Best French Restaurants in Kensington

8 restaurants available nearby

A photo of Julia's Restaurant restaurant

1. Julia's Restaurant

4.8

Exceptional(1638)

Price: Expensive

• French • Berkeley

Booked 7 times today

Julia's Restaurant in Berkeley stands as a beacon of French cuisine, offering a delightful array of dishes that transport diners straight to France with every bite. Nestled in the historic Berkeley City Club, the restaurant's ambiance complements its cuisine, providing an elegant backdrop reminiscent of a French château. Patrons rave about the authenticity and quality of the dishes, with reviews highlighting the "fabulous lamb," "exceptional risotto," and escargot that are "fab!!" served with garlic, parsley butter. The innovative approach to traditional French favorites, like the onion soup with a "fab soup base" topped with melted Compté or Gruyère, showcases Julia's commitment to culinary excellence. As one diner perfectly sums it up, "So glad to experience an excellent French restaurant — a rarity these days."

2. Bon Delire

new

4.7

Exceptional(105)

Price: Expensive

• French • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 47 times today

Bon Délire’s chic yet approachable atmosphere draws inspiration from the cafés, lounges, and bistros of Paris. The interior boasts a sculpted horseshoe-shaped wooden bar, plush banquettes, and vibrant, European-imported furnishings that invite intimate dining and lounging. Guests can enjoy indoor seating with views of the Bay Bridge, or relax at the outdoor cafe-style seating, framed by planter boxes and umbrellas, perfect for people-watching along the Embarcadero.At night, the space comes alive with flickering projections of vintage French films and a relaxed, nostalgic soundtrack of throwback French and American tunes, making Bon Délire a sophisticated yet cozy setting for private and semi-private events.

3. Cafe de la Presse

4.6

Exceptional(1913)

Price: Moderate

• French • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 32 times today

At Cafe de la Presse, nestled in the bustling Downtown/Union Square of San Francisco, the essence of Parisian charm is vividly alive. This delightful eatery captures the spirit of French cafes, where "the food and service always dazzle" and the atmosphere invites you to linger over "the best eggs Benedict in town" or indulge in their "amazing onion soup." Patrons rave about the authentic French flair, noting it as "the most authentic feeling French restaurant" they've encountered. With accolades like "thumbs up for the Eggs Benedict" and "croissants are excellent," Cafe de la Presse stands out as a gem for those seeking a genuine taste of France in the heart of San Francisco.

4. Le Central

4.7

Exceptional(2132)

Price: Expensive

• French • Downtown / Union Square

Booked 19 times today

Opened in 1974, Le Central has been serving traditional French cuisine for five decades, boasting the honor of being San Francisco’s most historic French bistro. Located on the edge of the Financial District, Union Square, and Chinatown in a rare one story brick building adorned with its iconic pink neon sign and crowned by a vintage “Tabac” sign. Step into this charming restaurant and be transported to a Parisian brasserie. With exposed brick walls, original imported brass bar, stained glass features, and cozy banquettes topped with brass railings. The atmosphere invites you to unwind and enjoy delicious French fare and exceptional wines and cocktails in an upscale, yet casual environment. Enjoy French classics like steak-frites, escargot, onion soup, and our world famous Cassoulet. Le Central’s cuisine is comforting yet sumptuous. Le Central is the downtown stop for locals and visitors looking for a taste of “La Belle Vie”!!!

5. Reve

4.9

Exceptional(2552)

Price: Very Expensive

• French • Lafayette

Booked 8 times today

Rêve, nestled in the charming neighborhood of Lafayette, is a delightful escape to a classic French bistro right in the heart of the suburbs. Helmed by the acclaimed Chef Paul Magu-Lecugy, Rêve has been consistently recognized for its superb culinary offerings, including accolades like the Michelin recognition in 2021 & 2022, and being an Open Table guest favorite from 2017-2023. The restaurant's authentic French cuisine, such as the perfectly cooked scallops and the sumptuous lamb stew, has been lauded by diners for its authenticity and excellence. With glowing reviews like "the most delicious food in a 50-mile radius" and "every single table... thoroughly enjoying themselves," it's clear that Rêve is a standout for those seeking a genuine taste of Contemporary French cuisine. The combination of a warm, inviting atmosphere, impeccable service, and dishes that transport you straight to Paris make Rêve a must-visit culinary destination.

