La Folie Restaurant 12/2007

Cuisine=*(0-20) Ambiance=!(0-5) Price=$(Simple-Full)
Approximate Price per person excluding tax, beverage + tip=$. Simple=appetizer + main course; full= best available multi-course meal.

As We Like It has been serving the gastronomically enlightened community since 1989.

     San Francisco

    La Folie *(19) !(4.5) $(70-105+) 415-776-5577  www.lafolie.com.  2316 Polk St.  Dinner 5:30-10:30 P.M. Mon.-Sat.
    This has long been one of our favorite restaurants for a special French feast. The dining room’s transformation from a “Folie” stage set to an elegant, contemporary venue has been striking, and the food has become a bit lighter and more delicate. Two amuse bouches of lobster beignet and truffled egg were just the right starters, and even the warm dinner rolls were quite fine. Don’t miss the toothsome tasting of “Passot Roe” with a crab and Meyer lemon parfait, Kona kampachi with a fennel radish salad, and perfectly done Maine lobster. The citrus marinated Hamachi and yellow fin tuna with shaved radish and bottarga salad was a refreshing starter. We loved the shaved Hudson Valley foie gras “shabu-shabu” (topped by a hot truffle broth to cook it a bit) with hazel nuts and anjou pear. The seared day boat scallop paired perfectly with crispy pork belly on a bed of mashed potato. Perfectly rare Millbrook farms pancetta-wrapped venison was accompanied by a slightly underdone apple-studded potato gallette and a wonderful  but tiny accent of chestnut. A rich but flavorful Kabocha pumpkin cake with kabocha and caramel ice cream completed the Menu Cuistot tasting dinner. It should be noted that fabulously aromatic black truffles could be added accordingly for $45.00  per person. The delicious warm edam cheese souffle with fromage blanc sorbet should not be missed. Even the petits fours were noteworthy. Service was informed, efficient and very pleasant. There is a well-selected domestic-imported wine list with something for everyone, and a $35.00 corkage fee is charged if you bring your own wines. A 1990 Latour Chevalier Montrachet les Damoiselles and 1996 Chateau Mouton Rothschild in half bottle complemented our meal perfectly.