La Folie

I've eaten at La Folie off and on since 1995 and they have always been "on" for me. Exceptional food, excellent service and great atmosphere. Their sort of recent dining room remodel has added to the ambiance. Truly one of the best French restaurants around.

Pros: The food!

Posted 06/22/09

There was two dining rooms at La Folie. The entrance dining room is very modern and romantic and the other dining room were I was seated is old, bright and looked like a billiards pool room. When I walked in the resturant, I was really excided to sit down and have a romantic V-day dinner with my hon, but when the waiter seated us in the back room that I was unaware of my whole mood changed. I was angry and disapointed because the back dining room was totally different from the front room. I was even more mad when I notice that there were availiable tables in the front and they did not give us those seats. While seated in the back, I looked around and noticed that people that did not look classy enough were seated in the back. Food was okay, but dont try the frog legs. It was really dry and there was no taste to it.

Pros: Food was okay

Cons: Not romanitc and it was noisy

Posted 02/14/09

Oh yes, if only all French restaurants in the city would follow your lead, I'd be a lot happier, and fatter, ha ha!

Oh how I miss the huge, fresh, French truffles you offer to slice over everything on my degustation meal. Oh how I miss the perfect pairing of fresh foie gras and sauternes. Oh how I miss the cheeses.

Oh, oh, oh!

Posted 02/07/09

I recently went on a date at this restaurant and I was very much impressed with the food, absolutely fantastic!

It was nice too that I was able to get a reservation so soon since it was on the last minute, but I think they had a cancellation or something, because from what I was told, you're supposed to make a reservation well in advance to be able to dine here.

My date and I each had the five courses, one better than the other, if that's possible. I absolutely loved the fact that they weren't shy of showing the basket of fresh truffles to you. Those were a bit on the pricey side, but well worth it.

All in all, this is my favorite restaurant in San Francisco so far!

Posted 10/28/08

I am a Francophile in Heaven after our time at La Folie!
A tiny spot of France in our neighborhood!
After years of owning & operating my own French bistro, dining at France's stellar restaurants
over the last 30 years, and enjoying the French Laundry here in No. Calif...my
daughter and I wanted to experience France right here in SF this year for
her birthday. We were more than delighted with everything La Folie had to
offer... Chef Passot was often in and out of the dining room greeting guests, as the
chefs in France always do...the service was pristine, the food was
**beautiful and brilliant and artistically creative** and the wine was fine, French,
and well priced...and they were gracious about attending to my special food
requirements...and incredibly generous with the 3 amuse bouches prior to the
main meal service...and the petits fours after the dessert was served were scrumptious.
I will loudly toot their horn to all.

Pros: beautifully presented plates; professional, considerate service

Cons: brown decor...but what the heck...some

Posted 07/04/08

We dined there for my birthday a couple of days ago, and because we are on vacation with our children (6,4, and 2) we had to bring them along for our dinner. They have been to many fine dining establishments all over the world, but I am tpleased to say that the staff was attentive and understanding towards the children and brought plates for them to share some of the courses with us ( although we did order entrees for each of them)
My husband had the truffle menu, which although was expensive ( $165) , was worth the money given the amount of truffles that was given at each of his five courses. My ikura starter was impressive for its innovation although the roe could be a little fresher. The rabbit that I had for the entree was done well. ( although my benchmark for that game meat is still Alain Ducasse) My eldest had the duck breast which he pronounced very good, and the salmon the other two had was masterful.
Overall, it was a very pleasant evening, and the staff made us feel welcome, children et al.

Pros: staff, food, portions

Posted 03/05/08

I'll say that everyone knows service is a little more rushed on Valentine's Day--every restaurant in the city is booked solid. That said, when paying $200+ pp for dinner, you expect a minimum standard of service, even if you are forced to eat a 5 course meal in 90 minutes or less. Our experience was rushed throughout, with every server/bus-boy staring us down every time they walked by to see if they could clear our plate. I'll leave out details except for the nail in the coffin--bringing the petit fours at the same time as dessert. Really, I think food snobbery should be commensurate with where you are dining and in this instance (the "best" of San Francisco), I found the move incredibly tasteless. I won't be fooled again by this place--the CitySearch and Zagat ratings are too high in all categories (food just "good", service terrible and decor was mediocre and cramped). Lastly, on the food, which should be the only thing one has to think about at a restaurant like this... The food was nothing special, paritcularly the lobster which had no flavor aside from 1/4 stick of butter it was cooked in. Having eaten at Fleur de Lys just a few days ago, I really see no comparison on any metric--go there, it's wonderful. La Folie does not deserve to be in San Francisco's elite and its hubris-driven pricing may have been the most offensive part of the whole experience. Oh, and to top it off, there was no one outside at the valet ($15) and a local policeman was giving those waiitng in their cars tickets for blocking traffic. Bravo!

