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Fleur De Lys
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
777 Sutter St(between Taylor St & Jones St)
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 673-7779
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 6 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sat 5 pm - 10:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
925 reviews for Fleur De Lys
Review Highlights
-
"Food was amazing foie GRAS was delicious." In 234 reviews -
"Their wine pairing selections were very nice too." In 102 reviews -
"For dessert we had the grand marnier souffle, yum." In 39 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
925 reviews in English
-
Review from Kevin B.
San Francisco, CA
5/16/2012
I brought my girlfriend here for dinner. We are living across the country right now, and I wanted to do something special while she was in town.
I think that's the best way to describe Fleur De Lys: something special.
It's not something you want everyday. They ask you when you make a reservation if you are celebrating a special occasion, and then our waitress asked again when we were sat. I almost felt bad that it wasn't one of our birthday's or an anniversary or something, but I explained the situation, and the waitress brought us a couple of complimentary desert wines (at the end of the meal) that we could taste with each other.
Make no mistake, this is a very expensive restaurant, and I'm not unaccustomed to expensive restaurants, but the combination of the exquisite food, the highly attentive and warm service, and the lush old school feel of the dining room will truly make you and your partner feel that you are sharing something special, that this is a night you will always remember.
Some details: we had the 4 course, which I recommend, because you get to try more dishes. My girlfriend does not eat meat other than fish, so they let her have two seafood courses instead of one seafood and one meat. For dessert we ordered the two souffles for a little extra, and they were wonderfully fluffy and flavorful. We felt bad, because by then we were very full and could not put much of a dent into them.
For drinks we had a glass of champagne each to start, and a half bottle of pinot gris for the first two courses, after which we each got our own glasses of wine, mine to complement my kobe beef tips, and her to complement her salmon. As I said, dessert wines were to follow.
It's definitely "pretty food" as my father would call it, but it's also incredibly tasty food. Can you get just as flavorful and hearty a meal elsewhere in San Francisco for a fraction of the price... absolutely, but Fleur De Lys is special. So when you're with someone special, and you're celebrating something special that you never want to forget: Fleur De Lys. -
Review from Julie Z.
5/10/2012
I searched for a while to find the perfect restaurant to take the bf to for his birthday and Fleur De Lys appeared to have all the elements: french, renowned chef, great reviews, romantic and a long history of providing a superb dinner experience. Oh yeah, and it was close to my hotel :)
We were greeted promptly outside the restaurant and escorted inside. The hosts were gracious and the birthday boy was wished a happy birthday immediately. Good job!
The inside is romantic and warm. It feels like you are in an Arabian tent. It does feel a bit on the older side and that may be b/c so many restaurants now are modern and clean in style. Either way, I liked it. Oh, and they have good lighting...dim.
We began with a cocktail. As others have stated, there are some close to $40 but ours were $16 each which I thought was reasonable considering the price of everything else.
We both opted for the 3 course meal b/c we thought 4 would be too much. We were full beyond belief after 3 but thinking back, we should have done 4 courses so we could have experienced the seafood. So I suggest getting 4 courses. The 5 course would definitely be too much.
The foie gras burger and Caesar salad were the starters. The foie gras burger was a big hit but I was not that impressed with Caesar. It could have been better. More dressing and fresher romaine. However, it did have caviar on it which I've been dying to try. Verdict = I don't like caviar too much which isn't a bad thing since it's so pricey.
Main course = filet with lobster truffled mac n cheese en brioche. This was the most perfectly cooked filet I have had EVER! and I eat a lot of steak. holy smokes, it was beautiful and juicy and left you wanting more. Oh yeah, the lobster mac n cheese biz was mouth watering.
Dessert = cheesecake and apple tart. Eh, not that impressive. However, they did give us an extra plate of little desserts b/c we were celebrating a birthday and they had written a happy birthday message on the dessert plate. nice touch.
Wine pairings were on point and reasonable in price. Get them.
Chef Hubert Keller came out of the kitchen toward the end of our dinner. I asked our waitress if we could meet him and get a pic. Sure enough, 5 minutes later he came over to meet us, we had a lil chat and got a great pic. He is a very gracious and humble man.
Why 4 stars instead of 5? The salad and dessert could use some work. I'm comparing this a lot to my experience at Trotters in Chicago which is comparable in style and price. However, this is a great place to celebrate a special occasion. -
Review from Ann Marie C.
Thornton, CO
5/2/2012 1 photo
It seems silly to even write a review about this restaurant considering it has been around for a long time and Hubert Keller (?) is the owner--so I'm going to keep this very simple.
Everything my family and I experienced was above a 5 star experience--food, presentation, service, menu knowledge--all of it was just a wonderful dining experience.
The service from the valet guy to the maitre d to the server to even the young man passing out bread was just perfect!
We were there to celebrate my mom's birthday and the staff made her feel special with a birthday dessert just for her and a signed menu from HK.
If anyone has any doubts about having a special meal here--don't. It is worth it.
P.S. Guys don't need ties--a jacket will do, and you can take it off once you get seated. -
Review from Alex T.
Seattle, WA
5/19/2012
Disappointing.
While in town last week my wife and I ate here. too much $$ for what you get.
Pros: Service (outstanding), Ambiance (romantic & sophisticated), Dessert (creative and delicious), Plating ( artfully done, beautiful food).
Cons: The non-dessert food (taste).
I always rate food by what I get for my dollar and the food here is overpriced. with a four course meal we should have found something to like, but we didn't. bland and uninteresting.
We won't be going back. -
Review from Philip N.
4/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Dining at Fleur de Lys can be described nothing short as a fantastic dining experience. But I have a few more words, so bear with me.
My wife and I finally had a chance to check out Hubert Keller's SF baby, and walked away satisfied and just happier about life.
