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JouJou is such a wonderful new addition to the SF dining scene. Everything we tried was delicious, and our hostess was absolutely amazing. The oysters and mussels were standouts, I loved the cod, and my partner loved his steak. We also got to try Calvados, the French brandy from Normandy, which was fantastic and such a fun way to end the meal. Great food, wonderful hospitality, and a beautiful new French bistro. 10/10 recommend!
A new French restaurant from a Michelin two-star team of Lazy Bear. It brings French cuisine to the table through a California lens, which we love! The menu leans seafood-focused but not exclusively. We highly recommend Berkshire pork prime rib and the glazed carrots on the side were just as memorable the bar looks fancy and beautiful, will come back to try that too!
Went here for dinner on a Friday evening and sat at the countertop. We got dirty martinis which were very smooth but it just wasn't dirty enough for me! The oysters were absolutely delicious - we got Kumamoto and Shio Tang (you have to get at least 3 of each type). I liked the escargot part deux and the buttery brioche. My favorite thing was the prime rib of Berkshire pork. It was sooo juicy and flavorful with a jus poured on top and an incredible horseradish sauce (whipped butter texture) on the side. My partner got the black cod and loved it! We also got the creamed kale callaloo which was too coconut-y for my tastes but my partner enjoyed it. We finished off with the vanilla ice cream which was creamy and delicious. Service was super friendly and delightful.
My cousin and I had senior dinner (5pm) on a sunny Sunday. We made reservations and many yelp reviews say that this is essential for a weekend. However, if you decide to go at opening time (4pm), you should be okay. It's not HOPR. I happened to arrive 30 minutes before my reservation so I decided to sit at the bar. No happy hour, yet they toyed with the idea of a "social hour" which is around 8-9pm to make use of their bar space. The bar pretty much occupied half of the restaurant. It was this light-filled green room sprinkled with various plants and floor-to-ceiling windows which let in A LOT of natural light. Reminded me of a greenhouse. It was my kind of vibe. I ordered the Roseraie (non alcoholic) at the bar; it was this burgundy-colored tart drink, the tartness might've been the hibiscus. I would say it's okay. Would I get it again? Probably not. As for the FOOD, we ordered: -bread and butter (complementary)-- house-made French butter with acme bread, what's not to love? -sliced celery root salad with candied walnuts and nocino vinaigrette-- delightfully pleasant and I don't think I've had celery root before so it was a positive first experience, the nocino made it nutty which ofc complemented the candied walnuts -liberty duck confit-- the duck breast was a challenge to cut into, but the flavor was amazing; I love duck tho, so other than duck where it's hard to chew through because of the bones, I'm a fan. For me, it was the piece de resistance sealed with a *chef's kiss -gnocchi Parisienne-- did not know it came out like a wheeled pastry, so to my dismay, it did not taste as expected. it was unfortunately my least favorite dish -side of creamed kale-- we LOVED this! overall: 3.7 because the interior knocked it out of the park for me and service was excellent, but the food left much to be desired. Also $$$$ (20% gratuity included). I may come back but for a special occasion or if a friend from out-of-town loves Lazy Bear food but not the price tag.
Looking to have a nice night out in SF after the marathon we decided to eat at Joujou a Michelin star worthy restaurant. Deciding to try basically everything on the menu all I can say was from service to atmosphere to food everything was perfect. Stand outs, French onion soup and the gougeres don't leave without trying these. I've attached pictures and my check and oh a pic of the men's room wallpaper, so much fun!!!
Food - I savored every bite of the Black Cod A L'Ananas, and I would eat the Creamed Kale Callaloo every single day. My companion also enjoyed the more classic leaning Pan Roasted Chicken Breast and the Pommes Frites, elevated by a green garlic Mayo. We completed our meal with the simply sublime double vanilla ice cream, mine with a lovely not too sweet warm strawberry confiture, his with gooey melted chocolate. Service - I would give 5 stars for Riley who delivered his knowledge and charm to our table along with the American Whiskey flight, and for the beverage program in general, my cocktail JouJou was elegant without overwhelming and we found wines by the glass to be well paired to our choices. We found our server to be professional and friendly but not readily available to answer our questions about some of the menu items but assistants were more engaged when bringing courses to the table similar to Lazy Bear which was great to experience. Ambiance - We dined at a corner table in the Rose room looking back out into the main dining area and marble bar, intimate but connected to the vibe, reinforced by the playlist and service staff who were fun to watch working through the entire space. We looked into the second bar room and the private dining room on our way out and the restaurant is also well suited for flexible event entertaining. Overall - solid 4, almost 5 stars
I had dinner here with my husband and our little girl last Thursday. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful in terms of decor, very well done. Second, the service is definitely on the higher end, but still friendly and comfortable, which made the whole experience feel relaxed even with a child. Then the food. We ordered a few plates to share. The escargot toast was good, although I did not really taste the escargot because the pesto flavor covered it a bit too much. The crustacean omelet was very good. Then we had the cod, and the fish was literally melting in the mouth, plus the trout, which my daughter ended up eating most of, and that was very good too. Prices are definitely on the high side. For some plates it feels justified, for others maybe a bit too much, especially the sides. I also do not love when restaurants automatically add a twenty percent service charge, even if they clearly state that no additional tip is expected. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would like to come back and try more dishes to see if the quality stays consistently high.
