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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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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.
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
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!
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.
People thought this was:
Finally got to try Jamie's restaurant from Top Chef. I had this bookmark for months. Just been… Read more »
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.
People thought this was:
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.
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.
People thought this was:
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 »
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 :-)
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.
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!
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
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!
People thought this was:
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
People thought this was:
Excellent French cuisine without completely busting the budget. For those interested, two people can enjoy a typical 4-course dinner (appetizer, soup/salad, entee, dessert) for around $70-80 pp., including tax & tips. Throw in drinks however, and it will rapidly go up from there ($8-9 per drink).
Absinthe is known for its large menu of exotic cocktails (no surprise given the name) and my wife and I tried their signature Galapagos and Ginger Rogers. We found the Galapagos a tad strong and preferred the milder, more citrusy Ginger Rogers (basically a gin mojito).
For an appetizer, we ordered the apricot and sage pate, which was decent, but nothing to rave about. For soup, we tried the winter pumpkin and mushroom broth (off menu). The pumkin (topped with vanilla cream) was terrifc! The mushroom broth, only so-so. Unfortunately, the strawberry gazpacho soup that so many have raved about is now out of season, so... we'll have to wait until next summer.
For the main course, we ordered the pork confit, which was tender and exquisite, and the scallops, which were perfectly cooked with bacon and mushrooms... mmm. Next time we want to try the beef cheeks, which seems to be another customer favorite.
For dessert we both ordered the chocoate pot that was well reviewed here. I thought it was quite good, but I've had better. Based on word-of-mouth about the other desserts (especially the olive oil ice cream), I gathered that dessert is not really Absinthe's strong point. Nonetheless, overall a thoroughly satisfying meal and (by opera district standards) a very reasonable price.
Almost forgot to mention the highlight of the entire evening: we got to meet executive chef Jamie Lauren (of "Top Chef", season 5 fame) in person! Really nice lady. Tip for Top Chef fans who want to meet her: call ahead, as she is doing a lot appearances these days, and let your server know if you are there for a special occasion. Our server, Brendan, really came through for us. No guarantees of course, but you never know.
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.
Came here for brunch when another cafe didn't have what I wanted. It was really nice and a little more formal, I was wearing jeans and a little miss sunshine t-shirt here and felt a little out of place. I ordered a bellini and my bf ordered a bloody mary which he said he was slightly disappointed with. Then the waitress said the fried green tomatoes were her favorite dish there and I believed her and took her recommendation but man, I really wish I didn't. The fried green tomatoes were not seasoned well and just simply didn't taste right and the fried potatoes that came with it tasted like ERASERS because they were old. The bf got the Absinthe burger with mushrooms and smoked gouda which we split and it was pretty amazing. I would come back but I wouldn't take the recommendations of the wait staff and pray that the potatoes don't taste like erasers.
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!!
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Came here for brunch today and was beyond impressed!! I was definitely having problems deciding btw… Read more »
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.
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...
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.
People thought this was:
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.
People thought this was:
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.
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!!
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.
Great food, ambiance and service! My dad and step-mom took me and my boyfriend here to celebrate my birthday and we had a great meal.
Strawberry Gazpacho: surprisingly delicious! I wasn't sure about the flavor combination (crab and cucumber salad with strawberry) but it was light, frothy, cool, slightly sweet and a fun pink color. The crab added some nice texture and the flavors worked well together. It was heavenly. I would go back and just have a bowl of it for lunch.
Steak Tartare: We were lucky enough to be there on a rare night they had a special - steak tartare with meat from Marin Sun Farms. It was very good.
Escargot: they were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of garlic and butter, served in the shell. Great introduction for my bf who had never tried them before.
Pork Confit: This was the highlight of the meal (besides the strawberry gazpacho). The meat literally melted in my mouth and the corn was a nice sweet touch that complimented the rest of the plate. I highly recommend this entree.
Dessert: we had 2 cheeses (blue d'auvergne and l'ami du chambertin), which were both good. I have a huge sweet tooth, so I ordered a white watermelon parfait, which was a bit bland and disappointing. Luckily, I mentioned on the Open Table reservation that it was my birthday so they brought out a complimentary blueberry tequila sorbet, which was amazing and had a very strong flavor.
We had a nice bottle of cab with dinner, but the cocktail menu looks amazing and I would return just to try some drinks, along with a bowl of the strawberry gazpacho and some cheese.
In short: try the strawberry gazpacho and pork confit.
