"For dessert I had the french toast with hazelnut ice cream."
(in 27 reviews)
"I must say I absolutely loved the french toast dessert."
(in 28 reviews)
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Restaurant Clementine - CLOSED
Rating Details »
Category: French
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond126 Clement St
(between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
(415) 387-0408
- Hours:
Tue-Thu. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
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Chapeau!
- 759 reviews
- Neighborhood:
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"5 stars. I can't think of one thing I don't like about this place, it's a romantic and charming atmosphere, excellent service, delicious…" read more »
377 reviews for Restaurant Clementine
Review Highlights
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Awesome! As good as it gets for sure. The service is impeccable, the chef comes out to greet you and thank you for coming, unheard of today! (and Im not old!)
I had pork tenderloin to die for, mushroom soup was fab, great wine list.
I brought a girlfriend here for a birthday dinner last Saturday. We meet fairly regularly for lunch but it had been a while since we'd had a chance to sit, chat, gossip, dish without time constraints. Unfortunately, we were asked to leave by the waiter since we were encroaching into the 2nd seating. And here I thought that French restaurants were meant to be several hours long ... It's okay though, not a big deal and I didn't feel rushed through my meal.
I got 2 oysters ... 1 that tasted funny ... but I didn't get sick so it's fine. They weren't very well shucked because I got a lot of grit in my mouth. We also got the mixed greens salad which was pretty standard ... though the grapes were a nice touch. I got the filet mignon for my entree and for all the other hiccups, this was the highlight and redeeming part of my meal. Prepared to perfection and melt in your mouth. I asked for an extra side of au jus but barely needed it because the meat itself was so flavorful.
The waiter convinced us to order a basket of the fries ... they were good, but not so amazing that I'd be swayed into ordering it again. It was also way too much food. For dessert we shared the french toast that came with a scoop of hazelnut ice-cream. It was as the name suggested ... French toast with a scoop of ice cream. Maybe I was expecting more because it was dessert instead of brunch! The service was good and a very warm, jolly and friendly chef who made it a point to say hello and check in on everyone.
My SO and I went here for dinner in October '08. Sorry for the delay in writing this... please excuse my tardiness.
As you may have figured out by my other entries, we are parents. We don't get out much anymore... so when we get out without kiddos, we want to go to the very best that we can afford at the time.
The grandparents were in town visiting and so we decided to do an extended date-night to the Big City. Dinner and a little Jazz at Yoshi's. What more can you ask. We chose French, because it reminds us of our time we spent pre-child in France. And we love French cuisine. Bon apetite!
Okay, back to the point of this review. We get there right when it opens, and the head chef is giving a pep-talk/lecture to his whole staff, the lights are up, and he's testing each one as to what is on the menu and what the ingredients are. We were impressed! We were the first people to arrive and so the lights were stil off, since there was enough natural light coming through the windows.
With our drinks came an amuse bouche. It was seriously tasty! YUM! And we had a salad as an appetizer. Then my SO had the steak frites and I ordered the duck. The dinner was seriously something to brag about. We couldn't believe how fast 2 hours went by! And we never felt rushed one iota. Although it was just the two of us and the ambiance was perfect for a date night, we did see a few couples with young kids with them... and they seemed to be treated well, too! This was nice to see... The head-chef made it a point to come by to talk to each table, and was genuinely personable. I love that touch. By the time we left, around 7-ish... the place was packed! Definitely make reservations.
Closed? Really? This is devastating. Clementine was one of my all-time favorite restaurants.
CLEMENTINE is NOT closed! It's owned by Philippe Gardelle, who also has Chapeau! on Clement and it's doing VERY WELL, thanks!
It is such a pleasure to receive top notch service when you are paying so little for the food. You know, the service that splits and plates appetizers ahead of time for you and your date, decants your wine without you asking them to do so, does not hover but does not miss a beat, makes sure you always have more than a sip of wine in your glass, folds your napkin.....
That said I am trying to think of an excuse to go back tomorrow night. Any occasions coming up I may have forgotten? Canada day perhaps?
Sure, Chapeau has them by a nose hair (an image of a snobby Frenchman ala Ratatouille perhaps just flashed through my mind- but why would I bring such images into your head when we are discussing such scrumptious food??).
Where was I? French toast for dessert?! O but it's so marvelous. I cannot remember what else I had, but I certainly need a refresher.
Philippe took over Clementine and Chapeau almost a year ago and he's decided that he can't have both places open. Thus, they are rebranding this place to become the new Chapeau while the old Chapeau turns into a wine bar.
