Legendary chef Jacqueline Margulis, now in her 80s, makes each soufflé herself at Cafe Jacqueline in North Beach. Behind mountains of eggs in the tiny kitchen, Margulis has worked with the same prep cook for over 30 years, while the head waiter has been there nearly as long. Her textbook perfect soufflés—including crab, lobster, Gruyère and mushroom and lime and Grand Marnier for dessert—have not changed for decades. We wish she could live forever.
San Francisco’s deep Francophile connections express themselves in Michelin-starred restaurants like Gary Danko, standard-setting bakeries, and cozy neighborhood bistros. Add in French born chefs like Dominique Crenn, who have pushed boundaries for women and French cuisine nationally, and San Francisco's French cuisine scene is thriving. Here are just 10 of our best French restaurants.
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