Absinthe Brasserie and BarDelicious foodEverything I ate was delicious. Very old world, french feeling with the decor. Had a lovely time.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful, As Always!I eat at Absinthe often, and it is always wonderful!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMJust as good after 6 years!I went to Absinthe in 2007 and had one of the best meals of my life. This time around visiting San Francisco again, I had to bring my boyfriend in hopes of having another great experience. Absinthe did not disappoint!! The drinks were amazing, so flavourful! My boyfriend had a drink with whiskey and orange zest and I had the Ginger Rogers - the flavours were so intense and delicious! Kudos to the bartender. The food was delicious - that's all I can say. The service was impeccable. My boyfriend had worked in a notable french restuarant in Vancouver for a number of years and he said his meal here was one of the best in his life! Thanks for living up to my expectations! :)6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a great experience!I haven't been to Absinthe in a very long time, but when a friend came to town for the weekend, I decided this would be a great spot to go to give her a good taste of the fantastic restaurant scene in SF. Our cocktails were amazing, our server had a great sense of humour, was enthusiastic but not overwhelming, and was very helpful with the menu when I was told there wasn't any more swordfish (which was really the only downside of the night). Everything from the starter to the dessert was perfect. I've never had lamb like that in my life and the little taste of my friend's steak I had made me very certain I'd be coming back in much sooner. Thanks for being one of the most consistent restaurants in the city!!6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst time at this unpretentiousFirst time at this unpretentious Hayes Valley bistro. Great drinks and solid food with a French touch. Splurge on the calorie laden soft pretzels!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsinthe is my long-time favoriteAbsinthe is my long-time favorite restaurant -- great food, wonderful service, terrific ambiance.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways something new on the menuWe went for Brunch prior to SF Symphony. The menu is not extensive, but there is always something new. We shared the seafood ceviche, the Trout BLT and a salad with strawberries, grapes and cheese and an onion soup. Each dish was perfection in their own ways. Add to that, a wonderful place to have interesting conversations and it is the perfect start to a wonderful day. The symphony also was truly enjoyable -- great day, all around.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMReally great brunchAbsinthe has a great brunch. There is a wide variety of both breakfast and lunch options. We love the bacon and eggs, the grilled cheese with bacon and the blueberry pancakes. Always order the fries. They are some of the best in the city.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMAbsinthe is always excellent!Absinthe is always excellent! Definitely my "go to" place in Hayes Valley. Sat in the very end room this time and it's carpeted so is was really quite and perfect for our pre-Symphony dinner!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMI've been many times. GreatI've been many times. Great location for the arts (symphony, ballet). Great wine list, many interesting by the glass. Interesting menu, well-prepared but not fussy. Front bar area can be busy, noisy, sl. quieter in back. Especially busy before concerts, etc. Interesting small shops in the area.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent eveningThank you for a lovely evening! Our group of four enjoyed a nice quiet table in the back room. Our server was friendly and helpful and our food was delicious.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMLamb out of this world!The lamb rack over mascarpone polenta is really amazing!6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMNotable cocktail list! IfNotable cocktail list! If you enjoy sipping cocktails before a fantastic dinner then this place if for you!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMMore like CajunWe went for Dine About Town lunch. The food was more like Cajun taste than authentic French. The service was excellent. It was a little noisier than expected. But that happens sometimes at lunch in French restaurants.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMenchantingOur first time at Absinthe and not the last....lunch at 1 pm was not crowded or noisy....enchanting european experience....we will probably stick with a weekday lunch because the excitement of evening may be too much for us.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat dining experienceWent here while visiting San Fran from Australia, the food and service was excellent, the semilier recommended a great bottle of wine and meal recommendations were spot on. We would recommend this restaurant to others and defiantly return ourselves.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome Brunch!Had a really really great delicious brunch here and would love to go back. The omelet with smoked salmon was very good, though the potatoes on the side were even better. Cocktails are fantastic - I tried a pear one that was lovely. My friend had a pulled pork sandwich with fried egg on top and that was delicious! Only bummers were - the table next to us was a little loud, and though we were there mid day, there were really only three occupied tables...6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMA wonderful meal with unique twistsA really great place to eat before any of the activities in the neighborhood. We went before a performance at SF Jazz. The appetizers were great. The fennel leek soup was truly great; the flavors were blended with nothing overpowering another. The kale/radicchio salad had a beets and a great creamy dressing that was under the salad on the plate - a great idea. We both had fish and a great Sancerre that went well with all.5/31/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was great and locationFood was great and location is perfect for opera, symphony. The lunch menu is rather limited though.5/30/2013 12:00:00 AMabsinthe-charming resto on Hayes StAbsinthe is furnished as if it is located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It's located on Hayes Street near the Symphony and SF Jazz. The bar was hopping when we arrived on a Sunday evening, early around 6ish. We were escorted to a corner table in the much quieter dining room.
Service was just okay to begin with but picked up once we placed our order. Wine list has great depth and the food, although the portions are pretty small, is beautifully prepared and delicious.