This is my place when I wanna do French food but don't want to pay French food prices, ya know what I'm saying?
They have this three course prix fix menu that is pretty decent and if there is pork chops or duck on it, then I'm in the zone baby!
Usually like to bring a date here and usually like to sit at the bar 'cause I get to interact with all the interesting people of the inner Richmond. Some of them are burnouts and you can tell after talking to them for like 5 mins. But usually they are pretty interesting folks and it makes for a good time.
I recommend a nice French red wine.
Before I went, I had some reservations because I heard it wasn't as good as Chapeau, but I was pleasantly surprised. This may have been because the owner or head chef was there. He was walking around the restaurant shaking everyone's hands--very nice. Had to sit at the bar because we didn't have reservations (I was surprised it was so crowded!) But that was cool, because our service was even better because our good-looking waiter was always right in front of us to serve our every need. :-)
Excellent food. Pork wrapped with bacon was perfectly cooked. I was surprised that our waiter asked how I wanted it cooked. Said most people didn't like it the French way, and would prefer theirs well-done. Americans, of course. So I had mine cooked the way the chef cooks it, and it was great. The sauce and puree complemented the flavor of the meat perfectly.
My friend had the mussels. Loved the broth. Yummy. HUGE basket of pommes frites. But I ended up eating all of them. (I usually end up eating everyone's food.) Souffle was fun. It came with grand marnier and orange sauce. Fun experience overall.
UGH, how this place toys with my heart.
I probably rewrote this review about 5 times now. I can go on forever about how we were neglected as a party of 5 with reservations as the elder, probably more successful looking diners around us got their wine, appetizers, and entrees before us despite the fact that we were seated way before them. How does 5 young professional women get some attention around here?! Story of my life. I wont write about how we waited 20 minutes for our bottle of wine or a hour before our entree because these men (seriously, they were all men), redeemed themselves very well.
Our reservation was at 730p on a thursday night and they were very busy--all their tables were full and the 4 waiters were hustling around and running into each other. I was waiting for one of those slow motion moments when shit goes flying everywhere, especially since we were near the kitchen. My favorite was the waiter that had cleared off two baskets of frites and as he was walking towards the kitchen, his free hand started shuffling some of the fries. About 5 feet away from the kitchen, he proceeded to put a few in his mouth. Poor guy probably hasnt had a break yet.
We were also treated with a salmon tartar for the each of us before appetizers. We must've looked visibly disgruntled, or they must've heard my loud mouth asking where the hell our bread was. It was delicious though. Well played Clementine, well played.
Our dishes came out about a hour later. The duck breast was amaazzinngggg. Medium cooked to a bouncey firmness, no visible fat, great portion, and light sauce. It was my first time eating polenta and i loved it. I'm a sucker for creamy textures. I finished off my whole plate without a drop of sauce to spare.
The highlight of my night and possibly the reason why I would go back to Clementine was their french toast with hazelnut ice cream dessert. Oh.Mi.F*cking.Gahd. Once the plate was set in the middle of the five of us, it was a reenactment of nature channel's clip of vultures finding a dead carcus. Ice cream was flying, sauce was dripping, and the plate was gone in 10 seconds. It wasnt too sweet, there was some crunchy caramel in there, the ice cream worked well with the warm, moist bread. kjhfksadf. Oh, excuse me, my fingers slipped on the drool on my keyboard.
The place was visibly emptying as 3 tables were left. Service went up as the waiters got to slow down a bit. When one of our ladies excused herself for the restroom, the waiter came and folded up her napkin. The chef came out and shook our hands and we thanked him for the wonderful meal. My friend specifically thanked him for the french toast as we were still high from it. A few minutes later, spoons were placed in front of us and we asked the waiter what it was for, he shrugged and smiled. About 10 minutes later, another dead carcus landed in the middle of our table and once again, we swormed and devoured another french toast, on the house.
We were there for about 2.5 - 3 hours, in true European fashion. Got to talk to the chef for a little, took a picture with him and our waiter and ended the night with cheek to cheek kisses (remember, left then right, as our New yorker told us).
These men really know how to work what they got. I walked out extremely satisfied and craving for more. I'm teetering between a 4 and a 5 because of the service during rush hour, but I'm sure the experience would be 5-stars and more if the place was more calm. 5 stars for the chef though :)
We ordered the prix fixe and added the foie gras.
The amuse bouche always gets me happy!