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Over the years, Absinthe continues to please me. My most recent dinner included the winter pumpkin soup (tasty), the escargot (eight hot, fat snails with buttered toasts on the side), a few bites of my father's scallop and clam chowder (with bits of bacon), and the lamb loin entree. My mother's pan-seared scallops were great, too.
We tried the vanilla tomato dessert for shits and giggles: one of those unconventional desserts in which you have to keep tasting it to decide if you like it or not. Vanilla ice cream, white cream, and slightly salty, soft cut tomatoes. We finished it all, but I'm not sure we had reached a decision on if we enjoyed it or not. Exceptionally odd and quite interesting.
Absinthe is a perpetual favorite in Hayes Valley.
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The side order of thinly-cut fries, accompanied by aioli, mustard, and other dipping sauces, always… Read more »
I had been looking forward to trying Absinthe for a really long time, and I was so disappointed that the entree I had my heart set on was sold out! If anyone had the pan-seared local halibut earlier in the evening, I sure hope you enjoyed it.
Unfortunately I couldn't decide on another entree, so instead I had the strawberry gazpacho and the shrimp salad, and shared and order of french fries with friends. The gazpacho was amazing! It was definitely the highlight of my meal, along with the Ginger Rogers cocktail.
I would definitely come back to Absinthe, but next time maybe for drinks and appetizers at the bar.
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I have a love-hate relationship with dinner dates. They are a terrible choice for first dates. Frankly, it's uncomfortable to sit across a table from someone and have forced conversation and awkward pauses.
However, if I've been seeing someone a while, I think a dinner date lends itself to creating a shared, intimate experience. If that's what you're after, then Absinthe is a good choice. The ambiance is sophisticated but laid back, with enough chatter to know you're in a popular, busy restaurant.
We were originally seated at a standard table for two, but I kept eying the semi-circle booths that seem perfectly designed for couples. It's just like me to really want something I can't have, so as soon as I saw a couple leave, I asked the server if it was okay to switch tables. He obliged; I tipped him well later.
As for the food, well, it's like being on an episode of Top Chef. My scorecard would note the fancy presentation and give extra points to the Manchego and Chorizo-stuffed Mary's Chicken. It comes with these shelling beans on the bottom. I have no idea what those are, but they taste great and have less filling.
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After a long Saturday night at work I decided a delicious late night snack was in order. Seeing as it was 11:30pm my choices were certainly limited in the Hayes Valley (why why WHY does everything close so early in San Francisco!?!?!) but I was beyond happy when I walked by Absinthe and saw an outdoor table was open and pretty much calling my name. Having never eaten at Absinthe before and being in a frivilous "I feel like spending $15 on an appetizer" kind of mood...I decided to give it a shot. The host was very gracious and seated me right away at my chosen outdoor table and soon I was perusing through the bar menu. Everything looked a-mazing (homemade hot dogs? yum!) but the burger ended up being the winner. I added gorgonzola and spicy onions which each cost $1.50. Definitely a little pricey but the server assured me it would be worth it.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that was the best burger I have ever had. I don't know what seasoning they use but it was absolutely phenomenal. The bun, the aioli, the additional toppings....WOW! It is a messy burger for sure and not cheap ($15) but each and every bite was insanely good. I wanted a second one!
My blissful late night adventure continued with the pot de chocolate, which was also fantastic, and some dessert wine. Overall, it was a pretty amazing experience. My server was really helpful and friendly and the food was beyond delicious. Now I just have to come back for brunch and a real dinner to see if the other food is equally as good. In the meantime, I'll be screaming it from the rooftops- I love you, Absinthe hamburger!
After months of planning, my friend and I finally got ourselves up to San Francisco to dine at Absinthe. Die-hard fans of "Top Chef," we HAD to eat here to support our season four favorite, Jamie. After several other friends had made it up to Absinthe, with rave reviews, we finally caved and made the trip north.
With reservations at 8:00, we were starving by the time we actually got to the restaurant. We ordered some appetizers and small plates to start off. I was impressed with the spicy fried chickpeas--they were something unexpected and a nice start to the meal. The escargots were pretty good, but not great. (Of course, I'm spoiled by Bistro Moulin here in Monterey and Chef Didier's amazing escargot.) The apricot sage country pate was amazing--by all accounts the best thing we ate all evening. Our entrees were quite good--she had braised beef cheeks, I had the Manchego and chorizo stuffed chicken (a great combination!). While we were tempted, neither of us had the scallops, Jamie's signature on "Top Chef"--maybe next time.
