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Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 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 »
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Turns out I like Potrero Hill because it is:
1) a quite neighborhoody place
2) easy to find parking (during the week at least)
3) close to the freeway and hence an easy drive home after dinner
Now the dilemma: Do you go to Chez Papa or Chez Maman when you are in Potrero Hill? I can't help but feel like choosing one or the other is like taking a side with a divorced couple. I feel torn.
But for a nice birthday dinner with a group of friends, we chose Chez Papa Bistrot largely because the menu seemed to offer more substantial items of French Provencal cuisine.
We were happy with the food. We didn't really share because everyone was pretty into their dish and maybe we really did not want to give up what we had in front of us. I can say the friend who had the lamb daube was happy, friend that had scallop risotto with lobster sauce was pretty happy, the friend who had branzini(white fleshed fish) with sherry beurre blanc was happy (crispy skin and perfectly cooked fish, by the way), and me?
I had the mussels Nicoise with saffron, shallot and white wine broth with a side (extra) of french fries. The mussels came out in a iron cast bowl, they were not large mussels but still pretty tasty. The broth was rich and full of flavor, and we dipped thick rustic slices of bread to soak up the broth. The french fries were awesome. They were "skinny" fries and came out hot and crispy. Amazingly they remained crispy until the last fry was picked up. Funny how we all shared my food.
For dessert, we shared a chocolate fondant with banana and vanilla creme. It was like hot lava cake, with hot runny center, and just a few slices of banana for flavor. Gorgeously tasty, indeed!
So I hope to visit Chez Maman soon, because I don't want her to feel left out. To be fair, you know?
O-r-g-a-s-m-i-c Lobster sauce!!!!
I am really not one of those people who review or tweet or facebook on everything I do... BUT WOW!!! I had a late dinner, 10.30pm in SF on a Saturday night is still a difficult call as to where you can find a restaurant happily serving.
Chez Papa was, and the Risotto w/ asparagus and scallops w/ lobster sauce was orgasm inspiring. Seriously. It was ridiculously good. Sublime flavors. So glad we missed the buffet line at the holiday party and found ourselves starving over Potrero Hill way.
We'll definitely stop in to Chez Papa again soon. I hope they keep that dish on the menu for awhile.
Chez Papa, tucked in residential Potrero Hill, has a fantastic, low key atmosphere without a hint of pretentiousness. With their friendly French waitstaff, an authentic cozy feel really came through. They were attentive and navigated the small dining room well.
The food was completely delicious, as was the wine, which the waiter gave very good suggestions. We shared the warm goat cheese and grilled artichoke appetizers and they were phenomenal. Equally as tasty were the ahi tuna and lamb entrees, which melt in your mouth. It tastes so good when it touches your lips...I'll definitely be back!
This used to be one of my favorite restaurants in SF. I haven't been there in a while since i now live far away (inner Richmond dist). I went there last night for my sisters birthday. It was pretty empty for a Monday night. There was only about 8 people dining.
The service was cordial but nothing special. Ditto for the food unfortunately. Sis had the pre fix menu which started with an open face ravioli, main course was lamb (in the stew fashion) and for dessert she opted for the apple tart. I had the lamb shank for starter, steak and fries for main and chocolate fondue for dessert.
Sisters: The open face ravioli was delicious actually but the lamb stew was OK at best. it was a bit too sweet. It was too much meat. the apple tart was nice but nothing outrageous.
Mine: Loved the lamb shank appetizer.. its always a hit and i almost always order it. it was cooked to perfection. bit on the fatty side but delicious nonetheless. But the steak and fries were over cooked. I requested med rare, but got med well which is saturated with onions and sauce. fries was delicious but the steak was over cooked. I fear that it was at par with what I'd get at Sizzlers. Chocolate fondue was good.
ohhh and the glass of wine we got was good (syrah) but the glass it was served in looked like it came from Target for $2 a stem.
I've been here many times but keep forgetting to review it. Its one of my favorite places in the… Read more »
We had a celebration dinner at Chez Papa and 18 people attended. It was my first time there, and I had no idea that we would take up the majority of the restaurant. But I have to say, given the small size of the place, the staff handled our large group really nicely. The owner was in touch beforehand to arrange the prix fixe menu, and they printed up special menus to mark the occasion we were celebrating. A very nice touch. The food was great, and so was the wine. They don't have any vegetarian entrees on the menu, but they made a delicious veggie risotto for the several vegetarians in our group -- pretty impressive for a cuisine that isn't known for being veggie-friendly. They didn't get upset at all at the end when we asked to pay the bill with a hodgepodge of cash and several different credit cards. All in all, the atmosphere was cozy, fun, and festive. A bit pricey, but worth it for a special celebration.
