Gary Danko

Ugh, I’m so disappointed to leave a 2 star review. After a long anticipated meal at the great Gary Danko, my husband and I felt that the food was underwhelming and we weren’t blown away by the service. I got the shrimp risotto, thai curry, and the beef. My husband had the seared foie gras, lamb, lobster, and duck. It was all just okay. A minor aside, I was a bit disappointed with their complementary bread and butter, so basic.
Worst of all, 6 hours after my meal — FOOD POISONING. Just threw up the most expensive meal of my life. Never going back. After only reading positive reviews before my trip, I searched for «food poisoning» in the reviews this morning and looks like I’m not alone on this one. Too bad that the reviews say that the manager does nothing to take responsibility for it so I’m not even going to bother calling. I’m on the struggle bus this morning. Send help.

This review is wayyyy overdue because we’ve been here so many times and have always had a great experience and was served amazing food dishes.
So pretty much you can order the pre fixed menu or you can have 3,4, or 5 dishes. My husband sometimes orders 6 dishes and they always accommodate. Food is always great. I always get the poached egg as an appetizer, you can’t go wrong with that! Everything on the menu is good, I’ve been here many times and never had a bad dish. My must recommendation is to order the lousiana butter cake. It’s an amazing dessert that everyone should try once in their life. Real simple but delicious. Great place to eat. Hard to get reservations but if you are at the door at opening you can get easily get a bar seat.

Husband & I had a birthday dinner at Restaurant Gary Danko this week. While the food was fabulous and service was exceptional, the overall experience was only aye-​okay.
The sommelier started by suggesting a few bottles of Italian red, yet we selected the L’Aventure Optimus 2013, which was delicious and perfect with the dinner we ordered. I declined to spend $ 208 on a bottle of wine he and I won’t finish.
Dinner began with crab salad for him and I had the spring onion soup with a garlic thyme custard. We both loved the first course. For the next course, he & I both ordered seafood risotto. The risotto was perfectly cooked and the dish was excellent. However, we were quite disappointed by the minuscule pieces of seafood in each bowl. The small quantity of fish stood out because I was in Italy six months ago and enjoyed several bowls of delicious seafood risotto filled with seafood.
For the entrée, I had duck breast and he ordered scallops. Both dishes were cooked perfectly, but he was served only two scallops. He and I just looked at each other stunned. For dessert, he ordered the crème fraîche cheesecake with a fresh blueberry sorbet, which he said was amazing, and I had the chocolate mousse with an espresso.
The food and the service were exceptional throughout dinner, but if we hadn’t nibbled on the cold bread on the table while sipping wine, we would have left the restaurant hungry. The portions served for the entrée course, which the menu identifies as «Fish and Seafood» and «Meat and Game Birds» were, in fact, tasting menu portions, rather than dinner entrée portions. A man, like my father, would not return to this restaurant.
Restaurant Gary Danko invites guests to choose either the 5 Course Tasting Menu $ 119 (before wine) or choose any menu items they’d like to create their own 3 Course $ 83; 4 Course $ 101; or 5 Course $ 119 meal (before wine). It’s great that guests can select whatever they’d like to eat and, of course, a dinner like this comes at a high price, but who wants to spend $ 400 on a dinner for two and go home hungry?

What can I say about Gary Danko that hasn’t been said before?
I’ve started to write this review a million times and I have recommended Gary Danko to friends in text messages longer than any Unilocal review ever would be. And while I could fill pages with how wonderful the service, atmosphere, and drinks are, I think I’ll just stick with my favorites from the food.
Seared Foie Gras: If you’re into foie gras, you cannot go wrong with this. You’re given way more foie gras then you would get anywhere else.
Seared Sea Scallops: These may be the best scallops I’ve ever had. Yes, you only get a few, but you’ll savor every last bite with your eyes closed.
Lemon Pepper Duck Breast: You get a large portion of duck, and it’s served with this incredible duck hash as well. For true duck lovers, this is a must have.
Herb Crusted Loin of Lamb: This is a ridiculous, decadent dream. The lamb is so tender and flavorful.
Warm Louisiana Butter Cake: This is my favorite cake that I’ve ever had, period. It’s all crust and warm butter and I would eat this every single day of my life if I wouldn’t become enormous.
I would celebrate anything at Gary Danko. I would celebrate the sun rising and setting every day at Gary Danko. I’m already plotting my next visit…

