Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

Name: Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF
Address: 398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA, United States, 94102
Telephone: (415) 551-1590
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

7031 Reviews

$31 to $50

French

Top Tags:

We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.

Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
French, Californian
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(415) 551-1590
Website
http://www.absinthe.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Ian Begg

Location
398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhood
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
Cross street
Gough
Parking details
No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Experiences

New Year's Eve Celebration
$175.00 per person
Dec 31, 2023 only
Chef Ian's New Year's menu will ring in 2024 with a four-course meal and an amuse-bouche. Additional supplements will also be available to enhance this menu. Wine Pairing will be available (Must be 21 years old) Please note any allergies and dietary restrictions when making reservations.

Popular dishes

Soupe à L'Oignon$17.00
Onion Soup Gratinèe
Celery Root Soup$16.00
Bacon, Apple, Celery, Chive Puree
Roasted Beet & Apple Salad$17.00
Crispy Goat Cheese, Chicories, Pomegranate, Walnut Vinaigrette
Mixed Greens Salad$12.00
Pear Vinaigrette, Fines Herbs
Dungeness Crab Salad$29.00
Avocado Mousse, Creme Fraiche, Ruby Grapefuit, Tarragon

Plats Principaux

Quiche Lorraine$17.00
Bacon, Leek, Gruyère, Mixed Greens Salad
Pain Perdu French Toast$18.00
Pineapple Brulee, Brown Butter, Maple, Chantilly Cream
Eggs Benedict$23.00
Pain De Mie Toast, Spinach, Bacon, Crispy Potatoes
Salade Lyonnaise$21.00
Duck Confit, Soft-Cooked Egg, Mushroom, Frisee, Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Petrale Sole Meuniere$37.00
Capers, Butter, Lemon, Turmeric, Potato Purée, Crispy Sage
Absinthe Black Truffle Cheeseburger$32.00
Half Pound Niman Ranch Beef Patty, Pt. Reyes Tomatruffle Cheese, Garlic Aioli, Grilled Onions, Chicories, Pommes Frites
Steak Frites$52.00
Grilled New York Strip Loin, Haricots Verts, Mizuna, Bordelaise, Bearnaise

Garnitures

Pommes Frites$12.00
Aioli, Ketchup
Warm Acme Roll$3.00
Whipped Butter with Sea Salt
Roasted Root Vegetables$15.00
Persillade
Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes$12.00
Duck Fat
Fruit Plate$12.00
Seasonal Selection of Fruit

