Luce Reviews

Visited Luce for both lunch and breakfast. If you are deciding whether to go for either, I'd recommend lunch. The plates for lunch all looked great. For breakfast, the selection is less inventive and you will likely pay about $50 per person.

We did the 9 course tasting menu with wine pairing; everything was great except the duck which seemed underdone. However sat in a hotel lobby next to a table of 10 on a Christmas party didn’t make a $400 meal seem very special. Staff were excellent.

There is a choice between degustation and a-la-carte menu.Good quality food, pretty good wine list with wines from the both old and new world. Tartare needed a bit more flavours and spices, for my palette, duck breast was very good, fish was excellent. Very nice Amarone was served in proper Riedel glasses. Service was exceptional.

We had lunch at Luce recently. The food and the service were very good. Everything was prepared well and we had no complaints. We're looking forward to returning. We highly recommend!!!

Went with children and spouses. The wait staff was incredibly accommodating. There were peanut allergies, chili allergies, gluten allergies and one pregnant daughter. The restaurant handled this all impeccably. They decanted my wine promptly, chilled another wine properly (not too cold), served beautifully and, although not cheap ($100 per person, including only $25 per bottle for corkage), given what we got and demanded, I thought they did a great job. Highly recommended.

I find this neighborhood lacking when it comes to good restaurants. With the 1000's of folks next store at the convention center, it amazes me this restaurant doesn't get more hits. It is not cheap, but the food is outstanding.

After a couple of meals, that while not bad, just seemed to be disappointments, we returned to Luce. This time, my wife was able to join me, but late in the meal, as she was coming from her dinner meeting. This was our first time back, since August, 2016. The first thing that greeted me was that the entire Intercontinental Hotel (Luce is on the SW corner – Howard & 5th Streets – of the ground floor) was wrapped in scaffolding, and plastic sheeting. Though I know the location well, I almost did not recognize it. In general, this only had one effect on dinner – the view of 5th St was obscured by the construction – maybe not such a bad thing, as other than trucks, buses and pedestrians, there is not much of a view. Inside the hotel, there were few signs of the construction – other than through the sheer curtains, which were drawn. Now, Luce is a Michelin-starred restaurant, in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel, at 888 Howard St, in SoMa (basically, across from the Moscone Center). In the past, we have stayed at the hotel, though not in the last several years. It was on our first stay, that I “discovered” Luce, when I stopped in for lunch. On the next trip, we had dinner there, and were greatly impressed. Over the next few years, we dined there maybe a half-dozen times. For a bit, it just seemed that things were slipping from a culinary standpoint. The excitement was gone. The menus were no longer something to look forward to. The execution was always good, to very good, but the “excellence” seemed to be missing, along with the innovation. Our two previous meals, now almost two years back, were just not up the high standard, that we had come to know. One enters Luce (especially now, with the construction) via the lobby entrance to the Intercontinental Hotel, and with a quick left-turn, they would walk through the cute little Bar 888 Lounge, past an area, mostly used for lunch at Luce, to the hostess stand. The dining room takes up the entire corner of the building, and is bright, and lovely, in a bit of an “Asian Minimalist” style. The tables are well-spaced, and though the two walls of the restaurant are glass, the noise-level has always been low, which we love. Even the lively Bar 888 is separated enough, that when full, little noise makes its way into Luce. On this visit (starting solo), I had a nice table, just away from the windows, looking out onto 5th St, with banquet seating on one side, and a chair on the other. It was a smallish 4-top, but adequate. I had planned on doing Chef Daniel Corey’s Tasting Menu, which we have had seasonally, for many meals in the past. I usually go with the addition of the Sommelier’s Wine Pairings, and have greatly enjoyed those. However, I discovered that the Tasting Menu is not available on Monday-Tuesday (at least in the Summer), so it was à la carte, and I would be working from the wine list. As most of our business trips to San Francisco are Sunday - Tuesday, I will need to work to get back for Chef Corey’s Tasting Menu. I started with some B-T-G wines (always a nice list at Luce), and decided on: Kinero (Rustler) “James Berry Vineyard” Roussanne, Paso Robles ‘15, to start. We had just returned from a wine event at Blackberry Farm, in the Smoky Mountains, Hospice du Rhône, so I had experienced a lot of Rhône varietals, and downed a lot of Roussanne – though not this one. It just seemed to be the right choice for that evening. I added the Diatom “Katherine’s Vineyard” Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay ‘17 – another wine, new to me. This is what I appreciate about Luce – interesting wines, and even in the B-T-G selections. Over the years, we had come to know several of the sommeliers at Luce, though they have all moved on. I was happy to see that the tradition had not left. About that time, I got a text from my wife: “Food horrible. Meeting drawing to a close. Can I do a main course and wine with you?” Good timing, and I sort of put the brakes on things a bit. I did add a bottle of the En Route Les Pommiers Russian River Pinot Noir ‘16, to share with my wife, when she arrived. We have a friend, how produces some great Pinots, and one of his single-vineyard wines is also Les Pommiers, so this would be a good comparison, plus I knew that my wife would enjoy it too – especially being from one of Joe’s sourced vineyards. I was correct, and we both got to enjoy this lovely wine. This wine is by Nickel & Nickel/Far Niente, and was great, with good body, and typical, focused Russian River fruit. I mentioned to my server, that my wife would soon be joining me, and for more than wines, as I initially had indicated. After my Amuse Bouche, I went with my starter, Pacific Blue Prawns, roasted with espelette chili, lemon, pistachio and brown butter – this turned out to be a great dish, and a wonderful preparation. Main Course was: Liberty Duck Breast (aged on the bone) w/ fava beans, chanterelles and pickled cherries – I am a stickler for Duck Breast, and gave complete instructions on how I like it cooked: crispy skin, rendered subcutaneous fat layer, and rare/medium-rare meat. That is exactly what I got. The garnishes/prep were interesting, and flavorful. Maybe the “excitement” WAS back? My wife ordered the King Salmon Confit w/ pickled mustard seed, golden plum, daikon and crème fraiche – this was from the Starter menu, as she had struggled with “rubber banquet chicken,” but just could not do that, as her meal. The King Salmon was a perfect size, and she got to enjoy that Pinot Noir. OK, the food seemed to be back on-track, even if I missed Chef Corey’s Tasting Menu this time. Service, as always, was excellent, and my service captain even injected some humor into my wife joining me, after her “business dinner.” The wines were all winners, the wine service perfect, and I liked the new stemware (Zalto?). In all, a perfect dinner, and I had the added bonus of having my wife join me earlier, than anticipated. We will get back to Luce, and I will do all, that I can, to dine there, when I can do the Tasting Menu. It was so nice to have Luce “back.” We headed to Bar 888, which had emptied out, from the crowd, at my arrival.

I found Luce on the Michelin guide and it was near our hotel on the last days of our Honeymoon (we drove from Los Angeles to San Francisco) so wanted to do something special as it was also my wife's birthday. The restaurant is in the foyer of the InterContinental and you have to walk the length of the hotel to get there, but it's very nice with high ceilings and an impressive bar on the journey. Unfortunately the actual tables are comprised of booths which make it feel a bit like we were in a IHOP rather than fine dining, but of course it was nicely presented. Service was impeccable as I come to expect when I'm in the US, and our waiters were brilliant, funny, attentive and took a great photo of us together! Now onto the food: Once again we went for the tasting menu with wine. Amuse Bouche First off was the marinated Blue Prawn. It was fresh but a bit bland and lacking flavor. Another Amuse Bouche, peppers and a cream sauce - delicious! Yet another Amuse Bouche of some savory Madeleine's, they were okay. Next was the King Salmon Confit, not sure how it was a confit, again it was a bit bland Foie Gras Ganache. Ah this was a shame, the actual tiny amount of foie gras was delicious! It was completely overpowered by the sweet jam and there wasn't nearly enough of it to taste with the sweet bread. Carrot soda - I liked this because it was so unusual, it's more of an experience or a feeling than a taste. Creative, well done! Pacific Halibut - it was a nice piece of fish but the texture of the vegetables did not compliment it very well. Duck Breast, this was very tasty. Like. Lemon Verbena, a nice desert, never had huckleberry before and it was excellent. Chocolate Cucumber and Olive oil, sounds a bit crazy but it was very good! Original and it worked well. The food was okay, though a bit disappointing for a Michelin star (we've done five other tasting menu's that year, in the UK, Italy and France) so it was a bit disappointing. We are completely spoilt of course, it's still above standard food that is beautifully presented, it's just that we both agree it should have been better. Staff were amazing and we still had a lovely time.

Elegant ambiance, attentive waiters and good food. Everything was very good. The food is also a reasonable value. We enjoyed the scallops, duck, and arborio rice dishes. The desert was also good. My only concern is that there was nothing that stood about as truly exceptional, although the entire meal and experience was well worth it.

We ate here for lunch while at conference at Moscone Center. The food was very good, but the service is a tad on/off so the overall dining experience was not as good as the food itself. (this is a management problem, not a staff problem.)

Superb food, excellent service without being over the top. Just couldn't understand why it was almost empty. Food prices OK for the standard. Good wine list. Atmosphere a bit stilted due to not many diners.

