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Updated 12/8/24
L'Ardoise Bistro was opened in 2008 by Chef Thierry Clement (who previously worked at Le Charm, now Mathilde French Bistro). We previously visited the restaurant in 2023, liked it, and visited again in December 2024.
Given the chilly evening, we were grateful for the red velvet curtain that prevents drafts from entering the restaurant when guests do, even for tables near the entrance.
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L'Ardoise Bistro Location and Hours
L'Ardoise is located at 151 Noe Street in San Francisco's Duboce Triangle and is open for dinner from 5-10 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays (closed on Sundays and Mondays). We highly recommend making a reservation a couple weeks in advance, as it's a small place and very popular.
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L'Ardoise Menu and Food
The menu below is from our previous visit, and is nearly the same as our more recent visit, although the salmon and sea bass have been replaced by a Pan Seared Halibut with Mashed Potato, Spinach, and Lobster Bisque Sauce ($38) and a few items have increased slightly in price, for example the Hanger Steak is now $32 and the Coq au Vin is $31.
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We were offered fresh baguette with butter to start. The butter was a bit hard, but I preferred keeping the bread in reserve to soak up the sauce with my main course.
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We tried one of the specials of the day, a Lobster Vol au Vent appetizer ($24) that we shared among the three of us. It was very tasty, but would have benefited greatly from more lobster.
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On our previous visit, my teen ordered the Mixed Mushrooms and Parmesan Risotto, which was delicious. It's a modest portion size (well proportioned if you've already had an appetizer) so keep that in mind if ravenous.
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On this occasion, he chose the Filet Mignon, which normally comes with Bacon Pommes Landaises (which we've heard great things about) but he opted for mashed potatoes, which were also a great accompaniment. The steak was cooked perfectly to his specifications (medium rare), and he enjoyed it immensely.
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The Coq au Vin was so good on my prior visit that I ordered it again. It's a bistro classic, and this version was fantastic: tender chicken falling off the bone, draped in a delectable, velvety sauce studded with pearl onions, all of it over mashed potatoes. You couldn't ask for a more comforting dish to warm up with given San Francisco's generally chilly evenings. As before, my son finished my dish, cleaning every last inch with bread: hungry teen boy = no waste. The only slight quibble I had on this recent visit was that the dish wasn't served as hot as I'd have preferred; last time it was piping hot.
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We also ordered a side of brussels sprouts with bacon, which was a satisfying vegetable.
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To end on a sweet note, the three of us shared two desserts: a piece of Tarte Tatin and a Valrhona Chocolate Fondant. As we were celebrating a birthday in the family, our server brought the Fondant to our table with a lit candle. The Fondant is delicious but on the smaller side, so if you really like dark chocolate, don't count on sharing it, even though it's rich.
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The Tarte Tatin was textbook perfect, with its evenly caramelized apples and buttery crust, far better than I've been able to make it at home. It's on the pricey side, at $15, but given the work involved, worth it.
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The Verdict
L'Ardoise Bistro is the perfect choice for San Francisco visitors and residents who crave French comfort food and friendly service in a cozy space. It's not a special occasion place like Gary Danko, so don't expect to linger a long time, but it's ideal when you and your dining companions want good food but don't want to wait a long time for it. Just remember to reserve well in advance.
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