Chapeau!

Came here with a former co-​worker. This is our go-​to place for French food.
This place is great to catch up with old friends whom you haven’t seen in a year or two… or for anniversaries, dates, or birthdays.
I’ve seen it all here.
And since Chapeau means «hat» in French… do they have hats you ask? Yes, your bill will come in a unique hat at the end.
But enough about hats… how is the food?
I love their escargot. Forget France. Come here for the escargot instead. Their pesto sauce thing and the bread with the escargot is divine.
Their bone marrow is okay, not the greatest, but okay.
Their french onion soup is my favorite ever. I usually order two bowls.
Their entrees are done well, and I’ve had everything from the steak to the fish. All is done well.
Super friendly service, and the owner usually comes around to shake your hand so you feel like you’re in his house.
And at the end comes the hat with your bill on it. I don’t understand why everyone always wants to put it on their head though and wear it. Hasn’t anyone ever heard of lice? I see people pass it around and wear it, and it always makes me cringe.
$ 10 says they never wash the hat. But I’m not itching to find out either…

Chapeau = hat,
Chapeau! = expression of appreciation and admiration, a sign of respect, like removing one’s hat
… who knew?
I’ve passed by this restaurant many times and I had always been intrigued because it really stands out from the rest of the neighborhood. The red theme and line drawing of a woman holding a glass of red wine with a large chapeau tipped over her eyes is rather eye-​catching. So I made a reservation and we came here for dinner on a Sunday evening. The interior was cramped and the dim orange lighting made it feel like even more of a tight squeeze. However, it looked nice with flowers on the tables, white tablecloths, and a small bar.
We both went with the 3-​course menu (currently $ 44.50), which was not a bad price considering it costs about $ 10 more than an entrée.
Seared Foie Gras:
The plate had a very nice sized slab of foie gras. The slab was accompanied with neatly arranged apple slices and some microgreens over a gastrique drizzled on the plate. The outer part was slightly over-​seared and a little rubbery. It was still deliciously rich and fatty, while the sauce and the apple slices added sweetness and crunch to the dish.
French Onion Soup:
or Traditional Onion Soup as they call it, was good. Mr. Joy ordered this and I was surprised he liked it even after he ate all the cheese and was left with caramelized onions in broth.
Bouillabaisse — Striped Bass, Thai Snapper, Alaskan Halibut Cheeks, P.E.I. Mussels & Manila Clam, Poached in a Fish Fumet, Fondue Provençale, Croutons with Gruyère & Rouille :
Good, I just wish there was more of it. There were a few pieces of fish embedded in the soup, about 3 mussels and clams each. The fish broth was light, but savory. The ‘croûton’ was actually toasted bread with shredded gruyère.
Canard au Miel & aux Épices — Duck Breast, Celery Root Purée, Honey & Spiced Duck Jus:
Delicious duck breast went very well with the sauce. Maybe because I’m Asian, I just think it would be even better if the skin was broiled until crunchy.
French Toast — Salted Caramel Ice Cream, Hazelnut Crème Anglaise:
Delicious take on French toast. The toast was so soft, almost a custard texture. Salted caramel ice cream is one of my favorite ice cream flavors.
Profiteroles:
3 profiteroles covered in thick chocolate sauce and almond slivers. These were okay, but the puff pastry was a little stale, possibly left in the fridge for a while. The chocolate sauce was cold. I’ve definitely had better profiteroles.
The prices aren’t bad for French fare, but certainly getting up there. The food was pretty good. It would be nicer if there was a little more room to spread out. If I find myself back here again, I may try the filet mignon with bone marrow. It looks like a good price compared to most other restaurants.

2 stars because service SUCKS and food is pretty good.
The waiter with brown hair, french accent, and facial hair sucks. When asking about the menu, he explained the menu in the most patronizing way. We asked «how does the 3-​course and 4-​course menu work?» He responded the menu is broken up in sections and pointed to each one saying «oneeee, twooo, threeee, fourrrr. okay? so you can choose from each section. got it? oneeeeee, twoooooo, threeee and fourrr here» YES I get it, I’m not a 4-​year old. What ticked me off more was when the table next to us asked the SAME question he responded «you start with an appetizer, then a main entrée, then you can pick a seafood, and then dessert». WTF!
Anyways, food was delicious but came out slow. Between the appetizer til the main entrée, we waited about half an hour. I already lost my appetite by then. The best course was dessert — we got crème brûlée and french toast with ice cream. The best crème brûlée I’ve ever tasted!
And I added 1 star because (who I think is) the head chef is friendly.