With the Giants playing a game that day, we were stuck in the worst kind of traffic with the worst kind of drivers, but the hosts were incredibly accommodating in being patient with us and our persistent phone calls, "We're exiting the bridge now! Please don't give away our tables! Pleeeease!"
We both opted for the three-course dining selections, and I got the wine pairing to go along with it.
Before we got our courses though, we were treated to a complimentary plate that held a shot of gaspacho with a cucumber mousse, and a quinoa topped with smoked chorizo. A perfect way to awaken the taste buds before being treated to their slices of fig and pistachio bread or baguettes.
The wife stole my appetizer choice of Petrale sole topped with caviar, uni, dungeness crab on top of a bed of olive oil potato puree. I stole a bite of hers and it was quite honestly one of the best bites of anything I've ever had. The dollops of chili sauce on the side tasted just like sriracha though.
I "settled" for the fois gras and smoked duck breast torchon which was surprisingly light and refreshing as it sat in a pool of vanilla and pineapple consomme. Both our dishes came with bacon brioche which was good, but a bit of a letdown compared to bread we had just eaten.
For our main course, I paid the $12 surcharge for the filet mignon with lobster truffle mac and cheese baked in a brioche bun. I rarely order filet, because I feel one has to get the best quality and have it cooked perfectly for it to be ever worth the price point. But FdL nailed it. Best filet I've ever had. Period. Oh, ok and the red wine reduction was pretty fantastic. I almost just chugged the bottle it came in.
My wife got the braised Kobe beef cheeks with mustard, sweet bread and truffled spinach fricassee. You know when you hear about meat "literally" melting in your mouth and you cough "bullsh*t!" This is the closest that has ever gotten for me folks. Well done.
For dessert, we ordered the much hoopla'd souffle and ordered the FleuBurger. The souffle was done perfectly, but fell short of being the best souffle I've ever had. That distinction goes to one served at Minetta's Tavern in NYC. But still good.
The FleuBurger is a real whimsicle dessert. The "burger" is a chocolate ganache sandwiched between a beignet. The pommes frites are sticks of fennel ice cream, which sounds weird, but it's really good, almost tasting like pistachio. The "pickle" is a small slice of kiwi while the lettuce and tomato are small slices of candied pear and cherry tomato. But the real winner is the shot glass of the banana flavored milk shake. It may also sound kiddyish, but it's light hearted and fun.
If this weren't enough, the server came out with a complimentary plate of truffles and tarts. And they had somehow gotten wind that it was our anniversary (I wonder who gave them THAT idea? *cough) and gave us complimentary macarons and strawberry mouse with a Happy Anniversary sign written on a plate of white chocolate.
Now just sit back and image the madness of four dessert plates that sat on our table. It was almost unethical. But real tasty. We were too stuffed to finish it all, and they were kind enough to pack up what could be salvaged.
In the end, I loved eating at Fleur de Lys. Not because everything tasted perfect, because it didn't. What makes Fleur De Lys so special is that it's such a well balanced meal. Keller pays homage to classic french cuisine while infusing fresh and worldly culinary tastes. It's a must-go if you want to experience world-class cooking in the Bay Area. -
Review from Snuffles B.
San Francisco, CA
4/1/2012 1 photo
Congratulations Fleur de Lys! You have won the dubious honor of worst Michelin restaurant I've been to, firmly overtaking a spot long held with an iron fist by Osteria Mozza. Eating here is like going down Lombard St - an overrated experience that seems like a cool idea from the getgo but downhill all the rest of the way.
The Good:
- Excellent service and staff
- Bread
- Amuse bouche
- Baekeoffe of foie gras (the slider part was good, the lamb (instead of duck) was not)
- Fleurburger dessert (mostly for cuteness and fennel ice cream)
The Iffy:
- Swordfish (overcooked, Middle Eastern instead of Hawaiian flavors)
- Halibut (boring)
- Beef cheeks and sweetbreads (overpowering cornichons, overcooked sweetbreads)
...even on a Saturday night!
The Bad:
- Cheesy Vegasy old lady Cirque du Soleil decor (time to update people!)
- Cheesy Vegasy lounge music/muzak
- Cheese course - boooorrrrriiing and non-tasty selection
- Menu that never changes (at this level, you should come up with something new)
- No Hubert Keller =(
The Ugly:
- Worst souffles (choco and plum) in a looong time - too eggy and blaaaand
- Petit fours - I've had better from Trader Joe's.
- Dropping $150/person on one of the weakest meals I've had in SF.
Le Snore. -
Review from Jeremy B.
San Francisco, CA
5/14/2012
I was pretty excited to try out Fleur de Lys, and although it was good, the competition is pretty stiff in SF.
Staff- Nice staff, but inattentive, it was difficult to get their attention when we needed it throughout the night, and it took quite a while to get the bill and then to process it.
Wine- The wine was decidedly pricey, at upwards of $20 per glass, however, almost everything we ordered may as well have been out of a box.
Food- Everything was delicious, although the portions were so small that I had to eat all of the bread and butter just to keep from eating the furniture. Seriously small, like one scallop, not 4 on a small plate kind of small.
Decor- a bit stayed, but the restrooms are well kept and the fresh flowers were beautiful.
Overall value- At over $100 a head for a 4 course with wine, we could have done much much much better at Lusk 25, Baker and Banker, Ame, Auberge du Soleil and many, many other places in a similar price bracket, without having to eat every piece of bread just to make it out alive. Although the food was good, I felt the value and experience to be below par for the price range, and definitely not the best French food in town. Nice people though, which is always makes for a little more relaxed evening. -
Review from Albert H.
3/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Make no mistake - the standard of service here is high. We just ended up a few standard deviations below that standard, which was perhaps more disappointing for seeing all the tables around us receiving something better.
It was not difficult to get a reservation and we were quickly seated and watered when we arrived, though our table was in an unfortunate location where we were continually jostled by passing servers. Maybe this table was out of its normal place, as it was a larger table that was set for two.
