Saison
178 Townsend St, San Francisco
(415) 828-7990
Recent Reviews
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The food was not only delicious but beautifully designed. Each plate was like a work of art. And entire staff was lovely and attentive. The added so many wonderful touches for my wife's birthday. It was truly a one of a kind experience.
This dinner exceeded our expectations. The evening moved smoothly from start to finish, and the staff worked together seamlessly. Nothing felt forced or overdone, just precise, coordinated, and thoughtful service. Every dish was clearly explained, questions were answered without hesitation, and it was obvious that the tables around us were having equally excellent experiences. The service stood out as truly professional. Calm, knowledgeable, and attentive in a way that felt rare. It's the kind of service you associate with a restaurant deserving of a third Michelin star. We were celebrating my husband's birthday and promotion, and the way that was acknowledged was genuinely touching. I could have spent months planning a dinner for him and still not matched the care we received that night. Thank you for a memorable evening.
We celebrated my fiancé's 41st birthday at Saison and it was (as always) an incredibly intimate and personalized experience. All of our food, cocktails, and wines were delicious and the staff puts so much care into the service and it makes the experience truly memorable. We were delighted by the smoked duck from the wood fire oven as a substitute for the antelope as duck is one of our favorite dishes. Everyone remembered us from six months ago when we were last in to celebrate my promotion at work, which made us smile.
Creative, beautiful and delicious food. Flavors and variety are superbly balanced yet nuanced.
We recently celebrated our anniversary at Saison, and the evening felt effortlessly special. This is easily the best Michelin-starred restaurant I’ve experienced in the Bay Area so far.
Each dish from the Abridged Menu was exquisite, and the wine pairing elevated every course in such a graceful, thoughtful way. I especially loved the smoky notes, the artful plating, and how every dish was both beautiful and deeply flavorful—the kind of food that looks stunning in photos and tastes even better in person.
What truly sets Saison apart is the atmosphere. It feels refined yet relaxed, polished but never stiff. There’s none of the intimidating or overly formal energy you sometimes find in fine dining. Instead, it’s warm, inviting, and incredibly comfortable, which makes it perfect for both special occasions and an indulgent night out.
A special thank you to our sommelier Jeff, who was outstanding. He was knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly passionate, taking the time to thoughtfully guide us through each wine. Every pairing felt intentional and perfectly matched, and the Junmai sake he selected was an absolute standout.
From the cuisine to the service to the overall feeling of the evening, everything came together in a way that felt truly memorable. If you’re looking for a Michelin-starred restaurant (Saison currently holds two Michelin stars.)in the Bay Area that delivers on flavor, artistry, and atmosphere, Saison is not just worth a visit—it’s a must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We actually made a last-min reservation and such a surprise! the place was well-decorated. food ingredients are fresh. just an awesome spot to spend the evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I give it 5 stars because it is doing what it is trying to do really well. But I should know better that this is not the experience I want from a meal and somehow I need to relearn the lesson every few years. I can't fault the presentation and the art aspects of the food; and the taste was interesting, to amazing, to surprising; even the wagyu (more later) was maybe the best wagyu I've ever had. Drinks are relatively reasonable - $18-22 for a glass of wine available; and bottles for high $50s to low $60s are available (not many but some). That said, this (the bar bites) is at best a snack - and if you get the add ons be ready for sticker shock supreme... We had 2 bar bites courses, 2 glasses of wine, and 2 add ons (one uni on toast and one wagyu split between the 2 of us), and the total was $452 (with tax and included 20% tip). The wagyu for $88 (pre tax and tip) is stunning in that the amount is barely 3 bites total - the amount is smaller than your entire thumb. It was delicious though. The rest is very Michelin - the level of service and attention is impeccable (too much for us - we are much happier to be left alone and not interrupted by the servers - all super nice though) with every crumb removed and every napkin and dish placed precisely where it's supposed to be. So, TLDR - if for you $50 is more or less the same as $250 as far as your wallet goes, this is the place for you. Otherwise, it is quite an indulgence for a snack (even if a delicious one).
The food was unreal - probably the best prix fixe I've had. The service was spot on and I love the open kitchen format. I'll be back!
