On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Come join us for dinner Sundays to Fridays between 5:30-6:30. Only $32.95 per person.
Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-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. 5:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Loading...
I took a date to Fringale on the recommendation of someone that I trusted that used to live in the neighborhood, and he was spot on! This place was definitely one of the best fine dining experience that I've had in San Francisco! It's a real intimate space, with a very friendly and knowledgeable staff. I highly recommend coming here to check it out at least once!
We ordered a mussel dish and a wild Atlantic Salmon dish. We also got a bottle of wine on the recommendation of the waiter, which was very refreshing and delicious! The food came out fairly quickly, and at just the right temperature. The flavors were intense, but not overwhelming. The sauce on the mussel dish was creamy and tasty, but it didn't feel heavy. Portions were just right. We had a very good dining experience there, both in terms of the quality of food and service. This place deserves one of my stingy 5-star ratings!
Went to Fringale with good friends Andy and Ron. Andy works at Six Apart, just a few doors away and had eaten here before, recommended the mussels highly. None of had the mussels but Ron had the Seafood Basquaise and said it was fantastic. Andy's Rosemary Chicken was great too, my lambchop had to be sent back for being completely raw in the center but was good after that. A sauce of some kind would have been nice but there was none, a pretty naked service from my experience of French restaurants.
My haricots verts were not cooked all the way through, were crunchy. I hate crunchy beans so elected not to finish them. This was the only real fail though, as the potato escallope was outstanding and after cooking, the lamb rocked and the beet salad I had for starters was excellent.
Flourless chocolate cake and creme brulee for dessert were spectacular, all agreed. We also thought the creme brulee could have been a bit creamier and the sugar crust could have been a bit thicker.
Having said all that it was a beautiful experience, you could hear your dinner companions speak which was very nice and they made a kick-ass cappucino. Our server was oh-so-French and was quite attentive.
I'll return some day with the hubby, he'd get a kick out of this place.
It was my first time visiting Fringale. I will have to admit, the restaurant was a lot smaller than I expected. But perhaps it's that cozy, tight-knit feeling they are trying to achieve. I took a peek around the restaurant as I entered. I noticed that only about 1/2 of the restaurant was occupied... which I thought wasn't too bad for the Tuesday evening.
The atmosphere for the evening was nice. It was definintely a pleasant dining experience. Our waiter was quite the professional. He kept on top of everything and was eager to please and serve us.
Our group of 4 started off with some appetizers:
(1) Roasted beet salad, goat cheese, mache, pear, candied walnuts & balsamic vinaigrette
(2) Spicy Monterey calamari "à la plancha", jalapenos, chorizo & olives
(3) Sautéed prawns in Pastis, sun dried tomatoes, shallots & chives
(4) Dungeness crab Napoleon, avocado, tomato confit, lemon zest & crème fraiche
Everything was quite yummy. Although the spicy calamari lacked spicyness... or at least I thought so. Other than that, each dish was very unique and tasty.
For our entrees, we ordered:
(1) Traditional duck confit, lentils "Du Puy",garlic,bacon & red wine sauce
(2) Seafood basquaise, salmon, cod, prawns, tuna, mussels, red pepper & tomato coulis
(3) Creekstone Farm black angus ribeye steak, pommes frites, red wine butter sauce
(4) The special roasted chicken
I thought the duck was so-so. A little dry if you ask me. The seafood dish was tasty, but there wasn't a huge wow factor. The ribeye was seared to perfection and the red wine butter sauce that came with it was a wonderful compliment to the meat. The roasted chicken (which was the special for the evening) was good as well, but not one of these 4 dishes truly stood out nor made me feel like the price I was paying was indeed worth it.
Lastly, we ended up ordering a few desserts to share:
(1) Warm sponge cake bread pudding with chocolate and bananas
(2) Creamy custard with a caramelized sugar crust
(3) Assortment of house made sorbets
I will have to say that the highlight of the evening was probably the dessert and the company I was with that made the meal an enjoyable one.... even though it was on the pricey side.
I was glad to have tried Fringale since I've driven by it numerous times but never had a chance to make it in tilll yesterday. I think in comparison to other French restaurants in the city, Fringale would rank in mid-way somewhere if I had to rank it. A nice place to try if you've never been, but there isn't much to rave about in terms of the food.... in my opinion at least.
