My cousin celebrated her birthday here this past weekend and my family had a great dinner here! Our party of 9 took up most of the main dining room and every other table was taken up by the time of our 6:15pm reservation. I was able to park in the lot next to the restaurant, but it's definitely small so you might have to park in the neighborhoods nearby. The interior is very cozy and intimate and the ambiance is perfect for a date night or birthday celebration. It was a pre-fixe 3 course meal for $65 each person including a starter, entrée, and dessert. I got the escargot, filet mignon, and the crème brulee. We started with warm bread and butter, and the appetizer came out in a timely manner given how large our party was. The escargot was tender and swimming in herby and garlicky melted butter, which was perfect to dip the bread into. I wish there was slightly more salt in the sauce, since it was rich but was lacking a bit of flavor. I haven't had escargot for many years, so this was surprisingly better than I remembered it to be. The entrees came out in a couple rounds, but everyone got their food within 5 minutes. The filet mignon was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked to a medium rare. It came with a peppercorn sauce, potato gratin, broccolini, and an herbed butter on top. The potato gratin was okay, I wish the potatoes were sliced a little thinner and was a little more tender. The peppercorn sauce was tasty, but I don't think the filet mignon necessarily needed it. The broccolini was cooked with garlic and lemon, and was a nice light side to the heavier main and sauce. We brought a bottle of red wine for the table, and it was so good with the filet. For dessert, I had the crème brulee and the custard was smooth and had great vanilla flavor. The caramelized sugar on top was crisp and not too thick. I also tried the mango panna cotta which was very smooth and had a great mango sauce. Overall, it was a great meal here and I would definitely come back. I had enough leftovers for a second meal, so the pre-fixe menu was definitely worth the price. Great service, nice ambiance, and solid food!
Pedro P.
Our first visit. Imposible to find ANYTHING below AMAZING at this gem in Burlingame. Terrific French food, French wine, great service and attention well worth every penny. Immaculate elegant table settings and a very approachable and helpful staff. Not something we have encountered at most other previously visited French restaurants that we have experienced. Diver scallops perfectly cooked and a lobster ravioli that was seasoned perfectly with portions plentiful that we could barely finish. Not something you would find in most US French restaurants. We will definitely be back!
SFPam
What a delightful find! We live less than a 1/2 mile from Chou Chou and for years have been saying, “We need to try that restaurant.” Well, we finally made it and were pleasantly surprised. The Bistro appears very non-descript from the outside, but step through the doors and you enter a light and airy space, slightly old world, but with modern touches as well. The effect is romantic and warm and the French soundtrack was at the perfect volume. No noise issues here. We ordered from the prix fixe menu, the French Onion Soup was sublime, definitely homemade, not that overly salted stuff served in most restaurants. The Beet & Arugula Salad was more arugula than beets, but very tasty. The Beef Bourguignon was fork tender and the sauce had hints of demi-glace. The Rack of Lamb was cooked to perfection and again the sauce was fully developed. The only downside, the vegetable medley was not attractive, while it tasted fine the squash was overcooked and the potatoes slightly underdone. Dessert (Molten Chocolate Cake & Chocolate Hazelnut Gianduja) were top notch but we suspect they were purchased, not homemade. On the other hand, I would not expect this intimate of a restaurant to have a pastry chef and as mentioned, the desserts were excellent. Lastly, the service was excellent. Staff were welcoming and just the right amount of attentiveness. We will be back!
CatherineB
Small neighborhood French bistro. 3 course dinner for $65 of this quality is a San Francisco bargain. Attentive service and thoughtful wine list. Quiet ambiance and light wall covering
Sam McGinnis
We really wanted to like this place BUT we were very dissatisfied with the food. The bread was piping hot, so that’s a plus. Lamb Chops were chewy, and the bone marrow was not up to par.Service…. It was the biggest letdown. Spoiled our much WANTED experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
RRrrr
We were there for the prix fixe menu on Valentine's Day. It was nice to see the place full of diners and they made some sweet touches for the day - roses on the tables and such. The staff was very friendly. The food was disappointing though. Ravioli appetizer was lukewarm at best. Salmon main was way overcooked. Duck Wellington was so heavily floral, I couldn't eat it.
MaryG
We enjoyed a Valentine's Day dinner at Chou Chou. Their decorations were great, with a long-stemmed red rose on each table. The food was delicious and served promptly. Somewhat pricy, but we love this place.
Gina
Our first time here and it was a Valentine's dinner date. I love the place, food and service. We even got roses for both of us. Thank you for the special Valentine's treat!
Food wasn't tasty, and the braised short rib was super salty. The bone marrow came out but it was not hot enough, that the bone marrow had solidified. The waitress smelled like cigarettes every time she came to our table. Service was not good as we were rushed to leave with the bill and to order.
Overserved
the upgrades to the interior of Chou Chou have made it a much more comfortable and pleasing place to dine. Anything with duck is worthy here. Lemon meringue tart was delicious. The 3 course prix fixe is a bargain. I must admit that I do miss the array of fruit tarts that used to be on the menu...
