Butler & The Chef Bistro

Salmon Benedict is so amazing! The place is a bit pricey though, I would give it three $$$

After tax and tip, I paid $ 23 for my meal. I ordered the smoked salmon crêpe. The grain crêpe itself was very dry. It was definitely very full of smoked salmon, but the salmon tasted exceptionally like iron. The deep and rich smokey flavor that I enjoy about smoked salmon wasn’t there. The capers were flavorful but the dish overall was entirely unacceptable. Do not order the salmon crêpe. It was unappetizing. I ate less than half and couldn’t eat anymore.
The staff was nice.
The seating area is small and quaint – I enjoy that type of environment.
Would not come back again.

I never rate places for their service but this was so exceptionally bad I just had to.
Food was ok. The salmon Benedict was pretty good.
The servers made our group feel so uncomfortable for wanting to move from the bar to a table so we could fit the entire group — even though they sat us at the bar and told us we could move to a bigger table later once the rest arrived. But no. Once we all got there they didn’t want us to switch to a table, and they even told one of my friends she had to finish her meal at the bar before joining us! I mean seriously the most ridiculous situation I’ve ever been in. It was comical. And then they told us we had to make sure we all ordered more food at the table. Awful service all around. Pretty embarrassing.

This place is especially known for their croque-​monsieur. I believe that it is the main reason why this restaurant is Michelin rated. If you are coming here for your first time, the croque-​monsieur is an absolute necessity. The texture is delicate and pillowy and the flavors are rich and decadent.
The atmosphere is very quaint and relaxed and the staff is so kind and friendly. The head chef is very outgoing and kind. Sometimes he likes to talk to the customers and crack a few jokes. I came her with my little sister and his jaw dropped when he found out she finished a huge plate of egg benedicts by herself. First timers may be shocked at how small the tables are, but somehow, they always find a way to fit all the food on it.
If you and your friends/​family are in the area and are debating on where to eat, come by and try this place out. Did I mention they have a killer croque-​monsieur?

Beat ham and eggs Benedict I have ever had. I would have given this place 5stars but the wait staff was rude by forcing my friend and I to order to go because we showed up at 2:40. If you close at 3 and advertise that you close at 3, you should allow people to be sat in the dining area and serves until 3!

After running/​walking the Bay to Breakers we were looking for a decent place to satisfy our hunger. The Butler & The Chef does not take reservations but we called around 12:30 and was told that they could accommodate a party of 4.
The restaurant is quietly tucked away off a side street. They place is rather small but cozy and they do have a couple tables outside.
I ordered the smoked salmon Benedict and it was tasty. It comes with a side salad as well. The salmon tasted fresh and the eggs were cooked perfectly, nice and runny. The GF ordered the ham Benedict and it was good but I preferred the smoked salmon.
We couldn’t help noticing the sweet aroma of the waffles at the table next to us. So for dessert we ordered the Nutella waffles. Waffles cooked well! We didn’t stop there, noooo… We also ordered the crepes with bananas, nuts and honey. Definitely a good choice.
Service was good and my only complaint was the price. I thought our bill was pretty steep for 4 people. I would recommend trying the Butler & The Chef if you haven’t been.

I currently have a cold so it was hard for me to taste everything so I just ate so I had something to even out my champage.
But according to my friends who could taste said it wasn’t very good.
House champagne $ 28 very cheap dirty taste
Eggs Benedict $ 14 – 18 the only real appetizing offer on the menu. Egg was poached well but nothing special
Onion soup friend barely finished it.
Pâté and brie $ 18 pâté was unspreadable and brie was good but once again. Nothing special
Everything is overpriced
Server was efficient but very unwelcoming. Whenever we would ask him for anything he wouldnt respond. So when we repeat ourselves he goes «I heard you the first time» …uhh then respond so we know u heard us.
Won’t come back again

Lack of common and business sense
We just had brunch at Butler and Chef Bistro in San Francisco. I live in San Jose and our friends came up from SoCal so we went out of our way to dine at this restaurant. They have a no outside food and drinks policy which is completely reasonable, but to make a one year old baby throw out her juice box (6oz) is baffling. I explained to the hostess several times that she’s just a baby and reassured the hostess that we’ll spend good money at restaurant, but she said that it’s their policy and made us throw away the juice box before we were seated. I didn’t want to ruin my friends’ experience so we proceeded with our meals. I spoke to the manager before we left, but he gave us the same bs explanation

3 stars only … Here is why:
— The food taste is ok … Very salty though (onion French soup and crepes for example)
— Seating area very small (especially outside seating) — not good for kids btw (no kids menu either)
— pricing scheme for their added items is ridiculous: ordered Canadian Waffles ($ 10). The server asked if we would like fruits on top, we said yes. On the invoice the few «drops» I’d strawberry and banana were 7 $ — making the Canadian Waffle total price to 17 $ (cf photo invoice)
— Kind of a nice French bistro ambiance
— Service was ok — waitress/​waitresses were friendly

Vegetarians — there are several options. I got the eggs Benedict vegetarian which was extremely mediocre. I can’t believe I paid $ 15 for two eggs, tomato slices, bread and some spinach.
If the prices were more affordable this place might be bearable. But at its snobby brunch price point, their mediocre food is inexcusable.
That being said my friend did enjoy his quiche though I’m sure you could find better food for better prices.

