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    Routier

    4.5 (235 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndFrench
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Routier French Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    ROUTIER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Routier

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb shoulder
    Ada H.

    Came back and was warmly greeted by the wait staff. All the workers are always so courteous and nice and made the experience that much more enjoyable. Our waitress Alejandra was a sweetheart and consistently checked up on us and refilled our waters. Oysters (5/5)- fresh oysters and the sauce was the perfect balance of brine to creamy. The crunch from the zucchini really elevated the texture of each bite. Pork trotter croquettes (2/5)- unfortunately this was our least favorite bite of the night. The pork trotter was a tad bit dry but the creamy sauce did make up for it. The croquette itself tasted one dimensional and felt it was missing something. Chicken medallion with black truffle (10/5)- I dare say this was my favorite dish so far of 2026! The sauce was decadent and aromatic. The earthiness from the black truffles just melted in each bite of the creamy sauce. The chicken was succulent and cooked to perfection. This dish was flawless and I really hope they have this dish on their special for a while. Great experience per usual and I can't wait to come back to try their other menu items.

    drinks
    Sam F.

    The most amazing dinner!! Fantastic ambiance, thoughtful service, and extremely delicious food. You must get the duck leg!! We stopped in rather spontaneously around 8pm on a Thursday and were kind enough to be seated at the bar until a table became free. While we waited, we ordered drinks, and chatted with the bartenders, who were all super friendly. Once we were sat at a table, we ordered a true feast! -Dungeness crab pavé (5/5): so fresh and light, herb accompaniments brightened the dish perfectly -Pork trotter croquettes (3/5): maybe my least favorite dish of the night, caper aioli was good but I felt like the croquettes lacked flavor -Creamy pumpkin soup (5/5): the special of the evening, the best soup ever!! Tasted like it had a deep brown butter caramel finish -Roasted broccoli hazelnut chili crisp (3/5): Kind of a miss for me, not a bad dish but could've used something more -Roasted cauliflower risotto with mushrooms (5/5): creamy, cheesy, rich, and decadent!!! Couldn't ask for more out of a risotto -Braised pork cheeks with creamy lentils (5/5) deep flavors with high quality meat, very hearty and perfect for the wintertime -Roasted hangar beef with slab bacon (4/5): amazing flavor and perfectly cooked, but small portion and barely any bacon in the dish -Duck leg confit with pumpkin puree (5/5): fall off the bone tender. One of my favorite duck dishes I've ever had. Well rounded and balanced flavors!! Duck fat was to die for. Not a cheap meal but worth every penny.

    Ria T.

    WOW! this is making me rethink other 5/5s I've given. Buzzy ambiance, we came for a post valentines celebration. Things we tried: 1. Crab pave 2. Hen of the woods 3. Duck confit 4. Tuna sashimi Drinks: 1. Carafe of wine 2. Pickle martini Standouts: The tuna sashimi WAS INCREDIBLE. Just wow. Fatty thick cuts and the accoutrements were paired perfectly with a tangy lemon sauce. I would have ordered more The hen of the woods was really interesting with crispy tempura greens and mushrooms. Honestly everything was good. I didn't like the pickle martini but my husband did so no points docked for that :) personal preference. The duck confit had a nice citrus burst with the kumquats and it was so tender and seared wonderfully. The crab pave had the perfect touch of dill ! I would come back in a heartbeat, in fact can't wait

    Crispy swordfish
    Caly T.

    Lovely interior and intimate vibes! - Wide mushroom pasta (5/5) : rich sauce and mushroom forward, the breadcrumbs added texture contrast - Risotto (5/5) : very comforting, the cheddar really came through, a little bit heavy but delicious shareable - Crispy swordfish (4.5/5) : the crisp was executed nicely and I enjoyed the root vegetable puree to accompany it - Potato pave (5/5) : crispy bite-sized delight! The shallot sauce was the perfect dip for it

    Schelly Y.

