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Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch, Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Hayes ValleyTue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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I finally went to dinner at Absinthe last night - and YUM! Hayes Valley is such a great neighborhood and Absinthe is in prime location on Hayes -- loved the ambiance. And the service was great!
We ordered the spicy fried chickpeas as our appetizer -- it comes in a tiny bowl but they also come with some punch (spicy) -- loved them! For my entree, I had the scallops with wild mushrooms - the scallops were so tender and tasty and the wild mushrooms (I love mushrooms!) were a perfect compliment (my entree was gone in minutes). I accompanied my meal with a nice pino gris (their wine by the glass prices are very reasonable). My friend had the beef cheeks (also known as "beef butter") -- I had a taste and it was soooo tender and very tasty.
I wrote "Hi Jamie! :)" on my receipt - I wonder if she'll see it (Jamie Lauren is the chef as seen on 'Top Chef')?? Hee hee. I met her at SF Chefs earlier this year and she is funny & down-to-earth.
I'd definitely come back! :)
Dinner with Geraldine # 19
App+dinner+wine+tax+tip = $55
I haven't gone to Absinthe yet, but I went to the Absinthe booth today at the San Francisco Street… Read more »
Delicious Delicious Delicious cocktails.
These people know how to use their pisco, rye, and the like. Great neighborhood spot and I was disappointed that I only got to try a cocktail, but the food also looked great.
Hard to get a seat at the bar on a Saturday night. Oh Sanny Franny, you're so crowed on weekend nights!
If you come in with a good attitude and smile a lot and play dumb and ask nicely, they will serve you their signature burger during dinner time.
Yes, Chez Maman grills up the perfect and best burger in the City, but if you find yourself in the neighborhood and your date is unwilling to sit on a bar stool then bring her here
Absinthe (among others) was recommended to me by my favorite bartender in Seattle as having some of the best hooch in town. They did not disappoint. In fact, I knew I was in the right place when the waiter rattled off 4 different cocktail specials for the night that were not on the *extensive* drink menu. Unfortunately, I can't recall the exact ingredients of my choice from the specials but it was innovative and complex. (reposado, chartreuse, orange and um...some other stuff) The also win the prize for the best sazerac I had while in town.
The menu was chock-full of savory dishes, though all were exceptionally rich. Don't go here if you're looking for light fare. I settled on the chermola-rubbed lamb loin served with chick peas and cucumber relish. The lamb was cooked perfectly and the flavors were at the same time unexpected and familiar.
The staff was attentive but not intrusive and clearly professional in their work. In fact, after our before-dinner drinks our server had to hand us off to another, which normally doesn't end well. In this case, they gave us fair warning and the name of our new server with a brief explanation as to why. When she arrived she was familiar with what we had ordered so far and immediately picked up where we left off. Aside from the change of face, we barely noticed.
The ONLY reason I don't give Absinthe 5 stars is that we didn't get to sit at the bar, which was at the top of my agenda for the evening. Not surprisingly the bar is VERY popular on a Friday night and was 3-4 people deep when we arrived.
All in all a delightful experience.
I came here with some friends for drinks and was pleasantly surprised by how late their kitchen is open for food service. So of course we ordered a dessert to split.
We got the pumpkin custard, which I have to say will go down in my personal foodie history as one of the best things I have ever eaten. The custard itself was smooth and sweet in a gentle, subtle way, and it was presented on a plate decorated with - wait for it... root beer maple syrup and a carrot reduction. Garnished on top of the custard was thinly sliced carrots that had been magically transformed into candy brittle, as well as little tapioca things that had been created with lime juice, gelatin, and the marvels of modern culinary science. Amazing.
In other words, I have never before tasted something so utterly creative and original - and delicious. I haven't been to Absinthe for the full dining experience, but based on drinks, dessert, and service, I definitely give it full marks!
We left city hall in July 2008 after getting married and headed straight to Absinthe at the recommendation of our photographer. We couldn't have been more pleased. Fantastic spirit selection, beautiful interior, and excellent service. We had a great prosecco, the chickpeas, a summer squash pizza, a cheese tasting, and a chocolate hazelnut tart. The pastry chef, apparently having been told we were just married, congratulated us via chocolate, which was very sweet! It was a great experience, and we can't wait to get back.
GO!
I've been to Absinthe for drinks on several occasions (try the Galapagos cocktail... it's amazing!!) but it wasn't until this past Sunday when I finally had a chance to try their brunch menu. While the service could have been better (minus 1 star), the food was excellent!