For SOMA, this place is great. I enjoyed the small quiet ambiance the most. The servers are French too to give you that provencale feel. I had the poached cod and the calamari appetizer. Both dishes exceeded my expectations (This is coming from someone who adores any Thomas Keller restaurant).
I'm so glad that one of the closest sit-down restaurants to my home is this place! The interior is adorable and inviting although the restaurant is tiny, so the side tables are crammed together. Service is impeccable, and the waiters were very polite but still joked around with us in their cute French accents. Food came out very quickly but it might have been because we were having an early dinner.
Appetizers: Spicy calamari was good, not what I would call spicy but well-flavored and not too chewy. Wasn't a fan of the foie gras, I prefer mine seared so the huge block of it was too much, we actually left about 1/4 of it unfinished. I liked the toasted brioche that came with it more than anything else.
Entrees: My friend's mussels were really good and garlicky but there was so much of it. I'd recommend the mussels only if you're going to be sharing your food family-style. My duck confit was great, the skin was crispy and the meat just fell off the bone, I didn't even need to use the knife that they provided.
Dessert: Hazelnut roasted almond mousse cake = heaven. I do not like sweets, but the texture was light and the almonds balanced out the sweetness of the mousse and chocolate.
With a full bottle of wine and 2 glasses of dessert wine, our meal came out to be a little over $90/person. So as much as I'd love to, it's not exactly a place I'll be frequenting on a weekly basis, but I will definitely be taking friends and visitors back to Fringale.
Great place for a date. Nice lighting, feels warm/romantic, doesn't feel like you are in SF. This place is not hip/trendy like its neighbors (Coco500, Orson), nor is it too stuffy. Yes, the crowd is a bit more subdued/older than what you'd find at Coco500 and Orson and Soma in general. It feels a bit more on the formal side, but the staff is very nice and friendly. You don't have to shout to be heard.
The mussels are delicious. Loved soaking up the sauce with bread. Roasted chicken for main was delicious. Moist, not dry at all. And the spongey warm chocolate banana cake was deeelicious.
Great food at a great price, need I say more? Fringale is an adorable gem in SOMA, close to Caltrans and the Ballpark that I love to take my friends to. Love the mussels, duck confit, wine list, and the staff, who have helped make some great recommendations for some picky friends.
Very good french food.
Very formal atmosphere.
The staff is more prim and proper.
Not a place for casual eating or loud groups.
A good place to impress your date
Great little restaurant. Food was delicious and service was awesome. Waiters were funny and friendly and the place had a warmth to it. My friends took me here for my bday and we had a wonderful time.
The spicy calamari we had for appetizers was a hit. We especially liked the fact that it was not breaded and deep fried like most calamaris are served.
For entrees,most of us ordered rib-eye and one of my friends who ordered it rare, got hers overcooked, but otherwise everyone else's were fine. I ordered mine medium and it was delicious. The halibut and pork were also good. Everyone cleaned their plate off.
They have great choices for dessert. I had the chocolate bread pudding with banana, but it was not like bread pudding at all and I could not see or taste any banana, but it was still very good. Flourless chocolate cake and creme brulee were also quite delectable.
Best of all, the prices were very reasonable. The bill come to about $42 per person including tips.
Excellent service and delicious food is what you will find at Fringale (Frihn- gal). For starters we had the Spicy Monterey Calamari "a la plancha" and Black Angus Beef Carpacio with Capers, Etork Chees & Olive Oil. Our entrees were Steam PEi Mussels with fresh herbs & sherry vinegar and the Creekstone Farm Black Angus Ribeye with red wine butter & pomme frites. For dessert, we had the Creme Brulee and Mme Angeles Gateau Basque. My steak came out a perfect medium rare (so tender & juicy) and the mussels were so tasty that it livens up your taste buds. Everything was delicous and the ambiance was nicely set, Definitely a great place to dine at, especially after listening to The SF Symphony. It added the finishing touches to a lovely evening.
I enjoyed the duck confit and a salad. The service was good and the food well prepared. Nothing stole the show however and I can't say that I found the menu compelling enough to return unless the person I'm meeting suggests it first.
It was fairly pricey once you throw in a moderate bottle of wine, some sparkling water and a glass of madeira.
I think there are better meals out there for the price, but everything was certainly done well in terms of food and service.
A restaurant so cute it almost qualifies for Cute Overload, and the perfect setting to celebrate a friend's bday with 8 fabulous girls!
