La FolieFeast masterIt was a special occasion for me and my partner and La Folie provided an excellent venue. The ambience was wonderful, understated and comfortable for dining. The staff were excellent from start to finish, offering helpful advice on wine choice, and wonderful descriptions of the food on presentation - truly the best service I've had in years. The food was exceptional, balanced, flavourful, presented with style and panache and at a portion size that was totally appropriate.
Cannot wait for another special occasion to provide an oppertunity to go back.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMBest dinner in years!We live in the neighborhood but reserve La Folie for a very special occasion. After an exceptional dinner this week, I'm ready to cut back on the regular haunts to save up for more dinners here. Every dish was superb and in my book surpassed other top rated restaurants in the city. Truly deserving of endless acolades.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMA Touch of FranceLa Folie provides creative and different dishes without going over-the-top and being excessive. The ability to choose 3 to 5 courses and create your own menu at a fixed price is a feature that I have enjoyed at other restaurants and is a feature that worked particularly well at La Folie. In addition to the food, the service also reminds me of the type of service at fine restaurants in France - attentive, but not intrusive and everyone in the restaurant does what needs to be done to provide an enjoyable experience. La Folie is a relatively small restaurant and even when full the noise level is low enough to provide for normal level of voice conversation.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMExactly what you expectIf you expect top quality, solid service, and an elegant evening, you're high expectations will be met at La Follie.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMNothing was less than excellentAll was delicious. The crab salad with green pea panna cotta was heavenly, the duck was fabulous, and the clafoutis, while not a traditional one, was superb. The amuse bouche that started the meal, along with other "gifts" from the chef, were tantalizing.
Our server was very attentive and explained the dishes nicely.
The portions were perfect. We left feeling sated but not over-full.
Some reviews on Yelp! complained about the time between courses, but our courses came out with perfect timing.
Other reviews complained about a lack of seasoning. I am a salt-aholic and did not once wish for a salt shaker. The seasoning was just right and enhanced the wonderful flavors of the dishes.
We will definitely return.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMEverything perfectFrom the service, to the 4 courses and little surprises in between, this was a completely perfect meal. Every single dish was beautifully presented and special, complex, and unique, a four hour perfectly timed symphony of pefection. All four of us gave each dish that we had an A+. And I simply have not had anything this amazing for years. Bravo!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMI sometimes dine in MichelinI sometimes dine in Michelin restaurants for the combination of food, ambiance, service and dining experience. La Folie delivered on on each and every one of these. The menu although degustation with choices 4/5 choices per course was well balanced and could no dobt account for every food taste. I started with Asparagus and lobster soup, crab salad, combination salmon/scallop/oyster plate, lamb cutlet and finished with sorbet.
Food superb
Service outstanding
Visit to table by owner/chef appreciated
Pricing reasonable considering Michelin Star
Ambience best I have had for a long time especially as it was possible to have a quiet chat with anybody you may be dining with
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMSolid Spot for Classic FrenchWe were slightly disappointed, although this review may be colored by the fact that my wife and I also ate at The French Laundry and Joel Robuchon during the same whirlwind trip through the SF Bay Area and Las Vegas. The service was excellent. Eva (sp?) was so accommodating and helpful. The food, on the other hand, left us wanting. We had the 5-course menu. Our dinner started with a pretty bland amuse bouche of asparagus, egg and bacon. The best dish of the night was my lobster over raviolo, followed by my duck breast with duck confit. A few dishes were underseasoned, such as my wife's crab over English pea panna cotta and my soft boiled egg with sweetbreads. The food was good, but underseasoned and heavy, and not as inventive as Robuchon.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, but way too slowWe celebrated my birthday at La Folie. The food was very good, although some things were much better than others. Although pricey, it's worth it for a special occasion. The service was relatively good, and when I didn't care for the wine I ordered, they brought me two others to sample and let me choose a different glass for no additional charge. However, the food was VERY slow in coming out. We waited 45 minutes for our entrees. The whole meal took nearly 4 hours and not because we were lingering over our meals, just because it took such a ridiculously long time between courses.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMexpensive but well worth it.expensive but well worth it. The very defination of fine dining4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat PlaceWe went to this restaurant with high expectations and it completely exceeded them. I would highly recommend it.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my second dinnerThis was my second dinner with La Folie, and my Husband's first. It was our 20th anniversary. Each time I have met the new best wait-staff person ever in the world! And, they each have had great back up people.
