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Chez Maman
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Burgers Restaurants Creperies French, Burgers, Creperies [Edit]
1453 18th St(between Missouri St & Connecticut St)
San Francisco, CA 94107
Neighbourhood: Potrero Hill
(415) 824-7166
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 10:30 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
About This Business:
Inspired by ingredients found throughout the Iberian Peninsula, located on the southwest tip of Europe, Chef Bridget Batson incorporates regional flavor… read more »
990 reviews for Chez Maman
Review Highlights
-
"French onion soup - absolutely delicious." In 155 reviews -
"For a starter, the baked camembert is glorious." In 52 reviews -
"I had to get the Croque Madame again." In 28 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
988 reviews in English
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Review from Mary L.
Oakland, CA
5/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I come here more regularly now because my boyfriend is French and he also loves this place.
The best apetizer is beaf tartar, escargo is great too but less tasty, onion soup is Wonderful!! For entray, I usually order the pasta, there are two types but both are very creamy. I love it!! The flat iron steak is really nice, tender when you order mediamrare.
I like the Creme brûlée, not very sweet but the caramerlized crust is crispy. -
Review from My T.
Las Vegas, NV
This place has less seats than Swan Oyster Depot and with the same number ardent followers. That means party of 3 may be is too many so leave your friend's friend at home. With all the pictures of burgers on Yelp, I had high hopes for these French Burgers. It's a bit of a let down because they did everything perfect. Juicy Pink middle. Nice bun. Great Dressing. Great Fries. The patty was just too salty and herb-y for my taste. 4505 Meats remains as the best tasting burger patty on the planet for me. The escargot however, was MONEY. When it first came out, I thought they had burnt the dish. But actually, the slightly burnt smokey shell took escargot to the next level for me.
Well done! Merci Beaucoup! Au Revioir! -
Review from Kaitlyn L.
San Francisco, CA
5/15/2012
I don't understand why anyone would give anything less than 5 stars. I could truly eat here every night of my life, and be happy. The food is french comfort--I could pick anything on the menu and be satisfied. The service is fast, attentive, and amicable.
If you enjoy meat (go ahead, crack your jokes!), you CANNOT miss the lamb sausage appetizer. House-made with a little spiciness, served with thin slices of sourdough and a grainy country-style dijon for dipping. OUT OF THIS WORLD!!
As someone else mentioned, the wait on the weekends is usually 1hr+, but you can buy booze inside and sit on a bench/people watch outside while you wait. Entirely worth the wait!! -
Review from Ziyan C.
5/8/2012 3 photos
Oh man. I'm usually a sweet (vs savory) brunch type of person and would normally be pissed if there's no french toast/pancake option on the menu. But when the eggs are THIS GOOD I won't be complaining. This is up there with Dottie's as the best brunch egg dishes in SF.
What an adorable spot - you can get a seat the bar and watch the chefs, one of two booths by the window to enjoy the view and some cozy privacy, or a table on the sidewalk to people watch. We got here at 10:45am on a Sunday and nabbed the last spot for two without waiting, one of the booths =).
* Eggs Florentine - 5 stars
(2 poached egg over toasted muffin with Sauteed Spinach and gruyère bechamel sauce, $12)
Once again - I don't even like eggs florentine! But there's something about this sauce - oh my god, it was heaven in my mouth. Its texture - who knew you could like the TEXTURE of a sauce?? It had just the tiniest bit of grittiness where you know they make it fresh, in house, from scratch, and the flavor - slightly sour, slightly savory - went perfectly with the bitterness of the spinach. The muffin was SUPER soft and buttery and just fantastic. I've already told my friend in NYC who loves eggs benedict/florentine: "I've found the next place I'm taking you to brunch when you're here!"
* Chicken, apple sausage Omelette - 4 stars
(3 egg omelette with tomatoes, bell pepper, jack cheese. also with salad on side. $12)
Once again, they got the texture just right! The eggs were so fluffy and soft, yet still filling. The sausage was great and had a fantastic kick to it; I only wish they had cooked the sausage into the omelette but I understand that is a personal preference; I found myself cutting up the sausage and stuffing pieces into the omelette to eat it all together. -
Review from Cat C.
