Cafe Jacqueline Reviews

This is a go-to place for us if we want a long, quiet, wonderful meal. The specialty is souffles and no one does it better than Jacqueline. There are many combinations besides a plain one and they are all great. The dessert souffles are worth coming for if you want only dessert. This time we had an appetizer of fresh figs wrapped in Prosciutto which was better than I thought it could be. Our dinner souffle was Morel mushrooms with garlic, and for dessert we changed our normal choice of a dark chocolate or white chocolate dessert souffle for a fresh white peach souffle. It was one of the specials for that night and was a great choice. The service has always been great. Friendly, personal, attentive, ready with great recommendations that are accurate, and always available if you need something. NOTE; You have to make reservations as there is rarely space for walkins. It is a small restaurant and has a very small kitchen. Do not expect fast food....this is a 2 hour dinner since all souffles are made to order. Worth coming to.....well worth the wait for the food and well worth the price.

I saw an article on the 10 restaurants you needed to have eaten at to be a true San Franciscan and one of them was this restaurant. Also, we had just been to Paris and we're excited to have a truly French experience and were so pleased!!! Jacqueline does all of the cooking herself and has been since 1979 - wow!!! It takes awhile between courses but the service is so wonderful and the waiter so entertaining that we hardly noticed.... And did I mention that the soufflés are amazing!!!! There are also soup, salad and appetizers offered which are delicious, but Jacqueline's soufflés are the stars. We had a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend that you dine with Jacqueline!!!! Chocolate dessert Soufflé - oh my!!!!

This little gem is definitely worth seeking out for a cozy romantic evening. I surprised my new wife with dinner here. She was very pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere, the best French onion soup either of us has ever had, and the delightfully savory souffle. It's definitely not fast food as other reviewers have noted, but just prepare to sit back and enjoy yourself. It's definitely worth it. Oh, and be sure to make reservations. Tables fill up fast.

It was 1979 and it was a very good year! .. I met the love of my life and then I had my first soufflé at Mme. Jacqueline's charming café. It was a clear, cool and bright morning and the upper Grant Street Art Fair was in full swing. After a night of music and mischief on Castro Street and feeling hungry for something 'eggy', I spotted Mme., resplendent in white, standing at the café's door holding her trademark copper bowl, whisk in hand. She smiled, said bon jour and invited me in try her soufflé, how could I resist! Having just opened and being the only one there she invited me into her kitchen. I sipped my champagne as Jacqueline, ever so gracious and charming, shared her simple but very precise method to achieve the perfect gruyere soufflé. It was a meal I have never forgotten and I returned many times thru the years. We were delighted to discover that Jacqueline is still wielding her magic whisk on Telegraph Hill and decided to celebrate our anniversary at the café. As always our meal was phenomenal! The soufflés are generous so sharing is a must, we started with a deceptively simple and delicious broccoli soup, followed by the Dungeness crab soufflé, exquisitely light and full of tender succulent and sweet crab. In the past our favorite dessert was always the Grand Marnier soufflé and it did not disappoint, decadent and rich and with just the right amount of sweetness. Dinner at Café Jacqueline transformed our special occasion into a grand celebration of love, life and food. Merci Mme. ..c'était vraiment magnifique!!!

i dont know about the people with gripes about the service but we had EXCELLENT service there! when we first called to make the reservation, we spoke to jacqueline herself and she even explained to us that we should have a FULL lunch meal the day our of reservation becuz we will be waiting awhile since the souffles are made to order. very very pleasant french lady! i already knew about the long wait, after reading all the reviews here and other websites. we were looking for a romantic, one of a kind, french restaurant for our anniversary and decided to go with this one. and boy, was i impressed! first of all, the restaurant is located on a cute little street with victorian style buildings. its actually not hard to find cuz for some the reason, the store next door to it was boarded up.....must have been a fire or something. we sat at a table closest to the door becuz it was actually a really warm day and the restaurant itself was pretty warm. oh and there were a total of 10 tables......yes 10. so if you plan on going for a special occasion on a weekend, make reservations just in case. there were only two waiters and both were extremely friendly with their french accents. our waiter was soooo nice, he even helped recommend a french wine to go with our meal. we shared the spinach with pine nut salad, the french onion soup and had the shiitake, basil and garlic souffle (yes, risky for a dinner date). we were sooo tempted to order their seasonal strawberry souffle but i knew we wouldnt be able to finish it and didnt want to have to carry leftovers later that night. but oh YUM!!! everything was just delicious!!! even the complimentary bread came out nice and warm and toasty, as soon as you spread the butter on it, it juss melts. it was such a lovely dinner, i would definitely go there again whenever im in town. and yes, in order to get to the restroom, you have to walk thru the tiny little kitchen where you'll see HUGE bowls of eggs and jacqueline cracking away. they even grow their own flowers that they put on the tables in their back yard garden (you'll see them when you go to the restroom). such a wonderful wonderful time there!

We visited Cafe Jacqueline for our 50th anniversary dinner. It was truly a memorable experience. Our waiter Scott, helped us with a wine selection and thoroughly explained the menu and specials. We shared the wonderful French onion soup, an amazing lobster soufflé and finished with the light, fluffy chocolate soufflé. The owner, Jacqueline, makes every soufflé herself, as she has been doing for 36 years. Because of that, dinner is a slow, relaxing experience. It was such a unique meal and made our anniversary very special! Thanks to all!

Go to Cafe Jacqueline. The souffles are all hand-made by Jacqueline herself. It is romantic, delicious, and a perfect place to go on a date or to celebrate a special occasion. We are from NY and have never been to a restaurant quite like this. Enjoy :)

Total date place! Very romantic.. the souffles are made from scratch so expect the meal to last at least 2-3 hours. excellent excellent!

My sister, niece and I had an early Sunday dinner (5:30 pm) at Cafe Jacqueline. My mother used to make soufflés when I was growing up, and I loved them. Cafe Jacqueline was recommended to us so we made a point of going there while in San Francisco. We had looked at the menu on line beforehand and had already decided on the broccoli with Brie and the prosciutto with mushroom soufflés. Our server was really personable, and he encouraged us to order dessert at the same time because everything would take a long time to prepare. We decided on the Grand Marnier soufflé. We were prepared for the long wait because we had watched our mother make soufflés at home, and we knew it was complicated and time consuming. You cannot rush the process or you will fail. In the meantime, we sipped ice water and some nice California white wine and we enjoyed some lovely, crusty bread. Our server was attentive, topped up our water regularly, and asked us how we liked each dish. The restaurant is small and intimate with a nice ambience. There were white linen tablecloths, fresh roses, and background music. Both of the savoury soufflés were delicious, made with fresh ingredients, and satisfying. Our dessert soufflé was melt-in-your-mouth wonderful. By the time we finished, we were quite full. I would love to go back and take my husband next time.

Cafe Jaqueline never dissapoints. Ever. Over the past 30 years, I have come here for special evenings and will continue to do so. TIP: Make reservations a few days ahead of time...they rarely have tables free. Do not come here expecting fast food...plan on a 2 hour dinner. The soufflés have imaginative ingredients and are baked as ordered which us why the dinner takes so long. Do not pass on the chocolate dessert soufflé.

trout salad and pot de creme!

Terrific dining experience at Jacqueline's. The service was excellent, the ambience was perfect and the meal was fantastic. Hard to say which souffle was the best... they all were!

