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Cafe Jacqueline
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
1454 Grant Ave(between Green St & Union St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 981-5565
- Hours:
Wed-Sun 5:30 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
388 reviews for Cafe Jacqueline
Review Highlights
-
"The chocolate souffle is the perfect aphrodisiac." In 97 reviews -
"The French onion soup - gooey, cheesy goodness." In 124 reviews -
"Be sure to walk through the kitchen (you have to to get to..." In 16 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
388 reviews in English
-
Review from Grace C.
5/20/2012
I've heard souffles were good and amazing and all that jazz, but never having had one before I assumed it was just another food hype, like how some people love bacon and I really just don't care for it. (bacon lovers don't hurt me) But oh my lord, I am now a believer.
I love everything about this place, from the quaint decor to the patient helpful waitstaff to Jacqueline in the back whipping up delicious dreamy melt-in-your-mouth-orgasmic souffles. I want to kidnap Jacqueline and her ginormous basket of eggs in the back and take her home with me so that I can eat souffles for the rest of my life.
The lobster souffle is absolutely amazing, and they serve it with lemons on top for a nice counterbalance of sweetness and acidity to the cheesy fluffy goodness. The chocolate souffle was the perfect decadent dessert, really it's like eating clouds of chocolate. We also tried the onion soup - YUM! although a bit salty for me - the endive salad with roquefort, and the escargot. I'd pass on the salad and go for the escargot. It was AMAZING. However it was they prepared the escargot, it made them taste like tender bites of steak. I kid you not. Each bite was....bliss, and yes I realize it probably was the butter.
Beware, these souffles are ginormous and my date and I were stuffed to the gut by the end of the meal, slightly regretting having ordered so much food, but it was so worth the after meal food coma. Also note that the meal itself takes quite a while (2-3 hours) but it's worth the wait for these souffles.
Plus at the end you can go to the kitchen and see Jacqueline and her staff in action. She seriously is the most adorable lady ever! Go say hi, really =] you'll leave feeling extra happy and satisfied. -
Review from Boris H.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2012
No doubt about it, this is a place to try. It's all about soufflés in there so be prepare to get stuffed! I went with my gf and we ordered the crab souffle and a lemon souffle for dessert. It was way too much food so we had to get half the dessert souffle to go.
The Crab soufflé was good but not to die for. I got tired of it about half way.
The Lemon soufflé was amazing and still delicious the next day.
I think 1 salty soufflé + 1 dessert soufflé is the good amount of food for 3 ppl. For 2, I would either only get 1 salty soufflé or get an appetizer (I heard the onion soup is fabulous) + 1 dessert soufflé.
The 2 reasons why it didn't get 5 stars:
- It took over an hour for us to get our food. I know it takes time to cook but my stomach was starting to eat itself. Good thing, they bring you very good home made bread.
- At the end, I got soufflé-ed out. I like soufflés, but this was too much and I would have rather have less but a soup or salad on the side. -
Review from kimberly v.
Berkeley, CA
4/25/2012
It's rare that I write a review by proxy, but I felt compelled. As decades long lover of Cafe Jacqueline, I was moved to suggest it when my teen son wanted a special place to take his girlfriend for a "little" anniversary. I tried to talk him into staying in the East Bay, but he wanted something special and romantic in the city so they could have an adventure, and because he, in his words, "REALLY likes her". It was really also a first formal date for him, unlike the usual movie dates or just hanging out playing video games.
Of course Jacqueline's lovely place came to mind. Elegant enough to feel special, but not so much as to be intimidating, and always intimate because of J's policy of not filling all tables, it seemed like just the right choice.
When he came back, he couldn't stop thanking me. He said the food was like "God's.." - well, I won't tell you what he said, because we have a strange and wonderful relationship, which is often based on tasteless and offensive humor. The fact that he could speak to Jacqueline in flawless and unaccented French couldn't have hurt, but he said she and the waiter were both totally charming. I can only imagine what some restaurants would have done with a couple of 17-year old kids.
