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Categories: French, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMATue-Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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I've been coming to South Park to shop for years...and daily when I'm in Norcal. And how come I never noticed this gem until now?! It angers me a bit that I've been missing out on some of the best food in SF- it was literally right under my nose.
Finally it caught our attention when scrambling to find a place for some decent food in the neighborhood at the last minute, I noticed a whole lota people waiting to eat at this tiny place. We walked in and put our names down and began looking at people's plates...
talk about eggs benedict! I'd never seen such beautiful eggs! Upon browsing the menu and looking around, we realized this place was a truly special one. Even Alice Waters loves this place- it has here seal of approval (in the form of a giant sign in the front).
We patiently waited our turn, and when we were finally seated, we proceeded to order as fast as possible...we were starving!!
I had the Salmon and spinach quiche which came with spinach salad. Others at the table had the eggs benedict with ham, eggs benedict with smoked salmon, and french toast. OMG...everything was ridiculously amazing! If this restaurant were in LA, I'd probably have had to saw off an arm and a leg to pay for the food, but with decent prices and the freshest tasting fare ever...THIS is why I need to move here.
Let's just say this is going in my permanent book of MUST EAT BEFORE YOU DIE!
Service was quick and good, and they give you handmade truffles at the end! Shopping and food...this is my piece of heaven!
First of all, the bistro is located in a REALLY cute little area next to a park. There were many people there with their pets. Also, there is street parking and its FREE!
There was a funny sign that prohibited groups larger than six people from eating. At least they are honest! The seating was a little cramped but I think that added to the appeal of a bistro.
I was deciding between the eggs benedict and banana belgium waffles. I usually want savory over sweet for breakfast, but last time I did that, I totally regretted not getting the french toast. So I went with the waffles.
The waffle was light and delicious! It was the Banana-miel (belgium waffle with toasted almond slivers, bananas, 100% pure maple syrup and powdered sugar on top.
There were signs about their special quiches so I think it might have been one of their specialties. We ordered a ham and cheese quiche for the table. Also delicious! The ham and the pastry part added a lot of texture to it.
Everyone else ordered eggs benedict with ham or salmon. I had a little sample of theirs and it was also delicious. The bread that the eggs were on also had some olives in it and it added SO much flavor to every bite. It also came with a side salad that was perfectly dressed with a light vinaigrette.
Out of all the food I sampled, the waffle was my favorite!
My roommate brought me here because he had a great first experience. We came for Sunday brunch/lunch and there was definitely a wait: 35 mins. Good thing this place is in a good neighborhood and parkside so it wasn't too bad to wait.
We were seated in the small hallway in the back, kinda cramped, table was small and its probably not good for someone who is claustrophobic. The service is good. Water and menus right away. We ordered and the food didn't take long to come. We ordered the spinach-scallop quiche but got the bacon quiche. We took a bite expecting spinach hiding but when it wasn't there so we told the waitress and she gave us the correct one right away. Which we regretted because the spinach-scallop is actually spinach-shrimp and definitely was not as tasty as the bacon.
Then we shared the hot-dog sandwich (the hot-dog is a regular hotdog a bit short for the full length baguette it came in) with melted cheese that went well with the bread. We also shared the ham eggs Benedict over olive bread (pretty good), which came with a salad. The best dish was the homemade pumpkin pie with homemade whip.
I think I have to come back and give the other dishes a try and re-rate. I have high hopes for this place... its just too darn cute.
I was fortunate to have a table in front of the owner who was prepping the food. We also had a nice conversation while he was making an apple pie on a skillet, and those to die for sandwiches. We literally was right next to him the whole time. Pretty cool.
So............we ordered the ham quiche, turkey sandwich, and the hot ham sandwich. All were great and take it from me............I really don't like sandwiches. It was accompanied with a side of salad. This place does anywhere from 500 to 700 orders a day. My God that is a lot................and you know what? I believed him when he said it.
It goes to show you if you had a good product, at a good location, with great people...........It's the perfect combination. One sentence to describe this place.
