Le ColonialStill going strongHad dinner here with my husband a few years ago and returned recently with my in-laws. I had pushed this restaurant, so I was pleased and relieved to find the food, service and ambiance as remembered. The foodies in the group were very pleased with the sea bass wrapped in banana leaves and I was very happy with the dumpling special. Even my young nephew, who is rather conservative in his approach to food at this stage, found items on the menu to enjoy. We will be coming back!6/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a find!!Straight away, my husband and I were really impressed with the look and feel of this restaurant. It had old world charm and elegance all wrapped up in one, when I booked the table over a month ago I had requested a "nice" table as it was our wedding anniversary and sure enough when we were led to our table it was obvious we had been given one of the nicest tables in the restaurant and there was also a little card on the table wishing us a Happy Anniversary!!! This was a lovely touch!!
The food was fantastic and the service was discreet and professional, overall it was a great dining experience, one which I would hope to repeat every time we return to San Fran!! Well done Le Colonial, keep up the good work!6/13/2013 12:00:00 AMA special placeIt is like a time machine taking you back to the French colonial days in Saigon. Food and service are superb and the place is a gem, if you can find it tucked into the alleyway near Post Street. We always go back to Le Colonial when in San Francisco and have never been disappointed with either the food or service.6/2/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat eveningService was not very good, another downside, being seated behind reception desk!6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place for special occasionsThe restaurant is centrally located but feels removed from the city being tucked away off a bright, clean alleyway. The moment you walk in it feels like you're in another place and time. The service was attentive and knowledgeable and food was great. Highlights were the short ribs, ahi tuna, filet mignon and the duck. The room was hosting other large parties, but rarely got too loud. Overall, a very good experience.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMElevated food and ambianceGreat place for most occasions if you are looking for elevated food and ambiance.5/29/2013 12:00:00 AMTalk about a hidden gem! TuckedTalk about a hidden gem! Tucked away in an alley, this restaurant feels like a tropical oasis. (And is a convenient location for pre-theater dining.) The outdoor area made us want to come back for brunch or an afternoon cocktail. The food was delicious. We tried the filet, lamb, tuna and salmon, and all were pleased with our choices. Don't miss the brussel sprout side.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThe setting is beautiful andThe setting is beautiful and very authentic to south east Asia in the colonial period. The rolls were fresh and very good. We had the duck breast and the lemon grass chicken and both were excellent. The stand our dish however was the crispy rice crepe. What a wonderful blend of textures and flavors. The three gelato desserts were all great. Our water glasses were never less than half filled. We would highly recommend dining here although I am sure there are less expensive Vietnamese restaurants, the total experience here is worth the extra cost.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMA Must ExperienceThe setting is out of an old French movie of what Saigon must have been like during the colonial days. The service was flawless, the food was fabulous w/ intriguing ingredients and subtle full palate of flavor. The special of soft shell crab, entree of banana wrapped steamed chilian seabass w/ glassine noodle & mushrooms is a must.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMA Step Back in TimeLe Colonial is of course based on a menu from the days of French Indo China. It has a wonderful decor and the chef has taken the basics of Vietnamese cooking and updated them to a modern taste with a bit of French influence. My date and I split some potstickers filled with three types of seafood, much more sophisticated compared to what one would find elsewhere. I had the lemongrass chicken, delightful preparation of both light and dark meat. I highly recommend Le Colonial for a special treat,5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMElegant Vietnamese style dishesA great find only a block or two from Union Square Park. I'd check out their NYC location now that I'm back home. If it was a little warmer, we'd have asked to sit outside.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent food, choose theExcellent food, choose the appetizer and dish recommended by the waiter. Could not go wrong....5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMy son-in-law recommendedMy son-in-law recommended this restaurant on our visit there and boy were we glad he did. It was absolutely lovely. The food was to die for. I had the sea bass which I highly recommend as well as the brussel sprouts (even if you don't care for them). It was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we have ever had. Will always be on our priority list when ever we visit the city. Wish we had one in our home town!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMProposal Dinner!I added a note on my OpenTable reservation saying it was our Proposal Dinner and they called to ask for something to write on my desert! perfect touch! We had probably the best seat in the house with special decoration just for us: card, roses, ribbons, etc! everyone knew something special was happening! A great night to remember!5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat atmosphere, good foodFood was good. Had the sea bass and my wife had the tuna tartare. Both were very good. Shimp dumplings were a very good appetizer. Other appetizers good only, need a little work. The atmosphere was very cool. The walkway entry and decore definitely fit the 1950's Siagon bill.
