Jacqueline - San Francisco

Was it worth a few months for this reservation? I hate to admit it, but yes. Even after you’re seated, get ready to wait an hour for your soufflés to come out. But when they do, you’ll be in heaven. The soufflés were warm, light, fluffy and rich. We tried the salmon & asparagus, mushroom, and chocolate soufflés. All of them were perfectly done and delicious.

I've visited this restaurant several times, and my past dinners have been mostly enjoyable, largely due to the romantic atmosphere. There's a certain special quality to this place, primarily its ambiance. The soufflé with champagne used to be a pretty good experience here. However, the taste of the soufflé itself isn't as exquisite as it once was, as novelty and scarcity previously enhanced the experience. Unfortunately, the atmosphere is no longer enough to compensate for the several instances of rude staff who seemed to take pleasure in making customers feel on edge. I can no longer overlook the drawbacks of this place, especially when I'm determined to have a good time while spending a significant amount of money ($$$$) for marginally better French desserts. You might find yourself in a similar situation and handle the rude service well, but you may want to reconsider before deciding to return.

My experience at this restaurant was extremely negative due to the poor service. I first attempted to make a reservation via phone, but there was no luck and no option to leave a message. When I visited in person to make a reservation, the waiter acted as if I was bothering him and insisted I call instead. I explained I had already called and asked if he could write down the number. He seemed very annoyed but did so, providing the exact same number I had already tried. I found it baffling that he had the time to write down the number but not to take my reservation request, which would have taken the same amount of time. The waiter's bad attitude was palpable, making me feel like an outsider. This was particularly surprising given that the restaurant was nearly empty, with only three tables occupied. It's no wonder they might struggle with business if this is their customer service approach.

My experience at this restaurant was disappointing due to issues with their website and the staff's attitude. If they have a late sitting at 7: 30 PM, it should be clearly mentioned on their website. They were unresponsive when I tried to call, and the staff behaved rudely upon arrival.

My experience at this restaurant was a mixed bag, heavily leaning towards negative due to the service. The food was described as fun and tasty, though the reviewer also stated it was just 'fine'. What truly made the place special, according to the reviewer, was its history and the old San Francisco atmosphere. However, the service was a significant letdown. After two weeks of trying to make a reservation via phone on five separate occasions with no success (and noting the lack of online booking in 2025), the reviewer drove 40 minutes from Marin County to make an in-person reservation. Upon arrival, a waitperson rudely dismissed the reviewer's attempt to make a reservation, telling them to 'call and leave a message' and holding up a hand to signal they 'can't help with that' before walking away. This experience led the reviewer to strongly advise against dining here, suggesting patrons take their dollars elsewhere, specifically mentioning Chez Panisse as an alternative.