Frances

Frances reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. H

   Hannah

   Pittsburgh2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined today

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Frances was fabulous! Loved the decor, so relaxing and the food is amazing, the flavors are fresh and so interesting. I will definitely be back!
   

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2. A

   Anne

   San Francisco1 review

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Frances has gained a disciple in me. I was a solo diner on a Wednesday night (managed to snag a counter seat with a day-of reservation), and indulged in the tasting menu and additional wine pairing. The chef's menu offered an expansive variety of dishes, every one of them low-fuss, while fresh and phenomenal. Standouts for me include the scallop crudo in smoked dashi, the juicy and perfectly prepared Sakura pork chop, and cardamom ice cream with the medjool date cake. The wine pairings took an already amazing experience to the next level. I was especially surprised by the interplay between the Kadarka and the little gems and bolognese it was served alongside; it tasted like two completely different wines! Service team was friendly, engaging, and extremely attentive without being overbearing. It's the type of place that will leave bottled water on the table, but you'll never have to lift a finger to refill it yourself. Shout out to Bobby and Kelly! For all that it is (and trust me, you had better bring your appetite), the menu and wine pairings are more than reasonable. Truly a dining experience that will live in my memory for quite some time.
   

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3. T

   Trina

   Denver5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Asparagus with anchovies was delicious. Quick service, but not too quick
   

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4. M

   Melinda

   San Francisco2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our favorite restaurant in SF! We had not been in about 5 years because we moved out of the area. Wanted to celebrate our anniversary with friends whose anniversary is the day after. Such a beautiful meal and celebration!
   

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5. P

   Penelope VIP

   San Francisco8 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 9, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   A lovely evening! The service was great and the food was divine. All of the staff was really nice and went above and beyond. Frances is by far one of the best restaurants in SF. It is always fantastic. We will be back again and again! SF is *back* and it's so fun to go out post-pandemic and with the new Mayor prioritizing what made SF unpleasant for dining out. Highly recommend! Run don't walk.
   

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6. N

   Nina VIP

   San Francisco12 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 5, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   So so good. Food was scrumptious/ especially the soup and salmon.
   

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7. B

   Belinda VIP

   San Francisco3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 4, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I hadn't been to Frances since it opened 15 years ago and was excited to go back. We were Early Bird diners so the restaurant wasn't initially as bustling as I remembered but by the time we left it was full. Everything -- from the friendliness and professionalism of the wait staff to the welcoming vibe from the kitchen to the creative and enticing menu options -- was top notch. A lovely, unpretentious neighborhood restaurant with uptown standards.
   

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8. D

   Deb

   San Francisco2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 30, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Always great food and service. A winning combo. Ideal for special events but also so nice for just dinner.
   

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9. a

   andrea

   San Francisco21 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 26, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Amazing- Frances still has it. We have not been for a year or more, and that is our loss. So delicious. The salmon was truly perfect, lightly cooked, fresh spring vegetables, and a barely there (in the best way!) sauce. Aa always, the salads are perfect here, as were the scallops and the daikon cake. Noise level was low, and the wines were great. A perfect spot to highlight why we love SF, and the food.
   

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10. R

    Renier VIP

    Houston8 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on March 23, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3

    Fantastic service from the staff, albeit with a bit of a snooty air about themselves. Very cozy restaurant, tables and diners are tightly packed, so conversations can definitely be eavesdropped on. Unfortunately the food was most disappointing. The oysters with guava had a fantastic flavour... unfortunately some of the uncooked farro that the oysters were served on got into the half-shells and ruined the dish. The other 2 plates we shared were very bland and lacking in flavour. The 4th dish, being flank steak with vegetables was over salted, although cooked to perfection. The lumberjack cake for dessert was a bit dry, as if store-bought and quickly warmed-up, served with a very flavourful ice-cream. An okay experience.
    

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