He thought that the few negative Yelp reviews just showed some people's ignorance - "of course they can't hold a table for someone late for their reservation on a Friday night", or "don't they understand about how she doesn't want to seat every table so people have some privacy?"
Btw, his girlfriend is vegetarian, so it was perfect for her. They were full after the delicious tomato-cilantro entree souffle (how can something made mostly of air be so filling), but couldn't resist the strawberry souffle for dessert, and were totally in love with the "2 long spoon" feature of the latter, for sharing. He went in knowing how much it would cost, and said it was worth every penny of his hard-earned camp-counselor money.
Two souffles by a master, about $80 with tip. Having your teenaged son thank you a million times with enthusiasm and sincerity? Priceless. -
Review from Tania D.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2012
If I could describe this experience with a couple words, I would say "SLOW and FILLING". By the end of the 3 hour dinner, I was literally falling asleep. Cafe Jaqueline offers Souffles, souffles, and more souffles. This is a great place to come for a romantic date. The souffles are big enough to share amoungst two people and there are many choices. There are also dessert souffles (im not a big fan of sweets but this was good). If you dont want to have a LONG dinner, an option would be to come here for dessert only.
-
Review from Kate B.
Oakland, CA
5/16/2012
This is a very special place. We took my mom here for her birthday and it was perfect! The service is impeccable the souffles are delicious and the ambiance is perfect for an intimate meal with close friends, family or a date.
We had the Gruyere and Shitake souffles. I thought the Gruyere was a bit boring, but everyone else in our group loved it. The shitake was delicious - just the right amoutn of garlic and basil to make the flavors quite rich. We also ordered the spinach salad, tomato salad and two onion soups. All were extremely delicious. We ended with the Gran Marnier dessert souffle, which was good, though I think a seasonal fruit dessert would probably be the best way to go. We were a group of 5 and this was a perfect amount of food.
Overall, I would highly recommend this place for a special occasion or a perfect date! -
Review from Durif M.
Foster City, CA
4/12/2012
This is an interesting restaurant.
They specialize in Souffle; it takes forever to cook them but I guess it's worth the wait. The food is rich and tasty, though we found the food to be extremely salty as well.
There were two waiters and one of them was really nice (I'd give him 5 stars without question) but the other was extremely rude. Many people showed up without reservations and we enjoyed seeing how his attitude changes depending on the customer. He would offer a table to a well-dressed couple, after giving a polite apology telling them that he would have to make them wait for someone to finish their meal. On the contrary, a group of tourist with kids were first asked if "they are sure they knew what kind of food this place offers", then were immediately told to phone in the next day to book a reservation if they "really wanted to dine here".
Wear nice clothes and make a reservation. -
Review from Randy F.
3/25/2012 3 photos
Cafe Jacqueline is a small gem in San Francisco. Specializing in souffles, it's long been a favorite as a date spot and for those intimate meals.
We first tried Jacqueline years ago and were excited to return again. In some ways, the place has not changed. It's still small and charming. The menu is essentially soups, savory souffles and dessert souffles.
Other areas are less appealing. Although they aren't quite as busy as they used to be, reservations are still a phone call, leave a message, and call back. They don't answer during the day and the call backs can happen up to a week later.
Service was a little bit more perfunctory than I recall and despite not having several options (prosciutto and mushroom, several drink selections), the waiter tells you they don't have any and proceeds to leave as you decide only to come back minutes later. This was with a mostly empty restaurant. Our final order:
French Onion Soup - absolutely delicious. Piping hot, gooey rich cheese and fantastic broth flavor. It was a touch salty.
Shiitake, garlic, basil souffle - all the souffles and all food, even the soup, takes time. This isn't a quick in and out place. The souffle was delicious but admittedly salty, even more so the soup. We drank water constantly through the meal.
White Chocolate Souffle - the highlight. The dessert was perfect. Not too sweet and super light and fluffy.
Cafe Jacqueline is a great choice for souffle fans. The perfunctory service, long waits, and salty food though perhaps explain why the crowds are not quite as prominent as they were a few years ago.
Cafe Jacqueline accepts credit cards including American Express. -
Review from Polina I.
