Reviews

This is a classy French bistro. My wife and I had a breakfast here and a dinner, while staying at the Hotel Triton upstairs. We are senior citizens and tourists. Almost all the seats have views of this lively urban street corner and the entry arch to Chinatown, across the street. The restaurant is elegant but casual. Service is good and the wait staff seemed competent and experienced. The quality of the food may not be as good as the decor. For dinner we had a cod platter. The fish was tender and well-presented, but we did not like the potatoes. The Green Goddess salad had way too much green dressing. The $35 cheese board was not impressive and not a good value. At breakfast, again the potatoes were not good (they were just like frozen tater tots), but the omelette, french toast and sausages were excellent. This restaurant is expensive, but we enjoyed it very much because it is beautiful and it's such a pleasant place to sit and eat.

Visiting San Francisco from London and wandering the local area on our first day. We were soon pretty hungry and came across Cafe De La Presse which has a great varied menu. We staff were very friendly and welcoming and we were seated straight away. We ordered some soft drinks and the Chicken Club. Our food came pretty swiftly and it wasn’t long until we all had our food. Feeling pretty ravenous we all tucked in the the Chicken Club sandwich was absolutely delicious!! It also came with a side of fries which were also crisp and tasty. My friend ordered the Croque Monseiur (grilled cheese) but she wasn’t a fan. I tasted it and it was just as great as the Chicken Club, she’s just a little fussy ;) Great place for a bite to eat, I would really recommend it!

The food and service were fine--not extraordinary, but better than we had at the cafes in Paris in general, and not too expensive, considering it's in a very convenient and touristy location in SF. The smoked salmon Benedict was so good that we came twice in two days. The waiter substituted some delicious fruit for my potatoes--a nice suggestion.

Delicious!!!!!! My girlfriends and I enjoyed every bite there. We ordered the Eggs Benedict, French toast and a pastry basket. We shared each dish and it was fantastic!!! Highly recommend this restaurant

We always come here first for lunch when visiting the City. All lunch items are very good. And for breakfast the day we leave. Highly recommend the Eggs Benedict!

This is a great spot fashioned on the style of old cafes you once visited. There is ample opportunity too grab a newspaper, tabloid, or magazine while you have coffee. Their breakfasts are great, perfectly done as ordered, and in good time. The breakfast menu is varied. The service is excellent and as mentioned the atmosphere is vintage cafe. My wife and I stumbled upon this place and will make it a regular stop on future trips to San Francisco. The prices are a bit high but very reasonable considering the location and proximity to some major hotels. It is also busy with many locals which is always a good sign! Brian B Saskatoon, Canada

A friend and I stopped off at the café yesterday for lunch. We had the French onion soup, rough pate, crusty bread and a nice French wine. Everything was so good.We ate at the bar area and enjoyed talking with the barman. I would highly recommend this place.

We spent a week in SF and usually had a quick coffee on the go. Once we really wanted to have a relaxed breakfast seated in a nice place with table service. While walking in the central street which heads to China Town, we saw this cafe which looked nice. It was quite full, but the waiter managed to find a table for us. Actually it was a nice table located by the window. It reminded me some cafes in Paris with a nice atmosphere, cute decoration and good service. We had capuchinos and a pastries basket. I have to say that the pastries were delicious and the coffee quite good. I had a good fresh orange juice too. It was an enjoyable breakfast. A couple of days after this day, we went back to had again our breakfast. It is a restaurant too. I can’t tell anything about the food because we had breakfast twice there but not lunch. From our experience it is a very good place for breakfast if one can find a place.

We arrived for brunch from the Orchard Garden across the street. We enjoyed our meals very much (scrambled eggs and the Croque Monsieur). Very good service and excellent coffee (I judge coffee on whether you can drink it black - test passed). Wife said the bloody mary was very good.

Called in for drinks and coffee. Would have liked to have triedtbe menu. Authentic French bar. Note no draught beer, which was disappointing. A snall number of tables outside. French oasis just outside chinatown

We were having breakfast. The quality of the eggs benedict is outstanding, I found no other place/restaurent doing it better than here! The service is excellent. Just not to be missed when in town

