Cote Sud

I've read through some of the poor reviews, and I must say that I felt the need to defend this little bistro. It's authentic Provence style food, and prices are fair, but parking is very difficult. We drove around for 20 mins. before finding a parking spot.

There are a lot of pretentious establishments with equally pretentious diners in the city, and this is NOT one of them. I would go recommend it to friends. Just make sure to arrive early so you get more attention. It fills up around 8:00 pm and I noticed the service slowed down considerably the later it got.

Pros: comfort food

Cons: parking is nonexistent

Posted 12/19/08

The ambiance was really nice. We sat in the enclosed glass deck area where it was nice and cozy. The waitstaff was very nice, a little inattentive at times, but overall a pleasant bunch. They served warm buns with butter that were very tasty. The french onion soup gets my vote as the best thing I had. My girlfriend had a salad which she really liked. Things sort of fell apart after the appetizers... I chose the sea bass fish special, which was undercooked and a very small portion (imagine a hockey puck cut in half). The seafood bisque was just ok, nothing special. Dessert we had creme brullee wasn't very creamy, just ok.

Overall I'd give it a 7 of 10. Good service, so-so food, nice ambiance

Posted 12/13/08

great tasting menu, attentive staff. small restaurant though. not a romantic place to dine. affordable food. located on the second floor, no elevator and no wheelchair access.

Pros: good food

Cons: small restaurant, not romantic

Posted 06/22/08

My girlfriend and I had dinner over the weekend for our visit to Cote Sud. Since we have been dating, we have been dying to try out a French restaurant in SF. We came across Cote Sud through this website, checked out the video, and based upon what we saw called up and made a reservation for two. When we got there we were sitted over looking Castro's 18th St.....seated faily promtly and not to mention a ton of wine to choose from. We ordered up a bottle of red and tried out their delicous menu. I was taking back by the presentation of the food, the service, and the wine selection.

Pros: intimate setting, great ambiance, good food and a wide selection of wine

Cons: none

Posted 02/27/08

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Posted 11/26/07

The prix fix meal prices are extremely reasonable, even cheap. The environment and restaurant was really quaint and elegant but in a more casual way, not stuffy at all. My boyfriend and I sat out on the patio area (balcony-like) and it was really romantic, ambience was just great. However, I was disappointed with the food, it was nothing out of the ordinary for sure and I probably will never go back there, despite fun atmosphere and good customer service. Parking was hell in itself, especially on Fri Sat & Sun. Weekday parking is not bad.

Posted 11/14/07

I love French food... let me just say that. I'm willing to pay up the nose for some high quality, well-prepared dishes, but this is not that kind of place. And frankly, that kind of thing isn't in my budget at the moment.

If you're in the mood for French but don't want to spend the kind of money you usually do, this place is a great find!
The prix fixe menu is an awesome value!!! Nothing I had screamed "gourmet" at me, but it was all good and definitely worth the price. I had scallops to start (cooked inside a large clam shell with pastry closing the seams... cute idea.), grilled skirt steak w/ potato dauphine, and the paris brest for dessert. My husband and I had a glass of champagne each, then shared a bottle of pinot with our meal... all for $120. And it was that much b/c we splurged on all the alcohol.
Their wine selection and pricing is definitely very, very fair.
Lastly, let me just say this:
If you're the kind of person that likes spending lots of money for a gourmet meal, go do that somewhere else. People that have given this place low ratings are expecting chez panisse cuisine for lower prices, and that's just not going to happen.

Pros: Prix fixe menu, wine list, service

Cons: Dessert, Precarious Staircase after drinking on the way out!

Posted 10/16/07

This is one of my favourite french places! I like the atmosphere, it is a nice place, and not too bad (expensiv) You must try sometime, I take my girlfriend and we have a good time together.

Pros: Alot of nice looking people to see, good french food, not to expensiv

Cons: ?

Posted 09/25/07

I am so glad i went there ,reading the last review i was a litte bit worried , its to show you that some people some time should keep they opinions for them self, this place is great for the value and the food was pretty good considerinfg you have a 3 courses for $27.00 ,we went on a Thursday nite ,they played live jazz music i was not aware of it ,it was very nice very romantic not too loud just perfect service was very professional and pleasant not obstructive at all and they have an amazing wine list for a small restaurant that size i can't wait to go back ,i personally recommand this place.....

