I had an excellent celebration dinner here. Our menu is quite focused, which I appreciate and everything was a hit from cocktails to dessert. Service was very friendly and helpful. I had the makrut lime cocktail, which I was worried at first because it listed sour cream as an ingredient, but I trusted that they knew that what they were doing and it was delicious! We enjoyed every dish we tried, but the standups for me were the sushi rice and the Parker house rolls. The butter is the best I've ever tasted! Some of the dishes seem straightforward, but are just executed perfectly. The soft serve might be my favorite in the city. The soft serve itself is so rich and creamy and the hazelnut flavor is perfect. read more

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3.5/5 I had a reservation for 2 on a Sunday night and it was surprisingly packed. We got seated after waiting like 5~ minutes. The interior is very modern with lots of warm lightning across the 2 floors; the downstairs has a bar area with a cute wall of alchohol. We got the $139 pp tasting menu and it was 3 courses with little dishes per course; definitely got to try a variety of foods but I wish portions were a bit bigger. We also got the Baijiu Milk Punch and Makrut Lime Fizz for drinks; both were on the sweeter side and kind of tasted the same. The Milk Punch highkey came in such a small cup and it look like just water LOL. The tasting menu included: - BBQ Shortrib (4/5 meat was tender but honestly, the hot mustard saved this dish because it balanced out the sweetness of the bbq; if it didn't have the sauce, it would be a 3/5 for me) - Watermelon salad (2/5 not like impressed by this, moreso I'm confused why this would be $19 on the regular menu) - Smoked Early Girl Tomato (4/5 the shiso green goddess was yummy) - Koshihikari Fried Rice (1/5 this was lowkey kinda bad like why were the beans the most flavorful thing in this dish; I feel like they just threw a bunch of veggies together and called it a day) - Burrata (3/5 alright I did not even realize there was scallion pancake) - Uni Toast (3/5 bread was very oily/crunchy; I like Bansang's Uni Toast more) - Osetra Caviar (4/5 very unique I've never seen caviar on banana bread, bread was thick and moist AND outside was like seared w butter - Hog Island Osyter (3/5 just ok) - Sushi RIce (3/5 also just ok, just ur normal ikura handroll) - Chilled Squid (4/5 yummy + unique especially the green curry) - Bluefin Tuna Carpaccio (4/5 also yummy & fresh but was literally one bite LOL) - Parker House Rolls (3/5 idk why I thought the butter would be sweet but no, it was mega salty LOL) - For dessert, we asked them to give us the $99 menu's dessert which was the Hazelnut Soft Serve Sundae; they did bring out chocolate and drizzled it all over the ice cream but that wasn't very tasty/special. Also a 3/5. The only thing from the menu that I did wish that we tried was the Buffalo Hamachi Collar but was this worth $35, I'm not sure... Service was fast and friendly! It's super cute that all of their staff wear panda dunks. Overall, we spent $420~ and I probably wouldn't come back. I see what they're trying to do with the Asian inspired & seafood menu but I don't think it's a must try in SF. read more

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Food: Ordered the Makrut Lime Fizz, which was citrusy and refreshing. The beef tartare with ikura was a great combination of flavors and textures, though I wish the seaweed were a little crispier. The anchovies were a bit too salty and somewhat boring for me--it was essentially a whole plate of anchovies with a few halved cherry tomatoes. I would have preferred fewer anchovies paired with some additional ingredients. The uni toast was good, with fresh-tasting uni. The oyster was a little small and skinny. The bluefin tuna tartare was tasty, especially with the juicy tomatoes, but a little too salty for me due to the amount of salt flakes. Fish sticks are ok, fried rice is pretty good. I really like the small-dish style, which makes it easy to try a variety of dishes. Service: We arrived about 15 minutes early and were invited to wait at the bar, where we could have water or cocktails while waiting for our table. Our server was great, friendly and attentive, folds our napkin when we leaves our seats, refilled our water countless times, and also changed our plates. I didn't quite enjoy having a manager (the only guy in suite) or someone who appeared to be a manager, bring out some of our dishes. He came across as a little arrogant, lack of enthusiasm, and I would have preferred our usual server to bring and introduce the food. Ambience: Energetic and vibrant, with music playing in the background. The atmosphere was lively and added to the overall dining experience. read more