I booked a table for 2 in the dining room on a Friday at 5:15pm to celebrate a birthday. I highly recommend making reservations as the restaurant was completely packed by the time we left. It's a big restaurant too. There were a bunch of different seating sections, some dark and some under natural lighting with glass ceilings and walls. We were seated in the "rose room" in the far back which seems most of the couples were there too. If you were a group of 3 or 4, you would be seated in the main dining room with booth seating. Then there is the bar area which had a patio feel to it because of the glass ceilings and walls. These sections were very loud when it was full. The rose room was much quieter, good for couples. We just felt this room was disconnected from the rest of the restaurant like an afterthought. The fake roses on the wall felt tacky and the rose curtain gave a "country" feel mixed with chic. They also had 4 ceiling fans that were on high and it was drying my eyes and cooling down our food fast. We started with 2 cocktails: Hypnotise - $18 and Charentais You Say? - $18. I liked them both and I would recommend them if you like fruity drinks. It was just the right amount of alcohol. Our meal started with complimentary bread and whipped butter. I don't think the baguette was made in house or was fresh. It was inconsistent. It was crispy the first time but when we asked for more bread, and the second time it felt like it was microwaved. For our first course we had the steamed mussels - $25. This was a big portion, served in a, Le Creuset. Mussels were cooked well and it came with 3 pieces of toasted bread. This was when we asked for more baguette to soak up the yummy seafood broth. 4.5/5 Next we had the crustacean omelette - $43. This was brought out by the head chef himself. I was hesitant to have breakfast for dinner but wow, this dish was amazing. It's packed with seafood and the omelette was delicate and creamy. It's also big enough to be an entree. However we did find a couple pieces of crab cartilage. 4.5/5 For our main we had the black cod - $43. It was tender 4.5/5 and we paired it with a side of creamed kale 5/5 and morels with carrots 4.5/5. The morels were also brought out by the head chef who said we were the first to order it from the menu. Both side dishes were rich and flavorful. The service was great. We found the staffs all to be friendly and attentive. They were constantly near by checking on tables, filling water, folding napkins and clearing dishes. Service did start out fast but slowed down a bit as it got busier but we didn't mind. For dessert we had the banana foster with macadamia ice cream. It was made with, Gros Michel bananas which were smaller, sweeter and creamier than standard bananas. It was slightly caramelized. The roasted macadamia ice cream flavor was definitely there. They should offer it as a stand alone menu item. We found the caramel was very sweet as expected. 4.5/5 For the birthday boy they offered a canele with a birthday candle.
My friend and I had a great Sunday dinner at JouJou. We shared the SF bay halibut, butter lettuce salad, crustacean omelet, trout almondine, prime rib of Berkshire pork and tarte tatin. All of the dishes were excellent. The stand-outs for me were the crustacean omelet (it was amazingly fluffy) and Tarte Tatin. I also really loved the prime rib of Berkshire pork with the apple-horseradish chantilly. In a SF food scene that's dominated by Asian and Italian cuisine, it's nice to add a really strong French restaurant in the mix. Service was good and attentive. The space is nice but the inside dining room is a little dark. They occupy the former Grove location in the design district. With tax and tip, this was about $140 per person. If you are itching for some French food, this place is highly recommended!!!
I went here for a special event for a bastille Day. They had some amazing food. It was my first time trying escargot. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't know if I would try it again. Ha ha. The standouts for me was the flat bread that had potato on it, was so flavorful. I also loved all the desserts that we had. There was quite a display!
JouJou is a beautiful new venture from David Barzelay, best known for his two Michelin star masterpiece Lazy Bear, which I love and have visited enough times to warrant two hands to count my visits pretty soon. The space itself is designed like a French bistro and I found the interior classy and elegant, with natural light pouring in through the front. The hostess who greeted and seated us was friendly, and the servers throughout the evening were all excellent, both knowledgeable and warm. They even brought out a stain pen when my dining companion spilled red wine on his shirt, which was such a thoughtful touch. A breakdown of everything I tried: 1. Raw Bar - I'll include all of the items here since they came out as part of the same tower, but we ordered geoduck, razor clams, two kinds of oysters, full uni, and 1 oz of caviar, which they were kind enough to let us order off menu. The oysters we chose, Shigokus and Skookums from Washington, were recommended and both were briny and rich, while the Hokkaido uni had that signature creamy sweetness, though probably worth skipping if you've had before given the elevated prices. The caviar was beautiful and came with smoked cream and toast points, though I would have much preferred the delicateness of blinis. Geoduck is one of my absolute favorite types of seafood, so I was beyond disappointed that it not only came out in such a tiny portion but what I can only describe as a scraped together mess vs the nice, clean slices that I am used to. The razor clams, on the other hand, were an absolute banger as they were plump, savory, and bright all at once and instantly transported me back to the streets of San Sebastian and fond memories of all the incredible navajas al ajillo. 2. Escargot Toast - I appreciate that they are aiming for innovation, but sometimes classics stay timeless because they do not need to be reinvented and that is precisely how I felt about this dish. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but I got very little of the thing I mainly want to taste in escargot, which is the escargot. The one bite where you do get one is pretty fantastic, but the overall toast felt underwhelming given the ratio. If executed well, I would expect each toast quarter to have at least four of the tiny snails or one to two of the plumper ones I am used to. I get what the toast is aiming to emulate but it also felt like how it was cooked dried it out and so was missing that signature butteriness you get after you've finished the escargot and dunk pieces of fresh bread into the garlicky and herbaceous beurre d'escargot in each vacated compartment. 3. Warm Grapefruit Brûlée - This was one of the highlights of the night for me. It was wildly inventive as each bite gave a different mix of flavors and textures. The brûléed grapefruit was so fun to crack open, and the balance here was spot on, with just enough bitterness from the grapefruit and chicories, sweetness from the beets and brûlée atop the grapefruit, and acid and tartness from the citronette. No notes; chef's kiss. 4. Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork - Another highlight and a super interesting dish, since I have had prime rib and pork chop many times over, but never a prime rib of pork. You can tell the pork quality is top notch, and the cook was perfect with just a touch of pink in the center. The rendered fat cap adds a depth of flavor that is often missing from pork loin because it is so lean compared to beef. The au jus adds another dimension to each bite, and the accompanying apple horseradish chantilly brings a lovely sharp richness that helps to cut through the fattiness of the pork. 5. Roasted Liberty Duck Breast - How can you dine at a bistro and not try the duck? The duck itself was delicious, cooked to a beautiful medium rare and paired with a lovely roasted sour cherry sauce, but I did wish the fat had been rendered a bit more, since some pieces were chewier than I prefer. The accompanying duck leg confit pressé was so delicious and I loved the nod to a centuries old technique (the only thing that would have made this even better would have been a tableside preparation ha!). 6. Sides - We added both the pomme frites and the creamed kale callaloo, and I would say to skip the fries since they were pretty basic and not worth $15. Absolutely, however, get the kale because it was such a unique combination of flavors and textures. The use of coconut cream and the deft use of it in the dish created a really pleasant mouthfeel that had just enough creaminess without becoming overly heavy, as many "creamed vegetable' dishes too often are. The kale still had some bite while the fried shallots on top added a much-needed textural contrast. All in all, I had an enjoyable evening here, but I am not likely to return given the unevenness of several dishes as well as the fact that at current price points I would rather spend that money on any number of other fantastic options for French food (or in general) in SF.