If you really want a perfect dinner at michelin star level AND at a reasonable price this is the place to go. I went several times and never was disappointed. The atmosphere is luxurious and the staff is very friedly. The amuse-bouche was based on white chocolate, my first thought was.. huh? But is was really wonderful , not to sweet and it set the level for what had to come. The first dish was based on beets, with a wonderful mixture of sour, sweet and salt tastes, extremely light, may be not suited for big eaters. After this came a chicken, beautifully cooked , full of taste and a superb texture, in a long time I didn't have a piece of chickenmeat this good! The dessert fitted completely in this menu, based on dark chocalate crisps with vanilla-ice. All in all a most recommendable restaurant

I dined here on the evening of Thanksgiving. The ambiance was lovely. If felt a busy and was a little noisy but I enjoyed the buzz. I had been travelling alone for almost a week so I enjoyed my view of the room. My server was Jim and he was attentive, knowledgeable and not at all pretentious. Very warm and welcoming. They offered a lovely amuse bouche and it was nearly impossible to decide! I chose the scallops (with cider) then the steak (with a lovely red) which was perfectly done. I spoke with the chef, Daniel Corey, after the second course and he insisted I try both desserts (with a sparkling white). Who am I to argue?!?! The wine pairings were perfect. The portions and flavors were perfect. Subtle yet complex. I am a new fan of parsnip puree'.... I will definitely return. Next time with my husband so I can try more things!

The food and wine were good but I was disappointed at the limited selection. There was not much variety to the menu. Staff was very friendly but I felt a bit rushed at the end of our meal.

Without a doubt the best lunch we had in our 5 days in San Francisco. Service was friendly and attentive. Our burgers were cooked to perfection, and the fries were seasoned very well, truly a gourmet lunch experience in an upscale location.

This venue has a Michelin star which says a lot. It's pricey but I wasn't amazed with my meal. Portions are moderately sized. Will have to try again in hopes that it's better the 2nd time.

Delicious food, but given that it was $160 for two of us, we would have expected much better service, which was almost non-existent. Ambiance wasn't anything special..

Dinner at Luce (pronounced Lou-Che?) was one of our best meals ever. Service was attentive without being intrusive. Our waiter, Steve, was especially helpful at suggesting menu and wine options. The food was to die for. I started with scallops and my wife with English pea salad, both wonderful. We thought the entrees, halibut and mushrooms, were both amazing. The chocolate and rhubarb deserts topped off an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended as an elegant but not ostentatious dining option in San Francisco.

Staying at the Intercontinental San Francisco, we wanted somewhere with good food for our Christmas dinner, helping ensure our special holiday would stay that way. We dined from the Christmas day menu and had the wine flight, perfectly paired with each of the three dishes. We enjoyed pink champagne to start, followed by a perfect fish dish to start. The duck for the main was excellent and perfectly tender. Dessert and coffee followed to round off a perfect meal. Service was excellent throughout, albeit not as slick as european Michelin* service, however easily the best service of any American restaurant we experienced so perhaps this was to be expected. If you haven't been but appreciate good food and service then it is definitely worth the visit and very reasonably priced. We spent $300 all in for dinner for two including matching wines.

I visited for dinner by myself early in the evening when the restaurant was fairly quiet. My meal was delicious and the service was attentive, but unobtrusive. I'd eat here again.

This was the restaurant at our hotel and we went there the first morning for breakfast. At $32 for the basic buffet we decided to order off the menu, it was simply ok in our opinion. Very expensive and lacked true flavor. Hollandaise sauces were to me a basic white sauce with no butter or lemon flavoring. I ordered a vegetable omelette and it was dry and tasteless to me. We did not go back the whole week we were staying at the hotel.

Had dinner here while staying at the hotel. Menu is limited but the food was good and the staff were very helpful and attentive.

Located in the Intercontinental Hotel, Luce is the perfect choice for a business dinner that doesn't feel like you're in a hotel restaurant. Nice variety on the menu, great wine list, attentive service that allows plenty of time for business discussion without intrusion. Members of our party enjoyed the halibut, duck and salmon with a nice selection of starters. Nice sized portions and excellent food. Sophisticated but intimate dining. Recommend!

Nice lunch menu with usual high standard of service. Perhaps the Nearest point of civilizaton to the Moscone center

If you want a quick business breakfast while attending a conference/event at Moscone, this is your place. Excellent service and quick breakfast buffet which is extensive with healthy (and not so healthy) choices.

Had bread with a friend at Luce this weekend. Ordered ala carte and my meal was delicious (breakfast burrito). The buffet looked good as well. Service was attentive but not intrusive and for SF and the quality, prices were reasonable. I’ll eat there again.

There for a birthday celebration. Accommodated my food allergies without any issues. Food was excellent and wine was wonderful. Unfortunately ran out of the fantastic Merry Edwards SB but the Clos du Val Chardonnay was very nice. Everything you would expect from a top tier San Francisco restaurant.

We really enjoyed Luce - from start to finish. While pricey, it was worth the visit. The menu is pretty short - but with selections for everyone, and a very knowledgable wait staff who knew every ingredient of every dish. We had a challenging (dietary) group and even the strict vegetarian loved it. Extensive wine list, with a surprising number of glass servings to choose from, and liberal tasting & pours. Good cocktails - with some nice variations on traditional ones. The highlight is the food of course. Every item was done to perfection - from starters to dessert. Fortunately our group was comfortable sharing bites too! The sweetbread ravioli was incredible, and all the seafood offerings provided interesting flavors. The chef is 'creative but not too weird' as one of our party put it. Left happy but not too full despite everyone having starter, entree & dessert. I can't say enough about all the waitstaff, but especially our main waiter James. They were all attentive without being intrusive - and pleasant & really easygoing. Nice atmosphere - energetic but relaxed, and never really felt like we were in a hotel restaurant. SF is obviously a foodie Mecca, but Luce deserves their michelin star!

Fully deserved Michelin starred Luce is a lovely place to dine. The menu offers variety of curious dishes, and will satisfy most of the diners. I enjoyed my dinner here. Duck liver was excellent.

Had a business meeting here over lunch. Menu is not huge and if you are vegetarian, most of the options mean salad. A couple of us had salads, two others had lunch entrees and coffees and the bill was $130! I know it's San Francisco and it's at an InterContinental, and they had a huge convention going on there and a captive audience, but this was way too expensive even for a good salad. Did not eat here again solely for the prices. IF you're on an expense account... your call.

I cannot give higher accolades to the chef at Luce. Every one of my 15 diners loved the food, but the server was so eccentric that when he left the room, everyone just stared and shook their heads. Odd comments to the female guests, telling guests "you're welcome" if we did not thank him fast enough for refilling our wine glasses. If we did thank him, he said "I am only doing my job to the best of my ability. " What?! Unionized servers? Has to be. Please get better servers in the private dining rooms. Great food has to be served by better servers.

A bit disappointing. A 3 day weekend in San Francisco with fine dining as one of the themes. This was the weakest of our dinners out. The food was good, but very simple and perhaps predictable, no magic there. The service was slow, our waiter was ok but fell victim to the neighboring table, one of those couples who wanted to become his new best friend. Our waiter fell for it and got stuck endlessly talking about school, careers, families when he should have been serving the tables. The other staff much more helpful. Perhaps the weakest aspect is the physical layout; this truly is in the lobby, and lots of lobby and bar noise and bar noise made it an odd evening.

Great food, excellent attentive service. Wish they had more vegetarian options though. Waiter Samir was excellent.

This is my second time in Luce. We ordered the foie gras, tartare, duck, risotto and pavlova for dessert. My favorite is the foie gras - the serving of course is tiny . The tartare was crunchy in a good way. The pavlova was very light - not too sweet. Great ambience and customer service.

My family came here for dinner. It was clean and the decoration was minimal, which I liked a lot. We found that the service was excellent and the waiters were really helpful but that the food did not taste good at all. The best part of the meal was the bread that we were given before being served.

My husband and I had a tasty and beautiful meal; we were sat at the window furthest from the bar. Lovely windows, but somewhat pointless given the view is of a bike rack, a bar and an empty lot. However, we were there to dine, not to 'view'... A couple of cheeky cocktails were obtained while we perused the menu: a 'woo woo' and an 'old fashioned', mine was delicious and my husband assures me his was spot on too. An amuse bouche cauliflower dish was quite wonderful and really not what I expected - I don't normally eat cauliflower! For appetizers, I had the beet salad.... can you say "yum". My husband had the Beef Tartar with confit egg yolk , puffed wild rice, black garlic and marigolds, he likes to compare certain dishes and various fine dining restaurants we've been to over the years; he ranks this beef tartar as #2 of all time. For Entrees, I had the NY Strip and Yukon potatoes (and pickled mushrooms - I don't eat them but DH says they're awesome), and my husband the Duck Breast with cherries and lentils. Fully deserving of Michelin status. We are opposing white and red wine drinkers, so nearly always have to order by the glass. A great selection of wines was available by the glass. For dessert, we shared the pavlova; it was amazing - and second only to my own! lol You will not be disappointed, go - and go soon! Excellent interior design, great service and wonderful food at good pricing.

FOOD was quite good, as reinforced by other reviews. But our WAITER immediately destroyed any idea we had that this would be a "fine dining" experience, by treating us as if we had actually walked into a neighborhood pub. His attitude was rushed and snarky, with virtually no introduction or orientation, etc. Examples included unusual comments about food choices and literally tossing menus on the table without comment. When he returned for our dessert order, he again said not a word, but instead just stared and tapped on the menu as if "you know what I need now.") I would also note that the noise level is high (especially when bar patrons hoot and holler at a ball game on TV), and that the tables are close enough to hear other conversations. Perhaps not the best choice if you are looking for a romantic fine dining experience.

the food was both well presented, and tasted great. even the espresso after dinner was very good. excellent service. this was our last dinner on our 7 day trip to San Francisco, luckily it was located in the hotel we stayed in. So a quick walk from our room.