San Francisco, CA
4/5/2012
It's been one of the best food discoveries in a while. Perfect place - small and cozy, good noise level, attentive service. I like my menu options simple and straightforward - souffle: sweet or sour. Pretty simple. Great food.
I am on a hunt for a perfect kir royal in SF (after living in France, I somewhat have idea what it should be), this place had a decent one but not the best, I could not taste Crème de cassis -
Review from Craig B.
New York, NY
3/13/2012
OK. a few basics. Unlike one of the reviews here, do not wonder in off the street on a weekend night and then become indignant when they don't immediately seat you. This place has about seven tables and they serve souffles. Souffles! You know how they make a souffle, right? They don't exactly flip the tables several times a night. It's dark and you are pretty much in for a very good, long French meal. So call and get a reservation.
I've been here about eight times. I drag everyone here. When was the last time you made a souffle? When was the last time you saw a souffle on a menu? Never? Me, too. Here's how it goes down. You go in and order both a dinner and dessert souffle. Each souffle will serve about two people. A dinner souffle might be salmon and leek. Dessert might be chocolate or lime. They are all excellent. Do the chocolate at some point. It's not a cheap meal, but for San Francisco it's very reasonable and a very excellent experience. The service is fantastic.
At the end of the evening you might even go back into the kitchen and say a few words to Jacqueline. She's the only one in the kitchen behind a giant bowl of eggs. I usually say a few words of thanks in my version of French and she always nods graciously. -
Review from Michelle N.
San Francisco, CA
1/16/2012
Could you be any more rude?
I came here with friends over the weekend wanting to try the famous souffle and a little over half of the tables were taken. When the host came up to us and we asked how long the wait was (we figured around an hour to eat) all he said was that they were very busy it would be at least 45 minutes to be seated then another 2-3 hours to eat. Then he asked us to stand outside...I'm sorry but that isnt the way you treat potential diners and we will definitely not be back to try! -
Review from Ryan D.
Irvine, CA
2/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Simply THE BEST DATE SPOT IN San Francisco, or ANYWHERE for that matter. Jacqueline is so wonderful and does a fantastic job still cooking all the souffles on her own. We got to visit her in the kitchen after our meal, and it really made the night even better.
This was my wife and I's second time here, and we loved it even more this time. Our waiter was great, helped us pick out a perfect wine to match our meal (and didn't pull the old, let me pick the most expensive wine we have trick). They really know how to let you enjoy the full meal, without leaving you hungry or feeling like you are waiting at any point.
We had the onion soup to start and it was delish, really tasty since they use veggie stock instead of beef.
Tried the Cauliflower souffle and WOW, simple but delish. I do have to say that the white corn and garlic one we had last time was just a little better, but still...awesome.
Nothing beats the simply atmosphere of this place. No more than 10 tables, each decorated very nicely and the perfect amount of low lighting. It's pretty much all reservations, so no one is waiting around or making a ton of noise in this very small spot.
Take your date here, and you both will be glad you did! -
Review from Timothy R.
Mill Valley, CA
4/15/2012
Read the review for this place and only the best do it true justice. Amazing Souffles..
When in season I highly recommend the Peach souffle you will think you mouth has gone to heaven!! Do not be in a rush when you go to Cafe Jacqueline. Last time I was there with my sweetie it was a three hour meal and every minute was worth it!!
Treat yourself!!! -
Review from Diana R.
Berkeley, CA
4/7/2012
This was our first time eating at the restaurant, and all we can say is that this place is amazing! This place is the perfect package for a lovely night out.
The food was incredible. My husband and i shared the salmon-asparagus souffle as an entree and the white chocolate souffle for dessert. The texture, taste, presentation, and size of both were perfect (two people can easily share the entree souffles and feel satisfied. I would say 4 people can eat a dessert souffle and be satisfied). It's pricy but well worth it, especially if you are sharing with others.
The feel of the place was really nice too. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it can be perfectly suitable for a romantic dinner with my husband or a nice dinner with friends.
