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Category: American (New)
Neighborhood: Fisherman's WharfMon-Sun. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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What can I say that hasn't already been said 1,600 times? Nothing. It's amazing.
The Food (and The Wine)
we had oysters/caviar, seared ahi, lobster risotto, seared scallops, and the bison. We finished with cheese and chocolate mousse cake. The food is fantastic, but I feel like it's overhyped. Or maybe my standards are too high. The portions are generous. You will not leave hungry. The wine list is truly impressive. Calling it a list doesn't do it justice; it's a collection. There are enough reasonably-priced bottles, but be prepared to spend if you want the better stuff. And don't even bother trying to bring nice bottles with you, unless you have some obscure large format bottles. They've got all the heavy hitters here covering many vintages (Bryant, Harlan, Grace, Colgin, Marcassin, Ridge, Lafite, Latour, Mouton, etc etc etc).
The Place
Decor is looking dated. Inside it's not very loud, but it's not a whisper and keep your voice down atmosphere either. The bathrooms are awesome. Check out the Fromagair (cheese refrigerator) on the way.
The Scene
You get the sense this isn't the place to see and be seen. First of all, it's too dark. But looking around, you see a lot of the older, "power lunch" crowd. These are people who appreciate substance AND style, who have high standards for food and service. Not a lot of women, save for those on dates or "special occasion" outings. I went with two girls (let's just say each of us are between the ages of 23 and 30) and we were by far the youngest in the room. Which is not to say I felt out of place; I'm used to being around people older than me. You could probably wear whatever you wanted and would still get amazing service, but guys: you would feel underdressed without shirtsleeves and a jacket.
The Service
You get the sense that they hired the staff based on their personality (warm, polite, personable, poised, patient, humble, things that can't be taught) rather than experience or skill (which anyone can learn). In a word, the best ever. I'm writing this review 5 months on, and I still remember everything that happened. That's how incredible it was.
The Verdict
Everything, top to bottom, is perfectly executed here. But that's almost a problem for me, because it's devoid of character. Gary Danko is like a Lexus: it's luxurious and refined but, in the end, not that exciting or flashy. There's a reason why there are no Lexus enthusiast clubs - they don't inspire passion or excitement. That's what I felt here. At no point does GD reach down your pants, grab you by the balls and give a good tug. But maybe that's not why GD exists. Maybe they exist to gently massage your balls with an amazing culinary experience.
There is nothing that matches a meal at Danko's - you need to fast for a day before going, and make sure you have nothing to do right before or after your reservation, because going here is an event in itself.
Everything is beyond anything imaginable in terms of intuitive service and most importantly.... the food. Which should have another name because it puts anything else you've ever put in your mouth to shame.
They are booked 1-2 months in advance, so make sure you make your reservation accordingly!
I've been here at least a dozen times...and I've never had a less than perfect experience here. They are the top restaurant on yelp and it is so easy to see why from the minute you enter the restaurant...the service from beginning to end is impeccable. They treat you like you are the most important customer every time..my glass is always filled, my table is always free of any crumbs, my napkin is always folded when I come back from the bathroom...they are on it down to the tiniest details.
Their wine list is pretty good but I recommend you bring your own wine so you don't have to pay the crazy markup...but if you go there enough..they will sometimes waive the $35 corkage fee as I learned about on yelp and it actually worked for me the next time I went......If I do get my wine there..I always pair the wine with the cheese cart. They give you a free soup sampler that is YUM x2...and I've been here on several birthday occasions and they never fail give a free dessert that is generously portioned to easily share with the table.
Must Haves:
1) Seared Sonoma Foie Gras with Caramelized Red Onions and Rhubarb
2) Glazed Oysters with Caviar
3) Risotto with Lobster
4) Mushroom Dusted Sea Scallops with English Pea Purée, Shimeji Mushrooms and Meyer Lemon
5) Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado, Enoki Mushrooms and Lemon Soy Dressing
Parking around the restaurant can be quite a challenge...I say just fork out the wallet for valet...don't be a cheap ass if you plan to dine at a top notch restaurant! Reservation are a must a month to two in advance.
If I have a birthday to celebrate or a friend from out of town that I want to impress...there is no place else in the city quite as amazing as this place. Gary Danko is a super friendly guy if you ever get to meet him in person too and he truly is passionate in making sure each of his guests leave feeling like they had the best dining experience of their lives. My favorite restaurant in all of SF...hands down 5 stars across all boards!
People thought this was:
a break from my little adventures to take you into a...
degustation of desire.
4.5 stars.
To start, an amuse bouche of carrot ginger soup, a hint of creme fraiche, rich curry, and littered with perfect mushroom cubes. Garnished with parsley.
Next, pan seared sonoma valley foie gras, firm and plump sittting atop a compote of caramelized red onions, and rhubarb softened in... red onions...perhaps? Garnished with beautiful flowing greens.
Mushroom dusted sea scallops with english pea puree, shimeji mushrooms, and meyer lemon. The scallops are fat and juicy, tender with sinking meat, and in a subtle, but beautiful, pea puree.
Quail stuffed foie gras, leeks and quinoa, garro, maitake mushrooms, zucchini and roasted red peppers nestled in a compilation of quinoa and maitake mushrooms and roasted red peppers. Zucchini curls garnish the plate and add coolness.
The pace of the meal is quick, fast and good. The tempo picks up as the dishes grow richer, and spanish guitar quietly spinning through the air.
Lemongrass soda, housemade jalapeno syrup, muddles with basil, makes a light and spicy refreshing drink between the meat course and the fromage.
Picandine pico affine, petit agur, la demon du midi, la vigneron with red grapes and raisin bread
Dessert, French earl grey macaroon with milk choice cream caramel sauce, lemon cream cheese ice cream huckleberry
Chocoate with coffee ice cream chocolate sauce
Mignardise to end.
voila. seduced you are. :)
video reviews of degustations on my site http://www.tastytwosom... :) enjoy.