Went out to celebrate my fiancée best friend birthday. There wasn't anyone to greet us at the door and we walked around for a moment before someone said anything to us. We were greeted by a lovely and friendly woman. She showed us to our seats and made sure we didn't need anything else. Our server came out and took our drink orders. My friends are French and wine is a big deal. So we ordered a bottle of wine. The wrong bottle was brought to our table. However the wine was delicious...so that was okay. Our server spilled wine on our table and rushed our dinner order. Our appetizers were brought out. 2 out of 4 dishes were described before our server walked off. The lovely lady came over to speak to us. She was friendly and sweet. The food was very good. Every bite was a party in my mouth. I had the King Salmon appetizer, The Snapper for my entree and the white chocolate dessert. All of it was yummy and I am still dreaming about it. So yeah the food was amazing...however our server left a poor taste in our mouth.

I was here for a business dinner, and it was "fine." Nothing remarkable, really. We brought the wine, and it was good. The service was efficient and relatively attentive, although easily confused at what dish to drop where. We had a group of about 10 and apparently we were required to do a restricted 3 course menu, so basically "chicken, fish, or steak." Pretty lame, and maybe not the best way to show off what this restaurant can do. I had "yet another unmemorable filet." Would have been nice to try something unique.

Everything about our experience at Luce was wonderful! We had a party of six, the service was very professional, the Sommelier recommended a fantastic wine, one of our party was a vegetarian and the chef accommodated her dietary restrictions beautifully. The decor is elegant, upscale, with a quiet ambience, the plating was gorgeous and the flavors were just amazing.

The service is indeed impeccable: professional, friendly, attentive. But the food, good as it was, was...let's say I was expecting more from a starred Michelin restaurant. I am never much of a foodie, so tasting a celebrity chef's new invention is never big on my menu. Having said that, the truffle sauce on my sweet-bread ravioli appetizer was delectable. And the Caramelized White Chocolate Cremeux for dessert was, well ..., I have not tasted anything similar to that anywhere else. But my main course--New York Strip Steak--was just okay. The accompanying morel mushroom was excellent, but the steak itself didn't wow me. My dinner companion's halibut also failed to wow him.

I ate here when staying at the adjoining hotel, purely out of convenience. When I started writing this review I was surprised to see it had a Michelin star, I certainly did not expect that! Service was great, very attentive and friendly. However food was average. Nothing special and tasted quite bland. Not an word I would expect to use for a Michelin star restaurant.

As foodie I was excited to dine in this restaurant, but the overall experience was not very good. The food is good, but not spectacular. The amuse broche was watermelon with spices, but the taste was mainly watermelon. Then I had foie gras. The foie looked beautiful, but it was not totally gentle. I found 2 threats in the foie. As main I had steak, this was good, but not very tender. When we ordered our food the waiter informed us 3 times that we had to pick a different meal. He advised the sweetbread, but we both did not want the sweetbread. The third time I said to him that I do not like sweetbread, so he stopped convincing us. The table cloth are extremely bad ironed. In a Michelin star restaurant you expect that the cloths are perfectly ironed as well..... Do not get me wrong, the food is good, the service as well, but for the price (and the star) I expect more. The airconditioning was so cold, people were dinging with coats on. On two tables I saw people sitting with their coat on. Because of the coldness we decided not to take a desert. We ordered coffee Americano and double espresso. The double was a single (so returned to kitchen) and the Americano was extremely light (was returned as well).

It was overall a nice experience at Luce Sf. Despite we arrived over 20 minutes late, the reservationist was very nice and welcoming, maybe partly because it was a quiet night. Food was good, but not remarkable. I was honestly expecting more from a restaurant bearing a Michelin star. The amouse bouche was oyster with a nice and fragrant hollandaise sauce. The next course was pacific prawn poached in Beurre Monte. The prawn was overcooked, a little bit gummy and the flavor isn't quite there. The first fish dish was King salmon confit with pickle mustard seed. I like the salmon as a follow up to the elegant king prawn, and it was in fact a nice jump start for the palate. The next dish was Foie Gras Ganache. Warm Brioche w/ strawberries, celery root and pistachio. Here is when things got more interesting. Rich and buttery brioche. Nice sweet note of strawberry and salty touch of foie gras ganache. Common yet still excellent texture play. The pacific halibut was trivial to me. It was in no way a new way to cook a halibut dish. The vegetables created a weird burnt flavor that didn't fit with the whole picture. Despite of that, I quite like the duck dish. Duck was very flavorful and the whole dish was a bless. Overall Luce was a nice dinner that I would love to take my friends to in special occasion, but in an academia way I would say it needs its own personality to stand out.

We were guests to Luce during a recent business trip to San Francisco. I enjoyed pacific amberjack in yuzu, which was understated but clean in taste. My main was seared gulf snapper, which although enjoyable, was not memorable. The meal was rather expensive, which I later discovered, commiserate with the one michelin star status.

Nestled in the Intercontinental Hotel on the bottom front floor corner, the Luce restaurant provides elegant tablecloth dining. Large window panels lets natural light flood in, though the view is a modest downtown street. Nonetheless, the decor is clean, contemporary, and beautifully done. The service is excellent and on par with the atmosphere and ambiance. The wild king salmon was perfectly cooked and delicious. Given the humble location of the hotel, the restaurant is somewhat an oasis for the area. Would recommend if you are in the area and are looking for a sublime, albeit slightly pricey meal.

I dined at Luce for 5 breakfasts - everything is fresh, good and attentive service. I looked forward to breakfast everyday.

Food and service was great. Unfortunately with some exterior Renovations no street view. Since at intercontinental just a short stroll to the room

Maybe my expectations were too high because they advertised a Michelin Star, but I was a quite disappointed with this restaurant, start to finish. The ambiance— very sterile and corporate, it was quite deserted and impersonal looking so that made it even more sterile. Luce is an Italian-ish restaurant — with no prosecco! And they boast an amazing wine cellar. We had a very mediocre sommelier/ waiter— he couldn’t tell us much about the wines — I was ready for the full lesson. Their Italian kaiseki was mediocre- though pretty enough, but overly fussy and not enough substance to this place. I would t go here again.

The quality of the breakfast was fine and the atmosphere nice, but $8.00 for two slices of toast with a small bottle of average quality store-brand jam seems more than just a little ridiculous.

Considering this was a one Michelin Star restaurant, our expectations were high. The service was excellent. The food presentation and selections were good. You could tell that a lot of work went into the making of the dishes. However, the food was bland and tasteless. There is no ambiance to speak of. After paying over $170 for two, it was a real let down. There are much better restaurants in the city.

Entertain customers at Luce during Oracle’s Open World. They’re located in the Intercontinental Hotel which is adjacent to the Moscone Center. A perfect location. An upscale restaurant with a nice atmosphere. They’re very strict regarding reservations but unfortunately we did not have a good experience with their service. We got the impression that we were not ordering enough food and that they wanted to turn the table quickly. We were there for less than an hour and they asked us to leave because they had a reservation for the table where we were sitting. Very disappointing.

This is the first Michelin Star restaurant I have been to that's in the foyer of the hotel. It was noisy and not very atmospheric. The music playing was loud and not what I would call relaxing, which is what I would expect from a Michelin Star. My partner loved his food (frois gras for entree and the chicken for main) but I was not happy with mine. The burnt butter was missing in action from my raviolo with burnt butter entree and my beef rib steak was tough and chewy. I had expected it to be slow cooked - which is not the restaurants fault, but knowing that cut, it is fatty and not tender so in my experience it's always slow cooked. The best part of the meal was dessert. It was delicious! Pavlova with berry sorbet. The wine was great and the service was ok. There are too many other options in San Francisco for me to recommend this restaurant. Try somewhere else.

it's a pretty place, not overdone, very light and airy as the name would suggest. our server was so nice, knowledgeable and attentive. the bar service was also 1st rate. portions were small for the price, but we were forewarned about that. all the dishes were unique, tasty and delicately prepared. i tend to enjoy heavier fare and more modest prices, but this place does not disappoint. perfect for the upscale business dinner we were attending.

Was meeting up with a group of friends. The food was good, but I'm not sure it's Michelin star good. Would recommend that any one go there, but it was not amazing. Nice wine list. Ended up bringing our own wine and the restaurant was very accommodating (with corkage fee).

We went to the Luce restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel on Howard. It is an easy walk from the Powell Street Bart station and near the Westfield Shopping Center and Yerba Buena Gardens. We went for lunch and arrived right at noon and the restaurant was just getting their lunch service underway. We had a nice table by the window, and, even though the restaurant filled up during our meal, the noise level was such that we never had any trouble with conversation or distracting loud neighboring tables. Service was pleasant, friendly, and efficient. While some of the group were disappointed that the restaurant no longer offered its three-course prix fixe menu, I was personally very satisfied with the menu offerings and found them to be reasonable in price. Some of the group had recently had breakfast and weren’t too hungry and so got the soup of the day and an appetizer. The soup was a creamy heirloom tomato soup with a drizzle of avocado oil. The seared ahi tuna came with red quinoa and a few dabs of avocado mousse. These both were received with happy reviews. I had the chicken club sandwich, which I found to be outstanding. The roll was soft but hearty, the chicken breast was tender and tasty, the smoked bacon was excellent, a generous helping of avocado, all topped off with tomato confit and basil mayo. It came with a side salad of tender baby lettuce, lightly dressed, although French fries could have been substituted. This was a hardy enough offering for me to take half of it home to a hungry husband. With a lovely glass of Sancerre and an espresso, it was a wonderful lunch to linger over with old friends. Although we did indeed linger, there was never any feeling that we were being encouraged to finish up and relinquish our table. Our experience was a truly civilized and most enjoyable, but reasonable, lunch in SF!

