Amazing experience!! We did a walk in on a Saturday night and were seated at the Chef's table. Service - the staff is extremely nice! I was meeting a friend here for dinner and I was 30-45 mins late coming to the restaurant. The staff was very understanding and accommodating towards us (mind you my friend had already been seated during this time). Food - everything was fantastic! We ordered the ahi tuna tartare (literally melts in your mouth), sea scallops (cooked just to the right point), Alaskan Halibut, and Angus Filet Mignon. I liked the appetizers more than the main dishes but everything we ordered was great. My only complaint was that I think the staff forgot to remove the tie around the filet mignon before it was served to us (we saw it being cut off other pieces while we were seated at the table). We didn't have room for dessert, but we saw it being made in the kitchen and it looked fancy. We had a great experience here! Next time I come, I may just order more of the appetizers :) read more

Boulevard - View from the chef's table! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm gonna be honest here. To me, everything about Boulevard screamed of... well... oldness. Not necessarily in a bad way though! It's just that this restaurant attracts a more mature crowd, is decorated with aged wooden furniture, and even smells of old money. It's the kind of oldness that's actually cozy and comforting. I would compare it to sitting down in your grandfather's leather couch in front of a red brick fireplace. Imagine that you are also reading a very scholarly book and drinking a glass of Blue Label. Oh, and that you are wearing a monocle as well. Gotta have the monocle. // Sea Scallops ($24) - 4 stars // Chiogga Beets, Cana de Cabra & Hazelnuts ($16) - 3 stars // Brent Wolfe "King" Quail ($39) - 3 stars // Lamb T-Bone ($39) - 4 stars // Kurobuta Pork Chop ($39) - 5 stars // Dark Chocolate Caramel Mousse and Hazelnut Praline 'Tart' ($12) - 4 stars // Butterscotch Pudding ($12) - 5 stars read more

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This is not a food review guys but I want to share my experience at Boulevard on New Year's Eve at the bar. My husband and I were looking for a warm place to sit and have drinks before the fireworks. We saw boulevard and they let us in and sit at the bar. The place was decorated for New Years Eve. The people having dinner were dressed up and everybody was having a great time. We sat at the bar and a nice bartender took our order. He gave me a cocktail menu and a spirits menu. The cocktail menu had signature cocktails and special cocktails (seasonal). The spirits menu had champagne, a wide selection of wine, whiskey, tequila, and more. While we were seating at the bar we witnessed the detail and effort the staff puts on people's order. They checked wine glasses and made sure they were clean. They were pulling out the champagne and getting ready for NYE toast and everything had to be perfect. I had to used the restroom so I walked and watch more of the restaurant. Beautiful restaurant, a little upscale with traditional style. The restrooms were downstairs and they had an elevator or stair to get there. When I came back up I saw staff bringing food and going from one place to another. The food looked really good! I bookmarked it and I am ready to try their dinner. I am certain I am going to have a great food experience here. read more

Boulevard - Nice bartender poring my glass of champagne - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing food by the chef! Small menu but all options are delicious. The service is prompt and complimentary bread is served with the meal. They have a very extensive wine list as well as other drinks Menu prices are in the high end but quality makes up for it. I got the halibut and it was delicious. Some if the most flavorful fish I've had. The dessert menu is also great and you should try at least one! I recommend the cheesecake! read more

Boulevard - Alaskan Halibut a La Plancha - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was a solid MEH. Made an 8:00 reso thru yelp for Friday. Got there on time but was told to wait on the side at the bar. From the door, the bar seats looked full. Bartenders did not greet us or try to help so we just stood to the side feeling awkward. Two more couples came in after us and were asked to wait but the bartenders shouted to them there were low bar seats on the far side (which we didn't see nor did they offer it to us, NOT SURE WHY... hmm). There were several side tables in the bar area all open but with signs saying they were "spoken for". When some of the bar seats near us opened, we sat down but were quickly uprooted finally after one of the nicer bartenders took notice of us (just annoying overall). The restaurant ambience is dim lit, warm and sophisticated. Food was good, not great. We had the octopus/squid ink pasta and scallops for appetizers. The octopus dish was delish and I could just eat that alone. Filet and pork chops for entree were tender and moist. Dessert was chocolate cake and cheese plate, which were average. We came for a bday celebration and they gave us a card plus put candles on my cheese plate. Felt like an afterthought and I would have felt the same if they did nothing. Many other actual Michelin star restaurants in SF that I'll go to next but just disappointed I wasted the opportunity this time on Boulevard. read more