Bf & I got in for Sunday brunch right after they opened. I knew I shoulda got the burger, but I had a burger at Pearl's the night before, and didn't feel like getting a chicken burger. I knew I had to get the French Onion Soup since I always seem to get it at French restaurants. I also ordered the vegetarian crepe because I was trying to be healthier..to off-set the cheesy soup & I honestly wasn't feeling any breakfast items. He got the chicken sausage omelet. The French Onion soup had lots of gooey comforting cheese but was just alright to me. I enjoyed my buckwheat all veggie crepe it was more pleasing then I thought it would be. It was served with a side salad of greens with a light dressing. He liked his chicken sausage omelet, I didn't think too much of it and thought it was a little weird that the chicken sausage was served alongside the eggs not in the omelet.
As many of mentioned this place is tiny, so food can take awhile and be sure to get there early or you'll be waiting. Be forewarned you will smell like the grill though! I may come back if I was in the area craving French food, however I was a little dissapointed because I've heard so much hype about this place yet still care for other French restaurants more. -
Review from Aundria G.
Daly City, CA
4/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Waited an hour and a half, and it was WELL worth it.
Trust me on this one. -
Review from Linda L.
San Francisco, CA
5/8/2012
Oh the Onion Soup was sooooooooooooo good. All the cheesy melty goodness. The soup alone was a bit heavy.
The burger is good but the flavor is a bit different than what i am use to. The mussels were ok. Size of the individual mussels were on the bigger side hence mushiness.
Would definitely come back for the Onion Soup. -
Review from Naomi K.
4/25/2012
yes!!! A little late on the take to discover this little gem. Perfect, non-pretentious, unassuming, tiny little joint with counter space for 8 and two 2-tops with another 4 top outside with heating lamps. The long narrow counter allows you to witness the magic of the kitchen and what a tight ship they run. Every movement is purposeful and dishes are prepared with speed and grace. The well-staffed kitchen keeps the busy flow of patrons satisfied.
Crepes were excellent, thin and perfect and the onion soup was hearty and filling. I didn't have room to order the mussels but they smelled delicious. The dessert crepes were as delicious as their savory ones. The prices were actually very reasonable. Definitely will be back. Wish it wasn't so popular so there wouldn't be such a long wait! -
Review from Carolé A.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2012
Wonderful food at a decent price and the staff is beyond hospitable, they are incredibly friendly. The atmosphere is intimate and even if you have to wait outside for a bit to be seated, it is well worth the wait to experience the entirety of the Chez Maman ambiance.
-
Review from Negar S.
Santa Clara, CA
5/17/2012
My husband I went here for lunch last Friday because my friends raved about this place and their burgers. We got there 5 minutes before they opened. The waiter sat us and he took our drink order even though they weren't open yet. We both got French onion soup and it was delicious. We also ordered 2 burgers with goat cheese. We asked for medium well but the burgers were more on the medium rare side, so next time I'll ask for well done. The fries were very good!
The service was great. The waiter was very nice and he didn't rush us into leaving even there were about 8 people waiting to be seated.
Get there early because they only have 4 small table, 2 inside and 2 outside with a few chairs on the bar area. definitely give the place a try. I'm a very picky eater and they didn't disappoint! -
Review from Valerie A.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Simply delicious.
I've been to Chez Maman in the past and I recently returned for a weekday lunch with coworkers in the mood to change up the usual sushi routine. There was no wait close to 1pm and we all left happy and satisfied.
If you're the type that needs to be doted on this is not the place for you. The frier wasn't working when we went- so we couldn't order fries (huge bummer) and although the server told us before we sat down, he wasn't very apologetic about it- in a "just be a big girl and have a salad" kinda way :)
If you're in the neighborhood and want simple yet flavorful food check out Chez Maman. The Crepe Suzette is YUM-O and the burger is delish. I wish I could cook the way they do- they make it look so easy! -
Review from Quail T.