Unlike some other French restaurants in the city, the food at Absinthe wasn't overladen with butter. We ordered the french onion soup, blueberry-banana souffle pancakes and the mushroom omelet. The portions were generous and we savored every bite. The only complaint I have was about the service. The waiter rolled his eyes when my friend asked for a soy latte. She's lactose intolerant!!! Besides, this is San Francisco!! Isn't soy milk a requisite for any restaurant serving coffee/espresso nowadays?
Sub-par service aside, I'm still a fan and look forward to my next meal at Absinthe.
So good that we went back the next day for lunch!
I can see Absinthe turning into our go-to restaurant. For starters, it's a big space relative to other San Fran joints--we didn't feel intimate with the tables nearby. Then again, we had a primo table by the front window.
Raves for the French onion soup. Duck and pork confit on the same menu?!!? The frisee was downright decandent, oozing with duck egg yolk richness.
Lunch the next day included the corned beef sandwich and fresh ground beef burger. Fresh fried chips and house made pickles were big winners, too.
Not much more to be said after 1100+ reviews, but I felt compelled to give credit where it was due. Can't wait to get back for brunch, drinks, all of it!
Lovely pre-show dinner and drinks at Absinthe. The food and drinks are phenomenal and would give a strong five-star for the culinary experience. Dining experience was less strong on the busy Saturday evening, with an overworked bar and forgetful service.
A friend and I met before a 8pm SF Symphony performance, when I was finally able to snag an OpenTable reservation at 5:45pm. It's three blocks to the Symphony entrance and a quick walk over.
We were seated in the back room. I enjoyed a 21 Hayes while I waited for my friend -- refreshing gin, cucumber, Pims cocktail with cucumber slice and pickled onion garnish. Also got delicious warm olives.
I was happy to find someone else who liked super sweet wine, so we had a bottle of reasonably priced Gewurtraminer, yumm. We started with spicy fried chickpeas, which were delicious snacks. She had the mushroom and chestnut soup, very flavorful. The warm brussel sprouts with celery root puree and cippiolini onions were meaty and filling, with fried bacon pieces. I did not realize my friend was a vegatarian, though on the more liberal end of non-meat eaters... She wanted the cornbread stuffed chicken (without the chicken), and the pan-seared scallop with mushrooms (without the scallops), so we split two entrees, with the balance of the protein coming to me. Chicken was good, scallops were great. I think I won in this deal...
We went with the chocolate pot de creme, super rich and delicious and totally worth it. Went well with the glass of Grand Marnier, which was discussed and never ordered, but came anyway (back to the forgetful service remark). Oh well.
All in $110 per person...
jesus h. christ- we hadn't been here in a month of sundays but finally made it back for my husband's 30th birthday. the november menu is insane! i seriously am choked up thinking about how delicious and romantic our meal was here. every little detail is perfect, the server was perfect, the fresh crab and oyster starters were perfect, the scallops- OMG... the four french 75's i drank- PERFECT.
believe the hype! or maybe don't because it's already hard enough to get a table...
the best coq au vin of MY LIFE. so delicious!! it's wonderful french food, in lovely hayes valley.… Read more »
I've been here twice in the last two years while in San Fran for business and wasn't disappointed either time. First, the staff is incredible. I could kiss them all for being so wonderful. And the atmosphere is great. I've been in a group of 4 and again with 10 and both times received amazing service and never felt cramped or rushed.
The fries and fried chickpeas are nice starters. The halibut is great. But the scallops. They are amazing. I want to bathe in them and eat myself.
Nice wine selection and very interesting cocktails. I hope I have another business trip soon in San Fran.
Whether you're a Top Chef fan or just looking for good food, you won't be disappointed.
Came with a few coworkers to get some drinks before an event, and this place was packed. To get a table the wait was more than an hour. We stayed at the bar for about 30 min, ordered drinks and some apps.
It was ok but nothing to rave about. Maybe dinner here would be a lot better. But next time I rather make reservations
I've been here twice now and both times have been freaking amazing. The beef cheeks here are freaking awesome. If you would cook my fat cheeks they could probably serve the entire SF population. Yes I'm that fatty. The escargot, oyster shooters, and cheese plates were also really good. This place needs to be given a Michelin star. The michelin people need to fire the skinny people and hire some fatties. Call me sometime.
I've always driven past this place everytime I am on my way home and seen it on the Dine About Town lists, but I've never had a chance to actually stop and eat here. First time I've heard of Absinthe was in Europe... not the restaurant...but the actual liquor. I've always wondered if they served it here... Not like I would try it if they did... I've seen people's reactions after taking that shot.. haha. Given it was my friend's birthday, we decided to come here for her birthday brunch since she's a fan of breakfast foods. Parking can be difficult around Hayes Valley, but luckily for us, we were able to find metered parking about 1.5 blocks away!