Pros: Few

Cons: Service, Lobster, Volume

Posted 02/14/08

This place is amazing !!!. My boyfriend and I were visiting SFO (we are from NY) for my birthday and our concierge service recommended this place. We had reservations but we had to wait about 20 minutes for our table ? which was fine because they gave us complimentary wine for our wait. The food was amazing, delicious and every other positive adjective I can think of to describe food. When it was time for our departure, we asked our waiter to get us a cab and him and the chef actually went out of the restaurant and stood outside for at least 10 minutes trying to get us a cab. Having dinned at numerous amazing restaurants in NY, this place definitely topped all of the restaurants I have ever been too ? the food, service, and ambiance was impeccable.

Posted 10/19/07

What do you make of the fact that the restaurant found by Trip Advisor to be #1 in this city, has 5 ratings of 1 and 1 rating o 2
as the most recent ratings? At least they are consistent. If you want to try foie gras, llimit the choices as it can be too much of
a "good" thing. It is overly rich and coarse in texture and not a pleasant flavor. Best of all is to skip it. Maybe if the average ratings were a bit lower and the prices not so high, one could compare it more rationally. But La Folie has a lot to live up to based on its
reputation which is not deserved. Just look at the reviews below. Uninterested service, very bad food (like something out of culinary school) and mediocre decor. It may have been the worst meal I have ever had -- and I was looking forward to it.

Pros: Taxi knew how to get there

Cons: Food, service, value, attitude, foie gras,

Posted 08/24/07

The initial reservation person was quite polite and I even asked her about Gary Danko which she recommended; I should have gone there. We were seated promptly. The waiter took a very casual approach to formal dining stating that they did not want to force their conceptions on the public. But every chef has an imagination which is welcomed by the diners.
The tasting menu was very bad--why do 4 out of 5 reviewers at the start of the reviews say such bad things? The food was terrible
with mushy, foul tasting foie gras. The chef has a penchant for poached eggs which got me sick in two courses and not even the surplus for the grated truffles could help. Initially friendly, the waiter got busy with people who arrived later and we then were ignored (but I also didn't want any more courses). We waited 30 minutes for dessert. When I said I was chagrined, the maitresse d' tried to smoothe things over and asked what the chef might do. I declined but she insisted so I asked them to deduct the price
of the caviar (which was a result of eyes bigger than stomach on my part). She got nervous and said she would ask. Rather than address problem at the table, they did not make a change. I got a better deal than the man who was offered a 2nd dinner!!

Pros: Dessert

Cons: Service, Food, No Value

Posted 08/03/07

Yesterday was my birthday dinner at La Folie and I am absolutely speechless. I've been fortunate enough to go to all the greats in SF- Gary Danko, Compton Place, The Ritz, Boulevard, you name it. So, when a friend recommended La Folie, I was thrilled. We were seated promptly but the dining room was claustrophobic. It took us 10 minutes to get water and menus and 20 minutes to get a piece of bread. There was one waiter for the entire back dining room and while he was friendly, the service was seriously lacking for a restuarant with La Folie's reputation. We had 5 courses (the most you can have) for a cost of $90.00 each. The first three courses were mediocre at best. Honestly, it tasted like there was a culinary student cooking. What was really funny was that two of our courses toppled over as the asst. waiter presented them to us. Moreover, his French accent was so thick, I couldnt understand a word he was saying. I will say, however, that our main meal, the famed Le Boeuf, was incredible. So was dessert. We were out of there in two hours and paid $10.00 for valet. Here's a side note- I woke up in the middle of the night with pains in my stomach. That's right folks, I spent the entire night throwing up. Thank god I have a sense of humor or my birthday would have been ruined. For the money they charge, this place is just not worth it. Trust an SF foodie, go somewhere else...