I came for the dessert souffle - luckily no wait on line for a Thursday night. It took about 45 minutes once ordered. The waiter with the handle bar mustache was very patient and suggested the strawberry souffle. Once it came out, it was HUGE. It was enough to feed 5 people and we finished most of it. Excellent, light and airy. The lady who makes it is an older french lady. I would come back again - next time with lots of friends.

Saw Chef Jacqueline on TV. We did not know what to expect. It was as close to perfect as we could imagine. She is the cutest little grandmother type, that is a world class chef. This is not a fast food restaurant. Good soufflé takes time. Expect to actually talk with your guests. We saw no cell phones. My wife and I had good wine and conversation. The food was fantastic, fresh and flavorful. The berry soufflé had more blackberries than we could eat. AWESOME! ! A little pricey, but life is to short to miss Chef Jacqueline. Bravo

Loved the souffles.

Since it was my birthday and the family knows my favorite dessert is a Grand Marnier Souffle they chose Cafe Jacqueline. An amazing place, the salads were fresh and a nice contrast to the souffles, we all had a different souffle for our main course and then the Grand Marnier Souffle arrived! Wonderful! As good as the Moustache Cafe in LA or being in Provence! Menu is limited but if you want to have something different and delicious this is the place to go. It is small so you need to plan ahead.

Telephone reservation handled gruffly. Upon arrival, the head waiter who spots s laughable mustache, points to a table rather than seating us. He then humorously takes our order which included two glasses of wine from perhaps the most limited wine list in SF-/indeed all inexpensive and questionable. When I routinely request that courses not be served too quickly, the head waiter responds it will take much longer than we might think. And it does-/in spades. A small watercress salad ($20) takes an hour to arrive with acgruff promise it will take even longer for the first soufflé to arrive. The head waiter continues to run away from us rather than pour water. His demeanor is mean and contemptuous. By the time the soufflé finally arrived, we had lost most of our appetites. The soufflé itself- virtually invisible shortcake mushrooms, basil and garlic—was unremarkable. This fossil of a restaurant is past its retirement.

Thanks for the memories. Sadly, this classic is way past it’s expiration date. Even the decades loyal servers know it. To wait and hour for a soufflé that’s over done on the outside and runny on the inside is ridiculous. At $55 for a seafood option with almost no seafood but plenty of attitude is unsettling, at best. Please retire. It’s painful to go here.

Not as good as the hype. food was ok but the setting is nothing special considering the price.

This restaurant is the most interesting dinning concept that I've ever experienced and it was just wonderful and memorable. Savory soufflé for dinner and sweet soufflé for desert. Unique yet simple and executed to perfection. This restaurant makes no pretenses about what it is. It has a very simple, but intimate interior with low lighting which makes for great ambiance. The staff is very professional, and service is delivered with warmth and enthusiasm. For first timers like me the food was a wonderfully delectable surprise. This food is rich! But you will eat every morsel, and the helpful waiter will not have it any other way. Ours helped us scrape every delicious bit clinging to the edge of the dish onto our plates. And it was a real treat to go to the kitchen to meet and thank Jacqueline for the wonderful meal.

I made a reservation months in advance with no issue. The two waiters working the dining area were attentive and personable. As for the soufflés, they were delicious. The pace of the meal was a little slow, but good food takes time. Café Jacqueline is a dining experience that harkens back to a different sensibility.

The food is uniformly good but the food selection is rather limited, so it is not easy to eat here frequently without getting tired of souffle. Our meal took approximately 3 hours for 3 courses. We had attentive service, but it is not the place to visit if you are in a rush.

It's hard to come by original restaurants anymore. Fine dining in virtually any major world city is a similar (though wonderful) experience. Cafe Jacqueline is unique in that it is more of an old school, quaint experience from the simple, cozy and low lit interior, the longstanding small staff, the languid pacing and the souffle-centered menu. Don't come here if you are in a big rush or want to be part of a loud scene, but definitely come here if you want wonderful food (simple but tasty salads, soups, and savory souffle followed by dessert souffle and accompanied by fine wine). This is one of our all-time favorites and we have been coming here for years. Cafe Jacqueline is a San Francisco institution well worth a visit and a return.

Romantic spot, but don't go unless you have lots to talk about.

When we first came to SF, we had to come here since my name is Jacqueline. Whenever we peeked through the window I was attracted to how romantic it looked. So it was by surprise that the food was tremendous, though I felt that my attire was not as classy as it should have been. The souffles are fantastic, and the desert is wonderful. It's a bit pricey, but really worth it. I'd say it's a great place to come for a special occasion, or a date if you're trying to impress someone.

oh so cute with all the eggs

Her chocolate soufflé is out of this world. The menu is limited (mostly soufflé s) and very pricy.

I had dinner here on a Friday. The place is small, about 12 tables (half of which seat only 2). This north beach/Grant Ave. restaurant has the feel of a small Parisian café, dimly lit with turn of the century (1900) lighting and few adornments. But what people come here for is the soufflés, and these are to die for. Of course you need to appreciate such dishes or else there is no need in coming. I started with a glass of French wine, very nice. I ordered French onion soup, a salad and a tomato and asparagus soufflé - but the waiter warned me that I was biting off more than I could chew. So I passed on the salad, which turned out to be a good decision. The onion soup had what most onion soup fans want - lots of stringy cheese. However, it was light on the onions, at best a onion broth. Nevertheless tasty. Nothing is hurried here, so it was quite a while before the soufflé came, but it was worth the wait. You could easily split the main course soufflés with a partner. During the main course I ordered the Grand Marnier desert soufflé. While I waited the waiter topped off my glass of wine - an extremely nice touch. You may have noticed how deserts are getting smaller these days, well not so with this wonderful soufflé. It too could have served for two, or maybe four customers. If you enjoy soufflés this place is not to be missed. (Warning - there are no other entrees, but who cares. The prices are not cheap but again, you are getting what you pay for! One suggestion I would have is they might consider having a web page and on line reservations. Maybe that would not be in character.

Small, intimate, alter to classic French cuisine is one of the finest dinning experiences in the city of San Franciso. Reservations can be hard to pin down. I've been called back the day I want to dine for that evening and said yes. Don't plan to hurry. They'll take your entire soufflé orders quickly since its Jacqueline in the kitchen making them all but before that definitely have the French onion soup and the endive salad. Beautiful selection of French wines by the glass or bottle. Late evening drop ins are some time accepted if you've been there before but don't be offended if they don't let you in.

Dessert only - and a special treat. The souffles are perfection and the service top drawer. Charming and intimate -- definitely worth going to.

We really enjoyed Cafe Jacqueline. We loved eating leisurely like you would do in France. After eating and sharing the endives with roquefort and onion soup with my husband, I wasn't sure I could eat the souffle. You get one souffle for two and that was good. We had mushroom and prosciutto souffle and it was delicious. It was nice to digest and salad and soup first. So, when the main dish souffle came, we were able to eat again. We had the chocolate souffle for dessert and I'm glad it took its time. It was the size as the main course. I thought I could only eat part of it but we both scoffed it up and nothing was left. It was so light. I loved that we were not rushed to eat. We were able to savor each bite of our dinner. If you plan to go, plan only for this dinner. This is a "NO RUSH" restaurant. We were at the restaurant for two hours and we could have stayed a little longer if we had more coffee. I don't think it's fair to take children because of the time you spend waiting for dinner.

This was a fun place to celebrate our anniversary with amazing French Onion soup, a savory mushroom souffle and the triple crown treat of the tangy lime souffle - light as air. We enjoyed the cozy setting and the waiter's friendly assistance. Lovely evening for us in SF.