TL: DR– My favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. For the quality of the food, the value is excellent.
Went here with my wife to celebrate our anniversary. Definitely make reservations, it was very full when we went.
Food:
Risotto with Rock Shrimp and Crab — A
Heirloom Tomato Salad with Burrata — A+
Coconut Thai Curry with Shrimp, Calamari, Lobster, and Scallops — B
Roasted stuffed Quail — A–
Bananas Flambeed — B+
Service: A++
They also brought out a chocolate cake for our anniversary along with other small desserts. They sent us home with an incredible pineapple cake as well. Overall, the $ 81 three course meal is a ridiculous value. Lots of food that is extremely high quality. You could technically order three entrees if you were feeling up to the challenge. Probably one of the top 10 restaurants that I have been to anywhere.

Great service and great food.
I went here for my 8^th anniversary and the service was excellent, they gave a complimentary cake with it as well. Water was always filled and bread was always delivered on time. Surprisingly, we were full after the four course of our five course tasting menu. The bathroom location is kind of weird though where its right in front of where the servers are coming out with food. Other than that, will definitely come here again.
Scallops: the skin was seared wonderfully.
Lobster: so soft and tender like it was just caught.
Glazer oysters: nice aesthetic view and tasted great with the caviar.
Flambay: excellent live presentation. The seasonal flambay was a cherry with pecan streusel crumble on top with ice cream. Delicious with a caramel taste.
Bison: first time having it so it was a bit chewy even with medium rare but delicious nonetheless.
Soufflé: the chocolate sauce was a bit overpowering, too much chocolate.
Warm buttercake: my boyfriend enjoyed it a lot with the chewy texture.

My wife and I decided to give this place a try after hearing friends raving about it.
I called on Monday morning and was told there’s no availability. I made another call and talked to another rep and got a table for two two days later. So the advice here is that if you want to make a reservation on a particular date, just keep calling.
Valet parking was $ 15. Immediately upon entering, we were greeted by a polite hostess who offered to check my wife’s coat. We were immediately seated. Atmosphere was great except the place is a small. The table to our left and right were so close and I could hear every word by from other diners. For a Michelin rated restaurant, I would expect more privacy.
We both opted for a 5 courses initially but skipped the wine pairing. I chose the Gary Danko’s tasting menu, which consisted of glazed oysters with Osetra caviar, horseradish crusted salmon with cucumbers, beef filet with potato, cheese, and lemon soufflé cake. For wifey, I ordered the dungeness crab salad, roast Maine lobster, quail, cheese, and lemon soufflé cake. So we each took turns and sampled everything. The main courses did not impress me. I had ordered the steak medium rare and what I got was a bit dry and over-​cooked. I have had better steak elsewhere. The quail with stuffing was ok. The oysters with caviar was magnificent and by far the best. The lobster also stood out. It was creamy and cooked to perfection. The sauce was also very flavorful.
The cheese cart has many selections but we are not a big fan. So we ended up ordering 4 pcs instead of 8. As it turned out, we were billed one 5 courses and one 4 courses since we skipped the cheese. The lemon soufflé cake was a bit too sweet but the complimentary small dish of tiny treats was flawless. By the end of the 2 hour meal, we were stuffed. The bill came out to be $ 239 w/​o tips, which was very affordable.
One complaint though, after waiting outside for 10 minutes, there was still no sight of the the attendant. The waiter had picked up our valet ticket 15 minutes ago when we paid our bill. Overall, the food was good but not exceptional and that I would expect from a Michelin rated restaurant. The service was excellent. From start to finish, our table was checked frequently. The attention to detail was impeccable. Nevertheless, I would consider going back on other occasions just to try other items on the menu.

