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Mo-Tue, Join us for incredible sell out of great wines from our old stocks.
Wine suggestions at your table
by Master George Aknin
Mon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
"Gitane is a much needed addition to the San Francisco restaurant scene. This restaurant is not something that you would not expect to…" read more »
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Love the black on black decor - beautiful chandeliers and a very swanky but not stuffy feel about the place. It's busy, so if you want a more laid back, quiet dinner, try heading over later in the evening, when the crowd has blown through.
Service during both my visits was really amazing, very attentive without being annoying or smarmy, but maybe it's just because they were good looking french guys?
My halibut was cooked perfectly - moist and melt in my mouth delicious. Served on a bed of leeks and mushrooms that were almost as good as the fish. I'm not a big fan of foam so would've prefered actual sauce, but that's just me, call me old fashioned.
All in all it's pricey - portions could be a bit bigger, but maybe that's just cuz I'm a hungry girl...I mean, throw me a bone - put a carb on the plate for god's sake. Having said that, I had a great time on both visits and would recommend it, but not sure that i'll be back anytime soon since the menu is a bit limited - I need options man, options....and a few carbs on the plate.
I never would've thought I'd find a cheeseburger served with Brie cheese, but oh my Chez Papa, you are amazing at making this combo work! I love brie cheese btw so this was a very welcomed surprise for me. I came here for lunch on a business meeting (it was informal but still a business meeting nonetheless.) The inside of Chez Papa was very nicely decorated, and came off as elegant and upscale. It was a little dark inside, but doable.
The food was fantastic! We ordered an appetizer to start, I forget what it's called, Kobe Beef Tartar (?), and were given our drinks right away (a couple glasses of wine and waters.) I was very satisfied with my sirloin cheeseburger with Brie, and the pommes frites were amazing!
My only concern was that our waitress did not seem to know a whole lot about the restaurant, the menu, or the chefs. We asked her a couple questions about the menu, about items, about substituting some things, and she didn't know. A couple times she didn't seem confident with what she was telling us, but maybe she was knew. It didn't ruin the experience, just made me wonder a little...
Anyhow, Chez Papa gave me a great dining experience and I will definitely be back again to try more delicious French food!
My two girl friends and I went here on a Saturday night for dinner. Ive heard great things about this restaurant, yet I went with no expectations in order to prevent over-hype.
So the atmosphere of this restaurant is fantastic: dim, candle-lit areas which seem intimate. The food was not.
As like at Chez Papa Bistro, the food here is incredibly salty. We got the sweetbreads as appetizers, and I dont know how you can mess up sweetbreads, but it was hard to eat without the buffer from bread.
All three of us got fish dishes, and my skate wing in particular, was so salty that I couldnt bear to finish it. By the time I was half way through my dish, I could barely taste due to the amount of salt in my dish. Honestly, Id rather have food that lacks salt than too much salt; it ruins the flavor of the fish.
Truth be told, I am not going back here again.
Ambiance was nice but I was surprised at how loud it was inside. Went for dinner with a vendor and we really had to talk loud to understand one another.
Service was wonderful. Top notch.
Kobe beef tartare was delicious but will pass on the bone marrow appetizer next time. Other people at the table loved it, so I suspect it's just my aversion to the texture.
I had the black angus ribeye with bordelaise sauce and it was cooked perfectly. The french fries that came with it were sort of an afterthought for me, but I really enjoyed them. Other members of our party had the halibut and raved about it, as well.
If I'm looking for a nice dinner in San Francisco next time I'm in town, I'll definitely reconsider Chez Papa.
I finally got a chance to try this place. Went for lunch today on a sunny day and enjoyed it very much. The service was friendly and attentive but not annoying. The food was very good too.
I went simple with my main course...steak and frites. :D The steak was very juicy and the frites just the way I like it: crispy and on the thin side. The smoked trout appetizer was good but could have been a little better. The dessert was yummy...chocolate profiteroles - perfect for the warm sunny day.
The food is just ok, a sort of French "novel cuisine" , i.e. the usual, somewhat confused Californian recipes: well cooked but overpriced and served in minute quantities.
Service was barely adequate despite the pretentiousness of the place.
Expensive, not to go back to.
First of all, I love love love the little plaza they are in. So adorable! We went there for bday dinner for my dad and I before going to the theater. None of us were able to drink for various reasons (mine being sea legs after a cruise) so couldnt comment on the cocktails or wine.
We ended up doing the pre fixe menu. It was delicious! We got the Kobe beef tartare which was very good.