I have previously complained about this restaurant's poor service especially with regard to Sunday reservations but noted that the food was good French food. Unfortunately now the food has declined both in quality and in focus. From a recent (and probably last) trip for dinner (not in order of importance): 1. They have dropped the Prix Fixe menu -- it's all a la carte. But if you go to their website it still shows the Prix Fixe menu button -- and when you click on that you get the a la carte menu -- don't think it's a mistake. It isn't. 2. And, while we're on the subject of menus, their wine list is only bottles. You can find a "blackboard" with wine by the glass listed (I had to walk a bit around the restaurant to find one) but it lists the wines (with bare information and no a word about either year or price). 3. One member of our party had their "Signature Dish" Boeuf Bourguignon Pot Pie. Ignoring the putting of a boeuf bourguignon in a pot pie puff pastry, the dish is then supposedly enhanced by the inclusion of pasta, AND (wait for it) a cheese sauce. At least the cheese sauce is served on the side. I thought the entire country of France must have shaken a bit when this item appeared on the menu. It's fine to experiment with dishes but (1) don't call them by their original name when they are so far from the original and (2) don't just add a bunch of things and think it might work. (And, no, it really didn't). 4. They serve several fish items which they call Planca. (Another indication of the lack of focus of the kitchen.) There might be some fish dishes called that in the Pyrenees, but they would be clearly on the Spanish side of the border. 5. The piece of salmon that came on the salmon plancha was small and overcooked (and they did not ask how we wanted it cooked). 6. The french fries that we asked to be crisp were not (and you shouldn't need to ask but we've learned.) 7. The Confit de Canard Maison was decently prepared but the duck leg meat was somewhat on the dry side. It's supposed to come with potatoes salardaise which to me means sliced and pan sautéed. In their case I it mean quartered and oven roasted -- and not very good. Again, lack of focus. 8. The desert "croissant pudding" should have been sent back. It wasn't croissant but bread pudding. Yes, bread pudding is a perfectly acceptable dessert ... but you should serve what you claim. And judging it as a bread pudding it was mediocre at best. Sorry Cafe de la Presse. San Francisco is a demanding restaurant town (which I think is a good thing). And there are about 5 or more much much better French restaurants with walking distance of Cafe de la Presse. Not to mention a larger number of much better restaurants of any type.

Since I live in the SF Bay area, I've been there many times, always a good experience. Food is very good, service good and very bistro-ish. just like being in Paris.

40$ for an average Breakfast, 2 eggs, a Parfait and a double Cappuccino. and $10 additional for an international Newspaper. rip off

My wife and I stayed in the SF for several days over the Christmas season and explored a great deal of the city by foot. One day, after seeing Fort Point, Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown, we stopped just outside the Dragon Gate to relax and enjoy a cappuccino. Cafe De La Presse has a wonderful location across the street from the gate and is an inviting cafe with outdoor seating as well as surprisingly large indoor seating areas. We elected to sit in the front near the windows and enjoyed watching the constant stream of tourists passing by. Service was prompt and efficient and the cappuccinos were well made. Overall a very nice stop before continuing on to Union Square.

Terrific for breakfast and brunch... my only experiences. This restaurant on Grant and Sears on Powell are our favorite morning food locations. This restaurant also has a “ street scene”.Yet the food and service brings us back on our 2 yearly visits to San Francisco.

Stopped here after wandering thru China Town on a Sunday evening. We both ordered fish; tuna and bass. Both dishes were well cooked. Tuna can be over done but this was perfect. The wait staff were attentive and helpful. We ordered 2 mains and 2 sides, 2 beers (very limited options) and 2 desserts the meal came to over $140 plus tip. While the food was very good it didnt warrant the steep price. Nice place just over priced.

Looking for a place to grab a drink and something small to eat. Was not disappointed with the ability to get a seat in the bar. Service was excellent and enjoyed wine, cocktail and something to refuel after shopping in Union Square

Got their by pure hazard. The food was delicious, the menu was authentic. The venue: Typical French Bistro (including attitude from the French waiter), French background music not too loud. The service: Had a lovely waitress that offset the attitude from the first (French) waiter. Efficient, no drama, the food arrived quickly too. The food. I’m French so very very picky with French food. From “French” fries to dessert, it was the taste of my childhood. Special mention to the couscous and to the crème caramel. Absolutely nothing to say: real bistro food.

Nice, clean, very fast and jenerace service. We had a good time and enjoyed very much. Thanks. Probably will come again

Dropped in for dinner, the restaurant seemed a little pricey until the food arrived from the complementary authentic french bread, the hamburgers ( with a french twist) and dessert. Everything was excellent quality and well prepared, well worth a visit.

Went there for breakfast and it was yummy, too much to eat but lovely place to sit and enjoy. Make sure u get a window seat to get in mood. Loved it! Personel was very kind, not many in SF that are so extra plus for them.

Situated close to Union Square and Chinatown. We stopped here for breakfast. Very limited menu. Ok service. Expensive for what we received. I doubt I will return.

We stayed at the Triton hotel next door and succumbed to frequenting this cafe. It was so good we went every morning rather than trying other places. We were able to sit on stools that overlooked the busy street and enjoy our meal. The interior is truly french in it's decor and service. The food was delicious and, although not cheap, we thought it was worth it for the ambiance and positioning of the cafe. We both thought we'd return here is we ever visit SF again.