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one of my favorite meals ever! came here for my birthday and opted for the $139 per person let the kitchen cook for you option which included their uni toast and caviar with banana bread compared to their $99 per person option. I would never do it any other way because the caviar with banana bread especially was so worth it. the chocolate-less banana bread slices were pan fried so the outside was crispy while the inside was still soft and the flavor combination with the caviar and whipped miso butter was perfect. the croquettes were also stand outs among the appetizers. the flavor of the croquette with the hibachi mustard was mind blowing, especially for our party since we normally don't like croquettes. I also liked the seasoned potato chips with plenty of dip (I very much appreciate that you can indulge as much as you'd like!) and beef tartare with ikura that you could make into hand rolls. the oysters also had a nice balance of flavors! we then moved on to the second part of the meal which included short rib, fried rice with Thai basil, hamachi collar, and dumplings. The short rib with caramelized onions was the star of the show: melt in your mouth with an indescribably delicious flavor. they also brought out figs paired with creamy burrata and a crunch from the hazelnut to go with their fluffy milk bread! at the end of the meal they gave us a soft serve, basque cheesecake, and peach jasmine kakigori shaved ice with tapioca pearls! they poured melted chocolate over the top of the soft serve at the table which is so fun and it hardened into a delicious shell the amount of food we got was incredibly generous and I felt treated so well for my birthday! overall, Ernest blew me away with their great service and beautiful ambiance. you can tell that each dish was carefully crafted and so much thought was put into the flavor and texture combinations as well as presentation. I could not recommend this place more and I can't wait until the next time I'm back! read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came here for an early dinner on a Saturday! This is a wonderful nice cocktail and small plate type place. We did the smaller "trust the chef" tasting ($99 a person) - the dishes are so incredibly unique! I don't remember everything - but there was chilled shrimp, carpaccio, oysters, rice, burrata with figs, little beef tartare hand roll wraps with salmon eggs, eggplant, tomato, mini parker house rolls, shortub and a delicious Hazelnut soft serve with chocolate magic shell to finish. Basically all the good dishes on the regular menu. The service staff were very polite and the interior was stylish! read more

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Finally got to try Ernest. I booked this restaurant a month in advance for a table for 5 and I liked that the table was located on the second floor with a nice view of the restaurant interior. It's really interesting how food were super fusiony and since menu wasn't extensive, we ordered a good amount of food from the menu for share. I had the daiquiri bolognese and it's slightly sweet and foamy on top. Some of us ordered wine and I was impressed with the quality of the wine. We had the uni toast, oysters, sushi rice and swordfish prosciutto. Sushi rice is a must order. I didn't get to try the prosciutto so no comment on that. I would rather prefer Uni on rice to on the toast. We had the house rolls which performed average. Chicken liver was very smooth and done well. I normally don't eat organs like liver but this is actually good and didn't taste like organ. Next up we had the fried rice, eggplant and burrata. Fried rice kinda tastes like Thai basil fried rice but the rice was harder and with some hint of non Thai sauces. The eggplant dish gives Mediterranean vibe and burrata is a combination of Chinese mala, Italian burrata and lots of fresh figs. I'm not sure who's the winner here but I really appreciate the fun experience eating a seemingly traditional dish with a modern international twist. Onto the meat and seafood- the hanger steak tastes like Chinese (Cantonese) style bbq pork and very tender that is served with mustard and pickles. The grilled hamachi with nardello peppers were made very well and the Smoky flavor of both compliment each other very well. The pork dumplings with rendang curry was also good. Dessert was basque cheesecake and non caffeinated tea and both were ok. Would love to try their other desserts next time. Good job Ernest! read more