Completely different dining experience. Very unique and enjoyable, make sure you plan to spend the evening.

We just left after a great meal. Two souffle is and salad and they were all perfect. It is truly a dining experience. It is also a long dining experience come with your date, husband, lover or whoever you want to talk with. There were a dearth of cell phone watchers this evening. A special treat in itself, because everyone is talking. There are only about a dozen tables so make a reservation. you have to call them, nothing online. It is not cheap but a good value for a delicious meal and wonderful experience. Each soufflé individually made when ordered. We think we actually ordered the same meal that we ordered years ago, but they were great, flavors were flawless

You can't get more romantic and also San Franciscan than this. Order both a savory and sweet soufflé. Take time to go thank Jacqueline in the kitchen and see the mountain of eggs and feel the love put into this food. My wife said it was possibly the best meal of her life. There's magic in this restaurant.

Superb meal as usual. Served at French speed which means you better have lots to talk about between courses. Quality remains really high as year after year we celebrate my wife's birthday there.

Second time I've been to Cafe Jacqueline which is my wife's favorite restaurant in San Francisco or maybe anywhere. This is not fast food. You need to be patient. Lots of time to converse as everything is made to order. We had the French Onion soup and a "Fruits de Mer" souffle. We didn't have a dessert souffle as we were too stuffed after the soup and savory souffle. The French Onion soup is the best I've ever had. The French Onion soup is very, very hot when it arrives at your table and for that reason I started by dunking bread into the broth, blowing on it too cool it, and eating the bread; this was amazingly delicious! I ate most of my soup that way. The seafood souffle was also very good. Overall, I thought the souffle was a trifle salty. I like a fair amount of salt in my food but this was a little saltier than I would have made it. I'm not saying it was too salty, but it may have been too salty for some people. One other slight criticism, the seafood consisted of shrimp and scallops; a lot of shrimp and scallops, but the shrimp had tails on. Perhaps it is customary to serve them that way, but considering the fact that the shrimp are coated in cooked eggy custard, I found it a little messy to remove the tails at the table. Still this was a superlative meal, far better than anything I've had in a long time.

Souffles are soo good! You have to patient as their done the old way and you will have to wait. But the wait is worth it! The dessert souffles are the best! I had the fresh strawberry one and it melts in your mouth.

the seafood souffle is wonderful. the strawberry souffle and a glass of champagne (thank you trip advisor reviewer) completed a great evening. we had a reservation in the early evening maybe that's why it didn't take the three hours some have talked about. waiters were both pleasant. while there some people came in to have only desert. i'd do that. it's very near columbus square and the all those eateries of north beach. i'm sure they can't desert like this woman. it all works great. and in the back there's this little woman doing wonderful things to a bunch of eggs.

Was at the cafe a few nights ago. Order an onion soup, couple of entrees, and dessert soufflés. After about four spoonfuls was just too much, I gave up. Complained to waiter about the unbearable saltiness of the soup. The response was " I will forward your comments to the kitchen, but it's unlike to make any changes because we don't use any salt in the preparation of the soup, the saltiness is from the cheese". My point being, I don't care where the source of the saltiness is from, the soup is not fit for consumption. Same response for the entree soufles. I may not be a french chef, but when the food is so horribly salty its offensive to even serve it, and to add salt to the wound, the condescending attitude of the waiter was just the pits. I don't believe we should put up with food that is offensive and pretend that it's fine just because we are in a 'nice' place. But in all fairness, the dessert soufles were good. Overall, the meal left a bitter taste for us.

The idea of a souffle dinner was exciting. It was quickly deflated. We ordered a mushroom and proscuitto souffle...and waited...and waited. after an hour we asked our waiter if an hour + wait was usual and he said yes...the owner believes in long and slow dinners. I told him I wish we had been advised. After an hour and 15 minutes we got the souffle. Inedible. The level of salt was ridiculous. That was the only taste, with a slight taste of cheese. And at least 1/3 of the souffle was liquid. Undercooked. Not like any souffle I have ever had. Service was ok to good, though they acknowledged that the chef was slow. We were there for over 2 hours. Mostly waiting. They don't turn many tables as most come between 6-7pm and you are there for 2-3 hours. I cannot recommend Cafe Jacqueline.

There is a reason that year over year, Cafe Jacqueline is ranked in the top 100 list! Its quaint, and very special! The desserts are too die! If you are looking for a true SF original you must check this place out! Please note its very small, only 12 tables, so book ahead!

Discovered Cafe Jacqueline on TripAdvisor while scrolling through to find a decent dessert place in San Francisco. Decent is an understatement. We arrived late to this this San Fran institution. It's a small French restaurant serving classic French fare. We ordered a coffee, white chocolate soufflé and a beautiful sauterne (match made in heaven). Whilst the waiter warned us of the wait, as dessert is baked out the back, the time frame was certainly not unreasonable and we didn't feel like we waited long at all! Whilst slightly pricey ($50USD), the soufflé could easily go between four people (they are huge!). This place epitomized French hospitality, elegance and service. The waiters are characters in themselves and it's a must to thank Madame Jacqueline herself in the kitchen. Must do.

This is a modest restaurant on an out of the way street which sticks to soufflés for main courses and dessert. Starters are simple and very fresh - we gravitate to the butter lettuce salad which always tastes fresh picked with a light vinaigrette. While I've had the asparagus, crab and various other soufflés, by far the best is the cheese soufflé with gruyere. Dessert isn't complete without a soufflé and while I will swoon over whatever is put in front of me, I absolutely love the light, bright lemon soufflé. Pure heaven. All of the above, served with a bottle of champaign,simply cannot be beat. Be prepared to settle in for a leisurely experience as the soufflés are made to order. Service is always friendly,not overly so, leaving you with a well taken care of experience. This is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries or romantic dinners. We've been there several times and have never been disappointed.

I finally understand what souffle is supposed to taste like. A real gem of a restaurant, hidden, and different. A most european chef. Leek souffle for main course, lime for desert. Just heavenly.

This place is a piece of Parisian heaven! Classic. Charming. Brilliant Food. It doesn't get any better. I love this romantic North Beach jewel. Don't go if you want a slab of meat. Don't go if you're in a rush. Otherwise experiencing one of Jacquelyn's heavenly crepe's should be on everyone's bucket list.

Love this place. The food is absolutely incredible. The ambience is quaint and romantic, the service is crisp and attentive. And Jacqueline personally makes every dish - it’s a total experience that you have to experience. But don’t plan a quick meal - your evening is to be savored and enjoyed ! I love this place!

My sister took me and a friend to Cafe Jacqueline for a celebratory birthday dinner, and we had the best time. Cafe Jacqueline is like nothing I've ever experienced before. One little old woman makes everything that comes out of the kitchen, with two waiters serving. Because of obvious complications of this, a meal at Cafe Jacqueline is an elaborate production. We were there for several hours, in the beautiful dimly lit hushed space, tasting bits of cheesy cloud. The restaurant is tiny, and the service is personal. We ordered the onion soup to start which was really great...so gooey (of course) and with really strong caramelly onion flavor. A nice way to start. We got two souffles for three people, which ended up being a lot. But it was fun to try to flavors so I would recommend it. We ended up getting the basil/garlic and the leek souffles. Both were yummy, light and heavy at the same time in an eggy kind of way, very subtly flavored. Because the meal is so long, we took several bathroom trips through the kitchen, where you can easily see Chef Jacqueline at work, with her giant bowl of eggs, whisking away. Such a fun touch. We got the chocolate souffle for dessert (of course) which was good, if not great. Very light and not super chocolatey in my opinion, but that also might be because most restaurants Two of our friends came to join for dessert (as a special birthday treat) and although the servers were initially hesitant this would be possible (as the restaurant has like 4 tables), they moved us to a bigger table for dessert and it all worked well. The food was good, but the experience was what made it so special. The prices are very high for what you're getting, but its worth it to buy into the whole traditional and elaborate experience that just made it so memorable and unique. Would be a perfect spot for a date, anniversary or celebration...not just a normal meal, totally a splurge kind of place.

love this classic place. the food melts in your mouth.