Palm Springs, CA
4/12/2012
Love this place. Food is great. It's where I take folks with varying palates, like my nephew- an always hungry college student and his cousin with a more refined palate and far higher expectations. This place makes them both happy.
It's in a neighborhood full of great food choices and home to the California Culinary Academy, who has their own restaurant. So many good competing places within walking distance, Maman always draws me back. -
Review from Michelle Q.
San Francisco, CA
4/13/2012
Great little restaurant in a cute little up-and-coming neighborhood, but not somewhere I feel the need to visit again.
Chez Maman seemed to overpromise and underdeliver (according to yelp). I expected to be blown away by the burgers and the croques, but it wasn't anything special. My friend and I arrived around 10, and contrary to what we were expecting, we didn't have to wait at all. We sat at the counter, which was really great because you could see everything being cooked right in front of you.
We each ordered the french onion soup, I had the croque madame, and my friend had a burger with blue cheese. The soup was really good and really filling. Lots of melty, gooey cheese and not overly salty. But I was pretty disappointed with our entrees. My croque was a little too salty, not as crispy as I wanted it, and the egg was a little overcooked so I didn't get any of that runny, yolky goodness. The burger looked ok, but my friend said it was just a normal burger with fancy cheese. HOWEVER, the fries were awesome. I couldn't help picking at his plate throughout the entire meal.
Overall, we both agreed that IF we were to go back we would order the soup again and just get two cones of the fries.
3 stars for so-so entrees, good soup, decent service, and cute ambiance. -
Review from Yee-Shing Y.
San Francisco, CA
Amazing burgers and brunch items!! The burger ($11) comes with fries and this delicious aioli dipping sauce. So so good. Also tried the Croque Madame w/ egg ($11). The french onion soup is pretty popular too.
Small space so expect a wait, especially on weekends. Love the bar seating and all the food is cooked in front you. -
Review from K N.
San Francisco, CA
5/8/2012
The eggs florentine is to die for!!! I absolutely love this place. I've been here twice and both times were above and beyond my expectations. The small interior gives it a charming intimate feel. The food's superb and the service is fast because it's so small! Great place for Sunday brunch. :)
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Review from S B.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
Burger! Enough said. I definitely will be back here on my next trip to SF
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Review from Brandon R.
San Francisco, CA
3/21/2012
This place is always really really packed. The 2 times we have tried to go, the wait was too long. Third time was a charm...
2 people in the group got the burger and 2 people got the steak frites (myself included). The steak was cooked nearly perfect (I ordered a medium rare but defnitely got medium, where was the blood???) but it was absolutely delicious. It came with a sauce that I am assuming was melted butter, heavy cream, pepper corn, and a hint of obesity. Dipping the steak in the sauce was pretty f'in good.
Unfortunately there deep fryer was down, so I had to get a different side. I got Ratatouille which is a healthier option, but it was just meh.
I will definitely be back here and the waiter is actually really fast talking and no nonsense and a little pushy. These sound like bad qualities, but I always know what I want so it's not a big deal to me, but other people can be very slow to order and I secretly appreciated him pushing them along. -
Review from Patricia Q.
San Francisco, CA
3/18/2012
Brunch at Chez Maman felt like a Man versus Food challenge. It's been 4 hours since brunch today and I am still stuffed.
A bit of a small hole in the wall brunch spot with heaps of charm. Seats are extremely limited, so arrive either really early or really late like I did. We only had to wait for 15 minutes before getting seated. All three of us ordered more or less the same thing, medium rare burgers with brie and a runny egg, with a mountain of fries and a little bit of greens to top it off. Oh it's to die for.
Laurent the server seemingly frowns upon any wasted food, so I felt a twinge of guilt for not finishing my fries. The back side of the Chez Maman shirt, by the way, says Finis ton assiette! (finish your plate!). I'll try harder next time? Oopsie.
Definitely coming back whenever I'm around Portrero Hill :) -
Review from Allison C.
Corte Madera, CA
5/5/2012
One of the best spots in SF! Paleo Friendly!
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Review from Albert L.
Oh, Come on Mama!