Took my wife here for our anniversary and we had a nice experience. The staff was all very friendly though one kid who was pouring water looked like he was scared to death of making a mistake. I kind of felt bad for him. The only issue with the staff I had was at times they would reach over me in an awkward way.
The food was really good but what blew me away was the portion size. I’m used to tasting menus being small items, just a few bites. For instance I ordered the horseradish encrusted salmon medallion. Seeing medallion I was expecting a very small bite or two. When it arrived it was a significant piece of meat.
We also had the filet, risotto, cheese selection, and warm Louisiana cake. The risotto was hands down the highlight of the night. So creamy and the flavors were fantastic. I’d love to go back for 5 more bowls of that. The filet was good but it’s not my favorite cut of beef. Still very good. My wife absolutely loved the Louisiana cake recommended by the staff.
I opted to have our waitress choose the cheeses for me and she brought everything I love, it was fantastic. My only regret was I ate too much and was so full I couldn’t finish the cheese. The portion sizes are huge and I must say for what you’re paying for everything I felt like it was a great deal, so worth the money.

You know, I will give this place 5 stars. Why? Because unlike the other ‘hyped’ restaurants, this place actually serves delicious and filling portions.
5 courses seemed to be the norm, and of course that’s what I got – dessert as the 5^th course. The hubs opted for no cheese platter so received 4 courses instead. The drinks were strong so I think we got confused thinking there was a magical 5^th course for him. It’s ok, we both left full.
I’ll update this review if I ever remember what I ordered. It was my birthday weekend, and we were lucky to get a table. I believe this is what the hype is about… the exclusivity of its reservation process and the intimacy of its dining room is almost unheard of in the city. The personable staff were all obviously professionally trained, looking you in the eye and informing you about all your dishes once they arrive.
We left with pineapple cream filled desserts as a courtesy. Since it was my celebration, they brought out a little cake with a plate of sweets. As we were stuffed, we asked to have it boxed. Then lo and behold, out comes another cake and plate of sweets. We laughed and said we received it already, but for teasing us, we think they should have left that second helping. Don’t tease us.
Can’t wait to come back. I would say there were a good 50+ meal selections on one page. For drinks, and for one who likes to drink but doesn’t really like alcohol, their espresso martini was delicious! 5 stars also for the price. Other restaurants would charge 450+ for 5 courses, where the servings aren’t nearly as filling as GD’s. It was around $ 150 per person for us two – not bad at all!

My favorite. Every restaurant needs to learn from Gary Danko! Impeccable service and food. Sometimes when there are so many items, a couple comes out just ok… but here, it was all perfect. We could of just been lucky. Splendid choices for appetizers, entrees, cheeses and dessert. Pre fix menu or create your own 3, 4, or 5 item dinner — no restrictions, you can choose 5 entrée if you wanted to.
Our waiter was awesome, one of the first thing he said was «It’s Gary Danko, anything is possible». The staff is amazingly attentive, patient, detail oriented and didn’t forget a thing. While our waiter was cooking our crêpe dessert, he noticed the ladies behind him that were leaving was about to leave something behind and reminded them to not forget it. The wait staff are completely focused on their job in the most professional, yet easy going, friendly manner.
Towards the end of dessert, I finished my water, which was from the purchases bottle. A wait staff almost immediately came over and filled it with tap water. All the simple gestures makes this place worth coming for even if food wasn’t always perfect, fortunately food was perfect too.

Our group of four had a dinner reservation at 8pm. The table was not ready for us for another 20 minutes so we had drinks at the bar while we waited. I had the old Cuban, which was delicious.
We all ordered four courses and I got to sample everything my fiancé ordered as well. My absolute favorite of the night was actually an amuse bouche — smoked salmon and caviar on a cracker. So much flavor!
I ordered the salt cured foie gras, pan seared scallops, seared steak, and a cheese course. The foie gras was so smooth and buttery. The scallops were perfectly cooked and I really enjoyed the combination of the sweet onion and herby cilantro purée. My fiancé’s risotto was really good and very filling. The lemon soufflé was also delicious, although it was dense and not airy (waiter did tell us this when we ordered), and the accompanying raspberry sorbet was perfect.
Everything was good, but it wasn’t mind blowing or exceptional. I was expecting more flavor from every dish. Nothing really surprised me. Steak tasted like steak, lobster like lobster, etc. I’m glad I got to experience this but I would not come back.

