Cap Caplan, Editor, semaphore@thd.org
Read about Steven Listisen and his friends’ experience when they finally got to dine at the legendary Cafe Jacqueline.
CAFE JACQUELINE
by Stephen Listisen
After three years of trying and failing to score a reservation, it had to be kismet when two of my best friends excitedly texted me in April that they had gotten a highly coveted Cafe Jacqueline reservation…albeit for the second week of August. I’m happy to report that, even with the hype that exists for the restaurant among locals, Cafe Jacqueline provided one of the best and most unique overall dining experiences I’ve ever had.
The reservation—5:30 p.m. on a Tuesday—fell squarely within the time that most San Franciscans are wrapping up their workday or commuting home from work, requiring my friends and me (not known for our timeliness) to feign doctor’s appointments and other vaguely described “prior commitments” to ensure we made our reservation. However, I would be remiss if I did not give my friends due credit for their persistence in making the long-sought reservation. After half a dozen phone calls, voicemails, and visits to the restaurant itself later, they secured our spot at Cafe Jacqueline. This was no less than a Herculean feat for a couple of Gen Z-ers, a group known for both hating talking on the phone and laziness.
Needless to say, upon arrival at Cafe Jacqueline, we were more than ready for our meal. Cafe Jacqueline’s menu, focused on French fare, offers a few options for appetizers, soups, and salads, before presenting the “main event”: a selection of both savory and sweet souffles, made by no other than Cafe Jaqueline’s chef and namesake, Jacqueline Margulis. Though my group was initially set on only ordering them, we opted to share a bowl of onion soup before settling on which to indulge. The soup, piping hot, hearty, and delicious, was a perfect precursor for the souffles we would soon devour (but not too soon—each souffle is made to order and might arrive 40-60+ minutes after ordering).
After a few minutes of lively debate, my group settled on ordering two savory souffles, one spinach and one lobster. Both souffles were done just right and packed with unique flavor, speaking to the fact that they were baked with deep experience. Cafe Jacqueline has been operating for more than 46 years and, more importantly, with passion. The souffles were so satisfying without feeling heavy, I almost questioned if it was necessary to order dessert. However, given the elusiveness making a Cafe Jacqueline reservation, my friends and I decided to “lock in” and order two souffles for dessert. One chocolate souffle and one seasonal (peach) souffle later, I was thoroughly satisfied, though unsure if I’d be able to make the climb up Grant Avenue back to my apartment. For me, the dessert souffles were the stars of the show—soft, rich (without being overpowering) and cooked to perfection—a fitting ending to a restaurant experience unlike any other I’ve had.
If the descriptions of the food, reputation, and exclusivity aren’t enough to motivate you to make a reservation at Cafe Jacqueline, one favorite part of my visit there was the ambiance. The slow-paced dinner amongst only eight or nine other tables of diners was a more-than-welcome reprieve from the daily grind of the city. On top of that, what other restaurant has a restroom that requires you to pass through the kitchen of a local culinary legend? Cafe Jacqueline is worth however many calls are necessary to make a reservation.
Café Jacqueline
1454 Grant Avenue
Open Tuesday through Saturday: 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
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