Gotta clear up some old entries. Went to the Bay area for the labor day weekend to visit Jon’s family. We crossed over to San Francisco one night to try go to this German place called Suppenkuche (means “Soup kitchen”) but it was closed that day. With disappointment we walked around the cool Hayes Valley neighbourhood and realized many other restaurants were closed due to the holiday too. Absinthe Brasserie & Bar was one of the few places that was open. We felt a bit under dress since it seems like a “scene bar” type of place. We got a table at the bar area despite no reservation, though it was a rather small table for 4 people.
The menu is standard French brasserie fare. It’s quite pricey but that’s expected at San Francisco.
Papardelle with wild mushrooms, caramelized onion, herbs, red wine, shaved pate de cabra. It’s not mine but I had a bite, it was very good!
Pan roasted duck breast with escarole, chanterelles, polenta with bacon, huckleberry duck sauce. Another outstanding dish.
I was a bit sick that day so I just got a side dish of beets (see below) and a salad: Frisee – baby leeks vinaigrette, house-smoked bacon, fried duke egg. Fines herbs, caviar. Wow it’s really delicious. I love the vinaigrette and the bacon gave a ,
Slow cooked pork confit with cranberry beans, padron peppers, cherry tomatoes, sweet herb aioli. Very Hearty. My side plate of Roasted mixed beets with toasted hazelnuts, orange oil, peppercress, sicilian sea salt. I was surprised at how something so simple can taste so wonderful. The orange oil gave a wonderful fragrance and love the combine of beets and hazelnuts.
I forgot what the dessert was. It was tasty also.
We were actually surprised at how delicious everything was since it wasn’t our original destination and had little knowledge of the place (I’m not so familiar with the wonderful SF dining scene). Freda and I are heading up to Napa Valley and the bay area for a wedding this weekend, so more bay area entries coming soon.
Absinthe Brasserie & Bar
398 Hayes Streetm San Francisco, CA 94102
Tags: fashionable, French
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Haha, fried egg and caviar isn’t the best thing for a sick stomach….plus you had a bit of everyelse’s food? ^^;;;
We, too, visited on a whim (after a rec by an SF foodgal). It stays open late, has very traditional French fare, and dang! Not a bad burger! Supposedly it’s one of the better establishments near the SoMA district. And the cheese plate.. my god, the cheese cuts were HUGE!