What a disappointment. The food was good enough, but the experience renders me unable to ever go back. It is a very noisy place normally--small room, too many tables and all hard surfaces. But to make matters much worse, some colossal idiot booked a party of about 25 people. The noise was so loud , not only couldn't we talk across our table, we could barely talk with the person sitting next to us (party of 4). All in all, it made for a very unpleasant and frustrating experience for all of us. We will never be going back.
Overall, came here with my GF.
Spent $120.00 for two people,
food was so so. Not worth what we spent. Forgot what I had, well, because I forced myself to forget.
Got in my car, 5 minutes down the road, pulled over and threw everything up.
Service was pretty lazy and chill. Only two other tables there. On a Thursday evening.
Will add more later when I remember what I had..........
Okay, I'm back and with more info,
We had
Appt-
Crispy warm goat cheese, butter lettuce, lemon & olive oil vinaigrette-Pretty grubbin, cheese was strong and somewhat overwhelming. I enjoyed it, the lady did not.
Beef tartare with Dijon mustard, ketchup, parsley, shallots, capers, cornichons & quail egg- I think this is the one that got me, got me sick. Was mushy and just didn't live up to the expectations I had for it.
Entree-
Roasted Filet Mignon with potato-parsnip gratin & truffle foie gras sauce- Was good, but should've just waited and ordered a filet from Bobo's or Ruth Chris.
Pan seared Mahi Mahi with fennel confit, eggplant caviar & pistou coulis- Pretty bland
NOW, I'm going to give an extra star, from 2 to 3 stars, only bc some douche bag has been sending me multiple messages over and over about how stupid I am, racial comments, bla bla bla.
Really, I guess I could be mad at this Dan V. guy, but when it comes down to it, I just feel bad for this dude. Seriously man-5 messages??? Are you that butt hurt?? And the racial comments. You keep saying I belong on clement....well maybe... there is good food over there. Burma Superstar is wonderful and Chapeau is one of my fav French rest. But in the end, hope you have a good one man. Isn't this what Yelp is for, to have an opinion.
Came here for a casual dinner with the new roommates to talk about the apartment, but I had no idea I was in for a culinary adventure.
I started with the artichoke hearts stuffed with Gorgonzola and wrapped in Prosciutto, served with a few bites of salad on the side. This made for four little taste grenades in my mouth as the cheese, artichoke, and Prosciutto all melted into one another. The way to eat these is to put the whole thing in your mouth (it's not that big) and just let it sit and have everything run together. I cut the first one in half and ate it in two tiny bites, and I swear it wasn't as good as the whole piece together.
The star of the show was the foie gras. It was a special appetizer of the night and its presence on the menu pushed me from the land of main dishes to double appetizers. This was a giant chunk of foie, seared so that the outside was ever-so-slightly crispy, yet the inside soft and moist, possibly even cool in some parts. The richness and texture was to die for, and I don't care what your political views are, this is a must-have-before-you-die dish The foie is why I'm giving Chez Papa the fifth star. the place was great, but this was over the top.
We went through quite a bit of bread. The crispy baguettes just kept coming, though the olive tapanade did not (probably a good thing or i'd have been too full to eat my dinner.
Roommates both ordered the lamb daube, and it was succulent. Soaking meat in wine is something that ought to be done more often, because it is amazing.
For dessert, I ordered the lavender crème brûlée. Massive lavender flavour in this dessert, obviating the need for fresh fruit accompaniment. Maybe not the absolute best crème brûlée I have ever had, but definitely the best Lavender crème brûlée. A great -if somewhat heavy- finish to the meal.
Had a lip-smacking Bourgogne to go with my meal with strong fresh cherry notes to it.
When I saw the foie gras truffle sauce pairing with the filet mignon, it was love at first sight. My entree decision was in the process of being solidified. Reason did not dictate the need to look further into the alternative list of entree options. Except I did. Except I ordered the Liberty Duck Legs Confit. Except I loved it and except it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. That night, all I could talk about was this amazing duck preserved and poached in its own fat. So succulent, tender and paired with mission black figs and port wine sauce. Can it really get any better than this?