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Came here for dinner on the weekend. Reservations were easy to make online. They opened promptly at 5 PM and got guests seated immediately. Amazing natural light inside with super high ceilings. I normally dislike bar seating because they're typically so uncomfortable but their seats had a back and were quite comfy. Ernest's menu is relatively pared down. I do wish they had a few more vegetable forward dishes especially since we're in the height of summer. I ordered the SF Halibut, oysters, and the BBQ shortrib. The halibut was my favorite dish of the night. The halibut sashimi was paired with sweet slices of pluot and this slightly sweet pink sauce. Refreshing and delightful. I prefer my oysters straight up and plain, but I didn't mind the Michelada sauce they put on top. I thought it hid the "flavor" of the oyster a bit, but that's just a personal preference. The BBQ shortrib reminded me of Chinese char siu and the hot mustard reminded me of the Chinese mustard I grew up eating, which is probably what they were going for. I appreciated that the pork wasn't overly greasy or fatty. Service was attentive and professional. All of the staff were working as a team refilling water, folding napkins back on tables, getting checks ready etc. Overall, I had a wonderful dinner experience at Ernest and would recommend it to friends and family, especially if they're looking for a date night spot. read more

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Always a solid meal at Ernest. I've been there a couple of times now and the small plates are better than the mains in my opinion. Must orders are the beef tartare with ikura and the uni toast. And you MUST save room for dessert because they have some of the best desserts. They have a rotating kakigori that uses seasonal ingredients and is soo good. There's also plenty of street parking around the restaurant always a plus. read more

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My friends' husband is took a group of us th Ernest for a preshow dinner. We ended having the tasting menu. The concept is "let the chef cook for you". We basically ending up eating a good chunk of the menu - all the entrees, all the salads, all the desserts, and a sampling of the raw bar and small bites. Everything was gorgeous, well-prepared, and for the most part, delicious. I loved: the tempura mushrooms and the aioli served with them (not in the menu), how smooth the oyster went down, the smokey elements of the Early Girl tomato salad, and the savoriness of the watermelon salad. The burata and figs were creamy, the Parker House rolls were yeasty and came with a really good butter. The BBQ short ribs were butter soft. The Hamachi Collar was delicious, but incredibly hard to eat. The dumplings were good, but almost too much. The filling was a chunk of pork. Not delicate in the least. Dessert was overwhelming. I had a bit of each. All were tasty, but would have been daunting if I was a solo diner. The cocktails, bit NA and the real thing were uniformly delicious. Service was good. So the downsides? I had to climb stairs to get to the main dining space,cao not completely ADA friendly. There was a big lull between finishing the appetizers and being served the mains. Since we had somewhere to be, that was a minor annoyance. But you can see why they are Michelin recognized. You can taste it, too. Recommended. read more

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one of the best meals i've ever had in SF! There's something for everyone on this menu and I love how shareable it all is. We got practically one of everything on the menu but the standouts are definitely: Sushi Rice - not really a beef tartare person usually but this was so incredibly fresh and well done. Fried Rice - sounds simple but was perfectly executed with a unique blend of veggies you don't usually see included. Hazelnut Soft Serve - also not usually a dessert or ice cream person but this came highly recommended and I was thoroughly impressed! This was the lightest, fluffiest, smoothest soft serve I've ever had. There wasn't a single disappointment on the menu - can't wait to come back for more! read more

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I think it's better to just order individual dishes rather than do the chef's menu because the price and presentation wasn't adding up. Unless they really do serve pitiful single portions if you order single appetizers or dishes. I really hope they give a party of 3 or 4 more than just a single serving of their ice cream to share. I went with a friend and although some dishes were interesting, I wouldn't pay $150 per person for such an experience again. Especially since the only stand out bite for me was the $13 shared soft serve. With these shared dining experiences it's hard to justify the price, especially when we didn't even get individual plates. Try the ice cream and the steak dish if you come here, but everything else wasn't memorable. read more

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Finally tried Ernest and it lives up to the hype. They have a prix fixe menu that's $99 and includes the majority of the menu (except caviar) and all the desserts! All the dishes were innovative and beautiful. The prix fixe menu would be great for a large party since you'll usually have leftovers. I would say the highlights were the following: - bbq morel mushrooms that were stuffed with duck - Parker house rolls - the bread and butter here is the best - avocado with artichoke - shaved ice Restaurant is two levels, but feels roomy. read more

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I went Ernest for my birthday. Upon arrival, the server led us to a nice seat with a background view of the bar from the second floor, I figured they save some good-photo seats for special reservation. The waitress checked on us very often that made us feel cared. The food was so great! Everything was delicious and very good portion for two people to share. It now ranks one of my favorite restaurants in SF. Highly recommended! read more

