Situated just at the edge of Nob Hill and above Union Square, along Stockton and California Streets, The Ritz-Carlton automatically makes you feel like an elite. The marble-lined lobby and dark gray lobby bar with its rectangular chandelier are luxe and moody spaces, and then further inside to the left of the entrance is Parallel 37, the hotel's restaurant that has its bar right in the middle. Sleek and sexy are just two words to describe the ambiance at Parallel 37, which is so named after the 37th parallel North line, of which Northern California touches, of which each dish on their menu is influenced by the cuisine of the countries that run along the 37th parallel. What brought me here was a specially curated dinner that a group of colleagues and I were able to enjoy a recently curated dinner hosted at Parallel 37 as a special occasion. With their full bar being able to be utilized and their private dining space behind a glass wall and door, our group were treated like VIPs. We began our evening sipping on three wines, two from Skyside, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, and then Cuvee Brut from Gloria Ferrer for good measure. With mini quiches to satiate our appetites as we mingled in their vast space we managed to take it all in as our fellow guests poured in from their lobby. Our dinner began with their salad course, which was Roasted K&J Stone Fruit Salad served with seasonal chicory lettuce leaves, feta crumbles, pistachios, and topped with a shallot banyuls vinaigrette dressing. For our entrée course, we were given the option of their Seared Beef Tenderloin served with their summer truffle gratin potatoes, sautéed French green beans, blistered cherry tomatoes, and topped with truffle beef jus or we could select their Spring Onion Polenta, which was served with roasted wild mushrooms, charred asparagus tips, braised Swiss chard and topped with a pecorino hollandaise. For our dessert course, we enjoyed a Strawberry Mousse, which was served with a vanilla wafer, strawberry compote, vanilla anglaise, and lemon mint infused strawberries. Our dinner was served with just the right tenor and with extra pours of wine, everything was paired perfectly. I do have to say that both our salad and our dessert courses were the highlights of our meal, as the salad was as fresh as it was prepared thanks to the extra portions of peaches that were sourced locally and our dessert was the perfect amount that it didn't go overboard and was in the most unique shape that I have ever seen as it resembled that of an earbud holder, no kidding, but was simply refreshing, as it paired perfectly with a cup of coffee, which thankfully was provided and at The Ritz-Carlton is one of the best I've had. My entrée was plated beautifully as it was equal parts meat, potatoes and green beans. It was served with an abundance of gravy which soaked up too much of the dish, and one of my fellow diners said that their meat was too well-done for their tastes, although mine was cooked decently enough. With a solid overall experience, it saddens me that more people cannot try the dinner service at Parallel 37, as currently they are only serving breakfast seven days a week. Almost a decade and a half ago, I remember that they were the place to be for an early evening libation followed by a crafted dinner by their world renowned chef that was hired to spruce things up. As little as two years ago, Forbes Travel Guide released its list of winners for top Bay Area restaurants considered to be among the "most outstanding" businesses around the world and Parallel 37 was actually one of their picks, which makes it all the more surprising to their pivot to a breakfast only service. Once this place has the ability to reopen as a full-service restaurant, watch out, as I can only imagine their bar area bustling with customers both from the hotel and in the neighborhood, enjoying a fruity mixed concoction, and an internationally inspired menu that sticks to basics with some seasonal California twists.
Chetan Mehta
Breakfast is incredible. Pancakes are excellent.
bcheong
Looks like this used to be some fancy dinner restaurant at the Ritz, but now is only the breakfast restaurant Good a la carte items every morning while staying at the Ritz. But it’s a 20 minute wait for food (if crowded, wait goes up to 30 or 40 min) and expensive. Good service
Saminda Wijegunawardena
No one does it like the Ritz, son! 5 stars for all of it: the food, decor, and service. These peeps have got it down, never been disappointed here. It had been several years since had been to the Dining Room at the Ritz, it's transformed into a very modern and artistic Parallel 37. The same elegance and world class service is there, just against a very pretty new backdrop. We did the 3 course prix fixe and it was epic from start to finish: 1) SASHIMI OF HAMACHI (Monterey abalone, nori, meyer lemon) Bomb dot com. The sashimi melts in your mouth, so tender and fresh. 2) HAND CUT LINGUINI (morel mushrooms, bloonmsdale spinach, pickled ramps) - Very nice. The only thing that was maybe just very good versus epic; just a bit simple but still well balanced and flavorful. 3) 32 DAY DRY AGED RIBEYE (short rib ravioli, summer squash, sweet corn) Wow. Just the most tender, perfectly aged and grilled steak, heaven in every bite. They also threw on some foie gras for me upon request, that took the dish over the top! Ireally vwish we remembered to come here more often, such a great experience all around. July 2015.
