Esme

T Taylor Woolridge 66 reviews · Local Guide August 2026

Great new spot! We really enjoyed the bread and caesar salad, chicken, and steak! Food came out slightly lukewarm though. Wines and strawberry dessert were delicious too. Lively atmosphere, and expect to be on the waitlist for 1-2 hours. Only cons: the cod was verryyy salty. I see some other reviews saying the same so hopefully they can adjust that. I would definitely come back, though with such a small menu you’d likely get the same dish each time, curious if they’ll rotate their menu over time.

D D Johnson 7 reviews 19 July 2026

Easily the best meal I had while visiting San Francisco from LA. The vibes are incredible, they’re still building but the team is already impressively polished for such a new restaurant. Everyone was genuinely friendly, funny, and gave fantastic recommendations throughout the night, even helping me score a bar reservation for the next day. Every dish was outstanding. Even the bread and butter was memorable. The halloumi was an incredible starter, and the chicken au jus was so good I had to stop myself from licking the plate clean (my bread sponge took care of the sauce). The wine pairing was perfect, and the fresh apricot tart was the ideal way to end the meal. Can’t wait to tell everyone about it.

M Mikaela Sword 11 reviews · Local Guide 18 July 2026

The food was great! We had the chicken liver mousse with fresh baked bread and pickled onions, the haloumi salad with grilled peaches and mint, and the steak frites. The quality of the food was amazing, frites were thick cut, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside but a little over salted. The service was friendly and attentive, and decor/atmosphere has chill moody lighting. My only complaint is that the space is super small and it got really loud with all the tables so close and a couple larger groups. I couldn't even hear my bf or the server until a few tables left. Otherwise, very promising neighborhood spot.

M Madeline Hewitt 9 reviews · Local Guide 12 July 2026

Wow wow wow! So excited for this new addition to the neighborhood. We were all blown away by the food. We had the halloumi which was incredible, two servings of the bread and cultured butter, artichoke, chicken liver and all of the mains. The chicken was so juicy and full of flavor, the cod and beans were cooked perfectly, the pea and squash pasta was divine, and the steak frites were delicious but was the least standout for me since everything else was so good. The vibe inside is gorgeous and the lighting is moody but it is very intimate and very loud.

G Graciela Ch 29 reviews · Local Guide 10 July 2026

There’s something special about Esme. From the second we walked in, it felt less like a new restaurant and more like somewhere we already belonged — warm, genuine, the kind of place that makes you feel taken care of. The staff clearly love what they do, and it shows in every interaction. And the food — every dish was made with so much care, you could taste it. I left feeling grateful this place exists in our neighborhood. Can’t wait to go back.