Diners' Choice: French restaurants in San Francisco

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall French cuisine in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Le Parc Bistrobar

4.8

4.8 (227)

$30 and under

French

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Le Parc Bistrobar is a delightful French restaurant in Union Square, San Francisco, nestled within the Galleria Park Hotel. Led by the renowned 2-star Michelin Chef Bruno Chemel, this bistro offers a culinary escapade that perfectly complements the city's refined tastes. The menu at Le Parc Bistrobar is a tribute to classic French cuisine, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients that bring out the rich, traditional flavors in every dish. The lounge bar provides a wide variety of wines and cocktails to enhance the gourmet experience.

Top review

Auclair

Dined 2 days ago

Enjoyed the wild mushrooms Medley and the Wagyu Beef, exceptional food and delicious, service flawless, will tell all my friends about this new discovery. 🤩

Chapeau

4.8

4.8 (3785)

$31 to $50

French

Richmond District

About the restaurant

Discover the essence of French culinary excellence at Chapeau! SF, a beloved bistro nestled in the heart of San Francisco since 1996. Celebrated for its warm ambiance and impeccable service, Chapeau! offers a delightful dining experience featuring both prix fixe and à la carte menus.

Indulge in our weekday limited prix fixe menu at $55 per person, or savor the $75 prix fixe menu available every night, allowing you to select any appetizer, entrée, and dessert. For those who prefer flexibility, our à la carte menu is also available anytime.

Chapeau! SF is dedicated to serving authentic French cuisine with a modern twist, curated by our expert chefs. Join us at 126 Clement Street and let us transport you to the heart of France with every bite.

A bientôt!

Top review

CocoVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing experience! Authentic French food — service was exceptional.

L'Ardoise

4.8

4.8 (3458)

$31 to $50

French

The Castro

About the restaurant

French Bistro serving traditional and authentic fare in a cozy atmosphere.

Top review

RaphaelVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Great neighbourhood gem. We loved the food- authentic French. Service and ambiance were great as well. Definitely recommended!

Cote Ouest

4.9

4.9 (872)

$30 and under

French

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

Côte Ouest Bistro is a contemporary French bistro led by partners Laurent Monchicourt & Martin Sarrailh. In April 2021, the pair transformed the former Baker Street Bistro into a modern 21st century neighborhood gem. At the heart of Laurent and Martin's partnership lies a shared dream: to create a restaurant that embraces guests like family, offering a haven where they can delight in delectable food and wine, surrounded by warm companionship.

Nestle into one of the bay window seats and enjoy conversation over a plate of charcuterie with the perfect glass of Bordeaux. Chef Sarrailh prepares seasonal specialties as well as favorite French classics like Steak Frites and Duck Confit. The custard-soaked Croissant French Toast is not to be missed if you stop by for brunch on the sunny terrace.

Côte Ouest Bistro has been featured in Forbes magazine and The Infatuation and was named one of the "Top 100 Brunch Restaurants in the Nation 2024" by Open Table.

Top review

NikkiVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Great staff and feels like the perfect neighborhood spot.

Discover more

Popular dish

French Onion Soup

Popular dish

French Onion SoupSoup of the day

Popular dish

Duck Confit

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.7

4.7 (7444)

$31 to $50

French

Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

About the restaurant

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

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

Top review

RudiVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Always wonderful at Absinthe! Service, food and location! All excellent!

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (1790)

$30 and under

French

Pacific Heights

About the restaurant

Florio offers a variety of trattoria & bistro classics; a "greatest hits" of rustic cafe food- including Steak Frites and pan-roasted heirloom Chicken.
We feature a market-to-table local fish offering daily (as available).
Simple dishes such as Seafood Stew and house-made seasonal Pasta round out the comforting menu.
Veal, Pork & Ricotta meatballs are an everyday favorite with our regulars!

The menu changes daily to make the most of local, seasonal, organic meat, fish, and produce.
A small but savvy wine list of exceptional Napa producers, Italian specialties, and French vintners competes at the amiable bar with an admirable selection of pastis, select eau de vie and traditional spirits from around the world.