The music was excellent. We went on a Thursday night and the swing band that was playing really made a fun party of it. We had a blast after dinner.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMHad a great meal with my daughter.Had a great meal with my daughter. Great food and good conversation. The restaurant and the service lent themselves to this fantastic evening.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGood, but Pricey French-VietnameseElegant place with food that runs from OK to great. Service was just OK..
Fresh rolls were good, though not as good as more humble places in SF serve at half the price. Crab cakes, though, were delicious, as were main dishes Coconut Curry Shrimp and Duck.
Fried rice (shrimp variation) was good, but we had to ask for side plates. (Shrimp was served in bowls full of broth.). The waiter pushed Brussels sprouts vs. our choice - green beans. Guess he forgot that my duck included sprouts already! The sprouts were nicely cooked, but far too sweet for our taste. We left fully half the dish uneaten. And, our waiter pushed a $110 Chateauneuf du Pape; we opted for Bonny Doon's Le Cigare Volant at $50,
Bottom line: good but not great.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat get away for hot nights!After languishing through the first 90 degree day temperature of the year, the evening brought a sublime experience on Le Colonial's veranda, with sensational food and drink and a wait staff that was deft and attentive. Reminded me of my years in Manila forty years ago. Le Colonial never disappoints!5/2/2013 12:00:00 AMOur Favorite Restaurant!Our favorite restaurant in the Union Square area is Le Colonial! We love the food, the service and the decor! We highly recommend the potstickers which are made from shrimp and scallops and very different from those served in Chinese restaurants. We enjoy coming here before we attend a play at the Geary Street Theater which is just a short walk from the restaurant.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have taken San FranciscoWe have taken San Francisco visitors here several times, and we have never been disappointed. The staff is attentive and helpful. Over the years we've learned that some of the dishes and cuisines we love are just "too weird" for less adventuresome friends from out-of-town. The food is both interesting enough for us, and not too strange for our friends. The location is generally a short walk from our friends' hotels. Overall, a lovely experience.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome.Great food, service and ambiance. A bit pricey so save for special occasion.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing food, marginal service.The food and atmosphere were really wonderful. Everything we tried was fantastic. Don't miss out on the brussel sprouts! The only negative was a less than attentive waiter. We waited quite some time for him to arrive after being seated. He apologized and was friendly so we assumed he would be great. That was not the case. We ordered appetizers and had a drink already from the bar, and didn't see him again until we were finished with the appetizers. We ordered our meals, they came, he came by some time later to check on us. We had to flag him down and ask for another drink, as he didn't do so himself.
Again, I'd go back in heartbeat, I just hope the service would be better.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMTasty food, nice ambianceTasty food, nice ambiance and reasonably priced. The service was a little shaky bit overal not bad.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food ambienceWe lucked out and had the best table. valet was great - no heel torture for my girl. Great wine - service and ambience. We could side by side. We were there on a Saturday night - so it was busy but the seating was perfect. Service was even better. Definitely coming back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat space. Great food.Great space.
Great food.
Attentive waitstaff.
Service slowed when restaurant was at peak capacity on Saturday eve.
Was to be expected.
Book an early time for best service.
Place was full.
Be prepared to spend double pre-fix if you are having drinks and coffee.
We spent about $130 per person factoring in a free dinner and drinks for bday guest.
If you go with a group do the $55 pre fix... its the best deal.
Don't bring wine or champagne as $25 corkage is pricy -- we asked ahead of time.
$2 per cupcake serving fee but they waived fee for our party which was very nice.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is a great restaurantThis is a great restaurant overall, the food is excellent, the service probably better if you sit inside as we did seem to wait a bit betwen ordering our drinks and the waiter coming to take our food order- we overheard another couple saying "We thought you had forgotten us" to their waiter, so it wasn't just us, but overall fabulous food, and great ambience, especially upstairs in the bar.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA FindThoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Waiter gave us great recommendations on both food and beverages! Will go back next time in SF!!!!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat ExperienceGreat food and great atmosphere as well. The manager hooked us up with a great table for our anniversary and treated us like royalty. Thank you Le Colonial, we'll be back!4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMWe have been to Le ColonialWe have been to Le Colonial in NY multiple times and have always been very happy with the food and service. First time in San Francisco and we were equally pleased. We sat outside on a cooler night but the heaters made it very pleasant. The food was excellent, lemongrass chicken, halibut, tartare, beans with mushrooms and the pho. The service was great as well!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was good, great combinationFood was good, great combination of flavored, well prepared and nicely presented. GREAT service!4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food, attentiveDelicious food, attentive service, lovely outdoor patio!4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMHostess should wear rubber-healedHostess should wear rubber-healed shoes! Seating each table should not be announced.4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWhen you first step into LeWhen you first step into Le Colonial, it's like going to back in time to Casablanca. I had tried this restaurant on another occasion and was blown away by the food, its presentation, drinks, the service. That was a Sunday night, and reasonably we were well attended. This past visit was on a busy Saturday night and while the food and drinks were still excellent the service was strained to replenish our drinks in a timely manner.