A gastronomic adventure. The food was uber creative, sensitively sourced and expertly cooked. Focus is on fire roasting and smoking ingredients. Kind of a bougie caveman aesthetic. We had a lovely, relaxing evening with dear ones. It was a phenomenal experience.
The ambience and service at Saison were exceptional, warm, attentive, and exactly what you'd expect at this level. Unfortunately, the courses themselves were hit or miss. While the antelope was cooked properly, the cut felt like an odd choice, resulting in a noticeably chewy texture. The A5 was surprisingly oversalted, and the butterfish left little impression. On the positive side, the caviar and the opening bite-sized courses were outstanding and showed the potential of the kitchen. With wine pairings, our total came to about $1,900 for two, and at that price point we expected to leave feeling far more satisfied. Instead, we walked out before even sampling the three dessert courses.
Restaurantji Recommends
Atmosphere: it was quiet easy to talk in. The decor is nice and the tables where comfy. The glassware was phenomenal, super thin and the dishware was beautiful.
Drinks: Some of the best cocktail's I've had an at any Michelin restaurant. All I got to say is I hate gin, and the cocktail my partner ordered got me to like gin. I liked the drink so much, I would go back for it. I'm learning to like wine, and they taught me how to love it. The wine selection was amazing, and I was trying not to order bottles of every glass I tasted. Though I do now have a bottle of Chacra.
Food: One of the best meals I've ever had, and something I regularly think back to. The sturgeon chowder with the caviar was the clear stand out for me even above all the meats. I still think back to it. The cherry tomatoes with the spot prawns and to be honest I enjoyed more than spot prawn (which was still amazing and the best prawn I've had in my life). The micro herbs on top and the vinaigrette was astounding. Just in general the vegetables for the dishes made me realize I have never eaten a truly well cooked vegetable. The meats where amazing, the rabbit and antelope stood out to me over the wagyu. The rabbit was my favorite meat dish of the night, my partner was super hesitant about eating it, but after that night she's asked me to cook rabbit more often for date nights. The antelope had this sweetness to the meat, which after asking is due to the preparation. The spot prawn was soft, and with a custardy umami flavor. Obviously everything was well prepared and technical but the halibut course had be doing research. I enjoy cooking at home but that dish made me question my fish and rice preparation just because I was constantly thinking 'how did they do that'. The deserts as you'd expect also amazing with the rhubarb being my favorite by far. It motivated me to cook with rhubarb more often.
Service: The staff where wonderful, easy to talk. I always have question's about food and they would be willing to answer or go to the chef. I really do appreciate them and they made the evening wonderful. The sommelier was one of the best restaurant staff I've had the pleasure of interacting with. He was nice, informative. I saw him help another table find a good place for the evening to continue drinks after they had finished their meal. The chef took time to take pictures with other guest's and speak with them.
Overall: Unforgettable and I will be coming back for sure.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celebrated Storm ventures 25th anniversary with my partners. Long 4 hour dinner. Alex had brought 2 bootlegs of 2000 Margaux and I had brought a bottle of Kistler Chardonnay and 2 bottles of Colgin Tychson Hill . Jessica K took good care of us
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Saison is located in an unassuming building but don't let that fool you. What an amazing restaurant with great friendly service and creative cuisine. The atmosphere is upscale and fancy but not stuffy, clinical, or austere - just relaxed and comforting. The tasting course is really fun and everything was cooked to perfection. The cost is pricey, but on par with other restaurants of this caliber. Highly recommended and can't wait to return!
My husband and I had an amazing time celebrating our anniversary here. We loved the food and the ambiance.
Outstanding experience from start to finish. Every bite was a pleasure We have been walking past this restaurant in our neighborhood since it first opened in 2013. We finally decided to give it a try, to celebrate my partners completion of his cancer treatment. As well as the unpretentious, warm welcoming staff, we had the pleasure of a brief exchange with executive chef Richard Lee who was just as lovely. This is the most relaxing atmosphere we have shared in a restaurant of this caliber with every dish a palatable adventure. Loved it. Highly recommend it. We will return
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