4.5 STARS French food...moody lighting...intimate half-moon booths...*clutch your pearls* risqué wallpaper...couples feeding each other pommes frites. You know where this is going and it's not bible study after dinner... Bow Chicka Wow Wow! JouJou is one of the most highly anticipated openings in the city from the chef-owner of Lazy Bear (two Michelin stars) and True Laurel. A former attorney, Chef Barzelay is a self-taught chef. After being laid off, he started a supper club in his apartment and here he is today! While they reserve the counter and menagerie for walk-ins, my friend overheard it was an hour wait at 6 pm so def make rezzies! M E N U French brasserie, classic technique with modern twists - raw bar, seafood towers, apps, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Full bar. 20% service charge added to all bills (add'l tip is optional). No SF mandate. D R I N K S Complimentary still and sparkling water. * The JouJou: French Gin, Blanc Vermouth, Rouge Vermouth ($18 x2) If you like Aperol spritz, this will be your jam. * Hypnotizé: Eau-de-Vie Blanche, Passionfruit & Mango, Vegan Meringue ($18) Creamy, sweet-tart. * Charentais You Say: Cognac, Canteloup, Tarragon, Citrus ($18) Smooth, citrusy-herbaceous. F O O D * Complimentary House Baguette + Butter (Unlimited) Warm, crusty and soft with an incredibly rich, slightly fluffy butter. * The Frisco: 1 Dozen West Coast Oysters, 6 Gulf Shrimp, 4 Crab Legs, 1/2 Uni ($115) // 4.5 Stars Fresh, pristine assortment of perfectly shucked oysters, firm shrimp, sweet crab, and custardy uni. Mignonette and aioli needed more acid tho. * California Big Eye Tuna w/ passionfruit, fresh cane juice, radish, macadamia nut ($21) // 4 Stars The flavors and textures were nicely balanced, though the crudo could have benefited from a bit more cane juice to add moisture and bring everything together. * Vichyssoise w/ half-ounce golden osetra caviar, pommes gaufrettes ($49) // 4 Stars Chilled soup that low-key reminded us of sour cream & onion dip...made bougie with umami-rich caviar. * Chicken Liver Mousse w/ sauternes gelée, strawberry, sorrel, brioche ($21) // 4 Stars Rich, velvety smooth with the accompaniments providing a sweet-fruity contrast. The mousse ran too salty. * Warm Grapefruit Brûlée w/ roasted beets, orange, mandarin, chicories, tarragon citronette ($19) // 5 Stars Wildly creative with excellent textures and a refreshingly balanced mix of sweet, tart, and bitter flavors. * Escargot Toasts w/ green garlic & snail butter ($18) // 5++++ Stars A must order, incredibly buttery crispy brioche toasts with a fresh, mild garlicky note cutting through the richness. * Steamed Mussels w/ saffron, coconut milk, thai basil ($25) // 5 Stars Plump mussels bathing in a creamy, aromatic broth. Request extra baguette for sopping up all the brothy deliciousness! * Black Cod à l'Ananas, brûlée with pineapple, tokyo turnips, scallion ($43) // 4 Stars Silky, buttery cod with a hint of crunchy sweetness, tho my friend unfortunately bit into a few bones. * Steak Aux Poivres Exotiques: 8 oz Filet Mignon w/ spring alliums, wild pink peppercorn sauce ($71) // 4.5 Stars Perfectly medium rare, the peppercorn crusted filet, SO soft you can slice it with a butter knife. * Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork w/ apple-horseradish chantilly (not shown), calvados au jus ($53) // 5 Stars Juicy and flavorful with a natural porky sweetness and kiss of smoky flavor. The fat cap adding a rich silkiness. Served with cloud-like chantilly, lightly sweet and sharp. * Creamed Kale w/ coconut cream, crispy shallot ($13) // 5 Stars Savory and earthy, not overly creamy. Like pinoy laing. * Glazed Chanterelles w/ carrot spring alliums ($31) // 5 Stars Meaty, full of savory sweet umami! * Pommes Frites w/ green garlic mayo ($15) // 3 Stars Ordinary with some soggy parts. * Haricot Verts dry-fried, with anchoïade, crispy olive ($15) // 3 Stars Ran very salty. * Tarte Tatin w/ pink lady apples, caramel, brown sugar chantilly ($17) + Double Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream ($13) // 4 Stars Classic French dessert pairing - warm, sweet, and balanced. * Baba Au Rhum w/ whipped coconut, pineapple-rum flambée ($21) // 3 Stars Small yeast-based cake soaked in rum syrup...I'm not a boozy sweet kinda person so not for me. S E R V I C E Friendly and polished with well-paced courses. Chef Barzelay coming by, asking our favs - nice touch. A M B I A N C E French glam, spacious resto that seats over 100. Ideal for solo dining at the bar, date night, and GNO. P A R K I N G A rarity, street parking is easy. Overall, while the city has no shortage of French restos, JouJou is a great addition to the dining scene serving French cuisine with creative flair and twists you won't find anywhere else!