Great place to visit for any occasion.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ServiceEnjoyed the food prior to attending a concert. The waitress was very good and helpful. Great service. I do recommend especially if you are attending an event at the SF Jazz Center.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMA great place before the SymphonyLove this place for it's variety of food. Sometimes to loud to enjoy conversation in the dining area in the bar.5/23/2013 12:00:00 AM"A good recommendation"We were at a loss to where to eat in San Francisco and while talking with a colleague at the shettle bus stop, I asked where they liked to eat in San Francisco ... "Voila!"5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMTerrrific AgainAfter slipping in their Brunch presentation, Absinthe has returned to their special, delicious, and unique Brunch menu. It is a terrific place to go for Brunch before attending a performance at the SF Symphony or Opera or Ballet. They provide service that feels leisurely without rushing to make sure you are finished in time for the afternoon performance. We'll return again!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for breakfast/brunchGreat place for breakfast/brunch - had the best bacon here ever!5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth the wait!Hard to get reservations before the Symphony, but definitely worth the hype. All of the food was excellent, and not unreasonably expensive. They make a concerted effort to get patrons served in time for the performance. We will go again.5/18/2013 12:00:00 AMFound a quiet spotWe walked into the restaurant and were hit with a very high-volume bar scene thinking we would not be able to talk to each other and be able to hear. However, we were ushered into a very quiet room away from the bar scene and enjoyed a lovely, quiet meal with very good food and service.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day lunchMy sister and I had lunch before the ballet. This was our second such visit. The first time we were seated out front in the bar area, but this time we were seated in the back room and it was much quieter and more relazed. I'm not sure if this room was only open because it was Mother's Day and they anticipated a crowd or if it is alwyas available for lunch, but I would definitely ask for the back room in the future.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMgood restaurantVery good experience at Absinthe. Food was very good but I did not like the 'fancy' dessert, (beet and chocolate don't go very well together in my taste) My only negative point was the level of noise! we were in the back of the room where is the bar and I could not hear my friend in front of me5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMI was planning on having theI was planning on having the duck confit ragout for brunch until I saw the latest addition to the menu -- smoked trout BLT. It was .outstanding! For dessert I had the chocolate pot de creme. I had to restrain myself from licking the bowl. Next time I'll have the duck confit ragout.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMBetter on Sunday nightsI have been to the this restaurant many times, but always on Sunday. This was my first trip Saturday. I like the energy and the service better on Sunday. It was still a very good experience, just not the outstanding experience that I have had on Sunday. Their Sommelier on Sunday is outstanding and really adds to the experience. My Sunday outings here have been so delightful, that I have starting coming to San Fran for the weekend from Atlanta with the main purposes being visiting this restaraunt.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent San Fran DiningWe chose this place for our first dinner being back in San Francisco based on some magazine reviews. The bar was packed and we had to wait, but once we sat down the service and food were excellent. There was a great mix of young and mature people, and the ambience was very nice and cozy without being too dark and gloomy. Everything about dinner was great....I remember my bisque for appetizer which was velvet on the tongue, and the special martinis which tasted great. My wife and I had a great time and we will definitely be back there our next time in San Francisco.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMLate dinner before a long flightMy nephew and his wife ate here on the night before they flew to Paris. They raved about the food. It's always one of my favorite restaurants in Hayes Valley.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMcan't go wrongwaking in for the first time, there was a very high energy bar scene.
It was fun.
The restaurant seating area was very comfortable and not noisy.
The food and service could not have been better. We were surprised by the relatively small list of dinner choices, but were impressed by the product delivered.5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMRemember Absinthe! It is wonderfulThe food is excellent: complex combinations of flavors and natural ingredients. The wines are good and well priced. The service is friendly and attentive. Early in the evening it is quiet. The seating encourages intimate conversation (little banquets for two). Really a pleasure.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDon't be absent at AbsintheThis place is always a good time with very good food and service -- and the lighting makes the ambiance just right, so don't miss the opportunity to go and enjoy!5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA bit too noisy which madeA bit too noisy which made conversation difficult otherwise outstanding.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMExtra effortWhen I booked the time I was unaware that the Ballet would run long. They held my table for a half hour.
Very generous of them.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMGood experienceMy wife and I lived in the City for several years and moved away a 2 years ago. We were back for a vacation and this was our one "good restaurant" night out during the trip. We had a great time at Absinthe. The food was excellent. We drank some absinthe after dinner which was fun too. The service is outstanding. I highly recommend this place for a nice night out.5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMMostly Great -- But That Banquette!Much too low for the table. An absurd error for an upscale restaurant so superb in other respects.5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfection on our plates!Perfection on our plates! Every dish sang with true, focused flavors.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been to Le ColonialWe have been to Le Colonial for dinner many times. It continues being one of our favorite restaurants in SF. The Sea Bass is awesome! The brussel sprouts, as a side, are fantastic!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightedAlways outstanding in every aspect. My wife said she could hear the
Angles singing when she tasted her yam and Chèvre cheese ravioli entre, and my Coq au Vin was the best I have ever had - including a number of times in Burgundy.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat choice for a special occasionWe were celebrating our anniversary and our Absinthe dinner made it a special occasion. Cocktails were distinctive and tasty, every item on the menu that we tried was very good--each had its own special twist. And the service was great. I wish the room were a little quieter. I miss the days of the tablecloths. But that is a minor complaint.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid brunch spot... thatSolid brunch spot... that takes reservations. Good food, good service, efficiently delivered.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMconsistent winner near operaconsistent winner near opera house and Davies Hall4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMcaviar is a must and watchcaviar is a must and watch for the absinth if you choose to drink it is strong but the food and service was outstanding and I really enjoyed it4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMEven noisier than usual, interferinEven noisier than usual, interfering with civilized conversztion. Food was delicious.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMso happy to see Trevor there,so happy to see Trevor there, a favorite. Waitstaff is great about getting people out for performances4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful food and a wonderfulWonderful food and a wonderful staff. I've forgotten how many times I've eaten here, and they've been consistently great. I always start of with a plate of their "pretzels"4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM