Aurea

This restaurant is no longer open. The hotel it’s in is still operating a very minimal buffet breakfast out of the same space and it’s not great.

I had a wonderful experience here for brunch, both my omelette and my mimosa were delicious

i love coming here of brunch! the vodka they use for the bloody mary is infused with basil. so it’s really impossible to get just one. everything that comes out of the kitchen will taste awesome!

Went to it after a favorable review about its lemon soufflé pancake. I got excited to know about it but was disappointed as it was not even comparable to the one I loved at Cream Pot in Oahu. The lemon soufflé pancake was bland with hardly any hint of lemon taste. It’s fluffy, airy but felt mushy & it did not pair well with pine nuts. I wouldn’t recommend it at all especially for the hefty $ 19 price. Both the service & the pancake were nothing to write home about… definitely not one to recommend.

Get the Lemon Soufflé Pancakes while you can, this gem closes June 28.
I do not understand the bland reviews regarding this breakfast place. We come here for breakfast whenever we are in the area even if we stay at another hotel. This time we’re staying at the RItz which is only a few blocks away, and they probably have a good breakfast here, but the draw to Aurea for the Lemon Soufflé Pancakes pulled us back this morning (and we’re going again tomorrow). So sad to be told by our favorite waiter that management is closing the restaurant and opting to put in a Starbucks or some such establishment. I am always sad to see unexpected little gems disappear.
The Lemon Soufflé Pancakes are plate licking wonderfully yummy and delicious. My boyfriend ordered them and agreed to split them with me but I only got a few bites at the end as I was too absorbed in my egg, potato and toast breakfast. I love the way they do potatoes here — big chunks of hot and crusty potatoes with a little plate of ketchup alongside my eggs. So good! I finished everything on my plate and then polished off what John left me of his pancakes. They have excellent Italian coffee, organic teas, and always steam a side of cream for us.
This place is never crowded and has tres excellent service. I dream of the pancakes when I’m away. Go get them before you miss out. I get pancakes all over the country and the paradoxical light and creamy quality of these are to die for. The ricotta cheese is whipped to be light and airy and has a velvety texture. They will happily give you the recipe and after reading it I can see why they are so special — quite complicated to make. Served with rasper berries and raspberry sauce on the side. Yum times ten.

Came for brunch. Decent food and service was prompt and friendly.

Not bad for a hotel, not a destination spot but good for what it is. Grilled cheese with tomato soup was yummy ($ 14) and the service was good. They also make an awesome mojito ($ 10).

Not bad for a hotel spot. The service was great and the food was good — i just was not crazy about what I ordered. If I stayed there again I would give it another try and have something different.

I should have known I was doomed: I googled Mothers day brunch on the day before. Every notable brunchy place I knew of was booked. I resorted to reading several Unilocal reviews of places that had available tables last minute on Mothers Day. I was ready for the tourist spot, the whatever-​downtown hotel. This Aurea place had some pretty images and looked like old school hotel-​y– fancy, so I said what-​the-​heck, it doesn’t have to be brilliant, just kinda tasty and in a pretty setting. The Unilocalers said such things as: «a hidden gem, The lemon soufflé pancakes are fantastic. They are even more fluffy and jiggly than a typical soufflé.», or «very fancy hotel setting, but reasonable, and kid friendly to boot !»
I mean, it’s just eggs. and this place promised a kids pancake station, so I went for it.
It’s Mothers Day, Yay! I just want to have bloody marys, some eggs, and my cute kids by my side. I heard there would be a harp, so that’s cool too – fun! I walk in with my two kids down through the dizzying lower level round about parking lot off the bustling end of California street over by St. Grace Cathedral. I’m confused. I ask the valet which entrance to the restaurant. He says to go through the corridor. Hmm. which way do I go?
We were very confused by the layout of the lobby area Its seemed an odd set up. I was unclear on where the restaurant started and the lobby ended. I did not see a hostess and I was unsure if I was to seat myself or if a staff member was going to seat me.
Eventually a server, Jeff, appeared from behind a counter, without offering a proper greeting, pointed to the dining room and said to sit anywhere. Immediately I felt that Jeff was annoyed by me and my children’s presence. I sat with my two children at a booth without a menu feeling very awkward. I was unclear as to why me and my children did not receive menus. I was also unsure at the time whether Jeff was our server and if someone was going to be waiting on us. I then stood up to walk to counter to ask for menus and Jeff abruptly said: «what can I get for you?» in an annoyed and aggressive tone. I was very taken aback. I said «Perhaps service?» Then he quickly walked around the counter towards me and aggressively said: «I told you to take a seat and that we would be with you shortly, so I think that would IMPLY we would be bringing you menus (my date had not arrived yet and I have to wonder if things would have gone differently had he been there??). I then asked the man why he was being so argumentative. He then said, very sarcastically, «why don’t we start all over again, or maybe we just should not do this at all. Maybe we should not do this today.» I’m shocked – NEVER have I ever been treated like this at a restaurant, not even in the scummiest of places, and this is as my six and eight year old watch unfold. And it gets worse!
I then asked him to let me please speak to a manager, and his response was: «Great! You know, in fact, let’s just walk over there together! I will take you right now to him!» I calmly sat down and told Jeff that, no, I will sit down and he will get the manager. A new female server named Donna came over to intervene. She was pleasant and got us drinks. Finally a manager came by and asked what happened. I try to rehash it, but was completely flustered and on the verge of tears, so I didn’t feel I could clearly articulate the incident to him. He just nodded and kept saying that he understood and apologized. He was fine, but it really just felt like he was going through the motions.
The eggs were cold, the bloody marys flavorless, the potatoes soggy, and the kids were served Kraft Mac ‘N Cheese, the kind from a box– NO JOKE! We had to get up twice to ask for things. We felt more like a nuisance than valued guests.
The check was $ 150.00 after everything is said and done, which is normal, but a lot for just 2 adults and 2 children when you consider the shit we were served. I realized later when we got home that we were charged for the kids drinks, even though they were suppose to be included with their meal. Also, I noticed that I never received my Open Table points for our reservation since they don’t keep hosts around to input them. I guess that was just another example of how on every level we didn’t count to them.
UPDATE: The manager reversed the charges after I called and complained again and was pretty cool about it. I wrote a letter to the corporate office and still have not heard back. I seriously hope this guy gets disciplined. The way I was treated on Mothers Day was appalling. And actually now that I think about it, HURTFUL. My kids had to watch this man treat their own mother like shit on a special holiday. Something they won’t forget.