Posted 08/25/07

We walked by this place many times not thinking it would be much. After spotting it on this site we decided to make reservations and check the place out. On a Wednesday evening at 8pm the place was packed. The owner/maiterd made excellent recommendations and knew his food and wine. My only complaint was the steak was not as warm as I would like but the fries with it were very hot. The chocolate desert along with some port wine was fabulous, a real decadant treat. A great find.

Pros: Great Place for you bucks

Cons: Parking

Posted 08/25/07

We ate at CoteSur and the food was horrible. Nothing had much flavor and the ingrediants weren't fresh. We eat out a lot in the city and there are much better choices. How does City Search rate this at 5 stars when there are also many 1 and 2 star reviews? I think theCity Search editor needs to find a different subject to be an expert on, as food is certainly not her calling .

Posted 08/24/07

I'm a regular customer at Cote Sud and I always recommend this restaurant to all my friends because of the great value it has to offer. The winelist is really huge and i don't think you can find any other three course menu for $27 in the city.

Pros: Value, Winelist, Location

Posted 07/07/07

I love to dine out in San Francisco, and chefs? tasting menus are always a fun, if not expensive, way to go. I have been to Cote Sud a total of three times. The first, about 2 years ago was a wonderful experience. I was a little more skeptical of the fare the next meal. But my final dining experience was a disaster. For the price, I have never been so disappointed in a meal in my 10 years in San Francisco. The tasting menu with wine pairings was an absolute train wreck.

For starters the Foie Gras was prepared without imagination or thought. The prawns were mushy, the Mahi Mahi, fishy with absolutely horrid risotto. The flavors on the individual plates didn?t work well together at all. The wine was equally inept, for instance a light acidic red Cote de Rhone was paired with a deep meat dish. I would say the best part of the meal was the three French fries that accompanied the ostrich (odd choice). Eating in the city can be expensive and I don?t mind paying, but at $176 for two (dinner, wine pairing, tax and tip, no extras) I was really appalled. I will never dine here again.

Pros: Good location, good bread, traditional desserts done well.

Cons: Food that tries too hard and misses the mark, expensive (tasting menu).

Posted 06/19/07

My fiance and I dined at the Cote Sud last Saturday. I'm new to French cuisine but nevertheless, my taste buds know good food. The food there was exquisite. I had a delicious pork medallion dish and their creme brulee for dessert. We don't know know much about French wine either, but our server seemed very knowledgeable and lead us through a plethora of choices. We dine out often so we know good service when we see it. All the wait staff were nice and in particular, our server, who's name was Sam, was very friendly, professional and attentive. In total, we had a wonderful evening and certainly would recommend this place to our friends.

Pros: Great wait staff!

Cons: It's in the Castro so parking might be a challenge.

Posted 06/05/07

I've been to cote sud twice the past month and I would highly recommend this restaurant.
In my opinion it's one of the best value in town. They have a 3 course menu for 27$ but still manage to have a huge wine list. I'm a wine lover and I often complain to my partner that we have to go to expensive restaurants in order to see an interesting wine list. But cote sud offers the best of both world IMHO.

Posted 05/30/07

I have dined at Cote Sud three times and can tell you that this venue is consistently substandard. Attractive decor, to be sure, but un-attractive & disappointing fare. Cassoulet al dente?!? If that's what you're into, go for it, but if you enjoy this dish made the traditional way (slow-simmered beans and delectable confit meats), do yourself a favor and take your chances elsewhere - because you are not likely to find it at Cote Sud.

They dont do beef well either, and the head staff is in dire need of a serious attitude adjustmenbt.

