This is a small, cozy space with really excellent food. Despite a last-minute reservation, this place handled allergies fantastically. Great spot for date night, or just any special meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yuchen L
Disappointed. We tried their tasting menu. Oysters were bland - would not recommend at all. None of the other dishes were bad, but every dish was forgettable. They let us sub the main pork entree for the bavette but it was way too salty. Dessert was probably the best of the dishes.
Service was lackluster. We got counter seats and we were mostly ignored. Didn't get service unless I got up and went to the host and asked for something
Cindy F
Very good food. Quiet small neighborhood spot- if I lived closer I would come here instead of cooking. Wine list might not be doing it for me due to being a horribly spoiled brat.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
jade
Excellent cozy meal at Frances. Sat at the counter and loved that experience. It's definitely tight seating in the whole restaurant which is small, but it adds to the cozy vibe. The lighting is great, it's not too noisy. The food is superb. I got the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing and the food was absolutely on point. The wine pairings were good at the price point. There's no need for me to get into the details of every dish because every single dish was utter perfection. Local oysters were awesome I was so glad this is my first time trying hog Island. Every single dish was familiar flavors but done like you haven't had them ever before. And exceptional but still approachable. Just really good comfort food with the experience of it being novel. This is a very hard thing to accomplish but Francis does it perfectly I have to come back and get the tasting menu every time, it was a magic experience and the perfect amount of food. The lumberjack cake is in fact that good and the combined bite with the burnt honey ice cream is unforgettable texture and flavor experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Will Hillock
This would have been a 5 star review were it not for the very unfriendly and sarcastic host who was rude to my group despite us being forced to wait 30mins after our booking time for our table, with absolutely zero offered as an apology for making us wait so long. All's well that ends well but a little kindness and hospitality would have gone a long way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Derek Devine
The steak was out of this world!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Harmony
Exceptional experience! We did the tasting menu and truly thought every dish was remarkable minus the oysters (they were good, though). Our favorites were the crudo, daikon cake, wagu pappardelle, and the lumberjack cake. I had the negroni and my wife a few half glasses of wine, and we loved them all! Can't wait to go back!
Alicia
My new favorite SF restaurant! Perfect atmosphere -- so cozy and warm. Volume started off quiet at the beginning of dinner, then it picked up throughout the night. I loved the bustling! The food was superb -- the beignets, spaghetti, and sourdough are musts! Also, the sauvi b was divine. Service was 10/10. I cannot wait to go back here!
Dawn Roberts
The food was very greasy and underwhelming, and the vibes were not vibing. I was kicking myself for paying so much for such a disappointing meal.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Didi
We ordered the Tasting Menu and the food was exceptional! They have an amazing wine pairing with this menu option. We were able to order the wine just for one and they served it in two glasses -- very thoughtful. The wait staff were exceptionally personable and happy to answer all of our questions. In all ways, a perfect dining experience.
Food was good if pricey. Service was haphazard. Don't recommend the counter seating - not really a counter/bar but more main service area where staff grabbing glasses/cutlery/service items
Simone Harms
What a cute neighborhood restaurant just off the Castro, also walking distance to the mission. It's a very small plane so you sit very close to your next table dinners. The food is worth it though. They serve a 4 course tasting menu, which really is 10 courses. Lot's of food. They serve a modern American cuisine. The diakon cakes and pasta were my favorite. Definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Philip Thomas
Great food. Great service. Great wine.
Closest round to a Danny Meyer restaurant I’ve found in San Francisco.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Zachary
I enjoy eating at the counter for more privacy, otherwise the tables are often quite close together. Second delicious dinner at the counter this year!
Wade
We had a fabulous meal at Frances to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Frances is the definition of a hidden gem, as it is located in a residential area, and has no signage at all. Inside, there are maybe 15 tables, and is is nothing fancy inside. With limited menu offerings, you better execute well. Starting with our server, who was very helpful in navigating the menu in regards to my wife's many allergies. We ordered the bread, the onion soup, and the maple-bacon beignets, and each ordered the wagyu bevette. Every dish was executed brilliantly, with unique and creative flavors, and the pacing of the meal was sheer perfection. This is not a fancy place, but if your goal is an outstanding meal, do not sleep on Frances. It is a wonderful low key place you should consider.