What sealed the deal for me was the friendly disposition of everyone who worked at the restaurant. Our waiter was thoughtful and helpful when taking care of us and of others. The other waiter was also very approachable and helped our regular waiter take care of things for us. We had nice exchanges with everyone working including Miss Jacqueline, who was lovely in person. We greeted her in the kitchen and thanked her for the wonderful food she had prepared for us.
Overall, a magnificent experience.
The only downside is that there was about an hour wait on the first souffle and the second came about 30 min after we were done with the first one. I really don't think it's a big deal because the quality of the food more than made up for it. But it's not a place to go to if you are in a rush. -
Review from Chad C.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2012
Had or fifth Valentines Day dinner here last night, as always e LOVED the experience.
French Onion Soup, Lobster Souffle, Wonderful salad and a Chocolate Souffle for dessert
The food is always incredible, and the staff now treat us like family. We try to not go too often but every time we do go, they know what we want to drink, call us by our names etc. It was great to see folks from last year and years before. One couple was there for their 16th Valentines Day dinner, so they must be doing something right.
I understand how disappointing it must be to have gone on the weekend and find that the restaurant was closed, but I understand that Jacqueline was in the hospital for three days and that they called as many people as they had the numbers of.
All that being said, anyone going to Cafe Jacquline should know in advance that it's a long meal, so if your in a rush or aren't with someone you could talk to for hours...you may want to avoid it!
The restaurant has been in business for 33 years and I would highly encourage everyone to check it out! -
Review from matthew a.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/27/2012
I called the Cade last week to get a reservation, i made it for Friday night. When I arrived I was greeted by a very rude waiter who basically said i must be crazy, they don't take reservations and would never hold a table for a Friday night. How rude.
-
Review from Vu D.
San Francisco, CA
OMG! OMG! that was what I was thinking when I tasted my first spoonful of the Tomato & Cilantro souffle. It was so DAMN good! It's so fluffy and flavorful that makes my mouth salivate just thinking about it. My friend and I shared one and we were stuffed. It was really hearty.
BUT we HAD to try the dessert souffle. I really wanted the seasonal berry souffle and just our luck, the last couple before us ordered the last one! So we got the chocolate one. Man, was it heaven! Just sinking that spoon in the souffle and watch the warm googy chocolate oozes out. It was sooooooo rich and creamy! You can tell this is some good sh** quality chocolate like from Europe.
The chef allowed us in the kitchen to thank the chef herself, Jacqueline. She seems like those forward sweet grandmother. She makes everything herself and all from memory. Props to her for doing it so long! I gotta come back for the strawberry souffle dessert!!! -
Review from Stewart W.
South San Francisco, CA
2/11/2012
I would give this place 0 stars if I could. I have eaten here before with my wife and were looking forward to eating here again to celebrate Valentine's Day this year. We drove 40 minutes and spent another 30 minutes looking for parking. When we arrived, we saw a sign that said they were closed due to illness.
Are you kidding me?! I understand if you have to close due to emergency, but someone had the time to put that sign up. That means you would have the time to call the customers with reservations that night to inform them so that we can make alternate plans. Especially given that this is Valentine's Day weekend! Sorry for the inconvenience?!
I hope someone from the restaurant reads this review. This is completely unprofessional. I really enjoy your restaurant and food, but you have lost a customer. If my friends ever ask me about your restaurant, this is the experience I will tell them about. -
Review from Victor T.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012
I've been there twice and would say it's probably one of the best romantic dinners I've ever had.
-
Review from Lee H.
If you're looking for a cholesterol-laden meal, Cafe Jacqueline is your place. Eggs, eggs and more eggs are the main ingredient at this souffle centric spot.
If you go, you must excuse yourself to go to the bathroom, whether you have to go or not, just so you can walk through the kitchen to see how many eggs are stacked up waiting to be cracked and made into delicately fluffily souffles.
There's a nice wine list and a couple of salads to accompany a large assortment of savory souffles.
This charming spot is a nice surprise amongst the Italian places of North Beach. -
Review from Alex T.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2012
Soufflés reminiscent of le soufflé in Paris. Hard to find in the US. That said, ambiance and service are lacking. It's eerily quiet and the room could use an upgrade. Service looks the part (head waiter had a great mustache), but didn't seemed trained to the standards befitting the food.
