11/20/05

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!!

07/14/05

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

06/04/04

Quintessentially Gallic food and appeal draw Francophiles to this charmer in Hayes Valley.

by Contributor

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 mushroom entree is misnamed a "casserole" in English, its braised meat and flaky potatoes swimming in a velvety reduction sauce. Duck with citrus sauce is a better, more subtle reimagining of traditional duck a l'orange. For dessert, excellent tarte Tatin is upside down and caramelized; coup belle helene has deep, dark-chocolate sauce drizzled over ice cream and a poached pear.

04/04/04

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

09/25/03

Great little bistro!

by babseygirl

Bistro Clovis has great food, a charming ambience, and a friendly staff. I arrived within an hour before their closing time and was still treated very well. The service is not rushed (true good service, French style) by its French staff, and they are very gracious! I had an absolutely fabulous beef stew with tarragon that tasted very fresh, and as a plus...no gristlely beef chunks.

By the way, I found this little bistro on a Citysearch search done for my vacation to San Francisco! I highly reccomend this restaurant.

Thanks so much for a wonderful dining experience!

• Pros: wonderful food, excellent service, reasonable prices
• Cons: none

11/05/02

A little corner of France

by Jenifer1

I just had lunch at Bistro Clovis and it was absolutely delicious. The soup of the day was carrot and ginger. It was tasty and fresh, without being overly heavy. I also had the salad with warm, encrusted chevre, and a light vinagrette, and it was amazing! My mother had the beef borgogne, which was probably the most heavenly stew-like dish I have ever experienced. The authentic food, paired with the most charming French staff, made for the most pleasurable meal. Also near to the Opera and would be great for dinner.

• Pros: French food, delightful staff, atmosphere

09/15/02

little gem by van ness

by rattydukes

This is a real delight tucked away by Van Ness and Market. The food is excellent, tables are plentiful, and the staff is attentive and pleasant. I have eaten there a number of times, and wonder why the place isnt packed. Dont eat much before hand, as I would encourage you to try numerous dishes and appetizers. The soups are excellent, the pork and beef dishes are well prepared with a subtle French touch (havent had their duck yet), and the deserts are well worth fitting in. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food (about $20 a plate without wine). My only major criticism is their coffee is too bland and weak. If you enjoy good French food, put this on your list.

• Pros: food, service
• Cons: coffee, neighborhood