Despite the quick water service, tables seated after us were already being asked for their orders and receiving bread before we were handed menus. Asked if we'd like a cocktail, we requested the cocktail menu. We had to ask the passing maitre d' when our server went MIA for ten minutes after that. The menu then arrived posthaste, and our server arrived seconds after to take our cocktail orders - apparently unaware that we had barely opened the folder. The maitre d' himself later came to check that we had been able to order - providing a glimpse into the standard of service we were simply not receiving from our server.
We had the Absinthe Cocktail Flambe, served tableside. They offer a choice of several absinthes, quickly flamed in a snifter and then poured into orange juice. We also had the Cocktail Betterave - a complex beet juice and gin based drink with a salt and pepper rim that was excellent in all ways. Strangely, there was repeated confusion by the staff as to which cocktail was whose, even after I had mine sitting right in front of me.
Bread service followed - a choice of especially good fig-pistachio bread, black olive bread, or baguette slices. That was when my companion discovered that her baguette was ... wet ... and began to seek a solution. Ah. Water on the bread plate. We'll just ask someone for a new bread plate; no problems. The food runner who brought out the amuse quickly cleared it, leaving my companion clutching her slices of bread ... for five minutes until we flagged him down again for a replacement.
The amuse was a quinoa salad topped with a small slice of chorizo, accompanied by a cup of gazpacho with a celery cream top and a straw. The quinoa salad, though good, reminded me of a sample from the deli at Whole Foods. The gazpacho was excellent, though the topping was impossible to eat with the utensils provided - resulting in a somewhat comical attempt to scoop it out of the cup with the straw.
The menu offers either a 3,4 or 5 course option. It turns out that there are ( unwritten ) rules - three courses are an appetizer, a main, and dessert. Four adds a seafood course. Five adds a cheese course. Upon questioning, it was entirely possible to have two appetizers, and skip the seafood entirely.
We had the Symphony of Appetizers ( caesar had oily fried spaetzel on top, tuna fondant with an ... interesting texture, duck crostini quite small, foie lolipop very gamey and oxidized ), Roasted Lobster Curry ( smoky curry, but not as deeply flavored as others we've had ), Baekeoffe of Foie Gras ( baekeoffe served in a cute pastry-sealed casserole and flavored with chunks of foie; plated with a miniature foie burger. Excellent. ), and Foie Gras Torchon ( good quality foie, stacked with a thin slice of duck breast, overpowered by the pineapple consomme. )
As the restaurant quieted down and folks started to trickle out, they suddenly added a third chair to our table ... setting it right on top of my companion's purse. *Never* seen this happen before.
For our mains, we went with the Steak Rossini ( plated with whipped potatoes reeking of truffle oil ) and Quail ( mostly de-boned, with seared foie and oily spaetzel on the side. ).
We shared a wine pairing, which was plenty for the two of us. Wines were French, as far as I remember: a pinot gris with the Torchon, a sweeter oxidized wine with the Baekeoffe, an Haut-Medoc with the Rossini and Sauternes with the souffle. The pairings were good and the wine interesting.
Dessert was a Mirabelle Plum Souffle ( not as tall as some - the plum flavor was entirely from the sauce ) and the famous Fleurburger ( fennel ice cream pommes frites were pretty cool ). The souffles are ordered at the beginning of the meal, and when we asked for a Grand Marnier souffle based on their online menu and reports here, we were told in not very gracious tones that they "don't serve that", though we were happy to try the Mirabelle Plum souffle they offered.
A generous plate of assorted mignardises arrived, including some fresh mini-madeleines, strangely before we had finished dessert. Our server asked if we needed a taxi and took our coat check tag ... and while we were effusively thanked by the staff on our way out, my companion's coat was *not* waiting at the door as we might have expected - a fitting end to a weird night, I think. -
Review from Liz O.
Pleasanton, CA
4/16/2012
The ambiance in this place reminds me of titanic for some reason?!?! lol
There is a large chandelier in the center of the entire restaurant which is probably where this thought should be directed to.
The glass mirrors all over the restaurant give you the illusion of a large space, when realistically there may be 30 - 40 tables at the most.
Food was good.. nothing mouth watering.
Disappointed with my dessert.. chocolate souffle was more like colored egg whites with no salt and chocolate sauce to mix in.
Pricey restaurant.. will come back with people that have not been for special occasions once in a blue moon.. this restaurant is one of those places that you have always wanted to try, accomplished that goal and can now move on to the next. -
Review from Chris S.
San Francisco, CA
4/22/2012
I went here with 5 friends a few night ago and the food is incredible! I only took off one star because it is a tad overpriced. For 3 courses its $72 a person, but that being said the food is top notch french cuisine. I had the Chilled Dungeness Crab Salad, Kobe beef cheeks, Loch Duart scottish salmon and an apple martini for $14. Everything was delicious, but my wallet was a little light after I left.
-
Review from Jim H.
San Francisco, CA
3/16/2012
We have tried for quite some time to get a table at Fleur de Lys.
This highly acclaimed restaurant is hard to get into.
From the moment you arrive until the moment you leave the service is outstanding. Everyone wants to be sure you have a great experience.
We each ate the multiple course meals with wine pairings and it was not too much food, perhaps too much wine, but that is a good thing. Each course was brought together, no rush, allowing you to finish each previous course and have a moment to enjoy the remainder of your wine.
Bread was brought by regularly to add to your plate as you wanted.
The pricing is right in line with the ratings this restaurant has, and I fell like we got our entire money's worth on the meal. -
Review from Erica T.
Irvine, CA
4/9/2012
Huber Keller, I love you. I have photos with you stalking you all the way from Fleur de Lys to Burger Bar. Anyway, as much as he is awesome, his restaurants are also awesome.
We had a much anticipated dinner for our anniversary a while ago and I still remember it like yesterday. The waiter was a bit slow even though we told him we were trying to catch a musical and were on a schedule. Anyway, the food was good although my fish was undercooked, they took it back and cooked it properly, but we were a little disappointed that it came undercooked in the first place.