    We absolutely loved Routier and cannot wait to go back. The ambiance and the food were perfect. I am not a huge creamy pasta person but this was perfectly balanced and not too rich. Every dish we had was spot on.

    Debbie F.

    We choose this restaurant for our Anniversary dinner. We made a reservation online and wete seated immediately upon arrival. This was a leisurely meal starting with a couple of appetizers/small dishes, then main dishes and ending with a small dessert to share. The service was fantastic! The recommendations from our server were great! We started with Hen of the Woods which is a mushroom dish and blue fin sashimi. Both were fantastic! For main dishes, we had steak and duck leg confit. Both were good. Lastly, we shared the cheesecake. This was incredible!!! The restaurant was packed when we arrived. We were the last to leave that night. The empty restaurant allowed us to see how nice the interior is designed. We were never rushed, even when they closed for the night.

    Dungeness crab, Oyster special and Tuna Crudo
    Erin L.

    We had such an amazing date night at Routier. We decided to get a smattering of snacks, small plates, and specials. The oyster special was absolutely amazing and definitely order the bread and butter snack with any of the terrines (I thoroughly enjoyed the duck terrine and want to go back to try the wild boar terrine). The staff were kind and courteous and sent out our selections in an order than made the most sense (lightest to heaviest). The wine list was also extensive and both glasses we tried were excellent. I can't wait to go back and could see this becoming our go-to neighborhood spot.

    Crafted menu for party of 21.
    Mike C.

    How to organize a party/event for twenty? Putting together a celebratory Saturday dinner at the end of August, I contacted them in June about my intentions so we could arrange this party when the reservation window started. With our group size, they saved us the upstairs dining room Look no further. Exchanging messages with the restaurant to arrange was a task given the party size but the restaurant was precise and detailed in crafting a menu, especially with food allergies, dietary restrictions, and meal preferences. The chef crafted a family style meal divided into four sections or courses. I'd describe it as small bites, salads, mains, and desserts.in reading this menu (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=UJlUHfq2Sj8qAZLCzVfvHA). Our party was divided into two tables into tables of four or five on adjoining tables. The meal was an amazing journey of dishes inspired by a variety of seasonal ingredients using the chef's skills and knowledge. My personal favorites were the fennel salad (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=ThR_yQP6S66P5Onk_4hgCA), the beets (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=zlWWnn7sX1VXqjUyKUwhVw), the white seabass (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=hJ8B8CjEJodIqo0KdFjwbw), the corn risotto (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=xhEYbytRRcO1EafOCOhPpA), and his staple duck confit (https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=saJuyv784apZzH--psHZ3Q&start=96&select=LTAwFqB8iPUw9eZwmnKiLA). Of course, the desserts were a highlight too with everyone, knowing they were created by the chef/co-owner with a 1st name B with a store a few doors to the left. Thank you, Grace, for handling our party with your crew. Biggest thanks to JP for crafting and creating our meal and festive party.

    Wine list
    Brian S.

    Ordered 2 small plates and 2 large plates. Hen of the woods Blue fin Duck Lamb shoulder Hen of the woods is 4.1 star Blue fin 4.2 star, good flavor Duck 4.1 star, a little dry. Lamb 4.2 star, was a little dry Over all I would come back here. We also got wine and the server was able to pair it well with our food. Service was nice and friendly. And around 730 was loud and busy but started to quiet down around 830. And they close at 9pm.

    Sweet corn risotto and chanterelle mushrooms
    Alyson S.

    Routier truly raises the bar on French cuisine here in San Francisco. Located on the corner of California and Divisadero, the exterior is unassuming. However inside, the restaurant is cozy, cute, and chic. Service is great and staff are accommodating. Dishes are decently sized and priced given it is French cuisine. Flavors are rich, ingredients are fresh, and presentation is vibrant and eye-catching. Some of my favorites are the sweet corn risotto, hen of the woods mushrooms "au poivre", and breaded white sea bass. Also, the dark chocolate mousse and the key lime cheesecake are a must to end the night! This was such a memorable dining experience. I would highly recommend and I can't wait to return!

