Prix-Fixe Update

Prix-Fixe Update of Upscale Restaurants

In the past few months, some of my favorite upscale prix-fixe restaurants, mostly French, have increased their prices somewhat, but they still qualify in the “splurge” category for my “affordable” readers. In other words, there is always one occasion during the year when one can splurge, e.g., anniversary, birthday etc. Of course, for the well-heeled, these restaurants are always affordable, since they offer value in terms of the high level of cuisine and the generous choice of dishes. Some prix-fixes even permit a choice of any appetizer, main dish, and dessert from their a la carte menus.


Chapeau, 1408 Clement St (at 15th Ave), 750-9787, 5-10pm, 7 days.

Early Bird – Sun-Thurs. 5-6pm. Menu changes weekly. A typical menu offers a choice of four appetizers (e.g., cream of pumpkin soup, duo of salmon, onion tart), choice of four main dishes (e.g., Prince Edward Island mussels with pommes frites, glazed Atlantic salmon with thyme risotto and roasted pumpkin , roasted duck breast with braised cabbage and baby carrotts, braised lamb shank and couscous with dried fruit), and choice of four desserts (e.g., trio of sorbet, lemon tart, creme brulee).

Menu 1, after 6pm, 7 days, $31.00. Choice of any appetizer, main course, or dessert from the large choice menu.

Menu 2, $38.00 – choice of 4-course menu of appetizer, tasting fish, main course, and dessert.

Menu 2 with a palate cleanser (choice of green-apple sorbet with calvados, or ginger sorbet with citrus-infused cognac) , $42.00.

Vegetarian menu $31.00. warm brie on potato and leek dauphin, mixed vegetables en papillote, and choice of dessert from the a la carte menu.

A la Carte menu

Appetizers include French onion soup $7.00, oysters on half-shell $9.00, warm brie on potato and leek dauphin $8.50, , trio of salmon with creme fraiche $8.50, or Dungeness crab and lobster salad with celery root $13.50 (on Menus 1 and 2 + $3.50.

Main Courses include porcini-crusted sweetbreads with baby carrots and white truffle oil $19.50, glazed Atlantic salmon, with lemon and thyme risotto and roasted pumpkin 18.50, poached wild Atlantic halibut in a saffron broth with mussels, and fettucine a la creme $18.50, cassoulet with lamb, duck and sausage $16.50, braised lamb shank with eggplant caviar, couscous with dried fruit, toasted almond and pistachio wrapped in zucchini and eggplant $20.00.

Desserts include chilled orange soup with Grande Marnier and mint coulis $6.50, tarte Grande Mere $6.50, warm chocolate cake with rum and raisin ice cream $7.00, cheese plate (on Menus 1 and 2 + $2.00).


Clementine, 126 Clement St. (2nd/3rd Ave), 387-0408, 5:30-7pm Tuesday through Thursday.

Clementine has become a strong French standby at a well-known Clement St. location. One of its chef-owners was a sous-chef for some years at a famous 3-star restaurant in Paris (Arpege).

Special Prix-Fixe Menu – changes frequently. A recent one included an appetizer – soup of day or salad of duck breast with quail eggs and pomegranate dressing, a main course – choice of mussels marinieres with pommes frites, or beef bourgignon with linguini pasta and parsley, and dessert – choice from a la carte menu.

A la Carte menu

Appetizers include escargots from Burgundy in a garlic parsley sauce $6.95, mixed salad with goat cheese $6.75, marinated salmon with steamed potatoes $7.95, moules meuniere with Nouilly Prat vermouth and fresh tarragon $9.00, crab and shrimp salad with avocado and mango $9.75 (+3.50 on Menus 1 and 2).

Main courses include roasted baby chicken with rosemary and potato gratin $14.95, filet of halibut with lobster-chive risotto $17.00, braised veal shank with mashed potatoes $16.50, pan-roasted scallops with leek and tomato ragout $17.75, roasted duck breast with tarragon, fava beans, and confit shallots $17.50, honey-roasted quail with porcini-mushroom ravioli and truffle oil $18.00, rib-eye steak in a peppercorn sauce, served with French fries $19.00, sirloin and rack of lamb with French navy beans and asparagus $21.00.

Desserts, all $6.00, include vanilla creme brulee, poached pears in a puff pastry with cream sauce, apple tart with caramel ice cream, assorted ice creams and sorbets. Cheese plate $8.00 (plus $2.00 on Menus 1 and 2).


Le Charm French Bistro, 315 Fifth Street (at Folsom), 546-6128.