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Came to Ernest for the second time just for a little dessert date night. We waited about 20 minutes and was able to snagged seats at the bar. Their bingsoo was light in texture and refreshing. Definitely more than enough for 2-3 people to share. I love that it felt like a fun twist on a classic Korean dessert while still fitting perfectly into the vibe of Ernest. read more

Ernest was nothing like I was expecting, but in the best way haha. My coworker suggested checking it out, and she always has the best recs, so of course I said yes. It's such a cute restaurant with its own charm. The whole experience felt fun and special. The only intimidating part for me was the menu haha. I'm a very visual person, so I had a hard time picturing some of the dishes at first. Shoutout to our kind & patient server, plus all the Yelp photos I studied beforehand lol. Everything was delicious. The quality of every dish really stood out, and I'd happily order all of them again, but here were my favorites: * Sushi Rice: SO good. Definitely a must order. The beef somehow almost tastes like tuna haha. * Fried Rice: I'm obsessed with corn, so this was a must for me. * Maitake Tempura: A must for mushroom lovers. Also, the ranch was incredible. * Kakigori: Absolutely mandatory for dessert. No further notes lol. * Lamb Kofta: Really flavorful and delicious, though next time I'd probably try some other dishes instead. * Avocado: A great option if you want something fresh and green on the table too. * Parker House Rolls: These were good, but probably not my favorite. I think I'm biased because I don't really love rolls in general, and the other dishes felt more unique and memorable to me. These were just the items we had, but the menu changes often, so you may see different dishes when you go. The Sushi Rice is one of the staples though, and I definitely think it's a must try. Overall, such a great experience. Our server was so attentive, and the whole meal felt really memorable. Already planning to bring my boyfriend here for a date night. What a special place! read more

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Came here with a group of 6 adults & 1 baby and were lucky to be seated in the private dining room. It's a lovely space & plenty of room for the group we had. We made our reservation about a month ago on OpenTable & they do require a credit card to hold your reservation. They have a 48 hour cancellation policy at $50/person so pretty rigid. We typically do the "Let the Kitchen Cook for You" but decided to do à la carte this time because we had someone with a raw fish allergy. Favorites include the beef tartare dish, and the duck entree but you honestly can't go wrong. The desserts are a must (we got one of each - ice cream with hazelnut/chocolate, shaved ice & basque cheesecake). Service here was top notch. We were seated right away and Oscar was a fantastic server. Very attentive, love the crumbing in between meals & cutlery changes + beverage refills were frequent. Would highly recommend & will be back! read more

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Ernest delivers creative Asian‑inflected California fare, with plenty of raw‑forward dishes on the menu. The cocktails were the standout here -- well‑crafted and thoughtful. Service landed right in the middle, nothing terrible yet nothing particularly attentive. The dining room gets quite noisy, so conversation can be a challenge. Our party of three spent roughly $400 total. It's a solid Michelin‑plate spot for a fun night out, just manage expectations for noise level and overall value. Would come back for drinks and small bites, but not rushing for a full dinner. read more

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Ernest will always be our family's go-to celebration restaurant. We've been over 10 times and have never been disappointed. This most recent visit was one of the best, perhaps we can thank the new chef de cuisine! Vibes are always immaculate, the tucked away private room is perfect for big groups. Staff is always on top of the service! Food was delightful. The classics hit, and there were some new dishes like the banana bread caviar and asparagus that were lovely. My only minor critique is the cocktail list has never changed! I recommend ordering classic cocktails like whisky sours! read more

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What happened? Earnest used to be so good.. this seasonal menu has got to go. Their fried rice was so good it was actually fried with some protein.. this time it's steamed with strange vegetables that should not be in a fried rice. The pour for the sake is a taste not a pour.. why earnest why?! The server kept trying to take all the sauces away while we had the shrimp dumplings on our plate and they tasted very floral and strange.. why? read more

Ernest - This is my pour of sake.. - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Recommend: - Parker house rolls - squid (a good calamari dish) - fried rice - changes seasonally, snap peas were crazy Also tried the asparagus and porcini, which were both very unique and complemented each other well. There was nothing in our meal that was bland or boring. A few dishes were a bit heavy on the salt, but overall very flavorful. the only meat options were lamb and duck - hoping to come back to try new items!! Service was great! Never had a problem getting any assistance. it's pretty LOUD in there though and the space is fairly big. read more

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Ernest should reserve space for walk-ins. We showed up at 7:30 and it was nearly empty, and yet entirely reserved. Restaurants should favor living over virtual. IRL over online. Also the hostess could barely contain her haughty glee to tell us it was reserved until 9:15 -- though the place was nearly empty. I would rather be told "you have an hour at the bar" than "we are booked until 9:15 even there's only 2 people in the entire lower section." See photo... read more

Ernest - bunch of empty bar spaces and tables at 7:30pm despite being "FULLY RESERVED" - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Each dish was unique and flavorful. Service was quick and staff were attentive even while busy. We had reservations and were seated quickly. read more

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Had a great experience at Ernest. Everything was very tasty and the pacing was pretty spot on. The starters from the Raw Bar were all indulgently sumptuous. The Uni Toast had a decent portion of uni. The tuna tartare was solid and well balanced. The Sushi Rice provided a bit of extra substance The BBQ Shortrib was very nice and tender and even though the listed sauce is hoisin, the flavor itself came across as broadly American BBQ to me. The onion rings were a little oily but absolutely nothing else to complain about. The cheesecake was so good. The center was perfectly oozy and creamy and was a wonderful way to end the dinner. read more

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Got treated here for a birthday. When we first came in the music was a little on the loud side but then they turned it down to more of a background music. Service was excellent. The staff came by regularly to clean fill our water glasses and clean our table. We tried the tasting menu and everything was fantastic. A couple of my favorites were the uni toast and Handroll. Definitely need to visit for the dining experience. read more

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The ambience is very modern and has a feel of farm to table concept. It is vibey with mixed middle aged but more younger crowd - late 20's early 30's. The menu is very small and limited. However, the food is delicious. We had amazing dishes and very unique - see pictures. The dishes are meant for sharing, so Full bar - limited wine selection. I definitely recommend this place. read more

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Ernest delivers a bold, American-style dining experience with a really exciting Asian influence that sets it apart from a lot of other spots in San Francisco. We went with the "let the kitchen decide" option, and it was absolutely the right call--it guaranteed we'd leave full (which we definitely did) and gave us a chance to try a wide range of dishes. Every plate that came out felt unique and packed with flavor. Nothing felt repetitive or safe--the menu really leans into creative combinations, and it works. The family-style format was perfect for our group of three, making it easy to share and experience everything together. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and the pacing felt just right. Overall, this is one of the more exciting and interesting restaurants in San Francisco right now. If you're looking for something a little different with big flavors and a fun dining experience, Ernest is absolutely worth checking out. I'd definitely come back. read more

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Had a lovely time at Ernest. We had a party of 6 and made a reservation in advance. This is my second time dining here and this time we ordered a la carte. We ate family style and ordered many plates so that we could all try a little bit of everything. My personal favorite was the shaved ice dessert, the flavors were refreshing. The restaurant itself is small, but nice to go with small parties or for a date. Our waiter was very friendly too and had good recommendations. Looking forward to the next time I am able to dine at Ernest! read more

Ernest - Drinks - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here with 2 friends. The place looks like refurbished warehouse with great ceiling decor and lighting. The kitchen is open to see and lots of staff buzzing through. They offered 2 choices for tasting menu $99/139. We opted for $139. It was well worth it. I took photos of the menu on March 12, 2026 along with the variety of selections they brought. While everything was delicious, my favorites if I had to choose were: oysters and artichokes. read more