I love this cafe, reminds me a bit of Paris and its also right within the Hotel Triton. Great food, priced fairly, very friendly staff.

We ate there for lunch one day, and breakfast the next. Lunch was fine, caesar salad tasty, croque monsieur basic, nicoise salad uninspired. Breakfast the next day was Eggs Benedict at a small round cafe table, which then had water glasses, a bottle of water, coffee cups and saucers, and two huge plates on it. It was crowded. Coffee was hot and strong, but was served with milk. I asked for cream and the server said they did not have any. The ham on the item was deli ham and not back bacon as it should have been. It was bland and a bit watery. The English Muffin managed to be both hard and crusty and sopping wet from the poached eggs. Disappointing all around.

The experience was enjoyable more so from the clean( not so clean to eat food that fell off your plate, but clean enough to not smell a filthy stench) atmosphere and the sun shining in the lively city streets. The service was mediocre a quick exchange of orders and the basic “how is everything question, whilst you’ve just placed a bit a food for a fresh 25 chews” ... It’s rated as average.

While staying at the adjoining Hotel Triton I had dinner one evening here. Very accommodating of solo diners and excellent service. As I was having an early dinner I had the choice of the front cafe or the dining room. On the hostesses advice, I sat in the dining room and was glad I did. A lovely atmosphere. I had the roasted chicken with a side of green beans which, after travelling and eating a lot of convenience food, was absolutely delicious.

On our last night of our vacation, we ended up at Cafe De La Presse because the 2 restaurants we had looked up were closed. We had no expectations and ended up having the nicest meal of our trip. My boyfriend had the pot pie and I had the Tuesday duck breast special. Both our meals were delicious, but it was the service that made the experience what it was. I will definitely come back next time I’m in San Francisco!

I came here for a burger and fries that were delicately made. The patty was not too dry as I thought it would

A charming typically french old fashioned bistro! The staff were lovely the croque monsiuers delicious and the bubbles tasted lovely! Perfectly situated and you can eat indoors or outdoors! Thank you Aurelia and Anastasia you were both marvellous!! Downside NO WIFI!!! In this day and age?!?!

My wife and I visited here in September 2018 for a breakfast. The place is French and has a typical French feel to it. The breakfast was good (I chose eggs benedict with salmon) but it is expensive and over priced when I compare it to other places we visited.

The atmosphere and service is great at Cafe De La Presse. Be sure to be seated at the back, which is even nicer. Our salads and champagne were great. When we ordered Caesar Salad, we were asked if we wanted chicken and when we said ”what about salmon?”, the waiter said sure, we can arrange that. We were happy. What else can I say :-)

Came for breakfast. Grabbed a seat by the window looking out toward the entrance to China Town. Ordered a latte, and the ham and cheese omelet. It was good and filling. I lingered over my latte and just watched all the people going by on their way to work. Service was good, was welcomed to the cafe by a gentleman with a nice French accent. Just a nice experience all around.

Excellent food and good attention. I went there alone to do some homework (sad story). Though it's not the proper place to do homework in a laptop (due to the romantic environment and circular tables), the personnel really knew how to solve my issue of finding a socket for my battery charger. And unexpectedly I ended up delighted with the flavor and presentation of the food and drinks. To me, a 10 out of 10.

Start the day with breakfast this place, whether your pleasure is a light one with a perfectly baked croissant, or heavier with a cocktail....one of the few morning gems Union Square..

Group of 11 went in for drinks - waitress was very rude. She messed up drink order, she was rude when we asked to see drink menu. Worst of all I personally don't drink (none of her business why) the waitress felt it appropriate to when I asked for a coke to tell me get an alcoholic drink - when I said I don't drink she gave me a dirty look and said maybe I should start - which is disgusting - rest of staff seemed fine - recommend sacking rude waitress who is more interested in telling us she getting divorced than getting drinks

Visited Café De La Presse since we were looking for somewhere close to our hotel. It is quite a large restaurant and we were seated immediately as per our reservations. The wait staff was pleasant but not too personable. We ordered the beef cheeks and Bolognese which were both good but nothing spectacular. I can say this was a bad experience, just not delicious for the price.

We went here for breakfast. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff. Had eggs benedict which were delicious. Prices ok, but $4.50 for a croissant seems a little off...

This lovely restaurant is right on the corner Bush St and Grant St, across from the Dragon Gate leading to Chinatown. We stayed in a hotel just down the street on bush, this was one of the best finds for us while we stayed in San Francisco Oct 18-24, 2018. We had breakfast there four times and each time was delightful. You swear you step straight into Paris. Our waiters were great and the hot chocolate & coffee was too. If you order one of their omelets be prepared to split it with a friend. Their pastries were hot and fresh. A couple of morning we had to wait for a table, but truly it is worth it. Unfortunately we didn't get to try lunch or dinner there, maybe next time.