Tracy aka @tastytwosome on twitter. :)
People thought this was:
Is it possible to pay $300 for a meal and be OK with it?
If you would have asked me before Gary Danko, I would have told you know.
Everything about this place screamed class as the service was top notch.
I wish I would have known you could mix your courses, I don't like cheese very much and would have gladly swapped the cart out for another lobster.
Bravo to Gary for not sitting back on their laurels, this place has been top notch for years and we all know it's not easy to stay on top in SF.
People thought this was:
I have to say these were the best meals I've ever had, hands down. From the minute we walked in, we were treated like old friends. The service was impeccable, the food to die for! I can still taste the caviar amuse-bouches!
Yes, it was expensive, but you are paying for the experience. Treat yourself. Aren't you worth it?
People thought this was:
The Holy Grail of restaurants in San Francisco. The anticipation had been building up since I moved here 2.5 years ago, and it finally came to a climax in September.
Everything they say is true about Gary Danko's (at least all the good stuff). The staff IS that nice, not snobby at all. The bathrooms ARE gorgeous and smell just lovely. The food-oh the food- IS glorious. I had the 4 course meal- the sweet corn crab chowder, the scallops, the filet, and gosh...something with lobster. Everything was perfecly cooked, everything tasted amazing. Yes, I used the word "amazing." We had some lovely sparkling wine to start the meal off, and then dove into some delcious pinot. Their wine list is mind boggling.
For dessert, they brought out a beautiful plate of mini-desserts (it was my Birthday). Every little bite was perfect. Yes, I used the word "perfect." At the end of the meal, they give ladies little cakes to take home. The cake they gave that night was a banana nut cake with cream cheese (for the next morning). I indeed ate it the next morning, and it was so moist and sweet.
I am a huge Gary Danko's fan. Even though it may be over hyped, I still love this place.
People thought this was:
Food - the oysters were amazzzzing. all the other dishes were extremely consistent, cleanly plated, delicious, and fresh.
Service - was great, but to be expected for this restaurant. one exception - our waiter did not provide 2 of the 5 wine pairings with my friend's meal. when we asked about the missing wines, the waiter said he assumed we didn't want it since we already had a bottle of wine. excuse me? the waiter should have asked whether we wanted to pass on the wine pairings and not have assumed.
Ambiance - the place was surprisingly loud. tables are too close together. floors are slippery - watch out ladies in heels. i almost slipped and so did someone else while i was there. but in the end, except for the noise, the focus definitely goes back to the food.
People thought this was:
I have a confession. I put this on my Dad's Amex because nooooooo waaayyy can I afford this shit!! I plan on holding a sermon on the mount (protrero) to sing accolades about the soup!
People thought this was:
After years of waiting and dying to dine here I can now check it off my list.
The food is very good, though the most memorable thing that I can take away from my experience here is the excellent service -- very amiable disposition of the entire staff, attentive yet not too intrusive, and knowledgeable.
Set up of the tables and the atmosphere are conducive to intimate evening dining.
The Food --
Appetizers: glazed oysters with ostera caviar (bit on the salty side but good) / lobster risotto (mushy, overpowering basil flavor in oil, lobster was good, but overall a little disappointing)
Seafood: pan seared tuna (some of the best pan seared tuna I've tasted) / seared sea scallops (very good)
Meat: quail stuffed with foie gras (quite good, though I've had better quail at Chinese restaurants) / duck breast with duck hash (the duck hash was excellent)
Cheeses: a nice selection of artisanal cheeses (very bold flavors but a little over hyped in my cheese-lover's opinion, especially after hearing so many rave about it and seeing some guy have a very vocal food-gasm in front of me at the bar when we first walked in that was reminiscent of Meg Ryan's famous scene in When Harry Met Sally)
Dessert: baked chocolate soufflé (good) / warm Louisiana butter cake with caramelized peaches, huckleberry compote and peach ice cream (one of the most delectable desserts I've ever had in my life, highly recommended if it's on the menu, forego the popular chocolate soufflé and order this unforgettable dessert, I would not lead you astray)
Extras: assortment of mini baked and candied treats and the prepackaged banana bread to take home (delicious, very good)
I haven't been so full after a meal in a long time. Come hungry and excited.
People thought this was:
The perfect word to describe Gary Danko is 'overrated'.
My boyfriend made a reservation with GD the day before my birthday and we were able to get a table for that very next day. We could very well have lucked out and got a cancellation but I'd say don't believe all the hype about having to reserve months in advance. (Albeit, reservations were a tad on the late side.) Dinner was set for 8:30pm and an excited food connoisseur-boyfriend made sure we were prompt. Hostess was nice and we were seated immediately.
We were seated in the corner, and the table for 2 was kinda cramped. But I didn't mind because it was pretty cozy and romantic. We were prepared for the menu and had decided that we each were going to have 5 courses because hey, my birthday only comes once a year ; ). Not really, but because how often are we really going to come back to GD? Anyways, our server was enthusiastic and he was quite committed to making our time enjoyable. He had a huge smile on his face and was ready and willing to help us through the menu, but also gave us enough space and time to choose. We also had questions about the wine, and he helped us choose something that we were both happy about.
The food was good but did not live up to our expectations. We were expecting a little bit of heaven with every bite, but was definitely not served heaven on a platter. It sucks to come into a restaurant with high expectations and not have them exceeded or even met, in this case. We had 10 (TEN!) dishes total and I can't say any were out of this world, orgasm in your mouth memorable. : ( So, the best way to have the BEST experience at GD is to have no expectations at all. So, I won't tell you the food was amazing, and I won't tell you this would be the last meal I'd have if I could choose. That way, I'd save you some disappointment. However, I can't hate on Gary Danko because I very much enjoyed my birthday and the service was exceptional. Departing words: the take home breakfast banana cake was BOMB. Guys, it's too bad because they only offer these to the ladies.