Top review

roy

Dined 1 day ago

A very nice time had by all good food and drinks. The atmosphere was wonderful and the staff was great.

Chou Chou Bistro

4.7

4.7 (2382)

$30 and under

French

Forest Hill / West Portal

About the restaurant

ChouChou (pronounced "shoo-shoo") strives to bring the spirit of Paris to Forest Hill. The casually elegant bistro showcases rustic Old World cooking with a modern French twist, paired with a thoughtful wine list. Chef mina invites you to experience the warm personalized service that is ChouChou. Bon Appetit! All of our reservations are indoors both dinning room and patio are indoors.

Top review

RitaVIP

Dined 6 days ago

I love ChouChou! Always quiet in the early evenings. Our salmon and trout entrees were wonderful, and staff is always willing to give us extra veggies in lieu of potatoes or rice dishes. The crab avocado salad is spectacular and great to share as it is very rich. Great wine by the glass and bottle.

Discover more

4.8

4.8 (1779)

$30 and under

French

Pacific Heights

About the restaurant

A couple enjoying each others company tucked into a banquette late in the evening…a group of girlfriends people-watching from the sidewalk tables over brunch…two neighbors stopping by to grab lunch at the bar.

These people all have one thing in common as they enjoy a meal here on Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights- Chouquet's. Whether inside our dining room or outside under the heated protection of our large awning, diners come to Chouquet’s to enjoy fresh, seasonal French bistro fare in a casual yet refined environment. Join us for lunch, brunch, or dinner and let us satisfy you with signature dishes such as our boeuf bourguignon, duck confit, onion soup or with bistro classics such as steak frites, moules marinière, and our famous crème brûlée for dessert. To complement your meal, we offer over 20 wines by the glass from our eclectic wine list of smaller producers.

Top review

BruceVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Enjoyable outdoor dining, prompt friendly service, great neighborhood vibe.

Discover more

Popular dish

Onion Soup

Le Central

4.6

4.6 (2201)

$31 to $50

French

Downtown / Union Square

About the restaurant

Opened in 1974, Le Central has been serving traditional French cuisine for five decades, boasting the honor of being San Francisco’s most historic French bistro. Located on the edge of the Financial District, Union Square, and Chinatown in a rare one story brick building adorned with its iconic pink neon sign and crowned by a vintage “Tabac” sign. Step into this charming restaurant and be transported to a Parisian brasserie. With exposed brick walls, original imported brass bar, stained glass features, and cozy banquettes topped with brass railings. The atmosphere invites you to unwind and enjoy delicious French fare and exceptional wines and cocktails in an upscale, yet casual environment. Enjoy French classics like steak-frites, escargot, onion soup, and our world famous Cassoulet. Le Central’s cuisine is comforting yet sumptuous. Le Central is the downtown stop for locals and visitors looking for a taste of “La Belle Vie”!!!

Top review

KenVIP

Dined 7 days ago

have always loved Le Central but the food, service and decor are better than ever

Discover more

4.5

4.5 (365)

$31 to $50

French

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Bon Délire’s chic yet approachable atmosphere draws inspiration from the cafés, lounges, and bistros of Paris. The interior boasts a sculpted horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, plush banquettes, and vibrant, European-imported furnishings that invite intimate dining and lounging. Guests can enjoy indoor seating with views of the Bay Bridge, or relax at the outdoor cafe-style seating, framed by planter boxes and umbrellas, perfect for people-watching along the Embarcadero.
At night, the space comes alive with flickering projections of vintage French films and a relaxed, nostalgic soundtrack of throwback French and American tunes, making Bon Délire a sophisticated yet cozy setting for private and semi-private events.

Top review

BennieVIP

Dined 3 days ago

The food is always wonderful here and the energy is invigorating! Anatoly was truly great in taking care of our group, thank you and see you soon!😁

Explore Diners' Choice best of San Francisco

Explore more Diners' Choice lists