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window view of parklet by Molly DeCoudreaux - Frances, San Francisco, CA
Award-winning

Frances

4.9
4.9
3672 Reviews
$50 and over
Californian

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 19 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Charming
At Frances, chef Melissa Perello’s seasonal menu reflects modern California sensibilities and focuses on ingredients from local markets, farms and producers in a casual, neighborhood setting. Named after Chef Perello’s grandmother, Frances is an ode to refined but comfortable sensibilities in both food and decor. Whether it’s the technique-rich, yet simple approach to food, or the open, familiar atmosphere and stellar service, Frances' honest, focused approach has resonated with customers and critics alike.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Contemporary American
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:15 pm–9:15 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 621-3870
  • Website
    http://www.frances-sf.com/
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Melissa Perello
  • Private party facilities
    BUYOUT EVENT Capacity: 30 seated or 55 standingWe will work with you to create a personalized event including a uniquely crafted menu and a signature wine experience. PRIVATE, OUTDOOR PARKLET EVENTCapacity: 16We offer a family-style tasting menu of 8-10 dishes and supplemental wine and beverage pairings. Email info@frances-sf.com to inquire.
  • Location
    3870 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Area
    The Castro
  • Cross Street
    between Noe and Sanchez
  • Parking details
    Street parking only.
  • Public transit
    24, 33, 35, 37, F, K, M, and L
  • Entertainment
    Instagram: sf_frances
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining

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Experiences

  • Valentine's Day

    US$151.25 per person

    Prepaid

    14 Feb 2025 - 15 Feb 2025
    Join us for a Valentine's Day celebration featuring a seasonal, 4-course prix fixe menu. Wine pairings and menu enhancements will be available for purchase onsite. DETAILS: www.frances-sf.com/valentinesday **Price includes prix fixe menu only. Beverages and supplements will be available for purchase onsite. *Please contact the restaurant at least 72 hours in advance to ensure accommodation of dietary restrictions *A la carte dining will not be offered on Valentine’s Day *Tickets are non-refundable if cancelled within 72 hours of the reservation time
    Valentine's Day photo

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 3,672 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Californian

  • San Francisco

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Frances offers a consistently delightful dining experience with "fantastic food" and a "very solid wine list." The "attentive" service and "cozy atmosphere" make it perfect for special occasions. Guests praise the "creative" and "perfectly executed" dishes, though space can feel "cramped" at times. A "neighborhood gem" in San Francisco.

3,672 Reviews

  1. Jill

    London

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful much needed date night! The food was incredible and the service was outstanding.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Pat

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The chef selection tasting menu was a special treat. Well spaced delivery. Great explanation without being overdone. Kudos the chef's and servers

    Is this helpful?

  3. Liam

    London

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Visiting the city from London and was looking forward to eating here. Despite the good service, this was one of the worst dining experiences of my life. The food was mediocre at best and charging those prices is criminal. The innovative sounding menu is poorly executed with a lack of understanding of flavours being completely imbalanced and overpowering in the wrong places. I have eaten in hole in the wall places in the city for a third of the price and had infinitely better tasting food. If you are smart and sorted the reviews on this website to show the lowest rated ones, you will see more 1 and 2 star reviews that are being buried. This is not a 5 star restaurant, save your money.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Jacqueline

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Hats off to the staff, front and back of house, excellent dinner. Would 100% recommend the tasting menu.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dimitry

    VIP

    San Francisco

    109 reviews

    5.0

    109 reviews

    Dined on 2 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    They are celebrating 15th years, and even though I lived in SF for 12 years, this was my first time. I should have gone many years ago! What a find. We had the 15 year anniversary tasting menu (got lucky - was the last day). Great dishes, unique flavors, elegant, perfect portions and thoughtful, delicious wine pairing. Both tasting menu and wine paring, excellent price/ quality ratio. Very friendly service. Some things to consider: we got lucky sitting in the back, but the bar seating and some table in the front - this time of the year, I would not want to sit there, with cold air comming in every time the door opens. Also the tables are very close to each other, it would be more comfortable to have a few tables less.

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  6. mark

    VIP

    San Francisco

    17 reviews

    3.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 1 February 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    The entrée menu this week was limited and some dishes were overpriced for the portion sizes. The front and serving staff were very good.

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  7. Ian

    VIP

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on 31 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food, lively environment. Service on point.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Greg

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on 30 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Frances is consistently very satisfying with a very solid wine list

    Is this helpful?

  9. Steven

    VIP

    New York City

    14 reviews

    4.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 29 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Haven’t been back to Frances in couple of years so I expected some changes and while the food tasted as good as I recall, everything that came out of the kitchen was barely warm. It was a bit disconcerting to be honest. Two minutes after being set down our short rib entree was cold.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Marie

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 25 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great team and amazing food. It's always a pleasant experience to dine at Frances.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Frances is rated 4.9 stars by 3672 OpenTable diners.

Frances does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 19 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Frances

3870 17th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
  • Cross Street
    between Noe and Sanchez
  • Area
    The Castro
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Tue–Sat 5:15 pm–9:15 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street parking only.
  • Public transit
    24, 33, 35, 37, F, K, M, and L
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Melissa Perello
  • Entertainment
    Instagram: sf_frances
  • Additional
    Patio/Outdoor Dining
  • Website
    http://www.frances-sf.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 621-3870
  • Private party facilities
    BUYOUT EVENT Capacity: 30 seated or 55 standingWe will work with you to create a personalized event including a uniquely crafted menu and a signature wine experience. PRIVATE, OUTDOOR PARKLET EVENTCapacity: 16We offer a family-style tasting menu of 8-10 dishes and supplemental wine and beverage pairings. Email info@frances-sf.com to inquire.

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