Michele J. Serocki Bluhm
We have been staying here overnight from Saturday to Sunday for some years, attending SF Opera and having Sunday breakfast. The Ritz used to offer either a free breakfast or points for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members, and we always chose the breakfast, which before the pandemic was excellent and beautifully presented. The coffee was downright bad, tasting as if it had been sitting on a burner for some time; but I could order tea. The Ritz no longer offers the free breakfast, and the food has taken a sharp turn for the worse--inferior ingredients, zero attention to plating. The coffee is still terrible. The bar used to offer excellent drinks with stylish garnishes. Last time we had drinks they were missing the edible garnishes on the menu, and not as good but at least as expensive as before. We are disappointed. The service used to be excellent--we had a standing note for a tea kettle and mugs to be put in our room, and this used to happen. No longer--we called the desk on the last two occasions of our stays, and they were never brought up. Points off.Parking: The valet parking is expensive but necessary.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Katie K
Breakfast was ok but overpricedGood service
My Tenderloin Kitchen
Great breakfast, get the French toast or huevos rancheros!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sara F
A little bit overpriced especially the drink menu but the food is good
Z S.
As with the entire hotel, the service was spectacular. Breakfast was very good as well. Some lighter menu items is really nice too. If I had once disappointment it is that Parallel 37 is currently only open for breakfast.
Eva W.
This restaurant is located in the Ritz, San Francisco. We came here for breakfast, on two different days. The breakfast was so good the first time, we wanted to go a second time before we left San Francisco.I think the eggs benedict was the best I've ever had. The egg was perfectly poached. The ham was delicious, was not over cooked and dry. The muffin was perfectly toasted. It was light and airy, like a crumpet. Tasted very fresh, like homemade. The second time, I ordered the omelets. That was very good too. The eggs were fluffy and cooked just right. I was a happy customer. My husband very much liked his breakfast, also. He ordered the French toast and an eggs benedict. The service was excellent. The staff addressed by our names and were very nice. We had a pleasant time.
We ate here two days in a row for breakfast. The service is amazing and the staff was excellent. They always remembered our name and were so polite. It really made and impression. The first day we were in a rush and I wanted the French toast but the server said it would take longer as would the pancakes. So I go the eggs benedict like my wife. They really got them out quickly and It was amazing. The next day I was able to relax and I had the French toast and boy it was yummy. Loved it. My wife got an omelet and was great as well. The server was so nice and spoke with us a bit and remembered us from the day before. Oh and don't forget the fresh squeezed J. wow.
William Langford
Generic at best. Menu was very limited. Overly expensive. Great if you have dining credits. If you're spending your own freedom dollars, then go elsewhere and thank yourself and your wallet. What I will say, is the service was mostly top notch, what you would expect from the Ritz.
Maxwell Siderman S.
Staying at the ritz which is where this place is located we were looking for a quick and good breakfast. The food and service was outstanding. Great ambience and again I can't express how good the service was.
John Liles
Eggs Benedict and potatoes. Super yummy! Great coffee. Awesome service.
Situated just at the edge of Nob Hill and above Union Square, along Stockton and California Streets, The Ritz-Carlton automatically makes you feel like an elite. The marble-lined lobby and dark gray lobby bar with its rectangular chandelier are luxe and moody spaces, and then further inside to the left of the entrance is Parallel 37, the hotel's restaurant that has its bar right in the middle. Sleek and sexy are just two words to describe the ambiance at Parallel 37, which is so named after the 37th parallel North line, of which Northern California touches, of which each dish on their menu is influenced by the cuisine of the countries that run along the 37th parallel. What brought me here was a specially curated dinner that a group of colleagues and I were able to enjoy a recently curated dinner hosted at Parallel 37 as a special occasion. With their full bar being able to be utilized and their private dining space behind a glass wall and door, our group were treated like VIPs. We began our evening sipping on three wines, two from Skyside, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon, and then Cuvee Brut from Gloria Ferrer for good measure. With mini quiches to satiate our appetites as we mingled in their vast space we managed to take it all in as our fellow guests poured in from their lobby. Our dinner began with their salad course, which was Roasted K&J Stone Fruit Salad served with seasonal chicory lettuce leaves, feta crumbles, pistachios, and topped with a shallot banyuls vinaigrette dressing. For our entrée course, we were given the option of their Seared Beef Tenderloin served with their summer truffle gratin potatoes, sautéed French green beans, blistered cherry tomatoes, and topped with truffle beef jus or we could select their Spring Onion Polenta, which was served with roasted wild mushrooms, charred asparagus tips, braised Swiss chard and topped with a pecorino hollandaise. For our dessert course, we enjoyed a Strawberry Mousse, which was served with a vanilla wafer, strawberry compote, vanilla anglaise, and lemon mint infused strawberries. Our dinner was served with just the right tenor and with extra pours of wine, everything was paired perfectly. I do have to say that both our salad and our dessert courses were the highlights of our meal, as the salad was as fresh as it was prepared thanks to the extra portions of peaches that were sourced locally and our dessert was the perfect amount that it didn't go overboard and was in the most unique shape that I have ever seen as it resembled that of an earbud holder, no kidding, but was simply refreshing, as it paired perfectly with a cup of coffee, which thankfully was provided and at The Ritz-Carlton is one of the best I've had. My entrée was plated beautifully as it was equal parts meat, potatoes and green beans. It was served with an abundance of gravy which soaked up too much of the dish, and one of my fellow diners said that their meat was too well-done for their tastes, although mine was cooked decently enough. With a solid overall experience, it saddens me that more people cannot try the dinner service at Parallel 37, as currently they are only serving breakfast seven days a week. Almost a decade and a half ago, I remember that they were the place to be for an early evening libation followed by a crafted dinner by their world renowned chef that was hired to spruce things up. As little as two years ago, Forbes Travel Guide released its list of winners for top Bay Area restaurants considered to be among the "most outstanding" businesses around the world and Parallel 37 was actually one of their picks, which makes it all the more surprising to their pivot to a breakfast only service. Once this place has the ability to reopen as a full-service restaurant, watch out, as I can only imagine their bar area bustling with customers both from the hotel and in the neighborhood, enjoying a fruity mixed concoction, and an internationally inspired menu that sticks to basics with some seasonal California twists.