Had we ended our dinner here, this would have easily been five-star dining. Unfortunately, we stayed for dessert . . . and I hate to admit that I was a little disappointed. We ordered two desserts--the figs and the soft chocolate--and both were pretty lackluster. The figs were poached in Fernet Branca which seriously overpowered the figs, and the whiskey mousse on the soft chocolate was a bit odd.
Our service was great and with a great dinner menu--and equally enticing lunch menu--we'll probably be back. But next time we'll skip dessert.
I believe I have eaten here one other time, but this recent visit was a remarkable experience. I made my reservation through http://OpenTable.com and made a note to the maitre'd that the dinner was in celebration of a two year anniversary and that we'd be attending the opera for the first time as well (which is right near the restaurant). To be honest, when you put something in that little comment box in OpenTable you think, "yeah right, like they'll actually get this or read it."
When we arrived a little early for our reservation we were not quite hungry yet as it was an early reservation to accommodate the matinee performance. The host pleasantly understood and pushed our reservation out a bit so that we can grab a drink at the bar.
The drink menu here is fantastic. If you're not an expert mixologist, then you'll enjoy trying something from their large cocktail menu. And if you have your favorites, they'll have the right liqueur. We had some unique martini's and enjoyed each of them.
When we did get seated for dinner we passed many of the less appealing tables and got seated in a very personal two seater booth where you get to sit next to each other. Having already smelled many of the wonderful dishes we were very excited to begin ordering. We started with some cheese and another round of drinks and ultimately ate our way through multiple courses into dessert! It was some of the best food I have had (pork confit, risotto, pate).
As we awaited for our dessert, I was pleasantly surprised by the attention we received all evening and specifically when the plate arrived with "Happy Anniversary" written in chocolate. I really can't believe they did so much having only read the comment from OpenTable.
I will be back and if you have not yet visited, make it a priority!
How have I not reviewed Absinthe before?? Shame on me! I have been here so many times and I am thinking I need to make a reservation to come back soon.. as it has been a while.
I have eaten brunch outside at one of their little tables with my sweet dog Lucy, who I have a VERY difficult time leaving at home.
I have been here for a casual dinner with friends AND a great friend of mine had her wedding reception here.
Always a GREAT experience. They have an awesome cocktail menu, where you'll find unique, eclectic cocktails. The food is very "French" -- you can get escargot! I have had some great meals here. It's a very charming space as well.
One of the classic, go-to places in San Francisco - not the highest of the high end, but still worthy of a special night out. Great cocktails, nice to sit and have a few at the bar before the dinner crowd gets too frantic - try the Sazerac.
The menu is American-French bistro fare, everything I've had there was pretty tasty, but I'd especially recommend anything that is slow cooked - the duck or pork confit, the braised beef cheeks. They used to do a really excellent coq au vin, though it's not currently on the menu. Nice cheese plate, if you're a fan of that sort of thing. The oysters with Szechuan peppercorn mignonette is a nice shot to the taste buds.
The dining room and bar can get a little loud during busy nights, but it's a fun atmosphere. Not really a place for a quiet date, more of a celebration-of-life sort of place.
I visited again this time to try their Galapagos cocktail which is on the 7x7 100 things to eat/drink in SF...personally I didn't think it was all that great. It was definitely unique but not my kind of cocktail...and it's not because it isn't sweet because I don't care for super sweet drinks, it just wasn't good to me. Sorry...just my 2 cents.
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I went to Absinthe the other night for dinner and honestly wasn't so impressed! I heard great… Read more »
I chose Absinthe for our first meal in SF based on a huge burger craving, and I remembered seeing said burger in a list I'd read about the best burgers in the city. Absinthe was the perfect introduction for us to California cuisine.
We went for lunch, starving, immediately after landing at SFO. We chose a corn/zucchini flatbread pizza for an appetizer, which came loaded with fresh veggies, cheese, and onions, with a chili-ed up lime on the side that we were instructed to squeeze upon the whole shebang. This could be a meal on its own... I ate the leftovers (cold) for breakfast the next morning. Standing up. In front of the bathroom sink.
The burger TOTALLY satisfied my craving, and was made from grass-fed beef, which seems much more usual in SF than in NY. (I can't figure out why NY restaurants are so ass-backwards with the grass-fed beef thing.) It's rather pricey and doesn't include fries (mercifully, really), but with a hunk of gruyere on top, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, that burger hit the spot and was worth every penny.
