Seasons Restaurant
Category: Steakhouses [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Union Square, SOMA757 Market St
(between Grant Ave & Ofarrell St)
San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 633-3838
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Valet
- Attire: Dressy
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
259 reviews
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
"Pretty much if you can give me a steak as rare as possible in a down-to-earth atmosphere with entertaining waiters, I'm golden. I came to…" read more »
76 Reviews for Seasons Restaurant
I met up with some old friends that were in town from Hong Kong and New York and happened to be staying at the hotel so we tried their restaurant and was very impressed with everything from the decor, impeccable service (not too in your face/ stiff/ imposing and not too aloof/ rude), and of course the selection of 'seasonal' foods with an emphasis on the locally grown produce from the surrounding farms and ranches- that are transformed into well- balanced works of art. My favorites; Seared Sea Scallops, Grilled Escarole, Chorizo, Rosemary Pomegranate Reduction, the Rocket goat cheese and korean pear salad, the ahi tuna, steak tartare. The ceasar salad has white anchovies- what more could you ask for? A solid choice if you don't want to disappoint your guests!
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Me and the Mrs needed something a little bit nicer than the salad bar at Sports Club LA after an afternoon at the gym. So we trolled through OpenTable on our blackberries to see what was available and behold..... 1000 point bonus on OpenTable for Seasons. So we made the reservation and made the long trek next door to what turned out to be a wonderful meal.
Service was great and so was the food. Michael Mina has a tuna tartar that is by far our favorite on the planet. However, Season's tuna tartar is a close second. Yum. Their version also seems to beat Michael Mina's on value. $15 bucks seems to get you a slightly smaller portion than Michael Mina's $35 version.
We also had a salad and the salmon. The salmon came with a side and we chose the gratin which was amazing.
Especially with the 1000 point bonus on OpenTable, I think me and the Mrs will definately be heading back after a long workout at the gym.
my wife and i took a break from shopping and had lunch here the other day. we were promptly seated by the window which provided a beautiful view of market street. we both shared the spicy tuna tartare with taro chips which was wonderful. we both also ordered the dungeness crab salad sandwich which boasted huge chunks of crab meat piled high. for dessert we shared the panna cotta which was absolutely delicious....rich and smooth but not overly sweet. top all that off with impeccable service and you have a restaurant worthy to be a four seasons restaurant.
Three star food meets five star service.
I came here for lunch last week, and our server Luis really took fantastic care of us. All the different ways in which he accommodated us really made the meal. We started with the cheese plate, and we actually got to sample the cheese from the previous day's plate because the selection sounded better to us. Of course, it was fantastic and included a tangy, creamy goat cheese, the sharpest of sharp cheddars, and a nice mild blue.
My chicken sandwich was good, but not much to write home about. The salad was oversalted for my taste, and I just wasn't that excited about it. Good thing I saved room for dessert. We couldn't decide between the apple rhubarb crisp and the flourless chocolate torte (Luis' recommendation), but we went with the crisp and it was amazing. Having witnessed our indecision, our lovely server brought over some truffles to satisfy our chocolate craving too. They probably do this for everyone, but it made us feel really special.
If I'm ever in the mood for a $100 lunch again, I might come back here - but only if I know that Luis will be my server!
PS: This probably goes without saying, but the atmosphere here is pretty stuffy; I felt uncomfortable wearing dark jeans.
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This is a review for breakfast only. One of my favorite places for breakfast with a vendor. Not only is it close to my office, it's also one floor above my gym! (I just need to figure out how to go directly from the Sports Club LA to Seasons without going down to the ground floor and entering the hotel.) The service here is impeccable as others have described. The eggs are always perfectly cooked. They also provide you with black napkins. The devil is in the details.
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I've been here for breakfast and dinner, I thought breakfast was really plain, nothing special. But dinner is really good! They have one of the tastiest steaks and the service is great.
I love my job when opportunities like this arise. A magazine who wanted our business took me out for lunch at the 4 Seasons. (Thank You).
4 Stars for the 4 Seasons and 4 Reasons why I enjoyed the 4 Seasons:
1. Perfect setting to discuss business
2. Superb service (What else can you expect? It's the 4 Seasons!)
3. Wonderfully dressed Cobb Salad
4. Amazing soft lemon ice cubes in my ice tea
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Absolutely impeccable service. The lighting and ambiance was maintained as the evening went on. I met with some business types and we were all impressed with the service and suggestions of the wait staff. I ordered a glass of pinot noir and asked for her best suggestion and instead of tagging me with the highest price glass she could find she brought out by far one of the most pleasant pinots i've ever had. (Hope and Grace via Napa Valley.) The bar's staff as well as their extensive selection definitely lives up to the 4 Seasons standard.
