Well-appointed restaurant with comforting dishes from the Big Easy by way of California.
(415) 651-4532
2049 Fillmore St
San Francisco,
CA
94115
37.7884
-122.4337
Neighborhoods: Central North, Lower Pacific Heights (Fillmore), Lower Pacific Heights
Hours:
Mon-Thu 6pm-10pm
Fri 6pm-10:30pm
Sat-Sun 10am-10:30pm
Price:
$$$
Elite Cafe
Last updated 11.20.09
What People Are Saying About Elite Cafe
The Owner
Elite Cafe
Owner
This beautiful original Art Deco building began as the Lincoln Grill in 1928. Since 1981, it has been The Elite Cafe and has been serving exquisite food with classic Cajun and Creole flavors. Our current menu continues this New Orleans tradition but with an emphasis on seasonality, the freshest local ingredients and seafood, and a lighter touch in our preparation. From the original mahogany booths to the beautiful full bar to the unsurpassed outdoor dining for people watching on the Upper Fillmore, The Elite Cafe has something for everyone. We serve Dinner Nightly & Weekend Brunch - please…
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The historic space feels like a spiffy and gleaming gentlemen's club, complete with secluded mahogany booths, lazy overhead fans and a friendly bar warmly lit with small lamps. The crowd embodies a classic San Francisco well-heeled mix, with couples both young and older; larger groups in the center add to the celebratory atmosphere. The homey bayou dishes exhibit a West Coast sensibility, so a N'awlins classic like gumbo includes scallops with yellow and red peppers, and barbecued shrimp arrive in a bath of seasoned butter instead of the traditional unseasoned margarine. The pork chop and…
06/01/09
Great date spot
by GoPlaySFBay at Citysearch
Love this spot for special occasions and anytime for their outdoor seating. My boyfriend is from the south and we recently vacationed in New Orleans - the food stacks up for sure!
- Pros: booths that offer great intimacy
- Cons: hard to get the booths
04/01/09
The food is so-so
by vdaniels96 at Citysearch
The Manager is really great at this restaurant. She was able to accommodate us and our BIG party. The food is so-so, but at least the Manager really tried.
04/02/08
I miss the old elite...
by jasregadoo at Citysearch
This is a hard review, because I LOVED the Elite Cafe that I knew when I lived in SF from '87 - '94. This is the restaurant that I intended to visit on Oct 17, 1989, but the earthquake got in our way. We tried a wine at the oyster bar that we loved so much, we went to find the winery, and got a tour from the owner. So we're biased, clearly. I should also say that I've never eaten at the Meetinghouse. I used to live right around the corner from that location, but it was another restaurant at that time. So, last time I went to Elite Cafe, I was in for a shock.
The beloved oyster bar was gone, the waitress expected me to gush and be excited about the chef coming from The Meetinghouse, and my beloved Shrimp Etouffee was missing from the menu. I was heartbroken.
To be fair, though, the food that we ordered was VERY tasty, the service was very good (though I thought it annoying that they had to remind me that she was from the Meetinghouse...I clearly didn't care, and had never been there.)
I've looked online here, and seen comments from the restaurant, which really impresses me. The fact that they are that interested in their customers is GREAT. I would go back in a heartbeat and give it another shot if the etouffee were back on the menu. Seriously, I love that dish, and I haven't found another place around here to order it.
- Pros: Love the ambiance, and the ribs.
- Cons: Miss the etoufee. Desperately. Take your time to get it right, then put it on the menu.
The Details on Elite Cafe
Parking:
Valet parking is available nightly, starting at 6pm, for $9.
The Extras:
The perfectly flaky and buttery biscuits are famous citywide, so don't abstain. You can even get a batch of frozen, raw dough to go (24 for $24).
Where to Sit:
The coveted booths are a great hideaway for couples, but the lengthy bar also rates high on ambience, and is a great place to graze through the restaurant's shared plates section.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, Historic Setting, Business Dining, Date Spot, Dine At The Bar
General Info:
Open 7 Days
Cuisine:
As Seen In…
Message from Elite Cafe
- Full Bar
- Private Booths
- Valet Parking Available $9.
This beautiful original Art Deco building began as the Lincoln Grill in 1928. Since 1981, it has been The Elite Cafe and has been serving exquisite food with classic Cajun and Creole flavors. Our current menu continues this New Orleans tradition but with an emphasis on seasonality, the freshest local ingredients and seafood, and a lighter touch in our preparation. From the original mahogany booths to the beautiful full bar to the unsurpassed outdoor dining for people watching on the Upper Fillmore, The Elite Cafe has something for everyone.
We serve Dinner Nightly & Weekend Brunch - please visit us soon.
Valet Parking is only $9. for Elite Cafe patrons and is available from 5:30 pm daily.
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