-
Review from Lisa W.
11/26/2011
The boyfriend took me here for a birthday dinner, and it fit the bill perfectly - small, sweet, romantic spot with long waits made for long conversations.
We had:
1. The French onion soup - gooey, cheesy goodness.
2. Mushroom and prosciutto souffle - soft and fluffy and served beautifully. This was a little on the salty side and not my favorite of the evening.
3. Lemon souffle - holy mother of flavor in my mouth. AMAZING. I'm definitely partial to lemon flavored deserts and this was the perfect balance of tangy and sweet. Loved it. I'd definitely come back just for dessert.
Our meal was about 2.5 hours long - plan on waiting since the souffles take a while, and are made as you order. Share a bottle of wine to help pass the time.
As everyone's said, make sure you peek into the kitchen (if you need an excuse, it's on the way to the bathroom). All that's in there is Jacqueline, her oven, and baskets of eggs. And that's really all you need. -
Review from Albert L.
"IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!"
(In Agnes's voice from "Despicable Me")
Just one of MANY nostalgic conversations that came in to mind when chowing down at Cafe Jacqueline's.
My girlfriend and I made reservations an hour prior for Sunday, 7:30PM (just in case, since there was no OpenTable for CJ). It was difficult finding this place (not the most flashy or decorative restaurant out there) but we found it after circling around the block for a bit. When we entered, we were INSTANTLLYYY greeted by a slightly rude gentlemen (Matt, whose mustache is very distracting!) and directly asked if we had reservations -- and after a little mix up, we finally sat down.
Appetizer -
French Onion Soup:
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THIS IS THE BEST SOUP I'VE EVER HAD, PERIOD. Granted it was a tad salty but the onions dissolved in your mouth magically while the oven melted cheese gave way to a chewy delectable crust. IT. WAS. AMAZING.
Entree:
Prosciutto and Mushroom Souffle:
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There was a total of 4 largely wrapped slices of prosciutto on top of a beautiful mushroom souffle. This is where the whole "IT'S SO FLUFFY" comes in -- because it was! It was hearty yet so light, and fluffy yet so filling. Oddly enough, it was also a tad too salty.. (maybe because of the prosciutto) but it was divine. At this point, I was already full [my GF ate 1/4 of it and I finished the rest] and was contemplating on either keeping or canceling the long awaited ...
Dessert:
Chocolate Souffle:
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What Madame Jacquline is famous for -- the Chocolate Souffle! It was HUGE -- literally. I love my dessert like no other but this one was so overwhelming ginormous! At first I laughed at the "serves 2-4 people" caption on the menu, but seeing this shut me up good.. It was disappointing though how they only had chocolate (no fruits) but regardless, it was an amazing way to end our meal. Did I mention how FLUFFY it was? It sucks I couldn't finish it.. there was still about 1/3 left (I almost cried, kinda).
My first impression of Cafe Jacqueline was.. well, they could use a renovation. Also, the lack of choices of dishes (two soups, few salads, and only souffles) felt disappointing. I didn't know they only served souffles and their prices are on the $$$ side.
However. it has the old French style decor with dimly lit candles and lighting everywhere -- perfect for a romantic date. Matt, the only waiter at CJ, is actually a charming funny guy after you get pass his business mentality (he tends to shoo away walk-ins by stating "it'll be 45minute-1hour wait" -- but this leads to a more quiet and romantic atmosphere, so kudos). Also, be prepared to have TONS to talk to with your date or party because the food will take a long long time. We sat down at 7:30PM and left at around 9:15PM. Overall, a lovely different experience on the French take and will definitely be back for seconds!
PS: Make reservations -- even though there's no OpenTable and don't forget to say hi to the head chef and owner, Madame Jacqueline, on your way out! -
Review from Erica L.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2011
It's all about the fluffiness.
You have to be committed to a souffle-only meal to dine here.
Start off with the french onion soup, really nice and savory, will warm you up in no time on a typical, cold, sf foggy night.
Savory souffle for the main course, I got the mushroom and lobster. Really really fluffy.
Finish off with another souffle for desert, sweet this time. Chocolate's always the safe way to go!
I was stuffed. It was so fluffy. And the fluffiness just keeps getting fluffier in your stomach.
I would even skip the main course and just go in for soup and desert.
The kitchen is packed with eggs. baskets of eggs.
It's pricey, but if you like souffle, go for it! -
Review from Cynthia C.
San Francisco, CA
10/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been wanting to try this place forever. I went through this souffle craze last year and have been jonesing to come here. Finally I got a chance to come with my BFF and her parents. Honestly this place is overrated. Took forever to get our food, which I guess I can understand since there's an 80 year old lady cranking out souffles one by one in the back. But when the souffle's came out the flavors were just so so.
We had two savory ones and two dessert ones. The savory ones (corn ginger and prosciutto) were just ok. One of them was overcooked and tasted kinda dry. The dessert ones (chocolate and strawberry), the chocolate one was undercooked and the inside was all watery... we mentioned it to the waiter and he said that's how it's suppose to be. REALLY? I doubt that. The strawberry one was excellent tho. Super moist and flavorful. I'd come back just for that if they would allow it.
I still feel bad for the old lady in the back pumping out the souffles. She needs a better retirement plan. Doh! -
Review from Derrick W.
San Jose, CA
8/19/2011
My only reason for not giving 5 stars is because the length of the meal was quite long. Did I expect this going into it. Absolutely. Does it take away a bit of the experience, possibly.
Since this was for our anniversary and we don't get out to eat at nice gigs with peace and quiet without kids we made sure to sample most of the menu items from each section.
I'm addicted to french bread... especially when it tastes like the loaf I had in Nice, France. Sure brings back memories. Sorry back to the review.
We started with the escargot. I'm not a huge fan... they are snails... but man were these addicting. Almost to the point we paused to think of ordering second round (NOT). You'll see in a minute.
We then shared the French Onion Soup and a Spinach Salad with Bacon and Pine Nuts. That soup was excellent. It isn't overly salted at most restaurants and the flavors were balanced very well. The skill level to cook that soup with all those different strong flavors...something to remember. The salad was well balanced between the crunchiness of the bacon to the crisp spinach leaves and pine nuts. The oil dressing was light and simple.
We ordered the mushroom and prosciutto for our main course. It was well balanced and wasn't heavy. Very filling.
Dessert was the chocolate souffle. Wow... wow... and wow. Just make sure you don't take a breath when eating it cause you'll inhale the powdered sugar which nearly killed me. Wouldn't have been sexy if on a date.... fortunately I was with the wifey so she saved my life. J/K. Water took care of that. Anyways we definitely wouldn't order as much next time, but would definitely go back again sometime.
Service was excellent. The waiters (2) were very attentive and followed up constantly. Be prepared for a very long wait between dishes and absorb the atmosphere. It was quite relaxing and quiet even though the place was packed. -
Review from Jacqueline H.
Fremont, CA
8/4/2011
People on Yelp are not lying when they say that service is impeccable!
For those who have never had a souffle: It is like a cloud and a cake had a baby. And yes I had the French Onion Soup $10, worth it. and Chocolate Souffle $30. SOOO worth it!
I got a butter lettuce salad which was pretty overpriced for just plain lettuce. Nonetheless this place is abso-AMAZING! -
Review from Angelica V.
San Francisco, CA
11/19/2011
Loved it!!!!!
Mme Jacqueline did a great job!... definitely worths the wait!!
The place is very romantic and cozzy.
I'm certainly going back to try the rest of the soufflés. -
Review from Kristen E.
San Ramon, CA
11/1/2011
Dessert:
I'm normally a chocolate dessert girl, but the strawberry souffle here is one of the best things I've ever tasted.
Restaurant/Service:
The restaurant is small; it probably seats about 30 people at most, and is waited on by two servers who are extremely attentive. The service is definitely five star. Low candle lighting makes it perfect for a romantic date.
Overall:
I can't wait to go back to try a savory souffle! -
Review from Calvin C.
San Jose, CA
7/19/2011
I'm not sure what the real rave is about.
Tips:
1.) Basically, you need patience.
It's gonna be a long wait.
2.) Bad place for a 1st or 2nd date, do this in the 10th+ date or so.
3.) Very quiet and very dark atmosphere.
4.) Not the best place for photos, almost impossible in the low lighting.
5.) We were in a group of 6, and we ran out of topics by end of the night.
Pro:
DESSERT IS AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
SO WORTH THE WAIT. We had the Blueberry filling.
Con:
Lobster and Salmon, ehh.... could be better. Not much lobster, Salmon,
was on the weak side.
DESSERT IS A MUST! Lesson learned after 3 hours of wait. -
Review from Megan K.
Moraga, CA
7/18/2011
We crawled into the cafe after a concert at Yoshi's. We had dinner at Yoshi's and wanted to grab a desert and some coffee.
Ambiance: GREAT- Old century French
Service: acceptable- we weren't swept off our feet
Specialty Souffle- 5 Star quality
Pricy
We have grand Marnier souffle- one serves 2 to 4. You definitely don't want to go here alone- need company. Price tag 35 to 40 bucks. A great variety of souffles- lime, white chocolate, Chocolate and ...
Best suited for special occasions. -
Review from BJ G.
Hercules, CA
4/3/2011
I'm a twenty something ethnic fellow and I came in more towards the end of the night with a lady friend to ask how long the wait was. I was greeted by a scruffy unshaven not well groomed waiter who rudely said "come back in 45 mins and you might get a table"
I said ok. I come back in 10 minutes because I realized I never put our name down on the list. I talk to the same fellow to also get an update and he says "oh itll only take 10 more minutes, I said 45 before because I thought you weren't coming back".
I was shocked at the rudeness of this waiter to say the least.
ON TO THE SOUFFLE
I don't know if it was just that night but to be honest, I've had better, the puffy cloudiness factor was there but the sweet and chocolate factor was not on point.
I'll have to try gary Danko's to compare. -
Review from John W.
San Francisco, CA
3/20/2011
1. Charming & romantic ambience.
2. Excellent service.
3. Incredible soufflés.
4. Lime soufflé blew my mind!!!
Bottom Line: I'll definitely go back. -
Review from Tony L.
3/28/2011
It's been a while since I've been to Cafe Jacqueline, but the fact that I still remember some of the things we had, says a lot about the place. The setting is cute, there's a certain kind of homey elegance to the place. Dimly lit. The interior painted over so many times, the molding grows into its own character like half-spent candlestick.
And the food was good. Not earth-shaking. Not utterly delicious. Just--pretty good. I found our seafood souffle to be a little dry. The little bits of goodies inside were just a touch overcooked--a little unfortunate when it's a dish you're paying fifty bucks for.
Add to the fact that parking here is nearly impossible (I'd almost suggest taking the bus, how's that for a fancy night out?), and I have to say it may be a while before I come back. Though I would recommend Cafe Jacqueline for something different or if you're hankering for soufflet. -
Review from Sid D.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2011
My wife and I got engaged here. For years afterward it was our default place for special occasions and honored guests. We love the food, the atmosphere, Jacqueline herself, etc. But we can't forgive how shabbily we were treated on our last visit. Note: this incident occurred a few years ago.
As usual we made plans to celebrate our wedding anniversary at Cafe Jacqueline. We arrived on time for our dinner reservation. After waiting 90+ minutes for our table with no explanation, I confronted the waiter politely. I appreciate that they were busy, but his manner and tone said 'F#ck off."' So we did. -
Review from Andrea T.
Napa, CA
Updated - 3/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Outrageous. Superb. Unbelievable. My favorite restaurant up and down the state.
Wine- Les Carabenes- a French
Pinot for $35. Their wine prices are ridiculously low.
Onion soup. The best on the planet.
Souffle- Ginger, corn, garlic with asparagus added.
Dessert- refreshing lemon souffle.