The Seasons Restaurant is undoubtedly just as fantastic as the lounge. We started with tuna tare tare (perfectly cut and assembled) and then all got steaks. I had the kobe flat iron with a side of steamed veggies and shared a side of lobster. The steak was cooked perfectly to my expectations as was the lobster and even the veggies. My water glass was kept no less than half full at all times, and when I excused myself to use the ladies room I came back to a perfectly folded napkin instead of the one I left draped on my chair. Our waiter Ali had a great attitude with my party who were all high class yet fun loving characters.
For dessert I shared the fondue with chocolate and caramel. I'd gain 5lbs for that dessert but had to keep room for my chamomile tea...which by the way, also perfect and served with elegance and poise.
The lighting and overall environment only further complimented my experience as did the pianist who I kid you not, played "Stairway to Heaven" at my request...yes I tipped him. If you can treat yourself, I highly recommend this entire hotel as they have among the mos friendliest, most unpretentious yet classy, professional and competent staff that I have ever seen.
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The restaurant here is really nice, especially on a sunny day. We were able to sit next to the window and get a fabulous view of Union Square (you can see my office from here! well, if i had a windowside office...), the windows are very large so it illuminates the whole room and is truly beautiful. This is definitely the best way to have lunch!
The service here is just what you would expect of the Four Seasons from the moment you walk in where someone opens a door for you, to being greeted several times on every floor, and the very attentive servers at the restaurant. You never have to ask for a refill of water or your drink, they are constantly coming by to take good care of you.
The salads are big and looked delicious, but I wasn't shy and ordered the sirloin cheeseburger! :) It was so scrumptious! It is on my list of top burgers I've ever had, cooked perfectly with fresh ingredients. Eating a fabulous cheeseburger in the fabulous four seasons is as fabulously contradictory as it can get. They served us arnold palmers (half iced tea, half lemonade) and you can choose to have the ice cubes made of iced tea or lemonade. That was really creative and refreshing!
I really enjoyed my experience here and hope to come back more often! I only wish they could add a little more to their menu. I also really appreciated that as luxurious as it was, it was not at all pretentious or stuffy. We were able to walk right in without reservations. The tables are large, the room is spacious, and the chairs are so comfy. After a good meal, you can totally lean back and relax a bit - I didn't feel rushed at all. I felt pampered and thoroughly enjoyed a leisure and lovely lunch.
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A group of 10 of us had dinner here this past Saturday. This being the third time I've eaten here and I have to say 3 out of 3 it's been consistently good. The service as you can expect at a 5 star hotel like the Four Seasons, was great...friendly and attentive. The restaurant and lounge area is handsomely decorated with a generous amount of rich wood creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
We had a few cocktails in the lounge area between the bar and the dining room while enjoying some nice tunes from the gentleman playing the piano. When everyone had arrived, we proceeded to the dining room to our table awaiting us. Everyone ordered a smattering of different appetizers and entrees. I started with the tuna tartare which was very good and fresh. I also had a taste of some Washington oysters (can't remember the nameof them) my friend KL ordered which was pretty good. I usually only eat Kumomotos but these one I had tonite wasn't bad. For my entree I had the veal chop which was done just right...medium rare with good flavors complementing nicely with the 2004 Jordan Cab we had with dinner. The company was great and the dinner was good, making for a very good start to the night.
Generally "hotel restaurants" tend to be mediocre but from my experience with top-end hotels like the Four Seasons, St. Regis, the Ritz Carlton and the likes, the quality of the food in these hotel restaurants tends to be well above average to excellent. The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, Ame at the St. Regis, and Seasons at the Four Seasons hotel are all very good to excellent restaurants with consistent quality and superior service which makes for a very pleasant dining experience.
We had dinner at Seasons this evening. The food was excellent. The service was even better.
We had the Colorado Lamb and the Kobe Steak with the jumbo asparagus and butternut squash as sides. The Butterscotch bread & butter pudding was one of the best we've ever had..
Thank you Seasons, for a wonderful evening. We were absolutely pampered, and we're coming back again.
Mom was in town over the holidays and wanted to go somewhere "festive" for Christmas Eve dinner. My initial thought was Ristorante Milano (note to self: always go with gut) but mom hypothesized that a hotel was more likely to get into the Christmas spirit (read: classy and fragrant decorations for non-practicing WASPs like us).
The Four Seasons itself is obviously a nice hotel but I was underwhelmed by the extent of thematic decor.