    Egg yolk pasta
    Keanna W.

    Had a lovely dinner at Routier in SF. We ordered the sweet corn risotto, heirloom tomatoes, Dungeness crab pave, hen of the woods mushrooms, petrale sole, and the egg yolk pasta--everything was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. The risotto was creamy and comforting, with fresh corn that added a nice pop. The crab pavé had a subtle hint of dill and was crisp on the outside, soft and delicate on the inside. The egg yolk pasta was rich, silky, and perfectly al dente--simple but so satisfying. Service was solid overall. There was a little mishap with a spilled drink, but the staff handled it quickly and graciously--super accommodating and attentive, which we really appreciated. Would definitely come back--there's more on the menu I'd love to try.

    Chocolate mousse Chantilly
    Al L.

    I am a fan of my namesake, Belinda Leong's, delicious pastries and desserts at B. patisserie. I heard that she in partnership opened Routier, a French restaurant just down the corner of the bakery. I've walked by it during the day on the way to the bakery, but not during the evening when it's open. My friend Mike C. has dined there several times and speaks highly of the food there. So it's been on my list to try. But lo and behold, Mike C. set up his birthday celebration here and I was excited that I was going to try the food. Our dinner party of 21 was set up in two tables and was held in an upstairs private loft area. Once all the guests arrived, the first course was served. The 15 item menu was served family style. The starters: House French bread with compound butter Chicken liver mousse - two large dollops of pate with currant and crostini. This was delicious. Mackerel rillettes with green garlic and radish - first time trying rillettes. I thought it needed more flavor. Fairytale eggplant and Padron pepper tempura - not an eggplant fan, but since these are miniature eggplants, they were not fleshy as the typical eggplant. Crab pave - crab in mayo on top of a baked cube of potatoes. This was so good. Could have eaten several. Salads: Melons with plum chili - chunks of cantaloupe and honeydew topped with a dab of plum chili. It was a refreshing palette cleanser. Fennel salad with curry and dates - fennel with greens and endive. Beets and peach with ricotta and walnut - I love beets and this had slices peaches and ricotta. Very tasty. Tomatoes with green pepper yogurt - did not care much on the preparation of this dish. The tomatoes were sitting in too much liquid. Entrees: Corn risotto with chanterelles and smoked cheddar - sweet corn with savories of the ricotta. This was delicious and rich. White seabass with saffron and Nardello peppers -tasty fish was in a Beurre blanc with red and green peppers. Nicely presented. Duck confit with lentil and figs - the duck breast had a nice crisp and lentil sauce and the green figs complemented the duck well. Vegetables side: Zucchini with hazelnut chili crisp - wedges of zucchini in the chili crisp sauce. Dessert: Key lime cheesecake with strawberry and white chocolate Chocolate mousse Chantilly Neapolitan semifreddo with cremeux and strawberries All three desserts were good but like the mousee and semifreddo the most. After our meal, Chef JP Carmona came up and wished happy birthday to Mike C. Our waitress handled our party and did a great job taking care of our needs and helped served the food, clear the tables, and refill water glasses. I enjoyed the food and look forward to dining here again.

    Pear Napoleon
    Becca H.

    Wow! This was a really great French inspired restaurant. We were extremely impressed with the food. The service was great and had a really lovely server. The vibe of the spot was nice too - I liked how it wasn't too formal. The whipped chicken liver was well done and tasty. I heavily enjoyed the entree - pork shoulder as well. The chef really did well with all the flavors. The pear napoleon was personally not my favorite, but my boyfriend was obsessed with it. The earl grey flavor with the crispy pieces did go well together. I highly recommend trying this spot. I will be returning to try other dishes!!

    Egg yolk pasta

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    Great French cuisine experience. The lamb roast and risotto dish are highly recommended. Friendly, and knowledgeable staff

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    Page 1 of 6

    Routier Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Routier

    Do u accept apple pay?

