Bistro Clovis
(415) 864-0231
1596 Market St
San Francisco,
CA
94102
37.7744
-122.4201
Neighborhoods: Central East, SoMa (South of Market)
What People Are Saying About Bistro Clovis
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
This airy, high-ceilinged boite has the requisite white-lace bistro curtains, fresh flowers, mirrors and antique sconces. But here, the French charm feels refreshingly unstudied and genuine. Young, old, hip and not-so-with-it alike fill the banquettes, all reliving their last trip to Paris.
The Food
The menu exudes authenticity and the execution shows expertise borne of genuine love of the ingredients and preparations. An earthy yet extravagantly rich duck foie gras is house-made, as is a weighty, herb-flecked rabbit paté. A beef and wild mushroom entree is misnamed a "casserole" in English, its braised meat and flaky potatoes swimming in a velvety reduction sauce. Duck with citrus sauce is a better, more subtle reimagining of traditional duck a l'orange. For dessert, excellent tarte Tatin is upside down and caramelized; coup belle helene has deep, dark-chocolate sauce drizzled over ice cream and a poached pear.
User Reviews
Anonymous
August 17, 2008
We've just returned from a wonderful trip to San Francisco for a concert given by a pianist friend of ours who was appearing with the S. F. Symphony. One must eat, however, so this is an account of our pre-concert meal at Bistro Clovis. San Francisco, besides being a beautiful city with a killer view, also is known for its cost of living: Steep, like the hills. Our cousins live in Marin County, attend many cultural events and know the ins & outs of dining well but reasonably. Thus we gravitated to Bistro Clovis, located no more than a 5 minute walk from Davies Hall, home of the San. Francisco Symphony. We were 7 people so I'm not going to try to list everything we ate. At least 4 of us ordered fish in various preparations...en papillote, sauteed, roasted & all 4 of us were very, very pleased with both the taste & presentation of our entrees. Some were provencal in nature, some classic french, one Asian-influenced. Appetizers ran the gamut from pate to salads with the same reception. Classic desserts like poire Helene & a chocolate dome filled with something or other were ordered. The wines were brought by one of our friends, killer wines, the youngest being a 1983 Brane-Cantenac and ranged from an opening Spatlese to a dessert Sauterne. Every restaurant in S.F. allows you to bring your own and pay corkage. As good as dinner was, & it was hugely enjoyed, it was only a prelude to the concert which followed. Now that, was a feast!
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rebec
November 20, 2005
There are so many great french restaurants in the city that you have to wait forever to get into, at Bistro Clovis we were seated promptly on a Saturday night around 8:30pm without reservations. Apparently they are very busy early to accomodate the symphony/opera crowd, so i highly recommend arriving after 8pm. The wine list is good and the waitstaff very helpful. We had the blue nose bass special and the rabbit crumble. Both were excellent and the service spaced nicely. Definitely order the tart tatin for dessert, it is amazing!!!
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dunstable
July 14, 2005
I'm visiting from out of town, and dined at Clovis by myself on impulse. The restaurant was relatively empty when I entered at 6pm, but I had none of the service problems suggested by the other reviews. In fact, the waiter (maitre de maison?) was quite friendly and charming. Unfortunately, the food wasn't very interesting. The flavor of the escargots was largely masked by the garlic butter, and the salade d'agneau was made with romaine lettuce (I'd have preferred greatly a nice mesclun). The cheese plate was well-chosen, but I'd have preferred a wider selection. On the other hand, it only cost me $60 for three courses and several glasses of wine, which isn't too bad at all. If you're in the area and are fond of French cuisine, have a go, but it's not a must-try.
read full reviewThe Details on Bistro Clovis
Save Money:
Many of the same entrees are available for a couple dollars less for a low-key but elegant lunch.
What to Drink:
Ask Max, the proprietor and human embodiment of Bistro Clovis' charm, for his expert recommendation.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Group Dining, Notable Wine List, Theater District Dining