The foie gras was very good. It's a small piece on a large plate but very delicious. It was plated with a nice sauce and apple slices.
The prix fixe is $36 and is a great deal. We had the duck entree which was very good cooked medium rare.
We had the tomato bisque which was nice.
We ordered the panna cotta dessert with blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. Wow, that was great. Philippe the owner than sent us out the sorbets(mango, cabernet and lemon) over apple sauce. The sorbets were soooo good.
The service is very good and not over the top. It's well worth a two hour meal either on a special occasion or a fun night out.
One of the first things you'll notice about Clementine is that nearly everyone working here seems to be French. It's a great excuse to practice yours, if you speak any. I don't, but luckily this didn't matter.
The food is exquisite. Very French; very rich; very well made. I offer for your consideration:
Black tiger prawns in shredded phyllo, deep fried, with tomato & onion marmalade, small beans, and herb aioli. The light sweetness of the phyllo complemented the sweetness of the prawns perfectly, and the crispiness was a great contrast. The marmalade was tangy and a completely different flavor, and the aioli was like liquid basil.
Pan seared foie gras on toasted brioche with apple gastrique and micro greens. Brings new definition to the word "rich." Nearly liquid inside, the foie gras was fantastic, and plated beautifully with a sliced, splayed apple standing up in the center of the plate. The slightly bitter greens we a great balancing palate cleanser.
Baked brie on toast, with salad and spiced apples - rich in an entirely different way from the foie gras.
Rabbit leg stuffed with baby spinach and mushrooms, on barley & wheat timbale with baby carrots and mustard sauce. Brilliant. Flawless. Tender. Incredibly rich. Beautiful presentation. And a remarkably large amount of rabbit meat, too!
Pan roasted rack of lamb, with beans cooked in duck fat. I think there was more to this, but that's all I can remember. Dear God. Yeah, it's as good as it sounds.
Warm Valrhona chocolate cake with banana flambee rum raisin ice cream and caramel sauce. Wow. I love molten chocolate cake. I also love bananas flambee. This was one of the most perfect desserts ever.
French toast with soft caramel hazelnut ice cream. As good as everyone else says it is (and uniquely interesting as well). I must admit, I liked the chocolate cake better though.
OK, so the food is amazing. The wine list is 20 pages, mostly French, and remarkably reasonably priced. Most bottles are in the $50 or less range. They even have a page specifically for good value wines around $30. We had an '07 Cahors which was dense, rich, and worked very well with our main courses, as well as a half-glass of dessert wine with both the foie gras and dessert courses. If you're feeling overwhelmed, the staff is knowledgeable and happy to help suggest things.
Finally, I've noticed that some people have complained about the service, but ours was fantastic. Friendly, welcoming, helpful, and very knowledgeable about the menu. I've long been a firm believer that if you're nice to your servers, they'll be nice to you, and this was most definitely the case last night. The chef is also very friendly, and came though enthusiastically greeting everyone in the restaurant during the evening.
Final notes - reservations are recommended, as it is a popular restaurant. They have a full bar, if you arrive early or wish to stay late, and the atmosphere is, while not incredibly romantic, perfectly appropriate for a fancy date. And with food like that, there's no way you could lose. Most highly recommended.
The food was excellent and the service superlative. We ordered the tasting menu everything was delicious. Our server did a perfect job selecting wines for each course; I think he was the best part of the evening, what with his attentive but not intrusive presence and helpful suggestions regarding the menu. It was also pleasant to meet Chef Phillipe greeting the patrons.
I couldn't have asked for a better place to have a "second date" dinner. Will definitely return and highly recommend.
I had gone back there again, no reservations on a Friday night. Bf and I had plans to go somewhere else after, and well aware that it was a Friday night, I asked the host/maitre'd whether it was possible for us to get seated anyway.
The host was very nice and said yes, but the wait will be around 45 minutes. We were fine with that and had a glass of wine at the bar while we waited.
We got seated and ordered immediately because we were both starving. Our appetizer came out maybe half an hour after we ordered. Okay, fine, it's a busy night, we didn't have reservations. We figured it'll take a while for the appetizer to come out, but the entrees would quickly follow, right?
Not only that, but if a restaurant knows it can't keep up with orders, then they should also probably know they shouldn't seat patrons with no reservations right? We would have happily gone someplace else had we been told the restaurant was no longer seating for the night.
Wrong. Half an hour later after we finished our appetizer, our entrees still hadn't arrived, so we inquired about them. Our server was extremely short with us and claimed that our orders were being plated as we speak. Meanwhile, another table that got seated after us had already eaten their meals and were paying their bill.
