Chouquets

Chouquets
2500 Washington (at Fillmore), 415 359-0075
chouquets.com for detailed information and reservations.
Open for lunch Tuesday – Friday 11:30 to 3pm, dinner Tuesday to Sunday 5:30 – 10:30, brunch Saturday and Sunday 10-3pm.

Chef Frédéric Proust, together with his two colleagues Mickael Azoulay and Jam Iksoulène, has managed to create a modern, unpretentious and pleasant French atmosphere and cuisine on Fillmore, which was badly needed in Pacific Heights. We have eaten here five times over the past three months and although it is a little outside my normal range, I want to recommend Chouquets as a great choice for a Holiday splurge meal.

The restaurant has 24 tables and patio dining on the corner of Fillmore and Washington. The décor is modern Continental. Service is young and friendly and we can’t flaw it – although our last meal was served at a record pace, and without sufficient breathing time between courses.

For Lunch, appetizers range from $5 to $12, with Soup of the Day at $6, Beef Carpaccio with Parmesan Cheese $ 9, Surprise Fromagère and Endive Salad, warm Brioche $10, Dungeness Crab Salad with Celery, Tarragon and Avocado $12. I can especially recommend the Fromagère, a luscious dish!

Entrées are on the light side and are complemented by a range of salads, prices range from $9 to $13. Croque-Monsieur with Green Salad $9. Salad Nicoise with Seared Ahi Tuna, Tomatoes, Olives and Green Beans $13. There is also an Ahi Tuna Burger with Salad $13 – the tuna is of highest quality and perfectly prepared. For meat eaters there is a Steak Sandwich in baguette with French Fries, also $13.

Desserts are simple and accomplished, ranging from $5 to $7, with Floating Island $6. Chocolate Mousse $7. Mango Crème Brûlée $7, and lots more.

The Dinner menu is slightly more elaborate, with a wide range of starters, ranging from $6 to $12. There is always a simply prepared but accomplished soup of the day $6, the Ragoût of Veal Sweetbreads with Wild Mushrooms $11 is to die for (a meal in itself and not light!) and the Seared Scallops with Vanilla Braised Salsify and Mint Emulsion $12 are again perfectly cooked with an interesting twist.

Entrées range from $15 to $21. I want especially to point out the Vegetarian Cassoulet $16, which is as close as you can get to the “real thing” and will satisfy many a meat eater. The Seared Ahi Tuna served with leeks fondue and blue cheese $20 is a surprise – the clean taste of the tuna contradicted by the luscious blue cheese leeks is divine. Steak Frites is again on the menu, this time with green peppercorn sauce $21. Another vegetarian surprise is Millefeuille of Eggplant, Zucchini, Goat Cheese in an Herb Tomato Sauce $15.

Desserts range from $6 to $9. Chocolate Liegois $6, Mango Crème Brulée $7, Chouquet’s Profiteroles with Berries $9 and more.

We have not tried Brunch, but I figure it must be good.

You can get a 3 Egg Omelet, Potatoes Sautéed, Green Salad for 8. and you can add Ham, Prosciutto, Goat Cheese, Swiss Gruyère, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Carrots, Turnips, French Green Beans, Bacon for $1 each.

The rest of the meal is made up of light dishes and old favorites, ranging from $8 to $21. Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella with Basil $8, Baby Spinach Salad with Tomatoes, Goat Cheese and Walnuts $9, Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus Gratinée, whole grain Mustard Vinaigrette $9, Croque-Monsieur with Green Salad $9, Quiche Lorraine with Green Salad $8

For more serious fare, go for the Grilled New York Angus Natural Steak, French Fries $21, Steamed Salmon with Sauce Maltaise, Pommes Persillées $18.

Home made viennoiseries and desserts are also on offer: Brioche $2. Chocolate Brioche $2.50, Apple Beignet $3, Floating Island $7, Fromage Blanc Nature $6, Fromage Blanc with Berries $7, Chocolate Mousse $7, Tarte aux Fruits, Strawberries or Raspberries $7, Fraise Melba (Strawberry ice cream with Raspberries coulis and Whipped Cream) $7, Sorbet (up to 3 flavors).

Many Wines are served by the glass ($6 to $12), and bottles start at $24 with a good range below $40 and a selection well beyond that.

Complimentary “chouquets”, little sugarcoated puff pastries round off the meal.

Give Chouquets a try, you will not regret it. Table # 1 (corner for two or three) is the nicest.