    Yes

    Are there good gluten free options? The menu looks like there might be, but the French sometimes sneak flour into things.

    What's the corkage fee?

    Corkage is $45 per bottle, large format bottles are charged accordingly

    Do they offer outdoor dining?

    There are s few 2 person tables outside.

    This might be a little early but here it goes, is there valet yet? Thanks!

    What is the dress code?

    Casual. It has a fancy vibe, but you could get away with jeans and sneakers with no problem.

    What is the parking situation like in the area?

    There's usually a handful of available street spots on California Street. You may have to walk a block or so, but nothing terrible.

    What are the hours?

    Friday - Sunday, 5:30 pm - 8 pm. Orders need to be placed ahead online on Toast. Enjoy!

    View All 12 Questions

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    Mijoté - Celery root, apple, hazelnut

    Mijoté

    4.4(230 reviews)
    2.5 miMission

    Hidden away in the Mission District, Mijoté is in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it spot. Located on a…read morestreet corner with no signage, you'd be surprised to find such a fine restaurant with such little exterior flare. The inside of the restaurant is charming, with plentiful bar seating to watch as dishes are prepared in front of you in an open kitchen. The menu itself is constantly evolving and may be different with every visit. That being said, the main menu is a prix fixe 4-course meal with the option to add on 2-3 additional dishes to share. The meal starts with a amuse-bouche, generally a cold soup. For us it was a chilled golden beet soup, which tasted a bit like a nice, creamy sweet corn. One of the add-ons was the pâté de campagne, a blend of pork and fatty liver. Paired with a dijon mustard and fresh sourdough bread, it was surprisingly elevated for such a simple dish. Next were a pair of fish dishes that were the highlights of the meal, including sierra mackerel with fennel and peach, and monkfish and smoked butter. The monkfish was a particular standout as it was coated with a dill sauce, and complimented with the sweetness of diced rhubarb and earthiness of hazelnuts. The monkfish featured a smoky and lightly spiced flavor. The dish was extremely well-balanced and paired sweet, savory, sour, spicy, and smoky to a tee. Really excellent. The octopus and yukon potato was an add-on - the octopus was extremely tender, not rubbery at all, and the potatoes were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and soft like a mashed potato on the inside. The meal ended with a hanger steak which was solid, but compared to the other dishes, less extravagant. The dessert featured a rose sorbet, with milk foam and strawberries. As a whole, Mijoté dishes are simple, layered and extremely satisfying to eat. While presentationally may not blow you away, the taste will leave you feeling satisfied. The blend of French and Japanese culinary tradition and cuisine, Mijoté is comforting, elevated, and balanced. Very rare to find fine-dining that tastes so great while also feeling homey at the same time. If in SF, absolutely worth a visit.

    A solid place to go to for creative and fun food. I booked this place to celebrate my birthday and…read moreit was a good choice but because it's prix fixe, all they do for birthdays is put a candle in the dessert that's already part of the menu. The vibe is relaxed and a little irreverent. The staff are all nice. The food was overall solid with the sauces taking the dishes up a notch. They serve a sourdough from Josie's that is to die for. On the day I visited, the menu was a follows Chilled carrot soup amuse - this was a refreshing starter Yellowtail, golden beet, yellow peach with an orange sauce - the sauce was delicious but I felt the yellowtail was a little stringy and the pieces of fish, beet, and peach were too big Asparagus, white shrimp, ramp - I loved the sauce on this dish despite the shrimp being a smidge overcooked Beef cheeks, baby carrot, pistachio - the star of the show. The cheeks were meltingly tender. No notes Cherry, geranium, milk - a refreshing end to the dinner

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    Dessert with view from counter

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    Bistro Central Parc - PENNE CHICKEN- nice spicy kick!