Cozy, well lit, yellow walls, pics of Paris everywhere, it was like being at my aunt's house, and the staff treated us like family. If I didn't know better, I'd think our waiter was fishing for extra tip by carding all of us!
I started with the special appetizer, a porcini tart with watercress salad. Wow, it was delicious. A flaky puff pastry base layered with mushroom duxelles and a beautiful topping of thinly sliced fresh porcini mushrooms. Sitting next to the deep green watercress garnished with bright red tomatoes, it was almost too pretty to eat. Of course, I dug right in and ate every crumb!! For a main course I chose the duck confit with lentils. The duck was melt-in-your mouth tender under the crispy fried skin. The lentils had a pancetta and tomato-based sauce that complemented the duck perfectly. However the fat had not been seared out of the duck skin so a thick layer of white fat sat between me and utter bliss. The lentils, while very tasty, were a bit undercooked.
Lucky for me my friends all chose different dishes, so I got to sample the steak frites, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin and some blue cheese spinach. I would definitely get the steak next time. It had a red-wine butter sauce that totally sealed the deal - I LOVE BUTTER!!! I personally found the pork to be overcooked, but the cabbage and bacon accompanying it was amazing. I could have ordered that as a side and been quite happy with "peasant food."
For dessert, we got a few things to share: creme brulee, Mme. Angele's Gateau Basque, the special dessert of the day - lemon tart with apricot sorbet, and a cheese plate. The gateau Basque had a lovely almond/marzipan filling but I felt that it was too sweet, especially with the creme Anglaise sauce. Creme brulee was good, nothing to get all excited about. I would prefer if it had been made in a shallow dish to get better brulee to creme ratio. I really enjoyed the lemon tart and apricot sorbet - the combo sounded weird but together it was amazing! The apricot sorbet really made the dish, it was creamy, smooth and had plenty of smooth apricot flavor which added its own slight acidity to contrast with the lemon curd in the tart. I didn't find the cheese plate to be anything special.
Good selection of wines by the glass, all reasonably priced rounded out the dinner.
Overall good cuisine but a little lacking on execution in some areas.
This French Basque inspired restaurant is situated in South of Market on 4th Street and Brannon. Non-formidable from the outside and very chic and simple decor on the inside, I wasn't sure what to expect of the food as I walked in for a ladies night trying to stand straight in my high heels and tight skirt as an oh so ever "pang of hunger" hit me (or Fringale as the french call it!).
What the restaurant lacks in it's formality of space and small room, it makes up for in every delictable item on the menu. As an appetizer, I ordered the frisee salad with poached egg and bacon. It came with a light dressing and two small slices of baguette on the side. I ate every bite. For entree, the steak with pommes frites and green beans was a great choice. The Steak was mouth melting delicious and seasoned well. I also tried the duck confit with lentils, which was equally good in flavor. For dessert, our table ordered the creme brulee, lemon tarte, and angele's gateau basque. The angele's flaky and fresh almond cake was by far my favorite, but the lemon tart was a second favorite at our table.
Another plus was that when we walked into the restaurant, the staff greeted us immediately. I felt almost if I had entered a private party or someone's home. We dined early (6p.m.), which could have accounted for the extra attention. But as the restaurant filled up, the staff seemed equally attentive. One note is that the clientele is on the older side and not necessarily suitable for very loud parties. The restaurant tends to be more on the mellow side.
However, we found we didn't have to lower our voices, but expected to get a few smirks from our waiter and nearby guests as we made quite a few dirty jokes. It was a b-day party after all! Thus, the restaurant is very intimate in nature, so to speak.
Speaking of wine, the wines by the glass are not highly impressive and unfortunatley our table did not opt for a bottle. But, some wines of noteworthy mention were the syrah and medoc they serve by the glass. Both were light weight and floral and paired well with the flavorful dishes.
My french was a little rusty throughout the evening, but I still managed to find the bathroom comfortably, which is always a plus! I guess "bathroom" translates in every language.
......So me and my tight skirt and uncomfortable heels are sure to return to this little gem of a restaurant in the future. I hope you will try it out too.
Eaters Beware!
Are the Jim Crow Laws still in effect?
I am totally disgusted by the snooty arrogance of the host and lack of table service even after a reservation was made. I guess to them I was not a human and was shrugged off like a third class citizen.
Mind you, I live and work across the street in SOMA and just wanted to have a decent meal.
