There's no other industry in the entire world as uncertain and prone to failure as the restaurant business. The vast majority of restaurants fail within the first year, and those that do make it past that all-important milestone are guaranteed to lose sufficient ground within the first five. It takes the perfect trifecta of food, ambiance and dumb luck to stay in business. Even a world renowned restaurant in 2008 could be wiped off the map by 2009. We find this to be painfully true with one of San Francisco, California's most impressive restaurants, Jeanty at Jack's.

Unfortunately, due to California's ongoing battle to stave off out-and-out bankruptcy, many of the state's businesses are failing. It's an all-to-common situation in these times of economic uncertainty, and Jeanty at Jack's is just the latest in a long line of otherwise reputable establishments to bite the bullet and yield the inevitable and unstoppable winds of change. While it was open, Jeanty at Jack's, with its bright red corner-shop location, was a very popular eatery for permanent residents and tourists alike.

Jeanty at Jack's was the quintessential bistro-style eatery, boasting French cuisine. Although they did offer somewhat of an American twist, mostly due to the local ingredients, the menu was undeniably French, and for that reason, it stood out above the local competition. While there may have been more than a few classical French restaurants to eat around the area, and especially the state, the bistro-style dining has the “everyman” appeal that most look for in a quaint, unpretentious establishment. However, the prices were very high at the restaurant and didn't represent the “everyman” very well at all, which may contribute to the reasons they're no longer around.

The menu was rather varied for such a small location. Guests could try a selection of sweetbreads, like the fava bean and white corn-topped selection. There's also a cassoulet selection, a variety of meats grilled to perfection, classic soups like French onion and tomato, crepes, sorbets, coffee, wine, and much more. The waiting staff always received very high marks, and the chef (Jack) was considered a master at his respective style.

The inside of the bistro was very elegant. A wooden bar in the front seated around a dozen guests, allowing them to enjoy food or one of the many mixed drinks the bartender would whip up in a hurry. This was a favorite spot for many after working hours. The floor tables were on the smaller side, only seating a few, but the restaurant made the most of the relatively small space, able to seat dozens of diners at once.

The only downside of the restaurant was the price of the items. Even if you were only after some dumplings, soup and a nice glass of wine, you could easily pay around $80 for your meal. This was okay for a while, considering what part of San Fran Jeanty at Jack's was located in, but after the recession hit in full force even the well-to-do diners sought less expensive food for their taste buds. Jack has opened another location now, but Jeanty at Jack's is just a memory.