Simple food with heart and soul.
overrated!!! trying hard to be french!!! poor service!!! plays ghetto music!!! not french music, not even classic...pure ghetto!!! scary neighborhood!!! overpriced for the shitty food and shitty service!!
the quiche with salmon and spinach is literally salmon covered in scrambled egg!!! wtf is that!!! eggs benedict in chains are better than theirs!!!
if you tasted real, authentic french breakfast and pastries, this down definitely goes down the drain!!!!
i deeply regret going to this place and spend my money!!! had i known, i could have juz gone to a viatnamese place and grab a sandwich!!!!
This place is so cute. I have begin to discover little pockets of San Fran that I never thought of would exist in San Fran. Love the cafe and homey feeling. I end having the Corique Madama and tried the Egg Benedict.
Corique Madama was cheesy and cream and oh so good. It was heavy but didn't taste it. The turkey was nice with it.
Eggs Benedict looked like it came out from a book. I loved the Olive bread cuz it added more flavor. The eggs was perfectly good and the sauce was not heavy at all.
At of the meal they give you a dark truffle chocolate.
Would love to come back and try other dishes. I saw the French Toast which looked very good and sugary. Plus they have crepes too.
Minus one star cuz you end up smelling like the place coming out.
The wait - standard and expected given the popularity of the restaurant (read: 35 minutes on a Sunday morning). the cute little park with wooden benches and copious quantity of trees makes the waiting that much more bearable, not to mention the various breeds of canines out and about with their respective owners and making friends with passersby.
The setting - chic little French bistro filled 90% with tables for two, making it tough for a group of 6 or more to get a decent table without having to wait for almost an hour. The cluster of little tables outside overlooking the park completes the Parisian chic look that this place is going for.
The fare - plats du jour, bacon and spinach quiche, was amazingly high quality and generously portioned; so was the ham benedict. Orange juice, however, was pulpless and therefore was not rated too highly in my book.
The damage report - exorbitantly high. $35 for a breakfast for 2 was more than what I was expecting to pay.
But maybe that's because we just had an equally, if not more satisfying meal at the Los Gatos Cafe the day before, and that didn't set us back this much.
Places like this restaurant makes me really wish I worked, or at least had more of an excuse to be in the downtown/SOMA/FiDi vicinity. I think about all the lunches I could be having with my friends who work over there, all the new lunch options that the downtown area would offer me, and of course all the money I would waste on aforementioned food and more than likely clothes/makeup/anything I can get my hands on. Perhaps it's not so bad working in the Mission!
Anyway, I wish I had more excuses to get my ass down here for this restaurant. But let's face it, I'm lazy and rarely ever feel like heading down to one of the most crowded and crazed areas in the city. The Richmond District suits me just fine! But regardless, I had to get my ass downtown to visit my mom who just so happened to be attending a conference at Moscone. What a perfect excuse to get lunch in a neighborhood I rarely go to!
So I got down to Moscone and found myself surrounded by eye doctors and eye people. Gotta love conventions as Moscone! Luckilym I was able to find my mom fairly quickly and ran away from all the convention-goers. We found ourselves in South Park where I knew the convention-goers (a.k.a. out-of-towners) would never stumble upon. And I was right! However, that doesn't mean The B & The C wasn't dead; it had all of its regulars who work and live in that area brunching. Oh and it was a beautiful day to brunch! If only they used their back patio. Why don't you do that when it's SO hot in your restaurant!? Ugh, that was a major bummer! The service was also a bit on the flaky side... They were slammed so I guess it's ok, but still, the waitresses were kind of bitchy and I don't like bitchiness... Unless it's deserved (it was not)!
