3rd Cousin was over the top amazing! The food was absolutely phenomenal. We loved each dish and the service was wonderful. The staff was so kind and considerate to us, as we celebrated our anniversary together. I could not recommend this place more. Definitely will be going back as soon as possible for the amazing food and wonderful people that work there! read more

3rd Cousin - Burrata starter - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Truly wish I could say I enjoyed the experience but unfortunately it fell flat. I came to celebrate my birthday with my best friend and boyfriend. When we were deciding on drinks, the waiter was visibly peeved by our need to take a moment and figure out what we wanted. When he came back to ask us for our drinks order, I gave mine first, which is he recorded and immediately walked away. I had to call him back so that the other 2 guests at the table could also place their order... then when the desserts were being worked on, they cleared our plates before we were done without asking... I honestly didn't enjoy the experience at all. I felt uncomfortable being a patron there. Keep in mind we all ordered the pre fixe menu, 2 supplements, and 3 glasses of wine so I'm surprised we were treated so rudely. read more

Not a fan. Check-in process was smooth since we had a reservation. Street parking only. Service: 3/5 Staff was nice but.. 1) They kept on giving us extra utensils and plates maybe thinking we're going to share the items but we weren't... so there were 2-3 extra sets on our small table that no one noticed or removed. 2) Waiter kept spilling water whenever he refilled the glass that was across the table and never bothered to clean up. Food: 3/5 Sweet corn and kale fritters - These were beyond crispy.. almost hard and burnt. All 3 pieces tasted bitter. Uni crème brûlée - Best dish of the night. Loved that they offered more toasts to finish it off. Creamy, tasty, and all the taste blended so well together. Maine lobster risotto - Risotto was slightly undercooked and saturated with too much yuzu = sour. Sonoma duck breast - Rice was undercooked and soaked in the sauce... duck was too chewy, especially the skin. read more

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I would have given this restaurant 5. However the end of our dinner there was some miscommunication between my party and the server we had. The food was delicious and throughout the entire experience we had a great time. We had the tasting menu and each dish came out at the perfect timing. read more

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My team took me out for my birthday here and it turned out to be such a lovely and special evening. The food was fantastic across the board, and what really surprised me was how well the format lends itself to sharing. We ordered many plates and the variety felt genuinely accommodating to most people at the table, which is not always easy to pull off at a group dinner. Everyone found something they were happy with, and things kept coming out at a comfortable pace without feeling like a food assault. If you're looking for a solid spot to bring a group and let people graze and share, this is a great call. Definitely one of those places that earns its reputation as a group dinner destination without sacrificing quality to do it. read more

The perfect birthday dinner! Our server was so kind, she wished me a happy birthday multiple times and she was so kind and really made my first time at 3rd cousin so warm and memorable. What I enjoyed most about 3rd cousin was that it wasn't pretentious. I'm not necessarily a fine dining connoisseur but I have been to some nice places and this was the epitome of down to earth, friendly service. We had been out all day and weren't necessarily dressed up (just a black t shirt and jeans) but that did not negate us from receiving incredible service. The warm mood lighting against the restaurant's dark emerald walls were so visually appealing--absolutely the cherry on top after doing a sunset walk through Bernal Heights to whet our appetite. Seating was close but not cramped, and I really enjoyed the 70s music and bergamot rind soap in the restroom. These little details really took dinner to the next level. The food was incredible. I wanted to come here to try the Uni crème brûlée but we ordered too many other amazing dishes so it will have to wait until next time. Definitely get the asparagus soup. Definitely get the grilled octopus (the smashed fingerling potatoes included in the dish? To die for). And definitely get two desserts, at least. Our server was so sweet and put a candle in the pistachio cake for me to blow out. Paired with the chocolate pot de creme... I have no words. Thank you! read more

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4th time here, came today for my bday specifically because I was gifted inkind gift cards, but was told their internet doesn't work and they cannot accept it, and left it at that. Very frustrating . Food was good. read more