Pros: Ground Zero Castyro district restaurant

Posted 05/25/07

Cote Sud is a little French restaurant tucked away in Eureka valley/Castro and is a welcome warm surprise in the other wise busy and mediocre food neighborhood.
We had the 3 course prefix which was overall good. The appetizers which we (2 people) had were the escargots and the corn blinis. Both of these were just ok, nothing great, a little lacking in flavor and texture. The entrees however were good. I had the bass filet and my friend had the duck confit, both of which were flavorful, crispy and tender. The desert, the chocolate molten cake was amazing. Not too sweet nor doughy, just light and warm. They have a fabulous wine list; go with the French wines, a good buy and exciting change from our usual Californians. I really liked our waitress Josephine, who was not obsequious and hovering, but was welcoming, funny and giving us good suggestions.
Overall good, go with the prefixes, they are affordable and luxurious for a special evening or when you just want to celebrate life.

Posted 04/28/07

Took my wife here for her birthday and we had the cheft's special which is a 5 course sampling menu for $45/person. I thought that is a pretty good value. The portions are smaller, but by the time you finish the dessert, it's just perfect. The place is small and a bit cramp, but that's the case in San Francisco.

The only thing I have to warn people is about the stairway to the restaurant. It's dangerously steep and small steps. When coming out after dinner, you really have to watch out, especially after a few drinks and it's dim and windy on that night. Parking is difficult, but that depends on your luck I guess. But the food is outstanding and the experience is unforgettable.

Posted 04/13/07

Be prepared for a long wait between courses. The food is not worth the wait. The wait staff was attentive replinishing the bread and refilling our drinks. An overall disappointing experience, did not live up to the Citysearch rating.

Pros: Attentive service

Cons: Food prep lengthy

Posted 03/25/07

The prix fixe is really a great value and you won't be disappointed by the quality of the food. Service was excellent, we were offered complimentary drinks at the end. Really nice atmosphere, very romantic, I was there with my wonderful honey for a nice dinner and we got a great table. Just go there, you will love it.

Pros: Excellent food, great ambiance, service is great

Cons: Wine a bit expensive

Posted 03/17/07

Cote Sud is one of my 2 favorite restaurants in the SF Bay Area that I've tried so far. The other is Evvia in Palo Alto. I love the atmosphere of this little restaurant, and how fun and cool the wait staff is. The food is exquisite, and you can't order anything wrong (everything is good!). The prix fixe menu is the best selling point, giving you a very full meal for only $27.50 + tax/tip + drinks. Can't get better than that! I've tried Chapeau, and while I like it, I felt Cote Sud's atmosphere, price, food, and service was a bit better.

Pros: Price, Service, Food, Atmosphere

Cons: Sometimes a little crowded, but if you're ok with that, it gives a good cozy feeling.

Posted 02/15/07

After reading all the great reviews and having a wonderful New Year's experience at Cote Sud two years ago, my recent experience was very disappointing.
We were exactly on time for our reservation, but were kept standing without being acknowledged for over 15 minutes. We were on the verge of leaving--should have. We were then seated on the porch, with a great view of the street, but it was one of those cold nights so we ended up huddled in our coats. They didn't bother turning on the heat lamps that were out there.
There were two large and noisy tables nearby that made conversation difficult, which wasn't their fault. However, all the waiters were constantly at one of the tables while they pretty much ignored us throughout the meal. As well as after the meal--we finally had to go to the register to pay to be able to leave.
That said, the rabbit was very good, but the pork medallions were tough. The appetizers and desserts were fair.
It was supposed to be a special night, but being treated badly really put a damper on it.
Domage!

Cons: Don't get seated on the porch on a cold night

Posted 02/09/07

My boyfriend and I were the only diners in the restaurant when we arrived for our 6:30 reservation. It was odd at first but as we sat and enjoyed our wine and delicious bread, it felt more like we were home. The service was very attentive (as it should be considering we were the only ones there for a while) and the ambiance very relaxing. The prix fixe menu is worth it - we enjoyed the mussels and the rock shrimp risotto. My boyfriend had the duck confit which was delicious and I had the skirt steak which was pretty good as well. The souffle dessert was light and delicious and the apple tart tatin was less than par for me. Overall it was a good dining experience and we would probably come again!

Posted 01/16/07

My wife and I dined here on a Friday night early and were the first ones there. We were greeted and seated immediately. My escargot was delicious and my wife's blini de mais au saumon was great. The entrees were excellent, although my wife thought the rabbit was a bit overdone. And the Creme Brulee is to die for. We left the restaurant quite full. The Prix Fixe menu is a steal and well worth it. The staff was attentive and pleasant. We had a great night out. This is a place worth visiting if you're going to be in the area.