However, what wasn't a bummer was the food and its' prices! I feel like most all restaurants/delis/cafes in the downtown area have jacked up prices... Especially when I compare it to a lunch I can get in the Mission (yet again, YAY for working in the Mission!). Anyway, I ordered the croque monsieur w/ tomato & herbs of provence... It was absolutely delicious! I think I actually enjoyed it more than Tartine's version of a croque monsieur... Blasphemy, I know, but I've gotta speak the truth! My mom indulged in the French hot dog gratine, which was SO FREAKING GOOD. Seriously, I loved it so much. But then again, I love hot dogs, so I REALLY liked it. Especially when one is filled with melty cheese and slathered with dijon mustard... OH YUM!
Anyway, I want to visit this spot again... Especially for that hot dog. So good!. Great food that is made with really good, fresh ingredients; I say yes to that! However, next time I won't go during the prime of the brunch hour on a Saturday!
I had brunch here yesterday w some friends. I have been here several times before and I have nothing bad to say about this place. The food is DELICIOUS! It is definitely worth the wait. Usually if you have to wait, its bc the food is AWESOME.
Its really cutesy inside and the owner and staff is really really nice!
Around this time they always have a fresh Pumpkin PIE w homemade whip cream! YUMMY!
Never waffle over the waffle!
It is DE-licious...everything else I've had here has been great, too....charcuterie plate (cornichons!), nicoise salad, french onion soup, croque monsieur, eggs benedict...order anything.
AND they drop off your check with yummy chocolate truffles...my favorite dining companions here are those without a sweet tooth. 'Cause I abuse mine.
WOW! I happened upon this place today and will definitely be back. It was warm and toasty inside and pretty busy. I was treated to the best quiche I have ever had in my life! A gorgeous thick square of light and fluffy egg, swiss and big chunks of ham surrounded by delicious flaky pastry. I paid attention to what was being served around me and everything looked amazing. I cannot wait to come back and try every single thing on the menu. I left wishing that I lived in the neighborhood so that this could be my local cafe. But then, what's a few blocks for amazing food?
Love this place for breakfast/brunch! We took two Vancouverite friends here during their visit to SF. They thoroughly enjoyed their meals and so did I. We ordered:
La Parisienne - A delicious buckwheat crepe with ham, egg, and cheese filling. I felt less guilty for devouring the entire thing since it was made of buckwheat
French Onion Soup - Perfectly salted with melted cheese
Pain Perdu - The BEST french toast in SF. Srsly.
I will be back here again. And again... and again. [+10] points that Jeremy's is right around the corner. Nothing says "dessert" like a sale on Manolos.
Ok. I know I am starting out with two big star reviews. Where is the critical critique? Well I have been wanting to send out love to both of these places for a while...
Anyways. Butler and the Chef is extraordinaire. Organic everything. Great staff. don't forget the croque monsieur sanwich!!! Yikes.
Location also a huge plus on any nice day. Maybe a bit too expensive for lunch everyday. But when you want to treat yourself..this is the place to go.
Solid restaurant in what feels like off-the-beaten track! I tried the eggs benedict and it was solid but not outstanding. I would definitely go there again and try something different. The wait wasn't too long and the service was good, which is great for a brunch place.
After dropping a little too much dough and energy at Jeremy's, we were starving and wandering around South Park wondering what to eat. Just as we were going to check out 21st Amendment as a last resort, we stumbled upon this cute cafe (well, the long lines caught our eyes). Everyone was ordering the eggs benedict so I jumped on the band wagon. The best decision ever! They were absolutely wonderful. I hate runny yolk, but I licked my plate, egg yolks and all, spotless. Even the raw spinach was so incredibly yummy. The eggs benedict with ham is better than the one with salmon, according to everyone in our party. My sister got the salmon quiche which was just as excellent. The crust tasted like a croissant! You can't get much better than that. And to finish it all, the handmade complementary chocolate truffle was a serious bite of pure ecstasy.
A major plus--Alice Waters voted this place as one of her favorite restaurants in the city. So you know it's legit. Please invite me when you decide to go! I also think all the cute dogs running around the park and sitting in the front give this place an extra half star.
