Open List Home > San Francisco, CA > 94102 > Restaurants & Food > Restaurants > Absinthe Brasserie and Bar
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$$$
Open Late, Handicap Accessible
Mediterranean, French, Californian
For two star French, try Absinthe in San Francisco. Located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood, this inexpensive restaurant is one of the popular spots in the area. It's been awarded the 10 Best SF Wine Bars and 10 Best SF Romantic awards. This place features outdoor dining. Upon entering the restaurant, you'll find a romantic atmosphere. This place features private rooms, a raw bar, a full bar, breakfast, and lunch. This restaurant is handicap accessible and open late.
This luxuriously appointed restaurant is decorated to evoke the golden age of absinthe, with deep-red walls, lush velvet chairs and dark, sexy lighting. The focal point of the main room is the grand bar,...
citysearch.com - expert review - 06/21/2004
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I really wanted to be the 666th review, but I just couldn't wait for four more people to say something..... Having been in and out of Absinthe for years, it's hard to write a review based on one visit,…
yelp.com - user review - 07/02/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I have a feather in my cap for Absinthe for the birthday breakfast at the copper bar with wine and cheese and the various cheese pairings, like honeycomb. It made me vow to make Absinthe a more…
yelp.com - user review - 07/02/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Mixed feelings about Absinthe. The hot water for the tea came lukewarm, and as the day's waiters and busboys looked much overworked, we let it be. The fries and salads were delish, but the mussels…
yelp.com - user review - 07/01/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
one of my fav cocktail stops in the city. and johnny is the best. I think ive had some of the food before, and it was mighty tasty. i had however, had a few of johnny's manhattans prior to food…
yelp.com - user review - 07/01/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
OK - I went here on Saturday night looking for a seat in the bar for two. It was a little crowded, but they did a good job seating us. Unfortunately, the menu our waitress gave us was not the bar…
yelp.com - user review - 06/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
what an interesting place this is. we go here mainly for brunch every now and then and it's a great bustling atmosphere. the food is good here and heavy depending on what you get, but good…
yelp.com - user review - 06/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love Absinthe! Excellent food & drinks - cute French decor. Oysters here are so FRESH & tasty. I am in love with their LAVENDER Creme Brulee' - yummalicious. Haven't tried the burger yet, which…
yelp.com - user review - 06/26/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I don't think this is the best place in the world, but damn there menu is huge and that goes for both the food and the drinks. Now if I was drinking, I'd have even more fun here, but I'm not much of a…
yelp.com - user review - 06/24/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We wound up taking my visiting in-laws here for dinner one night when the scene / mob at Suppenkuche was more than they were prepared to handle, after a long day of drinking in wine country. We…
yelp.com - user review - 06/24/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Absinthe. And from what I understand they do serve it, 'cause its legal now you know? Anyway, I've been here for lunch and always leave completely satisfied. I do the croque monsieur here as well…
yelp.com - user review - 06/19/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We came for dinner right before the Opera on a Tuesday night. I made reservations so there was no wait. Service was great! My husband had never actually tried absinthe before so he had some. (i'm not…
yelp.com - user review - 06/19/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Great food, great service. I ordered the beef cheeks, which were cooked perfectly and tasted delish. My husband ordered the corn soup (which was different but very good) and the black cod. My mom…
yelp.com - user review - 06/18/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I'm torn about having to write this. I really wanted to give it a 4 star but after having brunch here the second time around, I wasn't that impressed. I had the eggs with the homemade beef patties…
yelp.com - user review - 06/16/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
If you plan on having dinner alone, this is the place to go. You won't have to sit at the bar and you won't have to sit at a table that's clearly meant for two or more. Why? Because Absinthe has…
yelp.com - user review - 06/15/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I have been here several times and never had a bad meal. Some are better than others though: 1) service is outstanding
yelp.com - user review - 06/15/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Very mixed feelings about Absinthe. I've eaten there many times, both in the restaurant and in the bar area. I've never been too happy about the restaurant meals. In fact , I've been served some very…
yelp.com - user review - 06/13/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
First restaurant we went to for dine about town. We were suppose to have lunch but they were serving brunch. We started off with the caviar and blini tasting. There were five different types of caviar…
yelp.com - user review - 06/10/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Decent restaurant bar spot that seems to be all about gin. Highlights:
yelp.com - user review - 06/10/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Came here for brunch and ordered the "Wild mushroom omelet, sauteed ramps & spring onions, gruyre cheese, fresh herbs" & had a glass of death in the afternoon (champagne & absinthe). The name of the…
yelp.com - user review - 06/09/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
We came here for DAT June '08. Unfortunately it was still brunch and they weren't serving a DAT menu for it. Oh well. So we just got something from their brunch. We decided to spend what would…
yelp.com - user review - 06/09/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I've wanted to try this place for a very long time. I've heard a lot of good reviews and also saw it on an episode of check please. It's a very nice space, airy and cozy at the same time. I had the…
yelp.com - user review - 06/07/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I dined here with a few co-workers and we had a great time. The pre-dinner cocktails are something you should certainly allocate time for- this joint ain't called absinthe for nothing! The…
yelp.com - user review - 06/05/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I came here for my 23rd birthday last December. The service was great. Since we all had never really eaten French food before, our waiter was attentive and did not mind pouring his heart out about the…
yelp.com - user review - 06/05/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Dear Absinthe, I know that your bar area is always pretty full, so you probably think you'll be around forever. But, San Francisco diners are much smarter than that. They will soon realize that your…
yelp.com - user review - 06/04/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Good, but not great, considering the price. I had possibly the best cheese plate I've ever sampled, but everything else was ordinary (including the drinks).
