Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 551-1590
03/01/2008 Posted by adams_eating
Absinthe leaves a lot to be desired. For the money, I had to deduct one star, otherwise it may have been a three star restaurant. First, the location is great. For Opera or Symphony, you could not have a better location. Make a reservation, as this is a very popular spot. Also, the staff is great, pleasant, and knowledgable. However, if not for the location and staff, the food would not drive me back here. The menu is odd. Some small plates don't seen to go together. There were very few protein/meat based small plates. The duck was good, and the caramelized onions were infused with lavender which made them delicious. However, for the most part the other dishes were odd and mismatched. For example, one of the small plates was roasted chick pea. Tasted good, but hard to eat (they roll off of a fork, so hands are necessary, which is OK if they were better). Pommes frites, just OK - not worth the calories. I liked the hamachi, my friends thought it was very very mediocre. Lots of carbs and fat, very little of anything else. The wine list is schizophrenic. One or two $30 bottles. A few $3,600 bottles. A few more $120 bottles. Not a good range in between. However, the dessert is to die for. The apple et eppoise tarte is beyond compare. All in all, a relatively expensive dinner (in relation to the quality received), and the menu was odd enough and food spotty enough not to go back anytime soon - unless you go just for dessert, in which case I'd give it the highest rating (however, bring your own wine!).
Pros: Staff is wonderful, location is first rate
Cons: menu is odd, with a few exceptions food is just so-so
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