Entrees: I got the duck confit which ws amazing and prob one of the best ones i have had. Crispy skin and moist on the inside. The sauce was very good as well. My mom got the artic char which was cooked perfectly and extremely flavorful. I am not a foam person myself but it went really well with the delicate fish. My dad got the pork chop which was seasoned and cooked really well.
Wasnt a huge fan of the desserts. Wish the panna cotta was on the menu. But we got the apple tatin (not my type of dessert so I wont comment on it), profiteroles which was the only thing i didnt love, it tasted like they had been sittting in the fridge all day. But the clafoutis was really good.
I dont know what people are talking about with the small portions comment. I was stuffed beyond belief and i thought the portions were generous! Its not the type of place where you get a pound of food, its about quality. So not sure where they are coming from.
Here is my short and sweet review of Chez Papa:
Appetizer: Kobe beef tartare w/dijon, capers and garlic. I thought this dish was very good and a huge portion. I couldn't finish it all!
Main course: duck confit. Delicious, juicy and falling off the bone.
Dessert: panna cotta. Yumm, but can't go wrong right?
Ambiance: trendy and a great place for a date. In Mint Plaza which is super cute and romantic.
Overall: good food, good service, nice ambiance, definitely will visit again.
Wanting to try this restaurant for a while, my friend made a 6:30 pm reservation on a cool Friday evening. While waiting in the plaza, I couldn't help but admire how they've modernized this block. Instead of homeless and transients, men in suits and ladies in dresses sipped wine and talked about how their week went. We were seated just behind the hostess' podium and got a nice view of the entire dining room. When we were seated the restaurant was barely half full, but there was a line by 7 pm and noise level was enough to drown any normal conversation.
Here's our menu:
Shared Appetizers
Hamachi Crudo - Described as one of their "favorites" and a combination of ceviche and sashimi, it lived up to expectations.
Kobe Beef Tartare - The presentation was interesting as he mixed the beef with the egg for a smooth, tasty mix that we spread on the given small baguette slices.
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Yellow Watermelon - Refreshing greens and in-season tomatoes served on a bed of yellow watermelon slices. A nice palate opener for the meal to come.
Steamed Mussels - Served in a tasty garlic herb sauce that was great for bread-dipping. Reminded me of Plouf.
Entrees
Rib Eye Steak (medium rare) - Ordered medium rare, it came as expected with temperature hot pomme frites (fries); my dining partners helped me polish them off before they cooled. The sauce was just a tad heavy for me on this.
Shared Side dish
Ratatouille - A stew of various squashes, tomatoes, and peppers, this was a carry-over favorite from the original restaurant on 17th St.
Shared Dessert
Carrot Cake - Not bad and was not done the traditional way.
Overall, this was a very nice experience in a nice atmosphere. Because the bar area and the dining room are very close together, the noise level gets louder as it gets later. It's substantially larger than the Potrero location and definitely better for big parties. Dining with the same people who dined at Jardiniere, we agreed that everything was better here. It's also not as formal, giving its customers a more relaxed vibe. They also offer a three-course prix fixe menu on Monday to Thursday evenings.
Since I work in the neighborhood, you normally won't find me here after 6 pm. Now there's good reason to stay.
Came here during the Summerland event on Saturday--on one of the hottest days of the year in SF. We were able to get seating outside..in the shade.
The three us of us shared a bottle of Au Bon Climat Chard..steak tartare..steamed mussels..and grilled prawns...oh..and of course the pomme frites..
Our server was charming and attentive..the food was delicious..and the people watching... I couldn't have asked for more!
Chez Papa Resto is the Cathrine Zeta Jones Douglas of restaurants. By that I mean that it is smoldering hot but won't give you the time of day without some green.
My friends and I thought we'd grab a quick bit here before the Pet Shop Boys concert last night. We were wrong; in a good way. The meal was great and we lingered over every bite.
We started out with the stuffed squash blossoms (fine), pork belly (eh), and the mussels (Ding! We have a winner!). The mussels were the standout of the bunch. We couldn't stop using the baguette to sop up the spicy saffron broth.
I had the pork chop as my entree and it was delightfully fatty- no "other white meat" here.
We finished off our night with some profiteroles which were very yummy. The petite choux dough was firm enough to house the ice cream yet still fluffy and light.
We took so long at dinner that we got there in time for their encore: West End Girls. Perfect.