6. Petite Left Bank

4.6

Exceptional(422)

Price: Expensive

• French • Tiburon

Booked 4 times today

Petite Left Bank in Tiburon perfectly captures the essence of a traditional French café, offering an authentic experience that transports diners straight to the Left Bank of Paris. Patrons are treated to all-day delights like "the best salmon I’ve ever had" and "excellent" French pastries, croissants, and espresso. What makes Petite Left Bank truly stand out are glowing reviews praising its "wonderful" and "authentic French bistro food," and the cozy ambiance that makes you feel like "I was back in Paris!" The café's dedication to maintaining a true French vibe, coupled with their impeccable service, makes it a must-visit for anyone seeking a genuine café experience in Marin County.

7. Le Parc Bistrobar

4.7

Exceptional(102)

Price: Expensive

• French • Financial District / Embarcadero

Booked 7 times today

Le Parc Bistrobar is a delightful French restaurant in Union Square, San Francisco, nestled within the Galleria Park Hotel. Led by the renowned 2-star Michelin Chef Bruno Chemel, this bistro offers a culinary escapade that perfectly complements the city's refined tastes. The menu at Le Parc Bistrobar is a tribute to classic French cuisine, featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients that bring out the rich, traditional flavors in every dish. The lounge bar provides a wide variety of wines and cocktails to enhance the gourmet experience.

8. Perle Wine Bar

4.8

Exceptional(156)

Price: Expensive

• French • Oakland

Booked 2 times today

Perle is a neighborhood wine bar, specializing in french-California focused cuisine. We strive to casually exceed our customer's expectations with interesting food options and a wine list that is varied and affordable. Two San Francisco restaurant personalities, Chef Rob Lam from Butterfly & Sommelier Marcus Garcia from Fleur de Lys decided to open a hip and comfortable wine lounge and restaurant loaded with great wines, spirits, craft cocktails and beer... In the small, quaint, Montclair village in the hills of Oakland. House specialties include caviar, oysters, mussels and other gems of the sea... classic fromage and charcuterie... to a burger considered one of Oakland's best! Currently in San Francisco Chronicle's Top French Restaurants!!!

‘About the restaurant’ descriptions have been generated using an artificial intelligence model comprised of OpenTable proprietary data that has not been independently verified by OpenTable. The content is presented as-is, for informational purposes only.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

A
Audrey
San Francisco Bay Area •17 reviews
5.0
Dined 2 days ago
Loved it! Service was very attentive and they had wonderful suggestions from their menu. The steak tartare was delicious served on homemade potato chips. The deviled eggs were a wonderful surprise served upside down with a sauce and caviar on top. The Caesar salad was amazing…I shared this but won’t next time I return…it was delicious with the crunchy topping. We shared the roast chicken, which was so tender and had the most delicious pan gravy. And don’t leave without trying the Soft Serve dessert. It checks all the boxes…caramel, toasted hazelnuts, poached pears and ice cream.
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Bon DelirePrice: Expensive• French• Financial District / Embarcadero
•
4.7
E
EmilyVIP
San Francisco Bay Area •21 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
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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Absinthe Brasserie and Bar - SFPrice: Expensive• French• Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
•
4.8
J
Joe
Tahoe / Reno Area •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
Pleasantly surprised, 1st time for us. food was outstanding. Tony did a very nice job serving us. We would request him on our next visit. Ambience was throwback to compliment the architecture. We just loved it! Thank you so much. Joe and JULIA.
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Julia's RestaurantPrice: Expensive• French• Berkeley
•
4.8
J
John
Houston •5 reviews
5.0
Dined 6 days ago
What an incredible way to celebrate a birthday. Every element was perfection.
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O' by Claude Le TohicPrice: Very Expensive• Contemporary French• Downtown / Union Square
•
4.8
T
T.G.
Tahoe / Reno Area •7 reviews
5.0
Dined on Dec 14, 2024
Reve is such a local gem. Excellent service, prompt and efficient. They nailed the moules frites and and scallop risotto. Very easy to make pretty good, it takes skill to make it sublime. A round of clicks for the chef!
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RevePrice: Very Expensive• French• Lafayette
•
4.9

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8 restaurants available nearby

1. Julia's Restaurant

2. Bon Delire

3. Cafe de la Presse

4. Le Central

5. Reve

6. Petite Left Bank

7. Le Parc Bistrobar

8. Perle Wine Bar

See what locals rave about

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