Marlowe Restaurant Review

330 Townsend St. (4th St.) Send to Phone

415-974-5599 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu

Price

$$$$$

This snug South of Market restaurant buzzes with the sound of locals enjoying comfort food.

Marlowe Restaurant is one of our 2012 Hot 10 SF Restaurants|

Cuisine

Open

Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner Mon.-Sat.

Features

Romantic setting
Reservations suggested
Parking lot
Casual dressy

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Dining room at Marlowe, San Francisco, CA

Marlowe’s rich, dark and moody interior is meant to bring together the elements of an old-world butcher shop and a classic bistro. A roll of butcher paper hangs from the wall announcing the daily specials, while a long community table serves for dining, not carving. Elsewhere, close tables and low lighting evoke a secret getaway to a countryside bistro. Chef Jennifer Puccio's menu, on the other hand, is no secret. And for good reason: It seems to hone in on every craving one has ever experienced. “Snacks” include addictive pistachios coated in a glaze of bourbon, maple and smoked sea salt and wispy Brussels sprouts chips that are light, flaky and can be eaten by the handful. For appetizers, whole grilled prawns dredged in Bay seasoning could easily be eaten as is but are better when dipped in a jar of robust, “boozy” cocktail sauce. Roasted chicken is juicy and tastes as if it were brushed with lavender. A bowl of creamy polenta, studded with trumpet and chanterelle mushrooms, gets a potent injection of truffle. The appealing desserts---apple crisp drenched in bourbon ice cream and drizzled with brown butter caramel sauce---are homey yet elegant. The wine list globe trots, offering vintages from Napa to South Africa.

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