Of course I helped myself to some filet mignon off a neighbor's plate. It came as no surprise that it was cooked to perfection and very delicious. The duck however, takes the cake on this one.
I'd like to particularly mention the seared foie gras appetizer that was a special for the night. I actually ordered the mussels nicoise (didn't want people to think I had a duck fetish) and stole a bite off another neighbor's plate. Foie gras like confit, can be a hit or miss for me. Served up pate style, in my opinion, can be the worst culinary experience in the world. This foie gras here was melt in your mouth impeccable, reminiscent of the foie gras I had in the tapa bars in San Sebastian, Spain where I first experienced it. So delicious.
Chez Papa Bistrot is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. The ambiance is charming, intimate and boisterous. The restaurant serves up some mind-blowing food that is more reflective of french comfort food than fine dining. The occasion that night was my sister's birthday and they did a wonderful presentation of the cake. The friendly and passionate staff contributes to the warm character of this neighborhood restaurant.
I'm in bed right now.
In Vienna. (Yeah - Austria.)
At a swanky hotel.
Sick as a dog.
- With absolutely nothing better to do than update Yelp. -
Since I can't review the restaurants I've eaten at in Brussels or Vienna this week, I have to go back to my "Gotta Yelp Soon" list - and up next is birthday dinner #5: Chez Papa.
I had quite the disappointment at Chez Maman - and since then vowed off Chez Papa just for the hell of it. Who cares about logic? I did try Chez Spencer, but almost bailed on that too, just because Chez Maman, in my opinion, sucked.
But this being a dinner being bought for me, I had to agree when my friend W suggested this place. It's been his go-to place for awhile, and it seemed as good a night as any to try it.
My girlfriend and I began the night early for Happy Hour at Lingba. If you guys haven't been there, definitely go and have the Strawberry Mojitos. An hour and few drinks later, we strolled down the block to Chez Papa and met up w/ the boys for dinner.
The ambiance is very sweet and quaint. If I lived in this neighborhood, I could totally see this being my type of joint, based on ambiance alone. The problem is that a similarly warm atmosphere is provided across the street at Aperto, a restaurant that I really enjoy. I was excited to try Chez Papa to answer the question of which joint would end up being my Potrero restaurant of choice?
We started by ordering wine - which was OK. I suspect if we hadn't downed the mojitos, I would have liked it less, but I was at that point where if it was drinkable, I was drinking it.
For appetizers, we had beef tartare, and it was tasty. Fresh, flavorful, and perfect with the toasted baguette. We then ordered foie gras and a mysterious third appetizer. Mysterious, because I have the photo, I uploaded it, I studied it, and I tried to recall it but for the life of me, I do not recall what that was. I'm going to assume it was OK, because if it was excellent or disgusting, I would remember. The foie gras was nice, but I am not big on foie gras paired w/ fruits, and this was. That said, it was a nice soft chunk of organ meat - delicious.
For our entrees, we ordered the salmon, the filet mignon, and the lamb. The salmon was bland and totally dead, the filet mignon was simply acceptable. Now I have NEVER liked steak served in a French restaurant - you'd think I would stop doing it, but having a certifiable weakness for beef, I continue to ream my head against the proverbial brick wall. My girlfriend ordered the lamb, and that was the hit of the evening. To be more accurate, the three friends loved it - I liked it just fine.
So, in short, I was not altogether impressed by the food. The service was attentive and very nice, just what I like, but the food didn't outshine the people or the decor.
That said, Chez Papa secures a strong 3 stars in my book because I would come back, and I would recommend it if it's in someone's vicinity. It was a very sweet restaurant and rather perfect for a cozy dinner for a couple in love.
OK - now the bellman has come to my door w/ some medication in hopes of my joining the living again by tomorrow, God willing. I'm going to take some and hibernate under the covers for about ten hours and reemerge a new person.
Seriously.
I look sick.
Every photo I took in Brussels is basically trashed because of me - puffy, droopy, and basically disastrous.
Is it pathetic that I am sitting in Europe and craving... Shabu House?