Cafe Jacqueline and its namesake are San Francisco treasures. I'd heard about the restaurant for some time, but made it a point to go with friends during a recent trip back to the Bay. I was not disappointed. One thing you must know and be happy with: it's a souffle restaurant and everything is made to order, so plan an evening, not an hour. Our visit was a total of about 4 hours and well worth the time spent there. We all started with the French onion soup - one of the best I've ever had - very hot, cheesy and flavorful. A great way to warm up from the cold outside. Then the Belgian endives with roquefort salad (they were out of the watercress, which was recommended by friends), simply prepared and with very flavorful French roquefort. We then ordered three entree souffles - leek, spinach and shitake/basil/garlic. We also ordered the Grand Marnier and chocolate dessert souffles for after. The souffles take some time, but about 30 minutes later they arrived - large enough each for two people (maybe three lighter eaters). Each was beautifully browned and fluffy, and our waiter served tableside to divvy them up between the five in our group. All were delicious and not a bit went back with our waiter. The dessert souffles followed with coffee and we handily finished these over time. These were a bit richer, and our waiter revealed that the dessert souffles are made with four eggs each, while entree souffles are made with three. All made with love by Jacqueline who takes personal responsibility for every souffle, working away in the kitchen and greeting everyone with a smile. When one finds a passion and embraces it, wonderful things result. We had a fantastic evening, spending an extended time drinking wine, catching up on work, family and travel, and enjoying wonderful food. Don't come here in a rush, as you'll spoil the experience. Go after your show, not before, and take time to enjoy the evening. If you like souffles - or just great food made with love - you'll be very happy you came. I definitely recommend it for a couples night out, or a small group (6 or less) of friends who enjoy good conversation.

I had been wanting to go and eat here for a long time. (Since I saw it mentioned as the best egg dish he ever ate by Alton Brown on food network). I tried to get a table a couple of times before but they were all booked. Finally got around to making a reservation a week in advance and going here for dinner. The restaurant is very low key. Very quaint in a classic french way. The wait staff is jolly and very helpful. We ordered the french onion soup and the soup of the day which was a pureed red pepper soup. The french onion soup was awesome. The soup of the day however was on the saltier side. We shared the Brea and Broccoli souffle as an entree and it was so big we had some left over to go. There are pretty long waits in between courses. So be prepared to wait at least 45 minutes to an hour between entree and dessert. Fortunately for us this gave us enough time that we could enjoy the dessert. If it had arrived immediately after we would not have been able to eat it. And Eat it we did. The Chocolate Souffle we ordered for dessert was simply out of this world. We managed to clean that one up despite being full. It had a nice crust and was super fluffy inside. The powdered sugar on top added just the right amount of sweetness to the bittersweet chocolate. All in all worth the visit and wait for just the dessert. Next time I will be making a reservation just for dessert if I don't have the time to do a full meal.

Great service, quaint romantic atmosphere, delicious souffle, great wine list and wonderful cider to authenticate the French experience in San Francisco. Everything is made to order and the souffles take about 45 minutes to prepare and bake after they are ordered. Relax have a drink, appetizer or the best baked onion soup you will ever have. This is not to be rushed, if you are in a hurry go to a neighborhood Italian restaurant, but if you want the most delicious souffle, and a memorable experience, savor the time spent and leave room for dessert! My recommendation for a couple is to have the mussels or the French onion soup, split a savory souffle and then split a dessert souffle. Probably also a good place to go with two couples to split two souffles to get a chance to try things, one dessert will be enough for two or four, depending on your sweet tooth.

I love love loved this place! I loved that they take their time to make your meal from scratch. Not only does it make the food absolutely incredible but it slows you down so that you can have a romantic (if that's what you want...I did) and relaxed time. This dinner was perfection from beginning to end! My husband and I shared the onion soup (I ordered this from every single restaurant I went to in France...this one is better), spinach and goat cheese salad (I think), the oyster souffle for the main, and the chocolate souffle with a glass of port for dessert. WOW! SO good! Absolute perfection! There is not one complaint I can make about the food. It was heavenly! Our waiter recommended a sweeter white wine to pair with the oyster souffle. I don't normally go for whites and certainly not a sweet white but I trusted our waiter and I am SO glad that I did! It did exactly what a good pairing should! On its own the soufffle was incredible, paired with the wine it was magic! Speaking of the waiters, they were great! I had a fun time trying to figure out which was the mean one. I never did figure it out. They were both courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful. Our main waiter was available without being intrusive allowing for my husband and I to focus on each other. The ambience is romantic and to me very San Francisco. Just be sure to be on the lookout when you go...we walked past it twice before we found it! And, yes its true, Jacqueline herself is in the kitchen whipping up her amazing souffles. By the time I went in the back to meet her, I felt a bit starstruck! lol. When I travel, I usually like to try out different restaurants, especially in a foodie paradise like San Francisco but I am quite certain that from now on, no trip to San Francisco would be complete with out a trip to Cafe Jaqueline!!!!

We were four and looked forward to a leisurely dinner. This restaurant offers only soufflées. They are cooked from scratch by the owner/chef a tireless worker. It is important to order right away to "get things rolling" and avoid a long, long lag in foodservice. We ordered four soufflés; two for entrée and two for dessert. While waiting for our first order we had wine, sat back, chatted and enjoyed the quiet ambiance. Service was first-rate. The food was served hot and fresh from the oven. It was a very enjoyable four-hour dinner. There was no rush to turn the table over. The wait staff seemed to enjoy our visit and were friendly and polite. One caveat. You must call and request an evening and time. Leave your message on their voicemail. They will call back and confirm. If they do not call back there is no reservation! Walk-ins are discouraged, so call first.

Have been here once. The food is fun and tasty but the history of the place is what made it special. The place has a bit of an air about it which is fine and makes the atmosphere feel very old San Francisco. Again the food is fine… but the history is what we really enjoyed about it. The service was one step above mediocre. My friends and I wanted to come back for a special time together and after two weeks of trying to make a reservation via phone on 5 separate occasions (because guess what, no online capability, come on folks it’s 2025) I decided to drive from Marin county over to make an in person reservation. Not kidding. I drove 40 minutes and found parking to make this reservation after I tried to reach them 5 times to make an on the phone reservation. I showed up about 15 minutes after they opened. The wait person (who’s been here years I believe) looked like he was helping a table but I don’t mind waiting. Wasn’t in a hurry at all. But he stopped what he was doing and came over with a grouchy look like I had interrupted and said can I help you and I said yes I just need to make a reservation. He said call and leave a message. I said I did that, 5 times in the past two weeks. I drove over from Marin specially to make this reservation. He literally held his hand up about 18 inches in front of my face and said pretty rudely “I can’t help you with that” and walked away. Wow. Must be a great business they have going if they can not return phone calls for 2 weeks and then treat a customer like that Let’s see. We live in the Bay Area folks. It’s a food town. So many great options. Don’t eat here. Take your dollars elsewhere. We’ve decided to take our dollars over to Chez Panisse.

the cutest little french lady runs the spot!! AMAZING french onion soup, and all the souffles are to die for. Good for veggies or meat-lovers.

