Thermidor

Hearing that Thermidor is now offering their space up for sale, I used an ambiguous dinner date (or, was it) as an excuse to finally try this place before they closed their doors. And while the dinner date was enjoyable, the food itself was a little bit more questionable.
Both of us started off with some drinks that I no longer remember the names of (a something hut, and a Dr. something), but that I recall being quite enjoyable. For food, my dinner companion went with the lobster scallop thermidor (which she was warned, by the waitress, might not be filling enough) for $ 17, while I ordered the big burger for $ 12. And, the waitress’ advice was indeed sound advice — the thermidor did in fact end up being a rather small portion of okay-​tasting food, and more of an appetizer than anything. The burger though, was amazing, and probably the best I’ve had to date — simple, filling, and served up with some tasty potatoes on the side too. Filling enough that I was actually able to share part of my burger to slightly appease the hunger pangs of my not-​quite-​date, who kept hungrily-​eyeing my burger throughout the rest of the meal.
Two drinks and two «entrees» later, we end up with a $ 56 bill. Not the most affordable of places, considering one of us left hungry, but one I’d certainly consider coming back to, for their burger alone. And, well, maybe the cocktails as well.

Thermidor has recently changed their menu offerings and now have double the number of amazing flatbread pizzas than were previously on the menu. At the expense of some of their other fare (farewell delicious b-​sprouts and cauliflower), Thermidor has added a creative variety of pizzas. I am always eager to experience what new flavor combinations the kitchen staff comes up with; I am always supremely happy with the service from the waitstaff and bartenders. I find that the portion size for each pizza is perfect; enough to share with friends or take home some for a midnight snack.
I think what I love most about Thermidor is the atmosphere. For years I declared that SF needed a venue where you could drink, snack, and lounge with friends without having to scream over the music. Thermidor is just that – an amazing place to hang out with friends and have a relaxed evening full of excellent drinks, food, and conversation (that wont leave you without your voice the next morning).
My favorite pizza remains the lobster pizza (currently being billed as the «Santa Barbara») however the Gorgonzola, Red Hawk, Walnut and Apple pizza is giving the lobster pizza a run for its money.
Though the change in menu has left some surprised, those who decide to dine with Thermidor are rarely disappointed. I know I never am.

Absolutely delicious! My husband and I tried almost all of the small plates and were not disappointed. The calamari was really wonderful and stood out as the best part of the evening, it had just the perfect coating of cornmeal and was served with spicy honey dip. The little burgers were divine, perfectly seasoned and cooked just the way we wanted.
The only thing I would pass on ordering again would be the chips and caviar, good, but there were so many better things to choose from.
The cocktails were also really good. I stuck with the pisco punch all night but my husband tried the warsaw mule, and a couple others and enjoyed them all immensely.
The service was amazing, everyone was friendly and attentive. We’re ready to be regulars at Thermidor!

I was a bit surprised that this place was so empty when next door was packed. But we were excited to try something new. The atmosphere was modern a bit lacking in style but wouldn’t have been as noticeable if the place was a bit more packed.
The drinks were generously poured and the food was good. We had the small burger, lobster roll, foi gras and halibut. One thing that was a bit boring was that the bread rolls, the burger roll and the lobster roll were the same bread. Don’t get me wrong, it was good but a bit lame for a nice restaurant.
I also expected the lobster roll to be something more Asia inspired instead it was some slaw, lobster on a roll, lacked in flavor and originality.
The foi gras was amazing, light and so well balanced.
The actual burger was good, juicy and perfectly medium rare.
The halibut was probably the worst of the dishes, the fish was dry and the sides were a bit bland, but they did split the portion for us which basically looked like two entrees.
We ended the meal with espressos being too full for dessert and nothing on the menu inspired us to waste the calories.