I had the pleasure of dining on two different occasions at Chez Papa this month for two separate birthday celebrations. They have a delicious new appetizer for garlic and cheese lovers: baked cambozola served alongside a head of roasted garlic with crostini. Soooooo delicious. I've never thought to pair cambozola with garlic and when I saw it on the menu, I knew I had to have it. Definitely did not disappoint.
For the first time since I began dining at the bistrot years ago, I decided to try the Duck Leg Confit. The rich meat was fall-off-the bone tender and was wrapped in a browned, crispy skin. Absolute perfection!
Service was wonderful as usual. I had a reservation with a girlfriend the second time I visited and they were running slightly behind so we had to wait for about 5 minutes. The kitchen served us a complimentary amuse bouche to start and then topped our evening off with complimentary dessert wine to make up for the inconvenience. I couldn't ask for better treatment.
I've never been unhappy with anything I've ordered, although no matter how delicious everything is, I really come here for the seared foie gras. It's a must-have item for me every single time.
Anyone giving this restaurant less than five stars must be ordering the wrong thing.
Exquisite, exquisite, exquisite! I highly recommend Chez Papa to all French foodies who seek a… Read more »
One of my favorites in Potrero, especially when I have time to sit for a longer dinner.
Food: Tender and juicy new york strip served with tasty salad and sauce so good none of it stayed on the plate. The steak is sliced, so keep that in mind if you're a hunk-o-meat purist.
Service has always been friendly, welcoming and attentive.
A great and friendly neighborhood joint. Chez Papa is in potrero hill and has a very neighborhood and relaxed vibe.
The service was friendly and our waitress was very helpful with pairing wine for everyone on the table (four people).
For appetizers we ordered the ravioli and the warm goat cheese salad - both were excellent. For main course, I got the Ahi Tunu, which was again very good.
FYI - Not a good place for vegetarians. Although the chef put some veggies together for my friend who was vegetarian, it wasn't very good and not worth the price ($19).
This was one of my favorite restaurants in Potrero Hill (definitely four or five stars before), but they have a new chef and updated menu which would be okay, but the food has taken a nose dive as well. I ordered from the menu without examining it enough and was surprised that my entree (the steak) had changed from the menu they've had for probably the last like two years. Okay, perhaps this is my fault. Anyhow, the New York steak and the sauce was unbelievably salty. Major thumbs down and now my stomach is reeling from ingesting a week's worth of salt.
If you are dining out in Potrero, I'd stick with Chez Maman (if it is the weekend, see my review), Aperto, or Umi.
I'll give the new chef another month or two and try it again to see if things settle out, but I'll probably avoid the steak next time (which is too bad because the previous menu's steak with fries was one of the most reliable and phenomenal meals I could get in the city).
Roasted filet mignon with potato-parsnip gratin and truffle foie gras sauce. Absolutely recommended! The filet mignon is made to perfection - soo tender and juicy! The truffle foie gras sauce rocked my socks... I LOVED this dish! I CLEANED my plate off! MUST GO BACK!
It was a cute ambiance, but I really did not like the food. everything was just so so . It was freezing in the room. The foie gras was not cooked the way i wanted it and was realllly hard to get down ..
Everything was good. Not bad, not great, just good. Except for their desserts, which were fantastic.
I LOVE Chez Papa!
It's completely delicious. I had a crepe there....and I wish I could have had another. I think the owner served me and my boss for lunch, and he was a great waiter. Very nice.
The seating area is small, you can either sit at the long counter which takes up most of the little restaurant, or there are select tables for two in the corner of the restaurant.
It's a little gem of a restaurant - try it out!!
My friends and I have been talking about dinner at Chez Papa for forever now and finally got around to going. The food was delicious and the ambiance was great. I love little neighborhood restaurants and this is exactly that. It's small, but we walked in and were seated immediately. (Disclaimer -- we did call first to see if we needed reservations, but were told it wasn't necessary and it wasn't.)
I had the ahi tuna and it was amazing. My friends were also very happy with their meals (the sole and the lamb). On first glance, the portions seemed small, but I left there completely satiated with no dessert and an appetizer split between the three of us.
The service was friendly, but not intrusive. I would absolutely recommend it to a friend and am looking forward to returning.
Dear God this place is inhumanly tasty. I recommend this place for anniversaries, breakups, and infidelity apologies. Order wine first.
