San Francisco - Benu & Saison: two new places worth the money?

Benu and Saison are relatively new and highly regarded. However, they are both very expensive (Saison is $198/person) and Benu's tasting menu is $180/person. This is quite expensive, even relative to some great places in the city which are closer to $100/person (Masa's, Fleur de Lys, La Folie, Quince, Acqurello, etc). Has anybody been to Benu or Saison, and are they worth the premium over other great places in the city?

Benu and Saison are relatively new and highly regarded. However, they are both very expensive (Saison is $198/person) and Benu's tasting menu is $180/person. This is quite expensive, even relative to some great places in the city which are closer to $100/person (Masa's, Fleur de Lys, La Folie, Quince, Acqurello, etc). Has anybody been to Benu or Saison, and are they worth the premium over other great places in the city?

I've been to both, and yes, they are absolutely worth the money. The atmosphere in the dining room at Benu is not quite worthy of the prices they are charging, but the food absolutely is. Of the 18 course menu, at least half were spectacular and items that I had never had before, and the other half were very solid. Better than TFL, and just as good as Manresa and Momofuku Ko.

Saison was about $160 when I went, but I also thought it was one of my best meals ever. I'm also not a fan of Quince, so I'd say both are better there, too.

My friend liked Benu very much. I think she liked it better than TFL, which she thought was overpriced.

It sounds like we are getting a flood of molecular gastronomy places -- heck, there is even one on a secondary business street in Palo Alto (called Baume, I think) that got two Michelin stars.

I wonder how many $300 per person dinner places (including wine pairings, tip, and tax) the market will support.

It sounds like we are getting a flood of molecular gastronomy places -- heck, there is even one on a secondary business street in Palo Alto (called Baume, I think) that got two Michelin stars.

I wonder how many $300 per person dinner places (including wine pairings, tip, and tax) the market will support.
My coworker has been to Baume in Palo Alto and thought it was excellent both times. However, she was shocked the second time since the prices had gone up and they had gone to an pricey tasting menu only for dinner. Lunch looks like a better option since there is the a la carte option.

My coworker has been to Baume in Palo Alto and thought it was excellent both times. However, she was shocked the second time since the prices had gone up and they had gone to an pricey tasting menu only for dinner. Lunch looks like a better option since there is the a la carte option.

Last time I checked their menu posting, they served lunch only on Friday and the only choice was a slightly lessened version of the dinner menu at a slightly lessened cost.

Haven't ever gone, I just typically look at their menu when having an occasional lunch at Cho's Pot Stickers next door -- Cho's would sort of be the "anti-Baume" alternative!

Last time I checked their menu posting, they served lunch only on Friday and the only choice was a slightly lessened version of the dinner menu at a slightly lessened cost.

Haven't ever gone, I just typically look at their menu when having an occasional lunch at Cho's Pot Stickers next door -- Cho's would sort of be the "anti-Baume" alternative!
You're right only on Friday. At least they offer a 5 course for $78 during lunch as well as a 9 course for $128. A little less than the 12 course $168 for dinner.

I haven't gone to Manresa - so that's where I should go first now that they remodeled.

A little less than the 12 course $168 for dinner.

Where do you see the $168 for dinner? I'm only seeing $198 on the website.

Where do you see the $168 for dinner? I'm only seeing $198 on the website.
I thought I read that on Yelp in a recent review. I could definitely be wrong!

I was personally not a fan of Benu - have not been to Saison but my favorite places in SF are by far gary danko and dining room at the ritz.

I was personally not a fan of Benu - have not been to Saison but my favorite places in SF are by far gary danko and dining room at the ritz.

What did you not like about Benu? Was it too "ethnic"?

Do you like the dining room at the ritz still? I hear that it has declined dramatically, and it's no longer what it once was.

Do you like the dining room at the ritz still? I hear that it has declined dramatically, and it's no longer what it once was.

Not only did you hear correctly about the decline in quality, but the Ritz Dining Room closed last year for renovations. I haven't heard that it has reopened.

Not only did you hear correctly about the decline in quality, but the Ritz Dining Room closed last year for renovations. I haven't heard that it has reopened.

http://parallel37sf.com/food/

http://parallel37sf.com/food/
Not so good reviews too.

I was incredibly disappointed with Saison. At that kind of price point, I expect a good majority of dishes to be memorable and the service impeccable. Most of the dishes have since been forgotten and the service left a lot to be desired. A LOT. And don't get me started on the sommelier. I've read they retooled the place and took out seats, which hopefully has helped the service issues. But I'm not clamoring to come back. A shame, because I really wanted to like Saison.

I was incredibly disappointed with Saison. At that kind of price point, I expect a good majority of dishes to be memorable and the service impeccable. Most of the dishes have since been forgotten and the service left a lot to be desired. A LOT. And don't get me started on the sommelier. I've read they retooled the place and took out seats, which hopefully has helped the service issues. But I'm not clamoring to come back. A shame, because I really wanted to like Saison.

A shame, indeed. I think the menu there changes much more often than at other restaurants with similar price points (it's more like Coi than Manresa), so I suspect the probability of it varying is going to be higher. My husband and I liked it a lot, and he said it's one of the only high end places he'd consider going back to, likely because of the regularly changing menu. We had kitchen table, so the service was likely very different than what you experienced in the dining room. I'll keep your experience in mind before reserving again.

In other news, Benu got a fourth star from Michael Bauer this weekend:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/12/FD9A1N1BRP.DTL

It looks like the menu is largely the same as the last time I went about eight months ago.

I finally went to Benu. It was excellent. Was it $180 excellent? Not at all. For $185, we ate at Alinea in Chicago, which was an amazing experience. Alinea was worth $185!! How does Benu compare to Alinea? It doesn't. Benu is really more like Gary Danko, which is great, no question. However, it is not as creative as Alinea, and other than a little Asian twist to their food, it's pretty standard fare.

Don't get me wrong, this place is excellent, no question. If I had $180, would I drop it on Benu? No way. I'd spend it on the $72 menu at Gary Danko instead, which I think has just as good food if not better (and a little more luxurious setting). So Benu is good, but it's not $180 good. Not worth the money, in my opinion.

In other news, Benu got a fourth star from Michael Bauer this weekend:



In other other news, Michael Bauer's ratings are getting more and more bizarre, and sometimes stars just pop out of his poto. Not that I can comment on Benu because I've never been, but some of his add/drops this year defy consistency in his own "explanation" system.