I finally got around to knock out some bookmarks this week and one that has been on the top of my list for a very long time is Chez Maman. If you venture through the "ghetto" and climb the hills of Potrero, you'll reach this very tiny hole-in-the-wall-feel French bistro that oddly resembles an upscale version of Sam's Burgers on Broadway street.
Beef Tartare with Dijon Mustard - http://www.yelp.com/us...
-- One word: "MORE!"
-- Two words: "Gimme that"
-- Three words: "Your not sharing!"
Despite the egg yolk somewhat busting before the Tartare was delivered and some of the toast points being burnt, the Beef Tartare was absolutely delicious! (see picture). Finely chopped raw steak, not overly seasoned, masked with capers and shallots, topped with the raw quail egg that paired together better than Adam and Eve, with just the right kick from the spicy dijon mustard. My girlfriend and I should have ordered a large..
Chez Maman Basic (Beef) Burger - http://www.yelp.com/us...
Made to order (and actually, right in front of your face if your dining within), the patty is served on a Ciabatta bun which is nicely toasted inside and out, spread with Chez Maman's house aioli sauce, with your choice of frites or a side salad. Also in Chicken, Fish, or Veggie patties and additional toppings of Goat Cheese, Chedder, Brie, Roquefort, Avocado, Bacon, Egg, or Swiss for $1.50 per add.
So here's was my breakdown: $11 Basic Beef + $1.50 for Cheddar + $1.50 for Avocado = an underwhelming and pricey burger that leaves you with a *sigh* on your face.. (any more toppings would have just been ridiculously expensive). Though Chez Maman uses fine fresh ingredients throughout all their dishes, the burger itself just didn't blow my mind. I requested it cooked to a medium, but after my first bite, the raw bloody patty clearly showed that it was still medium rare. The house aioli spread was to a minimum (see picture) and the only complimentary toppings for my burger were three slices of tomatoes.. Comon now, I'm paying $1.50 for a slice of cheddar cheese after all..
Other dishes ordered:
-- Ratatouille - A small veggie side dish consisting of zucchinis, tomatoes, peppers, and other various greens in a tomatoy sauce served cold.
-- Mash Potatoes - A (huge) side of creamy and fluffy mash potatoes with hint of garlic.
-- Goat Cheese Salad - A huge chunk of goat cheese, nicely warmed on the pan, and nestled above a bed of mixed greens with diced onions and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Chez Maman isn't one of your dime in a dozen joints to grab a bite and eat, and the trip over here isn't quite practical either (Rerouting... Rerouting...), but if your willing enough (and planning to knock this bookmark out of the water), it just might be worth your while. Though I was disappointed with the famous Chez burger, the Beef Tartare definitely made the 20 minute city drive quite satisfying. I also did admire the hustle that was shown by the limited staff of employees, working in a cramp kitchen, creating simple yet beautiful works of food in front of my eyes, and attending to the needs of all the patiently waiting patrons.
I've heard they serve up a mean French Onion Soup as well. -
Review from Michelle N.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Chez Maman is sooo worth the wait! Wow, talk about a burger! I don't even typically order burgers, but everything about this one made it worth every calorie, it was just perfect! Pair that with some delicious better-than-in-n-out fries, and you will be in heaven! We waited about an hour, but we were able to head to the wine shop next door for a $10 wine tasting (only on Friday nights from 5-8), which made the wait time fly by. We also brought a bottle of wine to Chez and paid the $15 corkage fee. They popped the bottle as we waited and 1 glass in, we were seated at the bar.
Even though the burger was fabulous, it was the creme brulee that really stuck out to us. It was so delicious and something that we definitely will order the next time. What a great culinary experience!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Carina B.
Berkeley, CA
5/5/2012
The Pain Perdu is what it's all about here. The fries are also worth getting as are the eggs benedict. I have to admit, we always get the same thing when we come, so I can't say I've branched out much.
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Review from Jae Z.
Los Angeles, CA
4/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
I got the burger with fries and added avocado. We ate along the long bar where we could watch the cooks prepare the dishes. This place is filled with personality. Things are done right. The food was cooked to perfection, the ambiance was just right, the owner was attentive and just what I'd expect in a little neighborhood spot somewhere in France, serving delicious food for an exquisite dining experience. I will return to this gem on Potrero Hill.