What happened to their single but still prestigious Michelin Star that they've held onto every year since the Guide started to rate restaurants in the US circa 2005? It vanished in the 2016 listing, but my second time dining here was just as good as the first a few years ago. ATMOSPHERE: The bar area is simply gorgeous with its concave brick ceilings, wood moldings, and mosaic & wood floors. The middle part of the restaurant boasts marble floors and counter seating with a view of the bustling kitchen. The rear part where we sat had plain old carpet but an enviable view of the Bay Bridge which was totally lit up and twinkling. Add in the Christmas decorations, and the place looked like a true winter wonderland. MENU: It changes daily, but we had selections of seafood apps, foie gras, soup, salads, fish, quail, lamb & pork chops, filet, and dessert. FOOD: House Bread - Soft and fluffy squaw with butter and sprinkled rock salt. Good but don't fill up on bread alone! Buratta, Coraline Endive & Dragon Arugula - A tickle for your stomach. Subtle yet good flavors from the creamy buratta, crisp corona beans and black tahini (sesame seed) paste. The arugula and endive acted as garnishments. Little Gem Lettuce, Green Goddess & Avocado - A caesar-like salad, albeit a mini one. The lettuce is similar to romaine, just smaller. The dressing is clear as opposed to creamy white. Good, but I'd pass and stick to the seafood apps! The bite of scallop I had off a friend's plate was just divine. Lamb T-Bone - Holy tiny, Batman!? 3 medium-sized chunks were served off the bone, medium rare as suggested, but had a very odd, smoky/charred flavor, somewhat metallic even, but not gamey. Weird. The side of creamed parsley leaf was delish, as were the caramelized chestnuts, and wilted endive. I didn't read the description well and just saw "wild rice" which actually was "wild rice lamb jus", that looked and tasted like a minuscule teaspoon of mashed potatoes. I should've gone with the Kurabuta Pork Chop which I thoroughly enjoyed years ago, but I wanted to explore. Brent Wolfe "King" Quail - Now this was tasty! The quail "wings" were perfectly pan roasted and seasoned, with slightly crispy skin and juicy meat. The buttered nettles combined with sautéed Napa cabbage were a great veggie accompaniment. A puddle of mustard crema, slightly sweet and savory, balanced out the flavors. Highly recommended! Italian White Truffles - This was their special of the night, and special it was! Their al dente house-made pasta which is a little thicker than angel hair, was laced in a creamy, buttery sauce, and topped with shaved parmesan and fresh truffles. Me, the truffle oil hater, LOVED the fresh slices! Orally orgasmic at 3 grams for $39, or 5 grams for $69. Tiny, tasty, to-die-for! DESSERT: Chocolate Cream Puff Sundae - Traditional puffs with scoops of pumpkin ice cream in the middle. The chocolate puffs were good though I'm not a fan of them in general. Now the ice cream, that was my fave. Talk about spot-on taste! Mandarin Orange Vanilla Swirl - A lonely scoop of creamsicle-flavored sorbet was sprinkled in sugar crystals and cookie crumbs with a biscotti-like cookie to the side. Very refreshing. SERVICE: Bartender service was absolutely professional and friendly. The male server was professional and informative. Waters were constantly filled and vacated seat napkins re-folded. TIP: Some restaurants in San Francisco add on a service charge that supports the city's employer mandates, which is a shared pot of money used for healthcare costs. Good idea if you ask me. Here, they add on 5% for "SF Employer Mandates" & "Healthy SF". OVERALL: Beautiful ambiance, nice food presentation, great food. A favorite of ours. 4.5 stars and still a one Michelin Star in my opinion! read more

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It's been years since I had been here last and this was a trip with my family this time. I have to say, it was quite challenging to get in without a reservation - but thanks to my husband's perseverance and NEED to finally try this place, he was finally able to secure us a table upon walking in 15 minutes before official opening! Yay!! And we were SO GLAD he did!! Location: conveniently located across from the water , great views and easy to access! Across from Hotel Vitale and close to Ferry Building, too! Service: once you're "in" - it's terrific! Even when you're not, they're very polite! We started off with a brief, but very friendly wait in the bar area while they prepped tables. Bar tender came to us at the table (wow!) as we had our kiddos with us. Two Shirley temples and a couple of 'real' cocktails later - we were beyond thrilled! I can't recall the name of what I ordered, but it was a lovely, refreshing cocktail with Tequila and some type of blackberry! So delicious! As we waited, we previewed the menu, which was limited (only that it was not 22 pages long, lol) but it was still tough to decide as everything sounded tempting! We were shown our table as we received our drinks and served some tasty, fresh bread with whipped butter topped with a rock salt that gave the bread and butter just the right mmmmmm, that makes it so hard to stop eating and save room for your actual meal! Food: since it was hard to decide what to pick, we decided to divide and conquer - all order different dishes so we could at least taste a bit of each! Limited Appetizer, Lump Crab & Mushroom Risotto- by far my FAVORITE dish of all!!!! So creamy, delicious and full of fat chunks of scrumptious crab!! Real crab! Filet Mignon - juicy and tender, cut like butter Halibut - perfectly crisped on the outside, and flavored to perfection Pork tenderloin - also perfection in terms of flavor, tenderness inside and crispness outside Salmon - was my least favorite, but probably because I prefer my salmon a little more cooked. But presentation was on point. Desserts were also fantastic! Our 'sundae' was somewhat traditional, but no matter how full - it was irresistible! It was ALL good!! Is this something WE could do every day? No, it's pretty pricey on both the wallet and the calories. However, SO very worth it!! For a wonderful treat to yourself and family - OH YEAH! Special occasion or reason to splurge? Go for it! You deserve it!! read more

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Impeccable meal, from start to finish, every single time we dine here. The food is so fresh, interesting, and delicious and the service is unmatched. They pay such close attention to detail and yet somehow never seem stuffy. Favorite restaurant in SF, hands down. Cannot wait for our next visit! read more

My partner and I have frequented the bar a few times but last night we had dinner here. Here is the the good, the bad, and the ugly. I know this place has quite the following and I agree the food was awesome. We had the ahi tuna as an appetizer which was a larger portion than I imagined. We then consumed extremely delicious scallops and the Angus fillet. Both great. Have the filet medium rare, trust me on this. And we are sticklers on our fillets. This was up there. The drinks were perfect. I stuck to the very basic Fortaleza Reposado tequila shaken with fresh lime and Andrea stayed with the Millionaire Martini. This martini is amazing. Seriously, when you go there get this. She had hers with vodka. Not sure about the gin one. Over all the service was excellent with one caveat which I'll get to. We got there little early and had a drink at the bar. We appreciated that someone came over and escorted us and our drinks to our table. Nice touch. The wine list is extensive and we picked a nice Oakville cab which we were familiar with. Also, guys get off the couch and take your significant other here. It's a romantic place. Ok that was the good..... We were not asked about dessert or given a dessert menu or after dinner drinks. Not sure what that was about but earlier issues were probably forbidding of this. That was the bad...... Now for the ugly!!!!! We hate being rushed at a meal. We enjoy having drinks and wine and after dinner cocktails and a nice long leisurely experience were we laugh and talk. As we were working through our meal the waiter would constantly want to take our plates. And 3 minutes later some guy in a bow tie would want to take our plates, again. And 10 minutes later they are back!!!!!! Extremely annoying. At this point there was no way they were going to turn this table and there were plenty of open tables available and a dining room still full of guest. Our feeling was they were trying to hurry us out. Along with no dessert menu, mentioned earlier, It totally shot the mood so we left. We dropped a considerable amount of coin and were ready to do more with dessert and cocktails into the night but with the kick them out the door attitude we decided to go elsewhere. And we were dressed very nice and very well behaved. Not sure what the issue was. So would be 5 stars if not rushed. We will go back but next time we will set the grounds rules. read more