Burger Bible, wake up and take note! A new contender for BEST BURGER came on to my radar recently and I diligently did my duty and remanded myself to Mint Alley and walked through the non descript doorway to this charming, elegant and modern Gallic bistro the owners have dubbed a 'Resto' which is coinage I like.
A man with an insatiable quest for the best in Burgers is a man on a mission for sure, and here I found a true contender that is substantial and sublime at the same time. I sat at their striking bar rather than a table and was entertained by small talk with a charming bar maid who subtly engaged my interest in the neat, new place. The menu is straight forward and offers many great bistro standards and some new twists, but I was there for my Burger fix and I went right to work. The description on the menu doesn't do justice to what is delivered by a kitchen that truly knows their business and is capable of turning the passe burger into gastronomy of the highest order.
A short while after ordering, out came a white plate bearing a man sized toasted, perfectly dense bun with a right sized, cooked to order meat patty consisting of just the right fat content and a seared outside. To the side were the bun top and a chilled, picture perfect leaf of butter lettuce, two generous slices of well chosen tomato and onion and a fistful of genuine pommes frites, a picture perfect burger presentation. Where are the food photographers when perfection is in front of you? A generous ramekin each of mustard, catsup and Aoili accompanied by a black rolled linen napkin were all perfect touches. I had chosen Gruyere for the cheese and it was a fine quality and also generous and there was a crunch to the first and every subsequent bite. This burger is a five star coming out of the gate and it is five star in every category for this reviewer.
The Chef and his team really know their art and craft as do the owners, designers and staff. The restaurant is largely a vision in black, grey and orange with lighting fixtures and simplicity the theme and charm. A center bar high table dominates the room and is circled by orange topped custom made tables and chairs with a fanciful orange upholstered banquet at the end of the dining area. The bar runs along the back wall and shows the kitchen and its staff doing their magic.
I'm a simple burger aficionado so I leave the other menu components to those surveying more than my simple pursuit and there are many was we all read. If you want Burger Bliss, Chez Papa Resto is a MUST destination.
After seeing all these glowing reviews of this place and enjoying Blue Bottle in the Mint Plaza, finally gave this place a try. But maybe lunch isn't this place's forte?
The lunch selection was fairly small or succinct. It had the usual "high-end" lunch fare of entree salads, fancy sandwiches, and some heavier fare like steak and lamb. I got the Grilled Prawn and artichoke salad which was rather small for an entree salad. The prawns were good and the greens were nice and crisp, but the whole thing was rather slender...or maybe I'm just too much of a fatty. Friend got the Grilled Chicken Club which, while good, falls into the "I could get this from at least 10 other places in the area" category. Other friend had the Sirloin Burger which was also afflicted by aforementioned category. If there was a redeeming factor with these dishes, the fries and accompanying aioli were really good.
Service, as is always the case with a place like this is nice, but I felt like they were a little uninterested with the lunch crowd and stayed away. The decor is pretty cool, looking like an Anna Sui shop turned bar/restaurant. The exterior does not do the inside justice.
Maybe I've just been spoiled from all these nice SF eateries, but until I try out dinner here, I'm not sold on this place as being a stand-out place.
Last weekend I took my wife out on a date that started with an early dinner at Chez Papa. I made the reservations early so we could take our time to enjoy and savor our food before heading off to a show. I was sure that we would be pretty much the only people there but I was wrong. It was already packed with other people which really added to the atmosphere. Speaking of atmosphere, the restaurant is really sleek and modern looking but is still intimate and inviting. The service was excellent, attentive but not pushy and very friendly. Based on all of this I would rate them four stars.
This leads me to the primary reason for going there... the food. Let me cut to the chase and let you know that there food is definitely another four stars which leads me to a problem because I can't give them an 8. Oh well, consider this a very enthusiastic 5. Did I also mention the cool location right next to the Old SF Mint Building? Very cool too!
Back to the food. I had a great meal that started with their Butter Lettuce Salad, followed by the Duck Breast and finished it off with the Panna Cotta. Yumm-E! The wine list was great as well and was able to find a nice wine to go with the meal.
If you don't have time to make a reservation they have seating at the bar which can serve the full menu as I overheard the people in front of us. Maybe not as cool as a real table but could be a fun spontaneous thing to do as well.
I know, I know... why would two vegetarians even bother to eat at a French restaurant. We thought we were just going in for cocktails, and saw some tasty veggie options on the menu so we wound up staying for dinner.
