Bon Marché, the multi-faceted, French-inspired restaurant, brewery, wine bar and flower shop, will open its doors on Mid-Market on Friday, August 28.
What It Is
The extensive project from Mercer Restaurant Group (AQ, TBD), was inspired by the bustling Marais district of Paris, as well the elegant Le Bon Marché department store, opened in the 1800s and considered the first modern department store. San Francisco's iteration is a roomy 7,500 square-foot space that offers guests a variety of experiences under one roof: a coffee shop, oyster bar, craft brewery and flower shop will operate alongside a full-service dining room, lounge and private dining area.
HOW IT WORKS
The big idea is that guests are able order anything from any area of the restaurant, whether they've chosen to sit in the lounge, dining room or at the bar. And in an interesting twist, the menu is divided into pricing tiers, to make the ordering (and paying) process less obtrusive. For example, everything within the soup category is $7, entrées are $21 and so on.
The Food
The menu comes from chef Mark Liberman (partner and executive chef of Mercer Restaurant Group) and executive chef Matthew Sieger, focusing on producing classic brasserie fare exceedingly well. Dishes like escargot persillade, foie gras terrine with hazelnuts and steak tartare are part of the lineup, alongside a raw bar with oysters, Dungeness crab, poached shrimp and more. "Everything on the menu is driven by the culinary team's passion for making," emphasizes partner Matt Semmelhack, meaning almost everything is made in-house, from charcuterie to beer. Rikki Garcia (pastry chef of Mercer Restaurant Group) is leading the pastry charge with simple, classic sweets like lemon verbena beignets filled with créme anglaise. (Check out the full menu here.)
The Drinks
In keeping with the theme of making things from scratch, one of the biggest components of the project is the in-house brewing facilities. Master Cicerone Rich Higgins has overseen the brewing program, inspired by French-style beers. Bar manager Eric Quilty has done his part as well, offering creative cocktails influenced by classic French movies. And in the wine realm, wine director Allegra Angelo has built up a list of around 100 labels, organized by region, varietal, price and food pairing, to match the interactive dining experience. (Check out the bar, wine and beer menus here.)
And last but not least, in a completely romantic and totally French move, floral designers Tango and Foxtrot will offer their bouquets at the entrance of Bon Marché. It's all here, folks. Lunch and dinner will be available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.- 11 p.m., Saturday from 4 p.m.-1 a.m.; Closed Sunday.