People thought this was:
Wonderful place!! This place definitely lives up to the hype! The food and service are impeccable. I never thought that I would be OK with spending over $300 for dinner for a party of two!! However, I really feel that this place is worth every cent. However, the wait to get a reservation is very long and difficult!!
After numerous accolades and recommendations from both avid yelpers and friends, I decided to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday at Gary Danko. What's up Phoi B.
We each chose the 5-course meal option. We dabbled in each category and the only dishes that are worth mentioning are the glazed oysters and the quail stuffed with foie gras. We also had the risotto, roast Maine lobster, lemon pepper duck breast, seared filet of beef, beet salad with goat cheese, and the trio of crème brulee. All of these dishes were mediocre at best, not really even worth writing about. The last dish we ordered was the chocolate soufflé, probably the the only bad dish we had. It was extremely dry and tasteless. One thing I can say is that the presentation of the food was excellent. Every plate that was served looked delicious upon first sight. The service was excellent, the ambiance was decent, but I wish the food was better. Luckily for me (or maybe for GD), my date was excellent as usual so I had a great time nonetheless.
Brian C. - Aside from your review, the word "heaven" is used 8 times in the first four pages of reviews to describe particular food dishes served at Gary Danko (out of the extensive 41 pages of reviews). In addition, people who have recommended this restaurant to me have described it as...a slice of heaven...heaven in every bite...the pearly gates...and countless other parallels to describe the food. So, I think it is appropriate to expect a heavenly meal which we unfortunately were not presented with. But, I guess you and only you have a palate worthy of tasting heaven, or, um, in your words, "legal crack". Oh, and I do feel guilty for dropping nearly $400 on a just-average meal.
People thought this was:
Ehhhh, kind of overrated if you ask me.
Came here for dinner with my mother. It was her last day before she went back home to Shanghai. We had reservations at 5:30 and we found parking right across the street at 5.
Mother: I'm going to move the car a little up so someone can park behind me if they want to
Me: Who cares about them? They will try to park and hit my car.
Sure enough, a man tries to park behind us and hits my car twice! Rough start to a nice dinner. Homph.
We both went with 3 courses.
Appetizer
Crab Salad: Best salad ever. It had huge chunks of crab instead of being mixed in and the dressing was very tasty.
Lobster Salad: Also huge chunks of lobster. I wasn't a fan of this salad and it almost seemed like it was the same dressing.
Entree
Coconut Thai Curry with Lemongrass, Calamari, Lobster, Scallions and Shitake Mushrooms: Instead of the mushrooms it came with oysters, shrimp, and giant scallops. Fair trade off if you ask me. Haha. I didn't like my entree so my mother and I traded.
Seared Sea Scallops w/ Sweet Potato: Amazinggggggg. Came with four giant scallops.
Dessert
Seasonal Sorbet Sampler with Cookies: Cookies were good but nothing special, same with sorbet.
Roasted Pears with Gingerbread and Nutmeg Ice Cream: Loved everything. Was weary of the ice cream but it tasted like plain old vanilla to me.
Everything was a little off. Service wasn't even close to being as good as Acquerello. Bread wasn't as good as Michael Mina or The Rotunda.
It seemed really rushed (or maybe we just ate really fast?). There was no wait time between each course and I am a fan of long drawn out dinners. There was almost, dare I say, TOO much food. We were bursting at the seams by dessert. I enjoyed the complimentary tray of desserts but only a few of them were good. Some were borderline gross. Asked for water w/ no ice and got a glass of water that was pretty much all ice and took forever to find a waiter to ask for a straw. The chef's surprise in the beginning was delicious except it was extremely oily.
Food seems to be a hit or miss.
I got a gift certificate for my birthday and was excited to plan a nice dinner out with my boyfriend, and of course have a chance to dress up.
We arrived, and were greeted right away by the hostess, she took our wine and said the table would be ready in a minute. We headed to the bar and I ordered a martini, as soon as it was ready so was our table so a waiter put it on his tray and took us over. One thing that I found a bit off was that every time we got our food, someone else brought it, our waiter only talked to us twice, so it wasn't a personal experience where one waiter does all the work.
Corner booth was perfect, romantic and just what I would have picked as a seat, sitting next to each other we began our review of the menu.
I loved the idea that we could order any courses in the menus, I could have had three entees as my choice, this was the first restaurant that gave this option and I loved it.
The highlights were the scallops that literally melted in our mouths, the soufle, quail, crab salad and sashimi. Everything was beautiful and of course tasty, it was also very light in preparation, I didn't taste a lot of salt or butter. I did have some pork sausage that came with my entree that looked very peculiar, it was square and tasted like it was out of a package.
We had a great time, enjoyed our food and wine but I have to say that this place is overrated. The food was great but for the prices we have a lot of options in the city that can match this and not everything was amazing, it was good but not unique. I guess when you're a foodie the expectations sore and it's harder and harder to impress.
Our bill was only about $60 after the $150 gift certificate and we brought our own wine, so for the price I would not recommend this.
People thought this was:
It's been over a year since I have last eaten at Gary Danko. I've been trying to find a restaurant that can compare to Gary Danko in Los Angeles, and there isn't any. I would move to SF just for this restaurant. That's how good Gary Danko is. Sure, it's super hard to get parking and it probably took us 2 hours to find parking, but it's all worth it. I dream about it every night.
The food is perfection. GO.
This is a beautiful special occasion restaurant. Everything from the service to the food is perfect. The cheese cart is divine.
Hands down, this is my favorite restaurant in San Francisco!
I'm sorry. I'd heard so many great things about this restaurant. And I really, really wanted to like it. But it just didn't impress.
We took my in-laws here for dinner when they were visiting a few months ago. They are hard-core foodies so my husband was very careful to select what he thought would be a no-fail restaurant. Let's face it...Gary Danko is an SF food legend on par with Chez Panisse and the French Laundry in terms of popularity. How could we go wrong?
Where to start...
The ambiance and decor felt like something from a 1980s movie...one in which a fancy, upscale restaurant is featured heavily. Black-lacquered vases and black Formica ledges? Check. An overabundance of mirrors? Check. Ginormous floral arrangements? Check. Plentiful angles? Check. It's all there folks. The only thing missing was a much younger Robert Downey Jr. or Tom Cruise.
But hey....we were there for the food. Yeah, ambiance is nice but it's certainly not everything.
Then the menu arrived. And boy what a menu it was. It appears Gary Danko is going for the Cheesecake Factory approach: cram as many items onto the menu as humanly possible in the hopes that customers will order lots and lots of stuff. Our party spent about 30 minutes reading through it and then figuring out the whole course ordering strategy. We were exhausted and not a little overwhelmed by the time the waiter showed up to take our orders.
The food....well, "meh" really does describe it for me. I was really expecting better. While I won't go so far as to say it was bad....I will say, considering the price, the restaurant's reputation, and how far in advance we had to book our reservation, it was totally underwhelming. The flavors /dishes were overly-familiar in that we'd been there, done that in numerous restaurants all over the Bay Area. Maybe this is because numerous restaurants are trying to imitate Gary Danko. But then I guess I'd expect the source of all these dishes to be the best ever. And that was simply not the case.
But I am sorry. Because I know there are legions of hard-core Gary Danko fans out there who likely think I'm high as a kite...or lying...or was completely drunk and therefore not at all a reliable witness. Maybe we need to go again. But considering the price and how frigging hard it is to get in, I doubt we will.
I took advice from fellow Yelpers and made my reservation 2 months in advance. We came on a Friday at 7p.m. for my boyfriend's birthday and were seated immediately.
The tables are definitely a little small and cramped for 2 people but since I read so many reviews I was expecting it. I requested a corner table when I made my reservation so there was only one table sitting directly next to us instead of people sitting on either side of us.
For the most part I'm vegetarian, but for special occasions I'll have seafood. My boyfriend is pescatarian so when I made my reservation I made sure to let the hostess know. They have an extensive seafood menu and a separate vegetarian menu upon request which was great. Before we received our menus we were given an amuse bouche of tuna tartar. It was a nice tasty little bite to start off the meal. I ordered a glass of the sauvignon blanc ($14) and my boyfriend had a glass of the malbec ($12). They had half-bottles starting at $40 and all full bottles were over $100.
We both decided to get the 5 course ($98/ a person).
Let me start by saying that the service was absolutely exceptional. Every server was right on point and very friendly. We always had everything we needed and they were very attentive, but didn't hover over us which I liked.
They served bread before the meal. The bread wasn't warm which I would think is standard in a restaurant of this caliber, but it was still good. If either of our bread plates were ever empty the server would promptly serve us more.
We ordered the following:
1st COURSE
Risotto with Lobster, Rock Shrimp, Corn, Peas and Roasted Tomatoes: (they offer a vegetarian version of this as well) The risotto was perfect, all the flavors worked so well together. It was served in a white wine cream sauce with a hint of garlic that was so buttery and delicious.
Seared Ahi Tuna with Avocado, Nori, Enoki Mushrooms and Lemon Soy Dressing: The quality of the tuna was excellent. My boyfriend said the dressing was flavorful and loved this dish.
2nd COURSE
Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce: I wasn't really a fan of this dish. I didn't like the mustard sauce and I thought it was just average.
Seared Sea Scallops with Zucchini-Basil Purée, Tomato Fondue and Sugar Snap Peas: My boyfriend ordered this dish and said it was good, but not the best scallops he's ever had.
We weren't impressed with our 2nd course selections. Don't get me wrong, the food was still good....but no "wow" factor.
3rd COURSE
Roast Maine Lobster with Potato Purée, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Corn and Tarragon: AMAZING!!! My boyfriend and I both ordered this for our 3rd course and it was outstanding. The lobster was perfectly cooked, the potato puree was perfection and the mushrooms....oh the mushrooms.....they really brought the whole dish together.
Definitely my favorite of the first three courses.
4th COURSE
Cheese Cart: TRIPLE CREAM, TRIPLE CREAM, TRIPLE CREAM. I just about died when the triple cream hit my mouth. It was heaven and I'm in love. The cheese course comes with your choice of 4 cheese selections- I had the triple cream (if you didn't already figure that out), cheddar, goat cheese from France and a sheep's milk cheese. I wasn't fond of the goat cheese, the cheddar was good, the sheep's milk cheese was great, and the triple cream was nothing short of amazing. The cheese course is a must!!!
5th COURSE
Warm Louisiana Butter Cake with Caramelized Peaches, Huckleberry Compote and Peach Ice Cream: YUMMMMMMM. It's all in the title- warm, buttery cake served with warm caramelized peaches with a side of velvety peach ice cream. Absolutely perfect.
Lemon Soufflé Cake with Raspberries and Crème Frache Panna Cotta: I wasn't really impressed with this dessert. The cake was okay, but nothing great...the Louisiana Butter Cake definitely took the cake on this one =)
Since it was my boyfriend's birthday they also brought out a complimentary dessert with a candle. It was some kind of lemon mousse cake which didn't taste very good. They also brought out a small assortment of petit fours which was cute. They give a breakfast cake for the ladies to take home which I sadly forgot at the restaurant. The entire meal took 3 hours and the bill after tax and tip was $300 for 2 people.
Our whole experience was outstanding. The food had its high and not-so-high points, but overall it was a perfect evening at Gary Danko.
I would definitely love to come back again.