Mme Jacqueline still going strong! Most recently, made reservation for 5:30 a day in advance, shared two soufflés (one for main course and one for dessert) an onion soup and a bottle of great French wine. It's pricey and well worth it. Prepare for the wait, soufflé can't be rushed.

very cute...

Whenever I travel to San Francisco I try to make a dinner reservation at Cafe Jacqueline. Jacqueline is a wonderful cook who has for many years served up large cheese, veggie, lobster, crab, etc soufflés that are rich in flavor and light in body. Last month I ordered the leek soufflé for dinner and the lime soufflé for desert and my dinner partner and I consumed each bit with the joy that only a meal cooked to perfection can bring. Each soufflé serves two-three. It takes about 45 min to cook so make sure you order your desert when you order your entre. There are only 10-12 tables so you may want to make reservations early – open for dinner only.

This really is one of our favorite spots in SF. Vive Jacqueline! Madame is a soufflé master to be sure. She personally creates wonderful dishes for her guests nightly. If you have not stopped by her cafe, you should do yourself a favor and make the pilgrimage. The dining room is warm and inviting on any cool SF evening. The selections all work well together and you are served by knowledgeable and friendly staff. Sometime during the rainy season, grab some friends, order some greens, share one savory and one sweet souffle, and pair with something nice from the wine selection. Settle in for unrushed conversation and a delightful meal. You'll love it.

Café Jacqueline was recommended by some friends in San Francisco. It is located in North Beach. It is a tiny restaurant. I understand the owner does all the cooking and all the soufflés are cooked to order. Given these facts, you might expect a long meal. But the service was timely and the atmosphere friendly so I did not mind. The soufflés were all excellent and each one is large enough for two to three people. Plus they serve a vegetarian French onion soup (veggie broth) which is hard to find and is as good as I can make at home.

Came here for my birthday dinner as a surprise from my boyfriend. The service was present but not overbearing. Food came out a little slow, but with a small kitchen, few kitchen crew members (the owner, a cook, and a dishwasher), and time to kill it was not an issue at all. Beautifully presented souffles definitely worth waiting for. It's the perfect *special* date-night restaurant with dim candlelights to seduce you and your boo.

Fantastic experience! Best souffles in world. Matt the waiter is wonderful. Takes a while to be served, worth the wait

We were able to score a reservation at this unique french restaurant the specializes in souffles. Jacqueline prepares each herself. My wife had the french onion soup to start and I had a spinach salad. The soup was awesome, the sale was good but I should have also got the soup. We got a mushroom shuffle with Gruyere cheese and finished with a chocolate one for dessert. We paired all with a split of Bordeaux which made it perfect in our opinion. We were totally stuffed and opted to make the half hour walk back to our hotel. Magnifique!

I love souffle, and the souffle here is great. Grandma Jacqueline in the kitchen was adorable. Very friendly and always has a smile on her face making souffle for people in the dining room. Such a sweet person. We ordered lobster souffle, crab souffle, strawberry souffle and blueberry souffle. My favorite was the strawberry souffle. I think the savory souffle is great, but I think the dessert souffle is so much better. The portion is huge and the souffle is really rich. Order accordingly... One less star because of the wait staff in the dining room. Not personable and cold. We saw a very interesting lamp in the dining room that has sea urchin skeletons as its lamp shades. We weren't 100% sure if they were sea urchin skeletons and we asked our waiter who was walking by. We: "Hi. (with smile). Do you happen to know what those are? (pointing to the lamp shades)" The waiter: "(Annoyed). It's a lamp." And then he walked away...... Huge contrast to the warmth and friendliness of grandma Jacqueline at the back. Seriously. If you aren't happy working there, please quit...... Grandma Jacqueline needs friendly people to help her in her wonderful cafe.

What an amazing little restaurant that you MUST experience! Perfect for a couple looking for a special night out. This meal was one of the best I have ever had. The dinner is made right behind you in a tiny kitchen by Jacqueline who opened her one woman show in 1979!! Our waiter Matt was so lovely and made our experience that much better. The souffles are out of this world and we highly recommend you start with the french onion soup- it was amazing. Very special dining experience where you feel as though she is cooking just for you. Highly recommended! (be prepared for a longer wait than other restaurants as souffle's take a long time to make, so make sure you give yourself the time you need to fully enjoy!)

The souffle was not impressive and way overprice.

Last chance to visit Jacqueline, the 80+chef/ souffle institution on Grant Ave. It may not be the best soufflé you have ever had, but it is lovingly made to order. the fresh fruit souffles are wonderful. The savories, not as great. You wait, oh boy, over an hour. Is it worth it? Every lover of North Beach should do it once. Salute, Jacqueline.

This French restaurant is just ok. I have never had a authentic french soufflé but next time i will pass. We shared 2 soufflés and they were good, I would not travel to eat there again. Good experience over all.

The strawberry soufflé was divine! The leek/gruyere soufflé was also delicious. The meal took over 2 hours because each soufflé is made to order. AWESOME if you're with someone special. Could be a nightmare first date if conversation is a little......awkward. Also not the place to go if you're arguing with a spouse. GREAT place to go with GREAT company though because it's worth the wait for this memorable meal.

We dined on a Saturday night with friends. The restaurant was full. Each couple got a soup (onion and the evening's special) and shared two soufflés. The soufflés were wonderful except a bit too salty for my taste (I eat almost zero salt so may not be the best judge). The chocolate soufflé (the four of us split one for dessert) was absolutely amazing. The service was interesting. We hesitated for a moment when asked if we were ready to order and the waiter simply walked away. When he returned we placed our food order (inclusive of dessert), but when I tried to order a bottle of wine he declined to place the order for the wine at that time telling us we had no idea how long the soufflés would take. We did have a later reservation (8:30) but we were in no hurry to eat and fully prepared to have a leisurely dinner with friends. He did return to take our wine order within minutes, however, we were a bit struck by the brusqueness of our server. Overall it was a wonderful experience and I do recommend Café Jacqueline.

Great little place!

After reading the reviews on trip advisor, we decided to try Cafe Jacqueline. The restaraunt has a really cute atmosphere. Our waiters were excellent, knowledgeable and served with a great sense of humor. The souffles were delicious and served in less than an hour. We even got meet Jacqueline herself! Would definitely recommend if traveling to San Francisco!!

Wow! I find it hard to describe this perfect evening. The food was fresh, a perfect blend of flavors and artfully done. We had heard that this place was better with several couples as you get to try several soufflés. All the soufflés are for 2. A party of 6 pretty experienced foodies fell in love with this place. We had appetizers of some of the best french onion soup we have ever had. On to the main course-we had one crab duffle, one Roquefort bacon and one mushroom. No, I can't pick which one was best as they were all superb. For dessert we had one chocolate and my favorite, the Grand Marrnier. The wine was picked to accompany each course. The waiter was fun and the tiny kitchen a delight to see. Enjoy the slow pace and the company of your friends.

best souffle you will have. went for our anniversary. crab souffle was fantastic. lemon souffle for dessert was delicious. very attentive staff. thanked jacqueline after our dinner, she seemed very friendly and affable. be advised, expect 2-3 hours for dinner. would reserve for special occasions.

