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Luce
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
InterContinental San Francisco888 Howard St
San Francisco, CA 94103
Neighborhood: SOMA
(415) 616-6566
Announcement
Luce is proud and honored to receive a Michelin star 3 years consecutively, with this year as the first under Chef Daniel Corey.
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
363 reviews for Luce
Review Highlights
"Dessert was the Nutella pot de creme."
(in 11 reviews)
"The foie gras with Brioche was perfect."
(in 43 reviews)
"Chef Dominique Crenn is an innovative chef that will be..."
(in 16 reviews)
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363 reviews in English
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Review from Petka C.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2012
Excellent service, comfortable environment, excellent food.
I had (and recommend) their fish of the day and a hazelnut financier. Their wines were delicious too. -
Review from rosquete b.
Belmont, CA
2/1/2012
Intercontinental Hotel
San Francisco
5th & Mission parking garage
Part of Dine Out San Francisco
$18 for 2 courses, but several add-ons
Beautiful décor w/high ceilings & marble floors
1st course: beet salad or yummy winter squash/chestnut soup
2nd course: nice branzino or short ribs
Very nice wine list
Tasty sour dough house bread
Professional food service by Ihsan
Rich chestnut crème brulee
Nice mocha latter
Check out the bathrooms -
Review from Jasmin L.
San Francisco, CA
GIRLFRIEND LUNCH DATE: Dine About Town 2012, 01.30.2012 @ 11:30 AM
What is Dine About Town NOT GOOD For?
1. DAT is not good for saving money on lunch.
2. It is not good for pigging out.
What is Dine About Town GOOD For?
1. $17.95 for lunch and $34.95 for dinner (2-3 course meals)
2. Checking out new fine dining at a bargain.
3. A good reminder that it is time to have an awesome lunch with your BFF.
LOCATION:
Another new year, another DAT lunch with my dear foodie pal. This time we chose Luce. Luce is located inside still brand-spanking new Intercontental Hotel that is about half a decade old.
DECOR: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Fancy, sparkly, ultra-modern, classy, contemporary with dark minimalist furniture and glass walls, Luce is the place for chic and sophisticated dining or drinks at the swanky bar. Luce's interior decor is about glass, clean lines, brightness and glass bubble lamps that seem to float in the air.
AMBIANCE:
At 11:30 in the morning my foodie pal and I were one of the first ones to arrive for lunch. Then peeps in smart casuals, business suit and few in jeans and running shoes. (Que horror! J/K!) started walking in.
Despite the frou-frou environment, the place was not stuffy and a perfect venue for solo "me time" lunch, business meals or catching up with your friends.
SERVICE:
Service was friendly, even funny. The servers were professional, efficient but relaxed. They even cracked jokes with us which I like better than staff who have stick up their **tt.
FOOD:
Foodie pal and I went for the DAT's 2 Course Menu for $17.95
She opted for a WINTER SQUASH SOUP which she said was very good while I chose the BEET SALAD WITH YOGURT. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
.
The Beet Salad was not only delicious but a pretty work of food art but very small. It was more of an amuse bouche than a salad.
We both chose the BRANZINO WITH MUSHROOM. A delighful fish that was COOKED TO PERFECTION. The skin was crispy while the flesh was delicate. It was on a bed of mushrooms with equally delicate flesh that did not overpower the fish. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
We shared a HAZELNUT TORTE ($10) which was not included in DAT menu. It was also nice although nothing remarkable about it and also tiny! http://www.yelp.com/bi...
CHECK: $60 including tax and tip ($30 per girl)
VERDICT:
Chic venue. Pretty dishes. Delicious and seasonal. Very small portions. Maybe it was my fault that I did not eat the complimentary bread. Right after lunch, I had to restrain myself from making mad dash to Saigon to get a Tofu Banh Mi.
The small samplings convinced me that I should go back for date night but I am just afraid that we might end up having a second dinner after dinner at Luce! Definitely of Michelin-star calibre.
Nonetheless, a pretty lunch with a pretty foodie friend!
ADDICTIVE FACTOR: 4 Delicious Addiction That I CANNOT Afford! -
Review from Shirley N.
San Francisco, CA
Our DAT 3 course dinner was definitely Michelin star rated. For $34.95 we had an quality meal. Usually we stay away from the DAT menu offerings because restaurants generally offer limited entrees like boring pork or chicken dishes. Not here. At Luce, the DAT menu offerings were in par with the regular dining items.
The five of us were seated at a nice round table. Huge dining area with plenty of seating. Someone even zipped by to his table on his Segway! That's a first.
Nice variety of warm crusty Acme bread in a basket. Fresh food ingredients with wonderful presentation.
We all enjoyed our meal. Portions just right. Wine poured at the table.
I had the cauliflower velouté with warm dungeness crab. Yummy. My dinner entree was the beef cheeks. Fork tender. My dessert was the citrus panna cotta. I love panna cotta and this was very creamy smooth.
Espresso coffee served in a pot.
Tax and tip $58 p/p. -
Review from Kristin P.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012
Dude. Dine about town here is a GREAT deal. We just had such a delicious meal and had three courses for the cost of an entree. And everything was super extra really good.
The cauliflower veloute was probably the best dish of the night. Perfect sweet crab meat mound surrounded by smooth, comforting soup.
Sweetbread and soft boiled egg salad was also great. Who knew sweetbreads could be so light and crispy?
Black bass had a nice crispy skin and a tasty yet understated broth.
Beef cheeks were RICH but melted in your mouth.
