Cassis
2101 Sutter Street, San Francisco CA 94115This venue is no longer open.
Cassis - French with an Italian Twist
Review by TableAgent
Cassis is owned by two brothers, Jerome and Stephane Meloni, who grew up in Nice, France. With a French mother and Italian father, the boys were immersed in the food and wine of both countries. Nice also happens to be, with Cannes, the co-capital of the Riviera and only 30 miles from the French/Italian border. As these cross-cultural culinary rendezvous go, the Meloni brothers had quite the combination! They ran two successful restaurants in Antibes, which is just fourteen miles south along the coast from Nice, before bringing their restaurant expertise to the Bay Area.
Cassis has excellent street presence on a very visible corner of a quiet section of Sutter Street, just one short block from Fillmore Street. Their large glass windows and bold, cheerful awning welcome everyone who approaches. Guests first enter into a front room that houses a large square, comfortable bar with several walls painted a lovely deep wine color. Visitors can be seated in this room or continue through to a second, large dining room that is separated from the front room with a wooden wine bottle divider. This second room has views into the kitchen and the brick oven, as well as onto Sutter Street. Here, surrounded by soft lighting, guests can be seated at tables or the banquette.
The interior of the Cassis dining room takes a clean, modern, and classic San Francisco approach with dark-planked wood floors, soft yellow walls, and limestone wainscoting. The white linen-covered tables are understated and the cushioned wood chairs are comfortable. On the recent evening when my companion and I dined at Cassis, each table had a short bud vase with a green spider mum that gave the room a nice touch.
Our reservations were for an early dinner and we were surprised to see that the restaurant was almost full. The hum of conversation was pleasant and we settled right in. We were seated promptly, but should one have to wait, the bar in the front room is an inviting place to relax. It is generously sized with tall cushioned stools and an accommodating bartender. In addition to wine and beer, Cassis has a full service bar and a comfortable place to enjoy it.
My dinner companion and I were hungry and eagerly reached for the menus, which required a moment to accustom ourselves to. The appetizer selection is primarily French. Directly below these bistro offerings is the list of California and Italian style brick oven pizzas. The menu truly does reflect the strong ties Southern France has with Italy. Homage is paid equally to both countries and their cuisine.
The Cassis wine list includes wines by the glass, half bottle, and full bottle. Many of the wines are from the Provence, Bordeaux, and Burgundy regions of France. Italy and California varieties are represented in smaller numbers on the list as well. In addition, Cassis has La Cave du Chef, a small climate controlled room with Burgundies and Bordeaux priced from $155 to $525. Ooh, la la, one might say!
Our waiter was at our table instantly to take our requests for one glass of Italian Pinot Grigio and one glass of French Merlot. Every server we encountered provided the professional, smooth service typically found in France. Everything flowed well and efficiently. And so our glasses of wine were sped to us, and were accompanied by good crusty, warm French bread and butter. It was then that we were able to sit back, sip, and make our dinner choices.
It was impossible to pass up the Salade de Crabe and the Foie Gras De Canard as appetizers. The crab salad sat on a bed of baby arugula that was swirled with a bit of cocktail sauce, some orange segments, and soja vinaigrette. The crab itself was fresh and flavorful, and the arugula provided a nice peppery base for the crab. Spooned onto the warm bread, the Salade de Crabe was a refreshing way to start the evening.
The terrine of Foie Gras De Canard was a success as an appetizer as well. Two petite slices of foie gras were served with a slice of brioche corn bread and a small pot of blueberry wine jam. The foie gras melted in our mouths and was delightful. The fluffy cornbread, in place of more traditional thin toasts, was a great way to eat the whole pot of blueberry jam.
Dinner arrived and the Cotes de Boeuf Braisees smelled great from six feet away. There are few foods as comforting as braised beef short ribs and the Cassis version was fall-off-the-bone tender and very satisfying. The dish was served over mashes potatoes with shallots in red wine, and was the ideal cure for the chilly, rainy night.
The Saint-Jacques, or roasted day-boat scallops, were a much lighter main course than the short ribs. The scallops were cooked crisply on the outside, and tasted delightfully briny. The presentation was also lovely. The crispy wild rice was prepared al dente-style, and as we dined upon it happily the bistro experience enveloped us.
Ah, for dessert! The Profiteroles could have, and should have, arrived with a trumpet blast. Three cream puffs were filled with a light caramel ice cream and then topped with a coating of caramelized hazelnuts. Chocolate is, of course, the traditional topping for profiteroles but the golden hazelnuts were crunchy, sticky, delicious, and just a tad more sophisticated than chocolate.
The Duo de Mousses was a cake made of alternating layers of chocolate and banana mousse, and then finished with a coconut sauce. It offered a somewhat surprising tropical note to the French/Italian menu – the dessert ended in the same fashion as the other dishes we enjoyed: with an emptied plate.
Cassis takes its cuisine, wine list, and service seriously. Our recent evening at Cassis was relaxing, for we were in the hands of a professional staff that respected the diners as well as the presentation of the cuisine. The food was prepared with updated accompaniments that required creativity and experimentation on the part of the chefs. This is a fresh take on French and Italian classic cooking, which respects the history of each dish while nudging the food forward. It is clearly appreciated by the area residents, making Cassis a neighborhood treasure. Bon Appetit and Buon Appetito!
Copyright © TableAgent.com
Reservations
Business Info
- Address: 2101 Sutter Street, San Francisco CA 94115
- Cross Street: Steiner Street
- Location: Alameda County
- Cuisine: French | Italian | Pizza |
- Cost: | Inexpensive
- Category: Fine Dining
- Star Rating:
- Reservations: Recommended
- Dress Code: Casual
- Meals Served: Dinner |
- Parking: Street |
- Payment Options: VISA | Amex | MasterCard |
- Corkage Fee: 17.00 | Corkage waived for each bottle purchased. Limit 2
- Website: http://www.restaurantcassis.com/
- Phone: (415) 440-4500
- Features: Full Bar, Prix Fixe Menu, Personal Wines Allowed, Lounge / Bar,
- Occasion: Meet for a Drink, Quiet Conversation, Special Occasion,
Photos
Business Hours
Reservations Available
- Monday
- Tuesday
- 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday
- 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday
- 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Friday
- 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday
- 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
- Sunday
- 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.