yelp.com - user review - 06/04/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
This place-- like most faux-scale restaurants in this section of town -- is extremely overrated. The steak was dry, the wait times horrible, and I promise they must just reheat their mashed potatoes…
yelp.com - user review - 06/03/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I was a bit non-plussed after a Sunday brunch. I had wanted to go to Absinthe for a long time, just never seemed to make it. The food was okay (was expecting much better), and the service was okay…
yelp.com - user review - 06/01/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I've never been into messy burgers. I just don't like the idea of greasy beef scum and nasty condiments dripping from dead lettuce - even if there is a milkshake to wash it down with. Thankfully,…
yelp.com - user review - 05/30/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Nice decor/environment. Good food. We were there before a theater performance and it is a good location for an evening at the opera or theater. Could be a nice place for a date, too.
yelp.com - user review - 05/29/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I love French bistro faire and this place hits the spot. They have amazing croque monsieurs and croque madames. Their onion soup is really flavorful with a heaping gob of cheese. It's really cozy…
yelp.com - user review - 05/28/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Maybe it's because I had high expectations, but I felt Absinthe to be about average. I was not overly impressed with anything really. It's worthwhile, but not one of the best restaurants in the…
yelp.com - user review - 05/27/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
My favorite place in San Francisco for cocktails. The cocktails are just, wonderful (esp. the Ginger Rogers). Dinner was wonderful here too, although I miss the old chef and their rib eye and fries,…
yelp.com - user review - 05/27/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
We were in the mood for cocktails, and remembering how Absinthe looked so classy with the impressive bottle display in the window we decided to check it out. This place is a classic cocktail lounge…
yelp.com - user review - 05/27/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
If ya have some moola to spend on excellent food, an amazing wine list and unbelievable service- head on over to Absinthe! What a lovely experience we had and we were sitting in the bar area! I…
yelp.com - user review - 05/23/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
Meh. My cod was cooked perfectly but the flavors didn't blend together well enough. Plus the topping of fried onion was way too salty. (But s for using sea salt flakes and not just plain rock salt)…
yelp.com - user review - 05/23/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
good waitstaff, tiresome food, cool (albeit frayed) space. it's nice to hang out here on occasion, but the food isn't my thing. they serve the best bottled water i've ever had. sometimes i annoy…
yelp.com - user review - 05/23/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
This place is too cool for me. Whenever I walk by this bar I tend to look at my sneakers to appear subordinate to the patrons. Little dogs welcome (apparently).
yelp.com - user review - 05/22/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Absinthe is cool--like, they serve absinthe. It's an attractive hang out in a cool neighborhood.
yelp.com - user review - 05/21/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
This is a great place for a drink. They serve the classics, add some imaginative originals, and stock some really high-value booze you can't find anywhere else. Trust me: my husband's been looking…
yelp.com - user review - 05/19/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
Dropped by for lunch on a Saturday. I ordered the burger with gruyere cheese ($10 $1.50) and fries ($6). The burger was good but the fries were so salty that they were not eatable. I don't think I'll…
yelp.com - user review - 05/17/2008
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1.0 of 5 stars.