3rd Cousin - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Took a friend here to celebrate a big milestone and we had a great time. The vibes inside were nice and it felt cozy inside. Plus the volume inside was not overwhelming, we could still have a conversation comfortably. The staff here were also very friendly and attentive. We did the 5 course chef's menu. The standout dish for me was the cream squash soup. I'm not the biggest soup person, but this was amazing. My friend enjoyed the grilled tofu. And dessert was great. Overall, I would come back for another celebratory meal. read more

Celebrated a friend's birthday here with a lovely group dinner! We all got the 5-course meal for $89, which was satisfying overall. We had a nice long table by the window. Service was attentive. We were given menus and were able to choose our pasta, entree, and dessert. Here's what I had: 1) Fried rockfish & oyster (4/5) good, but not memorable 2) creamy squash soup (4/5) Extra: Uni Crème Brulee (5/5) made for sharing but I could have eaten the whole thing, this was so good! 3) Campanelle (5/5) excellent pasta dish with broccolini. 4) Corvina (4/5) good fish entree 5) Apples and Cream w/ fruit sorbet (4/5) This is an excellent deal for a 5-course meal! Even though I wasn't wowed by every dish, I liked them all enough and there were a couple of standouts that made this worth the drive. read more

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After experiencing the finely crafted dishes and attentive service during a recent visit to 3rd Cousin, it feels like I was promoted to 1st Cousin on my first time out! Located on a rather quiet stretch of Cortland Avenue which is a main thoroughfare that travels through the Bernal Heights neighborhood in San Francisco. 3rd Cousin comes from chef and owner Greg Lutes, who actually found the time to make the rounds and greet customers, and is truly representative of the hard work and ingenuity of what is possible when an independent business owner is allowed to achieve when given the chance. 3rd Cousin is a lovely small bistro that focuses on fresh ingredients through local agriculture and fishing industries that the Bay Area is so well-known for. A true romantic restaurant that is perfect for meeting up with that someone special or a someone who just enjoys a good meal, 3rd Cousin has been around for over a decade, building on their credentials by being recognized by the Michelin Guide, thanks to the local love that is put into every dish. I have had my eye on visiting 3rd Cousin ever since they started participating in San Francisco Restaurant Week, which is a promotion that local restaurants participate in, in order to lure in locals and tourists alike to their restaurant over the course of roughly 10 days where they offer a three or four-course pre-fixe menu for diners to select various items from their a la carte menu. 3rd Cousin usually has multiple tasting menus from eight to five to a tasting counter menu, but this four course menu is sold for 75 dollars, and is the most affordable on their menu. Reservations are easy to make via the OpenTable website, but be warned you do have to make them via your credit card and they do charge if you cancel within 24 hours. My friend and I did arrive before our rather last 7:45 p.m. reservations, and the host team at 3rd Cousin was gracious enough to make room for us. Although four courses are served, your first course is a wonderful amuse bouche of their Cauliflower and Crab Bavarois, which was shredded crab meat served on a bed of cauliflower puree and topped with fish eggs. This was a real delight for your taste buds and made us expect even more from the rest of our meal. For our second course, I ordered their Green & White Asparagus Soup which was topped with herby croutons, ramps, and onion sprouts, while my dining mate opted to order their Crudo & Tartar of Bluefin Tuna, which was topped with daikon, namasu, yuzu buttermilk, and Thai basil. I loved my soup, which was rich and creamy with every spoonful, while my dining partner liked but didn't necessarily love her crudo, as they have enjoyed better versions in the past. For our entrées, I ordered their Snake River New York Strip Loin which was served on a bed of miso and black garlic crushed potatoes along with asparagus and morel mushrooms. My dining partner ordered their Alaskan Halibut which was served with a bed of fregola pasta, New Zealand spinach, fiddleheads, kohlrabi, and with lobster nage. To pair with our meals, we both enjoyed red wine from their wine menu, with me being able to savor their 2021 Domaine Des Homs Cinsault sourced from L'amandier in the Loire Valley of France, while me friend enjoyed their 2022 Prima Materia Barbera sourced from North Coast and Lake County in California. Everything about our dinner was truly satisfying from the plating of the dishes to the overall quality of the ingredients used to compose the dishes. The atmosphere is quite lively inside of 3rd Cousin, as their open kitchen was hopping with activity in addition to diners sitting at their countertop there in addition to multiple tables that are rather close in their dining room. For our dessert course, I enjoyed their Cherimoya & Coconut Panna Cotta, which was topped with kumquat, pine nut granola and matcha, while my friend enjoyed their Valrhona Chocolate Pot D'Creme which was topped with candied nuts, toasted marshmallow and blood orange. Neither dish was too sweet and was the perfect way to conclude our meal. With a bill that totaled about $138 per person, our experience at 3rd Cousin was perfect from start to finish. It's good to know that Chef Lutes has always believed that there is nothing more intimate than sharing a good meal amongst friends, and everyone is invited to his table, and I for one am lucky to have finally experienced this gastronomic journey that beautifully captures the essence of our region's agriculture and sustainable seafood sourcing history. May 3rd Cousin continue to be that special gem that locals truly get to experience first hand for years to come! read more