Great soufflés and that is all you get...the mushroom is my favorite and the place tiny. She has these egg baskets in view that must hold hundreds of eggs...albeit it might be the mist expensive soufflé around.,.worth the experience. As they say, if you are Jack of All Trades...you are the Master of None and she is the opposite!

My wife and I decided to try this restaurant on our anniversary and really wished that we made another choice. As far as the souffle's are concerned, I dont eat them much so Its not fair for me to compare them with other restaurants. I can say that we really did not care for them much and every bite felt like a little bomb going off in your stomach which made them very difficult to eat. We went here after reading the reviews and thought it would be nice, but have realized that we are more into traditional type food. The food was well prepared though and if you do like very rich food such as this, you will probably like their souffle's. Regarding the service, this is where you have to be prepared when you go here. We waited 1 1/2 hours after ordering for the main course to be served and 1 hour after finishing the main course for the dessert! I did read the reviews and expected to wait some, but this was ridiculous! We sat in our seats for 3 hours and my butt actually hurt by the time we got out of there! Outside of the long wait, the other problem we had was with the attitude of the waiter. Bear in mind that I have never given a negative review of any restaurant before, and my views are usually regarded as too optomistic, but we felt that he was exceptionally rude and unattentive. Maybe the owners of the restaurant want the servers to exibit this sort of "high brow" type attitude, but we really found it to be a turn off. In conclusion, if you prefer this type of food and dont mind waiting an extreamly long time for rude service, then maybe this place is for you. As for us, I think we will just go to a nice steakhouse next time!

This is a tiny spot that is in North Beach in San Francisco that competes with souffles of Paris. The best treat of any meal here is the main course or desert souffle. What ever is fresh fruit in season is what you can count on to be excellent. Be patient and the wait will be a remarkable experience in S. F. that will make you feel as though you are in a small dining room in Paris experiencing a fine french treat.

Our server was very professional and pleasant. Bread was great and the tomato salad was very flavorful. We loved the gruyere souffle as well as the Grand Marnier dessert souffle. This meal is not in-and-out in an hour; it is an experience. Loved seeing the grand dame whipping up souffles..

We visited this restaurant recently and were not very impressed. The salad we ordered was not bad, but the main course lobster souffle was way too salty. For dessert, we had the lemon souffle and it was very good. The restaurant is small but comfortable, and the service is quite good. The parking around the restaurant is on the street and very limited. You should leave yourself plenty of time if you go there. Also, waiting time between courses is long. The whole dinner takes 2.5-3.0 hours. If you are short of time, do not go there. Overall, the food is average and the price is on the high side.

After all our years of coming to San Francisco, I can't believe my husband and I only now have experienced Cafe Jacqueline. From the warmth and understated humor of the waiters, Matthew and Chris, to the starters prepared by staff in the tiny kitchen, to the delicious souffles lovingly made by the Grand Dame herself, our meal was one for the memory books! We knew from reading other reviews that the meal would take several hours because each souffle is made from scratch. We enjoyed a salad and the fabulous onion soup and (perhaps a bit too much) the warm, crusty bread. The wine list is modest, yet has a number of very nice and well-priced wines that accompany the food quite well. From the first bite to the last, our savory souffle was delicious, and though we were feeling quite full, we did our best to finish the dessert souffle because it was SO good. Worth the wait! They are making magic at Cafe Jacqueline, and because the restaurant is small, only a few people are able to experience it each night. It is a special place. We will definitely return!

The pace is relaxed, the service is top notch and the food is fabulous! Plan to spend a few hours, they're souffles after all, and SO worth it. We took a stroll along Grant St. between dinner and dessert, then returned to a lovely lemon souffle. I used to live down the street in North Beach and would take guests to Cafe Jacqueline for an old-SF experience. I have never been disappointed... OK, once I tried to book in August and they were closed for a Summer vacation. It nearly broke my heart. Now I plan my trips to ensure that we can get in for dinner.

We arrived for a 7p.m. reservation and were greeted by a very pleasant wait person who promptly seated us. That was the highlight of the evening. We ordered an endive salad to share a nice bottle of wine and "Frusta de Mer" as the entree soufflé. We placed our order about 7:15 pm, were served the salad at 7:45 but the entree did not arrive until 9:15. The salad was OK but the soufflé lacked much. It was billed to contain scallops and shrimp. There were 4 medium shrimp to serve the two of us and the scallops were apparently missing in that they were cut up into small pieces and could not easily be identified. The soufflé itself was very salty and topping had a somewhat burned flavor. On the whole, I would not return nor recommend since the wait was terribly long,the prices high and the food marginal.

We shared a gruyere-leek souffle and it was out of this world delicious. The menu has about a dozen souffle choices and then there are daily specials. There are a very limited number of soup and salad options as well. The souffles are the reason to come. The dessert souffle - we chose the basic chocolate - was very yummy as well. Count on long waits as everything is lovingly made to order by Jacqueline who has been producing these masterpieces for over 40 years. The restaurant is very simple, almost dull decor-wise, but it is comfortable and the tables are not too close. It is a great place for a romantic or other special dinner.

Be ready for 3 hrs of conversations and some fabulous souffles! Everything is made from scratch and by the one and only Chef Jacqueline.

Have been a few times over the years and it is a very cute and romantic spot to eat. One dinner and one dessert souffle is more than enough for two people to split. I love their onion soup as well, but sometimes that is too much food. Tried both the strawberry and chocolate souffle for desert and both are terrific. For dinner, I've had the leek and also the proscuto & brocolli souffle. Both were good. Great wine selection, nice atmosphere and worth a visit.

Settle in for a night of delicious delights. Hard to imagine the same woman has been the sole chef of this SF gem for some 40 years! The soufflé’s are legendary. The cozy space is charming and the waiters are pretentiously adorable. I love everything about this place. Only. Auction is DON’T BE IN A RUSH - this isn’t dining, its an experience!

I am not a big fan of souffle as a main dish but from time to time I would like to surprise my guests in the area for the best soufle that they will ever have in their lives. I suggest that you go there with a few friends. The deserts are large enough to be shared with 3 or 4 friends. Hilly street of San Francisco will help you the guilty pleasure off your conscience....

Cafe Jacqueline is a SF institution. Every meal is personally prepared by Jacqueline herself with tremendous skill, care and love. Nothing is hurried and every guest is there for an experience, not just a meal. If you are in a rush, go to a chain restraunt. This is a dining experience to be savored, appreciated and enjoyed. I noticed a couple reviews complaning about the salt. I have never had this experience, maybe the whining diners have hypertension and they are salt sensitive. Every single dish has always been perfectly seasoned EVERY time. I love Cafe Jacqueline, the food, the wait staff, the romantic parisian atmoshphere and yes, even the wait. Because I've never been dissapointed. I include a meal at Cafe Jacqueline every time I am in SF and noticed that many of the other guests were repeat customers as well. This is a cullinary experience everyone should experience.

French. Both main course and dessert soufflés. There are many varieties to choose from. They are all excellent. Have eaten here many times.

I just moved to North Beach and was delighted to see so many wonderful Cafés & bakeries. When I saw Cafe Jaqueline and heard about their soufflés I was sold! It is a charming neighborhood place with excellent warm&attentive waiters! The French Onion soup is indeed...most likely the BEST I've had yet!!! Since I was alone I opted for a dessert soufflé and jumped on the special using fresh, ripe summer peaches. It truly was delightful!! The only thing is while a nice experience it was NOT worth the high price tag...I will go again for the soup...but for the soufflés perhaps only if another is paying?!? I also highly recommend BYOB as well to help with cost!!!

