Best French Restaurants in San Francisco

At the hands of accomplished Chef Dominique Crenn, guests have rightly come to expect a thrilling meal inside her singular atelier. Original is the name of this culinary game—one that is as thoughtful in serving brioche with cultured butter as it is with caviar crowned by turbot gelée and gold leaf. Spiny lobster with dots of apple butter and a warm ginger-whey foam is a wondrous creation brimming with flavor and depth. 

Designed with an eye on Paris during Les Années Folles with a splash of speakeasy, this room is a flea market-chic amalgam of lounge furniture, glinting chandeliers and vintage accents. Fine silver, crystal, champagne and caviar complete the decadence. The classic French cooking strives to recreate many of the century’s great dishes through recipes on loan from culinary masters. Desserts, like the Saint-Honoré embellished with créme chiboust and caramelized rounds of paté choux, are tiny but mighty.

This black-and-white dining room’s minimalist yet intimate décor is trumped only by its pièce de résistance: an exhibition kitchen where you’ll find the meticulous brigade of cooks hard at work, producing impressively authentic French food. Begin with the pâté de campagne, enhanced with liver and shallots and presented with strong mustard, cornichons and country bread. For a sweet finish, purists will delight in the dessert menu’s île flottante.

Chef Le Tohic's prix-fixe menu is composed of ten outstanding courses that may pair classic French techniques with pristine Californian ingredients. Exquisite sauces work their way into this rotating lineup that begins with a generous trio of caviar with freshly baked breads; and ends with an enticing mignardise cart, starring bite-sized bon bons, pâte des fruits, cakes and so much more.

Belinda Leong and Michel Suas have long been recognized as Bay Area pastry royalty, so naturally this foray into sit-down dining is a treat. To sweeten the pot even further, they tapped JP Carmona, formerly chef de cuisine at Manresa, to lead the kitchen. The result is a welcoming neighborhood spot serving French bistro fare with a distinct Californian accent. Fantastic seasonal produce and bold flavors are hallmarks year-round.

Forty years young and still thriving as if it were newborn, locals and visitors remain drawn to this SF institution. Famous for its laid-back California vibe and great, locally sourced eats, this iconic space embraces its unique shape, and is styled with bold artwork-covered walls, a copper bar and wood-burning oven sending out delightful pizzas that fill the room with mouthwatering aromas.