How is Saison restaurant rated?

Name: Saison
Address: 178 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA, United States, 94107
Telephone: (415) 828-7990
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.6

Saison

4.6

733 Reviews

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Top Tags:

Sourcing each item from the surrounding land, Saison highlights the abundant resources of the San Francisco Bay Area. Each morning a new menu is crafted based on the finest offerings from our network of small farms, ranches, and fisheries.

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Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Dinner Only Tuesday through Saturday: 5:30pm-9:30pm Please note that reservations at 7:30pm are located at the bar, NOT in the dining room
Phone number
(415) 828-7990
Website
http://www.saisonsf.com/
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Chef / Owner: Joshua Skenes
Private party facilities
Please contact the restaurant for Private Dining/Party Information.

Location
178 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighborhood
SOMA
Cross street
Between 2nd and 3rd
Parking details
We offer complimentary valet parking.
Additional
Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 733 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

4.6

4.6 based on all time ratings

4.6Food
4.7Service
4.5Ambience
3.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

E
Evanfryer90
Vancouver
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 28, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Absolutely incredible dining and all around experience. Not to be forgotten any time soon .
H
Hyyily0525
New York Area
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on November 14, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
When I visited Saison 3 years ago, everything was exceptional and always wanted to visit again. I am so happy that I am finally back again to San Francisco to revisit this restaurant. The service is outstanding and everyone knows what they are doing and their food and beverage knowledge is really in-depth. Special thanks to Mason , Dakota and Giacomo for their great hospitality! The environment is casual and there is music at the background but the music is at the perfect volume. The way chefs prep their food is so simple and they really focus on the technique of traditional cooking and the ingredients of the food. You can really taste the original flavor of the food without overdoing it or using crazy garnishes. I also did the wine pairing and each glass pairs very well with the food. Overall, this is my favorite restaurant in the Bay area and will definitely revisit again in the future!!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 11, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
ｉlove this restaurant
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on November 4, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was the best meal and dinning experience I have ever had. I have had the opportunity to dine at French Laundry, Meadow Wood, Eleven Madison Park and many others. This took first prize. Can't say enough about the food, the staff and the experience. Highly recommend!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
15 reviews
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
I received my birthday congratulation from Saison. Really great!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Superb... Apart from the Buckwheat tea. Yuck.
EI
EugeneI
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 27, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Best restaurant ever.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
1.0
1 review
Dined on October 17, 2017
overall1food5service1ambience5
Poor service
CG
ChrisG
New York Area
39 reviews
vip
5.0
39 reviews
Dined on October 14, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Saison is everything we thought it would be and more. Chef table ambience with every minute detail handled with grace and ease. A fine dining experience without the any pretense. DIner comfort and exquisite experience are the mantra of all restaurant staff . Worthwhile in every way.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
6 reviews
vip
4.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 7, 2017
overall4food4service3ambience2
I am afraid that the high expectations set both by reputation and pricing are unmet by Saison. We were seated at a table in the bar area that was cramped and seemed like a second class table to the main seating area. We almost asked to move. The wine list is impressive, but so voluminous as to be pretentious, which, by the way, is a major problem for Saison. The amount of pretense is more than any restaurant we have been, including other lesser-Michelin-starred restaurants. The food was excellent, though, the poultry course served to my wife was severely under-cooked, even by game bird standards. Credit to the staff for addressing that issue by deducting the cost of the wine pairings. Frankly, that was probably too much given the issue. Overall, the food was very good and very creative, but the pricing is not justified. I would not go back and I would not recommend Saison, even for a special occasion. We have been to several one-starred and multiple two-star restaurants that are more deserving if this is the standard for three stars.
T
Tony
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 3, 2017
overall5food5service4ambience5
Best restaurant in California. Great and interesting food
OT
OpenTable Diner
Sydney
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2017
overall3food4service4ambience3
A very nice restaurant, but for the price it did not come up to the standard of other worldwide top restaurant we have dined out.
KC
KellyC
Charleston
22 reviews
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on September 14, 2017
overall5food4service5ambience4
The most expensive meal you'll ever have.. savor every note. Love the staff and chefs.
CT
ChesterT
London
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2017
overall3food4service4ambience4