This is the FIRST time this has happened to me in the Bay Area. I will never set foot or recommend this establishment to anyone. I am not saying the food is good or bad but there are etiquette restaurants must follow. This one FAILS.
Thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant.
My friend and I had the steamed PEI mussels and the fettuccine pasta, both amazingly delicious. The mussels are the best I've had anywhere! And I've had many Belgian moules frites. Their seasoning is absolutely delicious. Pasta was flavorful and very natural-tasting, opposite of oily and saucy you find at most places.
Dessert was hazelnut and roasted almond mousse cake. Yum.
We sat at the bar which was great. Only thing is I would not recommend the Pinot Noir, tasted a bit flat to me.
I find that the higher the price range of a restaurant on yelp, the higher their stars usually are. Just a thought.
So I am definitely not an expert on food, but after living in France for half a year, this french food is just meh. The napolean appetizer was yummy, but too rich for one person and best to share. I got the duck confit and it was okayyyy....
I went with 6 other people and no one thought the food was anything spectacular. Also, it was one of the only places I could get reservations for by calling the day before...hm..I guess that really says something about a place.
It's not terrible, but I would most likely not go here again. Can't wait to try Chapeau!
You know how when you are really hungry and you find an open restaurant, make the reservation and the entire time, all you can think about is eating? Anything?
Well, that didn't happen.
Why? Well, I was an idiot to go here with an important business partner and even talked up how great the restaurant is, how wonderful the food and service is...
I insisted that we would love this place.
Fast forward: Reservation made for 9:15. Walked into a half filled restaurant at 9:10.
Note: Restaurant hours:
Sun - Thu, 5:30pm - 10:00pm
Fri and Sat, 5:30pm - 11:00pm
Me: "Hi, I have a reservation."
Bartender: "Yeah, we are closed."
Me: "Um, what? I have a reservation."
Bartender: *smirking* "Yeah, I just canceled that."
Hard to know what to think about what just happened, but in my low-blood sugar condition, ass clown buffoonery was not appropriate.
I won't recommend this to anyone and I won't be going back.
The people at the other restaurant who fed us are now our first choice in the neighborhood.
We came in for a late lunch and we couldn't have been more graciously received. The service was attentive without being intrusive and the food -- AMAZING!! The frise salad and the roast chilcken were out of this world and when I tasted my friends steak I thought it would melt in my mouth. I will definitely make this a return stop the next time I visit San Francisco!
I wasn't expecting much when I came here but was blown away. The service is very french, and the waitstaff was very knowledgeable and attentive. One nice thing about hte restaurant is that it is pretty quiet in comparison to many similar restaurants. The food was outstanding. Lobster ravioli melted in the mouth and the sauce was perfect. The shrimp appetizer was also out of this world.
I took a gamble on a dish I would not normally try the seafood basquaise and found it amazing. The mussels, pan-fried chicken, and ling cod also looked outstanding at other tables. Desserts were good but not great and I didn't think the accompanying vanilla ice cream was strong - I tried the apple tart and the chocolate cake
OMG!!! Cute! Cute! Cute!!
This place was amazing! The service was lovely and the food was wonderful!!
It's a very small, cozy, homelike, quaint atmosphere! It's warm and friendly! The staff was amazing and wonderful!
The portions are reasonable and price to me are normal SF restaurant pricing!
I was so full, thank goodness I had to walk to BART cuz I could barely move!
I will return again!!
Met a friend for a birthday dinner here after searching Yelp for a nice French Restaurant. Came up with Fringale and chose to come here for dinner. When we arrived, we waited a bit for a table even with reservations and 4 empty tables in the restaurant. I got the potato garlic soup and the pork tenderloin. The soup was soso while the Bacon wrapped Pork tenderloin, braised savoy cabbage w/caramelized onion sauce was AMAZING. I have never had a piece of pork that was so soft, juicy and tender. The cabbage that came with it was a bit strange, but the meat and the sauce made up for it. We shared the creme brule which was also fantastic.
My only peeve was that they only had 1 choice for "glass" champagne. It was a french champagne that was about $20 for a glass. It seemed a lot for just one glass. A choice of moderately priced champagnes would have been nice.
Easy parking if you get there early. Staff is questionable as service was slow at times. Then again, the French take their time. Food was excellent. Will definitely come back again!