Panna cotta was bright and citrusy. Hazelnut financier was nicely balanced with some banana ice cream.
Unique cocktail menu too. And nice attentive service (not A+++ but a solid A).
If you don't think your $35 is well-spent here, I am not sure we should be friends.
So where's the fifth star? Yea, well, unfortunately it's a HUGE restaurant in an even bigger hotel. Just not warm or inviting. Make this place a quarter of the size and dim the lights and it'd be filled with locals (instead of Asian business men) every night. -
Review from Stuart R.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2012
We ordered the tasting menu here -- 10 plates in total. Everything was excellent except for the scallops which weren't super-fresh. Every plate was beautifully presented, and quite a few new things I'd never tried (e.g. slow cooked egg and truffle foam).
The service also was excellent. -
Review from C L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/11/2012
This place was ridiculous. I mean that in a great way!!
The boyfriend surprised me with dinner here and I was beyond impressed. I'm very picky and slightly judgmental about what constitutes "exceptional", but I have to say, this was INCREDIBLY exceptional. It's easily my favorite restaurant on the West Coast.
The highlights: the sweetbread ravioli with truffle foam- YUM YUM YUM!
the quail was fabulous. it's so easy to get quail horribly wrong, but
Luce got it just right! It wasn't dry, but very moist and full of flavor.
the foie gras made me want to just say f*ck my waistline, for forever.
I had the chicken with a kale smear (SO GOOD!) and the boyfriend had the lamb, which was incredible. The wine list isn't very extensive but the sommelier recommended great wines.
Highly recommended and would go back again- in a heartbeat! -
Review from Vicky L.
12/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Short Ribs Hash.
If someone can make this for me on a semi-daily basis, I may promise marriage. Or at least clean your bathroom.Listed in: SOMA Embarcadero eats
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Review from Charlie L.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012
90% of the menu is just amazing. The food is superbly cooked. I can taste the care and technique that was put into the dish. I actually like eating my vegetables here. They are just so tasty I don't know how they do it. Some of my favorite dishes are the Scallops in a delicious broth soup - sitting on top of a bed of vegetables disguised as noodles. Tuna - super fresh, large, thick, and perfectly seasoned in a soy cream sauce.
10% of the dishes here are complete misses but just try to dodge them and you'll be fine. Fish has been hit and miss for me. Skip the quail. Service is rather slow and sometimes just missing for the night. The great dishes on the menu does make up for all of this though. Definitely a must go for Dine About Town. -
Review from Ava C.
Oakland, CA
1/20/2012
Overall not a bad deal because we came here for Dine about Town. We were a bit disappointed that this was a hotel restaurant (Intercontinental). The decor was very hotel-like, impersonal and reminded me of a upscale cafeteria. Service was excellent though. Well, kind of. They messed up on our order, and brought us out drinks and an extra dessert to make up for the mistake. This is very classy and shows that they recongnize and apologize for the inconvenience. We readily forgave and forgot about the mistake. Not all places do this. Food was readily forgetable though. Really, I can't remember. It obviously did not make an impression. Would be upset if not on the DAT menu. ould expect more of a Michelin starred restaurant.
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Review from Kevin L.
Union City, CA
1/20/2012
Participated in the dine about town for this restaurant. Very good!
The decor is casual chic, very nice. The atmosphere is dim but not too dark you can't see your company or food so that's nice and not very noisy. The service is good and servers are friendly
The food is very good! We tried 2 different appetizers, 2 entrees (beef cheeck and Thai snapper with calamari) and two desserts. Presentation for everything is very nice and colorful, the plating looks elegant, the portions are good (not too much but not too little) and very tasty. All ingredients are just the right portion to compliment each other and there's multiple dimensions to each plate so that it isn't just salty, or sweet, or sour, but a mix of all.
With the dine about town it was a great deal but even without it we liked it enough to come back again on special occasions =) -
Review from Kymberli C.
Concord, CA
My girlfriends and I usually choose one restaurant every time they do a Dine About Town and have dinner and drinks there... we've been incredibly busy so by the time we tried to make reservations at our top choices there weren't any available. My friend went to the Dine about Town tasting event and said her favorite was Luce, so we went ahead and made a reservation there. Unfortunately, we were lazy and did not make sure they had DAT the Friday we went, and when we arrived we found out that they did not offer the DAT menu. We ordered a few appetizers and shared them, and each ordered an entree and shared a dessert. We ordered the albacore tuna, foie gras and sweetbread ravioli for appetizers. They were all just okay. Nothing wow'ed us. For entree, I had the lobster cooked in a lemon verbana sauce with squash and sunflower stems. It was pretty tasty, but again no wow factor. My friend had ordered the short rib with sirloin and we split our meals so we could have a "surf and turf" meal. The steak was incredibly chewy. Our mouths both got tired chewing through it. For dessert, we were full but wanted something sweet so we split the chocolate souffle tart. It was more of a lava cake tart than a souffle. It was just okay too. The service was very friendly. Our waiter checked on us often and came and chit chatted with us throughout our meal. The food came out very slowly. We were there for about 2.5 hours. The decor of the restaurant is nice, it's very chic and modern. It's very spacious and they have big booths and smaller tables too.
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Review from Brenda M.
Encinitas, CA
12/18/2011
Luce's atmosphere and decor is a bit too quiet and austere for my dining taste, but it was late and we were there, so why not?
Nice menu. To start we had the Velouté of Celeric & Apple and Roasted Quail & Spec, followed by Seared Diver Scallop and Sweetbread Raviolis. Enjoyed the black truffle earthiness on the soup and raviolis -- everything was cooked perfectly. The only issue I had was that, well that it was what I expected from a restaurant of this caliber?