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Not sure I understand the hype. I had a quick dinner at the bar, this restaurant is unfortunately not very solo diner friendly as their portions are quite large (except for the uni which was tiny) and so I wasnt able to try much. They also don't do the tasting menu for one person. I ordered several of the theoretical highlights: Ikura and tartare which I was pretty excited about but honestly, I don't get it. The ikura just overpowered the beef so you can barely know it's there. It was decent but not great Oyster was actually really delicious. Great toppings Uni toast... Overpriced and not special. Again good, but not great. Mushroom rice was pretty good but lacked flavor. Maybe their entrees were better but I didn't get there. I also tried to order dessert but the one I wanted was massive with no smaller option. Service was good at the bar, quick and attentive. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We managed to get a 5PM reservation on the day of - lucky! We do love a first seating, and the staff were so courteous and professional. Oscar answered our questions about the menu and we ended up doing the tasting. It's a lot of food - such great value! Come hungry. We especially loved the vegetable dishes the most, and I think that's high praise for any restaurant if they can elevate the humble broccoli or carrot. The pork and the sole were perfect; just the right amount of sauce and accompanied by very intentional accoutrements. I'll admit we were drawn to Ernest because I'm a sucker for kakigori but we didn't even end up ordering it because we were full. The dessert that came with the tasting was a great finishing touch, though I'd say I'm partial to the cheesecake more than the sundae. We will be back to reorder a couple of things and the kakigori! read more

Ernest - grilled avocado, appetizers, tartare - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is absolutely phenomenal! We had great time and ordered most of the menu. The service was great, ambiance is relaxed and upscale, and every bite of food we had was simply amazing! We can't wait to come back! read more

Ernest - All the desserts! Basque cheesecake, crazy shaved ice, and a sundae! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a Thursday night for my husband and my anniversary. Our table ended up being ready early so when we arrived we were seated immediately. We found parking right in front of the restaurant. The restaurant is really nice when you walk in. The host offered to take my coat which I thought was a nice touch. We were seated in front of the kitchen which was cool, it reminded me of the bear lol but less chaotic ahha. Our service was SO quick and were so great. They included an anniversary card for us which I thought was super sweet. We ordered drinks to start. I ordered the alpine colada and my husband ordered the shiso gimlet. Both were amazing and not too sweet. Amazingly balanced. I may have liked my husbands drink a little bit more lol. We ordered: - Uni toast (2 orders) - madai sashimi - Parker house rolls - Koshihikari fried rice - bbq short rib - hazelnut sundae This was definitely enough for 2 people. The Uni toast was nice and buttery. The madai sashimi was perfectly citrusy The Parker house rolls were bomb and soft! Fried rice with the short rib and the pickled jalapeños combined were perfect combo. It was a perfect way to end the meal. Loved that it came with onion rings which were surprisingly spicy and yummy. I think the sundae was good definitely tasted like snickers but I think I would have like to try the shaved ice! Def would come back read more

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Ernest was a beautifully crafted dining experience that I would highly recommend to others. While not every bite was life-changing, each dish was enjoyable, tasty, and had an interesting quirk that made it a fun adventure to dig in and explore. Smoked Fish Dip (8.5/10): The dip had a pungent smoked salmon flavor that was balanced by a super creamy texture. The cranberry was the perfect counter, adding a sweet-tart contrast to the fishiness. The wonton crackers were the perfect vehicle, adding a subtle crunch. Uni Toast (8/10): While small, the bite was extremely decadent. The uni was buttery and smooth on the palate, with the polenta cake-like toast providing even more richness and satisfaction. It was small, but honestly, the perfect portion and well worth it. Parker House Rolls (7/10): The rolls were very well done. They were soft and plump, and the butter was so fresh it added a slight cheesiness. A really great bread, but in the end it's still just a dinner roll, which can only be so good, and I wish it were complimentary instead of needing to be purchased. Ora King Salmon Sashimi (8/10): The salmon itself was super fresh and had a distinct, smooth flavor. The star of the dish was the sauce, which was indescribable. It was tangy and kept leaving me wanting more. I kept dipping other items into it and am still thinking about it, even though I can't quite describe it. It was unlike anything I've had before. Sushi Rice (8/10): This was a simple but well-done dish. Typically, beef tartare dishes don't have much excitement, which is why the fish eggs on top provided the perfect spark to brighten it up. Nothing super special, but a solid and well-executed handroll. Grilled Savoy Cabbage (9.5/10): Shockingly, this might have been the best dish of the night. The smoky cabbage was charred perfectly, allowing it to keep a nice crunchy bite while soaking in the sauce. And that sauce was sour, tart, and extremely addictive. It brought the whole dish together. Dungeness Crab Chawanmushi (9/10): The texture of the chawanmushi was incredibly silky. The egg was perfectly steamed and melted in your mouth. The chunks of crab were plump, savory, and tasted like sucking the juice out of a king crab leg. The chili oil had an almost tom yum-like flavor, and the small bites of ginger added the spice and heat needed to tie everything together. Roasted Hangar Steak (7.5/10): The steak itself was tender, soft, and perfectly cooked, providing the rich, savory bites you expect from an entree. The black peppercorn sauce was tasty and creamy, but didn't quite match the vibe of the earlier dishes. Most of the dishes we had leaned seafood-forward, Asian, and bright, while this felt more steakhouse-inspired and a bit out of place. Hazelnut Soft Serve Sundae (8.5/10): The soft serve felt like a fancy Snickers sundae. It was nutty, creamy, and had a great crunch from the nuts. It tasted slightly coconutty, which I believe came from the chocolate sauce used to help it harden, but it added to the flavor and didn't take away from anything. A reinvented take on the simple dipped cone. Creamsicle Kakigori (8/10): Overall, the concept was great. The shaved ice melted easily in your mouth without causing brain freeze. The panna cotta inside was a nice switch from the crunchy, icy texture. The delicious orange flavor was very natural and didn't taste artificial at all, almost like a mandarin orange. However, some bites were very zest-heavy, adding too much bitterness and taking away from the subtlety. I do think that with a different flavor, this could have been a 10/10 dessert, but orange just wasn't our favorite. Ernest is a cute, simply decorated restaurant with helpful, responsive, and professional staff. The food is extremely exciting, with most plates packed with addictive, flavor-bomb sauces. With a wide range of creative options to share, a revolving menu, and not a single item I didn't enjoy, I'd gladly continue bringing friends and family to eat at Ernest. read more