Pros: Prix Fixe Menu, Great Service, Great Food

Cons: Hard to Find Parking Sometimes

Posted 12/24/06

My wife and I have not enjoyed such a good time restaurant in a long time. Great food and great staff. And, the host was typically goofy stubornly goofy french. Great food

Posted 12/01/06

I walked by that place numerous time before actually went to try it. The Patio seating was really nice and lovely, especially we got the corner table looking out through glasses, but it feels out door without the cold or wind from the insolation. The decor is simple, almost too simple. Food was good, though not very memorable. Perhaps because we had 3 memerable meals the same week before he went to Cote Sud, which contrasted down the food there. Service was overall attentive enough. But there are misses. And they are not very good or responsive with the special inquiry. I guess it's a place you can stop by if you happened to be in the neighborhood and want a decent atmosphere. Other than that, I don't particularly see the reason to pay a homage.

Posted 11/15/06

We walked by this place many times not thinking it would be much. After spotting it on this site we decided to make reservations and check the place out. On a tuesday evening at 8pm the place was packed. The owner/maiterd made excellent recommendations and knew his food and wine.

The filet mignon was wonderful but my only complaint was the steak was not as warm as I would like but the fries with it were very hot.

The chocolate desert along with some port wine was fabulous, a real decadant treat.

A great find telling me never judge a restaurant by its exterior.

Posted 10/17/06

Cote sud is a lot of fun. Great food at a very reasonable price, friendly service and great ambience. I have brought many friends here and they have all left saying they were looking forward to coming back. Great wine list too. Just a good time

Posted 10/08/06

I do not know what the other review is talking about but this place rocks ,great food ,ambiance and service and really good prices we can not wait to go back...

Pros: Great food, service, atmosphere

Cons: parking

Posted 08/22/06

if you don't mind getting insulted by the staff and eat mediocre food, come here. other wise, stay away.

Pros: none

Cons: everything

Posted 08/18/06

I went to Cote Sud for a romantic evening, and in terms of ambience it met this purpose wonderfully. The inside of the restaurant is tasteful, cozy, and nicely lit. It was a bit hot on the warm night, but not unbearably so.

Every appetizer and entree we had here was fantastic. Their cassoulet was probably the best I've had in the city. Their wine list is also excellent, and they were good about recommending appropriate pairings within a given price range.

The dessert, on the other hand, is a misadventure waiting to happen. I got a totally botched creme brulee (it was barely sweetened at all and had been overcooked to the point that it was basically just burnt cream), and my date got an inedibly stale pastry. We sent these two flops back and got fair but unspectacular replacements. The tasting menu they offer isn't quite so great a deal if you factor in the questionable dessert.

Service can also be an issue. The majority of the waiters they have there seem to be very competent and attentive, but we got a bad apple. The service was fine up until we got our entrees, then there was a half hour span where we didn't get ANY service at all. We were out of water in the very hot restaurant and our waiter totally ignored us. Eventually a bus boy took pity and refilled our glasses. The waiter was nice about bringing back our desserts, but even that took way too long.

So while the chef is fantastic and the setting is great, I can't give this place a totally flawless recommendation until they fix their desserts and service lapses.

Pros: great appetizers, entrees and wine list, nice ambience

Cons: mediocre to poor desserts, occasional massive lapses in service

Posted 08/08/06

I found this place on CitySearch yesterday, when my girlfriend's mom was in town and wanted "seafood, or something unique and different". This place offered both. Many "user" reviews cited bad service, but our waiter was a friendly handsome French genteman, who answered all of our questions well.

As I'm vegan, they prepared a dish of assorted veggies, in this delicious zesty herb-seasoned oil--fantastic! My girlfriend's mother had trout in a sauce she described as very exotic and flavorful, almost like an Indian dish. My girlfriend had some pork dish on a bed of shredded squash, and said it was very tender and flavorful.

The location (just west of Castro on 18th) and atmosphere were great, and the three of us had appetizers, wine, a main course, and dessert for around 120$.

