On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Mon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"AMAZING FRENCH FOOD. And their 3 course prix fixe is such a great deal!!! I tried looking up what I had here but I think they changed the…" read more »
Loading...
i eat a bite of red meat every few months.
recently i've been craving a taste of chez maman's burger. my last boyfriend was french, and he used to bring me here all the time. he'd frequently get the basic burger with brie, blue cheese and roquefort. three cheeses on one burger? c'est vrai! une ménage à trois du fromage! how very french, oui? and like anything that sounds sinful, it is! sooooo sinfully gooooood. ohhhhhh. a perfect harmony of salty, cheesy, burnt and greasy.
luckily, i don't eat meat all that often. in the meantime, unless i really want to rub elbows my ex (literally, cos this place is cramped), i can just fantasize about the burger and hope my imagination gives justice to the real thing.
So the burger I had here was really really good - I added goat cheese to mine, bc frankly, everything is better with goat cheese on/in it.
HOWEVER, I don't know that is worth with 45 minute wait. I mean maybe if you come ALONE - so you can quickly get a counter seat --- the place holds 14 people. NO groups of 4 or more, expect maybe the ONE table outside. I was there at 2pm on Sunday and my group was 3 people.
The side salad and fries were great as well. It's pricy but the food is good. Not worth the wait though.....
What a romantic, cozy and delightful experience.
Restaurants are about the food, sure, but they're also a place to enjoy an experience that you wouldn't normally have at home.
Chez Maman was so comfortable, so romantic, and so entertaining (eating at the bar, you see every dish being skillfully prepared), that I can't wait to go back.
Meal:
- French onion soup. Satisfying, not too cheesy. Salty because that's the way French onion soup should be (for your bread!)
- Organic greens salad. A nice counterbalance to an otherwise rich meal.
- Burger with brie and frites. Really well grilled burger, spicy garlicky aoili, and a panini-type 'bun' made this burger better than most.
- Chicken burger/sandwich and frites. Chicken sandwich was decent, not too amazing, but then again it's a very simple dish (should have gotten 2 regular burgers).
The food was good, the ambiance was GREAT. Perfect place for an after-hike, after-bike, dinner date (or maybe I'm just partial :)
Highly recommend the "Veggie burger" it's actually their ratatouille mixed with egg and they add your choice of cheese.
I saw someone getting their muscles and French fries even though the moules frites is not on their menu. Anyhow, I plan to get that next time.
It's homey (aka SMALL), but enjoyable.
This place makes the best steak I have ever had. EVER. I still have dreams about their steak. It is spiced perfectly, it is pan seared instead of grilled, and when I ask for it black and blue - rarer than rare - THEY ACTUALLY LISTEN and execute it perfectly. But wait, that's not all--it comes with this homemade peppercorn sauce that is unlike anything else in this world. It's devastating. I used to come here once a week for the steak and a glass of Bordeaux. Laurent the waiter is a great guy and great server too.
My ratings are based on my experience of a restaurant and I think this is another SF gem, very cosy and intimate and serving delicious French fusion fare.
Pros:
1. A delicious burger - went for brie with fries - it really was very flavorful and the fries were seasoned perfectly.
2. The experience - the place was trendy and its fun to watch the guys cook your food right there in front of you. Its very intimate so would make a great date spot.
Cons:
1. As usual, its other customers who don't have decent restaurant etiquette that bother me - the couple who stood over my shoulder while I ate my burger could have waited outside like we did.
Just don't sit at the bar, right next to the door and you'll be fine.
Returned tonight with sis ~ she's been asking constantly since that first time. Found a parking spot in front again (luck 'o da Irish) and lots of table space (the two tables within by the window) at 5:10pm so we sat at one. Sis ordered the Hachis Parmentier, served in a small low soup bowl, with ground beef with purée de pommes de terre ($14) while I settled for the Fettucini with mushrooms and thick creamy white wine sauce ($12). Sis liked hers so much she ate it right away and ALL of it!!! She tried a bit of my fettucini also and liked it too. As the boss Arnie says: We'll be back......