I have only recently discovered French Cuisine, as naive as that sounds. Fringale was my third date at a French Restaurant, after La Folie and The 'Chalkboard' Bistro. I'm not sure how I have claimed to be a foodie for so long with French food slipping under my radar, but after last night, I have decided the French have made it into my top three cuisines of choice.
I ordered the steak, which came with a dallop of red wine butter. For those of you who are familiar with the lindonberry butter at Millbrae House of Pancakes, think of that, but 20 times better and over the juiciest most flavorful piece of steak imaginable. It was amazing.
As my date dinned on his pork chop, and I savored every bite of that steak, we laughed at the Vegetarians and Vegans who were eating cardboard tasting crap at Herbivore. They just don't know what they're missing.
So at Fringale I found another piece of meat that will ensure I never go veggie. When something that good hits your pallet, you're hooked for life. I thank the French and the Moroccan's for keeping me a carnivore. :-)
Finally able to take advantage of DAT. 3 course meal for $35 per person. I had the gem salad, pasta with veggies and the creme brulee.
All dining companions had chosen different things off the menu: hanger steak, sole, lamb. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food. The waitstaff was not overly aggressive, friendly, over-the-top French. Instead, they were more like Parisian, stand-offish French, which we preferred. Allows you to feel comfortable and enjoy your meal without interruption.
Parking, even with a Giants game going on, was available. My husband was going to just drop me off and then go park. But the waitstaff was SOOO nice when they saw my pregnant belly getting dropped off at the loading zone right in front of the restaurant, they allowed us to stay and park there! Rockstar parking! I guess there are pluses to being pregnant!
2 DAT meals, 1 vodka tonic(for husband), tax and tip: $102.00...not bad for a nice evening out with good company!
Came here a few years ago for dine about town. Don't remember what I had, but had a very good meal. I will come back.
I met up with a friend for pre-birthday lunch and I wanted to try a new place. I've been wanting to try Fringale, it was on my never ending list of places to go and good things to eat.
We ordered a bottle of Markham, Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc to share. Since a salad came with my meal, we ordered pomme fritz which were soggy and not that great. It wasn't like they were on menu, so I can't fault them for not being perfect.
For lunch I had the Dungeness crab Napoleon with avocado, tomato confit and crème fraiche. This was incredible and pure genius. I just read about a new spin on a "crab cake" in a cooking magazine at home and wanted to try it. This "one upped" that recipe. This came with a side of mixed greens.
My friend ordered the Salade Niçoise with Ahi tuna , vegetables in olive oil & lemon dressing. Atop the salad was a huge piece of Ahi Tuna. I would have liked it seared and not cooked, but it wasn't my meal and I think it was ordered that way.
Definitely enjoyed my meal and every time I see the picture of my Crab Napoleon, it reminds me of how tasty it was. Check out my pics!
Fringale: French for "the urge to eat"...and this is probably the best name for a Basque-inspired hole in the wall like this place.
I came here for a work lunch, and we all had nothing bad to say. I ordered the the poached Alaskan halibut, and the fish was perfectly cooked. The piperade, artichoke and olive side complemented it quite well. My coworkers ordered the Duck Confit, which was swimming in a pool lentils and a red wine sauce. I was fortunate to have a piece, and when I bit into it, the meat seemed to just melt in my mouth. At one point, I was regretting my order and wanting more of that duck. The wine selection is amazing and made for a very "happy" lunch. I will definitely be back here...this time, I'm ordering the Duck (maybe 2).
Great food! Great atmosphere! Awesome waiter-he looked liked a french wolverine!!! We went for an early dinner. I took advantage of the early bird special (good before 6pm). With that I got the black angus beef carpacio, the salmon and the chocolate cake. They were all delicious for such a reasonable price. My fiancee got the foie gras, the rooster (special for the day) and a vanilla pastry. He loved his food as well. Our bill came out to approx $86 after tax and tip. Not bad for all the quality food (plus 2 glasses of wine)we had!! The service was great and the waiter (again..who looked like wolverine) had a great knowledge of the wine selection. Highly recommended!
I love zee French. I do. I dated an international French student in college and he was so romantic. He taught me a lot of words in French. He recited French poems to me. He played the guitar and wrote several French songs for me. He fed me chocolate-dipped strawberries. He wrote French short stories about our romance. And it was a little too lovey-dovey. He kissed my hand every 2 seconds. It was getting to be way too much.