What can I say about Gary Danko? Nothing bad honestly. I love the food here but I wouldn’t eat it everyday. Only because it is so filling. You’d be surprised because the portions look tiny but trust me, they are not tiny.
The first time I came here was with my cousin for our birthdays because we couldn’t trust booking an expensive, romantic dinner so far out in advance with boyfriends. You just never know. I am so grateful to have a cousin who can share such amazing food with. We both had never been here before but we did our research and already knew what we were getting. Trust me, we waited forever for this reservation. We couldn’t wait to finally have dinner here.
After that, I been here 1 more time for my sister’s birthday. Both times, I pretty much ordered the same thing because I love Foie Gras and duck breast. I did a four course meal both times, I ordered Seared Foie Gras, Horseradish Crusted Salmon, Lemon Pepper Duck Breast, and Chocolate soufflé. This was the first time I went and I would get everything again. Foie Gras melted in my mouth, the salmon was great but nothing super crazy about it, the lemon pepper duck breast was so tender, and I was actually getting full halfway through that entrée. The chocolate soufflé was so soft and not too sweet. We even got a chocolate mousse because we celebrated our birthdays.
The second time I ordered, Seared Foie Gras (what’s new), Risotto with dungeness crab, Lemon Pepper Duck Breast (I know, I’m repetitive), and the tableside banana crêpe. The risotto was cooked perfectly, not too soft, not too hard. Every ingredient was fresh and I get so full by the second/​third entrée.
I have also tried the Roast Maine Lobster and that is an excellent dish. Must get! The roast quail is very good too. It is huge and it is very filling.
Five stars for great food, great menu, great service, and great ambiance. Nothing but amazing!

Restaurant Gary Danko is the finest restaurant in the US and perhaps the world. It’s staff, food and wine selection make it an unparalleled experience that borders on religious.
Plan ahead and get reservations if you are coming to San Francisco. It’s truly one of the experiences around.
Even the bathrooms are amazing. It’s basically a spa.
Kudos to the staff and especially Steven Lande who is in a class by himself.
My highest recommendation!

I’m conflicted. This restaurant is hard to judge. You may have varying experience depending on what you order.
However I do agree the the service was pretty good. The atmosphere was classy.
I called about 1.5 month in advance to secure a 9:30pm reservation on a Friday. So you can see how popular the restaurant is. We were a party of 4 so we really had a good sample of dishes.
What really impressed me were the appetizers! I wish I knew and just ordered all appetizers.
Shrimp risotto was awesome! A mix of creamy and tangy with the sweetness of fresh shrimp mixed into the perfect balance of flavor. This was my favorite risotto of all time!
Next is the oyster with caviar. Flavor was also well balanced and oyster lightly cooked to perfection!
The foie gras was decent and they do give a generous portion but I don’t feel this dish was outstanding compared the the foie gras I’ve tasted in the past. Nothing special.
Unfortunately, the rest of the meal was disappointing. I was extremely disappointed at the entrees. Out of the four dishes, only one sort of lived up to expectation.
We tried the steak, Maine lobster, quail and duck.
The duck was pretty good cook medium rare. Very juicy and with a great texture. But not out of this world.
The steak was too dry. My husband just made smoked ribeye for BBQ few days prior to this dinner and everyone agreed his steak was much better! Come on! I expected more from a Michelin restaurant.
The lobster wasn’t bad but lacking flavor. All I tasted was butter…
The quail was just horrible! Meat lacked freshness and almost tasted spoiled. And I did not like the stuffing.
As for dessert, we tried all the soufflé (chocolate and Grand marnier). I say the chocolate soufflé was decent but the grand marnier was super sweet. I couldn’t finish it.
The lemon soufflé cake was actually the best out of all the desserts and the crème brûlée was worth a try.
Overall I was expecting more from Gary Danko and I felt they did not live up to my expectation from reading all the reviews.
3.5 star.

5 stars for awesome food and another 5 stars for exceptional service.
I had to call two months in advance just to get an 8:30PM reservation on a Friday, but it was definitely worth the wait.
From start to finish, the servers went above and beyond to provide the best dining experience. When we stepped into the restaurant, our coats were taken from us. While we were dining, we had about 3 – 4 different people stop by to check up on us (seems like a lot of people but overall it’s a 2 – 3 hour ordeal so it didn’t seem too overbearing). When my fiancé stepped away to use the restroom but the food had come out, they brought covers to keep the food warm until he returned. At the end of our dinner, they had our leftovers waiting for us at the entrance of the restaurant. And someone even helped us put our coats back on. Again, service overall was exceptional.
As for the food, my fiancé opted for the 5 courses (spring onion soup, scallops, bison, cheese and strawberry rhubarb mille fuille) and me the 4 courses (risotto, Maine lobster, duck and lemon soufflé). Everything was presented beautifully, tasted great and portion size was perfect. As my fiancé described it, it was like a marathon of eating. In addition to the desserts we ordered, we also received a chocolate mousse in celebration of my fiancé’s birthday and an assortment of small desserts. We were STUFFED by the end of it all.
If you’re looking for a fancy meal without breaking the bank, this is your place. Awesome food and awesome service… we’ll definitely be back.