Came for brunch on a Saturday and it was the perfect brunch scenario. Good food, good service, and the place was not too packed. They have unlimited mimosas which my table was definitely a fan of.
I wanted something a bit lighter so I had the La Parisienne crêpe — it had eggs, with Niman Ranch ham, and emmenthal cheese. Probably a little overpriced at $ 15 bucks, but it was tasty and exactly what I needed to start my day.

The place is so French I’m having trouble believing it is in SOMA with all the trend, ultramodern chic tech hangouts. Good thing its in kind of a secret spot. Quaint would be the best word to describe Butler & Chef. The dishes were very homestyle comfort staples with French inspiration. Everything they touch seems to be golden, from the delectable quiche to the rich smoked salmon benedict. The croques are other worldly and stay true to French tradition. Overall, a great little spot to grab an espresso and some dank brunch after a night out on the town. Come early to put your name down because there more certainly will be a wait.

This place was really cute and located in a pretty remote location. It definitely had a different ambience compared to other French restaurants, since I felt like the entire restaurant could’ve easily been outdoors. I was surprised to find that there was no line for Sunday brunch when I got there.
The portions were quite small for the price, but you can definitely tell they prioritize quality over quantity. The french toast was very unique, but it wasn’t so amazing that I would come back again. It was really nice that they gave complimentary chocolate truffles with the check though. Overall, it was a great experience but I don’t think it is a place where I’d visit again.

Limited variety on the menu. Pretty pricey even if it’s «French». Nothing special at all that I can’t get at a cheaper place. The portions are okay and it was pretty empty when I came here. Don’t think I’ll come back again but it was worth a try I guess!
On a side note, «fresh orange juice» is $ 5! So not worth it… Well at least it was like a price shock to my ass. Didn’t even really taste like fresh orange juice…

Wow. Just… Wow. Everything from the service, the speed, quality of food, to the check and delicious chocolates… One of the best spots for brunch I’ve experienced.
My best friend and I shared onion soup (delicious), French toast (YUMMY), and the smoked salmon eggs Benedict (poached to perfection, and awesome olive bread– great touch!)
Server was great and fast, never had an empty glass of our waters or coffees the entire time.
Was an amazing experience, definitely making it back here soon!!!

On a girlfriend’s recommendation, we tried this place for brunch. She’s probably the biggest food snob I know, so I knew this would not disappoint.
To my delight, I spotted vegetarian croque mademoiselle on the menu. Usually when I order a croque, I have to ask them to omit the ham, which ultimately becomes a grilled cheese sandwich smothered in bechamel and topped with an egg. Nothing wrong with that I say, but this version takes it one step further with the addition of thinly sliced zucchini and plump, flavorful tomatoes. A side salad and a couple cornichons make this a substantial sized meal. My dish didn’t have a fried egg on or in it. The boyfriend got the smoked salmon benedict. Eggs were perfectly poached, thick golden yolks and all. The olive bread made this special. Coffee was good (it’s the Bay after all) and the sugar cubes were a nice touch. Rustic, cocoa-​dusted truffles accompany the bill.
Nearby meter and street parking. Ours was a twenty minute wait, but it was a pleasant one. South Park is just steps from their door. It was summer when we visited, but the tree-​lined street kept us cool and out of the sun. Inside is cute, but a little cramped. Bistro tables throughout and an outdoor patio. This is a great place to start the day and walk to your next destination. We took a relaxed stroll to AT&T Park to take advantage of our parking spot.

Meh, okay brunch place. It’s super tiny so you get pretty squeezed next to other tables. After reading Unilocal reviews, I ordered the Salmon Benedict. It was okay.
My friend ordered the pancakes and it was fluffy and delicious. Given how much my dish was, I didn’t think it was very worth it. Service was super quick and attentive though, and best of all there wasn’t a huge wait. There are definitely better brunch spots in the city but I wouldn’t mind coming back since this one is super close to where I live.

I really like the Croque Monsieur from here – even better than the ones from Paris. What makes it different from the other ones I’ve tried, is their crème fraiche nutmeg topping – better than just the regular Gruyère or emmental cheese topping. So creamy.
Call me boring, but this ham and cheese hot sandwich is actually pretty basic. Nothing complex, but I totally dig their take on it. Ahh… life’s simple pleasures.
If you order this, you gotta use their lovely house mustard with every bite.
Besides my personal fave, their ‘Famous Eggs Benedict’ is decent.
+ $ 10 minimum per person on weekends
+ Wine, champagne, and non-​alcoholic beverages
+ Complimentary chocolate truffle treat with your check

A cute, possibly authentically French café tucked away in South Park. The small, circular tables outside take me back to Paris proper. Go for their $ 7 mimosas on weekends and stay for the amazing food. The Belgian waffles with banana and almonds are incredible and their Crêpe Norwegienne is a lighter, still tasty option. They are flexible with customer requests — today I asked for Tartine with a single poached egg on the side without any push back.
There is typically some wait time (10 – 30 min) and they do not accept reservations. Seating inside is slightly limited. Their Michelin nod is absolutely well-​deserved.