I give this place 3.5 stars. The food was delicious. The steak and mussels were excellent, but I didn't care too much for the mushroom small plate. Only main reason i bumped off a couple of stars is because I called for reservations and they said the latest they could seat a party is at 10PM because the kitchen closes at 10 and they wanted to make sure our orders were in, so I made my reservations at 10PM and rushed to get ready and headed over there.
The person on the phone also made it CLEAR for us to be there promptly at 10. Around 10:45PM while we were eating dinner, there were walk-ins and they got seated and ordered without any problems! Also, the steak we ordered was medium rare and it took a long time to come out. How long does it really take to fry french fries and cook a medium RARE steak? The service and setting of the place was decent here. I will probably want to try the other chez papa in the mint plaza next time.
From the time you approach this small corner of Potrero Hill you're hit by an atmosphere of casual elegance. The Parisian wicker bistrot chairs are arranged at a handful of tables on the section of pavement from which al fresco diners can look at the views of the city from this pleasant vantage point.
This is a classic neighborhood eatery - the stylish, dark interior is complemented by charming, attentive service in the style of the French bistro. The menu also conforms to that tradition, with a varied menu, mostly made up of time-honored classics.
The beet salad and delicious open-face ravioli with shitake and oyster mushrooms started us off nicely, and a delicious daube of lamb and steak frites booked our return visit. The wine list offers more choice than your average casual-dining establishment - the large selection of wines by the glass was particularly welcome. But all in all, Chez Papa Bistrot earns its reputation as a neighborhood institution.
Recently, I was lucky enough to be treated to a nice night out with a dashingly handsome guy... his destination - Chez Papa - was a cute pick for our lovely evening.
Important stuff first... the liquid chocolate cake at the end was amazing. We had another dessert but I can't remember what it was... apple tart? LoL Just kidding, the tart was good too, I'm just a huge fan of the chocolate.
Ok ok... we started with an Amazing olive spread and bread, brought to the table after we ordered. It was soooo good, I think I could have eaten it all night. My Petite Assiette was the Open-Face ravioli with Shitake and Oyster mushrooms... it was delish. My next treat was Seared Sole with Capers... I love capers so I enjoyed the flavor, light and slightly sour. Unfortunately, it could've been a lil less oily... probably wouldn't go back to order it again.
All-in-all I had a nice, tasty experience. Oddly though, I'm not sure if I'd rush back with the economy in the state it is right now. And for special occasions, I'd probably try one of my other bookmarks.
Might see ya there. (I'd definitely go back for some wine and chocolate fondant.)
They serve Ratatouille!
Charming little French Restaurant in Portrero Hill. All black, with bright red painted chairs. It's one of those restaurants where you sit close to the table next to you. Not in a bad way, but in an Intimate way. Dark with beautiful candle light and low lighting.
This is one of my friends favorite places. She says that she goes there for the steak. I didn't get a chance to order that, but will the next time I go.
Great service, good food, a good place to share a bottle of wine over dinner.
I definately want to check out Chez Papa Resto in Downtown. I heard the decor is amazing. Food to match!
Booked during DAT and despite it being a Thursday we found it pretty crowded by the time we left (had an early dinner at 6pm). Still when we had to add more people to our party, they were totally accommodating. Some ordered off the DAT menu, though some of us did not. For some reason my husband has an inability to do stick to that menu...no matter how many times we try to attend somewhere solely for DAT.
The Mushroom Ravioli was well-sauced, flavorful and delicious. My chicken was cooked perfectly with the crispiest of skin, and reminded me of the coq au vin I had in Paris... and the warm chocolate fondant was a delight.
Off the DAT menu... two of my companions had the steak which was well-enjoyed. The Foie Gras was amazing and the scallops were super tasty (and cooked very well...which for me is a big deal, since I cannot stomach a rubbery underdone scallop).
The waitstaff was very friendly and attentive and earned bonus points for allowing me to practice my French.
I think, while smaller and more charming, I enjoyed the atmosphere at Chez Papa Resto a bit more.
A beautiful corner restaurant... dark and loud, with tealights in red holders. A frenchman greeted us at the bar, which you feel obligated to walk to when you enter because you end up standing next to people eating otherwise... he sat us down at a two-top and water was delivered about a minute later.
Our server was a lovely tall woman, who seemed to be the only one taking orders. She had an assistant for the room as well. He cleared, and refilled our waters and teas.