    Bistro Central Parc

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.9 miNoPa
    $$$

    Lovely restaurant with dark wood and leather seat interiors. Our servers and wait staff were very…read moreattentive and friendly. The food was delicious. I had some escargot to start off with. They're already taken out of the shell but I kind of enjoy doing it myself when I eat them. I got the seafood bouillabaisse for my entree, and it was well stocked with shrimp, mussels, and salmon along with some bread for dipping. Went with a friend and she is obsessed with their sticky toffee pudding for dessert. We also tried the crème brûlée and it was made perfectly! Seems like an earlier crowd who eats here, at least on a Thursday night. We were the only two people left inside the restaurant by 7:45 PM with another table sitting outside on the sidewalk under heat lamps. Would definitely like to come back for a cute date night.

    My second time eating at the restaurant. They offer a $25/person 3-course Early Bird Special from…read more4:30 PM-5:30 PM every day (excluding special days). The menu includes a choice of salad, select entrée, and gelato. It was my friend's first time dining there, and she's vegetarian. We both ordered the Mista Salad with baby mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, sliced strawberries, gorgonzola cheese, candied nuts, and balsamic vinaigrette. For the entrée, I had the Grilled Salmon with red quinoa tabbouleh, diced cucumber, orange segments, and green goddess sauce. My friend ordered the Truffle Ravioli stuffed with mushroom and ricotta cheese, served with olives, Calabrian peppers, garlic cream sauce, and truffle essence. For dessert, I had the Double Chocolate Gelato, and my friend had the Sea Salt Caramel Gelato. I liked the salmon with the quinoa, and the salmon portion was a good size. The $25 Early Bird 3-course special is definitely worth the value. I would definitely come back again.

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    Bistro Central Parc - Warm athmosphere, interesting design, great service and vibe.

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    Bistro Central Parc - Crab Cakes

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    L’Ardoise Bistro - Prime Black Angus Rib Eye Steak

    L’Ardoise Bistro

    4.5(1.5k reviews)
    1.5 miDuboce Triangle
    $$$$

    C'est magnifique!…read more Authentic French cuisine with the cozy vibe of a bistro in France. Food is simply amazing, and some of the best I've tried ever. Have been here twice now and have left extremely satisfied. Over the past visits I've tried: Goat Cheese Salad: 4/5 very fresh and tasty, the walnut vinaigrette pairs so well with the balsamic. On the bitter side but I liked it Tiger Prawn Ravioli - 5/5, super unique and melt in your mouth. The sauce has an umami flavor and the dish is one of the best bites I've tried Steak (Filet) - 5/5, one of the best steaks I've tried. The seasoning is spot on and is very rich and flavorful Crispy Chick Breast - 10/5, my personal favorite dish. The chicken is seasoned to perfection, and the sauce lives up to the French rule that a perfect sauce is just as, if not more, important to the success of the dish. Love the mashed potatoes as well, my plate was wiped clean Desserts: 5/5 Apple Tart and chocolate cake - très bien The restaurant is tiny but it's part of the ambiance and reminiscent of a classic French bistro. Service is great, very friendly and attentive. Parking can be challenging as it's in a neighborhood and spots are usually limited, so plan in advance. Highly recommended.

    Probably 4.5 stars! Very strong, flavorful, traditional French cuisine in a warm, cozy,…read moreenvironment. Someone in our party booked this and I remembered coming here a couple of years ago and wondered why I hadn't come back yet. Lovely neighborhood bistro that's charming atmosphere with a classic feel and attentive service. We enjoyed the variety of tasty French dishes available daily and a few specials. We started with an order of crispy pommes frites and their special crab puff pastry. Both were nice starters. Then we followed that with Bijou Goat Cheese salad. They also had a nice wine list and we selected a good Napa cabernet sauvignon. For entrees, I had the Chilean sea bass that was breaded nicely and cooked perfectly tender over a bed of mashed potatoes and greens. The others in my party had the rack of lamb, duck confit and special entree of pan seared dayboat scallops and risotto. All dishes were solid but probably the best were the rack of lamb and seabass. For dessert, we shared the creme rules and chocolate fondant cake and I had a decaf latte, too. Both desserts were nice and rich but creme brulee was especially smooth and creamy. We were all full to the max! We left happy and I was glad we came back here for an early Mother's Day dinner!