Pros: Le Boeuf, dessert

Cons: service, ambience, value

Posted 05/05/07

The build-up to going to La Folie was extremely positive. What we experienced was much less so. On the positive side, the ambience was outstanding and the Wait Staff (other than our waiter) was very attentive. On the negative side our waiter was unprofessional and pompous, the food was presented well but did not have complex flavors. We enjoyed several other restaurants in San Francisco (such as Gary Dankos and Jeanty at Jack's) much more.

Pros: Ambiance, Parking

Cons: Service, Food

Posted 02/12/07

I cannot believe the good reviews about this place. the restaurant must hire somebody to write them. The service is terrible, the food is not or heavy (Foie gras is gigantic, deserts are too heavy, meat too salty) or not tasty (scallops, black cod, goat cheese appetizer is just ridiculous). The temperature of the room is either to cold or to warm. Not worth it at all. Server was nearly aggressive and very arrogant. Not attentive at all, you feel like he is the only one for the whole room. GOOD ADVICE: DON'T GO. There are too many good places in the city and this one is just not on of them.

Posted 10/26/06

I was wondering what to eat for dinner when I remembered of the string of small, cute restaurants on Polk. I didnt have a specific restaurant to go to and decided to look on the menus outside first. Just from looking through the menu in a few minutes, I knew this place has the best food around. The foie grass are superb! You might want to try the foie grass soup for appetizer. 3 courses are already very filling. They are very generous. Desserts are fantastic. Parking could take time to find, but there's always valet. The service is wonderful, I am still a teenager but they did not look down upon my age and very, very polite. I really look forward to come again soon.

Pros: Service and Food

Posted 09/05/06

The service is atrocious. Went for a romantic, indulgent birthday dinner. Upon arrival, with a reservation, the dining room was empty, yet we were seated near the bathroom! Our move request was denied claiming the other tables were reserved well, what about our reservation? Perhaps we appeared too young to afford the meal? In fact, the before mentioned tables remained vacant until the last 15 mins. of our meal. The service was barely a 2 star no proper presentation with a verbal description of the food, no checking in with the diners, etc. The camels back was broken when the wrong dessert to the birthday person. When this error was politely pointed out to the waiter, he argued & claimed that was the ordered dessert. After many requests, the busboy finally brought a menu to confirm which dessert was ordered and the wrong one had been brought. Without apology the wrong dessert plate was snatched up by the waiter and after some delay, finally replaced with the correct dessert. Despite his terrible behavior the waiter was still paid a generous, underserved gratuity.

After a letter was sent to the owner describing the above incident, a gift certificate for 2 was mailed with an apology. The service was the same awful, barely 2 star. On a slow night, we were seated by the kitchen instead of the bathroom. In fact, the service was even worse this time. The female server tipped a dessert plate, spilling the sticky sauce all over my companions suit jacket. She didnt bother with him but spent her efforts on the older folks at the next table who didnt get a drop on them. Shed been fawning over them all night while ignoring us. NOT WORTH THE $$$$ with many other high caliber restaurants in SF. NEVER AGAIN.

Pros: none

Cons: service

Posted 08/02/06

I had dinner at La Folie last night with several family members. I loved the food, especially the foie gras. Both my wife and I ordered the 3 course prix fixe and we were both very satisfied with the portion size. Service was excellent. Our waiter Sid, was very patient with my father while he tried to decide on his courses. The sommelier did a great job and was very helpful in helping us decide which bottle to open. (We brought several bottles of our own) I will definately return the next time I'm in San Francisco. For the quality of the food and service, this restaurant was reasonabley priced. My only complaint is was that the restaurant was quite warm. A/C was non existent and it was a warm evening in the city. I actually had to step outside a few times to cool off.

Pros: Excellent Food and Service

Cons: Wine List needs more domestic choices. Restaurant was very warm. Need better A/C

Posted 07/22/06

We dined last night for our anniversary and had a near perfect evening. The staff, from the hostess, to the servers and sommelier, were truly friendly and professional without being pretentious. The new decor is formal without being stuffy. And the food, amazing. We chose to have 5 courses so we could taste everything, and were so surprised at how generous the portions were, especially the foie, yum. Next time, we just might go for three courses instead. Even if you have save it for a special occasion, spend the money, it's SO worth it. Thanks!