This is a small, cozy space with really excellent food. Despite a last-minute reservation, this place handled allergies fantastically. Great spot for date night, or just any special meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Disappointed. We tried their tasting menu. Oysters were bland - would not recommend at all. None of the other dishes were bad, but every dish was forgettable. They let us sub the main pork entree for the bavette but it was way too salty. Dessert was probably the best of the dishes.
Service was lackluster. We got counter seats and we were mostly ignored. Didn't get service unless I got up and went to the host and asked for something
Very good food. Quiet small neighborhood spot- if I lived closer I would come here instead of cooking. Wine list might not be doing it for me due to being a horribly spoiled brat.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Excellent cozy meal at Frances. Sat at the counter and loved that experience. It's definitely tight seating in the whole restaurant which is small, but it adds to the cozy vibe. The lighting is great, it's not too noisy.
The food is superb. I got the chef's tasting menu with wine pairing and the food was absolutely on point. The wine pairings were good at the price point.
There's no need for me to get into the details of every dish because every single dish was utter perfection. Local oysters were awesome I was so glad this is my first time trying hog Island. Every single dish was familiar flavors but done like you haven't had them ever before. And exceptional but still approachable. Just really good comfort food with the experience of it being novel. This is a very hard thing to accomplish but Francis does it perfectly I have to come back and get the tasting menu every time, it was a magic experience and the perfect amount of food. The lumberjack cake is in fact that good and the combined bite with the burnt honey ice cream is unforgettable texture and flavor experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This would have been a 5 star review were it not for the very unfriendly and sarcastic host who was rude to my group despite us being forced to wait 30mins after our booking time for our table, with absolutely zero offered as an apology for making us wait so long. All's well that ends well but a little kindness and hospitality would have gone a long way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
The steak was out of this world!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Exceptional experience! We did the tasting menu and truly thought every dish was remarkable minus the oysters (they were good, though). Our favorites were the crudo, daikon cake, wagu pappardelle, and the lumberjack cake. I had the negroni and my wife a few half glasses of wine, and we loved them all! Can't wait to go back!
My new favorite SF restaurant! Perfect atmosphere -- so cozy and warm. Volume started off quiet at the beginning of dinner, then it picked up throughout the night. I loved the bustling! The food was superb -- the beignets, spaghetti, and sourdough are musts! Also, the sauvi b was divine. Service was 10/10. I cannot wait to go back here!
The food was very greasy and underwhelming, and the vibes were not vibing. I was kicking myself for paying so much for such a disappointing meal.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
We ordered the Tasting Menu and the food was exceptional! They have an amazing wine pairing with this menu option. We were able to order the wine just for one and they served it in two glasses -- very thoughtful. The wait staff were exceptionally personable and happy to answer all of our questions. In all ways, a perfect dining experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
Food was good if pricey. Service was haphazard. Don't recommend the counter seating - not really a counter/bar but more main service area where staff grabbing glasses/cutlery/service items
What a cute neighborhood restaurant just off the Castro, also walking distance to the mission. It's a very small plane so you sit very close to your next table dinners. The food is worth it though. They serve a 4 course tasting menu, which really is 10 courses. Lot's of food. They serve a modern American cuisine. The diakon cakes and pasta were my favorite. Definitely be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Great food. Great service. Great wine.
Closest round to a Danny Meyer restaurant I’ve found in San Francisco.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
I enjoy eating at the counter for more privacy, otherwise the tables are often quite close together. Second delicious dinner at the counter this year!
We had a fabulous meal at Frances to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Frances is the definition of a hidden gem, as it is located in a residential area, and has no signage at all. Inside, there are maybe 15 tables, and is is nothing fancy inside. With limited menu offerings, you better execute well. Starting with our server, who was very helpful in navigating the menu in regards to my wife's many allergies. We ordered the bread, the onion soup, and the maple-bacon beignets, and each ordered the wagyu bevette. Every dish was executed brilliantly, with unique and creative flavors, and the pacing of the meal was sheer perfection. This is not a fancy place, but if your goal is an outstanding meal, do not sleep on Frances. It is a wonderful low key place you should consider.
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