I had a delicious dinner here!
Chestnut soup appetizer with bacon-​wrapped pork loin for the entrée and crème brûlée for dessert! Absolutely wonderful staff, service, and food.

What a delicious and wonderful experience!
Bf and I came here on restaurant week!
— Chestnut soup with duck fat croutons, crème fraîche & white truffle oil — DELICIOUS! Loved this creamy and rich soup, with all the various flavors and slight texture from the croutons. I had a bite of my bf’s salade landaise and that was refreshing and tasty as well.
— Pan seared scallop on pesto risotto with lobster sauce — OUR FAVORITE of the night! Scallop may have been a teensy teensy TEENSY bit overcooked, but it was still amazing with the pesto risotto! The sauce just made everything even more moist and flavorful. Delish!
— For our main, I had the sauteed striped bass & braised oxtail on garlic mash and the bf had the filet mignon with bone marrow. Both delicious and complimented everything on the dish very well!
— Crème brûlée and tarte alsacienne for dessert! I wish the crème brûlée was more on the wamer side, because mine was just room temperature. Regardless, it was yummy! My bf loved his tarte alsacienne and finished every bite!
Overall, had a great experience dining here! Complimentary bread was provided in the beginning of our meal, along with a shot-​sized cup of butter squash soup, which was of course delicious, too. The owner is friendly and so welcoming to everyone that enters and leaves his restaurant, with hand shakes and hugs as we walked out!

Wow, I love everything I had here!
I came here for pre-​valentine day’s dinner. It was a nice space, but red lights all around the room was not on the fancy/​romantic side. I’m used to new hip restaurants in SF, so I thought maybe I made a mistake by trusting Unilocal reviews too much. But, oh boy, it was one of the best French food I had in the bay area.
I had salmon trio (very good, beautiful presentation), Cassoulet de Toulouse (super rich and delicious), and french toast with salted caramel ice cream (yum yum yum!). They were simply delicious.
My husband got basil napoleon for dessert, and it was more than what we expected. It’s not a traditional napoleon, but colorful and refreshing.
French toast reminded me of bread pudding, and the gelato on the top was delicious.
Service was nice and the owner was super sweet. I’m definitely coming back soon.

Lovely place. We came here during SF restaurant week and tried the 3 course ($ 40) and 4 course ($ 65) prix fixe menu. The ambience was very elegant and cozy. We felt a tad under dressed but it didn’t seem to matter too much. There was complementary bread and a small cup of soup which was very tasty. The service was extremely friendly and the chef came out and greeted everyone and shook our hands.
For starters we had the salmon trio and a salad. Then the seared scallop which was my favorite part. Next the filet mignon with bone marrow and the braised oxtail and bass followed by dessert of a delicious chocolate cake and a baked alaska. Overall everything was good and we enjoyed our experience.

I love this place!!! Went here with a few friends to celebrate my BFF’s birthday and it was my first time. I ordered the bouillabaisse and it was so rich and creamy that it was impossible for me to eat in one sitting. The place is small and the owner makes sure that everything is perfect. I had the crème brûlée for dessert and again it was the best crème brûlée I’ve ever had. Lol! Everything was good although a bit pricey but you’re paying for good food and the ambiance so it’s worth it! There is a wait for reservations especially if you’re a large group. We got there at 530 pm and didn’t leave until 10. Five hours of eating but it was mostly waiting because it was like a 5 course meal. I will definitely come here again and so far it’s my favorite French restaurant in the city.

I had to dive in to my indulgences and went head first with escargot, bone marrow, and fois gras! It was heaven on earth! They do a wonderful job or showcasing food as art and making a meal into an experience. Bön Appetit!

This was the best meal that I have had in at least 3 months. The vegetarian kabocha squash ravioli was the best ravioli I’ve ever had, and I love meat dishes. From the appetizer to the main to the dessert, all the flavors were rich and satisfying, yet interesting and complex.
The service was excellent, and the ambiance was cozy yet romantic and had beautiful warm soft lighting. I will definitely return, and bring my parents when they visit from out of town.

Outstanding food and service. Perfect place for a wonderful date night. A most try Fourme D’ Ambert Tart, Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, and to finish it off there French Toast. Great wine selection to pair with the delicious food.