The French Onion Soup is always good at Cafe de la presse. We added the fries for a great lunch. The coffee here is very good.

The doorman at our hotel recommended this place for breakfast and it was very good! We waited about 5 minutes for a table and were seated in the back (this is much larger than it looks from the street). The decor is Parisien and the waiters are smartly dressed in black and white with black aprons. My husband had the smoked salmon and I had the omelette with spinach and feta cheese. My husband is from Germany and appreciated the European style and taste (no ice in the water, great coffee). Would definitely visit again!

Wife and I were looking for a French restaurant near ACT Geary and Curran theatres and found this gem near Union Square. We made a dinner reservation for a 5:30 PM as we had theatre at 7 PM. We arrived early and found that the bar was open where we could have a drink (and there was also a bar menu which seemed quite good). We were seated in the dining room promptly as it opened. The dining room was spacious and comfortable. The menu was classical French comfort food including escargot, steak tartare, onion soup, foie de gras torchon, duck confit, boef bourgignon, etc. There is also a good selection of steaks and sea food.There is a full bar- their “special” cucumber martini was a bit strange, but the regular martini was very good. We had Caesar salad, charcuterie board of 3 (Rillette de Canard, Rosette de Lyon, and Soppresseta), and I had the confit de canard Maison and wife had the day’s special, coq au vin. The food was altogether delicious and very French and very satisfying. Wife thought the cog au vin was the best she had, and my rillet and confit were outstanding. The service was prompt, courteous, and professional. This will probably become our go-to place when we come to the theatres.

Was traveling for business in San Francisco and stumbled across this charming little bistro right at the base of the Chinatown gate. I thought I wanted Chinese but soon found out I was wrong. While there were sidewalk tables for outside dining, I opted for a window table inside. I also noticed a very nice dining room in the back with “white table cloth service.” First let me say that I did not feel the least bit uncomfortable as a woman dining alone. Ben was an attentive but unobtrusive server who helped me select the perfect glass of wine to go with my Caesar salad and single crab cake from the appetizer menu. And what a crab cake it was! Perfectly golden and served atop a bed of delicious ratatouille on a plate edged in chimichurri. Great food, great service, great atmosphere!

We had breakfast here one morning. I believe this is French cafe as the owners were talking in French. Anyway, the cafe is very nice, the food was average and the prices we paid rather high for the quality.

Had a delicious brunch today. I had a caramel latte and vanilla French toast. My husband had the breakfast croissant. We both enjoyed the tasty meals and I highly recommend this place. They serve various wines and beer in this quaint corner location just before China Town.

The unique menu options that were available at Cafe De La Presse, as well as the superb service, made it a very entertaining place to host our business lunch! We were in the City scouting hotels for our upcoming conference and we decided to stop for a bite and we stumbled upon this gem in our travels. What a find! We cannot wait to return.

We just took our college son here again and have never been disappointed in all the years we've stopped in for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Great service location if you want to enter Chinatown as it's across the street from the entrance. Has a very European feel as we've traveled and worked in Europe for years. A bit pricy, but it is San Francisco and an amazing location close to shopping, touring etc.

The location is good, the coffee is Ok, croissants: good! Service: Fair, the Maitre D offered to prepare a plain grilled cheese, but was not able to, this is not a vegetarian friendly restaurant! Beside the green salad, everything has bacon or ham in it, including the sandwiches, and everything is ready since morning time, they wont do anything from scratch once you order. For a simple grilled cheese sandwich they told me there is a waiting time of 50 minutes & for the mains they just wanted to take out the pieces of chicken, bacon or ham from the dishes because they were already prepared, so I ended up just ordering a capuccino and a croissant! I am giving it three stars for the location, ambiance, coffee, croissants and good waiter!

The one thing you can say about this attractive restaurant is that it has consistently mediocre food and bad service. After being shown to my seat I had to ask for a menu. It was presented to me upside down. Then I had to ask for a napkin. Finally I had to ask to order. The late lunch was fine. Not memorable. Had to ask for the bill. All in all pretty terrible.

Great setting, everyone enjoyed their meal, staff was very friendly and provided great service. I personally ordered the most basic breakfast and it was just that but the rest of the family went for the more specialty meals they offer and they loved them!!