SUCKY SERVICE! I stopped in for a cocktail and possibly dinner. I was seated at a table that rocked like it was in an earthquake (one look at the base revealed a folded linen napkin holding up one…
yelp.com - user review - 05/16/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Ah-may-zing. Inventory: duck confit appetizer, seared black cod (melts in your mouth), beef cheeks (heinie should always taste this good), tangerine sorbet and almond shortbread cookies, fancy pants…
yelp.com - user review - 05/16/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
This place has now made it into my list of known late night dining venues. I arrived here rather late and was pleasantly surprised to find a cosy atmosphere and no shortage of good looking women…
yelp.com - user review - 05/15/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Absinthe is an excellent place for some fine dining in the city. It is quite pricey, but the food is good and there are some cool dishes on the menu. They also have some nice desserts and a good…
yelp.com - user review - 05/12/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
I think that burger in the photo kind of speaks for the place but here are some additional thoughts... If you want to donate your money for a small chicken leg and a plate of lima beans out of a can…
yelp.com - user review - 05/11/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
the food was good but the service was bad. My friends and i went there for brunch. I ordered the french toast, it was very very rich, but not too sweet. However, the waitress was i would say…
yelp.com - user review - 05/11/2008
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1.0 of 5 stars.
I went to Absynthe two times. Once before the theatre, and the food was just ok. Then I went again last weekend, and there was a much older crowd, which I don't mind. But the host was extremely rude.…
yelp.com - user review - 05/10/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
So many good reviews for this place! I give them 1 star for ambiance. Beautiful decor, nice corner bistro in Hayes Valley...half a star for my half-hearted belief that if I went back I might have a…
yelp.com - user review - 05/08/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
It's a nice place for lunch. Big place, great for groups. The food itself, well...that's an another story. The majority of us had either the chicken sandwich or the hamburger. One word: GREASY. We…
yelp.com - user review - 05/07/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
don't get me wrong - this place is plenty nice and had a great atmosphere, it's just that it's a bit cramped and the drinks aren't all they are cracked up to be. you'd expect this place to make drinks…
yelp.com - user review - 05/06/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
The best blood mary's I have ever had. I'm not usually a blood mary fan, rather I never drink bloody mary's so I may not be a qualified judge but if someone who dislikes tomato juice loves the bloody…
yelp.com - user review - 05/05/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
This review is for their brunch on Sunday. We arrived on schedule but had to wait an additional 15 minutes for our table, no biggie. The drinks came quick and were fabulous, in fact brandied…
yelp.com - user review - 05/04/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Three words: one great martini.
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Perfect environment for date. The light is dim. The french decor set up the mood. Plus the good food helps too. I'd like the pork and the lamb couscous.
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Hello my new neighbors! I just moved to Hayes Valley and I am gonna admit that Absinthe is one of my new local hot spots. I love the fried chick-peas and the Mujer Verde cocktail is fabulous! The…
yelp.com - user review - 05/01/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
If you like Mojito, you're gonna love the Ginger Rogers. I moved away from SF for a few years and of all the great restaurants in and around the city, it was Absinthe's Ginger Rogers that I craved…
yelp.com - user review - 04/30/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Went there for a birthday celebration and it was so fabulous! Service was great.
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
A friend of mine described it as "possibly the best brunch in the city." I'm not really much a brunch guy, personally - but it was Sunday afternoon, we were in Hayes Valley and the ladies cried…
yelp.com - user review - 04/28/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Like this place even needs a review from me at this point. Here is my two cents... I am pretty indifferent about French onion soup, but this one blew my mind and was the best I have ever had!
yelp.com - user review - 04/27/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Pleasant and hip atmosphere; nice decor. Foodwise - the cured meats appetizer was out of this world, the asparagus salad was good but nothing extraordinary. The main courses - scallops were tasty and…
yelp.com - user review - 04/26/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Walked in around 9pm on Friday night and got a table for two right away. We might have just been lucky. I like how the place is decorated - kinda dark, but also luxurious. Tables are far enough apart…
yelp.com - user review - 04/24/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Absinthe originated in Switzerland. However, it is better known for its popularity as an alcoholic drink in late 19th- and early 20th-century France, particularly among Parisian artists and writers.…
yelp.com - user review - 04/22/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
I still don't understand all the hype...but the food wasn't half bad. One of the better croque monsieur's I've had the pleasure of sampling in the city . The service was all that great (why is it my…
yelp.com - user review - 04/22/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Absinthe is amazing.. the drink, that is. The food... meh... let's just say it leaves something to be desired. They should have a dining menu to match their amazing drink menu! I was way more…
yelp.com - user review - 04/19/2008
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1.0 of 5 stars.