People thought this was:
I love this place! The food was great! I came here with my boyfriend for our third anniversary and the food was delish. We got a four course meal, and they messed up on our dessert so we got a free one!
What we had:
- Glazed oysters with caviar
- Seared foie gras on a bed of caramelized onions
- Roasted lobster
- Seared ahi tuna
- Stuffed quail
- Loin of lamb
- Chocolate soufflé
- Walnut chocolate tart
- Macaroons
All of our food was FABULOUS!
So why only 4 stars? I felt the service could have been better. They got the food to us very fast, but I did not feel a connection with our server. The bread man was warmer than he was. Don't get me wrong our server was not horrible, but I am a woman who loves places that have superb service. Even though the food was great, the service did not complete my dinning experience. Maybe the next time I come the service will be a bit more warm.
People thought this was:
Good God...all of the hype is true. Best meal I've ever had in my life, and I average about six meals a day. We each got the five course option, which proved to be a mistake as the portions are incredibly generous. You can choose any combination of courses, so you could get five mains if you wanted. That alone makes this place worth the money. We had the crispy fried egg and seared fois gras to start - how you deep fry and encrust a poached egg without breaking it is beyond me. My second course was salmon with a horseradish crust and mustard sauce, cooked perfectly rare - by this point I was starting to get pretty full. Next, duck breast with duck hash and figs, incredibly tasty but I had to box this up to save room for my other two dishes. While waiting for my next course I tried some of my boyfriend's frog legs w/ lentils. I shamelessly cleaned the plate of all sauce and garnish. THEN, the famous cheese cart. I believe you have a choice of three, but our server picked out four for us. Each one was outstanding...I have the names of each written down on fancy Gary Danko stationary thanks to our server. By the time dessert came around I was stuffed, but I managed to finish most of my Louisiana butter cake, served with huckleberries and ice cream. We chatted with our server and mentioned it was our anniversary, and he brought us some petit fours that we desperately tried to put down. There simply wasn't any room left. Sigh. Oh, they serve Skewis pinot by the glass, too - I've only ever found half bottles of this stuff in stores so that was a big deal. We got our check, and were given banana breakfast cake to take home with us...the food seriously never ends here.
Incredible service and great atmosphere - not in the least bit stuffy. I'm already picking a day to go back.
People thought this was:
I would gives this 3.5 stars, but sigh... only so many options available.
Service was impeccable. They have a literal army of people waiting on your to get you more bread, pour more water, answer questions, and to bring you your food. Our server was very polite and courteous. No gripes there.
They're famous for their wine cellar. And yes, here you can have access to some of the most coveted and exclusive bottles of wine in the world. Nearly all the First Growth Bordeauxs and Grand Cru Burgundies were represented as well as those nifty California culties Harlan Estate, Abreu, Screaming Eagle... blah blah blah... Kinda felt that half of the wines were on their list for the wow factor or to make some bucks rather than actually pairing with anything on their menu. But of course they were...
Food was... very good. Everything was well-executed, however originality was lacking. I kinda felt that almost everything could be recreated somewhere else without much of translation loss. Everything was relatively standard. Don't get me wrong, it was delicious, but I walked away without a sense of what Gary Danko is all about. It lacks it's own flair and sense of identity. It lacks soul.
Everyone raves about the cheese plate. We were left wondering why. I'd rather just go hang out at the Cheeseboard for an hour or something...
Chocolate souffle was yummy. But it always is right? =)
Conclusion: You can get 90% of the food for 40% of the cost at various other restaurants in the city. No real need to be at Gary Danko's.
Ahhh...famous Gary Danko
First, I must mention their great flawless service.
They did not show the snobness of "I am working at Gary Danko!" at all. They are very friendly and polite.
Everybody in the hospitality related jobs should visit this place.
I loved their huge wine selections.
I order "Bouchard pere et fils" since I knew they were an old French family which had started making wine before 1789, The French Revolution.
This wine is one of the most affordable wine at Gary Danko, (was it $160.00?) so if you worry about your wallet a little bit, I recommend that you order this one.
I know, I know, you can get the same wine for around $100.00 at BevMo but you must understand that restaurants make money with drinks, not with food. The difference of $60.00 is a tip for their excellent service and the regards to the great chef so I did not care.
And their exquisite delicate dishes were amazing.
I could taste Gary Danko's passion and love toward food.
According to the waiter, they use "grass-fed beef" and I was very glad.
The way of preparing the beef was perfect as well.
I wish the health and the prosperity to Gary Danko and his great staffs.
I was a bit worried about GD being able to live up to all the hype. Oh - they lived up to it and then some! The service was phenomenal - my coat was checked, our table was perfect, our car was valeted (and I think the charge was later waived) and as we started to finish up our dessert they went ahead and pulled our car around. My coat was waiting for me as we walked out - I didn't even have to ask for it.
The food - was - stunning. Seared foie gras, the risotto - amazing. Duck breast and filet - drool. The big surprise was the fish course: Branzini with butternut squash and pumpkin seeds. Ooooh. . . it was so good! I really could have eaten a couple plates of it. Just such a wonderful combination of flavors. Yum, yum, yum!
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Considering the reputation of the restaurant and consistent 5 star reviews, I'll have to say that my experience at GD was good, but not great. I did go in with high expectations, but left wondering what all the hype was about.
It's been a few months since I dined here, and the realization as I write this review is that, compared to other restaurants I've enjoyed, nothing here really struck me as memorable. Here are the things I do remember:
- Ambiance - I knew the dining room would be small. What I didn't know was that the bar was literally steps away, partitioned from the main dining room by only by a low piece of glass. Our table happened to be right along this glass, and I felt we lacked privacy as guests waiting to be seated snuck glances toward our table to get a preview of their dinner to come. Perhaps it would have been better if we'd been seated in the secondary dining room.