My husband and I visited one evening for dinner. We had not made a reservation and the table we were placed on felt like it was crammed into the corner. I dont like being seated tables that are crammed close together. It is not personal enough. This restaurant seemed as though it was a popular restaurant to visit but I was not impressed with the mushroom tagliatelle. In fact I felt it was lacking in taste and that I could cook better pasta at home. It was bland and the mushrooms did not taste fresh and were chewy. The sauce needed black pepper (not offered) and fresh herbs in the dish. I couldnt eat much of it. My husband ordered the Beef Bourguignon Pot Pie with green beans on the side. The beans had seen better days and were either not fresh or over cooked as they were bland too. My husband enjoyed the pie, so he was happy. I do not make a habit of complaining about my meal in a restaurant as I dont feel it is worth doing so. However, I choose not to return instead. It was a shame, perhaps I just selected the wrong option on the night. But I was disappointed and therefore would not return to eat here again.

Delicious breakfast place!!! Typical French place in terms of atmosphere, pleasant service and variety of food. Better to book prior,because there are a lot of people.

Coffee was wonderful, staff was very pleasant, and the breakfast was great! Much nicer spot for both dine in or take away, compared to the thousands of Starbucks on every corner.

We found this diner as recommended by an American policeman. We had dinner and opted for the burgers which were amazing, we then went back for breakfast on two mornings and again fabulous food, true American style service. Well worth a visit.

The food was amazing and so authentically French! Right by the Dragon Gates of Chinatown. My husband and I ate there 3 times, and we wanted to extend our stay to have the opportunity to have more dinners there. And we are both French! A little bit chilly though, the door didn't close completely. Yep, it's pricey, but as we found out, it was the normal price for SF.

We always enjoy this cafe. Great energy and quality food and service. Inside or outside dining. It has nice breakfast pastry choices and a full menu . It has two sections with one being more comfortable for larger food orders

A bit of France near Chinatown and Union Square. Great service, good food, a bit pricey but a good place to go for a drink or breakfast.

This little place has good quick service and really good bistro food. And an outdoor cafe when it is warm.

We started off feeling like the restaurant was a good choice for dinner. Staff were friendly and it looked really nice. Our first issue was the water - it was the worst water we’d ever tasted and we weren’t even paying for that. It was warm and had a very odd taste. Wine was expensive. We ordered a carafe which was basically 2 large glasses for more than $30 and it wasn’t the best. I had beef bourguignon pie which was actually quite tasty but it was mainly gravy. My husband had chicken and chips which was bland. We weren’t asked how our meal was until they cleared the plates and had to chase for the bill. This was by far the most expensive meal we had whilst staying in San Fransisco and it had no right to be. Overall unimpressed.

My husband and I ate here for lunch one day and breakfast the next day. We sat inside in the back area which is very nice. We were seated right by the huge windows so had a great view of the Dragon Gate. Service was good and food was tasty. A larger variety for lunch on the menu. A tad bit pricey but SF is expensive.

This was our first meal (lunch) in San Francisco after landing so needless to say we were VERY hungry. All of our food was very good but still seemed slightly over priced for what you get at lunchtime. I would be more understanding at dinner. I had the omelette and it was fabulous. Service was a bit slow but we needed a rest from a busy day of travel so we didn't mind.

Very traditional French restaurant with the best goodies on the menu. The onion soup was excellent. Streak and French fries just right.. nook room for dessert. White tablecloths, excellent service. Definitely recommend

We ate breakfast here twice as our hotel was right next door. The first day service was great, the next day poor. Prices were on the high side but the food was pretty good. So if you’re in the neighbourhood it’s a pretty good choice for breakfast. One last thing, buttered toast (or butter on the side) would be grand.

Went for a breakfast and looking forward to it - got eggs with one piece of the thinnest toast I’ve ever seen with tater totters (???) - really? For that price a second piece of toast, home made potatoes and maybe a little fresh fruit. On the upside the coffee was good. Sorry I didn’t take a picture.

Close to Union Square, one of the best address probably for good food and service. We have a light dinner there with Onion soup and steak tartare, and the next morning pancakes for breakfast which were delicious (you have a coupe of Starbucks around, but no place to sit and long queue...... So we enjoyed this relaxing place.....

Our concierge at the Sir Francis Drake recommended this restaurant for lunch. It was an easy walk from the hotel. We were seated immediately, the service was excellent and friendly. Wonderful ambiance in the place. There was a wide variety of choices on the menu but not so many to overwhelm. Food was excellently prepared and presented. Price was reasonable for San Francisco. It’s a place we would visit again.

Our waiter was excellent and very attentive. The restaurant was clean and everyone was very friendly. I had the egg sandwich and home fries (potato wedges) and coffee. The scrambled eggs and sausage were added to the middle of a croissant. You could actually pick up the sandwich without it braking apart. I don't usually like home fries, but they were very good. Coffee was good and refills came very quickly. Other people at our table had Bagels and Lox and eggs benedict. They were very happy with their meals. Cudos to the head waiter. You have trained your waiters very well. It was pricey, but the portions were very good and service excellent, so it was worth it.

