A quick google search tells you that Millennium is a vegetarian institution in San Francisco. History seems to tell us that it was the first fine dining vegan restaurant of note in the area. Having read some other reviews on the place, we were eager to try it out for ourselves.
Millennium is on the ground floor of a hotel in downtown SF. Even though we had a booking, we waited for 15 minutes or so in the hotel lobby, which doubles as the entrance to the restaurant. It's cosy and a little dated. The other diners looked equally as intrigued and hungry as us - we were a strange mixed bag huddled in that lobby together! All walks of live come together over good veggie food in Millennium!
Once inside, I got the sense that the restaurant had once been an old Irish pub, or something similar. The big bar in the centre of the room is a feature, and they seem to have attempted to strip some of the pub feel back by draping curtains. It was an odd mix, but somehow just added to my sense of the ad hoc experience.
Our waitress was European, with plaits curled around the back of her head, and had no sense of humour at all. She reprimanded me for not speaking loudly enough when I ordered, but then she seemed to soften up after that. So much for all vegetarians being jolly, life-loving souls. Turns out we take all types!
Due to said waitress I was too scared to take pictures of my food, at risk of enduring another reprimand from this quirky institution that seems to take itself quite seriously, so hence this is a very straight forward post! The food was nice and imaginative, and we left full and satisfied. I can say I've had better, but I've also had worse. Nothing to write too much of a post about...
Being in Millennium, I sensed it was all vegan hype - I know what it's like to have mediocre standards, simply because you want to be encouraging of the movement, but at some point we need to be honest that it's just not that great by broader industry standards. Power to the vegan fine dining establishments, and more of them I say! Perhaps that will make places like Millennium a little more competitive on decor and service, rather than just resting on the niche of being a vegan haunt. It's touted as fine dining, and you're asked to dress nicely, but apart from some nice food it's really not worth the online reputation it enjoys (humble opinion!).
Give it a go if you're vegan, in town, and keen to see for yourself, but there are true fine dining restaurants out there in SF who I found will gladly accommodate you with some notice.
Add: 580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
PH: 415-345-3900
Web: http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/restaurant/index.html
Millennium is on the ground floor of a hotel in downtown SF. Even though we had a booking, we waited for 15 minutes or so in the hotel lobby, which doubles as the entrance to the restaurant. It's cosy and a little dated. The other diners looked equally as intrigued and hungry as us - we were a strange mixed bag huddled in that lobby together! All walks of live come together over good veggie food in Millennium!
Once inside, I got the sense that the restaurant had once been an old Irish pub, or something similar. The big bar in the centre of the room is a feature, and they seem to have attempted to strip some of the pub feel back by draping curtains. It was an odd mix, but somehow just added to my sense of the ad hoc experience.
Our waitress was European, with plaits curled around the back of her head, and had no sense of humour at all. She reprimanded me for not speaking loudly enough when I ordered, but then she seemed to soften up after that. So much for all vegetarians being jolly, life-loving souls. Turns out we take all types!
Due to said waitress I was too scared to take pictures of my food, at risk of enduring another reprimand from this quirky institution that seems to take itself quite seriously, so hence this is a very straight forward post! The food was nice and imaginative, and we left full and satisfied. I can say I've had better, but I've also had worse. Nothing to write too much of a post about...
Being in Millennium, I sensed it was all vegan hype - I know what it's like to have mediocre standards, simply because you want to be encouraging of the movement, but at some point we need to be honest that it's just not that great by broader industry standards. Power to the vegan fine dining establishments, and more of them I say! Perhaps that will make places like Millennium a little more competitive on decor and service, rather than just resting on the niche of being a vegan haunt. It's touted as fine dining, and you're asked to dress nicely, but apart from some nice food it's really not worth the online reputation it enjoys (humble opinion!).
Give it a go if you're vegan, in town, and keen to see for yourself, but there are true fine dining restaurants out there in SF who I found will gladly accommodate you with some notice.
Add: 580 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
PH: 415-345-3900
Web: http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com/restaurant/index.html