Then we ordered dessert, and the service was so slow (even though we already planned for being in the restaurant close to 3 hours) that we told them to just get the bill quickly and box our desserts.
By the time we were running to the theatre I looked in the box and realized that they only boxed one of the desserts (the fleur burger dessert) and that the other dessert was missinh (the souffle!) and we asked them if we could just stop by for it after the show since we had already paid for it.
I was really disappointed because I wanted to love Fleur De Lys so bad, especially since I'm a huge fan of Chef Huber Keller. We went back after the show and that's when things started to turn around.
We entered and asked if we could get our souffle. We expected it in a bag, but no. They seated us, gave us the souffle we ordered (grand marnier), then gave us an extra chocolate souffle. Then gave us wine. All on the house :) now that made me smile and we were pretty grateful and happy. Plus we were able to take pictures with the chef and also he signed a menu for us with our names and wrote Happy Anniversary on it. Thanks for turning around what could have been a potentially bad experience and making our night memorable! -
Review from Gene M.
Staten Island, NY
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am not a huge fan of this type of dining experience and that's why 4 stars . Anyone in their right mind would give it a 5 , but I am not anyone . Everything was spectacular and the food was amazing . The Kobe Bone Marrow was out of this world ( I was entertaining so was not paying attention ) The service was amazing the food was wow was just a little to stuffy for me . It is like I had to pass a test and waiters were judging me ( I mean the staff was great it is more in my head ) . If you want something in San Fran like Gramercy Tavern or Madison Park this is your spot .
-
Review from Robyn F.
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chef Hubert Keller, I love you.
I have been dying to go here for a while. It lived up to every expectation. First, Chef Keller is onsite and cooks in his kitchen. This is so nice to see since these days most celebrity chefs are never in their kitchens.He was working the floor and I am pretty sure that I had my first chef-gasm when he said hello to me on my way to the restroom.
The amuse bouche consisted of quinoa accompanied by a gazpacho that looked like a milk shake topped with whipped creme fraiche. It was not sweet, which i was anticipating, but was rich.
We started with the Baekeoffe Foie Gras. The plate included a mini foie gras slider( to which my dining companion tried and commented that she wished the restaurant offered this as an adult size option for dinner), duck confit with shitake mushrooms and black truffles. The flavors were robust and pronounced. It was amazing.
My entree was the filet with the lobster truffle mac and cheese. The filet was a perfect med rare and with a hint of smokiness from the grill. The meat was also perfectly seasoned and juicy. The mac and cheese was a tasting size and cooked inside of a brioche. So you didn't feel like you were over indulging. Enough to sample with out feeling like a glutton.
Finally was the chocolate souffle. Anyone that knows me knows I think this is the greatest food on the planet. It is such a delicate dessert that requires such precision, that is can go horribly wrong if not properly executed. It was amazing. It was light and fluffy. It had a flower design created in powder sugar on top and I emptied the entire glaze in the souffle. I was practically licking the ramican.
The presentation of each dish was beautiful and elegant. Clearly the effort to impress the guest was made. We were seated next to the fireplace, and the ambiance was beautiful. This was by far the best meal I have ever had in my life and I plan on coming back. -
Review from Susie L.
Anchorage, AK
5/1/2012
We were there for our 20th anniversary...it had been 17 years since our last visit on our 3rd anniversary. Definitely exceeded our expectations. Service was outstanding. Tasting menu with wine pairings were delicious. How can you go wrong with Foie Gras, Kobe Beef Cheeks that melt off the fork, and Chocolate Souffle? Fabulous. We won't wait for 17 years to return.
-
Review from Captain S.
Oakland, CA
3/10/2012
We ate here for El Capitan's Birthday last year. Now THIS is the kind of place I like. The food was exquisite, although (for shame) I can't remember exactly what we had. I do remember Chef Hubert coming over to introduce himself. I also remember having a couple Gerwurz and I think a Loire valley varietal which were impeccable.
I also remember the service - not only was it super, but they treated me as if I was the only client dining with them that evening. Staff hovered around me all night, catering to my most trivial whim (and I can have many at a French restaurant).
One of these whims was a liberal dose of absinthe served a few times prior to the meal. Presented with great flourish; it was one of the highlights of the pre-dining festivities. And while I don't remember hallucinating, I do remember the wonderful, warm experience. -
Review from Betty W.
San Jose, CA
4/7/2012
came here tonight for a much anticipated dinner and sadly my fiance and i were dissapointed and questioning why we drove up to the city for a restaurant that (at least in our opinion) didn't deserve a michelin star.
lets start with the +'s
+ good service. wait staff was attentive.
+ the bread. must try the olive and baquette. mmm.
+ the food was good.
now the -'s
- the decor. old, dusty looking...ok thats fine. but it didn't feel intimate. you can be dated yet be intimate.
- the food was good. yeah thats great and all but come on...innout is good. (actually i take that back, innout is awesome). so the fact that the food was good is simply not enough for the amount of money that you're spending. the food was just not special enough to remember.
we both ordered the 4 course meal. (1 bad, 5 good)
appetizer:
*bakeoff fois gras - if you're expecting to experience the satisfying sensation of buttery seared fois gras with this dish, you can forget it. (3)
*petrole sole with sea urchin - this is probably the best dish of the night in my opinion. sea urchin was the size of a pea but the fish was cooked well and the lobster sauce was mmm. (3.5)
seafood:
*scallop with pork belly - how can you go wrong with this dish? really. but both the scallop and the pork belly tasted better seperate. (3)
*jumbo lousiana prawns - this one. man. its like a passion fruit/mango decided to explode and kill some prawns. (1)
meat
*filet mignon with lobster & mac/cheese brioche - the meat itself was cooked perfectly. and tasted rather good, if it wasn't for the sauce. this isn't sirloin you're eating here...there is no need for A1. the lobster claw was good (probably because it had no sauce). and the mac&cheese brioche...very little mac and cheese and not too tasty brioche. (3)
*lamb trio (loin, shank, meatball) - this was not great but pretty good. meatball was a little spicy and the loin was cooked perfectly. the shank was eh. (3.5)
dessert
*fleur burger - dont get this...unless you love chocolate donuts. (1)
*apple tart - eh. (1)
(btw - it was very hard for me to remember what we had eaten just 2 hours ago! just goes to show that it really wasn't very memorable)
i know ive said this in my other reviews...but save your money and go to gary danko or la folie. -
Review from Poppy C.