Much appreciated the suggestions from Wine Director John White. He created the award-winning list, which includes La Fenetre, 'Bien Nacido Vineyard," - lovely apple, honey and cream notes; and Fischer, a glass-staining, predominantly dark fruit, approachable red.
Excellent and personable service. -
Review from Lhm M.
Oakland, CA
11/24/2011
Yes, we had our Thanksgiving meal at Luce. It was an early meal with friends. This was a first for me, first time eating in a restaurant for this holiday and first time to Luce.
Now the food was outstanding, fresh and interesting combination. Lavish use of black truffle on both the Squash veloute soup with Lobster knuckle and again on the Rack of lamb and roasted winter vegetables. The foie gras with Brioche was perfect. And the squash mousse dessert was unique and tasty. I enjoyed the chef's creativity.
The service was ok but NOT Michelin star quality. The host only took one coat and only after he was asked to hang it, although three of us had coats he made no offer to take others. When the food came the servers were unsure of where the meals went and had to ask, twice. They were lazy and served two out of four from the left but placed two from the right. Once when they cleared the plates, placed a used utensil upon the plate in front of me then removed the plate. One more, I went to the restroom and upon my return my napkin was not refolded. Yes, you might think me a stickler but service should be done correctly. I have a BS in Hotel and Restaurant Mgmt and know my stuffl.
Good points: The valet parking was a real plus. The restaurant is gorgeous and they did seat us at a different spot when we asked. The sommelier didn't have our first choice of wine but had a nice second choice. -
Review from Shinny L.
11/15/2011
My first official Michelin starred experience (post knowing what a Michelin star actually is...so, in the past, say 3 years or so :) ).
Lucky for you, I brought my camera. Unlucky for you I managed to consume most of the meal before remembering to take pictures....
We had the fall tasting menu and wine pairing, which my sister had been wanting to try for quite a while. The service was excellent and would actually merit its own extra star - the staff was not just friendly, but personable and knowledgable.
The tastes were good. Overall, nothing was overcooked; rather most of the fare was on the rare/med-rare side, including the scallop, trout, and chicken.
The sea scallop stood out for a few reasons. I usually do not like Salmon Roe due to the fishy-ness. However, the dashi broth did a good job of neutralizing any fishy taste. The crown jewel of this dish for me was actually the basil oil, the flavor well distinguished against the meatier (seafoody meaty, but still meaty) notes of the broth, scallop, and roe.
The pairings on the main courses (trout and the chicken) were delightful. My sister mentioned how the wine with the trout enhanced the flavor of the trout, while chicken did something similar for the wine paired with it. A nice harmony to its accompanying melody, either way.
Wasn't too impressed by the dessert, but was also terribly full by that time, though the lovely dessert wine was just that - quite lovely. -
Review from Gina H.
San Francisco, CA
12/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything looked amazing but....
My review is based on the tuna sashimi starter, the Halibut main course, and chocolate flourless dessert.
Really enjoyed the tuna starter. Was it the best I ever had?... No! Great none the less.
Halibut was overcooked:-( sadly, it looked amazing but nothing memorable about it! My dinner mates got the lobster and practically licked their plates clean. If I make it back for the fall menu, that's what I will order.
Dessert was great..but hard to destroy a dense flourless chocolate dessert after drinking amazing wine. That's just my *sweet tooth* opinion. Don't go out of your way to eat here but stop in if your in the hood and it's convenient. -
Review from Vi Y.
10/17/2011
We had an Open Table deal here for a 9 course tasting menu with wine pairing for $200, so I decided to take my husband there for his birthday.
We arrived at 7pm and promptly seated. Water and the amuse bouche came out quickly after. And that's when things went down south. It took so long between each dish, and the wine and food didn't come out at the same time.
At one point, they poured our sparkling chilled white wine to be eaten with a fish dish. The dish did not come out for 35 minutes after the wine! If we didn't drink the wine, it would be warm and flat by the time the food came out. If we drank the wine and asked for a refill when the food came out, they would get snooty with us, saying it was just a tasting. Which is completely fine. I just thought wine PAIRED meant the wine actually came out with the food.
Also, they did not bring out our intermezzo when they should have. It was supposed to come out after the salad and before the fish, but it never came out. We had to ask for it 3 different times before it finally came out. Also, about 3 out of the 8 dishes did not have wine pairing, which I felt was false advertising.
The whole dinner took a total of 4.5 hours. We did not leave until 11:37pm. Even with validation, parking was $16.75 because we were in there for so long.
If the dishes were excellent or memorable, it wouldn't have been so bad. But the food was just ok. Compared to our 8 courses at EOS the week before, EOS had a lot better tasting food, though Luce had better ingredients.
Would we come back? No. Would we recommend this to anyone? No. Total out of pocket on top of the $200 was another $150 for tip, an appetizer, and 2 glasses of wine since we had to wait so long between course. It would have been under $200 for a great dinner at Alexander's, and we wouldn't have had to drive up to the city! -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
***Luce might just be more of a dinner place because even though the restaurant looked the part and lunch menu sounded good, the food was not as strong as other nearby upscale lunch spots***
Luce sits in the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco. The Lobby is very open and it extends to the restaurant Luce, which sits in the corner. At lunchtime, big floor-to-ceiling windows (that are lightly shaded) let in a lot of nice and warm (but not glaring) natural light. The room is very traditional fine dining with white tablecloth, but it is also approachable and modern (with modern tables/seating as well as modern light fixtures).