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    Chez Maman West - Moules Poulette w/ White Wine, Bacon, Shallots, Cream & Parsley ($14)

    Chez Maman West

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    1.2 miHayes Valley
    $$

    Les Moules ! Les Moules!! Le Moules!!!…read more I tried Thai inspired Moules this time and it was incredible! Thank you for the recommendation (forgot our waiters name but he was awesome) We were just there for the mussels, wife ordered poulette, daughter got mariniere.....I also got a warm goat cheese salad and a beer as well! They also boast some of the absolute best French fries in the city, and plain or how ever you dip them ...incredible No food wasted, nothing to bring home, truly perfect dining experience! 5/5 .

    There's not too much that can go wrong with a burger. The portions for the fries were huge and the…read moreflavor was great on the burger. I didn't have that big of an appetite to try much else for appetizers or entrees. Maybe next time. The desserts are extremely sweet, more than I am used to. The things that knocked down some stars are weird particles in my beer that I noticed towards the end. My friend had the same beer with nothing. I've also had this beer many many times and there shouldn't be anything in it. There's also a lot of flies outside in the booths so it makes eating a bit annoying when you have to constantly swat around. The servers check up on you almost a little too much. By that I mean a different person coming up to the table to ask if you're done and when you say no, 5 min later, another comes up to ask the same thing. It felt like it was being rushed.

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    Chez Maman West - French Onion Soup ($6). Good but not as cheesy as the original one in Potrero Hill.

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    Galinette - Escargot, puff pastry, cream of mushroom $15

    Galinette

    4.4(181 reviews)
    4.7 miParkside
    $$$

    Great food, fabulous wines, warm and gracious service ... what more could you want? I'm a big fan…read moreof moules frites and theirs is delicious. The burger is insanely good as well!

    The absolute best way to indulge after a visit to the zoo nearby. The perfect slow French cafe…read morevibe, where they'll actually follow your request to pace your dishes in your own custom course list. With most non-main dishes around $15, it's a great way to slowly snack the afternoon away. French Onion Soup: Packed full of flavor! They put a lot of care into the cooking the onions, since they were nicely caramelized. This helped the soup flavor profile. With the soaked bread and cheese on top, it was quite a hearty soup. Beef Tartar: It seemed like the meat was diced small by hand, not mechanically processed into ground beef, which is how it should be. It came to the table pre-mixed except for the quail egg on top. The flavor had a nice a Dijon mustard tang. The portion of crispy crostini was just right for the amount of meat (many places short change you on that). Roasted Bone Marrow: Looks primal, with one large bone cut cross sectionally and charred on top. They added some Dijon mustard and breadcrumbs before the broiling, which really enhanced the experience. A little goes a long way with this intense marrow spread of crostini. Escargot: Traditional preparation, but I was pleasantly surprised that they added double escargot in every buttery hole. At first I thought it was a mistake, but then realize it was by design as every hole was filled that way. Such a nice treat. Duck Confit Croquettes: Three crispy dense balls with lots of shreds of duck inside. Plus a very pleasant presentation of sauce and pistachios on top. While I liked all the flavors and textures, I wasn't a fan of the fact that inside duck was chilled. Wish the whole ball was warm. Strawberry Fruit Crumble: Not what I was expecting for a crumble. Was more like buttery cookie crumbled on top, but it actually worked. The real star were the fresh strawberries in three forms: diced, sauce and ice cream. So delicious!

    Photos
    Galinette - Beautiful mural

    Beautiful mural

    Galinette - Half Organic Roasted Chicken, Brussels Sprouts, Dijon Mustard Cream $24.

    Half Organic Roasted Chicken, Brussels Sprouts, Dijon Mustard Cream $24.

