Gary Danko, a famous American cuisine restaurant in San Francisco, last Thursday I finally had a chance to dine with two friends at Gary Danko for a girls’ night out. Gary Danko is a bit of a surprise being in the midst of the Ghirardelli-tourist theme park. The windows to the place are blacked out. No peeking in. The place presents an appearance of such a grey stone wall and black marble window deco. Inside the place is fancy, up-scale in a way meant to let me know that the size of my bill should not come as a surprise. The staff is friendly, helpful, and warm.
If you cannot plan weeks ahead for a reservation, it is possible to have the full menu presented to you at the bar. Get to the place at 5, a half hour before seating in the restaurant proper, and grab a seat. The menu is clever, flexible. You may order 3, 4 or five course dinners comprised of any combination of appetizer, fish courses served as the main or an appetizer sized portion, and a meat course (which cannot be downsized). The night, I went four courses.
As an appetizer I started with perfectly al dente risotto that came with lobster, shrimp, asparagus and stinging nettles. What made the plate was that the lobster and shrimp were perfectly prepared, perfectly fresh and perfectly tasty. The asparagus gave a taste of the season.
Second course, it was Mushroom Dusted Sea Scallops with English Pea Purée, Shimeji Mushrooms and Meyer Lemon. I had to say “the tender of sea scallops makes me feel in the heaven.”
I finished with a main course of roasted loin of lamb that tasted more like beef than lamb to me. But it did have taste. The meat was over perfectly prepared couscous with English peas and sided by perfectly seared spring onions, artichoke and some mint.
After the meal they brought us a plate of assorted small dessert treats and a raspberry sorbet while we were waiting for our dessert coming. I picked Baked Chocolate Soufflé with Two Sauces for a perfectly ending at Gary Danko. It’s my best Chocolate Soufflé that I have ever had. So creamy and rich.
Gary Danko is offering a two course dinner for $44 in which you may choose any main course and any appetizer or appetizer sized seafood plate or any dessert. If money is of little importance to you, this is actually a deal, a bargain and a good one at that.
Overall, I think that it worth the money that I paid for Gary Danko. The place, food, wine, and services is flawless. I can not wait to go back for a perfect dine again.
Gary Danko
800 N Point St
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 749-2060