And it was a "special" Christmas Eve prix fix menu which they had neglected to mentioned when I made (and then confirmed) the reservation. Not cool.
Also not cool is the fact that the "special" menu contained no prices. So you knew you were about to grab your ankes, you just didn't know how much it would hurt. For the three of us, it hurt about $480 worth. The food was good but not exceptional. Call me old fashioned, but I kind of expect (nay, deserve) exceptional when I'm dropping well over a hundo per head. And by "I", I mean "my mother". Obvy.
Oh yeah, they also claim to have valet parking--which is a given for upscale hotels and a necessity downtown. They should really be more specific. By "valet parking" they mean "pull up to the curb on Market Street, flag down the door man to ask about valet parking (which is no where to be seen), and he will tell you to drive around the block to the unmarked alley on 4th beyond the Westin, take a left and you will see (shimmering like an oasis in the desert) the valet parking for the hotel". Sigh.
Ristorante Milano--I'm sorry. I should never have forsaken thee. Lesson = learned.
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My bf took his mom there for a birthday brunch and i got to tag along =)
I know its an upscale place, but $184 for brunch is a bit outrageous. so i had to take it a star down for that.
the food was at best, passable. we started with the cesaer salad, it was too salty. there was more cheeze than lettuce in the salad.
i had the season's breakfast with egg benedict (note, only one egg benedict). the entire plate was pretty good with the exception that my parfait was a little on the bland side. i think for $24 for egg benedict, i was expecting a little more specialty. sorry, nothing really stood out.
my bf had the crab/avocado sandwich. the sandwich was pretty good. they fry their own potatoe chips, but ours came out overdone and some were burnt. oh, and it was oily as hell.
his mom had the pan fried seabass, she loved her dish, but said the portion was a bit small.
his dad had the corned beef hash, small portion really nothing special. c'mon, ur the four seasons, spice it up a little for pete sakes!
anywho, not overly impressed. the service was mediocre, we had to flag someone down to refill our drinks. sadness. that was another star down for them.
they somewhat redeemed themselves in the tip department by bringing out a small fruit tart with a candle to celebrate the mom's bday, he made it a point to tell us it was on the house.
but i think its a one time deal for me.
i always look forward to eating at seasons restaurant. the service is impeccable (your coat will magically appear as you walk out of the restaurant- no need to ask for it!), and the food is lovely. if you go at lunchtime, get an arnold palmer to sip with your meal. they make the ice cubes with lemonade and iced tea- so it never gets watered down. such a simple idea- and such fantastic results.
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If you're looking for a comfortable and lovely breakfast or brunch - there's nothing more classic than Seasons Restaurant atop The Four Seasons downtown. I dined here twice this week because I take pure pleasure in a perfect square meal & impeccable service. I typically get their Market Street Breakfast. Two Eggs (scrambled), Chicken Apple Sausage, Yukon Gold Breakfast Potatoes, Wheat Toast. OJ. English Breakfast Tea. It's not rocket science, but they do it really well. And I really enjoy my early morning treat.
I didn't have high expectations for this place, as it's a hotel restaurant, but I was quite happy with the service and food. I went for lunch and had a crab salad which, surprisingly, had quite a bit of crab in it and was very tasty. Mind you, it was a $20 salad but you don't go to the Four Seasons for a bargain lunch. My dining companions were also pleased with their lunches.
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Atmosphere: 5 stars
Food: 5 stars
Service: 3 stars
Overall, good. You just get a good vibe when you walk in. The hostess was really gracious and she was really nice. She greeted us when we walked in and she already knew who we were when we said we had reservations at 7:30pm. She really studied her reservations, which is a good sign. The food was excellent. Our water and bread stick was refilled constantly. We never once asked for more water or bread. They just kept refilling it. That was really attentive of the staff and I loved that part.
The food was presented nicely and it tasted good. Just what you would expect at a nice hotel.
The only thing that I didn't like was when my bf ordered the Surf and Turf tasting menu, the waiter was like, just to let you know, it's a tasting menu, so the items are a bit small. That's understandable, but when I ordered it, the waiter was like, it's really small, why would you want it? And then he added: I would not recommend it, but if you like it, then what can I say? I thought that was a huge problem.
It's one thing to notify the customers what to expect on the menu, but to totally discourage them? I thought the server was extremely rude in that area and I hope he gets fired soon when the manager realizes that he's discouraging the customers from ordering anything on the menu.
OUR 100TH REVIEW!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!
Wifey and I have been largely unimpressed with hotel restaurants. Even if the food is good, you really can't help but shake the feeling that you're eating at wedding, but no one else is invited.