    Galinette - Salad

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    Salad

    Chez Maman East - Basic Burger w/ frites + cheddar & avocado

    Chez Maman East

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    3.0 miPotrero Hill
    $$

    I've been constantly passing by this place and seeing a busy line so finally had to try one…read moreweekday. Was busy as usual but I came with a group of two(highly recommended) as the seating was much faster than the larger parties. The portions for some of the entrees are huge so be mindful not to over order! We tried the mussels which were delicious and the sauce it came with was great with the fries from the hamburger. I found the burger to be way more luxurious than what you'd normally expect. Again be prepared some things can be quite large. we also tried the soup of the day which was this lovely tomato basil soup and the pork chop which was perfectly cooked with another great sauce that i kept on dipping the fries in. One last note is the atmosphere it definitely feels like a nice cozy cafe that makes you wanna stay and chat with ur neighbors. Had a blast and i'm looking forward to trying their other entrees someday!

    chez maman has been on my list for awhile, and i finally got to try! with a party of 2 on a sunday…read moreat 6:30pm, there was a 10 minute wait which was perfectly reasonable. we sat at an outdoor table which was slightly slanted, but it was manageable. the french onion soup was soo good. the flavors are very nice, and the textures of the cheese, bread, and onion were incredible. the croque madame was also quite good, it was a fried (?) ham sandwich with an egg on top. the arugula salad had wonderful dressing. lastly, the mussels were decent, i wanted to try them since theyre a standard french faire but i was a bit let down by them. however, the fries were really great! overall, i would definitely come back to chez maman and get the french onion soup and another croque madame. really recommend this place!

    Photos
    Chez Maman East - Baked camembert and roasted garlic. Spread the garlic and then the warm cheese and get happy

    Baked camembert and roasted garlic. Spread the garlic and then the warm cheese and get happy

    Chez Maman East - Basic Burger (medium) with Frites - add Fried Egg and Brie

    Basic Burger (medium) with Frites - add Fried Egg and Brie

    Chez Maman East - French Onion Soup

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    French Onion Soup

    Gary Danko - Matcha cake

    Gary Danko

    4.5(6.1k reviews)
    1.7 miRussian Hill, Fisherman's Wharf
    $$$$

    Dining at Gary Danko was such a memorable experience, and honestly one of the most enjoyable fine…read moredining experiences I've had. What really stood out to me was how different it felt from the typical 3 fixed course meal formats. I loved how flexible and customizable the menu was, and my husband and I were able to order completely different dishes throughout the night, which meant we got to try so many more items on the menu together. We had the beef tartare, glazed oysters, roast lobster, rosemary crusted tuna, and seared filet of beef, everything was delicious. The cheese platter was also a nice part of the experience, although I'm not a huge cheese person so I probably didn't appreciate it as much as others would. For dessert, we tried the baked chocolate soufflé and the French toast dessert, and the soufflé was definitely the better choice. Overall, such a fun and memorable dining experience with great food and service. I would definitely come back again.

    I can see this restaurant was stellar 25 years ago, and that it has not elevated with the times…read more There's a restaurant called Charleston in Baltimore that has a similar concept of menu. Pay one price, order any combination of things. I would say that Charleston does it much better by including dessert for free. It is hard to justify wasting a full order on dessert. In addition, the food at Charleston just tastes way way better. The food was consistent, quite good but very very safe. Salt was generally lacking, which was very noticeable on two dishes- one, the branzino, while cooked perfectly, had absolutely no salt, relying instead on a very mild citrus sauce. Could have been excellent had they seasoned the fish. The filet was same, I finally caved and asked for salt on the side, and then I did enjoy it. The oysters were good but pretty basic.. tuna was fine. The lobster was a good lobster. Nothing exciting, but solid meal. I sat at the bar and the service was a bit lacking. For one, I was literally never asked how I was enjoying my meal? They came and went with dishes, and no engagement. Very odd. Near the end, I craved a palette cleaner, so I asked would they possibly bring me a tiny scoop of sorbet. They said, sure, and promptly charged me $12. Was it unreasonable? No, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Part of the joy of going to very nice places is that small requests can be accommodated without being nickel and dimed. Anyway I am glad I tried it. SF has many many better options.