I only managed to enjoy breakfast at Luce – but for 3 mornings during my stay in the city – so I can share with confidence that the buffet serves numerous hot and cold choices, fresh fruits and pastries, eggs, bacon, sausage, breads and cereals, etc. The wait staff is quick to fill up coffee and juice glasses and the environment is great for breakfast meetings/conversation.

Stayed at the hotel for a conference. Dined at Luce on the last night of a 3-night stay. Was welcomed and immediately seated by the restaurant hostess. Service was excellent. Glass of wine, cheese plate and that fabulous steak tartare. Very very unique combination of flavors. I love and know my steak tartare. Really wanted to try the Salted Caramel S'more, but sadly, just couldn't do it. Pretty amazing that I turn down anything "S'more"....says a lot about how great the rest of my selections were. Was very comfortable dining there as a single diner. And would recommend if you're in the area to stop in, single or with a group of friends. I reviewed the hotel separately but, would I come back to Luce? Michelin star or not....absolutely. I'm rather sad I waited until the last night to try it!!!

Receptionist is rude on the phone and when we arrived she had us waited 5 whole mins as she was helping someone else. We were left standing there for 5 mins until another man came to see us to our reserved table. The restaurant allowed uncivilised diners who spoke very loudly. Most unpleasant and disturbing atmosphere. Deco is dated. The server recited the description of the food in the most impersonal manner as fast as he could managed to speak. He did that to every table. Our waiter was good. Some dinners nearly knocked me over when they were yapping away loudly without looking where they were going. It was unpleasant but expensive experience. I cannot comprehend how it got a single Michelin Star!

This was a great place to have a business lunch. The service was top notch and the food was not only tasty but also had good portions. It is good for locals and travelers.

It is a lovely and elegant spot inside the InterContinental Hotel, downtown San Francisco. It is not also a great wine bar in the city. The bar has a lovely ambiance and it's great place to go on a date or catch up with a friend. The drink selection is really great. We used to have breakfast in the morning. The food here is delicious and well presented. Definitely worthy of a Michelin star. Overall, a lovely experience, great service and beautiful atmosphere! It is never crowded, but make sure to make a reservation for this location on weekends

The tasting menu is a great value here. Nine courses, all creative and sublime in taste and presentation, at $95 per person. I don't many places where you get that. Great wine list and several choices by the glass as well as half bottles. Perfect service.

Went for a Sunday brunch at this 1*, and cannot say anything else but disappointed. Good service, nice location and restaurant in general... But food was like any other airport burger place. Had a hamburger overcooked in sense of medium rare. Tasteless, no spices etc. Sandwich BLT was ok, but nothing more. Hope their dinner is better Tip: they should stop serving lunch.

This restaurant is a pleasant place, with soft music and light. The place has been refurbished recently and is unique. The food is well presented, good rhythm, and waiters are constantly looking for your well being. Lovely foie grass. The fish is excellently cooked. The rissotto was amazing. This restaurant is worth a Michelin star.

We had the Tasting Menu and the entire group of six friends were very happy with the food. There were a few issues during the meal, and the staff handled it in a way that made everything just fine. Will probably be back.

I made dinner reservations at Luce at the Intercontinental Hotel because of its one Michelin Star. I've dined at well in excess of 30 Michelin starred restaurants in Europe and the U.S, and Luce is by far at the bottom. The service did not even approach the average fine dining restaurant in SF town. I was seated early on a Saturday night in a banquette near the rear. I chose the tasting menu. The waiter briefly explained the sequence and I asked for some wine recommendation. After listening to some lame answers, I decided to just order from the glass list which had some decent and reasonably priced options. During the entire meal, neither a captain nor sommelier approached. I must say that it appeared that whoever prepared the amuse bouche and the intermezzo surely did not taste them- there was nothing to them. My biggest complaint was about the halibut course that should have been a highlight and was terrible-the fish was served cool as if it had been sitting out. The waiter seemed absent at all the wrong times. As the evening progressed, I noticed that the banquette seat was quite uncomfortable as the seat shifted. When the evening mercifully ended, I got up to leave and as I stood, the one piece seat bench slipped away exposing the floor under the seat. It looked as if it had not been inspected for weeks with dust balls, crumbs, a gum wrapper and just plan dirt. Maybe Luce can add that duty to the table captains who are not so overworked. Some of the courses were good,but less than exceptional. Since Luce bills itself as a Michelin starred restaurant, such a failure to meet that standard deserves a poor rating indeed.

Ground level restaurant and bar for enjoyable viewing of busy San Francisco! We stayed at the hotel for 5 days and had a wide assortment of late night snacks, breakfasts and lunches- normally we AVOID hotel restaurants but when we arrived ravenous after a long day of travel-we opted for a late night snack and were hooked. I hate to pick one meal but you must try whatever in season soup the Chef has prepared for the day. We thoroughly enjoyed the grilled cheese with honey on sourdough bread. My sister in law raved about her scrambled egg breakfast insisting it was special. ??? Honestly, you cannot go wrong here. The service was attentive and helpful. Don't just trust me- locals choose to eat here.....need I say more?

The food was amazing. It's very much a fine dining experience - portions on the small side, but everything was creative and perfectly prepared.

Wanted to try another Michelin starred restaurant in SF and changed reservations to Luce based on a food blog recommendation. We went with the chef's tasting menu with wine pairings, plus added a sweetbread ravioli and the optional cheese course. All in all about 10 rounds of goodness commenced. Everything from service to presentation to flavors to wine pairings was very very good; a great dinner. The $150 tasting menu w/ wine pairings is actually a really good value, we enjoyed every selection of wine. Only a few small nits: Would be nice if the wine pairings were also listed or made available. One of the servers was a bit casual or even brusque and didn't explain the two courses he presented (everyone else was great).

Wow. The food and wine dazzle! Every dish we ordered was good but the steak was unforgettable, as always. Central location, great ambience, superb service compliment the divine food!

Met some friends here. On a Sunday morning. The buffet was ok but uninspiring. Restaurant was quiet so one could carry on a conversation. Food was good

A great place for a special meal. The duck entree was spectacular! The amberjack appetizer was also wonderful. Ok, the wine was pricey, but what do you expect. Service was excellent - attentive but not hovering.

During our four day stay in San Francisco, we had dinners in three different restaurants with Michelin stars. The dinner we had in Luce is by far the best one on all aspects. The service is great and perfect: kindness, attention, professionalism. The cuisine is absolutely delicious. All the courses were perfect and delicious: quality of products, inspiration of the preparations, perfect cooking. We had as starters Pacific Amberjack, Lightly Marinated in Yuzu & Olive Oil and Pacific Blue Prawns with Espelette chili, as main courses two Halibuts and as desserts a Lavender Infused Pavlova and a Vanilla Bean Crème Fraîche Panna Cotta offered for testing. We spent an absolute great moment. We warmly recommend this restaurant.

The dinner menu was full of dishes with unusual pairings of flavors. It was interesting to try different ones on our table but fine dining is not really for me. If you want a hearty and genuine meal this is not the place for you. It's extremely expensive for what you get and nothing exceptional.

Luce is reminiscent of European dining in a relaxed, modern, upscale restaurant, where you are not rushed to finish your meal so they can turn the tables over. Far from it, as we lounged over coffee and after-dinner drinks. The service was impeccable and in concert with our meal. We never felt rushed and our many questions were answered with pleasure. The food was excellent from the amuse bouche (nice little surprise of a savory madeleine) to the desserts, catering to dietary restrictions. I started with the Foie Gras, with both a hot seared foie gras and a cold foie gras, which was beautifully designed on the plate with strawberry, rhubarb and hibiscus jam, and glazed walnuts. My husband had the ravioli which were to die for. For entrees we had the Halibut without the potato mousse, which was very refreshing though I think the dish lacked substance without the potato mousse, and we also had the Chicken with the Boudin Blanc. The chicken was cooked absolutely perfectly and the fresh corn grits finger licking good. For dessert we had the deconstructed s'mores (or maybe I should say I had), which the chef adjusted due to my dietary restrictions. This was just a little piece of heaven. Each plate was artfully arranged and visually appetizing. My one regret is that we didn't feel sufficiently hungry to have the tasting menu. It is no wonder that Luce has received a Michelin star for the past few years. Luce is for enjoying and savoring fresh local produce at a relaxed pace with flawless execution where the cost won't break the bank.

I had the steel cut oatmeal with raisins and berries. It was just alright. I might go back for breakfast and try something different, or I might try dinner instead.

Located in Intercontinental San Francisco. This restaurant is easy to find. Next to Moscone and close to Bart. We ordered the short rib hash with onions, fennel and 2 poached eggs and breakfast tacos with pork shoulder. Tacos cAme with a side salad. Delicious and tasty. Service was attentive. I ordered one coffee and I was brought the whole pot with creamer. Surprisingly not busy for Saturday brunch. Great atmosphere. Would love to come back and try the tasting menu some time in the future.

