"An outstanding dining experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is elegant yet relaxed, perfect for a special evening. The steak was perfectly cooked, flavorful, and paired beautifully with a bold Cabernet. The duck breast was exceptional — tender, rich, and perfectly balanced with its sauce. The wine selection is excellent, and the staff is knowledgeable and attentive without being intrusive. Everything from the presentation to the timing of the courses felt thoughtfully done. Highly recommend for a date night or a refined dinner. We’ll definitely be back!"

"People who work here are really nice and friendly hence the 2 stars overall. 5+ stars for them! Unfortunately, food left a lot to be desired. Duck was not cooked properly. Fat was not rendered and duck was not prepared properly before cooking either. I tasted a piece of duck and I could not even chew or swallow it since it was all fat and skin was chewy. Lentils were underdone and pomegranate seeds in the lentils were not a good addition. The first bite of fish was good before I realized that it was swimming in butter (see picture) and was over a very buttery mashed potato. I gave everyone big bites to taste since it was too buttery for me to eat after a few bites. Beef dish was a bit chewy and over cooked, and the gravy had cooled and had a film when it arrived at the table. Burger was strange since it was a huge bun with lots of fries, and was smothered in aioli. Seemed out of place on the menu. Don't order dessert. The apple strudel was literally a sliver the width of a little pinky....seriously. It was cutely decorated with flowers. Overall, we're perplexed about the high rating for food. No appetizers or drinks, 4 people = $250."

"I love their cocktails but feel always that their food main menu is okay especially for the price. It’s okay but not inspiring or memorable. The salad with persimmon was great but the scallops and the mushroom tagliatelle were just okay. Honestly, I will go back there for the appetizers and drinks, not for the main menu."

"I will eat here every time I visit San Francisco. The flavors were out of this world, the price point was reasonable for the experience, and we didn’t leave hungry. I got the peach salad, which I could eat every day, and the two people I was dining with got the onion soup and cucumber soup, both who raved about theirs. We split an escargot dish which was a pastry with really delicate flavors. We all three ordered the pan seared duck breast, which was phenomenal. Each of us had a cocktail, mine being an absinthe drink. Wasn’t my favorite but I figured I should try it as part of the experience. All in all, between a split appetizer, a soup/salad each, a drink, and an entree, we spent about $100 each plus tip. Really not bad!"

"For being a local, this was my first time at Absinthe. I always wanted to come, just never the right day or it was too busy. The food was excellent. I recommend the Birds of a Feather, salade lyonnaise, and the beef bourguignon. The tartare, escargot, pan roasted duck breast, and steak frites are also just as good. Ethan S., our server, was the best. He's a local San Franciscan from the Outer Sunset who went to Galileo. He knew we had a lot to drink and gave us aspirin to combat the booze."