Upon entering, the restaurant has an old parlor feel to it. There wasn't much of a wait when we arrived, but we had reservations anyway. We were seated right away and within a few minutes, our waiter came by. We ordered the Duck Confit Hash and the Absinthe Hamburger with Guyere cheese and fries. Since we were sharing our dishes, our waiter had the awesome suggestion of splitting our burgers in half for us, and putting the duck hash in the middle. Brilliant idea! Service was a little slow...It took a while for our food to come out to us. As soon as the food came out, I essentially devoured the duck confit hash... It had sooo much flavor and was absolutely delicious! I would recommend this dish to everyone who goes here. I almost wish I had it all to myself instead of just half =P Our burger, cooked medium rare, had the bare minimum on it (everything extra was $1.50 EACH... so we skipped on it), but was still delicious. It had a really good flavor to it or I was just really hamburger deprived lately... The fries were okay... I've had better. If only the fries weren't broken up into small pieces... It was as if we got the bottom of the batch of fries =( The fries came with 3 dipping sauces - an aioli, dijon mustard, and malt vinegar.
Overall, for our 2 dishes and a side of fries, it came out to be pretty pricey for being brunch ($38 before tip)... but I enjoyed my meals, which is the most important factor. I would love to try their dinner menu... but maybe when I get more money =P I can see it being a very cute romantic spot for a date, so guys definitely keep this place in mind! ;)
Because the tiny details count for something, I think it's awesome that they have coat/purse hooks on the walls near the tables. Why don't all restaurants have that?!
The hostess was lovely; our server, Natalie, was uber professional; and the table busser was great. Unfortunately, however, our brunch experience at Absinthe fell short in the food, beverage, and sanitation categories.
We both ordered a dungeoness crab sandwich and shared the dandelion green flatbread. The flatbread was yummy, but the sandwiches were lackluster at best. The fresh, flavorful heirloom tomatoes were the best part. The fact they were more or less devoid of crab-yumminess was a bummer; but they were served on dry haogies, which was more disappointing.
My boyfriend inhaled hoagie particles (from the inside of the bread) twice... you know, because it was the sort of bread that doesn't have enough substance to hold itself together or toast in a way that would yield a slight crunch or resistance as teeth meet crust. Correct, there was no crust to speak of. We agreed perhaps the downturn in the economy has forced Absinthe to Safeway's bread isle.
We both had a Bloody Mary. (No, we don't always order the same thing; he had coffee and I didn't ;) The drinks came in 8-10oz glasses and must have been filled 3/4 with ice before they were poured. There could not have been more than 4oz of liquid in them. And for $9 each, that's kind of a joke. But, more importantly, they were watered down.
In my opinion, a Bloody Mary should be flavorful, meaty, and packed with a punch (flavor-wise) - not necessarily super spicy, but its gotta have zing! And when it's the first thing I've had all day, I kind of expect a tiny buzz in my head or in my knees. So, they were weak... and flavorless, and if you don't want to take my word for it, my boyfriend was equally disappointed and he's in the know... tended bar for 10 years at two well-known establishments in the city; and worked with Marco, who was the original bar manager and wrote the cocktail menu for... you guessed it... Absinthe! Oh, and the Guardian voted one my man's cocktails Best in the Bay in 1998. I digress...
The drinks were disappointing. And so were the remnants of red lipstick on my water glass. Ick.
Sorry Absinthe :(
Oh! I should add, we did say something about the bread... and our drinks were taken off the bill. We were very impressed - good business, but given 2 stars = "meh, I've experienced better," we can't add a third for that. We have definitely experienced better.
Great brasserie-style food serving dinner at hours which make NYC ex-pats feel at home. If you don't grab an early bird special with octogenarians before the Opera, then you are famished by the end of a Verdi and ravenous if having seen a Wagner. This place gets the French classics spot on and deserves 4 stars for that. The huge list of artisan cocktails and, more importantly, the rare (for San Francisco) sophisticated late night dining experience bring it up to a 5th.
French Onion Soup Gratinée: Possibly the best French Onion soup I've had in town! The broth is savory, the onions melt away, the bread has a toasted presence but is not overwhelming and the cheese is just the right mix of gooey and crispy. The cheese isn't baked on top and oozing over the sides, but I can forgive that minor detail.
