Grand Cafe

I was expecting to be slightly disappointed after reading some Unilocal reviews, and was pleasantly surprised. Everything about the place was excellent. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive. The wine we ordered was an excellent value and very good. The atmosphere was classical, elegant hotel restaurant. We wandered over to the lobby afterwards and were impressed by the staircase and the mural.
the food:
we ordered kale salad, yum, good amounts of kale and fruit and dressing. good portion size.
gnocchi– the surprise! not drowned-​in-​fatty-​sauce style like some gnocchi/​pasta dishes can be, but almost grilled or dry cooked, yet still succulent, moist and flavorful.
the tuna tartare again had all the right elements
the spinach side was cooked to perfection and good portion.
we were very pleased! a great place to go to for dinner before a show at one of the adjacent theaters.
Hard to get a 5-​star with literally thousands of great restaurants in the San Francisco area, hence the 4

War schon in Ordnung, vor allem wenn man in der Gegend wohnt. Unser Essen war an sich sehr gut gekocht und auch die Portionen waren OK. Die Stadt ist ziemlich teuer. Bei uns wäre es das Geld nicht wert aber hier durchaus.

18 years ago I had my first great gastronomic experience here. I’ve had mostly fabulous meals at the Grand Café over the years, although the service has always been wanting. Now I hear that the Grand Café will be closing «for renovations» in two months… It could use them. The ceilings are dirty, the woodwork worn. The food certainly wasn’t anything approaching an «Oh Wow» moment, but it was decent.
We went in for lunch, in the bar, unfortunately — not my favorite place to eat. The lunch menu was extremely limited and nothing spoke to me. Normally I’d start with the apps and work my way all the way down to a tawny port with dessert. Not this time. I had the mussels mariniere which were very good. The partner had the burger with bleu-​cheese, which he liked better than that at the Balboa Café — or did he say he couldn’t remember the burger at the Balboa Café, that might have been it. Nothing on the wine list impressed us enough to order a bottle so we did the Mendocino cab by the glass, which was quite drinkable.
Once upon a time they started you with a small baguette wrapped in a towel, with olive oil for dipping. This time we had a rather soft white bread and some sort of herbed butter — very disappointing.
And, as we sat, drinking our last glass of wine in the now empty bar (the back, not the actual bar area) we watched as the young waiter absented-​mindedly wiped the table — sweeping the crumbs to the floor, leaving several remaining on the surface. He brought the bowls and flatware out and set them on the edge, without noticing that the table wasn’t clean. And, looking at the booth across the way we noted a napkin (and?) tucked betwixt the cushions, also escaping attention.
Perhaps it’s time to bid adieu to this once fine old establishment, if this is the best they can do.

The octopus salad appetizer and halibut are a phenomenal pair. The octopus salad comes with well spiced chick peas that warmed my palate.
The halibut is well caramelized and has the most delightful crunch, while the inside is flaky and moist. Topped with salty chorizo and accompanied with root veggies and wild mushrooms, the plate delighted me. I’d have ordered it agin were I not saving space for sweets.
After negotiating with my date for dessert over cheese, we chose the crispy custard. It arrived with a lime sorbet atop sweet, toasted coconut. The bridge between the two was tart blueberries. A tad sweeter than I expected, but a marvelous flavor and texture sensation.
All of the above in a grand, grand room attended by well-​trained staff. Well played.

Undercooked pizza
Cold French Fries
Slow service
Bill was incorrect; it included a $ 64 charge for «mothers day brunch.»
Dirty tables
Had to ask for silverware

Typically a restaurant in a hotel is not the best and usually over priced. Grand Café is in the Hotel Monaco. I was pleasantly surprised by their brunch and the quality of the food. The prices were a bit high but not outrageous. Overall I was happy with our choice to stop in.
I had their Ratatoulle and Fromage Blanc Omelette. I hate dried out omelets, this was not. It was full of gooey cheese and had a generous amount of butter it was cooked in. Probably not the healthiest option but it tasted great. It really hit the spot and with the convenience of being so close to our room it made for an enjoyable relaxed morning before our flight home.

Wasn’t planning to come here. Our hearts and appetites were prepared for a thin crust pizza, Caesar’s salad, and lobster club sandwich (Postrio), but sadly our hopes were dashed since they no longer open for lunch (new ownership, new menu).
Had drinks here many moons ago, I never tried their food. The menu has an obvious lean towards French cuisine.
The dining room was full so we sat at a high top table in the bar. There were two other occupied tables but no one at the bar. After a short menu study, I ordered the French onion soup. Coming in a short but wide crock, this soup was very good, being a better rendition than most other versions I’ve tried. The broth was refreshingly nicely flavored (not oversalted like most) and had a pleasant wine aftertaste. The bread and cheese topping is perfectly apportioned, striking a balance with the broth. Only minor suggestion is the cheese could have used more browning to fit my palate.
My entrée choice was the Croque Monsieur, another traditional French mainstay. Accompanied by some salad greens, this dish was less successful. Nothing bad about the dish but just nothing impressive since the ham seemed like cold cut style sliced.
With a more extensive evening menu, dinner may warrant another visit. The bartender waited on our table and was efficient in meeting our needs. The high top being small made plate maneuvering difficult. It probably is more comfortable in the front dining room since the main is closed during the day.
It was okay as a backup stop but doesn’t quite make my lunch rotation list.