To begin with, the cocktails are fan-tas-tic! Chat the bartender up, and he'll make you a mezcal cocktail or a pisco cocktail that will make your tastebuds sing! Plus, the champagne cocktails are great.
We not only ordered a number of the smaller vegetarian items off of the menu, but the staff put together some special dishes for us, with our food constraints in mind!
Love the decor, dug the atmosphere, and the service was impeccable without being overdone or snooty. Great experience overall and would definitely go again!
I finally ate here. It was a very very hot Thursday, I had just gone on a crazy shopping spree at Macy's because of Labor Day and my upcoming job. I met Marina and we walked over here on this sweltering, sweltering day.
The night before, I'd had my first taste of Steak Tartare. I wanted to continue that trend of raw food so I ordered it here for lunch. With a side of fries.
The tartare arrived already mixed but with the decorative egg yolk sitting pretty on top. After mixing that in, the taste of it still lacked a little something. That kick. I was looking for a more upbeat, flavorful, zesty blend. The meat was nicely chopped, a little more finely than I normally like. I want it to still be chunky, not ground. This tartare did not have that bite.
The fries were lovely and salty. The garlic white creamy dipping sauce was terrific as well. Terrifically flavorful!!!!
It was too hot to eat anything else.
I've been to Chez Papa more times than I can count -- it's definitely my favorite restaurant in the city. It's great for lunch outside in Mint Plaza when the weather's nice and it's even better for dates. I've popped in here several evenings for a glass of wine at the bar as well -- the place never ceases to amaze.
The last date I took here ordered lots of meat and she seemed particularly proud of it. I've spent the last 9 years going back and forth between vegetarian & pescetarian -- of course I have to toggle to pescetarian for Chez Papa because their fish is the best. When her beef tartare appetizer arrived, the waiter made a cute, rather large heart design. She found out I don't eat land animals and I think she wanted to gross me out. Honestly, it didn't bother me. (Just don't take me to a steak joint.)
I had the fried squash blossoms and a salad for an appetizer, followed by the city's best fish. For dessert, we each had some amazing dessert wine. Our reservations were pretty late and so we were the last ones in there. The staff didn't mind... in fact they dimmed the lights for us. Finishing the date with candle light was great. As I said, the staff knows what they're doing.
Save me a table, Chez Papa, I'll be back soon.
Really cute bistro and very nice atmosphere.
Food was great as well.
Service started off great, but then started lacking towards the middle to end of our lunch.
Would def dine here again though :)
I came here with a friend I'd spent the semester with in Paris and two other friends who came to visit me there in Thanksgiving because we had major cravings for some serious confit de canard.
Major plus points for the restaurant before we even walked in. As mentioned, we wanted confit and saw it on the bistrot menu, but the bistrot was fully booked. However, they suggested we go to the restaurant and they gladly offered to do five confits for us with no hassle at all! In fact, they were rather accommodating considering two bottles of wine later, we were probably the loudest (and youngest) people at the restaurant. We'd explode in laughter to the shock of the 50 somethings in the next tables but the staff would just look over with bemused expressions.
I started with the mussels, which don't come with pommes frites by the way. You have to order those separately..which I tried not to do to cut carbs but the mussels were so good they just need those fries to make it perfect!
My friend had the Snake River Kobe beef tartare, which was fabulous. I really like that it doesn't come out mixed already and the server does it all table-side so you can choose what goes into it and just how much. I don't like mustard in mine and I go easy on the onions and capers so this is an important detail for me.
His girlfriend had the foie gras which was delicious (of course) and our other friends shared an heirloom tomato starter with feta cheese. I didn't try it, but they were raving.
We were all very happy with the confit which came out drizzle with sauce (some people are dry confit eaters, others like the sauce...we were split down the middle) and corn. It was very strange having corn with my confit. I don't think I've ever had it before and maybe it's because corn isn't too popular in random brasseries in Paris. Anyway, the texture of it was kind of weird coming together with the duck as a dish, but whatever. We all decided we love corn ANYWAY so who cares if it's with our confit. MMMMMM.
We shared the Valhrona chocolate dessert and profiteroles which were just icing on the cake of this very nice meal. I'm definitely looking forward to trying other dishes here. The service was great (very amiable and knowledgeable server with an accent that reminded us of too many of the boys we'd met last year) and his assistant made sure our glasses were always full and plates disappeared as soon as we were done eating them. Also, the chef came out twice and we were able to thank him for accommodating our confit cravings!