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I had such a wonderful dining experience here. We opted for the chefs tasting menu and we were able to sample so many delicious dishes. The standouts for me were the buttermilk Crudo and the caviar crème brûlée. Those were two dishes that were so unique and flavorful. We also did the wine pairing, which is really nice because I think this was my first time actually doing a wine pairing with a tasting menu so I felt like I was learning a lot about the different wines. Our service was fabulous, and everyone was super knowledgeable and was able to answer all our questions. read more

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The food here is definitely very thought out and you can really see how much effort they put into every dish. Did the 5 course tasting menu and was definitely full by the end, but that's not to say the portions aren't on the smaller side. If we wanna get technical, I would maybe rate it a 4.2 as I felt like the flavors could have been a bit stronger? Like a bit more of every sauce used for each item lol. Overall a really great experience in terms of service and ambiance as well. read more

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The food was average at best and bad at worst. We have no idea why they charge what they charge or require a credit card deposit for a reservation. This is not fine dining. The single dumpling was gummy, Brussels sprouts frankly burned (charred to point of bitterness), and duck just plain bad. Nothing unique or special and the cookery was dismal. We have lived in the area for 17 years and understand what high food quality is. Even average food. This missed the mark in every domain from food quality to service to cooking to menu to taste, let alone the excessive price. Our experience- a disappointment. Paying more than $200 for a marginal meal ($15 for a beer, $8 for a single gummy cold dumpling, $16 for burned veg and $50 for terrible duck and cheap rice (I've had better at Panda Express ) is upsetting to the point of being offensive. I am sorry to be harsh, but there were no redeeming qualities. Will not be back and do not recommend. Many similar 1 star reviews. We should have paid attention to them. read more

This was an all around great dining experience. We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary on May 29th and the folks at 3rd Cousin did a great job in making us feel special and delivered an awesome dinner too. The host was friendly, attentive and made sure we were seated immediately upon arrival. They also had a anniversary card signed by the check, waiting for us at our table-Nice touch! Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and great recommendations as well, to help us celebrate they also provided a glass of sparking! Very nice! We started with the Burrata which was creamy, delicious and melted in your mouth and followed with the dumplings which created a flavor party in my mouth, so good! My wife has the Lobster Risotto and I enjoyed the Filet, both dishes were wonderful with an abundance of flavor in each bite. Will definitely be back here! read more

Pretty good, but 27% automatic gratuity is egregious Did five course menu. Everything was good. Not as unique as something like Rich Table but solid read more

Been hoping to try this place for years and finally came here for my birthday this weekend. We ordered the 5 course tasting menu. The first three courses were hard to finish. The flavors did not really mesh and there was no progression with the dishes. First course was like a cream cheese with tobiko, followed by fried crab, then a small amount of asparagus soup. It was difficult to finish these. Pasta courses were probably the best part. Service felt broken as they seemed to forget about our table for awhile. I'm not exactly sure who our server was or if was a team working together. Sadly my server couldn't tell me much about the wines by the glass other than 'it's a blend' or 'that's a good one.' Our main courses came out. 1 steak and one salmon. Honestly I could hardly eat the steak there was so much chewing involved I felt I could choke. My eyes were honestly swelling with tears I was holding back because I didn't want my wife seeing how sad I was that we made the mistake of spending my birthday here. $415 later we left. We took uber hoping to have fun and celebrate with drinks but after the dinner started we didn't feel like celebrating much. Hope your experience is better than hours. read more