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3.5 STARS Amazing food! Really subpar service. We were asked how the food was and if we needed anything maybe once, and had a caterpillar incident with our salad. I booked a table for 4 on a Saturday night to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. The bartender acknowledged us when we arrived, but we still waited a bit before anyone came to talk to us. After we were seated, they brought out a cute birthday sign for the table. We brought a 1.5mL bottle of wine and just paid the corkage fee, and then each opted for the premium tasting menu. The tasting menu is split into 3 "courses" and a dessert course. The portion sizes were HUGE! Each course was made up of numerous dishes (3-7) and is actually literally everything on the menu. The first raw bar course was by far all of our favorites. Each dish was unique and had an explosion of flavor. The banana bread in the banana bread with caviar dish was possibly the best banana bread I've ever had. The second course was a mixture of vegetables. The sauce with the tempura was the perfect touch, and the mushroom salad was rich and flavorful. 2/3 of the way through eating our salad, we encountered a live green caterpillar crawling around. We alerted the waitress who responded with "our lettuce is just so fresh!" and didn't acknowledge our discomfort. She offered to get us a new salad, but we were off-put by the caterpillar. We declined multiple times and were still brought out a new, much smaller salad, which none of us wanted to eat. By the time the third course came out, we were all quite full. The leek and the fried rice was a bit salty, but all took little bites of each before packing the rest. Along with the dessert they brought out an additional ice cream with a candle which was very nice! Overall we enjoyed the dinner, but left feeling disappointed by the service, especially considering how good the food was. read more

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Went to Ernest for a friend's birthday and we booked the private room. The space itself was great for a group and felt special for a celebration. Our server wasn't too thrilled about us closing the door at first, which was a little awkward, but things smoothed out as the night went on. The food was the highlight. The seafood course was easily my favorite and overall there was way more food than I expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Left very full and happy with the meal. Definitely a solid spot for a special occasion, especially if you're dining with a group. read more

