Frances
American restaurant · The Castro ·
Seasonal Californian cuisine, inventive dishes, intimate setting, wine
Seasonal Californian cuisine, inventive dishes, intimate setting, wine
"Stylish and always packed, this disarmingly personal restaurant from Chef/owner Melissa Perello remains a neighborhood favorite. It’s as perfect for a low-key date night as it is for dinner with the kids, and while reservations are difficult to score, its cozy setting and gracious staff justify planning ahead.The ultra-seasonal tasting menu, served family style, combines fantastic Californian produce with a Mediterranean bent, eschewing trendy powders and foams for appealingly rustic fare like roasted beets with chickpea dukkah and chèvre. House-made pastas, like a chewy whole wheat casarecce with ramp pesto, are eminently satisfying. The meal ends with a homey dessert like ricotta lemon cake serve with pear, gooseberry and a cloud of Chantilly cream." - Michelin Inspector
"As far as local, seasonal new American restaurants go, there aren't many in the city worth fussing about. Except for Frances. This white-walled spot isn’t serving anything radical, but everything is done exceedingly well, from a fennel soup that warms you up on a foggy day to the housemade sourdough that's one of the most pillowy breads we’ve had in recent memory. The reginette is simple but takes care of your pasta needs, and the black cod is wonderfully cooked alongside crisp asparagus." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez
"A San Francisco restaurant where chef Kari Shaughnessy "cut her teeth," part of her early training and formative professional experience before moving north to Oregon." - Paolo Bicchieri
"With its striking black-and-white paint job and long, narrow dining room, chef Marissa Perello’s Frances achieves an effortless cool that makes the restaurant more than just a neighborhood standard. The menu spins local and seasonal ingredients into elegant plates like a cured crudo with stone fruit and gulf snapper with black rice and dragon tongue beans." - Lauren Saria
"As far as local, seasonal restaurants go, there aren't many in the Castro worth making a big fuss over. Except for Frances. Everything is done exceedingly well, from a fennel soup that warms you up on a foggy day to the housemade sourdough that's one of the pillowy-est breads we’ve had. And while you can typically get a seat inside, the small parklet out front is an equally acceptable option, with blankets being handed out as needed." - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, lani conway
