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

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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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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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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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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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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This is probably one of the best restaurants in sf to go to as a pescatarian ! The halibut with the pluot ..... DAMN GUYS you really did your big one with that 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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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

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 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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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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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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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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We came here to celebrate a birthday it was such a great experience. The appetizers were delicious and we would definitely come back to get them again. The service was ok, they would change out the placecettings for different courses, and and some servers were more informative than others. The vibes were immaculate and it was a very enjoyable experience. We would definitely come back to try other things off the menu. 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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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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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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Probably the best thing I've eaten all year. Everything I put in my mouth was truly delicious. I just wish I'd gotten the duck too. The sauce on the steak was a tad more vinegary than I would have liked, but everything was truly outstanding. Not one bad dish. And the service was great and drinks were strong. Can't wait to come back. read more

Ernest - 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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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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Beef tartare is by far one of my favorites here. Last time it made me feel sick due to its richness but 2nd time was peak. The Pre Fixe is the way to go. You can still have a great time if you get the cheaper option. read more

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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definitely do the tasting menu for $138!! they say its 3 courses but each course has like multiple dishes (apps had like the entire app list). service was really good and the waitress came by alot to fill our water, ask how everything was going. if youre not doing the tasting menu, i would recommend the ikura tartare, uni toast and oysters. the banana bread caviar was interesting but kind of clashed. for the mains i wanted to try the morrel mushrooms but the steak was rly yummy. eggplants were also bomb but pretty small portion. lastly, you gotta try the dessert: kakigori or sundae. i think the ice flavors rotate depending on the season. we got sat upstairs right by the kitchen which i loved (open kitchen kinda) so we got to see all the dishes come out. it is perfect ambiance for a date night! read more

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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Delicious food! Definitely recommend getting the tasting menu, it's more worth it than ordering individual dishes. We basically got the whole menu with the $139 tasting menu. My favorite were the tom kha oysters, uni toast, and banana bread with caviar. Super interesting and creative dishes. The service was top notch, the servers were super attentive. If they had a new menu, I would totally come again! read more

Ernest - Kakkigori was superb!! - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We decided to keep things simple for a date night/celebration. Since my boyfriend isn't a big fan of uni and caviar, we went with the easier option--"let the kitchen cook for you." The service was nice--everything felt clean and well-organized, and the staff were attentive, friendly, and helpful with their suggestions. The dishes were fresh overall. We really enjoyed several of them, though there were a couple that just weren't quite to our taste. 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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Ernest is one of my favorite seafood, asian fusion places in the city - and I've been to tons of them. The dishes are inventive, the presentation is on point, and the restaurant itself has a beautiful modern decor. But the service can be inconsistent and the restaurant could be better at how they handle big groups. I've been here multiple times and dining in the main room and ordering à la carte is definitely the way to go so you can choose exactly what you want instead of committing to the tasting menu. The reason I am giving four stars instead of five is because my recent experience in the private room was honestly not that great. If this review were only based on my previous meals, it would be a solid 5/5. Food: My absolute favorite dish is the ikura tartare. I could easily finish an entire order by myself, maybe even two. The ikura is incredibly fresh with a deep savory pop and each little bubble bursts cleanly in your mouth. The tartare itself has a perfect texture, the temperature of the meat and the flavors balance each other instead of competing. The rice and seaweed tie everything together and make each bite even better. On top of that the dish is gorgeous and totally instagrammable - if that sort of thing matters to you. The desserts are the other standout. Honestly if you are doing the tasting menu, it would be worth it for the desserts since you get to try several of them. The soft serve with chocolate is silky and the flavors melt together so well. The Meyer lemon shaved ice is also incredible. When our server brought it out everyone at the table literally said "WOW." It was beautifully presented and was as big as my head. The texture was fluffy with no hard icy bits and the lemon had the perfect balance of tartness and sweetness. Everything else ive tried has also been great, like the oysters, grilled mushroom, squid, fried rice and a bunch of their smaller plates. Recent not so great experience: Be aware that if you have a big group and end up in the private room, the wine ordering situation can get really frustrating. The night before, we got multiple emails pushing us to pre select wine within a few hours, and they would not accept any flexibility outside of what is pre selected. It felt unnecessarily aggressive and stressed out our group for no reason. They also would not provide a wine list for this pre selection and the bottles listed on the website ended up not being available. The person emailing kept insisting this was all mandatory to create a smoother experience, but it ended up doing the exact opposite. The whole thing was strange and we were left wondering why they were making it so difficult when we were literally trying to spend money. Once we arrived our server helped fix some of the confusion, even though none of the advanced communication was her fault . honestly she should not have had to deal with all the issues caused by whoever sent those emails. That said, the room itself was beautiful and the food was still excellent, but the lead up was poorly handeled and made the experience more annoying than it needed to be. I hope the restaurant can improve this process by reaching out earlier than the night before, providing an actual wine list with what is available, and making the policy clear up front, so guests are not pressured or confused. Other than that it remains one of my favorite spots in the city. read more

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The menu rotates, but I can assure you that everything we had was a hit. However, if you are on the fence about the hanger steak, this one is okay to skip. It was tasty, but not unique. I really enjoyed the Grilled Matsutake mushrooms. The bright bits of Asian pear paired surprisingly well with the smoky mushroom flavor. Fried rice with sunchokes was also a unique take on fried rice. Sushi rice was also an interesting take on steak tartare as you eat it on a bed of vinegar rice wrapped in a seaweed. Pork tonkatsu was also exceptionally prepared. The exterior was light and crispy and rivaled some of the best tonkatsu in Japan. Lovely space. Great food. read more

Ernest - New American Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came by myself, and it was à la carte as opposed to the tasting menu, which is for two or more only. I had several things and all of them were quite good. The Hokkaido uni toast was the first thing which went down in two small bites. For dessert I got the soft serve. I think the total tab was $227. I think I got my moneys worth. read more

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Fun place for a variety of food and celebration! Went as a party of two and did the "let the kitchen cook for you" option ($139 per person). Service was friendly and efficient, though you could tell they were quite busy! We really enjoyed the variety of dishes, especially the seafood. The only thing we wished for was more than one final meat main course. Since there were two of us, it would have been nice to try two different meat dishes instead of sharing just one. We started off with the Hog Island oysters, sushi rice with ikura, and chilled Monterey Bay squid. We also had the uni toast, osetra caviar, Japanese egg salad, and steamed buns. The Parker House rolls were great too. We pretty much tried most of the appetizers, and they were all excellent. After that came the Zuckerman's asparagus, followed by the hanger steak. I really loved how they prepped the asparagus! Dessert was the hazelnut soft serve sundae and the medium rare Basque cheesecake. The cheesecake was the most runny version I've ever had so it wasn't my favorite, but I can see why others might love that texture. Overall, a fun experience and a great pick for a celebration or date night. I think the "let the kitchen cook for you" option is reasonable for two people, but if I went with a larger group, I'd probably order a la carte so you can try more dishes for the price. read more

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