It' hard to find a good place to eat in such a big City; to be consistent in quality and flavor,… Read more »
this restaurant is delightfully cozy and the food is delicious! the burgers, ratatouille and creme brulee were all excellent. it's a beautiful restaurant with great francemosphere (french atmosphere) and perfect for taking a date out. everyone sits very close together - it's a long, narrow room where everyone sits up at the bar - which makes for great conversation. cost-wise: honestly, i've paid the same amount for a hamburger at burgermeister on church, so i'll take "delicious burger at delightfully cozy restaurant" over "okay burger at crack-head-filled burger joint" any time.
Excellent simple food!
As good as ever... best burger in town !!!
love this place , must try the burger !!!! ask for Olivier ...
Love me some Chez Maman. When I crave a burger and fries this is the first place I think of. Crisp, delicate fries with tangy garlic aioli for dipping. A burger perfectly grilled to your liking with your cheese molten (if you're a cheese enthusiast). And the most fabulous grilled onions automatically come on the side.
What's more is that the servers and cooks are fast, friendly and always remember you. This is a real neighborhood joint.
Other highlights include:
Baked camembert with roasted garlic
Mixed berry crepe with creme fraiche
One word of caution:
The only thing that is not so hot at this place is the creme brulee. It's kinda disappointing, especially because I love everything else about this place.
We walked almost 6 miles from our hotel in the Knob Hill district to have lunch at Chez Maman, which is located in Potrero Hill section of San Francisco.
This tiny French bistro has only a few tables but a long bar-counter area where we sat.
We ordered:
CHEZ MAMAN basic BURGER (with frites)
Flat Iron Steak with frites & green peppercorn sauce .
The burger was one of the best I ever tasted. The beef was incredibly savory and blended in with fresh herbs that were flavorful.
The flat iron steak was cooked to perfection and green peppercorn sauce was put on the side, and not smothered all over my steak, which I was satisfied about.
Service was exceptional, the staff cooks right in front of you while your seated at the bar-counter watching. I had our French server pick the wine for us and it went perfect with our lunch.
I would never have noticed this restaurant unless I yelped it. Came here the other night as we were craving French Onion Soup. We waited for about 15 minutes and were lucky enough to get a table seat. This place is really small, but the food is scrumptious and definitely worth the wait!
We were seated immediately when there was an opening. This place probably seats about 15 people. It's nice and cozy inside.
French Onion Soup - We both ordered our own. This soup came out piping hot and was very rich and flavorful. The cheese was gooey and was melted over the bowl. In the middle was the soaked up bread.....mmmm... incredible!!
I wasn't sure what to order but our host recommended the burger. I ordered the Basic burger medium with Brie and frites. My friend ordered the basic burger medium with Cheddar and frites. The burger was grilled to perfection, very tasty and huge. They also served a dipping sauce which was the garlic aioli. I couldn't stop dipping my frites in the aioli sauce. My friend just stuck with the ketchup.
I definitely will be back!
Mmm mmm mmmm.
Honestly, I'm not sure what was more yummy: the food or my waiter! I had a crepe with béchamel, tomatoes, proscuitto and brie - a heavenly combination if I do say so myself. I also tried the french onion soup, which is quite possibly the best french onion soup I've ever had. My boyfriend got something which he said was really tasty but I was too busy drooling over the attractive male waitstaff to really notice exactly what he was eating. Oops.
The only downside to this cozy little restaurant is the fact that it's, well, COZY! The seating is extremely limited so don't come here for brunch and be surprised to find yourself waiting more than 30 minutes for a table. Also, I'd really discourage anyone from coming here with a large party. It's better suited for parties of 2.
Can't wait to return!
Last night, I had dinner here with a friend before a concert. I put my name on the list and wandered off since there was like 7 people before us. When we returned, my name was crossed off due to not being there when my name was called. We waited a little and they let us in after another pair was seated, so that was nice of them. He gave us a little bit of attitude at first but got over it I think.
Anyway! The menu was filled with delicious choices, from crepes, sandwiches, burgers, and steak. I chose to go with the french onion soup ($6) and caesar salad ($10). The french onion soup was amazing! Really tasty, cheesy, and with the perfect broth. You can watch them make it since the restaurant is so small and the entire kitchen is exposed. Dipping the house bread in the soup was a fantastic idea. The caesar salad, served with two slices of anchovies, was so-so. A little bit salty and too expensive I think for just a regular sized salad. I should have ordered the burger as the other tables had ordered it and it looked delicious. Will do for next time. We ended our meal with coffee and a cappuccino. The coffee was pretty delicious as well. Note-to-self -- don't over-do the cream by accident. Overall, it was a pretty good experience.
