Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    JouJou

    4.0 (33 reviews)
    Open 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    JouJou Photos

    JOUJOU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - JouJou

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Bread and butter
    Victoria W.

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

    Chicken Liver Mousse w/ sauternes gelée, strawberry, sorrel, brioche ($21)
    Cherylynn N.

    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!

    Ajay K.

    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.

    Creamed kale and pork prime rib
    Richard T.

    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.

    Chicken liver pate with strawberry jam.
    Joel S.

    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.

    Menu
    Trina M.

    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!

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

    Canele
    Jesse Y.

    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!

    Linda H.

    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!

    Dungeness Crab Louis
    Randy M.

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

    Perfect Paper Plane plus they have Evan Williams bourbon in the well. Nice touch.

    See all

    17 days ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E. G.
    6
    115
    3

    19 days ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    20 days ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 day ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 48
    Thanks 25
    Love this 39
    Oh no 3

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ellen H.
    59
    591
    105

    1 month ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    26 days ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Julie L.
    104
    85
    33

    21 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of John D.
    1
    332
    419

    2 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lucile G.
    195
    39
    5

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Steve P.
    0
    234
    13

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Gregory F.
    117
    106
    94

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Guy C.
    124
    46
    56

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of M. D.
    42
    73
    57

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Ask the Community - JouJou

    You might also consider

    Mijoté - Celery root, apple, hazelnut

    Mijoté

    4.4(230 reviews)
    0.9 miMission

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

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

    Photos
    Mijoté - Dessert with view from counter

    Dessert with view from counter

    Mijoté - Nectarine

    Nectarine

    Mijoté - DOMAINE LES SALICAIRES Torlit 2022

    See all

    DOMAINE LES SALICAIRES Torlit 2022

    L’Ardoise Bistro - Prime Black Angus Rib Eye Steak

    L’Ardoise Bistro

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

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

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

    Photos
    L’Ardoise Bistro
    L’Ardoise Bistro - Duck Confit

    Duck Confit

    L’Ardoise Bistro - Espresso

    See all

    Espresso

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

    Chez Maman West

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
    1.2 miHayes Valley
    $$

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

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

    Photos
    Chez Maman West - Steak Tartare (Half Portion - $8)

    Steak Tartare (Half Portion - $8)

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

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

    Chez Maman West - Beef tartare & Dijon mustard , capers, shallots , quail egg and toast points.

    See all

    Beef tartare & Dijon mustard , capers, shallots , quail egg and toast points.

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

    Galinette

    4.4(177 reviews)
    5.8 miParkside
    $$$

    Enjoyed an afternoon lunch here and was so excited to check off one of my bookmarks. We opted for…read morethe outdoor seating since it was nice and sunny that day, and who doesn't love people/dog watching?! since it was my first time here, i wanted to try as much food as i could by ordering a bunch of tapas and have myself a girl dinner spread. Beef Tartar (4/5) Raw beef, capers, cornichons, shallots, whole grains mustard, raw quail egg. it was pleasantly rich and paired wonderful on the bruschetta with the chicken liver mousse! Chicken Liver Mousse (4/5) drizzled with balsamic sauce and served with baguette, stone ground mustard, pickled red onions, and dill pickles. the pate itself was okay, it was very irony on its own, but as you build your little toasts with more toppings, it all comes together very well. Escargot (5/5) sooooo rich with buttery garlicy goodness topped with a breadcrumb and parmesan crust. this dish brings me back to Paris eating at an outdoor bistro. this goes wonderful on the chicken liver mousse bruschetta P.E.I Mussel Mariniere (5/5) White Wine, Shallots, Garlic, and Celery. This is a whole meal in itself! full of juicy mussels and plenty of that delicious white wine sauce on the bottom. i lowkey wanted to slurp the entire thing but that would be unsightly :) Service was very good. our server recommended a great bottle of white wine to enjoy with our food and he was happy to refill the pickled red onions and mustard upon request. since it was a Thursday afternoon, it wasn't as packed as the dinner crowd but i believe they have music on some weekends! great for date nights and small groups. take a walk on the great highway (sunset dunes) after your meal to end a great day!

    We decided to try Galinette as we've seen it on Yelp for a while and wondered if it was good, we…read moreparked on the street since there's no parking nearby. We came in to a pretty empty restaurant with some people on the other side of it. We got the escargot, chicken and a burger and beef tartare, and the escargot was average. Not much flavor but wasn't too bad to be honest. The reason why I gave it a 3 was the service, it wasn't bad but it was very uninviting, the people who was helping us didn't seem enthusiastic to have served us and kept a very straight and monotone voice was talking to us. half way through it felt like they wanted us to leave. Overall this was a decent place. For the food: the chicken was huge! though it was very standard and pretty dry in certain parts, the burger was much better in my opinion and actually worth getting maybe with some fries but they are 7$. The beef taretare was delicious and we devoured it.

