Best French Restaurants in Financial District / Embarcadero

Loved it! Service was very attentive and they had wonderful suggestions from their menu. The steak tartare was delicious served on homemade potato chips. The deviled eggs were a wonderful surprise served upside down with a sauce and caviar on top. The Caesar salad was amazing…I shared this but won’t next time I return…it was delicious with the crunchy topping. We shared the roast chicken, which was so tender and had the most delicious pan gravy. And don’t leave without trying the Soft Serve dessert. It checks all the boxes…caramel, toasted hazelnuts, poached pears and ice cream.

Excellent lunch, excellent cocktails, warm and thoughtful service. Our server asked right away if we were going to a performance and made sure we got there on time, without any sense of rushing. Highly recommend!

Atmosphere was great, and food delicious! Nice place for a group gathering.

This was my first visit to Le Central and I'm now a big fan! The food was delicious, the wait staff and others were friendly and helpful, and it wasn't annoyingly loud. This is what fine dining was meant to be, at least in my opinion. I look forward to going back so I can try their other options!

Best French food in San Francisco. The onion tart is a must-order: decadent caramelized onions in a delightfully crispy pastry, all topped with goat cheese. The braised oxtail is a beauty: meat so tender it falls off the bone in an irresistible red wine sauce. Desserts are obligatory. The chocolate mousse is airy and rich but not over-the-top. The ice creams and sorbets, all made in-house, are masterful. Cocktails are great too. Leland is an expert bartender and he managed to chat with us about his favorite cocktails all while tending to the lively happy hour at the bar/lounge. His wine pairing suggestions—which were very reasonably priced—were very helpful too. The service is top-notch—Christie, the owner, is friendly and personable and made us feel welcome from the moment she stopped by our table. The atmosphere is elegant—after all this is a fine dining establishment—but also approachable and warm. Overall a great and memorable meal. To call this restaurant a bistro almost does a disservice to the expertness of the food here, which is crafted with such refinement that it doesn’t feel too out-of-step with the two-star Michelin heritage of Chef Chemel’s former restaurant.