So it would appear the service is variable, I would still highly recommend the restaurant the food is unique, flavorful, and there are still more dishes and drinks I would like to try!4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our second time atThis was our second time at Le Colonial. The food and service were as great as last time. The only issue we had was that we continually had to flag down the server to get our drinks refilled. However, they were very busy. Otherwise everything was wonderful. Save room for dessert. The banana split was wonderful. Four of us shared it.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMPhenomenal atmosphere. FoodPhenomenal atmosphere. Food was good but not exceptional.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMMy cousin's friend who livesMy cousin's friend who lives in San Fran recommended this restaurant. We had a nice time. Our waiter was excellent. The menu is certainly different and unique. My daughter and I had sea bass that was delicious and my wife and other daughter had a unique dish too - my wife said the coconut shrimp dish was just OK. Would definitely go back. Building is beautiful.3/31/2013 12:00:00 AMDreamy Le Colonial is an SF gemAwesome. Food was incredible. Best short rib I've ever had. The theme is jungle-colonial. Perfect lighting. Fit the luxurious and exotic French-Vietnamese cuisine perfectly. Server was nice, stayed out of the way, brought everything in on time, made great wine suggestion. What more do you want from a server?
Overall dreamlike. In a city of outstanding restaurants, this one shines as one of the best.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMOne dinner in San FrancdscoI loved the ambiance. You really felt as if you were in another country. The food was very good. We especially enjoyed the appetizer and the dessert. The chicken soup and the pot stickers were wonderful. The banana split was beautiful and delicious. After dinner we went upstairs to the bar. The band was jazzy, and so many people were dancing. Would definitely want to come back on my next visit to San Francisco and try some other menu items and make time for dancing!3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent service. Food wasExcellent service. Food was very good. Great for special occasions.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMNever had a bad dish here.Never had a bad dish here. Always interesting. Always polite, prompt and accommodating.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMUpscale dining experience.Upscale dining experience. A real find. surprisingly elegant3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic Food and ServiceHad dinner for 3. FANTASTIC FOOD and SERVICE. The Crispy duck rolls were fresh and crispy, The Bo Luc Lac Wok-seared filet mignon was to die for. Don't forget to order the Xu Bruxelles - the best Brussels sprouts you will ever taste. Even my son who hates brussel sprouts, loved these. Then there is the flour-less chocolate cake!!!!!!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMgood food, great service.good food, great service. we had a very nice time.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMLovely Restaurant!Lovely setting! Delicious food!!! Excellent service!! Close to many theaters!!!! We always have the shrimp and scallop potstickers which are fabulous and very different from the usual potstickers you might have at a Chinese restaurant.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMWe went for dinner pre-theatreWe went for dinner pre-theatre and had a wonderful experience. Beautifully prepaed and presented viet dishes. And, the choco flourless cake dessert was amazing. Makes us want to get to unionsquare area more often.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was decent, but maybeThe food was decent, but maybe not for the price point. The ambiance is amazing and jazz in the lounge is definitely worth a visit!1/23/2013 12:00:00 AMFood, service, setting wereFood, service, setting were all exceptional. A real find!12/19/2012 12:00:00 AMGreat Escape near the Theater DistrMy wife & I have been going here many times---but this time our 27 & 25 year old daughters (& their BFs) requested that they take their Mother to a special dinner on her birthday to a place that she loves. The place delivered---the dinner was purfect!!! The staff gave us a table (as per a request we made in the Special Note on Open Table) near the bannister of the stairway to the Bar--- it was conducive to chitchat & very intimate yet buzzling with activities. We got there early---parking in front of the restaurant was convenient---& we spent about 30 min having drinks while the staff prepared our table.11/27/2012 12:00:00 AM