Chez Maman West
French restaurant · Hayes Valley
401 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Highlights
French bistro with cozy ambiance, serving comfort food like mussels
French bistro with cozy ambiance, serving comfort food like mussels
"In a neighborhood full of French restaurants, this cozy corner spot stands out for its friendly feel and really excellent food. Chez Maman is more intimate than the other French spots in the area, and only has a few tables and some seats at the bar—which is also what makes it great for a low-key weeknight date or a solo meal when you’re just in the mood for fries. Get a pot full of steaming mussels and their French onion soup, which we instinctively crave every time it rains." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"Chez Maman in Hayes Valley is where to go when you want French staples like french onion soup, mashed potatoes with roast chicken, and steamed white wine mussels (any meal here also requires the fries and a side of thick garlicky aioli). Join the folks coming in for pre-show dinners in their best symphony outfits, or the couples seeking a cozy last-minute date night at the bar." - julia chen 1, patrick wong
"After an evening of shopping in Hayes Valley for wool shoes, birthday cards, and ceramic pots, you'll probably be hungry. Enter Chez Maman. The French restaurant is home to french onion soup loaded with what seems like an entire wheel of gruyere, and we always hea to their garlicky mashed potatoes with roast chicken whenever we need dinner that feels like a hug from a gentle chinchilla. Nothing, down to the vintage-y decor and the laminated placemat-sized menu, is trying too hard, and that’s why we love this place." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"This French restaurant in Hayes Valley is a great place for a solo date, especially when you’re feeling like the hottest, most dramatic version of yourself. Because nothing says "I run this town" like lounging on a bar stool, and making prolonged eye contact with everyone in the room as you sip on rosé and lick salty potato grease off your fingers. The walk-up only spot gets pretty packed during dinner, so if you have to wait for a seat, just stand out on the sidewalk and let the wind do very sexy, Beyoncé-like things to your hair." - julia chen 1
"This French spot has a location in Hayes Valley too, but that neighborhood has too many structures made of shipping containers to easily convince someone you’re not trying that hard. Plus, the one in Potrero Hill looks and feels like the neighborhood restaurant that everyone should fight to have close to them. The menu includes French staples like mussels and fries, French onion soup, and, because we’re in SF, a roast chicken to go with your garlic mashed potatoes. None of the food is overly showy, but it’s a level of comfort food that’s hard to beat." - will kamensky