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Their new policy of forcing diners to order the $119 three-course dinner is horribly unfair and frankly a rip-off. Depending on what you choose, you will be paying between $30 and $50 for a tablecloth! You can order the same dishes at the bar or in the lounge from an ala carte menu for a much lower combined cost. But Boulevard does not post this menu anywhere on their website. Why, I ask? Because they don't want you to know the premium you have to pay to sit in the Dining Room. Give diners freedom! Don't force everyone to have three courses! read more

So I am now a cliche - long time listener, first time caller - and of course, had a bizarre experience and chose to share publicly. My family and I spent July traveling up the coast, with SF serving as our last stop. To celebrate the end of our long trip, we went out for a special dinner with two long-time friends. When our friends asked us where we wanted to go - our only demand was to eat Boulevard. BIG MISTAKE. I had gone a number of time when it was very popular, and loved it, but it had been a few years and clearly it had changed...Let me tell you why: First of all, it is expensive, there are no prices on the menu, and you are forced to order three course. Now, I am always in for a tasting menu, especially when celebrating....but this is not that - just appetizer, entree, and desert. More important, the food just is not great anymore. Everything we had - even their signature pork chop - is not that great anymore. In fact the pork chop was clearly overcooked. I could get into the other dishes, but wont bother - because the review is not about having only good food when we were expecting great. BUT HERE IS THE KICKER! When our bill came, we split the bill in half. One half on credit card, where I gave a 25 percent tip. The second half of the bill was actually paid for by our SF friends using a restaurant gift certificate. Sitting on the table was a 25 percent tip - in cash. Our waitress, I would assume looking only at the half paid by credit card - and not the cash sitting at the table - came up to my wife while she was going to the bathroom to actually complain about the tip! It was insane. Frankly, the challenge and the assumption by the waitress ruined our night. She was rude, aggressive, and imagine that this was like eating at an Applebee's and being served by an entitled teenager. I am all for calling BS, and believe we should all fight for what we deserve, but this is a service-industry - and at the very least the waitress should have gotten her facts straight before assuming the worst in us. So, if you want to spend well over a thousand for a dinner for four, eat good - but not great - food; and get incorrectly called out by your waitress - go to Boulevard. So before people jump in and say otherwise, and contend that the food is totally fine and fair, please know these are the facts. When I am spending that much for a dinner - I want to know that the food is great and inventive. Most of all, that I will not exit feeling the way the four of us left when we depart. I actually sent a private email to the management that night - never heard from them. The dinner did provide one thing for the four of us - it certainly was an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, the thing we will remember is not the food, but how we were treated. Considering the prices, its really not worth the risk, there are so many other great restaurants in the city. Boulevard might still be holding on as a great symbol of the great success of SF in the late 90s and early 2000s...but if you are going to food and service, it not worth your time. read more

I really enjoyed the classic celebration dinner I had here last night - lots of wine, great food and excellent wait staff! Our group ordered two bottles of zin (after about 20 min of debate) and white which were both great For food: - Lobster ravioli - small but tasty - Crab Salad - very fresh! - filet mignon, pork chop, and lamb tbone. - every dessert on the menu!! I was really impressed with my lamb which was cooked perfectly medium rare and packed some really excellent flavor. All in all we had a really fun time here and would definitely come back. This isn't revolutionary food, but it hits home perfectly. read more

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

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WOW this was... not good. It was a coworker's birthday so we came here for lunch with two other coworkers. We got seated right away and paired with one of the strangest waitresses I've ever experienced. The menu at Boulevard has both starters and mains, but nowhere on the menu does it say you're required to order both. But after the first person placed their order for a starter, the waitress followed that up with, "And your main?" My coworker only wanted a starter and seemed a bit confused by the question, so she said she would just stick with the starter for now and consider a main later. The waitress didn't seem pleased. She again questioned the next person that only ordered a main but no starter, asking, "And your starter?" By this point I could tell we were all confused about whether the expectation here is that you order both a main and starter or if this was just a way to get more money out of us (especially since we weren't ordering alcohol, which the waitress really seemed disapproving of), but ordering rapidly turned awkward. One person asked to keep a menu at the table and the waitress didn't want to let her keep it and said she'd bring one back if we needed it. Crispy squash blossoms ($17) were ordered for the table. Stuffed with white shrimp and sweet corn and served on top of a green tomato carpaccio with corn relish and lemon aioli, they were lightly crisp and generously filled. The house bread and salted butter was quite good. I got the roast chicken salad ($23), which was one of the blandest things I've ever eaten. The chicken was either boiled or blanched, not roasted, not seasoned, and reminded me of the plain, boiled chicken breast my uncle fed his dog when she was on a diet. The walnuts also tasted raw, not toasted like the menu claimed. While the apples, beets, and feta all came together nicely in the salad, the lack of any sort of dressing made for a dry, sad meal. I didn't finish it. The white peach iced tea was served on ice, but at room temperature, so it was warm for the majority of the meal. One of our party members had to leave early but he secretly paid the check as a gift to my coworker celebrating her birthday. We didn't know this when the busboy was clearing our plates and asked if we wanted dessert; we said no thank you, just the check, so he flagged down our waitress and asked her for it. The birthday girl went to the bathroom, and the waitress came back with dessert menus asking who was celebrating the birthday. We said we didn't want dessert, just the check, and she said, "Oh, not even something for the birthday girl?" Again, we politely declined, and she coldly removed the menus. Birthday girl comes back and sees we still don't have the check, so she asks our waitress at the hostess desk for it and was told stiffly it had been paid for -- and that our coworker had wanted us all to order dessert. Why in the world the waitress didn't just say that to me and my coworker while the birthday girl was in the bathroom, I have no idea, but had we known our other coworker had intended for us all to celebrate with dessert we would've taken him up on his generous offer. The birthday girl came back and was awkwardly delivered a complimentary birthday bon bon by the waitress, which was very nice, but at this point the entire meal just felt like a total bust. I have no desire to return here. read more