Not sure how I lived in SF for 18 years and never experienced this place. I'm guessing I dismissed it as too touristy. I returned for the first time as a tourist and I had an amazing breakfast here. The Eggs Meurette was the most creative meal I've had in a while. Two poached eggs, toasted brioche, mushrooms in a delightful red wine sauce. Wow! I also enjoyed a bloody Mary and a cappuccino. Everything was perfect. Service was friendly, people watching excellent. My bill was $35 w/o tip, which is typical for good food in a great ambiance in SF.

Had breakfast at La Presse. Excellent omelette with potatoes. A little pricey. Very cool french bistro atmosphere.

We sat at the bar and had eggs for breakfast. Really nice food, good service and great atmosphere. Would recommend.

We found this little café the last time we were in San Francisco and loved it then and still do today. We went there for an early dinner on our first night in SF and everything was just great. Our server Connie, was on spot with her service. We started off with Steak Tartare which was very good and for my entre I had the Boeuf Bourguigon which was excellent. Not disappointed at all. Thanks Connie for your service.

We went to the Cafe de la presse for a breakfast with family including kids. This is a real French cafe, the service is really good and the food was excellent. It is a bit pricey but we knew it and thought it was ok for the quality. Not ok for every day breakfast but as a treat definitely something enjoyable.

Avoid this place in spite of its great location just outside Chinatown. So sad that this place which used to be authentic and good, is now neither. It is very over-priced for mediocre food which is simply not French. I've eaten in France a lot, as well as in other French cafes and bistros in SF and the east bay. Our meal featured lukewarm French fries and a dish called "vegetables provençale" that was actually ratatouille. Grilled chicken, or grilled anything, does not come with its own jus, which would be the French manner, but is dry, served with a small pile of spicy water cress (I think). They serve the same sauces for anything grilled--fish, poultry, or steak! Seriously!? The so-called boeuf bourguignon, which they label a "signature dish" is a strange concoction similar to an English meat pie, but the customer is then expected to pour cheese sauce into it. What!? Some dishes (like the crab cakes) seemed to have a sort of Spanish influence, perhaps; grilled fish was listed under "plancha." Cocktails were good, wine list is OK although it lists only full bottles. We were a party of eight and it was an adult daughter's birthday. Our waiter was nice, service was fine, and the gesture of a complimentary dessert (a madeleine with a candle) was nice. But I won't go back until they get new management and a chef who can cook French bistro food. Actually, some attention to presentation is needed as well, at these a la carte prices. (No veg served with main dishes, no prix fixe option.)

I used to love this place. Now, the service is terrible. Went there for dinner while staying in downtown SF. The waitress screwed up my order but disappeared so I couldn't get her to fix it. The bus boy took care of it but by the time they fixed the order, the rest of the plate was cold. Took forever to get the check since the waitress was not around. Also, I had selected a table the had some shade since the day was hot. Halfway through my meal, one of the other servers moved the umbrella leaving me to bake. I will not ever go back and will steer all friends away from this place. Such a shame, because it used to be good.

Atmosphere was nice. Staff was on top of orders, refills, etc. Food was average for the price. Nothing stood out to call this place a go-to next visit.

I visit this restaurant any time I am in San Francisco and it never disappoints me. This time Went to Cafe De La Presse for Sunday brunch. I ordered the eggs Benedict with salmon and they were delicious. The cafe can improve on the cappuccino, kind of disappointing, considering how delicious everything is here. See you next time, Cafe De La Presse...

Stopped here for lunch whilst staying in a hotel just around the corner. Lovely French food and a good selection of salads and sandwiches, which is just what we were looking for after a morning sightseeing. Great choice of wine and cocktails too! Fast and friendly service. Seemed a popular spot.

We wanted something light for a late lunch as we had dinner plans and didn't want anything too filling. My wife enjoyed a wonderful French Onion Soup and I had the Salmon Tarte which was fantastic. Plenty of cocktail choices if you are interested. I had an Old Potrero based Old Fashion. Quite nice. We ate at the bar and found the bartender to be quite engaging with us.

Located across from the arch entrance to Chinatown. I made reservations through OpenTable which showed a full schedule so we made early reservations, but when we got there, it was half empty. I'd call or just show up in the future (skipping the OpenTabke app). The Croque Monsieur was very good as was the duck. We enjoyed sitting by the window and people watching.

