayed and talked our faces off. To say he overstayed his welcome is an understatement. Yeah, I know how snotty this makes me sound, but trust me when I tell you it was more than intrusive. Look, I know we're the only people in the joint, but leave us be. When my wife was trying to select a rose wine for the table, he thoughtfully recommended the most expensive one. When she didn't select that wine, he said "Well the beautiful thing about wine is that it's personal." Um yeah, okay, thanks. Sorry, I know I'm dwelling on the waiter and it's making me sound like some rich white lady from the Hamptons bitching about how you can't get good help, but it really was off-putting. Thankfully, once we ordered, he left us to eat in peace. The food, once it came, was marvelous. I started with the Tomato Tartare / Pickled Melon / Tomatillo Sorbet which was OUT OF THIS WORLD. The tomatoes were unbelievably fresh and flavorful. My friend had the Surf and Turf Carpaccio / Black Olive Ice Cream, which was ungodly good as well. For entrees, our table had the Baby Calamari / Poached Egg / Pancetta / Parmesan, the Short Rib Pappardelle and Wild Mushrooms, and the Spring Vegetable Minestrone--all were stellar. The food was outstanding, but our server experience and the cold atmosphere of the restaurant definitely detracted from our overall experience. If you can overlook those things, then this is the place for you. And apparently don't come here looking for chicken and waffles because, why, in God's name would you come here for that? read more

Just had lunch there minutes ago. Not impressed. There was not a single dish I had that I thought was above average. 2 1/2 stars tops. Not sure how in the world this got a Michelen star when so many better places are overlooked by them. Maybe dinner is better, but lunch was not great. read more

Came here with Grace for lunch today to dine about the town. Solid meal, I must say... but it's one of those "high class" restaurants where the actual food takes up less than 10% of the area of the platter. If that's your kind of place then this restaurant is for you. For me, I almost laughed (or maybe cried) when I saw my tiny portion of a flat iron steak (seriously, it was the size of a small deck of cards) come out on a plate the size of a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. It was served with a pan gravy and this sauce made from olive oil and anchovy paste, plus a lincoln log-stack of steak fries. Grace had a scoop of butternut squash risotto with chanterelle mushrooms served in an extra large pho-sized bowl. ok despite the minimalistic plating style the food was quite good. The steak was perfectly cooked medium rare, and soo tender. the gravy was delicious too but i wasn't really fond of the anchovy paste sauce. The risotto had a lot of flavor although i feel like the squash was a little undercooked.. unless they meant to keep it a little firmer for texture, but i doubt it. for dessert i had this tangerine gelatin thing.. not the best.. but Grace had this nutella and chocolate mousse that I guarantee will blow your mind. ok this review has gone on long enough. I was wavering between 3 or 4 stars because honestly i don't think it's worth it for the price, but I had a nice time.. OH and they give you the mini-size condiments like those little jars of ketchup and the baby tabasco bottles that of course i made Grace stick in her purse to take home. I love that kind of stuff for realsies. (p.s. i know a deck-of-cards-sized steak is the normal recommended serving size but it still looked funny on such a huge platter). read more

The Saturday before Christmas, four of us dined at Luce (pronounced: Loo-chay, in case you're wondering). The ambiance is very downtown-hotel-like for the obvious reason that it's located on the ground floor of the Intercontinental Hotel. I'm used to fine dining that's comparably isolated, ie., once you're inside, the outside sort of falls away unless there's a view. But we were seated next to the window so I found myself distracted by the fire truck whining by and holiday shoppers hoofing it past us. It wasn't bad, per se, just unusual in my experience. I can't comment on the wine since we brought our own and the conversation was in full flow so I didn't pore over the wine list as I usually would if it were just the Huzby and me. They took our first bottle away from the table and decanted out of sight. I'm not sure if this is proper protocol since any time we've had our own wine decanted in the past, it's been directly at the table. Anyone out there know the legit decanting decorum? The service was perfectly adequate and polite, still I've had better service at Fleur de Lys and La Folie. This wasn't a problem, just a point of comparison. The amuse bouche was packed with flavor and gone in one glorious inhalation-- err...bite. There was some kind of savory mousse on top of a dab of crab but, happily, no foam. I've had it with foamy "haute cuisine'". It just seems silly to me--frivolous, freaky froth. Enough with the fluff! And thank you for not serving me any. The food was superb. I started with the autumn salad--deceptively small, it was tasty and filling since root veggies tend to be dense. There were a couple of different purees underneath that added unexpected texture and flavors. A definite winner and something special since I wouldn't take the trouble to make it at home. Huzby had a first course of papparadelle with short ribs which was beyond delectable and made me wish I'd ordered it for myself--although it's big enough to suffice as a main. Our dining partners had the autumn salad and bone marrow and were equally delighted with their choices. Main courses were various: Our tablemates had the shortrib papparadelle and suckling pig. (Jesus. Why do they have to call it that and why does anyone want to eat a animal that hasn't finished nursing on Mom? I tried to pretend it was something else...) Both seemed very happy with their choices. Huzby had the beef tenderloin (delicous--I tasted it.) but Huzby reported he'd had better. I had the lobster brochette. This was a great dish, however, there was one overly-raw mussel in the mix that I thought threw the dish off balance. Other than that, it was swoon-worthy. Huzby opted for dessert--some yummy-looking chocolate -worm-mousse-thing he reported as good. I couldn't even muster a spoonful, I was so full from dinner. The three of us watched as he polished his plate. Other comments I've read on Yelp reported bland food, needing salt etc...We experienced nothing of the sort. Everything was seasoned perfectly. We'll be back but I don't know when. There is no shortage of excellent restaurants in SF and there always seems to be something new (or old) to try. read more