Since the Euro is kicking the Dollar's butt, I go to The Butler & The Chef Bistro, for a taste of Europe minus highway robbery. This adorable French Cafe makes me feel as though I'm at some quaint Parisian Bistro, even though I haven't left my own city.
Whether it be brunch or lunch, I highly recommend this place. I had food envy every time the waiter cruised by with freshly prepared dishes in hand. I ordered a chicken sandwich that was made on two large baguettes. Seriously, this was enough for two people, or leftovers in my case.
I'll be visiting my Parisian Bistro again, really soon.
holy shmoley, this place is good. why hadn't anyone told me about it before? they were probably trying to keep it a secret, but that's total bulldoody, and i don't play that, so i'm telling the world...the quiche is amazing. i think they only make a limited amount, so it's all about the timing. i swear, there must be at least 3 dozen eggs in each serving of the quiche, but well worth the extra work your liver will have to endure to process the cholesterol, i'm sure. okay, i could be exaggerating a bit, but it's a pretty hefty portion.
the french toast is really good as well....a nice thick slice of toast, and cooked to perfection...
okay, i'm being culturally ignorant now, but i hate drinking a coffee beverage from a bowl. there, i said it....whatcha gonna do about it?
definitely coming back here for brunch when i get the opportunity....
Went by here on suggestion from my co-worker.... not bad at all.
As I mentioned earlier I'm trying to take a break from the CFS, so I'm on towards the benedict....
The benedict here was interesting....
first off the hollandaise sauce was.... quite lemony. Not in a bad way, but just be prepared... I wasn't.
The eggs were on the small side... as I think about it now, that would typically not be a good or bad thing, possibly a good thing if they were using very fresh eggs or organic or something, but if that was the intent, the hollandaise overpowerd it.
The olive bread underneath was interesting to say the least. Again... you have the lemony hollandaise battling it out vs the olive bread.
It also comes with a salad. hmmmm
All in all.. I can't say that I really liked the flavors that were going on there for breakfast. They were certainly tasty, but not necessarily for me.
Again... 3 stars, but I'd try something else next time instead of expecting traditional benedict.
I brought back a slew of sandwichs for the staff meeting, service for to-go was great, just sad that you can't get the quiche to go. Guys in the office are sad too.
Had the Parisien, and it was good, so much better than that crappy sandwich I had in the litte cafe across the park that put stewed tomatoes on instead of fresh the day before.
Sad thing is, I can't eat anywhere French without quotes from Better Off Dead going through my head. "FRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANCH bread. FRAAAAANCH fries. FRAAAAAAAAAAAANch dressing."
One fine Sunday afternoon brunch. Twas my first time ever here. My first impression when I first walk up to the bistro was YUPPY, YUPPY, YUPPY. Tons of Asian girls with their white boyfriends. Not that I have anything against that at all. Just making an observation. I was there for for the food as I heard recent raves about it from a couple of friends. I bumped into a few sets of friends there. Weird. But I guess great minds think alike :) Had to try the Croque Monsieur (EXCELLENT!!) and the Eggs Benedict - Ham (ALSO VERY GOOD). To finish I shared a Nutella+hazelnuts Crepe. Excellent brunch indeed!!
So I technically should deduct a star for the wait, and the sloooow waitress, but let's be honest, I've been a server, and this waitress was slammed (the whole restaurant was packed, clearly from the moment it opened November 1st) and there was no end in sight of the incoming line of people waiting to eat at this well-yelped breakfast spot. But I'm going to give it the full five stars, because the quality of food was so excellent, that it actually outshone the dubious service.
Nestled on an adorable block, tree lined and picturesque, this absolutely French looking cafe opens onto the sidewalk with small circular cafe tables flanking the entrance. It absolutely reminded me of every typical cafe in Paris, the ambiance and location were perfect.
We arrived at approximately 10:20, a mere twenty minutes after opening, and we put our names in, to be sat about 30 minutes later. While I'm usually loathe to wait, every moment was well worth when my egg's benedict (with smoked salmon) was delivered. I was floored by the amazingly flavored hollandaise sauce. Rich and full and intensely lemony, it was the PERFECT hollandaise. Even my benedict-connoisseur boyfriend was astounded and speechless as he happily shoveled his own serving of classic benedict into his mouth.
