(415) 864-0231
1596 Market St
San Francisco,
CA
94102
37.7744
-122.4201
Neighborhoods: SoMa, SoMa (South of Market), Central East
Bistro Clovis
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…
Great French Food without the long lines
by rebec
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!!!
- Pros: close to concert hall, wine list, tart tatin!!
bland but tolerable
by dunstable
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.
- Pros: reasonably priced, great ambience, friendly waitstaff
- Cons: somewhat bland food
Genuine European Service
by jdvelveeta
I arrived near the end of the evening (9pm Friday night), having made reservations. Despite this, the waitress greeted us not with "welcome" but rather "oh, I'm not sure we're still open". From there, things only got worse. The staff had lapses during which they were almost gracious, struggling to maintain some level of hospitability; however, as the evening progressed and we remained the only couple, the waitress began asking "are you *still* working on that?" every 5 minutes. Finally, the owner came by and informed us brusquely that he "couldn't wait any longer" and would be bringing out our dessert. We were out by 10:30. Perhaps to some naive Americans this would be "charming" in France where rude waiters are de rigeur; in a city with better options it is completely intolerable. The food was expertly prepared and the ambience romantic; unfortunately, poor service ruined the experience.
- Pros: romantic atmosphere, quiet surroundings, tasty bistro fare
- Cons: , rude management, no regard for patrons
The 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.









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