My sister had a gorgeous roasted veggie sandwich along with homemade chips. Not as gloriously satisfying as my burger, but delicious nonetheless.
For dessert, we went light with blueberry tequila sorbet, which was served with agave katafi (new to me, reminded me of shredded wheat and provided a nice foil to the smoothness of the sorbet) and lime "jello." This was such a perfect summer dessert, not at all heavy, and we loved the combination of textures.
Service was not great-- slow-- but it was an off time and we were extra impatient because of our hunger. I love the neighborhood it's in! I just regret not going back to get one of their cocktails!
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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.
Oh eM Gee! Absinthe is the place to get some of the BEST cocktails and appetizers in Hayes Valley. If you're undecided, give them a few things you like ie: Grey Goose, something sweet, something sour, something strong etc. etc. and you will have some wondrous concoction arrive at your table that you wish you watched the bartender create so you can fill a water bottle up of the same and take it with you everywhere! Okay so that's an exaggeration. But you get the point I hope.
The cocktails are that amazing but the food is as well. Although I have to admit I never go for the food... it's just an added bonus.
This place is phenomenal. Impeccable service, tremendous food, and a great ambiance. It does not get any better. We recently had a private party there and even though some people showed up late, the waiters were on the ball with every detail. They customized a prix-fixe menu for us and even printed them up with my girlfriend's name on them.
The strawberry gazpacho was off the hook, a perfect appetizer mixing sweet, sour and crisp all in one bowl of delicious chilled soup. This place is known for their drinks and they didn't disappoint. They have an amazing selection of absinthe (no surprise there) and their bartenders are really knowledgeable. After having a straight absinthe we tried the Sacred Heart cocktail, the perfect mix of tangy and strong.
The pork was amazing. It was cured perfectly, and it was so tender it just fell apart on the plate. It almost tasted like it was cured like pastrami or corned beef. And finally the chocolate mousse! This rich and creamy dessert was amazing, but so rich that I couldn't finish it.
As if it wasn't obvious enough, I think this place is great, and I would recommend it for any occasion, even just a night out at the bar.
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Swing by this place during the daytime for the Heirloom BLT. This sandwich is fantastic. The perfect marriage of butter lettuce, bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and aioli. It's served with a nicely dressed side salad of yuppie greens. Wash it down with a citron lemonade, if you will.
Absinthe is a plan ahead restaurant, and reservations need to be made in advance to get a table during primetime for both dinner and brunch. Try it during an off-peak hour, such as a late lunch.
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Another "for the record" review. I came here for dinner this past weekend for the first time in… Read more »
We met some friends from out of town for a late dinner here on a Friday. Absinthe had been recommended by at least two chefs, through my brother (who's also a chef, in NYC) and through one of my friends having dinner.
It's a cool place inside - the bar was busy, and there's ample seating space. With high ceilings and upholstered chairs, it's at once a bit formal...and yet it retains a casual atmosphere because it's not extremely/overly polished. The service was attentive and prompt - not extremely personable, but friendly enough.
We had a mixed experience. If I were to guess, I'd say that their cooked appetizers and entrees deserve four stars, while everything else is not super special. My winter pumpkin soup with ginger was really flavorful, smooth, and subtle. My friend's chowder seemed similarly good. The Marin Sun Farms grass-fed beef burger got high reviews. These were the highlights.
The chicken was reportedly too saucy. The fries -- two medium portions for $6 each -- were pleasantly crispy but a bit too thin for my taste. The sauces that came from the fries tasted like they could've come off the shelf: an unsurprising mustard, a red or malt vinegar, and a hum-drum chipotle aioli.
Absinthe of course has an extensive wine list. I got a half glass of Grenache for $4.50, and it didn't leave an impression. My companions got beer and a mixed drink, which seemed fine but didn't garner rave reviews.
Finally, the desserts. We got the roasted peach and armagnac sorbet, and the caramel pine nut ice cream with figs. Both came across as tasting "healthy." The sorbet tasted more like condensed peaches than a dessert. The figs were very nice, but the ice cream was a little flat and strange.
Maybe you can chalk up this moderate reception to our insufficiently cultured palettes... or maybe the chefs' creative process (at least with the desserts) lost sight of gastronomic appeal.
I would come back to try more entrees. I haven't closed the book on Absinthe!
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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