Luce is located on the 1st floor of Intercontinental Hotel San Francisco. We stayed there for one night and had dinner and breakfast here. Good service, excellent atmosphere and tasty food.

We came here to celebrate hubby’s birthday with our three children. Service was amazing! As soon as we sat down, our wonderful waiter James came to give 3 glasses of champagne and two glasses of apple cider for our underage children for a chance to toast for hubby’s bday. Such a nice gesture coming from our waiter James. And he also provided us with warm, delicious small bites of madeleines. We ordered two beef tartar, three foie gras, two sweet bread ravioli, two seabass, one snapper, signature salad and chicken for my 11yr old from the regular menu. We also ordered panda cotta and the chocolate mouse pudding dessert. Everything was delicious! I loved the experience and the service. The food was great as well. The seabass was a bit plain according to my kids. I also ordered a cocktail drink recommended by our waiter James. It was delicious! Overall, everything was great! James, our waiter, made the difference as well with his impeccable service with a smile. The restaurant offers a free three-hour parking with receipt for proof of dining. A big plus especially parking is a bit hard to find around the area. I definitely wanna go back again.

My partner and I booked Luce for a family dinner (7 of us altogether) as a special Christmas treat. Located in the Intercontinental hotel, Luce is a beautiful, open space with tables very nicely spaced for conversation. We were seated at a round table (perfect for conversation) and then regaled with a meal that was excellent in every way. Despite the fact that we were a large party, service was efficient and friendly throughout. The food lives up to Luce's Michelin star, and the excellent wine list has many reasonably priced options. Overall, a wonderful time!

Quite surprised that this place has a Michelin star, though in the past I've felt their priorities didn't jibe very well with mine. Anyway, sure, the food was....good. Nice piece of fresh fish in a somewhat tired and boring sauce. Good salad. Decent enough tartare. Nothing, though, stood out as special or interesting. The space is big, sterile, impersonal. Service alternated between "Hey, pal" overly familiar and long gaps of being ignored. Almost three hours for a two course meal. Not crushingly expensive, at least, but I wouldn't return or recommend it.

Went here for breakfast, buffet is good (although the dim sum part was a little odd) with all your basic items - eggs, fruit, pastries, etc...The space with sky high ceilings and wrap around windows is beautiful. Great quiet location. I would consider this formal dining, but the staff seemed a little too stiff.

My husband and I went to Luce for our first anniversary dinner. This was our first experience at a Michelin star restaurant, and we were not disappointed. We had the 9 course tasting menu with wine flight and it was without a doubt the best meal either of us had ever had. The flavours and ingredients were really top notch. As well, the staff was all very friendly. They even served us compliemntary champagne for our anniversary. Compared with tasting menus I looked at from other Michelin star restaurants in the SF area, this one was great quality for a (slightly) more reasonable price. Would definitely recommend this restaurant to friends and family.

The food is only average, and because that's the main reason to go to a restaurant , I can't recommend this place. The menu selection is very limited -- six entrees, no specials, and it doesn't seem that they change the menu very frequently. I had the halibut -- it was not very flavorful, (candidly, I do better myself at home) and the portion was tiny. The service was prompt, but the waiter was very snooty (why is it that waiters at nice restaurants can't simply accept that you're not interested in more starters -- it's a restaurant, not a car dealership, and I know how to read a menu). The restaurant is beautiful -- the decor is the best thing about it. In terms of value, it's a bit pricey for what you get -- wines with a ridiculous markup, and if you were hungry, you would need a starter or two because of the small portions. In summary, it's not an awful place -- but with at least a dozen great options nearby to choose from, unless you were staying at the hotel and there was a huge storm outside, I suggest you go elsewhere.

Excellent attentive service and superlative food at Luce. My second visit was as impressive as my first. Chef Daniel prepares the most beautiful presentation that titalated every taste bud at every turn!

Checked into my hotel on a rainy night and did not want to go to far for dinner. Lucky for me the concierge recommended the restaurants hotel which was Luce. Although the service was a tad slow the food was delicious. Terrific tomato soup. Wonderful amuse bouche and olive bread. My snapper was expertly prepared. Too full for dessert.

Returned to San Francisco after visiting in 2014 and had to come back to the Intercontinental and Luce. Although we did not stay here this visit, we did have dinner at Luce. Once again, the staff were awesome and made us feel real special. Big thanks to Keith our server! We enjoyed halibut and snapper and great wine and dessert. We will always come back here!

The Intercontinental on Howard is a classy hotel. Despite the wildfire smoke, I have enjoyed the stay. Luce is a restaurant treasure hidden away. Michelin star restaurants are often "free-standing" and not in a hotel. That may explain the ease of making a reservation for tonight's meal. They offer a tasting and a la carte menu. The latter was ample and thoroughly enjoyed. As an enthusiastic fisherman, I knew that Amberjack has been traditionally been considered a pest and "junk fish" when pursuing other species. Accordingly, I HAD to try a marinated (raw) starter with said fish. It was beautifully prepared, presented and was excellent. (photo) The main of duck breast was close to the best I've experienced. Beautifully crusted and perfectly prepared to a red, tender interior. The wait staff were attentive and worked as a team. This is a top notch restaurant although somewhat of an aberration by being in a chain hotel. Give it a try and you won't be disappointed.

We decided to dine at the Luce Restaurant to celebrate anniversary / birthday. Luce lived up to it's Michelin Star, and I would say is probably nudging two Michelin Stars. The menu was fabulous, but we decided to mix and match. Nothikng was too much trouble, and the dishes that were presented to us were perfect. We let the Somelier match the wines to the food, which was exactly the right choice - Perfect food with a perfect wine match, and served with perfection you can't ask for much more than that. Well done Luce

We arrived early, before the restaurant portion opened and it was a struggle to get a bar seat even though it was basically empty. We had to go ask if they were ready for us when they opened, they did not come to get us. The waiter was very concerned with how the chef would accept our orders (didn't like that one person wanted her steak well done) and he had to tell us practically every ingredient in each dish before ordering and after delivering the food. Would have been OK if we asked but we didn't. Was over the top annoying. The food is really delicious, so it made the annoying parts with the waiter better. Also, he had us go around the table to tell us where we were from and then commented on when he had lived in the same location. VERY annoying. I don't want to personally get to know the history of the waiter. Again, great food. The place was empty. They should look at service to see if that is the problem. Chef is too particular and controlling.

Lunch was the best I have had in the city. They earned their rating as the very best in SF. It is in the Intercontinental Hotel but you wouldn't know it was. A block from the convention center it is convenient without feeling like a conference area. Best wait staff, menu, food, room I have been in for a long while. Worth the expense, and at lunch it isn't that expensive.

While visiting SFO on Business a vendor took me to this restaurant for lunch. The spinach salad was perfect - not overdressed and had the right amount of blue cheese and bacon on it. The bread is served warm with soft butter - how can you go wrong with that?

Had one day in San Francisco and decided to try out this Michelin Star restaurant and what a dissappointment. I have ate in quite a few Michelin star restaurants all over but this one is really dissappointing. As in my usual review, I will present the good, the bad and the ugly The Good:- no reservation needed..can just walk in as the restaurant was rather empty. The Bad:- The amuse bouche usually is a good indication of the food to come...and this one sure dissappoints. The ugly:- Somehow, all the dishes tasted rather salty. I ordered 2 appetisers and one main course. The prawn was well cooked but too salty. The duck, again was well cooked, but the salt overpowered the taste of the poor bird... Will probably not come in again

My eating thing is good food done well. Sauces and flowers and fru fru is all well and good IF it isn't covering up poorly done food. A great steak, a beautiful piece of fish, or a simple pork roast can be screwed up easily, then covered with layers of pretension. That type of restaurant is not for me. Luce is for me. I thoroughly enjoyed two beautifully cooked chicken breast medallions, pureed Yukon potatoes and black truffle gravy on the side, were served with grilled asparagus served with a half of lemon. Perfect. And hard to do because it takes fresh not frozen chicken and fresh picked asparagus. Five stars*****

Recently reopened under a new chef. We loved the tasting menu, and the wine pairing was fine. Several of the courses truly surprised and delighted us, and overall every course was excellent. Service was a bit over-attentive early in the meal but otherwise hit a high standard. We left very happy about the experience. Recommendation: worth a visit.

The cuisine is exquisite. I had a white fish with balsamic drizzle and poached figs. It was amazing. The service was excellent as well.

I'm giving this a 2-star rating because 5/6 of us had good tasting food. One person had terrible food. We all had weird service. 5/6 of our party had good food. Two of my colleagues really enjoyed their duck. However, the service is extremely subpar. The waiter's made very weird comments towards our table (which weirded us out, but wasn't enough to ruin the experience). What ruined the experience was when my colleague found a short hair in her wine glass. The waiter came over, said, "it's probably yours" then walked away. He later proceeded to come back with a straw and told her she could fish the hair out of her glass if she wanted to. Her steak was very firm (to the point where you could hardly chew it), though she didn't say anything so there is no update on how the waiters will respond to poorly cooked/picked food. This seems unacceptable at any restaurant, let alone a "Michelin Star" restaurant. Wouldn't recommend the place solely based on the service.