2.5 stars
Came here with a couple friends and expected to be blown away by the food. Left disappointed.
Here’s what it boiled down to:
Our waiter was decent but throughout the meal he had to keep apologizing. Apologizing for all our meals and appetizers coming out the same time. Apologizing for the slightly spotty service. Just a bunch of little things that didn’t go well.
The food was not very memorable. We started with some oysters — good but not great. The chips and caviar were served with great homemade chips, but then again, the caviar? Couldn’t even taste it. The halibut was «lemony» as described by multiple of my friends, for the lack of a better word. I ordered the special of the day, which was some scallops, and while the scallops were fresh and sweet, they managed to burn it instead of searing it. Burning my scallops? Unforgivable! The bitter taste scarred me for the rest of my meal @_@
That said, the steak tartare was fantastic, as well as the blue cheese plate for dessert. They have a great wine list and we enjoyed the 2 whites we got.
It was just that the others mistakes were unforgivable, in my opinion, at a place like this. With all the nice establishments in SF, why would I choose to throw my money away here?

The happy hour from 5 – 7 p.m. is worth checking out if you’re in the area. The menu features upscale bar snacks as well as an assortment of drink specials. A happy hour that runs past quitting time is a treat.
There’s a nice seating area behind the hostess stand that is still considered the bar area, but is more conducive to chatting than sitting on display at the open bar.
I’ve been on a sazerac kick since visiting New Orleans in December and Thermidor’s is the closest I’ve had to authentic NOLA style.

I found out about this place from Daily Candy’s SF’s Best New 2010 Restaurants. Excited to try as it was a late birthday celebration with my family.
Bread: Buttery brioche buns of heaven. So good!
Apps: Brussel Sprouts. Oxtail. Little Burger.
I have never eaten brussel sprouts before but these were delicious!
1^st courses: Ahi Tuna Poke. Butternut Squash Soup. Steak Tartare.
Tartare was my fave of the bunch.
2^nd courses: Sweetbreads and Pork Belly. Lamb Chop. Filet. Lobster Thermidor.
I thought the main component (meat) of each dish was the best thing. The sides were sub-​par. I hated the potatoes/​carrots that were paired with the Lobster. The spetzel on the Lamb Chop dish was doughy and not appetizing.
So full I didn’t get to try the Baked Alaska :(But we did get some cool candy cigarettes at the end!
Overall, it wasn’t a bad experience but nothing too memorable.
3.5 stars.

Want to make me an offer I can’t refuse?
Waiting…
Well, if you won’t, I will. The other day after a long, hard day at work, I offered to buy myself a drink or two, and since specialty cocktails and Mad Men chic were involved, I just could not say no.
So I sat down at Thermidor’s beautiful bar and bartender by my lonesome and enjoyed two exquisitely crafted cocktails meticulously made by a budding young executive. My favorite of the two was the Warsaw Mule, with bison grass vodka (!?), ginger beer, and apple cider. The other, the Florey & Ross-​scotch and more ginger, was also delicious, and drinking scotch alone earned me some points in Don Draper’s stylebook.
I was not alone for long; I was almost Don Drapered by someone (but I didn’t know he was married!) Luckily, I found out soon enough. So, good bar to meet people, both single and taken, whatever your poison may be.
Only complaint about the interior? The exposed piping in the otherwise seamlessly designed restaurant. I don’t think that Betty Draper would be caught dead in a bar with pipes showing. Or she would just order another drink to distract her?