Pros: food!, staff, ambience

Cons: can be pricey

Posted 04/29/06

This place is incredible. The food, atmosphere and service are unbelievable. It is very expensive, but worth it.

Posted 03/13/06

I went last tuesday to La Folie and from the greeting by the Maitre D' all the way to my departure was an extaordinary experience. The staff are very accomodating and knowledgeable. And Chef Roland really makes sure all his guests feel at home. His food presentation was excellent and the flavors so exquisite. I loved the Foi Gras with huckleberry and the mandarin creme brulee.

Pros: Friendly, Intimate atmosphere

Cons: Didn't find any

Posted 03/11/06

I have been going to this restaurants for birthdays and other special occassions for 8 years. The food is not inventive, but is perfectly prepared. Heaven for Foie Gras lovers. Pricing for quality is fair. Service has always been perfect.

Pros: food, service, atmosphere

Posted 11/23/05

There is something very charming about La Folie. The staff is very professional and warm. The room is comfortable and elegant without being stuffy. Each time I attend I always end up having a very fulfilling experience. I would describe the food as classic French with a creative twist. Most of the time its very good such as the stuffed sea bass, crab napoleon or the tuna wrapped in rice paper. Some times its superb such as the sturgeon with oxtail or the goat cheese tatin. Once in awhile you get something that didnt work such as a stuffed quail. I wouldnt rate it four stars, but its still solid cooking.

Pros: food, wine

Posted 10/30/05

You must try to find a reason to eat at La Folie. The service is attentive without ever feeling stifling or stuffy. The wine service is outstanding and unitimidating. And the food - well each plate is a delight. The presentations are fun and elegant and the quality of each dish is outstanding. From the garlic and parsley soup to the rabbit we devoured everything. Dessert is the only part that was not over the top amazing as the rest of the dinner was.

Pros: Service, Excellent food, Romantic

Cons: Price

Posted 07/04/05

Superb food, accurate and responsive service, good looking diggs, but still leaves a hole in pocketbook, even without wine (God forbid).

Pros: valet park only

Cons: wonderful food

Posted 06/06/05

wow! i only ordered the 3 course menu and could NOT finish the third course. food is delicioso and the portions are so big. The service shows they appreciate your business. attentive. they know what they're doing.

Posted 12/15/04

La Folie was a lovely surprise and exceeded my expectations from the warmth of the staff to the impeccable dishes. The restaurant is quite small and intimate, and I would agree that the front room is more interesting and warm than the green room in the back. Dinner is divided by the number of courses, which seems to be the trend in San Francisco, so you can choose from 3-5 course meals. The bass was absolutely delicious and the lobster was very well prepared, although not spectacular. It seems as though the seafood items were the strongest items on the menu. At the end of the night, we were greeted by the amiable chef. Overall, a great dining experience, especiallly the service.

Pros: tastes, warmth, service

Posted 11/28/04

I've been to La Folie a total of 3 times, and it has gotten better and better each time. I went in the end of July for a special dinner with my boyfriend and I was amazed on every thing! The food is incredible, the service was terrific. I liked the fact we were in this great place and we could still have fun and feel relaxed in a refined enviroment. Definitely worth every penny (and we spent a lot of them!).

Pros: Wonderful Food, Great Ambiance

Posted 08/02/04

John and I were celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary and celebrated in style at La Folie. With the previous reviews we went with a high level of expectations, and that level was met. The service, food, presentation was impeccable. We arrived at 6:30 when they were not too busy. We did notice later arrivals might not be happy with the service as it appeared one waiter had the whole back green room. However, our servce was great. Johns duck with cherries and my vegtable tatin was wonderful. Also go knowing that your meal will probably be$100.00 to $150.00 per person with wine- Well, worth it!
Debbie and John from Waco, Texas

Posted 06/26/04

This place is perpetually underrated and maybe one of the finest true modern French restaurants in the USA. I always have a good meal here and get the impression that they are trying to be creative rather than coast on an old menu. Somehow they maintain a balance of high-end and casual making the place very comfortable.

Pros: great food, service, atmosphere

Posted 06/21/04

Wow, that's all I have to say... oh and if you get the 5-courses, please note that their portions are bigger than average. Save room for the savory, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth foie gras- one portion is almost enough for 2 people! La Folie is a definate must-go.