Had a conference at the Intercontinental and Luce had catered the luncheon. The food was incredibly fresh from the mozzarella/ tomato salad to the sandwiches. The grilled chicken sandwich with avocado and smoked bacon was amazing. And the bread/roll that is was served in was as if they had just taken it from the oven, soft/fresh and delicious. Worth the visit.

We were staying at the hotel and my husband wanted to give me a special evening at this restaurant. He thought Luce would fit the bill and boy did it ever. We started out our evening with James. He was the waiter that was extremely knowledgeable about the food and wine and very personable. This was our first experience with a pairing menu and James took us through each course describing the different textures or tastes we were about to encounter. When we were finally done we had an opportunity to meet the chef. You could tell that Chef Rogelio Garcia had a love and passion for these dishes. He was absolutely lovely to speak with. When we come to San Francisco we will definitely come back. Thank you to James and the rest of the staff for making our meal and visit so enjoyable. Even now when I am back in Minnesota I am thinking about those amazing foods. I won’t forget our time spent here!

I had the steak, which probably was a mistake at a non-steak house. The portion was small and the meat was very tough and chewy. If I am getting a small steak for $40 it better melt in my mouth. This was probably the toughest steak I have ever gotten at a restaurant. Service was bad. The waiter never came to explain the menu of to take drink orders. we ordered drinks with the rest of our meal. We had a party of 5 and they added an 18% tip, which was more than our waiter deserved. The restaurant was not busy. There was no reason for the slow service.

Dinner meeting-expensive...too fussy. Great for intimate dinner with your significant other... hit the bar instead!

I was lucky to be the first guest to try the Chef's new tatar of prime beef- you must try this before its gone! Its an experience for sure- just melts like butter- so delicious! I then had the duck breast with a glass of Prosecco- just as amazing. Finished off with Coffee Semifreddo, Mint Sherbet, Dehydrated Milk Foam and the tawny port. A big thanks to Chef- and the staff. A truly wonderful dining experience.

Lovelyfood here, seafood especially good. Staff attentive yet not interrupting. If you are into grappling this is the place.

We had a wonderful meal at Luce’s on a Saturday evening. The beet salad with ricotta was scrumptious. My chicken breast with foie gras was delicious, as was my partner’s New York steak. strip The flavours of both these meals were exquisite. We were disappointed, however, that there were so few people in such a fine restaurant. This coupled with the fact that seated close to us was a very casually dressed family detracted from the ambience. In our opinion this is the perfect spot for a special, romantic dinner out.

We ate dinner at this restaurant in our hotel that offered incredible dishes and breathtaking views of the bay and bridges as well as the city lights of San Fran at night.

I went for lunch and sat at the bar. The bartender--Jose--was friendly and attentive. The lunch waa fantastic. Lots of flavors. Their bread is delicious. I would highly recommend this Michelin Star restaurant.

Staff is so kind,and generous. Servings on time and wonderful distribution on the plate. All so good tasting and well served

I scheduled a business lunch here and could not have more thrilled with then entire experience. The food was amazing, but the service was even better. They knew it was a business meeting and were very attentive then entire time. We had one party who was late and they were very patient and checked in to see if we needed anything while we waited. Once we ordered the food came very quickly. The staff continued to be attentive, but were also very respectful of our conversation. I would recommend this to a friend or co-worker and will be back!

I ate here for a late lunch with my girlfriend in September 2018. The food was delicious and well prepared. The service was great, they moved us away upon our request from a screaming child and a large group to a more vacant part of the restaurant. A bit pricey for lunch.

Wife and i went tonight with our friends visiting the bay area and think it was our favorite restaurant yet. The staff was very attentive without being overbearing, there was ample room so you felt relaxed and not cramped, and the food was incredible. Asparagus, and sweetbread appetizers were great, i had the snapper entree which was honestly not my favorite but the chicken and duck that others got was incredible. Chicken was tender and juicy, the duck was cooked perfectly, your teeth sunk right in. Cant believe this place was not slammed, it deserves to be.

We celebrated my birthday here. The staff were amazing, very attentive. James our waiter was the bomb. The food was amazing as well. Not for those who love big portions, but the flavors makes you savor every bite, thus filling up soon. Plenty of fresh bread makes it a great meal. I had the snapper and my wife the shrimp appetizer which was as much as my entree. Would go again.

The service was excellent ... Attentive but not overbearing .. Especially nice and attentive to my 88 year old mother ... The flavors were exquisite .. The white foam on the fish was extremely tasty as was the vegetables underneath ... I wish at$12 for dessert that the dessert portion was larger

The Luce restaurant is pretty highly rated and I can see why. It doesn't have a large menu but the choices on there are excellent. Yes, it's a high priced restaurant but you get what you pay for. The wine list is extensive. I must say the service was excellent. Our server was pleasant and had a good sense of humor, and he really knew his craft. His attention to detail was obvious and he helped make it a wonderful experience.

An excellent food with a great service. The waiters are always present without being intrusives. The food looks good and tastes even better. It´s hard to understand some reviews at tripadvisor. It´s no cheap but we pay more for less in San Francisco. I highly recomend it.

We all enjoyed Luce Tasting Menu for 3 people Good conversation and food It's eight small courses but quite filling when combined.. If not hungry, I suggest ordering a la carte.. Best Courses: Salmon with Persimmon, Local Black Cod with Potato Purée, Duck Breast Poached & Roasted, Chocolate Hazelnut & Orange Dessert and Coffee In addition 3 bread varieties with Sourdough my favorite Service was professional with longer waits between courses than with other restaurant Tasting menus

Food is good and fresh. Service is attentive and friendly. Very modern restaurant and nice decor. Food selections are good and the food is good.

Absolutely fantastic meal. I usually avoid eating in my hotel. My wife and I spent our last night in San Francisco having dinner here. The food was outstanding. The service was superb. A very good range of drinks. I would return.

Although alone i found the wait staff to be attentive and pleasant. The food was delicious and attractive as expected. This restaurant is bit more subdued than other Michelin starred places i have been too, but the quality of the food is higher. I found the wine to excellent and appropriately priced. When in San Francisco i will return.

This restaurant is off the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel and serves well prepared food with great service. It was pretty quiet on a Wednesday evening. I'd particularly recommend the salads and the fish, both tasty and not huge portions.

We have been dining at Luce for some years now, and have really enjoyed most meals. On a previous visit, we felt that things were slipping in the kitchen, but still booked with them, when friends stayed at the Intercontinental. We were all seated promptly, for our early reservation. Though Bar 888 was filled to over capacity - tough to get through the crowd, for the restaurant, Luce - the restaurant was nearly empty, but that was probably due to the hour. One of the things we have always appreciated about Luce, has been the service, which was excellent on this visit. Our guests were new to Luce, and there was also some "catching up" to do, so we started with Champagne, while talking, and looking over the menu. The servers gave us time, and "room," and never tried to hurry us in the least. Our main server went over the menu options, and the Tasting Menu. Very professional. In two previous visits, we thought that things were slipping a bit, and most noticeably from the kitchen. Unfortunately, this visit just re-enforced our feelings. The Tasting Menu changes, at least seasonally, and that is what the table ordered, along with the wine pairings for the courses. Again, the food was OK, with no glaring flaws, but just lacking any inspiration. Then, the wine pairings were just the B-T-G offerings, which were the exact same, as on the previous visit, with a totally different Tasting Menu. Some pairings were OK, but most did not fit well. I am a stickler for food and wine pairings, and to offer the same exact wines, from the B-T-G list, with totally different Tasting Menus, gives me pause. In this case, I feel strongly that someone was not doing their job, and just getting by. With a very good wine list, it would seem that some work could go into pairing wines with each, changing menu, but that no longer seems to be the case. The entire table agreed that while good, there was absolutely nothing special about that night's Tasting Menu - from conception, to execution - just OK, and that is not good enough. I was saddened, as we loved Luce, and greatly appreciated the chef's culinary creativity. The same holds for the sommelier's pairings, to accompany the food. That appreciation has now faded. I feel that much more could be done, as it once was. I hate to see a great restaurant slip, in this manner. With the vast dining options in San Francisco, it might be some time, before we dine at Luce again.

Good food. Very well prepared. Portions are a tad small for the price. Flavor was good. The bread offerings were interesting and very good. Decent wine selection. Wait staff was attentive, but not overly so. We had to pour own wine from table bottle. We had a business dinner, and stayed a few mins past dinner, but all offerings of water or anything of that nature ended with the meal. The restaurant was pretty empty so there wasn't a need to turn over the table at 930p. A bit more service would be expected for a restaurant of this level.

Luce is a really excellent restaurant that seems to be dying on the vine. Located in the SOMA InterContinental Hotel, it is way under patronized -- when we were there it was less than a third full. And that's really too bad, because it is a great restaurant. The space is quite lovely; the service is attentive, professional, and friendly; and the food really good and creative. The prices are on the high side and, although the food is definitely worth it, the wine list could definitely use some more moderately priced quality offerings. My guess that this restaurant is just too formal for SOMA, which is a shame, because it deserves a lot more patrons. I highly recommend it, especially for a special occasion.

The Luce is in the Intercontinental San Francisco, however the dining experience is outstanding despite the location. They require that the whole table take part of the tasting menu if you decide to go that way. I heartily recommend it if your party is game. The fall tasting menu with prawns, halibut, Duck, and more which with the available wine paring is well worth the tariff.