We started the night out with the tomato soup (which I would've had 3 bowls of if it wasn't $7 a bowl), then I had the chicken and my date had the filet mignon. We had to resist sopping up the juices with our bread! So good. The service was great, too. They seemed to read our minds. Things came and went so quickly, it was hard to keep track of dinner.
If it was little less pricey, it would've gotten "As good as it gets" from me.
Came with JF for DAT.
Loved the decor/ambiance: 4.5 stars
Super cozy cafe feel. The waiters are very French (although, I did not hear the "honh honh honh" laugh). Several patrons were French. It all lent to a very "authentic" vibe.
The DAT menu wasn't super exciting. We both ordered the open faced mushroom ravioli, which in my opinion, was the tastiest thing we ate all night. I ordered the lamb daube, JF ordered the petrale sole. For dessert we shared/swapped the apple tatin and the flourless chocolate cake. Both were good, but not fabulous. 3.5 stars.
Overall, good food, good service (although they were a bit slow to fill our water glasses), and great company. I can see myself returning for long chats over some appetizers.
Small plates in this small place. Grab a date, and head here for a deliciously romantic meal. (Make a reservation between grabbing a date and heading here-- they book-up quickly).
I ordered the scallops w/ butternut squash puree + truffle oil and the open face mushroom (shitake, oyster, truffle) ravioli. Both were reasonable portions of heavenly, delectable goodness. I devoured each bite as I joined the clean-plate-club. My date wasn't so bad either.
Great small bistro with great French food and friendly staff.. This place is a favorite of mine.
We went during dine about town, and the appetizer with scallops was delish! Howeverer, the sole entree was just average--doesn't stand out, thus the 3 star. I can get the same dish closer to me in Berkeley, so no point venturing out further. Also a 3 star since I won't be going back. Maybe the Resto is better?
The restaurant itself is cute, cozy, and dark for all you romantic couples. The service was ok, nothing spectacular. I love the portrero hill area though--5 stars for the cute community!
We had planned to go for dine about town but ended up ordering from the regular menu instead. The generous portion of foie gras with a confit of grapes and pears was heaven. Well a fatty heaven but who cares!
The other items we ordered included beef tartar, fries, mussels and beet salad. The dishes were all well seasoned but none made me happier than the foie gras.
Service was great and the staff was very friendly. I will return for sure and very soon!
The beginning of my food weekend started with dinner at Chez Papa.
It was a beginning of a food-tastic weekend. We ordered the foie gras (and another appetizer -- I forgot), and I got the sirloin.
Good stuff.
I was heading to the City and had everything under control. I would leave my house at 6:20 and arrive in plenty of time to meet up with my wife and her friend. I did my best to dress as cool as possible to try and keep up with the young hipsters.
As I was hanging out on the couch my phone rings, it was my wife telling me that they were already in front of the restaurant. I looked down and it was 6:15 Oh crap! I race into my bedroom and change my shoes as I was still wearing my running shoes. I run down to my car and head out. I'm still ok on time right? How about a big NO! The "low fuel" indicator light is on so now I have to make a pit stop for gas. Crap Crap!
The most convenient gas station along the way is in South San Franciscoe but costs a fortune. I have no choice and prepare myself to pay through the nose for gas. As I step out of my car I look down at my shoes. Hmmm, something isn't right. I lift my pant leg and I see that I changed into the right cool black shoes, but I neglected to change my socks. I was still wearing my white Adidas running socks! And to make matters worse the little stripes didn't even match! Crap Crap Crap! There goes my dressing cool factor.
Oh well, at least I was comfortable.
One more monkey wrench, our original plan was to meet at Chez Maman and check out the burgers that everyone always raves about. When we arrived we found that they only had bar seating and didn't make for a nice conversation and leisurely night out. Now what do we do? Our friend suggests Chez Papa, which we had all been to previously. My thoughts were "sure, lets go, but we'll never get in". My wife then says "Just let me go in and ask and see what they can do for us". Well lucky for us she has a pretty face because they seated us immediately.
As usual Chez Papa treated us super duper awesome. We split an onion tart and an artichoke and goat cheese starters. Both were delicious. There is a bit of anchovy in the onion tart that you can definitely pick up on, so careful ordering it if you are at all sensitive to anchovies. My wife and her friend had the steak frite which is always a solid choice at a French Bistro. Since I had a fllet mignon the previous night I asked if they could prepare the "open face ravioli" starter as a main dish which they happily did. I also did not mess around and asked for a side of frites. Yes, there were a million frites on the table, but I wanted my own ok?
