Cuisine type: traditional French
Atmosphere: casual European style cafe
Meal: brunch
Overall score: 8.4
Whenever I watch the Bay Area “Check, Please!” show (featuring three area residents talking about their favorite restaurant) I try to make mental notes of what I should try next. Unfortunately, I rarely remember those places long enough to follow through. This time, we happened to find ourselves in San Francisco the very next day after I got really excited about the presentation on this very tempting French establishment called Gamine. I looked up the address, and decided we would go there for brunch, since it came highly recommended.
We almost missed it the first time we walked by - this is a small and subdued place, with a couple of tiny tables outside (for that authentic European cafe feel) and still tiny and crowded tables inside, also quite true to form with French bistros I’ve experienced in Lyon. The atmosphere is light and casual, with very friendly service and an open kitchen space which you can see from the dining room and observe up close from the bar counter seating (no formal bar in the restaurant, though). They serve water in glass carafes with no ice, which just adds just another touch of authenticity.
The meal started, of course, with crunchy crusted French baguette and butter - I often think you can’t really wish for anything better than that, and they didn’t disappoint. The bread was a perfect balance of chewy and fluffy, with a deliciously crunchy crust, and the butter was fresh and just salty enough to bring out the flavors even better.
But enough about bread, let’s talk food. I picked the beef tartare for an appetizer, especially after a particularly good experience with it recently at Arcadia I was looking for more. The dish was good, though I did take one point off the food score for the heavy handedness in their use of seasoning on the meat, particularly Worchestershire sauce. While the meat was delicate and finely chopped, with a luscious creaminess from the quail egg yolk and in pleasant contrast with the crunch of the toast bits, the dressing was overwhelming at times and distracted from the dish.
Since we did make it there for brunch, I decided on a decidedly brunch-worthy dish, the oeufs cocottes with salmon and goat cheese. The concept was brilliant and the flavors were all there, but the seasoning missed the mark a bit (thus, the second point deducted from the food score). basically, I had a poached egg, surrounded by bits of lightly smoked and cooked salmon and spinach, and drowned in a cream sauce with goat cheese. However, the sauce was a bit too salty and as I ate it became almost overbearing, if there were only less of it or less salt in it, it would have been a delightful dish.
What French meal could ever end without coffee and dessert? While Ben ordered a shot of espresso, I picked the chocolate mousse, which did not disappoint. It came in a large sundae glass, and it was more than plenty for the two of us to share. The mousse was rich and creamy and smooth, with an intense chocolate flavor, and it was topped with freshly whipped cream that provided a lightly flavored counterpoint to the chocolate. Fantastic ending to this meal, and definitely left me with a yearning to go back someday.
We almost missed it the first time we walked by - this is a small and subdued place, with a couple of tiny tables outside (for that authentic European cafe feel) and still tiny and crowded tables inside, also quite true to form with French bistros I’ve experienced in Lyon. The atmosphere is light and casual, with very friendly service and an open kitchen space which you can see from the dining room and observe up close from the bar counter seating (no formal bar in the restaurant, though). They serve water in glass carafes with no ice, which just adds just another touch of authenticity.
The meal started, of course, with crunchy crusted French baguette and butter - I often think you can’t really wish for anything better than that, and they didn’t disappoint. The bread was a perfect balance of chewy and fluffy, with a deliciously crunchy crust, and the butter was fresh and just salty enough to bring out the flavors even better.
But enough about bread, let’s talk food. I picked the beef tartare for an appetizer, especially after a particularly good experience with it recently at Arcadia I was looking for more. The dish was good, though I did take one point off the food score for the heavy handedness in their use of seasoning on the meat, particularly Worchestershire sauce. While the meat was delicate and finely chopped, with a luscious creaminess from the quail egg yolk and in pleasant contrast with the crunch of the toast bits, the dressing was overwhelming at times and distracted from the dish.
Since we did make it there for brunch, I decided on a decidedly brunch-worthy dish, the oeufs cocottes with salmon and goat cheese. The concept was brilliant and the flavors were all there, but the seasoning missed the mark a bit (thus, the second point deducted from the food score). basically, I had a poached egg, surrounded by bits of lightly smoked and cooked salmon and spinach, and drowned in a cream sauce with goat cheese. However, the sauce was a bit too salty and as I ate it became almost overbearing, if there were only less of it or less salt in it, it would have been a delightful dish.
What French meal could ever end without coffee and dessert? While Ben ordered a shot of espresso, I picked the chocolate mousse, which did not disappoint. It came in a large sundae glass, and it was more than plenty for the two of us to share. The mousse was rich and creamy and smooth, with an intense chocolate flavor, and it was topped with freshly whipped cream that provided a lightly flavored counterpoint to the chocolate. Fantastic ending to this meal, and definitely left me with a yearning to go back someday.
| Food | 8 |
| Drinks | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 9 |
| Service | 9 |
| Value | 8 |
Ben
I couldn’t tell how french the service was, but the style, feel, and menu of Gamine was very authentic (not too much california-french fusion here). The french onion soup was perfect; obscenely cheesy, with a great caramelized onion flavor and crunchy little crouton. I will go back, if just for this soup. The tartare was solid, simple and flavorful, a slightly small portion for the price. While I really enjoyed the egg yolk, I found the sauce too acidic and would have preferred it more plain.
One of the best things was simply the baguettes; very fresh, slightly crunchy crust but very soft in the middle... one of the best baguettes I’ve had (stateside or otherwise). I sort of swung and missed with the lamb merguez sausage panini. The side salad was amazing, some magic with a fresh and simple vinaigrette over greens. The merguez were little sausages that were a little dry and awkward in a panini. I guess that’s what I get for ordering a spanish/italian fusion at a french restaurant (one of the few non-classic-french looking things on the menu). Nina’s salmon & chevre poached eggs were very good. Looking around, I am sure I will try the mussels (moules mariniere) next time. For dessert we had a fantastically rich but fluffy chocolate mousse, which went perfectly with the true european espresso I ordered. Overall a very pleasant place, though a bit cozy with many adjacent tables, there is outdoor seating (for when the weather is a little warmer).
One of the best things was simply the baguettes; very fresh, slightly crunchy crust but very soft in the middle... one of the best baguettes I’ve had (stateside or otherwise). I sort of swung and missed with the lamb merguez sausage panini. The side salad was amazing, some magic with a fresh and simple vinaigrette over greens. The merguez were little sausages that were a little dry and awkward in a panini. I guess that’s what I get for ordering a spanish/italian fusion at a french restaurant (one of the few non-classic-french looking things on the menu). Nina’s salmon & chevre poached eggs were very good. Looking around, I am sure I will try the mussels (moules mariniere) next time. For dessert we had a fantastically rich but fluffy chocolate mousse, which went perfectly with the true european espresso I ordered. Overall a very pleasant place, though a bit cozy with many adjacent tables, there is outdoor seating (for when the weather is a little warmer).
| Food | 9 |
| Drinks | 8 |
| Atmosphere | 8 |
| Service | 9 |
| Value | 8 |