4.5
I’ll keep this short and sweet.
Get these:
Foie gras — enough said. This goes well with their complimentary bread.
Lobster and rock shrimp risotto — so rich and creamy. Generously portioned.
Roast lobster — perfectly cooked and juicy.
Baked chocolate soufflé — fave dessert out of the bunch (also tried butter cake and crème brûlée trio.)
And can’t forget the banana cream cheese muffin «parting gift» for breakfast the next day :)
Awesome concept where you can choose as many or as little from each category. All meat? All desserts? No dessert? 3, 4, 5 course? Go to town and customize your own menu :)
Definitely a spot you’ve got to try at least once in your life.

This well known & highly regarded SF establishment with more than 4000 reviews probably doesn’t need my two cents but here we are hahah: D
After hearing glowing reviews from friends and reading all the positive reviews on Unilocal,I decided to make a reservation to dine here for a special occasion. You submit an online request and they will give you a call back with availability or you can call them during the specified times. If you are celebrating an event, let them know at the time of reservation.
We weren’t sure how parking was going to be so we did valet ($ 15). It was raining horrendously that evening so in my nice dress & heels, this seemed like a good option as you literally drop off your car right out front.
My overall impression was that it was a well orchestrated dining experience from start to finish. Our server was incredibly knowledgeable & attentive. Presentable of food was great. Most dishes we chose were delicious. Also, since it was a celebratory night, we received a complimentary dessert. Diners also each receive a little something extra for breakfast the next day. Side note — the bathroom is SO clean. You know they must check for cleanliness religiously.
You can do a set 5 course tasting menu OR choose your own. There is a 3, 4, or 5 option and you can mix & match your choices. For example, I chose 4 courses option and two of my choices were appetizers.
I tried foie gras for the first time and I have to say it’s not my cup of tea but at least I can cross it off my list of things to try! My favorites of the evening was probably the lobster & crab salad appetizer. The crab was especially delectable — so fresh & yummmmy! We also did a cheese course and it was fun to quiz our server on all the various ones.
However, there were some minor details that somewhat bothered me which made me give a 4 vs 5 stars. We were seated next to a partition which felt cramped. Speaking of the partitions — I understand the purpose of them but it made me feel like I was in an office setting. Our table was wobbly which for a fine dining restaurant seems unacceptable. The cheese cart they pushed around was really loud and trembled so you knew it was coming around because it felt like a mini earthquake. Finally the dessert I chose — assorted macarons — I guess it’s my own fault for loving macarons but they were probably one of the worst I’ve ever tasted. It was so cavity inducing sweet that I couldn’t finish it. I do not recommend it at all.
Bottom line is — would I come here again? Yes, definitely: D I feel it was a good value for the service & food you receive — worth it!