Lots of amazing food, definitely a place to go for a special occasion or special holiday. I came with my girlfriend for Valentine's Day, we started out with the Ahi Tuna appetizer and the Brussels Sprouts. The Ahi was truly amazing and this coming from someone who isn't a huge tuna fan. It was perfectly made, lots of flavors, great pallet taster, couldn't go wrong with this plate. The Brussels sprouts were good as well, good taste overall and really hit the spot. For the main course my girlfriend got the Sole and I got the fillet. Again being someone who isn't a huge seafood fan, the sole was to die for. It melted in my mouth. The filet was cooked just right, the vegetables that came along with it were well paired especially the cauliflower. For dessert we shared the "incredible cake" and the bon bon cake pops. The incredible cake comes deconstructed. My girlfriend really enjoyed it. The cake pop could have used more marshmallow fluff but overall great dinner. read more

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The concierge at my hotel suggested this place and it did not disappoint! If there is one thing I didn't like about this restaurant, it was the small tables. They just arent big enough for two people to dine comfortably--forget the additions of wine on the table! We ordered the burrata salad--incredibly fresh and flavorful. Then came the filet and the daily ravioli and scallops. The scallops were good. The ravioli was great. Skipped dessert because we were just too darn full. Can't wait to go back. read more

Boulevard - Burrata salad--arugula, oven dried tomatoes, kale Pesto - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a great place for dates and formals. There is a prix fixe 3-course menu which starts at $119. There is also an ala carte which is available at the lounge and the bar. We came here with reservations, sat in the main dining hall and did the prix fixe menu. Given that there were mishaps which can be accounted to our reservation close to the kitchen closing - missing ingredient (which was readily fixed), running out of an offering in the menu, one halibut being overcooked (out of four other people in our party who got a perfect halibut), this place has great food and great service. This place deserve its many Michelin stars displayed in the hallway to the bathrooms. read more

Amazing food! Great service!! A great place for a special occasion. Incredible chef.

I have been going to the Boulevard for many years. Not only is the food always amazing, the people are too. It seems to be such low turnover, which is a testament to the leadership. I love sitting at the chefs counter, only place I sit. Watching the chefs work, their attention to detail, and deciding what to eat next is one of my favorite things about Boulevard. read more

The food was delicious. The pork chop was out of this world, simply amazing. All of the other dishes were very, very good. I just have two issues. One, I asked that something be substituted for the corn soufflé on the scallop dish because I cannot have dairy. Nothing was substituted. But the biggest issue was the wine service. I (female) ordered the wine. When the gentleman (not our server) came to pour it, he just opened it, poured some in my glass and then went immediately to pour some in my husband's glass without waiting for me to say it was okay. My husband put his hand over his glass and said no, the guy said "oh, you're not having wine?" My husband responded not until she says it is okay. He looked irritated and waited for me to sip and approve. I also asked for the cork which he had put in his pocket rather than on the table, which is customary. Also seemed irritated that he had to pull it out of his pocket. Then about five minutes later we watched him do wine service at another nearby table where the man had ordered the wine and he did everything correctly there. Hmmm, women aren't allowed to make such lofty decisions? Chauvinist much? I do also wish you could still order ala carte in the dining room. Our table in the lounge was fine, but not quite as nice as the dining room. Something about spending $400+ on a dinner in the lounge just doesn't feel right. read more

Boulevard is my favorite restaurant. They are so considerate and accommodating. The food is consistently delicious. Service world class. Beautiful location. Great for lunch too. Extensive wine selection. read more

My boyfriend took me here for an early birthday dinner. 5 stars simply because: 1. Wonderful service! Our server was very accommodating for my food allergies and gave recommendations of what they could substitute instead. Thank you sir and to all the chefs! I worked in the service industry before and I know how annoying food allergies can be, so thank you for being so understanding! 2. Delicious food and wine. We got a bottle of the 2015 Nickel & Nickel Cab to with our Spanish Octopus, Lamb T-Bone, and Liberty Farm Duck. 3. Ambiance. It had an old school steak house charm to it. There was bar style seating by the kitchen where you can watch them prep too if you don't want to sit at a dining table or the regular bar. I think we were probably the youngest ones in there too. 4. They don't sing Happy Birthday to you! Lol, sorry, but I got enough birthday embarrassment from a restaurant the night before, so when the server brought out a bowl of sorbet with a candle and plaque with Happy Birthday written, I was like uh oh. However, he didn't sing and just kindly wished me happy birthday. Whew! read more

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And the Michelin-star adventures continue! I made Father's Day reservations a month in advance thinking it was going to be packed but it actually wasn't as busy as I thought. But still consider making one just to secure your spot. What I liked about Boulevard is their non-extensive menu. It was easy to choose what I wanted- meat, fish, or vegetarian. I opted to get the salmon and my party got two orders of the sea scallop starters so each person could try it. The scallops were awesome! They were slightly salty (as any seafood would be) but the sauce cut through it and added its own flavor. I am a huge fan of scallops and really, the only way to ruin it is by burning it. Like badly. As for the salmon, it wasn't really anything out of the ordinary for me. But what I was blown away by were my mom's lamb chops and my sister's pork chops. Maybe because my tastebuds secretly ran more towards dark, gamey meat that day but both dishes were phenomenal! Both were so rich, robust, and flavorful. I have to say between the two meats, the pork was a little tough but its not meant to be very tender. Nonetheless, these dishes were a hit! At the end of the night, my family and I split the blueberry ice cream and custard cake. It was a little light on the flavor; however, I did like the blueberry ice cream with the macaroon cookie garnish. It added a nice crunch to the dessert. Overall, great experience! Our server was kind, courteous, and helpful. read more