    Photos
    Gary Danko - Inside (12/27/25)

    Inside (12/27/25)

    Gary Danko - Seared Ahi Tuna

    Seared Ahi Tuna

    Gary Danko - Chocolate souffle

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    Chocolate souffle

    Cote Ouest Bistro - IG @annette.chew - Apple Tarte

    Cote Ouest Bistro

    4.7(360 reviews)
    0.8 miMarina/Cow Hollow

    I came here for lunch with colleagues on a Wednesday afternoon. We were a group of 10 and they had…read moreus seated against the wall with the booth seating and combined tables. The decor was minimal and nice, and definitely felt like a more upscale lunch spot. A majority of the group ordered the chicken sandwich which everyone said was delicious! The duck and steak frites were also a highlight for the group. I got the BLT croissant sandwich, which was tasty but I honestly didn't love their fries. The portions were huge and overall we were happy with our lunch! Service was phenomenal and they navigated serving a large party well. Even on a random Wednesday there were a ton of customers. I definitely want to come back for dinner and to try more of their menu items.

    Mediocre food with rude dismissive host with a discriminatory attitude = big skip on wasting your…read morebeautiful Saturday afternoon. Chicken sandwich was drenched inside with pesto and a few dry, very dry, slices of chicken that had jagged edges cutting throat on the way down. Fries were hard and overcooked. Mushroom omelette was wet and oily. Don't bother reserving seats because the host doesn't care. We reserved seats for two for inside. When I checked in with the blonde host who seems to embody stereotypical racist French charm, she told us rudely "this is your seat". It was a table outside on the sidewalk not even in the parklette that was directly in the sun. I was with my mother and she cannot be in direct sunlight so I kindly mentioned to her that we had reserved for inside or a shaded table outside would be fine too. She explained loudly that the table she gave us was the only one she had and they were very busy (wtf? What's the point of reservations?) Only after I Insisted did she then say we could wait. Meanwhile, other people were showing her what table they wanted and she warmly told them not to worry. There was also a two table seat outside under the shade--an older white couple who had paid but they were just taking their sweet time talking. She never bothered them. There was another two person table next to them with a "non white" couple and they hadn't even finished because they were packing up their leftovers but she asked them if they could move quickly because people were waiting!!! wtf? I asked if we could sit at one of those tables and she said no. Then she reluctantly sat us inside. Tiny tables very very closely next to others. When my mom sat down the table was literally a small hand width apart from another group that was eating so my mom apologized to the neighbors and moved the table toward the other side a little--the blonde host came to us and scolded us to please not move the table because people needed to get in to the other table which was still empty. At that point I had no understanding of why she was treating us this way. Ruined a beautiful Saturday. We just moved in to a house a couple blocks away. I was excited to have a place nearby to eat and bring friends and colleagues who visit. I have been here twice, once with friends, another with my mother. The friendliness and service here cannot beat even In N Out and the food is lackluster. Meanwhile, the service and food at Piccino in the presidio just a few min walk down is worth the extra effort if you live nearby. I hope the rude host has healed from whatever biases or scars she experienced in her past to treat us they way she did. Meanwhile, don't bother reserving outside or inside seats and certainly forget adding any note on your reservation to sit by the window etc because it doesn't matter. Maybe ---unless you fit the race or look the host cares to be attentive and human toward. I have several colleagues who live nearby and they all actually told me the same thing--to look elsewhere.

    Photos
    Cote Ouest Bistro - IG @annette.chew

    IG @annette.chew

    Cote Ouest Bistro - Apple Tarte

    Apple Tarte

    Cote Ouest Bistro - IG @annette.chew - Vanilla Crème Brulee

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    IG @annette.chew - Vanilla Crème Brulee

    Routier - french - Updated June 2026

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