high-end, special late lunch needed

[Hungry Celeste]

Where would you send your friends who're getting hitched in the AM at City Hall and need an extra-special luncheon destination? Phenomenal food required, nice atmosphere (after all, they'll be quite dressed up), and lovely service a must. Bonus points for adventurous food. Do you think Slanted Door is "special" enough? Both are lovers of viet food.

[monkeytime]

If they like vietnamese food try Le Colonial. It's close to city hall and they are closed during the day so you could have the restaurant for the happy couple. www.lecolonialsf.com

[Frosty Melon]

Zuni unless it's a Monday. Slanted Door would be obnoxiously loud for the occasion.

[Hungry Celeste]

I've only seen photos of the inside of Zuni...while it looks lovely, it doesn't seem "fancy" enough. Am I wrong, or is it more lavish in person?

[Paul H]

I don't think Zuni is fancy enough. Too bad Ame stopped serving lunch, that would have been perfect. High-end places with lunch are few and far between, but here are a few to consider:

Aqua (French Seafood)
Campton Place (Modern French)
Boulevard (American)
Bong Su (Vietnamese)
Cafe Majestic
Garden Court (Fancy Hotel food)
Kokkari (Modern Greek)
Les Amis (French)
One Market (Modern American)

Good luck! Perhaps someone else will comment on this list.

[steve h.]

hey paul,
i know some of the places you mentioned. i'll line up behind your campton place suggestion. good call.

[Paul H]

With ceekskat, above, that makes three of us for Campton Place.

[Windy]

I haven't eaten at Campton Place since Daniel Humm left, but I've always preferred the somewhat sexier bar to the more staid main dining room. Do they serve lunch in it?

Cafe Majestic is a charming atmosphere too. Also haven't eaten there since the new chef.

[ceekskat]

I had lunch earlier this year at the bar which had a limited menu. My friend & I both ordered the salad with duck confit. We savored every morsel of the moist, flavorful meat with crispy skin! I feel the same way about the Campton Place bar vs. dining room which is why I've only had dinner there once. That said, I think lunch in the dining room would be nice since the afternoon meal has a more casualness to it.

Also, I read somewhere (CH?) that the new owners (Taj Hotel Group) are going to update the restaurant:-)

[Hungry Celeste]

I checked out the website, looks like a great room. Couldn't find a menu, though.....

[JasmineG]

I love Kokkari, but I'm not sure if it's fancy enough. The setting and service at Aqua are right for the occasion, however I don't like the food (though Michelin disagree with me).

[Hungry Celeste]

Tell me more about Bong Su....menu looks pretty tasty.

[Windy]

Ana Mandara might be a better atmosphere. I haven't personally eaten there though.

Bix serves lunch a few days a week, or used to.

I had a very pricey lunch at Silks and wasn't too impressed. But then I'm never that crazy about business lunch places--One Market, Boulevard.

[ceekskat]

Congrats to the Happy Couple!

I wouldn't consider eating at Slanted Door in the daytime "special enough". As upscale as the ferrybuilding is, it still has a mall atmosphere. If I were getting married & wanted a special occasion lunch spot, I may choose Campton Place. Although I've only eaten at the bar, their service is such that I've always felt like royalty. Perhaps not adventurous, but the bar menu food is very good so I can only assume their restaurant menu is equally good (unlike the subpar lunch I just had at the Top of the Mark). Also, I've made repeat visits just for their Campton Cure, the best cosmo I've ever had. Again, the emphasis at Campton Place is "special occasion". There are many good restaurants in the City but atmosphere may tend to be bustling/louder at lunchtime. I'm sure you'll be getting more recs from fellow chowhounds, this is just my two cents.

ps. If the Ame dining room were open for lunch, hands down that would be my choice.