Chapeau — Restaurant in San Francisco

Came here for our first anniversary celebration. We'll probably have to wait another year to come back because we're poor college students.

Food: My boyfriend praised the complimentary fish with potato salad on a spoon, he said he didn't want to swallow it because it tasted so damn good. I don't eat shellfish, so I decided to stay away from seafood in general. I'm like an opposite pescetarian. The waiter asked me why I didn't eat it and I told him, he was very nice and got me a slice of baguette with tomato sauce on it, which was wonderful. On to appetizers, I had the onion soup. It was alright, I guess since I love my mother's onion soup, it's hard to match it. I found it was a bit dull, it had no bang to the initial mouthful. Then my entree was the Cassoulet de Toulouse, it was nice, very filling. The lamb was cooked perfectly. It was still moist and kept it's flavor. But I enjoyed my boyfriend's filet mignon much more, he had it with the Sauce à la Périgourdine, and it was just indescribably good. Then for dessert I had the Banana Panna Cotta/ Strawberry Salad/ Shortbread. I think that the shortbread could of been either smaller or thinner. This reminded me of strawberry shortcake. It was wonderful none the less. I could taste the strawberry more than the banana panna cotta. Just reviewing it now, reminded me it was banana rather than strawberry panna cotta.

Atmosphere: My boyfriend and I came in semiformal. Sadly there was no dress code, yes, I wished there were a loose dress code. It boosts the atmosphere. Since this seems like a very nice place. There were people coming in, in sweats and t shirts. It was very cramped in the restaurant. You would imagine a place would have quiet conversations where everyone seems to be whispering. But not this place, everyone is so close it turns into a loud hum, just below a Chinese restaurant.

Service: The waiter was very nice and very personable. He had quite a thick French accent so when he was telling us the specials it was sort of hard to hear. No problems though, he was nice enough to tell us what we miss with out being irked about it. He also offered to take my coat to the coat room and at the end he held it out for me to put it back on. I'm not use to this service so I felt very awkward. He was really good with recommendations. The chef also came out and greeted everyone, shook everyone's hand and initiated conversations. He reminded me of the chef in a queen latifah movie...Last Holiday. At the end of the meal my boyfriend and I stepped out the door and the chef came out just to say goodbye to us. He shook my hand, kissed each of my cheek then shook my boyfriends hand and said hope to see you soon! For sure it's a place I would like to go back to, just when I have a...

After dining at Chapeau, I can confidently say that this charming French bistro in San Francisco's Richmond District deserves a full 5-star rating. From the moment we stepped inside, we were enveloped in a warm, inviting atmosphere that perfectly captures the essence of a Parisian eatery.

Ambiance and Service

The intimate setting creates a cozy environment, though it can get quite lively during peak hours. The decor reflects a classic French bistro style, adding to the authentic experience. While the space can be a bit tight, it contributes to the bustling, convivial atmosphere.

The service at Chapeau is truly exceptional. The staff, from the hostess to the waiters, are attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about ensuring guests have a memorable experience.

Culinary Delights

The menu at Chapeau is a celebration of traditional French cuisine, expertly prepared with seasonal ingredients. We opted for the three-course tasting menu, which proved to be an excellent choice for experiencing the breadth of the chef's skill.

Appetizers: The meal began with escargot setting the stage for the culinary journey ahead. The salmon trio was a standout, perfectly balancing rich flavors with the freshness of frisée.

Main Course: The filet mignon was the star of the show. Cooked to a perfect medium-rare, it was incredibly juicy and flavorful, complemented beautifully by a rich demi-glace.

Dessert: We concluded our meal with the Warm Chocolate Cake, featuring a decadent banana flambé center and strawberry sorbet. The contrast of temperatures and textures made for an unforgettable finale.

Wine Selection

Chapeau boasts an impressive wine list that perfectly complements the cuisine. The staff's knowledge of wine pairings enhanced our dining experience, with recommendations that beautifully accentuated the flavors of each dish.

Value

While Chapeau isn't an everyday dining spot for most, the quality of the food, exceptional service, and overall experience make it well worth the price. The four-course tasting menu, in particular, offers excellent value for the quality and quantity of food provided.

In conclusion, Chapeau is a gem in San Francisco's culinary scene, offering an authentic French dining experience that transports you straight to Paris. From the impeccable service to the masterfully prepared dishes, every aspect of our meal was deserving of the highest praise. For those seeking a memorable French culinary adventure in San Francisco, Chapeau is an...

It is our first time here. We were looking for some place near us to have dinner together for our anniversary. I have lots to say about this place!

Appetizer

They are both great! We ordered Escargot and Salmon Trio for our appetizer and they both are so good! For me, personally, the escargot is a little too salty but when it paired with the bread, it was really good! And the bus boy recommended us to pair them and they taste so good together! Thank to him :)) For Salmon Trio, my husband and I agreed on that it tastes okay but not so incredibly good.

Entree

Halibut was soooooo good! It is the only one dish I would come back for. Fillet Mignon is somewhat salty but I don’t eat beef, so I can’t really comment on this but my husband is a meat eater and he said it wasn’t a wow for him but it was fine :)

Dessert

Crème brûlée is good but maybe slightly too sweet for me but I think most people would like this one :)

French toast is so good!!! The toast was soft inside and crispy on the outside and it was topped with salted caramel ice cream which is so rich in cream and so tasty!

Here is what I was expecting; The service

Our server last night, 11/04, was not really good and we were quite disappointed. He asked the tables around us how everything was doing but he skipped our table every time, every single time. He kinda looked down on us a little too. So, it is very unpleasant and sad to see such good restaurant in our neighborhood being not as friendly as it should be like this. The hostess is great! The moment we stepped into the restaurant, we were impressed by him. He was so friendly and warm welcoming us. I forgot to take his name but he was awesome! The bus boy was actually our 5 stars last night, his name is Carlos, he is great and super awesome!!!! He was the one who recommended us to try the bread with the escargot sauce while our server didn’t really care about us. I used to work in food and beverage industry for many years and still working in customer service industry, I think Carlos should actually be our server not the other. And we decided to give good tips where we really want our tips to be for Carlos and the hostess who gave us such a great service. I just don’t think our server deserved our tips at all.

So, two stars off from the service point for what I expected from our server and really came out disappointed. Those good stars were for service indeed that we received from Carlos and the hostess. Thank to both for making our night last night so...