- Food - we had the five-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Some of the dishes were good (foie gras, lobster risotto, branzini) but still, nothing really stood out. In fact, neither my husband nor I remember what we had for our mains, which is unfortunate
- Service - this is what really perplexed me. GD supposedly has a high reputation for its impeccable service. Maybe they were having an "off" night but I just was not impressed. The timing was a little off and our wine sommelier seemed snobbish. The real kicker was when they served our dessert course while I was in the bathroom. What? It's not like I had just gotten up and left suddenly (I waited about 5 min in line to use the ladies room). But I returned to find that both our desserts had already been served, and the wine pairings already presented
- Cheese cart - I love cheese and the selection was impressive. Although I got a measly two slices of bread to split between my four cheeses
- Dessert - their famous souffle was another disappointment, just didn't have the wow factor
I hate to sound too negative about this place and once again, maybe they just had an off night. Overall, GD is a fine dining establishment with good food, wine, and service. It's definitely a safe choice for a special occasion, but based on all the hype I think it's pretty overrated.
In a nutshell: mostly exceptional food, the best service I've ever had, nice atmosphere, and a very helpful sommelier.
I brought my sister here for her birthday, and we had an overall wonderful experience. We each chose to create our own 5-course menus, which offers a ton of flexibility: I opted for the cheese as my fourth course, but my sister had two seafood courses and no cheese. Apparently you can order all 5 courses from any part of the menu, and they simply adjust portion sizes to make it work.
Speaking of portions, they are *ample*. For an upscale restaurant, I was surprised at the relatively large quantities of food. We were both stuffed by the end of the meal, but finished nearly everything because it tasted so good.
The veal breast with sweetbreads was my standout dish, followed closely by the butter cake dessert. My sister's seafood curry and frog legs were both exceptional, as was her ahi appetizer. The only less-exceptional dishes were the very sea-flavored lobster bisque and the overly simple (though perfectly seared) scallops. We got a bottle of wine that my sister looks for at every restaurant and had never found before. They happily split our dessert wine, and even brought an extra lemon mousse and tray of small treats to celebrate our special occasion. Though we were one of the last tables, we didn't feel at all rushed. Another reviewer wrote that the servers seem telepathic, and that's completely true. Perfectly coordinated waiters/servers/sommelier, perfect timing, and everyone was extremely helpful and genuinely friendly.
This isn't a trendy hipster place - we were noticeably the youngest ones in view, at 24 and 32 - just expertly-prepared food with service to write home about. Highly, highly recommended.
In High School, I took a girl I really liked to a romantic meal here. The date was great, but this is the place where the bildungsroman for my eating life begins. I don't even remember what I had there, but with every pubescent bite I took, I started to understand the power of food beyond mere sustenance. I think I might have paid that meal in cash. After the meal, we sheepishly walked to my street parked Honda Civic and drove home.
I hope to return to Gary Danko at some point. Perhaps it will be like when I now go back and re-read Calvin and Hobbes. Jokes that were funny are now funny because they were funny. A meta layer of understanding overlays the experience.
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Phoi - I'd say you have to manage your expectations. :-)
I don't think anything is "Heaven" in your mouth, except for the stuffed eggs at another review of mine....
But Danko's is great to chill at the bar and have lovely appetizers and meet interesting folks and just experience the top-notch service. I don't feel guilty dropping $75 on a few drinks and appetizers. Just not that often any more :-(
Look, what can I say? We ate an incredible amount of excellent food when we were in SF (just look at the stupid number of five star reviews I just wrote... it isn't my fault I only wen to places with sterling yelp reputations!), but nothing can really top the Gary Danko experience. The food, the service, everything. I'm not going to give you the play by play, but I will say the roast lobster was perhaps the best thing I've eaten.
The food, the service, the ambience, the fact we rode a cable car to basically the door, to the fact that for lunch that day we ate a Ike's... Gary Danko is utterly delicious and a fantastic experience and helped make for the best day I had in San Francisco.
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Alright I got to say that the service, the ambiance, the food were all great. I mean I was impressed with the entire movement. It sorta reminded me of wonderful symphony you might hear. One thing though we left a bit hungry. The one thing that is great is that if your a first timer, you should try the Tasting menu with wine paring. An excellent choice for someone like me who just cant decide what to start with and how to end a journey at Gary Danko.
Yummy yummy our waitress so nice when it came to picking the cheese and very helpful in explaining the region and also offering her own opinion on her favorite choice. Don't even get me started on the wine selection..
One bad this though was that I didn't mind the attitude of the sommelier. I mean when some in the table orders a bottle wine arent you suppose to open it, let it breath and have the person who ordered the wine taste it to see if is it to his liking. I mean come on did he not know that, that kind of presentation is key at any fine dining establishment.
Well, with that said, our server had won me over and would anytime eat at her table.
The last time I ate at this restaurant was about 10 years ago. Unfortunately, at the time, the food was not remarkable enough for me to make a lasting impression. My second visit this past Friday, however, was a completely different story.
The hubby and I dined here with four friends for his birthday and another occasion I won't mention.
As soon as you walk in, you are greeted by the doting waitstaff. One man walked us to our table and even had hooks for the ladies to hang our purses from the table. Clever!
We each ordered five courses for our meal. I was a little worried that the portions might be tiny but I was actually full after the second course. Now on to the important part, the food!
We started the meal off on the right foot with an amuse bouche of tuna tartare. The tuna was tender and seasoned perfectly. Yummy!
First course: Glazed Oysters with Osetra caviar, Zucchini Pearls, and Lettuce Cream - This was delicious although the oysters tasted a little off, not the "fresh taste of the sea" I expected. However, the caviar and lettuce cream together were heavenly and I couldn't resist dipping my bread into the bowl to sop up the sauce.