Thus, with a jaundiced eye and grim expectations, we ventured over to the Four Seasons Hotel to give their namesake restaurant a whirl. At the very worst, the extra thousand points from Opentable.com couldn't hurt...
The interior is nice, it didn't feel like a hotel ballroom at all. Our server was incredibly attentive and extremely helpful with the menu... unfortunately, the piano player in the background gave me an eerie sense that some random bridal party would be crashing the room at any minute to throw rice at my face. Hmmmm.... were the bride and groom hiding underneath our table?
The view from the restaurant is stunning, you're looking down onto Market street from about six stories in the air. All the pedestrians look exactly like the little gnats that I step on at work all the time... but I digress.
The food is spot on, very well prepared, and portions are nice. Creativity isn't out of this world, but this is a hotel restaurant after all. I recommend the chef's three course price fixe pairings which is a very good deal at $59 per person. The meal consists of smaller-sized pairings of 2 appetizers, 2 entree's, and 2 desserts. They don't skimp on the ingredients either as my appetizer included lobster and scallops.
Impeccable service, a wonderful view, and a killer piano player (his rendition of Coldplay's Clocks was fantastic). My experience at Seasons almost made me forget to ask for a slice of wedding cake for dessert.
Wifey and I are coming back for the holidays... we love looking down at the little people.
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Seasons is so cool. It's cool because you can walk in there dressed in whatever, and they will treat you like you're something special. This is a great place to go for a specialty cocktail and appetizer (try the Asian sampler and the tuna tartare). The gracious service is subtle and efficient, and the bright and airy space is a sophisticated way to while away an hour or two.
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Had a business lunch here. It's a great location right opposite from Emporio and down the street from Union Square.
I had a salmon soba salad. Portion size was good. Flavor was average but ingredients were fresh. The bread basket was ok, they had my favorite bread crackers. Ice tea with mint was excellent. Service was great.
Overall, a great place to have a simple, stylish business lunch. A little bit noisy though with the accoustics.
Location number 3 on our adventure about town, Eric W. led Twee L and I into the Seasons, one of us on each arm. Claiming that the bottle of champagne had put her over the edge, Twee wasn't going to indulge in a cocktail, but instead just order some food. Once we found the comfy seats in the corner, and had the drink menu put in front of us however, her mind changed immediately. Let me tell you about her drink. It was a beautiful lychee martini with a sugar rim, and three fresh lychees spread across the top. My cocktail...not a martini, was blueberry infused vodka, lime and soda, with 4 blueberries on a toothpick across the top. When I asked the waitress what she thought about that drink..she said "very refreshing". And she was right. Tasted like summer. Eric went with a basic Belvedere Martini...stirred not shaken, and she didn't question his odd choices at all.
We ordered a fresca pizza which was delicious, an heirloom tomato salad, which even though the tomatoes were all red with no yellows or oranges, was delightful as well. The ahi tuna tartar wasn't anything to write home about, hence the loss of a star.
Can I even tell you what made me the most excited? The extra thick paper towels in the bathroom...and the cloth doilies on the table. CLOTH! Now that's class. Oh, and the older gentlemen who were oogling the two ladies, wondering how Eric got so lucky.
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Pricey but good.
Everything was above average, but the only thing that really stood out was the quality of the meats. I had lamb and my gf had the flat iron steak. Both were cooked perfectly.
We were disappointed that they didn't have their renowned surf and turf available since that's why we specifically went there.
All in all, it was good food, but fairly expensive. Total tab more than $200 for two.
The night ended on a happy note with dessert. We had a chocolate souffle (fully worth the additional 15 minute wait) with a side of vanilla ice cream. Inside the warm gooey goodness of chocolate heaven, the waiter inserted a chocolate hazelnut truffle to melt inside the center of the souffle. So orgasmic! Sadly, I don't see it on their online menu at the moment. Aww nuts.
On the first day of the year, instead of moving FORWARD, some of us jump (or fall, as the case may be) backwards for a moment.
I did.
After a wonderful New Year's dimsum brunch at Yank Sing w/ friends, and chilling out at Grove at Fillmore for the afternoon (perhaps my two favorite pasttimes) - - I ended up having dinner at this amazingly posh, fancy, and beautiful Seasons Restaurant, inside the Four Seasons Hotel.