Fantastic little restaurant if you're in the area - great casual french food to eat at with a friend or two. The place is pretty small (ie: a bar and either 2 tables for 2 or a table for 4), and fills up fast for dinner time.
Excellent French Onion soup. The top is nicely baked on and comes out fabulously crusted with Gruyere. Yum!!
Rest of the fair includes sandwiches, crepes, burgers and a few misc entrees. Great beer and wine list featuring a lot of imported choices! Food might take awhile to come, but they put their effort into making the dishes come out right.
Croque Monsieur was nicely toasted with a small dollep of melted cheese ontop. Not too bad, great thick toast but would have prefered the bread a little bit more buttered or cheezy. Panini came out in a nice heart shape for the wifey that made her giggle.
Why after 8 years of living in San Francisco have I never been to this little gem of a restaurant before?! Since I just moved to my new apartment in the SOMA, I decided to try something new and different rather than going to my usual hot spots.
My friends and I smelled the burgers coming out of this little place and immediately signed up on the waiting list. The wait staff here is so friendly - they immediately offered us the wine/beer list so that we could sip on something while we waited for our seats! That's what I call great customer service.
When we finally got to our seats we all ordered the same thing - the burgers & fries! I have never tasted such an amazing combo of bread, meat, cheese, and sauce! SOOOO TENDER! SOO TASTY!
We all literally were licking the plates by the end of the evening. Let's just say we're all coming back here very soon.
we went last night, and only waited about 15 minutes for four seats at the counter. Really hot (only down side for us), but great to watch the cooking right there (closer to any restaurant I've ever been to). The guys are great, well organized, you can see the technique and teamwork.
We started with the camembert with roasted garlic. Wow!!! the garlic was sweet, not a bit of sharpness, and mixed in with the cheese, and dipped with either the toast or the smallish baquette, it was a perfect appetizer.
We could see the burgers were going to be good, but we went with porkchops (a nice, fairly thick one, not double, more 1.5). and grilled just right. What was unusual, is the brussel sprouts, nice and al dente, and again, not mushy and brussely. Perfect.
One onion soup: very very rich, a little salty, but it's because it reduced down.... very tasty stock and onion, with a ton of cheese on three croutons.
So you can see, if it had just a little more space, but for the price, and for the entertainment value, and the ease of parking.. five stars!
After hearing about this french burger for a few months now, my friend took me to Chez Maman and raved nothing but spectacular things about it. We left 2nd Sunday last weekend and took me here. Right off the bat, I wanted to order what he was having. He also ordered a bottle of Bordeaux blanc. Apparently he's a freakin' regular and knows the other chef/owner.
We had a quaint table right against the window sill and I was soaking up the ambiance in this intimate spot.
The burgers came and after my first bite, it was love. Loved everything from how tender the meat was, with the melted brie, one sunny side up egg to the soft and crusty bread. I normally don't like the yolk runny but this was an exception. It came with a hefty serving of frites. These shoestring fries were the bomb.
We also had a berries and nutella crepe for dessert. This was rich and delicious. Couldn't finish it but my first time at Chez Maman is memorable.
The Bordeaux blanc went really well with the food. I'd come back here again and try their breakfast items. And I'm actually looking forward to to try their french onion soup!
There's nothing like an intimate, cozy french bistro to curb my cravings.
Teeny French cafe (more of a bar, really) in Potrero Hill. Because of the size, it's not always easy to get in for breakfast/brunch at the weekend. However, it is well worth it. There are basically about 6-8 stools at the counter (the place to sit, in my opinion) and a couple of tables at the doorway. From the counter, you can order the brunch favorites (mine include the various crepes, the Croque Monsieur and, a bit later in the day, the excellent burger - along with a Mimosa or a fine French beer...) Very enjoyable!
Burgers have had a long, proud, American lineage; we have dressed them in cheddar cheese, decorated them with sesame buns, maybe slip a pickle or two upon their crown.