San Francisco, CA
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Old school glam with some cute food presentations. We sat straight in the middle of the tented main room which is perfect of people watching. There are all types of people dining here....which is fantastic...
Parking is a nightmare here so I'd suggest valet, they are very good about getting the car before you freeze outside.
Not much to add to the nearly 1000 reviews about the food. It was all quite nice but that was expected. -
Review from Danielle R.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2012
All in all, definitely a 5-star restaurant.
Service was impeccable, cocktails were delicious, and presentation was amazing.
Definitely order the souffle. The bakeoffe fois gras is delicious, especially the "burger"....oh man, melts in your mouth! The buffalo steak was handsdown the best entree at our table (all 5 of us got something different and agreed on this) and the bacon wrapped sea scallops were our absolute favorite seafood dish. YUM YUM YUM. Do the wine pairings. Do the 4 course tasting menu. If youre here, get the full experience! -
Review from Tikisha O.
Hayward, CA
3/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was a refreshing french cuisine experience. The flavor pairings were unique and delicious. We also had the wine pairing. The pairings were different then expected but still good. This was a breath of fresh air for my palate as I do get bored easy with the same cuisines lol.
Unfortunately we didn't get to try the mousse that everyone raves about. I even saw a delicious picture of it near the restroom (so not fair because he wasn't serving it that night). I guess I'll have to go back :) -
Review from Reem B.
Campbell, CA
3/11/2012
We went to Fleur De Lys for dinner to celebrate a very dear friend as part of her bachelorette weekend. The service was excellent from beginning to end. Our waitress was very knowledgeable, accommodating, educated and able to answer all of our questions. She did it all in an unpretentious and genuine manner.
We each chose the three-course menu. For my first course, I ordered the Vegetable Ragout. It was served with poached egg, truffles and truffle wine sauce. The truffle sauce was amazing and made cauliflower taste exotic.
For my main course, I ordered the coffee Rubbed Buffalo Steak, with Pickled Figs, Caramelized leeks, espresso and fig red wine sauce, cornbread madeleine. The chef recommends medium rare which is my favorite anyway. It was divine. The flavors went together very well but not in a dull manner. Other people on the table ordered fish dishes and I was told they were excellent as well.
For dessert, someone ordered the Chocolate Souffle. It came with a little side of cherry and kirsch ice cream. Perfect. Another adorable dessert was the Fleurburger. This is a fun presentation where the patty is a lightly spiced dark chocolate ganache. The plate is arranged to have a mini home-made beignet banana flavored milk shake and frozen fennel ice cream pommes frites next to the "burger." I ordered the Espresso & Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake. It was also delicious, came with bittersweet chocolate ice cream, fried tequila chocolate truffle and tapioca caviar.
We were stuffed by the end of the night. Chef Hubert Keller was kind enough to come meet the bride-to-be and pose for a photo with us. We also were sent a few complimentary desserts and 777 Kiss cocktails. Which were a perfect sweet way to complete the dinner experience. -
Review from Victoria H.
San Diego, CA
4/20/2012
My husband and I dined at Fleur de Lys on March 23, 2012. I loved it. It was the best meal I've had so far on this continent. I went all out with the five course wine pairing menu. You can't go wrong with anything from their menu. I wish I could describe in greater detail the bliss after each bite, but my mind goes blank as it did that night. Our reservation was around 6pm, but soon the restaurant was filled. We had made our reservation about 2 weeks before, and it was either early or 9pm. I wouldn't try going there without a reservation any day of the week.
The food is incredible, innovative, creative, thoughtful and just so good. The wine was just awesome. I liked how the maître d' was polite to the busboy/server when we overheard him excuse himself by addressing the server with "Sir." I thought that was classy. The whole place is classy. I don't know if I get the inspiration behind the decor, but all I care is that it's clean, comfortable, pleasant etc... and it was beyond that. The whole staff was pleasant and respectful to each other. The noise level was ok because there was a private party, and we were kind of near it, but it was better than your average chain place on a weekend. I didn't have to raise my voice to talk to my husband who was sitting across from me. I don't enjoy those places much. -
Review from Joe C.
2/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Finally got to hit this joint up after our awesome wedding photographer hooked us out with a gift certificate. Made a RSVP on OpenTable about a month before and got a good time on a Saturday night.
Pulling up to the restaurant I saw the streets were packed and after one circle around the block we decided to not be cheap and just valet it.
Entering the restaurant I noticed that it was pretty small! I kinda liked the drapery and decor which reminded us of a European circus..fun yet classy. We were seated quickly and offered menus and drinks.
I went with the 5 course (which the 4th you are only offered cheese) and you are only able to pick from the fixed menu options. This is unlike Gary Danko's which you can pick any 5 from any category and they will size it appropriately. My wife went with the 4 course (minus the cheese).
I won't bore you with each course we ordered but overall the food was good but not unique or overwhelming. The flavors were mild and there were no notes that stood out. I kept waiting for the uniqueness to reveal itself but sadly it never came. Everything was cooked properly and seasoned well, it just lacked pop. I had to say we were pretty disappointed.
