Boulevard

Reserve

Boulevard Review

Two of San Francisco's top restaurant celebrities—chef Nancy Oakes and designer Pat Kuleto—are responsible for this high-profile, high-priced eatery in the magnificent 1889 Audiffred Building, a Parisian look-alike and one of the few downtown structures to survive the 1906 earthquake. Kuleto's Belle Époque interior and Oakes's sophisticated American food with a French accent attract well-dressed locals and flush out-of-towners. The menu changes seasonally, but count on standout appetizers and generous portions of dishes like gnocchi and Maine lobster, pan-roasted halibut with three side dishes (grains, squash blossoms, and spinach), and wood-grilled extra-thick pork chop with roasted heirloom apples. Save room (and calories) for one of the dynamite desserts, such as caramelized apple brioche pudding. There's counter seating for folks too hungry to wait for a table, and an American Kobe and Chianina beef burger at lunchtime that lets you eat with the swells without raiding your piggy bank. The well-chosen wine list and excellent service are also hallmarks here.