Left Bank Larkspur

Going to Left Bank in Larkspur is a lot cheaper than airfare to Paris - the food is of exceptional quality and menu items are thoughtfully created to please the most discerning palate.

We went for Valentine’s Day for their Valentine pre fix. We’d never been before. Honestly...we found our server, a tall thin woman with glasses and blondish hair, very condescending. We were not the oldest people in the room nor the worst dressed by far, but we were spoken to like we’d never dined out before or were senile. The included glass of sparkling wine came in a 3/4 size flute which I’d never seen before. I will say it was one of the best tasting sparkling wines I’d ever had. However, imagine how we felt when we saw that the tables on either side of us received full size glasses with their prix fix. There’s no way I’d say anything as the extra 2 oz was not worth the condescending reply I knew I’d get. As it is, I had to send the crab bisque back as it was unpleasantly fishy. Crab is one of my favorite foods and at 64 years old I’ve had quite a bit. It’s not fishy but sweet. But of course, when I told the server id like to change it for the onion soup because it was fishy, her reply was “you do know it’s crab, right?”. Uh...yeah.
When we were told about the special, ( which I’d already studied online weeks ago when I made my reservation with the required credit card...yes...I’d decided then we’d come based on the menu) she didn’t mention they were already out of both scallops and the filet. The two things we were coming for. So we opted for the substitute rib eye after we were “schooled” about the difference. Really? And while the rib eye and sauce was delicious, it was a bit chewy and more fat content than I’d preferred to have consumed.
So...we might be back...but we noticed a number of cute looking restaurants in Larkspur which we may opt for instead.

My husband and I and my grandnephew and his wife all went to dinner for Valentine's dinner. We had a lovely time although since the place was packed, service was at first a little slow. But the food came hot and was very good; duck for two of us, steak and scallops for the two others. Nephew's wife was disappointed at the small scoop of ice cream with the chocolate cake and also that it was half-melted when it came, but, the plate was hot for the cake; hard to accomplish both. I think she may not have understood that it was also a gourmet ice cream but that was the only complaint other than that the music was too loud and we had to shout to hear each other.

Although I am a frequent Open Table member, I usually just provide my star ratings for each restaurant and I do not usually write a review. But after tonight, I am compelled to write a post on Open Table. The experience at Left Bank on Valentine's Day was mediocre. We have dined at Left Banks on countless occasions over the years (including Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve) but tonight was extremely underwhelming. The champagne with the prix fixe menu was acceptable but not good. We had to ask the busboy for bread as none was given to us. For my entree, the Yukon gold mashed potatoes were luke warm/almost cold but the filet was cooked perfectly medium rate (as requested). The molten chocolate cake was cold inside - not warm or hot - and the ice cream accompaniment was slightly melted (although the cake was cold inside). And, it was very cold in the restaurant with other diners wearing jackets, coats, etc. at the tables near us. If the temperature was more comfortable, it would have been more inviting and people would have stayed longer and ordered more drinks. Bottom line, the kitchen was obviously under stress for the big holiday and not able to fulfill the customers' needs. I am hesitant to return to Left Bank after all of these years based on the negative experience we had tonight.

We were not expecting a fixed price menu with very limited choices. The choices were not particularly appealing. My companion is a vegetarian and had a difficult time finding something to eat.

Service was excellent. Price was high.

Fantastic as always. Our favorite restaurant. Staff are wonderful and food is delicious.

Overall very memorable

Quickly seated on Valentine’s Day. Great server and the food was wonderful. First time visit, but will not be the last.

Consistently very good food and with great service and atmosphere

Valentine’s Day !
Absolutely perfect afternoon lunch !

We were situated in the back room, so the noise level was better than in the big room.

Fantastic staff, fantastic food, highly recommended.

We had a wonderful time at Happy Hour. Our service was very slow, though, and we had to wave down the water several times.

Left Bank is a reliably good restaurant, and a very good value for the quality of the food. The wait staff are experienced, efficient, and pleasant. It can get noisy, but they have been very helpful in locating us in a quieter spot when requested. We are lucky to have this as a neighborhood restaurant.

Food was delicious as always. Mike is an outstanding server.

Our food was delicious, and the service was excellent. I will be back for sure. It just turned into one of my favorite places. Great menu, good wine, good ambiance.

Sometimes I selfishly avoid writing reviews about my favorite restaurants because I know I am contributing to the increased difficulty getting a table, but honest working people making and serving good food deserve the props. Hands down, Left Bank (Rive Gauche) is my favorite restaurant in Marin - you'd think there would be more good restaurants there but Poggio, Robata and Left Bank are about the only restaurants worth going over the bridge for. Had LB's Mussels Florentine and the Raclette Burger (my husband and I shared them) and they were perfect dishes. We tried the Pear Belle Helene for dessert and I have to say it was just okay. We'll try something else for dessert next time. Anyway, thanks for another delicious meal, Left Bank Larkspur.