Service was excellent and all courses were explained in great detail. The amouse bouche was tasty and we never felt rushed or bothered. All the cheeses were too powerful for our taste so that was wasted. The nice petite four at end to take home was a nice touch.
The price was pretty standard for that type of fare. However, compared with restaurants in the same range it definitely fell below par. -
Review from Nathaniel N.
Huntington Beach, CA
3/9/2012
The foyer is sweet and simple. A host stand and 4-or-so-seat bar shares a small space. We are guided to our table just beyond the massive floral arrangement that situates the center of the room. My best friend I take notice of the supple patterned fabric that starts in the middle of the ceiling like a circus tent and gently fans outward towards the walls, falling to the floor. We felt like anxious guest waiting for a show of sorts to start. Scones flank each and every mirrored wall, visually expanding the intimate restaurant. Light music and hushed conversations share the audio space. My friend selects the 4-course tasting menu for us and allows the waitress to provide recommendations as we entertain all but one of her choices.
To read the rest of this review and see pictures from the restaurant, please visit
http://gastrordinaire.... -
Review from Andy L.
Oakland, CA
1/13/2012
This place definitely has some things going for it. A full absinthe bar, expansive wine list (although some of which is prohibitively expensive,) friendly head chef, and tasty creative even a bit whimsical food. Nobody goes to a restaurant for the bread, but that was notably tasty as well.
Of the 6 plates my date and split (we were too full by dessert time) the foie gras bakkeoff, avacado and frisee salad, hallibut, swordfish, kobe beef cheeks, and squab, everything was good. The plates all offered multiple elements, interesting and creative touches abounded. Truffles were heavily featured which depending on your point of view is either a good or bad thing.
Though everything was good, nothing was great. Nothing had me craving seconds or planning a return trip. And for $300+ for dinner for two thats a little dissapointing.
Also the servers seemed bizarrely ill at ease, almost timid. Any time one of the myriad plates was cleared away it was always preceded by a verbatim recitation of "Are you finished enjoying that?" Maybe thats what someone who would order a $1600 bottle of wine would prefer in a server but my vote is for personality every time. -
Review from Galen W.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 2/12/2012
The two years since my last review spent saving for last night were well worth it.
The food happily challenged our taste buds as it has always done before. The five courses were pared down in size so that we left sated but not unable to sleep... and each new dish seemed to complement the others, even though we created our own tasting menu of courses. Our waiter smoothly shifted my wine pairings to mostly reds to accommodate my bias. And this may be blindingly obvious to more sophisticated folks, but the wine pairings are matched to the dish and not served with the first course (or second course, or... ) restaurant-wide. So, my husband's wine was different from mine, and we swapped tastes for extra variety.
But, let's focus on the service for a minute. The staff is uniformly personable, pleasant, friendly, attentive, and effective. We were chatted up by the bartender as if we were regulars. He offered us tastes of a gin we asked about and also of the special Valentine cocktail they created this week (Bulleit rye with citrus, Cointreau?, a peppercorn rim, and a floater of a chocolate heart garnish... it works extremely well.) The host made it clear that we could move to our table at our own pace, and the dining room staff easily adjusted the flow to our snail pace.
Fleur De Lys remains absolutely the best.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/14/2010
Not just great tasting food and flawless service. An evening here is dining experience with ups,… Read more »
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Review from V M.
San Jose, CA
4/14/2012
The service was great.
The food was good, nothing to write home about.. I expect better from a Michelin star restaurant. -
Review from Louis P.
Los Angeles, CA
3/5/2012
One of my favorites restaurants in San Fran! I have always been a fan of his classic techniques towards french cuisine. everything was wonderful, the caviar, filet mignon and especially all the seafood dishes. the amuse bouche was a nice touch. it's nice to know there are still some restaurants that have a nice french approach to service and food. dessert soufle was to die for,... where does one find this kind of dessert? you must order before your meal b/c it takes a while.
one star off because we had to ask server several times for water and other basic stuff -
Review from Rosemary M.
Berkeley, CA
2/27/2012
Late in getting this posted, the dinner (party of four) was on January 27th: Cocktails were a tad expensive, but the 777 Kiss was delicious. We started with an amuse bouche, consisting of a white ceramic shot glass of a chile-infused gazpacho, topped with a whipped parsley-cream which you stirred into the soup, then drank it with a straw. Accompanying it was a ceramic spoon with a quinoa-herb salad (it was like a tabouleh consistency), topped with two tiny slices of chorizo and a dot of a mustard/mayo.
We all had the pre-fixe three course dinner, two had the wine-paring, two split a bottle of red. I really appreciated the monthly wine recommendations (at the beginning of the wine list) at reasonable prices, quite unexpected (particularly after reviewing the rest of the wine list)! Also, the pours in the wine pairings were more generous than expected. Unfortunately one of our party ordered a glass of wine as her cocktail, it was the amount of a normal wine "tasting," yet priced the same as the cocktails! The poisonnier was in top form, all fish was cooked perfectly. The staff was operating smoothly, albeit recitation of the various dish components seemed quite rote.
Portions were what you'd expect for a restaurant with this format, a multitude of ingredients in each dish. I had:
SALMON SOUFFLÉ "PAUL HAEBERLIN" With red wine essence, choucroute soup with toasted spaetzle and Alsatian boudin noir over choucroute A piped halibut puree (browned) was on top of the salmon The salmon was very flavorful and moist on a bed of sautéed baby spinach; there was one inch piece of the boudin, very tender and delicious, underneath it was the choucroute, a tablespoon sized dab of sauerkraut flavored with speck. There were dime-sized pieces of thinly sliced red and green grapes around the base of the sauerkraut, they also tasted like the speck. The "soup" tasted faintly cabbag-y (not a lot of flavor) and had a drizzle of paprika oil floating on top and the toasted spaetzle was deep fried, not toasted at indicated on the description (you could taste the oil). The soup and spaetzle were superfluous to the salmon; they added nothing to the dish.