One of a few near-​perfect dinner I have ever enjoyed, including my 1^st visit almost four years ago.
Very fortunate to be able to reserve a table for 4, 2 weeks in advance, our party arrived promptly at 7pm and the staff greeted us warmly by offering to check our coats and walking us to our seats.
The amuse buse was a taste of a warm seafood based squash chowder; while the chowder was bit salty, we were more distracted by the list of temptations.
The waitstaff took the time to greet us and explained the menu selection briefly, we all opt for a 4-​course dinner ($ 101) and I added a personalized wine-​pairing ($ 70), Jeremiah the wine director personally took care of the flight service for the evening.
Started my meal with a delightful Glazed Oysters with Osetra Caviar, Salsify and Lettuce Cream; four pieces of plump and warm oysters dazzled with delicate tiny black pearls of the ocean, coated with a velvety sauce melting over the tongue. A glass of Muscadet Sur Lie’s crisp minerality served an act of perfect balance.
My lady’s 2 nuggets of Seared Sea Scallops with Lentils, Roasted Peppers, Potatoes, Parsley and Madras Curry Vinaigrette was a symphony, the caramelized scallops and the lentils delivered a wealth of texture, really enjoyed that Chef has put together a world of flavors in one dish.
Pan Seared Bass with Israeli Couscous, Squash, Preserved Meyer Lemon, Sage and Pumpkin Seed Oil, beautiful filet with a firm texture, great execution with the sides and garnishes with more emphasis on the ingredients that taste great alone but even better together. My favorite dish was paired with a white wine from the beautiful Cinqu Terre of Italy, a fun and exciting wine.
Lady’s beautiful Lemon Pepper Duck Breast with Duck Hash, Celery Root-​Garlic Purée, Belgian Endive and Cardamom Poached Pears came in a huge array of components working seamlessly together, flavorful yet not over powering, the medallion of duck hash was packed generously with perfectly seasoned duck and savory herbs with a well developed crust.
Seared Foie Gras with Caramelized Onions and Apples is a true classic, and Chef delivered it with some savory Asian twist with a touches of five spice and a soy sauce glaze, it must have been a sufficient 4+ oz piece that is very shareable, served with a late harvest semillon, a match made in heaven.
The girlfriend adored the Roast Quail Stuffed with Mushroom Ragout, Leeks, Quinoa and Foie Gras on Black Eyed Peas, Ham Hocks and Maitake, the presentation is spot on and the funghi and foie gras really build on the slightly gamey taste of the tender quail.
My curiosity ordered the Juniper Crusted Venison with Braised Red Cabbage, Cranberry, Chestnut Spätzle and Tangerines, one of the bigger entrees that satisfied my carnivorous craving. The game is lean yet juicy tender with a beautiful red in the center enhanced by the nuance of the juniper, the sides too are delicious except the tangerines segments didn’t quite fit in the picture for me.
The Tempranillo Red from Castillo de Leon of Spain with it’s powerful fruit yet elegant structure was a great match.
We were all struggling to squeeze in another bite at this point, the portions were significant and we thank the waitrons for giving us the time to savor every dish at our leisure, never feeling rushed. Tables kept clean, fresh set of utensils for every course consistent and professional service reading and meeting our needs all the way through the wonderful dessert.
Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces, chocolate and berry, it’s a must. The showstopping soufflé towering over its vessel, the cake is moist, fluffy, and decadent. Enough to share, all of us felt like we had an epic food marathon.
Definitely recommend anyone to make a reservation to dine at Chef Gary Danko’s masterpiece, where the the creativity and dimension of his foods definitely reflected his passion and experience. Being his one and only restaurant, I see it as a place that will only gets better as time goes on.
Cheers.

Ok, it was worth the hype. I was skeptical cause I’m not big on iconic/​fancy American restaurants but… Gary Danko is hands down the best dining experience I’ve had thus far, in large part due to the outstanding service. Rolled up to the restaurant, there was a matte black lambo parked directly in front of the entrance, had to walk around, nbd. Lamborghini mercy. It’s easy to tell apart the regulars from us peasants — :p I definitely felt out of place. People watching here is pretty entertaining… I’ll just leave it at that. In any case, our server made us feel at ease. If you leave to use the restroom, they will fold your table napkin and cover your plate until you return. New cutlery for every course. Details.
What she order:
–foie gras
–lemon pepper duck
–sea bass
–herb crusted lamb
–lemon soufflé cake
–pineapple crepes (prepared tableside)
I honestly don’t have any complaints. From start to finish, we were taken care of. Pacing and presentation of dishes was executed with precision. Timing was on point af. Everything you expect from a Michelin star restaurant and more. Lowkey regret not getting the lobster… but hopefully I’ll be back! Recommend this spot for a special occasion or if you just feel like flexin, on your worst behavior. Don’t forget to leave a generous tip.