We came here for our anniversary dinner and while we were seated promptly, the service was a bit slow to start. Our waiter explained that the menus were being printed now so we needed to wait just a bit. Once the menus were ready to go, the head chef came out and greeted everyone at their tables, which was incredibly nice.
As for the meal itself, my fiancé and I went with the prix fix; he opted for the 4 course and I went with the 3 course.
He had the French onion soup, rock scallop, filet mignon, and crème brulee. I opted for the trio salmon, sea bass & oxtail, and the chocolate cake. While he thought his French onion soup was a bit dense with a lot of cheese, he still felt that it was very tasty. For the rest of meals, he loved everything since it was all spot on. As for me, everything seemed to be perfectly portioned and so well balanced that every bite was delicious. Even for the chocolate cake, I thought that the choice of ice cream (rum raisin) was such a perfect way of cutting the chocolate and creating a great flavour when mixed.
We totally did get the bill in the silver top hat which I thought was really cute. We left the restaurant and the chef came out to say goodbye which I thought was great of him to do since we were already outside. Overall a great experience with wonderful and memorable service.

Wonderful experience overall. Our server was wonderful and the food was perfect.
I had a wonderful birthday dinner. Thank you. Will definitely return.

I visited SF a few months ago just for a mini vacation and we wanted to eat somewhere nice.
This place fit the bill.
The escargot was so good. Not overcooked and rubbery like some other places that I’ve tried.
The foie gras was so buttery and creamy, it basically melts in your mouth!
Lamb shoulder was very juicy and tender.
My favorite was the filet mignon with bone marrow. LOVED the bone marrow.
The dessert left something to be had, but not bad at all.
Our server was very sweet and attentive. The only thing that I was not happy with was the wine choice. Partially my fault, but I asked for recommendations for a reason!
Overall, Chapeau! was a great experience with the cozy atmosphere and the delicious food.
Probably will not be coming here for a while because the food is heavier than what I am used to, but I will definitely have to go back.

Came here on a special date before Christmas. The food was amazing and the service was welcoming and perfectly on par. The name of the restaurant speaks for the atmosphere and how they treat everyone. I really enjoyed how the employees have fun while they are working, and the feel is not stuffy or uptight at all.
I recommend the Trio of Salmon (great texture), Filet Mignon, Seafood Bouillabaisse, and the Baked Alaska. The Seafood Bouillabaisse was delicately made and very good. Usually I am weary of ordering seafood because restaurants do not always have the freshest options and it does not taste as great, but here it was delicious. The dessert topped it off — my boyfriend and I shared the crème brûlée and the baked alaska. The baked alaska was wonderful because it had the whole shebang (ice cream, merengue, cake, almonds) the only thing missing was that it was not flaming. He really enjoyed the exquisite vanilla taste in the crème brûlée.
I love french food and I would definitely come here again for a special occasion.

I am giving Chapeau! 5 stars simply for being the cutest little mom and pop French restaurant ever… went there w/​the gf for the first time on vday — the owner introduced himself when we got there, gave us hugs and kisses when we left. The food was delicious and abundant (we got the last 2 courses from the tasting menu to go cause could not finish). I almost want to deduct a star because a couple of the waiters were obviously sick and would not stop coughing which was just disgusting — but this place is too homey to do that to them so 5 stars it is; but if anyone from the resto reads this, please ask ur servers to go home if they are coughing because nobody wants their food handled by sick people.

Made reservations via Open Table for 3. When we arrived at the restaurant it said 2. The restaurant would not accommodate for the 3 of us
Nothing we can do but go to Georgio’s for pizza. It was a last minute reservation for 6pm. Just lost revenue for this place.

The real French experience-​in San Francisco!
Food: the foi gras is insanely delicious and The dessert French toast was also amazing
Service: charging you directly at your table was very authentic and reminded me of being in Europe. And the double cheek kiss on my way out was icing on the cake.
Ambiance: Romantic and fun! They weren’t overly uppity for being a Michelin restaurant either l.
Husband says it’s now his favorite restaurant in the city to date. I think it’s okay– but my favorites of everything are usually one dollar signs #cheapwife #goodlife

Chapeau! was a great restaurant but it just did not made me amuse me in anyway.
It was good ingredients, preparation was great, food was good. But nothing that really stands out.
Most locality French restaurant has uniqueness or character that can be really felt when dining. This restaurant did not gave me any unique feel, I just felt like I was eating a decent French meal.
I had the Foie gras, Escargots, Trio of Salmon, Veal Sweetbreads, Filet Mignon sauce a la Perigourdine with Foie Gras and Bone Marrow, French Toast with salted caramel
Ice cream.
I dont know what it is but it really is missing a spirit of character in dish and atmosphere for me. I would probably not dine here again in the future.