Walked in without a reservation and was surprised that we were able to get seated right away. They have plenty of bar space at the front and in the back for walk ins. We got the Dungeness crab salad, the French onion soup, and the steak with a side of fries. The crab was the standout dish and it was fresh and flavorful. The rest of the meal however was lacking. The French onion soup was pretty ok - there was little too much bread in it. The steak came with some weird peppers on top that were too sweet and threw off the flavor of the entire dish. We took it home because we didn't want to waste it but we still couldn't get ourselves to the leftovers the next day.
2 months ago
Oh! This is one of those places that makes me wish I lived in San Francisco or that I lived much closer than an hour away. We gave ourselves a staycation into the city while also attending the Valkyries season closing games. I was so happy to find that JouJou was only a 8mins drive to 22mins walk from our hotel! We thoroughly enjoyed our time from beginning to end. We arrived 30mins early for our reservation and we were gently guided to their bar and provided a table at their bar while we waited for our table. Starting us off at the bar was great and really it's all thanks to their service provided by Shane! When a place is able to deliver on ambiance, service, drinks and food! Aces! I highly recommend the joujou as your starter cocktail if you enjoy a well balanced spirited drink. For dinner, we started with their grapefruit salad because it sounded different from anything we've ever tried and I was pleasantly surprised when my non-veggie eating husband enjoyed the salad as well. We also had the french onion soup because, we must - we can usually gauge if we'll come back to a restaurant if we enjoy their french onion soup and my goodness the cheese stretch from spoon to mouth was perfection and so flavorfully and well balanced. For entrees, my husband had the brown butter-based sole and if I hadn't been craving steak all day - that would 've been my choice too because it was sooooo good. I had the steak bearnaise with a side of their fries. The steak was perfectly cooked, I enjoyed the bearnaise, paired with a bordeaux chosen by our waiter and would recommend both dishes but I would probably go back for the sole. The food is approachable and a great place for date night to try something new and feel safe that whatever you order will be explained via the menu and/or the service without the night feeling fussy. We unfortunately didn't have dessert because we had to meet with friends for a nightcap. Genuinely so thankful for a great experience and a great vibe to start our staycation! It had been a long work-week for my husband and it felt like first time in along time that he was able to relax! read more
I came here with my bf and some friends on a Saturday evening. We had a reservation around 8:30, and the place was pretty busy. Upon entering, the restaurant felt thoughtfully curated in its ambiance, feel, and design. I had read in an article in Modern Luxury that their idea was to keep the feel "not too serious and playful," and I think they did just that! I really appreciated the colors, textures, and finishes, like the marble and the wood. Altogether, it made the space feel elevated but cozy at the same time. Angel was a delightful server and really made our experience more enjoyable! He was knowledgeable about the menu and took great care of us. I appreciated the crumbing and resetting after each course! I ordered the Hypnotise and my boyfriend ordered the Lady Liberté. My drink had tart and fruity notes with a nice meringue, and my bf's drink was strong but got better over time imo :) We decided to dine family-style so we could try a little bit of everything! Here's what we ordered: APPS: +Oysters (we chose 3 briny & 1 sweet) +Warm Gougères +Escargot Part Deux +Steamed Mussels ENTREES: +Gnocchi À La Parisienne +Roasted Liberty Duck Breast My favorite of the apps was the mussels. The sauce was rich and flavorful, and the saffron, coconut milk, and lime leaf made the dish very vibrant. The escargot was tasty, and it was an interesting concept to pair them with the brioche, which was also garlicky. I personally prefer a more generous helping of green garlic butter, but they were still enjoyable. The gougères were light and airy, though they were my least favorite of the apps. The oysters were all quite good, and I'm glad we had a variety to choose from. I'm a big fan of briny oysters over sweet ones. The entrees were quite delicious! The gnocchi was very rich with the summer squash, saffron & corn nage. The duck was definitely the star of the show. The duck confit was super tasty and decadent. The sauce was a bit sweet for me, but still delicious. I was definitely impressed by JouJou, especially by the thought that went into the overall dining experience and all the small details. They had their own letter blocks for the paperweight that came with the check, which was cute! I would definitely recommend this place for a nice dinner out! read more
1 month ago
JouJou is such a wonderful new addition to the SF dining scene. Everything we tried was delicious, and our hostess was absolutely amazing. The oysters and mussels were standouts, I loved the cod, and my partner loved his steak. We also got to try Calvados, the French brandy from Normandy, which was fantastic and such a fun way to end the meal. Great food, wonderful hospitality, and a beautiful new French bistro. 10/10 recommend! read more
3 days ago
A new French restaurant from a Michelin two-star team of Lazy Bear. It brings French cuisine to the table through a California lens, which we love! The menu leans seafood-focused but not exclusively. We highly recommend Berkshire pork prime rib and the glazed carrots on the side were just as memorable the bar looks fancy and beautiful, will come back to try that too! read more
19 days ago
Went here for dinner on a Friday evening and sat at the countertop. We got dirty martinis which were very smooth but it just wasn't dirty enough for me! The oysters were absolutely delicious - we got Kumamoto and Shio Tang (you have to get at least 3 of each type). I liked the escargot part deux and the buttery brioche. My favorite thing was the prime rib of Berkshire pork. It was sooo juicy and flavorful with a jus poured on top and an incredible horseradish sauce (whipped butter texture) on the side. My partner got the black cod and loved it! We also got the creamed kale callaloo which was too coconut-y for my tastes but my partner enjoyed it. We finished off with the vanilla ice cream which was creamy and delicious. Service was super friendly and delightful. read more