I admit that I did stay with him for about a month since I loved his home cooked meals (he learned from his grandma), but in the end, I realized that I didn't need to endure all the lovey-dovey abuse just to get some good French food. We have many great French restaurants in the city - and Fringale is one of my favorites now.
This place is very small. A friendly bartender greets you as you enter. The restaurant is tiny and everyone is packed in. It's cozy. The waiters and bussers scurry around all the tables and are very polite.
We started off with the Dungeness crab Napoleon with avocado, tomato confit, crème fraiche [$15] - it was the perfect appetizer - creamy and all the flavors just melted in your mouth. Napoleon would have been very proud that such a delicious appetizer was named after him.
Steamed PEI mussels in fried garlic, fresh herbs & sherry vinegar [$17] showed that Fringale was certainly not frugal when it came to the amount of mussels. They were juicy and the sauce was perfect for bread-dipping.
The Sauteed Lock Duart salmon served with kale, pickled mushrooms, lobster sauce [$21] was cooked perfectly and the salmon was flaky. The sauce that accompanied it was also great for bread-dipping.
The glass of Rose, Cotes de Provence '05 [$8] is a very girly wine but it was the perfect wine throughout my meal. It was light and crisp so it wasn't competing with the flavorful and heaviness of the Basque-inspired dishes.
I had a lovely meal here - and it made me think of my ex-French lova's cooking --- without all the romantic abuse.
Excellent service, never rushed + great atmosphere + impeccable french/basque cuisine.
I'd recommend it for a couple, sort of romantic dinner ;-)
Bad food, bad service, waste of money, waste of time!
My steak was pretty gross not to mention the soggy pomme frite! Waiter practically "threw" the food at us! There are much better french bistros in town and we'd never go back!
Had date night with the boyfriend and we did the Dine About Town ($35 each per person). We got the best table in the place (it's cozy and intimate, which I like)! We had the calamari and crab something-or-other for appetizers. They were both great- the calamari was perfectly cooked and had a great bold flavor. The crab thingy was very tasty and the flavors blended well together.
For entrees we had the hanger steak and the petrale sole. The steak was juicy and had a great sauce :) and the sole was very rich. For dessert we had the gourmand and the creme brulee. Both were great but the creme brule was super creamy and it was a generous portion.
The service was very good and if we didn't do the Dine About Town, the prices aren't actually that bad... so I might return at a later date!
Quite good. In fact, very good. And great value. For being frugally gourmet, it approaches 4.5 stars.
Started with the frisee salad with hot bacon dressing with a poached egg -- the egg was perfect, and how can you go wrong with hot bacon dressing? I don't love frisee but this was still great. I think I'd still prefer a more substantive leaf, but I'll overlook it for now.
Then had the bacon wrapped pork loin -- that pork was perfect (they normally serve it pink, but i asked them to cook it a little more and they did). It was so tender and juicy and flavorful. Even the cabbage/onion thing under it was tasty.
The chocolate dessert was good. Not earth shattering, but good. Part of cake was just sort of hard. It didn't make me melt in my chair, but it didn't repulse me either.
Service is friendly and fast (in a place that small, I'd hope service is good!).
The dine-about-town menu was super limited -- that was a disappointment (and also another reason I just can't give it the full 5 stars). I went off menu and was so satisfied. The lamb, from what I hear, was just ok. So I'm glad I went off menu. Don't know why they don't expand it, since they'd probably get more repeat business if they put some of the better stuff on it!
I'd definitely go back!
What!? How can my review for Fringale not be here? Oh well.
Let me put this short and sweet. When I need place with excellent food and great people my fall back list always has Fringale near the top. Hell! My fall forward list has Fringle near the top too!
Some may complain of the close quarters but if you can get over the sometimes tight fit due to the amount of people in the place you will fine a nice little French bistro that will never fail you to amuse your palate at an affordable price. Sorry about some others peoples experience but my service and food has always been perfect for every visit. I'll come back again and again for sure!
Came here with my boyfriend for the dine around town last weekend. We had a really good experience.
So, my boyfriend got the dungeness crab napoleon and I ordered the calamari. My boyfriend LOVES his dish, and my dish was SO BIG for an appetizer which is always a plus! The calamari was also VERY tasty!
I got the lamb for entree, and my boyfriend ordered the hanger steak. The steak was also very tasty and I actually enjoyed his dish more than mine.
Very cozy restaurant, and service was great!
Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and partake on the dine around town menu.