There are many good choices for great food in San Francisco, including local seafood and ethnic cuisine reflecting the city’s diverse population. One outstanding restaurant worth splurging on this Luce, located in the Intercontinental Hotel. The service is attentive but not overly so, but the food is sublime. Innovative taste combinations lead to outstanding seasonal fare. A standout: beef tartare was unique, with the inclusion of puffed rice, and tasty. Go for it!

We had dinner here our last night in San Francisco and enjoyed it very much. The food was excellent, the service good but not overbearing. It is obviously not cheap by any means but not nearly as expensive as you might expect in a Michelin rated restaurant in San Francisco. They offer a standard menu as well as a fixed price with wine pairing if you wish. I do recommend this restaurant and the food was excellent but unlike some meals I have had in other places I don't know that I'll still remember it fondly years from now. That said, if you are staying at the Intercontinental Hotel as we were, being able to have drinks at the lobby bar and then take a few steps into a Michelin rated restaurant is very nice.

Okay, this is probably the single worst meal that I have had in years. The restaurant is empty, service is lackluster and food is horrible. Steak frites was revolting, no flavor. Fries were cold. Charcuterie was from Costxo. I am sorry to have wasted an hour of my life eating here, there is simply nothing redeeming about this restaurant.

Whenever we are in town for a conference, especially at the Moscone Center, Luce is always a place we make reservations. Exceptional service, as you would expect from the Intercontinental Hotel. The food quality and the atmosphere is excellent. Sometimes it gets a little loud, but never too much that we can't have great conversations around the table. They do get full, especially around conferences so make sure you make a reservation.

Hotel restaurants are always suspect NOT Luce, visited there for dinner with friends. We have all visited some of the best restaurants in the world and believe me this place stands up against the best. I had the duck which was prospered perfectly, no heavy fruity sauces. Service was a delight. We brought our own wine and the $25 corkage was very fair. Pricing was expensive but still less than Scala where we had dinner the previous evening

A Very Nice Event Meal In December, we attended a very nice business event meal at Luce, in the lobby of the Intercontinental Hotel, at Howard and 5th Street - Luce is in the SW corner of the hotel, and can be entered from Howard Street, or through the lobby, past the 888 Lobby Bar. This was my first actual event at Luce, though I had dined there in the past a few times, twice solo, twice with my wife, and twice with business associates, so basically “business meals” for the latter two. Over the years, there had been some ups, and a few downs, but this event was excellent, in every way. We arrived a bit early, and the dining room was still in the process of being set up, so we started the evening with wine at the 888 Lobby Bar, and then moved into the less-formal dining room, which had been arranged as a cocktail venue, with more-formal dining area set up for later in the evening. As always, the room was very attractive, and the table arrangements were very comfortable. The staff had done a great job of planning the layout, and then executed beautifully, throughout the entire event. The front of the restaurant had been set up with charcuterie and cheeses, plus several types of wonderful, rustic bread, and this area was used for the cocktail reception, before everyone moved to their tables, in the rear of the dining room, for the sit-down event. The wines and menu were chosen by others, but the kitchen staff at Luce did a very nice job, and were able to maintain great pacing, throughout the entire evening. The Sommeliers did a great job with the wines, as well. We started this event with the Sommariva Prosecco, then moved on to the Foxen Ernesto Wickenden Vineyard Santa Maria Valley Chenin Blanc, which was served with the Butternut Squash Soup, spiced with brioche, pepitas and crème fraiche. Next came Organic Baby Lettuces w/ French breakfast radish and a simple vinaigrette, served with the Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Sonoma County Chardonnay. Main Course was Short Rib of Angus Beef w/ potato “Anna,” and royale trumpet mushrooms, accompanied by Black Stallion Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Dessert was a lovely Chocolate Mousse Cake. All of the dishes were excellent, and the wines paired with each beautifully. The Black Stallion Cab was the only one, with which I was not familiar, and I found it to be quite good. Service, and for so large a seated group, was very good, and the kitchen was up to the task, as was the service crew. A lovely room, which accommodated two different aspects of the event, great food, and perfect service - what is there not to like. Luce performed up to their Michelin star, and very well. The lighting in the restaurant is just about perfect too, with low ambient lighting, but then pin-spots over each table, for good illumination, by which to appreciate the lovely food. We will definitely return.

I went to Luce for their "Culinary Clash" series which occurs years. This event features up & coming young chef's who create a 3-4 course tasting menu showcasing their talent & culinary "style." I went for the finals & selected a young female chef's menu (forgot her name- my apologies) whose style was an Asian-fusion menu. Everything I had was plated beautifully & the ingredients while unique were paired to perfection. The service was attentive & warm, overall a wonderful experience & Luce did not disappoint! I would recommend trying these "Culinary Clash" series, as it was a very affordable menu & in my opinion very good. Was also nice to support young Chef's who in such a competitive industry have to work very long hours, do many "stage's" and really struggle to get their food in the door & be acknowledged for their work & talent. Thank you Luce for the experience & would love to come back on a regular evening!

Great dinner starting with an amuse which was light and delightful then continuing with the house ravioli stuffed with ricotta and sweet breads and followed by diver scallops. My wife had a sushi grade fish appetizer followed by duck breast. We split their version of a s'more which was excellent with espresso. Wine was great and the service fantastic. Great dinner.

Honestly do not understand the bad reviews i have read about Luce. We live abroad and travel extensively and this is one of the best restaurants we have eaten at. Food was simply exquisite. We enjoyed so much that we went back a second night, mainly due to the excellent service from our waiter James who recommended amazing dishes and great wine to match. Do not miss a chance to go.

We had the tasting menu and had high expectations because of the Michelin star. For the most part the courses were good, but not great. What we noticed many dishes had good flavors, but the flavors almost competed instead of joining forces into one exquisite bite. The one course that failed was the duck. The skin was very chewy and one of my pieces had so much gristle I couldn't cut it. When I pointed this out, they did offer a beef course, but not the type of error you expect from a kitchen with a star. The service was spot on until the very end. Everyone was attentive and personable, until we were done with our last course. Then we just sat there, and sat, and sat. Our server passed at least 15 times before I finally asked if we were waiting for something else and then could we get the cheque. On the positive a tasting menu for under $100 would be hard to find at this level.

We had an incredible anniversary dinner at Luce. We were greeted with a glass of rose sparkling wine and a cauliflower amuse busche. It was late so instead of opting for the extensive tasting menu we ordered the chicken dish and vegetable risotto. We highly recommend both dishes. The servers were wonderful, the ambiance is very modern with tall ceilings and windows with a view of Howard St.

We decided to splurge and enjoy a very leisurely Chef Tasting Menu with many courses at Luce, a Michelin one star restaurant in San Francisco. Each course was superbly cooked and presented in an artistic fashion. We ordered it with the wine pairing. It takes several hours to dine and enjoy. Each rourse was appropriate size, so you can enjoy each course. service was amazing. The Chef Menu changes with each season and is available to look at on their web site.

Four of us had an acceptable fine dining experience. We chose the restaurant because we wanted to talk and Zagats said it was quiet--it is. We were there on a Sunday night, and the service was attentive and lovely. The food--o.k. I guess, but somehow uninspiring. Duck a bit tough, sweetbreads cooked nicely , ravioli thick. The fois gras plate was attractive and the fois gras delicious. I could have done without the strawberries and rhubarb, but that is my personal taste. They handle the issue of being a hotel dining room by cooking everything sous vide which works for some things and not others. The choices for dinner were quite limited.

Luce is a Michelin-starred restaurant, for six years in a row. Brunch hardly calls for a real test, but from our experience, the food quality and the service were high. Great selection of premium food items, with service to match. A good choice for weekend brunch.

This place used to be one of my goto's when in San Fran on convention business. Sadly it has become very uninspiring. The cream of asparagus soup tasted like absolutely nothing. The dressing on my salad contributed nothing but some oil. The chicken salad sandy was was a bit better but still just something to consume and not enjoy.

The food was outstanding, and the service was pretty good. James was our server, and had some cheesy jokes at the ready as he welcomed us. I am not sure the sommelier was on duty when we were there, though, as the guy who brought our wine really struggled to open it, then spilled it, and later dropped a glass elsewhere in the restaurant. The lighting was really too bright at dinner, and the casual dress code brought some really odd people into the restaurant to eat. Overall, I want to love this restaurant based on the food, which included amazing foie gras prepared two ways, and pretty good duck. However, service wasn't quite up to it.

We had a very nice meal here with excellent tasting food and quality service. However, it was overpriced for what we got in terms or overall food. They also have exceptional bread and are willing to bring more around. Given all the places to eat in San Fran, while we found the dinner enjoyable, it is not quite up to the cost. Can't really say anything was not good, just overpriced.

I have had drinks at the bar and had "staycations" many times before but never have eaten at the restaurant. I had Thanksgiving dinner with my husband and my mother and father in law. Upon arrival we were greeted by the staff and they offered to check our coats due to we were a little early for our reservation at 7pm. We ordered drinks while we waited and got to meet Chef Dan. He was extremely warm and cheerful for working the full day and being told it is their busiest day of the year. 7pm came up and we were immediately seated to a crowded yet quiet dining room. Everyone from the waiters, host staff, food runners and bussers were very attentive and had conversations with us. I had never been to a restaurant for Thanksgiving so I did not know what to expect. The fixed 3 course meal was amazing and timing in between courses were on point. Food was not overkill, I was full yet not feeling gross as if I would have if I went to family/friends homes. I am not a foodie or a restaurant connoisseur but I must say everything from the service to the food and drinks exceeded my expectations for a holiday outing at a restaurant.