Ten minutes later, still no entree. We finally just walked up to the front and informed our server we'd like to leave and just pay for our appetizer since we had places to go.
They had the nerve to charge us for the ENTIRE meal: Both entrees, plus the appetizer. They didn't even offer to take off ONE entree. They weren't polite or apologetic about it either; instead, they were huffy (and bordering on rude) because we didn't have time to wait over an hour for our food after ordering.
Whatever. Bf didn't want to deal with the hassle and forked over the money (over $120 for two entrees that never appeared and a small appetizer), and we got out of there.
This was roughly 4 months ago and we haven't been back since.
2 stars is for the appetizer, which was very good.
No stars for the lack of service, the huffy attitude.
I can't recommend this place based on my last experience there. Sorry.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/26/2008
Lovely place with excellent food.
Bf and I went here on a whim this past Saturday night and were… Read more »
3.5 stars
I've become quite the connoisseur of French food as le bf is a frenchy. With that said, i have to say, this is one of the more authentic French places I've been to in the city which is a good thing! We enjoyed the prix fix menu which came with a selection of a few different first courses, 3-4 entrees, and any dessert of our choice. For $35 per person, it was a great deal...but then you need champagne or wine so add an additional $20 to that, add tax and tip and it's impossible to get out of here for under $100. Still a good deal for what you get.
The food itself was really good, the first course we ordered escargo and bisque...they were both really good, and the bread they served was delicious. I was really into my entree, a honey glazed chicken dish with mashed potatoes...my bf had sting ray, it was really good too but for him just ok. The entree portions were BIG.
The part of the dinner that wasn't for me was how the chef made several rounds in the restaurant saying hello and checking up on us...was cool the first time but the 2nd-3rd time, i started feeling a little self conscious having a mouth stuffed with food. We were also the youngest people in the place. Perhaps they wanted to make sure the food was up to a french persons standards?
Overall i would recommend and go back for more, it's a great place for couples, the host told us he was giving us a table for 'lovers'-which was certainly true.
Bravo!
Another great french restaurant to add to my rotation. The service was spot-on excellent and the food fabulous. Unfortunately, they were out of the duck breast but the lamb well made up for it. The lobster risotto was cooked perfectly, not mushy. I also recommend the mussel soup and sweetbread (if you can get over what they are).
I usually don't order dessert, but damn, their french toast was good! How come my french toast don't come out that way?!
Corkage fee is reasonable, $18. But they have a good wine selection also.
Can't wait to come again......highly recommended.
This was the first time I've been to Clementine since Chapeau! took over. Needless to say, I was thoroughly impressed. The chef came out and greeted us THREE TIMES!!! By the third time, he's like "I've said hi to you already!!!" Nice guy.
Onto the food...
The foie gras, was well foie gras...However, my $34.95 3-course prix fix was so worth it!. I had escargot, duck and a dessert that was to die for. My boyfriend cleaned his rack of lamb until there was nothing left! I had a taste of the mussels and pomme frits, and I was very impressed
Aside from my "to die for" chocolate cake, the french toast with hazelnut ice cream is something people should consider. It was definitely unique. For this price, I would definitely come back! Clementine can truly rival some of the bigger boys in town....
I am so looking forward to my next meal at Clementine.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/21/2008
Boyfriend treated me here for an early graduation present. The mussels were excellent. I liked my… Read more »
I really liked Clementine up until I arrived there with my date. I called to make reservations and they were very polite and were willing to work with me to get a good seat and time on a Friday night.
When we arrived, we were ignored for a good ten minutes. It was busy, so we didn't think much of it. We were finally seated fifteen minutes after our reservation was scheduled for (and we arrived early, too).
The food was quite good. Their presentations were immaculate and impressive. They knew the right amount of height to give their dishes, as well as proper portions. I was ecstatic when I received *two* quails and not just one.
Maybe it was because they were busy, but all throughout the night we were ignored again. They never asked if we wanted more wine, they never asked how the food was, and they never even asked if we wanted dessert.
I didn't mind the large bill as the food was very good. I left a 25% cash tip out of sheer appreciation for the chef.
The next day, my credit card was charged about 20% higher than what was on my receipt. I figured maybe they assumed they could add gratuity without asking and I called to get some clarification. Whoever answered the phone tried to tell me there was nothing he could do because of the way their computer system works. He told me if I wanted to pursue the issue, I should come in and take it up with the chef.
