Cafe de la Presse

12/16/08

Good food, cute atmosphere, awful management

by katkuster

We stopped by this lovely restaurant for brunch on Sunday. We stayed about an hour, enjoying the warm atmosphere and pretty good food (great poached eggs, so-so quiche, delicious coffee). It was about a $50 brunch for the two of us. We were about 5-10 minutes from heading out when the waiter came and took everything except the coffee cup that I managed to hold onto. In another two minutes the manager came and said that he had people waiting and that he had to ask us to leave immediately! If he'd given us a warning, or just asked nicer, we'd have been fine with it, but we were just kicked out. Coming back from the restroom, I saw three other empty tables in the rear, that they hadn't seated anyone at the table next to ours, and that no one was waiting up front.

For $50 plus tip brunch for two, I expect to get an hour at my table. It was appalling treatment, and completely undeserved. They seem to be more interested in turning over tables than in repeat business. The wait staff had earned their tip, so we couldn't stiff them. But the manager was completely unapologetic. So there's no recourse for such bad behavior except to warn you that you might be treated the same.

• Pros: Relaxing, upscale atmosphere and food
• Cons: Bad management

10/11/08

So sad REALLY bad...

by seattleduffer1

...we just spent a week in San Fran and with rare exception, we had great food and terrific service...Cafe de la Presse was one of the exceptions...slow service and an uncaring air, over priced- barely average food and a cash register/podium attending manager? that stood and watched the poor service without a word to the wait staff. I did try to look around and see if there were others suffering a similar fate...I did notice that what seemed to be regualr patrons were treated much more pleasantly and with quicker service than those of us out of towners...I did note too that not many people were actually eating the over priced food ( $40 for a light breakfast for 2) but were sitting sipping the poor quality coffee and chatting amiably. I would definately give the Cafe de la Presse a pass and keep right on walkin'.

• Pros: able to sit and watch the street, can eat in or out
• Cons: slow service, poor coffee, over priced

12/07/07

Good French bistro/cafe selection

by naronic

Comparable to numerous places where I've eaten in Paris. Onion soup was disappointing, but entrees (cassoulet and boeuf bourginon) were very good and desserts were excellent. A bit pricey, but on the whole well worth a try.