Located inside the Stanford Court Renaissance, Aurea is a good place to have a nice dinner, or else just chill with friends and have drinks. I stayed at this hotel St. Patty’s day weekend and only came down for drinks.
In honor of St. Patricks Day, I had a Midouri Sour. (well 2 to be exact) Not really a hard drink to screw up. Unless you don’t want it to be strong. Most bartenders are spot on.
Great service, full bar, beautiful ambiance, and everyone seemed happy. Drink prices weren’t bad at all.
If I stay at this hotel again, or am in the area, I will definitely be back!

We purchased a Travelzoo voucher for lunch here and were excited to try out the California cuisine. Since the reviews on Unilocal are overall complimentary, we were looking forward to our meal. At the end of the day, the real draw for this place was the dessert. We had a delicious mascarpone cheesecake with raspberry sauce and a tangy and bright mixed berry fruit tart. These were truly the highlight of the meal.
Our brunch entrees were tasty but nothing really to write home about. We had the softshell crab sammy and a salmon hash with poached eggs and a red pepper hollandaise sauce. Both were palatable but ranged from dry with too much bun (the sammy) and too sour with not enough potatoes (the salmon hash). Based on the entrees, it would have been better to go to another brunch place. I guess we didn’t have to wait in a super long line, but then again, there are lines at these places for a reason!
Regarding the service, it was somewhat slow and tepidly friendly. We felt like just another face without any real recognition that we were unique individuals that were actually different from the other nameless diners.
Lastly, the modern furnishings in the dining room are attractive but diminished by the many flat screen TVs visible from all angles playing sports and infomercials (Shamwow anyone?), which detract from the finer dining experience.

A very wonderful and modern restaurant located in the Stanford Court hotel. The service was beyond excellent.
I thought my crab and shrimp cakes were excellent, and the roasted boneless Petaluma chicken was fabulous. Really enjoyed the roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts and pancetta.
With so many great restaurants in SF, I’m sure a lot of people don’t think to go to a hotel restaurant. But this was a great evening out.
Expensive parking garages in the area and little or no street parking. You can take any cable car. All of the stop right at the corner next to the restaurant.