A rather expensive dinner at $1800 for 3 persons with one bottle of wine, food was good but not great. Service was not 3 Michelin level for all dishes. Overall overpriced, under delivered.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on September 6, 2017
overall4food4service5ambience4
This is a restaurant for special occasions, high-end, Michelin 3 stars. So you already know you need to pay a lot for the food, service and atmosphere. Total cost around $600 person without wine pairing. Is good to try if you never been. Now restaurant have antelope to serve during the meal, if you like that kind of meat then this is the place, also they serve Santa Barbara uni is creamy, big piece not sweet as Hokkaido one, but they find the balance to serve for their uni toast or uni on avocado. I like their persimmon dessert, dry age for 2 weeks to let the sugar concentrate then on top just put a bit whisky for touch up. And learned the way to eat soft persimmon without dirty hands.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 2, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fabulous! Particularly wonderful vegetables.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Chicago
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 2, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and wine were excellent & the hospitality was over the top!
CW
CristinaW
San Francisco
115 reviews
vip
5.0
115 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Really a don't miss! Very inventive dishes. Loved every Bite!
KC
KrisC
San Francisco
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on August 26, 2017
overall2food2service2ambience1
I was very much disappointed with Saison. I was looking forward to a birthday dinner with my boyfriend and for the amount of money spent and the fact that this is a 3 star restaurant I was baffled by the ambiance and service. No dress code, so individuals came in wearing jeans while rock hits were jamming on the speakers. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of these things but not for what I thought would be an intimate dinner to celebrate or what I expected as a two thousand dollar meal. To top it off, they did not remember my boyfriend's birthday. All in all, there are WAY better options in the city for a more reasonable price.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 26, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
You will not be disappointed. From the 1st course to the last, it was so enjoyable. Get ready for a great dining experience! Great people, great food, great wines, and a place to have a great dinner. All the best!
DJ
DeanJames
San Francisco
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2017
overall3food3service4ambience3
A number of courses requires you eat with your fingers - messy, can splatter onto yourself or your dinner date; not what I expect for a 3 star Michelin restaurant. Music was way too loud! Decor was mediocre. Food was Ok, nothing worth mentioning, not a good value at $400 a person - I'd price it at $195.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tampa
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 12, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was amazing. Loved the laid back atmosphere. Would def recommend to anyone.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 11, 2017
overall4food4service5ambience4
The food was good, and at times excellent, but for the price it was underwhelming. There were two standout dish (considering plating, taste and experience) and a few other dishes which felt like they weren't completely thought through. For example, there was a course which was 1/2 a bbq quail which came on a white plate with no other items, sauces, flavors or textures. It was also served without utensils, had bbq sauce (messy) and had lots of little bones, so it wasn't easy to eat - or even compelling. I will say I really enjoyed the atmosphere and service, though my dining partner didn't like it. She prefers French Laundry style service. I'm glad I've checked it off the list but all things considered I'd recommend Benu or French Laundry for fine dining in San Francisco.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Antonio
3 reviews
3.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 9, 2017
overall3food3service4ambience5
My wife and I went here while on vacation in San Francisco. We didn't love the experience and after waiting several days to think it over our minds didn't change. As a Michelin 3* I feel like the bar was set pretty high and they didn't meet our expectations. The wait staff was very attentive and had a friendly demeanor throughout the evening, but didn't do a great job of explaining what we were eating on several of the dishes. Multiple times we had something sat in front of us with nothing said at all. The wines were also not described in any detail that couldn't be read on the label. The food was probably the worst part of the meal. Everything was "cooked over the embers" as they liked to say, but the flavor from that method was almost overwhelming on several of the dishes and downright unpleasant on others. We had to eat multiple dishes with our fingers, which we both thought was odd. One, maybe two, would have been ok, but I believe there were 4 total. The half quail we had to eat off the bone with out hands was severely under cooked. So much so that I couldn't eat about 1/4 of it because it was almost raw. The atmosphere was fun and mostly enjoyable. they played 80's music, there was a moderate noise level, but it certainly wasn't too loud, the decor and design inside was very pleasing and unique. Enough to enjoy but not over the top in any specific direction. At the end of the night we got a copy of the menu. That might have been better served at the beginning so we knew what we were eating before we ate it. They also gave us a container of their smoked salt which our waiter explained is used to season literally everything. They may want to reconsider that because there wasn't much range in flavor. Overall it wasn't a terrible experience, but when you're a Michelin 3* charging $300 a person and another $300 for a wine pairing and adding 20% gratuity on every check I think you should provide a flawless experience and ours was far from it.
b
bugman
New York Area