This visit, I thought the food was just good, not great. The Chef's menu had a beef course that was perfectly cooked, but dry, without juices, and I chose frog's legs and the dish was relatively tasteless. I expected garlic and tasted none. I clearly should have chosen dishes from the right side of the menu. The price tag is high enough that everything really should be wonderful, and, as I remember it was just that on at my last visit.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMVery good but not cheapGenerally a very good meal (actually three very good meals for our party of three). Service was top notch. The two balancing points were a $80 cancellation fee backed br a credit card whilch may be normal for high end restaurants, but since we are relatively new to Open Table, was a surprise. Also the final check was somewhat higher than I would have liked. The night was worth the cost, but I would not call it a "good value". In summarry we will probably go back but there are lots of other good restaurants to try as well.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat experience for an anniversaryGreat experience for an anniversary dinner or other special occasion. We have limited experience with French cuisine, but were pleased with our meal. Service was truly outstanding; very attentive waiter, sommelier and wait staff. We received explanation and advice on our selections which was spot on and tips for enjoying our meal to the fullest. We had four courses and were served at least three supplemental tastings as appeteasers/palate cleansers and chocolates after coffee. All costs were well identified as were options for selection from the menu.
Very pricy for our normal dining out, but all considered a reasonable value.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMExquisitely prepared food.Exquisitely prepared food. Service handled perfectly. Owner present and accommodating.4/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFrom food to service, La FolieFrom food to service, La Folie deserves 5 stars. Food was devine and worth the money spent. But what brought them over the top was their service. We were running late for a show and had to ask for the dessert to be boxed and a taxicab called. They called for a taxicab and everyone, EVERYONE was extra attentive (from the server, to the hostess, to the manager?, I think we had them all tell us our taxicab was here).4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service, excellentExcellent service, excellent ambiance, excellent food, excellent wine...we truly savored every moment and morsel as we celebrated our tenth anniversary...merci beaucoup!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFine dining at its best.Fine dining at its best. This is one of the top restaurants in San Francisco and it didn't disappoint. Two of my courses were a bit bland: the Asparagus Soup and the Burgundy Snails. My other three courses and all of my wife's were terrific. The service was impeccable. Chef Rolland Passot himself welcomed us to the restaurant and then came and chatted with us during our dessert.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMarvelous meal!Outstanding French cuisine with each dish prepared to perfection!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMwonderful, stillMy five courses stretched to more like 10 with misc amuses and the food was way more substantial than a couple of so called '11 course' tasting menus I've had lately. Sublime in every way: food, service, wine, location. The best restaurant in SF in my opinion.4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant is a fantasticThis restaurant is a fantastic destination to go to for any celebration, romantic night out or just to pamper yourself. The food and service will impress and you will want to return again. Highly recommended!!!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMTop notch classic french food.Top notch classic french food. Harkens to the feel of even French Laundry. Very quiet so it does seem a tad stuffy. They have dishes that I have missed for almost a year. Love that!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was an outstanding mealThis was an outstanding meal - we were continually stunned by the quality of dish after dish. Even "misses" that we didn't personally enjoy were unanimously well-received as "well prepared, just not my style" - and there were only a few of those.
In particular - the risotto is simply world-class, and some of the best parts of the meal were the amuse bouche and petit fours - regardless of what you order, these can end up being the highlights.