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I graduated from culinary school this past spring, and I remember hearing the restaurant "Boulevard" mentioned several times by the chefs and staff. I checked my bookmarks and didn't see it bookmarked, so I quickly bookmarked it! A few weeks back, my dentist, after hearing I graduated from culinary school, felt compelled to tell me his favorite restaurant in the bay area. He named Boulevard as his favorite. He's a big-time foodie and loves the fine dining scene, so my ears perked up to hear his opinion. Wow, I thought. I really need to make it to Boulevard soon. And so we did! Be forewarned, no valet - street parking can be a challenge depending on what time you go. Do your nearest garage research in advance. We didn't. :( Elegant interior, you'll feel better if you're not wearing a t-shirt. While our table was being prepared, we sat at the bar and my wife asked the bartender if he knew how to make a Whiskey Smash. He said he could. She asked for it extra sour and he said if she didn't like it, he would make her a different drink. Well, it came and it didn't appeal to either one of us. So he was good enough to replace her drink with something she was happy with. Happy ending, but coulda been ugly. :) Pretty simple menu, LOVE simple menus! We chose the: HAMACHI CRUDO (4/5) Elegant, little plate that came to our table with some fresh tasting yellowtail, garnished with shishito peppers, avocado and furikake. Refreshing and tasty. Another plate please. FRIES (5/5) We read in some of the Yelp reviews about the recommendations for the Truffle Fries. When we asked about them, the waiter told us that they no longer have them on the menu, but that he could bring us "regular fries". So we got the regular fries and they were not ordinary. They were served piping hot, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly enjoyed. Order the fries for sure. OVEN ROASTED DUCK BREAST (5/5) My wife's dish. She's a duck lover and I might even say a connoisseur of duck. She had nothing negative to say about her plate. Presentation was again, nicely done and all the small garnishes on the plate complimented the duck. ANGUS FILET (5/5) This steak was wood-fired and came perfectly "medium" - garnished with very thinly and beautifully sliced King Trumpet mushrooms. The mushrooms were delicious and there was also a golf-ball sized potato croquette that was pretty tasty too. The filet wasn't huge, but it was thick and it was the perfect amount for me, given the appetizers, bread and then dessert! The desserts were more de-constructed than I prefer, and I'm not sure I remember the exact names of what we ordered, but they were decent. I like rustic, hearty desserts - not dainty, delicate ones. These were a bit too pretentious for me - but they looked beautiful. I'd rather have a fresh-baked brownie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. You get the picture. I might skip the desserts next time we come. The service was very good, the atmosphere would be perfect for a special occasion, a birthday, a celebration. It definitely felt like fine dining. And you know what? I discovered my dentist has good taste when it comes to restaurants! Somehow I knew he did! I'll have to tell him that at my next check-up in 6 months! read more

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Loved this restaurant. The staff was so kind and helpful (even though we showed up after a Giants game and felt uncomfortable about our casual attire). We enjoyed the new menu structure that enabled us to share each course. I was partial to the halibut entree and the zucchini flower appetizer. My hubby loved his octopus appetizer and his pasta. Such a lovely restaurant and we will return... read more

Both appetizers: hamachi and octopus were fresh and good. But its entree: rack of lamb was salted and little dry even though my order was medium rare. The desserts were just ok. read more

I expected more. Mind you, everything was very good. Just not, jumping on the table shrieking "boo yah" good. Lobster bisque was EXQUISITE but here "bowl" means "demitasse cup." Be prepared. But you can sure tell that it's 100% handmade in house. I've never tasted better. I had the bavette. It was perfectly cooked and the garnish veggies were perfect. But there was no "wow this is amazing" moment. That being said, everything was done right from start to finish. Wine list. Exhaustive. And yet I had trouble finding something I wanted. Many people seemed to be regulars (and Republicans). Staff were very chatty with the regulars of which I was certainly not one. I was the ONLY person in the restaurant not wearing a collared shirt. By which I mean dress shirt style not a polo. This was at lunch. Do not underestimate how expensive it's going to be. I was there for lunch and was not extravagant and still spent more than on many a French dinner elsewhere. Finding the bathrooms is an enjoyable odyssey. You will need a map to get there. read more

$119 per person for bland food. It wasn't bad--it just lacked any flavor. The best of the three courses was the chocolate cake. The pork chop was a little dry and the thin slice of abalone was tasteless. read more

Boulevard remains a wonderfully indulgent dining destination, delivering masterfully-prepared dishes without the pomp and circumstance of similarly-priced restaurants. Even though we were seated on the opposite side of the restaurant this time (right by the entranceway), we had plenty of privacy and attention from the staff[1]. Our lobster tail l'amuse bouche was delightful, as was the Sonoma foie gras. The brown bread pairing threw us off, but the foie gras itself was marvelous, melting in our mouths. Also noteworthy was their scallops appetizer, a rich, tender treat. My entree, perfect cuts of Kobe beef, was tender and full-flavored, and reminded me why I'm happy to be a carnivore[2]. Several bottles of wine later, we found we had ordered more than we could comfortably finish. Not that that was an issue[3]. [1] Shout-out to server Alisha and bartender Patrick, and our busser, whose name I missed. [2] Their menu has many meat options, but will be a challenge for vegetarians. [3] Leftovers tasted just as good the next day. read more