I had the most amazing experience here and would highly recommend it to everyone! Came here for breakfast, we had the Eggs Benedict and Duck Confit Hash. Everything was incredible and cooked to perfection. Staff was extremely attentive — our waiter Jose was especially amazing and sweet and helpful and made our dining experience fantastic. In addition to that, the restaurant itself is just indescribably beautiful. I cant wait to be back :)

This review is for one dish, one dish only.
We went in wanting to try their fava bean bruschetta. But it was not available. A couple of sad faces around.
But ok, back to the good.
Just a quick bite at the bar before meeting up at one of san Francisco’s newer speakeasy type drinking establishments, The Grand Café was nearby, and has a long tradition of offering great appetizers in the bar. Sure from bar to bar, that’s how we roll.
As I mentioned, the fava bean thingie was not gonna happen. But not to worry, there are plenty of other options, but one item caught my eye. Beef tare tare. Even though it is a red meat dish, it pairs nicely with white wine and sparkling. It was an unusually warm evening in San Francisco, and neither of us were in the mood for red wine.
First off, the bar. very comfortable. The bar seats actually have backs. And that is always a big 5 stars for me.
The bartenders can make any drink and they have strong (and excellent) opinions on every wine on the list.
The beef tare tare was ummmAMAZING (exclamation POINT).
We also had a few oysters which were surprisingly inexpensive, and also good.
But it was the beef tare tare which brought the house down. Perfectly seasoned with hints of pepper, onion and vinegar each bite had me panting (though the hot weather didn’t help).
I’d come back here in a second.

Great meal and service last night. Love the fact that the waiter didn’t have to be told we are on our way to see a play and just initiated that he would let the chefs in the kitchen know after he placed our order.
Both the appetizers and the entrées selected came out hot, rich and flavorful.
I opted for the duck entrée which I have to say had all the meaty flavor of a steak but truth be told, its power overme was the bed of ingredients that the duck lies on. The «roll around on» could have been a great meal in itself– pieces of cauliflower, herbs, greens and fiddleheads just excells. The steak and chips — always a good classic and of course the ever solid cassoulet; which is always a favorite; rich and creamy with its melting succulent meats and beans blending a nice smoky flavor dish.
Sausage flatbread & octopus salad started us off. Here the octopus shined and really was a meal on its own.
Overall a great dining experience

We went there on a Friday night with a reservation on Open Table. The place was pretty much empty except for a few tables with much older people. I ordered the risotto, which was okay. It was nothing special. It’s like a quieter version of Cheesecake Factory.

Das Ambiente ist wirklich sehr schön hier. Hohe Decken, riesengroßen Leuchten, gepolsterte Sessel. Hier sitzt man schön und bequem. Das war’s aber auch schon fast. Wir bestellten Rühreier mit Speck und Kartoffeln. Die Eier waren ok, der Speck war an der Grenze zum verbrannt sein und die Kartoffeln matschig.
War jetzt nicht so geil, muss man nicht machen. Den Weg durch die eher schäbige Gegend kann man sich sparen.

— high end establishment with low end service —
Had to tell server my drink order 3 times
— was still incorrect
Lime was as dry as my gin
Has potential just needs improvement

Really gorgeous restaurant, ok brunch
Attached to a hotel, this place has some amazing sculptures and artwork dispersed around the main dining hall. The one thing we noticed was how empty the restaurant was, despite its huge seating capacity. Not sure if it was just the Sunday we chose, or if it’s usually like that.
The brunch menu seemed appetizing and we ordered french toast and the classic breakfast plate. Both items were pretty good, but I guess I was expecting much more. Also, our friend had ordered a mimosa which he had to send back as it was too spicy.
Great place to go before a day of shopping at Union Square!

Great place to have a quiet dinner. Kind of reminds me of Cheesecake factory. Food is a little pricer, but service is good and food tastes yummy. Waiter knew the menu inside and out and that is a big plus!

The review is for a specific dish: the cassoulet. I just had it with 2 other French friends and it was so bad that I only aye the duck confit. The beans had no taste and a very thick skin, the sausage had no flavor which was most amazing (lack of some salt and spice like a real Toulouse sausage has). 1 person in the party just sent it back and asked for a salad. I ended up keeping mine and applying a 20% Unilocal coupon (on a 27 $ dish :()
On the positive side, the wine we had, a Cahors, was excellent.
It was a shame as the service and the place (art déco) were really fine.
I may come back but will never order a cassoulet there again.

Solid place for a great brunch with bottomless mimosas. I tried this place for dinner years ago and didn’t love it, but this last visit everything was perfect.
Chicken sandwich was great, and the fries are to die for-​thin and cooked to perfection. French Onion soup is very good. And bottomless mimosas in the late morning/​early afternoon with the girlfriends always sets our SF weekend trips off on the right foot and makes for interesting shopping decisions.

