In our Dining Reports, we share a firsthand perspective of a recent restaurant visit, covering everything from the vibe to must-get dishes. See more in the Eater app.
Diners have come to know chef and restaurateur Susan Dunn through her time at Pizzetta 211, and as co-owner of Pearl 6101 on California Street and Paladar 511 in New Orleans. But while her other projects have focused on pizza, Cal-Mediterranean, and seafood, respectively, the throughline of those restaurants have been in celebrating seasonality and local produce, and that’s much of what diners can expect from Esme — Dunn’s solo project, which opened inside the Metro Hotel in San Francisco in June 2026.
At Esme, the menu skews toward French bistro offerings — with some California influence — in a casual setting. Expect the menu to shift with the season, and an early July dinner saw dishes bursting with summer vegetables like squash, grilled stone fruit, and English peas. The restaurant is tagged as “Your Beloved Neighborhood Bistro,” on the menu, and Esme comes pretty close to nailing those vibes…