Pros: Great atmosphere, Great service, Great food

Cons: Not one.

Posted 05/27/06

The place is romantic with great music, dim lighting, and our waiter was very helpful. Definitely enjoy every dish he recommended and the price was most agreeable. We dined plast the closing time and no one rushed us. In fact when he found out we were celebrating a 30th birthday, he surprised us with two glasses of champagne.

Pros: Ambiance, Service, Food

Posted 05/17/06

In some Bistros in this city the French wait staff are rude, snotty, and slow. They are none of these things at Cote Sud. They are still European, so they will not greet you like a long-lost friend. That insincerity is American. But as the evening progresses, they are warm, welcoming and professional.

I dont think you can find a better $25 prix fixe deal. Ive been several times, and everyones plate on the table was great. Fresh ingredients, nice presentation with nice soups, fish and confit. The portions may be a bit small, but are totally appropriate for a for a $25 three course. Youd still be pleased with the meal if the price was higher.

My only complaint is that the wine list mark up looks to be rather on the high end. Im fairly sure the Louis Bernard Rhone is a 6x markup on their list.

Pros: value for prix fix, lovely room, professional service

Cons: not a great location, wine list is pricey

Posted 04/23/06

The service was cold, snotty. While my friend came to eat a full dinner, I ordered a salad and two glasses of wine, over the $10 minimum. Our waiter never came by to check how anything was. The vinigrette killed my salad, the risotto was mediocre. Having lived in the south of France, I know what French charm looks like, what French cuisine at its best tastes like. I found neither at this Coté Dud.

After the meal, my friend decided to order some coffee/dessert. The co-owner came over and asked pointedly, "Are you done yet?" He said he would be charging an extra $10 since I did not order a main entree, plus we were rude to his waiter. The coffee/dessert order was cancelled, we paid our bill and left. Both of us work in the food industry and are very sensitive about the treatment of waitstaff.

Pros: wine

Cons: service, food

Posted 04/22/06

The food was excellent but it was soured by the poor temperament of the waitress and her unwillingness to elaborate on the menu items other than to translate the french titles into their english equivalents (which we already understood). Explaining that the "moulleux chocolat" was a chocolate cake with a warm, liquid chocolate center would be more appreciated than "you like chocolate, that's the dessert for our chocolate lovers" or "you like vanilla, get this one" as her description of the "ile flottante". All of the other staff were pleasant and friendly, but unfortunately, we spent the most time interacting with her and her condescending attitude which took away from the overall experience.

Posted 04/09/06

from a classic french food perspective,this is a good choice.
the atmosphere is great ,the sevice is perfect , the food was a very good
experience,the soufle galcer hummm

merci

Posted 04/05/06

On a scale of 1-10 the service at this restaurant was a zero. The food was just so-so. I have no idea how this restaurant has such a high rating. There are so many excellent restaurants in SF, but this one is not one of them. The Hyde Street Bistro which has ok service and excellent food especially for the $$ is a far better choice.

Pros: Nothing

Cons: Service, Food

Posted 03/30/06

We had a good experience at Cote Sud for Valentine's day. The had a special 4 course menu for a very reasonable price.
Food and ambience were great. They ran out of oysters (we had late reservation) but the waiter gave us 2 free glass of champagne instead. Classy gesture.
We will come back to try the regular menu.

Pros: food, ambience, value

Posted 02/15/06

For the way they present this restaurant you'd think you couldn't go wrong. BUT the service is snotty and not in the least helpful or gracious. The oozing pretention ruines what would otherwise be very nice ambiance. The food, while interesting and promising when read on the menu, does not stand up for itself. We didn't have anything we found offenisve to the pallate, but nothing that wowed us either. Food mediocre at best, service sever and even condscending. Why pay money for that kind of treatment and cuisine with all the other options

Cons: service, food, value

Posted 02/09/06

It was pricey. They made around 250% profit on the wine they sold me ( I later found it in my local grocery store ). The waiter was nice but when I asked for a wine recommendation, he answered, "White wine with fish and a red wine for meat." All I could say was "thank you..." Me and my date loved the food. I have to say it again though...Pricey.

