My husband started working in this neighborhood a while back and stumbled into this little cafe and fell in love. We live on the other side of town but have made the trek over to this little gem... More

My husband started working in this neighborhood a while back and stumbled into this little cafe and fell in love. We live on the other side of town but have made the trek over to this little gem more than once. The baguette sandwiches are just like the ones in Paris - every ingredient is simple but incredibly flavorable. And the complimentary truffles are divine - even at seventy five cents a pop, they are a steal. Whenever we wish we were in back in Paris, this is where we head. Pros: charming, good value, great food Cons: parking can be tricky
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Every time I walked by The Butler and the Chef, I always thought is just going to be an overpriced sandwich shop with a French theme. Who would have thought that under the vintage signs and new... More

Every time I walked by The Butler and the Chef, I always thought is just going to be an overpriced sandwich shop with a French theme. Who would have thought that under the vintage signs and new enamel tabletops promoting classic French brands lurked a real, traditional sandwich shop along the lines of what you find lining the streets near the Sorbonne. The menu at The Butler and the Chef is simple - the sort of food you would take to go and eat while sitting outside, watching the hordes of students passing by if you were in Paris. There are four main categories of food here: cold sandwiches, hot sandwiches, crepes and what I'll call "other". The cold sandwiches are made in the continental style - split baguettes simply dressed with butter instead of mayo. It might take a little getting used to your first time, but once you get through the initial shock of butter, cheese and a slice of french jambon (ham), you realise how decadent it is. The Croque Monseiur, from the hot sandwiches menu, was an amazingly good version - topped with creme fraiche instead of gruyere cheese before placing under the salamander - it's creamy, a little sour and perfect with a slice of tomato and herbes de provence. The crepes looked nice, and there are sweet and savory options available. Finally, in the other category are some salads, soup and the breakfast dishes such as belgian waffles and a fantastic looking pan perdu (french toast). The interior was a little warm last Saturday - but a nice cold Fischer d'Alsace Amber took care of that. Overall, the food was exceptional for what it was. the prices were a little high to make it a weekly stop, but now that it's open weekends (which is amazing in this neighborhood), I'll certainly make a point to stop in for a baguette now and then.
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I can't believe I haven't been here sooner, given that it's so close to our apartment. Having exhausted all of our other Saturday lunch options in our neighborhood, we decided to give the Butler... More

I can't believe I haven't been here sooner, given that it's so close to our apartment. Having exhausted all of our other Saturday lunch options in our neighborhood, we decided to give the Butler and the Chef Bistro in South Park a try. We were very pleasantly surprised - it is a very cute place with a real French feel - lots of French decor (and French music playing) and really cool cafe tables and chairs. I had an excellent Croque Monsieur that I'm still thinking about even the next day. The coffee was good as well; I'm going to note this as a new possible option for coffee-to-go in the area. Their menu is made up of classic dishes that one would find in a Parisian bistro, including soup, salad, quiche, crepes and baguette sandwiches. One of the greatest things about the Butler and the Chef is that it's open 7 days a week, which is great since most of the places around us are closed. The prices are a little high (the Croque Monsieur was $10, coffee was $2), but the food is of excellent quality, and the portions are substantial. Two chocolate truffles accompany the check, which is a nice touch. I'm looking very forward to trying some more of their dishes.
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Suddenly you've stepped out of San Francisco and into a neighborhood Bistro somewhere in Provincial France. A busy, noisy gathering place weekdays for the local lunch crowd, relaxed and quite off... More

Suddenly you've stepped out of San Francisco and into a neighborhood Bistro somewhere in Provincial France. A busy, noisy gathering place weekdays for the local lunch crowd, relaxed and quite off hours or weekends (open seven days a week), the atmosphere is purely French. I've never had anything here that wasn't marvelous but my favorites are the quiche, croque monsieurs, and the ever-changing Dish of the Day. Generous espresso drinks, excellent French wine and beer, and decadent desserts keep me coming back for more. If youre in a hurry try the huge baguette sandwiches to-go at only 7$. The owners (one French, one Californian) are fun and crazy and obviously passionate about what they do. The staff is quick and courteous even during the extremely busy weekday lunch rush. This is my favorite place to impress a new lady friend without going broke! Pros: Great Food, Great Prices, Great Atmosphere
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Lovely venue with a real french feel - the Croc Madame is great. It is lovely to go during the day at lunch time - or even on saturday when it's relatively quiet in the park. The food is... More

Lovely venue with a real french feel - the Croc Madame is great. It is lovely to go during the day at lunch time - or even on saturday when it's relatively quiet in the park. The food is quintissential french with lovely salades and sandwiches. The decor is also very charming.
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While waiting for our sandwiches, I helped myself to a candybowl on the register beside the business cards. When the cashier rang up my chcken lemon aoili sandwich (dark meat chcken boiled with no... More

While waiting for our sandwiches, I helped myself to a candybowl on the register beside the business cards. When the cashier rang up my chcken lemon aoili sandwich (dark meat chcken boiled with no taste) she asking if i ate a candy, which she rang it up with my bill -75 cents. Wow. 75 cents for that? Thought it was free after-dinner mint? She said no she has to charge me. Ok, i said. I told the owner that I paid for the candy, but wanted to give feedback on how to show candy was for sale, not free. Customer feedback should always be appreciated. He didn't accept my feedback openly,said this is not a cheap restaurant, & what I ate was a french truffle, & that i shouldn't walk into his restaurant thinking everything is free. Offended by his remark, I vouched never to go back there again. Pros: Great Location, Casual, very parisian, friendly staff Cons: Owner - arrogant/rude, sandwiches tasteless, no parking anywhere
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If you're looking for a relaxing place to eat, try The Butler & The Chef Cafe. They offer very healthy salads and sandwiches at very affordable prices. The cafe is clean and staff is pleasant and it... More

If you're looking for a relaxing place to eat, try The Butler & The Chef Cafe. They offer very healthy salads and sandwiches at very affordable prices. The cafe is clean and staff is pleasant and it has a French bistro feel to it. PROS: Great Sandwiches and Salads CONS: Very crowded at lunch time
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Great lunch spot for those who work in and around South Park. It gets plenty busy, but offers fantastic sandwiches, including croque monsieur and proscuitto and brie, along with coffee drinks and... More

Great lunch spot for those who work in and around South Park. It gets plenty busy, but offers fantastic sandwiches, including croque monsieur and proscuitto and brie, along with coffee drinks and more. On sunny days, I usually skip the wait and grab a picnic table in the park.
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