Steak Tartare: The meat was pretty darn good, but I've had better quality around town (Harris' and BIX). However, I do appreciate the innovation. A lightly poached egg is used instead of raw to give a bit of egg white texture and flavor. The habañero adds much stronger kick than traditional onions or capers. I barely noticed the mint though. Overall, a nice revamp of a traditional favorite without traveling too far into the avant garde.
Duck Confit: This leg rests in duck fat for over three days to produce an extremely rich and crispy treat. A tad small to make a meal out of, but great snacking material. They were right on the mark for this classic.
Hamburger: Not sure how they did this, but the outside was extremely rich and seared while the inside was perfectly medium rare as requested. The veggies were fresh, but nothing memorable. The aioli was by far a better topping than ketchup or mustard. The bun was a tad too dense for my liking.
Oyster Shooter: Had to get this since it looked cool. You are presented with a single oyster on ice, a wedge of lemon, a shot glass of Bloody Mary mix and a shot glass of vodka. How you take it is totally up to you. I added the oyster and lemon to the Bloody Mary mix and topped it off with vodka. Pretty strong! Way too much liquid compared to oyster meat. I think it would have been nice if a trained professional arranged the proper ratios... or maybe I just need more practice.
Honestly, I found the flavors on the two dishes I sampled (the dandelion greens flatbread & the escargot) to be very poor. The onions on the flatbread completely overpowered all the other flavors & the escargot were tough. I was quite disappointed especially considering the price point. Others at our table enjoyed their selections more. One of those selections was the pork confit - come here if you love your bacon, it littered half of the otherwise veggie friendly dishes (ahem, salads).
Service was also a bit off; for dessert, one member of our party ordered dessert, one coffee, and two of us cocktails. The cocktails arrived long after the dessert & the coffee had been finished.
A hopeful three stars that I just picked the wrong dishes, I doubt I'll be back to try more though.
I'm a Top Chef lover so we had to eventually make our way here and try the food. I have had drinks here many times and love the huge and inventive menu.
For starters we got the country pate and persimmon salad. The pate was very hard and didn't seem like it was just made, I also could not taste the apricot that was supposed to be in it and what prompted me to order it. The salad was underflavored, not much more else to say here.
The beef cheeks were amazing, very tender and full of flavor, the sweet potatoes with them were smoky and very aromatic but undercooked.
The scallops were good, the sauce and mushrooms were amazing but they were a bit tough, I've had them more tender and that was what we expected.
We had coffee and no dessert, the coffee was good, and hot which I like, some places just give you something that's just warm and I hate that.
The service was good but a bit rushed, the bus boys were coming by all time to clear the table which was a bit annoying.
I still love this place and would come back, but the execution on some of the dishes needs to be better.
OK so I am a bit of a fan since Jamie was on Top Chef and she deserved to be there. I've been to… Read more »
I hate the 'new' Absinthe
It used to be such a great restaurant- simple, traditional French and Mediterranean dishes.
Now it's all about frou frou dishes full of bacon, cream, cheese and other fatty stuff, which hides the lack of skill in the new kitchen regime. My personal pet peeve- the orange goo: boiled pureed vegetables on the side of just about everything. That's baby food, not fine food. and no it doesn't go with fish or much anything else thank you
The current chef is surely much more concerned about her PR and TV career than delivering rewarding food from the kitchen
I used to love this place, now I never go. Sad that their business is up when the quality has gone down, but hey we're a country of people who go to Starbucks for coffee.
This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. I just wish we could get a reservation to include some more friends since it created a very awkward situation and made me enjoy the evening less. But now back to the review.
We had a table by the window so we can people watch. The cocktail list is fantastic and it takes some time to make a decision. There is so much variety and the wine list is also extensive and amazing.
My friends gobbled up the oysters (I'm allergic) but saw the joy on their faces. They have an award winning French onion soup, which got 10 thumbs up from my friend. I ordered the persimmon salad, which was good but should have had more fruit in it.
I loved the lamb dish. It was absolutely amazing with so many great flavors. It had chickpeas and a cucumber relish, which made it absolutely delicious. It was also a huge portion so the guys were happy to sample. I sampled the Halibut, which was delicious.
We enjoyed a fabulous bottle of Barbera and the waiter was great. I think this is a new find for me. And the best part is they have a valet :-)
Hello French Onion Soup and cheese platter! AMAZING! Had a fabulous dinner at Absinthe on Friday night! I had the chicken dish- nothing speical but my friend had the burger! The burger was excellent. The best part though- French Onion Soup and the cheese plate- I will be ordering those two again for sure.