(See pics)
I really, really wanted to like this place a bit more. Came here for an early and quicker Saturday dinner before an opera so the place was more quiet early on of the evening.
With the list of good looking cocktails, we both got the Warsaw Mule which was quite good and strong on the empty stomachs. Ready to eat.
The crostinos with stracciatelli cheese and tomatoes was a bit on the true palate cleanser than an appetizer. It was a bit bland.
The scallop Americaine with coconut rice and red curry lobster sauce was the highlight. Rich, tasty and hit the mark.
We also had a half bottle of Hitching Post Pinot 2006 that was a fairly good pairing and $ 32 was an unbeatable price especially for the half bottle. Though my date did have to request the Burgundy glasses instead of Bordeaux ones. Proper glasses are not for the looks but how the wine goes to your nose and it does affect the taste. The server was probably not very experienced in wines as he asked if the wine should be brought with food. Well, my date politely suggested he should bring it right the way, open up so it can aerate because as usual, I forgot to bring the wine aerator.
For the main course we both had the signature lobster thermidor. The vinegar /​lemon smell was very strong and took us by surprise. I did not know enough about the dish at the time but anything that is too overwhelming for a seasoned restaurant goer is not good news. And part of the meat was either undercooked or not fresh as it was a bit chewy at some part while another part was mushy. It did taste sour on the dish. The mash potatoes was okay.
As we mentioned to them about the lobster’s unusual uneven cooking and taste, they immediately went on to take 1 of them off the bill. We were too shocked but appreciated their effort to hope we would go back and try again. And yes we will, but do want to suggest to lose that sour undertone and would love to try out their other dishes and desserts.
Food is really 3 stars but the extra effort earned the last star.
Overall the service was great if you were not having anything planned afterwards. The decoration definitely made me go search for the disco ball.

I love the atmosphere of Thermidor. Do you ever just walk into a place and the atmosphere makes you feel like you’re going to eat well? That’s how I feel coming into here.
I dined here recently with a rather large group of people so we had a big table upstairs. It was nice because you could still hear the boisterous crowd downstairs, but you were secluded from it enough to have your own conversations.
For my dinner I chose a grilled fish dish that did not disappoint and we had some shared appetizers (goat cheese fritters, potato croquettes with lobster butter, and fried cauliflower) that everyone also enjoyed. I have to be truthful though and let you all know that my favorite part of my meal was my cocktail — the Mint Smash. Made with bourbon, mint, and muddles strawberries it wasn’t overly sweet yet was incredibly refreshing. I would go back just to drink a few of those in fact!

highlights:
— CROSTINOS
— CHIPS AND CAVIAR (it’s a very small serving of three chips, but yummy)
— LOBSTER THERMIDOR (of course)
— PETITE FILET MIGNON
skip:
— POMMES DAUPHINE
— FRIED CHICKEN
the lobster thermidor was very good, but not amazing. what’s not to like about lobster? the filet mignon was delicious, which surprised me.
something about the décor feels unfinished, like we’re eating there before they’re quite open for business. i liked the spinny chairs though.

Oh, Thermmmidor… I have been wanting to meet your menu since you opened your doors. The Grand Opening Friends, Family + Foodies last night was a great party.
The interior of this restaurant is classy, open spaces, nice furniture, all retro looking with a modern twist, the lighting was perfect and set the scene for such a nice event. I could really see this place being popular during the holidays for events.
I read the reviews before attending and was looking forward to having a few classic cocktails. They were beautifully done. The cocktails of the night were:
*The Thirteen Thousand: bourbon, doulin rouge, batavia arrack, orange bitters. Fantastic Cocktail, my favorite of the night.
*Piccadilly Punch: brandy, rum, aperol, maple syrup, strawberry and prosecco. Sweet and fruity rum punch drink — very yummy.
*Grenada One-​Two: flor de cana, green charteuse, earl grey, orange cuaco, lime. I had never had a flor de cana cocktail before, being Nicaraguan and flor de cana is a Nicaraguan Rum, I wanted to try this out and it was really great.
The cocktails were unique, delicious and sophisticated, they went well with the mini cheeseburger sliders that were above my expectation of appetizers or bar food. They were mouth watering and delicious.
So, until next time Thermmmidor, I’ll be back for dinner AND drinks…