The lunch menu at Luce showcases dinner-like starters and entrees as well as price friendly fare like sandwiches and a three-course market pre fixe for $20.11.
The bread was a standard crusty sourdough and it was fine (butter was also provided).
For my starter, I opted for a salad of wild arugula, frisee, speck, chilled asparagus, croutons, and a slow cooked egg. They could have done more with the presentation as they hid a very nicely cooked egg under a mound of arugula. The salad was simple but decent.
The arugula and frisee were both nice and fresh; the slow cooked egg provided a great runny sauce for the salad and there was a large portion of speck. I wish the croutons were more of the made-in-house variety.
I had the scallops, baby octopus and prawns for my entree, which was served in a smoked tomato broth. The seafood was just okay. While the portion size was not too bad, the scallops were a little overcooked. While not dry, they were a tad rubbery. The prawns were fine though they were not as fresh or tender as I have had at similar restaurants (the prawns could have also been cleaned a little more). The octopus was kind of chewy (that can be common with octopus though).
The smoked tomato broth did not have a very addictive or immediately delicious flavor, but it was not bad. Overall, the dish tasted pretty okay though it paled in comparison to other good shellfish dishes I have had in the Bay Area.
My dessert was the most disappointing part of the meal because it was both a too simple dessert as well as a too small portion. The dessert was a chocolate hazelnut pot de creme that was garnished with whipped cream and peppermint cocoa nib.
The dessert tasted fine, but it was kind of a throwaway dessert. I think dessert must not be that demanded at lunchtime so they have only a few simple desserts on hand if anyone desires something sweet. I think that is fine, but I wish that their lunch desserts were priced more appropriately then. Lunch desserts were priced at $10 here, but the chocolate pot de creme should have been priced no higher than $6.
Service was good. My waiter was personable, polite and attentive. The lunch service here did not have that very polished and professional feel I experienced at other Bay Area fine dining spots like Quince or Commis. That being said, those Bay Area experiences were for dinner. Still, I found the lunch/brunch service at Madera stronger. Like Luce, Madera's service was not as polished as those other places, but Madera's staff seemed more trained.
In terms of prices, the dessert (as mentioned) was very overpriced. The other items like the starters ($12 range) and the entrees (right around $20) were about what I would expect to pay for an upscale lunch. Portion sizes were okay and depending on what you order, you might be able to skip a starter and just get away with a sandwich or an entree.
I have had several good meals in the Bay Area, but Luce was probably one of the least satisfying. It may just be that Luce is more of a dinner place and not a lunch place. If you are looking for an upscale lunch, I would suggest heading over to One Market or Boulevard (while I was not a huge fan of either restaurant, I felt the lunches at both of those places were significantly better than Luce). Or, if you are not tied to the immediate SoMa area, I would suggest heading over to Mark Sullivan's Spruce, which showcases a very pleasant upscale lunch that is big on fresh ingredients, bold flavors and nice presentations.
The InterContinental provides valet parking for Luce. Parking is $15 with restaurant validation; that might seem pricey, but Luce is located in a very congested area and parking is pretty pricey no matter where you go.Listed in: Ranking Michelin Starred…
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Review from Glen L.
San Antonio, TX
1/2/2012
The pork loin with pork belly (cooked 3 hours) and poached lobster with butternut squash was amazing! The panna cotta dessert was the best that we've ever had. It was fantastic to experience such a complete meal! Service was well-timed and friendly, and we loved having the luxury of having a wine steward there to help us choose a wine. We normally drink red wines, but he recommended a Chardonnay to us that was absolutely delicious and went great with our dishes. I definitely would return to try more dishes.
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Review from Rylan C.
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came here for lunch and the food was amazing but a little out of my price range. This place would be nice for a special occasion or a first date but not as an everyday meal.
Funny how complain about the prices when I've only ever been here for business meetings and charging the bill to my corporate amex but I do know how much things cost and I would feel uncomfortable spending what they ask for in both their lunch and dinner menus.
I got the braised lamb shank with pasta and let me tell you....that was delish! Though really, I've never had a bad braised anything. Braised leather shoe? Sure, why not.
I would definitely come back seeing as this seems to be my go to place for meetings when I meet with colleagues visiting SF for OpenWorld. -
Review from Ying F.
Beautiful place! Great service!
I came here for a birthday party and they had us in the private room. The set up was beautiful! I had the pre fix menu (darn!) so I could only ordered what the birthday girl suggested. Ended up having the Halibut with eggplant, figs, snap peas and tomatoe "Jus" The Halibut was big! It was a very generous piece of halibut. The tomatoe "Jus" was divine! I wanted to drink it and have a cup to go! Very light and tasty!
Definitely had room for dessert and we ended up with the Chocolate Hazelnut Napoleon Oh yes, it was delicious! I didn't get a chance to try the rest but over all it was a pretty good experience. I would come back here to try other things on the menu :) -
Review from Lee R.
Oakland, CA
9/18/2011 19 Check-ins Here
It is time to try LUCE again. Ever since the changing of the chef, it has taken on a new personality and it is friendly and sophisticated and a wonderful go-to place for a dinner out or for a special occasion celebration.
Their Sunday Brunch and breakfast buffet is super yummy too ... even my daughter can find lots of things she loves to eat!
At Luce, I enjoy my meals with my eyes and with my palate since the dishes can be such a work of art that I take pictures of each masterpiece. There is a definite "wow" factor and I what to see and taste what is next. They often surprise me with just how fantastic their food is and how the chef can make things like a typical garden salad seem like a treasure.