Place is crowded- we had a 9:30pm reservation and got there a bit early- the hostess was pretty accomodating and after we ordered our first drink from the bar she was able to seat us about 20 mins early. I thought the staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was very energitic!
while hanging out in Hayes on a saturday night , we decided to eat at absinthe on a whim. it was between zuni and absinthe. upon entering, it was quite the scene. i'd describe it as a marinanite types and tourists. not that either of those two things are bad. just fyi. the host was very nice, unpretentious, and attentive despite the chaos. he gave us a 30 minute window, which was totally acceptable given the time (7pm) and day (saturday). bartender was similarly courteous and attentive and made a nice martini. his cocktails were better at the bar though.
we had oysters, soup, hotdog, stuffed chicken, hamburger, scallops, and slow cooked pork. the oysters were fine and are $3 a pop. the mushroom soup was HEAVY on the cream. just ask for a cup of coffee with it. the housemade hotdog was solid, but not especially notable. the stuffed chicken and hamburger were the two most solid dishes. the chicken was perfectly cooked and the hamburger was very well seasoned. the scallops were cooked well, but the accompanying sides were over salted. the slow cooked pork was a bit on the dry side and nothing special.
absinthe made one big mistake though. they "forgot" to fire up our entrees and we waited about 40 minutes between apps and entrees. it wasn't until we said something to the hostess that they noticed. we may have waited even longer. they, however, comped our dessert. we had the olive oil ice cream with cookies and housemade cookie plate. both were good, but not mind blowing.
can't say we'd go again for the food based on the price. besides forgetting our meal, the service was quite good.
one word - LOVE!
This is was by far one of the best dining experiences I've had all year.
From the moment we entered the restaurant, the service was impeccable. The maitre'd was super friendly, and showed us to our table right away. Our server was the BEST!! He was extremely knowledgeable of everything on the menu, from the speciality drinks right down to how the meals were prepared. Very impressive!
The meal was awesome. I had the seared scallops, which melted like butter in my mouth...fresh and light...The onion puree sauce that came with it was so decadent....
Only one drawback for us this experience was that we didn't get to meet Chef Jamie Lauren from Top Chef, which was the main reason we wanted to eat here....but as we enjoyed the experience so much, I'm sure we'll have to return again.
Love the brunch, so much better than lunch. I had the corn cakes which was okay, duck confit hash was yummy, banana and blueberry souffle pancakes was the bomb. So light and fluffy. The devils eggs was delish and looked to yummy to pass up. I been thinking about these eggs since we ate them. I had the Peach Bellini and the Buck fizzed. Both were just okay. As usual I ate to much. I would love to come back and try other dishes.
Finally got to try Jamie's restaurant from Top Chef. I had this bookmark for months. Just been… Read more »
Food was fantastic. I ate it all and had to hold myself back from licking the plate, which I only just managed to do because I had an out of town work coworker with me and really didn't feel like being labeled the "plate licker" at work. We got one of the awesome window corner tables and the wait staff was just the right amount of "let you chat and do your thing" without completely ignoring us.
Came here for dinner with a couple of friends on a Saturday night. The place seemed packed, esp the bar area where it's near impossible to get through. Interestingly enough, when we walked to the side of the restaurant to get seated at our table, we noticed the restaurant had some empty tables.
Anyhow, I ordered the french soup and scallops. Both were absolutely delicious. I should have just ordered a cup of the french soup rather than the bowl, but the server made it sound so delicious - "cooked for five days" and being the oink oink that I am, I got the bowl. The soup was DELICIOUS, but the bowl was deceivingly large, so by the time I finished my soup, I was almost too full to eat my main course. However, the scallops were PERFECT! Perfectly cooked, not too heavy and very flavorful - highly recommended.
The dessert. Absinthe has a very unique dessert menu - not very traditional french. I ordered the olive oil icecream because it was highly recommended by the server. It was ok. I'm not a big fan of the taste of plain olive oil (so I probably shouldn't have ordered this), and the ice cream really tasted like olive oil. When I ate it with the caramel drizzled on the side of the plate, it was pretty good. But this wouldn't be something I would order again.
Anyhow, the food and service was very good and I'll definitely be back!
Absinthe, a delicious green liquor that seems to warm you and has you seeing fairies. As a restaurant for brunch I felt it having a similar happiness effect. We found this place using the Yelp iPhone app and searching brunch while wandering around Hayes Valley. It was a Sunday and buzzing, but we still managed to snag a table right away walking in at 1pm.