Pros: food, service, ambiance

Posted 04/03/04

This charming little restaurant serves surprisingly good food. The portions are a little bigger than what is usually served at a French restaurant but it was simply delicious. Go for the 3 course instead of the 4 or 5. I barely had room for dessert (but couldn't miss it for the world). It was a wonderful experience, definitely recommend it to my friends.

Pros: Delicious food, Generous portions

Cons: No parking, A little cramped

Posted 01/04/04

The service was near perfect and the food quite good. The wine is overpriced by at least 50%. My meal was marred by only one incident. I asked the waiter if I could substitute blue cheese for goat cheese on a beet salad. His boss (the chef?) said he would for a $5 surcharge -- a cheap trick to get more money. I refused. However, when served the salad had blue cheese and I was not charged, so they redeemed themselves somewhat. But, it was a bad thing to do at a nice restaurant.

Pros: quality food, good location, attentive staff

Cons: overpriced wine, so-so wine steward

Posted 09/16/03

La Folie is consistantly "top notch" is all categories. If you understand Fine Country Style French this is the Place. Just like Paris

Posted 09/13/03

I recently dined at La Folie, and can honestly say it was one of the best dining experiences I've had in San Francisco.
The food was truly amazing - inventive, beautifully presented, with complex and delicious flavors. Everything you'd expect from a restaurant with La Folie's reputation.
The wine list is extensive, with a good selection of wines by the half bottle.
Service was very attentive and helpful without being overbearing. Some other reviewers have criticized the service- I dined on a Monday evening, so the restaurant was fairly quiet - maybe that makes a difference.
La Folie isn't cheap, but worth it for a very special occasion.

Pros: Fantastic Food, Great Service

Cons: Expensive

Posted 05/13/03

This was easily one of the best meals of my life. The food was absoloutely amazing: I wanted to melt underneath the table with every bite: the flavour combinations were unique and unexpected. Service was attentive but not intrusive. Presentation was creative and beautiful. I'm also very impressed with their selection of half-bottles of wine - made it easy to try different bottles with each course. I also very much appreciated that the ambience was quiet - I could actually have a nice, quiet conversation with my date, as opposed to having to shout over all the background noise. Made for a very romantic evening.

Pros: Food, Service, Wine selection

Cons: Very pricey

Posted 05/12/03

Phenomenal french food with a whimsical flair. A bit pricey but I guess thats why many in the Bay Area drive around in German high-class sedans and sports cars rather than a chevy pickup. The presentation on the soup is in itself worth the trip!

Posted 12/18/02

La Folie presented the finest dish I have ever had. The butter poached lobster over savoy cabage and bacon was scrumptious. This was accompanied by a lobster soufle served in a mini-pumpkin. Aside from this dish, the restaurant as a whole wasn't that impressive. The servers seemed inexperienced and had poor timing. Also, the "chef's menu" on their web-site was nowhere to be found. Go for the food.

Pros: great sauces, artful presentation

Cons: unpolished service, bad timing

Posted 10/15/02

I just loved my meal at La Folie. I got the $75 tasting menu (there is also a vegetarian version for $55 and a 5 course one for $85). They use foie gras in many dishes and execute it perfectly. I highly recommend the quail and squab entree and the oxtail consomme with foie gras flan. Our server was excellent. She kept an eye on us while not being too conspicuous. As for the atmosphere, I actually liked the jester/clown theme...it took the stuffiness usually associated with high quality French restaurants away...

Posted 08/31/02

So the clown theme doesn't quite work for an elegant experience, but the food is unsurpassed in this city. Roland Passot assembles the most exquisite ingredients into dishes that make your eyes roll back as you slam your fists on the table (but not too loudly, this is a four star restaurant). The lobster is butter-poached to melt in your mouth, the squab is tender yet firm, giving perfectly to your teeth. This isn't a place for novelty or pizzazz - it's good, solid food that brings you closer to the ingredients. In the fall, they pass around a basket full of truffles - it smelled so good I almost (almost) popped one of those $200 nuggets into my mouth while the guy turned his head. Although the "discovery menu" is $75, it's great value, and with food this good, i'm shocked that I can get reservations the day of.

Pros: FOOD, service, easy to get rsvtion

Cons: restaurant them

Posted 08/14/02