We came here for restaurant week. Reservations were pretty easy to come by. We were greeted and sat right away and the staff was super friendly, especially our server. We were really excited to try the lobster risotto on the menu, which was a little extra and definitely the worth it! The tuna tartar was yummy. The flavors were delicious and the plate was beautiful. The steak was really good, cook exactly how we asked. The halibut wasn't my favorite, but the flavors came together well otherwise. The desserts were not great. I feel like they were trying to do too much and we didn't really enjoy either one of them, which was a huge let down. All in all good meal, nothing spectacular. I'd go back again if they switch up the menu a little bit. read more

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We did the 8 course pairing on a Saturday evening. Reservations were easily obtainable. Parking wasn't terrible on residential streets. Hosts and main server were professional and on point with friendly banter, without being overbearing. The rest of the service staff was terrible. I had my phone out in between and instead of waiting for me to move my hand or phone out the way, she just knocked it out of the way. Sometimes, they would just haphazardly toss a plate on the table. Excuse me, for the price point in this economy, I would expect a little more professionalism and patience. On to the food next, which did not disappoint until the lamb and the extra Wagyu dumpling. Sir, a dumpling for $8? You better have truffle or caviar in there. (It did not). I was pretty turned off by the ho ho dessert, but the panna cotta was full of flavor. The scallops, rock fish and ravioli were all tasteful and beautifully presented. Unfortunately, there were too many misses for me to recommend this restaurant wholeheartedly I can see why it no longer has a Michelin star. read more

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Dined during SF Restaurant Week. Lovely ambiance but the servers could be friendlier. Overall, every dish was decently flavored and executed but not once did anyone ask how the food was or if we wanted another drink. In terms of everything, this place definitely has room for growth and refinement. I'd come back but not right away. There are definitely more compelling places to try. read more

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Came here for restaurant week and got the three course price fixe meal. The restaurant is very small so definitely get a reservation ahead of time! We were first served with a biscuit. I chose the hamachi crudo, which was slightly too warm, Wagyu ribeye, which was cooked to perfection, and we shared a panna cotta and a chocolate cake (the cake was too rich for me). Service was very attentive. I'm taking one star away because of the appetizer and the chocolate cake. Would come back for non restaurant week menu though read more

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Loved our SF Restaurant Week experience! Very high quality ingredients, bold but balanced flavors, creative desserts. I've never been in this neighborhood before ("Bernal Heights"? Learned the name from passing buses ) but am looking forward to come back already. read more

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My husband and I were a tad bit disappointed to be honest. We ordered the mushroom ravioli, a steak, and some appetizer. None of the dishes blew our mind or tasted out of the ordinary. Nothing tasted bad but nothing was memorable either. The dessert was too sweet for my liking, I wish it did not have the marshmallow For the $$$$ paid tag we expected a lot more inventiveness in terms of combinations/ ingredients/ flavor profile. Unlikely to return. read more

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We came here for a special birthday dinner and we were not disappointed. The staff greeted you at the door and throughout the meal there was always someone checking on you, filling your water glass zealously and the chef owner was out checking the guests frequently as well. We opted for the 5 course prix fixe menu of the day and added the supplemental uni creme brulee to share which birthday guy really liked. The uni was fresh, custard-like with caviar to complement the dish. Hubby did think his pork was a tad dry and my striped bass fillets were a little salty but the other dishes were very good. I especially enjoyed the simple desserts. I tried the market berry trifle but sampled the sorbets others had, both very good. The 5 course was more than enough for each of us to eat. They have a larger course menu and would've been too much food for us. Chef Greg was so kind to take a picture too. We got lucky and found parking around the corner but could see how it might be difficult in the area. Hope to be back soon. read more