The bread was thick, crusty, fresh, and flavorful, perfectly absoarbing the sauces and runny egg yolk that adorned the top of the dish, I also added tomatoes to mine, and am pleased to report that despite the late season, they were not mealy in the least, and were a perfect compliment to the dish.
The spinach side, a fresh citrus-vinegar dressed fresh leafy hearty portion, was a tangy compliment to the benedict.
Seriously, I want to go back to try many other things on the menu, but if you go, I don't think it should be legal to leave the restaurant without having the benedict. The pricing was reasonable, the food was impeccable, they need to increase their staffing during the rush, but other than that, this meal and restaurant were culinary perfection.
(Insert French accent here) This charming French bistro in South Park couldn't have picked a more suitable location. The landscaping of South Park complements the bistro's food and ambiance like a pair of match-made in heaven.
The bistro serves typical French bistro fair like croquet Monsieur or Madame (with fried egg on top), sweet or savory crepes, duck leg confit with salad, Nicoise salad (available both in a sandwich or salad form, your choice), soup du jour, and other sandwiches.
French onion soup was the soup du jour on my visit - C'est magnific! The warm, savory dark soup with sweet, caramelized onions and melted guerre cheese on top was superb. It's pretty hard to made a good onion soup, and they did it well. Of course I am biased because I love soup.
The smoked salmon buck wheat crepe was surprisingly delicious. The contrast of the cold salmon wrapped with a piece of warm, soft crepe was sensational on the palate. Served with a side of spinach salad to complete the meal. The dish is light with lots of flavor and texture and very healthy for you.
Not exactly as healthy, but just as mouth watering as the salmon crepe was the seared duck leg confit. The crispy, salty duck skin that is seared to well done is served on top of a bed of mixed greens drizzle with tangy, light vinaigrette. The same hot and cold theme occurs here, which was nice. A side of mashed potatoes came with this dish. It is a guilty indulgence so eat it with pride, then go for a workout later.
For desserts, the tarte Au Citron (lemon tart) dusted with powdered sugar and a dollop of whipped cream really hit the spot. I believe the chef produces different fruits desserts according to seasonal availability. At first thought, we were going to skip desserts given we were there for lunch and had to return to work. Eating desserts would kick us into a food coma. That thought quickly went away when the chef came to our table with the tart in his hand and said to us in his thick French accent as he showcase the tart: "you are saving room for this lemon tart I hope." Just like that, our heads knotted as if we've been cast with a spell for French pastries and we ordered ourselves a slice. Voila! A folk in hand, mouth open and the rest was history. No regrets there!
It was a French dining experience in SOMA. That's how I would describe it. It reminded me of a French bistro that I adored in Paris' Marais district. The Butlet & the Chef is casual dining with a flare for French cuisines made with fresh ingredients. Might I suggest completing your French experience with a nice stroll around South Park and admiring the beautiful setting where this bistro is? Bon Appetit!
Charming little French bistro in the South park area, The Butler & The Chef Bistro serves up classic bistro favorites.
We had the onion soupe gratinée, croque monsieur and la norvegienne crêpe (buckwheat crêpe with smoked salmon and crème fraiche). Although I must say I have had better onion soup gratinée, The Chef's version is not bad either. The croque monsieur is slightly crisped with a rich layer of creme fraiche. The smoke salmon crêpe paired with a side of fresh spinach salad is fantastic. The Arnold Palmer, however, was flavorless. I guess the lemonade was too watered down since my ice tea was great.
They have a great looking brunch menu that I would love to come back and try. I am glad I found this great gem in my neighborhood.
The owner is a petty, shady, cheapskate!!
I happened to be in the party of 6 mentioned by the user Jason K a few reviews earlier (please read that one!) and the character displayed by the waitress and OWNER were absolutely appalling.