It’s not easy booking a restaurant for a party of 18 peeps in SF, but perhaps I just need to have all future group dinners at Thermidor. Their upstairs area was absolutely perfect for a group of our size and the food/​service was fan-​freaking-​tastic as well.
We had arranged a fixed menu ahead of time, which I think is always the easiest (and most cost effective) way to eat out with such a big group.
Appetizers–
Goat Cheese Fritters (looked yummy, but pregnancy no-​no)
Potato Croquettes with Lobster Butter– My goodness they were good
Fried Cauliflower– very lemony, yet tasty
As for entrees we had a choice between chicken, the pork chop and the sole. I haven’t been as into fish while pregnant, but decided to try the sole anyway. Um, yum– best fish I’ve had in at least a year! I ate up every last bite and did think about licking the plate, but then remembered I was technically at a work function.
Dessert was the only thing that didn’t blow me away. It was some sort of sorbet with grapefruit. Refreshing and healthy, but would have rather had something with chocolate in it.
The cocktail list looked unbelievable as well. They were sweet to whip me up a virgin daquiri, but looking forward to having a «real» cocktail next time.

It seems like the Mint plaza area is bringing in some good culinary concepts. I’ve heard good things about 54 Mint and I had a really good meal at Chez Papa when it opened. So to make my way down the list I hit up Thermidor as they brought some retro entrees that I wanted to try.
Stepping into the space was like walking into an episode of Mad Men. The hostesses glasses, sweater and skirt were straight out of the past. The wood paneling, the chandeliers and swivel chairs all screamed décor of years past. As ordering our drinks we got:
–The Mini Burder
–Goat Cheese Fritters
–Sole Almondine
–Lobster Thermidor
–Coffee, Cigarettes, and Donuts
–Poppyseed Cake
Within like 5 min of ordering, our appetizers show up. Weird. I dont even think I saw the server go back to the kitchen yet. Do they have crazy hand signals to put in orders? Regardless the appetizers were really good and my burger was, get this, actually medium rare! These might be the fastest appetizer/​garnish line ever. After 10 minutes, the same dishes show up again. Hmmm… I think coincidentally someone else ordered the same thing and we ended up getting their food. It was just way too fast. We were happy with that but then the problem was then there was a large lull for the entrees. Now everything was very tasty but I think the price/​portion ratio is a bit high on the price side. I really liked the food but for what I paid I could get a number of outstanding meals elsewhere. I dont discourage eating here, I just warn about the value.
The staff are all terrific and we got in and out in about an hour and half when most places like this would put you at two. Maybe too fast if you’re looking for leisurely but that time can be filled with drinks!

I’m having trouble writing this review. The memory of the goat cheese fritters are still lingering in my brain and on my tongue and it’s making it hard to do anything else but just lay back and go, «Mmmmmmmm…»
My trip to Thermidor was as part of a large corporate group outing — about 20 of us were sat in the very pretty upstairs section, which seemed to be reserved for groups of our large size and noise — so I can’t give you the regular, «Stop in for dinner» kind of review.
However, what I had here is worth talking about. We were given a set menu full of delicious items coming our way, and then had to choose a main entrée of chicken or fish. I chose the chicken.
To begin with, the appetizers and salad: all fantastic! Besides the fritters we had these pastries with lobster butter and crispy cauliflower with a senses-​tickling flavor of sage and lemon. This was followed by a delicious individual Caesar salad, which was presented with the lettuce as sort of a standing bowl, containing the salad within. It was really pretty, and even more delicious.
This is why I was so disappointed when my main meal came. I was expecting the grandiose culinary experience of the previous course, and instead got breaded chicken with bland mashed potatoes. Where did all the fun and flavor go? Sad.
Still, their cocktail list MORE than made up for it. They have a slew of reasonable priced interesting drinks that I loved tasting. I got a revised Harvey Wallbanger (that’s just fun to say), and the Warsaw Mule, which had vodka, apple juice and ginger beer in it. Mmm.
Although, I tried a friend’s specialty daiquiri and agreed it tasted like a terrible snow cone, so I’d stay away from that one if I were you.
I was quite pleased with Thermidor. They kept the food coming, kept the drinks delicious and kept us idiots away from people who might tell us to quiet down. Job well done.