But, no more. The French have managed to take our proud burgers and with no remorse, turned them Francophile.
Is this a transformation I can approve...?
...
YES.
I have learned from Chez Maman that a sweet baguette is probably one of the best ways to enfold a burger, that burger meat need not be just a charred lump but a tender, well seasoned, delicious patty, and it's okay to have soft sweet grilled onions and dressed fancy greens. This looked pretty, but it was pretty fantastic, too. It's not necessarily the best burger I've had, but it is very, very good. I love the thin fluted frites as a side, and wish I had gone for the extras: egg, bacon, a little Roquefort...
It is a bit pricier, at about $12 for a basic burger, including tax and tip, but would come here again as my pre-Bottom of the Hill place to dine.
Definitely one of my defaults on the 'Hill. Love that it is is right around the corner Chez Moi. The smoked salmon panini and nicoise salad are my two faves...
The waiter is a gem and the warmth is PERFECT for cool SF nights.
The oeufs cocottes with salmon and goat cheese brought me here years ago, and for as long as I could remember, that is all I would order. On a recent trip back to SF I ordred a burger, which was delicious. As were the fries. I think give a choice, I would still choose the oeufs cocottes as my last meal on earth. Brunch for two for under $25 with superb coffee? Thank you for existing.
um..YUM! Went on a Wednesday night, and though small, we were seated immediately. Very cute, and the waiter was super attentive.
We ordered Frisée salad and Baked camembert with roasted garlic to start with. Salad was good...but the Camembert was AMAZING!!!! I could have eaten only that dish for my entire meal (though I probably would have needed to order 3 more because I inhaled the first) Cheese was perfectly melty, bread was toasted but not hard, and the garlic!..oh the garlic. Put them all together, and it is a stinky melty delicious mess in your mouth. I have seriously been craving this since that dinner.
Main dishes: Veal with creamy white wine sauce & mushrooms and Fettucini with mushrooms & creamy white wine sauce. Both very similar dishes in flavor, and both very good. The size was perfect too. We were both thoroughly full, but ate everything with no leftovers.
And finally: a sweet orange liquor crepe (I don't remember the exact name)
Overall really good, and a great place for a relaxed nice evening. And if anything, go for the Baked camembert with roasted garlic alone. YUM!
Came here for my 5-year anniversary dinner with Ryry. We wanted to try a new place (as we always do) with good food and we wanted to go somewhere nice and cozy. We hit (almost) all our points of interest with Chez Maman!
Very quaint and cozy place - one counter with 10? seats and 2 booths that fit 2 people each. The place was crowded but the French owner assured us with a not very assuring nod, but in his Frenchy-European way, that he had the situation handled and that we would get a booth. And we did! He even called me mademoiselle... melt!
We ordered the French onion soup, the gucamole and chips, the chicken sandwich, the mahi mahi and the creme brulee for dessert. I also had a delicious Rose from South Africa, I believe.
The French onion soup was delicious with a piece of bread in the middle of the very hot small pot for ultimate soaking power. The guacamole, though overpriced at $7 for a small portion, was tasty. The chicken sandwich, well, I've had better. It was on a roll with a light aioli, there really wasn't any wow factor. Same goes with the mahi mahi, in which the fish was crusted with cornmeal but not with flavor. The chutney that accompanied it was sweet and tangy and really saved the dish. The creme brulee was decadent - topped off the meal.
Should have reread the Yelp reviews prior to our visit and realized that they are known for their burgers! So, next time, Chez Maman! It will not only be the owner who wows us with his French accent!
I came here for the steak, and only the steak.
Let me tell you my friends, I was not disappointed....and have not been so full in a looooooooong time. I had just returned from Asia and all the noodles I ate hadn't quite satisfied my inner carnivore.
The steak totally hit the spot. For beef snobs, I'm not sure what kind of beef it was, and it definitely wasn't the MOST tender steak I've ever had, but it was solid. Nicely cooked, decent quality and $20. I'm a value-for-your-money kinda gal and hit all the right notes - with a nice peppery, mustard sauce! I appreciate that they give it to you on the side so you get exactly as much as you want. Hooo-ray!