For visitors to San Francisco ... If you are in town for a conference at the Moscone Center ... make a date to meet here for meetings and happy hour. You will love it and it is just a few steps away.
Now, I can't wait to go back ... it is a nice place to hang out and to pass the time when I am in the city. Next weekend, I am in San Francisco for a conference, so I will surely make a plan to be at Luce again! -
Review from Brooksie R.
Mountain View, CA
1/20/2012
Slow service, had the dine about town prefix menu, cauliflower soup appetizer was delicious, hazelnut dessert was yum, beef cheeks were...sad. Boring and kind of flavourless. Turns out were just inconsistent- 3 of us ordered them, and one in our party's was seasoned, the other two of us got them unseasoned, or underseasoned, it seemed (we did a taste comparison). Drinks at 888 (sister bar?) were very good. Luce did offer us a pleasant discount due to the disappointing meat; but by and large just had higher expectations from a Michelin rated restaurant. Would probably have a drink at the bar again, and I suppose if it were just terribly convenient might try dining there again, but most likely won't be going back. I think we waited an hour for those unfortunate beef cheeks.
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Review from David K.
9/10/2011 2 photos
Located in the Intercontinental I took my mom to try their summer chef's tasting menu along with the wine pairing. Overall it's a nice place. Maybe one of the better 1 Michelin star places I've tried. The wine pairings were overall ok. There were some that worked really well (Riesling + Foie) and some that worked less for me (Verde Wine + Salad).
The interior was pretty nice and the service was overall pretty good. They do need to work on their timing a bit. At one point we got our wine and finished it before the course came along. Luckily after we mentioned it they poured us another glass.
So here was our meal!
Amuse-bouche:
Tomato water with watermelon. It was a nice balance of the acidic, slightly salty tomato with the sweeter watermelon.
First Course:
Ocean Flavors - sea scallop, trout roe, dashi
Light broth and well cooked scallop
Second Course:
"Summer Vegetable Garden"
A pretty simple set of roasted vegetables with some sort of foam that I forgot.
Third Course:
Foie Gras "Sweet & Sour" - maple syrup, sherry vinegar
Probably the top dish of the night. The foie was rich, but it was offset by the sherry vinegar. Also the slight maple syrup kept the taste complex. There were also small crispy chunks to give the dish some texture.
Fourth Course:
"Summer Breeze"
Palette Cleanser. Sweet and sour.
Fifth Course:
Steelhead Trout - spring mushrooms, duck consommé
Perfectly cooked. The fish was just translucent and went well with the duck consommé
Sixth Course:
Slow Cooked Egg - Pearl Barley, Truffle
Shaved black truffle and white truffle foam. Also the barley sitting under the egg has a rich flavor of truffle. Egg was cooked evenly and added a non truffle richness to the dish. I wasn't a fan of the texture of the barley though.
Seventh Course:
Guinea Hen - broccoli romanesco, leg confit
Leg as well as a roulade of the breast. I though the breast might be dry, but it was moist all the way through. I actually think the breast here was better than the leg.
Eighth Course:
"Rhubarb and Raspberry"
Another palette cleanser. Like a shot of something slightly sour.
Ninth Course:
"Sweet Sensation"
Dark chocolate trifle with a tinge of orange. -
Review from Marilyn T.
Palo Alto, CA
9/18/2011
There was an opentable deal for $199 for the 9 course chef's tasting + wine pairings for 2 people, which I thought was an awesome deal (usually would cost $280). The chef was very thoughtful and careful in planning out accommodations for a pescatarian version and a vegetarian version, and they were very gracious about it. One of the people in our group was also trying to catch a flight, and they were very good about getting the wines and courses out one after another very efficiently without making us feel rushed.
We started with an amuse of sweet summer corn soup with chive oil and crunchy bits, which was a nice contrast to the velvety soup.
The first course was a seared scallop with a light dashi broth underneath and steelhead trout roe on top, which pops in your mouth and adds another depth of savoriness to the dish. It was paired with a very light viognier, which I think was everyone's favorite wine of the night.
Next was a summer vegetable crudite, with golden and red beets, radishes, spring peas, and some fresh cheese. This dish was relatively unadorned, which helps you appreciate the natural flavor of the vegetables. It was paired with a drier blanc de blanc, which I'm not sure matched it as well.
Next was seared foie gras, topped with a maple gelee. I usually avoid foie gras, but this one had no gaminess, and the texture was just right. The sweet maple on top really made the dish. For the vegetarian version, there was a smooth butternut squash veloute with shaved butternut squash and sage, paired with a riesling that started sweet but ended dry, which worked well with the foie gras.
In between, we had a green apple shooter, which was a bright colored apple soda with green apple sorbet - very refreshing.
Then came the perfectly cooked steelhead trout in a very flavorful pork jus. This definitely outshines the vegetarian version which is a vegetable consume with figs and vegetables underneath, as the pork jus was complex and balanced nicely by the fig. This was paired with a central coast pinot noir.
Following, was the slow cooked egg, with the whites just soft and the yolk runny, rounding out the crunchier barley. The barley itself was a little plain, so it really needed the egg mixed in. There were chanterelles and also black truffle shavings on top - the dish is even better if you add some black pepper to it. This came with a dolcetto, which was the only wine I didn't particularly like.
With the final savory course, we had a grenache rose, which I thought was an interesting choice after the reds we had. The dish was the most tender chicken breast I have ever tasted - I've never heard guys say they preferred the white meat over the confit. The vegetarian option was a risotto with wild mushrooms and peas.