The service was great food excellent Fresh orange juice fely like we were in Paris. Side walk sitting. Full bar

First of all, Cafe de la Presse has an excellent ambiance with a strong resemblance to what a good place in France would be. My wife had Confit de Canard (Perigordesque) and it was excellent. I had Mouclade (mussels in a light curry). Ditto. Coffee and Mousse au Chocolat was great. Location is very good as well.

We needed somewhere to eat Sunday evening and we found this place just off China Town - more charm than substance - expensive for what it was - service hit and miss Mind you it was the evening of the day that France won the World Cup

So we stopped here for drinks in a large group! A mistake, perhaps they should have turned us away as they were so unwilling to serve us but the initial welcome was really nice as they created seats for us. However our waitress was very rude - something we haven’t experienced in San Francisco. Waitress advised we should go to the singles bar near door as there was lots of single men there (ironic as we were mostly all married). We had one of party who wasn’t drinking and she made him feel uncomfortable about it. Our drinks order was incorrect and she was quite grumpy when we chased our drinks up. The manager was lovely when he came over but to be honest we felt so unwelcome we just wanted to pay and leave.

Went here for an unplanned breakfast and was pleasantly surprised. We were seated immediately in a charming bistro style dining area. Everyone was quite pleased with there meal. I was very impressed so much so I returned the next morning.

This restaurant is beautifully appointed with excellent service. The coffee is fabulous and the toilets very clean. What was weird was receiving our ordered croissants with no butter or jam. Didn’t know they had to be ordered separately. Perhaps we are spoilt in Australia as when ordered they come with butter and jam.

For $29, you get two amazing courses. I had leeks smothered with the most delicious smoked salmon and capers as a first course. I was stuffed. My main course was troute almondine, which was the most delicious I have ever had. It was. Grilled and crispy covered with fresh green beans and smothered in butter. The baguettes were fresh and delicious.

Well located, great friendly service and solid food every time - Hotel Triton next door can be reasonably priced, clean and friendly.

Three of us went in at 10 am for brunch. Restaurant less than half full. Totally ignored for 5 minutes. After 10 mins we approached one of the many staff who were ignoring all new customers to ask about a table and told impolitely to 'wait a minute'. 10 minutes later got given a table. Another 10-15 minutes to get a waiter to take our order. Our order was finally taken, quite rudely, by a waiter who seemed to think that WE were keeping HIM waiting! Half way through the order he went off to check if he had the item and seemed to forget about us for 5 minutes while he fussed about behind the counter. Similar delays in getting the cheque and when we tried to pay with card we were told it was cash only and that we should have been told that when we arrived - fat chance. The 6 or 8 staff were masters of ignoring all the customers and studiously avoiding eye contact, looking busy while not serving anyone. Every table was spending their morning trying to get the staff's attention to order or pay their bill. I have honestly never experienced such bad service at a restaurant. If it hadn't been pouring with rain we would have given up and headed elsewhere long before getting seated/served. PS: When the food finally arrived it was fine.

I have been to San Francisco many times. And it never ceases to amaze me with its culinary delights. This restaurant located near union square and just outside China town. Is a very quaint French type restaurant. Excellent ambiance and excellent meal. Mind you it has made some arrangements to the traditional French but very tasty and excellent service. Full breakfast for those who crave a heavier meal yet want French flair. Now for those of us that just want a cup of coffee and a croissant read your paper and enjoy the morning, this is your place.

Stopped by for a drink and lunch. The service and ambiance were good. The Bloody Mary was OK but the French Onion Soup was really bad. A bowl full of soggy bread, a spoonful of broth and a big glop of cheese I couldn’t cut through. The worst food I’ve eaten in many trips to San Francisco. I will add that I complained and wasn’t charged for the soup so that was appreciated.

Just down from the ornate gateway entrance to China Town in San Francisco, Cafe de Presse has nice atmosphere and good value for a casual encounter. Nice bar, with about a dozen stools, finer dining that includes sandwiches and salads. Good wine selection and friendly service. On sunny days, a handful of tables are out on the sidewalk. I like to just get a glass of wine and relax here, while walking through the city.

I stopped in here for drinks before dinner with a couple of old friends. This is a French style cafe that offers the traditional service of a pastis (Pernod or Ricard) with ice and water. It was delightful - I had two. A nice experience.

Came here for lunch as a recommendation from one of the sale associate from Dior Boutique nearby. Service was good and nice ambiance. Food was ok.

We stopped in for lunch, having eaten here before. I had a Caesar salad with chicken added, and my wife the chicken. The food was very authentic, plentiful, and tasty. The service was not. The waiter didn’t leave extra water with us (had to ask the busboy), nor did we receive any complimentary bread like other tables. Also, the waiter though very nice, never checked on us.