Talk about shady service! A honorable, decent man would, in the first place, just give the customers a bowl and thats it. Being the cheapskate that they are, they took the chance to cheat us into paying more.
I'm glad when the bill came, we checked. When we brought this to their attention, the owner himself came outand told us "o yea, in general, if you want extra service you would expect to pay more don't you?" Wow, what kinda impeccable logic was that!? So wait a minute, so it's "service" that you're charging then - wouldn't that reflect in the amount of tip that WE decide to pay you?? What you were charging is clearly a PRODUCT, which you imposed on us.
And he was like, you're not gonna argue with me over 2 dollars right? O gimme a break - it's like a thief stealing 2 dollars and claiming that it being an insignificant amount somehow make him justified. And yea, why are you so upset with the 2 dollars less that you're receiving? Such a hypocrite.
Yea, I know, this may never happen to you. And people will probably still like the food. But this is true and very sad.
I always thought this place was overpriced ($10 for croque monsieur? Tartine has it for $9.25 and is much more distinctive).
However, the attitude of the chef de cuisine has officially turned me off of this restaurant. I came here for lunch with a party of 6. Two of the six people decided to share a large soup ($6). We asked for an extra bowl, to which the waitress replied "I can split the soup into two smaller bowls if you'd like." We accepted her offer.
When the check came, we saw that they had charged us for two small soups (2x $4), making it an extra $2 charge. When we pointed out this mistake to the waitress, the chef came out and told us he specifically asked her to charge us an extra $2 for the dishes and labor it costs to split the order. Now, that is certainly something a restaurant has the prerogative to decide, but this was never communicated to us beforehand. We argued this back and forth with the chef, but he would not back down. If you are going to charge me extra for something, make sure your customer knows it first. Otherwise, don't expect your customers to return.
Came here for brunch on a Saturday. There were five of us and my friends got there a little after 11. It took over an hour just to be seated. Then another half an hour to an hour to get our food. In all, we left close to 3pm. That is the longest brunch I have ever been to.
The food itself was pretty good. I got the croque mademoiselle, which is turkey and emmenthal on white bread with creme fraiche and cornichons. I'm not sure what half of that was, but in the end it made a pretty good combination. My friend got the croque monsieur, which is the same except ham instead of turkey, which I found to be better than mine, but both were pretty good.
They gave really small water cups, but then left us a bottle and refilled pretty often, so that all worked out.
Love this place--- I don't like to repeat places too often just so I can check out other restaurants as well. With this one, I can't help it. So good! I get the Eggs Benedict and have no complaints. It's great.
Careful about your timing- you may have to wait a little bit for a table. Totally worth it though!
Just missed breakfast (sad face). Had the best quiche of my life though, veggie with sundried tomatoes and spinach, fluffy egg, and flaky, chewy, delicious crust. Topped off lunch with a nutella crepe - nothing special but hit the spot and came with thick, homemade whipped cream.
Can't wait to come back and try the eggs benedict!
Food:
Good brunch, stick with the classics, don't go with the buckwheat breakfast...healthy but not very appetizing
Decor:
Quaint, cozy, small place
Absolutely delicious. That is all I have to say.
But I will say more anyway. French onion soup is some of the best I have ever had, and the croque monsieur was enormous (worth the $10).
The thing that puts this place over the top for me though is that it is also a San Francisco Certified Green Business, and that they are clearly very into it. They source their food as locally as possible, and they have all the best local meats. Delish and green? Gotta love it.
Spinning the Yelp Wheel of Foodie Fortune proved quite fortunate once again. The Butler & Chef certainly do not reside on my beaten path, but after this Sunday's brunch, I realized that I have to beat a new one.
Before I get into the food, it is worth noting that The B & The C are a incredibly green-friendly business. They are rated Top 10 in some rating scale that is more official than "top 10 cutest grandchildren" as ranked by my grandparents. Not that I made that list. [I want a recount!!]