Plus points for the music which was the sort of ambient Hotel Costes kind of thing..though it did change to random 70s music as the night wore on. Weird, but amusing. I also really appreciated that they hold whatever you'd like to take home at the front so you don't have a take out bag sitting at your table. Anyway, I'd definitely come back and refer friends to Chez Papa. It's dark, urban slick, and a really nice space with great food and very good service.
A pricey decor but moderate prices. We discovered the restaurant on Yelp and went there for our last anniversary dinner in the Bay Area. I would definitely go back next time I visit SF.
It's tucked away from the hustle and bustle of SOMA in the old mint building with an outdoor patio in a courtyard which is more a passageway than a piazza but it is hidden from Metreon enough that you don't get passers-by looking at your food.
Although it has a lofty dining room but it was very cozy. I ordered a bouillabaisse. When it came, either the manager or the owner came up to me and told me how he grew up eating bouillabaisse in Marseille and the way he likes it done and consumed. Truthful or not, it was a nice touch and a wonderful conversation.
After a year of urging by a number of people, I finally checked out Chez Papa and was definitely impressed. The beef tartare was great and the presentation was amazing. I'm sure it has been mentioned in other reviews, but it arrived with a number of different garnishes/seasonings around the plate. After cracking a quail egg on top and mixing in the different seasonings around the plate (some were capers, olives, fresh garlic, cilantro, basil) our waiter arranged the meat into a little heart on my plate. I've never seen a heart-shaped piece of meat, but that's pretty much perfection for me. Very cute. As a pescatarian, however, my date must have been more than a bit disgusted - but anyone who takes me out has to know that I'm a meat eating girl.
The fried squash blossoms were great and my main dish, the Halibut, was cooked well although I really should have ordered the Char, which was amazing. Can't wait to go back and check out the duck and the foie gras. I don't usually go out for French but lately I've been craving it more and more.
Btw their wines are fabulous - I would expect nothing less from a good French restaurant. I can't remember what I ordered, but ended up coming back a week later for drinks before going to 54 Mint.
Very nice ambiance. Cute date spot. One more visit and I'll probably end up bumping this up to five stars.
this place is tucked away in mint plaza
i came for lunch with some coworkers
Appetizers
people ordered the french onion soup, the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart and the Smoked Trout but i can't comment because i didn't have any but they were happy with their choices
I had the Salad of Raw and Cooked Endive with Pears, Spiced Walnuts, Blue d 'Auvergne, Red Wine Vinaigrette - that was excellent - the flavors went well together
As for main dishes
I had the alaskan halibut with leeks and it was great. Someone else had the fish stew and they loved it. The burger was also a hit - although my coworker wished it came on a soft bun rather than a crusty french bread - which he normally likes but not with a burger
for desserts, we shared the profiteroles which were ok but not great. they thought the puff was too dense and not light enough.
overall, would go back
Long overdue review on Chez Papa brunch during dine about town.
This was by far the best value that I have gotten via DAT. We all met at the restaurant and trickled into our seats. It was a nice, sunny day in SF, so I was a bit disappointed when the outdoor seats were already filled.
The atmosphere was lively, the servers were friendly, and the food was delicious. I especially enjoyed the kobe tartare, but only recommend it to those who actually enjoy raw meat.
I am at a loss as to why CPR closes at 4 and reopens at 5, leaving those of us who have the opportunity to start our happy hour slightly early out of luck unless we get in an order for a particularly early round.
Pity, really, since the cocktails are well made, the patio comfortable and the food delicious.
We went for weekend brunch a couple months ago. The food, cocktails, and decor, were truly memorable in a 5-star way. The only reason I knocked it down to a 4-star review is because the atmosphere and energy seemed a bit dead, almost like we were in a quiet, hotel restaurant, which was doing so-so.
They offered a tantalizing cocktail menu. My blood orange concoction was extremely delish (5 Stars) and quite pretty to look at.
The 3-course fixe prixe was excellent (5 Stars). The chef created a delicate ensemble of the freshest ingredients, producing some of the most delicious, intense flavors I've tasted. The culinary experience was very surprising to my palate (in a good way), for what I expected to be "just brunch". We strolled in impromptu after indulging in lattes at Blue Bottle just kiddie corner within the Mint Plaza.
I want to go back and to do a consistency and atmosphere check, perhaps bump this up to a 5-star review.
What a wonderful restaurant!! From the sheik trendy decor to the fabulous service (Charlotte was incredible.) Think Redwood Room meets mint plaza in Paris. I oooo'd and ahhh'd over the gorgeous black chandeliers and the beautiful communal table. I also adored the orange accents throughout the restaurant...a grown up sophisticated modern vibe.