All of the positive reviews should confirm this cafe’s uniqueness. Too many restaurants are noisy, service intrusive, too bright/too dark with inappropriate music. Cafe Jaqueline guests seem utterly engaged in conversation, the lighting is romantic, music is charming and the food magical. My husband called it “soul soothing”. The waiter is what every waiter should be ….but isn’t. Seamlessly providing 12 tables everything. My water glass was always full, wine order prompt, timing remarkable and food served expertly. Of course the food adds more to the ambience just as you would expect. The salads perfectly layered flavors. The expertly composed soups. The savory soufflé - be sure to dig around the edge for the hint of crusty white wine. Then the dessert soufflé - I wasn’t prepared for the chocolate soufflé that left me speechless. We tasted several aperitifs, white wines and dessert wines - all were perfectly matched. Our waiter brought the glass and a bottle to sample, then fill if we were happy. I will always remember this evening, madame in the kitchen, the perfect waiter and the beautiful glow it all left me with. Check my reviews - I have lived on 5 continents travelled globally for decades and this is one of those experiences that I will never forget.

Lovely =)

So glad our friends organized an evening at Cafe Jacqueline. I am amazed I have not been there before - it was a one of kind experience. Definitely worth waiting for the souffles - which anyone who has attempted to make will understand. Jacqueline makes all the souffles herself and has a just two assistants in the kitchen (one washing dishes by hand) and two waiters. There are probably no more than 25 seats in this tiny restaurant. We had a relatively large group of six for this tiny restaurant, but it was wonderful as we could all try an assortment of the souffles. Enjoyed onion soup and salad, while we placed our souffle order. We enjoyed Gruyere, Mushroom/Proscuitto and Broccoli as the savory souffles and then shared a Grand Marnier and Fresh Strawberry for dessert. We brought our own wine but they have a nice selection. Really a special meal. Be sure to make reservations, they turned away several people at the door. Not for anyone who is in a hurry.

I'd made a reservation weeks in advance for a Saturday and it was a good thing I did. Cafe Jacqueline is a small and intimate place and even as we were leaving, the tables continued to fill. There were 3 of us and we knew to plan for a 2 1/2 hour meal. There is no way to rush the process so the key is to settle in, order salads and soup, and have a little wine to enjoy the time while your souffle(s) are prepared. We ordered an onion soup, a butter lettuce salad and a cucumber salad. (all yummy) And we gave our souffle orders at the same time. Knowing that 3 people would do well with 2 dinner souffles and 1 dessert souffle to share, we had a difficult time in selecting from the delectable menu. We settled upon a classic gruyere and a fruits de mer (seafood). But we need to return during crab season because that would have been a have-to. Our dessert souffle? Lemon. Another hard choice. Neighboring tables had the strawberry and it was beautiful. What a fun treat to enjoy the flavoful fluffy wonders coming from Jacqueline's little kitchen. And, there she is, in the back of the restaurant whipping up each creation one by one. Merci, Madame Jacqueline! We shall return and work our way through the menu, trying all the other beautiful souffles. Can't wait.

Reservations are a must at this cozy intimate place specializing and turning out the best souffles in the U.S.Chef Jacqueline is French and commands the kitchen and personally makes every entree or dessert souffle.She insists on the finest ingredients...grows her own herbs....that explain the incredible taste sensation. The two waiters have been loyally with her for years,and have a great sense of humor,as well as providing a level of service that is a cut above.You cannot go wrong with any dish here.This is a 'Must Do" in San Francisco.

Cafe Jacqueline is special and unique. Specialty are souffles and that is what you go to Jacqueline to eat which are most delicious and just perfect. Be prepared to wait as it takes time for this lovely delicacy to be cooked and the wait is worth every minute. The desert is also souffle and again it is just perfect. Cafe Jacqueline is delightfully unforgettable.

I love souffles!

I just had dinner at Cafe Jacqueline after last coming here 12 years ago. My friend and I ordered the seafood souffle as our main and chocolate souffle as our dessert. After waiting 45 minutes from the time we ordered, the seafood one finally came. It was extremely salty and almost inedible. We then waited another 30 minutes before the chocolate one came. That one was very good, though by the time it arrived, we were ready to go home. The bill for the two souffles, one coffee and one diet coke including tip was over $120. Warning: Do not park on Broadway to have dinner here...go to a paid parking lot instead. We arrived at 6:30 pm and did not leave until 8:45 pm for two dishes. We had parked on the street and returned to find that the car had been towed. Apparantly, the City expects you to look twenty feet up a pole to see a no parking from 8 pm to 4 am sign. After we took a taxi to 7th Street, we discoved that the tow and other fees were $373.75 plus an additional $73 parking fee. No restaurant (no matter how good) is worth almost $500 in towing/ticket fees.

This is a timeless, romantic, amazing SF gem. So few people know about it, I'm always surprised at how many of my foodie friends have never been. I'm a serial restaurateur and can honestly say this is my favorite restaurant in SF. It's simply the most gorgeous souflee's you will ever have, served in a lovely, candlelit, opera playing, rose on the table environment! Jacqueline is darling, and in the kitchen every night. My all-time favorites are the fruits de mer and the lemon or white chocolate for dessert. They're indescribable… Just get a reservation and bring as many friends as you can so you can try more than one savory and one dessert!

I visited Cafe Jacqueline for the second time after discovering this gem while in San Francisco 2 years ago. We started with the onion soup which was so good & brought back memories of a trip to Paris. There was quite a wait for our soufflé main course but this was expected as our waiter had mentioned this to us while ordering. The shitake, basil & garlic soufflé was definitely worth the wait! The flavours were amazing! We were both too full to order dessert but from what we saw at nearby tables, the dessert soufflés looked great. Will definitely return to Cafe Jacqueline on my next trip to San Francisco!

Eating at Cafe Jacqueline was the culinary highlight of a great trip to San Francisco. Most things have been covered in previous reviews: our onion soup was fabulous (definitely not too salty) and cheesy, we shared a prosciutto and mushroom souffle which was light and flavoursome (we also had a green salad alongside), and we almost finished an enormous apricot souffle for pudding! Yes, we were there for 2+ hours, which was wonderful; we were relaxed, enjoying one another's company and the general ambiance. Our server was one of the best we encountered during our trip: attentive enough without being cloying, knowledgeable, and with a great sense of humour. When we mentioned the complaints about bad service in other reviews, he nodded, and said 'yep, I'm the mean one'! Actually, he was charming, and really added to the pleasure of the evening. Our bill was $177 (three courses plus sparkling wine as an aperitif and with pudding, and a bottle of Poilly- Fuisse) before tip. This is a wonderful place, and we were really glad to have eaten there. I can't recommend it strongly enough.

Fall in love all over again in this very French gem. Souffles as fluffy as clouds and intense in flavor. Small and very romantic location in the heart of North Beach. Chef Jacqueline is in the back whipping up the eggs into ambrosia.

romantic ambience, great souffles. i just wish you didn't have to wait 40 min and park in north beach.