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Spectacular food. Antelopes was one of the best meat dishes I've had.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
30 reviews
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on August 4, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
I was amazed at the caliber of cooking present here. The attention to the finest detail, simplest preparation, highest quality and FRESHEST ingredients is analogous to Japan. Each dish is extremely thoughtful and while most everything is essentially pretty simple and far from decorated/ostenatious, it is all in the fine details and process where Saison shines. To add, all/most of the products are grown on Skenes Ranch and made in-house; the honey-butter, 3-month fermented hot sauce, preserved tomatoes. You're getting ultra quality ingredients cultivated by a chef whom like Japanese chefs, understand the importance of the highest quality ingredients and how its flavor changes over time. In terms of cooking, I was aware of Josh's use of fire and roasting over the flames and was expecting a stronger note of charcoal/wood imparted on each dish, but they are incredibly conscious of this fact and use wood that imparts the most mild flavor to maintain the integrity of the dish while adding a slight kiss of smoke flavor. The rest of the dishes were also extremely well thought out, maintaining a balance of the 5 tastes. While some may be against the use of fruits for dessert, it's pretty traditional for Asian cuisine and I appreciated it since any cakes or parfaits would be indulgent. The ice cream and fruits were a phenomenal way to end the meal. The herb tea at the beginning and smoked barley tea at the end were also incredible ways to both start and end a meal; whetting the appetite and aiding in digestion and counteracting the desserts. I would definitely buy the smoked barley tea (and hot sauce) if it were at all possible! Service; impeccable. Warm, efficient, and jovial. Each dish was carefully explained and chefs were more than willing to answer questions. HUGE wine lists. Overall, Saison is an experience that I will gladly return to (hopefully each season). To me the price is well justified for the quality of ingredients and thoughtfulness of preparation.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on August 4, 2017
overall4food4service5ambience5
This is an interesting place. It's lively and fun and casual. The ingredients are superb. Several of the dishes were outstanding and memorable.
GH
GeorgeH
San Francisco
23 reviews
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on August 1, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service is off the charts these days. 2nd time I've eaten here in the last 4 months. They are taking their elevated status to heart.
CA
ChrisA
New York Area
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on July 28, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great Vietnamese upscale fare. Try the shaking beef and Singapore sling.
AW
AzadehW
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 26, 2017
overall5food5service4ambience5
The food was delicious and the service was great. However, service was a tad long; 10 course dinner lasted 4.5 hours. Also, value is good but pricier than restaurants with similiar quality.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazingly delicious.
A
Alexbz
Las Vegas
17 reviews
3.0
17 reviews
Dined on July 20, 2017
overall3food2service5ambience3
The food is different (Taste Menu), but really doesn't taste a like 3 Stars Michelin. For such a expensive taste menu course should be memorable, but, it was not as good as other 3 Stars Michelin I have tried.
AO
AceOne
Dallas
316 reviews
vip
4.0
316 reviews
Dined on July 7, 2017
overall4food4service5ambience5
Be warned: there is no menu and you will not know until the end what you are being charged. It will require a second mortgage on your house to pay the bill. I have eaten at really high end places and never come close to the bill I was presented with. Tip is included but that is on top of $1,000 bill for 2. After taxes more than 1300. The food was good but not all that innovative. The service was impeccable but it should be. The ambience is ok. Difficult to find parking but they do have Valet parking. Didn't know that until I was parked
x
xiekeping
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 4, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
it's very good.It's the best restaurant in California.
BB
BerkeleyBear
San Francisco
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 29, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a wonderful dinner, loved the tiny bouquet of fresh flowers in my tea cup, many things delighted me, but what stuck with me the most was the cocktails, especially the milk punch, the preparation and show was worthy of the drink.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Adelaide
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 16, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Thanks for the attention, my boyfriend has a Great fathers day!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Brilliant food, creativity and attention to detail at the table
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on June 14, 2017
overall5food3service5ambience5
It was my first time visiting Saison, 14 course meal, man oh man, the food took us on an amazing journey. One comes after another, and each ties in with great harmony. There was an absolute climax with the meal and it was a gradual journey down as we were approaching dessert. It was magical. Truly magical.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Austin
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 14, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food and service were great! Great experience, it is definitely pricey! Would liked to of seen the meal finish on a higher note then just wild local berries although they were tasty.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 13, 2017
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent place for dating. Terrific food with a romantic atmosphere.

FAQs

Saison is rated 4.6 stars by 733 OpenTable diners.