Clementine Restaurant--CLOSED

11/10/08

well, i certainly felt that i was back in paris again...

by graymalkin at Citysearch

...they had the attitude down to a 'T'. here is is short & simple:

- the maitre d' (our first contact) was rude and off-putting pretending that it was an inconvenience to seat us & he genuinely seemed annoyed that we had a reservation and he couldn't turn us away.

- the server was pushing food and drinks on us claiming that we should really get an appetizer because the main dishes would take too long & then asking if we wanted to see the wine menu again when our glasses were still more than half full. we politely refused the wine but once they determined we were not to be pushed around, they proceeded to ignore us for a very long period of time.

- finally, the food really wasn't all that special or very good -- rather mediocre, actually; however the chef did make an appearance and awkwardly introduced himself anticipating compliments. usually i love to meet the chef but in this case, it felt very forced. pity.

i don't recommend this at all. there's much better french quisine (and service) in the city. bon chance!

• Cons: attitude & pushy

11/09/07

BEST FRENCH FOOD, BEST ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE, WONDERFUL SERVICE, TOP NOTCH QUALITY!!!

by elsunshine24 at Citysearch

I went to this hidden, cozy amazing little restaurant on Clement St. and it was absolutely the most adorable, cozy, intimate, chic, and delicious restaurant that I've been to in san Francisco. The food was incredibly decadent, atmosphere was top notch, quiet with romantic music in the background. The servers were super friendly, and authentic, I felt as if I flew to Paris! What a refreshing dinner, an incredible menu full of delicacies, and delicious filet mignon that melted in my mouth. The tart salmon and brie dishes to start were filled with character and a unique flavor that kept me longing for more. Then, to top it all off, we had the best creme brulee I have ever put in my mouth. So creamy and rich, in addition to the "pain de perdu" (french toast= lost bread), and the meringue in cream, and the lemon sorbet...all my favorites, cooked and baked to perfection! I recommend this place to any date or quiet evening for an incredible warm feeling with food out of this world!!!!

• Pros: EVERYTHING, THE FOOD, SERVICE, ATMOSPHERE, IT WAS ALL INCREDIBLE!
• Cons: THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE NOW!

09/15/07

A very nice restaurant with good atmosphere

by foodielover at Citysearch

I also miss Alain Rondelli restaurant, replaced by Clementine a long time ago. But, Clementine did not disappoint. I've had better foie gras at La Folie but the liver was tenderly served with 2 corners of toasted bread. The French bread served at the table was crunchy and reminded me so much of the baguette sandwiches in Paris. The tomato soup du dour had a favorful essence of tomato, like the difference between tasting regular riped vs hierloom tomatoes. The duck breast special of the day (ordered by 3 of us) was very tasty. I really liked my seared 5 sea scallops, served over a tasty lobster sauce and risotto-like pasta topped with crispy shavings. A plate of sweet meringue was given us by the waitress to try, too sweet for my taste, but the exterior was crispy and the inside texture was great. The molten chocolate cake was baked perfectly with the chocolate oozing out of the cake. The sm. scoop of coconut sorbet served with it was delicous. Our companions had the selection of 4 ice creams/sorbets (all good) and the Floating Island - firmly whipped egg whites, almost like an angel food cake, over a creamy sauce. The waitress was efficient and very friendly, didn't find the service to be slow & the place was packed by 7-8pm. She saw we were celebrating a birthday and had a candle placed on our friend's dessert & they sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Even with 2 bottles of sparkling water and a bottle of wine, our bill was reasonable for $250 compared to more expensive French restaurants. A nice place to go for special occasions.

• Pros: Good food, Excellent French bread, nice staff
• Cons: Parking can be challenging, busy on weekends