The desserts were both excellent, as we ended up splitting the lavender creme brulee and the apple tartin. They also brought over a complimentary glass of muscat at the end of the evening.
Aside from my fashion faux pas, everything else went swimmingly and cannot to make a return visit soon.
Yelp needs half stars. I am giving this place 3.5 stars but since you can't actually select that.. I'll round up since I like the chain of restaurants they have.
The boy and I came here for our 2 month anniversary since Chez Maman was our first date. We decided to step it up one notch and check this place out.
I went with the all year around dine about town menu and got the following:
1 soup of the day -- tomato & garlic -- YUM! I liked this soup much better than the one they had at chez maman
2 lemony chicken w/ veggies - not my cup of tea. nothing special, the sauce was way too lemony.. although the chicken was perfectly tender.
3 apple tart - the presentation was okay, but it tasted GREAT! Melted in my mouth .. the pastry part was perfectly flakey and crisp, the apple & sauce wasnt too sweet. I am a fan!
The boy:
- Dungeness Crab Meat Squash Blossom - sounded a bit funny.. crab + squash?.. but this stuff is GOOD! Not a huge portion as it's an appetizer but if you like crab.. try this!
- Ahi tuna - the boy said he liked it. 4 stars good. not sure what else to say since i dont eat ahi tuna.
My parents were in visiting here together for the first time since 2001 or so, and I wanted to go out someplace nice for dinner with them. They each came separately for a long weekend last year and I took my dad to Fleur de Lys and my mom to Gary Danko, and while experiences of that caliber were not going to be on the table for this visit, I wanted something that could at least approach those experiences, with a more reasonable price point. Of course, I soon decided to try Chez Papa Bistrot, as I am a big fan of Chez Maman, and had been looking for an excuse to go since I moved the neighborhood last December.
It's pretty darn cool that they are offering their dine about dinner throughout the year, and both my parents took advantage of that, with outstanding results. As for my food, my beet salad was simply outstanding - the beets were sweet and juicy, and the feta was a wonderful counterpoint. The steak frite was also a winner, fantastic meat with a delicious sauce and crispy golden fries. Their wine selection is nice, with a very respectable selection by the glass. Dessert also did not fail to please. Across the table we tried the all four of the main items, and each was fantastic.
The restaurant is rather small, and some might consider it a tad loud, but once you get you food you will forget all about this.
And so concludes my tour of the 18th street restaurants.
My qualifications of a 5 star rating have been redefined after my dining experience at Chez Papa Bistrot. It's in a class on its own and now I feel several of my past 5 star ratings are undeserving!
Food-wise, every part of the meal was absolutely 5 stars. My favorites: the warm goat cheese salad was a little bird's nest of fried creamy cheese on top of a grassy hill of perfectly layered butter lettuce leaves - until I smush and chop it up for devouring!! Rabbit food this salad is not! The stuffed baby artichokes wrapped in prosciutto were so cute and yummy. Baby things just taste so good - baby corn, baby carrots, baby oranges (aka mandarin oranges... ok I made that up but they are kinda like baby oranges!), baby asparagus. My conclusion is baby = delicious. I am childless, I might add.
Can't go wrong ending a meal w/ chocolate fondant cake and lavender creme brulee. OK anything deeply chocolate I love so that's given... but the lavender creme brulee had the perfect hint of lavender and the perfect sugar crust. Who woulda thunk eating cream custard the flavor of a common floral bathroom scent could be so yummy?
On top of the perfectly executed meal, the service really redefined 5 stars for me. The server and host were extremely attentive in filling our water and wine glasses, which I'm sure pleased my date. ;-) We received complimentary apertifs with our desserts, which is always a bonus, and again, I'm sure pleased my date. ;-) The host even called us a cab and served us a warm mint herb tea while we waited - a truly wonderful touch.
My bar for a 5 star rating has been raised high. Very high. It's a cute place, kinda loud and crowded, but with enough wine you can talk over your neighbors or zone them out... even the couple clearly on an online-date with the guy trying to explain to the girl what 'chez' means... "It's like the 's to a name, like Trader Joe's would be Chez Trader Joe..." "Huh, like what? 's? I, like, don't get it..." Sigh... OMG. I need more wine.
