La Folie
 

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. A number of years ago one of my mentors had eaten here and said that he wanted to take his wife quickly in case the chef died. Fortunately for him, and the rest of many happy San Franciscians Rolland Passot is alive and well and adding to the waistline and happiness of uncounted diner's.

This is a five or six star restaurant. Words can hardly do it justice, but that is okay because you can see with dishes actually look like on their website http://lafolie.com/specialty.html.

The hours, prices and location are all available on the website. My only complaint is that the tables are too close together and the room can get quite noisy when it is full, but is much better than many comparable San Francisco area restaurants

It may be hard to believe but the food tastes even better than it looks. I don't go there very often because neither my wallet nor my waistline could afford it but I have only have one course in approximately 20 visits that wasn't prepared to perfection. As you can see, the dishes are so beautiful you almost all want to taste them -- but have no fear they taste even better than they look.

The kitchen is somewhat opened and you can easily see into the kitchen when you go to the restroom. It is amazing that they can turn out such extraordinary food working in such a small space. Sometimes the chef will come out and talk to diner's -- which is a special treat. Service is excellent (usually). An example of exceptional service is when a waiter came running over to warn my friend that the bite of her husband's entree she was about to try contained garlic -- we had previously inquired about a number of dishes because she is allergic to garlic (poor soul http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...orum/smile.gif ). I hadn't even noticed that the waiter was in the vicinity. On another occasion I was allowed to return for dessert after the theater (as part of my discovery dinner).

The wine selections are excellent and the advice of the Sommeiier is extraordinary. He caters not only to ordinary taste but actually listens to what your specific preferences are and even if they're not classic (I enjoyed a champagne is normally a dessert champagne with my main course) your requests are carefully considered.

Each time I go I try to eat less but the food is just so good that I always overeat!

THANKS for this post! I had forgotten how lovely my last meal was at La Folie and when I clicked on the link and saw the plated food, I called La Folie and made a reservation for 2 for next Saturday at 7pm.

As to the crowding, just ask for a table in their back room, it's not crowded at all.

By the way, I think Gary Danko is somewhat better, but I haven't tried that many dishes at La Folie. Have you tried Gary Danko, and do you or anyone else have some comparative opinions? Any opinions on other SF-Bay Area restaurants in this league?

La Folie is definitely on my list of places to visit next time I am in the Bay Area. I was discussing my favorite 5+ star restaurants and estnet mentioned this one and that it was her favorite.

As far as other restaurants in the 5+ star category, I would put forward The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton in San Francisco as the best I have ever visited. Service-wise, quality and creativity of dishes, the unrivaled cheeseboard, and of course the wine selction are all yet to be beaten for me. Living in Tokyo, I find the $150 or so price per head to be normal or even value for this level of experience. An experience I relish all the more because it is not an every day possibility for me.

So, it was from a recent discussion in which I mentioned this place that I was urged to try La Folie, I most certainly shall. http://www.flyertalk.com/dining/ftdi...orum/smile.gif Thanks for the post.

Mike

------------------
FT picture page (hosted by markbach)
My Starbucks City Mug Collection Page
NYC Football Bet Payoff Mini-Do

All in all, I prefer La Folie to Gary Danko's. This may just be due to my francophile leanings as far as food goes. Ingredients, preparation, service in both places in excellent. I like the idea of being able to choose any item on the menu for any course(and in different size servings) better in theory than in practice at Danko's. It's difficult enough just deciding what to choose, without having to decide where in the menu you would like to place a given dish. Additionally, I have never been to La Folie except in parties of French speakers who are foodies/oenophiles. This may have influenced how our table was treated.