Now let's talk food, I have to first start off by saying how wonderfully friendly the staff was. From the minute we walked in the door we were greeted with smiles. Our waitress Charlotte was an absolute delight. Andrej the special events coordinator was charming and kind as well. Charlotte had me the minute she came to the table suggesting sancerre before water, that's my kind of a girl!!
For apps we munched on:
THE BEST Steak tar tare I have ever tasted, Snake River Kobe beef tar tare w/ Dijon Mustard, capers, shallots, garlic & toast points.
And an heirloom tomato salad with yellow watermelon, french feta & opal basil.
I enjoyed Pan seared halibut complete w/ chanterelles, English peas, warm cherry tomato and herb vinaigrette. Meanwhile the other two in the party devoured GORGEOUS seared ahi tuna nicoise salads w/ roasted peppers, pistou, tapenade & meyer lemon.
Chez Papa Resto is everything you want in a restaurant, great ambiance, excellent service, indoor/outdoor seating, groovy bar, happy hour & delicious food!! I can't wait to go back!
Thank you for the generosity Charlotte & Andrej, I cannot recommend your restaurant enough! Great job, well done!!
Listen - the chef is talented, talented, talented. You can't go wrong with that kind of talent. Oh, and don't deny yourself the sweet breads. Seriously!
A weekend away with my sisters wouldn't be complete without an upscale dinner at an ultra chic spot.
We had an 8:30 reservation and arrived promptly, sadly our table did not so we set up shop at the bar enjoying strong cocktails and complimentary appetizers. After almost an hour our table was served, as were complimentary salads to make up for the wait.
Quite a few entrees on the menu were out, specifically all the entrees I wanted so I settled on the Scallops, my sisters both ordering the Arctic Char. My memory is a bit hazy given the amount of alcohol I consumed while waiting, but I do believe everything ordered was enjoyable.
An additional complimentary glass of dessert wine later we opted for the Nectarine Tart Tartan and the Chocolate Tasting Assortment, both were fabulous...I think.
While I probably would not run back here for dinner, I wouldn't be opposed to it and I am planning a trip back for happy hour sooner than I probably should.
The proximity of this place to the SF Theater makes it a good pre-show dinner place.
What I liked best besides the very cool interior w/ the black lamps was that I let our server know when we needed to depart to catch our show at the SF Theater and he made sure it happened while checking on us at good intervals and even squeezing in desert. nice.
I had the oysters and the lamb-chops. Food was good.
The service was better.
Just got back from a week long adventure in The City. We went here for our last night out and it was a great way to end our trip. The food and service was great.
Things we loved were the squash blossoms, chicken breast, and profiteroles with vanilla gelato.
I have been to Chez Papa Resto many times, and definitely the best restaurant in SF .
Prices are very fair ( between 20 to 35 $ per person) food amazing , service sooo friendly ,ambiance very relax..
U must try the steak tartare !!!!
simply the best french food in sf.......
service also is amazing..tx to chez papa....
Doesn't appear I was as thrilled at most. My biggest beef with Chez Papa is waiting over an hour for our seats WITH a reservation.
The decor is very swanky, the mojitos are great, but my sea bass was tres bland.
Tons of better options in the area, IMO.
An update on this a few days afterwards: glad to see the online menu was updated.
(See pics)
So I would have written a pretty good review until the following morning when I was filing my receipt something caught my eyes... I thought I ordered braised lamb that was served as lamb chops. Also, when I ordered I specifically said the lamb (there is only 1 lamb entree on the menu.)
You might have wondered why I didn't read thoroughly the receipt? Well, I expected the receipt to be correct and a phone call to the restaurant to confirm whether they had a transpose of the price ($32 vs. $23.) I was then told whatever menu I saw was not up to date, and the online menu was not either (online still shows the braised lamb dish btw.) They then said that they no longer carried that dish and substituted it with the lamb chops. I am surprised that it was not brought up front and that when I ordered it, they only tried to point out the prix fixe menu.
I have a feeling that they might have run out of the dish and used a beefed up appetizer as an entree, but that's my speculation.
They should have corrected the menu immediately and refunded me if they wanted to retain me as a regular diner, as my good friend Richard suggested. But they didn't and did not apologize for that mistake.
I was planning on bringing friends here because of the excellent food, but this experience has me hesitated if my friends would feel uncomfortable if the menu did not match the bill.
