Reviews for Frances in San Francisco, CA

Came here with some friends for a group dinner, and while the food was tasty, it definitely underwhelmed. There were several... pairings that were just strange (petra sole and pasta, mole-ish and squash) and just didn?t quite work. The chicken was alsovery underseasoned, with only the caramelized onions and chantarelle mushrooms attempting to give it a flavor boost. We alsopaid $6 for 5 pieces of sourdough bread. Much like its sister restaurant Octavia, Frances kind of fell flat for usunfortunately! Read more

We had a great time here. The pre-set menu was so good! The food was a little much for us though. We went with a party of 3 and... I feel like we might have gotten a portion for 4 people, because they only worked in portions for 2. Great service, nice people. Read more

Great food, interesting mixtures, the steak was really tasty as the salad. West Hollywood vibes behind the smell of Santal... candle. Read more

Been here like a dozen times. Food is always solid here. The food selection is sometimes small. It is usually difficult to... get a reservation here but they recently added outdoor seating that I think now or is easy to get a table here. They changedthe menu to a family style prix fix menu, which is interesting. The food was solid. It is very odd that I had to keep askingfor serving spoons and sharing plates and it was hard to get them and I had to wait for them a number of times during one meal. Read more

Since the day it opened, this little, very intimate restaurant run by Chef and Owner Melissa Perello has been a huge success in... the neighborhood. It is excellent for a low-key dating night as it is for supper with the kids since it is both stylish andalways filled with patrons. Even though it is very hard to get a reservation at this establishment, the incredibly homeyatmosphere, which is catered to by a kind staff, is reason enough to plan ahead. Instead of serving fashionable powders andfoams, Perello opts to provide robust and seasonally appropriate dishes like roasted baby octopus with handmade yogurt and olivetapenade. A pork chop that has been brined in honey is served on top of a slaw made with creamed escarole and fennel, andcarrots from McGinnis Ranch are roasted with sunchokes to create an unusual combination of sweet and salty flavors. Dessertsthat are light and refreshing, such as a black sesame pavlova with chicory root ice cream, are a great way to round up the meal.Along the process, indulgent supplements may be added, such as charred A5 Wagyu steak and delicious uni. The dinner comes to aconclusion with a sweet and soft mochi that is dotted with adzuki bean paste. This is a surprisingly mild way to cap the meal. Read more

We had dinner tonight at Frances, after excitedly reserving now that it?s re-opened after the pandemic. While the food wasn?t... horrible, it doesn?t hold a candle to the Frances of the past or even their sister restaurant Octavia. The menu was set and forthe price, the amount of food and portions were not worth it. Every dish lacked any umph and all could?ve just used some salt.The pay for what you pour wine is no longer available which was also a bummer. The timing of the food was off the entire meal atno fault of the servers. Service was impeccable and deserves 5 stars! I will say that for $85 a person there are much betteroptions in the city. Read more

We have been eagerly awaiting the reopening of Frances for over a year now. Before the pandemic, it was our favorite restaurant... in the city, and our go-to for everything from special occasions to a fun Friday night. We loved the first come first serveseating in the window, where we?d nosh their mouth watering panisse and self pour house wine. We returned to our beloved Francesquickly after they reopened, and while the ambiance and the service were as excellent as ever, the food just isn?t what it usedto be. For about $400 for two people (tasting menu ~$90 and wine pairing $65), there are simply better options in the city now.Signature Frances foods are still available, like the lumberjack cake and the panisse, but they?re added a la carte to yourtasting menu and they aren?t worth the add anymore. The lackluster Lumberjack cake left me missing the delicious caramelizedoutside, sweet ooey gooey toffee chew inside of the legendary OG Lumberjack. Other old favorites at Frances, like the delicious,self pour (affordable!!) house wine, aren?t available at all. Our meal began with a rockfish crudo and carrot ?hot sauce? thatwas under seasoned and one note. Zero heat despite the ?hot? promise, not enough acid or salt, and the large, tough chunks ofrockfish weren?t helping. The melon salad and panzanella that followed also weren?t anything special: the goat and sheep?s milkcheese wasn?t sharp enough to contrast with the melon and sort of flopped sadly overtop of it; the tomatoes in the panzanellawere mushy and tasteless, lacking sauce and salt and especially surprising given the delicious tomatoes available in the Baythis time of year. Of the starters, the dip and the bread were the best, but overall, these five courses were not what you?dexpect from a $400 meal. Chips and dip, panzanella, melon, bread, and rockfish?I would have traded them all for a bite of theold panisse. The pasta was lovely, with dragon balm both folded into the dough and sprinkled on top. M Read more

Frances definitely know how to wow with the best starters and dessert. Should you want to try this place, you need to sign up... for their email list so you can snag a reservation. This is based on their current set up (as of September 2021) I booked mine amonth ahead. It is $110 per person pre paid. The food is pretty solid. The only thing I didn?t really care for is the fishentree. The outdoor dining set up is very nice. Very cozy and beautiful! Read more