Appetizer:
Calamari: no bad, great taste, great texture, and huge portion.
Foie Gras: Yums! Love how the pineapple chutney brings out the flavor!
Entree:
Sole: SALTY, rice under cook, pea seems to be frozen, sauce had no taste.
Dessert:
Creme Brulee: average, had much better.
Would have given it a 3 star, but the fact that I was in the bathroom 20 mins after I left did not sit very well with me. I concluded that it might be the fish because i was the only one who order sole.
My reviews are usually more detailed but I am still in pain. =(
I hate to share my secret with the rest of San Francisco-Fringale is the best place for a first date. Every time I have gone there, its been on a first date- and its always able to subdue any awkwardness with its pretty scenery and yummy food. There are lots of lovely things on the menu, but I personally love the organic chicken breast with fingerling potatoes and roasted corn. I would make a reservation, and even then there might be a wait. Sit at the bar and munch on some Acme bread. Its hidden away along fourth street, and always warm inside-especially if the date goes well :)
Love....love...love..and adore this place! This Basque-influenced bistro is a San Francisco favorite. They're consistent and affordable (for the quality of freshness they serve).
My advice on lunch:
*Foie Gras terrine (my favorite) - they serve it with pineapple chutney and it's just delicious! (but then again, maybe I'm just biased.)
*Duck confit, if you like duck, will melt in your mouth. Pair this with a nice bottle of JC Trocard Grand Cru and you're set!
*You can't go wrong with their Steamed mussels and their Black Cod with piperade, if you like seafood.
*AND if you like dessert, you'll love ANY from their dessert menu...and I mean any ...even their Cheese Plate.
I would give this a 5 but I hate that this place is so small. It's hard to get reservations on the fly...you would have to pretty much work around their schedule. But overall, this place is one of the best in SF.
Dined at Fringale during SF's Restaurant Week back in January.
If you weren't looking for this restaurant, you'd absolutely miss it. It's small outside and in. But that added to the coziness of the restaurant. Right from the moment we stepped into the restaurant we were warmly greeted by our host who promptly took our coat. Fancyyyyy.
Because it was a special pre-fixe menu, our choices were slim. I had the:
- Black Angus beef carpacio served with capers, Etorki cheese & olive oil
- Sole with Lemon Sauce
- Crème brûlée
The carpacio was okay, nice light way to begin the meal.
The Sole was amazing! But it wasn't the fish that was amazing but the SAUCE. I was tempted to lick the plate clean, it was THAT good. The Crème brûlée was one of the BEST I've ever had. Highly recommended.
Overall, the restaurant was a delight and provided a great fine dining experience. I would definitely consider coming back here, even when it isn't restaurant week to try the rest of their menu.
After a long weekend of partying and no sleep, I had to pamper myself.
Fringale it is! What a cute little place! The crowd there was a little fancier than what I'm used to, but the ambiance and food were to die for!
I ordered the prucitto and asian pear salad with a glass of chardonney. YUM. Then I proceeded onto the Seared Lamb with roasted red and yellow bell peppers and au gratin potatoes. YUM again. Then topped it off with an espresso to keep me awake for the rest of the evening from the lack of sleep and fully belly.
Cute place to go and spoil yourself cuz you deserve it every now and again. Very romantic too if you wanna impress your date *hint hint*. This is my favorite new French restaurant in the city!
Everyone needs a "go to" spot that includes being a crowd pleaser, has a full bar with sharp bartenders that whip up quality drinks and makes some of the best French Fries you will find in the City.
Fringale is this place.
I've been a return visitor to Fringale for the past four plus years and each and every time have enjoyed excellent service and served up some of the most creative French food you will find anywhere.
The seating is cramped, but adds to the charm of this bistro. The waiters are polished and are well versed with the menu and are eager to help you made decisions and offer any advice on any of the many tasty selections offered up.
The wine list includes varietals from all over the world but there is an emphasis on the French wines. Again they will help you navigate the list and help you pick out the perfect bottle for the evening.
Excellent service and easy street parking.
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: French
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: French
Neighborhood: Laurel Heights
Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Category: French
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: French
decisions decisions ... there's just WAYY too many…
.... these are the places I would be spending a…
Where they provide the great food and classy…
All of my other lists include places in other…
Lunch spots within walking distance of AT&T Park…
For special occasions or just to chase the blues…
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
for french lovers! or rather french food lovers.…