Breakfast is incredible. Pancakes are excellent.
Looks like this used to be some fancy dinner restaurant at the Ritz, but now is only the breakfast restaurant Good a la carte items every morning while staying at the Ritz. But it’s a 20 minute wait for food (if crowded, wait goes up to 30 or 40 min) and expensive. Good service
No one does it like the Ritz, son! 5 stars for all of it: the food, decor, and service. These peeps have got it down, never been disappointed here. It had been several years since had been to the Dining Room at the Ritz, it's transformed into a very modern and artistic Parallel 37. The same elegance and world class service is there, just against a very pretty new backdrop. We did the 3 course prix fixe and it was epic from start to finish: 1) SASHIMI OF HAMACHI (Monterey abalone, nori, meyer lemon) Bomb dot com. The sashimi melts in your mouth, so tender and fresh. 2) HAND CUT LINGUINI (morel mushrooms, bloonmsdale spinach, pickled ramps) - Very nice. The only thing that was maybe just very good versus epic; just a bit simple but still well balanced and flavorful. 3) 32 DAY DRY AGED RIBEYE (short rib ravioli, summer squash, sweet corn) Wow. Just the most tender, perfectly aged and grilled steak, heaven in every bite. They also threw on some foie gras for me upon request, that took the dish over the top! Ireally vwish we remembered to come here more often, such a great experience all around. July 2015.
We have been staying here overnight from Saturday to Sunday for some years, attending SF Opera and having Sunday breakfast. The Ritz used to offer either a free breakfast or points for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum members, and we always chose the breakfast, which before the pandemic was excellent and beautifully presented. The coffee was downright bad, tasting as if it had been sitting on a burner for some time; but I could order tea. The Ritz no longer offers the free breakfast, and the food has taken a sharp turn for the worse--inferior ingredients, zero attention to plating. The coffee is still terrible. The bar used to offer excellent drinks with stylish garnishes. Last time we had drinks they were missing the edible garnishes on the menu, and not as good but at least as expensive as before. We are disappointed. The service used to be excellent--we had a standing note for a tea kettle and mugs to be put in our room, and this used to happen. No longer--we called the desk on the last two occasions of our stays, and they were never brought up. Points off.Parking: The valet parking is expensive but necessary.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Breakfast was ok but overpricedGood service
Great breakfast, get the French toast or huevos rancheros!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A little bit overpriced especially the drink menu but the food is good
As with the entire hotel, the service was spectacular. Breakfast was very good as well. Some lighter menu items is really nice too. If I had once disappointment it is that Parallel 37 is currently only open for breakfast.
This restaurant is located in the Ritz, San Francisco. We came here for breakfast, on two different days. The breakfast was so good the first time, we wanted to go a second time before we left San Francisco.I think the eggs benedict was the best I've ever had. The egg was perfectly poached. The ham was delicious, was not over cooked and dry. The muffin was perfectly toasted. It was light and airy, like a crumpet. Tasted very fresh, like homemade. The second time, I ordered the omelets. That was very good too. The eggs were fluffy and cooked just right. I was a happy customer. My husband very much liked his breakfast, also. He ordered the French toast and an eggs benedict. The service was excellent. The staff addressed by our names and were very nice. We had a pleasant time.
Restaurantji Recommends
Steak bytes were tasty!
We ate here two days in a row for breakfast. The service is amazing and the staff was excellent. They always remembered our name and were so polite. It really made and impression. The first day we were in a rush and I wanted the French toast but the server said it would take longer as would the pancakes. So I go the eggs benedict like my wife. They really got them out quickly and It was amazing. The next day I was able to relax and I had the French toast and boy it was yummy. Loved it. My wife got an omelet and was great as well. The server was so nice and spoke with us a bit and remembered us from the day before. Oh and don't forget the fresh squeezed J. wow.
Generic at best. Menu was very limited. Overly expensive. Great if you have dining credits. If you're spending your own freedom dollars, then go elsewhere and thank yourself and your wallet. What I will say, is the service was mostly top notch, what you would expect from the Ritz.
Staying at the ritz which is where this place is located we were looking for a quick and good breakfast. The food and service was outstanding. Great ambience and again I can't express how good the service was.
Eggs Benedict and potatoes. Super yummy! Great coffee. Awesome service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5