You enter through the beautiful hotel and take an elevator to the main floor (up from the ground level) - - and from the entrance where they check your coat to your window seating w/ a great view - the Seasons Restaurant is impressive. There's a live piano-man playing, and an open view to the kitchen. The restaurant is large - spread out, and each table has a lot of privacy - and is very romantic, dimly lit by well-placed lights and candles with the background piano music creating the perfect date location. It seemed to me that everyone there on this evening was out on a date - - man-woman dates as well as man-man dates. This is, afterall, San Francisco.
As is the case w/ the Ritz Carltons - Four Seasons is also known for impressive service, and the staff at Seasons Hotel was EXEMPLARY. They treated us like truly valued patrons but at the same time, like friends - - so warm, inviting, and accomodating. Our server's name was Ali, and he, in addition to the food, really made our night, always with a sincere smile.
The food lineup was fabulous.
The wine he ordered was a really great '03 bottle of Cosatera Amarone Classico. Exactly the kind of wine I like - but he knew that already.
They offer good bread w/ good butter. A+.
The oysters they served up on this night, the first night of 2008, were from Washington - - and quite meaty (the way I like it) with HUGE flavor. Really liked it a lot, and the mignonette they served up with it was first-class. The tuna tartare was fresh as can be, delicate in flavor, and while tuna is never one of my favorites - - I had to admit, this was tasty.
The Kobe Beef Flatiron Steak was fascinatingly good - - so flavorful and tender.
The Lambchops, however, were OUT OF THIS WORLD good. We ordered rare, and they came out rare - - but the quality of the meat was SO amazing that it needed nothing else, it was amazing on its own w/ just salt and pepper. Holy Smokes - - a new high has been reached in the lamb world.
We also had an order of their mushroom side which was the epitome of perfect mushrooms, flavorful, soft and tender - - the perfect accompaniment.
For dessert, we had the donuts w/ hot cocoa, and a plate of cheese. The donuts were really good, and we took a sip of the hot cocoa first, and then just dunked the donuts in to soak up the remainder. Yummy goodness.
What was particularly noteworthy about Seasons Restaurant was that they simply take the FRESHEST items and dress it up with very little, cook it perfectly, and serve it up. There is no masking, there is no drowning in sauce to make up for what it lacks in quality. They simply the serve the best, and keep it SIMPLE.
When dining at the restaurant of a top hotel, I never expect THAT much in the taste of food - what I do expect is excellent service, great ambience, and nice presentation. The high price that automatically goes w/ hotel restaurants is justified in my mind for those very things. The Seasons Restaurant offered all of that plus amazing food and wine - AND over-the-top service. Furthermore, if you walk all the way to the other end of that floor past the front desk, as our server recommended to us, there is a huge patio there overlooking parts of San Francisco. He told us to feel free to take our wine w/ us while we took a break from our meal - and filled up our glasses and handed them to us. Sitting out on the patio in the comfy seats, surrounded by buildings of SF and the nice crisp air - - well, it's just fabulous. You breathe in the fresh air, look around you, and you are just happy. When you come back in, they also have a slightly off-tune but working grand piano that is unlocked, which I played. I can never seem to pass a piano without playing it once for a bit - - and finding one unlocked is always a giddy moment for me.
I didn't want to go to dinner this night and put up quite a fight about going to this particular restaurant. I'm difficult like that - but this is not news to him either. We went anyway.
But looking back, this dinner on this night, like many other evenings, goes down as yet another good memory - - and one that I am glad to have had experienced. It also completed what turned out to be a fun-filled first day of 2008 w/ the people I love in my life, great conversations, delicious food and good wine.
I think it's going to be a good year.
Thank you for a beautiful dinner, stranger.......
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A great place to go on someone else's dime. I'd give Seasons five stars hands down if the rating system only applied to the "little things" (i.e., everything but the food). Cloth doilies and intelligent ice cubes aside, I thought my duck confit and seared ahi appetizer were mediocre at best (but only the ahi, the fancy polenta and butternut squash that came with the ahi were amazing, like I said, the little things). Not all that surprising considering, much like in real life, there's no sense in over exerting yourself when you're already well "connected" and can live off someone else's name.
Completely random but my overall dining experience reminded me a lot of the Jean George's in Jinmao Tower in Shanghai, except with less cowering by the wait staff. They really should send their people to Shanghai to learn how to cower better.
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The quest for the most noteworthy eggs benedict and as my birthday present made this an irresistible invitation to start what is one of the best days I've had this year!
Seated by the gargantuan picture window- I watched the still quiet street of Grant and Market slowly pick up pace while the fog slowly retreated, rising over the horizon giving sight to Chinatown and Telegraph Hill... I love this city...specially on this special day :-)
Our waiter was cordial and congratulatory- who ensured that my day started on the right foot- empathizing with me when I realized that the orange juice was not fresh ( from concentrate) as indicated on the menu. Moments later he came back with my coffee AND freshly squeezed orange juice- I was thankful and quite appreciative!