It seems a sin, almost an act of unconscionable extravagance to have a fancy meal these days. I feel like something bad will happen to me for it. Shouldn't we all be pinching pennies and avoid high-priced restaurants? It is our civic duty.
HELL NO. While my own finances have been SEVERELY effected by the recession, I gotta eat and every once in a while eat VERY WELL. Chez Papa is the restaurant to make that happen. We sat outside with the downtown skyline sitting by our side.
Foie gras appetizer, steak frites, oysters on the half shell, orange panna cotta for dessert...that is the way we urban tenants deserve to dine. Two bottles of wine later, we forgot about the economy and remembered what is most important...sex jokes and direct interpersonal communication.
5 stars.
* I feel the need to throw in a joke here. Er, next time I eat at Chez Papa...
Oh My. Delicious, delicious, delicious.
Table bread and tapenade: very fresh and crispy table bread and a murky looking but delicious tasting olive tapenade. It was nice to have tapenade instead of plain olive oil. Good start to the meal.
Vegetable soup: completely pureed vegetables, the consistency of tomato soup. Just flavorful and heavy enough to get a good base going my for my meal. Not overwhelming in flavor; just enough. Delicious.
Calamari: spicier than I've ever had calamari.Surprisingly tasty. Not at all chewy. Delicious.
Scallops: just 3 to a plate, but enough considering the rest of the food we ordered. Cooked very well and served atop sweet mashed yams (?) something potato-like. Delicious.
Moules: before ordering, I emphasized that I only like mussels when they're cooked well. Chopped up and thrown in pasta or chowder? No. I only like them steamed, served directly from the shell, served alone. These were done VERY well. The broth (with tiny tomatoes and olives) at the bottom of the pot was fantastic... even after deciding I was full, I couldn't stop from dipping the table bread in it. So good. Delicious.
Creme brulee: the sugary layer was torched perfectly. Cracked just right under my spoon. And the custard inside was fluffy and light yet flavorful. Delicious.
Espresso: a bit warm for my preference (I prefer scalding) but pretty decent flavor for a decaf.
All around, this meal was excellent. We started out with disappointment that they don't serve cheese plates but were very satisfied with the meal. The service was very efficient and the courses arrived at well-timed intervals. I would definitely come back here. I love French food!!! and Chez Papa does it very well.
I was having dinner with my girlfriend and wanted to go somewhere with really yummy food, but nothing too pricey. Originally we planned to meet at Chez Maman, but since Chez Papa was right next door and not crowded, why not finally check it out?
The tables are really close so I was a little irritated at first, but I soon got over it. We sat and ordered. Strip steak for her, filet mignon with foie gras sauce for me. Her steak was GREAT. Flavorful and tender, but I'm sorry. Mine was WAAAAAAAAY better. The foie gras truffle sauce was just to die for.
The service was good and attentive. I'm reserving the last star for when I go back and try the desserts.
I love Dine about Town!
Last Saturday, my girlfriends and I decided to try this place out. We arrived at our 12:30pm reservation on the dot. Our table was waiting for us. After we were greeted, we were seated right away.
Our server was very nice, we were given water right away and our drinks very promptly. I was facing the restaurant with the window at my back. I noticed that everyone else in the restaurant had bread, but our table.
The bread arrived and we began to order. We all chose something off the Dine About Town Menu. I ordered the Pissaladere (Sp?) for appetizer, Lemon Roasted Chicken with veggies, and the Lavender Creme Brulee.
The Pissaladere (Sp?) was an adventure for me; I've never had or heard of it in my life. It ended up being a sort of onion tart/onion pie slice served with anchovies and olives on top with a side of some vinaigrette salad. It tasted good.
The Roasted Chicken was just OK for me. I recently ate at another restaurant that had chicken that amazed me, so this was mediocre.
The Creme Brulee was AMAZING. Perfect texture. The lavender infused flavor was refreshing and not overbearing.
The ambiance was nice; it was a cozy little spot on Potrero Hill. One thing that annoyed me was the fact that the out door chairs kept banging into the window. As for the noise level in the restaurant, it was perfect for a nice chat, but not private conversation.
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: French
Neighborhood: Union Square
Category: French
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: French
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: French
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