The French onion soup tho, epic, although not veggie:/
Had a sammie about a year ago. Forgettable.
Fresh fruit was bomb tho.
Café-​like spot.
Hook your soul up with the soup, no doubt, if you eat meat things:-P

I came with a friend for brunch at 12pm on a Sunday and the wait was only about 10 minutes. All the Unilocal highlights looked delicious, so we decided to split three dishes, the french toast, croque monsieur, and smoked salmon egg benedict.
All the dishes arrived simultaneously and we could barely fit it on the tiny table.
My favorite dish was the croque monsieur. It’s not overwhelming large, yet its quite filling. The bread came out slightly firm and I’m glad it wasn’t a soggy mess.
The egg benedict tasted like any other well made benedict.
The french toast tasted wonderful, not overly sweet, although it could have been improved with some toppings.
The place became busier after we ordered and we never had any water refills until after getting the check. This was slightly disappointing, but nonetheless I would come back for the food.

Quaint French bistro in south park. Feels very authentic like those in Europe. The owner comes out and socialized in a very friendly manner at opening.
Salmon Benedict — ³⁄₅ — Decent, but I wouldn’t order again.
Croque monsieur — ⁵⁄₅ — The best croque monsieur I’ve had so far in the city. The emmenthal cheese and crème fraîche together made this dish creamy and delicious.
Overall, the food was very good, the atmosphere was just right and the location is fantastic. «I’m a fan.»

Thanks to Cyneats’s blog post on this cute little breakfast bistro, which you can read here (
), I just HAD to try this place out. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, so any well-​reviewed breakfast spot is a place I must try. It’s pretty south in SOMA, and when I happened to be in the area one morning, I decided, «Hey, this is a pretty great excuse to go try this out! I’m also craving smoked salmon!»
Not to mention the name «The Butler & The Chef» is pretty enticing, given that I have a not-​so-​secret-​hot-​butler fetish (*cough* Sebastian Michaelis *coughcough* Black Butler *COUGH* Kuroshitsuji *coughCOUGH*).
Okay, that might be TMI. I walked over to find this place. It’s hidden in this intersection on 2^nd Street that’s pretty easy to miss. But once walking in, I instantly feel like I’m transported into a peaceful little park full of greenery and cute buildings, even though the somewhat gritty city streets of SOMA is just several feet behind me.
It’s much smaller than I imagined, though it explains why this place can get really packed after 11AM. I got here around 9:30AM, so wait time wasn’t a problem for me. Yes, there were quite a few groups of people, but there was an empty table for me to sit at.
Looking online, I was torn between the Quiche and the Egg Benedict with Smoked Salmon. But it wasn’t until I got here that I realized Quiche isn’t served until after 11AM, so that made my choice easy.
I was not disappointed at all. When my order came within 5 minutes, the server asked me if I would like pepper as well. I love pepper, and she ground some over my food right then and there. Wonderful! The spinach was a very vibrant, rich hue of green, and tasted fresh. The poached eggs were also fresh, hot, and the yolk was runny and rich. Yum! And my favorite part was the SMOKED SALMON. Yes! So fresh, juicy, and tender. And the portion was very generous too. I was certainly stuffed.
Unfortunately, I have to ding off one star because of the lack of wi-​fi. I asked if there was wi-​fi, only to be told there was none. I really needed connection because I had to get to work via Lyft, and even with my cellular data, it was a struggle to get a Lyft to come get me. GAH.
Also, I kept seeing photos on Unilocal of people getting two truffles with their check. There’s no way you can dislike a place that gives you free truffles with your check, but why did I only get one? My greedy sweet tooth demands an answer. Oh wait, was it because I came alone?
So, in a summary: fresh and delicious Parisian breakfast by a cute little park, but no wi-​fi.

This is the kind of hole in the wall place you imagine yourself in a chick flick, living in a studio apartment, and walking downstairs to for a nice brunch. Situated in front of a park, it’s definitely easy to miss. Street parking is cramped and scarce. Went on a Friday morning, the place was pretty empty aside from a couple of other tables. Our waiter was friendly and the food didn’t take too long to come out.
We ordered one of their famous salmon benedicts and a banana waffle. Both did not disappoint! The benedict is different from others in the sense that they are not served on an english muffin and instead served on a crunchy toasted olive bread. Personally I really enjoyed this because it added a nice crunch to the benedict where as a lot of times english muffins sometimes get soggy. The waffle wasn’t amazing, but it was definitely good with the honey. Will for sure come back here to try their Croque Monsieur/​Mademoiselle and profiterole (puff pastry filled w/​vanilla ice cream and topped with dark chocolate sauce)!