San Francisco Mijoté | High-Value French Cuisine Under $100 🥩

What initially drew me to this restaurant was the "Japanese-style French bistro" title many people gave it on xhs. After doing my research, I found it interesting that the reviews were very polarized. Naturally, my contrarian spirit couldn't resist a visit to see for myself. About the food: As soon as we sat down, we were served a small cup of carrot cold soup. The name sounded a bit off-putting, but it was actually quite fragrant. The creaminess of the soup base and the sweetness of the carrots were well-balanced, with no hint of the usual carrot "fishiness." ✨ The appetizer was salmon cured with coarse black peppercorns, served with thin carrot slices and apricot. The sauce was a mix of apricot jam and pesto. This dish had an adventurous combination of ingredients and sauces. Each ingredient tasted good on its own, but the mix with the sauces didn't quite work together. ✨ The second course was eggplant and shrimp. The eggplant was fried, with a slightly crispy exterior and a soft interior. The shrimp was pre-marinated in sauce and came with an extra dollop of cream sauce. This dish was pretty average. ✨ The main course duck was the star of the meal. The skin was perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the duck meat was cooked to perfection—tender and well-handled with no gamey taste. The sauce was likely made from the duck's own juices, which was super aromatic. We also added a second main course, slow-cooked beef tongue (+$28). I think the chef wanted to highlight the natural flavors of the meat, so the sauce was very lightly seasoned—basically homemade mayonnaise with a sprinkle of salt and pepper and a few garnishes. The portion was generous, with two large pieces perfect for sharing. However, after the duck, the beef tongue felt like a letdown. It was tender but lacked seasoning, making it feel like boiled beef with mayo. ✨ For dessert, we had vanilla ice cream and matcha cream with fresh strawberries. The ingredients are reportedly sourced locally. The strawberries had a strong, fragrant strawberry aroma, and the ice cream was rich and creamy, pairing beautifully with the matcha. Overall, I was satisfied with the meal. However, the house wine was natural wine, which I didn't know beforehand and had to tough out. 🥲 In terms of price, the $82 four-course meal was quite a good deal for the city. I was pleasantly surprised that the restaurant didn't enforce a gratuity when booking on Tock, thinking I could decide based on the experience. But, of course, the final bill included a mandatory 18% tip. I guess that's just the reality of dining in the city. 🌚 Price: $82 pre-tax Reservation: Tock Parking: Street parking #SanFranciscoFood #SanFranciscoTravel #BayAreaEats #BayAreaLife