Dine About Town is a great way to test out a restaurant without really committing to a full meal. she (Crenn) passed. nice presentation. *David Little Farm Potato Soup / Forest Wild Mushrooms / Parsnip --nice tiny potatoes and good mushrooms in a decent broth, only critique was the texture a little gritty like cream of wheat *Arctic Char / Couscous "Pearl" / Shiso and Mint / Salsify --good technique, not very exciting. *Slow Braised Short Ribs / Spaghettini / Forest Wild Mushrooms --good flavor, small bits of short rib. would like to try less conservative dishes next time. came here for a dinner presentation. food choices were good. fancy vegetable garden presentation vs. standard salad. fish had good broth with crispy skin and tasty scallop/clams. pot de creme good. read more

The good: Excellent , excellent food creatively presented. Great wine list. The bad: Loud as all hell from the bar next door. Lots of drunk tourists watching the Red Sox game and yelling. Why did they seat us on this half of the restaurant, I don't know. There were plenty of open tables. And the service was bizarrely rushed. In and out in 70 minutes. How weird is that? It felt like we were eating at a crowded Mission hipster joint rather than an expensive, luxurious restaurant. Our waiter announced the specials, "Filet Mignon. Rib eye." No details. I had to press him for more. If you're at Moscone anyway and want some delicious food, and Ame is booked solid, great. read more

My Hottie Blade superbly summed up our Dine-About-Town fiasco at Luce. So Fussy is throwing out the Fussy Fusspot scale for this one and adding a few comments. The food - yes, it was terrific. If they had taken $5 off the bill for every time they apologized for something then our dinner would have been free. As we left the restaurant I felt like we had just been cheated out of $100. No Fussy Fusspot points you Luce. read more

I really enjoyed my meal here. We opted for the tasting menu which really gave the chef an opportunity to shine. The plusses: -the space is really nice and the location is convenient (for me). -the food is really inventive; the beautiful platings combined with the gastronomic (think foams, dusts, sorbets and bacon) are a standout in the bay area -the food prices seemed reasonable; $65 for a 6+ course tasting menu - the service is really professional, knowledgeable, and friendly the not so positive - the dining room was empty (so more people should go!) meant that it was easy to get reservations but it definitely felt a little too quiet - the drink prices are expensive. it didn't seem like we drank too much but our drink bill (with no bottles of anything) was more expensive than our dinner bill I look forward to going back and exploring more of the chef's dishes. I'd likely pay more attention to the drink offerings/prices next time around, though. read more

Underrated place. Always has space for reservation. Low noise level and convenient location near my office. The chefs love using sous vide. As someone who likes to cook, I really appreciate how their friendly staff takes the time to explain the cooking times and cooking temperatures used in their preparation of the food. read more

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We had a lovey experience at Luce tonight. The service (by James and Miguel) was incredible. There are restaurants who will provide a service but this was an experience fe. I can't speak highly enough about James and his experience and knowledge. The food was unique and fun. I would suggest everybody come to experience this restaurant!! read more

This restaurant is located in the Intercontinental hotel. As a thank you for continuing to do business with they they hosted me and a group of my colleagues to a nice lunch. It's a gorgeous restaurant, the food was delicious and the service was great. Thank you for hosting us. Enjoyed every bit of it. read more

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