I decided it wasn't worth the effort and I will never, under any circumstances, return to Clementine.
Two stars for great food.
It's been a couple years since I have been. While I thoroughly enjoyed Clementine 2 years ago, it is even better now. The food is still excellent. The waitstaff is beyond excellent. The waiters are knowledgeable, friendly and not snooty at all.
We started with the mesclun salad with the fried camembret (love this salad here and at Chapeau!). I had the petit poussin and my husband had the pork medallion. Both were delicious. Finished with the lemon tart and the chocolate cake which is kind of their specialty.
Top it off with an $18 corkage fee and you have a perfect meal in a lovely restaurant with impeccable service. Could not be more pleased.
1 Previous Review:
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2/6/2008
I'd really give it a 4.5...excellent service and great French fare. Sauces are not overly heavy.
I love, love, love this restaurant! Have been here a few times when the previous owners were still running the place and twice with the new owners. The food is amazing! I think the food became even better when the new chef took over. The monkfish and the lamb are outstanding. The only thing that I'm upset about is the French Toast is not the same as it was with the previous owners :(. Don't get me wrong, it's still good, but the former French Toast was to die for. But the molten chocolate cake makes up for it :).
Oh, and the service is great too, very warm and personable. We will be back soon!
I would give this place three stars if the prices for what they serve were lower. Compared to Chapeau, the only things it really has to hold over it's sister's head are location, lighting, and a more spacious venue. The chef's a nice guy too.
Whether or not this is original french food is yet to be discerned. The Chef is def French and so is the menu. How California-ized/American-ized the food's become is for a better judge than me. You can of course read my previous posts for extravagant commentary on how much the local population claims to know about worldly foods. I do not see myself as a connoisseur of anything but mid-north Italian food and maybe creme brulee, so I'll admit ignorance here.
What I do know is what I like, and the random soup they brought out tasted EXACTLY and I mean EXACTLY like cold trader joe's carton soup, like sweet potato bisque or something poured into a fancy itty bitty dish and fridged for an hour with some diced tomato on the side. That got me wondering. Beer selection = big meh, though at least they had some Chimay. Wine = satisfactory.
The food was good, though I didn't have that happy feeling that I have after Chapeau, knowing those calories and $$$ were worth my while, even though I'd have to run them off like a madwoman. A funny thing happened: when I left I forgot everything I ate. I know there was some meat, and a salad. A piece of bread. The weird soup. It was like it all bled into one pile of...well...overpriced "meh".
The chef came out at one point. Seemed really nice, very into what he was doing. He said he'd get us an adult rabbit if we gave him a week's notice and cook that...one of us liked rabbit, not me :) and that was cool. But still the biggest thing I remember from that place was how when I went into the marble-walled bathroom, there was incredibly loud french music. So loud I felt like I had instantly walked into a soap opera I had to laugh.
Advice: try this out with a sense of humor and a budget, AFTER experiencing Chapeau. ;)
Went there last night. We were suppose to make reservations at Chapeau (sister restaurant) but messed up and made reservations here.
Its a really nice place. The food is good. It is not amazing but it is worth the price. I had warm brie salad (not a big fan, wouldn't take it again) i felt that my piece of brie had a lot of crust to it and i really don't like brie crust. For main coarse had monk fish. Monk fish was exceptional, really yummy. The sauce that it came in was amazing.
My husband had chefs choice, its a 6 or 7 course meal with wine pairing. Let me tell you, they are really generous on their portions (food and wine portions). I would say even a little too much. I would taste his food as it would come since i only had two courses and had to wait for him to finish before they would bring mine and by the time my monk fish arrived i was stuffed.
The service in this place was amazing. The chef came out couple times came up to every table, shook our hands and thanked us for coming. The waiters were very courteous and amazing. At some point my husband wasn't satisfied with the wine pairing so he told them and they switched it right away and thanked him for speaking up. The wine he originally got was really oakey.
So all in all it was a pleasant dinner. For a French restaurant the service is simply incredible. Some food was really good, other was just ok. I would recommend, monk fish entree, muscle soup, deep fried tiger prawns and another dish that I don't remember name of. I think if they would just refine the food just a bit, make the portions smaller (food and drinks) it would be a 5 star restaurant.
Clementine is absolutely my favorite French restaurant in the city. I like it because it is not an over-the-top fancy restaurant. The vibe is very relaxed and welcoming. The tables are quite close to each other, but the crowd is very friendly. And most importantly, the food is absolutely exquisite.