Be aware of the menu as you could be reading an "old" menu with different pricing.
Now going back hours before for the food experience itself...
...
So recently I truly learned what life is all about...
In Chinese there are the four essential things in life-- wear, eat, live, and transport. I value eat and wear tremendously. So after a long day of work on a Monday, I went shopping and then decided to truly treat myself to a great dinner. I always wanted to try this place but weekends are hard to find a table, and I seldom like too crowded places.
They offer prix fixe menu but if you add the prices up it's really just free desserts...
I had the Labelle foie gras with strawberries and it was very tender and fatty that melted into your mouth and you can taste the fat that simmers inside each cell of your taste bud...
The lamb chops dish was delicious. I love it medium rare but it was a bit on the more rare side so there's definitely room for dessert.
Small selections of French wine and I had a glass of Bourgogne which was actually very good to compliment the food and my mood of the evening, sultry but unwinding...
For dessert I had the Cocoa Nib Profiteroles with French Vanilla gelato and a bit of almonds and the server poured chocolate sauce on the dessert in front of me. Now we are really look at a piece of art presented and solidified in front of my eyes.
The service for the evening was quite attentive and the server was super nice that he complimented with a Muscat which was superb that left a very sweet sensation!!
A hundred dollars later, I am truly satisfied... but that's when I was a bit wondering on the bill but not paying enough attention.
As I am told before, French cuisine is complex and takes time and thinking to learn and consume. It is layered like opening up a multi-wrapped gift, that each unwrap is a surprise, a beautiful musical note, something to always brings you sweet and unforgettable and memorable moments!
I love Mondays :)
No need to repeat what's already been said 294 times. I will try and make this short and sweet like my experience here.
Excellent service from start to finish. The greeter was very friendly as was the manager. Bus service was practically invisible; the way it should be, and our server was attentive, friendly and helpful. The butter salad was lovely; plain and simple and my duck confit was utter perfection - the French sure do it best - the perfect "crispy and sultry" combined. As for dessert, we wanted the carrot cake but were advised against it to try the apricot tarte - it was decent but not the best dessert I'd ever have. But he was insistent, so when in a French restaurant, do as the French server... you get the point.
Regardless: excellent place, oui-oui. Great for a date (with someone worth spending the pennies on) or a celebration with friends/family.
I have a LOVE-HATE relationship with Dine About Town.
I LOVE having 3 courses for $35 and knocking out some Yelp bookmarks. I HATE that usually 1) I end up ignoring the D.A.T. menu altogether and spend way more than $35 or 2) the items on the D.A.T menu disappoint and offer a mediocre reflection of the restaurant.
UNTIL NOW.
Chez Papa Resto Dine About Town
Sexy, Black and Orange Moulin Rouge-esque Dining Room
* Chandeliers and Fleurs-de-Lis * Attentive Service at the Bar *
Tasty Complimentary Tapenade and Bread * Creamy Light Delicious
Asparagus Soup * Very Fresh Simple Butter Lettuce Salad Perfectly
Dressed up with Fresh Herbs, Shallots and Mustard Vinagrette *
Finger Lickin' Crispy Skin Moist Liberty Farms Duck Leg
Confit with Flavorful Parsnip Puree, Swiss Chard,
Rhubarb and Sherry Jus * French Vanilla
Gelato Sandwiched between Cocoa Nib
Profiteroles with Warm Chocolate
Sauce Generously Poured
On Top, So Perfect
For Sharing
(Or not.)
;)
***Less crush worthy: Good but not as interesting Roasted Chicken Breast (with Pistou and Potato Puree, Peas, and Lemon-Chicken Jus) and the pretty but rather bland Lemon Verbena Panna Cotta with Rhubarb Coulis and Strawberries.
***But, plenty of l'amour for C.P.R.'s new happy hour! (Mon.-Thurs. from 5-7pm.) Drink specials and bar bites like perfectly cooked fries (loaded up with salt, rosemary, and garlic-y aioli) are a match made in heaven!
Went here for the first time for the wonderful dine about town menu... Hey $34.95 for a three course meal it seemed like a great idea. We arrived around 8, hoping for a table but they had a complete full house so we were given the estimate of at least 45 minutes, well we were seated in at least 20 minutes. But I must say the hostess seemed a little out of it. But maybe thats how she is. My friend and I picked completely different courses, so we were excited for all the food to come. Kobe beef tartare, soup du jour (roasted pepper and eggplant), chicken so soft and so tender i could die, the most delicious duck confit without that fatty duck taste then for dessert lemon panna cotta with rhubarb and strawberries, and these cocoa pastry things that are too french for me to remember.