HAWAIIAN SWORDFISH, SEED CRUST,POTATO MARBLES & SPECK Basquaise & pinot sauce with a side of saffron soup (swordfish was topped with a seed crust, mostly cumin, topped with sautéed pieces of julienned onion and red bell peppers with capers , there were several tiny slices of paper-thin chorizo on top and underneath the swordfish was nickel-sized thin slices of purple and yellow potatoes, along with the red wine sauce. The fish was the best I've ever tasted, very moist and succulent (I think maybe they sou-vided it); the saffron soup was a play on an aioli, tiny soup bowl with a creamy saffron infusion, a small toasted crouton floating on top with a dab of a garlic puree; excellent.
CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE Served with cherry and Kirsch ice cream (Additional $6.00) This was good, not great; it did not have the depth of flavor I was expecting from the chocolate and you could taste the flour; the kirsch ice cream was yummy, a tiny (walnut-sized) scoop with what tasted like chocolate rice crispies on top.
After the table was cleared of dessert, the server place a tray of tiny one-bite desserts on the table, a little 3-raspberry tartlet, a tiny piece that looked like a wedge of cheese on dark bread was actually a spice cake, a small nut-covered chocolate truffle and a couple others I didn't focus on.
Fleur de Lys highlights an "Absinthe bar" a classic presentation which was on display in the bar area. It looked interesting, but was $25 per cocktail!
Alla in all, I am glad I finally got there, but do not feel the need to go back. For the money I will try other places! -
Review from Heather T.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
It was 2 days before Christmas, when my boyfriend and I decided to treat ourselves to some fine dining, but it wasn't just fine...It was amazing!
One of the first things I judge a restaurant on is the bread. Silly, I know...but he bread was soft, the butter was easy to spread and I knew we were in for a good night.
We ordered the 5 course option which includes dessert and a cheese course.
I loved the scallop seafood course, the venison and puree entree was heavenly and my cute nod to american cuisine dessert topped it all off to make it a memorable meal. My dessert consisted of a burger (donut filled with a chocolate ganache patty), fries (slivers of fruit) and a mini banana milkshake. Anything mini is ridiculously cute and when you can eat it, all the better.
Hubert Keller himself was even in the house and when my boyfriend asked him to take a photo with us he was so friendly. Its great living in a city so blessed with talented chefs and when you get to meet the masters in the kitchen it makes you appreciate it all the more.
You can taste the love and more importantly the fun cooked into the food and you can't help but leave smiling. Its good for the belly, good for the soul and you simply must go! -
Review from Love B.
Walnut Creek, CA
12/23/2011
Disappointed and underwhelmed to say the least. Spent about $350 for a special birthday dinner and quite frankly expected much more from chef Hubert Keller. The food was very disappointing. Nothing was a WOW factor. It was terribly mediocre. The ambience is "old and tired". The service was good. The food presentation was good.
Bottom line: I would not recommend this place to anyone, for any reason. I know this may sound harsh, but considering the number of nice restaurants in SF, I am sure you can do better.
Sorry chef Keller. This was truly a disappointment. -
Review from Rick M.
Palm Desert, CA
4/8/2012
The food was as good as I expected but not the best for the money.
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Review from Dave R.
Warwick, RI
4/14/2012
Extremely good food. Very fancy and we new it before we went.
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Review from Arlene M.
Updated - 3/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
It's been a few years since I've last gone to Fleur de Lys and I gotta say it's even better than I remembered. The food is just as good, but they've really stepped the service up a notch.
My sisters and I were here for my little sister's birthday, and staff really went out of their way to make sure it was a special day for her. During the phone call to confirm the reservation, they asked if it was a special occasion, and after hearing that it was for a birthday, they asked for her name and how it's spelled. When we walked through the doors and mentioned our reservation, they immediately asked who the birthday girl was and wished her happy birthday. Then all throughout the night, different staff members wished her a happy birthday, ending with the extra dessert (macarons!) on a plate that said "Happy Birthday Katherine!" They sure know how to make a girl feel special!
All the food we ordered were great as the last time we were there. Each of us had 4 courses, and like Gary Danko and La Folie they let you pick any combination of 4 courses from the menu. I got appetizer/meat/cheese/dessert, my older sis got appetizer/fish/meat/cheese, and my younger sis got appetizer/fish/meat/dessert. I really liked how the staff consulted with us on our preference for the service ordered since all the courses were staggered...they wound up pacing it like a 5-course meal, and whoever was missing that course got an extra plate and utensils to share with the others.
We started off with two orders of the baekoffe of foie gras, and one order of the foie gras torchon (gotta get our fill before it's banned!) Both were good though the baekoffe was much better especially with the addition of the truffle, it's totally worth the supplemental charge. Then came the fish course, both my sisters got the scallops with pork belly while I sat the course out...I did get some bites of theirs and it was scrumptious! For our entrees, I got the quail (which had foie gras on the side), my older sis got the kobe beef cheese w/ a truffle sauce, and the birthday girl got the filet rossini, which had a nice juicy piece of seared foie gras on top (just had to have more foie!). Everything was super-good, it was really hard to decide which one was the best. Then came the cheese course, which was huge, so really 2 orders of it was more than enough for the three of us. Finally for dessert, we got 2 different souffles, and they brought out the extra birthday dessert for my little sister. At this point, we were pretty full, but just had to finish since everything tasted so good. We wound up ordering a couple glasses of bubbly and a bottle of wine between the three of us, and the wine service was excellent as well.
I wish it didn't take me this long to go back here, but hopefully I won't have to wait as long next time! This restaurant is definitely special occasion worthy.Listed in: Most money I've ever spent on…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/30/2007
Went here a couple weeks ago for my birthday, since this was next on my hit list of fancy… Read more »
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Review from Luke L.
San Carlos, CA
12/17/2011
Four of the twelve in our party got sick with a gastro / intestinal infection within 24 hours of eating at Fleur de Lys, but that's not my primary gripe.