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This was my second time dining at Ernest, and I can confidently say - we can't wait to be back! I came here a few years ago and tried the set menu, which was abundant but a bit too much. This time, we went à la carte - and that made all the difference. Everything about the experience was elevated. The service was warm and attentive throughout the evening. I also have to give a shoutout to the plate ware - gorgeous and simple stoneware that totally matched my aesthetic. Such a thoughtful touch that made the meal feel even more special. Now, for the food: - Delicata squash tempura was a standout; light, crispy, and packed with flavor - Parker House rolls are a must, no duh; rich, pillowy, and perfect! - Koshihikari fried rice was deeply satisfying, with such great texture and umami - Roasted hanger steak was another highlight; cooked perfectly and so flavorful - The one miss for us was the duck confit; presented like a Chinese beef pancake roll, but the execution didn't quite land for us We skipped the raw bar this time, simply because we had so much other food...and even with that....sadly didn't have room for dessert by the end! In terms of cocktails, they all sounded amazing on the menu. We tried the PSL Colada, which sounded better than it tasted. However, the Mexican Firing Squad totally delivered - delicious and balanced, would definitely order again :) A really sweet and thoughtful touch: we were celebrating our anniversary, and the team had a handwritten card waiting for us on the table. It's those small gestures that really make a place feel special! All in all, Ernest continues to impress. If you're debating between the set menu and à la carte, I'd highly recommend the latter. Can't wait to return and explore even more of the menu! read more

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Growing up in Sf, my memories of the mission district wasn't the fondest but with my recent visit to Ernest to celebrate Christmas, my views of changed. Parking: no lot, street parking and for a Saturday evening, my husband and I got really lucky with finding a spot about 2 blocks away from the restaurant. Ambiance: industrial, modern decor. The outside is a garden and the first floor is an open bar area with limited seating while the second floor is comprised of the majority of the dining tables plus an open kitchen. This is the spot to celebrate special occasions with family, friends and your significant other. Service: 4/5. We had a reservation so we were seated promptly after checking in. Tap water was provided. Ordering to food arrival time was quick. The timing between courses could've been a bit better though. We didn't even finish the previous course and the next courses were brought out. Our table was small so it was difficult to eat with so many plates. Food: 4.5/5. We decided to do the tasting menu ($99) and it comprised of most of the menu items. The first courses include: hog island oysters, sushi rice with ikura and raw beef, ora king salmon sashimi, smoked trout roe dip with chips and chilled mussels. The highlights were the salmon sashimi (flavors were dynamic and it was wry refreshing) and the sushi rice with ikura (which went very well with the toasted nori). The second courses: Parker house rolls, grilled matsutake, chicories salad. The highlights were the Parker house rolls (hot, soft, buttery) and the grilled matsutake with Asian pear and pine nuts (smokiness flavor was very unique). Third courses: koshihikari fried rice and the roasted hanger steak with frites. The fried rice was a bit too salty but the steak was cooked perfectly, medium rare. Last course: hazelnut soft serve sundae. Not too sweet and the hazelnut flavor is strong which I love. Plating was beautiful for each of the courses and portion size was very reasonable. My only recommendation is to provide 2 more pieces of bread and cut the chicory salad portion size in half. I got the ostrich non-alcoholic cocktail and it tasted pretty good. Portion size for that was a bit on the smaller size though. Cost: $$$. 7% SF health mandate. No mandatory service charge though so just sf tax and tip. Meal for 2 tasting menus with 2 drinks total came out to close to $300. Not too bad for fine dining where you walked out of the restaurant full. Ernest definitely deserves a second visit. read more

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Excellent service, food, presentation, flavor combinations - small plates were just enough for a delightful taste and left me wanting to come back. Service staff were kind, knowable and highly considerate of the room. Love it - keep it up Ernest! read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

All the items we got were so delicious. The menu can change weekly. Everyone on our table loved the banana bread, oysters, and the shaved ice dessert. My favorite item was the morel mushrooms either stuffed duck. The contrast of the shaved ice with melted marshmallow type paste on top was refreshing and the perfect ending to the meal. read more

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The FOOD! So interesting, unexpected and delicious! Some dishes were completely new to me or a different take on something I'd had before so eating at Ernest is a culinary experience. I reccomend the banana bread with miso butter and caviar! I've never liked cooked carrots on their own but I've changed my thoughts with their Stracciatella Roasted Carrots. The fried rice was dreamy as was the chicory beet salad. Dessert was delicious and Kakigori (picuted below) was Meyer Lon and Cream- great light tang to end an amazing meal. It was a private room family style and the staff was lovelt, wine glasses magically always filled. And..... We pulled up in front of the restaurant and parked... In FRONT of the restaurant! (Good thing I was wearing high heels for the first time since covid). I will not be wearing he's again but would love to eat at Ernest again... Soon! read more

Ernest - Meyer Lemon and Cream Kakigori - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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