It is not assumed that a place can be green-friendly yet still be able to produce a high quality and satisfying product. Organic, local, home-grown energy-producing restaurants don't always make yummy AND filling food. Often doing the 'right thing' comes with a gastronomic price. Often, but not this time.
I had a buckwheat crepe with egg, ementaler and ham. Looking at the menu I was a bit scared of the crepe I was about to order. I feared my buckwheat was going to be some hippy vital-vital style 'bread' that was more crap than it was crepe. Boy was I massively wrong on that front. The crepe proved nutty and yummy. The egg inside was left with a soft yolk, much to my delight. Usually you get some thin scramble in a crepe, but this time around I got that hit of gooey gold running all over my ham, cheese, and buckwheat. Yum! It is noteworthy to point out that the B&C are not cheap on portions. There was a TON of ham in my crepe. I could not eat it all. Yes, I feel shame for my lack of stick-to-it-ness.
If I had to knock the place it would be for inducing food jealousy. Every plate that whizzed by me on the way to other tables made me envious of other people's choices. Mine was fantastic, but others looked good too. I felt like a dog with a bone, sitting on a bridge over troubled waters, looking down at his reflection only to bark in jealousy at the 'other dog's' bone. You know what happens then. Can you blame me when that other bone was shaped like fruit piled high on plump French Toast? Looked like massive and fluffy wedges of quiche? Looked like Belgian waffles with 5 kinds of topping choices? Five mother f-ing waffle toppings!
As you can see, I sort of liked the place. You know, like liked. That the food was so good AND the place was making such responsible choices, is going to force me to go out of my way for brunch from now on. You should feel forced too.*
* Just leave me a seat....and some waffles...and a quiche....and a crepe....
Wow. I've had breakfast at the some of the best restaurants in the city, and this place place impressed me. Authentic to the core: "slow food" (simple, organic and healthy ingredients), friendly, busy. Will most certainly return.
I spent $12 on a stale baguette with a little ham on it and that's it, nothing else but bread and ham. No biggie, that's tasty when I travel, but it's also cheaper if fu*&kin Paris. Just because I'm sitting at a place that looks like a bistro doesn't mean I should pay so little food. I'm giving it one extra star for being cute in a cute South Park, but nothing more, for being completely pretentious.
My lame-o baguette was so bland, I spent another $4 for some cheap brie, then slather it with a ton of mustard, my only options. Then I left hungry.
Of course, being wannabe French, service was slow and flaky.
The French Onion Soup was good, but I can't afford to spend $30 on lunch just to "pretend" I am at a French bistro. There are a lot of other places I'd rather spend my money for a nice SOMA lunch.
when: weekday lunch
It was one of those rare moments when I didnt bring in lunch to work, so my coworkers took this as an opportunity to go out to lunch with me. We took a very short stroll across the street and through the playground of South Park and walked right into The Butler & The Chef. The first thing I noticed was how short the yellow store front was and the small patio area, adorned with a miniature Eiffel Tower.
Despite the unusual sunny day, it was windy in true SF fashion, so we parked ourselves inside with the tin tables and old fashion iron rod chairs (they remind me of the chairs drawn in mickey mouse coloring books). It was a little awkward sitting four people with two round tables side to side, but it was fine.
Having little experience with French food, I was immediately drawn to the savory crepes. I ordered the Chicken Crepe which that came with a side of baby spinach salad ($12). The dish came out warm, which was perfect for the windy day. It was my first time eating buckwheat crepe, and it was DELICIOUS. The crepe was cooked to perfection--thin, and had a little crisp to the outside of it, but still maintained its soft texture. I have to say that was the best crepe I've had. The chicken was juicy and succulent. The sauce was delicious--light and not too overpowering. The whole meal was very satisfying and I was not disappointed at all.
Service was fine--we were in and out in about 35-45 minutes. It's definitely a place I would go back to and try their other menu items.