We had two desserts paired with a sparkling red that I loved. The first was an amazing fig brulee with goat cheese mouse underneath - one of the best desserts I've had in a while, since I love figs and goat cheese. The other dessert was more for chocolate lovers, which rich dark chocolate mousse, chocolate shavings, and vanilla ice cream.
We sipped on cappuccinos and enjoyed the house made strawberry mini macarons at the end while lingering at the table.
Portions are on the smaller side, but I actually prefer it this way so that I can have just a few tastes of each time without feeling disgustingly stuffed by the end. The sommelier stood his ground with his wines but had a good sense of humor with us, and the wine pours were generous. The rest of the service was on point, especially with the introductions of dishes separately to each individual, rather than when the server stands over the entire table explaining the course.
It's a gorgeous modern setting with high ceilings and a very open, upscale, but unpretentious feel. With the well coordinated service and the thoughtfulness of the dishes, I'd say the Michelin star is well deserved. -
Review from Jen Y.
8/31/2011 6 photos
One of the city's best-kept secrets. The chef's attention to detail, ornate plating and stimulating ingredients and flavors make every dish quite the experience. Not only are the dishes beautiful and artistic, but also mouth-watering and satisfying. My friend took me here and we shared:
*foie gras 2 ways - the seared foie gras took my breath away. so rich, buttery and delicate yet so flavorful. I thoroughly enjoyed each bite, closing my eyes and subconsciously purring to myself in bliss!
*trout crudo w/ candied kumquats - what a sight for hungry eyes! plating was gorgeous, and I loved the crunchy buckwheat puffs and cucumber granite served on the side.
*black ink carbonara w/ pancetta, mushrooms, parmesan and garlic - flavors were perfection, but the texture and consistency were disappointing. The pasta was overcooked and too hard and the sauce was too watery. This would be amazing as a fettuccine in my opinion.
*lamb 3 ways w/ baby artichokes, yogurt and sweet potato - loved every way the lamb was served, particularly the chops! perfectly cooked as we requested (medium rare) and well-sized portions. Another one of the dishes where I found myself slowly enjoying each bite with my eyes closed.
In terms of service and ambiance, topnotch as well. Would love to come back if my wallet supported such extravagance! -
Review from Erika C.
9/6/2011
I had my birthday dinner here, for a group of 13. Everything went smoothly and everyone had name cards; kind of cute.
This place has really good food. Unfortunately, it doesn't compare to other restaurants in the same range. If you haven't been, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.
Fun fact - Chef Dominique Crenn (now of Atelier Crenn) was on Iron Chef and won. It was a good episode. -
Review from Michael M.
San Jose, CA
For years now my wife and I have been going out to nice Michelin starred restaurants for our birthday and special occasions. We do this mostly because we love good food and don't want to think of buying something for each other. However it's up to the birthday person to choose. I know sounds strange but that is how we do it.
This year the birthday girl picked Luce. Our evening started by getting stuck in some traffic on the Bay Bridge so I thought it would be nice to give a call to let them know we were running 10 minutes behind. The man who answered seemed like he couldn't hear me over what was going on in the restaurant and almost seemed annoyed that I called to let them know we were going to be late.
Once we arrived we were 1 of maybe 2 couples seated...not necessarily out of the norm for a 6:00 seating. We ordered the chef's tasting menu with the wine pairing as we do at most fine dining establishments. The meal started with bread and an Amuse Bouche that to be honest I can't remember what it was. The first course opened with this sparkling wine (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). I found it rightfully paired with the Sea Scallop, Trout Roe, Dashi.( http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Our second course; a vegetable salad and third course; seared foie gras, were predictable but well-made and presented nicely. Next came our intermezzo course which was a shot of icy apple purée. This resembled a soft sorbet that was light and refreshing. Our next course was the Steelhead Trout with Spring Mushrooms, Pattypan Squash in Duck Consommé. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) It felt odd to have fish in a Duck Consommé but it worked. And it was paired with one of my favorite wines of the night. (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ). The next course was the Slow Cooked Egg
Pearl Barley, Truffle. Now I am a huge sucker for soft eggs of any kind. Add truffle to it and I should be in heaven. This time however the black truffle fell really short. The shaving we had felt and tasted dull and old. However the egg saved the dish. (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) Our last savory course ended on a high not with the Guinea Hen with Broccoli Romanesco and Leg Confit. (http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) Our sweet course was called "Sweet Sensation" and is pictured here.( http://www.yelp.com/bi... ) The chocolate was good but very rich.
I would have to say our overall experience with Luce was good but I left feeling like something was lacking. Maybe it felt a little too hotel dining roomish? After all it is located in the Intercontinental Hotel. The food was also good but nothing I ate blew me away. I kind of expect to remember at least one dish when eating at a restaurant with a Michelin star.
3 stars rounds to 4Listed in: Only if you take me., I see stars.
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Review from alicia k.
Don't come here looking for a quick meal. The service is a little slow, but for the price you are paying, you should sit, relax, and soak in the beautiful interior. The decor of Luce is upscale and "cool".
My son wanted to have lunch at the hotel, so we came here for lunch. I ordered the "Vietnameses-inspired" sandwich. The braised pork belly was a little sweet and needed a touch of acid to cut the fattiness. The baguette was good, but definitely not Vietnamese and not worth $12.
I had a taste of the scallops with tomato broth. The dish was far superior to any scallop dish I've ever tasted. Exquisitte presentation, perfectly cooked, and the tomato broth was divine.