In general, a thoughtful presentation, relaxed service, and stellar food in a semi-casual atmosphere. What more to love?4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMAnother great meal. SnailsAnother great meal. Snails and bone marrow. Mushroom stuffed quail, wagyu beef. Baked Alaska. Plus an old Bordeaux to cap it off. Delicious.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service and food.Excellent service and food. Portions were very generous.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMexquisite dinnerWe had dinner for two at La Folie. We were seated promptly. The menu is basically table d'hote based on 3, 4 or 5 courses. You can mix and match. You can do wine pairings also. The wine prices were quite reasonable. The dinner was amazing. We ordered 3 courses mix and match from the regular menu. The only course that was not excellent was the halibut, which was very moist (perfectly cooked) but too mild in flavor. The lobster on ravioli was wonderful though. The chef sent several amuse bouches also throughout the evening and the presentation of each course was such fun to watch. The escargot (snails) came in an upright marrow bone! I had the souffle with bacon dessert and my husband had the baked alaska. Both were over the top wonderful.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMNothing but 5 stars!After spending days scouring the internet for the Bay Area's best tasting menu, after looking up Saison (too expensive), Benu (too modern), Coi (too eclectic), Fleur de Lys (too iffy), French Laundry (too far) and a host of other place, I finally came across La Folie that fit my need for romance, an extensive menu, a great location, laid back and comfortable setting AND not too hard on my pocket. And my partner and I had the meal of our lives! Unique, traditional, provincial food is what they serve through ingenious plate presentations, food craftery, impeccable service, extensive wine menu and large portions. And the chef came to every table to say hello which was a nice touch. We'll definitely be going there again!3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food experience!Wow! The food was amazing and our server as great and very knowledgable. He would explain the dish and then offer some advice on how the chef would like you to enjoy it. We thought it really helped to bring our the flavors and the overall experience. It was a lot of food! We were so stuffed we had to take some food home. I would recommend getting the 3 course because we got the 5 course and the tasting menu and it was way too much. We got the caviar and thought it was one of the best we ever had. We also got the blood and sand whiskey cocktail and thought it was so amazing.
We loved our experience, but be prepared that it takes a long time. We got a limo to take us from South Bay, and had to extend our trip by 2hours.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMAlmost in ParisHaving lived in France for 5 years, I am particular about my French restaurants. La Folie was as good as any 3 star restaurant in Paris. The presentations were innovative and also tasty (sometimes innovations lack flavor)! The amuses bouches were particularly fun. The best dishes included a lovely and delicious fresh dungeness crab served on a sweet pea panna cotta, a tatin of goat cheese on a bamboo asparagus ring with a red pepper coulis, an outstanding squab brast stuffed deboned quail with a beauiful array of fresh baby veggies. Of course we had to have dessert and they were a mulbrry baked alaska and a slice of opere cake with a surprise layer of penut butter. As I LOVE dark chocolate and peanut butter I thought it was devine.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMPhenomenal! We heard aboutPhenomenal! We heard about the restaurant through Anthony Bourdain's show, No Reservations, and were extremely happy. The servings were large and excellently timed and explained by the staff. We will definitely go back.3/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA very special place.The food, presentation, and service are as good as any restaurant in San Francisco, and that is saying something.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMA Special Chef, Special RestaurantAn absolutely perfect dinner, a perfect evening. The five course tasting menu was served without pressure - no rushing to finish a course. The wine pairings were wonderful and generous. Our waitress was delightful, well-versed in the menu and a fun partner in the whole experience. The chef's small touches - the palette cleansers and the special treats make you feel cared for and make you want to return. He often visits the tables and seems genuinely interested in his customers and in their dining experience.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery item on menu soundedEvery item on menu sounded great. We had duck, squab/quail - all fantastic. Service flawless. Would go again tomorrow...3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLeave HappyLa Folie is a wonderful dining experience, from my experience of over thirty years here it is on a par with the best restaurants in San Francisco. The ambiance is engaging whatever your preference; the front room is more lively, the back room more sedate.(We started in the front room, but due to a breeze moved to the back with no problem). Considering the quality and complexity, the portions are generous, especially the Beef selection. Two or three interesting amuse-gueules accompany whatever you order. Service is thoroughly excellent. Depending on your wine choice, be prepared to spend the appropriate (though reasonable for the quality) amount for a restaurant of this calibre. I recommend La Folie wholeheartedly.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMMy overall experience at LaMy overall experience at La Folie was great. The service was outstanding and the ambiance was nice. Great place for a romantic dinner to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, etc. However, the food to me was only mediocre. I don't eat French food often so perhaps my critique of the food may be off, but some of the dishes were a little too rich for me. Also, for my entree, I ordered the quail and it was a bit too gamy for my likings. My favorite appetizer was the risotto but even after a few bites I couldn't stomach any more down. I won't be going back to La Folie, but I am happy that I tried this restaurant.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMVery nice for a special occasion.Very nice for a special occasion. The beautiful presentations was the delight of the evening. The staff was very professional and accommodating. The atmosphere was lovely. It was a lot of rich food including the surprise muse additions so be prepared...... If you're looking for a pricey romantic French experience, La Folie fits the bill. Don't go if you're a picky or non creative eater.3/12/2013 12:00:00 AMJust FantasticJust Fantastic.