The bread and butter- ooh la la. Warm French bread with a crispy crunchy crust and soft inside. The butter could be eaten alone.
Be sure to walk through the kitchen (you have to to get to the bathroom) and see the master chef - Jacqueline- at work. She was trained at Cordon Bleu in France.
A truly unique dining experience. Don't let Matt the waiter turn you off. He is really personable and nice one you get past his business persona.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/15/2009
I have been here half a dozen times. This place is special, romantic, unusual, outstanding and… Read more »
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Review from Jenna L.
4/19/2011
I think this restaurant is great if you are prepared to eat very heavy meals. My date and I shared the seafood souffle and it was SO heavy with cheese, etc. It was delicious but extremely filling. I believe almost everything on the menu is a souffle so be prepared for that.
The ambiance is wonderful - very charming and romantic. It definitely feels like a mom and pop restaurant.
My FAVORITE part was the chocolate souffle dessert. It was amazing! Probably my favorite dessert in the city. It is also really big and could probably feed 5 people. -
Review from Erin G.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2012
Semi-good service for a semi-good souffle.
I was excited to try Jacqueline's but after I have,
I would not go again. -
Review from Marissa J.
Fairfield, CA
12/31/2011
I love this place!!! Every time I go I leave with the best feeling in my stomach and heart. The staff are warm and friendly, the service is great! When you have to use the restroom, you have no other way but to walk through the kitchen where Jacqueline is cooking away. A large bowl of eggs sits on the counter in her tiny little kitchen, and behind it she looks up to greet you like family! She's wonderful and so is her food. Best comfort food with a romantic atmosphere, the best combination if you ask me! This will be one of my favorite and most memorable restaurants for the rest of my life!
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Review from J M.
Manhattan, NY
1/16/2011
I dined at Cafe Jacqueline last night for my birthday with my husband and we loved it. We started off the meal with warm crusty french bread that was just a little sour. Mmm I swear it was the beast bread I have ever eaten. Next, we each ordered the french onion soup, shared the prosciutto and mushroom souffle, and a strawberry souffle for dessert. The french onion soup was delicious and very cheesy. The prosciutto souffle was light fluffy and very decadent. Lastly, the strawberry souffle was divine. It too was light, airy, and not overly sweet. The strawberries on top perfectly complimented the souffle. We finished everything and went home very full and happy. 5 stars for the food.
My husband and I really liked the waiter. He was like out strawberry souffle... not overly sweet. I dislike fake, sickly sweet waiters and he seemed real to me. He was upfront, honest, and didn't sell us on more expensive items to beef up the bill to increase his tip size. Also, he made sure my wine glass was never empty and wished me a "happy birthday" on the way out. The other waiter was quieter and kept our water glasses full. We liked him too. I give them both 5 stars.
The restaurant itself was quaint and elegant. And the lighting was perfect - mood lighting but not too dim. I also thought the roses were a cute touch. The room is small but the ceilings are very high which made it feel roomy and open. I also loved going to the bathroom. You get to walk through the kitchen and see Jacqueline with a big basket of eggs making all the souffles by herself! Unbelievable. This restaurant is a gem and it is so unique. It is exactly what I was looking for. I am so sick of the same old trendy restaurants that turn out to be the all the same versions of each other. I highly recommend Cafe Jacqueline to anyone looking for a special evening. 5 stars for ambiance.
What to know:
The dinner did take a long time but i really liked the anticipation and was able to have good conversation and enjoy my wine between the meals. It gave me time to digest my food before the next course was brought out. That was a good thing because I was able to enjoy everything without feeling too stuffed. -
Review from K A.
San Francisco, CA
9/20/2011
I came here with my family for dinner. I loved the cozy atmosphere. We ordered and shared the leek. brie and broccoli, prosciutto and mushroom souffles. We also had the French onion soup yummy. The strawberry and chocolate souffles were great. The waitstaff were friendly and helpful. Everything was really good. The souffles were quite expensive so if I came back I'd only get the soup and a dessert souffle. Definitely worth a trip and wonderful to celebrate a very special occasion.