I had the trio dinner. It was very good.....not excellent, but the dining experience and staff made it great!It got crowded, so it's a well known to the locals.I will go back to try something else ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon
Jason L.
Great French spot with all the classics and nice but not over the top white tablecloth service. Expect to have a great-tasting comfort meal with a strong wine selection in a relaxed atmosphere. I didn't realize coming into this that doing the pre fixe menu is required, so that was a bit of a surprise but worth it in the end. Good for a splurgey night out or a non-stuffy special occasion / celebration / date night.
Jocelyn L.
I went to ChouChou back several years ago, had a mediocre experience. But a few years ago, they recently changed ownership, and also my husband and I have moved to the neighborhood, so we wanted to give it a go! I'm so happy we came here. The ambiance is so much more charming than it used to be. They've remodeled the place, so it's a lot brighter, warmer, and also larger - they expanded to have more dining space! Their menu is quite large. They have ala carte items, and also a 3 course menu, which they are open to swapping items, since there are some items on the ala carte, that aren't listed in the 3 course side. They are so accommodating! We each did the 3 course menu, and ordered: French onion soup PEI mussels French fries Filet mignon Cassoulet Lemon eclipse Crème brûlée We loved all of our dishes, especially the French onion soup, filet mignon, and cassoulet. Desserts were great too. Just overall simple food, executed pretty well, considering that it's a little neighborhood spot so close to us. I felt the price was decent considering the quality and experience. The corkage was only $25 too, fair! The service was really nice too. They were very friendly and accommodating, and let us choose the table we wanted since we had a stroller, and we had the cozy one with the window in the street. Parking lot could use some work - needs to be repaved. It's very, very bumpy, difficult pushing our stroller through it. Lovely experience, can't wait to return!
Even though beef tartare had disappeared from the old chouchou's menu, the kitchen made it for us .. fresh, hand cut, with just the right seasoning and spiciness, egg on top .. Kudos!
Kiyomi K.
I finally got a chance to try ChouChou and it was a special occasion for me as my boyfriend made a reservation to celebrate my birthday. They have a parking lot but I would recommend parking on the streets or taking public transportation as the parking lot can easily get packed. The restaurant itself is pretty small and it can feel kinda crowded. I was quite surprised how packed the place got on a Tuesday. I would have to say, for the number of workers, the service did feel somewhat slow. We had ordered the 65$ fixed menu that comes with a starter, main and dessert. You get to choose what you want from the menu, which they have plenty to choose from. I had ordered the crab salad, the Alaskan salmon and the molten chocolate cake. Additionally, the restaurant provided me a crème brûlée for my birthday celebration. I think for the price, it's a nice place to have a budget friendly course meal.
My cousin celebrated her birthday here this past weekend and my family had a great dinner here! Our party of 9 took up most of the main dining room and every other table was taken up by the time of our 6:15pm reservation. I was able to park in the lot next to the restaurant, but it's definitely small so you might have to park in the neighborhoods nearby. The interior is very cozy and intimate and the ambiance is perfect for a date night or birthday celebration. It was a pre-fixe 3 course meal for $65 each person including a starter, entrée, and dessert. I got the escargot, filet mignon, and the crème brulee. We started with warm bread and butter, and the appetizer came out in a timely manner given how large our party was. The escargot was tender and swimming in herby and garlicky melted butter, which was perfect to dip the bread into. I wish there was slightly more salt in the sauce, since it was rich but was lacking a bit of flavor. I haven't had escargot for many years, so this was surprisingly better than I remembered it to be. The entrees came out in a couple rounds, but everyone got their food within 5 minutes. The filet mignon was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked to a medium rare. It came with a peppercorn sauce, potato gratin, broccolini, and an herbed butter on top. The potato gratin was okay, I wish the potatoes were sliced a little thinner and was a little more tender. The peppercorn sauce was tasty, but I don't think the filet mignon necessarily needed it. The broccolini was cooked with garlic and lemon, and was a nice light side to the heavier main and sauce. We brought a bottle of red wine for the table, and it was so good with the filet. For dessert, I had the crème brulee and the custard was smooth and had great vanilla flavor. The caramelized sugar on top was crisp and not too thick. I also tried the mango panna cotta which was very smooth and had a great mango sauce. Overall, it was a great meal here and I would definitely come back. I had enough leftovers for a second meal, so the pre-fixe menu was definitely worth the price. Great service, nice ambiance, and solid food!
Our first visit. Imposible to find ANYTHING below AMAZING at this gem in Burlingame. Terrific French food, French wine, great service and attention well worth every penny. Immaculate elegant table settings and a very approachable and helpful staff. Not something we have encountered at most other previously visited French restaurants that we have experienced. Diver scallops perfectly cooked and a lobster ravioli that was seasoned perfectly with portions plentiful that we could barely finish. Not something you would find in most US French restaurants. We will definitely be back!