Nearly at the top of California Street hill, exists this stylish and spacious restaurant and bar tucked inside the Stanford Court Hotel.
They have wonderful new American food and great drinks. I tried my first 209 (San Francisco gin) at the recommendation of our server. It had a distinct essence of juniper berry and licorice ~ I enjoyed it in my martini.
All of our small plate choices were fresh, delicious and eye catching ~
— ahi tuna carpaccio, mango avocado ginger salad served with taro chips
— pan-​seared dayboat scallops, asparagus, sweet yellow pepper coulis
— dungeness crab and rockshrimp cakes, avocado, fennel, orange salad, red bell pepper aioli
The staff were very accommodating and served us with a friendly efficiency so that we could catch BB King and Buddy Guy in concert at nearby Masonic Auditorium. It was a win-​win evening with a great meal and these legends of the blues.
PS: A great place to get to know someone without shouting or straining ~

Over the years, I’ve seen local gems that had incredible offerings close their doors because of the recent economy. Because of this, I’ve resolved to write reviews for businesses that, if they were to close their doors or reduce their offerings, would break my heart.
This review is a summary of three trips my significant other and I made to Aurea during Easter ’11 weekend. We were staying across the street at the Fairmont, which we love, and decided to have lunch on Friday at Aurea. We immediately loved Aurea and decided to change plans for a family Easter dinner for twelve that we had organized, and booked the Aurea for the following day on the spot. The next day we had breakfast at Aurea before coming back seven hours later for the dinner party, and everything just kept getting better. The consistency between breakfast, lunch, and dinner was remarkable.
The Aurea restaurant at the Stanford Court Hotel is simply inspiring. The space, service, and food are exceptional. It is a boutique San Francisco experience that builds on the esteem that is Nob Hill. The execution of materials, people, and gastronomy is clearly Nob Hill-​forward. Like other notable Nob Hill landmarks, such as the Italian Renaissance-​inspired Fairmont Hotel across the street, Aurea’s space seems to have drawn inspiration from Europe. Walking through the lobby into the integrated lounge and restaurant seems more what it would be like to walk through a modern Perrier-​Jouet tasting and dinner lounge tucked away somewhere in Bregenz. Its like walking through a glass of champagne. The leather seating is soft and rich; wall and column moldings communicate craft; colors and a glass dome ceiling evoke a rosé champagne bouquet; and vibrant marble surfaces Earth-​ground the space.
The people that make up Aurea are just that – people. One of the things that differentiates an exceptional restaurant from others is how staff communicate their desire to succeed. In most restaurants, staff communicate their desire to succeed with a desire to sell. In exceptional restaurants, staff communicate their desire to succeed with a desire to please. This was the case at Aurea during each meal. Namir, the manager, helped us during lunch and made our dinner party reservation. He simply fits right into a position affecting, in a big way, Nob Hill’s character. Damon was our waiter for the dinner party. He read our party perfectly and coalesced with our pace and vibe flawlessly throughout the evening.
While its cliché to say «you have to taste the food yourself to believe it,» you just have to. Everything we had was gastronomy-​forward. So many restaurants take the passion out of cuisine, especially the large chains. If you eat out enough, you’ll be able to tell the difference at Aurea. When you taste the French toast, you will experience tastes and, most notably, textures that are impossible to fit into a large chain corporate model. You will be able to identify the fact that the majority of other restaurants, specifically large chains, would have paid a master chef a pretty penny for the amazing concept. Only, instead of the textures and flavors being cooked directly into the toast, ordinary bread would be used and the special tastes and textures that characterize the dish would be represented in the form of a sprinkle and drizzle in order to facilitate the proper profit margin – just dispassionate. Aurea is the antithesis of the dispassionate art by committee model in place at most restaurants. When you taste the food at Aurea, its as if the master chef who designed the dish you’re eating just prepared it with his own hand. During our trips to Aurea, we tried the lemon soufflé pancakes; French toast; dungeness crab and rock shrimp cakes; truffle French fries; and all but one of the «big plate» menu items. It would take a while to write about everything we tried, but every interpretation was stunning.
How to classify Aurea? Aurea does not offer your Krug; Louis Latour Grand Cru; Steak; and Château d’Yquem 2,500 dollar dinner for two experience. Nor do they offer a nine dollar spaghetti dinner. In my opinion, Aurea is among the best fine dining establishments minus the sommelier and prima donna servers and managers. The wine list and menu are succinct, but its this type of focused and purposefully conceived menu that brings the world’s best cuisine to your plate for a few dollars more than what youd pay for nice-​mall-​food at a place like The Cheesecake Factory, and I mean that literally – a few dollars more.
As I said at the beginning of this review, my intent is to do my small part to communicate the worth I see in this San Francisco gem. To prospective guests I say, do yourself a favor and partake. To officers in charge of making the Stanford Court Hotel profitable, do whatever it takes to retain the talent you have in Aurea, and give them the most autonomy possible.
–dz

Didn’t actually eat at the restaurant, but stayed at the Stanford Court Renaissance (the hotel this place is located in) and ordered room service for breakfast/​brunch for Mother’s Day. Somewhat overpriced, but what can you expect from a restaurant in a nice hotel on Nob Hill?! Anyway, I got the Signature lemon soufflé pancakes w/​raspberries, pine nuts and raspberry syrup and it was delish… sooo good! Hubby wasn’t too impressed with his Crunchy grilled french toast w/​fresh berries and banana brulee because they were a little too crunchy for his liking LOL. I tried his and thought it was just okay. The kiddies had pancakes, as usual, and how can you go wrong with pancakes?! Would go back here for the lemon soufflé pancakes =)

Bottom Line: Great Service and drinks!
We got comped here when we told them how we got engaged just an hour ago. Great service! (Granted, we also were staying at the hotel, and are return guests.)
Their drinks were pretty good too!