Oh we also had a bunch wine with every course...and a beer while we ate. I left very buzzed and very full, and ecstatic of the wonderful meal I just had.
Excellent food and great value. The food was presented very well and service was efficient. A fabulous wine list as well.
Although there was a little bit of a glitch by them on our reservation (making us wait for almost an hour for a table even with advanced reservations), the maitre d' and the hostess did their absolute best to make our dinner a pleasurable experience.
I'm sure happy to know that there is a French fusion restaurant in San Francisco that's of good quality that won't be breaking your wallet.
I have to agree with a previous reviewer about lunch at this restaurant - I really think that dinner is their forte. Service here on a Saturday afternoon was slow (although the place was not busy) and lacked the polish of my previous dinner experience. I had the prix-fixe menu - butter lettuce salad, artic char (small portion, but tasty) and the cocoa nib profiteroles. One of my companions had the burger, which he really enjoyed. Another companion had the tuna nicoise salad, which she thought was quite tasty. Waitress was very nice, but once the tables started filling up, she was much less attentive.... I will definitely come here again, but only for dinner.
Having experienced top-notch service at this restaurant last January (at dinner), I think their standards have dropped a bit in that respect. Perhaps it was the harsh light of day, but this just WASN'T the same place I fell in love with last January!
My friends and I agreed after dining here, we could have closed our eyes and easily imagined… Read more »
Was lured into this downtown alley French restaurant by DAT, and for the most part was quite entertained. Arrived around 8:30 on a weeknight, and it was busy, but were able to seat 2 immediately (cool!). The setting was urban, dark yet elegant, where Sex and the City meets Interview with a Vampire. Not really my cup of tea cuz I tend to like my French restaurants to be more bistro-ish/small townish rather than sheik and urban. But made for a good setting to people watch.
Started with Steak Tartare, and though the presentation was a little uninspiring (I don't care for the molded hamburger patty look), the taste remained true to the dish. Nice texture on the chopped beef, with dijon mustard, shallot and capers all boldly present in the overall flavor profile. Accompanying toast were a hit with it being more rustic and rubbed with thyme-oil, so frickin' good!
The complimentary basket of bread with its outstanding duo of olive tapenades (1 ripe/1 green) couldn't of have been more welcomed to our table, as 1)it added more bread for our Tartare 2)the tapenade was intriguingly delicious with the Tartare and 3)paired with our $50 bottle of Cote du Rhone (taste of Southern France in a glass) was just an exquisite way to start off a meal.
My Duck Confit (leg quarter) was spot on executed, crisp rendered skin, with intense rich dark meat. It came with some smeared root vegetable puree and some wilted greens topped with chunked hazelnuts (very good combo). Very good dish overall and especially so again when paired with said red wine.
Took a bite from the Pan Seared Sole with Brown Butter Hollandaise and that was pretty spectacular. Fish so delicate and twisting the hollandaise to have the depth of browned butter was just heavenly.
For dessert we tried the Coco Nib Profiteroles and the Orange Blossom Pannacotta. The profiteroles, even though I historically have not been a huge fan of cream puffs, do taste better with ice cream in the center. The rich chocolate sauce and a hint of caramel made for a tooth-achingly sweet treat. The pannacotta on the other hand was on the other end of the spectrum, with it being light, fruit oriented and ethereal. The gelatin custard was heavily infused with ginger and citrus, and when paired with the dots of strawberry/rhubarb sauce, actually held up to my last few sips of my bold Rhone wine. Amazing, who woulda thought.
Service very cordial but a little unpolished, sometimes awkward at times. Also sometimes the soft spoken voice of our server was drowned out by the bouncing noise levels here. But nothing to keep me away from coming back, "Resto" assured.
The design and ambiance of this place are great, as well as the service, but the food was a little underwhelming. It took them over 30 minutes to seat us for our reservation. Luckily seats came available at the bar after a few minutes and we were able to sit to have cocktails and an appetizer. The squash blossoms were delish! The main course however, was so-so. The menu was somewhat limited. I had scallops which tasted quite fishy, and my boyfriend's sea bass was a little bland and watery (including the sauce). I think the manager could tell we were disappointed and surprised us with dessert wine which was nice. Hopefully our next visit will be better.
Neighborhood: Union Square
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: French
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: French
Neighborhood: Union Square
Category: American (New)
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