4 months ago
My cousin and I had senior dinner (5pm) on a sunny Sunday. We made reservations and many yelp reviews say that this is essential for a weekend. However, if you decide to go at opening time (4pm), you should be okay. It's not HOPR. I happened to arrive 30 minutes before my reservation so I decided to sit at the bar. No happy hour, yet they toyed with the idea of a "social hour" which is around 8-9pm to make use of their bar space. The bar pretty much occupied half of the restaurant. It was this light-filled green room sprinkled with various plants and floor-to-ceiling windows which let in A LOT of natural light. Reminded me of a greenhouse. It was my kind of vibe. I ordered the Roseraie (non alcoholic) at the bar; it was this burgundy-colored tart drink, the tartness might've been the hibiscus. I would say it's okay. Would I get it again? Probably not. As for the FOOD, we ordered: -bread and butter (complementary)-- house-made French butter with acme bread, what's not to love? -sliced celery root salad with candied walnuts and nocino vinaigrette-- delightfully pleasant and I don't think I've had celery root before so it was a positive first experience, the nocino made it nutty which ofc complemented the candied walnuts -liberty duck confit-- the duck breast was a challenge to cut into, but the flavor was amazing; I love duck tho, so other than duck where it's hard to chew through because of the bones, I'm a fan. For me, it was the piece de resistance sealed with a *chef's kiss -gnocchi Parisienne-- did not know it came out like a wheeled pastry, so to my dismay, it did not taste as expected. it was unfortunately my least favorite dish -side of creamed kale-- we LOVED this! overall: 3.7 because the interior knocked it out of the park for me and service was excellent, but the food left much to be desired. Also $$$$ (20% gratuity included). I may come back but for a special occasion or if a friend from out-of-town loves Lazy Bear food but not the price tag. read more
Looking to have a nice night out in SF after the marathon we decided to eat at Joujou a Michelin star worthy restaurant. Deciding to try basically everything on the menu all I can say was from service to atmosphere to food everything was perfect. Stand outs, French onion soup and the gougeres don't leave without trying these. I've attached pictures and my check and oh a pic of the men's room wallpaper, so much fun!!! read more
Food - I savored every bite of the Black Cod A L'Ananas, and I would eat the Creamed Kale Callaloo every single day. My companion also enjoyed the more classic leaning Pan Roasted Chicken Breast and the Pommes Frites, elevated by a green garlic Mayo. We completed our meal with the simply sublime double vanilla ice cream, mine with a lovely not too sweet warm strawberry confiture, his with gooey melted chocolate. Service - I would give 5 stars for Riley who delivered his knowledge and charm to our table along with the American Whiskey flight, and for the beverage program in general, my cocktail JouJou was elegant without overwhelming and we found wines by the glass to be well paired to our choices. We found our server to be professional and friendly but not readily available to answer our questions about some of the menu items but assistants were more engaged when bringing courses to the table similar to Lazy Bear which was great to experience. Ambiance - We dined at a corner table in the Rose room looking back out into the main dining area and marble bar, intimate but connected to the vibe, reinforced by the playlist and service staff who were fun to watch working through the entire space. We looked into the second bar room and the private dining room on our way out and the restaurant is also well suited for flexible event entertaining. Overall - solid 4, almost 5 stars read more
5 months ago
I had dinner here with my husband and our little girl last Thursday. First of all, the restaurant is beautiful in terms of decor, very well done. Second, the service is definitely on the higher end, but still friendly and comfortable, which made the whole experience feel relaxed even with a child. Then the food. We ordered a few plates to share. The escargot toast was good, although I did not really taste the escargot because the pesto flavor covered it a bit too much. The crustacean omelet was very good. Then we had the cod, and the fish was literally melting in the mouth, plus the trout, which my daughter ended up eating most of, and that was very good too. Prices are definitely on the high side. For some plates it feels justified, for others maybe a bit too much, especially the sides. I also do not love when restaurants automatically add a twenty percent service charge, even if they clearly state that no additional tip is expected. Overall, it was a good experience, and I would like to come back and try more dishes to see if the quality stays consistently high. read more
5 months ago
I booked a table for 2 in the dining room on a Friday at 5:15pm to celebrate a birthday. I highly recommend making reservations as the restaurant was completely packed by the time we left. It's a big restaurant too. There were a bunch of different seating sections, some dark and some under natural lighting with glass ceilings and walls. We were seated in the "rose room" in the far back which seems most of the couples were there too. If you were a group of 3 or 4, you would be seated in the main dining room with booth seating. Then there is the bar area which had a patio feel to it because of the glass ceilings and walls. These sections were very loud when it was full. The rose room was much quieter, good for couples. We just felt this room was disconnected from the rest of the restaurant like an afterthought. The fake roses on the wall felt tacky and the rose curtain gave a "country" feel mixed with chic. They also had 4 ceiling fans that were on high and it was drying my eyes and cooling down our food fast. We started with 2 cocktails: Hypnotise - $18 and Charentais You Say? - $18. I liked them both and I would recommend them if you like fruity drinks. It was just the right amount of alcohol. Our meal started with complimentary bread and whipped butter. I don't think the baguette was made in house or was fresh. It was inconsistent. It was crispy the first time but when we asked for more bread, and the second time it felt like it was microwaved. For our first course we had the steamed mussels - $25. This was a big portion, served in a, Le Creuset. Mussels were cooked well and it came with 3 pieces of toasted bread. This was when we asked for more baguette to soak up the yummy seafood broth. 