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Review from Mike H.
2/9/2012
You know you're going to wait if you eat here. Embrace it. The wipe board and marker help make the wait tolerable. And then to have a glass of wine while you wait? Perfect, don't mind if I do.
The vibe in this little counter bistro also is great, nearly matching the food. You can feel that everyone's excited to eat there, and the staff actually smiles. Olivier is full of energy. So waiting at 9pm on a Tuesday night? No problem.
Chez Maman is an interesting review for me, since I'm winding down a list ranking of SF burgers. Again, my ranking may not seem fair since this is a restaurant, not a dedicated burger spot. Or maybe that's just my hangup.
Every ingredient in the burger is flavorful. I ordered two so I could eat half of each that night, and half the next day: both cooked medium, one with roquefort cheese, the other with cheddar and bacon. The burgers came with aioli mayo, tomato slices, marinated lettuce, and sauteed onions. Definitely a different taste from typical American burgers due to the patty and thicker roll. Is it the perfect taste for me? No, due to the roll, but I can appreciate that other people would love it. Frites are excellent, again in French style - and if you like the style, you'll love these. -
Review from Emily H.
3/2/2012
French. Onion. Soup!
(I've had almost everything else on their menu, but this is the one thing that I constantly crave. They need to serve it EVERY DAY, instead of just Fri/Sat/Sun). -
Review from Ty T.
2/5/2012 1 photo
I had lunch at Chez Papa a few months ago, and now I finally have had the great pleasure of meeting Mama, she is charming, cozy and serves up an equally mean plate as Papa does. Like divorced parents, each brings a bit of something special to the table, without any reckless abandonment.. And all while managing to still play favorites with their beloved children.
It was a very quaint hole-in-the-wall experience, where it is utterly impossible to avoid being hit by all the delightful smells as the chef is literally behind the counter.. although I wish the door remained closed as I was seated close by and every-time it opened it brought in a bit of a cold draft.
I enjoyed a very scrumptious eggs benedict, and two kir royales for brunch this past weekend. The hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy. Luckily was able to snag immediate counter seats without a wait.
I NEED to try the burger after watching a lady go to town on it across the way for a few minutes as I was waiting for the check. It was a delightfully strange but inspiring mental image that will resonate with me until my triumphant return.Listed in: Places That Make Me WHET
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Review from Karen K.
San Francisco, CA
2/24/2012
Sacre bleu! Quel queue! Oh mon dieu!
Came here for brunch with some friends (we were a party of three) and we arrived around noon. Note to self: never go to a tiny place around noon on a Sunday. The place was packed with people milling about outside. We put our name down in anticipation of a 30 minute wait, crossed our fingers, and wandered the lovely neighborhood (un promenade, if you will)
When we came back, we were one of two parties of 3+ waiting to be seated. Quel chance! The party before us did not want to sit outside as it was un peu chilly, so we were seated promptly. As we avoided the dirty looks from people who thought we jumped the line, (we put our names down!! Honest!) my friends ordered burgers and I, bien sur, the croque madame.
The croque madame was sunny side up delicieux-ness mingled with ham, gruyere and the side salad was tres agreable. My friends loved their burgers and I loved their fries and aioli.
The waiter was a bit surly but I would be curt too if I had to turn tables around at the impressive rate he was doing to seat everyone. Bravo! -
Review from C L.
Los Angeles, CA
3/20/2012
The food was great, complete with an authentically rude French waiter.
The server, Laurent, was beyond rude. Extremely short with my boyfriend and I, impatient and generally dismissive, it completely ruined what was otherwise great food. When we missed our names on the waiting list, he shook his head and reprimanded us like children. We understood that we'd have to wait for a table and did not argue, but he continued to be equal parts reprimanding and dismissive. When I for tomatoes and pears on the otherwise lettuce only salad, I was charged $13.75; the salad is only $6. When we asked if we could take a creme brulee to go, we were told sharply, no, with a shrug, "I can not give this to you to go. If it is not in a dish, you can not have it." Apparently this terrble service isn't new; the bf, a huge fan of the place, just shrugged and acknowledged the habitual rudeness but puts up with it because the burgers are amazing.