What a delightful find! We live less than a 1/2 mile from Chou Chou and for years have been saying, “We need to try that restaurant.” Well, we finally made it and were pleasantly surprised. The Bistro appears very non-descript from the outside, but step through the doors and you enter a light and airy space, slightly old world, but with modern touches as well. The effect is romantic and warm and the French soundtrack was at the perfect volume. No noise issues here. We ordered from the prix fixe menu, the French Onion Soup was sublime, definitely homemade, not that overly salted stuff served in most restaurants. The Beet & Arugula Salad was more arugula than beets, but very tasty. The Beef Bourguignon was fork tender and the sauce had hints of demi-glace. The Rack of Lamb was cooked to perfection and again the sauce was fully developed. The only downside, the vegetable medley was not attractive, while it tasted fine the squash was overcooked and the potatoes slightly underdone. Dessert (Molten Chocolate Cake & Chocolate Hazelnut Gianduja) were top notch but we suspect they were purchased, not homemade. On the other hand, I would not expect this intimate of a restaurant to have a pastry chef and as mentioned, the desserts were excellent. Lastly, the service was excellent. Staff were welcoming and just the right amount of attentiveness. We will be back!
Small neighborhood French bistro. 3 course dinner for $65 of this quality is a San Francisco bargain. Attentive service and thoughtful wine list. Quiet ambiance and light wall covering
We really wanted to like this place BUT we were very dissatisfied with the food. The bread was piping hot, so that’s a plus. Lamb Chops were chewy, and the bone marrow was not up to par.Service…. It was the biggest letdown. Spoiled our much WANTED experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 2
We were there for the prix fixe menu on Valentine's Day. It was nice to see the place full of diners and they made some sweet touches for the day - roses on the tables and such. The staff was very friendly. The food was disappointing though. Ravioli appetizer was lukewarm at best. Salmon main was way overcooked. Duck Wellington was so heavily floral, I couldn't eat it.
We enjoyed a Valentine's Day dinner at Chou Chou. Their decorations were great, with a long-stemmed red rose on each table. The food was delicious and served promptly. Somewhat pricy, but we love this place.
Our first time here and it was a Valentine's dinner date. I love the place, food and service. We even got roses for both of us. Thank you for the special Valentine's treat!
Food wasn't tasty, and the braised short rib was super salty. The bone marrow came out but it was not hot enough, that the bone marrow had solidified. The waitress smelled like cigarettes every time she came to our table. Service was not good as we were rushed to leave with the bill and to order.
the upgrades to the interior of Chou Chou have made it a much more comfortable and pleasing place to dine. Anything with duck is worthy here. Lemon meringue tart was delicious. The 3 course prix fixe is a bargain. I must admit that I do miss the array of fruit tarts that used to be on the menu...
Restaurantji Recommends
I had the trio dinner. It was very good.....not excellent, but the dining experience and staff made it great!It got crowded, so it's a well known to the locals.I will go back to try something else ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Boeuf Bourguignon
Great French spot with all the classics and nice but not over the top white tablecloth service. Expect to have a great-tasting comfort meal with a strong wine selection in a relaxed atmosphere. I didn't realize coming into this that doing the pre fixe menu is required, so that was a bit of a surprise but worth it in the end. Good for a splurgey night out or a non-stuffy special occasion / celebration / date night.
I went to ChouChou back several years ago, had a mediocre experience. But a few years ago, they recently changed ownership, and also my husband and I have moved to the neighborhood, so we wanted to give it a go! I'm so happy we came here. The ambiance is so much more charming than it used to be. They've remodeled the place, so it's a lot brighter, warmer, and also larger - they expanded to have more dining space! Their menu is quite large. They have ala carte items, and also a 3 course menu, which they are open to swapping items, since there are some items on the ala carte, that aren't listed in the 3 course side. They are so accommodating! We each did the 3 course menu, and ordered: French onion soup PEI mussels French fries Filet mignon Cassoulet Lemon eclipse Crème brûlée We loved all of our dishes, especially the French onion soup, filet mignon, and cassoulet. Desserts were great too. Just overall simple food, executed pretty well, considering that it's a little neighborhood spot so close to us. I felt the price was decent considering the quality and experience. The corkage was only $25 too, fair! The service was really nice too. They were very friendly and accommodating, and let us choose the table we wanted since we had a stroller, and we had the cozy one with the window in the street. Parking lot could use some work - needs to be repaved. It's very, very bumpy, difficult pushing our stroller through it. Lovely experience, can't wait to return!
Even though beef tartare had disappeared from the old chouchou's menu, the kitchen made it for us .. fresh, hand cut, with just the right seasoning and spiciness, egg on top .. Kudos!
I finally got a chance to try ChouChou and it was a special occasion for me as my boyfriend made a reservation to celebrate my birthday. They have a parking lot but I would recommend parking on the streets or taking public transportation as the parking lot can easily get packed. The restaurant itself is pretty small and it can feel kinda crowded. I was quite surprised how packed the place got on a Tuesday. I would have to say, for the number of workers, the service did feel somewhat slow. We had ordered the 65$ fixed menu that comes with a starter, main and dessert. You get to choose what you want from the menu, which they have plenty to choose from. I had ordered the crab salad, the Alaskan salmon and the molten chocolate cake. Additionally, the restaurant provided me a crème brûlée for my birthday celebration. I think for the price, it's a nice place to have a budget friendly course meal.