12÷13÷13. Dinner
I’ve been wondering about this French restaurant at the Monaco. Came Friday night, holiday shopping brought us to Union Square so we decided to give it a try.
Promptly seated for the 7pm reservation. Grand Café in terms of ambiance is a rarity on the city: spacious, grand, comfy and elegant. You’re not dining elbow-​to-​elbow or hearing others people’s dirty laundry. The space has very high ceiling and elegant décor.
But the magic unfortunately stops here. Food is mediocre at best and service just adequate for the restaurant, which happens to locate inside a hotel, to be functioning.
*Pinot Blanc from Alsace arrived AFTER our main courses were served. Not impressed though the wine itself is good, with a fruity finish that goes well with fish.
*Steak Frites ($ 28): grilled flat iron, medium, is delicious. Topped with green peppercorn butter in a red wine sauce. It come with a ridiculous serving of crunchy pomme frites (think 2 supersize fries from McDonalds) to make the overall presentation because other that huge pike of fries are just five dainty little pieces of steak like ahi tuna.
*Grilled Rainbow Trout ($ 26): a disaster. Lukewarm, fish grossly overcooked and greasy. The accompanied cauliflower is withered and yellow. Hazelnut aioli is a goo like baby food with a slight hint or rancidness.
The food actually came 7 minutes after we placed the order – no wonder they beat the slammed bartender up front before the hostess podium. The steak is good but not worthy of the price. The fish is just not good — it’s been cooked ahead of time and that’s why it tasted like some airline meal in coach.
Service was okay. They never brought us ketchup for the pomme frites. We didn’t bother to look at desserts because we were just over the place. Dinner was completed in Guiness-​record time of 34 minutes. If you HAVE to go there, grab a drink at the bar and nosh on some pomme frites.

This place is HUGE! And very cute Old World, European décor.
We ate at the front by the bar area. They have a huge dining area in the back. We were able to catch some of their happy hour items like cocktails (until 7pm). Food we ordered were pretty good.
— Squash Blossom Flatbread: quite unique taste and good
— Beet and Burrata salad: our friend said this was her new favorite, very good
— Mussel trifecta: mussels steamed 3 ways. very cool and enjoyable to share with a 3 people
— Ceviche: good
— couple of desserts
We didn’t order main dish as we were mostly in a cocktails mood LOL. Overall though I like the place. We’ll be back most likely. we live just down the street haha

Truly amazing Art Deco space…
Greeted for brunch warmly, we were ushered to a large comfortable booth. Service was very accommodating.
Asked for a taste of a wine I was interested in, and given a generous pour… love the Michel Girault ’10 Sancerre… crisp, fruit with a hint of tobacco in the finish, perfect!
Food was very good, maybe not great. Burger was on a yummy brioche bun, but the meat was dry, and the blue cheese was a bit salty. The Pomme Frites were perfect…
Especially enamored with my brunch companions… a good time was had by all!

Grandiose — In the sense of décor and sheer spaciousness
Respite — From what seemed like a long walk uphill from the BART station
Aspiration — To match their beautiful décor with beautiful service and food
Nap — I needed one after eating their delicious food!
Delicious — From the Grand Burger in its meaty, carmelized oniony, blue cheesy, bacony ways to the crispy fries accompanying it, I was in love!
Celebrated — It was apparent that design was a major focal point here
Affixed — Something tells me this place isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. WIN.
Fetching — Gotta give props to the staff for their style
Elaborate — Much appreciated that the menu wasn’t overly-​crammed with brunch dishes making my decision even harder.

EXPENSIVE FOR NOTHING FANCY.
(2 stars)
Sorry. Don’t hate me for being real.
While doing SantaCon in SF and bar hopping we landed here and wanted to eat. Not knowing which bar/​lounge/​restaurant we walked we were seated and served. All the snobby rich eating here were looking at us as if we were nuts. Have they walked outside yet and see the hundreds of Santas?! Given a menu and it had very little selection on there. Perhaps I was drunk but asked to see more items and they said that was it.
HEFFER STATUS.
Poached Eggs & Chicken Hash ($ 16) — sounds delicious, was mediocre, looked pretty, portions really small and for 16 bucks… overrated. Okay, maybe the poached eggs were amazingly poached and I will give it to them for that. Chicken Has is new to my palate and it was different, healthier, but it really felt like i was eating a baked potato stuffed with some chicken pieces. Kind of bland too, wish it has more flavor.
Cosmo ($ 15) — serving size was SO TINY. My martini glass did not equate to the regular size martini glass. And how is something of that size the same amount as my food?
Profiteroles ($ 8) — Cute looking desert. But when it came out what came to mind was «so tiny». It had four tiny pieces of these little «roles» drizzled in caramel and chocolate. Was it worth the 8 bucks? Not really… it was pretty but the taste and quality was really worth $ 4 dollars. It was actually kind of stale.
Will I be back? Not sure.
Until the next review…