I wanted something different, I mean I can always get my usual 2 eggs over-easy with bacon and toast. It's pretty much the same everywhere, no better, no worse. So I glance at the menu and I see duck confit hash. Yes.
Two perfectly poached eggs sit atop a bed of duck confit hash, two slices of toast and some veges on the side. Maybe it was the bellinis but brunch here was delicious!
My friend also got the french onion soup, which normally I hate because french onion soup always tastes a little sour to me. But it was really good here. The cheese on top was gooey and yet slightly firm on top.
Not to mention that this is the restaurant of Jamie from Top Chef. A great experience. I would definitely revisit to try food from here again
I came here for brunch with the BF. Wow it gets crowded at brunch time! After a twenty minute wait or so we sat down near the bar. Now I get it. Absinthe is a restaurant & BAR, but damn! These people were already three sheets to the wind, rowdy as hell, and it wasn't even noon yet. Not to mention, one of the drunk guy's gorilla ass-crack was sticking out of his falling-down-pants.
Once we adverted our eyes from the hairy butt, I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich (not sure the specific name, but it came with chips!) and the BF got the sausage & egg dish on brioche toast. We also got a side of the rosemary potatoes. I loved my food and his toast and the potatoes! We are planning to come back to try the stuffed french toast. and I cant wait!!
In short,
Love Absinthe, Annoyed by drunk people.
Came here to to try #45 on the 7x7 Big Eat SF List, which is the Galapagos Island.
Its made with pisco, kaffir lime leaf, a pepper syrup, lemon-lime juice, and grapefruit juice. There are also a couple of brandy soaked cherries at the bottom of the glass. Don't ask me why this drink is on the list. It's ok - a bit sweet, wayyyy too much brandy flavored, and just not my style. I will not be ordering this one again, but I still love Absinthe!!
Came here for brunch today and was beyond impressed!! I was definitely having problems deciding btw… Read more »
I came here for brunch and was very satisfied. The decor is nice- somehow simultaneously dark and light, new and old, but no doubt about it- inviting. The service is great- friendly, prompt, efficient. And the food is mmm. So good. I got some grapefruit juice and wild mushroom omelette that was so good, even though the mushrooms got tiring after awhile. Most of the table got the breakfast sandwich which I would recommend as after having a bite or two of theirs I wanted more! And I love that my water was always filled. A sign of good service to me.
The service is great. One of the girls thought that she found a piece of a fingernail in her dish (it really did look like it), and we told our waiter who promptly got the manager to look into it. After doing some investigating, the manager realized it was bits of dried pasta that fell into her dish, but still took her meal off of the bill for the scare. He was courteous, professional, and warm about the entire affair and that was greatly appreciated.
And because we were there for my sister's bachelorette, they came out with this very sweet dessert plate for her at the very end (see picture). I started with 4 stars for this place, but thinking back on my pleasant experience, I'm bumping it up to 5.
Came up to the city last night for a much needed day of relaxation and luxury and came to Absinthe on a recommendation from a Yelper. We wanted caviar and champagne to start our night, but didn't want to sit at a dining room table. We figured the bar wouldn't be that crowded on a Sunday, but we were wrong. The nice thing was that the hostess got us a table within fifteen minutes and we were living our caviar dreams within the next ten minutes. I love that you can get an ounce of Tsar Nicoulai for $75, the cheapest I have found in the city. This place had a nice vibe, people were relaxed. BTW, their french fries, were better than any other french fries I have had in the city, not bad, not bad at all. I believe that 5 stars is definitely appropriate for this one!
A few months back, we decided to try Absinthe after many months of thinking about trying Absinthe. Like some of the other Yelpers who've commented on this restaurant, we are Top Chef fans so we were intrigued to see what executive chef, Jamie Lauren, had to offer. So, when we happened to be down at Symphony Hall one Friday night, we decided to give it a go.
We weren't disappointed!
We came by after 10pm and decided to take a table in the bar since we weren't sure how much we'd be eating. We were immediately impressed with the drink and wine lists - P had a mixed drink with an aged tequila that was super smokey and delicious. I tried one of the champagne offerings and was pleased. We ordered spicy fried garbanzo beans and oysters as an app and were amazed by the intense flavors of both, though were surprised at the small size (and number) of oysters served. We went on to order the house-made hot dog (I know...but Chicagoans are curious when a dog appears on a fine dining menu!). Simply put, it was amazing!! I still have cravings for it every now and then. P didn't think he'd like it because it's not a Chicago dog. But even he thought it was spectacular.