Meh. NO establishment has food THAT great. -
Review from Eugenio P.
Manhattan, NY
After reading some great reviews on yelp. I decided to check this play out and what can I say...YOU HAVE TO come here. We ordered their burger, medium rare with bacon and brie. Girlfriend order it with goat cheese. What can I say it was unbelievable. Hands down best burger I've ever had. The meat was well seasoned, the French bun was delicious and the fries were great. We went during the middle of the afternoon. I can easily see it getting packed at night. Forewarn this place is tiny with only two tables that sit 4 in total. The bar sits about 9 folks But don't turn around after you see the size...like I almost did..thankfully my gf said "let's try it!". I'm glad we did because it was great!
P.S. they have some good draft Belgium beers. Which just elevated it for those beer lovers. -
Review from Joy X.
San Francisco, CA
4/23/2012
Dinner here was great! The space is tiny, but the dinner wait wasn't bad at all (I came on a Sunday evening).
Escargot is pretty good, but smaller than the size of the shells might lead you to believe.
The veal entree was very good as well, and that mushroom cream sauce is soo good.
The Pain Perdu dessert was what really stole the show. So much goodness in the mouth it's really hard to describe. Must. Try.
Port was delicious, but it usually is :) -
Review from Kim-van T.
San Pablo, CA
This place definitely satisfied my burger craving!!!
Not only were we lucky enough to find parking pretty quickly but we only had to wait about 5 minutes before we were seated!
We had to try the french onion soup and we also split the beef tartare since it's one of the bf's faves. The french onion soup is dangerously cheesy! The beef tartare had a really strong mustard flavor which I actually enjoyed. Both dishes were super flavorful but a little on the salty side.
I had the classic Chez Maman burger with brie and a fried egg with fries (although you can also opt for salad). I was in burger heaven! That burger was DELICIOUS and cooked perfectly how I like it. It was also huge so I could only finish half.
Service was speedy and attentive.
YUM! Burger, do it. -
Review from Dimps I.
Daly City, CA
3/7/2012
Thank you Yelp for finding us another great lunch spot!
Had lunch here with my cousin Jenn and my fiance Eric. Eric was feigning for crepe and I wanted to eat somewhere in the the Potrero District since its close to where Jenn and I worked at. I decided to find a restaurant in this area that I knew off that had a row of cute little restaurants and Chez Maman was one of them. This place is super small. They only have bar seating (except for the two small tables by the front window) but it was perfect for our little lunch date. We saw everything the cooks was doing since the kitchen was right in front of us. The baked camembert was BOMB! So bomb we had to ask for extra bread so that we didn't waste the cheese. We tried some of their crepes and I had the roasted Mahi Mahi. They were all so good!!! Can't wait to try out their other dishes next time. -
Review from Alex C.
1/22/2012
Chez Maman houses the cousins/close relatives of the 'perfect burger'.
The burgers here are simple, meat patties topped with simple veggies, CHEESE (Gruyère, please), wrapped in a bun, with a side of fries per usual. The meat patty was QUALITY. It was well seasoned and had some of that melt-in-your-mouth quality which is my weakness. On top of that, the owner is awesome! He goes around makes conversation and make sure the patrons are enjoying their food and atmosphere.
On top of their burgers, their crepes are also deeeelicious! Definitely need to order that after you meal, no matter HOW full/fat you are feeling!
I really enjoyed the simplicity and quality of the burger at Chez Maman. Though IMO this isn't the burger to beat on my list, it sure ranks very highly.
GRUB ON!Listed in: hambangers
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Review from Kim V.
Little Rock, AR
1/23/2012
Delicious fries and awesome service. Our waiter checked in with us often and had a great sense of humor.
I had the burger, which was good, but the next time I go, I'm going to have to try the steak tartare, since that's what the other diners were ordering. Also, order a side of fries. Yummy. -
Review from Kelly K.