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We came to 3rd Cousin for Valentine's Day dinner and were very excited to try their menu. Unfortunately, the food and dining experience were disappointing. The one dish I loved was the uni creme brûlée. Sadly it went downhill from there. Nothing was bad, but the flavors for the majority of the dishes felt muted and not as nuanced as described. Additionally the cook on some of the food was off. For example, the risotto was noticeably under cooked. We sat at the counter, and had the pleasure of watching the kitchen at work which was fun for the most part. Unfortunately, we overheard some arguing amongst the servers and food runners. I get it, because it was quite busy, but it was a bit unpleasant. Service was decent enough. Overall, I don't think the food and service were worth the high price tag. read more

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It's not that the food was all that bad, it's just when you pay more than $500 for a meal, you're expecting something more than just replacement level food. Combined with service also far short of the price tag and forgettable ambiance, my honest advice is to save your money. You can get food just as good as this at restaurants a 10th of the price. Very disappointing. Highlights: great wine pairings, very fresh produce; obviously well sourced, Lowlights: very overcooked salmon; like chewing on wood chips, replacement-level service. Bottom line: the price tag is not worth food I genuinely feel like I could have done similarly well in my own kitchen. read more

3rd cousin has such a special charm! The ambiance, experience, creativity, service... everything about this spot has made this meal so memorable. Definitely in my top three restaurants of all time here in the SF Bay Area, and I can't wait to come back. We came by for a birthday celebration and opted for the five course menu ($89pp) along with the wine pairing ($55pp). Loved the variety of flavors as we ate our way through each course. A couple wow factors: the smokey dashi broth for the crispy black cod dish, refreshing sharpness of the thai basil in the campenelle, and the rich hojicha fragrance in the perfectly textured panna cotta. The uni brûlée is also a must ($38 supplement). One thing that stood out to me was how friendly and warm 3rd cousin felt. We were warmly greeted by the chef and owner as soon as we walked in, and the service throughout the meal was top tier. For example, as we finished the toasted bread slices for the uni brûlée, two separate servers came up to us immediately to ask if we'd like some more, free of charge too. For a restaurant of this caliber, it's hard to stay warm and cozy without the feeling of being pretentious, however 3rd cousin truly makes you feel like family the moment you walk in the door. Highly recommend! read more

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Hidden from the Chaos of the CITY this is the Gem right here. Although the service needs some improvements but the food, added the supplements, and wines. The height of ingredients are used right here. We did the chef counter seating, the chair are a little too low to the counter, and I'm a tall dude. Otherwise, great food, and great pairings. Thank you for having us and would like to see you guys again next season. read more

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Came here with a reservation through tock for sf restaurant week this year. For the appetizer, entree, and dessert you had a couple options to choose from. There was the option to purchase add-ons and if I am back again I would try the uni creme brûlée. I opted for the tuna crudo for the first round which was served with a yuzu filling type paste under the fish and it was amazing!! I chose the fish entree and nothing was special about it, but it was cooked well. The dessert was just right though to cap off the meal, it was a panna cotta that was the perfect amount of sweetness. I think all the dishes were topped with an edible flower of some sort. We ordered their only bottle of orange wine for the table and it paired nicely with everything. They did have a specific wine tasting available as an add on. The service was attentive! We sat outside in their parklet and got blankets and heaters around us. The ambiance inside did look better though and matched the sophistication of the restaurant menu. read more

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What a wonderful experience, e celebrated my nephew's birthday here and chose it through the participating SF restaurant week business. The service was amazing, from the host to our server. No the set menu was priced at 75pp with the 1st course being the only option , still very good and accommodated me due to allergies. 2nd course I choose the soup and I just wish I got a full bowl because it was delicious. 3rd course I got the steak and I also got to try ravioli. Ugh I could not choose between the two but I would definitely go back to that ravioli. I think as far as steak goes it was pretty standard. And dessert I love a panna cotta and this one tasted so delicious and fresh especially with the oats and honey. It was a great way to end the experience. They also brought out a card for my nephew from the chef! We sat outside an the space heaters were on it's a great neighborhood gem and worth coming out to for a special occasion. read more

Had an amazing dinner at 3rd Cousin. Little gem salad was good but hamachi crudo was truly special. This was some the best food I've ever had by far. Paparadelle was to die for. And the wagyu ribeye was also excellent. I don't like uni usually, but the uni crème brulee is a don't miss experience. read more

Wonderful food, with fabulously friendly service! My wife and I will be back, again and again.