After this, another round of drinks - red wines for both of us from their extensive house list - and we dared to try dessert. We chose the most intriguing one: it consisted of mascarpone, basil and strawberries and was surprisingly delicious. I only wish the basil flavor had been more intense - to balance out the sweetness of the strawberries. But the creamy, herby sweetness was well worth it.
The service and ambiance only enhanced the dining experience! Good attention to detail, cozy, French-inspired decor, attentive but not pushy service and knowledgeable waitstaff are all pluses.
We will definitely be back for more...likely will try a proper dinner meal there since we know what these chefs are doing with apps and dessert!! And, given the restaurant features locally-grown, seasonal ingredients, it'll be fun to find new "favorites" as the days grow shorter and the rain comes.
Came here for a friend's birthday a couple weeks ago. It was packed on a Saturday night, and valet was worth it (when is it NOT worth it in SF?!).
We were served a couple of a couple of amuse-bouches. One was curried chickpeas and olives. Oh, we were also served bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, but tell me why they only dropped off a plate each of oil and vinegar to ONE side of the table? By the time it made its way to our side, there was nothing left.
First course: pretty much a Caesar salad or French onion soup. Both were delicious and I really liked the salad--even with the anchovy on top! My only qualm was that they only served the salad with ONE anchovy! They were actually pretty good and I ended up eating the whole thing before trading with my SO and then realizing there was only one...whoops. The French onion soup was good. Nothing to write home about.
Second Course: (So...I don't remember exactly since none of the dishes really stuck out to me, but...) there was a Vadouvan risotto (vegetarian), halibut, and pork. I was able to try all three (I got the halibut for myself), but the pork was the best, I think. It was very tender and delicious.
Third Course (dessert): A some sort of deconstucted cheesecake or some nectarine or peach sherbets. I ordered th cheesecake, which was OK. It had a taste that wasn't too my liking. The sherbets were not so good. I'm glad I didn't order it, but people at our table liked it. *shrug* They were a little too tart for me and the scoops were huge.
This was a lame review, but it's because I honestly didn't really like the place that much and if I did, the dishes would stick out in my brain much more.
Again, nothing to write home about, but it's worth a try...
Dinner at Absinthe recently. We came in without a reservation on a busy Thursday night but were able to be seated in the bar right away. You lose a bit of the ambiance sitting in the bar but the menu is the same as the dining room.
We started out with Absinthe to drink which I guess is part of the experience. It was nothing special except a little buzz before dinner.
The service is slow, but I guess that's part of the experience. The food was fantastic. I had lamb loin and my date had beef cheeks, which were fantastic. The portions are not huge but with the entree and the bread it'll fill you up. We tried the Olive Oil ice cream for dessert with was bizarre and tasted oily. I wouldn't order it again but would say it's worth a try just for the novelty.
This is definitely a splurge place, but great food, great wine/drink. Overall it's a great place to impress a lady-friend or celebrate.
Everything about Absinthe is perfect- the cocktails, the menu, the atmosphere and the service. I was lucky enough to eat with three very generous people and ended up sampling a large variety of dishes.
The night started with four memorable drinks- the 21 Hayes (a smooth variation on the Pimm's Cup), a Ginger Rogers (a bitter Mojito with the perfect amount of ginger), the signature Manhattan, and the Galapagos (a Pisco based martini with grapefruit and brandied cherries) - all very much worth their $8 price tags.
We then moved on to oyster shooters (with, hands down, the best, boldest, bloody mary mix I've every tasted) and fried chick peas (imagine spicy, crunchy, mini falafel). After that came the second round of appetizers, Garlic Escargot, Clam and Scallop chowder, and Bleu Cheese with aged balsamic and walnut toast. I want to take a second to recognize this chowder - as someone native to the east coast, I'd like to think I've got a discerning tongue for New England clam. This was the best soup I've had in my life. Ever. Rich, tender clams (still in the shell) paired with crisp bacon, delicate, buttery scallops and firm potatoes all served in an elegant dish with a tiny fork and ample spoon. GET THIS SOUP.
The meal just kept getting better - with main courses like Pork Confit over red cabbage, Scallops (yes more scallops) with wild mushroom and bacon, and perfectly cooked lamb with chickpeas and cucumber relish.
Desert was on par as well, every selection offering creative blends of flavors sweet and savory - olive oil ice cream with chocolate ganache and pop-rocks was interesting, but the chocolate pot was the winner. I can still taste the coca an hour later.
We didn't make it around to the actual Absinthe, though I am promising myself a quick return. Bottom line, you won't be disappointed.