Great service, A++ food.
One of the very best SF restaurants.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMupscale french restaurant,upscale french restaurant, with solid well prepared, well presented food with professional but not overbearing service. menu was expensive but was flexible in the way you can order your own 3, 4 or 5 course menu. size of portions was very adequate. also they had a pre fixe tasting menu.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMContinue to serve fine FrenchContinue to serve fine French food at an affordable price.3/8/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic First Time!For being there the first time, the staff, chef and everything else was excellent. It was first-class treatment the entire evening!3/7/2013 12:00:00 AMA true dining experience.Everything was wonderful. The hostess, waiter,
and sommelier were friendly and professional.
The food and wine were outstanding.
The chef came to our table to talk.
I was in love.3/5/2013 12:00:00 AMA Gem You Don't Want to Miss!!!Dining at La Folie was an extremely memorable experience. The flavor a were extraordinary and everything was presented beautifully and in perfectly sized portions. The service was impeccable, helpful, and welcoming. I am a fan of Chef Passot and dined at La Folie while on vacation for my birthday. He was so warm and kind and even came out personally to ensure that all patrons were pleased with their meal. Definitely worth the expense and not an experience you want to miss in San Francisco!!!3/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a fantastic diningWe had a fantastic dining experience at La Folie. It is a great place to have a special meal. Overall the service was great. The quality of the food and the presentation was delightful. We had the tasting menu with paired wines. The only criticism we had was that one of four paired wines was not pleasant to our taste. The other three were fantastic. We told our server and she said she would mention it to the sommelier. It would have been nice if he had come over to discuss our concern but no one responded. We enjoyed our evening so much that this negative wasn't that significant for us. Our server even anticipated our need for a cab and as we were walking out, she went into the street and flagged one down. Fantastic.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMLove La Folie! It hasLove La Folie!
It has been my family's favorite restaurant for more than 20 years! My mother/uncle comes here every time when they visit San Francisco & they are never disappointed.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dinner with my spouse.Wonderful dinner with my spouse. We each ordered the 5-course meal and enjoyed every course! Crab salad, butter poached lobster, halibut, filet mignon/wagyu burger/short rib trio, chocolate bread puddiing. all excellently prepared, wonderful tasting and beautifully presented. A very memorable night at our favorite french restaurant in SF.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is wonderful food andThis is wonderful food and service, and I recommend it extremely highly. If I have a reservation (no pun attended), it's only that it's not easy to mix the richer food on the menu with something really light. Maybe the solution is my ordering a three-course meal rather than four.
Wonderful though.3/2/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great restaurantThis is a great restaurant but very expensive. The ambiance and service were excellent.3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMSensational!We are foodies and have dined all over the world. This was one of if not the best dining experiences ever. Absolutely fantastic in every category.2/28/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing! Food was fabulous,Amazing! Food was fabulous, and the presentation was outstanding.2/25/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent dinner ! ThoughfulExcellent dinner ! Thoughful service with very good advices.
i came at La Folie with my daughter ; I have ordered some wine by the glass, generously served.
The Chef came to discuss at the end of the party, it's also a very pleasant moment !
La Folie deserves amply its Michelin star !2/25/2013 12:00:00 AM