4.5/5 Next we had the crustacean omelette - $43. This was brought out by the head chef himself. I was hesitant to have breakfast for dinner but wow, this dish was amazing. It's packed with seafood and the omelette was delicate and creamy. It's also big enough to be an entree. However we did find a couple pieces of crab cartilage. 4.5/5 For our main we had the black cod - $43. It was tender 4.5/5 and we paired it with a side of creamed kale 5/5 and morels with carrots 4.5/5. The morels were also brought out by the head chef who said we were the first to order it from the menu. Both side dishes were rich and flavorful. The service was great. We found the staffs all to be friendly and attentive. They were constantly near by checking on tables, filling water, folding napkins and clearing dishes. Service did start out fast but slowed down a bit as it got busier but we didn't mind. For dessert we had the banana foster with macadamia ice cream. It was made with, Gros Michel bananas which were smaller, sweeter and creamier than standard bananas. It was slightly caramelized. The roasted macadamia ice cream flavor was definitely there. They should offer it as a stand alone menu item. We found the caramel was very sweet as expected. 4.5/5 For the birthday boy they offered a canele with a birthday candle. read more
My friend and I had a great Sunday dinner at JouJou. We shared the SF bay halibut, butter lettuce salad, crustacean omelet, trout almondine, prime rib of Berkshire pork and tarte tatin. All of the dishes were excellent. The stand-outs for me were the crustacean omelet (it was amazingly fluffy) and Tarte Tatin. I also really loved the prime rib of Berkshire pork with the apple-horseradish chantilly. In a SF food scene that's dominated by Asian and Italian cuisine, it's nice to add a really strong French restaurant in the mix. Service was good and attentive. The space is nice but the inside dining room is a little dark. They occupy the former Grove location in the design district. With tax and tip, this was about $140 per person. If you are itching for some French food, this place is highly recommended!!! read more
I went here for a special event for a bastille Day. They had some amazing food. It was my first time trying escargot. I'm glad I tried it, but I don't know if I would try it again. Ha ha. The standouts for me was the flat bread that had potato on it, was so flavorful. I also loved all the desserts that we had. There was quite a display! read more
JouJou is a beautiful new venture from David Barzelay, best known for his two Michelin star masterpiece Lazy Bear, which I love and have visited enough times to warrant two hands to count my visits pretty soon. The space itself is designed like a French bistro and I found the interior classy and elegant, with natural light pouring in through the front. The hostess who greeted and seated us was friendly, and the servers throughout the evening were all excellent, both knowledgeable and warm. They even brought out a stain pen when my dining companion spilled red wine on his shirt, which was such a thoughtful touch. A breakdown of everything I tried: 1. Raw Bar - I'll include all of the items here since they came out as part of the same tower, but we ordered geoduck, razor clams, two kinds of oysters, full uni, and 1 oz of caviar, which they were kind enough to let us order off menu. The oysters we chose, Shigokus and Skookums from Washington, were recommended and both were briny and rich, while the Hokkaido uni had that signature creamy sweetness, though probably worth skipping if you've had before given the elevated prices. The caviar was beautiful and came with smoked cream and toast points, though I would have much preferred the delicateness of blinis. Geoduck is one of my absolute favorite types of seafood, so I was beyond disappointed that it not only came out in such a tiny portion but what I can only describe as a scraped together mess vs the nice, clean slices that I am used to. The razor clams, on the other hand, were an absolute banger as they were plump, savory, and bright all at once and instantly transported me back to the streets of San Sebastian and fond memories of all the incredible navajas al ajillo. 2. Escargot Toast - I appreciate that they are aiming for innovation, but sometimes classics stay timeless because they do not need to be reinvented and that is precisely how I felt about this dish. There was nothing wrong with it, per se, but I got very little of the thing I mainly want to taste in escargot, which is the escargot. The one bite where you do get one is pretty fantastic, but the overall toast felt underwhelming given the ratio. If executed well, I would expect each toast quarter to have at least four of the tiny snails or one to two of the plumper ones I am used to. I get what the toast is aiming to emulate but it also felt like how it was cooked dried it out and so was missing that signature butteriness you get after you've finished the escargot and dunk pieces of fresh bread into the garlicky and herbaceous beurre d'escargot in each vacated compartment. 3. Warm Grapefruit Brûlée - This was one of the highlights of the night for me. It was wildly inventive as each bite gave a different mix of flavors and textures. The brûléed grapefruit was so fun to crack open, and the balance here was spot on, with just enough bitterness from the grapefruit and chicories, sweetness from the beets and brûlée atop the grapefruit, and acid and tartness from the citronette. No notes; chef's kiss. 4. Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork - Another highlight and a super interesting dish, since I have had prime rib and pork chop many times over, but never a prime rib of pork. You can tell the pork quality is top notch, and the cook was perfect with just a touch of pink in the center. The rendered fat cap adds a depth of flavor that is often missing from pork loin because it is so lean compared to beef. The au jus adds another dimension to each bite, and the accompanying apple horseradish chantilly brings a lovely sharp richness that helps to cut through the fattiness of the pork. 5. Roasted Liberty Duck Breast - How can you dine at a bistro and not try the duck? The duck itself was delicious, cooked to a beautiful medium rare and paired with a lovely roasted sour cherry sauce, but I did wish the fat had been rendered a bit more, since some pieces were chewier than I prefer. The accompanying duck leg confit pressé was so delicious and I loved the nod to a centuries old technique (the only thing that would have made this even better would have been a tableside preparation ha!). 6. Sides - We added both the pomme frites and the creamed kale callaloo, and I would say to skip the fries since they were pretty basic and not worth $15. Absolutely, however, get the kale because it was such a unique combination of flavors and textures. The use of coconut cream and the deft use of it in the dish created a really pleasant mouthfeel that had just enough creaminess without becoming overly heavy, as many "creamed vegetable' dishes too often are. The kale still had some bite while the fried shallots on top added a much-needed textural contrast. All in all, I had an enjoyable evening here, but I am not likely to return given the unevenness of several dishes as well as the fact that at current price points I would rather spend that money on any number of other fantastic options for French food (or in general) in SF. read more