My kids had a PB&J. The PB&J was on a baguette, which they don't like (too crusty) and the side of seasonal fruit was a welcomed change to the bananas, apples, and grape fruit salads that kids often get.
I can't wait to come back here for dinner. -
Review from Erich D.
Having maintained it's Michelin star rating for the past couple years and having seen Chef Crenn pull off a decisive victory over Iron Chef Symon late last year, I was intrigued by Luce (pronounced "loo-cheh" not "loose"). Participating in the wallet-conscious, local restaurant promoting, and local economy boosting Dine About Town program, I figured this to be the best time to try it.
Each dish was exquisitely presented. Great execution, skill in plating and use of the vibrant colors that nature has provided in the food that nourishes our bodies. Thankfully everything tasted just as good as it looked.
First Course -- Burrata cheese with freshly diced peaches and wild arugula topped off with toasted quinoa and a drizzle of olive oil / Diver scallops with shaved cauliflower and blood oranges.
Second Course -- Glazed beef short ribs with spring onion and cucumbers.
Third Course -- Warm croissant bread pudding with coffee ice cream and topped off with walnut crumbs and a maple syrup foam.
No complaints whatsoever with any of the dishes. No new and or interesting flavors for my palate but everything was pleasing to the tastebuds. Veggies and fruits were refreshing, the meat was extremely tender and juicy (no knife needed really), scallops were fresh, perfectly seared and did not have a fishy taste or rubbery texture, and the burrata cheese was blissful.
The restaurant area appears massive due to the extremely high ceilings and large open space. There are also a number of private and intimate booths to enjoy your meal which is a plus. Service is very professional just as you'd expect at a restaurant such as this.Listed in: Michelin
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Review from Vickie Z.
San Francisco, CA
12/2/2011
EXTREMELY OVER-RATED!!
How did they get the Michelin Star????
The service was horrible. The staff was rude.
It was the worst restaurant my husband and I have ever been to.Totally a waste of money.
We had a set menu with the package we purchased through the Inter- Continental hotel: the package contained dinner for 4 at Luce and martinis at Top of the Mark.
The menu was extremely boring for a Michelin Star restaurant. We almost all end up ordering the carrot soup, the halibut and the mango parfait. The dishes came extremely late. We waited almost 40 minutes for a piece of overcooked fish. The carrot soup was good but the halibut.....OMG the halibut was the worst thing i've had in my life.
The top of the fish was fried until it became dry, then soaked in some sort of broth and toped with some beans and artichoke (the Beans were the only thing in the dish that had some flavour) We joked that they should rename the dish and call it: BEANS WITH A SIDE OF FISH. The bread rolls were hard as rocks (we could play baseball with them) and the mango dessert was too sweet.
When having our dessert, we asked the waiter if he could call a taxi for us to go to Top of the Mark. He told us that there will be taxis in front of the restaurant/hotel. We got out 5 minutes later and waited 15mins for a taxi that never came. We had to take some sketchy overpriced black car that the valet recommended- usually we wouldn't but it was getting really late and cold.
The whole dinner took almost 2 hours for 3 really simple dishes. On top of that, because the dinner took so long and we had to wait extra time for a taxi, the Top of the Mark was already closing when we got there.
WORST EXPERIENCE EVER!! -
Review from Mercy D.
Oh my heavens. Brunch Sunday morning. I ordered the grilled chicken blt. It looked deceptive but turned out sooooo good!!!
I looked at the bagette bread when my order came and was instantly worried. There's really nothing more I hate than biting into a sandwich that has really tough bread that makes your jaw work! But I bit into it and was very pleasantly surprised - it was not hard at all. It was soft, easy to bite into and felt like it literally melted in my mouth! My only advice if you get this item: try not to let your sandwich sit too long because it will get cold and then the chicken will dry out!
Service was great and very friendly. My waiter came by to ask how everything was and even returned a couple of times to see if there was anything else I needed or wanted during my meal. Overall I had a great experience here! Next time I'm in the area I may come in just to try some of their dessert. -
Review from Noreen C.
San Francisco, CA
9/13/2011
AMAZING food. HORRIBLE service.
my boyfriend and i made reservations here for his birthday. great ambiance, completely romantic. the sad part was that the service was incredibly poor.
luce wasn't even busy - about 5 tables (2 four-tops and 3 couples). three servers and ours didn't even take the time to get us our drinks, our bread or come by to check on us. the maitre'd visited every table twice, topping off wine glasses, shmoozing, but never made it to ours. interesting.
i NEVER play the race card, but that was the only thing that set our table apart from the others. the other patrons in the restaurant were all caucasian. maitre'd seriously visited every table twice. we never heard a peep from him OR even saw his face directly. so sad that in this day and age, in such a diverse city, would that type of racism still exist.
i don't plan on returning, nor will we recommend this spot to any friends / visitors to san francisco, even though the food was delicious. the service ruined the experience and the deliciousness of the food. -
Review from Diana W.
Came here for a Sunday night dinner via VillageVines.
Decor: 4.5
Service: 4
Food: 3
Decor: Has a really modern, sleek feel to it. Makes you feel like you're in LA (and fits well in SOMA). I like it
Service: Waiter was friendly as expected. It didn't make or break my dining experience.
Food: The portions were okay, slightly smaller than other restaurants in the same price range but eh, what are you gonna do? Ordered the following off the Spring Menu (I didn't actually remember the description, just copied it from their online menu ha)
Artisan Foie Gras "Chaud et Froid" -- I'm a huge foie gras fan so any foie gras is a win for me. I've had better foie gras but this one was pretty solid.