Friendly upon seating. Good menu. Affordable prices. The best dish was the steak. Everything else was pretty average :) Thanks! read more

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Great place to eat! Amazing food and amazing service. I try to go back there as often as I can.

Came here for a GNO. Never thought this place was such a cute Italian restaurant in sf. Food came out pretty fast, but everything was delicious. Sorry, I didn't get a chance to take pictures of all our dishes. Service was also great. They gave me a birthday card for dining with them that night. Very sweet of them. read more

3rd Cousin - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

We love seeing innovative food in Bernal but unfortunately we found 3rd Cousin disappointing. The wagyu dumplings were flavorless, the focaccia was decent but not noteworthy, and the hojicha dessert had no hojicha at all. We were glad that we skipped the fixed menu by the end so we got out fairly early. read more

3rd Cousin - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

DON'T SHOW UP FOR A WALK IN. I absolutely despise restaurants that feel entitled and pretentious. We showed up right at open, at 5pm, restaurant completely EMPTY with 5 tables outside, only 1 table sat down inside, no line out the door, and were refused because we will be busy tonight. Hostess didn't even offer to put us on waitlist, because it was so early in the night, we came right at opening cause it was restaurant week. Michelin? Forget about it, nothing and absolutely nothing can justify, this level of service, and let's not forget that they also charge 30% service charge fee. Entitlement at its finest! Menu looked interesting, but won't be coming back, and these places need to be shutdown. There are tons of establishments out there that would be happy to take business, it's just these ones that are being spotlighted from Michelin, and honestly Michelin places have been a miss lately. We went elsewhere, saved money, and had a great dinner! read more

From the moment we walked in, the upbeat but never-overbearing music set the tone--cool, current, and just the right volume to keep the energy lively without drowning conversation. The setting was warm and inviting, and the whole place had a refreshingly down-to-earth vibe despite the four dollar signs. The host welcomed us with a genuine smile, and our server Marian was an absolute standout--warm, friendly, and completely unpretentious. She made us feel like regulars without ever pushing a dish or sounding rehearsed. No snobbery here, just good people serving great food. We shared the caviar crème brûlée (surprisingly delightful), the ravioli (rich and flavorful), and the pork dish, which stole the show. The pork was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. While we would have preferred the rice to lean more toward a risotto than couscous, the flavors--especially with the uni and caviar--were incredible. When one of the servers noticed we ran out of toast points but still had Uni left, she simply asked please let me bring you more complimentary toast. The small gesture showed attentiveness. The servers were trained correctly on true caring service! Don't let the upscale pricing scare you off--there's something here for both the à la carte diner and the special occasion crowd. This is a spot that truly delivers on food, service, and soul. Making this born and raised Bernal Heights gal proud! read more

3rd Cousin - Uni Creme Brûlée - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went for a date night on a weekday & it was crowded. Luckily we booked ahead, so we got seated instantly. Food was top notch, everything hits the spot, particularly their fried octopus starter. It was chewy with a crispy exterior. Closed the meal with a perfect chocolate souffle cake ( it's like a choc molten cake ). Will def come back for another bite of their octopus ! read more

3rd Cousin - Fried octopus - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had the opportunity to experience the 8 course meal. Absolutely amazing! Everything brought to our table was outstanding. The staff was well trained and provided a great experience in a quaint and cozy setting. Chef Greg is too notch!! read more

We came to 3rd cousin to celebrate an anniversary and were unfortunately disappointed by the experience. First off, we arrived ~10 mins before our reservation time. Instead of checking on the table situation or asking us to kindly wait, the hostess very curtly said "come back in 15 mins or so". We had also noted that we were celebrating an anniversary on the reservation but they didn't acknowledge it at all. In terms of food, we got the 5 course tasting menu and added the uni creme brulee supplement. Honestly, none of the dishes stood out to me. My favorite was the uni creme brulee. The soup and pasta courses were pretty good. The fried cod/oyster and cod were super salty. The rice that came with the cod was so salty, I couldn't finish it (I usually don't like to waste food). The wagyu beef that my partner got was pretty tough. Overall, okay food and meh service. For the price tag, I'll pass. read more