Prix-Fixe Dinner includes choice of appetizer – e.g., French onion soup, house-smoked salmon, sauteed escargots with wild mushrooms, choice of main course, e.g., duck confit with pommes landaise and bacon, roasted salmon with mashed potatoes and spinach, grilled steak with pommes frites, coq au vin with bacon mushrooms and pasta, baked gnocchi with tomato and mozzarella, and choice of dessert, e.g., creme brulee a l’orange, strawberry and lemon tart, apple tart tartin.

Le Charm also serves a la carte menus for lunch and dinner.


L’Olivier, 465 Davis Ct. (at Jackson St.), 981-7824, lunch Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, dinner Mon-Sat 5:30-10pm.

This is a classic upscale French restaurant decorated with French antiques, and opens onto a large greenhouse filled with plants and flowers, creating an elegant formal dining room. The menu derives from French country-style recipes; it is classical yet light in calories. A la carte prices for lunch and dinner are somewhat lower than French restaurants of the same caliber, e.g., appetizers $6.50-9.00, main courses $16.50-20.50, except rack of lamb $23.00 and filet mignon with truffle sauce $26.00. Friday-Saturday specialty is Bouillabaisse Marseillaisse $25.00. Homemade dessert tray is $6.00, souffle de L’Olivier (minimum two persons) $8.50. There is lunch and dinner valet parking.

Lunch Prix-fixe Menu, $15.50 for appetizer and main course, and $19.50, with added dessert. Menu changes weekly. A recent one included a choice of appetizer – soup of the day, baked brie in philo dough over mixed greens, celery root remoulade and vine-ripe tomato, choice of entree – pan-fried orange roughy with a mango salsa, sauteed breaded pork chop with tomato-black-pepper sauce, fussili pasta with basil, onion, pancetta, and olive oil, and homemade dessert tray.

Dinner Prix-fixe Menu $29,50, includes choice of appetizer, e.g., soup of the day, baby spinach salad, pepper-crusted pate’ of pork, baked brie in philo dough on greens, duck confit and frisee salad, salad of heart of palm, leeks, red beets, choice of entree, e.g., sirloin couscous of seasonal vegetables, pan-fried seabass with fennel sauce, grilled filet of salmon, breast of chicken dore’, noisette of pork tenderloin with lemon butter, grilled flank steak with horseradish sauce, and dessert tray.


Townsend Restaurant & Bakery, at Embarcadero & Townsend Streets, 512-0749, Tuesday through Sunday (closed Sun and Mon), 5:30-10pm.

This large, pleasant, brightly-painted place, with sparkling-red walls, has a very open atmosphere, and a friendly and accommodating staff. It has been at this spot for 14 years. Townsend specializes in organic ingredients and naturally-raised beef, e.g., in hamburgers.

Prix-fixe Dinner, $22.50, consisting of appetizer, main course, and dessert from any on the abundant menu.

Appetizers include home-cured salmon and potato pancakes with sour cream, artichokes with capers, roasted garlic & tomatoes, crab cakes with organic greens, housemade gnocchi with fresh ricotta served with artichoke hearts, organic tomatoes, and crumbled blue cheese, or mixed organic greens with crumbled blue or goat cheese.

Main courses include fettucine with prawns, sea scallops, mussels, clams and roasted garlic; seafood risotto with red snapper, organic tomatoes, corn, and fresh cheese; local king salmon, served with smoked corn and mango salsa, and garlic-roasted potatoes; sauteed petrale sole with garlic-roasted small potatoes and vegetables; Peking duck breast grilled with blackberry sauce, with potato-carrot pancakes and vegetables; lamb stew braised with organic celery, onions in red wine, served over grilled polenta; grilled steak served with garlic-mashed potatoes and vegetables.

Desserts – from their own bakery, include lemon meringue pie with raspberry sauce, Boston cream pie, dark chocolate devils food cake with caramel butter-cream.

Neighborhood prix-fixe dinner on Tuesdays, $13.50, consisting of soup or organic green salad, choice of entree from the a la carte menu (see above), and choice of dessert (see above). An incredible value!


La Bergerie, 4221 Geary Blvd. (between 6th & 7th Ave), 387-3973, 5-10pm.

This elegant French-Cambodian restaurant has been serving high-quality sumptuous 5-course dinners for many years. Each dinner includes cream soup (changes frequently), butter-lettuce salad, main course with vegetables, ice cream or sherbet dessert, and French-style coffee.

Prix-fixe dinner main courses include grilled chicken $13.95, vegetable plate $13.95, coq au vin $14.95, veal sweetbreads $15.95, veal marsala $15.95, salmon $16.95, rabbit braised in red wine $15.95, seafood combo $16.95, rack of lamb $19.95, lamb chops $19.95, broiled lobster tail $20.95. The house wine is very reasonable; red is recommended..