We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The Tripadvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:
Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.

“Great Pre-Opera Choice!!!”

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
Reserve a table
2
Thu, 03/28
20:00
Ranked #142 of 6 035 Restaurants in San Francisco
Price range: R 587 - R 757
Cuisines: American, French, Contemporary
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Good for: Romantic, Business meetings, Bar Scene, Special Occasion Dining
Dining options: After-hours, Dinner, Breakfast, Reservations
Dining style: Casual Elegant
Neighbourhood: Intermission
Cross street: Gough
Reviewed 4 July 2018

I ate here prior to one of the Ring Operas. I had made a reservation here because it is located close to the Opera and looked good on Trip Advisor. What a great choice.

First, I had made a reservation for 5:45. I hit a timing snag getting from a seminar back to my hotel and then to the restaurant. As a consequence, I was running about a half hour late. I called to let the restaurant know -- and they were so nice and said they would hold my table for me, which they did. I felt badly about being so late, but my waitress was great! She (seemingly) effortessly served me my order of Steak Tartare, Hearts of Romaine salad, and a glass of wine with plenty of time left to order some ruby port for dessert and still make it to the 7:30 opera on time. I never felt rushed.

Secondly, my food was really good. The menu contains all sorts of wonderful dishes -- coq au vin, some seafood dishes, beef dishes, pasta, hamburger, even Osso Bucco. I would like to come back sometime, stay longer and enjoy some of the other menu items.

DRESS: I ate there on an opera night, so most all the guests were going to the opera and dressed accordingly.

Date of visit: June 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
2  Thank 35leeannw
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviews (607)
Traveller rating
Traveller type
Time of year
Language

75 - 79 of 607 reviews

Reviewed 1 July 2018 via mobile

Our family had a fantastic meal here, from onion soup gratinee to coq au vin, salmon, and cheese plate, amazing all around. The top-notch service matched the top-notch food. Fun people watching too!

Date of visit: July 2018
1  Thank Boudicca61
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 27 June 2018 via mobile

We were at Absinthe last week before the SFSymphony. We had scallops with a bed of English peas cooked to perfection as a starter and a salad with a lovely vinegrette.
The coq au vin was delicious. The only complaint was the dessert list. Not many choices so we got a melon sorbet that was tasty but we wanted something French.

Date of visit: June 2018
Thank Jan S
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 June 2018

This review is long overdue for a wonderful dining experience on Mother’s Day at Absinthe Brasserie & Bar. My husband was looking for a nice restaurant to go to while visiting San Francisco for Mother’s Day, which is known to be one of the busiest days of the year to dine out.

I thought the restaurant did an amazing job. We had a reservation, and were pleased that we were seated within a few minutes of arriving at the crowded restaurant. The hostess escorted us to a beautiful round table in a quiet corner by the window in the back room, which was a perfect spot for our party of five.

The service was excellent. The waitress was patient, attentive, and efficient. Someone came around to refill our water glasses frequently, which I always appreciate. I was concerned that not everyone in our party wanted to order a full meal (one person ordered only soup). The food was served promptly, and we were able to eat leisurely without feeling rushed on such a busy holiday.

My dish, the croquet monsieur, was delicious! And others enjoyed their selections as well.

I have always found that if you are a party of five, it is a much better experience to be seated at a round table. And this particular table was perfect for our family of five Mother’s Day celebration!

Date of visit: May 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank 615carolef
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 23 June 2018 via mobile

If you want incompetent service and you to wait 35mins for the second half of the meals to arrive after 2 of your 4 person table already received their food, come to absinthe! Where the prices reflect high dining but the service reflects a burger king drive thru. After 20 years as a restaurant they have obviously lost their way, I've been coming here for 11 years and this place just downright sucks now. Which such a great array of restaurants around now in Hayes valley I will never waste another dollar here at this aging lackluster restaurant even though they comped a bowl of soup on the $107 bill for their lack of service. Sorry absinthe there is too many other good restaurants out there than to bother giving you a second chance.

Date of visit: June 2018
Thank thewhitechevelle
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Travellers who viewed Absinthe Brasserie & Bar also viewed

 
San Francisco, CA
 

Been to Absinthe Brasserie & Bar? Share your experiences!

Write a Review Add Photos & Videos

Owners: What's your side of the story?

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Claim Your Listing
© 2024 Tripadvisor LLC All rights reserved.

This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in South Africa. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu.