great restaurant, with a sister restaurant opening in the north bay. always get the aquavit. service has improved versus last visit. Service still has a ways to go for improving.

While the food, staff, and ambiance was excellent it wasn't worth $150+ for two people. In my ratings this "value" judgment pulled everything down by a star or two. So unless money is no consideration at all, I would not recommend.

Food was unbelievable - so nice to have this type of cuisine. Food was plated beautifully. Gravlax was outstanding - even had a Beet Juice cocktail. Highly recommended!

Plaj & Roberth Sundell creates simple 'out of this world' tasty food, the Swedish background
makes sense, I'm Danish-Norwegian so I'm at home...I wish more people would be at home when is comes to simple Scandinavian food. Please if you wanna get a flair for it...GO, you will return & never regret it!

Thank you Andrea, Roberth, Gary & Simon!!

Th gnochis were unusual and outstanding. Herring portions could have besn more generous.

The menu is so amazing that we were challenged to make a decision -- and that almost never happens! And then, well, the follow through was incredible. We had a perfect pre-theater evening. Thank you.

Initially we loved this elegant, traditional restaurant b/c it was quiet and conducive to conversation; however, our last two visits we’ve had to endure a large and very loud group next to us. Also, the lighting was so dim that we could not read the menu w/o using the flashlight from our iPhones. So, we didn’t feel the whole experience a good value this time and were a bit disappointed. I’m sure we will return to give it another try b/c it’s so convenient for the Opera House.

Everything was amazing. The food was incredible and the service outstanding. We’ll definite be back.

The "spring menu" totally captured the season. Very creative food, delicious cocktails, terrific service. One of the best pre-ballet/symphony options.

Delicious, & creative dishes. Could be loud if the restaurant is full.
This is one for my top neighborhood restaurants.
If your idea of Swedish food is Ikea, then you don't need to come to Plaj.

Loved everything

Top notch. Great service, great menu.

We've been to Pläj at least ten times over the past couple of years. It's our favorite restaurant in San Francisco (and tied for favorite anywhere). It's not easy to serve food that is at once "of a place," as well as "from a place" (in this case Scandinavia), as well as creative. Pläj achieves all of that, every time, with every dish. This is definitely a restaurant where you should *never* shy away from anything (including the terrific cocktails) because it sounds "unlikely." Some of the unlikeliest sounding items on their menus have been the best.

Birthday celebration

The menu had so many great choices that I had trouble deciding and ate too much food--all delicious.

Every dish was better than the last! I highly recommend and I will definitely be back.

This intimate and cozy restaurant is located on the ground floor of The Inn at the Opera. Our family was visiting San Francisco, and we met a local friend for dinner at PLAJ. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals - it was all tasty, inventive, and fresh. The service was attentive and unobtrusive, and the quiet atmosphere allowed for conversation.

Took my date there on a wednesday night to celebrate a new job landing. It was nicer than I expected. The bartender recommended the swedish gold while I waited. It was a very delicious and different cocktail. I had 2. We had the elk and artic cod, both of which were really tasty. It wasn't a very big place so it had an intimate feel to it. Older crowd, low lighting and elegant decor. I was impressed by both the ambience, the food, and the service. Very nice. Will go again as well as recommend the place to family and friends.

Delicious food in a quiet atmosphere where you can actually enjoy the conversation with your friends or loved ones.

Plaj exemplifies that which lifts: the chef's imagination & skill lifts the cuisine from "good" (3 stars) to "special" (4 stars); the cuisine and ambience lift the diner from "satisfied" to "pleased"; the subtlety that lifts flavors from pleasantly identifiable to savory wonder.
Examples: the salad ingredients and vinaigrette were unique, very fresh, unusually tasty; the cauliflower soup offered perfect texture and a minimal amount of truffle oil just sufficient to brighten the flower; the 3-way herring appetizer was delicious, fun, and distinctly 3 ways; the duck and saddle of elk perfectly grilled and featuring subtle sauces, herbs, starches, fruit & vegetables mixed to bring smile to the game AND the diner. We look forward to repeat enjoyments at Plaj.

This was our third or fourth time at Plaj and always in conjuction with the Opera or Ballet. This continues to put out authentic Scandinavian cuisine presented creatively. We absolutely love the foie gras, gravlaxa and the other dishes. Ask for the bread. It comes in it's own bag, is warm and sits on a cutting board. Our server was excellent: attentive, informative and professional. Always a go to spot for us, especially if we're staying there at the Inn at the Opera.

Great restaurant close to Davies Symphony Hall. The caviar appetizer is a winner, as are the lamb shoulder and elk entrees.

We've always respected the food at Plaj but not the service. Our cocktails came after we'd been there almost half an hour. We often had to remind the staff that we had a concert to make by 8. They kept telling us that there was a crowd of people who had a 7:30 deadline and that these people had priority over us. And we had to beg for our check so that we could rush out to make our concert. This has happened at all but one of our visits to Plaj. Yes, the food is unique to San
Francisco, and we certainly enjoyed what we ate, but after leaving we decided this would be our last time. Throughout our almost two hours there we were made to feel that the staff was doing us a favor to allow us to eat there. If the owner could train his staff properly, we'd be delighted to return.

Noise level especially at the big, wide table is awful! Cannot hear across the country table.

We've always enjoyed Plaj -- for its authenic food and interesting menu. We did have to insist that we (2) be given separate menus. We are two ladies who only get together once in awhile.
Our waitress finally agreed.

Incredible place, really great and tasty food, original cocktails, the place is beautifully designed

We have been to PLAJ several times over the years before an Opera or Symphony. We have always enjoyed it, but the present prices have elevated eating in the CIvic Center area to a new (much higher) level. We will not return anytime soon.

We loved the feeling and atmosphere. The cocktails were very creative and delicious as was the food.

Full disclosure: I am an employee at the hotel, Inn at the Opera, where this restaurant is located in.

This is a phenomenal restaurant! Totally delicious and unique menu options that you really can't get anywhere else in the Bay Area. The flavor combinations are certainly different, but everything on the plate compliments and contrasts so well with one another. I highly recommend the Taste of Herring and the Beef Cheek. If you're looking for something a little more familiar then definitely go with their Swedish Meatballs. Also, they have a number fantastic desserts so make sure to save some room; my personnel favorite is the Princess Cake.

The staff is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant itself has charm out the wazoo! I recommend getting a reservation in advance, because the restaurant can fill up quite quickly. But, they do have a bar seating area that is first come first serve, so definitely give it a shot even if you can't get a reservation.

Besides the excellent food, the Management was very accommodating to our request that we wanted to eat a little earlier than our res

Attentive service, delicious food delivered in a timely manner.

We arrived very late as we were at the ballet prior. They sat us right next to a cozy fireplace which was lovely! The overall dining experience was excellent from the cocktails to the wine and of course the food. The service was attentive, and even though it was late, we never felt rushed. We will definitely be back.

This was a surprise and a delight! And every dish was well-balanced and full of flavor, and service remained attentive even during what was obviously a major rush. A new favorite in the city…

Another INCREDIBLE dinner from my favorite SF restaurant!!!!

This place was surprisingly good! I liked the menu and reserved it on a whim, but am so happy I did! The chef likes to play with texture and flavor in a way that is creative and surprising and enjoyable. The Gravalax with rye crumbs was one of my favorites. Also loved the lobster with potato chips (yes, potato chips). I did not try one of the Acquavit drinks, but will have to do so on another visit.

Good service and delicious food. The home made Swedish Rye bread is fabulous! Just like my Grandmother used to make and so hard to find anywhere but at Plaj.

Exceptional. Food and service superb. My new favorite in SF.

If you want to have a quiet conversation, recommend going early before it gets full. Even then, noise level is better than a lot of other places unless you are beside a big party (we weren't, but have been in the past). Food and service excellent.

The service and ambiance is great. Plating and presentation are beautiful, but some of the plates like the gnocchi could use some more depth either seasoning or ingredient. The northern lights dessert and coffee are insanely good! Value is okay in comparison to similar fine dining in the area.

The food is a Astoshingl The lobster in lobster foam was remarkable. Robert Sundell is a very talented chef. I had the semla cake which is only on the menu in February.