Guinea Hen, Roasted Breast, Leg Confit, White Asparagus and Morels -- This plate was pretty generous in portion size. Chicken is one of those things that you can either really nail (really tender, moist, juicy, etc) or it can just be okay. This one was just okay. It wasn't dry but it wasn't very juicy either.
Spring Lamb Loin and Belly, Baby Artichokes, Sweet Potato and Pistachio-- Really meaty. Cooked medium rare and good. The sides were pretty good, especially the sweet potato. -
Review from Ash S.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2011
With all the restaurant choices San Francisco offers, I've never thought too much about eating at hotel restaurants unless I was spurred to by a discount or if someone else planned dinner. In this case, it was both. My wife and I met up with another couple who had picked out Luce because of a Village Vine 30% discount.
The place is very swanky because its part of the ritzy Intercontinental hotel, however on this particular night there was hardly anyone there so the decor made the place feel even colder. The extra tall ceilings didn't help warm the place up either.
The service was very good and the wait staff was very attentive.
I ordered the lamb for my entree and as a group we ordered 2 appetizers to share. Someone ordered the "Sweetbread" thinking it was actually bread, but to the table's surprise it was in fact the Thymus of a calf! Ew! One of the person's almost gagged upon hearing this. It is not something I would normally order, but since it was there in front of us, I decided to try it. Had a very gooey taste, but I guess that is what a Thymus is supposed to taste like. It will be my last time eating that kind of sweetbread!
All in all the restaurant was a fair experience but nothing about this place stood out to me or encourages me to come back (especially without a discount). -
Review from Randi B.
Had breakfast here the last day of my trip. I normally don't dine in the hotel's restaurant because I know there are probably much better, cheaper places out there, but we were lazy and kind of in a hurry.
I had a standard scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast breakfast. It was just alright. Nothing special about it, especially for $16. It probably would have been better at Denny's for at least half the price.Listed in: Road tripping up North
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Review from Maria S.
If you're looking for an upscale luncheon in a swanky setting while attending a conference at Moscone Center, definitely check out Luce, located in the InterContinental hotel downtown. Especially if you're on an expense account and not paying for the meal.
It is pricey, and service can be slow, but generally the beautiful women working the tables are friendly, and they will eventually refill your water glass. Just don't expect them to have tried any of the decadent dishes on the short menu.
We needed a quiet place to discuss business, and Luce fit the bill for a late afternoon nosh. The dining area and restrooms are lushly appointed, spotlessly clean, and best of all, quiet enough to hear normal conversation.
I opted for the pork belly sandwich, served Vietnamese style. I expected something close to banh mi, and while the flavors in the pork were there, it was more Asian spiced BBQ pork sandwich, less traditional Vietnamese banh mi. That said, I enjoyed every bite. The salad of mixed greens dressed in a balsamic vinaigrette was an excellent counterpoint.
Two of my dining companions ordered burgers, served with Point Reyes blue cheese and crispy fries. The burgers are of the gigantic patty kind, and easier to eat with a knife and fork than with your hands. Be forewarned.
Our last group member was a vegetarian, and although there did not appear to be any menu selections suitable for her, our server said the chef would whip up something special. Her sandwich arrived looking spectacular, a mound of fresh grilled, seasonal vegetables served on French bread with a side salad of mixed greens. -
Review from Sheeva G.
10/29/2011
I would technically give this place a 3.5 star if I could, but i bumped it up because the food was pretty good when i went. the service was very slow, and not too many people were eating in the restaurant. i have had the arctic char, flat iron steak, and the chocolate peanut butter mousse. the presentation of the flat iron steak was unbelievable and it was delicious. the arctic char was lovely but had a few bones in it. it came with potato chive hash and tomato confit with lemon beurre blanc (yum). the mousse was pretty average. the decor is pretty cool and modern too. overall, it's 3.5 star worthy
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Review from Kathy S.
Updated - 7/1/2011
Came here for dine about town. I had the quinoa appetizer, the ribs as the main and the bread pudding dessert.
The servings were SO SMALL that I basically ate bread the entire night.
Come here if you want to look at pretty dishes that basically have 2 bites on them.
RIP-OFF and was still hungry after.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/27/2008
Very clean and new-looking. Modern. Would have been nicer if there was some music on in the… Read more »
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Review from Christine A.
San Francisco, CA
6/8/2011 4 photos
I'm generally unimpressed with Dine About Town. Restaurants typically get pissed off that they have to deal with hoards of customers that want to eat their food for half the normal prices, so they skim the quality/quantity.
Not Luce.
Service: 5 stars! Very attentive and friendly.
Complementary bread: Warm, crispy, yum.
Complementary mousse: I think it was some sort of olive oil/corn mousse. It was actually kind of nauseating (lol) and not sure how it's supposed to spike my appetite, but it was free...
Drink: The Vincento - Wasn't to my liking, but if you enjoy cocktails with a strong flavor of dark alcohol, this is your drink.
Appetizer: Diver scallops with cauliflower, pickled ramps and lemon. Scallops were juicy and flavorful.
Entree: Steelhead trout with petit squash, tomato, olive and spring blossoms. The fish was perfectly cooked, and it was light and refreshing.
Dessert: Warm croissant bread pudding with coffee ice-cream and walnuts. This was really good, but I expected more from a Michelin-star restaurant as a dessert. Seems like bread pudding is a very typical choice.
All in all though, great experience!