attended a few private events, service, what service? or the food, never got there ...
yelp.com - user review - 04/17/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Update: I had to take one star away from the brunch. On my last occasion to dine there on Sunday morning I wasn't impressed with the fact that our mimosa was made with flat champagne.…
yelp.com - user review - 04/17/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
this was the second time i'd been to absinthe. the first time was for dinner before the symphony. this time was for sunday brunch. we made the reservation on open table and got exactly what we…
yelp.com - user review - 04/15/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
this is a type of brunch place i would bring my parents to ... as you click on the website, it portrays this fancy shmancy place, but don't let that fool you. yes, you are right, the velvetty cushiony…
yelp.com - user review - 04/14/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
To follow up on Jennifer S's review, the food was good but not "wow." I had the croque monsieur, which was tasty. Strangely enough, it reminded me of a sandwich I've had at neighboring Arlequin. I'll…
yelp.com - user review - 04/14/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Ever tried deep fried and salted chickpeas? I guarantee, you'll be surprised how good they can taste. At $4 per order, it's worth trying once. I would also recommend the Ginger Rogers (Like a…
yelp.com - user review - 04/13/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Very nice restaurant. We had great service...although have talked with others who had issues with service. The layout is quite interesting, very compartmentalized. We were tucked in a nice corner…
yelp.com - user review - 04/10/2008
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2.0 of 5 stars.
What a disappointment. First off - not a good hamburger, don't believe the hype. nice place to have a drink but not for dinner. Skip the rest of my review if you like.
yelp.com - user review - 04/09/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
4/1/2008 - April Fools Day, but we were NOT fools for lunching at Absinthe!!! My husband and I traveled into the city for First Tuesday Museum day at the Asian Art Museum. What a wonderful…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Sunday Brunch Review I really want to give this place 5 stars, but the service sucked! We were able to get seated right away for a table of 4, but it took over 30 minutes for our food to show up at the…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Let me start this off by saying that I have never been to Absinthe. But, the day before yesterday, two of my good friends began a fancy night out on the town at Absinthe. As they got out of their…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
AWESOME!!! Our server George was a great guy. Went on Saturday Brunch 11am. Best banana blueberry pancakes ever. Other food we had were good too but the pancakes. Damn...I was so full after…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Corn beef hash, as mentioned by others, is absolutely delish! The blueberry banana pancakes are also incredible, and so are the grilled sandwiches. I'm not a Bloody Mary fan, but my friend loves it.…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
Ok, I am fascinated with belle epoque. I like the restaurant's homage to Guimard's art nouveau it seems in wood. After a wonderful evening at Bissap Baobap, we searched for a restaurant that would…
yelp.com - user review - 04/07/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
The first time I was here, I had a stupendous bloody mary and amazing corned beef hash. But let me tell you about the second time, which was yesterday. My friend and I went to Essencia for lunch…
yelp.com - user review - 04/05/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
I was super stoked to go here because I have the cocktail book, which is gorgeous (but sadly I lack the inclination to whip up a rosemary cardamom syrup infused with lavender) so it sits on the coffee…
yelp.com - user review - 04/03/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
ok, now some of you know that ive dabbled into plunging into the industry. some of you know that it even went as far as having the owner of a restaurant accept my offer but bailed out of escrow…
yelp.com - user review - 04/01/2008
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4.0 of 5 stars.
Surprise party at a restaurant? I've never been to one. And guess what? That was a good thing, because I have realized that surprise parties at restaurants are mean because they leave the guests in a…
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars.
*SUNDAY BRUNCH REVIEW ONLY* I don't know how long Absinthe has been doing Sunday brunch, but from the way things went this past Sunday, it doesn't seem like they have been doing it that long. The…
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I ate here last Saturday night and they could do no wrong. I started off with the Hayes 21 cocktail (the address I am assuming) and it was great (which is especially cool since i am not usually a…
yelp.com - user review - 03/31/2008
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5.0 of 5 stars.
I just got home from a delicious dinner at Absinthe. When Dad offers to take me to dinner, I know I have to pick a good spot, and usually a spot that I wouldn't go to on my own dime. He hadn't been…
yelp.com - user review - 03/30/2008
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3.0 of 5 stars. Came here b/c I heard their food/service was pretty good. Found it