Second course: Crispy Farm Egg with White Polenta, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Frisee and Pancetta - By far my favorite dish! An upscale version of Fringale's frisee salad with warm bacon dressing and poached egg. GD's version had a poached egg lightly coated with panko to give it a nice crunch. This offset the soft texture of the egg nicely although I would have liked the yolk a little runnier. The salad had a good amount of Chanterelles in it but it would have been nice to have a little more pancetta. =)
Third course: Horseradish Crusted Salmon Medallion with Dilled Cucumbers and Mustard Sauce - This dish was very tasty although the salmon was cooked through, which equates to a dry piece of fish. I am used to eating salmon that is cooked with the center left slightly pink.
Fourth course: Roast Maine Lobster with Potato Puree, Chanterelle Mushrooms, Corn and Tarragon - Sadly, I was too full by the time I reached this course so I wasn't able to enjoy it and can't comment on it. My hubby and the person sitting on my right side enjoyed it though!
Fifth course: Dessert! Warm Louisiana Butter Cake with Caramelized Peaches, Huckleberry Compote, and Peach Ice Cream - The cake was dense and sticky and the peaches on top perfectly caramelized. The peach ice cream was refreshing next to the heavy cake. I would have enjoyed this dessert more if it weren't for my bulging stomach.
Since it was my hubby's birthday, they sent out a cake gratis. It was a chocolate genoise cake, with chocolate mousse and a chocolate ganache glaze. Very rich and decadent! If that weren't enough, our waitress also brought out a small plate of petit fours. They even gave the ladies a cream cheese filled banana muffin to take home! That itself deserves another post!
In summary, a memorable meal and excellent service! The synchronization of the waiters when the courses were being served was reminiscent of the service at the French Laundry but at half the price! There's something to be said for that! I will have to rethink my decision of going to the FL for a special occasion! Thanks GD!
What can I say that has not already been said in 1600 reviews? Absolutely nothing, is the likely answer. But, Gary Danko is the true five star experience in San Francisco. You absolutely must get the tasting menu. You should probably also get the wine pairing. if you do not, you might not fully appreciate why this is the best restaurant in San Francisco.
this is not an ideal restaurant for vegetarians. This is not an ideal restaurant for people who are not open-minded about food. This is a restaurant for people who love food. So, if you truly love food you will love Mr. Danko.
By the way, Gary Danko says that Dottie's True Blue Café is his favorite breakfast spot.
What else can I say that other 1500 reviewers haven't said before? Not very much... but I had the pleasure of eating here twice and I enjoyed every moment and every bite. Out of all the restaurants I've tried in SF, Gary Danko is my #1.
Dining here is not just about the meal but it is such an extraordinary experience. The food is of course spectacular, but everything else from the service, ambiance, to tabletop and decor are perfection.
The servers are knowledgeable and always make sure that you feel welcome and special. Gary Danko is such a perfect place to celebrate any occasions with your loved ones. Definitely get the 5-course with foie gras and the cheeses!!
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Best meal of my life. Love the fact that you get to create your own menu. Service was really great and attentive. You are really taken care of.
So before the first course, they bring out an amuse bouche (oooo fancy!) and say it's a little treat from the chef. My amuse bouche was fig with fennel and vinaigrette. It was good. The risotto and roasted main lobster were really good but my favs were the pork belly, duck breast, and guinea hen. The guinea hen yummmmm. Oh, and the chocolate souffle.. OMG it was so heavenly. There was one thing I was a tad disappointed in, and that was the scallop dish because I felt it was a bit overcooked. Other than that, the flavors were good. You also get a complimentary dessert platter of little bite sized goodies and ladies get a cake to bring home.
Btw it's not just some fancy frou frou restaurant that serves really small portions and you won't get full. I was so stuffed at the end. And I was really hungry before dinner too.
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The Best ever. No joke. this place is ridiculous. Service is immaculate, food is bomb. I recommend the 5 course, it's just the right amount of food. Wine selection is great too.
I have had great meals in San Francisco. In the almost nine years that I have lived here, I have had some of the best meals of my life. There is nothing that can compare to what I experienced at Gary Danko.
When I went in, I was sceptical. I know that they are known for their service, but I am telling you, the people that work there are mind readers. It was our first wedding anniversary, so it was already special. But, the staff at the restaurant took it to another level. My meal was delicious, and our server was awesome! We had to wait for a little while, but they brought us complimentary drinks and snacks while we waited. At the end of the meal, I was even given breakfast for the next day, a lovely banana bread.
My only complaint is that it would be nice to see more sustainable items on the menu. They are known for their foie gras, but it is culinary cruelty. That is why I only gave them 4 stars.
Hands down! Best meal of my life by far!!!
I always thought people are over hyped about this place, it is voted top restaurant in SF, but seriously it is simply the BEST.
Service 10/10 - Even walked us out to our car.
Food Tasting 10/10
Portions 10/10
Price 10/10 - Summer tasting menu, you get what you pay for.
Environment 8/10 - a little crowded, but very cozy.
Our reservation was at 10pm, but we did not get seated until 1020, but they are super friendly about everything. They will offer you anything to drink and snacks while you wait. OMG, the smoked salmon with caviar was probably the most delicious thing ever. I don't think it's on the menu but we had that as our sample, and it was soo good. The summer tasting menu is not as good because you may not like everything on that list, but just choose your own. Desserts are all included, and yes please remember chocolate souffle.
You'll definitely have a great time here, not to mention we saw the original JAMES BOND here too. : D
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Mom's bday choice was Gary Danko and I was excited to go. Wondering if your paying an averaged of $90+ per person... Valet can't be complimentary or at least not the the steep $11. The restaurant is elegant, lovely paintings, great flower designs, yet warm and unpretentious.
I don't get why you have to fight for a good table when your amongst the first to be seated, though my parents are picky the first table wasn't that bad but was by the isle, the second table was awful and is like for two not three and by the door; the last and final table was lovely, still kinda cramped so for four OMG.