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wah, visited my go-to-fav wednesday nite and came away disappointed. No onion soup.wah. No steak tartare, meat still frozen, wah. Tried the rose, so-so. Ordered the salmon crepe with salad. Basically store bought lox tucked inside a small buckwheat crepe with some sour cream, no dill flavor, squirted along the top. Now i will move on to other restaurants instead of remaining monogamous. Wah, i loved coming here with my dog, sitting outside and watching the world pass by...
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Review from Brandon Y.
San Jose, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Saw this place on yelp while awaiting an event around the area. "A french place known for their burgers?" I thought...sure, let's give it a try. Excellent idea.
Kathleen W. accompanied me on this little foodie adventure, and after my first bite of the burger, I knew what the fuss was about. You can pretty much customize your burger, so I added brie, avocado, and an egg to mine, in addition to getting fries. I was impressed by the size of the burger, and was sucked in to it's juiciness and flavor. For this burger, I didn't mind paying over the average price of a gourmet cheeseburger - it was worth it. On the other side of the table was this good-sized bucket of mussels that had a good taste as well, and that was surprisingly finished as well.
I also appreciated the service - very patient and personable, despite the small restaurant size and long wait that others had to experience (yay for getting there early!). As a heads up, this place has bar seating, two tables inside, and one table outside - so, not much space here, but great burgers! -
Review from Dorene S.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
If I can give 6 stars, I would! Located at Protrero Hill, the French Onion soup is AWESOME. I've never really liked French Onion soup because they are always on the salty side but here - just perfect. Just about everyone who came in ordered the French Onion soup.
Also ordered Oeufs Cocottes (poached egg with cream) with smoked salmon and goat cheese, served with roasted persilade bread - also superbly cooked.
The most fun experience is watching your order cooked right in front of you at the bar. I watched first-hand how long it takes to reduce cream for the Oeufs Cocotte!
Was a little bit concerned that I ordered too much food but the portions were sized adequately enough that I was able to down both the French Onion soup and Cocotte, especially since they were BOTH so delicious
Without a doubt, if you're in the area, try this place out! PS. The other reviewers are right, go early if you don't want to wait - it's a TINY place.
KPI (Key Performance Indicators) ratings (1-5, 5 - best):
Quality: 5
Delivery/Service: 5
Cost: 5 -
Review from Megan L.
Chez Maman made my belly so so so happy.
-Attentive, friendly service
-Quality ingredients
-French bistro/comfort food
I came here as a party of 3 on a Friday evening. We were seated at the bar after about a 40 minute wait. Chez Maman does not take reservations - and there is very limited seating. Not a good place for large groups! Best to come with just a party of 2.
What we had:
1. BAKED CAMEMBERT WITH ROASTED GARLIC & TOAST POINTS
Straight to the thighs but I don't care! This was so scrumptious. Melty cheesy decadent goodness.
2. SOUP OF THE DAY (FRENCH ONION SOUP)
They broil this perfectly. Just the right amount of melted cheese on top. The bread inside was not too soggy, and was still somewhat crunchy when we first cut into the top, which is the way it should be!
3. CROQUE MONSIEUR
4. BASIC BURGER w/ BRIE
5. CHICKEN, PISTOU, AIOLI, ROASTED PEPPERS PANINI
6. FRENCH FRIES w/ AIOLI
Everything we ate was absolutely delicious and so filling. This is French comfort food at it's best! If you want to partake in dishes beyond basic sandwich/burger fare, there are also more substantial entrees on the menu.
Also - their champagne is VERY GOOD. Get yourself a glass!!!
I can't wait to come back.Listed in: Burger lovin'
-
Review from e f.
San Francisco, CA
3/3/2012
A darned good burger, cooked perfectly to order and nice and juicy. The buns are oh, so good too. However, the fries could use some Viagra (a little limp).
The guys behind the counter work their behinds off and service is great.
I haven't been to Chez Maman for years, but it'll definitely be my go-to place for burgers from now on. -
Review from Owen M.
Pacifica, CA
I almost weakened; it was a very close thing.
I came *this* close to slinging for the first time that most infamous of overused Yelp clichés (you know the one) to commence this review.
