Saison is a tasting menu restaurant in SoMa worth saving for a very special occasion.

Monsieur Benjamin is making French food cool again.

Trou Normand is great place to eat cured meats and sip crafty cognac cocktails.

Lalime’s in North Berkeley does inventive French food in a cozy atmosphere that feels like you’re eating in someone’s house.

For cozy, classic French, it doesn't get much better than L'Ardoise in the Castro.

Cocotte is a small French place in Russian Hill where you should go for a midweek date.

Plouf has great French food down an alley that's worth heading to FiDi for.

Prepare to pay a lot of money for some delicious raw things - like oysters and beef tartare - at Petit Marlowe in SoMa.

A Cow Hollow French bistro that’ll make you feel like you’re in Paris. Gamine’s got it going on.

Verjus is a wine bar and bottle shop in the Financial District perfect for an after-work date and drinks before dinner.

Chez Maman in Potrero Hill is the neighborhood French spot you’ll wish was near where you live.

Chapeau! is your best bet for classic French food in the Richmond.

Berkeley’s Chez Panisse is famous for starting the whole "farm-to-table" movement, and it's still doing an incredible prix fixe menu.

Petit Crenn in Hayes Valley involves not-stuffy French food that's simple and well-executed, both for a casual brunch or a tasting menu at dinner.

The Brazen Head is an old-school San Francisco classic in Cow Hollow.

Atelier Crenn in Cow Hollow is the most special of special occasion restaurants.