The Eggs benedict was superb perfectly poached eggs melted with the Hollandaise sauce endowed with the sweetness of gruyere and the slight tarty taste from goat cheese made this an appealing presentation. The grilled heirloom tomatoes hinted on the smoky canadian bacon all the right reasons why this makes the such a
perfect breakfast. The other variation came with Salmon- which my friend had- possessing just the right balance of smokiness and saltiness.
My meal was topped off with a birthday treat composed of chocolates and a wish inspiring lighted candle...
PS. My wish was off to a right start :-)
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Seasons restaurant & Bar at the Four Seasons is an oasis among the shops and restaurants in downtown San Francisco. I don't enjoy shopping if it exceeds 30 minutes in duration; however, I am willing to suffer through long lines and tourists if I can have lunch and a cocktail at Seasons restaurant.
I highly recommend getting a table by the window, ordering your favorite cocktail (which may be $2 to $3.00 dollars above the norm but well worth it) and sharing a few appetizers with lunch. The staff is very friendly and they live to serve. I consider this place a "best-kept-secret" of San Francisco. Those of you who eat at the Cheesecake Factory atop of Macy's are not welcome.
My GF and I strolled in on a Tuesday night earlier this week, hoping to grab a casual bite to eat after doing a little shopping in Union Square.
The hostess was incredibly cheerful and helpful, enthusiastically offering to take our coats, shopping bags, and briefcases.
We were sat at a great table right next to the window, with a fun view overlooking market street. We both commented at how great a location this is for people-watching, especially if it were a warm weekend afternoon.
The scene is very 'hotel-y', with a lot of business people obviously dining on their expense accounts, entertaining clients, etc. The decor also has that impersonal hotel feel, albeit very nice (since it is the Four Seasons after all).
Unfortunately, the experience went downhill as soon as we started dealing with the staff. Our waiter was a middle-aged man who was very hurried, despite the fact that the restaurant was not very busy. When I tried to order a pre-dinner cocktail *and* a wine pairing w/ my three course meal, he commented that the cocktail would not go well w/ my first course, to which I replied, "I expect to complete it before my first course comes."
After placing our orders, we theorized that this guy had an ageism issue, since we are both late-twenty-somethings, and were dressed very casually. This is an altogether unusual experience in SF, especially considering that we were casually dropping $100 per person on a Tuesday night meal; It should have been obvious that we dine in places like this on a regular basis!
So the cocktails arrived, and both were quite well executed (I had a brandy sidecar, she the peach-y house cocktail). We had barely had a moment to enjoy our first sips when the first course arrived! I immediately canceled my wine pairing, and made a remark about the (too) speedy service.
For the first course, I had a tuna tartare and beef tartare combination. The tuna tartare was the better of the two, with an interesting seaweed salad pairing. The beef was a bit underseasoned and lacked the usual bite one would expect in a good beef tartare. My GF had the rocket salad, which was solid but unspectacular.
With the wine pairing cancelled, I decided to order another cocktail, this time requesting a Patron margarita. Again, it was very well executed, and we decided that the Bar here is well worth checking out again.
On to the main courses: My GF ordered the risotto. Yet again, it was solidly executed but unspectacular. I had a pairing of lobster tail and colorado lamb chops. The quality of both were excellent, and they were prepared decently. With ingredients this good, a chef simply needs to get out of the way and let the flavors shine.
Finally, dessert: We shared my paring of aged cheddar cheese and a profiterole (which was practically thrown onto the table by our now seemingly angry waiter). Having recently dined at both Gary Danko and Campton Place, the cheese was far from spectacular. The profiterole pastry was just OK, especially considering that Beard Papa is practically downstairs from here.
The final insult of the evening from our waiter occurred when he literally dropped the check on our table as we were finishing dessert without saying a word to us. My GF and I both looked at each other wondering if this had actually happened. Yes, it did, and it was reflected in our tip, which was not a penny over 15%.
The moral of the story:
For your $$$$ meal, there are many better options in this city. Come here to enjoy the bar and the view, but skip the restaurant.
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My take on drinks at the Seasons Bar:
Two Cosmotinis poured from perfect little individual shakers into martini glasses placed on scalloped linen monogrammed coasters- $11 each
Two glasses of lovely McLaren Vale Shiraz in Reidel glasses on the same scalloped linen monogrammed coasters - $13 each
One bowl of chicken noodle soup served in a French porcelain bowl with an accompaniment of fresh-baked bread and parmesan crisps - $10
One heirloom tomato and mozzarella salad dressed with a perfect vinaigrette and large enough to serve as a meal alone - $12
Catching up with my luxury-loving, dearly missed friend in the absolutely perfect setting --- priceless
For some things, there is no price...