Instead, I'll just say *damn it!*
This kind of unpretentious little French place with almost 1,000 reviews and hugely positive ratings should be right up my alley. I'll chalk the experience up to an off night b/c nothing else makes sense; here's my call for whatever it's worth.
I never imagined I'd go on consecutive days to a Mexican spot and a French place, both owned by the same French restaurateurs, and end up liking the Mexican entry better. To the point where Chez Maman isn't on our list of return trips. Thus, the sub-three star rating.
Now, I readily admit that I can be much more intolerant of things I see as "errors" on a plate of French chow than I am with a platter of Mexican victuals. But still.
The FRISEE SALAD ($10.50) with "poached" egg, lardons & red wine vinaigrette had little or no redeeming value. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Feel free to move right along to the onion soup, unless - like motorists passing an accident on the highway - you just have to look:
- Much of the frisée had started to brown.
- The egg wasn't poached; it was boiled. (I watched.) And, not surprisingly, the albumin was only half cooked. Runny yolk = yum. Runny white = yuck.
- The salad was improperly dressed. This sort of heavy on the oil 'n light on the vinegar dressing can work for delicate greens that otherwise would be overwhelmed by too much acid, but not with hardy frisée. Here, the vinegar quantity easily could have been tripled.
- The lardons were simply chopped from thin pre-sliced rashers instead of being fabricated thickly from a slab of cured, smoked belly. Adding insult to injury, those poor little pieces were fired under the salamander, resulting in uneven cooking (some burned, some crisp, some flaccid).
The ONION SOUP GRATINEE ($6) was *sugary* sweet - way overboard. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Caramelized onions, of course, exude a characteristic sweetness, but not like this. There were very few slices of onion in the broth. The cheese was hot on top, but they didn't put the spurs to it long enough to melt it all the way through, which resulted in a "block 'o cheese" effect in the broth. And the broth wasn't hot enough before hitting the crock and so was hardly tepid by the time it was half eaten. The baguette was nice, though.
Oh boy! Only 10% of my current reviews clock in at less than 3 stars, and I always try to give a nod to the positive in those rare cases, but, well, we just didn't like our starters much.
Next, burgers all around.
For me: the BASIC BURGER ($11) with BLEU CHEESE ($1.50) and fries. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For Mrs. M: the BASIC BURGER ($11) with BACON 'n EGG 'n CHEDDAR ($4.50) and a side salad. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Both had more bun than burger, but the ciabatta-style bun was good. Light toasty crunch on the outside and a soft but sturdy crumb.
My wife's burger was cooked to her liking though unseasoned. Good, melt-y cheese & nice egg. The bacon, again, was unevenly cooked & the salad way over-oiled.
My burger wasn't cooked as requested. I was watching. It's hard *not* to watch when you enjoy cooking yourself and you're seated a few feet away from the grill. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Watching was like a nightmare.
You know the one, right? Something's after you. You try to scream, but all that comes out is an impotent wheeze. I wanted to yell, "take it off, take it off, already. Melt my cheese by itself on a sizzler under the damn salamander. I don't care! Just take - it - off."
Nothing, of course, gets by the wife, and she was on the verge of kicking me in the shin under the counter b/c she knew exactly what I was thinking.
Anyway, my burger might have had the potential to be as tasty as many of my *very* well-respected peers have said, but I'll never know. The cheese was good, though.
The fries were not appetizing. They were blond, not crisp, and yet they managed to taste lifeless, dried out & cardboard-y instead of having that light, puffy goodness of potato within.
The pacing was good and SERVICE overall was fine, but not worthy of rescuing our impressions of the place.
I can't in good conscience say we had an "A-OK" experience.
MISCELLANY:
* Maybe 6 whites BTG between $7 and $10 (France, Cali) and 1 rosé.
* About 8 reds BTG between $6.50 and $10.50 (France, Cali, Argentina).
* Bottle prices top out at about $42.
* No reservations and it's a tiny dining room (maybe 10 counter seats and one 4-top).
* Major credit cards accepted, except Discover (is that "major" yet?).Listed in: Keeping the French Flame Alive
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