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Le pere de Prospect? Peut-etre... As the "father" of Prospect, Boulevard offers American fare with French influences in a classy and old-fashioned atmosphere that I can see why it's favored among the more mature crowd. I've had Boulevard bookmarked for months because I heard such great things about it. Other than going as a basis for comparison of Prospect (Chef Nancy Oakes' New Infinity Restaurant), nothing really enticed me enough to put it on the top of my list. However, needing to put a dent on our Yelp bookmarks and with Boulevard both on our list, fellow Yelper and my friend, Heather C. and I decided to tackle this Michelin rated restaurant first. On Wednesday, 12/8/10, we arrived at 7 PM for our 6:30 PM reservations and were promptly seated. I called earlier to inform the hostess that we were running late because we were both stuck in rush hour traffic which she said would be fine. F O O D: *FOIE GRAS w/ Yuzu Marmalade & Persimmons ($27): YUMMY! The generous slab of foie gras was perfectly seared w/ a caramelized crust. It was decadently rich, savory and melted on my tongue like a triple cream butter. The slightly tart and acidic yuzu help counterbalance some of the richness while the al-dente persimmons added a nice subtle sweetness. The bread, similar to a honey bran muffin was dry and dense and ruined the integrity of the entire dish. I'm not sure if they were trying to take a "healthy" approach to this dish, but if I'm going to clog my arteries with fattened liver, please bring on the toasted brioche please! *LAMB CHOP & LOIN w/ Artichoke Heart & Aioli and Sautéed Spinach ($36): GOOD, but not great. Albeit a bit bland, both the lamb chop and loin were perfectly cooked to a medium rare with a soft pink center. While both tender and moist, the lamb chop was richer in flavor with a slight gaminess, while the loin was leaner and tasted similar to steak sirloin. The aioli filled artichoke heart added a creamy punch of flavor to under-seasoned lamb while the spinach added a fresh hint of bitterness tying the dish together. *FROMAGE CHEESECAKE w/ a Pistachio Crust & Lemon Sherbet ($10.50): WHOA...can I kiss the pastry chef??? *wink wink* This dessert had a complexity of different flavors and textures that worked in perfect harmony together. The pistachio crust was light, crisp and flakey and was the perfect texture contrast to the cheesecake that was velvety rich, fluffy and slightly sweet with a hint of tang. The subtle vanilla flavor from the Chantilly cream added a layer of decadence while the lemon sherbet gave it a citrus freshness that made you feel you weren't committing a "complete" sweet tooth sin. S E R V I C E: Friendly and attentive but slow. Our 3-course menu lasted over 2.5 hours as it took over 25 minutes to get our app and over 40 minutes to get our entrée. If you're under a time constraint, you may want to go elsewhere. A M B I A N C E / D É C O R: Situated in a French Colonial style building in front of the Embarcadero's waterfront, Boulevard exudes Old World Charm which attracts a refined and more mature crowd. Although stuffy, dark woods, amber lighting and an open kitchen created a warm and somewhat inviting environment. While a nice date place, with seating for nearly 150 people and tables tightly situated together, it makes it difficult to carry an intimate conversation without having to raise your voice. The restrooms were difficult to find and it took a few wrong turns before I could find it. They also needed to be tended to because there were un-flushed toilets and seat covers hanging all over. P A R K I N G: Semi-difficult street parking after 6 PM. Valet parking is available for $8 for dinner or there's a parking garage located 1.5 blocks away on Spear St between Mission and Market St. I enjoyed my dinner at Boulevard, however, for a restaurant of this caliber, it was lacking both an oomph factor in its food and time management in its service for it to be worthy of 5 Stars. I can now see why Michael Bauer coined Boulevard as the sire of Prospect, but with its classic fare and dated ambiance, I think "grandfather" is a more appropriate term... read more

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After having dinner at Prospect a few months ago, we decided to give Boulevard a try. Its a large, loud restaurant located at the end of Mission St at the Embarcadero. Like Prospect, Boulevard seems geared toward meat lovers, especially pork chops! Nancy Oakes (the chef-owner) once published this amazing vanilla brine for cooking pork chops at home. We started with the Spanish octopus with squid-ink tortellini filled with potatoes. Octopus was cooked really tender and seasoned well - just wished there was more of it! Tortellini had an interesting briny taste but otherwise very good. 4 stars. The pork chop didn't disappoint - a Kurobuta thats incredibly juicy and flavored with pickled cherries. The other surprise is the use of candied popcorn! It was mixed in with the corn as a garnish and the mashed up with cheese and polenta and then fried. Its maybe a tad behind Prospect's pork chop but this dish is still a top-tier version. 5 stars. (TIP: Pair with a glass of pinot noir, since the cherry-flavors of the wine goes well) I was slightly disappointed with the King Salmon. Cooked medium rare and seasoned well, but it just lacked the wow factor. Add a few asparagus spears, a pea mash, and some shaved truffles and its a pricy dish at about $40. I should have had the lamb or beef dish. 3 stars. The Blackberry and White Chocolate dessert was amazing, due to the many elements. Coconut foam, Black Sesame Ice Cream, and this interesting cake of white chocolate and matcha. Then, some real sweet blackberries. This dessert goes well with their house coffee. 5 stars. Boulevard remains a classic SF place that's really good with pork! Service was friendly but the kitchen tended to be a little slow after apps came out. Overall 4 stars. read more

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I think it's fitting for me to review this place as my 400th -- I've come a long way! Anyway, my sis, the S.O. and I were out for a drive to get dinner and my sis decided to pull onto the valet of the Boulevard. My reaction: "we're eating THE Boulevard dressed in jeans and our puffy jackets?!" Sis: "yes, my Visa is as good as anybody's inside there." Me: (gulp) "Ok." Thus... the S.O. asked if we could get a table for three w/o any reservations and the host said yes... Upon walking in... no one really gave us the look of death for looking the way we were... Then we sat down and our server was just extremely polite and on top of things... another good start. I won't go into details with what the sis and the S.O. ordered since I didn't taste their food ... so here's what I got: - Fresh Porcini Mushrooms & Cal Burrata Cheese (Champagne Risotto & Extra Virgin Olive Oil) ~ OMG! This was amazing! The portion wasn't too small or too big, it was perfect! The risotto was cooked to perfection! The burrata cheese and the mushroom tasted so fresh and the whole dish just blended all together. I was in love! - Pan Roasted Sea Bass (Roasted Chestnuts, Chanterelle Mushrooms & Pancetta Sauteed Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Shallots & Herbs) ~ This was good... but not mind blowing good. The sea bass was tasty and it was cooked right... not dry at all. The side dishes that accompanied the fish tasted wonderful as well... the Pancetta was crispy! For drinks... I started off with my Hanger One Kaffir Lime with 7-UP... then the sis ordered a bottle of the Chablis Grand Cru = my new fave white wine! Overall, service was perfect. Food was excellent! My sis is right... good food needs to be enjoyed when your most comfy not decked out in suits and tight dress... I think even Anthony Bourdain said something similar at one of his shows. Thanks sis... again for an amazing dinner! read more

