Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    L’Ardoise Bistro

    4.5 (1.5k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndFrench, Wine Bars, Desserts
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    L’Ardoise Bistro French Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    L’ARDOISE BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Intimate
    Classy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - L’Ardoise Bistro

    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

    Brussel Sprout Salad with Goat Cheese and Escargot en Gueusaille
    Amber C.

    3.5 stars Service was lovely and attentive. Ambiance is cozy and romantic. Overall the food was just ok but for the price point I was expecting a bit more. The escargot was not my favorite. I think I prefer it in its shell. My filet was cooked perfectly though so that was a plus.

    Avery M.

    best steak I've had in the city. juicy, flavorful, cooked well. (perfect amount of fat/ meat/ saltiness). (rib eye on seasonal menu). escargot was... fine haha sauce was good but mushroom combo wasn't it for me personally. tiger prawn, okay, nothing special, but got the job done! cute, quaint spot

    Reasonable, especially for the quality
    Jennifer O.

    I wanted a special place to celebrate my son's 18th birthday - and he couldn't decide until the last minute. L'Ardoise somehow accommodated us at prime time on Saturday night. It was very kind. I'd come to L'Ardoise on occasion when my son was smaller and sent visitors and a newly married neighbor who now come on special date nights. The quality is still excellent and not so expensive it'll break the bank. In fact, L'Ardoise has done a phenomenal job keeping prices reasonable with a minor accommodation of charging for bread and butter ($4) that I had no problem with. The menu is fairly compact with nightly specials. My son had the prawn ravioli that's always on the menu and delicious ($14). I had the shaved fennel and Brussels sprouts salad with goat cheese and drizzled balsamic ($13), savory and the perfect start. Off the regular menu, I ordered the savory Hanger steak in a red wine reduction with frites. The meat was so juicy and tender, incredible flavors ($32). My son had the nightly special, sliced duck Magret ($42) in another phenomenal sauce with thick slices of rare duck, delicious. The saucier at L'Ardoise continues to impress. We had a view of the kitchen and despite the dining room being absolutely packed, the chefs were so calm. They have a very good wine list with a relatively small selection of wines by the glass but both glasses of red were fantastic ($16 and $17 a glass, reasonable). My only suggestion is the decor is looking like it needs a refresh. The dark/sultry ambiance is cozy and romantic but it feels a bit dated. Dark colors, yes, but maybe let the lighting do more work and let the walls "talk" less? The bar chairs are also so uncomfortable with nowhere to put your feet and a purse hook set so awkwardly far back that in the low lit room, I needed help finding it. They ask you observe the timing for turning tables which does allow for an indulgent, relaxing meal but not a reservation with no end in sight. Another turn means you're not paying $20 more per entree. While we had birthday cake waiting at home, L'Ardoise has traditional and tempting desserts like Tarte Tatin and Île Flottante. I'm not surprised the owner worked at Fringale, Gérald Hirigoyen's Basque restaurant that lit the San Francisco dining scene in the mid-90s and introduced SoMa as a dining destination. I won't wait so long to return. L'Ardoise is a little gem.

    Special
    Brenna D.

    Absolutely loved it!! The food was incredible, it was so cozy inside and we will definitely be back!

    Crème brûlée
    Melanie G.

    This place has been on my list for years and I was finally able to check it off when celebrating an anniversary. I reserved on open table for a Thursday and the staff was graciously able to accommodate shifting the reservation to a little later in the evening despite a full house. The space totally transports you to Paris - incredibly intimate and full of personality. Our server was very lively and made sure we had a great night. We shared the special appetizer of the night, a lobster pot pie, which was an excellent start. I had the duck confit which was unreal - perfectly juicy with crispy skin. My partner had the filet which he really enjoyed as well. We shared the vanilla crème brûlée for dessert and both agreed that it was one of the best we've had. The top was perfectly caramelized and not charred at all, while the inside was creamy and decadent but not cloyingly sweet. The candle on top to mark our celebration was a sweet touch. I would absolutely come back to L'Ardoise for any future special celebration!

    Kelly C.

    Came here to celebrate my sister and brother in law's wedding. Great wine to choose from, delicious French food, and the service was phenomenal. The staff accommodated 16 of us on a busy Thursday evening, and we were so grateful! Special memories were made here and I'm looking forward to coming back in the future!

    Starters
    MB A.

    Fantastic food! Better than what you can get in Paris. The only issues we had with this place was the curtain they use in the entrance (confusing) and hard to understand how to get in. Also, the service was at times a bit rude. If you're coming for the food this is the place to be.