It started off as a semi-​vocal party of 20 and ended as a very happy, full and loud party of 20. Thermidor was definitely a crowd pleaser.
My overall experience here is a bit skewed as I didn’t come here with just a few guests. The 20 of us held our own in Thermidor’s new upstairs dining area. While it wasn’t a spectacular space upstairs, it was perfect for our very loud voices and numerous guests.
We were privy to a set menu and overall is was just delish. The Goat Cheese Fritters were an appetizer standout for me — lightly fried cheesy goodness with some tasty peach reduction. Their Crispy Cauliflower had great, tangy flavor, but my particular serving wasn’t super crispy. I didn’t mind too much, though!
Next we were served up a very lovely Caesar Salad, plated vertically with shaved breadcrumbs and a very pungent dressing. I’m a fan of a really good Caesar and this one fit the bill. I definitely needed a mint afterwards, if you know what I mean.
Onto the star of the meal — my Sole Almondine, which was plated with gnocchi and fresh corn. Holy yum. The fish was perfectly cooked, the right amount of almond texture on top and absolutely delectable gnocchi and corn. Big fan over here.
We concluded the meal with an interesting sorbet with poached grapefruit (yes, poached), blackberry foam, white chocolate dust and some other tasty treats rolled into one little dish. It was refreshing, and yet odd at the same time. I’m more of a savory dessert fan, so this wasn’t exactly my cup of tea.
While I didn’t indulge in any drinks besides some delicious wine, Thermidor’s drink menu was quite extensive. They list out a myriad of creative cocktails with agave, sugar cane, bourbon and the like.
The service at Thermidor was spot on — especially for a large party… especially for a loud party! Our glasses were full, our needs were attended to and we all left happy as can be.

I love Spork, so naturally, I was extremely excited to check out Chef Bruce Binn’s new venture Thermidor, which is conveniently located two blocks away from my office. Mint Plaza has definitely become a favorite dining destination of mine, with Chez Papa, 54 Mint and Blue Bottle Coffee all there — and now Thermidor. The chic mid-​century design of the place gets an immediate 5 stars from me. Tack on the friendly and good looking staff, fantastic cocktail menu and yummy eats (umm hello fried chicken drumstick) and it really doesn’t get any better than this for me.
We started off with the Mint Smash cocktail (bourbon, muddled strawberry and mint) which is such a refreshing drink. Perfect on a warm day (just wish SF had more of those). I would just come here to have a few of these after work.
The food menu is quite simple, with a few dishes you’d find at Spork like the crispy cauliflower and goat cheese croquette. I was hoping to get served some of those addictive pull apart rolls, but unfortunately they didn’t do those here. I’m all about small plates and having several to share, so we opted to do just that and skipped the entrees (per Liz S’s suggestion too). Though, if you have a hearty appetite, you probably want to do an entrée. At $ 6 per small plate, our meal was very reasonable.
We had:
— Pommes Dauphine (warm potato croquettes)
— Goat Cheese Fritters & figs
— Crostinos with short rib
— Chips and Caviar (house chips with smoked trout, roe and crème fraîche)
— Honey glazed fried chicken drumstick with side butter lettuce salad
— Mini lobster roll on housemade brioche roll ($ 14)
My favorites were the last three choices. Everything was on the rich and starchy side, so be prepared to wear a flowy dress or stretchy pants. The mini lobster roll was so nicely done, I wished they had a large lobster roll on the menu because I could eat two minis myself. We didn’t do dessert this time, but I’ve already got reservations for next week, so I’ll be sure to try one out then. Can’t wait!

We had a starchy, snacky dinner, mostly made up of cute, buttery buns. My favorite was the little burger — meaty juicy delicious flavor in between a puffed up tiny bun. Mini lobster roll also good — bits of delectable lobster stuffed in an adorable mini loaf. The crostinos were strips of tender, flavorful short rib ragu on crisp toast. (It was here that the round balls of dinner rolls arrived, so my plate looked like I just hit the bakery counter). Pommes dauphine — deep fried and filled with the creamiest potatoes — were somehow underwhelming, likely best when piping hot. Interesting food with coy presentation, but I’d only do repeats of the little burger & mini lobster roll. Coffee, cigarettes & donuts dessert was disappointing — rather ho-​hum in taste, save for the gimmicky concept and curiosity.
Although the portions may be small for some, the apps are on the heavy side. Time will tell whether it’s more than a good spot for drinks and a snack or two.