The garlic mashed potatoes I substituted for the frites was also amazing. Like if I ever had a chick-on-chick wrestling match, it would be in a kiddie pool of these mashed potatoes.
Overall I'm totally stoked to come back and work my way down the menu. Cute place, solid food!
Definitely one of the best place for a burger or panini. I don't know about the salad though. But after hearing about this and seeing each month as another fellow followed yelper is reviewing it, I've made it one of the top lunch spots I had to go on my bookmark. Alas, I did. With the company of my spoiled one, coworker, and Christina L, we took in the experience of a nice French'sh lunch meal.
Although the place was a lot smaller than I had imagined, it was indeed cozy and nice to eat at. The outside table and chairs, IMO, is probably not the best idea because of the slant and it's just ideal to be holding yourself up while trying to enjoy a meal. Note to self: indoors only.
So we tried the burgers of course, since everyone is raving and indeed it is cooked to your liking and it definitely has more flavor and ingredients as other places may lack. The great thing is the ciabatta bun which holds in the meat very nicely and the tomato, salad greens, and grilled onions were a great compliment. The small cut fries were awesome. The crunchiness and simple flavor reminded us of Cigar Bar in the FiDi. I added an egg and goat cheese in mine since they just have a basic burger, salmon, chicken, and something else. Defintely mix and match and see what you can create out of it, because I definitely enjoyed mine with the egg yolk drizzling over the fries.
I don't know if it's just bad luck or I'm seeing dead people imitating emperors in no clothes but Chez Maman is overrated. After making the Top 100 in the SF Chronicle's guide, I wanted to try the always-booked/-tightly-packed bistro. The first time I went there, they didn't have my reservation and we almost didn't get seated. The second time, no fault of their own (I hope), we arrived as a man was being taken out by an ambulance. The last time, for a brunch on my birthday with my pooch, we crunched into tiny, wobbly outside tables for small, pricey salad and fries with an aioli that left me unsettled. Its tiny, cheaper brother (Chez Papa) just down the block is a little better but I won't return to Chez Maman.
The famous onion soup was inedible being extremely salty.
The house panini and the crepe were decent enough.
Quality took a dive over a cliff, it seems!!!
=)
Sweet little joint in Portrero Hill. When I say little, ya, I ain't kidding. Just note that this is not the place you bring your party of twelve because there won't be enough room in the place for about 1/3 of your party. I had the french onion soup... mmmmm... and some sauteed veggies.... double mmmmm. Came out with a cheap tab for two people, loved the service, loved being on top of the kitchen (not physically, but you have to admit you feel as if you might even be in the kitchen), and the general feel was casual and cool.
For such a small restaurant with such low prices, every single dish here is great!
You can NOT go wrong with the burgers here -- very juicy and flavorful.
The savory crepes are interesting -- it comes in a brown color (not sure what's in the batter), and its sweetness pairs well with the salty ingredients inside like prosciutto or salmon.
Wait, this is a FRENCH restaurant, right? Do I dare order a SHRIMP QUESADILLA for dinner? Well.. it was quite possibly one of the greatest decisions I've made in my life!
The place is VERY small so be prepared to wait during peak hours, but for around $15-20 a person for such deliciousness, it's well worth the wait!
I'm a burger guy.
If I'm not craving sushi, I'm most likely indulging in a burger. So when I heard that one of SF's finest burgers was in Potrero Hill I made the march through the hills to land in their neat and narrow venue.
It's a classic sun filled space, with a long bar that lines the entire restaurant. We were able to find 2 great spots at the end of the line and parked ourselves comfortably.
Our server was full of life, energetic and had a great charisma to him. We quickly put our orders in for the burger and it was neat to watch them grill it up right in front of us.
The layer of brie cheese coated our seasoned patty and it was stuffed not into a bun but a crusty roll with a delicious aioli. Sauteed onions and salad came on the plate and the first bite was magnificent.
It's a light burger, and while I prefer a more hearty burger, it was still full of flavor and had a unique richness.
The true winner of the dish? The fries... These sticks of starch were deep friend in a heavenly bath that would make any southerner sing karaoke. Sober...
This is a wonderful spot, and while I wouldn't put it in my top 5 list of best burgers in the city, I'd throw it up there in the top 10.