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I think if San Francisco had flashy gangsters like John Gotti or Al Capone, this is where they would have gone to eat. There's a vibe about this place. Not only a suit and tie kind of vibe, but a boys club kind of old school vibe. Came here with a co-worker of mine for dinner with reservations and we were seated at the counter. This place was packed on a Monday night and they were turning people away. We started off with the softshell crab appetizer. It had a little too much breading for my taste, and my co-worker thought it was just warm and not hot. The crab wasn't soft or that crunchy like a nice softshell crab should be, so we weren't impressed by this dish. Our next dish was the appetizer homemade truffle raviolis. This dish was tasty with a blend of pine nuts and truffles that made it rich and decedent without being too overbearing. My main entree the seabass was too overcooked in my opinion, and didn't have that melt in your mouth tecture. It came with some corn and asparagus which complimented the dish and was cooked well. My co-worker who had the lamb said it was cooked medium and tasted great. During our meal we were served this complimentary chip and dip starter, which although I laughed at first (since I thought getting ONE single chip as a complimentary appretizer was supremely funny); I wound up thinking it was the best chip and dip starter I've ever had. Wish it was on the menu so that I could have ordered more. During my meal, and I'm minusing one star for this, the busboy spilled my water all over my suit, and walked away forgetting to get me napkins. And they didn't even offer to dryclean my pants. Yes, I know it's water, but still, I had to clean it up myself without any help since our waitress was nowhere to be found, and the busboy was probably thinking that he didn't want to deal with it, so he left and never came back. I expected more out of Boulevard and like it's street name, had I known, I would have kept on walking. Nothing special here. read more

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This place was one of the first "grown up, fancy" restaurants I was introduced to, which started my love affair with food. I was in my very early twenties and a few years or so have passed and this place remains just as fabulous as the first time. I've been here over a dozen times, from business meetings, dates and birthday celebrations. On Christmas eve, two of my best girlfriends and I were here to celebrate my friends birthday. We ordered several appetizers and entrees and shared each one. I LOVE that when I go out to dinner with my best girlfriends that we always end up eating family style. This way we can try as many dishes as possible without breaking the bank. We ordered the following dishes for appetizers and split them: ITALIAN MOZZARELLA & DINO KALE SALAD Treviso Radicchio, Napa Cabbage Roasted Meyer Lemon & Garlic Dressing Review: I loved this dish and will probably chop up my kale the way they did. Very light and refreshing. BEER BATTERED ARGENTINIAN RED PRAWNS Salsa Molcajete, Lemon Aioli Review: There were about 5 prawns and there were 3 of us. We each had 1 and then tried to fight over the 2. Ha! In the end, we just cut up the other 2 into tiny pieces and split those. These were delicious. SPICY SESAME AHI TUNA TARTARE Miso Cucumbers, Charred Shishito Peppers, Lime Aioli Shiso Tempura, Nori & Taro Chips Review: This was OK and nothing to write home about Lobster Bisque Soup Review: LOVED dipping my bread into this soup and the waitress mentioned this is their specialty. It wasn't on the menu so you may ask your server if they have it. For our main entrees, we ordered the following: GRILLED SWORDFISH Calamari Stuffed with Clam & Pancetta Panzanella Sauteed Spigarello with Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Tomato Relish Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review: This was just OK and I will probably not order it again. My friends felt the same SEARED HOKKAIDO SEA SCALLOPS Golden Beet Risotto, Vacca Bianca Parmesan Review: This was my FAVORITE dish. I loved the risotto and will return soon for this dish. Delicious! BRAISED BERKSHIRE PORK RIB CAP with ROASTED GULF PRAWNS Spanish Style Paella with Roasted Tomato, Green Garbanzo Beans & Chorizo Smoked Paprika & Pork Review: I seldom eat pork so I didn't try the pork but had the prawns and paella and it was just wonderful. For dessert, we ordered the following: BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING Dark Chocolate Bavarian Cream, Pecan Shortbread Wild Pecan Granola, Vanilla Chantilly Review: I DIDN't want to share this dish. It was that good. Definitely try this. You will LOVE. Our waitress said this was her favorite dish. CHOCO-LICIOUS Baked Hot Chocolate Cake, Mousse, Wafer Dark Chocolate Ice Cream & Meringue Review: If you like dark chocolate, definitely try this dish. I wasn't in love with it but it was definitely good! Our meal was amazing as always and I will return. Fun fact: Jay-Z and Beyonce also dined here during their 2014 On The Run Tour. I saw it with my own eyes in a picture on an article somewhere haha. No really they did, it's even stated on this SF Eater article: http://sf.eater.com/2014/8/7/6173823/where-beyonce-and-jay-z-ate-during-their-sf-visit So if you want to dine like hip hop royalty, definitely try it out. Love and highly recommend this place! read more

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Amazing 37 page wine and beverage list that has received awards from Wine Spectator FOR YEARS. The filet, halibut, burrata and truffle risotto are all out of this world, rack of lamb, molten lava cake and sticky toffee pudding equally amazing. Top notch service, as you would expect. This restaurant has been around for decades because the entire second to none experience is stellar and consistent. This is what baby restaurants aspire to be when they grow up. One of the best restaurants in the US. read more

I absolutely love this restaurant for special occasions. I came here for my birthday and was greeted with a personalized card that someone on the staff hand wrote. This special gesture really made my day already before my meal even began. We started off with the tuna tartare which was delicious and is by far my favorite starter on the menu. I ordered the black truffle risotto and my boyfriend ordered the halibut. The risotto was full of flavor and had a generous portion of shaved truffles in it. The halibut was delicious as well and had very unique ingredients, including gazpacho. For dessert, we ordered a scoop of the boysenberry and strawberry sorbet. I would recommend the strawberry sorbet because it is refreshing and perfect after dinner. Overall, the food and service were both fantastic. I would highly recommend this place. read more