    Tiger Prawn Ravioles
    Erin A.

    Cozy atmosphere, with great food and service. We shared the escargot, which was good, and the shrimp ravioli (stellar), which the kitchen divided for us. The duck confit fell off the bone, and lamb chops perfectly cooked. For dessert we shared the floating island.

    Tiger Prawn Ravioles With Sauce Vierge and Fresh Mixed Herbs
    Ada H.

    What a cute little spot! The ambiance is perfect for date night with their lovely front patio. The waitstaff here are so kind and were constantly making sure my party got everything that we wanted. They were accommodating (we had a baby) and make sure we felt comfortable and warm. 5 star service in my books! Escargot- that delicate green sauce (garlicpesto I daresay?) brought out the richness of the escargot. The potato that surrounded the escargot beneath the sauce held the sauce well. The shrimp raviolis were a fan favorite and each bite was decadent and had each of us craving for more. Love this spot so much and can't wait to come back to try their other items

    Mary's chicken

    See all

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 5
    Love this 10
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ian H.
    21
    84
    10

    5 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan S.
    1
    73
    19

    29 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ada H.
    812
    445
    1409

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T C.
    0
    1
    0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1
    Photo of V K.
    0
    1
    0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adel W.
    407
    823
    2861

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan M.
    407
    307
    2826

    2 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 6
    Love this 20
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    This is a special place for a special night! Actually for any night. Great service, delicious food and a charming space.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lutza P.
    285
    17
    4

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 4

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Iris H.
    762
    230
    2973

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 38

    L’Ardoise Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - L’Ardoise Bistro

    Is the coq au vin gluten free or thickened with flour? Also, is the duck confit gluten free? Thank you:)

    Is it accessible (and comfortable) for someone in an electric wheelchair to get around?

    While it's tight seating I bet the owner would accommodate if you notified them in advance.

    What is the corkage fee? I am planning for a birthday dinner for a group of 7 on the 25th of June (Saturday evening)?

    Corkage fee is $30 per bottle as of Dec 31, 2022

    What is the dress code?

    You can wear whatever you want if you're dining outdoors. If indoors, I suggest business casual, but it's a low-key place.

    Do they allow dogs?

    They have outdoor seating and I would request this when booking.

    Do you offer outdoor dining?

    Yes

    View All 9 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for French 48,568 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    InoVino - Cheese plate

    InoVino

    4.3(254 reviews)
    0.9 miCole Valley
    $$

    We stopped for a drink and were impressed by the service and the staff -- and of course, the wine…read more Everybody was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They made recommendations that were exactly what we were looking for (crisp white wine, not too dry and a good red). Our favorite part was that Happy Hour is 25% off everything! We scored a bottle of Nergomaro wine for $45, which was a steal. We sat on the patio, staying toasty under the heated canopy while we enjoyed the sights and sounds of Cole Valley. TLDR: great wine, wonderful Happy Hour, and lovely staff.

    Overall a 3.5 star but going to round down bc the wait was exorbitant and very mis-quoted and the…read moreservice was super sub par. Came here the other night for dinner. We were told 10/15 minutes for a table. Took 50 minutes - nearly an hour! We totally should have gone somewhere else but alas we eventually were seated. I got pasta and also and some of the pinsa (Roman style pizza). Also had the meatballs. Everything was just so so. The pizza almost tasted stale - someone mentioned it is supposed to be like that but I've had pinsa a few times and that was not my experience. The pasta was pretty good - a red sauce. Nothing special. Meatballs also solid. Somehow my pasta came up 12-15 mins after everything else's food which was entirely confusing but oh well. The wine was good. Overall a cute little wine bar in CV, would def come back but nothing to write home about.

    Photos
    InoVino
    InoVino - Meatballs

    Meatballs

    InoVino

    See all

    The Ice Cream Bar

    The Ice Cream Bar

    4.2(1.5k reviews)
    0.9 miCole Valley
    $

    Dare I say this is the best ice cream I've ever had? The quality and flavors of their ice cream is…read moreinsane! The flavors are super creamy, complex, and often not too sweet. They also have a rotating menu so it's fun to come back and try new flavors! I love the old school vibe in here, and if you eat in inside they serve the ice cream in old school silver bowls! I'd love to come back and try a milkshake, affogato, or banana split! We recommend this place to out of towners and they love it. Expect a bit of a line, but it goes by in about 10 minutes. Also limited seating on a busy day.