Absinthe came recommended by a bartender we met while on vacation in New Orleans. He couldn't stop singing praises about Absinthe's libations and noted that he frequented the place quite often since he had dated one of the bartenders. We knew his suggestion could be trusted after seeing him pull out a special pack of imported beer for a German family that were regulars at his New Orleans bar. Obviously he cared about his customers enough to go the extra mile, let alone not to steer them in the wrong direction!
So, since my wedding date and I were dressed to the 9's on Saturday, we decided to stop in for a few drinks & a snack while waiting for the reception room to open up. And... the bartender couldn't have been more right! The cocktails ARE top of the line.
After having a crappy sidecar in NYC that left a bad taste a-lingering, I was ready to put Absinthe to the test and see if they could wash away the bad experience. Absinthe ended up rising to the occasion and had me on Cloud 9 once I sipped that well-crafted drink to the last drop. Yum! With a perfect 10 cocktail like that, how could I not order up another drink?? So, I pointed to one that I saw a server delivering to a table, which was like a cross b/w a caiparanha & a mojito (its name starts w/ a "C"), but better!
We also shared an order of fries that came not w/ ketchup, but thyme-infused vinegar, Dijon mustard & rouille for dipping. What a lovely alternative to the norm and the fries were long gone once it was time to head out.
Hats off to that bartender in New Orleans. He sure has excellent taste!!
In SF a "B" is really and "F" Sat brunch at Absinth was "nice". The food was okay, the service was okay. "Okay" isn't enough though in a high end restaurant. Because of the abundance of great fine dining and high costs anything less than an "A" is a waste...
Everything I ate or drank was outstanding, but was 15% over priced.
I can say, without hesitation, that this has been the best meal I've eaten since moving to San Francisco. It may even be on the top 10 list of best meals I've ever had. The trouble is, when I sit down to review my primary question is not "was it great?" but "would I got back again?" and the truth is that if I found myself in the market for that quality of meal, I most likely look for a higher return on the investment. But before I go into more detail on withholding the fifth star, let me tell you why they earned the first four.
We attended as a party of four and had decided to really go to town. Pre-dinner cocktails (I had one with absinthe called the Sazerac, but couldn't actually taste it over the bourbon), appetizers (oyster shooters and warmed olives), a bottle of wine recommended by the sommelier, and dessert all wrapped around an excellent set of entrees.
Some of my personal highlights included the oyster shooters (served with a shot of Bloody-Mary mix and a shot of vodka that was so smooth I wouldn't have thought it even was vodka) and a dessert drink ordered by Diner B called the Tempted Eve (freaking outstanding). I also very much enjoyed the bottle of wine, the Menetou-Salon (2004) from Philippe Gilbert, which was described as "earthy and funky" but I found to be more minerally and fruity. Diner-in-Crime really enjoyed her scallops and bacon, which she continued to talk about the next day. They even served a muscat that was either exactly, or very close to, my most favorite glass of wine I've ever had that I first encountered while visiting Holland a couple of years ago and then subsequently took a bottle to Nicaragua when I proposed to Diner-in-Crime.
Truly, I have few critiques of anything I ate or drank that evening. The trouble is that each and every item was just a bit more pricey than it deserved to be. Diner B theorizes that the restaurant has sufficient caché that it can overcharge on that virtue alone. Personally, I think you can only go to that well so many times before people start saying "I can get more from a $30 entree someplace else." Take, for example, the oysters for which Absinthe charges $3 a pop, $4.50 as a shooter (and an extra $2 if you want the vodka chaser). Granted, they are great oysters, but I've had the same exact oysters for far less at the Slanted Door. The stuffed chicken I ordered was delicious, but I've had more delicious poultry at Soif in Santa Cruz for less money.
When rating a restaurant of this caliber it's just not enough that the food be great, that's a given if you want to operate at this level. I need to walk away feeling like I couldn't have had that meal anywhere else (thus justifying the price on pure novelty) OR that it can go toe-to-toe with other restaurants of the same class. Failing that, it's just cashing in on its popularity without really doing anything to earn it.
Best burger I've ever had, bar none. Add gruyere and mushrooms. You'll die.
Did it cost almost $20? Yes. Is it worth it though? Hell yes. It's that good. It was so fresh, if you close your eyes, it's like taking a bite right out of a cow.
Pretty cool spot. Drinks are great. Cheeses are great. Burgers and French Onion Soup were had on a sunday and will go again.
San Francisco, CA
Category: Candy Stores
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Seafood
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: French
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Delis
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