Only a block away from crack alley, Mint Plaza yet again proves how tasty gentrification can be! With a menu that boasts old school indulgences that have innovative spins, Thermidor is a nice alternative to its staunchly Italian and French neighbors. And the mixology! Not only is there a great drink menu, the bartender (from Bourbon & Branch) will totally whip you up custom cocktails off-​menu based on your likings and what pairs best with your current course!!!
Pommes Dauphine: Why don’t more places serve this? Creamy soft potato puffs with a crispy exterior. And as if that wasn’t good enough, they serve it with LOBSTER BUTTER! That sauce is addictive. You could totally go wild with this on top of cheap carbs to make you believe you’re eating like a prince!
Crispy Cauliflower: More like soggy fried cauliflower. The lemon and sage weren’t strong enough and the frying wasn’t deep enough to cover up the distinctively pungent cauliflower bite. Just not my thing.
Goat Cheese Fritters: Melting just inside the crispy shell and somewhat pasty at the core. The partially preserved strawberry might have been too large in comparison to the tiny cheese balls and thus somewhat overpowering. The balsamic vinegar beneath was too sparse to make a difference. Was decent, but felt it needed some more pizazz.
Chips & Caviar: I like when restaurants make homemade chips (the real kind of chips, not the term Brits mistakenly use for fries). However, they’re best when freshly out of the fryer to maintain a subtle soft center… these had been pre-​made a bit too much beforehand. Liked the cream and caviar, but the smoked fish bit was not a good choice because it overpowered the delicate fish eggs. Also, three chips felt kind of stingy…
Pork Chop: Thick it was, but it lacked any sort of sear (was it baked?) and could have been juicier. Yeah the cherries were a nice pairing, but with stiff competition from 24-​hour brined and/​or sous vide cooked and/​or Iberico pig meat and/​or finished with a sear this dish just didn’t live up to its pork chop contemporaries. The mashed potatoes were not so memorable either.
Lobster Thermidor: AMAZING! Main reason to come to this restaurant is for the namesake. Lobster is great with drawn butter, but many times better with a complex French cream sauce. Love how they cleaned out the lobster and stuffed tasty pieces like the claw in the usually unsavory upper body. The twice baked potato was a nice throwback, but could have been better if the inside was mashed rather than chunky filling.
Coffee, Cigarettes and Doughnuts: Had to get this because who infuses desserts with tobacco? I see a nicotine patch alternative for obese smokers coming to market soon… The white chocolate cigarette with tobacco infused mousse was cool, though I didn’t taste the tobacco strongly. Loved the coffee ice cream against the brown crumbs. The two donuts were a tad too tiny and got lost amongst the coffee ice cream.

Stopped by last night to check it out.
Super classy place with friendly service, superb cocktails and great food.
I’m giving it a 5 stars because I know I’ll be stopping by there quite often to grab a quick bite after work. :)

Date & Time: Tuesday June 8, 2010 @ 7pm
Crowd: Ladies in Striped Splendid Tops, Hudson Jeans & Wedge Espadrilles & Gents in Paul Smith Shirts, Jeans & Prada Loafers
Vibe: UnderStated Elegance
Music: The Cure, Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds & Motown
Décor: Loft w/​Mid-​Century Modern Décor. Murano Chandelier, Black Leather Lounge-​Seating & Saarinen Molded FiberGlass Chairs
Service: Cute Attentive Staff. Betty Draperesque Hostess
Imbibe: Cocktails Such as The Mint Mash
Devour: Caviar Chips, Lobster Roll, Filet Mignon Capped Off w/​«Coffee, Cigarettes, and Doughnuts”(Mini-Carrot Cake Doughtnuts, Tobacco-​Infused White Chocolate Custard, Coffee Ice Cream)
Total: $ 68.60
Note: Brought to You By The People of Spork