Jacqueline's Cafe is the antithesis of fast food, so go with people whose company and conversation you enjoy, and settle in for an evening of relaxed conversation. For those old enough to remember the films, this is the place to have your "Dinner with Andre" or "Babbete's Feast", with the added pro viso that it's absolutely not for people who don't enjoy soufflé. It's slow because soufflés take time, and each one is made by hand by Jacqueline who has been at this for many, many decades. The soufflés are great. People who like both simplicity and perfectionism, like Steve Jobs did, love the place. There are few tables for the obvious reason that each soufflé requires her full concentration and a considerable spell in the oven. I am told that Jaqueline does not have an understudy, and it is pretty clear she is of an age when most of us have retired. Please go while you can, because there will probably never be another place like it.

It is science and art to make perfect souffles. I LOVE the salmon and asparagus soufflé for dinner and the grand mariner soufflé as dessert... It was a perfec spot for a quite, cozy, and romantic celebration! Make sure to allocate three hours for the complete experience!!

Wow, is all I can say about this primarily souffle restaurant. There were three of us and we had the brie and broccoli along with the asparagus and grueyre for main courses. Both were wonderful though I think I like the asparagus and grueyre a little more. For desert we had the traditional chocolate. The service was great. This is the perfect place for special occasions or couples.

If you are on a low-carb or gluten-free diet, this place isn't for you. But if you want to experience the greatest soufflés outside of Paris, then this is your chance. Cafe Jaqueline is small and intimate, with excellent wait staff (although the gentleman with the handlebar mustache can be a bit too French-waitery), and the most delicious food. It's rare to be able to experience soufflés as the main meal, but that is what they do. Try the one with white corn and ginger and garlic, or the ones with mussels or lobster . Then try the white chocolate soufflé for dessert. Go with the French Onion Soup as a starter. Great wine list as well. And be sure to check out Chef Jacqueline in the kitchen crafting each meal. This is a 2-3 hour dinner and well worth the time and expense.

We were a party of four and very much looking forward to dining here. We were not disappointed! We ordered two entrée soufflées and two dessert soufflées. All four were outstanding and delicious. They were light and done perfectly. My favorite was the gruyere! Naturally preparing these from scratch takes time. We settled in with a couple of bottles of wine, sat back, chatted and enjoyed the quiet ambiance and great service. A very pleasant evening indeed! One caveat: You must call for reservations, leave your information and if your reservations are honored, they will call you back to confirm. No telephone return call means no reservations. They do not admit "walk-ins."

Open since 1979 on colorful Grant Avenue in North Beach, this small French cafe is owned by the queen of souffles in san francisco, Jacqueline. She stays in the small kitchen at the back of the restaurant in her white chef's bonnet surrounded by dozens and dozens of eggs. One person is in the kitchen with her to wash the dishes. Two waiters attend the approximately 12 tables. The restaurant is actually quiet, so one can talk. The problem is the LONG WAIT for food. We arrived at 7 PM for a reserved table. There are two waiters. Hope not to get the one with the curly Q moustache. He came to our table with a greeting or smile, took our order, and returned to say that the restaurant was out of prosciutto (why.. in the middle of so many Italian restaurants??). He didn't want to wait while we looked at the menu for a second choice entree souffle. Back 15 minutes later he took our second choice orders plus an order for a raspberry dessert souffle. Back again to say they were out of raspberries. We ordered salades. They arrived an hour later. Very, very small but delicious. We cancelled our dessert order. At 9 o/clock, two hours after ordering our dinner, our entree arrived. Delicious. But I can't think of a meal that is work a two hour wait, especially in a tiny restaurant. $45 to $55 for a souffle.. lots of choices.. and they're for 2 or 3 people. My watercress salade had about ten cents worth of watercress.. can't remember if it was $15 or $30. Prices on souffles fair... but appetizer prices too expensive. Good selection of wines. Glad I went. Won't go back because of the extreme slowness in the kitchen. Try going at 5:30 when they open and you probably will get served in a reasonable amount of time. Food is wonderful.

If you are a souffle lover, run...don't walk... to Cafe Jacqueline. It is pretty much all they serve, but they have many savory and sweet options and everyone is fantastic. Cooked to perfection. The place is relatively small, and the dinner pace is slow, but the wait is well worth it. Enjoy.

Most romantic restaurant in the city (and not because it was the place I took my wife on our first date). They are famous for their souffles. The lobster or crab souffle is excellent. Order one savory souffle and one sweet souffle to share. I recommend the strawberry souffle for dessert.

Im a big fan of souffles and boy oh boy .. this place does it right!!!! its a long wait but man .. its soo worth it!!! i still dream about this place!!! the souffles are pricey but its is huge!! almost as big as my head!!! so well worth the price. if you have a chance .. do visit ... and make reservations .. they do get booked up and might not take walk ins.

Spent the last night of our vacation dining at this quiet elegant little place. A foodie friends recommendation, the pace is very old world (read as: slow), but service was knowledgeable and friendly, and the food was completely worth the wait. The desert especially was out of this world amazing!!

We went to Cafe' Jacqueline for my husband's B-day. We totally enjoyed the wait staff (thank you Matt & Scott)who were very pleasant and charming. They guided us and explained the assorted items in wonderful detail. We shared the French Onion soup (what flavor :) ) then we had the Lobster souffle' and ended with my husband's favorite Grand Marnier souffle'. We had a good friend who used to make them for my husband and he has never found one as good / well, all I can say is the search is over and we now have a new favorite. Now - how can I convince hubby NOT to order that one because I want to try a chocolate (one went by and it smell was delicious) or strawberry one. This is a GREAT place to go / I wanted to go in the kitchen and hug the stuffing out of Chef Jacqueline- Thank you again!!

Yes, there really is a Jacquelinenand she does make the souflles herself! On the way to the restroom in this quaint joint, say Bon jour to Jacqueline. She’s a master at what she does. Started off with a mixed green salad to share. Then if the crab or lobster soufflé is on the menu, ORDER IT! Rest a bit and pre-ordernthe chocolate soufflé. Plain and simple. This is a great romantic joint for special occasions. And YES, you need a reservation. Thinking about Valentines Day? 🤣

We were two girls visiting this place. We ordered an onion soup and a soup of the day. They are both a little too salty for us. Then we shared a strawberry soufflé (yes, we skipped the entree because we really want the strawberry soufflé and we won't be able to eat two soufflé). We made the right choice! The strawberry soufflé was sooooo good and rich and filling. We had a great meal! The place is so tiny and busy. We made a reservation for a Friday night.

love it!

Well I am not sure about the hype of the poor reservation system . I tried getting into this restaurant so many time and then I just walked to it and saw it was empty and got a seat. IMO don’t bother calling just walk in and see if there is a table , if not then walk to other nice restaurants nearby.

This was a first for us. We had the broccoli and Brie soufflé, along with the French onion soup. Let me tell you, I thought I had died and gone to heaven! The soufflé was light and delicious. The soup was equally as good. The waitstaff was delightful and funny. We made reservations in advance. I didn't want to miss this cafe, and you shouldn't either. This is a cafe where you take your time and enjoy the food. Chef Jacqueline makes each soufflé when ordered, so allow at least 40 minutes or so. Enjoy the bread and a glass of wine while you wait. Each soufflé feeds two so comes as a group and order a few to share. Wonderful experience and a delightful evening.

If you love real french souffles this is the place to go. The meal is served at the pace of a good meal in Paris, in other words very slowly to allow the maximum of conversation with your companions. Every souffle is made to order. Don't miss the chocolate souffle for desert. And unless you are a ravenous eater, each souffle serves 2 people. This is a true don't miss.