Prices were decent for a French cuisine. We ordered the following:
–Trio of Salmon (Good)
–Foie Gras (Very Good)
–Prime Rib for 2 people incl. side dishes Veg., Baked Potatoes & 3 kinds of dipping sauces for the Prime Rib (Good)
–Dessert (free for my Birthday) (Good)
I loved this place and I can’t wait to go back ^^
*Friendly servers

I have dreamed of the foie gras and filet mignon dishes ever since I had my first bite at Chapeau many moons ago. As I bite in to whatever no name food creation I make for myself for dinner each night I visualize the full sensory experience of those dishes and smile in bliss.
Many of my friends are familiar with my last meal on earth dilemma. If you know that you are going to die and you are told that you have one last meal of whatever you want, what do you choose? I first came up with this scenario when I read an article about a San Quentin death row inmate who chose to have Sugar Free Ice Cream as part of his last meal. Why sugar-​free !?! So much good food, so little time, but every time I answer this question it is always — «Fresh Maine Lobster and Chapeau’s Foie Gras.»

This place has a special spot in my heart. When I used to live in SF this was my favourite French restaurant! I recently visited their new location and must say that the food is still amazing if not better.
Their menu is incredibly reasonable compared to our overpriced French restaurants in NYC. You get to chose, a 3 course, a 4 course or the Chefs menu. Service was impeccable!
We chose the 3 course menu and shared additional apps and it was more than enough!
French Onion soup — delicious, great depth and perfect amount of cheese and bread
Escargots — to die for, we couldn’t stop dipping the garlic sauce with our bread. I could’ve ordered 3 more!
Bouillabaisse — recommended by the manager and it did not disappoint. Broth was so tasty, seafood was cooked perfectly
Duck Cassoulet — tasty and earthy, such a comfort dish
Lamb of Leg — the meat fell off the bone and was perfect with the polenta
Vanilla crème Brûlée — my favourite dessert, not overly sweet
C’était extrêmement bon et le service est très chaleureux. La présentation des plats et desserts était soignée.
I will come back and visit soon Chapeau and will not wait 5 years!

In a city full of restaurants trying to make a name for themselves in new and creative ways, Chapeau is one that has long ago found its niche and sticks to it. They do classic French restaurant cuisine. No frills and no trendy approaches. Just consistent, well executed, classic fine dining.
Everything I’ve had here I’ve liked, even the vegetarian options. At my last visit I had the stuffed quail, which was really well done. However, my favorite part of the meal was the amuse bouche they served: a chestnut soup. It was a perfect match with the fall weather that night and the flavor was stunning. I’ve always wondered why they don’t have steak tartare on the menu, but if they ever do I would be a happy diner!
The wine menu is quite reasonably priced, and of course heavily favors French and West coast wineries. But if either of those are your style, it won’t be difficult to find several bottles that piqué your interest. They also have a full bar, and make solid martinis.
The service was also great. Very friendly and entertaining waiter. The chef is also one of the most out going chefs I have ever seen. He was there to greet us when we arrived and also when we left. When he spoke about his restaurant the amount of enthusiasm and passion he had was inspiring.
Chapeau is on the short list of restaurants in San Francisco that I will continue to go back to for a long time to come.

Overall my dining experience here was quite pleasant. We came here for a late night dinner.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was very charming and romantic. The staff was very accommodating and did not make us feel rushed, even though we got there at 10:15.
The food was very well priced for what you get. I ordered 3 courses starting off with Foie Gras, Filet Mignon, and ending with the French Toast for dessert.
The Foie Gras was delicious. The Filet was good, however I could do without the sauce that it was seasoned with. It was a little too salty for my taste and I felt that it took away from the steak itself. The French Toast came topped with Ice Cream. This, along with the Foie Gras were probably the dishes that I enjoyed the most.

With so many amazingly tasty restaurants in San Francisco, when we’re looking for somewhere to go for a special occasion, I always want to try some place new. Because of this, I tend to have trouble returning to places for multiple special occasions, but I had no problem going back for seconds at Chapeau!
The food is great and they have a Vegetarian Menu.
On our most recent visit, it was a tad slow to get our order taken and get our first course, but once the food started coming, it was very smooth experience. It started with the Cauliflower Purée with truffle oil, and a side of tasty bread. They cleared away the crumbs, and the menu items came: for me, Fourme d’Ambert Tart followed by the Parsnips Purée & Kale in an Open Raviolo. Both were a great mixture of tastes and textures. On our way out, the friendly chef shook our hands and chatted with us a bit.