    I was very disappointed and treated with disrespect. Much…read moremistaken , It all depends with whom you were comparing me with. I was not a " stranger who walked from Haight street to your premises. Make no mistake about it. The scope of trust and honesty is more valuable and important than the scope of ice cream . At the request of my daughter and my grandmother we went to the ice cream bar this last Wednesday, taking to account we have been customers for the past 10 years on and off , we would drive from Marin just to have the ice cream there . We have seen employees come and go including Managers. Since my kids went to Grattan school. At times I personally like to pay for things in cash . We know most customers about 67% would pay by credit cards. To make a long story short. I wanted to pay my bill in $100 bill . Brand new , undamaged and straight from Wells Fargo bank. Negative thoughts would generate actions , negative actions would generate negative prejudice. What were the odds of having a family and customer using malice in bad faith? I presented the legal tender of $100 bill to The server, he took the money and checked 4 times looking at the number at the front, he used his left hand using his fingernails to scratch the bill in a strange way, like if it was a lottery ticket or a gift card , we know that large bills should be checked. then stated that he cannot accept the bill and that he had no change. Immediately, objected to his statement. I told him I quote: " You didn't even open the cash register , how would you know if you have change or not " ? He responded sarcastically, I have been handling the money all day . I responded by saying: then you should know if you can make change or not . Furthermore, I stated to him that is not how you would check for a valid $100 bill . A special counterfeiting pen is ideal to check bills. I showed him the way to be checked by holding the bill upright and matching the serial numbers to the bill. He made no good faith effort to get help from his manager , to call someone or confer with a third party responsible. This has created an inconvenience for my family. Luckily, I brought a backup card and payed by discover card to diffuse the situation . I wonder how many $100 bills were passed by me for the last 10 years? I even suggested he should call the police if he was so sure that it was a counterfeit bill. It was certainly a legal tender of a good faith/ money and finance . Section U.S.C 31 5103. The Constitution says otherwise. The ice cream bar failed to warn . If it was a policy not to accept a $100 bill , it should have been known by a clear and convincing fact by posting a statement that " No large bills / $100 bills are accepted " in a clear view of customers to be seen. I have tried to communicate with the company's MANAGER by calling her 3 times . She did not bother to answer my request to address my concerns , " my phone calls were screened " and refused to take my phone calls or respond. See how easy to lose a customer. I will not recommend this place nor go black to this ice cream place.

    Photos
    The Ice Cream Bar - Brownie sundae

    Brownie sundae

    The Ice Cream Bar - Torched marshmallow fluff - this is the way to go!!!

    Torched marshmallow fluff - this is the way to go!!!

    The Ice Cream Bar - Love it or hate it: Anise soda with creme fraiche ice cream

    See all

    Love it or hate it: Anise soda with creme fraiche ice cream

    GiGi's - Mapo Tofu Noodles - shiitake, eggplant, fermented fava, bean sprout, chill pepper

    GiGi's

    4.2(62 reviews)
    0.5 miLower Haight

    This spot is a hidden gem! It's a small wine bar that's Vietnamese inspired. Super cool concept and…read moresmall wine brands from all over the world. I loved the vibe in here it's very dim lit and cozy, perfect for a date night! Our waitress was lovely and they didn't rush us even though they were closing. Food recs: it looked like they had really great food options, when I went I only had dessert and wine. Their banana tapioca pudding was delicious and paired well with the wine! Next time I come, I really want to try out the ceviche and oysters. just a heads up, parking in this area is very limited, would recommend ubering or other transportation! Overall, would definitely come back!

    GiGi's is a Vietnamese-fusion wine bar that I've always passed by and am super glad I finally get…read moreto try. We walked in around early dinnertime and managed to snag counter seats, but the place filled up super quickly afterwards, so make a res! price: ~$30/person We were looking for a minerally bottle of red, and staff was able to give us a solid rec for Austrian pinot noir, which we split over a bowl of the homemade shrimp chips. Normally, I'd be like "what are homemade shrimp chips?" but these were super light, puffy, and well-seasoned. The space itself is equal parts ambient and lively due to the decor and music. In a way, my friend and I felt like we were actually in Vietnam!

    Photos
    GiGi's - Inside

    Inside

    GiGi's - Seafood a la plancha

    Seafood a la plancha

    GiGi's - The famed hot dog

    See all

    The famed hot dog

    L’Ardoise Bistro - french - Updated May 2026

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