I came here a few years ago and still have fond memories of the meal. Dinner was excellent & service was exquisite. Though some ingredients have changed, the classic menu remains fundamentally unchanged.
It can be difficult getting a reservation. You can’t make a reservation on Opentable. You must call or email, & get a confirmation number. Reservations cannot be made more than two months in advance. Needless to say, plan ahead.
We had reservations, but somehow the hostess had us down for a different time. Mistakes happen, but it seemed like she thought we were at fault. I guess it’s always best to confirm reservations a day prior to showing up to the restaurant. No matter, we were seated not too long afterwards.
The restaurant is rather dark & cozy. A little too cozy as we audibly heard a neighboring diner who made chide remarks about our all-​black attire. It was actually really funny overhearing this. What can I say? We didn’t plan our outfits very well.
For the rest of the evening, service was amazing. The servers really make you feel taken care of here. Overall, I give Gary Danko a 9/​10, w/​the exception of the reservation discrepancy.
You can choose 3 – 5 courses from the appetizer, seafood, meat, cheese & dessert menus.
The serving sizes are each a very good-​sized portion.
Pricing (currently):
3-​course: $ 83
4-​course: $ 101
5-​course: $ 119
For the most bang for your buck, I encourage you to get 5 steaks for $ 119.
APPETIZERS
Seared Foie Gras w/​Caramelized Onions & Apples:
Seared to a golden brown & melts in your mouth like butter. It’s like eating straight up fat, but oh-​so-​good anyway. The caramelized onions & apples add sweet & tart flavors to cut through the heavy richness of the foie gras.
Crispy Farm Egg w/​Grits, Royal Trumpet Mushrooms, Frisee:
Who doesn’t love a poached egg? Got the image in your head? Now take that poached egg, bread it, fry it, & serve it over some greens. I always find it so satisfying to break into runny egg yolk. A little egg yolk over frisee actually makes a pretty nice dressing.
Risotto w/​Lobster, Gulf Shrimp, Shimeji Mushrooms & Butternut Squash:
Creamy w/​big chunks of lobster & shrimp spread throughout. The consistency of the rice was a little more broken up than I am used to for risotto.
SEAFOOD
Roast Maine Lobster w/​Potato Purée, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Corn & Tarragon:
Chunks of claw meat resting in the shell, adorned w/​a sprig of tarragon that looks like it’s growing out of the lobster.
Seared Tuna w/​Peppers & Onions:
Mildly flavored strips of tuna over a light sauce. It was an interesting combination, but not the most memorable tuna I’ve had.
MEAT
Seared Filet of Beef w/​Cremini Mushrooms, Braised Shallots & Potato Cake:
Beautifully petite filet cooked to a pink-​in-​the-​center medium rare over a sweet & savory sauce, accompanied w/​a breaded & fried potato cake.
The current beef filet comes with a rich & creamy square of potato gratin.
Roast Quail Stuffed w/​Mushroom Ragout, Leeks, Quinoa, Foie Gras, on Ham Hocks & Maitake w/​Corn Cake:
One of the better quail dishes I’ve had. Quail tends to be dry, but the stuffing enhances the flavors & juices of the bird. The corn cake was topped w/​corn salsa.
DESSERT
Baked Chocolate Soufflé w/​2 Sauces:
It was beautifully presented. The server poured the the chocolate & custard sauces into the center of the soufflé w/​ease. I wish I had captured a photo prior to the sauces being applied to the soufflé. The texture was light, yet creamy, but the tasted so rich.
Warm Louisiana Butter Cake w/​Apples, Huckleberry Compote &Vanilla Bean Ice Cream:
I didn’t think butter cake sounded too interesting, but it was still delicious w/​baked apple slices on top for fruity sweetness. The huckleberry compote added some acidity to the overall rich & buttery dessert.
Complimentary Dessert Assortment — little tea cookies, brownies, fruit jellies & things
As if we didn’t already consume enough dessert, we were also presented w/​a little cheesecake topped w/​raspberry & a single elongated candle to celebrate our special occasion.
Last but not least, we were given their signature complimentary takeout dessert, which I believe is a soufflé, but I’m not sure — I never got to open it.
Had I known we were going to be consuming so many sweet desserts, I might have gone w/​the artisanal cheeses presented tableside. The dishes that really stood out to me were the crispy farm egg, lobster risotto, & chocolate soufflé. If I came back, I’d definitely like to try the oysters w/​caviar.
Though pricey, I would say Gary Danko’s prices pale in comparison to many other fine dining establishments. It is a wonderful restaurant to dip your toes into the fine dining pool.