I really like the variety of food the menu offers. I have had their prix fixe menu twice. I played safe the first time, and ordered escargot and filet mignon with a glass of Syrah. The escargot was full of flavor and the texture was amazing. The filet mignon was probably one of the best I've ever had. The outside was charred and the inside was very evenly cooked to medium rare. It was very memorable. The second time, I went adventurous and ordered the veal sweetbread and their roasted rabbit. Again, both dishes are well executed. The taste of the sweetbread was wonderful, while the rabbit is tender and moist. I think all the dishes I've had were perfection. Of course, the dessert had to be their french toast. I think it is the restaurant's signature dish that everyone praised.
The service was very attentive and the chef came out to greet the costumers and asked about the food. It is definitely a great place for a relaxing dinner with friends for a very reasonable price.
Finally, we get babysitters lined up and we get to go to Clementine. Phillipe has always run one of the best restaurants in SF with Chapeau! and has now taken over Clementine. Going in we were pleased to see that the dark colors of Clementine have been replaced with a much more welcoming white/cream/ecru color. The dining room is much bigger and has more room to move around. We ordered the fois gras, rack of lamb, filet mignon and it was, as expected, perfect! The warm chocolate cake and lemon tart to top off the dinner was also exceptional. The wine list is comprehensive and manages to not triple/quadruple to actual price of a bottle.
Phillipe and team really know how to make a night out special. I do miss the coziness of Chapeau! a little, but that's alright all we have to do is go a few more blocks up Clement to get that.
expensive French restaurant. wait.. all French restaurant are expensive! oppies. i dunno about this place... since i felt extremely sick and had to yack after eating their foie gras, or maybe its just my stomach couldn't take such rich food. Anyways, i ordered the lamb, and tried the duck breast.. i don't know why everyone rave about it. IT's Just OK to me. the sauce were nothing special. the muscle's sauce tasted even better! it was my friend's birthday and we brought a cake.. they helped us cut the cake and each slice was designed and decorated like it was ordered from them. very pretty and creative!
4 stars because i like how they gave us complimentary little appetizers and the service was friendly. Even the owner came out to greet us! dont forget the french toast. that was YUMMY!. other than that.. the entree and that foie gras... ekk.
expect to pay about $50+ per person
Have had dinner at Clementine 3 times Each time was fine. Had food and some wine. Food was good, the menu varied, service not harried.
A small place it is, good food is the biz, service is to be cherished.
Many of the staff are French consistent with Clementines authenticity. The food is great - EVERTHING I have had at Clementine has been great. You can eat at the bar if there are no tables left (if you don't have a reservation) service does not degrade at the bar.
Comme ci, comme ca...
I remembered the first few times I was here...A quaint and cozy French restaurant tucked so secretly in the Richmond that I had to argue with my friend over the fact that it really existed. I fell in love with their escargot - my very first snail...and learned the meaning of prix fix!
Coming back, I had my escargot - and yes I did devoured it, but it just wasn't the same...the sea bass I had was saltier and I didn't even realize I was eating ratatouille...portions are still of great size esp for the French...and finally the dessert...no failure there...well except for my creme brulee...was hoping for something more torched. Service was on the slow side but they made up for it with free dessert.
I think I'll be coming back...I haven't given up on you yet!!
FYI: Do the Prix fix! Its like $35 from appetizer to dessert. Oh and the french toast was amazingly good!
Chef Phillipe is a wonderful chef and host who makes you feel welcomed and ensures that you have a great experience at Clementine. The ambiance is nice, calm, simple, and homey just like the food.
Everything I tried at the restaurant was delicious, you could just feel it was made with love. I enjoyed the warm brie with pears, and the veal sweetbread as appetizers. The portions were large so it's definitely something you can share with the rest of your dinner party. I enjoyed the mussels with pommes frites as my entree - seriously, the bowl of mussels was so giant must have been at least 2 dozen mussels in all. The white wine sauce was so tasty I wanted to drink it just like soup! haha.
By the end of the dinner I was stuffed but NEEDED to try the the french toast that everyone raves about. Even though my stomach was about to explode it was totally worth it. I would call it the sassy cousin of "honey toast" from Dragonfly restaurant. The toast had been soaked in creme was was topped with hazelnut ice cream and laid on top of a caramel drizzle. Smack, topped off dinner.