They were running a little behind with reservations.
We waited, and they made up for it. They could teach other restaurants in the city a lesson or two.
We ordered as soon as we sat down, and were outta there in 50 minutes, just in time for our movie!
I started with the blue cheese tart with frisée, Anjou pear, balsamic reduction. Fluffy little dream of an introduction to this restaurant. I had the veggie ratatouille for my entrée. What a beauty, and the sauce. Gwowwwwwwww. Think of a fluffy and crispy tart, veggie, rose sauce hybrid. So damn epic!
We were served complimentary dessert to make up for our wait. Key lime cheesecake with raspberries. My taste buds applauded.
Worth the wait, sweetest French host greeted us and bid us farewell. A gem. You must.

Small restaurant, loud, dim lights, and tables close to each other. As we entered, Pascal welcomed us, shook my hand, and offered to hang my trench coat. We were seated at the corner which I thought was one of the best seats. A single rose with a small vase placed on the table. The napkin was politely placed on our laps by one of the staff. After every dish the staff cleaned the table. Before we ordered the specials were read out loud to us.
:Food:
First we got a basket of bread and butter. It was warm and soft; just the way I like my bread. We also got complimentary sample of cauliflower soup with truffle oil; It was delicious! We got the Boullabaisse which had Thai Snapper, Scallop, Mussels, Manila Clams, Striped Bass, Croûton, and Fondue Provencale. This dish had the right amount of seafood. It also came with a side of toasted bread with mayo and cheese. For $ 13 more, we added a side of Bone Marrow with the Filet Mignon. It was so juicy and tender. The bone marrow was smooth and buttery. We enjoyed our food.
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:Desserts:
We got the Nuage De Noix which was a refreshing. It had peach slices, pistachios, hazelnut, Chantilly, meringue, and orange soup. The French Toast was warm, spongy, and light. It tasted good with the salted caramel ice cream and hazelnut Crème. After all the food the bill was placed in a hat; creative.
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:Customer Service:
The staff was polite and friendly. Excellent customer service from Pascal.
:Tips:
~Call for reservations
~Lighting for pictures is poor
~Finding parking is difficult so arrive early prior to your reservation
:M’s Notes:
~Indoor seating
~Street Parking

Four stars for standout flavors and perfectly balanced dishes. Would have been a five if the service was a bit better.
Came here with a party of six and we were seated in the middle of the back seating area. Literally it’s the only table in the middle with 3″ — 6″ proximity of surrounding tables/​chairs. Not the best location and honestly feels like management optimized for squeezing in as many tables as possible as opposed to the guest experience.
The service was lacking quite a bit. it almost seemed as though they were under staffed. Towards the end of our meal, 85% of the tables (~15) were occupied yet only 1 – 2 actual waiters and 3 bus boys were working. Our water glass was empty the majority of the time as well which was unfortunate because the BF always over-​hydrates when he eats resulting in him tapping into my reserve and leaving me a couple of sips when I end up needing it the most –_​–
Overall the food was fantastic! Everything was cooked perfectly and it’s classic french flavors were sublime. They have a great deal for the pre fixe menu
(Menu 1: 3 course meal, Menu 2: 4 course meal, Veggie meal, etc). If you get the prefix it will come with an appy, entrée and dessert which ends up being a really good deal.
Must order:
Sweetbreads
Filet Mignon (one of the most tender filets i’ve had. outstanding)
Trio of Salmon
Foie Gras
Baked Alaska
Profiteroles
Meh:
Oysters
Salade landaise
Tarte du Jour
Crème Brûlée (solid but can get @ many other places)
French Toast

Disappointed! It was very disappointing!
très déçu! C’était très décevant.

La nourriture ici est juste quand il s’agit de la cuisine française. Idéal pour une soirée romantique ou tout simplement lorsque vous êtes envie de quelque chose d’un peu plus que la norme. Le personnel est attentif et amical. Ils ont une belle carte des vins et Thei prix menu fixe est tellement raisonnable pour la qualité de la nourriture que vous obtenez :) Amour.

Accueil parfait de toute l’équipe. Philippe, le maître des lieux nous a donné tout un tas de tuyaux sur la ville et les bons endroits ou sortir.
Une carte de vins sympas et des supers desserts.
Merci et à bientôt !

had the fois gras, skate wing, and french toast — all superb — 5 stars confirmed