    Photos
    Galinette - Beautiful mural

    Beautiful mural

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

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

    Galinette - Escargot w/ puff pastry, cream of mushrooms | $15

    See all

    Escargot w/ puff pastry, cream of mushrooms | $15

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

    Chez Maman East

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    0.6 miPotrero Hill
    $$

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Chez Maman East - French Onion Soup

    See all

    French Onion Soup

    Gary Danko - Matcha cake

    Gary Danko

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

    If you are looking for the pinnacle of fine dining in San Francisco, Restaurant Gary Danko remains…read morethe gold standard. From the moment you walk through the doors, the atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between high-end luxury and genuine warmth. The Service The service here isn't just attentive; it's intuitive. A standout moment of the evening was the seamless coordination of the staff--they actually slid the table out for me to ensure I was seated comfortably, a rare touch of old-school class that you just don't see often enough anymore. Every need was anticipated before I even had to ask. The Menu & Wine The decor & ambiance is very romantic, low lights. Nice art on the walls. The flexibility of the menu is a major draw. Having the option of a 4 or 5-course meal allows you to tailor the experience to your appetite, and every dish was a literal work of art. To pair with the meal, their wine selection is world-class; the sommelier offered impeccable recommendations that elevated the entire evening. The Finishing Touches What truly sets Gary Danko apart, however, are the "extras." We ended the meal with a beautiful complimentary treat from the chef, which was a delightful surprise. To top it all off, we were sent home with their signature pineapple breakfast treat. Enjoying that the next morning was the perfect reminder of a flawless night. Verdict: An absolute must-visit for foodies and anyone celebrating a special occasion. Five stars doesn't feel like enough! Small gripe: only 1 rest room. Unika B. & Co. Mindset Maven

    I booked this through OpenTable, where reservations open up about 60 days in advance. Since I was…read moreplanning a 50th birthday and really wanted the private room for our group of seven, I actually set an alarm for midnight to snag a Saturday night spot right when it dropped. For the private room, you have to choose between a 5:30pm or 8:45pm seating. Even though I've been hearing about this place for decades, this was surprisingly my first time actually eating here, and it did not disappoint. For parking, they don't offer valet so the easiest options are to take an Uber or park a block down at the Ghiradelli Square garage. We showed up 15 minutes early and were escorted to the private dining room in the back, up a few steps. As noted on the reservation site, there is no wheelchair access to the private dining room. The room had a great vibe. Much quieter than the main dining room and dimly lit but not so dark that you couldn't see anything. Even though the large oval table seats ten, it was perfect for our group of seven; we had plenty of space to stretch out. They kicked things off with a massive wine list and cocktail menu. I thought about bringing a bottle of wine but corkage was $100/bottle. Our party stuck to cocktails, and I started with the "Breakfast of Champions." It's a twist on an Old Fashioned made with cereal milk-washed Maker's Mark, which was interesting and actually pretty good, but for the second round, I just went back to a classic Old Fashioned, my go-to drink. Their menu is available as a 3-course ($130), 4-course ($165), or 5-course ($185). The menu lets you pick from appetizers, seafood, meat and game, a cheese selection, which they curate, and dessert. The cool thing about Gary Danko is that you don't have to follow a set order. You can customize the whole meal however you want. If you really wanted to, you could even just pick main courses! We all went with the 5-course meal. Why not? I chose 2 appetizers and 3 main entrees: 1) Crab salad - although it appeared "small", it was beautifully plated with a fresh spring salad, grapefruit and orange wedges, and 4 pieces of dungeness crab leg pieces on top of an avocado quinoa "cake". It was the perfect dish to start with. 2) The lobster and rock shrimp risotto was the star of the show! While I expected a small appetizer portion, the dish was surprisingly generous. It was packed with seafood and was the best risotto I've ever had! 3) Next up was the roast lobster, and it definitely did not disappoint! The plating of the tail and claw was stunning (see my picture), and the sauce was next-level. I actually had to use some bread to soak up the leftover sauce, yes, it was that good. 4) Keeping with the seafood theme, I went for the seared scallops with fregola, cumin carrots, and arugula pesto. The scallops were perfectly seared, and the whole dish was so flavorful that I had to grab another piece of bread just to get every last bit of the sauce. By now I was stuffed and had no idea how I was going to fit the 5th course coming up! 5) To be honest, by the time the beef filet with potato gratin and bone marrow béarnaise arrived, I was already so full I could barely enjoy it. The steak was incredibly tender and came conveniently pre-sliced into four pieces, which made it easier to pick at, even though I was stuffed. The timing of the meal was perfect, with about 25 minutes between courses so we never felt rushed. The service was also top-tier and the staff moved in sync to present everyone's plates at the same time, kept our water glasses full, and cleared everything quickly. Plus, they kept the table stocked with fresh bread between every course. I wish I went easy on the bread and butter. The several slices I ate definitely put me over the top! Since we were celebrating a 50th birthday, they brought out a slice of chocolate cake with a candle. It arrived right alongside the chocolate soufflé one of my friends had ordered as a course, so we all just dug in and shared. That soufflé was incredible. They also included two plates of petit fours to share. Because there wasn't a booking after us, they let us hang out as long as we liked, and we finally headed out around 9 PM. It was honestly one of the best dining experiences I've had. If you have a group of 6 or more, I highly recommend booking the private room, it makes the whole night feel so much more intimate.

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

    Inside (12/27/25)

    Gary Danko - Seared Ahi Tuna

    Seared Ahi Tuna

    Gary Danko - Chocolate souffle

    See all

    Chocolate souffle

    JouJou - french - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...