The Chef had a lovely complimentary tasting that was delicious. I love how the menu is organized, that you can make appetizers main dishes and organize the menu how you want. The set menu is also very tempting. I like the menu was set for three, four or five dishes.
They lost brownie points cause the bread was cold, as were the plates so then the food got cold quickly. I know I am nit picking but for such an esteemed place I expect the basics.
The lobster salad was delicious, the salmon horseradish crusted medallion was too, the hen wasn't to my taste but I tried something and dad was happy to have it. The steak rocked but by that time I am starting to get full and really wasn't able to appreciate it, and the chocolate souffle wasn't that great. My Dad's peachies flambee was great and lovely to see prepared. Everyone loved their dishes the only slight disappointment was dessert. In general the food was lovely. They brought Mom a "birthday surprise" very sweet as was sending us ladies home with a breakfast bite. The little touches like that made the place feel very cozy.
That was another thing, the staff was excellent, attentive, and just on their game. Very relaxed atmosphere... a three hour meal. They screwed up the bill in our favor which we corrected but they also some how managed to give us someone else credit card with our receipt. Very odd.
I don't consider myself particularly luckier than the average person in most regards.
But one way in which I have extraordinary luck is food: I have eaten at some of the best eateries in existence, on the planet.
In one way, this makes my reviews more diverse and accurate. In another way, this makes a 5-star rating from me impossible to attain.
The last two reviews have been about birthday dinners for me. Number 3 was a place where we basically pay the rent, Shabu House. For #4 - enter Gary Danko (herein referred to as "GD"). This iconic establishment in San Francisco is constantly mentioned in the same sentence as the well-known French Laundry - people always preferring one over the other. Having frequented Thomas Keller's restaurants often - I was excited to try Gary Danko, where Rob had secured reservations for my actual birthdate evening. I was curious which I would end up preferring. Furthermore, GD was going to be compared to MY favorite SF dining establishment - Acquerello, as well.
We arrived right on time, and the hostess asked if we had a reservation. Rob pointed to his name on the book, and we both noticed she immediately covered up the book - as if we were going to just point to a name and be seated, somehow omniscient to the fact that this particular party wouldn't show up in 2 minutes to boot us out? It was rude and inappropriate.
However, she didn't ask for I.D. and seated us immediately.
First, I was taken aback by how large the restaurant is. The ambiance is warm and very inviting, and the seating is very comfortable. With plenty of people waiting near the bar in hopes of being seated, plenty more were seated at the bar eating dinner there.
Our server approached us, explained their menu, and asked if we'd like to start with drinks. We ordered a half bottle of champagne, because we knew we'd be doing the wine pairing for dinner. Rob ordered an ounce of the caviar ($125) to go w/ the champagne, which was excellent - great crème fraiche with the world's best bellinis - so full of butter I could FEEL myself gaining weight with each bite. Both of us opted for 5 courses. What stood out about the GD menu is that one can pick all five courses from any section. If you pick 5 main entrees, they will adjust portioning accordingly and serve it to you - or you could pick 5 desserts, for all they care. FL has a set menu, and Acquerello, you can pick one from each designated course.
As usual, I have uploaded photos of the dinner courses.
Rob opted for individual five courses, I chose the 5-course Summer Tasting Menu. After an amuse bouche - the meal began.
Course 1:
Ahi Tuna (Rob's) and Oysters w/ Caviar (mine, from the Summer Menu) - excellent wine pairing, with sake for the tuna.
- I consider seared Ahi to be boring. Now I know that even Gary himself cannot do much to make this fish interesting.
- LET IT BE SAID: THIS WAS THE FINEST OYSTER APPETIZER I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. (Specifically, my comment was: "Move over, Thomas - I think I just fell in love w/ Gary Danko.")
Course 2:
Lobster Salad and Crusted Salmon - excellent wine pairing.
- The lobster was good overall, but I have had better. I didn't think the dish itself was very flavorful.
- LET IT BE SAID: THIS WAS THE BEST SALMON CREATION EVER. More than the salmon itself, how the flavors in this dish - the fish, the cucumbers, the horseradish, sauce, crust - was simply invigorating. (I envisioned Acquerello, sinking before my eyes....)
Course 3:
Pork Loin and Belly - Beef Filet - mediocre wine pairing.
*This, along with the hostess episode, is where Gary Danko begins to remind me of the Titanic.*
- Pork was unimpressive all around. The pork loin was dry and weak in taste, the pork belly was unremarkable in every way. (How does one ruin pork belly?)
- Beef Filet - the meat was of excellent quality, it was a tad overcooked than I would have liked for this cut of meat, and the flavor of the meat ended up being masked by the sauces instead of being enhanced. Excellent potatoes, though.
Course 4:
Selection of various cheeses from all over the world - great wine pairing.
-Impressive on all counts - selection, taste and portioning.
Course 5:
Chocolate Soufflé and Deconstructed Vanilla Cheesecake - nice wine pairing, accompanied by 2 Cafe Americanos
-Both were very good - neither was excellent.
Service, overall, was professional. It didn't hold a candle to French Laundry or Acquerello, where you're treated like your party is all that matters, even when they have never seen you before.
Ambiance was nicer here than both FL and Acq.
But ultimately, it's the food vs.. value and in this regard, I would have to order it as follows:
1. Acquerello - $400
2. FL - $800
3. GD - $650
That said - thanks to my baby who feeds the best food in the whole world, always!!!
-
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Once upon a time, the opportunity to dine at Gary Danko for a private dinner was presented to me, I gladly accepted.
Gary Danko is one of those places that you will never forget. From the unbelievably kind service, to the exquisite dishes that are presented to you one after another. It's worth every penny.
All I can say right now is come with people you love. You won't be disappointed.
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