If I could I'd give this place no stars. Slow service, waited 50 minutes for a table. I know the place is small but come on!! If it weren't for my friends I would have left long ago. We keep on getting told "2 more minutes," and nothing ever comes of it. The food's ok, nothing special and definitely NOT worth the wait.
cute little place to have lunch/brunch.
Their quiche were yummy.
A coworker sent me this way because my lunch options had grown stale. She told me they would make me a delicious sandwich on a baguette and let me pay with a card. Its a slightly spendier sammy than others in this hood but not by much, they whipped it up quickly and it was truly delish. :) I had some kind of mozza olive oil something and I loved it!
SacraBLUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
::OVERALL::
This is the good $hit!
::Waffle Waffle Waffle - Belgium::
Had the one with the berry preserves...dame! Just enough crisp outside, airy yet allllmost chewy inside (reminded me of a good Yorkshire Pudding!), light dusting of powdered sugar, and just enough butter and jam... Dame!
::Crepe::
Wife had the ham, egg, and cheese crepe. It was tasty, and HUGE! Buckwheat action wrapped up like a chunky gift, plenty of ham to go around, and just enough cheese and egg. I found that I actually prefer a slimmer crepe, but it was dame good! - Comes with some spinach!!!!!!!!!
::Eggs Benedict::
Didn't get it... MUST DO next time. Table next to us had it, and the bread was thick and tasty looking... nicely prepared, with a proper looking hollandaise sauce (so hard to find).
::Truffle & Coooookie::
Somehow, I'm just not a big truffle fan, but they were tasty. Cookie (choco chip) was just crispy enough outside, chewy enough in the middle... not bad. :)
::Atmo::
Relaxing, though a bit noisy (very reflective). Great staff (that's what she said)...
Even when I'm in LA (which is most of the year), I come here for Brunches. Yeah I fly in on Fridays and Leave Sunday nights.
Anyway.
The best thing they have here is the Quiche. Come early, always ask for the Quiche of the Day. They run out. If there were anything i'd kill for/plan something shady for, it'd be to get the recipe for the crispy crust and perfected egg/meat (sometimes salmon, sometimes ham, sometimes bacon) consistency of the Quiche. $12
Second Favourite: Onion Soup. It's on the salty side, but the grilled, bubbling, generous cut of cheese is melted over a thick toast. It floats above an even yummier clear soup. Ripe, see through onions swish around a small tan and chocolate stripped ceramic bowl. The thinness of the soup is complemented by the thickness of the cheese and occasionally surprised by the crisps of croutons and joy.
Pancakes, butter, syrup, waffles are on par with home made.
Better than home made: French Toast, or Pain Perdu. Thik thick toad soaked in egg batter and brought to golden brown. Then showered with a thin layer of confetti sugar. Outside tastes deep fried, inside is moist, soft and melts!
On a bus one day, Ted met chef. Mentioned bout secret ingredients and yummies being made before place opens. I have yet to wiggle myself into that.
If you're busy, in a rush, you can always go for the take out menu. Available online. I usually get the Fromage baguette (French brie, cornichons, french butter) And I ask for turkey and tossed leaves inside as well.
Also to die for:
Croque Monsieur $10.00
Baked Niman Ranch ham and emmenthal on organic white
bread, crème fraîche and cornichons
Croque Mademoiselle $10.00
Baked smoked turkey and emmenthal on organic white
bread with crème fraîche and cornichons
Perfect place for dates (If you're a guy, you may want to bookmark this place, write the name down, put it somewhere safe.) BAD for groups. There are only.. 12? tables, hence the almost-always wait.
Happy dinning. Remember to come at a good time (varies), to avoid the almost-always wait.
Went here yesterday with some friends before our trek to the Treasure Island Music Festival. Got there around 1ish? And it was packed. 2 parties of 4 ahead of hours and a 20 min wait. The waffles looked amazing and I've heard the quiche is as well. After settling down, decided on the Milanis (sp?) baguette. Soooo good. Must come back and try their eggs benedict I've been reading about!
San Francisco, CA
Category: Antiques
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Sandwiches
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: French
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: SOMA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
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