What 7,031 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco
French

7,031 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
Overall2Food3Service1Ambience3
Service and drinks were not very good We were charged quite a bit for watered down cocktails.
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RO
RosemaryO
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Fabulous as always. We were seated in a lovely window area. Our wait person was delightful. Professional and friendly. She gave us great service. Our meals were over the top delicious. Thank you to all of those who helped make our evening so wonderful!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
As always, AMAZING! First time tried the duck and it was superb! The service was incredible. One negative thing is $5 PER ONE DINNER ROLL. Kinda too much...
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KA
KateA
San Francisco
66 reviews
vip
4.0
66 reviews
Dined on November 30, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
We've been coming to Absinthe for several decades! We love the food, staff, ambiance, wine list, etc! Lots of variety and the servers always listen to our needs or requests. Dinner can feel a bit rushed when we have a performance to get to, but it's no one's fault!
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V
Virginia
San Francisco
16 reviews
5.0
16 reviews
Dined on November 29, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Lovely lunch. Food was delicious and service was excellent.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 27, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent food. Professional and courteous customer service. Terrific dining experience in Hayes Valley.
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SL
SonomaLoLo
San Francisco
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
As always before our annual concert around the corner, bunch was great in every way. We were running late due to parking, but our superb server made it work out perfectly. All our dishes were tasting,and beautifully presented. We lucked out to have a bay window table amidst the chic brasserie ambience.
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DM
DanM
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on November 26, 2023
Overall4Food5Service5Ambience5
My wife and I were going to SFJAZZ for a 3PM (on Sunday) concert and wanted a light meal beforehand. Absinthe is a short walk away so we booked a table. It had been a decade or more since we had dined there. Late lunch was something new. The cocktails are excellent. I had one (I've forgotten the name) that had calvados, lime and absinthe. I had to have something with absinthe and it was really really good. It accompanied a light meal that included raw oysters and French onion soup (okay, not so light). My wife had eggs benedict (and they accommodated her wish for the eggs to be scrambled). Food was served promptly. The waiter was quite friendly and personable. All-in-all it was a good time for us, tho I have to admit, it is not a low-priced lunch.
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M
Mauraan
Seattle
28 reviews
vip
3.0
28 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2023
Overall3Food2Service5Ambience5
Used to be a fave. Sadly food has slipped. Still love the service and environment!
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LG
LisaG
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A wonderful place for a holiday celebration with family and friends. The food was fantastic, the service professional and friendly, and the atmosphere festive. Couldn't have been better. Thank you!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on November 25, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent food and service. Our waiter encouraged us, by offering tastes, to try wines we were not familiar with. We ended up finding a new favorite!
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DR
DanR
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great table. Great waiter named David. He took good care of us and got us out in time for us to make our concert at Davies.
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AW
AudreyW
Exclusive
7 reviews
vip
4.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 20, 2023
Overall4Food3Service5Ambience5
The onion soup and burger and fries are always good but my sole was very bland
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FJ
FoodJunkie
San Francisco
36 reviews
vip
5.0
36 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
Perfect place for lunch before the Opera or symphony and any other even in the Civic Center area.
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B
Benedikt
San Francisco
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall2Food1Service3Ambience3
mixed drinks seem to be specialty, few, but good, wines seems little attention to food, as if no real cooks there desultory menu, few choices I would not return again, except for a drink If you want real cooking, don't go here
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AM
AmberM
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Lovely place. Tasty menu. A bit hgher end in price. $400 dollar tab for four people, included 3 cocktails each, two appetizers, and 4 entrées. Definitely would go again.
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D
Dave
San Francisco
21 reviews
5.0
21 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
great food and cocktails, great service, and wonderful ambiance.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great food, service and atmosphere. Highly recommended.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 19, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Delicious food and excellent service. Looking forward to going again!
Is this helpful?
JN
JeanN
San Francisco
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on November 18, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Our food was delicious, server really on top of things, beautiful restaurant. This is a favorite place to eat before attending a performance and it's also great for brunch!
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PC
PascaleC
Yosemite
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on November 17, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience4
The food was good. The prices are way too high for basic French food; well prepared but nothing outstanding. The service was great and the atmosphere nice. I will not go back because the cost is outrageous.
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C
Claudia
Tahoe
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 16, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Delicious food, great cocktails and outstanding service!
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C
Coco
San Francisco
166 reviews
vip
5.0
166 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
The food was scrupulously delicious! The staff was welcoming and attentive.
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MF
MarilynF
San Francisco
6 reviews
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2023
Overall4Food5Service3Ambience5
We like the food and ambiance at Absinthe. This time, the mains came quickly and before the oysters we expected as an appetizer. We canceled the oysters!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2023
Overall4Food4Service5Ambience5
Love Absinthe for pre-show dining. It has gotten wildly expensive so we have to save it for special occasions but service is outstanding and drinks and food are as great as ever. Happy to see this place still bustling (on a Sunday no less) after so many years in business. Always a good time, no regrets about the splurge!
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S
Shawn
San Francisco
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 6, 2023
Overall2Food4Service2Ambience5
The service was not up to the standard and expectations for a high priced restaurants such as Absinthe. The forks were not replaced after the appetizers prior to the main course. We ordered and paid for dinner rolls and the table top was covered with bread scrums and was not removed prior to presenting the desert menu. There were a lot of wait time between after the main courses were finished and we were very surprised that the service staff did not take the time to clean the table top. The wait staff did not offer refilling the coffee. Again, for a restaurant with such menu and cost, the coffee refill was always offered in other restaurants.
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FL
FoodLover
San Francisco
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on November 5, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience4
We went to brunch before the opera. The waiter was prompt and efficient, with an engaging personality. We had the truffle burger (delicious) and the eggs Benedict (delicious). I was impressed with the whole experience. We will add the restaurant to out "go to" before the opera, ballet or SJ Jazz.
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AZ
AnneZ
San Francisco
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Wonderful place to eat Sunday brunch before or after visiting an Asian Art Museum exhibit.
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A
Al12cor
San Francisco
79 reviews
vip
5.0
79 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
It is always wonderful to dine in this charming place where the food is excellent and the service warm. Thanks for being there.
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HV
HappyVisitor
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall5Food5Service4Ambience4
Absinthe has become one of our favorite restaurants in SF. The food is delicious, traditional French but not super-heavy, the menu is seasonal and interesting, the staff is lovely. A really great choice for a pre-show treat.
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5
5oclockdiner
San Francisco
5 reviews
vip
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2023
Overall4Food4Service4Ambience4
Always love going there. Best Manhatten cocktail you will find.
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AM
AliciaM
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 3, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
A San Francisco classic. I've been going here on and off since 2006 and it never disappoints.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Delightful experience dining at Absinthe. The ambiance is cozy and retro, the servers are awesome, and the food was delicious.
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CS
CSdiner
San Francisco
97 reviews
vip
5.0
97 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Always a great spot to dine leisurely or have dinner before an event. Food is great
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JR
JoeR
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 2, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Food was Very good before, excellent now. Limited but excellent menu choices. Perfectly cooked sole. Very good to excellent service.
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AI
AlevtinaI
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Great restaurant with delicious food, cozy environment and excellent service!
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O
peggyO
San Francisco
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2023
Overall3Food3Service5Ambience5
Duck was good but nothing else on the plate was eaten. Scallops and octopus great but pretty expensive. Sole was fine. Was hard to select something on the menu--most not applealing.
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JM
JMJSF
San Francisco
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Absolutely fabulous! The food was magnificent, the suggested wine pairings perfect, and the ambience- as always - perfection. I feel that so many San Francisco restaurants are over blown, but Absinthe never fails to deliver.. Simply wonderful.
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SH
SheranH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 26, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Excellent Pan Seared Duck and Gnocchi. Would highly recommend the Corpse Reviver cocktail. It had a lovely citrus balance. However the bent third cocktail was just too strong and did not taste great.
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KR
KaraR
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 26, 2023
Overall5Food5Service5Ambience5
Wonderful place for Anniversary dinner. Champagne upon sitting and super attentive servers and staff. Highly recommend for your special occasions.
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Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff temperature check required

FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.7 stars by 7031 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Dec 8, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 38 times today

Experiences are available.

Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

Cross street
Gough
Neighborhood
Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
Hours of operation
Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
French, Californian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Ian Begg
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.absinthe.com/
Phone number
(415) 551-1590

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

Make a reservation

Additional information

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New Year's Eve Celebration

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Petrale Sole Meuniere

Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio 'Nicoise'

Fruits de Mer

Tsar Nicoulai Caviar$75.00

Oyster Selection$5.00

Chilled Mussels a L'Escabeche$15.00

Patisserie

Pistachio-Blackberry Croissant$9.00

Apple & Quince Poptart$8.00

Plats Premiers

Soupe à L'Oignon$17.00

Celery Root Soup$16.00

Roasted Beet & Apple Salad$17.00

Mixed Greens Salad$12.00

Dungeness Crab Salad$29.00

Plats Principaux

Quiche Lorraine$17.00

Pain Perdu French Toast$18.00

Eggs Benedict$23.00

Salade Lyonnaise$21.00

Petrale Sole Meuniere$37.00

Absinthe Black Truffle Cheeseburger$32.00

Steak Frites$52.00

Garnitures

Pommes Frites$12.00

Warm Acme Roll$3.00

Roasted Root Vegetables$15.00

Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes$12.00

Fruit Plate$12.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

How is Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF restaurant rated?

Is Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

San Francisco’s Most Iconic Restaurants

West Coast Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day