Buffet style breakfast with plentiful choices. Smoked salmon, assorted cheeses, assorted breads, fresh fruit, egg choices, yogurt parfaits, and breakfast meat choices were fantastic. Comfortable, modern atmosphere. Good service and good coffee. I'd definitely come back.

We had a faboulus ham and cheese plate for four persons together with Wine tasting. The waiter (I´m so sorry I cant remind his namn...) gave us a superb experience about Napa wines. All our creds to him!! He made the evening.

We began our day with a leisurely breakfast with delicious coffee, a nice window seat and a quality breakfast buffet. The service was very good and our main server-Enrique was especially pleasant and made sure our coffee cups did not go empty-extremely important to us!

This was my first Michelin star restaurant experience. We both ordered the Summer Tasting menu with wine pairings. Wow... the plating of each course was a work of art. The wine was perfect with each course. James our server was wonderful. He really made this experience one we will always remember. We also can't thank the chef enough for the wonderful dishes he prepared.

We found Luce on a recco-and it didn’t disappoint! Excellent service, amazing menu. Fabulous flavors-we tried the sweetbread ravioli , beet salad, duck, chicken, halibut

Enjoyed a very nice dinner at Luce on my anniversary on Labor day weekend. The restaurant is attached to the InterContinental Hotel and feels a little like a hotel restaurant. Nothing bad just a little institutional. Perhaps if the restaurant had been busier (early dinner) the ambiance would have been more appealing. The view was a little depressing as well unless you like looking at streets and old buildings. Having said that however, the food, service and wine list was excellent. Every course was beautifully prepared and presented. The portions were appropriate and not overwhelming. It seemed we had a team of waiters at some points because the attention we received was remarkable. It might have had something to do with the anniversary we were celebrating but it seemed like all the tables received excellent service. The price was appropriate for fine dining. If I was staying at the Intercontinental I would be inclined to eat at Luce regularly for the convenience. If I was visiting San Francisco again, I would put Luce on the list of try if you have time. You will love the food, service and wine.

Having all ready spent 3 nights wondering around wondering what to have for dinner and finding most places close between 9pm-10pm I decided to book for our last night and I was so glad I did .. a cocktail to start followed by 4 courses with wine paired by our wonderful waiter , the only disappointment was the pudding .

Had dinner here whilst staying at the hotel and all 3 of us thoroughly enjoyed both the food and the service We ordered from the a la carte menu not the degustation menu and all our meals were of the highest quality both in taste and presentation ,prices for such wonderful food we thought were reasonable definitely recommend

The duck at Luce is stunning. The best I have ever had. The wait staff were polite and attentive and recommended matching wines. Would not hesitate to dine here again.

Group seated in a private dining room and served by approximately for wait staff. Very excellent service. A pre-prepared menu of quite fine food. We were guests – – although I believe the price to be expensive.

I agree with multiple other reviews. I was very disappointed. This place looks nice, but the restaurant was empty. I guess I know why now. The most important is the food and it is not worth the money. I have been in many Michelin Star restaurants and I am not sure why this one has a MS. Will never go back.

Jus came back from dinner at Luce with my wife and 10-year-old daughter. Located at San Francisco's Intercontinental Hotel, it features a clean, almost minimalist, decor tahat I like a lot. Service was very friendly. But the food lacked any surprise expected from a restaurant of this level. I had a risotto as an entry (too al dente!) and a "demi-cuit"salmon belly that, despite beautiful, was tasteless. The best part of the meal was the wine: a balanced 2011 Brunello di Montalcino called "Luce".

Fabulous. I've increasingly become sensitive to the high cost of dining in The City, but between the service, the high quality of the food, this is one tasting menu that I feel is worth the cost. The service was impeccable and the food sublime and imaginative without being trendy. Our waiter got us a special menu autographed by the Chef and comped champagne to make our birthday celebration even more special. The sommelier (Keith?) was so patient with our many questions. I can't wait to go back again. They have certainly earned their Michelin rating.

Our experience was wonderful. We were made welcome with complimentary Champagne and seated at a beautifully located table. Service was efficient and timely (until time for the check). The dishes were all stunning and so delicious! I would eat here again and again!

This restaurant is given generally high ratings but unfortunately our experience did not justify this. The beaks were of good quality but the portions were small. The service was slow despite an apparent surplus of staff. Also, is it entirely impossible to get a good cup of coffee in America. The espresso here lacked body; tasted more like a brewed black coffee. Overall disappointing.

We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner at Luce and having been to a few other wine pairing dinners on this trip to San Fran, Luce stood out far above all the other places we ate. The service was outstanding, and the food and wine pairings were absolutely perfect! This was our second time at Luce and definitely will not be our last. Cannot wait to come back next year.

Was a private function and it was very well serviced. The food was beautiful displayed and packed full of fresh flavours. The chicken sandwich was by no means just a sandwich it was lightly toasted with a modicum of sauce and layer of cheese that complemented the flavours rather than drowning them. The salads accompanying it was fresh and crisp with a drizzle of dressing. All brought out and served in one go by waiters, very well done. Couldn’t say the cost but the food was very good and the whole lace was packed outside of our personal eating area so obviously very popular.

We looked around San Francisco for a Michelin restaurant to end our holiday and both price wise and menu wise, Luce was by far our best choice. I've eaten in many fine dining restaurants in the UK and for us the experience starts the moment you walk in. Luce is set in a hotel, so you have to cope with the hotel entrance and service before getting to the restaurant. We arrived early so decided to have a drink at the bar. We made ourselves known to the restaurant greeter and informed this of this, and they obliged and took the drinks order. The bar is the hotel public bar, so was quite busy with sport on TV's over the bar. We were presented with a bill and asked if it could be added to our restaurant bill and told it couldn't, not what I would expect. I gave credit card and duly signed. The barman later came to our table to ask what room we were in to pay the bill, they hadn't taken payment from the credit card even though I signed a credit card check, so had to "repay" for the drinks. On arrival to the restaurant we were shown to our table, no offer was made to take jackets/coats, I had to put it on the banquette next to me. We placed our order for the Tasting Menu with accompanying wine flight. Our main waiter was friendly and professional what was less consistent was we had at least 3 people ended up serving us various courses, so there was no consistency of service. The food itself was excellent and to the standard i expect from a fine dining restaurant and good wine parings. I had good substitutions for my "no seafood" options. Favourite dishes were the Fois Gras and the main Duck. The rough around the edges creeps in again at the end of the meal when service was all but non-existant. Staff were too busy setting up tables for breakfast. It tood a while to order digestifs and coffee and then finally to get the bill. When we left there was no acknowledgement from any staff. Food is great and I would return, but at this level, the small details count to make you feel special and that is what was lacking.

I would highly recommend this restaurant. We had the prawns and finished with the chicken.Food and service was fantastic would definitely go back.

I visited Luce on Wednesday the 27th of July for an Anniversary dinner and the service I received was professional yet accommodating and personalized. Working in a fine dining restaurant myself, I know that servers are expected to act friendly and work towards guests needs- but the experience I had with Claudio and Tai went absolutely above and beyond. Claudio certainly made our night enjoyable and always came to check up on us, while Tai was so knowledgeable about the wines he served us and made small talk here and there. The food was absolutely amazing as well! We had the tasting menu with wine pairing and ever dish was crafted with perfection. Personally, I am not a fan of Foie Gras but at Luce my favorite dish was the Foie Gras with Toasted Brioche and Toasted Strawberry, Rhubarb and Walnuts as it was just mind blowing! I felt that the staff there genuinely cared about us and took care of us. This was one of the best service I have received and if I am ever back in San Francisco I will definitely go back!

My husband and I chose the tasting menu with 7-8 dishes. All dishes tasted very good. But there was a lot of noise mostly from the bar and the service was a little impersonal and a little bit automatic.

I chose this restaurant because (i) it was close to the Moscone center and (ii) it had a Mich-lin star. This was for a business dinner for important customers, 6 people. Wine: Selection is good, prices are OK. There is a serious issue about storage conditions though. Out of 5 bottles of wine, the first was (strongly) corked, the second and third were maderized whites. While the restaurant made no fuss about recognizing the issues, it just tells wine is kept without the most elementary care. Troublesome when you spend $150/btl. Food: was a mix of very good (appertiser) and really disappointing. Fish was way overcooked. Service: while the waiter & sommelier were kind at recognizing the issues about wine, service was most of the dinner inattentive. Nice when they were around the table but grossly understaffed. Would I come back? No. It is conveniently located near the Moscone center, but there are many excellent restaurants in SFO with more genuine appeal. The Mich-lin guys seriously need to revisit. No way it deserves a star. PS: replace "-" by "e".

Worthwhile contender for a place for "that special meal". Luce has a menu structured with two levels of choice, and the four-course one is actually enough food to satisfy. There is a fine wine list with a number of reasonable choices (and also those incredibly expensive options that I have always wondered who can afford). They offer a choice of breads, and there was a small ciabatta that was great. I won't comment on individual items, because the menu changes frequently, other than to state that the presentation was delightful as was the taste. The chef came to the table, and it was nice to discuss his attitudes toward the cuisine and options. This is a quiet restaurant in the Intercontinental Hotel. Staff are friendly and helpful. Not "stuffy" or pretentious.