For everything else, there is my friend's expense account
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tis the season...for decadent business lunches. the only time i go to the seasons restaurant is during the holiday season with coworkers. the prices actually aren't that bad compared to other fidi/union square restaurants, and with it comes excellent food and great service - worth the splurge!
the spicy tuna poke and crab cake appetizers are good; i usually order the sirloin burger (yummy crispy fries!) but this time opted for the grilled chicken sandwich. served on nice crusty but soft ciabatta like bread, the smoked mozzarella and basil aioli were tasty, and i love arugula; but the chicken itself was a just okay - nice and moist but with two thick slices, the sandwich was a bit of a challenge to eat. i subbed the shoestring fries for kettle chips =) portions are huge - i only ate half my sandwich (but finished my fries of course, as well as the small side spring mix salad).
my cappucino was served with a mini biscotti and gingerbread cookie, and the chocolate cake was a nice change from the usual chocolate decadence/molten lava cakes you find everywhere else - not too sweet and overly chocolaty (as if that's a bad thing!), and moist. couldn't really taste the banana in the ice cream...
service was impeccable, from the black napkins to the presentation and pouring of champagne, and servers are knowledgable about the menu and are helpful with suggestions. the only time our server disappeared for a tiny bit was when we had to wait to place our dessert order (because we couldn't decide on the spot when presented with the dessert platter), but it was the lunchtime rush with shoppers and holiday get-togethers, and with the views and ambiance, it really wasn't a problem to linger a while longer and soak in the decadent feel of fine dining.
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I was stunned by how great this restaurant is. I usually expect hotel restaurants to be less than spectacular. However, I had one of those rare meals where every single bite was delightful. I'm giving it five-stars, even if the menu could be a touch more adventurous. Why? Because this has immediately joined my list of favorite restaurants in this food mecca of a city.
Apps:
They got my attention when the tuna tartare (the ubiquitous appetizer) was so amazing. Sushi-grade fish, tantalizing flavor combination, the best I've had - Ahi Tuna Tartare w/ Crushed Avocado, Wasabi Caviar & Thai Vinaigrette! Paired with a Chenin Blanc that was slightly sweeter than I'd regularly order, but an exquisite match. Great bread too.
Entrees:
My date's Mahi Mahi was flavorful and perfectly cooked. It came with fingerling potatoes that weren't too amazing, but the side of red mustard greens was pretty special. I had a Kobe beef flat iron steak that was to die for - first bite to last tender, delicious and amazing. It came with the less-than-amazing potatoes, but the side of wild mushrooms & cipollini onions was a perfect match. She thought they were too sweet, but it felt right on to me. An Alexander Valley Cab was another spot on suggestion.
The service was outstanding. They had a black napkin for me and a white napkin for my girlfriend already in place when the hostess took us to our table. And they have multiple servers bring all the entrees simultaneously for a table. Good wine recommendations go a long way in my book. And no cheat ya' portions either, we were too full for dessert. They brought chocolate covered ice cream bon bons with the check for a final nice touch. Plus, the atmosphere rocks too. We were there on a Sunday, and it was about half-full, but not at all loud. For those who actually enjoy conversation. Artwise, we noted the beautiful inlaid table as soon as we were seated. And then caught other details like some nice ceramics and hand-blown glass lamps.
Which is all to say that this is under-rated as a destination restaurant in the city. Expensive, but amazing is worth it to me... Why people put up with the mediocrity of places like Boulevard is beyond me.
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Sadly, blah. If this restaurant was in a HoJo's, you wouldn't go back. The lunchtime service toggled between white glove and Wendy's. The food was mostly forgettable. Also of note, there is no valet parking on Market Street. You have to enter through an obscure alley on 3rd street - if you're meeting up with someone unfamiliar to the city, count on them getting lost. The Four Seasons lobby is swanky, but unfortunately that's where it ends. Note: I've stayed here and the rooms suck too, but we'll save that for a different review.
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alright, i may be a little biased because i work in the same building, Maybe i really enjoyed my dinner because it was entirely free. Maybe I am very much gung-ho about this place because of the cool people who work there...But I give this restaruant a 10.