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Great food and service. Expansive drink menu for anyone into libations w/ a well stocked bar. We were seated promptly and our waiter was very attentive and friendly. Our party had the salmon, swordfish and pork chops. Salmon and swordfish tend to be lean and easily overcooked but both fishes were expertly cooked and came out very moist. The star of the menu was the pork. I'm not a huge fan of pork but this is the juiciest pork chop I've ever had. Minus 1 star for the long trek to the bathroom (have to go through the doors and down the elevator) and the dessert. I had the S'mores and it was not what I expected. Visually it was great. Texture and taste wise, it fell under. read more

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I was always intrigued by Boulevard's classy and old time-y exterior, so I booked reservations for Mr. Joy's birthday once. It still took a while to get a table. While we waited around the bar, I did some people-watching. The dining area was dimly lit and intricately decorated in somewhat of a French-Louisiana style. Even though we were only a couple of minutes late, we weren't seated until about half an hour later. When we finally sat down, we were definitely ready to eat. Angus Filet - w/ sauteed spinach, mashed potatoes & corn, red peppers, & roasted beef jus: The filet mignon was excellently cooked to a nice medium rare, a little pink on the inside and quite juicy. It seemed a little on the small side. The accoutrements were also tasty. Kurobuta Pork Chop - apple fritto, apple miel poppy seed spaetzle, brussel sprouts, bacon, squash & roasted sage pork jus: Pretty good chop, I'd say. There was a lot going on with the sides, but the flavors seemed a little lost, with the exception of the double smoked bacon, of course. Perhaps I'm not a fan of spaetzle. Dreams Never End Bon Bon - rye whiskey & pear ice cream, almonds & cocoa nib: This dessert was overflowing with sweetness. Mr. Joy enjoys liquor-flavored sweets, but I find them to be too much for liking. The whiskey-flavored mousse was especially strong. The bon bons were the best part for me, because they resembled little bite-sized truffles. The meal ended with a birthday surprise dessert, so we definitely had our fill of sweets. It was a candle in what looked like a serving of semifreddo, accompanied with rolled-up crepe cookies, and a white chocolate rectangle, piped with "Happy Birthday!" It was cool and refreshing compared to the cloyingly sweet previous dessert. Service was excellent. Our server was very friendly, sweet, and chatty, albeit at times, a little too chatty. We left feeling full from the food and full of knowledge about the waitress's life story. Overall, the meal was great. The filet and pork chop were delicious, but I wasn't a big fan of our desserts. Compared to the plethora of dining options around, I didn't find the menu selections very unique or exciting, but that's not exactly an issue since they serve mostly classic dishes. read more

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The mushroom soup was flavorful. Not generous portion though. I had the jambalaya. It's not that authentic but it taste pretty good. My wife had the flank steak and she liked it. I thought the meat was not as tender but she said it was fine. read more

1st Michelin Star! Hmm, I wouldn't quite say it lived up to my expectations, but overall it was still a good experience. TIP: make reservations. We made reservations 3 weeks in advance and the only available time closest to 7pm for 2 were 6:15pm or 8:45pm. Crazy huh? ATMOSPHERE (5/5): Classy and old fashioned. I liked how the tables were nicely spaced out, white tablecloths, nice red lighting, romantic, even better if you sit by the big window facing the bay bridge. We came at 6pm when it was still bright out in the summer, so you couldn't really see it while eating. But after eating, it's walkable distance to go out and see the bay bridge lights for yourself. Better view outside anyway. SERVICE (4/5): Nice, polite, knew the menu, and did her job well. But, it wasn't anything spectacular. If i"m eating at a Michelin star restaurant, I expected the server to be excellent with a BIG smile on her face and extremely friendly to add to our experience. Service is surprisingly a significant factor to dining out. FOOD (4/5): Everything was good, nothing was bad. Average main dish were ~$37. *Choices of main dishes consisted of: 3 seafood: halibut, seabass, salmon 1 poultry: quail 3 red meat: pork prime rib chop, lamb, filet mignon Pork chop was better than the lamb. Pork chop was so juicy, actually really good (4.5/5) and the lamb was good as well but just not as tender (4/5). The sides included in the lamb weren't good either, but the pork chop had a sweet polenta that was also delicious. Definitely get that pork chop for its juiciness meat, though the sauce could be better. *Appetizers: BRANDADE IN THE SEA SCALLOPS! (4.5/5) That tiny brandade was actually the highlight of my whole meal lol. I had a taste of that and my taste buds and eyes were just enlightened. I had to ask the server twice what it was. It was like a soft potato full of flavor, and it tasted even better than the scallops. I still liked the scallops at Isa better. Scallops were good, the sauce was good and spicy, and that brandade, knew found discovery, was excellent. Fava Bean & Parmesan Raviolini (3.5/5) were like pot stickers with rich cheese inside. If you really like cheese, this is the dish for you. Eddie K loves cheese and said this was the highlight of his whole meal. For me, I liked all the different ingredients along with the raviolini to make it a dynamic dish, like the mushrooms, squash, and radishes, and the raviolini itself was good too, but I still couldn't get over the fact of how wonderful that brandade tasted. Wtheck is a brandade anyway?! DRINKS (3/5): I'm only rating based on the Moscato D'Asti, which was good, but holy crap that was the most expensive portion ever. It was in a dessert wine glass and wasn't even filled half way, and that costed $12...that kind of ridiculous. OVERALL: Nice atmosphere, good service and food. Would I come back? I'm curious to see how the seafood tastes, but if the highlight of my meal was the size my pinky and was an appetizer rather than a main dish, I think I'd rather go to another Michelin star restaurant. But it was a good and nice dining experience. Thanks Boulevard! And thanks Eddie K for dinner. Read his reviews! He's a great detailed writer :) read more

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the food is great the ambiance and service is professional. quality place, you should try it!