We stayed @ this hotel. The only reason we ate here, is because they screwed up our room, and a gave us a $ 75 restaurant credit.
We went down for b-​fast the next morning. Kind of a weird set up, not sure if someone is seating us? Not clear on where the restaurant starts, and the lobby ends.
Great coffee to start, nice and strong. Very good food. I had a bagel w/​cream cheese and smoked salmon. It was delicious!
Great service. I’m sure that lunch and dinner would be wonderful here. However, b-​fast for three, was $ 44.

The lemon soufflé pancakes are fantastic (see my photos). They are even more fluffy and jiggly than a typical soufflé. They are $ 17, but worth it. The lemon flavor is subtle, and does not overpower the dish. The raspberry sauce was a bit overpowering; I recommend the maple syrup instead. The bacon arrived cold, so I sent it back for re-​heating. However, the pancakes were so good that I’m still giving this place 5 stars.
I went back for a second visit, and the soufflé pancakes were just as good. On the plus side, the pancakes are so airy that you aren’t super stuffed after eating them.
I also found the service to be impeccable. During breakfast, Ramon is the waiter on duty. He he has been around forever, and will remember you on your second visit.

Dear waitstaff of Aurea,
Quit your jobs.
You broke two of the cardinal rules of restaurant service.
1. Do not question an order.
I ordered coffee. Coffee at 8:30 in the morning. It’s to be expected. However, the waiter looked at me as if to say, «What?! Coffee? You? Don’t be absurd.»
He then asked for my I. D…for coffee. Maybe I look like I’m simply too young to handle my caffeine but regardless, it is not the business of the waiter to question my habits.
2. Do not reprimand the customers.
In the middle of our meal, a waiter rushed over and practically yelled at us for setting the creamer on an uneven portion of the table.
«Don’t put that there! It will fall over!»
Here’s an idea, Aurea; get even tables.
Here’s another idea; work on hiring an impeccable staff that might distract people from your bland, contrived attempt at creating a breakfast menu.

Jeffrey Surprise, from Quince, designed a New American menu for this bright, secluded hotel lobby restaurant that has me drooling like an overbred hound dog who just got a Novocaine shot:
* two kinds of sliders — WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS!
* mac ‘n cheese WITH LOBSTER!
* blt — WITH HEIRLOOM TOMATOES!
* short ribs IN BEER!
* dayboat scallops — WITH BONITO & CARAMELIZED CAULIFLOWER!
* ravioli WITH BACON!
* cioppino, tuna tartare, crab cakes, smolked salmon, gazpacho, watermelon salad
So it’s pimped out comfort food — ON CRACK!!!
Décor is a curiously successful product of second string public company aging hotel renovation, the venerable and very down-​low Fournou’s Ovens (one of Nob Hill’s guiltier pleasures) is now out of the basement but still completely not there unless you know about it and even there you have to ask directions from the doorman. Past the Stanford Court’s enclosed driveway, glass-​lined hallways around a central courtyard fountain, take a left past reception and another after the phone booths…
A huge renovation updated things from worn down old school fancy, to misguided attempt by a terminally unhip hotel to be trendy, with piped in lounge music, funky seating, boldly dramatic furniture, yet they just couldn’t let go of all the burnished brass, fussy molding frames around everything on the wall, mirrors, white floors and other 1950s touches you associate with a Renaissance property. But it’s actually very sweet, effortlessly campy and retro without meaning to be, so there is something more sincere about this than the richer and more ironic hotels like the W or Clift that actually pull this off. You really think you could be in Hawaii.
What really sets the mood are old-​school (and older) staff, formal, cordial, yet warmly friendly. They have been doing this longer than you are alive. They know the menu, and if something goes wrong they don’t stand there cursing and rolling their eyes, jabbing the POS angrily like a kid in grad school might do, and treat you right. You’re in good hands, they treat you right.
The range fancy local vodkas, scotch, etc., is impressive. Prices are good for Nob Hill, $ 10 – 15 for small plates and bigger plates mostly $ 15 – 25. Hamburger with bacon and cheese, $ 15, soup of the day $ 8. Premium vodkas $ 9 – 10 a shot, draft beer $ 4.50, signature drinks $ 11.