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  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF, San Francisco, CA

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

4.8
4.8
7353 Reviews
$31 to $50
French

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 p.m.
Booked 18 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
We are currently accepting reservations for lunch, brunch, and dinner.


Effective 09/26/2022:
Outdoor seating will not be available.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 551-1590
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Neighbourhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 7,353 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    French

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Absinthe Brasserie and Bar in San Francisco is a timeless gem offering an authentic French bistro experience. Known for its "fabulous atmosphere" and "superb food," it's perfect for pre-theater dining. Guests rave about the "friendly and attentive service." The eclectic menu features standout dishes like steak tartare and sole meunière.

7,353 Reviews
  1. John

    VIP

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    4.0

    5 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been to Absinthe probably 20 times in my life and always have loved it. As always, the food was excellent as was the atmosphere. However I wasn’t impressed with our waiter this time. The timing seemed off from the start like he was wanting to rush us to order then we wouldn’t see him for awhile, then I had to ask twice for a simple thing like lemon wedges for my fish after waiting for about 15 minutes. Then at the end of the evening, he pushed super hard for us to pay the bill even while we were still having our dessert and coffee. I always had excellent wait staff so that surprised me. I will go back because I love Absinthe. I just hope I don’t have that type of experience or waiter again.

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  2. Emily

    VIP

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent lunch, excellent cocktails, warm and thoughtful service. Our server asked right away if we were going to a performance and made sure we got there on time, without any sense of rushing. Highly recommend!

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  3. Trevor

    VIP

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    We love Absinthe almost any time we go there. This time, it was good, but there seemed to be a lack in servers, which caused some delays. The croque monsieur was a bit too buttery. Otherwise, all good :)

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  4. Kate

    VIP

    San Francisco

    26 reviews

    5.0

    26 reviews

    Dined on December 16, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We ate here on the way to a show and he food was fantastic but the staff was even better! They managed so many diners who, like us, were en route to a show, with grace, efficiency, and friendliness. All staff, from host to servers and all in between were so great! Can’t wait to return when we have more time to enjoy!

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  5. Carol

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    An excellent choice for a pre-concert meal! We started our afternoon with a delicious Sunday brunch, and the experience only got better from there. The service was top-notch, with our waiter providing exceptional customer care. The quiche and eggs Benedict exceeded our expectations, and the cocktails were truly spectacular. A perfect spot for a meal before enjoying a concert!"

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  6. Barbara

    VIP

    San Francisco

    45 reviews

    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Brunch at Absinthe before the Nutcracker was perfect as always. Our waiter, Ethan, was great - personable, efficient and accurate. They've added some great vegetarian options to the menu. Included in our orders were Cauliflower Soup, Vegetarian Quiche, Eggs Benedict Florentine (done vegetarian), ricotta French Toast and Quiche Lorraine. Everything was delicious. We opted for desserts and they were creative, beautiful and tasted wonderful.

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  7. B

    VIP

    San Francisco

    131 reviews

    5.0

    131 reviews

    Dined on December 15, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had onion soup and cauliflower soup to start - a great warmup from the chill outside. Filet of sole and mushroom tagliatelle were delicious. Service was attentive in the best way. Highly recommend Absinthe when you want a wonderful place to drink and dine.

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  8. Andrew

    VIP

    San Francisco

    103 reviews

    5.0

    103 reviews

    Dined on December 14, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the most consistent French restaurants in SF. The onion soup is outstanding and is that way every time you come here. In fact practically everything is consistent with each visit. OK, since there are rarely specials you might get bored after a few visits. That's the only downside. Otherwise, this is a great place all around. I prefer the side dining room as it's quieter and more restaurant line as bar side room that is far more energetic and, many times, more annoying. Any dish here is good but my favorite is Petrale Sole. Be aware that portion sizes are very generous. Ask your server if you can order a half-sized portion as many times they are available (you have to ask). Generally, you'll have a good time here.

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  9. Christopher

    VIP

    San Francisco

    67 reviews

    5.0

    67 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service were great. We love eating here.

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  10. Fanatic4Wine

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on December 13, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, well trained service staff on a busy post ballet Thursday night. Highly recommend this lovely, classic bistro, you can’t go wrong!

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FAQs

Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF is rated 4.8 stars by 7353 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 p.m.
Booked 18 times today
Google Map for Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SF

398 Hayes Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Gough
  • Neighbourhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of Operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Wed–Fri 11:30 am–3:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    French, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    No valet. Street parking and nearby public lot located on Grove between Franklin and Gough.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Ian Begg
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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