My problem with FdL is that when I called to tell them about it, they responded very poorly to the situation.
10PM Tue finish dinner
11PM Wed first symptoms
all Thu vomiting, fever, etc
Fri recovering
Checked with 6 others who were there with my wife and I - turns out that two of them had the same experience. The FdL dinner is the only link between us, so I called FdL to let them know:
11:30 Fri - I called, hostess said "My GM Marcus will call you right away!"
3:30 Fri - same hostess said "I told him, I will make *sure* he calls you within the hour"
5:15 Fri - different hostess "he's not available" then when I told them I'm calling the health dept she gets the GM (Marcus) to pick up the phone - here are some of the things he told me:
"Yes I was told someone called and a couple of people were sick, but you have to appreciate how busy I am, my schedule was booked in 45 min increments all day..."
"I did over 180 covers that night and no one (else) got sick..."
"We have such tight quality controls, you wouldn't believe it"
In other words, a long list of reasons it either didn't matter or couldn't be FdL's responsibility. What anyone in business that involves public safety would recognize: "I'm sorry, I will personally investigate this and work to ensure that no one else becomes sick".
FdL acted irresponsibly, even dangerously to this situation. I have contacted the health department and they have begun an investigation into FdL. -
Review from Heather s.
San Mateo, CA
FABULOUS!
I had high expectations after a great experience at Fleur de Lys Vegas before it became the sub-par Fleur. So it was with high hopes but some hesitation that I made myself a birthday reservation at Fleur de Lys SF.
From start to finish, a fantastic dining experience. Greeted by the hostess with a "happy birthday" and seated immediately. Our waitress was attentative without being obtrusive. Service was a well-oiled machine. The ambiance is definitely quiet and subdued - not for children or adults acting like children.
The food - oh, the food! Your choice of 3 ($72), 4 ($85), or 5-course ($92) meal and additional wine pairing. Everything was ridiculously delicious, and not enough superlative adjectives can describe this meal. I highly recommend everything I got in my 3-course selection of:
* FOIE GRAS "BURGER"
How can you go wrong with foie gras? Melt in your mouth perfection.
* SEARED FILET MIGNON with LOBSTER TRUFFLED MAC N CHEESE "EN BRIOCHE"
Initially sad the lobster truffled mac n cheese was such a small portion of the plate - but it was so rich and decadent! A perfect complement to the succulent filet mignon.
* CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
Divine! I always wish there's more chocolate souffle...
I was worried that I would be insufficiently full (as at Gary Danko)... but unfortunately I didn't have enough room in my extra stomach for all the desserts! They brought out a "Happy Birthday" dish spelled out in chocolate and macaroons (!!!), in addition to their standard complementary dish of small single-bite desserts.
Thank you Chef Keller - a truly amazing dining experience... Can't wait to go back when I've made a few extra $$$! -
Review from Lena C.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
I was looking forward to dining at Fleur de Lys for a long time - the publicity around its chef and great reviews from friends always made me think that this place deserves 5 starts. As it turned out it doesn't.
Everything started with the service - we were greeted by two lovely hosts and actually seated half an hour earlier than the time of our reservation. Great start. The dining room service was spotty. The restaurant itself is small inside and all tables are located close to each other; eventually, we were closely seated to another table which was not a big deal. Severs running around sporadically ended up being more annoying and loud. Not an ideal atmosphere for the restaurant of this type.
The food was just mediocre. Adding bacon and sausages to the main course seemed to be too low-end for what ended up being a $300 dinner for two. Pop corn was added to of the 2 main courses and 1 dessert that we ordered. Really no other ingredients to add? Cheap food you can buy behind the counter. And keep in mind that Hubert is a celebrity chef. This is just tacky.
Not recommending it to anybody, if you are looking for a more engaging experience and better dinner menu go to Boulevard or Gary Danko. I won't be back to this place any time soon. -
Review from Toni T.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
French food at its best! I tried Caviar here for the first time & loved every last bite. The food is rich, delectable, and pricey. Everything you would expect from such a classy place. The wine list is extensive and has a great selection although, I had stiff mixed drinks myself. I would highly recommend coming here. I look forward to the day I can go back & spend a months salary there. Its worth it.
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Review from April D.
East Bay, CA
3/2/2012
Hubby took me here a few years back to celebrate one of our anniversaries. This place is very elegant, classy, romantic, with the perfect ambiance. We had a 5 course meal paired with wine. Food presentation was wonderful. The food was just absolutely amazing. Everything was delicious! From the filet mignon, lobster truffled mac n cheese, to the foie gras. By far, the best Foie gras I have ever had. After dinner, we even had the chance to meet and talk with Chef Hubert Keller and took photos with him. It definitely was a wonderful dining experience for the both of us!
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Review from Christina July K.
Palo Alto, CA
1/25/2012
To preface this comment, an ex-boyfriend took me here for Halloween a few years back and I didn't have to pay so I like to think my review is honest (as opposed to an angry reviewer who feels they were ripped off)
There were a few things that were the highlights that I remember from that evening:
1) Taking a picture with Hubert who was terribly sweet and wonderful - humble man who seemed to enjoy taking pictures with his guests
2) The little breads that were on a tray that someone came around with - they were really yummy
3) The Chocolate Souffle - delicious!
Although the ambiance was great (loved the huge fountain in the middle of the restaurant), the portions were TINY. People say that when the food is rich and flavorful, you will be content with the small portions.... the food was average and yeah... when we left the restaurant, I still wanted to grab some chipotle because I was still hungry (and we ordered a lot of food).
Our seats were tiny - mini banquette tables (half booth/half chair) and for the price that was paid for dinner, it would be nice if they got rid of the banquettes & invested in prettier places to dine. If I wanted to sit at a banquette for dinner, I would have just gone to The Cheesecake Factory.