Dinner was enjoyable I loved that we were eating at a French food restaurant and everyone working was French! I want to come back but Chef Phillipe told us that Clementine will be "closing" soon, he decided he just wants to have 1 restaurant so he can be in the kitchen at all times to ensure that the food being served is up to par. I say "closing" because he's going to be keeping the 126 Clement location but renaming it Chapeau's after his other restaurant and going to have a menu that combines some of the favorites on both menus.
My girlfriend surprised me with a special date night here. She knows how much I love french food and found this place here on yelp. When we first walked in I was excited for the food but it did seem a little stuffy. We appeared to be the youngest people there and it was a very white napkin, crystal wine glass kind of atmosphere.
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that first impressions are not always right. This place was extremely laid back and accessible. The waitstaff was very french, but also very friendly and willing to answer any questions we had. This was my girlfriends first time having french food and she felt very comfortable.
The food was AMAZING. They offer a prix fixe menu for $35 that I personally think is the way to go. Your choice of three different appetizers and three entrees and then any dessert you like off the menu. Its a great and affordable way to try a lot of different things.
The real gem of this place is undoubtedly the chef. He came out and greeted us at the beginning and the end of our meal, asking us how it was. He made us feel like we were already regulars. He topped off our experience with a very friendly kiss on each cheek on the way out the door.
We are already planning our next trip back, we cant wait!
Food is good, service is good. Just a tad overpriced.
I wanted to like Clementine as much as I enjoyed dining at Chapeau!, but I didn't. The menu's are similar so my food was forgettable. I think you should do one restaurant or the other but eating at both makes you bored.
The restaurant itself has an excellent staff and cute decor.
Everything was delicious. I wish I could recall it all, but I ate there four months ago. DOH!
So instead, I'll sum up all the French I've eaten at in the City recently- Clementine, L'Ardoise, and Chez Papa. All three were great experiences, so here's my take:
-Clementine had best food out of the the three, but also had the smallest portions. If spending $65+ (glass of wine included) isn't a problem, this is your spot. It has the more plush ambiance of the three, and it's very well lit.
-L'Ardoise had large portions, but the food wasn't as good as the other two. They had the best fish entrees. Dimly lit, but pleasant. Great spot for a date.
-Chez Papa had generous portions, and the food was almost as good as Clementine. This would be the best bang for your buck. More of a hole-in-the-wall-type atmosphere.
Chapeau! has dodged me three times. Your days of service never fit my schedule.
4 stars. Easily FIVE if the portions were slightly larger.
o clementine, clementine, clementine...
i give you a 3.25 ....
one of those restaurants that is all over those touristy books... i often wonder, what does it take to get to those books?
sister restaurant of chapeau, which is BYFAR yummier, even though
chapeau is a bit more cramped ... you can read the review by clicking here... (http://www.yelp.com/us...)
let's just get started and go right to my review on the food since i don't got any more time to waste ...
we started with their cauliflower soup, omg, that was a true treat! it was not only humongous, but the soup was simply so good, you could literally see me licking it to the last drip!
warm brie for $11... how can you go wrong with warm brie? simply fab. the melted brie was soo good, must get.
he ordered pan seared duck with pears and grapes $24 which i thought was a great dish as well ... nice selection, with a fine cut.... juicy to the tenderness indeed! wow!
and now, me? filet with oysters and mushrooms for $28...that's where the disappointment came in.... too much sauce that truly killed it, and i am sorry, maybe i am difficult to please but you know what? it really killed it so when the server came, i kindly told him it was too heavy... service was outstanding, simply, an apology, took the entree back and came within minutes without the watery goo, and by then, i was a happy camper again...
desserts? id pass. sry... chapeau does it better!
Secrets: there is an early bird special (Tue-Thu from 5-6pm) which includes three courses..
i have to admit there was one fine touch to this overall experience ... the chef ... he came around and greeted us and took the time to ask how the food was and thanked us for coming! i swear, his personality and his presence may this place much more worthwhile.. what a sweetheart he is! :)
overall, their service was superb... they are extremely helpful with wine suggestions and very patient. it's a great mix of people, couples, families, young and older.
I had a wonderful experience at Restaurant Clementine. The food was fantastic and the service was worth writing home about. The chef even came out and shook hands with the customers. It's pricey but worth it for a special occasion.
I would definitely return!
As the other reviewers had pointed out, the chef, Philippe, was very friendly, and came over to check on us at least 3 times. We usually spring for the prix fixe and ask the sommelier to pair the wine for each course. However, we came in thirsty and needed a bottle corked immediately. When the chef came over the first time, he saw what we were drinking and offered to adjust our prix fixe to pair with our wine - the first time I've had this happen.