7 months ago
4.5 STARS French food...moody lighting...intimate half-moon booths...*clutch your pearls* risqué wallpaper...couples feeding each other pommes frites. You know where this is going and it's not bible study after dinner... Bow Chicka Wow Wow! JouJou is one of the most highly anticipated openings in the city from the chef-owner of Lazy Bear (two Michelin stars) and True Laurel. A former attorney, Chef Barzelay is a self-taught chef. After being laid off, he started a supper club in his apartment and here he is today! While they reserve the counter and menagerie for walk-ins, my friend overheard it was an hour wait at 6 pm so def make rezzies! M E N U French brasserie, classic technique with modern twists - raw bar, seafood towers, apps, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Full bar. 20% service charge added to all bills (add'l tip is optional). No SF mandate. D R I N K S Complimentary still and sparkling water. * The JouJou: French Gin, Blanc Vermouth, Rouge Vermouth ($18 x2) If you like Aperol spritz, this will be your jam. * Hypnotizé: Eau-de-Vie Blanche, Passionfruit & Mango, Vegan Meringue ($18) Creamy, sweet-tart. * Charentais You Say: Cognac, Canteloup, Tarragon, Citrus ($18) Smooth, citrusy-herbaceous. F O O D * Complimentary House Baguette + Butter (Unlimited) Warm, crusty and soft with an incredibly rich, slightly fluffy butter. * The Frisco: 1 Dozen West Coast Oysters, 6 Gulf Shrimp, 4 Crab Legs, 1/2 Uni ($115) // 4.5 Stars Fresh, pristine assortment of perfectly shucked oysters, firm shrimp, sweet crab, and custardy uni. Mignonette and aioli needed more acid tho. * California Big Eye Tuna w/ passionfruit, fresh cane juice, radish, macadamia nut ($21) // 4 Stars The flavors and textures were nicely balanced, though the crudo could have benefited from a bit more cane juice to add moisture and bring everything together. * Vichyssoise w/ half-ounce golden osetra caviar, pommes gaufrettes ($49) // 4 Stars Chilled soup that low-key reminded us of sour cream & onion dip...made bougie with umami-rich caviar. * Chicken Liver Mousse w/ sauternes gelée, strawberry, sorrel, brioche ($21) // 4 Stars Rich, velvety smooth with the accompaniments providing a sweet-fruity contrast. The mousse ran too salty. * Warm Grapefruit Brûlée w/ roasted beets, orange, mandarin, chicories, tarragon citronette ($19) // 5 Stars Wildly creative with excellent textures and a refreshingly balanced mix of sweet, tart, and bitter flavors. * Escargot Toasts w/ green garlic & snail butter ($18) // 5++++ Stars A must order, incredibly buttery crispy brioche toasts with a fresh, mild garlicky note cutting through the richness. * Steamed Mussels w/ saffron, coconut milk, thai basil ($25) // 5 Stars Plump mussels bathing in a creamy, aromatic broth. Request extra baguette for sopping up all the brothy deliciousness! * Black Cod à l'Ananas, brûlée with pineapple, tokyo turnips, scallion ($43) // 4 Stars Silky, buttery cod with a hint of crunchy sweetness, tho my friend unfortunately bit into a few bones. * Steak Aux Poivres Exotiques: 8 oz Filet Mignon w/ spring alliums, wild pink peppercorn sauce ($71) // 4.5 Stars Perfectly medium rare, the peppercorn crusted filet, SO soft you can slice it with a butter knife. * Prime Rib of Berkshire Pork w/ apple-horseradish chantilly (not shown), calvados au jus ($53) // 5 Stars Juicy and flavorful with a natural porky sweetness and kiss of smoky flavor. The fat cap adding a rich silkiness. Served with cloud-like chantilly, lightly sweet and sharp. * Creamed Kale w/ coconut cream, crispy shallot ($13) // 5 Stars Savory and earthy, not overly creamy. Like pinoy laing. * Glazed Chanterelles w/ carrot spring alliums ($31) // 5 Stars Meaty, full of savory sweet umami! * Pommes Frites w/ green garlic mayo ($15) // 3 Stars Ordinary with some soggy parts. * Haricot Verts dry-fried, with anchoïade, crispy olive ($15) // 3 Stars Ran very salty. * Tarte Tatin w/ pink lady apples, caramel, brown sugar chantilly ($17) + Double Tahitian Vanilla Ice Cream ($13) // 4 Stars Classic French dessert pairing - warm, sweet, and balanced. * Baba Au Rhum w/ whipped coconut, pineapple-rum flambée ($21) // 3 Stars Small yeast-based cake soaked in rum syrup...I'm not a boozy sweet kinda person so not for me. S E R V I C E Friendly and polished with well-paced courses. Chef Barzelay coming by, asking our favs - nice touch. A M B I A N C E French glam, spacious resto that seats over 100. Ideal for solo dining at the bar, date night, and GNO. P A R K I N G A rarity, street parking is easy. Overall, while the city has no shortage of French restos, JouJou is a great addition to the dining scene serving French cuisine with creative flair and twists you won't find anywhere else! read more
Walked in without a reservation and was surprised that we were able to get seated right away. They have plenty of bar space at the front and in the back for walk ins. We got the Dungeness crab salad, the French onion soup, and the steak with a side of fries. The crab was the standout dish and it was fresh and flavorful. The rest of the meal however was lacking. The French onion soup was pretty ok - there was little too much bread in it. The steak came with some weird peppers on top that were too sweet and threw off the flavor of the entire dish. We took it home because we didn't want to waste it but we still couldn't get ourselves to the leftovers the next day. read more
6 months ago
Was super hyped to try JouJou but left sadly disappointed. I usually give new restaurants some leeway but I felt there were many kinks to work out. Service felt lacking and not warm, sommelier recommended a wine we didnt like too much, cocktails had some weird shrubbery. These are the things you can kind of expect when you go to a new establishment so we were willing to look past it. Where we were surprised was the food. Right off the bat, the table bread was soooo stale. Really hard to bite which is a shame because the butter was amazing. Big eye tuna with passionfruit was a miss with the fruit overpowering the fish. Lobster bisque was standard. The mains of pork and cod were well executed but I wasnt a fan of the flavor profile which was on the sweeter side. The hits were the oysters, crab louie and fries. Vibes were good, loved the space and how they remodeled the old Grove restaurant. read more
