Valentine's Dinner at Frances

We managed to score a reservation for Valentine's weekend at Frances, this newcomer to the Castro that's been getting a lot of hype lately. Their menu looked promising, and was divided into four sections: bouchées, which were little snacks, like frites or beignets; appetizers, which included salads, soups, and pastas; entrées, which included one option each of meat, seafood, poultry, or vegetarian; and, sides, which were all vegetable dishes. We usually opt to share two appetizers, one entrée, and two desserts, but prices were very reasonable, so we ordered two appetizers, including one of their appetizer specials, and two entrées. Though we were a little worried it would be too much food, we decided to go for it anyway, since so many of the dishes sounded so good.

Roasted Fennel & White Bean Soup - Chicken Confit, Tuscan Kale, Caramelized Garlic


Duck Liver Mousse, Frisée, Currants, and Grilled Levain Bread


Caramelized Atlantic Scallops - Sunchoke Purée, Sautéed Endive, Nicoise Olive


Red Wine Braised Liberty Farm Duck Leg - Butter Beans, Escarole & Sicilian Olives


Chicory Root Panna Cotta - Satsuma Mandarin, Espresso Gelée, Chocolate Sea Salt Cookies


Chocolate 'Clafoutis' - Poached Comice Pear, Burnt Caramel & Crème Chantilly

The food was good, but none of the dishes were great, and we were actually very disappointed, considering all of the rave reviews we've heard about this place recently. We gave it a 7.50. Everything was cooked expertly - the scallops were perfect and even, the duck was tender and could be pulled from the bone with a fork, the duck liver mousse was creamy. Technique-wise, it's obvious the chef has skills. What kept them from scoring higher was the way they put together the dishes. While each element on the plate was done well, they didn't seem to complement each other. Also, sometimes the flavors were too salty, sometimes they were too bland, and there were no real standout dishes.

The service was good, and we gave it an 8.25. The servers were friendly for the most part, things were run efficiently, and the chef even came out to say hello, as we had requested. She came out midway through our meal, and we were both a little confused when she came out to talk to only our table, but we figured it out later, after our waiter came by and asked if the chef had come to say hello to us, that, duh, we'd requested to meet her when we made our reservation.

Décor was relatively warm and comfortable, though the place is absolutely tiny. However, despite its tight quarters, we never felt crowded or claustrophobic. We gave it an 8.00.

Overall, Frances earned a 77.00 from us. Although not one of our higher scores, it seems like it has potential. Also, with its reasonable price points (our bill was under $100, even after ordering two appetizers, two entrées, and two desserts), we'd be willing to give them another chance. They're another San Francisco restaurant driven by local, sustainable and organic products, and they definitely have a Californian slant on their menu, so maybe we'll come check them out again in the summer, since I tend to be a sucker for summer fruits and vegetables.

*For a refresher on our rating system, check out this previous post.*