38574 Mon Aug 08 16:21:03 -0700 2005 16 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 181674 I took a friend to the Ritz last year for her birthday...it was phenomenal and she loved it, but now I have a problem. How can I match or surpass that this year? She's not such a foodie as I, so the WOW factor of the service and dining room are slightly more important than the food. Oh, and it must be in the city. Michael Minna would be too foodie fussy for her, and she did not like Gary Danko. I was thinking Fleur dy Lys, but is that too couple-y romantic for two galpals out on the town? Any insight or ideas would be VERY appreciated, thanks! Mon Aug 08 16:21:03 -0700 2005 0 Absonot 1 181688 How about Frisson? The food is overpriced but the space itself is pretty impressive and there is some people watching opportunity too. Another suggestion would be the Four Seasons but I only have drinks and appertizers there. They were Ok but good service. Old standby would be the Fifth Floor and Masa. I know people don't like Masa as much but I had great meals there. Mon Aug 08 17:19:08 -0700 2005 181674 0 cc 2 181822 I agree the fifth floor is excellent Thu Aug 11 02:59:48 -0700 2005 181688 0 eatolot 1 181689 Jardiniere might work. Service has always been impeccable. The food is excellent, for foodie or non-foodie alike. It's best to get a table upstairs, the atmosphere is better. Mon Aug 08 17:21:03 -0700 2005 181674 0 anna 1 181703 How about La Folie? Two friends raved recently about their experience there. Mon Aug 08 18:06:14 -0700 2005 181674 0 Barb S 1 181709 I'd vote for La Folie over Fleur de Lys. We had an incredable dinner at La Folie in June. Plus, it's pretty laid back while I always felt Fleur de Lys was kind of cold. Mon Aug 08 18:14:19 -0700 2005 181674 0 Monty 2 181721 The friend may find la folie's food too frou-frou. Mon Aug 08 19:28:22 -0700 2005 181709 0 semmel 3 181723 Actually I didn't think if was "frou-frou" at all. Servings were very generous and presentation was nice but not a "photo" which is how it is at Fleur de Ley. For as high end as La Folie is, we thought it was very comfortable and not pretenious at all. Mon Aug 08 20:00:25 -0700 2005 181721 0 Monty 4 181765 I wholeheartedly agree! It's my favorite "non-stiff" splurge! Tue Aug 09 02:48:23 -0700 2005 181723 0 OSM 1 181713 Do you want to be my friend too? Fleur de Lys is the most luxurious room I've ever eaten in. It is romantic and I've only been there with my wife, but each time there were a few pairs of friends there, who all seemed to enjoy themselves. The room is a little quiet, and it might be awkward if there were four or six of you, but I think two would have a great time. Mon Aug 08 18:18:33 -0700 2005 181674 0 Hungry Hippo 1 181727 Silks is pretty good. Haven't been there in a while. You might want to give them a shot. Mon Aug 08 20:18:04 -0700 2005 181674 0 steve h. 1 181733 Why not consider Boulevard? Lovely room, good food. Mon Aug 08 20:40:38 -0700 2005 181674 0 Joan Kureczka 1 181754 Fleur de Lys is fuddy-duddy in terms of food, decor, and service in my opinion -- when I went there (admittedly a year ago), a cherry tomato graced every dish. Service and decor looks like it's straight out of the pre-Julia Child textbook for French resturants (and not in a good way!). Especially in terms of service wow factor, I would suggest Masa's. The room is very small and intimate with an army of staffers attending to your every need. It feels like a very special place. I last went when Gregory Short was under Richard Reddington and it was really good food. Now I think Short is at the helm. I think you can count on a good meal. Next year, take her out of town to Cyrus. They really go over-the-top there with service -- and food. Mon Aug 08 23:08:31 -0700 2005 181674 0 anti-foodie 2 181758 I went back to Fleur De Lys a few months ago for the first time in years, expecting the rather stiff formality and slight fuddy-duddiness that I remembered, and was astonished and delighted to find it welcoming and charming, with superb food and service. The room was more beautiful than ever, and every table seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as we were. It's absolutely not all romantic couples -- I'd definitely recommend it for your friend's birthday bash (though La Folie or Masa's would undoubtedly be grand too)... Mon Aug 08 23:56:44 -0700 2005 181754 0 Rod Williams 3 181762 I agree. My wife and I went there recently for our silver anniversary; our final choice was there or the Ritz. We chose Fleur de Lys because we had never been there and had wanted to go for some time. We enjoyed it immensely, although it isn't quite as French as a starred restaurant in France would be. We got what we paid for and would go back. Tue Aug 09 00:48:06 -0700 2005 181758 0 Jack 2 181763 you will love it ! Tue Aug 09 01:36:52 -0700 2005 181754 0 hehe :) 1 181859 Fleur de Lys is your best bet -- a stunning dining room, the only one in the Bay Area that can even compare to The Dining Room's. The food and service are excellent as well. I don't think there should be any awkwardness about two friends going there together. La Folie is very good and new decor is much more elegant than the old one, but I think Fleur de Lys is still the more impressive of the two. Jardiniere has a nice atmosphere, but the food is not at the top-tier level and the service, in my experience, has often been awful. Boulevard is one of the most overrated restaurants in the Bay Area, the appeal of which I have never understood. The food is mediocre at best and the atmosphere non-existent -- especially when compared againt The Dining Room, Fleur de Lys, etc. Tue Aug 16 23:44:53 -0700 2005 181674 0 NS