A new French restaurant by the team from Lazy Bear and True Laurel. The interior design is stunning with four different rooms that are all unique and beautiful. The food as you would expect is unique and delicious. This was our first visit so we haven't made it through the menu but the escargot on brioche was a real highlight. read more
7 days ago
Had a 6:30 reservation and got seated right away. The waiter took quite sometime to ask if I wanted a drink. I timed it at 23 minutes. By then I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the raw oysters, chicken liver mousse, and the 8 oz steak. The oysters came with a tiny tabasco sauce and seemed to be fresh. The liver mousse was great. The brioche toast paired perfectly with the flavorful mousse. Put some kiwi jam with it! The steak on the other was NOT good. Although it came with a sauce, it was dry. Very very dry. in fact, I had a hard time swallowing the first bite. I had it packed up to go. The bathrooms were not clean. It was gross. Their website states they have a "dress code", but when I walked in, there was people with t-shirts and shorts on. This seemed to be very casual and not a chic and upscale establishment. read more
2 months ago
We checked out happy hour and it did not disappoint. We also ordered the steamed mussels and my kids really loved the pommes fritters . For dessert we had ice cream which was topped by meringue and it was incredible. read more
5 months ago
These photos accompany my last review post! Everything was delicious - highlights included the pork chop and vanilla ice cream. Great martinis too. read more
4 months ago
This is a very pretty restaurant in the design center with wonderful food and service. I would recommend it for a special ocassion or just sitting at the bar and ordering. read more
2 months ago
JouJou in San Francisco is such a cute find! The space feels stylish but still cozy, making it perfect for catching up with friends over cocktails or enjoying candle lit dinner. The menu has a great mix of options, and everything we tried was fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. Service was amazing and attentive without being overbearing, and the overall vibe felt welcoming and lively. It can get a bit busy, but that just adds to the energy of the place. I was told by the manager towards end of April/ early May they will offer brunch, which I'm excited for. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more
Wow, Joujou was delicious! I'm a sucker for seafood towers and they served their most basic tower with a dozen oysters that you get to choose, 2 pieces of uni, several good sized prawns and Dungeness crab legs. They didn't have the standard oyster chooses like Kumamoto or miyagi, Fanny bay etc. it was refreshing to try types that I hadn't had before. Ichiban were the standout for me. Small, sweet and crisp. Yum Every dish we had was executed very well. Black cod was so delicate and rich, pinned frites were crisp and light but with enough starch to make them fries. Creamed kale was a better version of creamed spinach and not overly sauced. The canele was one of the best I've ever had. The shell was crusty without being too thick or waxy and the interior was creamy. Service still needs some kinks to work out but was done with respect. The ambiance and seating is perfect for a date. Individual banquettes, well spaced, dim but not dark. They did run out of lobster bisque and chanterelles so we will happily come back to try those and more! read more
6 months ago
1 month ago
2 months ago
A++ interior, food, service, and Shane in the atrium bringing you energy+amazing cocktails. We love! read more
4 months ago
My partner and I popped in while waiting for another reservation and were pleasantly delighted by the bar! It was beautiful and peaceful, and felt like we stepped into a pretty greenhouse. We each had a drink and I thoroughly enjoyed the Charentais, You Say? We really enjoyed the vibe, but it was pretty pricey. read more
2 months ago
12 days ago
honestly would not come here again or recommend. the food was good but nothing memorable. we tried a few appetizers and steak. the fig ice cream dessert was the best part and our server was pretty nice. the vibes felt kinda off tho we noticed the hostess and maybe a manager or something overlyyy staring like every time i would look up or around i would catch them looking for no reason like ok.......weird. oh also they charge u for birthday dessert & add tip even w a small party of 3. overall, expensive not that great, & vibes r off read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
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2 months ago
When I heard the creators of lazy bear were opening something new I had to check it out. Lazy bear is one of my fave restaurants in SF. It's changed over the years and I still miss the OG LB but it's still really good. So I came in with high expectation. Went with the celery root salad which was surprisingly good ! I've never had celery root before, the way it was prepared def order that again. I went with the almondine trout which was ok. Not too much flavor. The escargot toast on the other hand is a MUST! If you love escargot especially. This was buttery delicious. The presentation might be off putting bc of the snails but the taste more than makes up for it. The big eye tuna was very sweet, to be expected but personally not a fan of sweet and savory combined. The side of kale was delicious and def worth getting!! As for drinks, went with the blonde which was really good and the for our second drink we left it to the bartender to make us a special drink based on what we like. It was also very good. This place focused on wine so they have an extensive wine list and sommelier ready and waiting to help you decide. The cannelas were a great dessert to make us feel special. Overall a great experience. The vibes are super cute and chill. The service is great! It's not lazy bear that's for certain but a lot of attention to detail which I appreciate! read more
2 months ago
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65 Division St
San Francisco, CA 94103
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(415) 523-8320
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https://joujousf.com
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