For a bistro, it was on the higher end. I found it to be better than Bouchon in Yountville.
For the main course, we got the rack of lamb (the best ever!!!) and filet mignon (that sort that just melts in your mouth in supplication to your palate..mmmm...ok I stop now). Had the french toast for desert. Simple, yet deadly.
We got our reservations easily, although it was 9pm on a Friday night.
The wait staff were knowledgeable and on the ball. Good value for the money.
Attire for men: I saw people in tee shirts and jeans, which was fine. A shirt, however, would be more appropriate. If you're with a date, throw on a blazer.
Yummmmm. I didn't realize how much I was craving French food until we ate here! Overall, the food was excellent, the service gracious, and the prices reasonable for this caliber of restaurant.
First off, their bread is sooooo good! One of the many things I miss from France is really GOOD french bread...very few places in the States can replicate it. Suffice it to say I think I ate a whole baguette while we waited for dinner. And I didn't any stink eyes from the wait staff when I kept asking for another basket.
My husband and I had the prix fixe menu (app, entree, dessert for $35). I had the Cauliflower Soup, Salmon, and French Toast w/Hazelnut ice cream. Soup was wonderful! (Previous reviews are correct that anything that has "soup" in the title is a must-order!) My husband had the escargot, duck breast, and coffee pot de creme. Portion sizes for all were good (not the wimpy sizes you expect from fancy restaurants).
Service was attentive and gracious. Our waiter seemed genuinely interested in whether we enjoyed our food. He was even gracious to other parties who seemed demanding (Tables are REALLY close together here so we overheard a LOT)
Overall, we would definitely return. The only thing that keeps this from being five stars was that my salmon and my husband's duck were a *touch* dry. But the wonderful sauces made up for it!
This is only a partial review of the restaurants food since I only came here for dessert.
They have this French Toast (yup, that's right...french toast for dessert) dessert that's pretty good. The chocolate lava cake is also fairly decent.
The food seems decent from what I saw while peaking around at other tables. The Owner and wait staff are all french and they seem to serve authentic french cuisine. I will have to come back another time and try the full dinner experience.
Same owner as Chapeau... but this one here seems so generic. My first experience at Chapeau blew me away.... not Clementine. I can definitely say that every course ( from appetizer to dessert) was nothing to brag about.
Oyster: Chapeau was alot more fresh and the sauce was more flavorful.
Foie gras: I think it was laying in the kitchen for awhile... it was not warm....therefore did not MELT in my mouth like it was suppose to.
Duck Breast: I'd rather eat a whole Chinese roast duck - ANYDAY. ($ 12.00)
It was medium rare when the waiter brought it out, but I guess the dish was so warm that by the time I finished my 1st piece, the rest were overly cooked. I had a jaw spasm from chewing those duck breast jerkies...( at least it felt like it)
Filet Mignon: Prefer prime rib at Chapeau.
Vanilla Creme Brulee: Very light... but I wouldn't come here because of that.
Service was very good. The waiter was really attentive. The manager however was a man of a few words... and NO SMILE.
Oh ladies, watch out for the slippery floor when you enter. A lady dived right into the floor... and that was the highlight of my dinner experience at Clementine. That incident was more memorable than the food.
Great food, good service, unexciting ambiance.
Went here for our second anniversary, after coming from Spruce for drinks. The place was slammed on a Tuesday night, a good sign. Prices are right on, and quality of food great, but feels more like a neighborhood French joint rather then a destination restaurant experience that I've come to expect in SF. Think I'd rather hit Garibaldi's, Spruce or A16 for a bit more ambiance.
I finally made it out to the Richmond district to try this place under Philip. I really liked the half glass wine concept as this allows you to try different variety of wines. The duck salad special was good and has a slice of Foie gras on top. The Sweetbread was deliciously rich. The vanilla bean creme brulee capped off the evening and was perfectly prepared, light and airy with a top layer of evenly burned caramel crust, it was even better than the ones I made at home. I was also surprised to see a server under Didier called Laurent(it was his first night!).
Philip came by and said hello and greet every table at the restaurant. It is always a good sign when the chef/owner takes pride in his place that he chats with all his customers. This place is fantastic. If it wasn't for the relatively high price(still a bargain compare to some other places) of this place I would come dine here every night.
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1/17/2008
Tonight I had one of the best French dinner. I have dined at 3 star Michelin restaurant in France… Read more »