Too many restaurants in California have entrees where the sauces take over and the simplicity of the what is being featured becomes second place on the plate. What I mean by that is it is difficult to find a restaurant pick the freshest vegetables, meats, seafood , and let the natural taste of the product be what you taste; not lessen the flavor by other sauces, reductions, creams, etc. I'm fine with having sauces complimenting the food which Aqua and Gary Danko tend to do, but sometimes, I would rather have a dish with only several ingredients but every single food down to garnish is extremely fresh. The type of food they serve in Seasons, reminds me of Alice Water's method of cooking; and if you don't know who she is, she is what made California cooking trendy. This review is getting too long. Bottom line: simplicity is what makes these dishes stand out! So I'll just get to the good stuff. I ordered the seafood chowder for an app...creamy and delicious...every bite I took always had some sort of seafood in it. for entree I had the kobe steak cooked medium...I have never had kobe beef before...but man let me tell you...if you are a meet lover...you'll feel like you are walkin on clouds...I also ordered the brussel sprouts which were amazing...the service here is also impeccable...extremely friendly, never obstrusive, but always there if you need anything. This is a great place to take someone for a special occasion. If anything, the reason why I would give this place less than 5 stars is the price...but you are paying for top of the line food, great service, and tranquil modern ambiance...so it depends if you think the value matches for what you are getting...and in my opinion, it's a definite yes if it's for a special occasion...if i had all the money in the world, I would eat here every day of each and every "season" bad joke...haha...oh yeah, if you get a chance, try the lounge...great staff...potent delicious drinks, and an awesome piano player who can interpret green day and White Stripes songs to instrumental piano pieces...KICK AZZ!!!
Just went here tonight for a dinner with some work colleagues. Overall the atmosphere was very nice- decor lovely upscale hotel style restaurant, there was a live piano player giving some background noise, but the place didn't feel noisy until i was about to leave and the large party at the table next to mine started to get a little rowdy. Everyone there looked like they had come from work and I was glad that I had changed out of the jeans that I had been wearing while working at home during the day.
The wine that was recommended was not anything special and honestly could have been skipped as i found my water more refreshing and complementary to my meal. I started with roasted beets that came with a soft cheese and mixed greens. Great starter as I'm on a bit of a beets kick as of late. They bring serve you all at the same time with several waiters which is a nice touch- and the service was very attentive to my water glass that was being constantly emptied.
My main dish was from the skilled and was some sort of Hawaiian fish that was in the striped bass family- relatively bland and just a little dry served on top of chick peas saucy with a few red grapes. Enjoyable, but nothing incredible. I also tried the brussel spouts and yam side dishes- both very good.
The dessert was by far the best part of the meal (though i did love those beets). I got the chocolate souffle that took seventeen minutes to make according to the waiter which was fine. I got a glass of ten year tawny port to hold me over- i do love a nice glass of port. They also have a forty year on there, but i'll have to save that for a special occasion because I couldn't justify ordering a drink that cost more than my meal up to that point. The souffle came with a hazelnut truffle that is pushed into the center, just a touch of vanilla ice cream on top with some mixed berries on the side. It was delicious- I might even come back for it. I had been to Morton's a few weeks ago and was not impressed with the souffle you have to order at the beginning of the meal- so this was a very much appreciated change. San Francisco continues to turn me into a food snob of sorts- but i love it:-)
On a side note two things were broken during this dinner- which surprised me for such a stuffy place- first the hostess was pouring some sparkling water for the table behind me and the bottle slipped breaking a plate and getting water on the gentleman's pants. Also as we were waiting for dessert a wine glass was dropped by a waiter- which just seemed odd for a place that falls into the fine dining level...but only if that kind of thing bothers you....otherwise the service was exactly what you would expect from a four seasons.
Delicious food, amazing service, and it gave me a great story and memory. The true 5 star.
So I made reservations to eat here on Opentable.com. I actually went back and forth between this place and other places. Unbeknownst to me my gf made dinner plans for us also. Well, we ate dinner somewhere else, but i still wanted to come here for a light snack and/or dessert at least.
Our reservations were for 8:30. We showed up around that time and told the hostess the reservations were under my name. It seemed very busy at the time. We waited 30 minutes with no one talking to us. My gf was livid and wanted to leave. I wasn't in such a hurry. We'd spent that time enjoying eachother company, let's just stay and enjoy ourselves, no reason to let something trivial ruin the night.
So when i talked to the hostess again, she apologized and immediately sat us at the best table by the window with a view. The restaurant when we sat down was empty and it seemed they'd lost our reservation.
They started off with 2 glasses of champagne on the house for the delay. As we were not very hungy, we ordered a french onion soup (my gf's favorite) a