Food was good. The atmosphere was tranquil. The service was fast. The waiters were friendly. It’s a seat yourself restaurant so you can choose to sit inside or outside. I suggest inside because it’s not as loud

My wife and I found this place for breakfast as it was a short down-hill walk from our hotel on Nob Hill. It was expensive - but what is San Francisco isn't? Our server was great and I had the best French Toast I ever experienced. The coffee was also amazing. I highly recommend for a big breakfast before spending a day touring the city.

Great spot for lunch, big windows and lots of window seating available. Pretty good service. Wasn’t too busy so our food didn’t take long. We shared a sandwich and a graph of Sauvignon blanc. $60 inclu. tip. Heard it’s also a great spot for breakfast!

Unexpected because of the reviews. Food was good service was outstanding. Nothing to envy from Paris brasseries food wise; but excel in the service.

This is really good food, plenty of staff - service was quick. Good menu, and they have seating outside if you're looking for that. It's French themed , in case the name didn't give it away. Good coffee too

I opened this account in order to write this warning. We are frequent travellers and have been to all continents and more than 50 countries. In July 2019 we had a Salade Nicoise at this place and it ties with the chicken with rice I had in Battambong in 2001 for worst food ever. Now, there is not much you can do wrong with a Salade Nicoise if you know a standard recipe. It really is not difficult at all. It is not something you need to be an experienced cook for or highly qualified in any way. You need to be able to read and follow a recipe. And at least a tiny bit of dedication. They messed it up big time. It just tasted like nothing. Nothing. (So did the Hamburger my daughter had, by the way.) It looked nice enough but mainly consisted of overcooked green beans, some kind of white-ish tuna mash, a few olives, salad and some kind of honey mustard (!) dressing which I assume wasn't freshly made. See, I am easy to satisfy. I don't need haute cuisine to enjoy my food. I am usually very forgiving and understanding and will not complain if I ordered medium rare and the steak is medium or my pasta is not al dente. In fact, I almost never complain. But this salad was just too bad to be true. It cost > 20 dollars, by the way. My wife had the same salad and her verdict is as drastic as mine. And my daughter didn't finish her Burger. Service was bad, too. The staff ignored us most of the time, it took 20 minutes before we could place our orders, we waited a long time for the food and then again a long time for the bill even though we had said that we are in a bit of a hurry. I didn't get the drink I ordered but I was happy afterwards because it probably would have tasted like everything else. We spent 80 dollars for this horrible lunch, by the way. In short: Dont' go there!

Had a strawberry Bellini which was delicious! Ordered the Bagel and Lox. Huge portion for the price. Cute cafe with the air of Paris. The wait staff especially Dalton were friendly and checked in on us often. Thanks for a great morning wake me up!

Delightful French Bistro near Union Square in San Francisco. Excellent service & delicious food. Stopped in early afternoon just before lunch service ended. Café au lait and a smoked salmon on cream cheese bagel was perfect. Highly recommended.

We stopped here for breakfast on our last day. My son and husband both had the ham omelet, and I had the salmon bagel with fruit. The salmon was generous, and it was hard to finish it. The bowl of fruit was equally generous and I shared it. Overall the food was very good. If it was not our last day I would have loved to go back to have dinner. Perhaps next time.

I know Cafe de La Presse since decades and have been a patron of that restaurant as well as Cafe Claude down the road for long long time. Cafe de la Press must have never changed it's menu and that may actually be a good thing. It is down to earth , tasty , well done French food. The cassoulet was outstanding, the snails could have needed a bit salt, the tartare was one day regular and two days later spicy but I forgive all that. Now - Management Or let us say ownership. An older gentleman in a sports coat was walking around and spent more time being mad at staff and looking not very happy in general , than caring about his customers. I guess, with a such successful restaurant (it tends to be packed non stop) one no longer needs to pay special attention to a guest who patronizes the restaurant DAILY for 5 straight days. Two restaurant managers, the French gentlemen with the man bun and the skinny gentleman with he glasses were very attentive and swift. So was a Turkish server lady. There was a young Irish gentlemen behind the bar, very kind and nice but lost in heavy business. The weekend was super busy and it seemed ownership took off and left the staff behind, or they were short staffed in general. As a Hotelier the "calling in sick" of staff in US hospitality I am all too familiar with. One of the servers said to the bartender that there was lipstick on the glass, the bartender looked and the server tried to wipe it off himself - a NO GO - saw me watching and then demanded a fresh glass with fresh Champagne, after the receipt of the same, he drank the "lipstick" one. During service hours. Mais, a la fin, la bouffe est tres bonne, j'aime la Croque Madame, which is a true Croque Madame like in France. Bravo. Work on your staff, make a few food improvements, you will be more successful considering you are not a cheap place. Bonne chance.