I had Fish burger, and it was awesome selection. would love to go back there again.
Nice little French bistro/cafe. Small and quaint, but good food.
My GF ordered the panini and I ordered a burger. Both were cooked just right. We sat right on the bar where you can see everything being cooked. All ingredients were fresh.
You can see the menu with price listings on their website. Portion and quality is on par with how much they charge. I don't think it's expensive at all for what you get and being in SF.
Be warned there is not much room to eat inside. There are a few seats outside if the weather is permitting.
I would definitely come here again.
What a pleasant surprise! I have to say, I wasn't really expecting much from this place. It's a pretty small place (only 2 tables and a counter) and very unassuming. However, the food is delicious and the service is great!
I've been to this place quite a few times, but my favorite menu item (and the one I got the first time I went) is the burger. It comes on a toasted roll rather than a bun, and you can get some tasty toppings, such as fried egg or brie. It also comes with some surprisingly tasty fries (the thin kind) or a salad if you're feeling girly.
I've also tried the hachis parmentier, which apparently is French for "big ass bowl of beef and mashed potatoes all mixed together in a delicious heap of goo." Not as good as the burger, but still good. They also have some tasty-looking crepes that I haven't tried yet.
This is probably the best restaurant in downtown Potrero Hill. Check it out if you're in the area.
Chez Maman is simply A-OK, not bad but not great either.
I loved the tiny intimate dining space but the food was not outstanding. The burger was tasty and cooked exactly way I wanted it (which was medium well) but the fries were so overfried. My partner's chicken pesto panini was tasty as well but I was not impressed enough to want to come back for more.
And I was a little turned off by what I saw behind their counter. We got seated in one of the two indoor tables by the corner and I sat facing their tiny kitchen, which gave me a great view of the stuff they have behind the kitchen counter: stainless steel salad bowls next to their trash can!! Too bad I wasn't able to check their cleanliness score. Does anyone know?
Good but not great.
The burgers here are extremely good. I go here a couple times a month and it's always been consistently tasty. Yesterday I ordered a brie and prosciutto crepe and it was so rich and creamy, highly recommend it.
Pros: can't go wrong with anything on the menu, every thing's good.
Cons: stuffy and hot because the restaurant is so small and most of the seats are near the stove/oven.
This is a small hole-in-the-wall-blink-and-you'll-miss-it place with huge ambiance.
The host/manager/server/greeter dude is great. I would've gotten his name, but he zips through that place so fast and efficient that you barely know if he's speaking english or french to you.
He'll listen to your order suggestion(s), say something in french and tell you what you need..all in 5 seconds.....
Who are we little americans kinding, when it comes to wine/cheese parings, we know nothing.
I had a crepe lunch, with the bleu cheese/honey on the side. I liked it so much brought my other half there for after dinner dessert of nutela chocolate crepes and muscato...
If you're in the area, you've gotta hit this small slice of france with a huge personality. Have a seat at the counter, and try ordering in french for extra points, or spanish for the trifecta.
it was such a great place for sunday brunch - sitting by the open kitchen, watching the chefs cooking, feeling the warmth of the stove on a cloudy day in SF. The vegetarian crepe I ordered was really yummy, the filling was actually ratatouille, and the flavor was soooo rich... yummmm... can't wait to go back again!
What an adorable little spot in Potrero Hill. It's tiny and a bit cramped, and you're golden if you score one of the two tables by the window at the front. (Although, the counter seats aren't so bad either.) My burger and french fries with aioli sauce were tasty, and the warm goat cheese salad is a winner. The nutella and banana crepe was standard (though probably not worth $7...).
A charming place to grab a bite if you're in the area, with good, lounge-y music, an authentic neighborhood feel, and proximity to other cute restaurants and stores on the block. I'd like to return to try out more of the menu in time.
All Day BEER Specials !
Neighborhood: Mission
$1 off each burger sale
Neighborhood: Mission
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: French
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
Category: French
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Japanese
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
A compilation of my least appreciated reviews,…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
I am proud to be a resident of the pasture we call…
They say meeting reasonably sane and attractive…
You get to watch the kitchen choreography, and you…
I'd have to be gagged and tied to go back to these…
J'adore la langue, le pays et la cuisine! This…