Pros: FOOD, Atmosphere, Fois Gras

Cons: Service

Posted 01/28/06

We had dinner at Cote Sud last night. They were only serving a prix fixe menu and it was $60, no beverages included. The food was average at best and considering it was $60 a person I was expecting much tastier food. They were out of several selections (food and wine) at 9:00 and offered no wine alternatives for the same price. The service was far from excellent, from the time we walked in the door it took us over 2 1/2 hours to finish our meal, the people were friendly though. We waited 45 minutes for dessert alone (we were however glad we stuck around for the dessert as the creme brulee was excellent.) All in all we spent well over $200 on a night jam packed with mediocrity.

Pros: Dessert, Ambiance

Cons: Slow service, Average food, Overpriced

Posted 12/31/05

I was there last night with my girlfriend to celebrate a special occasion. The service was warm, the food great and the wine list had many great rare wines. This restaurant reminds me of my grandmother's, from France, food especially the cassoulet.

Pros: Great food, Wine, Friendly Service

Posted 10/26/05

We went there for our anniversary in attempt to find litte-more-upscale-than-usual dishes in not too formal setting. We definitely got it, and I even loved the over crowded patio seats. It reminded me of restaurants in Lyon, and along with an excellent bottle of wine recommended by our waitress, we absolutely had a great time.

Having said that, for them rated so high on this site, the food was rather average. Not bad, but not as good as you'd expect in a city like this. We know at least another French cafe in Sonoma that serves better food with very similar value or one in Filmore that does a better job in recreating the true everyday French food. We will likely to drop by in the future if we are already in the area and feel like enjoying their ambience again.

Pros: Ambience, Good value, Location

Cons: Avg food

Posted 10/15/05

One of the best food and values in the city - or in the nation for that matter. Period. And those who gripe about the French being rude need go no further to change their mind. Everyone is MORE than accomodating. Everyone loves - or should love - Raymond!

Pros: food, wine, desserts

Posted 10/14/05

Been four times. It can be quite good; there are real problems that intrude on the experience. Usually service is either haughty, visibly stressed or challenged. An upstairs location and ugly stairway, make for more difficulties. One of the partners/waiters is a real pro, but in a challenging situation. The menu although not unusual, can be good with flaws in execution at times. Inconsistent, understaffed, owner-operated little restaurant with some great points and kind of fun interior.

Pros: some great food, wine list

Cons: wierd service, worn out building, understaffed

Posted 09/28/05

I went to Cote Sud for their wine tasting event.

I had the scallop ravioli, skate wing (favorite dish), filet mignon and creme brulee.
It was paired with 4 different French wine.
All that for $50. Really great value.

Pros: value, ambience

Posted 08/25/05

There's a consensus about the good food but undesirable service. Honestly, good food's allover SF; service is what differentiates restaurants. If the service is lacking, why do they merit your support? Cote Sud exemplifies this. First, the Maitre d' lost our reservation and then took his time chatting with the staff while we stood there awaiting a response. There wasn't even an apology for the oversight. Instead, a table that could barely seat 2 was converted to accommodate our party of 3. It barely fit 3 plates, and was on a slanted walkway in a cramped space. Our entire party leaned to one side! Upon requesting for an even table (who eats slanted?), the Maitre d' responded, "Well, I place parties of 3 here all the time." What indifference! I hardly believe that to be truthful. Fed up, we immediately left. There was no need to continue this terrible experience.

Cons: Poor Service, Poor Attitude

Posted 08/19/05

the dinghy entrance into the cozy second-floor restaurant was a bit off-putting; however, once inside, the rest of the night was magnificent. we sat in the covered patio, and the timing of the courses was swift but not pushy. our pleasant, attentive waiter recommended a fantastic bottle of wine to go along with both of our dinner entrees. i ordered the gazpacho followed by the seafood bouillebasse, both of which were superb. my partner had the steak tartare and the braised rabbit--the dishes were new experiences for him, but he seemed to enjoy both, especially the silky mashed potatoes served with the rabbit. overall, warm and intimate and highly recommended for a romantic (and affordable) evening out.

Pros: FOOD, winelist, service, value

Cons: shabby entryway

Posted 07/12/05