When we arrived, our guest had already been seated so receptionist could not find our reservation; took a while, fortunately we say where the guest was seated. Felt a bit hurried by the server, got drinks at the bar because we could not benefit from happy hours at the table. Food was good but not great. Had profiteroles for desert but they were OLD and STALE. Hard to hear each-other: worst part of experience was the NOISE.

We have been going to Left Bank for 25 years and have always enjoyed our dining experience.

This is a wonderful restaurant. Day manager Yuri is an exceptional gentleman who makes sure everyone is taken care of 100%! Staff is great, food is great, ambience so nice. It's really a joy to have a meal there!

Go early before gets too noisy and request a table by the fireplace or sit in the quieter back area. Porcini Mushroom Ravioli is fabulous, Beet Salad very generous & easily shared, Onion Soup is very flavorful, cheesy and served hot, Nicoise Salad w/Ahi tuna can also be easily shared and the House Burger with Raclette Cheese and Bordelaise Sauce very filling and marvelous!

Great Larkspur restaurant and the food is fantastic. I wish they rotated the menu more but that is a minor complaint.

Tables are too close together. You can hear the entire conversation of neighboring tables.

The food was quite delicious. Service excellent.
Unfortunately, we were rushed with another commitment and could not have a more relaxed, lingering dinner. But it was very tasty food.

We arrived, along with with many others, from an event at Lark Theater which had just ended. It was a bit of a madhouse, but things sorted out eventually. The restaurant was so busy that they temporarily ran out of clean cutlery! As always, our food was excellently prepared and presented. We love the Left Bank, in Paris and in Larkspur...aren't we lucky that Larkspur is an 8 minute drive from our house!

Excellent !

I chose Left Bank for my birthday dinner as I knew it would be wonderful. Although I briefly scanned the menu, I knew I would order mussels and frites. The mussels are always amazingly plump and delicious, the frites addictive. My husband enjoyed the short rib and we both ordered the bib lettuce salad. We should have shared a salad - it’s quite a large serving. Although the room was filled, the noise level was comfortable. A lovely evening!

Kara is the best! She is a professional who anticipates our every need and she takes care to see that all is exactly what we expect. She goes above and beyond and all with a smile!
She is a 10!!

A great place to have a relaxing meal and drink in Larkspur.
When I checked in early I requested a seat outside on their patio. I then took a seat at the beautiful bar. The bartender was prompt and friendly; I had a lovely wait.
I was led outside to my table by a gracious host and we chatted for a while and I got a restaurant recommendation for an upcoming trip. The waiter was also very friendly and made sure that I wasn't rushed during my long brunch. From the wine, to the salad, and on to my entree, everything was great and wonderfully paced.
I had a Sancerre, green salad (beautiful butter lettuce and tasty dressing), and very nice lamb sandwich (perfectly done and built).
I couldn't have had a better afternoon.

Had a very nice Sunday brunch outside on the sidewalk. With an overhead heater, it was just fine. Service was excellent; food was very tasty.

We had a reservation at 7:15 PM and were kept waiting for five minutes while the table was being set up. After being seated, our waitress didn’t show up for another five minutes.The French onion soup was placed on the table without a spoon. However, the food was excellent and the service improved towards the end of the meal.

Always excellent service and food. Mike is our favorite server.

Great food and service .. generous portions

The host and hostesses were lovely. The staff was friendly and my waitress was fantastic. My only critique is the attitude from the 2 female bartenders. They acted like I was a bother or a nuisance. Maybe they were just busy, but they could have been friendlier to match that of the rest of the staff.

The server we had this last visit seemed very uninterested in his job. Also never came around to check for beverage refills or see if my wife needed a steak knife for her steak. We had to ask these things from other servers walking past our table.

The quality of the food has really deteriorated. Food had little or no flavor; ingredients seemed to be low quality. Examples: salade verte: the lettuce was wet, so the dressing disappeared; onion soup: the cheese was tasteless--more like American Swiss than gruyere; and so on. We took some food industry guests and were embarrassed.

Friends getting together

Birthday celebration with 5 friends- service was great, food terrific . Love Left Bank!

Left Bank in Larkspar is a real gem of a restaurant! Locals and foodies and families are all welcome and feel valued. The food is excellent every single time! The staff makes us feel welcome and glad we’re joining them for a meal! It is truly a wonderful place for ambience and great food from brunch to dinner!!

The Left Bank is always a good choice to meet your friends for dinner!